One of the delights of sailing here is the food but sometimes - only sometimes - there is a sting in the tail.

Dunkerque is now a a seaside resort town with hotels, restaurants and endless sandy beaches but the name will always stand for one thing - freedom. All thanks to a defeat that was turned into a victory for civilisation as we know it.

The passage along the coast of Holland, Belgium and the Dover straight is best done in 6-8 hour hops. The tides here are accelerated as they squeeze the wide and deep Atlantic into the comparatively shallow and confined North Sea. Its been a while since we did this so here goes……

Arrival and relaunch went without a hitch but an exciting ride swinging on our 20 ton boat 25’ in the air alongside the steel wall of the ship. Splashdown was gentle and no issues so off to our first European marina in 12 years.

We have had a fantastic 12 years in the Caribbean and USA but things are getting complicated. Insurance, bureaucracy and travel are all getting harder and much more expensive. And we miss the kind of sailing we did for 25 years before we left Guernsey in 2013. So time to go home.

Lock up the larder and strap in for the voyage of a lifetime, an experience we will never forget and be forever grateful for.

With a heavy heart we left Tijax and started the trip North for the last time. the challenges started even before we left the river and the dinghy engine died.

The last couple of weeks before we head south for the winter is always a helter skelter ride of checklists, final spares orders, paperwork, jabs and final visits. This year has an added frisson however, its the last time we will do this

At the end of last season we made a decision that has been weighing heavily - we felt compelled to sell Seminole Wind and it felt like a betrayal.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely so when you give a little grumpy little officia some power they love to excercise it.

For the past week we have had Art and Sharon David, our good friends from Naples Florida sailing with us and it has been a blast.

How did that happen? But there’s still half left the season left and a lot to look forward to.

Graham’s Place holds a very special place in our hearts. it is what we signed uo for when we first went cruising, a home away from home, a place we can’t think about without smiling, our Happy Place.

The time reflect on the year that has past and plan new adventures for the year to come, but most of all to sit back and count my blessings.

I found this in my file of old blogs and it reminded me of a very strong time in all our lives.. Written Thursday 7th May 2020 – Key Largo Florida at the start of lockdown.

Around 25% of sea life lives on. or around Coral reefs. They are perhaps the most beautiful and almost certainly the most diverse places on our planet. And they are dying.

Each of the three main Honduran Bay Islands have a distinctive feel but this sleepy one came alive this weekend.

I’m writing this at sea halfway through a 100 nautical mile passage simply because I can.

Communication is a constant challenge at sea or at anchor. We’ve got lots of options but each comes at a cost and with restrictions.: