Paul and Sheryl Shard complete a transatlantic passage aboard their 11-metre sailboat, "Two-Step", and enter the Mediterranean Sea where they make landfall in Gibraltar. Next, they sail over to Ceuta on the North African coast. Then a voyage along the Costa del Sol of Spain where Sheryl visits the local markets and demonstrates how to prepare "Paella", a traditional Spanish meal. The highlight of this show is the dramatic Spanish festival of "Corpus Cristi" in a small mountain town where flowers are strewn in the streets.
The Shards round Cabo de Gata and find isolated anchorages at the foot of the dramatic Costa Blanca mountain ranges including some where the beaches are "clothing optional". They visit ports along the way that were once important Roman mining colonies and in Calpe, Paul and Sheryl climb the monolith, Penon de Ifach. Later, they attempt to sail to the Balearic Islands but are forced to turn back due to poor conditions. They eventually arrive at the island paradise of Espalmador where, with lots of humour, Paul and Sheryl try out nude sunbathing and discover the healing properties of the local mud baths.
The Shards sail to anchorages around Isla Formentera, part of Spain's Balearic Island group and join the modern "invasion" of Northerners on the beautiful beaches of the island. In a quiet cove they discover an entire village built of driftwood and collect winkles along the seashore. They take the winkles to the crew of a Norwegian sailboat and demonstrate how to cook them along with mussels. Bad weather is coming so they do some underwater tests on their anchors and decide to leave for a safer harbour on the island of Ibiza. In the storm, another boat is washed up onto the beach and Paul and Sheryl assist with the recovery.
In this episode, Paul and Sheryl examine "how" and "why" the travelling life lures people away from a regular life ashore. They look back on the highlights of their 11 years on the high seas since they built their sailboat, visiting islands in the Bahamas and Caribbean, diving on tropical reefs, encountering whales at sea and participating in local rituals in the mid-Atlantic islands of the Azores. They also introduce sailors cruising for different reasons - a Norwegian couple who sold their home and are cruising in Spain so they can spend more time with their 2 small children and a retired British engineer who is restoring a large motor yacht for adventures in the Mediterranean.
The Shards sail to Mallorca where they meet a group of teenagers who have sailed a 14-foot boat to a deserted smugglers beach and are camping there for the summer. When they ride an antique wooden train up into the Tramontana mountains, they meet a couple with four children living in an isolated self-sufficient mansion and learn they are former sailors who fell in love with Mallorca. They visit the Palma cathedral, the tallest Gothic structure in the world. Sailing on to the nearby island of Menorca they are stormbound in the tiny harbour in Cuidadella but during a small break in the weather make a run for the safer harbour of Mahon.
Paul and Sheryl sail into the historic harbour of Mahon, on the island of Menorca, said by the British Admiral Nelson to be the safest harbour in the Mediterranean. They moor at a unique floating platform anchored in the middle of the harbour where they are welcomed into a community of international cruising sailors. Menorca has the highest concentration of prehistoric ruins and monuments in the world and the Shards crawl through ancient natural tunnels in the cliffs to visit Neolithic cave-dwellings, Megalithic tombs and later explore sites where an unidentified culture has built huge standing stones and towers.
After spending the winter in Menorca in Paul and Sheryl prepare their sailboat, "Two-Step", for another season of exploring the Mediterranean. It's hard to say goodbye but, ready for new adventures, they cast off their docklines and head to sea for a 2-day passage to the Italian island of Sardinia. En route they encounter vast flotillas of neon blue jellyfish that travel the sea using tiny sails. Late the next day, the Shards make landfall at the dramatic headland of Capo Caccia where they explore an enormous cave before sailing to the medieval town of Alghero.
The narrow strait between the French island of Corsica and the Italian island of Sardinia, is notorious for shipwrecks. So keeping an eye on the weather, Paul and Sheryl navigate this treacherous channel visiting the French island of Lavezzi, site of the worst maritime disaster in the Mediterranean, and explore the idyllic La Maddelena Archipelago in Sardinia. Next they sail to the Corsican side to sample a taste of France in the historic city of Bonifacio before crossing the channel back to Sardinia. Here they participate in the festival of San Giovanni which involves jumping through the flames of a roaring bonfire.
Numerous civilizations have invaded the island of Sardinia over time, but the people of the island hid in the mountains and were never conquered. Called "barbarians" by the ancient Romans, the name remains in this mountainous region called "Barbagia". In this episode, Paul and Sheryl sail along this wild eastern coast of Sardinia beginning their voyage in the resort town of Porto Cervo, the playground of the rich, where the Shards' 11-metre sailboat is dwarfed by 60-metre yachts. Further south they find remote bays and coves and, leaving their boat, travel inland where they meet proud mountain people with strong traditions. The Shards participate in a pagan festival and visit ancient temples known as "nuraghi".
Paul and Sheryl sail to Pantelleria, a tiny volcanic island in the Sicilian Channel close to the North African coast. They arrive in time for the annual grape harvest and learn to make wine in the traditional way, dive on a Byzantine shipwreck with a group of archeologists, and while hiking around the island discover that the volcanic activity makes it a natural health spa. They have a sauna in a cave, relax in hot thermal pools by the sea and restore their energy in a mineral-rich mud bath in the Lake of Venus.
Tunisia on the North African coast is renowned for its warm climate, beautiful beaches and affordable resorts, but when Paul and Sheryl sail in to the port of Monastir they discover that an exciting world lies beyond the marinas and hotels along the coast. Riding camels into the Sahara Desert they sleep under the stars at night, cook bread in hot sand, and learn what its like to live life as a beduin.
It's November when Paul and Sheryl sail to the Italian island of Sicily and olive season is just beginning. They are invited by a local family to join in the harvest and spend a day in the groves picking olives, then deliver them to the regional co-op where the Shards learn how olive oil is produced. When the work is done they celebrate in the hills at the annual Festival of Olive Oil. Snow blows at the top of Mount Etna and the Shards make several attempts to climb to the top of this ancient volcano in the strong November winds.
It's a stormy late season sail from Sicily into Grand Harbour, the port of Valletta on the island of Malta, home of the famous Knights of St. John. The island is also renowned for its role in WWII as a military base and shipyard. The Shards investigate the rich history of Malta which has been inhabited for nearly 6,000 years. Riding the island's antique buses, they visit the underground chambers of an ancient hypogeum, the cave where St. Paul lived after being shipwrecked on the island, and participate in Malta's spectacular Christmas celebrations.
After waiting out winter storms in Malta, the Shards prepare for a new sailing season. While Two-Step is in the boat yard, they participate in Easter celebrations, learn to cook spring vegetables Maltese style, and travel with local sailors to other islands in the archipelago where they dive in an underwater cave.
From Malta, the Shards sail north through the notorious Strait of Messina navigating the strong currents featured in Homer's "Odyssey". They face headwinds on their way to the Aeolian Islands and eventually arrive at the island of Vulcano. There they swim in bubbling hot seawater from the volcano, dive on underwater bubbling gas vents, relax in healing mud pools and climb to the top of the island's steaming crater where their path is blocked by vents of toxic gas.
