2006 / 2007 attempt

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: The 2006 trip would follow the traditional eastabout route through the roaring Forties.

: Underway at last

: Leaving Shetland astern

: Coming up to St Kilda.

: Becalmed south of St Kilda

: Goose barnacle polyp. When we came south of Ireland the sea was covered with literally millions of these. We sailed through them in large and small quantities for at least two weeks.

: Giving my mattress an airing.

: Across the Bay of Biscay the wind picked up for a time.

: 330 miles off the Portuguese coast we met Swyn-y Mor in a bizarre chance encounter. We had last met in Aden in 1993.

: Trade wind sunset

: Good sailing in the trades

: The Trade wind should have been like this everyday..

: ..but on too many days we had calms.

: Regular maintenance while on passage. Checking on the rigging screws.

: Flying fish made a tasty breakfast

: Flying fish frying

: Sorting through a bag of onions

: Off Ille Brava Cape Verdes

: When the trades were blowing as they should the sailing was excellent.

: Settled weather was a good chance to do some maintenance. This is the starboard winch being stripped down.

: Into the SE Trade wind

: A spot of maintenance

: To pass the time I would make up rings and rope mats.

: My trusty Zeiss drum sextant

: The Walker Knotmaster log clocks up the miles.

: To top up my fresh water I would rig a bucket under the gooseneck and catch the rainwater as it ran off the mainsail.

: Once we left the SE trades and went deeper into the South Atlantic the weather was a lot rougher.

: Rough weather in the South Atlantic.

: .. but with some good sunsets.

: Freshly sprouted mung beans were a welcome change to tinned veg.

: A White-chinned Petrel checks us out.

: Goose barnacles on the Aries steering oar.

: Typical grey weather in the Southern Ocean.

: Running downwind in a gale.

: I rigged old cloth over the sheets to protect them from chafe.

: Closing in on Amsterdam Island.

: Amsterdam Island.

: Leaving Amsterdam Is astern

: The sun’s out but the sea is still typically rough.

: Goose barnacles on the waterline. The bottom was covered with them and they slowed me up hugely.

: Coming alongside Elegant Star.

: Climbing up Elegant Star’s pilot ladder

: Elegant Stars crew get ready to take me onboard.

: The air ambulance lands on the Elegant Star.

: Walking down the deck of the Elegant Star.