Mayhem in Fiscardo, Ithaka

Junk Rigged Yacht Sail Well

History of the Modern Junk Rig Early Development and Traditional Origins The junk rig, a type of sail design traditionally used in Chinese and Southeast Asian waters, has a history spanning over a thousand years. Its distinctive features include fully battened sails, multiple panels, and a flexible, fan-like appearance. This rig was praised for its […]

Day Two: Lakka to Kalami Bay, Corfu

Today’s sail to Kalami Bay was 37 nautical miles so we left at 09:00 after taking Ellie out for a walk again pointed Ruffles Spray north’ish switched on the autopilot and motored towards Corfu. Corfu, is the island off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea. It is defined by rugged mountains and a resort-studded […]

Day One: Lefkas to Lakka Bay, Paxos

After nearly two months of ‘getting ready’ we are off, up the Lefkas canal and out into the open Ionian Sea for the first of many legs to Auxonne in France. This shortish hop of 40 nautical miles will end in lakka Bay in the North east corner of Paxos. We left reasonably early to […]

Lefkas Island, Greece to Auxonne, France

Over the last three months Ann and I have completed a voyage on our Sailing Yacht Ruffles Spray from Lefkas, Greece to Auxonne, France. The voyage was via Paxos, Corfu, Orthoni Island, Santa Maria de Leuca, Crotone, Roccella Ionica, Straights of Messina, Reggio Calabrio, Vibo Vallencia, Centraro, Accoroli, Procida Island, Nettuno, Rome, Giglio Island, Elba […]

Launch Day 31 July 2001

Ann’s daughter Kathryn, my sister Karen, my mother Ilse, Roly and Rowan, Wendy & Franc, John and Joyce, and other friends arrived for the launch early the next day. For ten months we had heard the roar of the travel hoist going backward and forward collecting boats for launch and today was our turn. The […]