Shards sail north to the twin-peaked island of Salina, famous for it's Malmsey wine. Paul rents a unique vehicle called a Magoo and searches the island for the best wine. As he travels the island he meets fun-loving locals and samples a lot of wine. In the distance is the island of Stromboli, an active volcano which for centuries has erupted every 15 to 20 minutes and is known as the oldest lighthouse in the Mediterranean. The Shards ride one of the island ferries and do a night climb of Stromboli and get a spectacular view of the eruptions.
From the Aeolian Islands, the Shards sail back south through the Strait of Messina where they have calm seas and are visited by dolphins. They stop at the ancient town of Siracusa in Sicily, once the most powerful city-state in ancient Greece. From here, they leave the Strait and sail to small ports along the south and southeast coast of Italy heading for the Adriatic Sea. They rent a car and explore the isolated hilltowns of Calabria where they attend a local wedding and are 'captured' by friendly brigands who wine and dine them.
In Brindisi, Italy, the Shards are held up with bad weather. Finally, they get the right wind to cross the Adriatic Sea to Croatia but have a rough passage. When they make landfall in Croatia the next morning they drop anchor to rest and are awakened by a couple of marine police officers who charge them for stopping without an anchoring permit. Their passports are confiscated and they have to appear in court to get them back. But the court translator befriends them and, determined to show them what a wonderful country Croatia can be, introduces the Shards to the local people, takes them on a tour of the old city of Dubrovnik, and sails with them to the beautiful surrounding islands where they dive and play with the colourful marine life.
Continuing their voyage along Croatia’s coastline, the Shards leave Dubrovnik and sail north to the fortified town of Ston where they visit the treasured salt pans. In Mali Ston, they meet a local oysterman who takes them out in his boat where they help harvest the oysters his son prepares for dinner. Next they sail to the barren islands of Kornati Islands National Park where they’re caught in Croatia’s most dreaded type of storm - a bora. Then they sail north to the island of Dugi Otok where they dive for giant mussels.
The Shards sail to the island of Hvar in Croatia for a week-long rendezvous with 60 other sailors where they celebrate both Canada Day and American Independence Day, visit local wineries then explore this island, famous for its cultivation of lavender, in an old citroen rental car that continually breaks down.
Two-Step's next stop along the Dalmation coast of Croatia is the town of Trogir, an ancient walled city. From here, the Shards sail to the town of Rogoznica, once a pirate strong-hold, where they meet up with a family that has renovated the old harbourmasters building into a waterfront summer home. The Stanton's take Paul and Sheryl to explore an abandoned hilltop bunker from the recent war, teach them how to purchase and cook the local fish. The highlight of their visit is the annual procession of Our Lady of the Shrine where Paul joins the locals in a gruelling one-hour swim around the bay, while Sheryl participates in the nautical procession joining the local boats in her dinghy.
After cruising north along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, the Shards cross the Adriatic Sea to Venice, Italy. They moor Two-Step at the local sailing club and Sheryl rides the waterbus to the bountiful city fish market while Paul explores the canals in the dinghy looking for a repair shop to buy parts for Two-Step's engine. Mario, a local sailor, takes Paul and Sheryl for a ride to outlying islands around Venice in his shallow-draft sailboat and they make a stop at a boatyard where they see how gondolas and other traditional Venetian boats are built. Mario also teaches Paul how to row a gondola, while singing gondolier songs! The show concludes with the annual Historical Regatta where traditional boats are raced in the Grand Canal.
Leaving the Adriatic Sea, the Shards head south to Corfu where they begin a voyage through the Ionian Islands of Greece. They arrive at the island of Corfu, which has been settled since prehistoric times, and moor Two-Step beneath the castle walls in the old port. The couple running the local restaurant teach the Shards how to prepare traditional Greek food. Paul eats an octopus sandwich! They sail on to the island of Paxi, famous for olive oil and to Ithaca, reputedly the home of the Greek hero, Odysseus.
Before first light, Paul and Sheryl sail from Ithaca towards the shallow Bay of Corinth. They stop at the remote island of Trizonia where a young English woman has established a little yacht club to support her mother who is battling cancer. Driving inland, the Shards visit the ancient site of Delphi, home of the Delphi Oracle. They continue sailing down the bay and enter the Corinth Canal, a historic canal that divides the Greek mainland from the peninsula of Pelopónissos. When they exit from the other end they are in the Aegean Sea.
Paul and Sheryl meet up with longtime friend Stavros, the first Greek emmigrant to sail single-handed from the USA back to his homeland of Greece. Stavros takes them on a cruise to his favourite best places in the Saronic Islands and Eastern Pelopónissos peninsula - Hydra, Spetsai and Toló - all easy destinations to reach from Athens on a one-week cruise or charter. At the anchorage in Toló, the weather turns foul and the Shards must set sail for a safer port. While exploring the Pelopónnisos peninsula they meet a shepherd who invites them all back to his farm where he teaches Paul how to milk a sheep! They say goodbye to Stavros and sail first to the island of Serifos, then Naxos where they head into the hills on a motorbike visiting the temple of Apollo, an ancient marble quarry and join villagers in the annual fall harvest.
The Shards sail for the Dodeconese Islands of Greece. En route they stop at the isolated island of Levitha where they dine on goat burgers with the shepherds tending their flocks there. Next stop is the Dodecanese island of Kos, home of Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine. From Kos, Paul and Sheryl sail to Bodrum, their landfall in Turkey, where they explore the Castle of St.Peter built by Christian crusaders in the 1500’s and now an award-winning museum of Underwater Archeology. Next the Shards sail south to Knidos, the home of the Aphrodite cult, where they anchor beneath the ruins of a vast ancient city and realize they have only just begun to discover what there is to see in Turkey.
Paul and Sheryl Shard continue their voyage north along the west coast of Turkey stopping at Sigacek where they hike through olive groves to the ancient ruins of the Ionian city of Teos, run from thunder storms to a deserted cove where they have a Turkish bath in a natural hot spring “hamam” along the shore, and visit the town of Ayvalik on an inland lake. Here they experience a weekly Turkish bazaar and meet new Muslim friends who take them to visit the local mosque. And a trip to the barber becomes an enlightening experience when Paul discovers that Turkish barbers use flames as well as razors when he goes for a shave.
The Shards continue north along the Turkish coast heading for Istanbul, fighting strong currents as they sail up the Dardanelles, the straits dividing Europe from Asia. Along the way they visit the war memorials at the battlegrounds of the tragic Gallipoli campaign of WW1. They arrive in Istanbul and sail past famous monuments of the city such as the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace en route to Atakoy Marina, their base for exploring the old city. They celebrate their arrival at one of the local seafood restaurants and meet new friends who introduce them to the city and take them to a special cafe to show them how to use a “nargile”, a Turkish waterpipe.
Settled in to the Atakoy Marina in Istanbul, Paul and Sheryl begin their exploration of the old city. They stock up on exotic spices at the Spice Market, run from touts at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, and are captured by a carpetseller near the Blue Mosque, Istanbul's most famous monument. With local friends they learn about Turkey's fashion industry, sample traditional Turkish foods and discover the night life in the Taksim district where Sheryl has her fortune told by a rabbit.
