swimming pigs

Swimming Pigs

Swimming Pigs in Big Majors Spot

Many thanks to our member Tor Pinney for letting us publish his article about the swimming pigs of the Exumas in the Bahamas.

Can pigs swim? In the Exumas, they can! The Bahamian island of Big Majors Spot in the Exumas is home to a small herd of free-range domestic pigs, swimming pigs.

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vendee globe

Vendee Globe

The Vendee Globe Race

vendee globe

The Vendee Globe is the world’s greatest single-handed, non-stop, round the world yacht race and is regarded as probably the most challenging sporting event in the world.

It takes place every four years, leaving from the famous port of  Les Sables d’Olonne in the Vendee area of France.   A test of human endurance the Vendee Globe takes approximately 3 months to complete.  The current holder for the fastest circumnavigation is Michael Desjoyeaux, a Frenchman who completed the 2008-09 Vendee Globe in 84 days and is also the only competitor to win the Vendee Globe twice, in 2000-01 and 2008-09.

The Dates:

The Vendee Globe race starts on 8 November 2020.

vendee globe

Image Courtesy of Raphael Toussaint

About Lovesail

Lovesail.com is a global online dating and social networking site for people who love being on the water.

Sailing, yachting and boating enthusiasts, as well as crew from all over the world, meet up on this friendly site to arrange sailing trips, social events, and dates. And if you’re looking for crewing opportunities, or searching for crew, then this is the place for you.

Come and take a look at Lovesail. As a member, you can build a photo profile which you can customise to give it your unique stamp, and also search for other new member profiles. All profiles are checked manually by people, which ensures a top-quality database of members who have a real passion for sailing and all things nautical.

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southampton boat show images

Southampton Boat Show Images and Highlights

Southampton Boat Show Images

southampton boat show imagesThe Southampton Boat Show saw a mixture of weather patterns this year especially over the last weekend with blazing sun and 18 degrees on Saturday, and the highest visitor attendance of the week, to high winds and torrential rain on Sunday.   Attendance figures for the Southampton Boat Show were down slightly on 2011 to 109,722.  Retailers reported good sales.

Here are some images from the Southampton Boat Show in case you could not get down to Mayflower Park this year.  Just a reminder that the London Boat Show runs from 12th-20th  January southampton boat show images2013 at the ExCel Centre in London Docklands.  Also running at the ExCel Centre from 17th to 20th January 2013 is The Outdoors Show, The Active Travel Show and The London Bike Show.  One ticket should gain entry to all four shows.

The Pontoon was a hive of activity this year with lots of boats to look at and board.  One of my favourites was the Amelie Rose the replica Isles of Scilly Pilot Cutter that appeared in the ITV programme The Hungry Sailors.

southampton boat show images

My picture does not do her justice.  If you can hunt her down do so, as she is so beautiful.  She is a working cutter so there are many ways to experience her from taking RYA qualifications to traditional boat building courses.  Also down on the Pontoon was the Free Do and Try.  Visitors new to sailing could sign up and have a go, and those with some experience had a chance to participate in free workshops to improve their skills.

Whatever your boating interests, there was plenty to satisfy you down on the Pontoon at the Southampton Boat Show.

Back on dry land, there were lots of attractions around the showground.  One of my particular favourites was the Sea Kitchen Theatre at the Southampton Boat Show.  Fabulous talks on all manner of subjects could be heard here throughout the day, from Sarah Donohue talking about her life as a Power Boat Racer to cooking with celebrity chef Mark Sargeant.  Running talks throughout the week was Katy Davidson

southampton boat show imagesfrom Mangez-Moi.  Katy is very knowledgeable about all things oyster.  She wants to raise awareness about the health benefits of oysters and to highlight the plight of the native oyster which is functionally extinct in the wild.  Katy’s talks were very informative, funny and she was a joy to watch.  southampton boat show imagesHer enthusiasm for the oyster was contagious and I for one, an oyster virgin, decided to give them a try.  Oysters from different Oysterages were given out for visitors to try and also compare and I can confirm they were delicious.  Let’s hope Katy will be attending the London Boat Show in January so more visitors can sample all the delights that oysters have to offer.

Once the oyster tasting had finished it was over to the Burley Fudge stand to try some crumbly (crumbly is the best) fudge.  southampton boat show imagesThere were many flavours to chose from including chocolate (my absolute favourite), rum and raisin, strawberries and cream and good old clotted cream fudge.  After dessert, it was decided that lunch would not be complete without a drink so it was off to the Guinness Bar for refreshment and to meet up with some members from the site.  southampton boat show images

 

Always a good place to meet friends and make new ones, the Guinness Bar is a firm favourite with many a seasoned Southampton Boat Show visitor.

Suitably refreshed I had to make my annual visit to the GN Espace stand for a chat with Julian and Ralph.  Always at the forefront of galley equipment, I like to catch up with what is going on in the field of cooking on board.   GN Espace is now proud to be partners with the Wonderbag.  The Wonderbag is a heat-retentive cooking bag that can be used onboard to save gas used during cooking.  It’s a bit like a slow cooker.  Food is heated up in a pan on the southampton boat show imagesstove and then the pan is placed into the bag where it continues to cook without the need for additional energy.

Last of all but by no means least is a stand that always seems to have a presence at the Southampton Boat Show.  Latitude Kinsale is a family run business that specialises in unique handcrafted 3D nautical charts that are custom made to order.   Using selected charts from any part of the world, they create a relief 3D chart showing the depths and contours around the coastline.  They look terrific and would make a great gift idea for a birthday, wedding, anniversary, retirement or the “C” word!  Not only can they be hung on the wall they can be made into furniture.  Any chart can be chosen sosouthampton boat show images it could be where you live, sail or a special place where you have fond memories.

So all that remains is to tell you the dates for next years Southampton Boat Show 13th – 22nd September 2013.  Also take a look at our article entitled The Boat Show which gives you information on how to get to the Southampton Boat Show, where to park, where to eat and where to stay.  All from a local perspective.

Erica

The Boat Show

The Boat Show – Inside Local Knowledge

The Boat Show in question is the Southampton Boat Show.  The Boat Show is an annual event hosted by the vibrant port of Southampton in Hampshire, UK.  I live just 10 minutes from this wonderful city and would like to impart my local knowledge to the readers regarding the boat show, how to get to the Boat Show, where to stay, where to eat and the best places to park.

