Hi my name is Quinn and I am here to introduce you to the world of cruising through the eyes of a dog.  Not any dog, mind you, but a dog who has seen it all! I may be only 11 months old (profile to follow), but I tell you I have seen joy, suffering and mayhem already that would last most of you a life time

It all started when I was a ‘adopted’ by a pair of ‘yachters’.  They were on their final year before endeavoring to circumnavigate the earth and wanted a dog to protect them from pirates.  Growing up to be more of a lover (see Brighton, UK) then a fighter (see Irish Terriers)

So they decided pirate alley was not the way to go.  The Caribbean beckoned.

  They needed money to try and travel around the globe so they both worked like ‘me’ except all the naps and fun.  Then they decided to do all the boat fitting up in 6 weeks.  I would not recommend this as I have never seen such mayhem.    Every job they under took required parts that took 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Then as they tried to finish every job they had lots and lots of visitors to see them off.  These visitors never took pride in distracting them from work and had great pity as they recovered from ‘good bye’ hangovers.  I never complained as they slipped me naughty burger’s and ‘tit bits’.

Then they had a final ‘good bye’ party but they never left? 

Why?

Something about waiting for the weather.  I thought it was sunny, but they said they needed WIND, but also the right TYPE of wind.  Five days later they snuck out just before dawn to finally leave on a new adventure.  They tried to sneak out but I made sure to wake up all the neighbors at 4am.

So now I am joining them on their adventure to circumnavigate the globe.  They have now officially started..but it has been a bumpy start. 5 nautical miles from their launch point in Brighton, UK their engine broke down.  They raised their sails in dead air making only 1 Knot and tried to find the fault.  They greatly feared they would have to sail back to the marina and get towed back to their berth, but they were lucky and it was only a blockage of the fuel filters.  2 hours, 1 litre of diesel fuel, a primary and secondary fuel filter later and they were back on their way.  So glad they had some spare filters and fuel on deck for emergencies.  Just too bad they never changed the fuel filters before leaving!!!!!!

Eight and a half hours, one fruit cake and a package of cashew nuts later and they were anchored up off the small village of Itchenor up the reaches of Chichester Harbour (see map).  Finally I can get ashore.  Terrible rainy weather and winds have set in.  Typical!  But first weather break I know they will have me traveling again.