Sometimes you look up and can’t quite believe the sheer magnitude of the sky. At times it’s the Milky Way but then there’s nights like this with one stunning centrepiece.

There are some spring days that make you happy just to be alive. and in such a superb setting There have been so many times however in this place where sailors have looked at the mountainous seas and thought they would be lucky if they lived to see another day.

Some places are timeless with a sense of permanence that belies its history.

A trip to the garden centre sark style.

Stormy seas bring new opportunities to let things settle and explore the land. Jersey did not disappoint.

No matter how many times you’ve done it or the different places you’ve done it in, the day you “splash” is a relief and the start of new adventures.

This time we came on the big silver bird but in December 2012 it was the start of an awfully big adventure proving that not only hobbits can do things they never thought possible.

I have been in many beautiful anchorages but only visited this one in my dreams.

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.