Joker

  • 30 Dec 2012 22:22
    Reply # 1168996 on 1167460
    Deleted user
    Sam - wrote: We have recently crossed the channel and are living aboard in Cherbourg at the moment. We will travel down through the French canals before emerging into the Med in Spring, where we will aim for Greece.
    Hi Sam. I skim-read your blog a few nights ago and will get back to it soon. My wife and I and two kids did the Rhone to the Med in a Sunbird 32 schooner junk many years ago, entering from the Saone via the Moselle, a great trip. This was years ago, but if you've any questions, feel free to ask. Interestingly one of our plans this year (well, 2012) was to winter in Cherbourg, but for various reasons we ended up in Plymouth.
  • 28 Dec 2012 21:24
    Reply # 1168070 on 1167460
    Deleted user
    Thanks for your comments Mark.

    We will certainly make sure the engine is reliable before tackling the Rhone. It sounds OK (according to our engineer) and starts pretty promptly, even from cold. So if we can sort this cooling problem once and for all we should be OK.

    We do have a outboard bolted to the transom as well as a auxiliary. That will push us along at about 3 knots, so better than nothing.

    Thanks again

    Sam
  • 28 Dec 2012 19:00
    Reply # 1168010 on 1167460
    Dear Sam,
    much enjoyed enjoyed your blog.  The trials and tribulations of an old inboard (not a new story!).  No doubt when you get more confident in sailing her the worries over the engine will not seem so great.  

    What I would worry about is going down the big river - canals in France with a less than reliable motor.  I have not done so myself though heard enough tales to scare me.  My parents did the Canal Du Midi, which is a much more sedate route.  Getting there you will have a fine journey around the coast,  we spend many a summer cruising Brittany in my youth.  There is a canal that crosses Brittany,  which my parents also did,  though I recall they had difficulties wit it being shallow,  your lifting keel should be a boon.

    I sure will have a fantastic trip  (you may gather I am not the least bit jealous!)

    yec’hed mat  (cheers)

    Mark
  • 27 Dec 2012 19:52
    Message # 1167460
    Deleted user
    Hi All

    Just thought I would post here to let people know of our travels.

    In September Naomi and I set off from Bristol aiming for Greece in a Junk rigged Kingfisher 22, Lexia. We made it as far as London before upgrading the boat to a more sane 26ft Etap; Joker...

    We have recently crossed the channel and are living aboard in Cherbourg at the moment. We will travel down through the French canals before emerging into the Med in Spring, where we will aim for Greece.

    We are still novice sailors but getting to grips with the boat and the rig bit by bit.

    Joker is a lovely sailing boat. not so good as a motor boat though! We have frequent battles with the ageing engine.'The bastard' as I affectionately call it.

    We have a blog here: http://howtosurvivethefuture.org/category/the-boat/ if anyone is interested

    Best

    Sam
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

                                                              Site contents © the Junk Rig Association and/or individual authors

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software