A tender love story
In Winter 2020, a young crew of friends set sail from Falmouth, Cornwall to circumnavigate the world in their renovated Swan sailboat named Elixir. Their motivations were simple – to sail around the world, create stories, find perfect waves, and to do it all in a way that’s sustainable. Here, Skipper Max Campbell shares why his RuckRaft is a useful addition to any boat and tells of a little swim adventure in the stunning Bocas del Toro archipelago, Panama.
words and photos by Max Campbell
Who needs a tender when you have a ruckraft?
Navigating a shoulder high shore break on an inflatable dinghy isn’t fun. There’s been a few times, at remote exposed anchorages, where we’ve sat on the boat watching waves surge up the beach, pondering the safest way to get ashore. Using the RuckRaft as a tender, has allowed us to reach the shore in situations where taking a dinghy would be dangerous.
Often we use it for safety reasons, and sometimes it’s laziness. For a quick trip ashore, it's quicker to jump in with the RuckRaft, than inflate the dingy and lift it into the water. And sometimes, it’s just nice. There’s something very satisfying about combining sailing with open water swimming, and the feeling of adventure and achievement that comes with reaching the shoreline.
For something that’s not intended for sailors, we’ve found it an incredibly useful addition to the boat, and look forward to using it at many more anchorages around the world.
Exploring Bocas del Toro
After three weeks in Bocas del Toro, Panama, we decide to take off on an adventure and explore the vast, sprawling coastal lagoon. Rhys, Hannah and I have been sailing together onboard Elixir for three months. Along with three new friends, Sam, Mikael and Emily, we load up on provisions, and set off to circumnavigate Isla Bastimentos.
Bocas del Toro is almost a sailing paradise. The collection of flat islands create a countless amount of bays and anchorages, yet the constant light wind means it takes a while to get anywhere.
A gentle northerly carries us along the windward side of Isla Bastimentos. We catch unobstructed views of long sandy beaches, pounding surf and a thick tangle of jungle. In the late afternoon, the clouds give way to a smoldering palette of oranges and reds. The sunset throws fire at the sky as we round the southern tip, and drop the hook in our anchorage for the night.
In the morning, we edge Elixir as close to the shoreline as we dare. We thread our way between two shallow stretches of coral, and reposition our anchor in front of a slender beach and a long line of coconut palms.
The surroundings are slow and lethargic. A faint breeze casts an occasional ripple over the glassy sea surface, and the stuffy humidity of the jungle spreads out across the water.
Saved by the Ruckraft
Since our outboard engine was stolen in Colombia, the RuckRaft has come into use. Instead of attempting to painfully row all six of us in our tiny inflatable dinghy, we make the exciting decision to swim ashore. After inflating the raft and packing all our clothes into the drybag, we leap from the side of Elixir and casually swim through the morning glass.
At the shoreline, we're met by towering palms and the sprawling fingers of jungle vines. We pull the RuckRaft onto the stiff, coralline sand, and get out our dry clothes.
The Jungle
The water is still, yet the beach is stiller. The palm leaves hang in the static air, and we make our way along the beach to explore. Bastimentos is famous for monkeys, sloths and vibrant red frogs. Despite our thorough search, we see none. Instead, we encounter a few hermit crabs and some chickens.
We again load up the RuckRaft, and before swimming back, we pause for a moment to take in our surroundings. Elixir sits motionless in front of gentle silhouettes of clouds and mountain ranges. Timid rays of sunlight begin to poke their way past through overcast sky, and a small dugout canoe breaks the oily glass.
After a refreshing swim, we pull ourselves back onto the deck of Elixir. A gentle breeze spreads across the lagoon, allowing us to sail away from our overnight spot. Elixir picks up speed, and a gentle trickle runs along the waterline. We broad-reach across the bay, away from the lazy palms and towards the next anchorage.
Follow the journey of Elixir at un-tide.com. Max is also Co-founder of ‘Wild Swimming Cornwall’ and their guide to the best wild swim spots in Britain’s most southerly county is out now.