The Voyage Alone in the Yawl "Rob Roy"

Setting out from London in a 21‑foot yawl named Rob Roy, the author embarks on a solitary summer voyage that takes him up the Thames, across the English Channel, and into Paris via the Seine. He built the boat with a sailor’s eye for safety and comfort, drawing on earlier canoe trips and careful attention to every bolt, rope and sail‑plan. The opening chapters capture the thrill of slipping through narrow locks, the quiet satisfaction of a well‑set watch, and the first taste of open‑water challenges as the yawl steadies herself against wind and tide.

Life aboard is a blend of routine and surprise—cooking simple meals over a small galley stove, finding a berth to sleep in a cramped cabin, and negotiating sudden squalls that test the vessel’s design. Through clear, conversational log entries the narrator shares practical tips, humor about misplaced anchors, and the simple joy of waking to a sunrise over still water. Listeners who love adventure, maritime history, or the quiet courage of a lone sailor will find this voyage both entertaining and instructive.