Visitors to the White Cross pub in Richmond were left no option but to arrive by boat yesterday as the River Thames broke its banks. The cosy riverside establishment in Surrey has a special high-tide entrance in case of flooding but even this was inaccessible on foot. The much-loved pub regularly gets cut off, usually about five times a month, but yesterday’s was a very high tide. The occurrence is a welcome excuse for the regulars who relish more time in the pub away from DIY jobs at home but it’s perhaps not so favoured by stranded office workers seeking to get back to work after a boozy lunch. The Travel PR team is planning an after-work drink when the waters have subsided!
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides - Spring Tides - occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.
4 March is World Book Day (www.worldbookday.com), the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland. Here’s our pick of must-read novels set in stunning destinations worldwide:
Stockholm: Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Millions of copies of Stieg Larsson’s nail-biting books about journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander have sold worldwide. Stockholm features predominantly in the trilogy and it’s now possible to take a guided literary tour: see Lisbeth’s luxury apartment first-hand and take a stroll past the Millennium editorial offices, among other highlights.
Cuba: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway lived in Cuba for over 20 years and was enormously inspired by the island. Author of The Old Man and the Sea, he cultivated a reputation as a man larger than life: someone who could out-drink anyone and catch bigger marlin than a professional fisherman.
Venezuela: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World was inspired by Mt. Roraima, the highest of the tepuis (flat-topped mountains) in Venezuela’s Gran Sabana. Set in London and South America, the book’s explorers find themselves in The Lost World, a vast plateau with sheer cliffs all around. See the 2,810m tall rock island for yourself and the mysterious shapes and shadows of Venezuela’s surreal Gran Sabana.
Egypt: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
First published in 1937, Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile challenges detective Hercule Poirot to solve a murder mystery onboard the paddle steamer SS Karnak.
Venice: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s much-loved sleuth, Hercule Poirot, is on the Orient Express when one of the passengers is discovered murdered. The train is stuck in snow and he has just a few hours to figure out the murderer’s identity. Perhaps not an ideal scenario for a holiday, but a nostalgic journey on the magnificent Orient Express is a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed.
Morocco: Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud
Hideous Kinky is an autobiographical novel by Esther Freud (daughter of Lucian, great-granddaughter of Sigmund) illustrating her hippy childhood in Marrakech in the 1960s. You’ll read this and won’t be able to resist the city’s mesmeric, magnetic charms.
Vienna: The Third Man by Graham Greene
Set in post-war Vienna, Graham Greene’s novel The Third Man is perhaps even better-known in its film format, starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. A visit to the Third Man Museum will set the scene for a fascinating short break to the Austrian capital, where world-famous coffee houses, imperial architecture and impressive museums and galleries also await discovery.
Monaco: Monaco by Eric Morse
Enjoy the sportsmanship, glory and glamour of 1930s Monaco with this nostalgic historic novel by Eric Morse. Set against the background of pre-WW II Europe and Nazi Germany’s hold on motor racing, Monaco evokes the explosive world of the golden-age Grand Prix.
Cornwall: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier novels set in Cornwall have always been her most popular, perhaps because she made her home in and around Fowey – a pretty harbour town that tumbles from high on the hill right down to the water on the beautiful south coast.
