Aquila - Skipper-no-mates

Skipper-no-mates

Aquila

Alan and Sarah Bennett

Wed 22 Jun 2016 09:56

Solo sailing in rugged conditions.

Sent from my HTC

Blog Entries

2017

Aug 2017

Thu 17 Aug 06:14
- The cruise around the Baltic in numbers
Tue 15 Aug 17:50
- WHERE'S BASIL? LAST SEEN BEING HELD BY THE SKIPPER SUSPICIOUSLY CLOSE TO THE WEATHER RAIL!
- We anchored in the foreground for a swim
Mon 14 Aug 17:12
- Full English at dawn
- A swim and Fecamp.
Sun 13 Aug 23:53
- Rounding Cap Gris Nes
- Heading SW
Fri 11 Aug 12:14
- Arrival at Scheveningen
- Waypoint
Thu 10 Aug 09:28
- 7 hour pit stop in Borkum
- Waypoint off Scharnhorn isle
Tue 8 Aug 14:44
- Farewell Crew 7?
- Arrival at Cuxhaven
Sun 6 Aug 15:47
Sat 5 Aug 17:14
Fri 4 Aug 15:27
Thu 3 Aug 17:34
- A storming sail to an enchanting anchorage
- Boy's boating.....
Wed 2 Aug 19:37
Tue 1 Aug 01:04

Jul 2017

Mon 31 Jul 18:52
- Loafing in Copenhagen...
Sat 29 Jul 10:06
- Remember - never buy a boat!
- In Copenhagen...
Fri 28 Jul 15:13
- At Langelinie, Copenhagen
- Leaving Kastrup, the Skipper lamented the loss of his recent crew
- Arrival into Copenhagen
- Arrival in Copenhagen
Thu 27 Jul 16:09
- In light airs, the skipper will do anything for extra boat speed
- Big ships and 'The Bridge'.
- We decided on Plan B.
Wed 26 Jul 17:34
- Fast passage to Rodvig
- The importance of maintaining a good look out...
Tue 25 Jul 19:15
- En route to Bornholm
- At Bornholm, the skipper dashed ashore for essential provisions
- Varied conditions en route to Ronne.
Mon 24 Jul 16:38
- Making ground west
- The marina was full...so we're alongside the wall.
Sun 23 Jul 20:37
- Aquila enjoying city life
- In Gdansk...
- Rugged it was....
- Big boy's breakfast under asymmetric...
- Aquila under cutter rig
- Stuart keeps watch for rampant Russians....
- Fabulous overnight sail to Gdansk.
- Blue steel in Klaipeda - farewell to Ken and Sam
Fri 21 Jul 16:12
- Entering Lithuanian waters with the asymmetric
- Adieu to Sam and Ken
Thu 20 Jul 15:40
- Ken and other inmates undergoing corrective training
- Exercise in Karosta Military Prison
- Liepaja
- Roomassaare recreation for reprobates..
- Recovering a signal halyard at sea
- Activities in Liepaja
- Arrival in Liepaja.
Wed 19 Jul 15:21
- A fair wind at last...
- Aquila crew departing Estonian waters
Tue 18 Jul 15:20
- A struggle to Roomassaare
Mon 17 Jul 19:53
- When the skipper cracks a joke it's politic to laugh...
- The crew of the Baltic states...
- Weighing anchor on a drizzly morning...
- A hard but exhilarating sail
Sun 16 Jul 22:44
- At anchor
Sat 15 Jul 15:55
- Departing St Petersburg, Stuart got into the swing of things...
- Soviet era architecture, with Lenin statue..
- Final miles to Vergi
- Passage towards Vergi.
- Crossing into Estonian waters
Wed 12 Jul 05:41
- The Mate and daughter at Peterhof
- ....and in full tourist mode.
- Aquila's crew ready to hit the sights...
- Exhausted crew on final 20 miles to St Petersburg
- Vladimir Ivankiv, who smoothed so many paths for us....
- Russian customs post at KRONSHTADT
- On the lookout as we cross into Russian waters...
Tue 11 Jul 17:06
- Peterhof
- Church of the Spilled Blood
- Romanov memorial
- St Petersburg - mid visit update
Sun 9 Jul 16:25
- Arrival saga
- Arrived St Petersburg.
Fri 7 Jul 16:42
- The 'sporting entrance to HAAPASAARI pool...
- Secure in Haapasaari pool
- Snurglys galore..
- Haapasaari Island
Thu 6 Jul 17:41
- Silent chapel
- Diagnosing George
- Between a rock and a hard place...
Wed 5 Jul 04:20
- Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral
- From the left: Snurglette, Snurgly - and maybe an NB.
- Surgeon Lieutenant Commander MRCS Royal Navy on the wheel.
Tue 4 Jul 14:17
- The stalwart crew
- Helsinki marina
- Navigational hazards
- Arrival in Helsinki
- Technical stuff
Mon 3 Jul 18:52
- Evening activities
- Life at sea
- Anchorage at Barölandet
- Skipper in his element
- Evening anchorage
- What a difference a day makes...!
Sun 2 Jul 19:33
- A testing 30 hours
- Rumnaro anchorage
- Sandhamn, the "Cowes of Sweden"

