Author: Colin Speedie - Page 6 - Attainable Adventure Cruising

Paradise Found—or Lost?

January 25, 2021March 8, 2014 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Sad to leave Grenada, Lou and Colin carry on up the island chain, with stops at St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Tobago Cays.

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Keeping The Water Out—Deck

June 18, 2023February 11, 2014 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 9 minutes

Colin continues in his pursuit of watertight integrity by looking at ways to waterproof deck fittings.

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Lights Out!

January 25, 2021January 30, 2014 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

After a stressful passage from Trinidad, Colin and Lou reach Grenada and a warm Caribbean welcome.

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Keeping The Water Out—Topsides

April 16, 2022January 9, 2014 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 7 minutes

There are few things more miserable on a boat at sea than salt water below from deck leaks. And if said leaks get bad enough, they can sink you.

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Don’t Leave It Too Late

January 26, 2021December 21, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 6 minutes

It’s a time of year when all of us, hopefully, are focused on the things that really matter, family, friends and life direction, and Colin has the perfect post to fit into that. Don’t miss it. I promise it will make you think and it might just change your life.

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Watertight Bulkheads

April 16, 2022December 13, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Though watertight bulkheads are arguably not imperative on a cruising boat they could give you some extra time when it really counts.

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Life In The Bus Lane*

January 25, 2021December 1, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Pélerin serves her time in a boatyard in Trinidad in preparation for heading to the Caribbean.

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What We Did On Our Summer Holidays

April 5, 2021October 13, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

So how do you unwind from a long and challenging voyage across the Atlantic to Brazil by sailboat? Well, if you are Colin, you do a long and challenging science project by…you guessed it, sailboat.

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What’s New In Alternative Energy?

August 10, 2020September 28, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Developments in alternative energy systems are coming thick and fast these days, so Colin visited the Southampton Boat Show and has filed this report on the latest in fuel cells, solar panels, and hydro-generators.

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Brazil As A Cruising Destination

January 25, 2021September 11, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Colin provides a clear-eyed analysis of the benefits and challenges of cruising Brazil. Not only is this chapter of use to those with that country in their cruising plans, Colin does a masterful job of discussing the issues that a voyager visiting any country with a very different language and culture from their own should consider.

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Crash Testing a Relationship

January 25, 2021August 23, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 12 minutes

Going cruising with your partner may sound romantic, and it is. But there are also few activities that are more stressful on a relationship. Colin tells the story of his first tough passage with Lou. One that they took on intentionally to see how they would manage as a team at sea. It’s an example that all couples considering the voyaging life should emulate—Crash Test the Relationship before committing everything to a new life on the ocean.

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Our Changing Oceans

January 26, 2021August 14, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Jimmy Cornell is undoubtedly one of the most important people to offshore voyaging of his generation. Colin caught up to him for a wide ranging interview on what this consummate entrepreneur is planning next as well as his latest publication.

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Spade Rudders—Ready for Sea?

January 25, 2021July 9, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 8 minutes

Some time ago I posted here with my views on the suitability of spade rudders for offshore cruising. Having lost a spade rudder that looked to be in A1 condition, naturally my thoughts at the time were coloured by that disaster. Despite the fact that I had up until that time owned three yachts that had spade rudders, had covered tens of thousands of miles aboard them, and but for a bad case of metal fatigue might never have had a concern about their use, my immediate reaction was to rule out having one on our next boat.

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Forward Into The Past

February 20, 2023July 3, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Most of our regular readers will know well that I am a dedicated fan of metal boats, so the following post may come as something of a surprise. For although Lou and I chose aluminium for our own voyaging boat, I still retain a love of wooden boats—aesthetically at least—particularly the honest, robust gaff-rigged wooden working boats. And for many years Lou and I have lived in one of the best places in the world to enjoy seeing them, Falmouth in Cornwall.

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Coming To a Remote Spot Near You…

April 15, 2022June 19, 2013 by Colin Speedie

Reading Time: 4 minutes

It's a pristine place, right- — It’s a pristine place, right?

In my experience long distance cruisers are great lovers of the marine environment, whether it be clean seas, marine wildlife or their favourite wild places. If that is indeed true, we’d be the last people to want to cause harm to pristine places, either deliberately or unwittingly. And yet, as I recently learned, the latter may indeed be the case, even though we have no idea at all that we may be doing it. And it’s all down to the critters that hitch a ride with us on our hulls—Invasive Non-Native Species, INNS for short.

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