Barga, a beguiling 10th century hilltop town, sits on the edge of Tuscany’s Garfagnana region, nestled beneath the towering peaks of the Apuan Alps and the Apennines. It’s a champion of ‘slow food’ – think locally grown porcini mushrooms, pecorino cheeses, sublime chestnut-inspired desserts, indulgent black truffles and leisurely lunches – but it sticks in my mind for an entirely different reason. Walking the sleepy, cobbled backstreets of this medieval town, I remember noticing a disproportionate number of fellow redheads. On further investigation, it would seem that Barga has very close ties with somewhere much closer to home…West Scotland to be precise. This Tuscan gem has a Scottish legacy that dates back to the 19th century when many of its inhabitants migrated to Scotland to escape poverty, often opening up ice cream and fish and chip shops. Nowadays, the flow of people has reversed and the town is home to a number of Scots. Barga even celebrates its strong ties with Scotland with La Sagra Del Pesce e Patate - the Fish ‘n’ Chip Festival which is held every August. Paisley singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini is also rumoured to appear at this sleepy town’s modest annual jazz festival – now I know why. Sarah Belcher
As Pancake Day only comes around once a year you can just about be forgiven for not diverging from the typical British pancake - topped with a dash of lemon juice, sprinkled with sugar and drizzled in golden syrup. Should you fancy mixing it up a bit this year, however, I’ve compiled some bizarre pancake ideas from around the globe:
Vietnam Banh Xeo – meaning “sizzling cake”, these savoury pancakes are stuffed with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp,and bean sprouts, and then pan fried. They’re then stuffed with mint leaves, basil and other herbs,wrapped in mustard and lettuce leaves, and finally dipped in a fish sauce.
Sweden Raggmunk - this is a savoury potato pancake fried in butter and served with thick slices of fried pork or bacon and lingonberries, no less. The more crispy and buttery the pancake is around the edges, the better it apparently tastes.
Japan Dorayaki - a sweet pancake filled with red bean paste. In Japanese, dora means “gong” and legend has it that the first Dorayaki were made when a samurai named Benkei forgot his gong upon leaving a farmer’s home where he was hiding. The farmer subsequently used the gong to fry the pancakes.
Thailand
Roti Gaeng Karee - this is a crispy pancake done Muslim-style, served with coconut-milk based curry and spices. If you like ‘em savoury, this one’s for you!
Korea Pajeon and Bindaetteok - we don’t know much about these, other than they’re made with seafood, chilli paste, and lots of vegetables. Possibly the healthiest pancake ever?
India
Dosa - made from rice and black lentils and traditionally from southern India, these thin crispy pancakes can be served with anything from chutney, Indian pickle, chicken, mutton or fish curry, depending on the region and taste.
Better than all of these, though, is Russia - where, thanks to Maslenitsa, I can enjoy pancakes for a whole week, guilt-free…
Pancake Poll We’ve also conducted our own pancake survey here at Travel PR Towers. It seems we’re a boring bunch. While the classic (and still fairly brilliant I would say) lemon and sugar combo won whisks-down, only a handful were brave enough to choose another topping…
As another eagerly-anticipated (?!) Valentine’s Day approaches, love has certainly been in the air at our St Margaret’s offices. So, whether you’re the type to need a reinforced letterbox for all those cards and presents this weekend – or are more likely to be found browsing microwave meals for one in Waitrose (sob) – we hope the following personal anecdotes warm the cockles of your heart. Names withheld to spare our blushes…
Where’s the most romantic place you’ve ever been?
• “Watching the sunset over the Tuscan hills and the red tile roofs of Florence from the top of the Duomo. Breathtaking, just like the stairs”
• “The 16th floor Gaja Sky Bar at the Swissotel, Istanbul, sipping cocktails while overlooking the Bosphorus. Bliss.”
• “As new (ish) parents…sheltering together in the pouring rain under a kagool, eating chocolate biscuits on the deck of the Isle of Wight car ferry to Cowes for our first weekend without the kids. As we huddled under the plastic, the storm passed over, a beautiful bright light cast over the water and seagulls swooped down to eat the biscuit crumbs.”
• “Enjoying the soft air, sweet spicy smells and exotic sounds of the busy Jamaa El Fna Square as we gazed down from the haven of our Marrakech riad rooftop cafe.”
• “Wintertime in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. It’s at its most romantic at night, the stars twinkle overhead, the temperature is a few below zero, snow is falling and the steam envelopes everyone and everything. Its milky blue waters gently lap in the breeze and soothes tired limbs - it feels like your own private oasis. Hard to beat for an unforgettable experience.”