The Boat Show – Dates:

2021: 10 – 19  September 10:00 – 18:30

The Boat Show – Venue:

the boat show

The Boat Show incorporates 3 main areas, Mayflower Park, Herbert Walker Avenue, and West Quay Road.  Stairs and raised walkways carry visitors over the two roads and to each area of the Boat Show.  There is disabled access to each area if the stairs cannot be used.

Entrance to the show can be found in front of The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex.  For mapping purposes use –  SO15 1AJ this is the show entrance, but you cannot park here.  See below for details on where to park.

How to Get to the Boat Show

Train

Southampton Central is the nearest mainline railway station to the Boat Show.  It is approximately 1 mile from the station to the Boat Show, but it is an easy, flat walk through shopping areas.  Alternatively, there are usually plenty of taxis waiting outside the station if you would prefer not to walk.

Trains from Waterloo, Portsmouth and Weymouth have direct lines through to Southampton Central.  If you are travelling from the West you can change at Salisbury and any Northern routes can change at London Waterloo, Basingstoke or Reading.  When leaving the station leave by the South entrance and turn left towards the pedestrian crossing just after the footbridge.  Cross over and follow the path ahead which runs up the side of ToysRus. Head across the car park towards Furniture Village and then walk around FV to the left towards JD Sport and Decathlon.  Walk around to the left of Decathlon and then follow the path ahead, past the car park entrance, until you see the entrance of the show.

Park and Ride

There no longer seems to be a park and ride scheme in operation for the boat show.

Coach

There is a National Express Coach Station between 1/2 and 3/4 of a mile from the Boat Show entrance.  The station address is National Express, Harbour Parade, Southampton, SO51.  See the map below for the location of the coach station.

the boat show

Car

Southampton is easily accessible from both the M3 and M27.  The AA is very good at providing signage for the show and indeed their yellow signs are in place weeks before the event, so I won’t give you alternative directions for travel into the city, just head for junction 3 of the M27.

Parking

There are approximately 10,000 car parking spaces in Southampton but with approximately 100,000 visitors coming into the city to attend the Boat Show over the 10 days, some inside knowledge would be helpful.  If you can, try and park in one of the city council car parks.  Their prices are reasonable and they will not be increased during the duration of the show, unlike some of the privately-owned car parks in the city.  All the city council car parks are open for 24-hour stays and most charges apply from Monday to Saturday 08:30 – 17:30 and Sundays 12noon to 17:30, however, there are some exceptions so please check.

The city council car parks nearest to the Boat Show are:

The Quays South; Albion Place; Castle Way; Bargate Stree; Harbour Parade; The Quays North.

Southampton City Council has details of other city council car parks.

West Quay Shopping Centre car park is very close to the entrance and in my view is the best.  This is privately owned but doesn’t raise its prices and I’ve parked here a few times.  Currently, they are offering all-day parking for just £5.  It is, however, the main car park for the shops in the West Quay Shopping Centre so it can get very busy.

AVOID the NCP car parks, they have been known to raise their prices just for the 10 days of the Boat Show.

Parkopedia have a very good website detailing all the car parks and their charges.

Places to Stay

Living so close to Southampton I have not needed to stay overnight for the Boat Show.  However, along the West Quay Road in Southampton, just along from the Boat Show there are a great many hotels.  The best of all is the Devere Grand Harbour Hotel.  Within crawling distance of the Boat Show, this is the place to stay if you have money to burn!  Within a stone’s throw of the Boat Show, there is the Holiday Inn, and opposite the entrance a Premier Inn and a new Moxy hotel.  Further along West Quay Road, there are numerous cheaper hotels such as Novotel, Etap and Ibis.  I know all the hotels near to the Boat Show get booked up very quickly so you need to book well in advance and you may see a price hike too.  You could consider staying a little out of Southampton in one of the surrounding towns.  Romsey is a lovely market town with Broadlands Estate, home to Lord Mountbatten.  There are a few hostelries in the town namely The White Horse in the centre, and The Dairy, or The Mortimer Arms Inn a little further out.

Places to Eat

There are plenty of food outlets inside the Boat Show, and if you are planning to spend all day at the show then this will be your easiest option.  The organisers of the Boat Show, in their infinite wisdom, do not allow re-entry to the show.  Once you have left they did not allow to come back in.  The vast majority of the food outlet can be a little pricey but do try and find the Mayflower Park Kiosk.  This is a small cafe that usually serves the visitors to the park, but when the Boat Show comes to town the cafe is swallowed up inside the showground.  However, their prices remain reasonable and they do a roaring trade during the duration of the show. There is a small playground for young children too.  The cafe can be found over in the furthest section of the showground.  When you come down the last set of stairs and onto the tarmac turn left and head between the Beneteau and Jeanneau stands towards the food outlet area, walk just a little further on and you will see the cafe tucked away on the left next to the playground.

The Boat Show is very close (2 minutes walk) to the West Quay Shopping Centre in Southampton, 90 stores over 3 floors and a food terrace on the 3rd floor.  There is the new West Quay complex right next to the show with restaurants and a cinema.  So before or after visiting the show, you will have plenty of restaurants to pick from. West Quay is also near to the old city shops, so there is a wealth of eateries.  A cheap option would be the Ikea Restaurant.  You can’t miss the big blue and yellow building close to the Boat Show, and the restaurant is close to the main entrance so you don’t have to traipse around the store to reach it.  They have a fantastic view of Southampton Water and the Cinema!  My favourite is the John Lewis Cafe.  This is in the West Quay complex on the top floor and has a great view too, at least it did before Ikea popped up! Kuti’s is a pan Asian Thai restaurant located at the Royal Thai Pier (sandwiched between the showground and the Red Funnel ferry terminal).  This is a very popular place to eat so booking in advance is recommended.  One last place to try would be Ocean Village.  A 15-minute walk from the showground.  If the weather is good you can sit out here overlooking the marina.  Admire the many boats and watch all the watery activities.

I hope you have found this article helpful, please re-post for others to share.  Related articles: Southampton Boat Show 2013 – What’s new this year, Southampton Boat Show 2014 

Erica

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Olympic Sailing 2012 – Weymouth, Dorset

Weymouth 2012 – Venue of the Olympic Sailing Events

As we near the end of the Olympic sailing events in Weymouth, the town can be congratulated for its fantastic organisation.  Everything has operated like clockwork and nothing has been too much trouble.  The crowds, granted not all from Weymouth, have shown the world what a friendly, welcoming, supportive, tolerant, bunch we are, not to mention our great sporting prowess!

