The Invisible Workshop

Landing

2012-01-23T21:46:00.004Z

Photos by Sergio OcaCrew Elena ValThe wind had increased until we were over-pressed. Pinching and spilling wind we were getting along, but not very comfortably, so we anchored to double reef the main and mizzen. With the boat readied we found that the hook had fouled. We tried to sail it out but the sails flogged, backed and hindered. We stowed them and managed to row the anchor out. Then we

Still going

2012-01-18T21:41:00.003Z

A cruise through blues 4

2011-09-21T19:37:00.002Z

Perched on a headland the Catalan flag, four red stripes on a yellow background, simply refused to flap. Southerlies were forecast from 10 am onwards. They were two hours late and I felt indignant. But as the flag’s lethargy infected my mood my irritation evaporated.I lay back in OB, this was a good anchorage for a little boat, shallow, protected and with a little beach to visit and paths over

A cruise through blues 3

2011-09-12T20:01:00.006Z

Only after pulling the bows up onto the little beach at Aigua-xellida did I realise how tired I was. Before my limbs got too heavy I knew that I had to reconfigure the boat for eating and sleeping and then cook and hit the sack.The cove was hidden in a deep shade of the gloomy sort that you don’t often see in the Mediterranean and much less in summer. I’d stopped here on my last cruise up the

A cruise through blues 2

2011-09-05T18:48:00.001Z

My destination was Cadaqués and the XXIV Festival of Lateen Sail. It was only 35 miles away but with a firm wind on the nose it seemed to recede rather than approach. I’d lost masses of ground outside Palamos harbour sitting to the sea anchor while I double reefed the sails, stowed and lashed gear. All this should have been done on the beach of course, but as often happens when someone

A cruise through blues 1

2011-09-01T10:34:00.003Z

I hadn’t realised when I last made the trip in 2008, that a cruise on the Costa Brava is really just a lesson in understanding the colour blue. It’s there in shades beyond alice and azure, demin and dodger, electric and iceberg, colbalt and cornflower, sapphire and true. All my travels in OB seem to acquire a certain emotional intensity and this one, for all that I only had to cover 40 miles,

Summer Cruise, Part 6. Suddenly it was Sunday afternoon

2011-08-07T19:32:00.009Z

All reefed down and neat the breeze was still strong enough to make the gusts a challenge. The offshore wind raked at the dark surface of the water in a way calculated to dry the throat of the observer who sits in a small boat. Onawind Blue just wanted to turn bows to the wind. I’ve learnt though that rather than letting her luff it can be more rewarding to stay committed. Sheeted in and with a

Summer Cruise, Part 5. The most important meal of the day

2011-08-04T22:38:00.006Z

The sea, combed flat by the offshore wind, looked dark and cold. A double reefed main and mizzen day for sure, but even that would probably be too much for the gusts. I’d have to be on the water to know. I would have pushed out straight away were it not for one precaution. I hadn’t had any breakfast.I wasn’t hungry but on a day like today breakfast might be the only meal I got. I’d leave food

Summer Cruise, Part 4. And the dawn brought unicylists

2011-08-03T15:31:00.004Z

Back at the beach the lifeguards were packing up their tanning oils. Using the oars I kept Onawind Blue to seaward of the breaking waves waiting for the channel to clear of people and for a pause in the wave train. The sea calmed a tad. I rowed round the swimmers and to the beach pulling quickly up onto the sand before the next set of waves arrived.It is pleasant to arrive somewhere from the sea

Summer Cruise, Part 3. Clouds shifted off inland.

2011-08-01T20:53:00.006Z

No sooner had I struggled out of the small harbour entrance, rowing against the breeze than the guts fell out of the wind. The large, forbidding cloud unburdened itself of a few weighty drops of rain. And that, it seemed, was the end of the weather. Left to roll around on a grey and greasy swell Onawind Blue creaked and groaned. I rowed over to the main harbour mouth and positioned myself to

Summer cruise, Part 2. The knife is sharp, the knife cuts.

2011-07-29T10:47:00.006Z

A roughed up rowing boat... and a modern tuna fishing boat in l'Amettla de MarSo I spent the afternoon making short tacks down the coast. Nosing into every cove and sailing excitingly close in under the cliffs, I stared into the mesmerisingly clear water judging when to tack by the depth. I didn’t switch the GPS on as this only has the effect of making me check our speed every few minutes.

