After a three and a half year build and prep phase, it's finally time for the departure. Rich Carey, Karen Carey, and Bosun ('spare rations'), the trusty though highly sceptical desert dog, pack toothbrushes.

Somalia and Yemen chipped into the departure mode quandry, so we booked ship. Pulled the mast down (bloody hard work - don't want to do that again), and stuffed boat innards with round the world living parafenalia.

Off to Mersin in Turkey.