Paul and Sheryl make landfall in Greece at the port of Mytilini, on the island of Lesvos. Renting a scooter, they ride along the coast to explore the island's two gulfs, Kalloni where the most delicious sardines are caught and Yeras where there has been the greatest production of olive oil and olive soap. The Shards visit the Mylelia water mill, where these products are still produced in the traditional style. At Skopelos a local child takes them on a tour through the church’s catacombs. The visit ends with the Festival of Ay Marina where the Shards participate in the ceremony of the blessing of food.
Plomari is the capital of ouzo and the Shards arrive at the Plomari marina on the first day of the Annual Ouzo Festival where for four nights in July there is feasting, regional music and free ouzo provided by the local distilleries. Following the festival, a local couple take the Shards for a boat ride along the coast to see a hidden church in a cave surrounded by healing natural hot pools. At the beach town of Melinda they sample “mezedes”, special snacks to eat while drinking ouzo. Renting a jeep to explore the inland forest towns, they drive to the top of Mt. Olymbos, the highest point on the island. Paul and Sheryl end their visit by attending the the Annual Horse Festival where local riders parade through town and display their riding skills in a unique dance competition at the waterfront.
Greek Island adventure continues as Paul and Sheryl sail along the south coast of Lesvos where they visit a former Ottoman Turkish castle and the Petrified Forest where ancient tree stumps stand scattered across the landscape. Sailing on they come to the tiny island of Inousses, home to many Greek shipping magnates, then on to the island of Chios where they learn to harvest mastic, an aphrodisiac once prized by the Turkish sultans and their harem. They travel inland to remote hilltop villages and monasteries. In the village of Pyrgi the homes decorated in unique black and white symbols and patterns, and the Shards participate in the town’s procession honouring the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Continuing their voyage south through the North Aegean islands of Greece, Paul and Sheryl arrive at the small island of Fourni. In a remote anchorage at the south end of the island, they wait for the “meltemi”, a strong north wind, to quiet down before sailing to Quarry Bay, where they explore an ancient Greek marble quarry and dive on the marble ruins beneath the sea. From here they sail on to the island of Samos where they meet up with geologists who are studying the marble used in the ancient temples here to determine it’s source. They visit the Temple of Hera and the Efpalinio Tunnel, a 1040-metre aqueduct built in the sixth-century BC, an astonishing engineering feat. Samos has a long history of boat building and the group drop in on a local builder still creating traditional “caiques”. His workshop in located in a forest on a mountaintop where he’s close to the best wood for building.
The Shards continue south to the island group surrounding Patmos in the Dodecanese region of the Greek islands. Their first stop is the islet of Marathi where only a couple of goat herding families live who run several excellent beach tavernas for visiting boaters and daytrippers. At Patmos the Shards demonstrate how to tie up at the town quay using a technique called Mediterranean mooring. From the waterfront they hike up the island’s rocky pinnacle to the cave where St. John the Divine is said to have received the New Testament’s Book of Revelations. At the summit, where the imposing monastery, built in 1088, stands overlooking the island and surrounding sea, Paul and Sheryl are introduced to the former king of Greece who is on a return visit with his family.
After leaving Patmos, Paul and Sheryl haul out their sailboat in the boat yard on the small Greek island of Leros to install new navigation equipment. Leros is a dry deeply indented island whose bays offered protection to the Italian, German, and British Mediterranean fleets during WW2, and in the town of Lakki they wander the unusually wide streets and buildings built in Art Deco style during the Italian occupation in the war. A local sailor interested in the island’s history invites the Shards to join him on expeditions to rediscover old WW2 bunkers and tunnels . The island seems to enchant visitors and at a local taverna the Shards meet a French women who came for a vacation and never went home. When the boat jobs are complete and their sailboat, Two-Step, afloat once again they sail to their favourite anchorage for a special Greek dinner hosted by the island’s most famous bazouki player and are treated to any evening of traditional music and dancing.
The Shards rent a car and with Turkish friend, Ali, drive to Turkey's Lakeland district where they sample freshwater seafoods from Egirdir Lake at one of the many pensions there. They meet a retired army officer who has hiked the surrounding Taurus mountains for 35 years. He outfits the Shards and Ali for mountain trekking and while travelling through the mountains, they explore a huge cave 2 km long used by the ancient Romans as a temple and meet people of the Yoruk tribes who are nomadic goat herders living in goat hair tents.
From Leros, it’s an easy hop to the Turkish town of Marmaris where the Shards clear back in to Turkey. Marmaris is one of the most popular beach destinations in Turkey as well as the country’s largest yachting centre. At the Marmaris marina the Shards meet a local family who teach them how to prepare regional summer foods, introduce them to the night life of the town, as well as the delights of the surrounding forested countryside where they go almond-picking, visit a beach where there is a legend of a girl escaping from pirates, swim in a waterfall and learn about Turkish herbal remedies.
The Shards sail along Turkey's Turquoise Coast a green forested mountainous shore with numerous bays and coves and amazingly clear turquoise water. A riverman takes Paul and Sheryl in his boat to explore the ancient sites along the shallow Dalyan River, a natural fish hatchery fought over by many civilizations throughout history. At the ruins of the old port the Shards explore an ancient Greek temple to Hera, a Roman amphi-theatre and bath house, as well as a Christian basilica.They continue up the river to see Lycian cliff tombs and observe a variety of wild life in this protected area, especially turtles and birds. Sailing on to Wall Bay they dive on a shipwreck, and in the anchorage at Karacaoren the meet a local shepherd family now running a successful restaurant for visiting sailors and daytrippers from nearby resort towns.
Returning to the Greek islands, the Shards visit the strategically positioned island of Rhodes, home of the crusading Knights of St. John from 1309 to 1522. The Shards tie up along the town quay where the huge statue to the sun god Helios, known better as the Colossus of Rhodes, once stood. They explore the well-preserved medieval city of the Knights and the “new” town which formerly housed Greek Ottoman natives during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. They visit the Palace of the Grand Masters, enjoy the island’s beaches and experience the beauty of the annual migration of colourful tiger moths in the Valley of the Butterflies. From Rhodes, they sail to the nearby islet of Symi where they anchor near an old monastery and visit the abbot who has lived there for 57 years after washing ashore there as a child, surviving the shipwreck that killed his mother.
A small group of sailors form a Rally to visit countries of the Middle East. After an overnight sail from Turkey, "Levant Basin Rally" face difficulties clearing-in to Cyprus and learn about the conflicts that divided Cyprus into North and South. They begin their visit by sampling local wines, many produced by monasteries, and a local potter introduces them to a Neolithic village.
Legend says that Cyprus is the home of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and while exploring the rural villages, the locals, in good fun, demonstrate some unusual recipes for aphrodisiacs. The Shards also learn traditional recipes for herbal remedies then sail to North Cyprus to see St. Hilarion castle and visit a church dedicated to the patron saint of tax dodgers.
The town of Kyrenia, now called Girne, was founded by the Myceans, and has a magnificent harbour and castle. Here at the Shipwreck Museum the Shards view the oldest recovered shipwreck in history. In a mountain village where the homes are built of mud and straw, the Shards learn how to prepare a traditional dish called "kleftiko", which is cooked in a mud oven.
The Shards sail next to Syria arriving in Lattakia where now they face difficulties obtaining a visa. Once cleared-in they drive to Ugarit, Saladin Castle, St. Simeon Monastery and in Aleppo visit the citadel, covered bazaar and caravansaries learning more about Christian and Muslim culture.
