The story of Topaz Rival

Galleon’s’ Beach

31 March 2024 • Freeman’s Bay

Green Island

29 March 2024 • Green Island

Rest day in Jolly Harbour

28 March 2024 • Mosquito Cove

Montserrat

26 March 2024 • Little Bay

English Harbour

14 March 2024 • English Harbour

Barbuda and back II

12 March 2024 • Falmouth Harbour

Jolly good

07 March 2024 • Jolly Harbour

Quick trip to Barbuda

29 February 2024 • Barbuda

Deep Bay

28 February 2024 • Deep Bay

Green Island

25 February 2024 • Green Island

Mamora Bay resort

23 February 2024 • Mamora Bay

Racing to Falmouth

21 February 2024 • Falmouth Harbour

Arrival Antigua

15 February 2024 • Jolly Harbour

Deshaies

11 February 2024 • Deshaise

Rain, rain, rain

11 February 2024 • Bouillante

Deshaise

11 February 2024 • Deshaise

A few days in Terre de Haut

09 February 2024 • Terre de Haut

Hitchhikers leave in rolly Portsmouth

05 February 2024 • Portsmouth

Dinghy blues

03 February 2024 • Saint Pierre

Fort de France

02 February 2024 • Fort de France

Lucky in Le Marin

28 January 2024 • Le Marin

English translation

22 January 2024 • Sainte-Anne

Fruit delivery

19 January 2024 • Reduit Beach, Rodney Bay

Anse d’Arlet

13 January 2024 • Anse D’Arlet

Dawn in Martinique

10 January 2024 • St Anne’s

Happy New Year

01 January 2024 • Reduit Beach

A few days quietly at anchor

31 December 2023 • Rodney Bay

Alone in St Lucia

27 December 2023 • Rodney Bay

Marigot Bay, St Lucia

23 December 2023 • Marigot Bay

Lobster Bay

20 December 2023 • Anse La Roche Bay

Saline Island

20 December 2023 • Saline Island

Sandy Island

17 December 2023 • Sandy Island

Tyrell Bay

15 December 2023 • Tyrell Bay

Ronde

14 December 2023 • Ronde Island

Rolly night

14 December 2023 • Sauteurs

Entertaining Northern Light

13 December 2023 • Grand Mal

New liferaft

12 December 2023 • Woburn Bay

Mid Atlantic picture

07 December 2023 • Mid-Atlantic

Reflections of a first-timer. From Jessie.

07 December 2023 • Port St Louis

We have arrived!

05 December 2023 • St George’s

Almost smelling land

04 December 2023

The last stretch

03 December 2023

The final 500 miles in non-nautical terms

02 December 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Day 14

01 December 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Day 13

30 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Day 11

29 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Day 10 - half way

28 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Day 10 - half way

27 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Day 9, liferaft makes a bid for freedom

26 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, Mid-Atlantic rendezvous

25 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada, seven days at sea

24 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada,Day six

23 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada,Day five

22 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada,Day four

21 November 2023

Bon appetit!