Summer cruise. Part 1, An encounter with the great white Turd

2011-07-25T08:10:00.005Z

After a few days making lists and packing gear I trailered OB down to l’Ametlla de Mar and launched at Port l’Estany. I had three days of cruising ahead of me, no huge amounts of sea miles to cover, no arrangements or timetables or deadlines, no plans except to enjoy the local coastline and, er, no map or chart. I’d forgotten that piece of kit.At first I saw this as an unforgivable, lubberly

Difficult launching at Lloret de Mar

2011-07-20T21:42:00.007Z

My rowing team had a hard time of it at last weekend’s regattas at Lloret de Mar. The recent north easterlies had brought a large swell which, arriving at a steep beach surged alarmingly. Sometimes the undertow left the boat’s sterns grinding in the sand while their bows were lifted high in the air.I didn’t go but my team mate Inma, who sent me the photos, said, (roughly translated), ‘It was a

Sail the Western Med aboard a Brigantine

2011-07-05T11:06:00.002Z

My good friends aboard the tall ship El Cyrano are soon leaving on the first ‘Tall Ship Training Experience.’ And there are still some places available.Leaving Tarragona on the 16th of July the plan is to sail north to France, weather permitting of course, over 6 days. The Cyrano will spend each night at a port on the Catalan coast. If you want to gain a unique view of the north western

Lateen sailing festival Cambrils

2011-06-29T22:06:00.015Z

OB and Santa EspinaPhoto by Josep-Anton TrepatWhen I rang the organisers of the V Trobada de Vela Llatina de Cambrils—worrying as I occasionally do that I’ll be told that home made, ply and epoxy boats, have no place among the majestic remnants of Mediterranean maritime history—I was received with genuine enthusiasm and welcomed to take part.Photo by Montse GranollersFeeling rather honoured I

More from Morbihan

2011-06-16T18:30:00.006Z

The only other Spanish people up at Morbihan, apart from the Basques who were the guests of honour, were a couple of friends from Catalunya. I had no idea they’d attend, though being the saltiest couple I know I suppose it was hardly surprising. Xavi Canos and Monica Sitjes live in Cardona a landlocked town about 100km from the sea, yet most weekends they can be found sailing their Drascombe

Water, wind, wood and oysters

2011-06-15T11:49:00.020Z

Of the 70 photos I took at least half were shot from the hip and just show the gunwale, an oar and some water. I quite like them but the Semaine du Golfe was more than that. Here’s a selection of the better pics with brief commentary.The voile-aviron fleet pulled up on the beach at the Ille d’Arz. There were many interesting boats but I didn’t get to do much chatting to owners so please forgive

Onawind Blue in Brittany

2011-06-13T15:37:00.003Z

Probably as hard as any sailing trip I’ve done—given that I’m not as fit as I have been—and just as rewarding, the Semaine du Golfe was amazing.Coming from the Mediterranean the tides at first were unnerving but as all the sailing was carefully planned around them I didn’t have to worry too much. At one point I did end up way down-tide and had a hard job of anchoring and rowing the 50 yards or so

‘If I’m well enough to walk I’m well enough to row’

2011-05-24T19:20:00.003Z

Giacomo De Stefano, recovering from a complicated illness, wrote the above words in an email to me on arriving in England before restarting his Man on the River adventure. Giacomo’s journey is now well under way and he’s proving that despite the health struggles of the last year he can indeed row and sail.And now, if Giacomo doesn’t mind, I’ll use that inspiring phrase as my own motto as I

The Giant Octopus Party

2011-05-21T16:31:00.002Z

I’m not a party person but some things are really worth celebrating. Above is the invitation for the fiesta I’ll be holding in July. As you’ve all been so supportive you’re all invited. Seriously, any reader that can get down here for the 8th of July will be welcome.The amazing image was drawn my friend Elena Val. I have stared at it for hours. She has managed to convey last year’s tussle more

The Cyrano

2011-05-14T11:51:00.008Z

When the doctors say I can’t go sailing yet I take it to mean ‘small boat’ sailing—discomfort, cold and the possibility of getting soaked—not standing on the weather deck of a brigatine under a sun hat watching other people pull ropes and climb rigging.So over the past two months I’ve been very happy to join the crew of El Cyrano for their weekend sails from Tarragona Harbour. The sea off the