Jun 2017

Fri 30 Jun 15:22
- Skol!
- We thought we'd put in an offer...
- Aquila in Wasahamen, Stockholm marina
- A hard struggle to windward
- Waypoint
- Thank you Stockholm
Tue 27 Jun 10:21
- PHOTOS....
Sun 25 Jun 05:16
- The Mate at the wheel - again!
- Last lock and bridge to Stockholm
- Arrival at Stockholm
Fri 23 Jun 15:11
- Source of alien odour discovered...all serious bids considered..
- If you want some aspirin...
- Landlocked once more
Thu 22 Jun 13:35
- Afternoon sunshine...
- Another secluded anchorage
- Steady progress in tranquil seas
- Swedish anchorage
- Trosa Treasure
- A testing transit for two
Tue 20 Jun 16:54
- Adieu marvellous crew
- Free of shoreside constraints once more.
- ARRIVED AT MEM, END OF GOTA CANAL
Sun 18 Jun 16:21
- Sailing over a motorway - not that you'd know it!
- Another perfect day.
- Mutinous crew
- Gota wilderness
- Sweden at its magical best
Fri 16 Jun 20:30
- Spoken, Lake Vanern, at 0430
- Log phot
- Phot
- INTO LAKE VIKEN
Thu 15 Jun 14:54
- Into the Gota canal.
Wed 14 Jun 17:11
- Fwd: Progress up Gota Alv river
- At SPIKEN
Tue 13 Jun 15:32
- START OF LAKE VANERN
Mon 12 Jun 17:18
- FIRST DAY UP GOTA ALV
Sun 11 Jun 12:50
- MORE OF LIFE IN GOTEBORG
- SOME PHOTOS FROM THE PAST WEEK
Sat 10 Jun 09:43
- LIFE IN GOTEBORG (amended)
Fri 9 Jun 16:24
- Passage to Goteborg
- PHASE ONE COMPLETED
Thu 8 Jun 18:24
- Question Time
- Day 11. Arrival Gothenburg
Wed 7 Jun 16:10
- Photo - Crossing the Kattegat
- Crossing the Kattegat
- On departure Alborg
Tue 6 Jun 16:17
- ARRIVED AT AALBORG
- Too many bridges to cross
Mon 5 Jun 14:33
- Banished to the seaboat
- At ⚓️Fur Island
- ⚓️in the lee of Fur Island
- SALLING SUND BRIDGE
Sun 4 Jun 16:52
- AT ANCHOR IN HARRE VIG
- Sunday evening - at ⚓️in Limfjord
Sat 3 Jun 13:14
- ANOTHER FLASHBACK TO LAST SATURDAY
- LIFE ASHORE
- LEMVIG
- LIFE AT SEA
- Rugged sailing
- ARRIVAL AT LEMVIG
- Phot
- FLASHBACK TO LAST SATURDAY
- PHOT OF GILBERT, GEORGE AND ROBERT
- GILBERT, GEORGE and ROBERT
- PERFECT SAILING
- THANET WIND FARM
- PROGRESSING TOWARDS THYBOREN
- PROGRESS TO MID NORTH SEA
- Arrival Thyboren
- Progress to mid North Sea