20 November 2023 • Atlantic Ocean

Leg Two to Grenada,Day two

19 November 2023

Leg Two to Grenada,Day one

18 November 2023

Ready to go again

16 November 2023 • Mindelo

Arrived in the Cape Verdes

12 November 2023 • Mindelo

Leg One to the Cape Verdes, Day Six

11 November 2023

Leg One to the Cape Verdes, Day Five

10 November 2023

Leg One to the Cape Verdes, Day Four

09 November 2023

Leg One to the Cape Verdes, Day Three

08 November 2023

Leg One to the Cape Verdes, Day Two

07 November 2023

Leg One to the Cape Verdes, Day One

06 November 2023

Ready to go

05 November 2023 • Las Palmas

ARC+ media star

28 October 2023 • Las Palmas

Arrival in Las Palmas ready for the ARC fun to begin

22 October 2023 • Las Palmas

Lanzarote

19 October 2023 • Lanzarote

Fifth day to Canaries

18 October 2023 • Around 60 miles north of Lanzarote

Fourth day to Canaries

17 October 2023 • Wind on the nose

Third day to Canaries

16 October 2023 • About half way

Second day to the Canaries

15 October 2023 • About 200 miles south of Portugal

First day to the Canaries

14 October 2023 • South of Portugal

Exciting news - off to the Caribbean

05 October 2023 • Portimao boatyard

Out of the water

01 October 2023 • Portimao boatyard

All calm in the anchorage

14 September 2023 • Culatra

Some good sailing with Gus

08 September 2023 • Culatra

Culatra is busy

26 August 2023 • Culatra

Normal service resumed

18 August 2023 • Ayamonte

Top of the river for me

15 August 2023 • Pomerao

Further up river

13 August 2023 • Puerto de La Laja

Away for a week

04 August 2023 • Laranjeiras

Drifting along the river

22 July 2023 • Laranjeiras

Cool Cadiz

13 July 2023

Out of the Mediterranean

10 July 2023 • La Linea

A short stop in Motril

08 July 2023 • Motril

Cala d’hort

30 June 2023 • Cala d’Hort

Cala de Portinatx

28 June 2023 • Cala de Portinatx

Palma

27 June 2023 • Palma

Richard leaves for home

23 June 2023 • Port Colom

Cala Ratjada

22 June 2023 • Cala Ratjada

Ciutadella historico

21 June 2023 • Ciutadella

Sheltering in Cala Morell

19 June 2023 • Cala Mellor

Cala Sant Vicenc

17 June 2023 • Cala Sant Vicenc

Santa Ponca

16 June 2023 • Santa Ponca

Palma

16 June 2023 • Palma

Oh no, not again,

14 June 2023 • Palma

Mallorca in sights (almost)

12 June 2023 • Ensenada de San Vincent

Ibiza

11 June 2023 • Port des Torrent

Mooring ball at Moraira

10 June 2023 • Moraira

Alicante at last

10 June 2023 • Alicante

Outside Torrevieja

07 June 2023 • Torrevieja

Fuel cleaning on Monday

03 June 2023 • Torrevieja

New mechanic, new solution

01 June 2023 • Cartagena

Still stuck in Garrucha

29 May 2023 • Garrucha

Anchored again

25 May 2023 • Garrucha

Waiting for a mechanic

20 May 2023 • Aguadulce

Bad day at the office

19 May 2023 • Cabo Gata

Robin goes home

16 May 2023 • Almerimar

Windy in Adra

14 May 2023 • Adra

Rolly anchor

14 May 2023 • La Herradura

Costa del Sol

12 May 2023 • Caleta de Velez

Holiday hot spots

11 May 2023 • Fuengirola

Old dog, new tricks

11 May 2023 • Marbella

Into the Mediterranean

09 May 2023 • La Duquesa

Safely in Gibraltar

07 May 2023 • Gibraltar

Orca alley

05 May 2023 • Barbate

Cadiz

03 May 2023 • Cadiz

A quick stop in Rota

03 May 2023 • Rota

The attractions of Ayamonte

29 April 2023 • Ayamonte

Good to be moving again

25 April 2023 • Ferragudo

Getting ready

09 April 2023 • Lagos

First sail of 2023. Good to be out!

27 February 2023 • Lagos

Feel the heat

31 January 2023 • Lagos

High in the sky

05 January 2023 • Lagos

Happy New Year

04 January 2023

Winter in Lagos

27 October 2022 • Lagos

Albufeira for the first time

25 October 2022 • Albufeira

Droning on

22 October 2022 • Vila Real

Real Rain

20 October 2022 • Vila Real

Travelling by boat

11 October 2022 • Culatra

The left bank

08 October 2022 • Vila Real

Sticky river

02 October 2022 • Alcoutim/Sanlucar

Return to the river

26 September 2022 • Guerreiros do Rio

Birthday celebrations

12 September 2022 • Olhao

Portimao and Brexit madness again

24 August 2022 • Portimao marina

Busy time in Ferragudo

20 August 2022 • Ferragudo

Turning the corner

15 August 2022 • Sagres

Under the cliffs

13 August 2022 • Praia do Ribeiro do Cavalo

A short hop

09 August 2022 • Oeiras

Orcas or fishing pots?