The book of Ben's sea

2011-04-30T15:52:00.010Z

Every now and then you get a present that has you turning your head away pretending an insect has just flown into your eye. Such was the case with 'The book of Ben's sea'.The book was compiled my close friend Sergio Oca. He took the time to trawl back through this blog looking for decent pics of the sea. He then straightened them, adjusted the colour and the contrast and generally made the photos

Basque rowing

2011-04-16T18:37:00.003Z

A while ago Iñaki from the Basque country left a link in the comment box. It’s a video of a ‘trainera’ hurtling along with dolphins gambolling about the bow.The ‘trainera’ fixed seat rowing boats have developed from anchovy and sardine fishing vessels that could be rowed or sailed. Originally made of cedar and beech they are now a high-tech mix of kevlar and carbon fibre. The 12 metre boats weigh

A simple beach launch

2011-04-02T12:49:00.003Z

My good friend Paco Beltrán of DosVelas Pictures has uploaded this touching video of Onawind Blue. Though it doesn’t look like a winter’s day this was filmed back in Janurary on one of those warm, calm Mediterranean days that make getting over complicated diseases a cinch.Regular viewers might recognise Mónica Oca’s music, which first appeared in the final clip of OB’s Ibizian odyssey, ‘Fear is a

A night out

2011-02-28T07:52:00.014Z

I left the beach at midday ready for a night out and having packed all the important things including fresh mussels, prawns, fish stock, garlic and parsley. I pointed the bow towards Vilanova, fifteen miles northeast. In the gusty northwesterly wind I reefed, unreefed, double reefed, reefed, unreefed, double reefed again rather more tidily. And sailed large at 2 to 8 knots. A large swell rolled

Onawind Blue in Children’s literature

2011-02-15T11:28:00.007Z

You know how badly represented boats often are in children’s books. Backwards rigs on unstayed masts, inconsistent wind direction. We’ve all had a good laugh, or cry, over them. So it was not only an honour to have my little boat immortalised on the page but also nice to see that the wind and rig are in harmony.The illustrator is Elena Val and the book, with original text in Catalan by Teresa

The first row

2010-08-13T17:39:00.006Z

Just before my last bout of chemo, feeling better than I had for months, I decided to take the boat out. My brother Daniel was over from London, the weather had been settled and carpe diem was my motto.The following is an extract from my cancer diary.“I’ve been planning this jaunt for a few days, counting on Daniel’s presence for launching OB and rowing me back to shore if I get too tired. I

Pulling for Ben

2010-08-08T10:11:00.004Z

The amount of support I’ve had during this illness has been overwhelming. Not only all the cheering comments from you lot out there (thank you so much, it really has made a difference) but also, now I’m out of hospital, the encouragement of local people as well. All those neighbours that, at times, might have been irritated or perplexed by OB’s presence in the garden have touchingly demonstrated

The Giant Octopus revisited

2010-06-23T12:15:00.004Z

This is a post from Ben’s partner Mónica. A year ago Ben was on his trip to Ibiza. In his words he was ‘fighting a giant octopus’ that symbolised his fears. Over the past two months he has been fighting another giant octopus. Tonight the summer solstice is celebrated in Spain. It is the eve of San Juan. It is a fire festival with bonfires and fireworks. I will be lighting a fire on the beach for

A tap on the shoulder

2010-05-07T16:38:00.002Z

A sense of loyalty makes me feel it’s only fair that I should let you know that I won’t be posting for a while. A health problem has taken centre stage, demanding my full attention.There’s only one way to look at these things though, and that’s as a new adventure. It might not be as picturesque as sailing but if I can make the most of all the opportunities it presents I will be richer for the

Els horitzons d'en Ben

2010-04-10T14:00:00.004Z

Click on the +i button to see the video. If that doesn't work (the links seems a bit iffy) try here.