May 2017

2016

Jul 2016

Thu 21 Jul 19:43
Wed 20 Jul 21:12
- Almost home
Tue 19 Jul 08:44
Sun 17 Jul 07:03
- ROUGHERS
- BISCAY BEHIND US
Sat 16 Jul 20:00
- Dolphins galore
Fri 15 Jul 20:26
- Clear skies mid Biscay
- Mid Biscay
Wed 13 Jul 14:33
- A CORUNA: AWAITING SEB
Sun 10 Jul 16:35
Mon 4 Jul 15:58
- A CORUNA: CREW CHANGE AND SIGHTS
Sat 2 Jul 16:48

Jun 2016

Thu 30 Jun 05:26
Sat 25 Jun 18:23
- Phots7
- Phots6
- PHOTS5
- PHOTS4
- Phots3
- Phots2
- Phots
- NEW CREW ALREADY ADEPT AT FIXING BOATS
Wed 22 Jun 09:56
Mon 20 Jun 07:50
Fri 17 Jun 15:51
Tue 14 Jun 16:09
- CREW CHANGE, OVERNIGHT ANCHORAGE AT ILAS CIES AND PASSAGE TO PORTO NOVO
Sun 12 Jun 11:23
Thu 9 Jun 11:18
- CREW ENJOYING RIAs
Mon 6 Jun 13:49
- WONDERFUL CRUISING IN RIA VIGO
Sat 4 Jun 09:20
- DAY SAIL TO ISLAS CIES AND AU-REVOIR TO KEN
Thu 2 Jun 17:03
- OVERNIGHT ANCHORAGE AND ARRIVAL AT VIGO
Wed 1 Jun 16:49
- ANOTHER LOVELY DAY

May 2016

Tue 31 May 16:41
- PERFECT SAILING IN A PERFECT CRUISING GROUND
Mon 30 May 18:44
- Passage to Muros
Sun 29 May 17:02
- BAY OF BISCAY - TRANSIT HIGHLIGHTS
- LANDFALL
Sat 28 May 07:34
- 44:50.8N 7:44.5W
Thu 26 May 18:33
- 47:47.0N 5:30.2W
Wed 25 May 18:06
- PASSAGE PAST LE FOUR LIGHT (GULP!) TO L'ABER ILDUT
- A MEAL TO DIE FOR
Tue 24 May 12:20
Tue 17 May 11:38
- SHAKEDOWN PHOTOS - TEST
- 2016 TEST 1

2015

Jul 2015

Thu 30 Jul 20:16
Wed 29 Jul 12:46
- Essential maintenance
Tue 28 Jul 15:37
Mon 27 Jul 16:55
- Passage to Fowey
- At Helford River for
Sun 26 Jul 20:51
- Stormy seas
- Departing Penzance
Sat 25 Jul 08:53
- At Penzance
- Waypoint
Fri 24 Jul 15:53
- Departing Scilly
- At Scilly Isles
Wed 22 Jul 18:11
Tue 21 Jul 08:58
- On our way again
Mon 20 Jul 16:58
- UPDATE FROM BANGOR - FIXING BOATS IN EXOTIC PLACES
Sun 19 Jul 17:59
Sat 18 Jul 10:10
- CREW IS A'GATHERING....
Sat 4 Jul 11:09
Thu 2 Jul 16:51
- Passage to Loch Ranza just before, Arran
Wed 1 Jul 15:40

