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Barefoot Sailors
Sailing slowly, living simply, and chasing horizons.

Latest

13
Jun
Blue to Brown: Clovelly to Penarth

Blue to Brown: Clovelly to Penarth

With my back out and Rich solo-sailing the whole leg, we rode the tide to Wales, watched the sea turn from blue to brown, and made it through Rich's first ever lock.
9 min read
11
Jun
The ups and downs of Clovelly

The ups and downs of Clovelly

Clovelly gave us a waterfall coincidence, a proper family lunch, and a dinghy that punished us on the way in and out. Add a smashed mug and a sleepless night, and it was still one for the books.
9 min read
10
Jun
Chasing rainbows (and squalls) round Land's End: Newlyn to Clovelly

Chasing rainbows (and squalls) round Land's End: Newlyn to Clovelly

What should have been a straightforward long haul from Newlyn to Clovelly turned into a masterclass in rainbow mistrust, a mid-passage fuel top-up, and hours of pointless wave-calling. Sixteen hours later, a golden arrival made it all worth it.
6 min read
08
Jun
The tide waits for no one (especially not us)

The tide waits for no one (especially not us)

What was meant to be one night in Newlyn turned into three days of changing plans, an accidental walk to Penzance, and a tide window to Land's End we never used. By the time St Michael's Mount stopped being a smudge on the horizon, we'd swapped sailing for pints, pasties and a lot of gift shops.
7 min read
07
Jun
Late Start, Big Seas and an Unexpected Bath: Helford to Newlyn

Late Start, Big Seas and an Unexpected Bath: Helford to Newlyn

What should have been a fairly straightforward passage from Helford River to Newlyn turned into a day of big seas,
5 min read
05
Jun
Racing the Gale from Fowey to the Helford River

Racing the Gale from Fowey to the Helford River

We woke to a shifting forecast, a looming gale warning, and that familiar itch to move. So we motor-sailed
8 min read
01
Jun
Fog, Swell and an Autopilot Tantrum: Salcombe to Fowey

Fog, Swell and an Autopilot Tantrum: Salcombe to Fowey

We left Salcombe in thick fog and bigger swell than forecast, rode one long close-hauled line toward Fowey, and
8 min read
31
May
Anstey’s Cove to Salcombe: Racing Friends, Coastguard Drama and a Proper Sail

Anstey’s Cove to Salcombe: Racing Friends, Coastguard Drama and a Proper Sail

Feeling sunburnt, slightly under the weather and questioning whether we should even leave Anstey’s Cove, we cast off anyway
5 min read
30
May
One Last Day in Brixham: Airshow, Anchors and Anstey’s Cove

One Last Day in Brixham: Airshow, Anchors and Anstey’s Cove

Our final day in Brixham wasn’t spent making miles south. Instead, we spent it watching aircraft roar overhead, sharing
7 min read
27
May
Preparations

Preparations

Before every sailing trip there’s a point where the excitement starts to outweigh the planning. We’d reached that
7 min read