Know anyone who cruises without an engine ?

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Snowgoose-1

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A few weeks ago I followed an engineless Thames Barge (Blue Mermaid) from Walton Backwaters to Pin Mill on the East Coast. Skillfully handled through Harwich/Felixstowe ports.

Do you know of anything your way that still goes without ?
 
Crewed on a coaster that was owned and skippered by an ex barge man………..he lamented he could not phone the office to say he was anchour Ed as no wind,the office expected a motor ship to be punctual
 
No, but I used to cruise the Norfolk Broads without an engine if that counts. We live in a different world these days, and people are expected to be back at home for Monday morning’s zoom call to the office.
 
My pal cruised his home built pywood epoxy 38ft boat for 15 years with no engine. Based in the Bahamas. He crossed the Atlantic there and back.
He now lives in Vancouver. He bought a 25ft boat. Ripped out the engine, through hulls and electronics. He now cruises that with no engine.
 
veshengro said:
There's an American liveaboard who cruises extensively with an engineless Gaff Cutter, trans Atlantic, Caribbean, Florida etc:
https://www.youtube.com/@howtosailoceans1423
Yes You Tube I know, but some interesting times sculling into marinas/Harbours etc:
Click to expand...
A couple of years ago, he installed an outboard bracket and he is using a small outboard sometimes.
 
Although it is not something that I have done, at least, not intentionally, there is something very liberating about not having an engine, as even my Broads experience told me. At any time, one is totally unable to make firm plans and the future is totally out of one’s hands. You can’t just say, ‘I’ll meet you in Cherbourg on Tuesday’. I remember reading I think Smollett’s account of travelling to France, when I think he had to wait in Dover for about ten days before he could be taken to Boulogne (where he got ripped off and his troubles began).
 
johnalison said:
Although it is not something that I have done, at least, not intentionally, there is something very liberating about not having an engine, as even my Broads experience told me. At any time, one is totally unable to make firm plans and the future is totally out of one’s hands. You can’t just say, ‘I’ll meet you in Cherbourg on Tuesday’. I remember reading I think Smollett’s account of travelling to France, when I think he had to wait in Dover for about ten days before he could be taken to Boulogne (where he got ripped off and his troubles began).
Click to expand...
I know what you mean. One of my best sails ever was about 35 miles home knowing my engine was all over. Even picked up my swinging mooring in a busy narrow gut . Choosing day or night for the sail was not an option. Wind and tide make the choices.

I have a poncy marina berth now. I do miss having a day sail just using the elements Inc on and off the mooring.
 
Without an engine you make sure all your halliards run free that blocks are in good condition and the sails go up anddown without a hit h and of course without the engine you can not have electricity another problem solved,Probably a dinghy that can be put in the water to run out lines or a kedge is handy.Butthereis the temptation to fit an outboard that complicates thingsas normally don’t start well and difficult to get to if not designed in.
 
Guide Me doesn't go too far these days but in 92 returned from the US, Falklands, Douarnenez, all without engine, as she still is.
To be fair that's not really cruising, any trip needs more planning.
Things changed when small diesels came on the market, other than a 8hp air cooled lister or similar noisy lump. You wouldn't carry enough petrol for extended motoring, as most do now.
 
I've found the few bits of engineless sailing I've done extremely satisfying and enjoyable. I'm quite drawn to the thought of a boat with no engine. But it's probably not realistic and anyway boats all come with the things, I'm hardly going to hoist out a perfectly good diesel.
 
I used to sail my first keelboat, a very old 6-metre, until the day when I was in Holy Loch and had to tow the brute with the dinghy back to its mooring 4 miles away to get my crew home. We did try sculling with a sweep but didn't get very far.

When we got in my crew pointed to a bracket on the deck edge near the cockpit and said " You know that's a bracket for a Seagull?" I had wondered what it was. I was on the train to Glasgow the next day to buy a Seagull 102+ longshaft.
 
Many moons ago I cruised from UK to NZ on my Warsash One Design with no engine. Great fun then not so much now maybe. We do still sail our Saltram Saga 40 onto and off anchor whenever we can as it is satisfying. We do have an engine but sometimes its nice to have some fun sailing when conditions are right.
 
newtothis said:
I think Roger Taylor has hung up his carpet slippers now, but his Ming Ming and Ming Ming II did some notable passages without engines.
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But AFAIK he didn't go into any harbour at all except the same one he left from - and often got a tow in and out of that. Easy to do without an engine if happy to meander for a couple of months without arriving anywhere or going into any harbour.
 
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