Jun 2015

Mon 29 Jun 07:46
- Crew change at Oban
Sat 27 Jun 17:28
Fri 26 Jun 09:13
- At Loch Aline
- Waypoint
Thu 25 Jun 09:12
Mon 22 Jun 14:12
Sat 20 Jun 11:33
- Kallin harbour
- Brief update from Kallin
Fri 19 Jun 13:34
- At Kallin, Grimsay, Benbecula
Wed 17 Jun 10:52
- Watering ship at Dunvegan
- A wet and windy day
Mon 15 Jun 16:43
Sun 14 Jun 10:30
- A MOVE TO BETTER SHELTER
- AT CARBOST, LOCH HARPORT
Fri 12 Jun 08:55
- STRUGGLING FOR A CONNECTION AT CARBOST, LOCH HARPORT
Thu 11 Jun 17:56
Mon 8 Jun 20:12
- Crew change at Barra
Sun 7 Jun 17:46
Sat 6 Jun 18:37
Fri 5 Jun 17:13
Thu 4 Jun 14:39
- LOCH DRAMBUIE, GLENMORE BAY AND GLENBORROWDALE CASTLE
- Loch Drambuie.
Tue 2 Jun 17:06
- AT TOBERMORY- CREW CHANGE AND GALES

May 2015

Sat 30 May 14:04
- A GENTLE SAIL TO TOBERMORY
Fri 29 May 17:40
- CHANGE OF RV FOR IMPENDING CREWS
Thu 28 May 18:55
- BARRA
- Passage to Barra
Wed 27 May 15:05
- WAYPOINT
Tue 26 May 14:14
- AU REVOIR PIPPA
Mon 25 May 16:24
- At Tiree
Sat 23 May 18:11
- PASSAGE TO TIREE
- PASSAGE AND PIT STOP, TOBERMOREY
- UPDATE - LAGAVULIN BAY to LOCH SPELVE
- WAYPOINT
- WAYPOINT
Fri 22 May 12:47
- Loch Spelve
Thu 21 May 12:22
- Ardfern and Puilladobhrain
- Lagavulin to Loch na Mile
Tue 19 May 11:19
- PORT ELLEN CREW CHANGE, AND LAGAVULIN
Sat 16 May 14:02
- THANK YOU TO AQUILA’ S SUPERB D ELIVERY AN D HOME SUP PORT CREWS
Fri 15 May 14:07
- UPDATE - HOLYHEAD TO ISLAY
Thu 14 May 14:30
- Getting closer....
- Object of interest.
- At West Loch Tarbert
Wed 13 May 05:53
- Passage to Glenarm.
Tue 12 May 08:29
- Departed Strangford
Mon 11 May 13:16
- In Strangford Lough
- Blue sky and big sea!
- at Strangford
Fri 8 May 09:06
- PASSAGE FROM KILMORE TO HOLYHEAD
Wed 6 May 17:27
- Re: last blog. The real photo of leaving the Helford!
- PHOTO LOG OF HELFORD TO KILMORE TRIP
Tue 5 May 17:38
- To Kilmore Quay, SE Ireland
Mon 4 May 12:47
- Update off Longship Lt
- Rounding Lizard
Sun 3 May 09:41
- Helford River for 24hrs.
Sat 2 May 12:48
- Off Portland 021330A.

