Oh—Annabel J

Is this Annabel– who gives us Joy?

Or Annabel, who creates in us jealousy?

For her beautiful lines and bountiful gifts,

As we sail on waters grey and cold,

While longing for those, blue and balmy.

Our crew so randomly gathered from places

Afar and disparate in our maritime realm,

Who experience such tremulous thoughts as we join.

Are we alike or opposed, can we possibly combine?

To mix so closely, as to completely entwine

Our hopes and our lives, and even our bodies

In her shapely, her commodious, her bosomly embrace.

Yes, after only one day, one very long day.

Sailing an amazing and very long voyage

In sea time a life of enriching experience,

Which on land would be a mere nothing by car.

Our realm is mysterious and depends upon experience.

A skipper quiet and wise who knows how to contain

Our anxieties, in calm and established routine,

And a crew by his side who patiently show

Us the ropes up above and comforts within

As we struggle to sail and then enjoy life below.

Life is mysterious and on sea even more so.

Thank gods like old Neptune for buoying us up

In this life of adventure on Annabel J.

Richard Varian Buckland.

The realisation of a sailing ambition achieved this year with 111 days aboard the wonderful Annabel J. So many new friends and places visited. A truly wonderful experience thanks to the amazing skills of Phil and Ian. I learnt an awful lot about running a boat on a day to day basis and improved my knowledge no end. Many many thanks to you both.
Tim Marshall

Just want to say how much we enjoyed our weekend on Annabel J last week. My husband Ron saw your stand at the boat show and thought it would be a good idea for my birthday. So I want to thank you for your thoughtful gift of flowers and chocolates. Chocolates were enjoyed by the crew with after dinner coffee, and flowers made the table look nice. Really enjoyed the atmosphere onboard and met some really lovely people. 2 of the 3 days were really wet and cold, but that was all part of the fun. Hope to be on Annabel J again next year!

111 nights aboard Annabel J on the 2013 Around Britain Challenge. What a fantastic way to celebrate the Old Gaffers 50th Anniversary. Thanks to Phil and Ian for all their hard work organising the trip, sharing AJ with us and for their enjoyable company. Skipper Phil kept us all safe and sound in wonderful and exciting places - night sailing in the simmer dim near Shetland and around Cape Wrath. Too many beautiful places to mention but from Hamble to Lerwick AJ felt sturdy and seaworthy. Diana organised us all below decks and produced a constant stream of good food no matter how sloping was the galley floor! For me this was a wonderful adventure shared with very special people.
Will definitely see you again very soon x

Fourteen days of fun, laughs, some drama, good company, good food and some sailing. I feel privileged to be part of your circumnavigation of the UK (with the Old Gaffers) and what an experience. From Peterhead to St Vaast via a number of ports it was eventful from the start.

Whilst I am very comfortable "on the water" sailing a boat and with crew you don't know brings with it some anxiety and concern. My experience though was one which I will treasure for some time. Whilst I would have loved to have experienced more sailing and ironically some more challenging weather the various legs were all different and enjoyable. At the start of this trip I would not have expected to either have been able to lie on deck mid North Sea in the basking sun nor have ever expected to be helming in a god wind, at 04.00 in the morning, in the fog, in the westbound shipping lane of the English Channel. At no time did I even feel unsafe, in f act quite the opposite. On that point Phil and Ian did an excellent job of managing the trip.

A big thank you has to go to Diana who in her own way and style makes "AJ" work and function smoothly. The food was great and you are an excellent host.

I count myself as being very lucky to meet 6 other fantastic crew. All from different backgrounds, all great company and all will be missed.

There were some quite memorable points;

- helming in the Channel
- passing through the gas fields off Norfolk at night
- arriving in Honfleur and getting to the bar within 5 minutes of mooring
- first G&T at 0830 after a long 46 hour passage

A memorable 14 days and a big thank you.

My first sailing experience was with Phil aboard Annabel-J last August sailing to the Channel Islands. I had the best of week of my life! And for somebody who is usually quite anxious about open water etc I felt completely safe and relaxed for the whole week. Annabel-J is a stunning yacht- comfy and cosy, and I had great fun learning lots about traditional sailing. By the end of the week I felt so much more knowledgeable, as I'd had no previous experience sailing at all before this holiday. After setting off from Plymouth about 6pm, we sailed all through the night which was absolutely magical! The feeling was indescribable, those of us who stayed up the whole time saw a red moon rising up on the horizon and phosphorescence plankton sparkling on the water which was beautiful. There was a great balance of hands on activity up on deck and relaxation in the evenings with all the guests and the in days to wander around the Channel Islands. The food was delicious too, and we had a laugh in the evenings over a glass of wine and with wonderful company. We caught lots of mackerel off the back of the yacht whilst sailing over to France, gutted them on deck and cooked up a feast that afternoon! I was devastated to have to go back home after the week! All in all a fabulous time, I would recommend a sailing holiday aboard Annabel-J to anyone, especially for a first timer - it was was just the best.
Elle x

It was such a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute, big thanks again to you and Pete and all the crew for making it such a fun one.

