Around These Islands in 12 Ports

Ever wanted to sail around Britain? 

On the 21 April 2019, Anne and Jonathan Winter, a qualified RYA Offshore Yachtmaster, set off to do just that. Covering more than 2,500 nautical miles and staying in 69 places over 155 days, they set out to dig deeper into the history and identity of ‘These Islands’.

The pair explored 12 significant ports around the coast of Britain and Ireland in their GT35 yacht, Nova, (Category ’A’ (Ocean) offshore yacht), designed by Stephen Jones. As they cruised the coast, they asked themselves: What does this place tell us about the story of these islands? And what does it tell us about our future?

 As they circumnavigated the UK, Jonathan and Anne documented their journey on their online blog and have now turned their adventures into a book. As well as tales from the trip, the book also includes sailing stories, impressions and images, alongside an article from each port written by local historians and award-winning authors.

All proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to the charity, The Mission to Seafarers, whom they met along their travels. The charity supports seafarers across the world with practical, as well as mental and spiritual guidance. Most recently, the charity has been supporting seafarers that have become stranded across the world due to the Covid-19 restrictions. 

Jonathan Winter explains why he and Anne chose to support The Mission to Seafarers: "Sailing round the British and Irish coast, we had expected to encounter wildlife and beautiful scenery. What we hadn’t appreciated was the range and scale of commercial maritime activity we found ourselves amongst.

"In the UK more than 90% of our 'stuff' comes by sea, yet the key workers who enable this are largely invisible. That’s why after the trip we decided to use the book to highlight the work of the Mission to Seafarers who we came across in Falmouth. They are one of the impressive charities that provide practical and emotional support for seafarers in the UK and around the world.”

Around These Islands in 12 Ports – Exploring Maritime Britain and Ireland by Sail, by Jonathan Winter is available now in support of The Mission to Seafarers. You can order your copy from: 12ports.com £25 hardback or ebook £1, plus invitation to donate generously.