26th July 2011
I am back from my adventure aboard the three mast schooner ‘Alvei’, and it was super! Sadly there was just a little wind so we could […]
25th July 2011
22nd July 2011
My life is really full of surprises .. As of tomorrow and for a few days I won’t have much opportunity to send in a new […]
21st July 2011
Icom America has sent me a brand new SSB radio directly to Fiji. It came in yesterday afternoon, and with some help from Henk of the […]
20th July 2011
Fiji Market The market still looks exactly the same as when I was there 14 years ago. Mum and me on the Fiji Market. Me […]
19th July 2011
Since my arrival in Fiji I have done lots and I have met many new people. As I was inflating my dingy people form a closer […]
17th July 2011
Guppy and I have come through unscathed from the reefs, and around midnight we dropped anchor off the city of Suva, Fiji – then I enjoyed […]
16th July 2011
Yesterday Guppy and I sailed between the first islands, atolls and reefs. I was really surprised to see a mountain rising out of the water where […]
15th July 2011
After calm winds for the past several hours there is now a good sidewind blowing so ‘Gup’ and I are heading for the atolls at 6,5 […]
14th July 2011
Guppy and I are en Route again. At first the wind seemed to cooperate but later in the day it weakened and now it is blowing […]
13th July 2011
Today I am setting sail heading for the Fiji Islands. Yesterday I made all the last preparations. There was a mega-pile of laundry waiting for me… […]
12th July 2011
There was no wind at all last night and mosquitoes came en masse to visit. So at 3 AM I was awake and I just couldn’t […]
11th July 2011
Thank you very much for all the e-mails and advices about my SSB radio. I was given a small handheld transmitter by another sailor, so if […]
10th July 2011
With Henk we tried to reanimate my ICOM 700 Pro SSB radio. He has exactly the same, and as a test we installed it in place […]
9th July 2011
I kept busy all day mostly doing small things aboard, like cleaning the boat again, inflating the dinghy and with one mega-task…Lately my SSB radio was […]
8th July 2011
I am moored in Tonga. Last night I tried to sail very slowly, but I still was too fast even after replacing the Genoa by the […]
7th July 2011
There is a pretty wind blowing again, but at this time I don’t really want it. Guppy is now going too fast! I have 35 nautical […]
6th July 2011
After many hours on a close course that felt like being on a rocking horse the winds slowly faded. Guppy made good progress and from going […]
5th July 2011
The wind keeps merrilly fooling around… Last night it shifted to the North, which was great. So this meant that I just had to unrig the […]
4th July 2011
Gup and I have decided not to stop in Niue but to go directly to Tonga. Via SSB radio all the sailors who have been to […]
3rd July 2011
I had planned my route to sail close to Palmerston Atoll [Southern Cook Islands], so that maybe I could see it … But sadly it was […]
2nd July 2011
Yeah – wind blowing since yesterday. But it kept playing games on Guppy so I was busy all day adjusting the sails and correcting course. At […]
1st July 2011
Finally some winds… And they are here for awhile. Early this morning there was some light wind but by the time I had all the sails […]
30th June 2011
I feel much better today, so things are going in the right direction. But I can’t say it is the same with the wind although I […]
29th June 2011
My sore throat feels better, but I can’t remember ever suffering from such a strong cold! Also I did not know that it was possible to […]
28th June 2011
The wind is still weak and blowing straight from behind but all in all, I am on the right course and the sails are not flapping […]
27th June 2011
I am on my way to Niue Island. The wind and waves looked pretty inviting at the start but as it usually is, I was kind […]
26th June 2011
Everything is back in its place, the MiniCat, the dinghy, my bike is onboard and I cleared things inside Guppy’s cabin so that not everything will […]
25th June 2011
Last night after storing some fruits I went to the dance festival with the yacht club owner. It was pretty cold and still pretty windy- for […]
24th June 2011
This morning I refilled the diesel tank that of course was almost empty from running the engine during my last windless crossing. Since I had to […]
23rd June 2011
Actually I had planned to set sail again when I was told by the people here that there will be a big traditional dancing festival on […]
22nd June 2011
This morning I felt much better after a good long sleep, but not yet in top shape. Still with some nice wind up I could not […]
21st June 2011
As often happens my plans for the day ended up to nothing. I posponed my second bicycle tour around the island because early this morning American […]
20th June 2011
For morning exercise I cycled all around the island very early this morning. This went a lot easier than I expected because the main road that […]
19th June 2011
