For those of you that have not travelled to Europe since the relaxation of restrictions following the Covid crisis, let me share my experiences and those of my crew. Travelling to France now requires a double vaccination certificate and a declaration that no symptoms have been experienced recently. It is not now possible to check... Continue Reading →

Covid restrictions have prevented a practical access to my cherished ‘Hejira’ for over 18 months and she has been stranded in Baie des Anges Marina near Nice in the South of France. To cap this complication, Brexit has imposed an imperative to return the yacht to the UK as, despite having paid VAT on the... Continue Reading →

In the absence of any personal sailing adventure stories due the lack of access to Hejira moored in France (it is nearly a year since I last clapped eyes on her) and with the America’s Cup action shaping up to be ‘a cracker’, I hope you will forgive me a little indulgence. To whet your... Continue Reading →

With the third lockdown stretching into the future and no prospect of visiting Hejira in Nice or even getting afloat in the baby T/T Hejira dinghy on the Thames, I thought that a Nautical Quiz might give a little welcome yachty diversion. I prepared this quiz for a ‘Bon Voyage’ party I threw for the... Continue Reading →

With plans all made, equipment ready to pack and supplies all purchased, the adventure started to implode. First the new COVID lockdown meant that the second and third nights had to be aborted much to the apparent disappointment of the crew – or was it relief? Assuming we would be okay before the lockdown came... Continue Reading →

In recent years, in my home village of Sunningdale, there has evolved a group of similarly obtuse, irreverent, but like-minded chaps who enjoy each other’s company, yarning over a pint and the occasional lunch. We have identified with the Kenneth Grahame classic ‘The Wind in the Willows’ as the individuals involved are very well suited... Continue Reading →

With France regressing into more stringent Covid restrictions, there is no imminent prospect of paying Hejira a visit and she remains as I left her, halfway through preparations for The Atlantic Project. I have however managed to secure a more formal ‘babysitting’ regime which should provide some comfort and help smooth my sleep patterns. I... Continue Reading →

My sign off last year was ‘wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year’ having just escaped France (Hejira being moored near Nice) before a crippling strike in December. How very apposite this has turned out to be! To bring you up to date, Hejira was collected from her berth in January and taken to... Continue Reading →