Saturday, June 18, 2022
Project s/y Fanny Sawakin to Suez and Port Said
Sunday, June 05, 2022
Project s/y Fanny Djibouti to Sawakin
Spotted coaster wreck
Upon our arrival with s/y Fanny to Suakin (Sawakin) I spotted a semi submerged coaster vessel on the side of the fairway. She seemed to have been anchored or stranded on the shore possibly after having been laid up or developing a critical leak when she called port. Whatever the reason there she was sitting seemingly abandoned.
Sunday, May 29, 2022
Project s/y Fanny Maldives to Djibouti
As we left Maldives we soon got some wind we could finally use. Although direction was wrong we just had to in order to save fuel, so we headed on a SW'ly course and during following days sometimes with engines on, or engines off, depending how hard it blew. At best we did 8kts on average on a stretch of 6hrs.
Friday, May 06, 2022
Project s/y Fanny Malaysia to Maldives
Having arrived Lumut safely Owner and us had some errands to tend to in Kuala Lumpur so we got a car loaned and drove up there. Turned out my errand was not needed so I got a few days off and a visit to KL. Impressive city but impossible to find a taxi unless you were booking via a dedicated app, so we rather ate from eateries close by the airbnb than taking tax to some other venue. We actually found a very nice Mexican restaurant. After 3 nights we headed back to Lumut and left Owner to tend to his own business.
Saturday, April 02, 2022
Project s/y Fanny - Thailand to Malaysia
After having done the rounds in Phuket I one evening met a Malaysian chap that had been refurbishing a 10yr old second hand 45' Lagoon catamaran for the purpose of world wide traveling.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Vacation in Thailand
Having stepped off my last yacht for good I decided to stay for awhile as it was winter in Europe and I was in no hurry back to find another job. I also thought that maybe there would be gigs to do on some small yacht lacking a skipper. Anyway, ended up renting a scooter and rediscovering Phuket as it had been 10+ years since I was here last. Below are pictures of some locations I ended going to...
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
Project s/y Fanny in Thailand
In January having arrived with Boadicea to Thailand I was ashore one evening having a few refreshments and was standing on the street near the marina at a local watering hole.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
Happy New year 2022
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Was I visited by Santa Claus...?
I recently joined a Seiko watch group and as it happens there was a raffle going on for a high-end limited-edition (1000pcs) Seiko Prospex SRQ029J1 and I decided to try my luck. I invested in 4 tickets @ 25EUR/pc and duly transferred 100EUR to the group's administrator in Belgium after bit of a conversation to make sure it is hunky dory.
Monday, December 20, 2021
Meeting old friends
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Walking Montalto to Carpasio
Went walking up in the mountains and started early morning as one does not want to get stuck up there after dark, at least if you are not carrying the right gear.
Packed up a water bladder, pocket knife and some extra clothes, such as socks and long armed T-shirt and a warmer skullcap. Was wearing windproof jogging pants, flannel shirt and on top a wind proof jacket. On my feet Meindl hiking boots and woolie socks. Chucked in a few granola bars too.
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Rescue of Wilhelmine - the whole story
The story of Wilhelmine was broken up into several posts due to the length of each chapter.
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Rescue of Wilhelmine - epilogue
If you've read all the previous posts you know by now she was only rescued from an undignified end rusting asunder at an deserted beach despite our greater ideas that were smashed by the pandemic.
After having delivered her to Grenaa we've received news that her railings were sold off to a sailing ship project and part of her furniture has been kept. Also her main engine was recovered.
Below are some pictures of the demolition process, all thanks to Keld Kokland from Fornaes shipbreaking company. He also informed us that the flatbottom and tanktop was found quite thin and would have required renewal as we already knew.
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Wilhelmine in media
As Wilhelmine was resuscitated and moved about she broke the news barrier and below are few articles published by Finnish papers that I've freely translated below in chronological order.
Kimito nyheter 24.11.2020:
Main picture of article in Kimito news.
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Wilhelmine in history
Friday, August 06, 2021
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Doing a Riva
About 2 weeks ago I spotted on Facebook an ad that needed a temp Captain for 1week on a 28m Riva. I messaged the Captain who had posted the ad, he explained me he would need a relief to tide over the interim for the new Captain to join as he needed to leave asap for another job. Typical planning in yachting.
Thursday, July 01, 2021
Friday, February 26, 2021
St Helena (the ship)
01.08.2020 - 23.10.2020
04.01.2020 - 24.06.2020
04.11.2019 - 27.12.2019
Saturday, December 05, 2020
Rescue of Wilhelmine
So on the 9th Nov we headed from Helsinki towards Kimito Island, more exactly to Pederså commune. It was a few hours drive and enroute we tried to find lodging and finally when all options on the Island were exhausted for one reason or another we settled for renting a house in Ekenäs, the drive from there was a mere 45mins.
Monday, November 09, 2020
Rescue of Wilhelmine - prologue
My ex colleague Jan sent me in mid Oct some pictures of a small coaster that looked very quaint. At same breath he asked if I'd be interested in kicking her alive after 10 years of cold lay-up at a beach in Kimito Island and tentatively deliver her to shipbreakers in Denmark. Yes, I said, I'm always up to a challenge, especially one like this, one of a kind adventure.
As I was soon due leave I made plans to travel to Finland. With the pandemic raging in Europe it was all a bit touch an go so I took the train from Liverpool to Harwich and then the ferry to Rotterdam where I continued across Netherlands and Germany to Luebeck where i boarded the Finnlines ferry to Helsinki.
On the ferry I coincidentally bumped into an old acquaintance, Capt Fredrik, who had finished his contract with Saga cruises newbuild and was returning home together with his wife. The mood was pretty festive to say in the least.
Likewise Captain Pekka of Finnlady was an old classmate of mine that I hadn't met in years, it was nice to exchange news. The crew on the ferry was minimal due to covid cuts. Anyway, I arrived in good order to Helsinki on 28th Oct and headed for Loviisa where I was to meet Jan and Juha onboard the 92yr old m/v Greta where she was to be first put into winter condition before heading over to m/v Wilhelmine and her startup operation.
Monday, September 28, 2020
Media postings
It seems the vessel I'm working on, St Helena, has quite the media coverage last few days from Northern as far as the Southern hemisphere ...