Olympic Sailing Event Still to Go

If you can, do try and get down to the last of the events.  Thursday 9th sees the Women’s Elliot 6m semis with the final on Saturday 11th and Friday 10th the Women’s 470 medal race.

Olympic Sailing Results so Far

Medal Count as at 08.08.12

How to Get Down to Weymouth

Weymouth is found on the beautiful Dorset coast, called the Jurassic Coast and a World Heritage Site.  Weymouth can be reached by car, an excellent park and ride service is in operation, train or bus.

 

Featured Image courtesy of CarolineG2011’s Photostream

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Cruising the Dodecanese Islands

Cruising the Dodecanese Islands One Weeks Sailing on Excellence of Dart a Beneteau 57 Leaving from Rhodes.

Excellence of Dart is a Beneteau 57 which has just taken part in the East Mediterranean Yacht Rally.  She is now running a few cruising trips around Greece and Turkey and has some late availability.  Be quick though, one week leaving from Rhodes on 4th August 2012 cruising the Dodecanese Islands.

cruising the dodecanese islands

The Dodecanese Islands (literally translated means 12 islands) are a group of 12 larger Greek islands plus around 150 smaller ones.  They are located around the South-East corner of the Aegean Sea near to the Turkish coast, and are known as a “Sailor’s Paradise”.   The Meltemi, a prevailing wind blows during the summer months and makes for great sailing.

The Excellence of Dart runs many other trips too.  There are plenty of opportunities for families and friends, single-sex sailing weeks and mixed group cruises, gentle island hopping and more challenging sailing adventures. You can take a relaxing week of pottering,  join a windward adventure or sign up for a leg or more of the rally and sail to places you’ve never even dreamed you’d visit and along the way learn about Middle Eastern cultures and history.

For bookings, further information and to take a look at Excellence of Dart

A Summer Sailing Trip – By RogerDee

Lovesail member RogerDee has kindly submitted a diary he kept during a Summer sailing trip he took last year.  He travelled from Barry in Wales down to La Rochelle in France.  A wonderful trip and a great diary.

Katie Dee summer sailing trip 2011:

Barry.

The boat was lifted by travel hoist and placed on the marine railway. Launched on suitable tide and weather. Borrowed mooring briefly in Barry harbour before departure.

Barry to Ilfracombe.

Dried out in inner harbour alongside the north wall. Walked around town.

Ilfracombe to Lundy Island.

Picked up a mooring in Lundy anchorage with advice from Lundy Warden. Lundy is now a marine nature reserve. Row ashore, landing at the tiny steep slipway at the base of the new jetty built for the supply ship, MS Oldenburg. Explore usual haunts ashore. There are always far too many people on the Island these days: walking, bird watching, rock pooling, rock climbing, scuba diving, etc.

Lundy to Padstow summer sailing.

An easy sail, but have to lose time to avoid entering at night before or near low water. An alongside berth inside the harbour, which is now gated to avoid the boats drying out over low water. The following day, we hire cycles for the Camel Trail, along the old railway line.

Padstow to around Land’s End to Newlyn.

The wind was just north of west and so we used the motor for a little assistance while sailing to windward to keep going and well on the wind to get aroundCapeCornwall before turning south. Conditions can be bad offLand’s End, but after turning south the wind and tide were with us, and not very strong. We approached and anchored off Newlyn (as we thought) in the dark. On the approach, I identified the Newlyn harbour light as a white light flashing once every 5 seconds. I went below for 5 minutes, leaving my crew to helm and keep a lookout. When I reappeared on deck I again re-identified the Newlyn light, which was perhaps a little further north than I had expected. There was a confusion of shore lights, but I was sure of the identification of the Newlyn light. We anchored off the moorings outside the harbour. I had not been to Newlyn since the harbour had been improved and made available to yachts, as a condition for receiving EU development money, and the pilot book said nothing about any moorings off the harbour. However, we were both tired after a long day and half a night. The following morning we rowed ashore in the dinghy. The penny eventually dropped that we had not arrived at Newlyn, but at Penzance!

When we rowed back to the boat I checked the chart: two harbours very close together with exactly the same light characteristics! I felt a little less stupid. The previous night I had seen no reason to switch on the software chart plotter since I thought that old-fashioned navigation methods were quite sufficient. I had definitely not expected two harbours a few miles apart with the same light characteristic. Later I emailed Trinity House to express my concern. However, they apparently do not share my concerns! I will approach the Royal Yachting Association, RYA, sometime soon and see what they think. I do know that no situation like this would exist in air navigation.

We lost a day in Newlyn because I wished for better weather than was current, in order to cross the English Channel(or La Manche, as the French call it). Newlyn is a sleepy, slightly run-down village in Cornwall. It used to have a harbour dedicated to fishermen. However, due to its location it is an important crossroads for yachts travelling around Land’s End, either north-south or east-west. It will soon be bursting at the seams with yachts, and hopefully looking a little more prosperous than at present, but no doubt more expensive. I understand that it was a condition of the European Union, EU, re-development money that yachtsmen would be welcomed.

Newlyn to Camaret summer sailing.

The following day, the westerly wind, not too strong, was just right for our crossing. In the middle of the channel we had to give way to a coaster who should have altered course slightly to avoid us, but evidently had no intention of doing so. As we approached the French coast, I tried more than once to check in with the French Coastguard but could get no response on the VHF radio. I could hear other radio traffic quite clearly. Was it a problem with the radio, or just the French not bothering to talk to an English voice? The wind had dropped slightly and the tide was with us. Unfortunately, the visibility had now reduced, and at one point we were a little too close to a French fishing boat.

summer sailing

If there were to be any weather problems I had planned to enter L’Aber-Wrac’h, a port further to the east on the north coast of the Brest peninsular, but now the destination was L’Aber-Ildut on the west side of the peninsular. By luck the timing of the tide was exactly right for us to pass through the Chenal du Four, east of the Île d’Ouessant (or “Ushant”, as the Brits say), and the wind was also was just right. We passed through this treacherous channel without a problem and landed at Camaret, a beautiful harbour.

Here we met a boat from Cardiff (just up the road from Barry) with a couple on board who had only a 3-week holiday. We decided to travel with them, but not really in their company since they were bigger and faster than us. (Most boats we meet are bigger and faster than us!)

