# Mike Ruffles - Author > Freedom, Lifestyle, Peace of Mind ## Posts - [Getting Back - Chapter One](https://mikeruffles.com/getting-back-first/): This is the true story of what happened after we sailed away. Getting away was the dream.Getting back was something else entirely. 👉 Continue reading below Friday 23rd May 2003, 10:00 pm, San Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza Something wasn’t right.Ann says, “There’s an odd noise coming from the chain locker, Mike. It’s a sort of rattling noise.”I can hear it too. I don’t think much of it at first.Mike comes up from the aft cabin, climbing the companionway steps. I follow him.Wolfgang and his brother Andreas had gone ashore earlier for a beer. Mario and Rachel are still anchored about thirty […] - [Getting Back](https://mikeruffles.com/getting-back-preview/): BOOK TWO Getting Back San Antoni de Portmonay 23rd May 2003, 10 pm, San Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza, Ann shouts, “Mike, there’s an odd noise coming from the chain locker. It’s a sort of rattling noise. I can hear it, too, but I didn’t think it was anything to worry about.” Mike comes out of the aft cabin climbs up the companionway steps. I follow him up. Outside is San Antoni de Portmoney Bay, on the north-western side of the island of Ibiza. Ruffles Spray has been anchored here for two days. We arrived here with Mario, Rachel, Wolfgang, and Werner, […] - [Getting Away - Chapter One](https://mikeruffles.com/getting-away-first/): The true story of how we left the UK in a 44-foot yacht we built ourselves. Told by Mitzie, the dog who saw it all. Why was an engineer and a teacher with a mortgage trying to cross the Bay of Biscay at 3:00 AM in a boat they built themselves? In the late 1990s, we were caught in the corporate cycle: work, bills, routines, and the quiet realisation that life was slipping away. Rather than accept that as our future, we spent five years building a 44-foot steel yacht in our spare time… This is not a sailing manual. The […] ## Pages - [Off to Amazon](https://mikeruffles.com/off-to-amazon/): Redirecting you to my Amazon page - [Thank You](https://mikeruffles.com/thank-you/) - [Getting Back](https://mikeruffles.com/getting-back/) - [Getting Away](https://mikeruffles.com/getting-away/) - [Photo Gallery](https://mikeruffles.com/photo-gallery/) - [Blog](https://mikeruffles.com/blog/) - [Home](https://mikeruffles.com/) - [Contact Me](https://mikeruffles.com/contact-me-2/) - [About Me](https://mikeruffles.com/about-me/) - [Voyage Map](https://mikeruffles.com/map/) - [Book Launch](https://mikeruffles.com/booklaunch/) - [Newsletter](https://mikeruffles.com/newsletter/) - [Privacy Policy](https://mikeruffles.com/privacy-policy/): The following describes the Privacy Policy for our MikeRuffles.com website. Your details are safe with us, they will not be shared, sold or lent to any third party. Effective Date: 01/01/2025 Welcome to MikeRuffles.com. Your privacy and security are important to us. This Website Policy Statement outlines the terms and conditions governing your use of our website, as well as how we collect, use, and protect your information. By accessing or using our website, you agree to comply with this policy. 1. Use of Website You agree to use this website for lawful purposes only. Unauthorized use or modification of any content […] - [Disclaimer](https://mikeruffles.com/disclaimer/): Disclaimer The following describes the Disclaimer for our MIKERUFFLES.COM website. THIRD PARTY NOTICE: You understand, acknowledge, and accept the fact that we at MIKERUFFLES.COM are not affiliated with any company, person, or organization of any kind mentioned on this MIKERUFFLES.COM website in any way.  Company names, products, logos, trade marks and any other proprietary intellectual property or otherwise belongs to the rightful owner, which is not us.  You should not assume, even if a company name is in the website/domain name of this website, that there is an express, implied, or otherwise agreement, joint venture, partnership, or other relationship between us […] - [EVENTS](https://mikeruffles.com/events/) - [Books](https://mikeruffles.com/books/) ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/mikeruffles.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)