My travels and experiencesnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:36:00 +0200Blogger http://www.blogger.com564125http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/en-usnoMy travels and experiencesnoreply@blogger.comhttp://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/10/falmouth-to-fowey-and-southampton.htmlBritishGreat BritainseafarersshipspottingTravelTravel logtravelingUnited Kingdomyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:36:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-8581169279273963813m/v Cefas Endeavour in Falmouth ABP docksThe r/v Cefas Endeavour is a British fishing support vessel/ multi discipline research vessel managed by Andrew Weir, incidentally same outfit that St Helena used to have back in the RMS days. She's built in 2003, and has a 650 DWT capacity.Built & Launched: 2003 (Ferguson Shipbuilders)Home Port: Lowestoft, United KingdomLength / Beam / Draught: 0Southampton, UK50.9105468 -1.404901822.600312963821153 -36.5611518 79.220780636178844 33.7513482http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/10/centenarians.htmlanny von hamburgFinlandPommernsailing shipsSuomen Joutsentall shipnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:25:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-3000482655196675377Anny von Hamburg in Nagu, 2026(credit: J. Pokka)Finland’s Steel-Hulled Sailing ShipsAnny von Hamburg is Finland’s third-oldest steel-hulled sailing ship – and the only one of the three still sailingFinland’s maritime heritage includes three sailing ships over 100 years old with steel hulls: Pommern, Suomen Joutsen and Anny von Hamburg. In addition, Finland is home to around ten wooden sailing 2Turku, Finland60.451750399999987 22.248577132.141516563821142 -12.907672900000001 88.761984236178833 57.4048271http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/10/suomen-joutsen.htmlbarkBarqueFinlandsailing shipsSuomen Joutsentall shipTurkunoreply@blogger.com (J L)Thu, 8 Oct 2026 06:54:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-4541698532415559845Suomen Joutsen(credit: Aleksey Bogomolov)On 7th October something extraordinary happened in my childhood home town, as I'm not there and at work I have to rely on pictures from the interwebs. The windjammer, one of the oldest in Finland is about to get some TLC at Naantali ship repair yard. The last time I was in Turku and passed Suomen Joutsen (lit. translation 'Finnish Swan' or 'Swan of 0Turku, Finland60.451750399999987 22.248577132.141516563821142 -12.907672900000001 88.761984236178833 57.4048271http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/10/blog-post.htmlAaland islandsAboAhvenanmaaanny von hamburgarchipelagoFinlandsailingsailing shipssailing yachtschoonertall shipTravelTravel logtravelingTurkunoreply@blogger.com (J L)Wed, 7 Oct 2026 06:51:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-6901929487548196276Anny von HamburgAnny von Hamburg with sailsSkysailShip’s Log: Mariehamn to TurkuFour autumn days aboard the classic schooner Anny von Hamburg, story & pictures by Juha PokkaThere are few better ways to experience the Finnish Archipelago than from the deck of a traditional sailing ship.From Thursday to Sunday, the classic schooner Anny von Hamburg made her way from Mariehamn in Åland to 0Turku, Finland60.451750399999987 22.248577132.141516563821142 -12.907672900000001 88.761984236178833 57.4048271http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/montenegro-to-uk-transit.htmlMosaiqueshipspottingTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 6 Oct 2026 06:07:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-7637584438037408025Croatian outer islands at sunsetLeft Croatia in short order after having cleared out in Split and weather was pushing us too, made good speed towards Bar and arrived there as estimated early morning around 0700hrs. The wind was really brisk with around northerly wind 30 knots off the coast and inside the harbour 20+ going up and down. As I entered the port from north I went all the way down to 0Southampton, UK50.9105468 -1.404901828.211214737247097 -36.561151800000005 73.609878862752907 33.75134820000001http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/06/olongapo-bracelets.htmlPhilippinesSeikowatchesnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:30:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-7524106654459182102Seiko turtle with Olongapo braceletI accidentally in some forum came across pictures of watches having been fitted with olongapo bracelets and as they looked cool I wondered where they came from. As the name suggests Olongapo is the name of the city in Subic Bay where the US Navy base was back in the day. Anchor and wheel designNot sure if it was a Filipino invention or if the GI's came up 0Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines14.5995133 120.984234-2.68585264351505 85.827984 31.884879243515051 156.14048400000001http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/refit-summary-of-anny-von-hamburg.htmlanny von hamburgantiquessailing shipssailing yachtschoonerseafarersShipstall shipnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 22 Sep 2026 05:34:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-7079907855949118580Anny von Hamburg at Finkenwerder in 2023Captain Juha Pokka reminisced of the hectic 3 years of taking possession of Anny von Hamburg and the various projects made onboard, now also accompanied by the not so shiny and spick'n'span all ship shape condition pictures. During this period he also underwent himself major overhaul of his ticker. Crew has come and gone, many have been volunteers and we 0Mariehamn, Åland60.0970945 19.934833931.786860663821152 -15.221416099999999 88.407328336178836 55.0910839http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/st-helena-ship-update.htmlRMS St HelenaseafarersshippingSt HelenaSt Helena shipUAEnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:51:05 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-6624735528785568742St Helena at Valencia, Spain, in 2021(credit: Manuel Hernandez Lafuente)Having out curiosity followed my ex ships destinies I got some news as follows, read on. As you may know, St Helena was originally launched as RMS St Helena and replaced the previous St Helena as the royal mailship and lifeline to the British crown colony on St Helena Island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. 0Dubai - United Arab Emirates25.2048493 55.2707828-3.1053845361788461 20.1145328 53.515083136178845 90.4270328http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/bol-to-bol-trip.htmlCroatiaMosaiqueTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:39:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-2204438071853193027 KastelaMarina Kastela by nightHaving spent a few days at Kastela marina for some crew battery recharging and some maintenance we were getting ready for this summer seasons last charter. We now had all missing stainless steel bits for the deck swim ladder and portable gangway as well as new deck covers. Engines got a change of oil and filters. I met some of my ex crew and enjoyed a good 0Bol, Croatia43.2623229 16.653186311.190347660388611 -18.5030637 75.334298139611391 51.8094363http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/split-split-trip.htmlCroatiacruisingIslandsMosaiqueTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 8 Sep 2026 05:52:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-6737872317808026984Split, cruise ships, Mein Schiff 4 on rightHaving provisioned and setup we all got up in our best and ready to receive. I hopped in the van and went to the hotel to meet he new guests and brought them onboard. Unfortunately vans can't drive along the narrow jetty at ACI so crew had to trolley the luggage down the quay onboard. After a brisk morning exercise we had everything onboard and it was 0Split, Croatia43.5147118 16.443514815.204477963821155 -18.7127352 71.824945636178853 51.5997648http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/anny-lost-years.htmlanny von hamburgRussiasailingsailing shipssailing yachtschoonerseafarerstall shipnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Fri, 4 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-1585045374440326589(credit: A.I. & Herge)One day Mr Oleg Balandin came for a visit to Anny von Hamburg with his family and Captain Juha Pokka showed them around and treated them for food and wine and what he had at hand. At same time he told the family of the history of Anny, all the 100+ years of it, and mentioned the lost decade in Russia when she had been confiscated as prize of war in 1914. Little did Juha 0St Petersburg, Russia59.9310584 30.360909731.620824563821152 -4.7953402999999994 88.24129223617885 65.517159700000008http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/09/trogir-dubrovnik-split.htmlcharterCroatiacruisingMosaiqueseafarersTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 1 Sep 2026 17:56:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-4958005579607607555Trogir sunsetWe had then finished off 30 days of charter with 3 clients back to back. Everyone was pretty tired and irritable so we tidied up and I told crew to go get some rest and sleep apart from watch keepers to keep things ticking over. After some good relaxing I then started pushing crew to start with order lists for next charter and to go out to buy provisions. The cost of provisions in 0Split, Croatia43.5147118 16.443514815.204477963821155 -18.7127352 71.824945636178853 