In oddly green (shallow) waters we motored 40 miles along Trinidad’s steep and jungle-clad northern shore. Heady floral smells and occasional showers drift down from the mountains. Magnificent frigate birds, pelicans, boobies and lazy dolphins…
There has been much talk in the bay today. A single-hander was found dead in his cabin this morning, after his dinghy was seen to be floating upside down behind his boat. There were no suspicious circumstances…
Ian is an enthusiastic and committed chef on board. But he is a tiny bit messy. Dave used to complain that he had to clean pasta off the deckhead after Ian had cooked. But before…
Having prepared Tainui for sea I have had a self-indulgent week stocking up on all those experiences which will be denied me after Tainui’s RSM arrives – Bach keyboard music, the Beethoven fiddle concerto, some…
The 105 mile run from Trinidad to Los Testigos Islands in Venezuela was a romp. With small yankee, storm staysail and one reef in the main we averaged over 8 knots. Mind you, there is…
Our 90 mile run west to La Blanquilla took less toll on us. A square run in dwindling breeze meant Mr Ford was called into service. 2 noteworthy events. First, in pitch black we passed…
Archipelago Los Roques is an absolute jewel! We entered this vast array of coral cays, tranquil lagoons and islands soon after dawn, threading our way between coral heads into a broad, deep and protected anchorage…
Sotavento in Islas de Aves was the second last of our remote Venezuelan anchorages. We have run out of superlatives to describe the colours, space, silence and beauty of these islands. Apart from two fishing…
Bonaire is 35 miles west of Islas des Aves and our downwind run was gentle. The country came as a shock – 2 cruise ships, row upon row of candy coloured houses along a flat,…
Our 15 year old 3.5hp Mercury outboard hasn’t run well since it was inadvertently filled with diesel instead of petrol, in Corfu. How that happened is a very private issue, but suffice to say the…
We hadn’t intended to stop at Aruba, but a fast westerly trip from Curacao had us off the southern point at 11 pm and Maxine, Tainui’s fount of unassailable logic, asked why we shouldn’t anchor…
Monjes del Sur, the last of the Venezuelan offshore islands, is a lonely coastguard outpost some 20 miles off the Columbian coast. I don’t think that many yachts stop here, although it is an ideal…
At Monjes del Sur we threw our bow line, poled out the big staysail and the yankee and loped west along the coast of Colombia in a respectably gentle breeze, ticking off lighthouses. Not rocket…
At 9 am we left Punta Vela for the run down to Santa Marta 130 miles west. After yesterday’s fresh easterlies we were expecting strong winds, but the breeze dwindled and Mr Ford was asked…
The Colombian coast hereabouts is notoriously windy. In December they had two 70 knot gales in Santa Marta and through January there were regular 40 knot breezes. Now, in early April, things are moderating but…
We decided to visit Cartagena by bus rather than sail 100 miles down the coast. However you get there, Cartagena is not to be missed. The narrow streets of the old walled town are a…
Looking back through our photos I am struck by a preponderance of statues, monuments and frescoes in them. I don’t know why. This blog contains nothing but random images I have uploaded from our Dropbox…
A fast sleigh ride out of Santa Marta took us across the murky Rio Magdalena outflow, west past Cartagena. Then the wind died and Mr Ford was called upon. 2 noteworthy events en route –…
…but utterly beguiling. On the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal, Colon has a well-earned reputation for violence. Visitors are warned not to visit the old town except by taxi, in the mornings (while the…
…the captain and the king (princess) departs. As always, Little Miss Perfect has left a larger, quieter and emptier boat behind her. But I think she has been captivated by the prospect of a canal…
…both the season and the boat. All the work is done. Tainui has been very professionally shrink wrapped. She has a dehumidifier and a 240 volt fan which will run continuously, and the yard will…
After 25 years living in Russia, Little Miss Almost Perfect was banned from that country last year. Her egregious offence had been to incur a parking fine in Moscow. It was duly paid, and on…
