John Passmore

John Passmore is a retired journalist. He now lives almost all the time aboard is boat. The full story is told in his book Old Man Sailing - Some dreams take a lifetime.

Sailing Fair Isle

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Thank you to Judy and Steve, superstars of the sailing Fair Isle YouTube channel for making me look so good in their latest episode Hanging out in hurricane season | Ep124youtu.be  

Electric outboards

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Electric outboards are silent. Electric outboards require no maintenance. They are light, they don’t pollute, their “fuel” is free (providing the sun shines and the wind blows). And yet I haven’t seen a single one in Spanish Water, this huge, land-locked harbour in Curacao. There must be 200 boats at anchor here, waiting out the … Read more

Small boats

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There were three of us sitting in Samsara’s cockpit as the sun went down over Spanish Water in Curacao . That was when the conversation turned to the size of the cockpit. Well, it would do, given the size of said cockpit and the fact that there were three of us in it with the … Read more

EPIRB

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I never knew that saving my own life would be so complicated. Believe me, it is much easier to drown. If you have read Old Man Sailing – or even Faster, Louder, Riskier, Sexier – you will be familiar with my attitude to drowning. I have devoted several pages to the alternative, which is to … Read more

Diesel

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If you open up the engine casing and lie flat on the cylinder head and turn your head sideways so that your right ear gets folded back on itself by the underside of the companionway and your left ear is jammed against the oil filler cap, you can just reach Samsara’s fuel tank outlet. I … Read more

Downhill

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I’m beginning to get the hang of Hurricane Season in Grenada. Nobody tells you about this, but it can all go downhill fairly quickly. For one thing, nobody wants to go anywhere in case a hurricane comes along, so everybody has time on their hands. This is why I spent so much time sitting in … Read more

The bill

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I have always believed that every cloud has a silver lining – but only if you look for it. It has taken me two weeks to find the best thing about hitting the rock. You may have read about the rock. I am pleased to say the damage is all fixed now and Samsara is … Read more

Heat

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It’s raining in North Wales. I know this because I just spoke to Dave Jones about my battery installation (I’m biting the bullet and getting Lithium). Dave was happy to talk. It meant he could stay in his van in the dry. Also, It was 14°C outside (feels like 12 says the BBC). I mention … Read more

!?&@!!!

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 Hurricane Beryl had just crashed through Carriacou and taken a side-swipe at the Grenadines as she passed. I was in Trinidad’s Scotland Bay a hundred miles to the south watching it all on YouTube. I had joined the exodus and was feeling exceptionally pleased with myself. Here’s a tip: Never feel too pleased with yourself. … Read more

Beryl and Elon

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The Great Escape from Grenada to Trinidad Three days ago I left Dominica because there was a tropical disturbance 1,500 miles away. Now I’m approaching Trinidad where the weather forecast for tomorrow is “a gentle breeze”. For the Grenadines – just 100 miles to the north – it is: “Hurricane Beryl will develop into a … Read more