The Shards continue their cruise of Syria learning about Crusader history and visit Krak des Chevaliers castle. In Damascus, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, they visit the Omayyad Mosque and follow the path of St. Paul.
Before the 15-year civil war, Lebanon was considered the jewel of the Middle East, and sailing there the Shards discover Beirut is a modern city thriving in its recovery. They learn about traditional handcrafts and how they help Palestinian refugees, visit the ruins of Ba’albeck, a huge Roman temple complex, as well as the luxurious Beiteddine Castle.
Arriving in Israel the Shards are thoroughly drilled by security officials at the port of Haifa before being granted entrance to the country. With Haifa as their base, the Shards visit the Baha'i Gardens and the Golan Heights. Sailing to the ancient port of Acre, we accompany our Palestinian friend Salah on a tearful return to his hometown and the temple founded by his Grandfather.
From Haifa, the Shards sail down the coast to Herzilya where they leave their boat to travel inland. They follow the path of history and religion participating in rituals and visiting the monuments of Jerusalem, considered a Holy City by three of the world’s major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They walk through the city with 3 youths, one from each of the religious groups, and part of an organization called the Seeds of Peace.
From Jerusalem the Shards make a road trip to Jordan meeting many delightful characters along the way including a camel driver who guides them through the Wadi Rum desert on camelback and a Bedouin tribesman in Petra, an ancient city carved entirely out of beautiful red rock.
The resort town of El Gouna in Egypt is a haven for water sports and Paul and Sheryl make it their base for exploring the out-islands of the Red Sea including scuba diving on the spectacular reefs and investigating historic shipwrecks. An encounter with dolphins is a highlight.
Paul and Sheryl help a friend take his motor yacht north from the resort town of El Gouna on the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Suez and through the historic Suez Canal. Along the way, they dive on a shipwreck, pass many oil rigs and tankers, learn about life in the coastal towns, and face war ships in the Suez Canal.
The Shards celebrate Easter and the ancient spring festival of "Shams el-Nessim" in the Egyptian town of Ismailiya on the Suez Canal where a local couple prepares them a feast dinner. Next they head to Cairo to take in the bazaars and explore the sights of Islamic Cairo. Finally they visit the Pyramids where Paul descends alone 100 meters to the ancient burial chamber.
Paul and Sheryl conclude their visit to Egypt with a voyage down the Nile River aboard a felucca, a small traditional river sailboat, travelling from Aswan to Luxor. Learning to sail the tiny craft and sleeping on deck under the stars they get close-up views of the diverse wildlife, temples and lifestyles on the river.
The season begins in Malta where Paul and Sheryl prepare their 37-foot sailboat, Two-Step, for a westward passage out of the Mediterranean. They are there in time for the start of the prestigious Rolex Middle Sea Race where mega- and maxi-yachts from around the world compete on a circuit of destinations in the Central Mediterranean. Following the race they make the emotional decision that after 18 years of sailing aboard Two-Step it's time for a new boat. Their search for a new boat begins at the London Boat Show in England where they investigate the latest yachts and participate in activities there. While in London they stay with friends living on a sailboat on the Thames River.
While the wet winter winds howl throughout the Mediterranean the Shards store Two-Step for the winter and fly to the Virgin Islands where Paul and Sheryl sail with friends on their 45-foot motor-sailer Diesel Duck based in the U.S. Virgin Islands the heart of the cruising scene in the Northern Caribbean as well as the home of tree-top camping. From here, they sail to the pristine island of Culebra in the Spanish Virgin Islands of Puerto Rico, then on to the British Virgin Islands to learn about Queen Conch.
The Shards' next adventure in the Caribbean is to sail aboard a 40-foot catamaran with friends who are experiencing bareboat chartering for the first time. Paul and Sheryl meet them in the British Virgin Islands for an intensive week of sailing, snorkelling, and exploring these verdant and historical islands while learning about chartering and sailing a multi-hull yacht.
In the spring, Paul and Sheryl return to their own boat, Two-Step, in Malta just in time for the Good Friday processions where there are island-wide events of street theatre and spectacle. Paul and Sheryl make plans for their final cruise aboard the boat they have sailed together for nearly 20 years - a voyage up the west coast of Italy to Naples at the foot of Mount Vesuvius which they climb, and later investigate the ancient city of Pompeii, once buried by lava and ash of the volcano.
From Naples, the Shards sail south along the west coast of Italy. They cruise along this majestic coastline stopping at small harbours as well as visiting some of the new high class marinas and resorts being developed in the region such as Maratea and Tropea. In Sicily, they meet up with Two-Step's new owners for a week's hand-over cruise down the coast of Sicily and to Two-Step's new home in Malta.
While the new boat is being built in England, Paul and Sheryl return home to Canada for a summer of boating with family and friends on the cottage lakes and waterways just north of Toronto. They participate in local sailing regattas and regional summer festivals, join in the “pick-your-own” harvest, and also improve their barbecuing skills. But boating doesn't end in the summer time in Canada's Cottage Country. The Shards show the contrast of winter where fun on the water continues with ice boating and ice fishing on Lake Simcoe.
At the end of the summer, the Shards fly to England to oversee the final stages of construction of their new cruising boat, a Southerly 42RST. Between visits to the Northshore boat yard near Chichester, they explore destinations on the south coast including St. Michael's Mount and an organic farm in Cornwall, and later visit ports around Falmouth with sailing friends aboard their classic wooden schooner. At the end of November the Shards launch their new boat and prepare for a voyage south to the Canary Islands.
The Shards begin an eventful season of cruising aboard their new sailboat with a shake-down cruise from England to Madeira where they arrive late in the season in time for Christmas celebrations on the waterfront. Next stop is Las Palmas in the Canary Islands were they prepare for the boat's first transatlantic passage and are joined by British sailing friends, Wayne and Angie. This episode is high seas adventure as Paul and Sheryl and their crew sail the new boat across the Atlantic Ocean. During the 3-week passage, they celebrate New Years at sea, face good weather and bad and deal with the isolation of being away from land before concluding their voyage in Antigua in the Caribbean.
After crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean, the Shards sail north to explore the Commonwealth of the Bahamas beginning with the remote Family Islands of the Bahamas starting with Mayaguana and Acklins Islands in the south. The Bahamas lie in a huge expanse of shallow water and the Shards are keen to investigate life in the settlements while testing out their new shallow-draft sailboat in the quiet anchorages here. They also dive the spectacular reefs here. Next they sail to Acklins where they try the technique of beaching their boat on the salt flats of the Bight of Acklins, renowned for bonefishing, and later celebrate Mother's Day with the residents of the Lovely Bay settlement.
The Crooked Acklins Atoll lies on the outer banks of the Bahamas and the Shards begin their exploration of Crooked Island at French Wells. Here they discover unique underwater creatures living on the salt flats and learn about the importance of mangroves to natural land preservation and reclamation in this region exposed to hurricanes. Next they visit the settlement on Long Cay where cascarilla bark, used to flavour the Italian aperitif, Campari, is harvested. Crossing the banks to Dollar Harbour they encounter whales and a traditional Haitian fishing sloop and after some tricky navigation through Hog Cay Cut arrive in George Town where local sailors have tamed several stingrays.