After a calm night at the mooring-buoy, today I went exploring the island. I cycled to several bays on my bike and I did some shopping […]
18th June 2011
After a windless crossing of 30 hours I arrived in Bora Bora. As it often is with atoll islands, I first had to sail around the […]
17th June 2011
Although there was not much wind, I had the travel-jitters again so I decided to head for the Leeward Islands. Too bad this means I have […]
16th June 2011
I was actually planning to sail to the Huahine atoll but the ocean is just flat as a mirror! And the weather forecast for the coming […]
15th June 2011
I was up late this morning because last night I tried to upload pictures to the website for several hours, unfortunately without any success! I was […]
14th June 2011
Actually today I wanted to explore the island but early this morning it was already sweltering hot that I did not feel like going. From Guppy […]
13th June 2011
Anchors up and heading for Moorea. First, I had to sail through a narrow passage between reefs and breaking waves very close on both sides.. Then […]
12th June 2011
Even though Guppy is very satisfied with her anchorage in the crystal clear and calm waters of Tahiti, I am planning to sail the 20 nautical […]
11th June 2011
After two days spent running around I moved to a slower pace, and now I have to do all of the everyday things that need to […]
10th June 2011
We’ve had an awesome day!! Because the stranded sailor we went to the waterfall with yesterday is away for two weeks, we could borrow his car. […]
10th June 2011
9th June 2011
Up to now I have met many new people again, and one of them is a stranded sailor who has to work to earn some money […]
8th June 2011
After an exciting passage between two reefs with many lights and buoys I was neatly moored, exactly at midnight. When I woke up in the morning, […]
7th June 2011
Going outside without getting wet has become really impossible now! Obviously, Guppy enjoys practicing to be a submarine once more… but not for long since Tahiti […]
6th June 2011
While I was running along by the remaining atolls, the wind slowly began to pick up to a speed of about 30 knots [55 kilometres or […]
5th June 2011
Another hot and windless day, and I kept looking to the point on the horizon where land should be … my first atoll. And I still […]
4th June 2011
This morning I first tried to make something with my stock of now rock-hard baguettes. Unfortunately I did not succeed, so right now I turned to […]
3rd June 2011
Because of all the many teasing from hazes and squalls, I have been busy all day adjusting the sails. Unlike yesterday, the sky is clear again […]
2nd June 2011
As soon as the very last “Have a safe trip” was called out to me from other yachts, Guppy and I had already disappeared behind a […]
1st June 2011
Even though Hiva’Oa and all of its so very kind people are real beautiful, Guppy and I have travel urges again.. There is nothing that will […]
31st May 2011
Unfortunately, the beautiful sunny day is over and the weather is back to normal which means rain and no winds! However it makes it a nice […]
29th May 2011
Without letting me in on it, people here organized the welcome party that they couldn’t give me for my arrival. With a girlfriend from another yacht, […]
28th May 2011
28th May 2011
Since mooring I have had a life full of new experiences and I have been busy with many things to do, and I really feel like […]
26th May 2011
Guppy is now lying at anchor in a quiet bay near Atuona, and I did the crossing in 17 days and 22 hours! This is the […]
25th May 2011
Yesterday the squalls have kept me busy for quite a while but they tired down in the evening, just like me. And after a few more […]
24th May 2011
Yes, I took another shower this morning and it was a freshwater shower! Early this morning two forceful squalls hit. Of course Mother Nature sent some […]
23rd May 2011
Woeshh! I took a shower once again! During my check around, a wave took the opportunity to take me to graze unto the foredeck. Thank you, […]
22nd May 2011
Another beautiful and sunny morning, and there is really no cloud in sight! Guppy is surrounded by dark blue, light blue and even more variations of […]
21st May 2011
At the time when most people in Europe are having supper, I just wake-up from my latest nap. The wind again chose to go for the […]
20th May 2011
Because of the atmospheric conditions, the daily short wave radio hour is now held at about 5 AM local time which mixes up my whole morning […]
19th May 2011
Last night I have seen my very first moonrise at sea! I was outside to do my usual round when I noticed a yellowish shimmer on […]
18th May 2011
Toiing-Flap-bling!… There are two wind directions I really can’t stand: strong winds coming from straight ahead, and little winds coming directly from astern. And so, winds […]
17th May 2011
My foot is healing very well, thank you all for the many good advices. I think I won’t have to walk like a flamingo any more […]
16th May 2011