OB on the telly

2010-04-07T22:44:00.003Z

Back in January a Catalan TV reporter came to film OB with a view to making a short documentary about her. Aware of the fickle nature of television I didn’t think anything would come of it despite the chap driving off with five hours of material.Readers in Spain should tune into the ‘Thalassa’ on Catalan TV’s Canal 33 at 21:55 on Friday 9th. The OB documentary is titled Els horitzons d'en Ben (

A perfect system of pulleys

2010-04-02T10:53:00.006Z

The most time consuming part of boat turning is the waiting around for someone to come by who can be roped into giving a hand. Recently OB’s been turned more often than rashers in a pan and I’ve been depending on a local builder for muscle. But when he was suddenly called away to birth of his fifth son I had to find a way to flip the boat alone.Setting up a block and tackle in the olive tree I

Four oars

2010-04-01T18:37:00.006Z

It started with a thick plank of Russian pine. I knew Onawind Blue’s new oars were in there somewhere, it was just a question of getting them out. I took up Mr Mushroom’s offer of cutting out the rough shape on his bandsaw. Then I managed to borrow an electric plane and took off the wood around the oar blades and looms.I thought things couldn’t get any better when another carpenter friend lent me

A boat for all reasons

2010-03-20T10:29:00.003Z

I feel I haven’t so much been working on OB over the past couple of weeks as gently communing with her. I know it’s hokum but I’ve always anthropomorphised my boat. Of inanimate objects I have known she is by far the most lively. And while stripping the varnish back to wood or uncovering voids (or a cracked epoxy fillet hiding soggy wood!!) I’ve been forced to consider the build quality.She’s the

Where would we be?

2010-03-19T20:28:00.002Z

One of my neighbours made it clear that he had a problem with me working on OB in the communal garden. Fair enough, I said, I’ll get the boat out of the garden, but what exactly is the trouble? As I listened to his argument my eyes flicked between his jugular and the chisel in my hand. Where would we be, he asked, if everybody did their boat up in the garden? Unwittingly he’d chosen a line of

‘The uncharted coasts of the human spirit’

2010-03-10T18:11:00.004Z

A long-awaited copy of William H Longyard’s A Speck on the Sea arrived this morning. With more than 70 accounts of big adventures in small boats I couldn’t resist plunging in immediately. Now on page 40 it is proving to be everything I hoped it would be—well researched with a gripping subject matter.Being a Mediterranean rowing story the first full account, William Okeley’s 150-mile journey from

Dents, dings and voids

2010-03-07T15:55:00.007Z

Gouges caused by stones in the sand are acceptable wear for a beach boat. The dings caused by the trolley are less justifiable. I’ve read about the value of a suitable trailer and a decent boat cover and really it seems ironic that OB sustains more damage on land than at sea. The trailer and cover have long been on unwritten lists but…trailer damagePoking at a hairline crack I uncovered a void in

Starting work

2010-03-06T19:14:00.003Z

To turn OB over and work comfortably something or a couple of somethings were needed to support her. The bench with wheels on which she was built (and which Unhygenix was so fond of) was cannibalised to make the launch trolley. Last time she had her bottom seen to she rested on a gunwale and leant against a tree. For this year’s more prolonged work a sturdier something had to be made.I built a

Ode to an old oar

2010-03-04T20:52:00.002Z

Don’t worry, no poetry. But that old oar, washing in and out with every wave seemed to warrant a few lines. Traditional Catalan oars had appeared here just a few days before and now there was half a one right there in the water. The loom and handle had gone, just the shaft and blade remained, thoroughly stripped of paint after doing time in the shorebreak.

The End of the Line

2010-03-03T11:19:00.002Z

The film by Rupert Murray after the book of the same title by Charles Clover has a clear message. If we don’t change the current situation there will be no fish in 48 years time. The oceans are in a mess and, as the film says, this has happened on our watch.The end of the line focuses largely on the decimation of blue fin tuna, illegally fished in huge quantities in the Mediterranean and shipped

Old wooden oars

2010-02-26T22:19:00.006Z

The rowing team lifts weights on Mondays and Wednesdays, runs on Tuesdays and rows on Fridays and Sundays. The weight training takes place in a 43 foot container on the fish dock. It’s pretty cramped in there with 8 or 9 blokes hefting iron, not to say smelly. Sometimes we drag all the weights outside and train under the stars.The Friday night row is full on regatta training in 'el Ibrit' but on

What the hell am I going to do this summer?