George Town on Great Exuma is the main settlement in the Exuma Island group of the Bahamas and from here the Shards begin their voyage north through this tranquil cruising ground. They first stop in the remote Brigantine Cays where they dive in a cave which is home to huge tarpon. Seeking shelter from an approaching “norther” they discover an unusual characteristic of starfish. In Cave Cay they meet a retired oil baron whose retirement project is to develop an environmentally friendly haven for boaters. In Little Farmers Cay they explore a cave and learn the importance of the mail boats to survival in the out islands. Their final stop is Black Point where they meet the artisans of the straw market whose weaving is crucial to the economy of the settlement.
In the Northern Exumas, Paul and Sheryl discover the wild natural Bahamas. In the Bahamas Land and Sea Park they meet the Park Warden, a “washed ashore” sailor who introduces them to wonderful reef life, and on hikes around the islands they learn about the plant and reptile life. In Hawksbill Cay they explore Loyalist plantation ruins and conclude their voyage in Nassau in time for the Labour Day Parades and celebrations.
Paul and Sheryl travel north to Canada for the summer where they explore the lakes, rivers and cuts of the Trent-Severn Waterway in the province of Ontario. They take down the mast in Lake Simcoe and learn how to safely go through over 40 locks in the Canal including 2 unusual lift locks as they pass through picturesque towns and historic villages on their way to Lake Ontario.
Beginning a voyage south from Canada, Paul and Sheryl cross Lake Ontario and enter the Oswego and Erie Canals where they transit historic locks, then visit an abandoned castle on the Hudson River before sailing into harbor in New York.
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a 1,095 mile inland waterway running from Norfolk VA to Miami FL down the eastern coast of the USA. The Shards head south on this route making a side trip to the Outer Banks, haunt of Blackbeard the Pirate.
The Shards continue south down the Intracoastal Waterway and eastern seaboard of the United States from Beaufort NC visiting historic ports and picturesque villages along the way. From Florida they sail offshore to the Caribbean making landfall in Antigua where they join in traditional island celebrations for Christmas and sail to small ports around the island.
Just north of Antigua is the remote island of Barbuda where Paul and Sheryl visit a frigate bird sanctuary before sailing to St. Martin/St. Maarten, an unique island divided between France and the Netherlands, each with a distinctive culture and cuisine.
The next stops is the remote island of Saba where Paul and Sheryl experience the unique cultural attitudes of this small but independently-minded island and learn how to survive in the mountainous rain forest with naturalist “Crocodile James”.
Montserrat and Guadeloupe have both suffered evacuations due to erupting volcanoes in the last few years. Paul and Sheryl visit these islands to investigate the events and how the people have turned tragedy into treasure for themselves and visitors.
Just south of Guadeloupe is a small group of islands known as “The Saints”. Paul and Sheryl discover a little bit of French heaven in the Caribbean as they explore these quaint islets which have become a haven for artists, divers, ex-pats and sailors. Then it's on to explore St Barts!
A spring journey north through the lovely Bahamas! We sail first to Mayaguana, then Ragged and the Jumentos Cays before heading to the Exumas. We sail the stunning blue shallow Exuma Islands of the Bahamas, and crossing the shallow banks toward Eleuthera.
The island group of Eleuthera has maintained its quiet charm and the independent spirit of the Eleuthera Adventurers who settled here in the 1600's after leaving Bermuda. This is the Bahamas “as it used to be” with pink sand beaches, pristine reefs and the best fishing fleet. The Shards continue on to the Abacos, the most northern island group of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas where they light the historic light-house, get caught in a tropical downpour, learn about traditional boatbuilding and sample beach-life in the Abacos!
At sea and in many of the worldwide ports Distant Shores sails to, Paul and Sheryl are in the company of luxurious cruise ships. In this episode they compare life aboard a recreational sailboat and “Explorer of the Seas” sailing to Bermuda.
As hurricane season approaches, Paul and Sheryl leave the tropics and sail north to the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, where they learn about the life of the watermen, help the environment by assisting a community regenerate an oyster reef, and explore numerous creeks where significant historic towns and cities are celebrating summer.
Few sailors reach the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay due to the shallow water but with the Shards are able to visit unique and isolated communities on this remote coast. At St Michaels they learn about traditional boatbuilding and on tiny Tangier Island in the middle of the Bay they see how the watermen have worked the Bay for generations.
The Shards celebrate the cruising lifestyle and look back over some of the best destinations they have sailed to over the years and give hints to fellow travellers on how to find secret places...
Paul and Sheryl test sail their new 49-foot boat by exploring small ports around Chichester Harbour - one of England's largest boating centres. They sail with two local sailing champions, meet a woman who's made a business putting old sails to creative use, learn to identify edible plants along the shoreline, and discover that drying out at low tide can be a useful skill for maintaining the boat and getting to the best pubs in the harbour.
Satisfied that their new boat is ready for sea trials, Paul and Sheryl leave Chichester Harbour and sail to ports around the Solent and Isle of Wight. They visit areas of great natural beauty, learn how to creek crawl to find secluded lunch stops, meet a Royal sailing enthusiast, and discover how nautical equipment is produced and tested while visiting historic ports in this world famous cruising ground.
Paul and Sheryl sail cross the English Channel to the Channel Islands where they learn to deal with the huge tides, hike the scenic coast paths on Jersey and Guernsey, meet a family that manages a small community on the tiny island of Herm and find out about the German occupation in World War II by attending Liberation Day festivities.
The Shards discover a unique form of inland boating in England when friends invite them aboard a narrow boat to travel through one of England's oldest navigations, the Wey Navigation. They learn about narrow boating traditions and meet the friendly community of people keeping them alive, discover how easy it is to get started in narrow boating, and experience life on the historic waterways so important to England's development during the Industrial Revolution.
Paul and Sheryl set sail from England and cross the North Sea to Holland, then sail through the shallow waters of the Wadden Sea to visit the Frisian Islands. They must contend with tides and currents while navigating through tricky shoals and ride out a storm by beaching the boat on a sandbank. But the natural beauty of the islands and relaxed nature of the people living here make the challenges all worthwhile.
Leaving the North Sea, Paul and Sheryl join the summer migration of boaters making the 2-day transit through Germany's Kiel Canal to reach the Baltic Sea where there is a tall ship parade for Kiel Week. They sail on to Denmark to explore islands of the south Fyn archipelago where in Faaborg they learn how to smoke fish in the old ways. On the island of Lyø they visit heritage homes, meet a family running a traditional farm, and a woman who has created a show and museum honouring local maritime history in her kitchen.
The voyage through the islands of Denmark continues with a visit to Ærø where Paul and Sheryl take a night tour through the fairy tale town of Ærøskøbing with the nightwatchman. They hire an electric car and learn about the island's use of solar and wind power. In Marstal they learn about traditional shipbuilding methods at the Seafaring Museum then sail up island to Copenhagen where they moor in the Nyhavn Canal and explore the heart of the city
Setting sail from Copenhagen, Paul and Sheryl leave Denmark and head to Sweden battling bad weather to reach the port of Ystad on the south coast before exploring the remote islands of the southern archipelago. In Utklippan they are greeted by the characterful lighthouse keeper and his daughter who row them out to visit the local seal population and on the mid-Baltic island of Gotland they participate in the annual Medieval Week festivities.
