Recent content by Ariadne

My question is where and how do you intend to use it? Answer this and you're halfway there. In the Med' you'll be 50:50 at anchor, or in a marina. In the Caribbean 90% at anchor, around the Canaries it's up to your budget, both options are viable all the time. Moody's and Westerlies are heavy...

Quite simple really, if your doing the ARC then you need some long distance passages to get used to it, see if you like and how you cope with it; therefore Biscay is your only realistic option. The canals may be nice, but they aint going to prep you for the Atlantic, and you need to get some sea...

Any charter company will want YM as a basic. I wouldn't worry about having a place to stay as you'll be living on the boat you work on, with your own boat in a marina or lifted, when the season is over/you have time off you go cruising on your own boat. Just working as a floating/standing crew...

Most people we know work as couples (Captain/Hostess) for SunSail or Moorings or some other charter company, either lifting their boat during the season or getting a deal with the charter company to use their moorings or their dock/slip. I'mm not saying it;s a great job but you can earn some...

You need to get them refreshed every 5 fives years to keep your CoC valid! And don't forget the 2010 Manilla amendments are now a must to Ships Security Officer is a must!

My Mrs prefers to be at the pointy end when dropping the anchor, or going alongside at a marina, but she is more than capable of helming it in on any occasion and all conditions. As for jumping ashore with ropes, nobody does that, we step off the boat onto a pontoon or dock, you only need to...

Stormvogel is still racing in the Antigua Classics, and although now under private ownership I think she still may be doing the odd charter.

No need to be sarky TCM, just because your a CLOD these days!

You could turn east and head for The Gambia if you wanted, although the better passage is to avoid the CVs and take a rhumb line passage straight into Banjul! The Gambia is not a Saharan war zone either, and it's great cruising up the river for the adventurous of you. Contrary to popular...

Some sensible answers to your questions so far, but I'd concentrate on getting the Mrs and kids on-board before running out to buy a boat and planning stops; otherwise I fear it will all go tits up and result in expensive lawyers fees. Seriously, you need them to buy into it and buy into it at...

Head for Salvador and then work north with the current and trades. Do stop at The Gambia on the way - well worth it, and despite what's written you can get all the food you need there for an Atlantic crossing!

I change the seals in my 120S as soon as I can afford to lift after I start seeing water in the oil, no set time I've only done mine once in 8 years, but I do check the oil on a regular basis and if possible remove some and replace with new. It's a simple job to change them when your on the hard.

Pointless thread, I've met quite a few Yachtmasters whom I wouldn't trust in a punt, let alone on the high seas in a boat; strangely enough many of these come from highly regarded 'Blue Ensign' yacht clubs!!! Don't get me wrong I've nothing against the money making, self publicising machine...

Nothing new here, if you hang around long enough or trawl through the Liveaboard page you'll find many similar questions. If you want it you'll have to pay the fee, and pay it soon or they will send it back to the mainland until you decide what you want to do with it; it's just the way things...

You can get an exemption form some practical stuff, depending on what exam board you use. My two are sitting their IGCSEs with a Cambridge exam board school in Trinidad, they sit English & Maths this November or next May, Combined Science the following year and Geography the year after. The...