Your heartfelt messages that poured into my inbox from all over the world each minute were like fireworks, creating magic to which the universe responded to by regaling us with the most glorious day we could have hoped for. Kokachin was launched without a glitch in the scorching sunshine and a gentle breeze on Wednesday…

Looks like we are going to make it, despite last month’s trials and tribulations with insurance, which caused a last minute delay. A story better not to be told, at least for now. Preparations are in earnest for the ship shape ship. We are excited and so should Kokachin be. She is ready, looking splendid,…

Over optimistically, I thought we could finish Kokachin in about a year, it took us three years with the two of us working full time (weekends included).  Very soon, as we started working on her, we realised that  Le Forestiere’s Jonque de Plaisance are complicated boats! Also if she was to meet our needs and…

We had the following requirements when looking for a boat: We were aware that not all of the requirements could be met as it is obvious that the ideal boat does not exist. We were looking for a live aboard home that could take us where we wanted to go. We wanted a shallow draught boat because it gives us wider access to…

Kokachin, originally named Matahina,  started her life on a farm in Bussieres, a little village 70km NE from Paris.  Her hull and deck and some of the interior were built by Mr Jossete, a professional carpenter. He started building her in 2009 and spent two years building the hull alone plus many more on the…