Camaret to Port Tudy on L’Île de Groix.

summer sailing

Our new friends were keen to set off the following day towards the Île de Groix. It was a long sail, over 100 nautical miles. Our early departure was necessitated by the tidal streams at the Raz de Sein. We passed the Îles de Glénan. However, we could visit them on our journey home.

 

L’Île de Groix is an island very close to the French mainland and there were trippers there by the hundreds, and ferries every hour or so. We hired bicycles and toured the Island. The following day our friends departed westwards for home.

Port Tudy to La Palais on Belle Île

summer sailing

La Palais to Ster-Wenn on Belle Île.

For us, it was a short hop to this fantastic little anchorage hiding in the rocks, invisible from seaward. Here we met a French lady in a boat smaller than Katy Dee (!). She lived at Bono in the Golfe de Morbihan and she encouraged us to go that way.

 

Ster-Wenn to Île de Houat.

We anchored off what the pilot book said was the best beach in Atlantic France, and explored ashore.

 

Île de Houat to Bono.

This meant entering the Golfe de Morbihan, where, at the entrance, it is essential to have the tide with us, and the wind not too strong against us. The stream zoomed us up to Bono. We arrived just before dark and moored against the harbour wall. Because we needed to depart early the following day on the morning ebb we effectively had a free berth.

Bono to Île de Houat summer sailing.

I reserved further playing in the delightful Golfe de Morbihan for the return trip. One of the problems with the anchoring of the coast of Atlantic France is that is the daytime wind often changes to a strong NE-ly land breeze about 0300 at night, necessitating a pyjama party to move the boat to another anchorage in the middle of the night. However, because of the darkness, lack of lights on the buoyage, and the many rocks, this is not always possible. After the land breeze in the night, the wind is often flat calm again by 0600. Although there are sea breezes and land breezes off the coast of theUK, France has a far greater hinterland behind its coastline, and also the sun is stronger, giving a greater diurnal temperature range than in the UK, so the night breezes are stronger.

 

Île de Houat to Joinville on Île de Yeu summer sailing.

The northern approach to the harbour is infested with lobster pots. Luckily we were not arriving at night. Don’t the French know about these unlit and deliberate man-made boat traps? The following day we hired a moped to explore the Island Île de Yeu to Les Sables de L’Olonne. This was not a pleasant sail because the wind was against us and about force 5. Also, the entrance to Les Sables de L’Olonne is unpleasant, verging on dangerous, under these conditions, especially at night. We decided to go the long way around to minimise problems with waves breaking in shallow water. It was a long hard slog. It was made slightly longer because we sailed extra miles through my inattention when I was off watch. (The skipper is never really “off-watch”!)

 

Les Sables de L’Olonne to Île de Ré.

Although the wind was quite strong, because it was determinedly westerly, we anchored as shallow as we dared (allowing for the reduction of depth at low tide) in the shallow bay on the south side of the Island, just as it was getting dusk. We had a good night’s sleep.

 

Île de Ré to La Rochelle.

We had 3 nights here. It is very expensive (even for the French) but the third night is free, so it becomes just expensive. La Rochelle is a great tourist attraction and there are street artists and activities until the early hours. Twin towers guard the old harbour, le Vieux Port, which has lots of history. In times past La Rochelle was a protestant (Huguenot) stronghold in Catholic France.

 

La Rochelle to Port des Barques summer sailing.

We passed the Île d’Aix, and various other historic forts defending the sea channel, Le Chenal d’Antioche, into old military town of Rochefort on the River Charente. In only a slight wind we crossed the bar and entered the Charente just after low water with only a little anxiety as to the depth of water over the bar. With the failing light and the river unlit we felt we could not proceed on the flood tide all the way to Rochefort. The pilot book advised that there was commercial traffic, even at night, so we needed to moor or anchor in the river, which has very fast tidal streams and very muddy water. I preferred a mooring, and one seemed to be available off Port des Barques.

As soon as we picked up a mooring and settled ourselves, the owner of the mooring, a fisherman, appeared and was angry. However, there really was no problem because we were very happy to move. He calmed down and we moved to a mooring of his suggestion. No sooner had we settled ourselves down there when a slightly official looking boat requested we move to yet another mooring. As soon as we had done that he returned again to demand a totally unreasonable number of Euros from us. I explained to him as best my French would allow that we would be anchoring elsewhere. He said that we could not anchor in the river. We departed.

I did not like to choose a vacant mooring on the other side of the river within his visual range, so we proceeded up the river to a spot where there was a bend in the river just out of his view, and which was also clear of the river’s navigation (as I judged by the transit posts). I expected the stream to slacken as low tide approached. However, the stream continued to run fast and we went aground in soft mud an hour or so before low water, with the tide still swilling around us. I was anxious about the future strain on the bilge keels as the strong tidal stream would push us around when it reversed direction just as strongly and the keels would still be firmly aground. When we re-floated I took the opportunity to anchor off a little deeper to avoid drying out again overnight. We set an anchor light, but there was no traffic during the night.

 

Port des Barques to Rochefort summer sailing.

The following day, because of the light wind and the extremely strong tidal stream we motored up the river to Rochefort. Most mooring buoys were pulled under by the strong stream. We were in good time for the Cruising Association’s meeting which started the following evening. Rochefort is good enough to allow boats a free night, both at the Ropery’s (La Corderie Royale) jetty and also at the waiting pontoon for Rochefort marina. The saltwater of the river is coloured milky white. This contrasts greatly in colour with the clear freshwater that runs into the marina from the other end. When the marina gates open on the last of the flood the two waters mix, but the salt water is heavier and sinks below the freshwater. So the surface water runs out of the marina, downstream on the flood tide! (This freshwater is displaced by a greater volume of saltwater running at depth into the marina. This is a similar effect to that at Bristol in the Bristol Channel, and no doubt to many other similar ports with a gate on a river).

The festivities and socialising of the CA meeting lasted 4 days. There was much companionship, social visits to other members’ yachts, much advice given and much received. I was particularly interested in the idea that if you purchased a Kindle 3G keyboard for ₤150, as well as a book reader you also had a slow and clunky, but worldwide and free, 3G-mobile internet access for email and weather forecasts.