07 August 2022 • Cascais

Top of the cliff

05 August 2022 • Nazare

Topping up the ship’s stores

03 August 2022 • Figueira da Foz

Sao Jacinto - near the trimaran

31 July 2022 • Sao Jacinto

Porto in the sunshine

29 July 2022 • Porto

Interesting navigation

27 July 2022 • Povoa de Varzim

Not quite paradise

26 July 2022 • Caminha

A day at anchor

24 July 2022 • Baiona

Gentle sail to Baiona

24 July 2022 • Baiona

Great sail to Ria de Vigo

23 July 2022 • Ensenada da Barra

Back in the sunshine

20 July 2022 • Muros

Gently at anchor

18 July 2022 • Camarinas

Turning the corner

16 July 2022 • Corme

A change of plan

16 July 2022 • Corme

Safely across Biscay and a dip for Buzz

13 July 2022 • A Coruna

Second day across Biscay

11 July 2022 • Around 120 miles from A Coruna

First day across Biscay

10 July 2022 • Around 230 miles from A Coruna

The Chenal du Four

08 July 2022 • Cameret

Going west again

07 July 2022 • L’Aber Wrac’h

The exception proves the rule

04 July 2022 • Roscoff

Crew change at Roscoff

02 July 2022 • Roscoff

Heavy rain here in Lézardrieux

29 June 2022 • Lézardrieux

Nous sommes en France

28 June 2022 • Saint Quay

Diversion to Jersey

25 June 2022 • St Helier

Guernsey in the sunshine

22 June 2022 • St Peter’s Port

Heading south

21 June 2022 • Alderney

Something you hope you never use

16 June 2022 • Bristol (Congesbury)

Long life batteries

12 June 2022 • Port So;ent

Boys on board

03 June 2022 • The Solent

Getting wet and lifelong learning

31 May 2022 • Portsmouth Harbour

This is why you have a dog on a boat

27 May 2022 • East Cowes

Cowes at last

26 May 2022 • East Cowes

Towards Cowes

25 May 2022 • Towards Cowes

We have the flag…

22 May 2022 • Portsmouth Harbour

Nautical Mr Whippy

14 May 2022 • Osbourne Bay

It’s a dog’s life

12 May 2022 • Portsmouth Harbour

Sailing into Chichester Harbour

10 May 2022 • Itchenor

First solo of the season up the Creek

09 May 2022 • Newtown Creek

Across Christchurch Bay

08 May 2022 • Poole Harbour

We are a number

07 May 2022 • Lymington

To Portsmouth Harbour

01 May 2022 • Wicor Yacht Haven

First time for new sail

20 April 2022 • Itchenor

What a difference a day makes

15 April 2022 • Southsea

The marine industry is nuts

14 April 2022 • Southsea

Nearly ready to get out and about

13 April 2022 • Southsea Marina

Out of the mud

06 April 2022 • Southsea

Sleet and the mast back

31 March 2022 • Hayling Island

Ashore again for a few days

30 March 2022 • Hayling Island

Spring cleaning

25 March 2022 • Hayling Island

Award Winning Diary

02 March 2022 • Hayling Island

The Good Lord

26 February 2022 • Hayling Island

Storm Eunice

18 February 2022 • Hayling Island

Birthday boy gets a present

10 February 2022 • Hayling Island

The Ocean in a Bucket

05 February 2022 • Hayling Island

Crew 2022 - Join Topaz Rival

03 February 2022 • Hayling Island

Safety service

02 February 2022 • Hayling Island

Boom, boom

20 January 2022 • Hayling Island

New Year and off with the mast

04 January 2022 • Hayling Island

Merry Christmas from the mud

24 December 2021

Propeller saga ends at last

08 December 2021 • Hayling Island

Winter berth

04 October 2021 • Hayling Island

Near the end of this year’s journey

27 September 2021 • Itchenor

Moving again at last

25 September 2021 • Warsash

Clunk, blade falls off propeller

16 September 2021 • Lymington

Under the cliffs

15 September 2021 • Chapman’s Pool

We go racing

14 September 2021 • Weymouth

Topaz Rival comes to the rescue

13 September 2021 • Weymouth

Waiting for the tide

11 September 2021 • Bridport

Revved up but will it go?

