⛵ On the water
🍷 Fall Meeting — Monday, Oct 26 · 6:00 pm
At Chet & Lynette's · 2617 Northshore Rd, Bellingham
Elie is putting together a slideshow — send him your favorite photos from this year's cruises.
🧭 Who handles what
Not sure who to ask? Start here.
📣 Latest news
2027 cruising schedule is out. It's on the Schedule page. Elie says it's a starting point — expect some shuffling between partners. Want different weeks? Use "Request a change" on your row.
Winter 2026/27 maintenance plan has been sent to Aquarelle. Jeff also worked with the helm pump maker (BCS) on why the power-steering fluid ran low and is ordering a new fill cap with a gasket to seal the unit. Jeff keeps the running maintenance log — ask him for a copy.
Earlier: Apr 6, 2026 maintenance update
Recently completed and added to the maintenance log:
- Pilothouse canvas — finished.
- Engine / generator — fuel and oil filters replaced.
- Engine room lights — all-new LED fixtures.
- Blackwater tank gauge — working again.
- Fuel tank gauges — both repaired.
- Engine & generator runs — Aquarelle exercises them about monthly.
- Dewinterization — freshwater system dewinterized.
Also explored Evans Marine International in Migennes (~5 km from Auxerre) for painting and pilothouse windows.
⚓ About the Laura-Jo
A 2008 Sirius Yachts Luxemotor Dutch barge, owned by eight Bellingham-area couples through Laura-Jo Barge Ltd (England & Wales). She cruises the rivers and canals of France each spring through fall and is currently based at Aquarelle in Auxerre. Each couple takes a three-week cruise per season and shares the costs equally.
🗓️ 2027 Cruising Schedule
Eight three-week cruises · April 25 – October 10 · Changeovers on Sundays
📜 Past seasons (2024 – 2026)
2026 — season complete
As scheduled. Aquarelle repainted the boat Jul 28 – Aug 29 (boat out of service).
| Prep | Work party — Lee & Barry |
| 1 · Apr 25 – May 16 | Lee & Nina |
| 2 · May 16 – Jun 6 | Jeff & Sherri (tentative) |
| 3 · Jun 6 – Jun 27 | Kelly & Koelle (tentative) |
| 4 · Jun 27 – Jul 18 | Elie & Lisa |
| 5 · Jul 18 – Aug 8 | Troy & Heather |
| Jul 28 – Aug 29 | Maintenance — Aquarelle repaint & pilothouse windows |
| 7 · Aug 29 – Sep 19 | Chet & Lynette |
| 8 · Sep 19 – Oct 10 | Jeff & Sherri |
2025
| 1 · Apr 25 – May 16 | Barry & Brenda |
| 2 · May 16 – Jun 6 | Kelly & Koelle |
| 3 · Jun 6 – Jun 27 | Fred & Anne |
| 4 · Jun 27 – Jul 18 | Art & Cyndy |
| 5 · Jul 18 – Aug 8 | Elie & Lisa |
| 6 · Aug 8 – Aug 29 | Randy & Carla |
| 7 · Aug 29 – Sep 19 | Jeff & Sherri |
| 8 · Sep 19 – Oct 10 | Chet & Lynette |
2024
| 1 · Apr 25 – May 16 | Kelly & Koelle |
| 2 · May 16 – Jun 6 | Fred & Anne |
| 3 · Jun 6 – Jun 27 | Art & Cyndy |
| 4 · Jun 27 – Jul 18 | Elie & Lisa |
| 5 · Jul 18 – Aug 8 | Randy & Carla |
| 6 · Aug 8 – Aug 29 | Jeff & Sherri |
| 7 · Aug 29 – Sep 19 | Chet & Lynette |
| 8 · Sep 19 – Oct 10 | Barry & Brenda |
On board
⚡ Systems Quick-Start
- Shore power / batteries: see the Electric Panel video; switch sequence on the main panel.
- Water: keep tanks topped at the port; monitor the gauge.
- Heating / hot water: see the Heater video.
- Engine start & checks: see the Engine Room video — oil, coolant, belts, sea-cocks before start.
- Galley: see the Kitchen & Espresso videos.
- Bow thruster & helm: brief any new skipper before departure.
🚦 Locks (Écluses) & Navigation
- Locks generally operate 09:00–18:30 with a midday closure; reduced hours off-season.
- Carry the boat's VNF license and check for closures (chômage) before each leg.