Apr 2015

Thu 23 Apr 11:06
- FIRST BLOG OF SEASON

2014

Jul 2014

Tue 22 Jul 13:24
Sat 19 Jul 10:20
- CREW CHANGE AND PREPS FOR ROUNDING FINISTERRE
Fri 18 Jul 05:46
- PASSAGE TO ODET RIVER
Thu 17 Jul 15:32
- LES ILES DE GLENAN AND DOLPHINS UNDER THE BOAT
- WAYPOINT -ILE GLENAN
Wed 16 Jul 05:41
- PASSAGE TO PORT SAUZON AND PORT LOUIS
- WAYPOINT 11
Sun 13 Jul 15:07
- THE WEEK AT PIRIAC
Wed 9 Jul 07:37
- RETURN TO PIRIAC-SUR-MER
- WAYPOINT 10
Mon 7 Jul 12:51
- BACK DOWN LA VILAINE RIVER
- A VERY WET DAY EN ROUTE TO REDON
Sat 5 Jul 08:59
- LOCKING INTO LA VILAINE
- LA TURBALLE AND PIRIAC-SUR-MER
Wed 2 Jul 06:01
- HOEDIC AND PASSAGE TO LA TURBALLE
Tue 1 Jul 16:18
- ROLLY ANCHORAGE AND PASSAGE TO HOEDIC
- WAYPOINT 8

Jun 2014

Sat 28 Jun 08:41
- LES SABLES AND PASSAGE TO L'HERBAUDIERE
Thu 26 Jun 11:20
- DAY SAIL WITH FRIENDS
- WAYPOINT 8
Tue 24 Jun 15:55
- ISLE D'YEU AND PASSAGE TO LES SABLES D'OLONNE
- WAYPOINT 7
Sat 21 Jun 15:08
- PASSAGE TO PORT JOINVILLE, ISLED'YEU
Fri 20 Jun 06:16
- PASSAGE TO BOURGENAY
Tue 17 Jun 11:28
- LA ROCHELLE AND PASSAGE TO ST MARTIN DE RE
Sat 14 Jun 17:38
- CREW CHANGE AT LA ROCHELLE - AU REVOIR TO HESTER AND TOM
- PASSAGE TO LA ROCHELLE
Fri 13 Jun 16:45
- PASSAGE TO ANSE DE MARTRAY
Thu 12 Jun 08:24
- PASSAGE TO ST-DENIS-D'OLERON
Wed 11 Jun 10:44
- CREW CHANGE AND PASSAGE TO ST MARTIN DE RE
Tue 10 Jun 09:10
- RETURN TO LA ROCHELLE
Mon 9 Jun 08:40
- EXPLORING ON TWO WHEELS
Sun 8 Jun 09:39
- PASSAGE TO ST MARTIN DE RE
Sat 7 Jun 07:23
- AT ST-DENIS-D'OLERON
Fri 6 Jun 10:06
- PASSAGE TO ST-DENIS-D'OLERON
- WAYPOINT 7
Wed 4 Jun 18:18
- STORM BOUND AT ROCHEFORT
- TUESDAY AT ROCHEFORT
Tue 3 Jun 05:18

May 2014

Sat 31 May 09:11
- CREW CHANGE
- LA ROCHELLE - SWANSONG OF THE A-TEAM
Fri 30 May 09:04
- PASSAGE TO LA ROCHELLE
Wed 28 May 17:50
- PASSAGE TO ST-MARTIN-DE-RE
Tue 27 May 17:19
- AT JOINVILLE, ISLE D'YEU
- PASSAGE TO ILE D'YEU
Sun 25 May 17:04
Fri 23 May 13:23
- Hard worked crew
- Passage to L'Aber'Wrach
Mon 19 May 16:27
- SUMMER CRUISE 2014 - WEST COAST OF FRANCE
- ACTION STATIONS