10 September 2021 • Brixham

Le Tour of Britain

06 September 2021 • Dartmouth

Happy birthday

05 September 2021 • Dartmouth

Scary rescue on the radio

04 September 2021 • Dartmouth

New boom

02 September 2021 • Plymouth

New alternative to Fowey

31 August 2021 • Polkerris

Malpas - Buzz in his element

29 August 2021 • Malpas

End of the trip for Dan and Ewart

28 August 2021 • Falmouth

Helford and Frenchman’s Creek

28 August 2021 • Helford River

Back in Blighty

27 August 2021 • St Michael’s Mount

The Guinness tasted good

23 August 2021 • Crosshaven

Fourth day across Biscay

22 August 2021 • Approaching Ireland

Third day across Biscay

21 August 2021 • Biscay

Second day across Biscay

20 August 2021 • Biscay

First day across Biscay

19 August 2021 • Biscay

A Coruna on a roll

15 August 2021 • A Coruna

Sailing to Camarinas

13 August 2021 • Camarinas

Muros in the sunshine

11 August 2021 • Muros

Baiona - anchored in the bay

09 August 2021 • Baiona

Last stop in Portugal - Viana Do Castello

08 August 2021 • Viana do Castello

Dolphins come out to play

06 August 2021 • Porto

Figueira da Foz for the second time

04 August 2021 • Figueira da Foz

Along up the coast

02 August 2021 • Nazare

Cascais

27 July 2021 • Cascais

Long way to Sines

26 July 2021 • Sines

Windy in Sagres

24 July 2021 • Sagres

Sagres - waiting for the wind

23 July 2021 • Sagres

Lagos return

20 July 2021 • Lagos

Portimao is burning

17 July 2021 • Ferragudo

Another boat trip

13 July 2021 • Culatra

Should have looked at the swell forecast!

11 July 2021 • Culatra

Look what the anchor brought in!

08 July 2021 • Laranjeiras

What time is it?

06 July 2021 • Alcoutim

Up river

04 July 2021 • Laranjeiras

Three days sailing

03 July 2021 • Ayamonte

Final point east

28 June 2021 • Cadiz

Learning lessons of short pontoons - help needed!

25 June 2021 • Chipiona

Wash day in Mazagon

25 June 2021 • Mazagon

Culatra

21 June 2021

Relaxing back on Farol

17 June 2021 • Farol

A dirty problem in Culatra

15 June 2021 • Vilamoura

Out and back

12 June 2021 • Ferragudo

Sailing with other humans

11 June 2021 • Ferragudo

All looks familiar

06 June 2021 • Lagos

Back in Ferragudo

04 June 2021 • Ferragudo

Today’s super hero

22 May 2021 • Vilamoura

The island of Culatra

20 May 2021 • Culatra

Using the sun

17 May 2021 • Ilha do Farol

Day sail to Faro

16 May 2021 • Cabo de Santa Maria

At anchor in Farragudo

12 May 2021 • Farragudo

Covid vaccination at last

09 May 2021 • Lagos

Buzz gets dual nationality

07 May 2021 • Lagos

Sailing again - great to be out

06 May 2021 • Luz

COVID vaccination next month

25 April 2021 • Lagos, Portugal

No sailing this week

20 April 2021 • Lagos

The advantages of a good bicycle

02 April 2021 • Lagos

Sahara rain causes boat cleaning frenzy

30 March 2021 • Lagos

Sailing next month?

