Hoffman Knight Charters

Hoffman Knight Charters Come and join us for a luxury boat charter. An amazing day afloat in Torquay whether with family, friends or for a corporate event.

Next stop was near Faro at Porto Recreio de Olhão - just a few hours further along the coast. Another beautiful sunrise ...
28/05/2026

Next stop was near Faro at Porto Recreio de Olhão - just a few hours further along the coast.

Another beautiful sunrise this morning !! Then refuelling of Champers before continuing on to Cádiz. With almost 10 hours for this part of the journey, it will be a late arrival into Cádiz this evening.

Champers and the team departed Porto on Monday lunchtime, beginning an almost 30-hour passage south to Lagos.Capturing a...
27/05/2026

Champers and the team departed Porto on Monday lunchtime, beginning an almost 30-hour passage south to Lagos.
Capturing a stunning sunrise over Cabo Espichel, as well as seeing pods of dolphins on route. 🐬🐬🐬

It turned into quite a bumpy trip at sea, but everyone arrived safely last night in good spirits. The crew enjoyed a well-earned evening ashore !!

Preparations this morning include filling the water tanks and restocking the fridges …. then some careful passage planning to decide where to head for next - especially with a Gale Force 8 warning !! 😬🙈

Nic Coulborn Rob Harvey Simon Knight Malcolm Knowles Björn Hägglund

After meeting up with a friend Björn Hägglund and enjoying a night out in Porto, everyone settled down onboard for the e...
25/05/2026

After meeting up with a friend Björn Hägglund and enjoying a night out in Porto, everyone settled down onboard for the evening.
This morning was an opportunity for a quick dunk in the sea for Nic Coulborn and then this afternoon Champers and team (including our extra crew member) set off on the next leg of the journey. The plan is another overnight passage to try and reach Lagos on the Algarve.

With the introductions of the four team members onboard Champers now completed - it perhaps just leaves a little mention...
24/05/2026

With the introductions of the four team members onboard Champers now completed - it perhaps just leaves a little mention of me !! 😉😂

Abi Coulborn (no aka necessary as that is the “onboard Champers crew” thing) ….. I’m here behind the scenes trying to document a little of this epic journey and keep you all informed of the progress being made.

Having worked within the marine industry for the past 20+ years, being an RYA powerboat instructor and VHF radio instructor and examiner, as well as a commercially endorsed skipper running a watersports business for the past 5 years (until selling recently) - I would have loved nothing more than to make this passage with them. However, an elderly black Labrador (shout out to Frodo) meant I had duties at home this time.

There is no doubt that the guys are having the most amazing experience on this fabulous adventure from Torquay to Valencia.
A journey that (at 10kts an hour) will take them the best part of 3 weeks at least to complete.
It goes without saying that they (especially my hubby) are most certainly “Living the Dream” !!

Thanks for following us on this adventure ….. I’ll keep the updates coming !!

24/05/2026

Champers has slipped lines from her last stopover in Vigo and is once again chasing the coastline south. We’ve just crossed into Portuguese waters, with Porto now firmly on the bow and an arrival planned for this afternoon.

A gentle swell, steady progress, and another beautiful stretch of Atlantic coast unfolding mile by mile. Portugal, here we come 🇵🇹🛥️

Nic Coulborn Rob Harvey Simon Knight Malcolm Knowles

Video footage from Simon Knight

The fourth team member onboard Champers is Malcolm Knowles aka “Uncle Albert”Malcolm runs his own company called ‘Devon ...
23/05/2026

The fourth team member onboard Champers is Malcolm Knowles aka “Uncle Albert”

Malcolm runs his own company called ‘Devon Spirals’ - the only choice if you enjoy going around in circles to get from one floor to another !! Now semi-retired, Malcolm was an obvious choice to join us on the trip due to his practical hands on approach, oh and he’s the N°1 stainless steel welder in the northern hemisphere !! 😉

His father and grandfather were both captains of ocean going bulk carriers, so Malcolm comes from a long line of seamen. His nautical adventures started at the early age of 10 when he sailed with his father from Verome shipyard in Rotterdam to Tubarão in Brazil - aboard MV London Bridge.