• “On a trek in Nepal, just outside Kathmandu, emerging from thick cloud to see the smoke rising from a beautiful Tibetan monastery - set against a snowy high mountain backdrop, with birds of prey circling languidly overhead and the distant sound of Buddhist drums. As we staggered breathless up to the monastery, there were hundreds of coloured prayer flags fluttering in the wind, a line of prayer wheels and then the wonderful bright orange robes and happy smiling faces of the monks.”
• “In London, you can dine at all the rooftop restaurants, cross all the bridges and stroll all the parks you want – but I’d dispute that any of those experiences comes close to matching the magic of a day on Hampstead Heath with your partner. The ideal scenario is this: choose a hot day and arrive during the peak of the heat. Dip in the mixed pool, then amble, arm-in-arm, up to higher ground for a lavish picnic overlooking London’s cranes, spokes and spires. After the pickled onions and prosciutto are all gone, bring out a blanket, and cuddle down as the sun slips away. A nice bottle of wine doesn’t go amiss, either.” (Nor breath mints, presumably, after this particular love picnic?!)
• “It’s cheesy I know, but my best Valentine’s day was spent in picture perfect Paris. A morning spent at the magnificent Musée D’Orsay, an afternoon spent strolling hand-in-hand along the Seine with no agenda, and an evening at a gorgeous little bistro in bustling St Germain de Prés. For me, Paris remains one of the most romantic cities in the world – its charming pavement cafés, picturesque cityscape, fantastic museums and indulgent food are still a winning combination when it comes to wooing your loved one.”
• “Catching the last little boat back from Bryher to St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly after a magical day of autumn sunshine, spent meandering around the island and enjoying a delicious lunch of freshly-caught shellfish, washed down will a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc. I can honestly say I’ve never felt so relaxed and at peace. The seals we saw from our dinky vessel seemed to be enjoying the occasion too!”.
• “For me, it has to be Amed, a collection of small villages on the north east coast of Bali that’s so off-the-beaten track, I doubt we would have ever found it without the freedom and flexibility of a scooter. Dependent on salt-making and fishing rather than tourism, we woke every morning at sunrise to find the calm, big blue bay (no Kuta waves here) filled with hundreds of colourful sails as the double-outrigger fishing boats gliding back to shore with their catch. Silent and sublime.”
• “Lit each night by hundreds of hand-dipped candles, for breathtaking romance, it has to be the Hotel Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, the old colonial capital of Guatemala. Dramatically overlooked by the brooding cones of three volcanoes, the former Dominican convent and church is an absolute delight. I burst into tears when we were shown our room – it was so lovely and individually designed, filled with lots of local touches. The perfect place to propose would be over dinner amidst the ruins of the old stone walls – very private and romantic, lit by candlelight but in the open air. You can also get married in the main church of the hotel – a good reason to return!”
• “Being rudely awoken at four in the morning by the honking and shouting of an impatient tuk tuk driver may not seem like it would signal the start of a romantic sojourn but Cambodia is full of surprises! Bouncing up and down along winding roads in complete darkness I wondered if I was mad, but all doubt dispersed when we arrived at Angkor Wat, the best-preserved temple at this awe-inspiring 12th century complex. We made our way to the ponds in front of the temple and took position for the sun rise, the sky turned from inky black to purple, pink then orange - particularly beautiful was the reflection of the temple in the water by my feet.”
The Endeavour shuttle blasted off yesterday affording astronauts a 360° view around the International Space Station. While tour operators don’t offer trips to the moon (yet), we spoke to some AITO members that offer the best observation decks and amazing 360° vistas around the world, here are their selections.