16 March 2021 • Lagos

More Brexit nonsense

28 February 2021 • Lagos

Another Rival in town

14 February 2021 • Lagos

Dog walking in Lagos

08 February 2021 • Lagos

Healthy eating in lockdown

16 January 2021 • Lagos Marina

New Year in Lagos

01 January 2021 • Lagos Marina

Bumpy day trip

07 November 2020 • Lagos

Anchoring in Alvor

23 October 2020 • Alvor

Washing day

16 October 2020 • Lagos Marina

Arrived in Lagos

29 September 2020 • Lagos

Sailing at last

28 September 2020 • Sines

Another day south

27 September 2020 • Figueira da Foz

Nervous return to Porto

24 September 2020 • Porto

More motoring

22 September 2020 • Povona de Varzim

Beautiful Baiona

21 September 2020 • Baiona

A Coruña a second time

19 September 2020 • A Coruña

Across Biscay

17 September 2020 • Gijón

Belle Ile

13 September 2020 • Belle Ille

Doelan

12 September 2020 • Doelan

South Brittany first

11 September 2020 • Lesconil

Across the Channel

09 September 2020 • Cameret

Another lesson learned

27 August 2020 • Noss

Return to Dartmouth

24 August 2020 • Dartmouth

Plymouth solo

15 August 2020 • Plymouth

Dartmouth is hot

11 August 2020 • Dartmouth

Anchor waiting for Baltic Wharf

10 August 2020 • Blackness

Lively around the Bill

28 July 2020 • Dartmouth

Weather bound in Weymouth

25 July 2020 • Weymouth

Great sailing

22 July 2020 • Lymington

Anchor at Itchenor

21 July 2020 • Itchenor

Stocking up at Port Solent

20 July 2020 • Port Solent

Lunch with Victoria

18 July 2020 • Osborne Bay

Back to Lymington

12 July 2020 • Lymington

Leaving Noss

06 July 2020 • Dartmouth

Change of plan

02 July 2020 • Bristol

Getting ready for sailing

27 June 2020 • Noss Trots

Sun and wind

17 June 2020 • Noss Trots

On the Trots

04 June 2020 • Noss Trots

Back in the water

02 June 2020 • Noss Marina

Splash next week

28 May 2020 • Totnes

Time for sailing again?

16 May 2020 • Bristol

Seeing the sun and stars

15 April 2020 • Bristol

Some choices to discuss

01 April 2020 • Bristol

Upgrade review

25 March 2020 • Bristol

Stranded ashore

24 March 2020 • Bristol

Looks like a boat now!

04 March 2020 • Totnes

Shiny mast

07 February 2020 • Totnes

Out with the old, in with the new

05 February 2020 • Bristol

More progress

26 January 2020 • Totnes

Shiny new bottom

09 January 2020 • Totnes

Boat with no name

01 December 2019 • Totnes

Inside the tent

18 November 2019 • Totnes

Refit progress

08 November 2019 • Totnes

Mast down, engine out

09 October 2019 • Totnes

To Baltic Wharf

03 October 2019 • Totnes

ARC+ 2020

30 August 2019 • Bristol

Back to Noss

28 August 2019 • Noss Marina

Salcombe again

27 August 2019 • Salcombe

Dropping off Ewart

25 August 2019 • Plymouth

Sunny days

24 August 2019 • Fowey

Going West

23 August 2019 • River Yealm

Disaster plucked from success

28 July 2019 • Dartmouth

Always good to have a Plan B or C

27 July 2019 • Dartmouth

Stephen’s return

26 July 2019 • Brixham

Back to Dartmouth

12 July 2019 • Dartmouth

Rafted in Weymouth

11 July 2019 • Weymouth

Topaz goes Home

10 July 2019 • Lymington

Hayling at Last

09 July 2019 • Hayling Island

Gosport Premier

08 July 2019 • Gosport

Bouncy Swanage

07 July 2019 • Swanage

Towards Hayling

06 July 2019 • Lyme Regis

Fuel reckoning

19 June 2019 • Noss

Dave’s 60 miles

18 June 2019 • Dartmouth town

Swanage

17 June 2019 • Swanage

Lulworth Cove

17 June 2019 • Lulworth Cove

Porta Bote and Portland

16 June 2019 • Portland

Second visit to Weymouth

15 June 2019 • Weymouth

Off to Brixham again, headed east

14 June 2019 • Brixham

Portabote and Torqeedo

11 June 2019 • Bristol

Torbay Air Show

01 June 2019 • Torquay to Dartmouth

Torquay

31 May 2019 • Torquay

Downwind sailing

26 May 2019 • Salcombe to Noss Marina

Solo to Salcombe

25 May 2019 • Salcombe

Dart Music Festival

12 May 2019 • Dartmouth

Easter Sunday lunch

21 April 2019 • Dittisham

Full crew on board

20 April 2019 • Brixham to Noss

Brixham in the sunshine

19 April 2019 • Brixham

Sailing at last

12 April 2019 • Offshore Dartmouth

Checking out Baltic Wharf

11 April 2019 • Totnes

Arrived at Noss

22 March 2019 • Noss Marina

Weymouth Town

21 March 2019 • Weymouth

Taking Topaz to Dartmouth

20 March 2019 • Poole Harbour

Return to Lymington

20 February 2019 • Lymington Yacht Haven

Rig check

18 February 2019 • Swanwick Marina

The first trip - 0.5 miles

14 February 2019 • Lymington

Topaz as purchased

17 December 2018 • Bristol

Why Topaz Rival?

10 December 2018 • Bristol

Why a Rival

01 December 2018 • Bristol