51.5997648http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/cavtat-to-trogir.htmlCroatiacruisingMosaiquetourismTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:10:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-6121744686846962106Thunder stormAs we had left Montenegro and were steaming fully bunkered towards Cavtat the skies turned quite brooding and dark. Interestingly I had southerly wind from the stern but this cloud with precipitation and lightning seemed to come closer and closer. I guess the wind was from another direction at higher altitudes and it was coming closer to us. Like seamen all over the world knows, you 0Trogir, Croatia43.516386999999987 16.250189415.206153163821142 -18.9060606 71.826620836178833 51.4064394http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/karaka-of-dubrovnik.htmlCroatiasailingsailing shipstall shipnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-4510255925697791939The Karaka alongside in Marina Gruz, DubrovnikI saw this carrack replica named 'Karaka' coming in port as we were preparing ourselves for our next trip and at same time snapped some pics. The same evening I was out walking after dinner and passed the Karaka and talked to the crew that were Filipinos, the were very friendly and gave me a flyer explaining their program of day cruising or the Game 0Dubrovnik, Croatia42.650660599999988 18.094423814.340426763821142 -17.0618262 70.960894436178833 53.2506738http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/eye-of-wind-does-finland.htmlAaland islandsarchipelagocharterFinlandsailingsailing shipssailing yachtseafarersnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:03:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-1251701455917063110Eye of the Wind in the archipelagoHaving had the brigantine Eye of the Wind visiting in Mariehamn, both Captains, Moritz and Juha met  up and exchanged some ideas of sites worthwhile for a visit and as per below you can see the various beautiful spots they tied up at. On 3rd Aug Ålands Sjöfart reported the arrival of Eye of the WindEye of the Windcredit: Ålands SjöfartApproaching 0Mariehamn, Åland60.0970945 19.934833931.786860663821152 -15.221416099999999 88.407328336178836 55.0910839http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/croatia-cruising.htmlcharterCroatiaMontenegroseafarersTravelTravel logtravelingwreckyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:30:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-2886774638681031621Sunset on the Adriatic seaHaving dropped off the guests in Corfu and cast off whilst the rear lights of their vans were driving off the jetty we motored off towards our next commitment, in Trogir, Croatia. The laundry was running full on in preparation and luckily we had calm seas so the housekeeping could keep on going prepping the staterooms.Open seas on AdriaticPasserby, m/v VeneziaM/v Venezia0Tivat, Montenegro42.4317899 18.698974617.098223373927055 -16.4572754 67.765356426072941 53.8552246http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/merrimans-hanks.htmlanny von hamburgantiquessailingsailing shipssailing yachtnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-5834235124776170474Merrimans hanks(credit: J Pokka)My friend Juha asked me some time ago over a glass of whisky onboard Anny von Hamburg if I could find these merrimans hanks somewhere on my travels and I was like "merrimans what..?" He went and dug out one for me as a sample and I thought this will be an easy thing to do and said, "sure, how many do you need?" He said he could use about 50 pieces as they get lost,2Mariehamn, Åland60.0970945 19.934833931.786860663821152 -15.221416099999999 88.407328336178836 55.0910839http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/07/greek-cruising.htmlchartercruisingGreeceMosaiqueseafarersTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:18:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-3635334890554646853Spotted m/y Klelia 1Having arrived Piraeus in good order we then departed after some days having prepared ourselves as best we could. Provisions and necessities were purchased and loaded, some last minute maintenance things sorted out and ordered. We got new aft lines to use for stern mooring on the rocks in case needed. Below are some ships spotted along our cruise and views of places we 0Corfu, Greece39.6242621 19.921677711.314028263821157 -15.2345723 67.934495936178848 55.077927700000004http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/luhring-sisters-meet-again.htmlanny von hamburgsailingsailing shipssailing yachtschoonernoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 4 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-1992476386166366738Eye of the Wind & Anny von Hamburg(credit: Juha Pokka)Last time they met in 2025 at Kieler Woche and before that in 2019 at the Bremerhaven Sea City festival. Now again in Mariehamn,  