Montenegro is now the youngest state in the world, being independent since June 2006. With an area of only 13,812 square kilometres we find a great number of contrasts. On this small area there are four different climate types and one of the most beautiful fjords in Europe. And an itinerary along the coast line with a length of just 160 nautical miles is a trip through more than thousend years of history.
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The bridge which links Thailand's largest island, Phuket, with the mainland also very effectively cuts off the spectacular Pang Ngha bay from boat traffic wishing to access it from the Andaman Sea.
It also means that traffic approaching Thailand from the Indian Ocean and wanting to use the Phuket Yacht Haven, one of only two marinas in the area, will have to spend an extra two days circumnavigating Phuket.
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Crossing the bay of Biscay is feared among sailors. We had left Norway in May to have time to cross this scary strech well ahead of any autumn storms. We hoped for nice northerlies all the way from the Scillys to Galicia in Spain, as it was only late July. As the crossing would take days, it didn't matter that we started off at night. The Bishop Rock light blinked us farewell, and a bell bouy chimed nicely as we hoisted our sails.
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At 07:00 Hrs we got in contact with the coastguard to let them know of our navigation plan and departed from the port of Las Palmas ( Gran Canaria) on a compass course of 090º. We were heading for the port of Morro Jable (Fuerteventura) about 60 NM away, it normally takes about ten hours, with all the sails up, but we are in no hurry, as we have got two weeks. Today is the first day of our cruising holiday, and I was kindly invited by my four charming English customers to join them. They are now friends as well, and frequently charter the boat.
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As sailing grounds go, Morecambe Bay is a trap for the unwary. It covers 312 square kilometres, has a tidal range of up to 10.5 metres and an ebbing tide that can retreat up to 12 kilometres.
For us, my brother and I, onboard our graceful Trapper 300 Suntrap, we first need to negotiate the River Wyre where the boat lies on her jetty in a tidal creek. With a reasonable tide, we can clear the creek an hour before high water and be passing Fleetwood into the bay in one and a half hours.
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Liberty in the Azores with Pica volcano as a backdrop
Greetings from Italy, where we are really getting into this Mediterranean cruising! In all honesty, it took us a while. The Atlantic crossing was more than a bit tiring. We'd had enough sailing after 30 days at sea and would have been happy to stay put somewhere for a while, but with family meeting us in Italy, we had no choice but to keep on going. Portugal and Spain were pleasant, but after a while, we got a little tired of one touristy beach resort after another.
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We didn't get out of Boca Chica until 4pm on Saturday afternoon but the wind was on our side so we were happy. We had an amazing night sail Saturday cruising downwind at 7 knots watching "Wedding Crashers" in the cockpit. We spent Sunday morning hugging the coast of the Dominican Republic sailing right next to towering mountains 5-7,000 ft above us.
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The back of beyond for more than thousand years: Puerto de l Estaca on El Hierro
Isn't a sailor suffering most in January and February? November was the time to catch up leftovers from the last season, December was the holiday season and from March onwards you normally prepare for the new season. But in January and February, when the winter is at its peak, sailing is so far away that one could get depressed about it... you'd think.
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North of Townsville is a great part of the world. The Great Barrier Reef closes the coast so daily anchorages can be coastal harbours, islands or coral reef cays, depending on the weather.
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Phuket is the Base for sailing Phang Nga Bay and there are few places on Earth which compare to the Bay when it comes to yachting. Through the long north-east monsoon season, weather conditions are the equal of any area in the world, better, for example, than those in the Mediterranean. Even in the south-west monsoon season there are calm, protected waters in this spectacular and fascinating Bay.
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Volley Ball Beach, Elizabeth Harbor, George Town, Great Exuma Island, The Bahamas, in the Bermuda Triangle!!! It is lovely! As I write this we are in the middle of our third full day. Two days ago Chris, Glenn and I returned to Foul Cay to retrieve our lost anchor.
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When sailing from the Swedish east coast to Germany, there are two ports on the way which are really worth touching on: Christiansoe and Roenne are the essence of the Danish culture. The "green peas"-islands and Bornholm combine Scandinavian granite islands and Danish cosiness with an atmosphere full of history.
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Having spent nearly two days and two nights at sea and finally coming to a harbour, it is nice - without exception. But Blaesinge at the east coast of Oeland is really a dream. We went to this little fishery port because it is the only one within 50 nautical miles with enough draught coming in from the open Baltic. And already during the approach it we see that is much more than a harbour of refuge.
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A sailing trip to Russia requires a visa. The application is quite complicated and expensive – maybe that’s the reason why you only meet a few foreign sailors on Russian ports. How to apply for a sailing visa to Russia and how to meet the main requirements is described by a sailor who has visited Russia already several times.
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Our destination in summer 2005 is the Kaliningrad Region with its two sailing ports: Kaliningrad, in former German times named Königsberg, and the spa Pionerski, the former Neukuhren. You can travel broader on the Baltic Sea but you won't find a region which seems more strange to an European from the EC: Until some years ago the entire Russian exclave was a prohibited military zone. And still an almighty bureaucracy is ruling the country - and visitors need a visa.
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