GRAND CANYON SKYWALK - £1,895pp + £695 flights for 15 day Rockies/Grand Canyon tour
Small group hiking around the Grand Canyon and camping in the depths of this awe-inspiring gorge. This tour covers hikes in Yellowstone national parks, to wilderness lakes and world-famous geysers and in the Rocky Mountains, as well as camping out with the Navajo in Monument Valley. Price includes accommodation. Call AITO member KE Adventure Travel on 017687 73966 (www.keadventure.com)
DACHSTEIN SKY WALK- £745 for 12 day self-guided Dachstein Hiking tour excluding flights
This hiking tour takes in dozens of Alpine peaks over 2,500 metres and alternates lakeside town hotels with nights spent high in the mountains in comfortable Alpine lodges. Visit this spectacular viewing platform, made partly from glass, with amazing views from its 2,700 metre breathtaking outlook. Tours run daily from July-September with AITO member Walks Worldwide on 0845 3014737. Price includes B&B accommodation, boat and cable car costs, maps and route notes. Minimum 2 people. www.walksworldwide.com.
AUCKLAND’S 328-METRE SKY TOWER - 21 day New Zealand trip excluding flights for £982pp
Buy a 21-day ‘off-season’ self-drive ‘Pure and Simple’ holiday to New Zealand for £982 pp (excluding flights). Take in the view from the glass-floored viewing platform, on a comprehensive visit around the stunning North and South Islands. The trip includes the beaches of the north, the thermal area of Rotorua, the rugged west coast, the Southern Lakes and Alps. Price includes accommodation and car hire. Valid from April to October with AITO member Discover the World on 01737 218800. (www.discover-the-world.co.uk)
MOUNT RORAIMA, VENEZUELA - 16 nights from £3,840 including flights
See this 2,810-metre mountain with a 31-km summit area on the Gran Sabana leg of the 16 night ‘Highlights of Venezuela’ tour. Exploring one of Venezuela’s most unusual and surreal regions, you can look down over the 55-metre high free-falling falls at Salto Kama Meru, travel by canoe to the 110-km high Chinak Meru falls and visit viewpoints for Mount Roraima, Venezuela’s most famous ‘tepuy’ which inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, ‘The Lost World’. Call AITO member Sunvil Traveller – Real Latin America on 0208 758 4774 (www.sunvil.co.uk)
AURLAND LOOKOUT, NORWAY - £2,175pp including flights for 12 night self-drive tour
The 14-night ‘Best of the Fjords’ self-drive holiday gives a wonderful taste of Norway’s’ spectacular fjords, glaciers and mountain scenery. It also features some of Norway’s finest hotels. Don’t miss a drive on your journey between Lofthus and Balestrand up to the stunning Aurland lookout perched 2,000 ft above the fjords. Departures from 15 May – 15 Sept with AITO member Specialised Tours on 01342 712785. Price includes flights, accommodation and car hire. (www.specialisedtours.com)
ANCIENT MACHU PICCHU, PERU - £3,264 including flights for 14 nights
The 14-night Chasqui Tour combines the colonial city of Arequipa, crossing dizzyingly high passes to enter Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca and a train ride to Cusco. A highlight of the tour is the trek along the Inca Trail to ancient Machu Picchu. Price includes tour guide, flights and accommodation. 0208 762 0616. www.veloso.com.