Pascal, the Harbour Master, had also negotiated for us free entry into the many museums, the Ropery, and other historical sites of Rochefort. I live at Chathamin Kent, UK. It is an old naval town built on a river and in the past given to naval boat building, and the production and storage of munitions. Rochefort is similarly an old naval fortified town on a long river with a military history of boatbuilding and armaments. The islands of Ré and Oleron have lighthouses (or “phares”) to guide the ships through the dangerous Chenal d’Antioche and into the River Charente. Just like Chatham, which defended London against the French and the Dutch in times past, the long, shallow, winding river spelt the death of the dockyard when ships became bigger. Rochefort’s naval life was extended by a (very sensible) French policy around 1900 to have many smaller ships (with shallower draft) rather than a few big ones, which could not have been built or supplied by Rochefort.

At the end of the CA meeting at Rochefort my crew departed to earn some money by farming and assisting at his village pub, in order to see himself through another year at university, now that his Dad’s company had been taken over by the receiver in the financially difficult times of the UK.

There was now a westerly gale blowing, and this made any exit over the Charente’s bar dangerous. We were all stormbound, making a week in all at Rochefort. Rochefort offers a 3rd night free. This is a pleasant custom practised by some French marinas, but not many British marinas, I believe. The Harbour Master also offered CA attendees an additional free night’s berthing. So we had good value at Rochefort!

Rochefort to La Rochelle. Courtesy of the waiting pontoon I stayed another night at Rochefort. (This time, rather than waiting for the marina gates to open, I was waiting for the river to ebb, of course!). The following morning I set off downriver in company with another CA member’s boat, which happened to lockout just as I was setting off from the waiting pontoon. Both of us were departing just before high water. The wind was NW but force 4, although it increased slightly as we cleared the land, and because we were being swept along by the tide into the wind. The Charente bar was a little lumpy but not dangerous.

Some weeks ago, I had discovered that the “good” autopilot had broken when I placed it on the cockpit seat and it had rolled onto the cockpit floor. I had not been able to get the “good” autopilot repaired because all good Frenchmen go on holiday in July and August. I later had this autopilot repaired in the UK at vast expense. I had also discovered that the second autopilot, which I had purchased as a backup, was not really very good at all, despite, as I saw it, being recommended by Mr Simrad for my yacht. This second autopilot I later returned to Mr Simrad as being unsuitable for my boat, and he reluctant returned my purchase money.

The current problem was: how do I go to the loo when the autopilot does not work and I am sailing single-handed in a river? One answer is to balance up the sails and get the tiller position exactly correctly before dashing below, while still keeping an eye through the portholes on other boats and the river bank! But don’t be too long, in case there is a gust of wind or even a lull.

My companion now seemed to be sailing along effortlessly with just his mainsail. I had reefed down and was still motor-sailing to windward, using the engine to keep up and eventually to overtake him. At last, I slowed down to tell him as he passed me that I was turning off for La Rochelle. He said he was going to Saint-Martin-de-Ré. I was tired of hand-sailing to windward. I tried to approach La Rochelle but the path was completely barred by a mass of laser dinghies all rushing around a triangular course. It was the Laser Youth World Championships. While waiting I decided to start up my computer for its chart plotter program, because avoiding the lasers had disorientated my navigation. Unfortunately, while I was doing this, I missed my gap and the lasers were all buzzing around again. I thought that I had almost got through the mêlée without upsetting anybody when a RIB ordered me off in the opposite direction. I think that I might have been more trouble to them by going the way they wanted, but I did follow his instructions. Eventually I entered the new marina, called Minimes, at La Rochelle, but then decide that my best chance of finding an ex Rochefort CA boat was to enter the old harbour between the famous twin towers. In the event, another Roger did leave a message on my boat, but I never managed to find them on their boat at a sociable hour, and so I never met up with them again. I stayed only one night at La Rochelle. I would have stayed more if it was a little cheaper. Without a crew my running expenses had doubled!

I did, however, meet up with a retired R.Y.A. Chief Instructor & Examiner, who many years ago had set up the RYA’s Cruiser Training Scheme, based upon his experiences in the Joint Services Training Scheme. He asked me whether I been to Ars-en-Ré before. I could not help him because I had not. In the end, he decided that he could not risk going there as he might go aground. In fact, unusually, there are two bars. Because of the now neap tides, he would have crossed the first into The Pool, but not the second into the marinas.

 

La Rochelle to anchorage SE of Île de Ré summer sailing.

In France, most marinas do not necessarily wish you to leave by midday as the British marinas insist, so I departed from La Rochelle in the late afternoon and anchored SE of Ré, just south of the enormously high bridge to the Island. I rowed ashore for a walk. I was starting to feel a little lonely.

 

Île de Ré summer sailing.

Near high water, I motor-sailed through the channel to Ars-en-Ré. After going into the marina I discovered that the waiting pontoon was free for one night, so I retraced my steps! While I was there a French boat under tow came alongside. She had been towed in because the motor would not start. I assisted in starting it and the skipper invited me back to his house in the village. His English was a lot better than my French, and we got on very well. We arranged a sail the next day in my yacht, to be followed by dinner at his house. This seemed a very good deal to me. He was a retired doctor whose father had been seriously injured in the First World War. His house was a holiday house and he lived in Paris. I discovered that many other people had similar arrangements. Property on the coast now is enormously expensive, but he had purchased years ago. I wanted him to help me find the passage across the sandbank at the entrance to the bay. We found the short-cut, and he also pointed out the many German pillboxes which remain, most of which are sloping because the sand has been undermined by the sea. One is now a house, presumably a holiday house. It was a great day’s sailing and a great dinner, with much to chat about. I had berthed Katie Dee in the marina. The following day I went into the village marina, which has a sill to retain water for the boats over low tide. Both marinas are owned by the same people. The next few nights I spent anchored in “The Pool” at Ré, or aground on a nearby sandbank. I spent days pottering on my own on the waters around the Island. In particular, Le Banc de Boucheron provided much entertainment. A spring tide at the weekend is a good excuse to have a BBQ on the Bank at low water. Île de Ré is my favourite French island. Unfortunately for sailors, some of the would-be anchorage in Île de Ré is oyster beds. My French doctor friend told me “this year the oysters are sick”.

 

I now almost retraced my steps, back to the Golfe de Morbihan. However I also had a great time exploring le Payréa river just to the south of Bourgenay. I anchored KTD off and rowed in the dinghy up the river about 2 hours before high water, expecting to return 2 hours after high water.

