Its cold, but I am sat in front of a roaring fire?! I am definitely missing the sun and the sea. Winter always has that effect on me so I compensate by trying to find something high to go sit on - like Snowdon! Unfortunately the weather ( and man flu) has been against me for a few weeks so even hill walking has been out of the question. Luckily we are off to Cuba in three weeks time so I'll be swimming , walking etc etc. in the sun. I may even hire a dinghy. ( Plus salsa on the beach, smoke a cigar, and drink a few Cuba Libres)

All this of course is just a temporary fix until next season, which I hope will start fairly early with a new job on a new boat. I am hoping to keep in touch with friends in Greece, and with the Sailing Training boat GMC but it will be nice to find something new to try- a fresh challenge to blow away the cobwebs and the winter. There is always something to look forward to - time for a whisky and another log on the fire, wheres that Yachting Monthly.

Clients enjoying the sailing

Birds

Another encounter with a swallow

Hi
After a few years’ break I am happy to be back working with Aegean Sailing School on a new venture. Melody and George have teamed up with Sani Resort to offer a new experience in a new area.
Sani Resort offers luxury holiday accommodation in northern Greece in the beautiful area of Halkidiki near Thessoloniki. This peninsula reminds me of sailing in Greece twenty years ago. The seas are sparkingly clean and an afternoon can be lost just swimming and chasing the fish. The tavernas are simple and the majority of harbours and bays are underdeveloped and unspoilt. It really is a great place to experience cruising by sail.
Our boat is a 50 Beneteau. It has six berths in large cabins equipped with air conditioning. There are so many extras on this boat that it can make sailing simple and yet enjoyable. Why not come and join us and see for yourselves?
My wife, Helen, is working with me and we’d love to see old friends and make new ones. Check out the pictures on the Aegean Sailing School blog and website!
Ian

Hard to Swallow!!

On a recent delivery from North Wales we were joined on board by a Swallow until we reached Milford. By coincidence when we left Milford for Plymouth we were again joined by a swallow. It cannot have been the same bird but in both visits the birds displayed some really strange behaviour - see the photos

Almost forgot the Whales!!

(The black dots!!)

My thanks to Danny, Jordan, Rob, Paul Clark and Dave Murray for the opportunity

Climbing back on board after swimming off Fuerte ventura. The other shots show the inside of GMC. A great boat and a challenge to sail. Sadly we are now going in different directions.

Helen and I are returning to Greece to start a charter business and sailing school in Northern Greece for Mel and George Burton of Aegean sailing.

It was great to work on GMC but its time to move on.

Crew on route to Portomao

Crew on route to Portomao. Mark was happier than he looked. Mark produced a brilliant film of the trip which I'll try to post later


We left La coruna and travelled down to Cascais just outside Lisbon - via Bayonne. We then travelled down to Portomao. Usual mixed weather and bouncing seas!!

The boat stayed in Southern Portugal over Christmas and then I moved her down to Lanzarote where we lifted her out for maintenance. She's still there and we should be operating from there for a few weeks before moving to the Med and Alicante.

She doesn't look bad when she's scrubbed up

GMC

Follow this link to You tube video of our last sailing trip on GMC - 78ft Gaff Ketch sail Training vessel:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdSDJXtBXGo