The Bristol Channel is a notoriously challenging stretch of water. With the second-highest tidal range in the world, navigating its powerful currents, shifting sandbanks, and frequent strong winds requires great skill and deep local knowledge.
Editor’s note: This memoir was written by Lovesail member Gandalpuss back in 2018. It’s a beautifully told story of a Folkboat in Brittany and a mysterious encounter on the water. We love sharing our members’ sailing memories like this.
The SS Varvassi was a 3,874‑ton Greek merchant steamship that became infamous after running aground off the Needles Lighthouse, Isle of Wight, on 5 January 1947.
In 5 days time 18 sailors will leave Les Sables-d’Olonne in western France to circumnavigate the globe. A journey of 30,000 nautical miles, they must travel alone, non-stop and without any outside assistance, that is to say without any modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation equipment. As if that wasn’t challenging enough they have to sail in a similar vessel to those that took part in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race some 50 years ago.
Did you know that Lovesail is on Instagram (@_lovesail)? I know, I know, how many more social media accounts do we need to have these days? If you haven’t ventured onto Instagram yet then do, it really is one of the better ones (even if it is owned by Facebook!).
Navigation has always been a vital part of finding one’s way at sea. Long before modern instruments existed, early sailors relied on natural observation to guide their journeys.
Whether you are the captain leading a crew in a race, or simply spending a relaxed afternoon mooching around a lake in a dinghy, sailing offers very little opportunity to be a passive observer.
Cape Horn is located on Isla Hornos and is widely regarded as the southernmost point of South America. The island sits at the southern tip of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and marks the northern boundary of the strait separating South America from Antarctica, known as the Drake Passage.
The 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe traces the tumultuous voyages and ultimate survival of a man with an unshakable lust for the sea. Since its publication, the story has sparked ongoing debate about who may have inspired the book’s famous castaway.
So, who was the real Robinson Crusoe?
The new look London Boat Show 2018 starts tomorrow, Wednesday 10th January and runs for 5 days until Sunday 14th January 2018.