After a few hours, I pried too much info out of our guests to list so here's some data on their hardware(the boat) and their systems. They've been 8 or 12,000 miles(I forget) so far from the UK in the past 18 months. This is their first boat together but each has extensive ocean racing as crew experience(that's how they met). Fiona grew up sailing with her parents.

RUFFIAN is a 1990 Sadler 34 which they bought with this cruise in mind. I can't think of a similar US production boat. It's a bit smaller than typical US 34's, more designed for bluewater sailing than coastal, about 6' draft, 10' beam. It's unsinkable built like an Etap.

My first impression in the cockpit was, it's set up like a racer. I felt like I was on a J 30 with all the lines and rope clutches, sheet bags, etc. Everything is lead from the mast to the cockpit. Outside of jerry jugs on the rail, a small outboard, a water generator and MOB devices, there was no clutter to give clues that they were living onboard for 18 months.

A full dodger is built to fold down, and it often is they said. A fixed bimini is usually up at anchor for sun protection as well as where they mount an 80watt solar panel(that and wind/water gen take care of their amp/hour needs).

Fiona, more experienced at time of purchase, wanted a boat she could handle alone if she had to. This size, with her experience growing up sailing, was more than ample for their needs for an open ended cruise of several years.

Gizmos; 2(one back up) heavy duty tiller pilots do the steering. Both expressed they couldn't see spending 5 k for a windvane and didn't like the looks. Fiona had some experience and found them "fiddly"

Navigation; Open CPN for electronic charts. They navigate off a laptop(this was more Iains domain). I asked about charts and they have very large scale back ups that they feel are what they need in a total loss of electrics. They back up the laptop with another(maybe a 3rd, I can't recall).

Iain felt 5k spent for a 10" CP, while a nice thing, it wasn't worth the extra $. The only downside to the laptop is it stays on the chart table.

Their only source of email and web is if they are in range of onshore wifi. This when they post to their blog and recieve email. They do have some sort of amplifier but still, connections are rare as they don't take moorings or dockage often.

AIS; They love that, especially in EU waters where it's indispensible for the amount of traffic. They have no radar and don't feel it important enough even now in foggy Maine. They do have an active radar reflector and think that is important.

Refrigeration; The Sadler 34 has a smallish poorly insulated box. They had a new SS liner built and added foam between it and the small box. It's tiny! A few perishables only. But they manage to average about 15 AH per day. Fionas says the biggest trick is keeping it stuffed full. It will double run time if only half full.

The Sadler has no bilge and dry storage pans line the sole. Each is nicely full of canned goods. They're both healthy eaters and are on the hunt for greens all the time.

Below, I was amazed how the boat was not congested with stuff. Fiona thought about their "stuff", their clothes, toys, etc. that they carry, were little to no difference than if they were sailing weekends. It looked it to me. It didn't look as though they lived onboard.

How are they getting around in the US? First, they love it here! I was so pleased to hear them say the US was the high point of their Atlantic rim cruise. People have been terrific. Maine is their favorite coast so far and as our other UK good sailing friends had said, it compares equally to the West coast of Scotland.

Worst day; 40 knot winds started spinning their light roll up inflatable off the stern inside a Scottish Loch. A mad dash to get it onboard ended with the painter wrapping the prop(pulling the engine off the mounts-7k repair), on a rock infested lee shore. They managed to sail off but the Loch tightened where a one shot at anchoring nail biter ensued. Obviously, they got lucky.

Of all the miles, about 40 have been to windward. Their plan at 5kts. They make it sound very easy. Keep in mind, Fiona prefers spending her off watch on racers strapped to the rail. She sleeps well there as compared to below in racers which she compares to the inside of a tin can being pounded around.

$ They're doing it on a reasonable monthly I think(it's not cheap to do this). No sell up and sail philosophy, they still own a home and another in London, both are rented by agencies. That just about covers their expenses.

Other than finding a Taft guide, all their cruising stops on the east coast so far, have been primarily word of mouth, from other cruisers they have met along the way. Active Captain, when they have wifi, has been a big help in the US. They have had changing cruising company the entire time. There's a lot more people out their doing what they're doing, than I would have thought.

That's enough(too much) data for a post.

Sadly, an urgent health matter in their family has prompted them to fly home. I'm keeping an eye on Ruffian until they return.