- Crew on lines fore & aft; fenders out; skipper holds the boat steady — slow is pro.
- At least one partner must be aboard at all times (per the Operating Agreement).
🆘 Emergency & Key Contacts
| EU emergency | 112 |
| Aquarelle (marina & yard) | +33 3 86 46 96 77 |
| Maintenance — Jeff VanderYacht | 360-815-4196 |
| Schedule — Elie Samuel | 360-201-1964 |
| Insurer — Haven Knox-Johnston | Policy aboard |
| VNF (waterways) | Local lock / VNF office |
✅ End-of-Cruise Handover Checklist
- Return the boat to its mooring (unless agreed otherwise).
- Fuel, gas & water tanks left at least half full.
- All linen & towels laundered; beds tidy.
- Boat & equipment cleaned and washed down, ready for the next crew.
- Fridge cleared, bins emptied, perishables removed.
- Logbook completed; all expenses entered with receipts.
- Replace anything broken or used up (reimbursable).
- Windows/doors secured; power & water set for the boat to sit safely.
How-to videos
🎬 How-To Videos
Walkthroughs of the boat's systems, filmed aboard. Stored on the shared Google Drive.
Marina
⚓ Home Marina — Aquarelle, Auxerre
Where Laura-Jo is based — Port de Plaisance d'Auxerre (Linssen Yachts dealer). Aquarelle also handles winter maintenance and yard work.
| Address | Port de Plaisance, Quai de l'Ancienne Abbaye, 89000 Auxerre, France |
| Phone | +33 3 86 46 96 77 |
| Website | aquarelle-france.fr |
| Contacts | Mike Gardner-Roberts mike@aquarelle-france.fr · Zoë contact23@wanadoo.fr |
Map & trip ideas
🗺️ Interactive Waterways Map
The actual canals & rivers, with each trip drawn along its real route from our Auxerre base. Use the buttons to zoom to a trip, tap a route or town for details, or the layers icon (top-right) to hide trips.
🧭 Trip Ideas — Three-Week Cruises
Each sized to roughly one rotation at a relaxed pace (~3–5 hrs cruising/day).
🌿 Canal du Nivernais — Auxerre → Clamecy → Decize
Route: South from Auxerre along the Yonne and the Canal du Nivernais via Mailly-la-Ville, Châtel-Censoir and Clamecy, up the Sardy lock staircase to the summit, then down to Decize on the Loire.
Don't miss: Vézelay (UNESCO basilica), the Rochers du Saussois cliffs, and a Chablis wine trip by car from Auxerre.
⛰️ Canal de Bourgogne — Auxerre → Dijon → St-Jean-de-Losne
Route: North from Auxerre down the Yonne to Migennes, then the full Canal de Bourgogne via Tonnerre and Montbard, through the summit tunnel at Pouilly-en-Auxois, and down past Dijon to the Saône at St-Jean-de-Losne.
Don't miss: Tanlay & Ancy-le-Franc châteaux, Abbaye de Fontenay (UNESCO), Semur-en-Auxois, Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, and Dijon's old town & Les Halles market.
🍷 Wine Run — St-Jean-de-Losne → Chalon → Côte Chalonnaise
Route: Down the Saône from St-Jean-de-Losne to Chalon-sur-Saône, then west on the Canal du Centre into the Côte Chalonnaise vineyards at Chagny and Santenay.
Don't miss: Beaune (Hospices, wine cellars) — a short drive or bike ride from Chagny — plus Meursault and Pommard nearby.
Local area
✈️ Crew Changes & Getting There
| Changeovers | Sundays (three-week cruises, Sunday to Sunday) |
| Auxerre rail | Auxerre–St-Gervais → Laroche-Migennes → Paris-Bercy |
| Nearest TGV | Dijon (≈1h35 to Paris, ≈1h40 to Lyon) |
| Airports | Paris CDG, Lyon-St-Exupéry (LYS), Geneva (GVA) |
| Transfers | Book taxis ahead in small towns; arrange handover & key exchange with the prior crew. |
🧺 Provisioning & Essentials
Typical options by area — market days & hours change, so verify locally.
| Town | Market day | Groceries / essentials |
|---|---|---|
| Auxerre | Tue · Fri · Sun (mornings) | Carrefour / Intermarché / Lidl, pharmacies, laundromat |
| Dijon | Les Halles: Tue · Thu · Fri · Sat | Full supermarkets, pharmacies, everything |
| Beaune | Sat (large) · Wed (smaller) | Supermarkets, wine shops, pharmacies |
| St-Jean-de-Losne | Small town — limited | Small shops, bakery, fuel & water at the port |
Most villages have a boulangerie and a small épicerie. Keep a market bag & some cash aboard.