IGUAZU FALLS - £1788 pp for 7 nights including flights on Golondrina Getaway Journey
New for 2010 is the 7-night trip to Brazil and Argentina offering the chance to wander the walkways among the thundering Iguazú Falls, gaze down on Rio from the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop the Corcovado mountain, take the cable car up Sugarloaf mountain and explore Buenos Aires. Price from £1,728 pp includes ex-UK and local flights and seven night’s B&B accommodation. Call AITO member Journey Latin America on 0208 747 8315. (www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk)
TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN - from £600 excluding flights for a week
If you’re after one of the most stunning views in Africa, look no further than the city of Cape Town. Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, taking in a 360 degree view of the city or climb up by foot. Wake up surrounded by stunning views from a choice of boutique hotels, villas and apartments situated on its slopes. Prices from £600 for a week, excluding flights. Call AITO member Fleewinter on 0207 112 0019 (www.fleewinter.co.uk)
TREKS AND TREASURES, IRAN - £1,640 pp + £400 flight for 14 day tour
This tour combines a 7-8 day trek reaching a highpoint of 3300m in the Zagros mountains, with visits to Shiraz, Isfahan, Persepolis and other sights of old Persia. The trek includes meeting the nomadic people of the Qashqai tribes, visiting picturesque settlements and passing close to the Dena peak, one of the highest in the Zagros range. Call AITO member High Places on 0845 257 7500. (www.highplaces.co.uk)
THE ICONIC MOUNT FUJI - £1,970 for 14 nights excluding flights
The 14 night ‘Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and the Japanese Alps’ tour moves from buzzing Tokyo to Kawaguchiko, one of the scenic Fuji Five Lakes and from where, in summer, you can arrange a day climb up the 3776m high dormant volcano. Continuing to Kyoto via Matsumoto, there is a breathtaking drive along dramatic gorges to Kamikochi and a visit to the historic town of Takayama. Call AITO member Inside Japan on 0117 314 4620. (www.insidejapantours.com)
Mark Carwardine, the wildlife presenter, amused the audience at last year’s Paul Morrison Guide of the Year Awards, run by Wanderlust magazine, at the Royal Geographical Society. He courageously sat on stage with interviewer Derek Moore (AITO’s Chairman/Founder Director of Explore) while a clip of a parrot trying to mate with his head appeared on the (very big) screen above him. The parrot had taken a fancy to Mr Carwardine while he was filming a BBC “Last Chance to See” series with Stephen Fry.
Now we learn, courtesy of The Daily Telegraph, that New Zealand has appointed the kakapo, a rare parrot just back from the brink of extinction, as its ‘spokesbird for conservation’. What a hoot! (Or should it be what a squawk?)
With only 14 days left to go, the build up to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is reaching fever pitch, so we spoke to AITO Ski members to see if we could follow in the footsteps of previous medallists and take to the slopes in a resort that previously hosted a Winter Olympics. Here are some ski break from AITO members to some of the most famous Olympic resorts down the years, and some video links to relive the atmosphere from these great events.
St Moritz, Switzerland 1928 & 1948
Sleek St Moritz - 7 nights’ B&B from £899 pp
St Moritz, the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism, has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and has something for everyone with its 350 km of pistes. With an in-house confectioners, 3* Hotel Hauser in St Moritz is the perfect place for a ski holiday. 7 nights’ B&B in March at the centrally located hotel, with Swiss flights and rail transfers costs from £899pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060
Squaw Valley, USA 1960
4,000 acres of skiing in Squaw Valley - from £1,099 pp for 7 nights in January
Celebrating 50 years since holding the Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley offers fabulous skiing and snowboarding overlooking the beautiful high alpine Lake Tahoe. Non-skiers will enjoy a variety of other activities, from snow-tubing to spa treatments or a visit to the Olympic Museum. 7 nights from 10 February at ski in/out 3* Squaw Valley Lodge, including flights and 4X4 car hire from £1,050pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060
Grenoble, France 1968
Vaujany in the Alpe d’Huez, Grenoble - £649 pp
Perched on a beautifully scenic slope in the corner of the Alpe d’Huez piste map near Grenoble lies the pretty village of Vaujany. Relax in true Alpine style by the roaring wood fire whilst the finishing touches to the evening’s culinary treats are made at Chalet Lucette. A week costs £649 pp fully catered including flights and transfers. Call AITO member Ski Peak on 01428 608070
