Hurricane Pablo started off as an innocuous looking low pressure system on 23 October that no one was paying much attention to. As this system began to develop, our annual voyage from Portsmouth to the Canaries was looking to cross the Bay of Biscay. The plan was to...
Passing through the Gates of Hercules From ancient mythology through to the Romans (perhaps even later) the Gates of Hercules held a special place in the folklore of seafarers. They were the place beyond which unknown hazards lay and monsters awaited. Today we passed...
Champagne sailing Many sailors would probably say their very best experience on the water is sailing fast, downwind, with the headsail poled out surfing down the waves, in bright sunshine. Without doubt a fair definition of champagne sailing. Today, after more than a...
With a storm to ride out, the crew weren't able to keep sending in a blog each day. So, we've collated the skipper's daily logs into one blog to give an idea of what it's like to be in a storm. Bracing for the Storm - Day 3 Skipper's Log Date : 02/11/19 Time : 12:00...
A magical dolphins sighting greets the crew of Challenger 2 this morning, before some cheeky stowaways are spotted. Cheeky Birds & Magical Dolphins For a long time this morning was had shoals of dolphins swimming alongside and jumping out of the water, truly...
And they're off! Challenger 2 is already in a race against the weather The crew of Challenger 2 set sail from Portsmouth yesterday making the most of an easterly wind to take them across the Channel to towards the west coast of France. Overnight the winds have...
What's the first thought that springs to mind when someone suggest sailing around the northern isles? Is it the striking scenery, the peace and solitude? Meeting people living on the space between arctic and Europe? Or is it the challenge of the weather? In...
A cruising sailing holiday on Santosa that takes in the Shetland and Orkney Islands is a special event in itself, and when it coincides with the 100th anniversary of an historic naval event it makes the holiday more memorable, but poignant at the same time....