Visit My Harbour is now run by Trevor Spink, website developer and sailor.
The site has recently been rebuilt from the keel up to be modern, responsive and fast, whether you are viewing it on a desktop ashore or using a low‑bandwidth connection afloat. The aim has stayed the same: to provide useful, practical harbour information for people who actually go boating, not just read about it.
This new chapter builds on the wonderful work done by Steve Bryant, who created and developed Visit My Harbour over many years. Steve is now working with us to provide his excellent digital charting products, and his experience and knowledge remain an important part of the site’s continuing development.
We do not claim to be professional writers, nor armchair experts. Most of what you see here comes from time spent afloat, turning up tired, hungry, short of water or fuel, and wanting to know simple things quickly. Where can I get diesel? Is there water on the pontoon? Can I exchange a gas bottle? Is this harbour straightforward in a crosswind? Those are the questions that matter at the end of a long day.
We tend to be far more interested in easy provisioning, shelter, water, gas and diesel than in exclusive restaurants, designer sailing wear, or the latest gadgets. That does not make those things wrong, just less relevant when you are living with the boat rather than visiting it.
Experience afloat, not from a desk
We do not navigate at our desks. We go sailing.
That simple fact shapes the site more than anything else. It gives us an eye for the sort of information that a roving mariner actually finds useful, especially when conditions are less than perfect or time is short. The information here is intended to support good decision‑making and enjoyment of the water, not to replace official charts, publications or sound seamanship.
A word that still rings true
The following quotation is from Sterling Hayden; sailor, adventurer and actor. Written many years ago, it still feels uncomfortably relevant today:
“To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest…
Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in…
What does a man need – really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in, and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment…
Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?”
Hayden was writing about voyaging, but with a small change it applies equally well to building things that matter:
“To be truly challenging, a business, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest.”
Visit My Harbour has always grown out of necessity rather than comfort, and that tends to encourage useful ideas. Having once started a successful business from scratch with no capital, the same principle applies here: do what is needed, make it work, and improve it steadily.
Built for use afloat
The internet is now part of life on board. We have been online afloat since 2004, and the rebuilt Visit My Harbour reflects that reality.
The site is deliberately:
- Optimised for fast loading on slow connections
- Clear of external advertising networks
- Free from social media tracking buttons
- Focused on clarity rather than clutter
That makes it just as usable at anchor or alongside as it is in an office.
A shared resource
Visit My Harbour works best when it is shared and contributed to. Harbours change, facilities move, pontoons are rebuilt, and local knowledge is invaluable. Contributions from fellow sailors are welcome, and we hope the site continues to grow in the spirit of mutual help and good seamanship.
Not as experts talking down, but as brothers and sisters of the sea, comparing notes.
Our Team
Trevor Spink
Trevor’s love of the water began early, joining the Sea Scouts as a child and learning the ropes aboard his father’s Drascombe. Today, he’s a qualified Day Skipper with ambitions to work his way up to Yachtmaster, steadily building miles and experience as he goes.
Outside the sailing world, Trevor has run a digital agency since 2002 and brings over two decades of technical expertise to visitMyHarbour. He’ll be focusing on continuous improvements to the website, ensuring VMH stays modern, reliable, and packed with the tools sailors need.
When he’s not coding, helming, or navigating, Trevor is a proud dad and he’s keen to meet VMH fans. If you spot Trevor on your travels, don’t hesitate to say hello!
Steve Bryant
23 years sailing experience having owned boats ranging from a 21' strip planked sloop to a 60 ton gaff rigged MFV. (Not forgetting an 18' speedboat with a 140 HP engine !) 9 years live aboard experience on different boats, well over 30,000 miles sea experience as a skipper, 7 Biscay crossings, and coming up for 1000 nights spent at anchor. Longest non-stop sea trip... over 800 miles from mainland Spain to the Canaries on a gaff ketch. Current boat Westerly Longbow 31'. A cautious mariner, never had any injured crew or had to call for help.
Lindsay "Bob" Jones
A Competent Crew sailor with a calm head and a knack for heading up the mast when needed, Lindsay (aka "Bob" as it's easier for peope to spell!) is the steady pair of hands helping steer VMH into its next era. She has worked in print and digital media her entire career, bringing a storyteller’s instinct and a publisher’s polish to everything she creates.
She’ll be bringing you conversations from around the sailing world, shining a light on the people, places, and stories that make our community so special. As a keen runner and wellbeing fanatic, Lindsay is also passionate about sharing tips on staying fit, healthy and well while living on the water.
And when she’s not aboard Pathfinder , you might just find her performing the odd gig at one of the local marina drinking establishments, keeping the crowds entertained before heading back to sea.
Captain Herbert
Every good crew needs a mascot, and ours comes with four paws and a salty attitude. Captain Herbert has been sailing on Pathfinder since he was a pup, and nothing makes him happier than the wind blowing through his fur.
He’s explored countless harbours around the South Coast of England, sniffed out more beaches than we can count, and is always ready for the next adventure. If you see him on deck, expect a tail wag, a bark and possibly a request for treats.
Don Thomson
Retired
Don Thomson learnt his boat handling and navigation skills as a Naval Officer, trainee Fleet Air Arm pilot and Air Traffic Control Officer. He's taken the Coastal Skipper and Inshore Yachtmaster shore courses and has plenty of small boat experience, owning a Leisure 22. His main cruising grounds have been the Bristol Channel, E.Ireland, the Clyde and Moray Firth. We welcome Don onboard as a diligent researcher and writer .