Serendipities Of A Nomad's Life

Unfortunately I don’t have a name for this Tahitiana that was for sale in Faro, Portugal in September 2007. She was built in 1982 and was listed for sale for Euros 46,824  ( £ 32,250). See the photo gallery.

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“Taimanu’s” recent history is sadly the story of many boats.  They are bought, but then plans change, life takes a different turn and they wait for a new owner to care for them and make them live again as boats. The former owner of “Taimanu” wrote when he listed the boat for sale, “I purchased [...]

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Another “bulletproof” sailboat of dreams. This Tahitiana was built in 1984 and was listed for sale in Buddina, Queensland, Australia in January 2010. See the photo gallery.

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The sight of a boat under full sail still thrills me. Take a look at this one of Wisp. See the photo gallery.

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Kuan Yin setting sail from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in August 2009 on her way to Labrador after a major refit.  My friend Don Roht took this photo and many others, some of which I’l be posting in an album shortly.  Don and Rupert Hummel came out in an inflatable just before sunrise in August to [...]

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I found this quote from the German poet Geothe’s work Faust in Alvah Simon’s excellent book “North to the Night, A Spiritual Odyssey in the Arctic“.  Parts of the poem are often quoted, but I’ve not seen two stanzas quotes before.  Seeing the fuller context gives his words extra power and meaning: “Until one is [...]

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“Deben Jack” was sold in 2006 and unfortunately I’ve not been able to find any more news of her since then. See the photo gallery. The Tahitiana is a “granddaughter” of the famous lifeboat built in the 19th century by Colin Archer to serve the Norwegian fishing fleet in the North Atlantic in winter time. [...]

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The skipper’s advice to others is, “Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.”  He bought ‘Irie” when she was derelict, restored her and sailed to the South Pacific – proof you don’t a fancy boat to get out there!

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Alas, I have no specific information about this boat.  I can only assume that she started from her home port of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and sailed at least to where palm trees grow (see photo)!  She was sold in Key West Florida on 22/10/08 for US $11,900 after the price was reduced from US 14,900.  [...]

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Why do people sell up, move aboard a small boat and sail off into the blue?  Some years ago, Cruising World magazine interviewed some of the best known longtime voyagers and liveaboards and asked them what motivated them and what they’d learned along the way.  It makes for fascinating reading. We Just Kept Going: an [...]

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