2010-02-23T23:59:00.006Z

Some years ago I would have happily done any amount of grovelling for an opportunity to go sailing. Boatless and with few contacts, standing on the beach gazing at the sea was often as near as I got. There was windsurfing of course but my equipment was limited to wind strengths of force 5 and above. The joys of back and forth sailing, scoring a groove in the ocean, had waned. I wanted to cruise a

Small boat repairs

2010-02-22T23:02:00.001Z

1. Repair and paint bottom.2. Think about drains though frames 7 and 3.3. Repair topside dings and paint.4. Build up the mast-through-deck rings.5. Eliminate second mast position.6. Think about adding cockpit coaming.7. Strip decks and varnish.8. Varnish spars.9. Make longer oars.This is the list of work to be done on Onawind Blue. I’ve whittled it down from a longer

Our new boat

2010-02-21T22:43:00.004Z

Our new rowing boat is called ‘el Ibrit’. The name has derived, through a series of spelling mistakes, from el híbrid, meaning the hybrid in Catalan. It is a name that has become disassociated from its meaning. We call it 'el Ibrit' much in the way that we might call it Ingrid, or Brett or any other name. 'El Ibrit' is the boat we’ll be taking to the Spanish nationals in May. It’s made of carbon

Spanish Wood

2010-01-28T19:57:00.005Z

The Spanish Mediterranean coast is not a good place for buying wood. Though a thick pelt of forestry covers many areas of Catalunya there is little general use of wood. While you might see pine beams in old buildings, timber has barely been used in construction since the 60’s when concrete became God and high-rise apartment blocks ruptured the skyline.Wood in the home has been ousted by a

It's a wonderful life

2010-01-18T12:35:00.001Z

Trawler work

2010-01-12T22:32:00.005Z

Back in September, finding myself out of work, I seriously thought about trying to get a job aboard a fishing boat. I signed up for a course to obtain the necessary Basic Sea Survival certificate and got networking with the local fishermen. It seemed like there might be a possibility of getting a place on a trawler based in Tarragona.Catalan Mediterranean trawler fishermen work from 0600 to 1800

Mediterranean trawler

2010-01-10T21:12:00.006Z

Last September I did a day’s work aboard a Mediterranean trawler. Evidently there was no comparison to be made with the experience described by Redmond O’Hanlon in his book Trawler. The work was easy, the sun shone, the crew were good-natured and friendly. It was a day trip in flip-flops with fantastic food and plenty of wine, coffee, and brandy. But I hadn’t gone to make comparisons.At the time

Trawler

2010-01-05T23:06:00.005Z

I recently re-read Redmond O’Hanlon’s excellent book Trawler. Redmond—writer, naturalist and academic—embarks on an Orkney Islands trawler sailing from Stromness. It is mid January and a Category One Force 12 hurricane is forecast. The entire North Sea fishing fleet is sitting snug in port but the Norlantean’s skipper Jason Schofield has a 2 million quid overdraught and can’t afford to miss a day

The last catch of the year

2009-12-31T15:20:00.012Z

The trawler fleet return to Vilanova harbour in the watery afternoon light.The more elderly wooden boats have a distinctive sheer and pleasing proportions.The more modern boats have the aggressive features of natural predators. Not all returning boats trail a cloud of seagulls. Please tell me that this is because they have already sorted and stowed the catch and not that the nets came up empty.

The Mediterranean this morning

2009-12-25T07:47:00.008Z

Looking over the water in the dawn light, breathing the sea’s salt breath.

Rowing to the brothel

2009-12-20T08:55:00.006Z

OB is in Ibiza having left Javea on the Spanish mainland at 1am Monday morning. With favourable southerly winds she covered 68 nautical miles, to Talamanca Bay on the east side of the island, in 19 hours. At 5.30am on Monday ten miles from the Spanish shore OB had a rudder failure, the blade breaking just below the stock. However, Ben was able to make a jury rudder using

That sinking feeling

2009-06-09T09:13:00.005Z

One thing I thought might be useful to know was how much water my Light Trow could take on board. To that end I loaded the boat with gear, closed the lockers tight and sailed out to one of the large yellow buoys that separate the designated bathing and boating zones. The buoy was anchored in 3 or 4 metres. If I’d had any serious doubts about the boat’s buoyancy I wouldn’t have carried out the

A quiver of rudders

2009-05-14T09:34:00.004Z

That new rudder blade that I made for OB is too small. It turns the boat fine and is lighter sailing off the breeze but is not big enough for going to windward.At first I thought I’d just knock up a copy of the previous rudder, which I’d butchered to make the current one but the shape of the available ply off-cut got me thinking. It was a small piece of ply; barely big enough to create a rudder