However, I should have known better, because it does not always work like that! Here is the same situation as the Rip at Port Phillip Heads in Victoria, Australia. The stream changes 3 hours later than you would ordinarily expect. This is because of the narrow entrance channel and the large area of water in the hinterland. The tidal levels inside the bay lag 3 hours behind that outside in the ocean. In southern Ireland, Barloge / Lough Hyne works in the same way. That night I visited Bourgenay, where I did not feel very welcome. I arrived after the Harbour Mistress had gone home and notice boards advised me that all (!) the visitors’ spaces were apparently reserved for yachts supposedly arriving here after a race. I put the boat onto the fuel berth and departed before the race boats or the harbour mistress arrived the following day.

I visited Saint Giles et Croix de Vie, which is from where the Vendé Globe race starts, and also Île de Noirmontier, where I was stormbound for nearly a week. On a very wet and windy day I cycled to Noirmontier-en-Île and across the causeway, Route du Gois, and back – just before the tide covered the causeway.

 

I had now extended my cruise from 2 to 3 months. I was trying to find a crew on the internet, without a lot of success. My access to the internet was intermittent. I had plenty of people who would love to come at almost any price from almost any country but only for 2 or 3 weeks. My main reason for wanting additional crew was to cross back over the English Channel, and for the Bristol Channel. While I had been having sun and fair wind in France, the UK had received one low after another.

In the event, an American was interested in crewing for me. He was in Amsterdam, which is from where his last apparent trip had not departed. He seemed very keen, and (most importantly) he was available until the end of September.

He was even more penny-pinching than I was! We corresponded on the internet and did not speak on the phone until the day before we were due to meet. I had told him by email that if he was coming by train then Vannes in the Golfe de Morbihan was the easiest place to meet. Vannes is pronounced like: hold your nose while saying “Van”; but obviously if you are an American it is pronounced “Van-nes”. Because our correspondence had been by email, he was a bit concerned when I suggested verbally that he should go to this apparently new place called “Van” rather than the “Van-nes” of his rail ticket.

Anyhow, we got on very well. He was very keen to get ashore in all the places and islands we visited. We pottered about the Golfe de Morbihan for a few days, then visited Île de Houat (again, for me) and then:

 

Sauzon in Belle Île summer sailing.

(I never did manage to pronounce Sauzon correctly to the French ear). We biked around the Island and then the following day moved the boat to Ster-Wenn.

After that we were visited the delightful Îles de Glénan. This group of low-lying islands is a bit like the Isles of Scilly but has many more, smaller islands and many more anchorages. It was fabulous there, and the anchorages were free. The beaches were white, being composed of shells ground by the waves. Some of the larger islands are taken over by the famous Glénan School of Sailing. I remember many years ago when my parents and I were cruising the south-west coast of Ireland, a Glénan boat with no engine, and smaller than our 26-foot Westerly Centaur, would set off before us and arrive after us at the next harbour along the coast.

After Glénan we visited Loctudy on the mainland, before heading north and passing the Pointe de Penmarch, which has a reputation for being a dividing line in the weather – sunny to the south and east, but wet and windy to the north. We entered Sainte-Evette after dark, but were a little confused, finding the leading lights not quite as we expected.

I am pleased to say that the weather and our timing we exactly right for the Raz de Sein. We wished to enter the harbour on the Île de Sein so we had to pass the Raz de Sein on slack water that became a northbound (i.e. flood) tide. I had previously purchased some French tidal atlases at the recommendation of the enormously useful Royal Cruising Club’s pilot book “Atlantic France”. The Island is very low-lying and has been inundated in the past, I guess during Atlantic storms and equinoctial tides.

The history of the islanders during World War II is very interesting. All the men of the Island joined up at General de Gaul’s call to arms. They consisted of one quarter of his force. He asked, “Where is this Île de Sein. It is a quarter of France”.

After a few days exploring ashore there, it was time to re-visit Camaret, and then to brave Le Chenal du Four with good timing and good weather again. We briefly looked into and out of Le Conquet and then made for L’Aber-Ildut. Nobody is allowed to use what could be perfectly good visitors’ pontoon. My suspicion as to the harbour’s mental health was confirmed by a local volunteering a similar view to mine and without my encouragement or even questioning.

The French do a lot of seaweed harvesting on the Brest coastline. Next, we visited “The Land of the Abers”, first L’Aber-Wrac’h. In order to get there, I chose to take the inshore Portsall Passage. I had a pilot book that gave clear instructions, but I could not distinguish all the landmarks. Perhaps it was because I was too early on the tide (and therefore lower in the water than I might have been an hour or so later). However, I shall think carefully about going that way again. I had thought that it might have been more comfortable in a blow than outside, but now I am not so sure that I would wish to be in this inshore passage in a blow. One reason why I delayed crossing back to the UK immediately was that I was very keen to enter L’Aberwrac’h in good weather because I might wish to enter in bad weather at a later date. Apparently it is a harbour which is available in any weather and in any state of the tide, and there are not too many of those nearby.

 

L’Aber-Wrac’h summer sailing.

What a beautiful place! We had one night in the newly-expanded marina and then a couple of nights free, higher up the river. My highly moral American friend was hooked on the internet (to find his next trip) and at one point we were searching the river, myself at the helm and Chris on this computer, trying to find the best unprotected domestic wireless internet site to get a connection. I also wanted to keep an eye on the weather for the impending crossing of the English Channel. We did not succeed in our mission! (I have already purchased a WiFi booster aerial for next year).

The following day we had a bit of early morning fog in the higher reaches of the river. The next leg was west and south to L’Aber-Benoit. I let my American friend pretend to be skipper. For my liking, he was not quite frightened enough of rocks and lee shores! Also, he did not still quite understand the different responsibilities of helmsman and navigator, in that (to my way of thinking) a helmsman merely steers a heading provided by the navigator. However, I guess that in a few years all that will be history, because the navigator’s table seems to be migrating out to the console in front of the helmsman.

Now, on a superb easterly force 4 forecast, we set off for the Isles of Scilly, but I kept to windward initially to allow for a diversion into Newlyn if the weather should turn adverse. (I always like to keep upwind, and also up tide, if at all possible). We had a trouble-free passage, but I should have called my crew earlier on the approach to the Scillies because I was not sufficiently aware of the strong adverse tide which we were about to encounter as we passed between St Mary’s Island and the Island of Gough. I should have gybed much earlier and avoided having to battle so much against the adverse tide. The autopilot could not be used downwind, and I had been tied to the helm unable to get to the navigation table. Well, that’s my excuse.