Calgary, Canada 1988
Banff in Canada’s Rocky Mountains - £893 pp
An hour and a half from Calgary lies the beautiful town of Banff amidst the towering Rocky Mountains. A stay at the comfortable Banff Inn this February costs £885pp based on two sharing, including scheduled flights and resort transfers. You can ski in Banff at Norquay or Sunshine and take in a visit to Lake Louise too or perhaps visit the Olympic Park in Calgary, where, amongst others Eddie Edwards and the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team, found fame. Call AITO member Frontier Ski on 020 8776 8709
Albertville, France 1992
Adrenalin in La Plagne - £599 pp for 7 nights
With a bobsleigh run built for the 1992 Winter Olympics which is within easy access to the slopes, La Plagne offers an exciting holiday for adrenalin seekers. Its extensive ski area offers opportunities for all ages and abilities. 7 nights at the traditional Chalet Marguerite, La Plagne 1800 (sleeping 10/11) costs £679 per adult, £629 per child, including flights, transfers and chalet board for 20th March. Call AITO member Ski Beat on 01243 780 405
Lillehammer, Norway 1994
Norwegian Olympic Lillehammer – from £698 pp for 3 night break
The dramatic mountains above Lillehammer, home of the 1994 Winter Olympics, make a fantastic destination for a Norwegian ski trip. Make the most of the local ski school, with a resident British ski instructor, and fill your days on the slopes or cross-country skiing. Later relax in front of a log fire in the inviting lounges of the Rustad Hotel in Sjusjoen, trying the Norwegian specialities in the excellent restaurant. From £698pp including flights (Heathrow), transfers and 3 nights’ half board with lunch packs. Call AITO member Inntravel on 01653 617000
Nagano, Japan 1998
A week in Japan combining the white slopes of Hakuba and neon lights of Tokyo from £622 pp
Stay for five nights in the Hakuba Valley, deep in the Japanese Alps of Honshu and home to eight resorts which hosted the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. With the ski season running to the end of April, the seven-night holiday costs £622 pp including two nights’ hotel accommodation in Tokyo and five nights lodge accommodation in Hakuba with breakfast, airport transfers, transport between destinations and information pack. Flights with Swiss, with departures from Heathrow and Manchester, start from £475 pp. Call AITO member InsideJapan Tours on 0117 314 4621
Salt Lake City, USA, 2002
Park City, Utah - 7 nights’ B&B from £1,025 pp
Park City, within easy reach of other Utah top skiing areas Deer Valley and The Canyons, offers ideal skiing for all the family. With numerous ski schools, over 100 restaurants and bars and only 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, 7 nights’ B&B from 22 February at the popular family-run 3* Park City Peaks Hotel with flights and transfers costs from £1,135pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060
Vancouver, Canada 2010
Olympic spectator sports in Whistler - £2,680 pp for a week
Visit Whistler this March and enjoy the resort, its slopes and all the excitement of the biggest winter sports event on the planet! With the Peak 2 Peak gondola to Blackcomb, fantastic snow and a multitude of Olympic events, Whistler is bound to appeal to all. A week at the luxurious 5* Chateau Whistler costs £1,709pp, based on 2 sharing, including flights and transfers. Call AITO member Frontier Ski on 020 8776 8709
Was 2009 the year the British fell in love with holidaying at home again, or was it a blip on the radar while we tightened our belts before jetting off to the sun in 2010?
The Brits embraced the idea of a staycation last year, keen to do our bit to keep the economy afloat by spending money at home and saving on flights, but 2010 has started with murmurs of discontent amongst UK holiday providers. They believe that this year could be an “annus horribilis” as travellers are once again swayed by the lure of foreign travel. The increasing strength of the pound also makes visitors from overseas less likely to plug the gap in the market and the tourist deficit of £17 billion is certain to grow even wider.
We had a chat with Simon Tregoning, MD of Classic Cottages who represents over 600 cottages across the West Country. He takes the view that 2011 is the year when the UK will make a recovery for domestic tourism and has genuine concerns about 2010. Classic Cottages is a well-known accommodation provider with clever marketing, an award winning brochure and a loyal clientele, but there must be concerns for some of the more niche providers out there and Visit Britain must be worried too.