2008

Jun 2008

Fri 27 Jun 19:40
- OUR FINAL DESTINATION
Wed 25 Jun 17:23
- ONE MORE DAY TO GO
Tue 24 Jun 13:16
- ALONGSIDE AT LAST
Mon 23 Jun 12:26
- SO NEAR YET SO FAR
Sun 22 Jun 12:02
- THE LAST OF THE BACON AND EGGS
Sat 21 Jun 12:11
- Fw: THE FINAL MILES ROLL BY
- THE FINAL MILES ROLL BY
Fri 20 Jun 12:11
- GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW
Thu 19 Jun 14:01
- CALM WINDS - AGAIN!
Wed 18 Jun 14:08
- BOXING THE COMPASS
Tue 17 Jun 15:12
- THE DAYS ROLL BY
- PHOTOS 17 JUNE
Mon 16 Jun 15:10
- THINGS WE WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT
Sun 15 Jun 21:02
- PHOTOS 15 JUNE
- THE WIND RETURNS
Sat 14 Jun 15:50
- BECALMED AGAIN
Fri 13 Jun 17:22
- A celebration!
Thu 12 Jun 18:11
- PHOTOS 12 JUNE
- FANTASTIC CONDITIONS!!!!!
Wed 11 Jun 14:15
- PHOTOS 11 JUNE
- A FRUSTRATING 24 HOURS
Tue 10 Jun 14:20
- PHOTOS 10 JUN 3
- PHOTOS 10 JUN 2
- PHOTOS 10 JUN 1
- BECALMED
- A MORE DETAILED UPDATE
Mon 9 Jun 22:14
- JUST A QUICK ONE
Sun 8 Jun 19:25
- MORE BREAD!
- DOLPHINS & REPAIRS...
- STEADY PROGRESS
Sat 7 Jun 14:16
- DRYING OUT
Fri 6 Jun 18:28
- ROUGH BUT GOOD PROGRESS
Thu 5 Jun 16:17
- PERFECT SAILING-AGAIN!
Wed 4 Jun 16:57
- EATING AND SLEEPING
Tue 3 Jun 15:05
- GEORGE AND GILBERT.....AND THOSE BOOTS
Mon 2 Jun 18:38
- A GREAT FIRST 24 HOURS
Sun 1 Jun 22:49
- GOOD BYE BERMUDA

May 2008

Fri 30 May 20:53
- CREW ARRIVAL AND TOURS OF A SERIOUSLY DIFFERENT NATURE...
- ON THE TOURIST TRAIL...
Wed 28 May 15:00
- A LIGHTHOUSE AND A LEG STRETCH
Tue 27 May 15:22
- LIFE THE BERMUDAN WAY
Sun 25 May 21:55
- WE'VE MADE IT!
Sat 24 May 18:13
- RECORD RUN TO DATE
Fri 23 May 16:07
- MORE PICTURES...
- WEATHER HOLDING
Thu 22 May 19:39
- PERFECT SAILING
- FRUSTRATING CONDITIONS
Wed 21 May 14:38
- POSITION
Tue 20 May 22:14
- IT IS ROUGH!
Mon 19 May 20:48
- DEPARTURE FROM NORFOLK
Sun 18 May 22:04
- SCRUBBING AND POLISHING
Sat 17 May 23:31
- CREW COMPLETE!
- AT NORFOLK, VA
Fri 16 May 16:20
- Arrival in Norfolk
Wed 14 May 22:13
- STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS NORFOLK VA.
Tue 13 May 23:16
- DAY TWO; WHAT A CONTRAST!
- FIRST DAY AT SEA - AND IT WAS BLOWING!
Sun 11 May 21:35
- READY TO SAIL
Fri 9 May 14:42
Thu 8 May 22:19
- GLOBALSTAR TEST
- A WAY LATE UPDATE

Apr 2008

Sun 27 Apr 14:33
- A TRIAL SAIL
Thu 24 Apr 21:51
- PROGRESS CONTINUES
Mon 21 Apr 17:04
- Fw: WELCOME BELOW!
Sat 19 Apr 17:48
- SOME PREPARATIONS CAPTURED ......................
- EXPERIMENTING WITH PHOTOS
Thu 17 Apr 00:11
- BOAT SWUNG - COMPASS ADJUSTED
Tue 15 Apr 21:56
- THIS AND THAT
Sat 12 Apr 22:36
- THE DUTCHMAN
Fri 11 Apr 22:05
- ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT AN ENLARGED PLAN
- FIRST CREW ABOARD
Mon 7 Apr 21:50
- LAST DAY AT WORK
Sun 6 Apr 12:43
- THE PLAN

Mar 2008

Mon 31 Mar 00:09
- Storing ship
Wed 26 Mar 00:11
- Taking stock!