it is getting more frequent.Eye of the WindMore maritime history to Åland islands, writes Ålands Sjöfart magazine online on 2nd Aug 2026:"Tomorrow, on Monday (3rd Aug), the historic maritime quarter gets 0Mariehamn, Åland60.0970945 19.934833931.786860663821152 -15.221416099999999 88.407328336178836 55.0910839http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/07/recycling.htmlcoasterenginesailingsailing shipssailing yachtshippingWilhelmineWilhelmine Oltmannnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-8572228325855223472Libra af Stockholm(credit: Frankie Fouganthin)Part 1: Libra af StockholmThis is a bit of a back to front story, hope you enjoy it. The historic Swedish vessel Libra af Stockholm (originally named Lurö) was built in 1934 at Karlstad Shipyard. Detailed records and heritage status are maintained by the Sjöhistoriska museet.Libra af Stockholm was the first steel ship designed and built at 0Mariehamn, Åland60.0970945 19.934833931.786860663821152 -15.221416099999999 88.407328336178836 55.0910839http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/08/navagio-beach.htmlGreeceshipspottingTravelTravel logtravelingwrecknoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-4321337962869069969m/v Panagiotis(credit: Monica Renata)Navagio (or "Shipwreck Beach") on Zakynthos, Greece, gets its name from the m/v Panagiotis, a cargo freighter that allegedly ran aground on 5th October 1980.m/v Panagiotis (credit: Bill Giannopoulos/Greekcitytimes)The short story is that the crew was smuggling contraband cigarettes and alcohol from Turkey to Italy when they were pursued by the Greek Navy 0Zakynthos, Greece37.7870331 20.89987599.4767992638211567 -14.256374099999999 66.097266936178841 56.0561259http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/07/transit-to-greece.htmlAthenscruisingGreeceMosaiqueseafarersTravelTravel logtravelingyachtingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-8147213231970709707Seamans mission decorationsHaving finally done the long yard worklist in fastest time possible for this yard. We were finally being splashed for the second time as on the first seatrial we discovered a leak that needed us hauling out again. Two steps ahead and one back. Anyway,  this time there was no stepping back, I was banking on that, otherwise plans for the summer would be effectively 0Piraeus, Greece37.9429857 23.64698328.4294613397276947 -11.50926679999997 67.456510060272308 58.803233199999973http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/07/shadowfleet-shenanigans.htmlcollisionFinlandHelsinkiseafarersshippingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 7 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-7563763718597603597m/t Eagle S being escorted by Finnish Coast Guard(credit: Finnish Border Force)Some people may still remember the past headlines of shadow fleet tankers and other cargo ships allegedly dragging their anchors on the seabed and cutting data cables in the Baltic sea, namely those between Finland and Estonia in the Gulf of Finland. It became quickly apparent that cables on the seabed were quite 0Helsinki, Finland60.169855699999992 24.93837931.859621863821147 -10.217870999999999 88.480089536178838 60.094629http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/06/fahrwohl.htmlbarkBarqueFinlandsailingsailing shipsseafarersTurkunoreply@blogger.com (J L)Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:52:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-7317498960857609213Fahrwohlcredit: Finnish maritime museum archives/ colorization by Frank HellstenFahrwohl, still under Russian flagI had earlier bought a 2nd hand book about Southampton ports and came across the picture of the Finnish tall ship Fahrwohl. Fahrwohl in inner harbor 1905credit by: Maritime Southampton, Alastair Arnott, photo CoezensAs I mentioned this to my friend Captain Hannu Vartiainen he 0Turku, Finland60.451750399999987 22.248577132.141516563821142 -12.907672900000001 88.761984236178833 57.4048271http://cyber-captain.blogspot.com/2026/06/corinth-canal.htmlcruisingGreeceMosaiqueseafarersTravelTravel logtravelingnoreply@blogger.com (J L)Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:29:00 +0200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124553431083910232.post-6960069065259023306Crossing the canalAs I was in a hurry to get to Greece and prepare for the upcoming guest trip I had permission to pass through Corinth canal, it was saving us precious hours and fuel as well as the stress of bouncing south of Peloponnesus peninsula. I had vested interest to cross one thing off my bucket list as this was going to be my first time going through, I had many times passed over by car0Corinth 201 00, Greece37.9386365 22.93223839.6284026638211557 -12.224011699999998 66.24887033617884 58.0884883