We stand with Ukraine More info on s/y Tainui’s adventures
Recent Posts
- Yacht Russia 27th January 2021
- Yacht Russia – in Russian 23rd February 2020
- Arthur Beale 30th October 2019
- Bookharbour 11th July 2019
- Simplified visa regime for Kaliningrad 8th July 2019
- Tallinn 19th May 2019
- Leaving Russia 14th May 2019
- Neva River 10th May 2019
- Koshkinskiy Farwater 9th May 2019
- Bye Priozersk, hello again Konevets! 5th May 2019
- No water 24th April 2019
- Splash! 19th April 2019
- Snow and Sun 18th April 2019
- OCC Australian Award 29th December 2018
- Wintering in Russia 19th November 2018
- Yachting World 31st August 2018
- Priozersk again 25th August 2018
- Priozersk 21st August 2018
- Valaam 21st August 2018
- Konevets monastery 16th August 2018
- Dalyokaya Bukhta 16th August 2018
- Out onto the lake at last 16th August 2018
- River Yacht Club St Petersburg 14th August 2018
- Apostol Andrei 14th August 2018
- Towards Ladoga 13th August 2018
- It couldn’t end better 13th August 2018
- Sailing through St Petersburg 13th August 2018
- Russia at last 7th August 2018
- Tallinn 6th August 2018
- Mud Baths 6th August 2018
- Slow Progress 6th August 2018
- Apologies to Miss Perfect 19th July 2018
- Blue Dove on Marine Traffic 16th July 2018
- Boat Insurance for Russia. 16th July 2018
- Klaipeda 16th July 2018
- Warnemuende 12th July 2018
- Denmark 12th July 2018
- Hanseatica 12th July 2018
- No Wind and no Motor 3rd July 2018
- Kiel Canal 3rd July 2018
- Delfzjil 3rd July 2018
- Taskperson 3rd July 2018
- Friesland 3rd July 2018
- Repairs 3rd July 2018
- Coffee Grounds in the Sink 3rd July 2018
- Sistership and Sailing through Russia 5th June 2018
- Some practical comments 9th May 2018
- Peterson cutter digest 4146 9th May 2018
Tainui’s route
“…a captivating adventure. I read the book at one setting and was very late to bed.(the book is) beautifully presented and bound, with noble images…half pilot book, half cruising yarn.”
“Vallentine is a semi-retired doctor from Australia with a dry, Aussie humour which he really needs as one crazy nonsense after another gets in his way. He is an unsung hero of ocean sailing.”
– Tom Cunliffe, Yachting World August 2018.
“[whether sailing or taking a river cruise]…this fascinating and entertaining book would be the ideal guide to take along. Everyone interested in cruising off the beaten path…as well as anyone with a specific interest in Russia, will enjoy this book.”
– Ocean Cruising Club book review
“What a fascinating book! Even if you never repeat the history-making voyage of Australian yacht Tainui, this is a great read. If you do plan such a venture, it is compulsory reading.”
– Afloat Magazine
A lively and informative combination journal and cruising guide for those who might follow. Whether you are planning the voyage yourself or just looking for an adventurous tale, Sailing Through Russia is a photo-filled gem that’s well worth the read.
– Cruising World
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Author Archives: John Vallentine
Russia at last
A long, hot and windless trip from Tallinn finally, finally brought Blue Dove to St Petersburg. En route we stripped off for much needed douches in the Gulf of Finland. Sailing through the barrage into St Petersburg Bay was still … Continue reading
Tallinn
Stuck in Tallinn waiting for a break in the relentless eastelrly winds, we wander the streets of the old town. Apart from its location, I cannot recommend the Old Town Marina. Scores of cruise ships and ferries disgorge obese tourists … Continue reading
Mud Baths
Haapsalu is said to have some of the finest mud in Northern Europe. Peter the Great, Catherine and Tchaikovsky came here for mud bath therapy. I, with my tedious trochanteric bursitis, should have indulged as they did. Instead, armed with … Continue reading
Slow Progress
Dogged by light airs and fog we crept slowly along the coasts of Litland and Latland, revisiting picturesque south Baltic ports – Liepaja, Pavilosta, Ventspils – before entering Estonian waters. Much has changed since Tainui was here in 2012, then … Continue reading
Apologies to Miss Perfect
Reading back through the tainui.org website I finally see what it is that Little Miss Perfect has been complaining about all these years: my frank and jocular acounts of her minor indiscretions – the spilt wines, her psychotic addiction to … Continue reading
Klaipeda
Finally, some fine sailing. They say that cruising in small yachts is great 1% of the time, tolerable in 30% while the rest is miserable. Our 2 day passage from Bornholm to Klaipeda in Lithuania gave us that long-awaited 1% … Continue reading
Warnemuende
Tied up between fat red fishing boats in the old harbour, it feels snug. NW squalls whistle overhead and the fishermen advise us to sit tight. It is finally sunny though. The towering masts of the Russian sail training ship … Continue reading
Denmark
Through a long night we ran square under main alone. Not Blue Dove’s best point of sail but in lumpy seas we couldn’t be bothered setting up a pole then gybing repeatedly through busy commercial traffic off the German wind … Continue reading
Hanseatica
A fine 30 mile broad reach down to Travemunde allowed our Aries finally to prove its worth. The great square rigger Passat marks the entrance to the river. A splendid sentinel. From here it is 10 miles up the Trave … Continue reading
No Wind and no Motor
Our journey down to Heiligenhaven from Kiel started auspiciously with a forecast of 12-15 knot NE winds, sunny skies and smooth seas. Blue Dove slipped along graciously and we were in good spirits. By mid afternoon however, the breeze began … Continue reading
