Author: Nick Mines

Having sailed for most of my adult life, I retired (took a step back) from my company Atom Ltd. which continues in my partial absence, producing really excellent work and run by a gifted team of loyal employees. I now sail my Southerly 135 and crew on various friends yachts, just enjoying being on the water. I continue to 'nudge the tiller' at Atom , probably more often than really necessary or welcome!

Cast off

Well, it’s time to ‘put up or shut up’ as I have now been banging on about my single handed challenge for so long it is probably very boring. Hejira is ready, she has been tested over many miles, crossed the Atlantic twice and her ‘kitting out’ has proved itself in spades for ocean passage-making... Continue Reading →

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‘Billy-no-mates’

I am no stranger to sailing in the Mediterranean. I based my previous yacht in Mallorca and Barcelona for over 12 years and enjoyed it there exploring the western Med extensively. The actual exploring was inevitably restricted to ‘chaps’ trips which tended to be more adventurous and with the family joining the cruise in the... Continue Reading →

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Snag avoidance

Having fitted two  new jammers each side of the companionway to supplement the existing three while in Barcelona, I was keen to add additional organisers on the coach-roof to deal with the additional lines. Ideally I wanted to over-mount double units but unfortunately, the existing Lewmar  items were obsolete. The very helpful Chandler in Barcelona... Continue Reading →

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Two steps forward one step back.

I guess the first explanation must be about the Hejira website which has been inaccessible since an attempt was made to delete it over Christmas. This is a long and complicated story but, thankfully, the attempt was thwarted and no real harm done. Hurrah! Diligent ‘backing up’ has enabled a phoenix to rise out of the... Continue Reading →

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Royal Vic, back in the day

This article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on Monday 29th October 2018:- The RVYC was founded on 24th May 1845 by Prince Albert to give Queen Victoria a Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight near her residence at Osborne House having been denied membership and access to the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on... Continue Reading →

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It’s a start

With the new Polyethylene (HDPE) water tank delivered by courier to the south of France, the task of fitting it has loomed huge and daunting in my autumn eyesight. Looking on the bright side, I am seriously blessed by the very kind assistance of John Coe who is a major technical stalwart who I am... Continue Reading →

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Snuffer downhaul

Yachting Monthly Letters November 2018 :- Snuffer downhaul Duncan Wells’ article on ‘Mastering downwind sailing’ shows the cruising chute snuffer being pulled down by the crew using the downhaul directly to the snuffer collar. While this is fine in this case, may I suggest that on bigger yachts with larger, more powerful sails, the downhaul... Continue Reading →

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Rain Shields

Ventilation for cooling in warmer climates is always a challenge, particularly at anchor where the Air Conditioning is less practical. Leaving the coach roof port lights open is an option but sometimes a mistake as the 14 on the Southerly 135 open inwards and are angled so that, especially in the Caribbean where a torrential... Continue Reading →

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Aftermath

So, on my return to the UK, there are a number of issues to understand and address. Among these, why does my propeller anode last less than a month before disappearing? A call to Bruntons to put them on the spot suggested, from their demeanour, that it is not a unique problem and it would... Continue Reading →

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