🔧 Marine Services & Repairs
| Aquarelle — Auxerre | Our base: moorage, winter maintenance, yard work · +33 3 86 46 96 77 |
| Evans Marine International — Migennes | Yard ~5 km from Auxerre; looked at for painting & pilothouse windows |
| H2O — St-Jean-de-Losne | Large barge base: chandlery, fuel, repairs · h2ofrance.com |
| Diesel & pump-out | At the major ports along the route |
Skipper & links
🛟 Skipper Requirements
Per the Operating Agreement, a partner may only navigate if they hold:
- International Certificate of Competence (ICC), endorsed for Inland Waters
- A pass in the CEVNI exam (European inland waterway rules)
- A VHF radio certificate where required by the flag state
🌐 Useful Links
| VNF — Voies navigables de France | Licenses & lock closures (chômage) | vnf.fr |
| French Waterways | Routes, ports & cruising guides | french-waterways.com |
| Météo-France | Weather forecasts | meteofrance.com |
Photos
📸 Gallery
Tap any photo to enlarge.
🧭 Who handles what
👥 The Partners
Eight partner couples. Each couple owns one share (one "chair") = 12.5%, and each spouse is listed with their own email & phone. Tap to contact.
Share register per the LJB Register of Members. Lee Bogard & Nina Kuhlman acquired the former Wicknick shares (12.5%) in Sept 2025. Troy & Heather Muljat bought out Art & Cyndy Berry's share (12.5%).
📜 Ownership Terms (summary)
- Recreational use only — the vessel may not be chartered or hired for revenue.
- Major actions need Shareholder Consent (holders of ≥65% of shares).
- One year's notice and pre-emption rights apply before any share transfer; other partners get first right to buy, then the company, then an approved third party.
- Each partner has the right to be a director of the company.
- Governed by the law of England & Wales; disputes go to mediation, then arbitration.
💰 How Costs Are Shared
- Company pays the shared running costs: moorage, insurance, general maintenance, UK secretarial/accountancy, and the canal license.
- Each partner makes an annual contribution (equal — 12.5% each), set at the annual meeting; cash calls cover shortfalls.
- During your own cruise, you pay your own diesel, electricity, pump-out, cleaning, and any transient berthing.
- Repairs/maintenance up to $1,000 per item can be approved by the managing partner; anything over $1,000 needs majority approval.
- Insurance claims are not submitted for under $5,000; negligence damage is the responsible partner's cost.
🧾 Typical Annual Fixed Costs
| Item | Approx. |
|---|---|
| Marine insurance (Haven Knox-Johnston) | $2,500 |
| Moorage / annual dock | $2,983 |
| UK secretarial & accountancy (Companies House) | $1,850 |
| Canal license (VNF) | $725 |
📌 Financial Notes
| Aug 2026 — FY2026 (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) draft accounts prepared by Simon Alexander (Alexander & Co); no queries raised. |
| Troy & Heather Muljat bought out Art & Cyndy Berry's share (12.5%). |
| Sep 2025 — Lee Bogard purchased the former Wicknick shares (12.5%) for $50,000. |
| 2025 — Member loans to the company reimbursed ($6,500 each). |
🏛️ The Company & Vessel
| Entity | Laura-Jo Barge Ltd |
| Registered | England & Wales (private ltd by shares) |
| Reg. Office | Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth BH8 8EX |
| Share Capital | $360,000 — 120 shares @ $3,000 |
| Ownership | 8 partners × 15 shares = 12.5% each |
| Decisions | 65% shareholder consent for major items |
| Type | Dutch barge — Sirius Yachts Luxemotor |
| Year Built | 2008 |
| Registration | UK Part I Register · SSR 134257 |
| Flag | United Kingdom (French courtesy flag) |
| Based at | Aquarelle, Auxerre (home mooring per agreement: St-Jean-de-Losne) |
| Insurer | Haven Knox-Johnston (marine) |
🗂️ Documents
Company and vessel records. Need a copy? Ask Troy (or Jeff for maintenance records).