John Passmore People hold opinions on storm tactics almost as vehemently as they do when the talk turns to anchors. The other night, I was part of the Ocean Cruising Club’s Zoom meeting to discuss the Jordan Series Drogue. There were almost 200 participants and nobody suggested this was anything other than the ultimate “must-have” device for … Read more
I have just spent an awfully long time sitting in the cockpit looking at the wrecked yacht on the beach. The tide is out, and half the hull is exposed. The mast moves as each wave lifts and then dumps her back on the sand with a thump. I wonder whether the owner has “wreck … Read more
A subtle change has come over boat life in Gran Canaria since the last time I was here. Oh, the anchorage off Las Palmas beach is as full as ever – and just as rolly. But, amazingly, it still as cheap: Only €1.25 per night for a 32ft boat. The thing that is noticeably different … Read more
The yacht was an Oyster 885 – essentially 90ft long – so it was a bit of a step up from the pontoon. Actually, at the end of the automatic, electrically-operated passerelle with LED lighting and folding handrail was one of those little collapsible step ladders you keep in the broom cupboard so you … Read more
You know those rogue waves everyone talks about? The real monsters, big as houses with breaking crests way higher than the mast. And steep – so steep there’s no escape. The boat is going to be knocked flat. I found one. Two hundred miles north of the Canaries on October 22, inbound from Falmouth for … Read more
The back of the North Atlantic passage chart has this to say about leaving the UK for the Canaries: “September is a good month”. Last time I did this trip, I Ieft on September 10th, got there in 13 days and spent most of the time rolling south at six knots under twin headsails with … Read more
I wasn’t going to have a watermaker. The whole point of the first trip to the Caribbean had been to work out what I needed – did I need an outboard (no), a sun awning (not so far), a watermaker? Ah, well, there a subject for discussion. Everyone told me that a 32ft boat with … Read more
Here is my grandfather in 1920 – he’s the little fellow in the front row on the right. He has chartered the gaff schooner Xenia for Cowes Week and invited his friends (the one in the middle – the only one not cross legged, with the cigarette and the supercilious air – he went to … Read more
There are precious few places in The Solent where you can anchor for nothing – certainly not with shelter from all quarters. Of course, you can be a cheapskate and refuse to give a fiver to the National Trust in the Newtown River – but the volunteers are so charming when they come round in … Read more
You don’t appreciate just how big Poole Harbour really is until you row from Pottery Pier to the little beach in the fishing boat marina. That’s 1.3 nautical miles (Poole Harbour being the second biggest natural harbour in the world – second only to Sydney, apparently). I row at two knots – but then, I … Read more