The Shards set sail from the island of Gotland and begin exploring the vast archipelagos along the east coast of Sweden. They fish for flounder with a local fisher, navigate through rocky channels, try out a wood-burning sauna they find in the forest, join a rendezvous of Swedish ocean cruising sailors, tour a tall ship and sail into the old port of Stockholm.
It's September and Paul and Sheryl travel inland waterways across Sweden taking their sailboat from Stockholm on the east coast to Gothenburg on the west coast. En route they travel through the historic Göta Canal and Trollhätte Canal and before crossing Lake Vänern visit Vadstena castle where they anchor in the castle moat.
's the end of the sailing season in Sweden and autumn storms are brewing. The Shards set sail from Gothenburg to run south from the weather down the Kattegat through the Straits islands of Denmark to Kiel City, the sailing capital of Germany where all children are given sail training in school. It is also a base for the German Navy's Baltic fleet and Paul and Sheryl learn about its history on a visit to the Laboe Naval Memorial before leaving the Baltic for the North Sea by way of the Kiel Canal.
Back in the North Sea, Paul and Sheryl make their first stop in Norderney, one of the East Frisian Islands of Germany before entering the Dutch canals at the major port of Delfzijl. They travel the picturesque standing-mast route through the countryside before sailing to ports bordering Lake Ijssel and conclude their voyage in Amsterdam.
Following their Baltic voyage, Paul and Sheryl return to England where they store their boat for the winter and fly to Panama to sail with friends exploring the remote San Blas Islands aboard Diesel Duck, a 41-foot motor yacht. They meet the Kunas, the strongly independent and artistic people who inhabit these islands, and learn about their unique way of life based on the concepts of god, nature and the cosmos.
Waterford and Barrow Estuary Paul and Sheryl set sail from Chichester Harbour in England and sail to Waterford on the southeast coast of the Republic of Ireland where they learn about the production of crystal before sailing to New Ross to visit the Dunbrody emigrant ship and join a local boater for a trip down the Barrow River, one of Ireland's inland waterways.
East Coast of Ireland From Waterford on the southeast coast of Ireland, Paul and Sheryl sail north along the coast of the Irish Sea visiting small fishing ports as well as the large ports of Dun Laoghaire and Dublin. While waiting out a storm here they visit the Guinness Storehouse and learn about Ireland's most famous beer. Next stop is Carlingford on the border with Northern Ireland, known as the best place to search for Leprechauns. In Northern Ireland they stop in Belfast and discover new things about the ship Titanic which was built here.
Shards begin their visit to Scotland at the Mull of Kintyre and make a trip through the Crinan Canal visiting small inland towns and hiking to archeological sites en route. When they exit at Crinan they sail through the islands to the Isle of Mull and the picturesque fishing port of Tobermory.
Paul and Sheryl travel from the west coast of Scotland starting at Fort William across the country to the west coast to Inverness as they make a transit of the Caledonian Canal through Scotland's Great Glen. The canal goes through some of Scotland's most scenic Highland countryside plus several lochs including Loch Ness where they speak to experts about the Loch Ness monster.
Heading to the most northern part of Scotland, Paul and Sheryl sail to the Shetland islands. Their first stop is Fair Isle, the most remote inhabited island in the UK, where they learn about seabird migration at the bird observatory as well as the creation of Fail Isle jumpers. Next they sail to Mainland to the port of Lerwick where local boaters show them life on the island including how to cut peats. They sail to the most northern point of the British Isles to visit a puffin colony.
From Shetland Paul and Sheryl cross the notorious North Sea passing oil platforms as they sail to the west coast of Norway. They make landfall at Bergen where they learn about the history of the Hanseatic League, then sail south through the islands to Haugesund where a local town councillor shows them attractions in the homeland of the Viking kings. In the port they discover that a recreation of a Viking ocean-going sailing ship is being built.
The Shards turn north along the west coast of Norway to explore the land of fjords. They sail down Sognefjord, the world's longest fjord and in the town of Flam they take a historic train trip, do a bicycle trip down steep mountain paths, and visit a summer Viking camp.
Leaving Norway, Paul and Sheryl sail back across the North Sea to Scotland where they visit the remote Orkney Islands. In Scapa Flow they explore WWI shipwrecks, in Kirkwall they meet an archeologist returning to view the work she started 20 years before and visit a prehistoric village preserved in sand.
The Shards head south to mainland Scotland where they round Cape Wrath and ride out a storm in a remote cove. Continuing down the west coast they visit the most remote pub in mainland UK and conclude their visit to Scotland in the island of Islay, home of 8 malt whiskey distilleries where Paul and Sheryl learn how famous Scotch whiskies are produced.
Leaving Scotland, Paul and Sheryl sail south through the Irish Sea and arrive at the Isle of Man which has been inhabited since 6500 BC. They visit archeological sites around the island while riding out an autumn gale in Peel Harbour where they learn rescue manoeuvers with the local kayak club.
This week on Distant Shores we investigate quaint tidal harbours on the Cornish coast, cross the channel to France and tackle the tough sailing conditions of the Raz de Sein. We explore the sandy islands of Glenan, brush up on our French and give up all plans of a low calorie diet at the Market in Brest.
This time on Distant Shores we learn why Brittany is considered one of the richest archeological regions in the world, explore inland waterways around Brest on a river trip to Chateaulin, navigate through the treacherous seas on the north coast, deal with big tides and drying harbours, and discover the delights of buying and preparing Brittany's regional seafood dishes.
Sampling, cooking and shopping for interesting new foods is part of the pleasure of traveling to foreign lands. In this episode of Distant Shores Paul and Sheryl take you to ports around the globe to explore the delights of exotic markets, search for foods in the wild, sample unusual festival foods and cook regional specialties with local experts. Pizza in Italy, crabs in the Chesapeake Bay, Spring festival in Egypt, rum-tasting in the Virgin Islands and more...
We take the mast down at Le Havre and begin a summer voyage through the inland waterways of France, starting with a trip up the River Seine through Normandy. Along the way we learn about the dramatic geology of this region, about Normandy history and castles, Impressionist Painting and gardening, and travel with historic vessels like the Dunkirk Little Ship "Warrior", as we deal with ship traffic en route to Paris.
This time on Distant Shores we journey up the Seine River in France dealing with the challenges of navigating this commercial highway. Our route into Paris takes us right though the heart of this historic city where we explore some of the traditional sights, get some insights into local customs, and explore the rarely seen "underground" side of Paris.
Join us as we attempt to get our ocean-going sailboat right across France. We navigate the small canals, visit little towns and get the flavour of life inland France, this time on Distant Shores. Includes hints for people planning to do the trip themselves or interested in visiting this fascinating area!
Continuing through the small french canals we enter the Burgundy region. We travel from Briare along the canal lateral de la Loire and the canal de Centre taking the Bourbonais route and visiting wine making regions of Sancerre and Bourgogne.
We have been 8 weeks so far travelling up the Seine River, right through Paris and then south through the small french canals . The route has taken us right across France and now we just have to travel the Saone River to Lyon then down the Rhone River passing the historic city of Avignon to reach the Mediterranean Sea.