Have fun!

Lots of love to all,

Tracey

Just wanted to say what a brilliant week I had with you (and Sandy and Pete - please give them my love and thanks too) on your gorgeous boat.

Fantastic sailing, company, food, everything - I can honestly say I have never enjoyed the Pilot Cutter Review more (possibly something to do with being part of a winning team also!).

I can't wait to do it again next year and only wish I could come to the Scillies with you too.

Thank you very much; all your hard work and attention to detail (and competitive spirit, great racing tactics, sense of humour, I could go on but would be in danger of gushing) make for a wonderful sailing experience,

Lots of love and hugs,

Claire Giles XXX

Thanks for a great time on the Annabel J. Ben and I really enjoyed ourselves. It is quiet difficult to get my brain in focus back at work after such a contrast.
The trip was a great experience for Ben, one I’m sure he will appreciate more in the not too distant future. Thanks for looking after him so well. I’m just sorting out his 16th birthday for Friday.

Also, thank you for accommodating my diet so proficiently, I know how much of a nuisance it is so I really do appreciate it.
Have a great time at the Paimpol festival, I just wish I had more annual leave.
Thank you both again for a really memorable holiday.
Lots of love
Gill

I just wanted to write and thank you for making the trip from St Mawes to Hamble so enjoyable. Do carry on keeping me informed of your plans please as I'd definitely like to sail on Annabel J again, and a couple of friends have expressed an interest too. Happy sailing !

Simon

Could not help myself in sending this email.

What a cracking time. Steve and myself couldn't stop chatting about the people, the banter and the events on Annabel-J. Although the hands on experience was great, the food being spot on and the crew being more than friendly and helpful, seeing the bowsprit and Dee go under the wake of that container ship makes me chuckle every time I think of it.

I will be telling everyone to get in touch with you and Steve and I would like to do the channel islands next year. I will confirm this soon. Might even do the Cornwall trip.

Anyhow, thanks again and i wish you all the best and look forward to travelling on A-J next year.

What can I say? What an absolutely wonderful 2 weeks - the best cruise I've been on. Annabel J is a lovely boat and no one would fail to be impressed by her; but more than that, the company was superb and you managed to put together a balanced blend of sailing and trips ashore. I'm already planning for next year and hope to see some familiar faces. As Skipper, you engendered an atmosphere of relaxed informality - but within a framework where it was easy to learn new skills. Best wishes. I will be back!

Hi, Phil
Wanted to thank you for a brilliant trip and all the people I met on board.
You were a great host and made us all feel very welcome.

I could not let too much time to pass before putting a few thoughts on the website. Have had the most marvellous week travelling with excellent company to Alderney, Cherbourg, St Vaast and back to the Hamble.
Never having been on a Classic boat prior to this and with limited sailing experience, Phil and Adam made us feel 'competent' and treated our shortcomings with great patience and humour – to paraphrase WS – ‘ they pieced out our imperfections with their thoughts !’ - thoroughly professional.
Could not have enjoyed it more - reawakened my love of sailing and the only downside is the need to watch my weight for some days after the superb cuisine and to rest my face after much laughter. I look forward to joining as crew again – my limited knot skills notwithstanding. Thank you gentleman.

From the moment we joined any aprehensions we had were put aside by the calm, confident manner of the Skipper. The sail along the Cornish coast was a delight, but words cannot aptly describe the beauty of what laid before us during the next few days exploring the stunning Scilly Isles. This is truly a holiday of a lifetime and no way better to experience it than on the fantastic Annabel J. The whole voyage; the scenery, the food, the professionalism and friendliness of the crew, and friends made with other guests could not be bettered. Thank you Phil and Pete. See you again next year!

Thanks for a great time on the Annabel J. Ben and I really enjoyed ourselves. The trip was a great experience fr Ben, thanks for looking after him so well. I’m just sorting out his 16th birthday for Friday. Also, thank you for accommodating my diet so proficiently, I know how much of a nuisance it is so I really do appreciate it.

Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and Sandy for a fantastic sailing trip over Easter - thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being aboard such a beautiful boat and learning so much about rigging and hauling ropes! The hospitality/catering was second to none and the effort that went into everything is much appreciated. I will definitely be back for some more days at sea and nights at anchor on the Annabel J!

Enjoyed every minute – but how can I go back to work after this!

Thanks for the great trip and great food. Really enjoyed it.

Thank you Phil and Sandy – My best holiday for a decade!

Many thanks for a fantastic weekend of sailing – Unforgettable

Just Perfect!

A fantastic and life memorable week. Great sailing, great food, couldn’t be bettered. Many thanks

Winners of the Pilot Cutter Regatta! Amazing week, great company, great food, GREAT SAILING, Please can I come back.

Wonderful week, excellent crew, beautiful Scillies

Everything that I hoped for and more! Learnt lots about the boat, sailing and the Scillies. Thanks Phil and Ian for making it so good.

I'll never forget it! Great sailing, good food, loads of laughs, beautiful weather. FABULOUS.
Helen Hill