We spent a few days anchored just north of the moorings in St Mary’s harbour. We did some shopping ashore and watched a brilliant performance of a play, but I am sorry to say that its title escapes me now. We managed to get lost when walking back in the dark to where we had left the dinghy earlier. The following day we crossed the Tresco Flats and moored very high in Green Bay. We thoroughly explored the islands of Tresco with its Abbey Gardens and Bryher because we were here for a few days longer than we had expected, due to bad weather. We became friendly with a charming French couple in a 35-foot aluminium yacht with a lifting keel. In France, we had observed that the French seem keener on aluminium hulls than the British. When they eventually returned to France the skipper emailed me to say that they had sailed right around both the Île d’Ouessant and the Île de Sein to their homeport of Port la Forêt. In which case, they must have done battle with the traffic in the separation scheme off Ouessant. I have not heard of anybody taking that route before.

We walked around the islands of Bryher and Treso more than once and had a trip to the small island of Samson, which I have not visited before. Samson is now uninhabited and is apparently the next island to be divided into two by the inundations of the sea. The autumnal equinoctial spring tides were due in a week or so, and a walking party was planned between Bryher and Tresco. We hoped to be long gone if only the weather would subside. I was keen to return to Barry, so when the wind dropped to a force 6 we set off, but there was still a big sea running. Luckily the tide was with the wind when we set off, but I think that was more luck than judgement, and the sea did calm down a little once we were clear of the Scillies. There are overfalls marked on the chart just north of Round Island.

Also, we should have given the rough water clearly marked on the chart around Cape Cornwall a greater offing, but nothing too horrible happened. We arrived at Padstow, again in the middle of the night. We enjoyed what for me was another cycle along the Camel Trail, and I attended a very informative lecture at the local fishery about fish stock monitoring and conservation. I am pleased to say that some local fishermen were very interested, which after all does make good sense. (I do not always see eye-to-eye with fishermen). While awaiting the weather at Padstow we had many walks ashore, on both sides of the Camel estuary. After a few days, we locked out and waited at a mooring in The Pool, hoping that the weather would be suitable for us to cross the bar. Unfortunately, the waves on the bar still looked horrible and after one night we returned near high water into the harbour. When I asked on the radio for permission to enter the harbour, the Harbour Master asked whether we had had a good trip! And, as is the custom, he also charged us as much for being on a buoy in The Pool as for being in the harbour itself. So we spent a fortune, storm-bound in Padstow for a week.

Next was Clovelly. However, because of the groundswell caused by the recent week’s bad weather, I did not wish to take the ground inside the harbour. I motored in and hailed a fisherman, who kindly advise me of the same. He also told me what I wanted to know, namely which mooring in Clovelly Roads I might pick up. He kindly offered me his own, but I wished to choose another. We settled the boat on the mooring and rowed ashore. My American friend did not seem keen to come, but I am sure that he enjoyed himself because Clovelly is unique. It is an old-fashioned village clinging to a cliff. The small harbour has a very high and very thick harbour wall, and it needs to be both because of the force of the waves in a NW gale, especially in the winter storms.

Finally, we planned to return from Clovelly to Barry in one hop. This would be perfectly possible provided the wind is not directly against us. The forecast was for SE, not E, so I thought this a reasonable goal. However, the wind became resolutely easterly, and we needed all haste to get to Barry before the tide turned to ebb. I started the motor at Morte Point and we motor-sailed all the way back to Barry. For the last hour, the wind finally turned a little to the SE which saved the day because we were just able to make it back to Barry in time.

I have no mooring in Barry these days and so we borrowed the pilot boats’ mooring, with their permission. It is a big hassle laying moorings, made more difficult by my presence in Australia at the vital time in the very early spring. So these days I do not lay a mooring, but just “dry sail”.

Unfortunately, the winter compound was not yet ready for boats to be brought ashore, so we had to wait using another borrowed mooring, as suggested by Barry Yacht Club’s Mooring Master. Finally, we were able to put Katy Dee on the marine railway trolley and hoist her ashore into her spot for the winter.

I was keen to attend the Southampton Boat Show (since I always miss the London Boat Show by being in Australia in January). Chris was also keen to attend the Show because he wanted to talk to charter boat operators. (But he later told me than there was not much information to be gleaned). My car had been at the Yacht Club for 3 months, but it started the first time! After the show, I returned to winterise the boat and especially the engine, ready for its cold winter months in the UK when I am in the sunshine of Australia.

Cruising is never completely free from some concerns, usually about the weather. However, Katy Dee had had a fantastic summer sailing and exploring the islands of Atlantic France and the Isles of Scilly.

Roger Dee

Many thanks to Roger for letting us reproduce his diary on summer sailing and fantastic photos on the blog.  If you have a story or talent you would like to showcase on the blog then please do drop me an email through the contact link on the website www.lovesail.com

Thanks

Erica

Lovesail Admin

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members

Sunvil Sailing’s Exclusive Sailing Offer for Lovesail Members

Depart 10th June One and Two Week Ionian Sea, Greece Flotilla, Exclusive to Lovesail Members.

Just imagine cruising along in the sunshine on a yacht, dropping anchor for a swim or snorkel in the warm, clear waters of a beautiful bay. Perhaps taking a stroll on the deserted beach of a tiny uninhabited island or discovering exciting, historic towns, tasting the local cuisine and mixing with the friendly people or members.

Sunvil Sailing Holidays provide the ultimate balance between independence and unobtrusive support while sailing. Our specially chosen itineraries ensure you visit some of the best anchorages in the sailing area, while still allowing you to take as much time for free sailing as you like.

However you want to spend your sailing experience enjoying yourself, we’ll make sure you sail safely and have a great time. The ultimate in social sailing is in a flotilla. A great option for singles with a taste for adventure. A holiday with Sunvil Sailing is an informal, relaxed and unique experience. This is a holiday with a difference, seeing somewhere new every day without having to pack and unpack or pay extra travel or hotel expenses.

People from all walks of life go on our sailing holidays. We are there to show you how to do it and gain the most out of your experience while at the same time having fun learning something new, or just brushing up and participating in a passion that you enjoy. There are no hard and fast rules about coming on a sailing holiday and our teams are more than experienced to be able to take you to another level while maintaining your safety, fun and comfort.

We are offering all Lovesail members one and two-week cabin charters departing 10th June, whilst cruising the Ionian Islands as part of our small and social flotilla in Greece. Each yacht will have one of our skipper/instructors aboard so anyone requiring instruction and certification can avail themselves of this; whilst the experienced and certificated clients can enjoy the sailing experience that these waters offer.  There is always some self-discovery while on this type of holiday. There’s also the option to meet up at agreed destinations for dinner, beach picnics etc. and to take part in fun regattas and other social events.