After crossing France by the small canals we arrive in Port Saint Louis on the south coast. We put the mast up and haulout for seasonal maintenance. Then we sail out of the Med and down the Moroccan coast bound for Rabat. We meet one of the largest pods of dolphins we have ever seen en route to the marina Bouregreg at Rabat. We have a gale in harbour and break the dock! All settled in we get ashore to explore this fascinating country journeying inland to the medieval marvel of Fes.
Join Paul and Sheryl Shard on a cruise to the Canary Islands of Spain as they prepare for their 5th transatlantic crossing, this time as participants of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). This episode of Distant Shores begins with arrival at the tiny island of Isla Graciosa following a 3-day offshore passage from Morocco. Hike this desert island and then sail to the dramatically beautiful volcanic island of Lanzarote before heading to the island of Gran Canaria to join the fleet of over 200 yachts in Las Palmas preparing for their boats for the ARC.
There are over 200 yachts gathered in the harbour of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to participate in this year's rally across the Atlantic Ocean, nearly 3000 miles to the Caribbean. November 25 is the start date and for the last week participants, including us, have been busy preparing their boats for the voyage, attending seminars on everything from safety procedures to provisioning, having equipment and gear checked. This time on Distant Shores we take you through the final few days leading up to the Official Start of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers when the reality of what lies ahead sinks in and safety skills become the primary focus as dangerous weather threatens the start of this prestigious rally.
There are over 200 yachts gathered in the harbour of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to participate in this year's rally across the Atlantic Ocean, nearly 3000 miles to the Caribbean. November 25 is the start date and for the last week participants, including us, have been busy preparing their boats for the voyage, attending seminars on everything from safety procedures to provisioning, having equipment and gear checked.
This week on Distant Shores we sail to the British Virgin Islands for the BVI Spring Regatta. While we're there, we visit popular beaches, dive on the wreck of the Rhone, swim the vibrant reefs, attend a full moon celebration and enjoy the amenities of a private island resort.
This time on Distant Shores we sail south through the Caribbean, stopping at Saint Martin for Carnival before making landfall at Dominica to learn about this "nature island", home of waterfalls, rivers and volcanic hot springs.
Join us this time on Distant Shores as we visit Martinique where we learn about the islands tragic past in St Pierre. Then we deal with a direct hit from a tropical storm. In Marin Martinique we secure our boat in a Mangrove as Chantal hits the island!
This year we completed one of our longstanding cruising goals - to cross France by waterway and canal, and it got us thinking about some of the other great waterway voyages we have done over our 24 years of cruising. So this time on Distant Shores we look at great canal and waterway journeys… Includes ... Erie Canal in the USA Trent Severn Canal in Canada Scotland's Crinan and Caledonian Canals Sweden's Gota Canal Germany's Kiel Canal Holland's Standing Mast Route French Canals
This time on Distant Shores we complete our passage south through the Caribbean, as we arrive at the island of Grenada where we explore the rainforests, check out the cruising scene with a concert on the water, learn the original method to make island rum, and find out what it means to "Hash" in the lush mountains with a local running club!
This time on Distant Shores we continue our adventures in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada, where we take in the splendours of Carnival and participate in some of the rituals. We learn about the local chocolate industry, get tips on keeping fit on a boat, then sail north to explore the Grenadian islands of Petite Martinique and Carriacou.
This Time on Distant Shores we sail one of the most beautiful island groups in the Caribbean - The Grenadines. One Union Island we dive the crystal waters and party ashore with a fisherman entertainer. In the Tobago Cays we explore the Marine Park and sample fresh lobster on the beach, then head on to Bequia and face a Christmas storm!
This time on Distant Shores we depart the British Virgin Islands for a 3 day passage to the Turks and Caicos Islands. We have following winds and seas with lovely tradewind conditions for the 450 mile journey. We arrive at dawn on Good Friday and celebrate Easter on South Caicos. We deal with shallow waters on a crossing of the Caicos Banks, check out cruising sailors' favourite marina in Provo and visit one of the world's top-rated beaches.
Join us this time on Distant Shores as we explore some of the most remote of the Bahamian Islands and learn the history of these shallow seas. We sail to the Plana Cays, Acklins Island and Attwood Harbour and magical shallow waters south of Great Exuma. We dive in a cave in George Town try cavern diving in a blue hole and swim with a dolphin right in Elizabeth Harbour. If you are interested in sailing the Exumas, this video will whet your appetite to plan your own visit.
We are documentary filmmakers and writers and for 25 years now we have been travelling the world by boat. We've had three sailboats during that time - a Classic 37 Two-Step, that we sailed across the Atlantic three times and explored Mediterranean - a Southerly 42 called Distant Shores that we sailed from England to the Caribbean and our current boat, a Southerly 49 which we sailed in Northern Europe before crossing to the Caribbean and Bahamas. People often ask us what our favourite places are. So after a lot of hard thinking we have come up with our top 10 destinations and take you there today.
This time on Distant Shores we visit Long Island in the Bahamas, where a regatta of traditional sloops is getting under way with lots of sailing excitement. We explore the island checking out a huge cave network, try fresh Bahamian conch salad and learn more about free-diving with the world champion in the worlds deepest blue hole.
Explore the seldom visited "back" side of Exuma Island, meet a huge sleeping sea turtle and sail north to the Abacos and Green Turtle Cay to learn the history of this island.
Welcome aboard the good ship Distant Shores II as we raise anchor in the Bahamas - and hoist the sails for a passage of nearly a thousand miles - to more adventures in the Caribbean. We hope to take advantage of an unusual predicted run of north winds - and sail us from Staniel Cay in the Bahamas directly to Saint Martin.
This time on Distant Shores we meet up with a fellow filmmaker cruising the Caribbean with his parrot … and dive deep testing our anchor. Then we upgrade the boat for an Atlantic crossing before setting sail for 17 days on the high seas, over 22 hundred miles to the Azores as we run into very light winds, some whales and dolphins - and nearly run into a steel container…
Last time on Distant Shores we set sail from the Caribbean for a 17 day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean - and arrived in the Azores at Flores. This time we’re looking forward to exploring remote and lovely Flores, then sailing on to the sailor’s mecca of Horta.
This time on Distant Shores we explore the central island group of the Azores, where we learn canyoning, try our hand at milking, run into bulls in the streets, barnacles in the galley and explore a volcanic lava tube. Featuring the volcanic island of Pico, Sao Jorge and Terceira.
This time on Distant Shores we drop anchor at the Azorean island of Sao Miguel, famous for amazing scenery where its volcanic faults heats the pool, runs the power plant and even cooks dinner then sail on to Santa Maria a quiet island of small villages where one family’s promise can feed the whole island dinner. Then we’re off for a three day passage to Madeira that turns into a rough ride.
Paul and Sheryl have a rough 3-day passage from the Azores and arrive in Madeira at the main harbour of Funchal. They explore Madeira island seeing winemakers, high peaks and walk lovely hiking trails along "levadas" which carry water around the island.
Leaving from Madeira, the Shards sail to the Canary Islands where they prepare for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers ARC+ Rally. Setting off from Las Palmas they join 60 or so yachts sailing to the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa.
