On this page, you can find a list of all the blogs we've written. Scroll through the pages to see the older ones. To view them in their various categories, use the main menu bar above where you can find them grouped by the places we've visited and by year. On the Blog Posts menu you can select blogs by the following groups:
- Life Aboard – our experiences of living on a boat,
- Boat & Technical Projects – the upgrades and repairs we've made to Emerald,
- Land Travel – experiences away from the boat,
- Green Emerald Series – Colin's posts about making Emerald into an off-grid sailing boat,
- Passage Reports – our experiences during the longer sailing passages.
Latest Blog Post
What Next for Emerald, Having Escaped Porto Santo?
After 20 months in Porto Santo, Emerald’s crew sailed south, docking at Las Palmas for essential repairs, and upgrades. The uncertainty about availability and the return of Med-mooring challenges had a happy ending. We settled into the convenience of marina life, pleasantly surprised by the peacefulness, despite the city setting.
All Posts
Take a browse through the many posts we've written over the last few years as we travel and live on the watery world.
Winter At Anchor in the Rio Guadiana: Part II
For the second part of our review of our winter afloat in the Rio Guadiana, we look at the good and bad points and ask “would we do it again?”
Annual Summary of Travels and Costs 2020
A review of our sailing adventures in 2020. It covers highlights and low lights, the number of miles sailed and where we spent each night. Also included is a breakdown and analysis of costs over the year.
Christmas Afloat and Brexit Looms Large
This would be our first Christmas afloat at anchor. And Brexit was about to bring the first consequences for Brits who sail the EU. We wanted proof of location to keep our VAT paid status, so chose to obtain marina receipts from our closest marina.
Winter Afloat in the Rio Guadiana: Part I
We began to settle into a routine on the river. There were boat jobs we could get on with, whilst discovering the fun to be had.
Emerald’s New Anchor Chain
If we wanted to spend a winter at anchor, it was essential to replace our anchor chain. After 11 seasons of use, the old chain was noticeably deteriorating. This blog looks at our choices and the swapping over process
Sailing to Culatra – the Island of Sand
Having left the Rio Guadiana, but still undecided as to where to spend the winter, we waited at Culatra for west winds to settle. There we could enjoy the uniqueness of the sand island, its tractors and its amazing nature
Rio Guadiana – Should We Stay?
We spent a few weeks enjoying the Rio Guadiana, revisiting old haunts and making new friends. But time was ticking on and we still had to get to the boatyard….
Rio Guadiana – A Welcome Return
We first visited the Rio Guadiana on our way east into the Med, back in 2014. It quickly found a place in our hearts and we vowed to return on our way back west. That time was now upon us.
Everything’s Fino in Puerto Sherry
It was a few days of reality beating expectation. A 50nm passage from Bolonia to Puerto Sherry / Bay of Cadiz followed by exploring the delightful town of El Puerto de Santa Maria
Leaving the Med – Here Be Dragons
Ready to continue on west, but first we have to get past the “dragons”!
Sailing to Gibraltar: A Taste of Home
One reason to travel is to experience and enjoy different cultures of which, food plays a large part. Sailing around the Mediterranean has amply fulfilled this desire, however, an occasional reminder of home is welcome. For the wandering Brit, Gibraltar provides a little taste of home from home.
Leaving The Med – It Won’t Let Us Go
Leaving the Med was not as easy as it originally looked on paper. With fickle forecasts, we bit off chunks as best we could
Time to Leave the Med
Time had caught us unawares and it was time to make plans to head south and west. With a distance of 550nm to Gibraltar, we were keen to break the journey into small legs. For that we needed the cooperation of the weather. Did it play ball?
Sailing Magical Menorca
We spent almost two weeks in Menorca, visiting a variety of anchorages. Softer than it’s big sister, but no less beautiful – the jagged coastline softened by idyllic sandy beaches and calas.
Playtime in Pollença Bay
We’d left the west coast of Mallorca to visit the large bay of Pollenca, an all weather anchorage. Being on constant alert for changes in the weather can be exhausting! It was a safe place to catch up with some boat jobs, to explore the area and restock.