Video Archive

I have reached Burgas, Bulgaria. The windsurf part of windsurf round Europe is completed. The last days have had added significance. Sharing here the last major headland of the journey - Cape Emine.

Body is tired. Arms and fingers say the time is right to hang up the harness, and stow the paddle, for a while. Feeling tearfully grateful to life, our planet, all the many many people who have supported this unsupported voyage.

When the sun comes out it certainly has some heat now. Click to play this video update of the last few days...

The return to Turkey was on 15th March and the next day I slipped across the entrance of the Bosphorus to Istanbul Sailing Club. With no wind happening, and a strong current in the Strait to contend with, the next days were spent sightseeing and being very well looked after by all at Tuzla Sailing Club (a few miles to the south).

Although in theory waiting for southerly wind, a northerly eventually showed up on the forecast, so we confirmed the day with the coastguard, and got back to the eating nice Turkish food.

A Happy New Year arrival in Istanbul yesterday, with dolphins coming to signal the turn in to the large bay where Mimarsinan Windsurf Club is located. For a number of reasons it makes sense to take an extended break here. I'll explain reasoning another time. For now, in a sense, if we are not quibbling about precise landing location, it's time to consider that this journey from the Arctic has now reached Asia.

Decent sailing wind again so this a very brief update. Now into the Aegean and sailing up the east side of the Peloponnese into the Meltemi (NE) headwind. The coastline is stunning! Impressive scale, beautiful, and minimally populated. It really does remind me of Norway apart from being a) warm (no complaints) b) having more solid wind (yeah!) and c) having a river of debris running parallel to the coast. It's not just plastic, but plastic is everywhere in this flow-of-stuff down the coast.
Hope for a fuller catch-up soon.

A difficult few days. Headwinds make even short distances a challenge, the coast is either jagged limestone shore or shear cliff. The very few landing spots require long detours into windless dead-ends. Spectacular and remarkable, but not easy!

Wed 22nd August

Morning at Katanhouse, Punta di Pelarro.  Derig the sail for a service: the cam rollers are flat spotted, so the cams put increased wear on mast. Rotate mast so that wear is on a better protected part.

Sail away ahead of an approaching thunderstorm. Quite windy. Upwind - with good breeze - always noisy, wet, jarring, and eventually cold. Push on for 8 miles before the storm gives up the chase, allowing a break to don drysuit.

Around dusk, a brief alien visit - the hum and red LED of a drone, maybe 2km from the coast.

Calabria - the front part of the boot of Italy, from the metatarsals to the toes - continues to gently resist progress. The thermal breezes are at best timid. Important miles come from the paddle. Early morning land breezes offer a few cheap miles before the calm hours arrive. Usually by then I'm a way offshore, and the still air means it is breakfast time on board: coffee from the flask, and something for the stomach. After a half hour wait the sea is smooth and glassy and invites some paddling.

Ironic really, posting a video of great wind when most of the time I'm really struggling for breeze...

Sunday 29th July

It's hot! Wind typically arrives in the afternoon. Sailing along beaches it is fine to keep going till sunset, when the wind disappears. Along cliffs I should be a bit more careful! Try an evening pumpathon to get round 600m high Orbitello peninsula. Too late really, and too dark to see where I could get in. Get hassled by a concerned Italian who is eager I turn back to the safety of Santo Stefano. OK pal. Pumpathon back the way I've just come. Sun has set by time I reach land.