Voyageur in the Corinth Canal 1960's
John Mansfield bought "Voyageur" in 1970 and set
sail along with Brownie and one crew member from the port of
Arklow in Ireland in June 1971 on the first leg of a planned
world-wide trip rounding the Cape of Good Hope. They had a very
bad trip through the Bay of Biscay and arrived in Gibraltar
in June. Engine problems delaying their stay as they waited
for spare parts to be shipped from England.
When the engine was finally repaired they could no longer sail
south as planned so decided to enter the Meditterranean and
have a look around. They stayed in the Med and lived on Voyageur
for the next twelve years, wintering each year in different
ports including Palma, Menorca and Valetta (Malta)
Mum always hated sailing and spent most of her
time at sea in her bunk with a comforting bottle of whiskey !
They had a Siamese cat named Mr. Chadwick who was an old sea salt
and had crossed the Atlantic twice. When we had been sailing and
were close to land again he would dive straight into the sea and
swim ashore, disappearing for days and then magically appearing
again just as we were about to set sail again !
Around 1980 John sold Voyageur to an Irishman who sailed her back
to Cork. They then bought an old Mallorcan farmhouse at Son Anglada,
near Palma, and lived there for many years before moving to live
in Andorra.
The following text is transcribed from a Yacht Broker's adertisement
offering Voyageur for sale in August 2001.
"Built in 1934 by Frank Curtis in Looe Cornwall. Although
built on Looe Lugger lines she has never fished. Gaff ketch rigged,
with twin 70hp diesels. Ten berths in four cabins, the interior
is basic, comfortable and rustic as is the whole vessel. The decks
are larch with teak hatches. Voyageur plied her trade as a charter
yacht in the Med, working around the Greek Islands from the late
50's to mid 80's. She had two notable crew members while in the
Med, Sir John Mills chartered her on a regular basis and on her
passage to the Med, Sir Alec Rose was a keen crew member. Voyageur
no longer meets the new standards for chartering, but with love
and care she could be returned to her former glory".
