O
nce a soldier, always a soldier
and with that comes a restless
spirit, one that drives me; so it
was that I decided to undertake
a solo sail from Guernsey to Shetland and
back. With me were a few uninvited
passengers – we all carry them – mine
include post-traumatic stress disorder
(unrelated to my army life), which has
been added to my burgeoning arthritis,
asthma and a ‘soldier’s back’.
Although I had voyaged for years mainly
alone, this was to be bigger than ever
before and I decided there were three
prerequisites for success: a suitable boat;the right spirit and a dose of good luck.
A-Jay, my Sadler 290, was the right boat:
sea kindly with enough lead in her twin
keels to give her ocean-going stability.
Also, and most importantly, her cabin was
dry, for nothing saps morale like a soggy
bed (except for short rations and she has
a nice little galley).
Second was the right spirit and sufficient
expertise: my soldier's spirit would hopefully
take care of the former as long as I could
keep my demons at bay, plus a fading pile
of RYA certificates and, thus far, an
accident-free record suggested the latter.
Third was luck, for no skipper will get farAn ex soldier,
businessman and
school bursar,
John Willis is a
Guernseyman who
knew from the age
of four he was
boat obsessed.
Ownership began
with a Drascombe Drifter and his
Sadler 290 came along in 2007. Now
retired, he is the proud custodian of
Pippin, a Frances 34 Pilothouse.
CRUISING
John Willis battles British weather
and his own inner demons on a
tough, 120-day mostly solo odyssey
from Guernsey to Shetland and back
Restless
spirit
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