Welcome to the first instalment of SaltPot Diaries – a blog series capturing the highs, lows, and everything in between of our equine sailing adventure around the UK. What started as a casual conversation blossomed into an incredible journey combining my love for photography and my husband Mark’s lifelong passion for the sea. Along the way, we navigated some of the UK’s most stunning (and challenging) coastal waters in pursuit of one dream: to capture free-roaming ponies in their wild, natural habitats.

This is the story of how it all began.

Meet the crew and the vessel

Mark

Mark’s passion for exploration drives his work as a nutritional therapist, scientist, and independent researcher through his practice, Entire Wellbeing. 

His love of sailing began at age six with a Mirror dinghy, sparking a lifelong passion. Mark’s competitive nature led him to win three national titles in the Hobie Cat class, even qualifying for European Championships, though life had other plans as he shifted focus to launch his first business.

One of his greatest feats was crossing the Atlantic on a 27ft sailboat with just one other person. These qualities made him the perfect captain for this adventure.

Karen

Before picking up a camera, I spent many years in the saddle as an amateur jockey. But life has a way of evolving, and these days, you’ll find me behind the lens, capturing the beauty and spirit of the animals that have always been close to my heart.

Over the years, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have my work recognised with awards, and I love creating images that tell a story and capture the unique bond people share with their animals.

When I shared my dream of photographing wild ponies in their natural habitats, Mark’s response was simple: “Tell me where they are, and I’ll sail you there.”

And just like that, the plan was set in motion.

SaltPot

Our trusted vessel for this journey is SaltPot, a beautiful 46ft Malo sailboat that we’ve called home on the water for several years. Prior to SaltPot, we sailed as a family on a Malo 27 named Bermuda High, so we already had a deep connection to the Malo brand’s craftsmanship and reliability.

Preparing for adventure

Before setting sail, SaltPot underwent a full preparation at Lymington Yacht Haven, where we took her out of the water for essential maintenance and upgrades. From installing a wind turbine and removable solar panels to marking anchor chain depths and replacing stopcocks, we left no detail unchecked. 

Our sails were cleaned and serviced by the talented team at Sanders Sails, ensuring we were ready for whatever the UK’s notoriously unpredictable waters would throw at us.

 

The journey begins

On 29th April 2023, we left the Isle of Wight and sailed to Swanage, anchoring overnight. The next day, we raised the cruising chute to head for Lulworth Cove. We spent the night there, with Mark working on the boat while I captured the busy bay with my camera.

The next morning, we faced a challenge when we pulled up a large rock wedged in the anchor. After some effort, we set off for Lyme Bay. Although I’m not a fan of this bay, the excitement of the adventure made it more enjoyable. The cruising chute stayed up nearly the entire way to Dartmouth.

On 2nd May (my birthday), we decided to sail to Newlyn for better shelter, rather than stopping at Fowey. While there, I learned that Dartmoor ponies roamed nearby cliffs. Armed with my camera, we set off to find them. A local taxi driver dropped us at the Logan Rock Inn and pointed us in the right direction. Despite the strong winds, we pressed on, finally finding a small herd of ponies sheltering behind the gorse. It was a magical sight, and I was one very happy photographer. Mark seemed to enjoy it too.

Afterward, we enjoyed a belated birthday drink at the pub before our taxi took us back to the port. It was the perfect end to a fantastic day and the beginning of my journey to capture these wild ponies.

Stay tuned for the next blog post from SaltPot Diaries as we continue our adventure on to Lundy!