Many flotilla enthusiasts say that this is what makes a flotilla trip so special – meeting people with similar interests and sharing the excitement of discovering new sailing areas together. The Ionian Sea is often hailed as the ‘sailing capital’ of Greece and with good reason. The sheltered waters, favourable wind conditions and safe anchorages, in the heart of some stunning island scenery, make this part of the Ionian Sea ideal for both the novice and experienced sailor.

Details of the Sailing Holidays.

The one and two-week cabin charters depart on 10th June.  Each member will have their own cabin and the yachts range from 35ft to 50ft depending on numbers and make-up of the group – age, sex, sailing experience etc.

The two-week flotilla will have some longer sails from our base on Lefkas Island into the Sea of Corinth – with a day or two of sightseeing such wonders as Delphi: the one-week participants will accompany the two-week sailors for about four days before having to start heading back to base. We really recommend the two-week package for anyone able to do it as it will give everyone a chance to really gel and to get to know each other better.

Holiday Prices

The price per person including flights from Gatwick (£39pp supplement for Manchester) and airport transfers in Greece for the one-week cabin charter flotilla is £850pp for Lovesail members (normally £933pp). For the two-week cabin charter flotilla, the price is £1200pp (normally £1353pp).

For members making their own way to the yachts on Lefkas Island and not requiring our flights and transfers, the one-week price is £500pp (normally £550pp) and for two-weeks, it is £900pp (normally £1050pp).

There is an on-site cash payment of £80 per person for the one week holiday and £140pp for two-weeks to cover Certification and Log-Books (where applicable); On-Board Expenses such as Fuel and Tanked Water; Yacht Damage Waiver; Charter Papers; Final end of charter Yacht Clean; Bed-Linen Laundry. Clients will put a kitty together to meet the cost of Mooring Charges and Daily onboard Food – this must also cover the instructor’s portion. Based on four clients this will average about €50 per person per week – depending on individuals’ needs and requirements. Payment in Euros will be accepted at the exchange rate on the day.

We are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA and IATA approved.

Sunvil Sailing.

 

Image courtesy of Schlongfield

 

March Newsletter – Competition and Casamara Need Crew

March 2012 Vol.1 Issue 7 – Casamara

Latest News

Casamara need Crew

Many of you will be familiar with Casamara, the Discovery 55 that took part in last years ARC Race and posted daily updates of the race on this blog. After a fantastic crossing, they now need to sail her back to the UK from St Lucia. Her skipper is looking for experienced crew that would be interested. Free passage and food is on offer as is an opportunity of a lifetime. They will be leaving Rodney Bay, St Lucia around 22 April 2012 and taking about 30 days to reach the south coast of England stopping off in casamaraBermuda and the Azores. You will need to be an experienced sailor, coastal skipper minimum, and get yourself to St Lucia for departure around the 22 April. If you are in the Caribbean it would be an ideal opportunity to travel to the UK for the Olympics! If you are interested please drop me an email through the contact page of the website (link at the bottom of any lovesail page) and I will pass your details on to the skipper.

March Competition

We are giving away 3, 1 year gold memberships to the site in our March Competition and it’s very easy to enter. Just tell me the top 3 sailing website you visit. Just email me at through the contact page of the site listing your 3 favourites. They must be sailing related websites to qualify, there are no right or wrong answers and please do not list Lovesail! Names will be put into a hat and 3 winners drawn. Please let me have your entries by March 25th 2012 and winners will be notified by email after that date. Memberships will start from 1st April 2012. Good Luck!

Artist Member

One of our members, Brendan Chandler, is a very talented artist and how allowed us to showcase his seascapes on the Lovesail Blog, Lovesail news, please take a look if you haven’t already. If you have a talent that you would like to showcase on the blog, then just drop me a line through the contact page of the website, link at the top of the blog, and we can discuss it.

System Upgrade

We will be upgrading the Lovesail software over the next month, this should not affect members, and you will see some improvements to the site. If you experience any problems then please do email me at the usual address.

Erica

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A Sailing Artist – Seascapes

It never ceases to amaze me when I realise the talented members that I have on the Lovesail site. Brendan Chandler is one such member.  Here is a little piece about this sailing artist and a gallery of his wonderful seascapes.

I began sailing as a boy about 50 years ago in Cork. After a career in The City, I began ocean sailing 12 years ago, and now a sailing artist. 

I have always been fascinated by the sea and whilst living on a yacht in the North Atlantic my fascination kept growing. I now have a second career, delivering sailing yachts on ocean passages and spend months each year at sea, studying the sea, waves, their colours shapes and sizes all of which change from minute to minute.

As a Buddhist, I am conscious of and frequently meditate on the impermanence of everything and watching the sea hour after hour is a reminder of impermanence and the source of my obsession with waves and my attempts to capture the changing forms and colour.

The Buddha said ‘Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form’ and when I look at the ocean which combines emptiness and form I am awed by the emptiness of the oceans and have tried to capture this in some of my paintings.

I have never had the good fortune to study painting or art until my obsession led me to approach Jeremy Rugge-Price, a wonderful Suffolk sailing artist, an ex-mariner who is also obsessed by the sea, last year. He seems to have adopted me as a student and we spend hours discussing the sea and waves as he teaches me how to capture the essence of the waves.

My friend, the artist and art teacher Brigett Hill taught me what she considered some of the basics of painting.

The artist Megan Anderson sailed with me from the Azores to the UK this year and we spent many hours observing and discussing the sea, the waves and the colours of sea and sky. After our safe arrival in the UK, despite ‘blowing out’ the mainsail we spent some days in the 15th-century Scottish castle she lives in teaching me the art of ‘glazing’.

Recently I began to paint what I thought would be a series of 4 paintings depicting the same area of sea in each of the seasons. So far I have completed 6 in with seas in green, blue, turquoise, silver, orange. Four of the series are on display here and I have come to realise that each of these could be painted with a variety of skies and with an infinite number of sea states so it seems that I have enough subjects to keep me painting seas for several lifetimes.

I hope you enjoy my efforts.

 

Many thanks to Brendan for allowing us to reproduce his fantastic work.  If you have a talent that you would like to showcase on the blog, them please get in contact with me via the contact page found at the bottom of the Lovesail Homepage.

Erica

sailing artist