http://www.followtheboat.com Tales (not just) from the high seas Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:30:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/21/move-move-now-go/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/21/move-move-now-go/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:00:24 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=19567 The fact we were kicked off Mersa Dudo was a blessing in disguise for Sadla Island is an absolute gem. In fact those who had managed to get ashore on the first night waxed lyrical about its wonders on the evening net. Tony of 'Full Flight' and I arranged to go ashore early next morning as he had discovered nesting turtles on the eastern shore.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/21/move-move-now-go/feed/ 3 http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/17/the-adventures-of-mutley-in-freedom-bay/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/17/the-adventures-of-mutley-in-freedom-bay/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:34:24 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=19534 In my last post on Massawa I made the bold statement that Eritrea was my fave country I have ever visited. This was due to a number of factors, not least the people. It's anchorages like Freedom Bay, however, that make Eritrea a top spot for nature lovers and yotties. Freedom Bay was a large expanse of shallow water surrounded by incredible volcanic mountains. I suspect very few humans have ever gone ashore here. Even we only made it to one of the little islands and a spit of sand where I got some great shots of pelicans and ospreys. Another top anchorage and, finally, all the rally participants meet up together for the first time since Egypt!]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/17/the-adventures-of-mutley-in-freedom-bay/feed/ 6 http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/15/medicine-men/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/15/medicine-men/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:55:35 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=19528 Time to say goodbye to the people of Eritrea. Unbeknown to us as we continued down the coast of this beautiful country we would no longer meet Eritrean people, save for a few fishermen. Some of us did meet a few more locals, who were in need of some medication.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/02/15/medicine-men/feed/ 2 http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/01/24/best-day-of-your-life/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/01/24/best-day-of-your-life/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:29:51 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=19144 Can you think of the best day of your life? You've probably got a few, or perhaps you hadn't given it much thought. It's rare that a day happens and then lie in bed on the same evening concluding that it must be one of the best days of your life, but that's what happened today. Today goes down as one of the most idyllic, perfect days I have ever experienced.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/01/24/best-day-of-your-life/feed/ 10 http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/01/24/bigger-fish-to-fry/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/01/24/bigger-fish-to-fry/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:00:29 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=19329 In our last podcast we had just entered Sudan, where we discovered an idyllic anchorage and met Duygu The Dugong. We reluctantly left this spot a couple of days later and continued sotuhwards on to our next Sudanese marsa, Inkeifel. Expect plenty of fish, the perfect barbie-on-a-beach, a mangrove swamp and a possible sighting of Ursula Andress, though I suspect that last bit is all in Jamie's mind.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/01/24/bigger-fish-to-fry/feed/ 0 http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/12/02/gulf-of-suez-podcast-part-2/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/12/02/gulf-of-suez-podcast-part-2/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:18:36 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=18791 This is the second of two 20 minute podcasts recorded as we transited out from the canal and into the Gulf of Suez. If you've ever wondered what a Beaufort Force Seven (gusting eight) is like, we can now tell you. We have the underpants to prove it. That cargo ship approaching the side of our boat didn't help but we made it across from the Sinai back to the west coast of the Red Sea and eventually into Hurghada.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/12/02/gulf-of-suez-podcast-part-2/feed/ 3 http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/12/02/gulf-of-suez-podcast-part-1/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/12/02/gulf-of-suez-podcast-part-1/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:49:42 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=18789 This is the first of two 20 minute podcasts recorded as we transited out from the canal and into the Gulf of Suez. We finally leave the evil clutches of the Suez Authority and into open waters where we anchor for the first time in Egypt, have the best sail of our lives...ever... and catch a little fishy.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/12/02/gulf-of-suez-podcast-part-1/feed/ 1 http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/07/24/take-me-to-a-gay-bar/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/07/24/take-me-to-a-gay-bar/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:02:53 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=5321 “What are you doing in Kos?” my cousin asked over the phone. “It's full of gay bars.” You'd know I suppose, Jay, I'm just here to use the internet. Easier said than done, mind. When we anchored off Kardemena, a sprawling town for chavs, the northerlies were hitting 30 knots. At least anchoring was easy but I was amazed at how much fetch could build in such a short space of sea. Rowing over to Odin for a beer was ludicrously difficult...]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/07/24/take-me-to-a-gay-bar/feed/ 0 http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/07/07/catch-3/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/07/07/catch-3/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:37:32 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=5246 Started fishing at 5 this morning, about the time the cicadas started. The anchorage is a stunning setting, especially at that time in the morning. I put some coffee on and chucked some crumbs out the back. Not much action for a bit until I attracted the attention of just three fish. In all the time at this anchorage (two nights) these are the only fish I've seen.]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/07/07/catch-3/feed/ 1 http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/05/06/raving-about-our-rocna/ http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/05/06/raving-about-our-rocna/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 10:48:55 +0000 Jamie http://www.followtheboat.com/?p=4844 In the next few articles we'll be featuring some photographs, video clips, maps and personal experiences of our current home Fethiye, offering something for all our friends and family to enjoy. This article, however, is very definitely for the serious liveaboard: visit any online sailing forum and there is one subject that will rouse more furious debate than any other subject known to man, beast or Poseidon: anchors. The simple anchor is the one thing on our boat we need to trust more than anything else (except perhaps our vessel's ability to keep water out) so it is little wonder grown men pull each others' hair out when arguing which anchor is best. We had a bit of cash to spend on an anchor last year and, after pulling some hair, we opted for a new generation Rocna. We promised its designer, Peter Smith, to return an unambiguous account of our experience with his design. He said explicitly "be honest". You know us, Peter, a spade's a spade...]]> http://www.followtheboat.com/2009/05/06/raving-about-our-rocna/feed/ 15