I am writing this mid-afternoon on 6 March, but will set it to post later, where it will be too late to take it back.In less than three hours we will be aboard. A wee part of me has been hoping for some really good reason for the trip to … Continue reading
I have just downloaded the US Sailing Directions to Antarctica, a weighty tome full of dark warnings. The British would call it the Pilot Book, the detailed description of the coastline and sailing conditions of the area. (The Admiralty Pilot is not available electronically and costs at least £60.) In addition to … Continue reading
Maximum fitness for the trip isn’t just about all that gym time. I’ve also been getting myself thoroughly checked over by various medics. Quite apart from generalised worry this involved two big terrors. Would there be enough cash for everything and, most of all, could I face the dentist? First the … Continue reading
Were there women on tall ships when they were the biggest vessels afloat? The wooden world is often seen as totally masculine, full of Russell Crowe types with their supporting cast of thugs and young gentlemen. It depends rather on both the work of the ship and the country of … Continue reading
Ellen MacArthur smashed the records for sailing single-handed round the world in 2005. She was 29 and she took the 23m trimaran B&Q round in just 71 days. She did not have a safety boat trailing along to pick her up, or helicopters on stand-by, though I’ve heard people mutter … Continue reading
By this July I was seriously unfit. It’s been a rough three years and I’ve not found it easy to sink my sorrows into a gym routine. Whisky and cheese are better companions in the dark hours. Along the way I’ve also had a number of small, slightly risible incidents which … Continue reading
