Court Short

22 hours after leaving Weymouth, averaging 6+ knots, we arrived in Honfleur.   What a great place to spend a week as we wait for the right tide to take us up the Seine to Rouen.    We ‘climbed’ up to Notre Dame de Grace (ancient sanctuary chapel) with stunning views from Mont Joli over […]

Well we've certainly started on a good note!!   We weren't going to publish lots of pictures of us partying but how were we to know that when we stopped off in Weymouth to wait for some wind we would meet up with so many friends?   We did have some culture and enjoyed the colourful celebrations […]

Well we’re off again after almost a year based on land.   Ocean Rainbow is looking good, she’s water tight everywhere, her instruments all work, she’s shiny and polished inside and out and ready for a new adventure.   We have tried explaining to her that for a large proportion of this year’s voyage she […]

Finally it is OR’s turn for an upgrade.   The ‘terra firma’ kitchen has had a makeover and now we can concentrate on our lovely home afloat.   We’ve emptied lockers ready for repainting, removed clothing, bedding and all manner of tins and packets that have now found space in the new kitchen and need […]

It wasn't exactly a clear run home from Salcombe but we did make it back in one piece. The weather was kind to start with and we rounded Lands End in calm conditions and sun! The tidal conditions off Nash Point created their usual challenges that we had almost forgotten after 4 years away ...and […]

This year has been a real mix of tough sailing and glorious moments. The tough sailing continued once in home waters: setting off from Southampton in grey blustery conditions we hoisted the main and managed to 'lose' a reefing pennant inside the boom, in sorting this out we failed to spot a lobster pot off […]

When packing up the mainsail in St Thomas we managed to rip a seam so, on arrival back in UK, we called up Crusader and agreed to drop the sail off once Ocean Rainbow was back. This we did. Not good news. Our sail was "unreliable" - in fact beyond repair. We even put another […]

Ocean Rainbow's holiday is over, we offloaded her - in the pouring rain - and she is now safely berthed at the Town Quay Marina in Southampton. Sevenstar were as efficient and friendly as ever and even though there was a small difference in the temperature between here and USVI, there was no difference in […]

How about this view for our last night in the Caribbean!   Thank you Janet for your wonderful apartment.   And, our plane was so heavy the pilot had to take off heading west (not to the east as is normal) so we got to see Brewers Bay from the air and wave farewell.   […]

Question: What's the quickest way for a yacht to cross the Atlantic? Answer: On a cargo ship! And that's exactly what Ocean Rainbow is doing. Finally, after almost 16,000nm she gets a holiday and is letting the m/v Floretgracht take the strain! We're meeting OR in Southampton and sailing her back to Portishead where we […]