John Passmore

John Passmore is a retired journalist. He now lives almost all the time aboard is boat. The full story is told in his book Old Man Sailing - Some dreams take a lifetime.

Reunited with the anchor

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Getting back to the car after painting the beach hut in Southwold, a message: I have my anchor back. Gus at Harry King’s Boatyard of Pin Mill had retrieved it and apparently it is sitting on the fordeck (washed, no less). So I’m off tomorrow. The wind should be favourable from Saturday afternoon and I … Read more

Things are looking up!

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Well, so much for positive thinking! I spent the morning motoring round and round in circles trying to unwind the anchor chain from a mooring buoy (see previous post). I have a horrible suspicion that I just made it worse. So there seemed nothing to do but wait for my friendly diver to go down. … Read more

Anchor Day

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Today is Anchor Day.  If you are up to speed, you will know that two days ago, I succeeded in wrapping my anchor chain round a mooring buoy. I made what I now realise was a half-hearted attempt to untangle it. Today I am going to do the job properly. Much of the reason for … Read more

Captain Calamity

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Years ago, when I worked for the Daily Mail, I used to be the “Captain Calamity Correspondent”. Captain Calamity appeared most summers – in the “silly season” when there wasn’t much news about and anything at all could get most of a page – lost exotic animals, the weather (of course) – and amateur sailors … Read more

At anchor

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After two days in an expensive marina, it’s good to be out at anchor again – for one thing we’re pointing into the wind – all day it’s been blowing a gale with driving rain (somebody got washed into the sea at Ramsgate and drowned). For me it just meant I had to stuff the … Read more

Thank you God!

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There is a wonderful moment in Notting Hill when Rhys Ifans discovers Julia Roberts in the bath. First he makes a hasty exit, then goes back “just checking” and finally – wait for it – he clasps his hands and says: “Thank you God!” I said the same – although it  was over the jib … Read more

When the rum bottle falls over

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Harbour rots ships and men – and I had spent long enough in harbour painting the decks, trying to work out why the anchor windlass has a mind of its own… All I want to do is to get going. If I could head for the Channel Islands tomorrow, I’d be off like a shot. … Read more

Please yourself

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This was written a few days ago… I don’t suppose it would suit everybody but for the first time, I feel I really can say I am Living the Dream. This is what it is like to do exactly as you please… Samsara is anchored off Stone Point in the Walton Backwaters – that maze … Read more

Friday the 13th

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This was supposed to be a short stop. If you have been following events, you will know that Samsara and I arrived home in Woodbridge in mid-December. It was supposed to be just for Christmas and repairs to the damaged rail from getting clobbered by a motorboat in Brighton (not to mention my own foolishness … Read more