Captain’s Log 270326 – The Hidden Spots I Can’t Wait to Show You

Captain's Log 270326 

I've only had the chance to explore the Ébrié Lagoon once so far, but that single trip left a strong impression on me.

We slipped away from the busier channels and discovered a few quiet, mangrove-lined corners that felt completely untouched. The water was calm and glassy, birds flew low overhead, and there was that rare peaceful silence you rarely find on the more crowded parts of the lagoon. It was one of those moments that reminds you why you fell in love with being on the water in the first place.

After more than thirty years at sea — starting as a young man sailing off Durban and Cape Town on my father's yachts, crewing on day trips from Hout Bay to Seal Island, working through refits in Palma, and captaining the beautiful M/Y Labrador for fourteen years — I've learned that the best experiences are often found away from the standard routes.

Right now I'm spending time here in Ireland carefully planning how we can safely include some of these hidden spots in our future sunset cruises and private charters. I want to take guests to places that feel special and different — not just the usual paths.

Of course, I still need to go back and explore the lagoon much more thoroughly once I'm on the ground in Abidjan, but that one trip has already lit a real spark. I can already picture guests relaxing on the deck of a comfortable pontoon boat as we glide into one of those quiet mangrove corners at sunset.

The dream is slowly taking shape, one hidden spot at a time.

– Captain James Stuart Murray