Down the Danube, by Philip and Phyl Cook

Philip & Phyl Cook designed and project managed the building of their 21m motor boat, Zingara, specifically to explore the European waterways and take it to the Black Sea via the rivers Rhine, Main and Danube.  They started their voyage from France in the spring of ‘08 and left their boat in Romania for that winter.  They had hoped to return to Western Europe via the Ukraine, Belarus and Poland but were refused entry.  Not wanting to retrace their steps and despite Phyl’s increasing dislike of sea crossings, they returned via the Mediterranean in 2009.

After a lifetime of sailing including the Atlantic and Pacific, this voyage proved to be an experience that neither would have missed - but not necessarily one that they will repeat either!