Nobody wants to see a repeat of 2009, the bankers threw our savings away, the government tightened the noose a bit more and the Met Office couldn’t tell a snowflake from a Cadbury’s (Kraft?) Flake. The year ahead should be a welcome return to form for tour operators offering overseas travel but let’s also give domestic tourism a chance, there is so much to see in the UK.
We dropped in on friends in Cornwall last week for the day (a nano-break!?) to take in some sights and have lunch at just one of the incredible restaurants near Newquay, another reminder of the reassures in our own backyard.
Each year in December, Rodney Bay - on the lush, tropical island of St Lucia in the Caribbean - is the finishing destination for the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), a 2,700 nautical-mile passage across the Atlantic from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, it usually takes between 14 and 21 days to complete with over 200 yachts, from 29-112ft, making the crossing (along with numerous NARC (Non-ARC) vessels). My father was racing on Star Chaser, a beautiful Swan 51 vessel, and so it was only right that I, together with my mother and brother, flew over to greet him at the finish line!
The first two yachts to arrive crossed the finish line in Rodney Bay on the 4th December, separated by just 16 minutes and five seconds. Big One and Bagheera arrived after just 12 days at sea and an exciting gybing (turning) duel, one which intensified over the last 24 hours. That left over 200 vessels still at sea, however, and not all had such an easy crossing - in fact some unlucky crews didn’t complete the voyage at all. Auliana II was abandoned and the crew evacuated following the loss of her rudder on the 23rd November - just one day into the race. Further misfortune befell Pelican on the 1st December: following a rig failure, the crew had to be evacuated around 300 nautical miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Others still had big decisions to make. The crew of Silver Bear took the brave and valiant call to slow their boat down and shadow another yacht, Star Fire, for over 1,500 miles after she got into difficulty - providing selfless assistance and delaying their own arrival by several days. Who said it would all be plain sailing?
My extremely-elated Dad and the rest of the equally-chipper Star Chaser crew arrived on the 8th December at 19:50 local time, after 16 days sailing (final results showed Star Chaser’s position as 28th out of 158 in the Cruising Division, and the crew won an award for the best photos taken at sea - not bad at all!). A warm St Lucian welcome greeted them in Rodney Bay Marina, with rum punches at the ready… Not that the crew needed anything in the way of pick-me-ups after the rally: they were all high as kites on the back of such a transatlantic achievement. It proved to be a full-time job to keep them from swaying around and falling off the pontoon into the murky-marina water below!
The following day, the partying at the marina intensified as over a third of the fleet had docked safely in St Lucia. The consistent winds meant that average passage times were reduced by nearly three days compared with 2008. Rodney Bay buzzed with a unique atmosphere created by the coming together of hundreds of people from around the world united by a common accomplishment.
The fog horns, sirens, screaming and whistling continued even as the last yacht, ErasmosI, arrived on the 19th December after a string of nautical difficulties. Camaraderie was high and the rapturous ovation was unparalleled. ErasmosI may have taken her berth in the marina but for the pontoon-side celebrations with steel bands and fire dancers, this was just the beginning…
Welcome to St Lucia and the distinctly Caribbean pleasure of island time!
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Flooding in Richmond forced drinkers to arrive by boat at the White Cross pub yesterday
March 5th, 2010Visitors to the White Cross pub in Richmond were left no option but to arrive by boat yesterday as the River Thames broke its banks. The cosy riverside establishment in Surrey has a special high-tide entrance in case of flooding but even this was inaccessible on foot. The much-loved pub regularly gets cut off, usually about five times a month, but yesterday’s was a very high tide. The occurrence is a welcome excuse for the regulars who relish more time in the pub away from DIY jobs at home but it’s perhaps not so favoured by stranded office workers seeking to get back to work after a boozy lunch. The Travel PR team is planning an after-work drink when the waters have subsided!
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides - Spring Tides - occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.
Camilla Colley
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