I have now learned that one leg hopping in a kind of non-stop fairground ride is much harder than I actually thought, and I am afraid […]
15th May 2011
Blang!… My intuition that rightly recognizes every single noise on the boat woke me up. There was a new unknowned noise. Clang, clang, pff… I had […]
14th May 2011
Beep…Crackle…Hiss…The sailors’ daily radio network on the short wave radio has started again, and out of the squeaky English that comes from the black box in […]
13th May 2011
Hup, Guppy, Hup! You are the best! Yeah! I established a new record: 194 nautical miles [359 kilometres or 223 land miles] in a day’s run. […]
12th May 2011
Gee whiz! Guppy has got hot peppers up her tushy and it is the same with the wind!! For the last while the wind has picked […]
11th May 2011
This morning the birds flew away. I guess they are now well equipped for their next leg… And so I am alone again but for the […]
10th May 2011
A high and long swell is rolling under Guppy and washes over her sometimes… then we both I and everything that lies in the cockpit get […]
9th May 2011
Today started smoothly with some chatting to other yacht crews via short wave radio. While I was busy throwing flying fishes and squids off the deck, […]
8th May 2011
I said Hello and Goodbye for the umpteenth time. I set sail for the umpteenth time to bring Guppy towards the next unknown island. But for […]
7th May 2011
I am hoisting my anchor in a few hours, Guppy and I will sail the longest sea crossing of our whole trip. As always one day […]
5th May 2011
I am just back from Isla Isabela. It really was very beautiful. There is a small village with only dirt roads, a few houses, restaurants and […]
3rd May 2011
Exactly one year ago, Guppy was launched, and I sailed the first meters with her. Now one year later, she is berthed in the Galápagos having […]
2nd May 2011
Yesterday I decided to spend a quiet day after all the latest hustle and bustle. I went back to Las Grietas to cliff dive again. I […]
30th April 2011
After a slow start, I still had very much done today. I went back to Las Grietas to cliff dive again. I could not resist… I […]
29th April 2011
Another crazy day! Guppy is rolling back and forth at anchorage (well, that’s what boats do…) while I am exploring the island. Today I have been […]
28th April 2011
Once again, my beloved ‘sea-rhythm’ is interrupted by the stresses of life ashore. Unlike all the other places I have been to, the official duties – […]
26th April 2011
Ha! I killed two birds with one stone… huh, with one blog. I found the Galápagos Islands AND the Equator. It was dark closing in to […]
25th April 2011
Only 50 more miles [93 kilometres; 58 land miles] and then I leave behind me the northern hemisphere. After expecting calm winds as is usual in […]
24th April 2011
A good side wind still fills my sails. I expect to cross the equator between tomorrow night and the day after tomorrow. By short-wave and VHF-radio […]
23rd April 2011
Last night the wind lacked courage but came back with the first daylight. Guppy is now blowing forward at a speed of about 6 knots [11 […]
22nd April 2011
Wind! After running on the engine all night again, finally some wind came and since this morning we are moving under sails. With a good wind […]
21st April 2011
Unlike yesterday there was no wind at all last night and so to the noise of the engine, Guppy softly slid over the moonlit sea at […]
20th April 2011
Last night Guppy made very good progress. I have had wind so I travelled 140 nautical miles or so since I left [259 kilometres or 161 […]
19th April 2011
The Pacific Ocean is great! On my trip to the Las Perlas Islands I saw dolphins, a jumping ray, a shark and a whale! I have […]
16th April 2011
I am very busy with preparations for the Pacific Ocean. Shopping for provisions, stowing away the MiniCat and cleaning the boat. After the passage through the […]
13th April 2011
The passage through the Panama Canal was great. Especially the Gatun Lake was very beautiful. Along with one of the line handlers (that I am good […]
12th April 2011
Here are a few pictures of the Panama Canal. Please also see my Dutch weblog or http://solozeilster.hyves.nl for other pictures. It was really a great experience […]
8th April 2011
The Rib Barbecue in Shelter Bay Marina yesterday night was fun and the ribs were really delicious! So I ate with a big-strong appetite. Two more […]
5th April 2011
I am back! Sorry to be a few days late. But I am experiencing so much all the time! Today I will sail as a line […]
1st April 2011
Yesterday I went cycling with some friends from another yacht. We went to Fort Lorenzo National Park, a 10 kilometer uphill and downhill ride on a […]
30th March 2011
After a night crossing from San Blas Islands to Shelter Bay in Panama, the adrenaline rose to my head. The crossing was great with only a […]
26th March 2011
Today the three boats I was with for the past days are setting sail. Probably I will meet many of them again in Panama. A lot […]