Author Archives: captain

London; vistas and vitality

London. Maybe it’s the first time that Ruda has been back since she attended the London Boat Show in 1938.  It’s certainly the first time that she’s brought her current crew to their own capital city. [Zeige eine Slideshow] The … Continue reading

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The English Channel; tankers, The Downs, a good pint

A bit of a wait for some propitious weather while the crew stocked up on French food goodies and walked Dunkirk’s historic beaches before a painless crossing of the world’s busiest shipping lane with tankers all intent on mowing down Ruda.  None did … Continue reading

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The return journey; pesky Elbe, calm canals, a few more countries

Ruda and her crew felt more than a little sad to be leaving Prague after nearly five months.  Even though the low level of the Elbe meant that Ruda bumped along the bottom on a number of occasions the currents were not very much … Continue reading

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The Elbe; fast current, spectacular walking, flooding

Ruda crossed over the Elbe on the world’s longest canal bridge before descending via an 18m high lock to the swirly, brown, turbulent waters of the Elbe itself. [Zeige eine Slideshow] The Navigation Department had heard tales of currents up … Continue reading

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Poland; beaches, pirates and ice cream

To get to Poland Ruda made a night-time trip through the Russian-controlled waters off Kaliningrad. The weather was a little rougher than predicted so the crew was very happy finally to arrive safe and sound in Hel (with one “l”), twenty two hours after leaving Lithuania. Ruda had hoped … Continue reading

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Lithuania; The Curonian Lagoon, sand and amber

Ruda’s arrival in Lithuania was greeted by 72 knots of hurricane force winds which caused havoc in Lithuania’s main port, Klaipeda. Ruda emerged safe and sound, but others didn’t fare so well. Ruda hurried away and into the Curonian Lagoon, a … Continue reading

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Latvia; Art Nouveau Riga, canoeing and golden sand

Soon Ruda found herself in her 7th European capital; Riga, Latvia’s gorgeous Art Nouveau principal city. [Zeige eine Slideshow] Here she moored in a basin at the end of the old moat of the former fortifications, which now forms a canal through the heart of the city. … Continue reading

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Estonia; rocks, boulders, erratics and lighthouses

In early summer 2012 Ruda crossed the Gulf of Finland to Estonia and visited her 6th European capital, Tallinn. [Zeige eine Slideshow] In a city of perfect medieval streets and turrets Ruda enjoyed her mooring in the middle of the Old … Continue reading

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Kotka; Wooden Boat Centre for winter

Ruda could spend the summer of 2011 peacefully happy in Saimaa because her winter berth was already organised. She spent the cold Finnish winter at the Wooden Boat Centre in Kotka, home of the of the 12m class yacht Blue Marlin, … Continue reading

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Saimaa; clean, clear water, sauna, mushrooms, berries

Far to the east Ruda hoisted her Russian courtesy ensign briefly in order to get to the start of the Saimaa canal. This lake- and canal system enabled a timber trade which for years was the mainstay of the Finnish economy … Continue reading

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