Anti-wrinkle cream

2009-05-14T09:26:00.001Z

I’ve been back to the rowing club several times now. Learning to row as part of a team is a challenge and not stopping to enjoy the view is one of the hardest parts.But the rowing has been a lot easier since I changed boats. The veterans with whom I went out the first few times are a hard-arsed bunch. They smoke, they spit and their beer guts are pure muscle. And though I qualify in age for this

'Estrop' versus grommet

2009-05-14T08:20:00.004Z

Estrop GrommetI’ve always rowed OB with a rope grommet holding the oar to the pin. I have now changed to an estrop, however, and am trying to ascertain the pros and cons of each.When rowing there isn’t a marked difference though the grommet does seem to hold the oar

A taste of the slipper

2009-04-28T20:23:00.002Z

Estrop is the Catalan word for the length of line that holds the oar to the thole pin. It is one item of gear that the rowing club expects you to supply. They provide the boat and the oars, you provide the piece of string that joins the two together. I’d made my estrop quite carefully with three turns held together with a quintuple stopper knot and one half hitch. I’d got my gardening gloves, the

There’s rowing and there’s rowing

2009-04-24T19:11:00.003Z

I would sail and row more if I had a safe launching and landing spot. So, hoping to increase my time on the water, albeit in a different boat, and wanting to turn the fat around my waist into muscle on my shoulders I went to the local marina for a test run with the rowing team.The Catalan open water rowing boat is a traditionally shaped llagut made of thick fibreglass with a slightly faster

Long live Aunt Aileen’s fruitcake

2009-04-22T08:55:00.005Z

There’s no doubting the incredible feat of sailing 32-foot wooden ketch non-stop around world and Robin Knox-Johnston’s 313-day solo circumnavigation of 1968/69 marks a pinnacle of endurance and resourcefulness. From an armchair world it is nigh impossible to imagine how appallingly lonely and frightening that sort of sailing must have been.In his book ‘A World of my Own’ something of

Onawind Blue on the Costa Brava

2009-04-17T21:07:00.008Z

Some great photos have landed in my inbox courtesy of Amiga Atlántica.Above, on the decks of the Santa Eulalia, multilingual Spanish blogging trio, from left Joan Sol of El Mar es el Camí (Catalan), Amiga Atlántica of Una mirada a la Ría de Vigo (Castillian Spanish, with bits of of Galician thrown in) and me. And below some good pics of OB.

100 years of sailing on the Costa Brava

2009-04-16T14:06:00.012Z

After three great days away with Onawind Blue taking part in the centenary celebrations of the term Costa Brava I’m knackered and happy and OB’s ego is pumped up like a balloon from all the compliments she’s received.The festival, which took place in Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Palamos on the Costa Brava was open to all craft with traditional rigs. Although the turnout wasn’t amazing there was

The boat that wouldn’t be photographed

2009-04-07T16:37:00.003Z

I did see an interesting boat in Mallorca but it was 29 metres underground. Four rowing boats live on the subterranean Lake Martel, an unusual body of water 170 metres long by 30 wide in the Coves del Drac in Mallorca. The caves are nearly 2km long and are home to fantastic formations of stalagmites and stalactites. The French speleologist A T Martel explored the caves in 1896 (He’d explored

Sailing into the sublime

2009-04-04T22:00:00.003Z

I thought that three days in Mallorca would yield material for a blog post. Given that the island is home to many of the boatyards that still build in wood and that various lateen rigged llaüts sail the waters. Yet I barely saw a boat, let alone an interesting one that I could photograph despite a 100km search of the coastline.Back in my hotel room, however, I found a piece about the Romantic

Sailing large

2009-03-25T15:04:00.003Z

The other day after some difficult moments in the waves, I had a sweet, sweet sail. There was just time for the usual six-mile triangle—one long windward beat offshore, then another upwind leg on the opposite tack, and finally a delicious downwind run back to the beach.I have a new camera that, being waterproof, takes all the worry out of filming aboard. Here’s a one-minute film of Onawind Blue

