Puffin - a 1937 Hillyard sailing yacht

Just read back the last 2 pages. Extremely inspirational. I've always wanted a sailboat, now I want one even more. One day...

Morecambe bay prawner

did he come down the canals with you as well?

Thank you for sharing, very nice adventure on a very cute boat!
Just learned that an old friend is in a German association that sails old boats, guess I will have to investigate.

He moved his boat here 4 years ago. I crossed the channel with him then and his journey was a big influence/inspiration.
Thanks all for the nice comments. When I bought the boat it was all very much a dream to get to the med and wasn’t entirely sure it would happen (because life etc) so very pleased to be here finally!

If you are into great food and have time in Marseille, Limmat on the stairs to cours julien was outstanding last summer.
Maybe the most fun restaurant I have eaten at. Very relaxed and incredible menue.

Oh my. I need a new boat.

This one’s for sale…

Thanks for the recommendation, will try and check it out

Let's not. I have a plastic sail boat and I struggle to keep that in decent order. Once my kids are older maybe...

Made it to Marseilles, 2 days from Sete with a night at anchor in the golfe de Saint Marie. Here’s a few not very good pictures. Next, the calanques…

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And, did you have dinner on the stairs?

Calanques by boat must be so good.

Sadly not! Was there late and they were no longer serving. Will definitely be back though

Tonight’s anchorage

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île de Riou

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It is incredibly cruel posting these pics when many of us are stuck at work 😔

If you're in that area, stopping off at Cassis is a must in my opinion. Such a nice place.

Cassis and the calanques are some of the most beautiful coastline you can experience. Very jealous.

Bit of a windy sail today from Saint Cyr to Le Brusc. Only 7 nm as the crow flies but with wind mostly on the nose and a couple of capes to clear took nearly 7 hours, lots of tacking. Started out with a moderate breeze of about 10 knots then gradually built under fairly heavy cloud until it was gusting 20 at times. Had full mainsail to start, put a reef in after a couple of hours as the helm was getting pretty heavy, then shook the reef out again when the wind started to drop. By the time we anchored off the beach at Le Brusc, the wind has died completely. Still getting used to sailing a very small boat in relatively strong winds so was quite exciting!

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I check the thread from time to time, so dreamy!
Please go an check the islands next, Levant, Port Cros.
Beware of military exclusion areas.
I would avoid the Riviera this time of year.
I hope you checked French naval regulations, checks are numerous this time of year.
Signals,lighting, coms, don' t anchor in neptune grass areas.
Ask any capitainerie.

Great pictures and adventures. Thanks for sharing

Will be heading to the islands in a couple of weeks. Got to leave the boat now for a bit, go for a bike ride to stretch the legs and also head back to London to sort out life - have a new teaching job starting in September and need to prep. The current plan is to spend 3 weeks in august going to Porquerolles, Levant, Port Cros and heading slowly up towards Antibes where I have the option of a cheap ish winter berth for the boat. Might also nip across to Corsica and back if the wind and weather allows and I’m feeling brave enough for a 100 mile passage, we’ll see…
Have been very careful to avoid anchoring on the seagrass - starting to see mooring buoys in a few areas which is good.

Just done my day skipper, following for later-in-life inspo

Back on the boat for 3 more weeks before work, London and life starts again…. Have pretty much achieved what I set out to do, which was to sail my own boat across the channel and make it to the med and for that reason amongst others I will be putting puffin up for sale in September. PM me with your lowball offers and live the dream!

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Porquerolles is pretty nice! Had a perfect sail here from Sanary sur mer, 8-10 knots of breeze on the beam resulted in a cruising speed of about 3.5 knots. Took just over 7 hours for 20 miles and had to motor a bit at the end when the breeze died but was very satisfying to sail most of the way. Lots of boats in the anchorage but everyone is lovely and gives plenty of space so no stress about crossed chains and bumps in the night when the wind shifts. Very different from the madness of the calanques near Marseille. The water is incredibly clear and there are loads of fish so the snorkelling is excellent which is a nice bonus. Going to spend a few days here before heading back to the mainland and along the coast to St Tropez .

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