Happy New year 2022

On 25th Dec we received onboard a couple new crew members we made haste and departed Maldives as instructed late in the evening. The wind and seas was against us all the way and it all seemed to be monsoon wind. At least the Malay peninsula gave us a bit of lee from the bad weather that was raging in Gulf of Thailand and South China sea. As per my charts the seasonal current was also against us so we barely made 9 kts at times. Anyway, our ETA held for the 1st of January albeit several hours later than estimated.

Indian ocean

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. 

Seiko Prospex

Meeting old friends

Having transited several weeks from Malta to Maldives we finally had arrived, checked in and disembarked the security, we settled in the anchorage off Hulhumale. 

The scenery had changed quite a bit from the last time I was there boatsitting Kalizma. There was now a bridge connecting Hulhumale and Male' Island. Hulhumale had been developed and big housing towers dotted her skyline whereas they were only starting building works ten years back when I was there. 

Taxi drivers enjoyed zipping over the bridge as they could gun their cars 100km/h for a short while. In the middle of Hulhumale was a big park for the residents and the new street grid looked much airier than the stuffy Male' capital. 

Few days after our arrival the old Kalizma steamed in from Sri Lanka, my trusted Chief mate, Surender, was skippering her now and we got in touch. As my birthday was on, he invited me for dinner in Male' and we went to Sala Thai that was run by an old German chap with Thai chefs and food stuffs flown in every week. The food was excellent.

m/y Kalizma riding at anchor off Hulhumale Is

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.

Ligurian valleys

Rescue of Wilhelmine - the whole story

The story of Wilhelmine was broken up into several posts due to the length of each chapter. 

In Kalmar

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.

Bow section chomped to pieces by hydraulic scissors

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.

Upper box: "Wilhelmine departing for new waters 24th nov 2020"

Wilhelmine in history

Obviously as Wilhelmine was built in 1953 and sailed 30+ years under German flag in Europe before she was bought to Finland in the 80's a lot had time to happen to the people that sailed her and to Wilhelmine herself.

Waalhafen 1970's, courtesy of Shipnostalgia by "oktoon"

Rescue of Wilhelmine - the end

Team selfie

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.

Nice mascot

Caipirinha

05.05.2021 - 30.06.2021

Captain

m/y Caipirinha

Caipirinha alongisde in Durres

St Helena (the ship)

15.01.2021 - 25.02.2021
01.08.2020 - 23.10.2020
04.01.2020 - 24.06.2020
04.11.2019 - 27.12.2019

m/v St Helena (ex MNG Tahiti, RMS St Helena)

Captain

As I was in South Africa on vacation I got out of the blue an email from Allan Wilson asking if I would be interested in joining St Helena for major refit and then sailing her. After a bit of digging I realized it was the ex RMS that was the last one of its kind and had been servicing St Helena island with mail and supplies as well as passenger capacity. 

St Helena in Birkenhead, UK before the refit

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.

Just arrived 

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.

Sahaniemi pier

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 ...

Extreme E press release

New livery

This Saturday m/v St Helena moved from Cammell Lairds Campbeltown facility into their Bidston repair facility for further outfitting afloat.

This move activated the local paparazzi into action and here are a few shots by local talents: 

St Helena on the Mersey (by Phil Owen)

Vacation time

After having done another 6mths onboard after the 2weeks off at New Year I was starting to get weary on the daily repair drudge & managed to get my ex colleague to relieve me for July. Our worked had not stopped at any point despite COVID, the yard abandoned us for lockdown but we carried on as usual.

River Severn

S/y Eye of the Wind logbook

In the "Logbook" edition 3/2019 of the "Eye of the Wind" publication there is an article about "Anny" and her comparing both schooners on page 4 as they were at the same time in the same port. I have translated the German article, original written by Mr. Ronald Herkert, Managing Director of FORUM train & sail GmbH.

Life takes a turn...

As I was enjoying my rotational leave from Ventum Maris in South Africa I got a mail asking if I would be interested in joining a commercial venture with world wide itinerary. My interest was immediately peaked so I said "yes but that I was in a contract so needed some notice" in case we would come to an agreement. 

RMS St Helena watersalute

Photographer: unknown

Ventum Maris

14.06.2019 - 02.09.2019

Captain
m/y Ventum Maris

Ventum Maris anchored at Maddalena archipelago

New adventures

After I left Illusion + having been properly disillusioned by the Owners and zero progress in just about everything I resigned, handed over to my Chief Officer and went R&R to South Africa for a few weeks to clear my head. 

Ventum Maris in Valencia

Illusion Plus

26.12.2018 - 08.03.2019

14.06.2018 - 17.12.2018

m/y Illusion Plus (today Eternal Tsingshan)
Captain

Illusion Plus

Joining again

Recently I was staying at my friends pad in Liguria, up in a medieval village of Montalto Ligure as I was doing rounds to the Riviera for various contacts looking for my next challenge. That aside my month was slowly coming to an end and one afternoon I was at the pad when I received an email out of the blue from China.

Yantai 200.000t mega crane and an oil-rig

Lady S

02.11.2017 - 02.12.2017
04.11.2016 - 05.01.2017

Captain
m/y Lady S

Lady S (courtesy by Burgess)