Champers is even flying the Red Ensign from Malcolm’s father’s last ship: MV Capulate (more on that another time !!)

“Albert” has taken on the roles of both chief steward and chef, preparing meals and greeting the team every morning with his catchphrase - “Cuppa?”. He was slightly concerned when Captain Rob took over the galley to prepare the seafood we’d picked up en route - but was assured that it was his one and only night off !!

Moving on to the third member of the team we have Simon Knight aka “Buoyce” (yes intentionally spelt wrong !! 😂)Simon ha...
22/05/2026

Moving on to the third member of the team we have Simon Knight aka “Buoyce” (yes intentionally spelt wrong !! 😂)

Simon has been on the water in one form or another for over 30 years, since getting a job at his local boating lake aged 13.
He has spent the last 20 years living in southern France. He holds the Permis Hauturier (the French equivalent of an offshore powerboat and sailing certificate) and can usually be found boating under sail in the Med between France and Spain with his family.

In his own words, Simon says is by far the most adventurous voyage he has crewed, so he is in his element picking up precious experience from skipper Rob.
After already spending over two weeks away home, he is happy to be heading south to warmer climes !!

21/05/2026

Champers slipped out of Loctudy at around 4.30am yesterday morning and began the crossing of the Bay of Biscay. It was a lively passage at times, with some bumpy conditions, but we were treated to a magical sunrise and dolphins keeping us company along the way.

We arrived safely in A Coruña at around 4.30pm today, completing the 36-hour journey and now berthed in Porto da Coruña. A long but memorable passage !!

Nic Coulborn Rob Harvey Simon Knight Malcolm Knowles

Next up on the team introductions we have Nic Coulborn aka “Del Buoy” (also lucky enough to be married to me 😉)Nic has o...
21/05/2026

Next up on the team introductions we have Nic Coulborn aka “Del Buoy” (also lucky enough to be married to me 😉)
Nic has over 40 years boating experience (all motor boat and no sail) from small RIBs to our current boat Champers - a 60ft Tarquin.
Up until this epic adventure the furthest journey had been to the Channel Islands ……. so this amazing trip to Valencia will not only be the longest journey made, but also the first time for overnight passages as well.
Those of you who know Nic, and his favourite catch phrase, “Living the Dream” will know he is most certainly doing that right now !!

As Champers and the guys start the 36 hour crossing of the Bay of Biscay …… I thought I would introduce you to the team ...
20/05/2026

As Champers and the guys start the 36 hour crossing of the Bay of Biscay …… I thought I would introduce you to the team !!

Let’s start with our skipper Rob Harvey aka “Captain Rob”

Rob has his Yacht Master offshore commercially endorsed for both motor boat and sail. He has been boating for 45 years with a mix of vessels up to 80ft again both motor and sail. Rob has covered distances from the Baltic to the Mediterranean including night passages on numerous vessels, when delivering boats. Also having been a fisherman for many years, Rob is well adapted to life at sea.

Champers is definitely is very safe hands !!

Yesterday’s journey took us from Brest to Loctudy, another unforgettable leg of Champers’ adventure !! We left Brest a l...
19/05/2026

Yesterday’s journey took us from Brest to Loctudy, another unforgettable leg of Champers’ adventure !!

We left Brest a little before 10am and, after 60 beautiful miles at sea, arrived in Loctudy just after 4pm.

After rain most of the night, we woke to clear skies and a beautiful morning …… what stunning views here in Loctudy 🇫🇷

A day of rest today and some preparations ready for crossing the Bay of Biscay in the next couple of days !!
We really are “living the dream” !!!

Brest ➡️ Loctudy
60 miles ✔️
6 hours underway ✔️
Memories made ✔️

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MDL Marina
Torquay
TQ25EQ

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