The journey began with us on Cloud Nine a 34 ft Nimbus aboard which we left Dartmouth at the end of May 2002 bound for the north Brittany coast. We intended to visit a few places there and return in two or three weeks something which we had done many times before so it started as a fairly routine trip. We had waited a week or so for the weather to improve before we set out and in the event it still turned out to be a fairly bumpy crossing. It was the first in a motor boat after many crossings by sail and Ann was proud to be able to say that she had crossed the channel in her slippers which was a measure of the new found comfort.

We were glad to arrive in l'Aberwrach (sounds Welsh but is on the N. Brittany coast). We stayed there a couple of nights enjoying fair weather. The good weather was forecast to continue so we were tempted to go around the corner to west Brittany - something we had not done before. This we did without event except for our first experience of the Atlantic swell and having to rely heavily on radar navigating the Castanets as a thick mist descended just at the wrong time.

We tied up in a marina in Brest and spent the next couple of days exploring. By this time the forecast was not so good and Camaret just across from Brest seemed inviting as it was more sheltered. Camaret we liked very much and spent two days enjoying excellent moules frites and other local delicacies. However, by this time the rain and wind had become more persistent and Ann uttered the immortal words ' Why do we need to go back? Having got this far let's leave the boat here, go home, return in a month when the weather will be better and carry on south' . So this we did by public transport and ferry to Plymouth where our good friend Ian met us and drove us back to Dittisham. By this time it was the third week of June.

We returned a month later using the same travel arrangements but in reverse, and found Cloud Nine safe and sound. The weather had changed completely and it was set fair for us to continue south. This we did stopping at Audierne, Pornic, and la Rochelle which brought us to the mouth of the Gironde. This is a tricky area to navigate due to swirling currents but we came through and tied up in the marina at Pauillac. It was early August by now and we left the boat there for the winter.

In mid-April 2003 we returned and spent two weeks travelling first the Canal a la Garonne and then the Canal du Midi stopping notably at Agen for the prunes, Carcassone for the castle and Toulouse for the architecture. A memorable and visually delightful trip.

We emerged into the Med at Agde and went east to Port Napoleon near Marseille for a couple of days. Then the plan was to meet up with the Hygates on Yacht Dolphins in Elbe so we set off via Toulon, Nice and N. Corsica. We endured our first experience of the Golf du Lion Mistral off Toulon and wondered if we were up to all this! It was very exciting drawing nearer and nearer to Yacht Dolphins in Elbe and waving to them from a distance and then jumping aboard. We spent just under a week there with them.

A notable experience was when we were enjoying Helen's superb catering aboard Dolphins when we noticed Cloud Nine a way off in the distance and not on her buoy next door. Michael and Rob jumped into the dinghy and chased after her. The mooring buoy rope had broken and she was on her way to goodness knows where if we had not noticed her~!!!!!

We said farewell to them and returned by the same route to Port Napoleon where we left her and returned home mid May. It was the hottest summer everywhere and when we returned at the end of August 20003 it was unbearable at Port Napoleon so we left quickly to get some sea breeze.

The plan was to meet up with the Hygates on Yacht Dolphins again this time in Formentera just south of Ibiza. So we set off west this time along the coasts of France and Spain to Valencia from where we crossed to Ibiza and once more found ourselves drawing nearer and nearer to them on their anchorage in Formentera. We moved from anchorage to anchorage in company with them for a few days and said farewell once more as we headed for Majorca and arrived at Port d'Andraitx on the south west coast.

We spent a few days here recovering from the last three weeks and then set off for Port Ginesta near Barcelona where we left the boat for the winter as we had booked in there. On our return there in May 2004 it poured with rain for several days before we could set off for Majorca and Port Andraitx again.

We spent the whole month circumnavigating the island and during that time we met up with Andreu, the local Nimbus agent, whose base was at Port Adriano. We agreed to meet up with him there on the south west coast just south of Andraitx at the end of our trip. When we arrived there we found a most delightful sheltered small marina where we left Cloud Nine until our return in August 2004.

On our return we crossed to Menorca where we were joined by Ann and Mike King for a Menorcan cruise. This was a happy and successful time for all of us and particularly strengthening as we had to overcome the complete breakdown of the onboard toilet .

On our return to Port Adriano we began to negotiate the purchase of a larger Nimbus to replace Cloud Nine went home. In November, we returned to receive the new boat, 38ft Silueta. We waved goodbye to Cloud Nine as she started her overland journey to Denmark and her new home.

May/June and August/September 2005 and 2006 were spent exploring Ibiza, Formentera, Isla de Cabrera (off S Majorca) and for one of those trips we were again joined by Ann and Mike King who were brave enough to return after the previous no-toilet experience. August 2005 saw Steve, Nik, Natalie and Joe join us for a week and in August 2006 the Hygates did the same, having left their sailing life behind them for the time being at least. So now I write this in May 2007 and we are preparing to embark on our 1000 mile trip to Corfu. We don't know how it will turn out but this log will reveal our experiences along the way. silueta  silueta | created at www.mrsite.com