The stupidest thing

2009-03-24T16:11:00.004Z

I pulled Onawind Blue across the soft sand to the edge of the sea. A light force three blew from the southwest forming a small cross-sea with the remains of a southeasterly swell. The waves, at one, to one and a half feet, were manageable. Though every now and then a larger set with two to three foot waves washed in I knew that OB had handled more in the past and that leaving the beach should

Cruising lists

2009-03-21T22:45:00.005Z

I never bothered to study those equipment lists in the back of old sailing books. Appendix A would list technical specifications, B medical supplies and C food. How many pairs of socks the sailors took with them, the number of packets of self-heating soup or the quantity of wax-covered eggs seemed irrelevant. Though I was always mildly curious as to how the eggs got their wax coating and whether

Johanne Regina

2009-03-03T20:45:00.011Z

Built in Fåborg, Denmark in 1929 the 69-foot ex-Baltic trading vessel Johanne Regina features in the classic sailing book, The Gypsy Life by Clare Allcard. Clare and her husband Edward Allcard first saw the neglected hulk on a slipway in Antigua in 1974 and fell in love with her fast lines and wineglass transom. But the boat was not for sale. Her Antiguan owners however, spurning nautical lore,

Mediterranean fish stew

2009-02-24T12:35:00.007Z

According to the great Catalan writer Josep Pla (1897-1981) fish stew as cooked and eaten by fishermen is the most ancient of Mediterranean dishes. Regardless of the religion, the rulers or the nationality of the neighbouring shores fish stew has been a constant.A simple dish with a long history that, marrying fish, onion, garlic, tomato and potato in the pot, produces sustaining, sumptuous yet

One more cup of coffee

2009-02-22T20:02:00.003Z

Years on decaf have undermined my threshold for caffeinated coffee to a miserable degree. In a cold sweat after one cup, jittery after two and grinding my teeth like an amphetamine charged clubber after three, logic and perception are also affected. In an attempt to retrieve the morning and meet myself somewhere halfway towards normality I laid into the wine. This approach, I have learnt many

Thöpaga

2009-02-15T20:06:00.005Z

Built on a beach in the region of Murcia in 1924, the schooner Thöpaga transported goods up and down the Spanish Mediterranean coast. But like others of her breed she struggled to compete with engine-powered craft and eventually became obsolete. By the 60’s she was rotting alongside many other similar boats in the port of Ibiza. Most of these craft either sunk or were burnt but Thöpaga’s lines

All rigged up and no place to go

2009-02-08T12:16:00.001Z

The varnish hardened on the mast, the new rudder and yoke mounted on the transom, the bumps and bruises on the hull repaired, the sails, sheets and halyards rigged; Onawind Blue sat in the garden, pleasing as ever to the eye.Food and cooking equipment in the fore locker, the wine skin in the stern, anchor, drogues, spare line, bucket and bailer, fenders, oars, lifejacket and cushion, all the

Essential equipment

2009-02-01T22:57:00.004Z

Here’s a new addition to my cruising kit. A wineskin as used by shepherds, goatherds and, I’m assuming, fishermen over the centuries, ever since wine was first produced. Quite the traditional drinking vessel they are made of thick goatskin and the seam is sealed with pine resin. To use you unscrew the top, lift the skin high applying light pressure and direct the resulting fine jet of wine into

OB’s new mast

2009-01-25T21:38:00.012Z

Not the best weekend for working outside with 50 plus knots of wind hurling about the garden but work on the mast progressed significantly, even if I did lose a ream of sandpaper to various marauding mini tornados. OB spent the morning bucking about on her trolley and I was just moving her to a safer spot when roof tiles lifted off a nearby building with all the ease and grace of dandelion seeds,

The boat that split in two

2009-01-08T10:59:00.010Z

The ‘pontona’ is a traditional Catalan craft, an elusive denizen of the Ebro Delta and more than half way to extinction. Some can be seen languishing in the mud full of water and losing their shape to rot, others list alarmingly, moored to posts in lagoons. And a handful are still in use, working out of the busy fishing port of Sant Carles de la Rapita, the penultimate town on the southern

Rowing for pain

2008-12-28T23:48:00.006Z

With arms lax and heavy, back warm and limber, snuggled into a favourite corner of the sofa with a book and a glass of wine it’s all I can do to keep my eyes open. But I’m trying to find references to galley slaves, something to give an idea of the suffering that someone tied to an oar for up to a month at a time must have experienced. I know I read somewhere that conditions were such that a