MadMaxMariner

Home Port Maasholm, …

… the town, whose name we still carry on the stern of our boat and where we are registered. Click on the image to start slide show of our wonderful time in Maasholm. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of May and June 2008.

Preparations …

… and a lot of work to make the boat ready for living on it and to equip it for offshore sailing. Click on the image to start slide show of some of that trouble, still Maasholm. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of May and June 2008.

First excursions …

… and discoveries in the “danish south sea” and Schlei. Click on the image to start slide show of those early days. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of May and June 2008.

Northbound …

… and then only west anymore. The trip around Denmark, through the Limfjord to the North Sea. Click on the image to start the slide show of our beginning of our long sailing tour.

North Sea, …

… both boring and exciting and not at all like expected. But the first opportunity to get used to longer trips and recollect safety issues. Click on the image to start the slide show. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of July 2008.

England 1, …

from the very beginning we were not welcomed by the circumstances. Click on the image to start the slide show of the first days in England. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

England 2, …

adversities continue, but some nice inland trips compensate our sadness. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

England 3, …

…, a big disappointment after the english image promotion of the solent and the Ilse of Whight. Most expensive harbours, packed and crowded, collisions and the high season. Poor anchoring places, we even went adrift. Poor empire sailors. But again the people and the inland trips were great. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

France 1 - Bretagne, Morlaix

Finally, we arrived in much more beautyful regions. Lorbas was racing away from England and the first time we had a real sailing experience. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side. Now there are more heavy blue water boats. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

France 2 - Bretagne L’île Callot

First anchoring places in a wonderful environment. Still painful dighy excursions. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

France 3 - L’île´Ouessant

Now this is the open Atlantic. Bay Biscay ahead and a very rough coast line. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

France 4 - Douarnenez

Nice river mooring. We met some nice people for a while, gave away our ol outboard and solid dinghy. Nice evenings with friends. If time was not running we would have stayed longer. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of August 2008.

France 5 - Golfe de Gascogne (Biskaya)

Again, like the North Sea, the opposite to what we expected. Almost no wind. Where are all the storms when you check the weather forecast professionally? For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of September 2008.

España 1 - La Coruña

Just a coincidence. We stopped by chance, fell in love with a beautiful city and even Thomas´accident was a good reason to stay much longer than planned. Now the good times began. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of September 2008.

España 2 - Rias - Muros - Baiona

Time flies, the portugese coast is said to be tough in fall, so we were hurrying, but again: there was no wind and we had to motor more than we liked. Still no decision about the Med Sea or Canaries, so we did not stay so long. The spanish royal family is sailing there also. We were touched when we learned that Columbus started and returned here. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of September 2008.

Portugal 1 - Povoa de Varzim & Sines

Either we did not see it, could not find it or still were in a hurry. Portugal may be a nice country, but sailing is not that interesting. Positive is that it´s cheap, relaxed (slow) and everything but posh. Very quiet harbours. A lot of EU support money flowing in facilities that are not used. For the whole story read the respective blog postings archive of October 2008.

Portugal 2 - Porto

Wow, what a city, not in a good shape but eventually that makes up the charme of this historical city.

Portugal 3 - Portimaio & Ferragudo

Again a place where they want to attract permanent residents and charter customers. Nevertheless we met some nice people and other sailors. That region is bougth out by Brits now anyway.

Islas Canarias 1 - La Graciosa

You just have to be there. Fantastic scenery if you keep an open eye. Time tunnel if you walk in the small town. Strange people and the frist real blue water boat harbour. Not many plastic boats anymore. We forgot time and stayed at a place without time pressure anymore.

Islas Canarias 2 - Lanzarote

Thomas´reminiscence of his holyday there 15 years ago. Mass tourism has continued to boom. Illegal construction activities in nature reserves. Probably the said-to-be beauty of this island has not touched us. We stayed at the Playa Papagayos in a beautyful scenery and toured along the island´s most touristic attractions. We think interesting one time but once in a life is enough.