Voyages of Thalmia

27/05/2025

3 boats from Starcross Yacht Club decided to make an early crossing to Guernsey and possibly beyond. What transpired was an excellent excursion with some brilliant sailing on some days, revisiting some lovely locations and ending with spectacular celebrations in the Victoria Marina in St Peter Port. We take the smooth with the rough and max out the enjoyment! Crossing the English Channel to Guernsey, Brittany and Normandy The next adventure will hopefully be a return visit (yes once again!) to the wonderful Isles of Scilly.

3 boats from Starcross Yacht Club decided to make an early crossing to Guernsey and possibly beyond. What transpired was an excellent excursion with some brilliant sailing on some days, revisiting …

30/11/2024

It’s taken a while to get round to publishing this update! The conclusion to my amazing adventures in Southern Ireland. What memories!

I have finally got around to publishing the last video in the series from my adventures in Southern Ireland. Here’s a brief resume of what is covered in this final video, now published on my YouTub…

30/11/2024

A final post and a final video on YouTube. What an adventure!

I have finally got around to publishing the last video in the series from my adventures in Southern Ireland. Here’s a brief resume of what is covered in this final video, now published on my YouTub…

18/09/2024

My summer cruise to Southern Ireland was completed in July. After a pleasant stay in Padstow inner harbour onboard Thalmia, with Ruth, walking the coastline and meeting up with friends, I made the long passage west along the north coast of Cornwall and around Lands End. This time the conditions were not favourable for an overnight stop at St Ives so I pressed on “around the corner” and eventually, after just more than 11hours passage, dropped the anchor in sheltered waters outside Mousehole....

My summer cruise to Southern Ireland was completed in July. After a pleasant stay in Padstow inner harbour onboard Thalmia, with Ruth, walking the coastline and meeting up with friends, I made the …

12/07/2024

Better than forecast or expected!

09/07/2024

I was really pleased to have conditions leaving Milford Haven that allowed me to do something I couldn’t do when sailing round Britain. I stopped overnight in the very small anchorage on the East side of Lundy. I inflated the tender and went ashore for a short walk and brief (!) visit to the Marisco Tavern. The Guinness here didn’t match what I’d become used to!...

I was really pleased to have conditions leaving Milford Haven that allowed me to do something I couldn’t do when sailing round Britain. I stopped overnight in the very small anchorage on the East s…

29/06/2024

I came back around Mizen Head on Monday 17th June and it was rather nice seeing headlands, bays and harbours that were now familiar. Not the surprise element this time but like meeting old friends! In very calm conditions, albeit with some leftover swell from the strong winds that had passed through, I mostly stayed close to the shoreline and steep cliffs....

I came back around Mizen Head on Monday 17th June and it was rather nice seeing headlands, bays and harbours that were now familiar. Not the surprise element this time but like meeting old friends!…

21/06/2024

Who tipped off the customs men - heavy boots on my clean floors and into every cupboard and storage space!

15/06/2024

Like King Canute I have had to recognise the supreme power of the elements, whether that be the tides or the winds! On Tuesday 11th June I left Baltimore and in light winds and almost smooth seas I motored out to the iconic Fastnet rock. This is the turning mark for the annual Fastnet race from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, made infamous by the cruel events of August 1979 when a worse than expected storm led to 24 abandoned or sunk yachts and 19 fatalities....

Like King Canute I have had to recognise the supreme power of the elements, whether that be the tides or the winds! On Tuesday 11th June I left Baltimore and in light winds and almost smooth seas I…

10/06/2024

After the delayed start the winds continued to hinder progress being mostly westerly i.e. where I was heading and sometimes strong. So I spent some time in Cork, Kinsale, Courtmacsherry and Glandore. I’m not regretting those stops. I’ve enjoyed exploring and had some fast sailing in short hops including the last hop when the wind had veered almost to the north and I was sailing at over 7knots over the ground with a reef in the mainsail and in full sun....

After the delayed start the winds continued to hinder progress being mostly westerly i.e. where I was heading and sometimes strong. So I spent some time in Cork, Kinsale, Courtmacsherry and Glandor…

03/06/2024

Finally a fair forecast encouraged us to depart. Aidan arrived after Ruth departed and we set off for Newlyn. We anchored overnight outside Newlyn harbour which I have frequently used before a departure to Scilly. The harbour welcomes visiting yachts but is primarily a fishing harbour and very busy early morning and you can be disturbed by boats leaving. Numerous lobster pot buoys limited our space to anchor outside but we had a calm night....

28/05/2024

Heading to Southern Ireland?

My primary objective on this trip was to enjoy a voyage to Ireland. It was not intended as a challenge and I was certain I was not going to push myself. As a 73 year old who came late to sailing I …