Aleria's Adventures

  Phyllis Nickel and John Harries have turned over the Norwegian Cruising Guide to new editors. After more than 25 years, John and Phyllis handed over the editing and publishing of the Norwegian Cruising Guide to Daniel and Kathrin Gerber of Switzerland, fellow cruisers with deep experience exploring the coast by sailboat, including a voyage to Svalbard and twice wintering over in Norway.  Lucky for the Gerbers, their Norwegian partners Eli Husum and Hans Jakob Valderhaug, who has spent more than five decades cruising the coast, will continue to be co-authors of the Guide. You can learn more about Daniel and Kathrin on their YouTube channel and website.

  I was looking for information about what's happening on Inishturk (Inisturk in Irish) when I came across a blog post that tells the island's story quite well. The reason I am searching for info about the island is because we are thinking of taking a group of Irish Cruising Club members for a day trip there next spring, when the ICC Annual Dinner weekend comes to Westport. We've already booked the new Grace Hotel on the grounds of Westport House for the event.  I have to see if they have golf carts on the island to transport our older members to the Community Centre, which is way up the hill with the most spectacular views of any bar and restaurant on earth (the one thing the blog post did not mention).  In fact, there are multiple articles about visiting Inishturk, which used to be a well-kept secret with no tourism. Now it has its small share of  ecotourism . Ferries depart from Roonagh Pie r near Louisburg and take about 1 hour to arrive at the island.  Thi...

  It seems that Aleria will soon be ready for launching. The first time in several years. We don't know what we need to bring back, so we'll have to make a couple of trips down and a couple of short cruises to ensure all is back together again. Berthon wants us to bring her to Lymington in time for the ARC Open Day on May 15. I hope that's doable.  She will have all new ports and hatches, fresh paint on the hull and the masts. An overall facelift. I hope it's all up to snuff.  I'm a bit concerned about us bringing her to England as I have not sailed at all since Covid, that's 6 years. Do I even remember how? And being 6 years older now, will I be able to manage in rough seas? Being in my 70s is a bit different from being in my 60s. Yes, I am worried.  The plan is to have her in England to sell her as quickly as possible, but we'll have to sail her back to European waters to close as she is EU registered. If she doesn't sell quickly, we sail to Mediterra...