S*ithead!
…the card game. Not what Carol calls me when I issue a direct order that may save the lives of all on board in a voice that some observers might deem (shall I say?) imperious. The game of S*ithead, known …
The Rime of the Aging Mariner
Position: 45°37’34″N 122°39’25″W Note: No albatrosses were harmed in the making of this blog. The ocean is salty and that salt gets everywhere on board. It gets into the rigging, the sails, the stores, and even the language. On a …
Entertainment Update – 2022
Buckle up, it’s time for another entertainment update! This year we bring you the benefit of our indulgence and good taste just in time for the holidays. We capriciously rate each item on a scale of 1 to 3 sheets …
Pet Sitting
Don’t Stay Too Long Travelling around Europe on a British passport is no easier than travelling on a Samoan one these days. Overstaying your visa risks a fine, or a ban, or both. For Brits especially, EU immigration authorities have …
Captain Haddock
We continue our occasional series on famous sea captains with the one who influenced me most: Captain Archibald Haddock. Tonnerre de Brest! When asked where my esprit d’aventure comes from, I recount how my grandmother shared stories of her travels …
Katie + Aron’s Wedding
August 13, 2022 My eldest Katie and her beau Aron had the coolest wedding on the hottest day of the year. After two years of lockdown and many delays, everyone was in a festive mood and ready to party. For …
Tai Returns
Position: 39°06’48″N 8°22’14″E No matter how many nautical miles you’ve got under your keel, or how many oceans you’ve crossed, you still have to find your sea legs when you reboard your ship. Every sailor gets queasy at some point. …
A Wanker with a Drone
Hiker Nearing the end of our 12-mile hike around the Brecon Beacons three years ago we approached the brow of a hill before descending towards the car. A brackish pond to our left fed a small stream picturesquely cascading down …
Heave To!
Position: 37°48’27″N 1°47’15″E Three days out of Sardinia, 75 miles from any shore, the weather finally turned nasty. It was dark, an hour from first light. For the previous three hours the weather had hung off in the distance. Miles …