September 4, 2014
The Waiting Game
First it was the strong, gusty westerlies, then there was a huge southerly swell and now all we can see is squally showers with no wind whatsoever. We’ve been sitting in the same spot, pausing until the current nasty weather system travels through,…
August 25, 2014
Underwater with sharks in Huahine
Another video post, this time in Huahine with the beautiful reef sharks [...]
August 9, 2014
Swimming with sharks and rays in Moorea
Click on the link to see a video of us snorkelling with sharks and rays in Moorea. Enjoy! [...]
July 27, 2014
Not wanting to sound Bora boring, but…
At risk of stating the obvious... Bora Bora is LOVELY. It's beautiful, peaceful, and it's the last island we're spending time on before leaving for Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, and the tiny rock that is Niue. We're having a bit of [...]
July 14, 2014
Birthday in paradise
Yes there have been a few important birthdays aboard since last we last updated. Thanks for all the lovely messages. Both birthday girls were appropriately celebrated (some more messily than others...) [...]
July 3, 2014
Too close for comfort
I have long been aware that there is a fine art to anchoring well. It’s something that varies with each boat, each anchorage and the conditions that you’re presented with and it’s only on the rare occasions that someone gets it wrong that you truly…
June 24, 2014
All by ourselves…along with everyone else
It’s morning and I climb our companionway steps to sip my coffee on deck. I nod a greeting to the couple on board the boat anchored behind us, much as I have done on and off for the last four months. They are in their late 60’s and the extent……
June 16, 2014
The unpredictable child
Sometimes having a baby feels like damage control. You can easily spend a whole day consoling your howling infant from their latest fall, pre-emptively snatching away all the tempting unsuitable objects that they manage to get their sticky hands on…
June 7, 2014
When no news is good news…
I planned for this to publish while we were most likely out of all contact. Why? Because we are off exploring the Tuamotu Archipelago. This is the largest chain of atolls in the world and one of the most extreme places we've gone to with the boat.…
June 1, 2014
A hop, a skipper and a jump
A while back a friend of mine wrote a post on her blog that was called “Love letter to my captain”. It was an acknowledgement of her appreciation of just how much work she realised her husband did on board when he needed to fly home to the States…
May 20, 2014
On sailing with crew: the good, the bad and the ugly
I wake to the scent of fresh coffee and the familiar clatter of pans and plates as someone moves about, making breakfast in the galley. But, to my surprise and delight James, my boyfriend, is still fast asleep next to me. Welcome to one of the perks…
May 11, 2014
Water babies
When our families in the UK mentioned to others in conversation that we were expecting our first baby in Mexico, while sailing around the world on our boat, the news was met with shock, awe and interest. Yet, while adapting to our new roles as…
May 1, 2014
Soothing sounds of the ocean
You’ve probably seen the cds on the racks, heard them in elevators, during a yoga class or if you’ve ever treated yourself and gone to get a massage. The general consensus is that the noises of the sea must be gentle, calming and peaceful which…
April 24, 2014
Safe and sound
Yes, we made it! We are safely at anchor in Baie Tahauku, Atuona, Hiva Oa. Our passage across from Punta de Mita, at the northern tip of Banderas Bay in Mexico, took 26 days in total, covering a distance of 2,850 nautical miles. It wasn’t quite the…
March 27, 2014
No trade
So now we wait. We have got ourselves into the happy position that both the boat and her crew are ready for the crossing from Mexico to the Marquesas. It’s just that the wind isn’t. The right forecast will be one that gives us Northerlies or even…
March 19, 2014
A lot of support
You may have noticed a few changes around the site lately. There’s the new ‘Mothership’ page which details some of the product reviews we’re currently doing for various baby products being tested aboard. Also all these nice happy logos on the right…
March 10, 2014
All about Gill
Two new parents crossing an ocean with a baby and a Hydrovane? Well, not quite. Having not actually done any sailing with little Rocket we thought it wise to have a bit of extra help for the first 2,700 miles in the long stretch from Banderas Bay to…
March 1, 2014
Haul or nothing
Just when you’re getting ready to cross the largest ocean in the world the last thing you want to deal with is an unexpected costly and crucial repair. Now, I don’t think you need to know as much as we do about boats in order to be aware that a…
February 28, 2014
Look mum, no hands!
Change is in the air. We’re on the verge of beginning the next stage of our sailing journey: exploring the South Pacific. It’s also the start of us sailing as a family, which means we need to adapt the boat to make it a bit easier for either of us…
February 21, 2014
Where, Pacifically, are you going?
As you may be aware we're hoping to head across the Pacific starting this March. But, one thing that we've been asked on a number of occasions is how these exotic places all relate to one another and when we'll get to each one. A sailor's plans are…