About us

Doreen clearing snow in Almerimar

In the cockpit, reading

A few drinks with good friends
John & Jane on Tara III

This site is for pleasure only and we make no claims about anything other than what we have experienced. Also please note that the information given is our views of the things we have experienced, nothing in the web site is meant to take the place of pilots or almanacs (or any other navigational documentation or products). Doreen, Alan, their family and friends accept NO responsibility or liability for plans you may make, or actions you may take, that are based upon the information contained within the pages of this site. Every person undertaking such voyages must use their own skills, create their own plans and rely upon their own judgement. No voyage should be undertaken without reference to professional charts and pilots, navigational, weather and safety information. Just because we like something or somewhere, it does not necessarily mean that you will also like them.

Doreen & I purchased Kiah in September 2000 with the intention of sailing off to warmer climates, a dream we had had for many long years. We first set out in 2004 and decided to turn left into the Mediterranean for the first few years (easier for flying home) making Almerimar in Spain our first winter stop. We have now completed the Mediterranean and have also crossed the Atlantic, wow.

Prior to Kiah we had been sailing for many years and had two previous yachts (one a 21 footer and the other a 33 footer), so we felt ourselves pretty experienced. However, our time in the Med has taught us a great deal. Our thanks to everyone we have met over the years both for their friendship and their valuable input to many aspects of sailing, anchoring, mooring, trips to be done ashore, shopping, laundry and countless more live aboard things. We have enjoyed many ‘sun-downers’ on many yachts, including Kiah of course. Wintering with a good live aboard community can also be real fun with plenty of shore activities and trips.

You may be surprised at the number of tasks that have to be performed and in which you need (unless very rich) to become proficient in. The great thing about this wonderful life is that yachtsmen help each other, there is a wonderful camaraderie and there is a multitude of talent from engineers to plumbers even down to one guy we know who is a sewing machine expert. We look forward to meeting many more good people and enjoying many more years sailing (or motoring if we must).

What we thought we would find living aboard, and what actually happened is a story all of its own and is shown in a couple of pages called The Learning Curve. In those pages we list the things that have changed since we set out and some of the things we have learned. Iit is not all sweetness and light, nor is it all doom and gloom. We have found good things that work very well and we have found items of kit that do not work well at all. Our views on these things may help any of you planning to sail away.