Distant Shores III and 60 other sailboats depart from Mindelo, Cape Verde Islands, on the second leg of the ARC+ Rally to sail 2,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The Shards and their crew face many obstacles en route including broken gear before they arrive in St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
It's April and Paul and Sheryl sail from the British Virgin Islands to Antigua for two of the biggest events in the Caribbean sailing calendar - the legendary Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the long running Antigua Sailing Week.
Sheryl and Paul drop anchor at Anguilla, renowned for amazing beaches but find much more than that as they check out the boating scene, the racing scene and get out aboard one of the most exciting local race boats they've ever experienced.
It's early July and Paul and Sheryl sail to the tiny island of Nevis to participate in the Culturama Festival, explore the island by bicycle. hike in the rainforest and work with a local group to tag nesting turtles on a moonlit beach.
The Shards begin their search for a new boat. They try out a catamaran for three weeks in the British Virgin Islands. In the UK, they test sail a luxury world cruiser and another Southerly. While in the UK, they visit a mysterious cave on the Cornish coast.
Paul & Sheryl have sold Distant Shores II and many people have asked what has happened to her, so while the new boat is being built, they update you and do a retrospective about all the miles they sailed her. They also going to talk about hurricanes and yacht insurance and yes, sadly, that's related to what's happened to Distant Shores II. Paul & Sheryl fly to England to check in on the build of the new Southerly 480.
This time on Distant Shores, Paul & Sheryl are crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a catamaran. It's they're first offshore passage on a cat, and they're looking forward to learning what cats are like on the open ocean. It's nearly 3,000 miles across, and will take up to three weeks.
The conclusion of the three week Atlantic crossing on a luxurious 50 catamaran. They catch some excellent fish, enjoy the first-rate galley and even jump overboard to cool off on a calm day in the middle of the Atlantic. Having sailed 3000 miles aboard her, the Shards render their opinion of sailing this gorgeous 50 foot yacht - built in England in the same factory where their new sailboat is almost complete!
This time on Distant Shores the Shards' new boat is unveiled at Boot Düsseldorf, the world’s largest indoor boat show, held in Germany each winter. They discover the delights of the Old City, then return to the shipyard in England for the official launch of sailing yacht Distant Shores III.
Paul & Sheryl test out the new boat in England sailing it in Southampton Waters and the Solent. Then they do a shakedown cruise along the south coast up to the Thames River estuary. Heading upriver they explore the Thames River Estuary and take in historic and natural sites as they make their way to the city of London.
Paul & Sheryl finally take delivery of the new boat and sail south saying good-bye to England. They visit the Channel Islands, sail amid dolphins who lend a hand with a propeller drama, show how they set the boat up to sail offshore, and visit Portugal and Spain on the way to Gibraltar.
This time on Distant Shores, we go out sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar and look at some of the unique features of this quirky little country, the gateway to the Mediterranean. Next we sail along the Spanish Mediterranean coast to the Balearic islands, visiting Formentera and Majorca enjoying summer sailing and remote anchorages before returning to Morocco at Tangier. We visit inland to historic Fes before heading off shore for a passage to the Canary islands.
We're doing our first major ocean crossing on the new Southerly 480 and have four enthusiastic crew along on the journey. But before we get underway we get the anchor trapped under a huge boulder and have to dive on it in the dark. We provision in Las Palmas Canary Islands then set off south. We'll stop at the Cape Verde islands, before the big jump, 2200 miles on to Antigua in the Caribbean. It's an exciting crossing with strong winds from the stern. We catch fish and set up the new twin-pole system for downwind sailing. Nights are lovely with phosphorescent plankton in our wake and stars overhead.
This time on Distant Shores, we sail from Antigua to Montserrat, Nevis, Statia and St. Barths. We're invited to a Pirate Party on the beach and talk gadgets with Brian and Karin on SV Delos - well known sailing YouTubers. At St Barts we have an amazing encounter with sea turtles in the anchorage, and sail on to make a night arrival in the British Virgin Islands.
We look at how to plan a comfortable Caribbean cruise explore lovely Saba, investigate hurricane recovery efforts in the British Virgin Islands, and sail four days offshore to the Turks and Caicos.
This time on Distant Shores, we sail from the Turks and Caicos Islands aboard our new Southerly 480 shallow draft sailboat to explore the shoal waters of the Bahamas in some of the most remote parts of this scenic archipelago. A lot of people ask us about cruising with a variable-draft keel, so in this episode about shallow water piloting in the Bahamas, we answer some of these questions.
This time on Distant Shores we take you to shallow anchorages in the Bahamas and dry our Southerly 480 out on the beach. We also visit islands in the northern Exumas that were on the frontline of the war against the illegal drug trade back in the late 1970s and early 80s.
This time on Distant Shores we're leaving the Bahamas using the Gulf Stream to make speed northbound. We look at using radar to avoid the worst winds on a serious storm rounding Cape Hatteras, demonstrate our in-mast furling system, and sail north to Annapolis in the Chesapeake Bay.
This time on Distant Shores we prepare our Southerly 480 for a voyage south and on into the Pacific, show you how to deal with Chesapeake Blue Crabs, lose our engine at the rough start of an offshore passage around Cape Hatteras and run into a gale at Cape Lookout.
This time we're continuing further south sailing offshore from North Carolina towards Florida and on to explore the remote Berry Islands and a Blue Hole. We find the islands virtually unchanged from our first visit 30 years ago. Next its the bright lights of Nassau then across the Yellow Banks on the way to the Exumas as the Christmas season is getting started.
This time on Distant Shores we celebrate New Years on a Bahamian beach - experience the sights and sounds of a Junkanoo Parade in the streets - deal with winter storm cold fronts and see what happens when you're hit with the largest waterspout we've ever seen.
This time on Distant Shores Paul experiences some VERY exciting sailing on a Bahamian sloop, we have an amazing crossing of the Great Bahama Bank and explore Long Island Bahamas.
We’re going to take you on a 7-day offshore passage sailing 1,000 miles non-stop from the Bahamas past Cuba and Haiti before arriving in Panama. You’ll see how we manage night watches, cook in rolly seas, deal with squalls, avoid ships at sea and make a night landfall at one of the busiest harbours in the world.
Previously on Distant Shores we had a lively 7 day passage from the Bahamas and some of the roughest water we've seen in a while. Now we're exploring Panama and the area around Shelter Bay on the Caribbean side, checking out the jungle and getting ready for the transit of the Panama Canal.
Last time on Distant Shores we explored the jungle on the Caribbean side near Colon and Shelter Bay Marina, where we also prepared our boat for the transit of the Panama Canal. This time we're going through the canal to the Pacific side and Panama City.
If you’re dreaming of a cruise to the beautiful islands of the Bahamas this delightful film will whet your appetite for adventure while providing valuable tips for a safe and enjoyable voyage. The Shards take you to their favorite anchorages, show how to read the colour of the water, interpret the weather, and demonstrate techniques for anchoring and piloting the shallow waters of the Bahamas using unique underwater footage. 1-hour This is a Classic video and is available in SD quality (not HD) for rental or purchase. It is still one of our most popular DVDs for the numerous "piloting in shallow water" segments. "What sets this apart is the excellent quality of production and the true feeling of being out here. The tips they give during the presentation were hard learned. This should be required viewing." Bob Bitchin - Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine