🧭 About the Laura-Jo
The Laura-Jo is a 2008 Sirius Yachts Luxemotor Dutch barge, owned and enjoyed by a group of eight Bellingham-area couples through Laura-Jo Barge Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales. She cruises the rivers and canals of France from spring through fall, with her home mooring at St-Jean-de-Losne in Burgundy. Each partner couple takes a three-week cruise during the season, sharing the costs and the care of the boat equally. Click any text in Edit Mode to update it.
📋 Vessel Particulars
| Type | Dutch barge — Sirius Yachts Luxemotor |
| Year Built | 2008 |
| Registration | UK Part I Register · SSR 134257 |
| Flag | United Kingdom (French courtesy flag) |
| Home Mooring | St-Jean-de-Losne, Burgundy |
| Cruising Grounds | Rivers & canals of France |
| Insurer | Haven Knox-Johnston (marine) |
🏛️ The Company
Ownership entity & key terms.
| 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 |
| Use | Recreational only — no charter/hire |
| Decisions | 65% shareholder consent for major items |
🛟 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
- At least one partner must be aboard whenever the vessel is in use.
🗓️ 2026 Cruising Schedule Apr 25 – Oct 10
One open slot remains — Randy & Carla are not cruising this year, so Aug 8 – Aug 29 is available.
🗓️ 2027 Cruising Schedule Proposed rotation
Suggested by continuing the group's rotation — everyone moves one slot (~3 weeks) later each year, and the final crew wraps to the first. Dates are approximate; edit to confirm.
📜 2025 Season
| 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 Season
| 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 |
✈️ Crew Changes & Getting There
| Nearest TGV | Dijon (≈1h35 to Paris, ≈1h40 to Lyon) |
| Auxerre rail | Auxerre–St-Gervais → Laroche-Migennes → Paris-Bercy |
| Airports | Lyon-St-Exupéry (LYS), Paris CDG, Geneva (GVA) |
| Transfers | Book taxis ahead in small towns; arrange handover day & key exchange with the prior crew. |
🧺 Provisioning & Essentials
Typical options by area (verify locally).
| Town | Market day | Groceries / essentials |
|---|---|---|
| St-Jean-de-Losne | Small town — limited; nearby Seurre/Dole for big shops | Small alimentation, bakery, fuel & water at the port |
| 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 |
Most villages have a boulangerie (fresh bread daily) and a small épicerie. Bring/keep a market bag & cash for markets.
🔧 Marine Services & Repairs
| H2O — St-Jean-de-Losne | Barge base: chandlery, fuel, repairs, brokerage (our home-port go-to) |
| Local mechanic / engineer | Add name & number |
| Diesel & pump-out | At major ports; note locations as you find them |
⚡ 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 | |
| Managing partner | — | |
| H2O base (St-Jean-de-Losne) | — | |
| Insurer — Haven Knox-Johnston | policy aboard / see Documents | |
| VNF (waterways) | local lock/office number |
✅ 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.
🗺️ Cruising Map
Home mooring at St-Jean-de-Losne; currently in Auxerre. Use the quick links to jump to key spots, or pin your own on a shared map (below).
Shared pin map: create a free Google "My Maps" and pin water & fuel points, pump-outs, good moorings, and favorite restaurants — share it so every crew can add to it, then paste its embed link here (I can wire it in). Open Google My Maps →
🧭 Trip Ideas — Three-Week Cruises
Each sized to roughly one rotation at a relaxed pace (~3–5 hrs cruising/day). Edit freely and add your own.
🍷 Burgundy Wine Run — Saône & the Côte d'Or
Route: St-Jean-de-Losne → up the Saône and Canal de Bourgogne toward Dijon, with road/bike side-trips into the Côte d'Or vineyards.
Don't miss: Beaune (Hospices, wine caves), Dijon (old town, Les Halles market, mustard), and the great-name villages — Pommard, Meursault, Gevrey-Chambertin.
🌿 Canal du Nivernais — Auxerre → Clamecy → Decize
Route: From Auxerre south down the Yonne and Canal du Nivernais via Mailly-la-Ville, Châtel-Censoir, Clamecy, and the Sardy lock staircase toward Decize.
Don't miss: Vézelay (UNESCO basilica), the Rochers du Saussois, and a Chablis wine side-trip from Auxerre.
⛰️ Canal de Bourgogne — the Crossing
Route: Saône to Dijon, climb to the summit at Pouilly-en-Auxois (tunnel), then down via Montbard and Tonnerre toward Migennes.
Don't miss: Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, Abbaye de Fontenay (UNESCO), Semur-en-Auxois, and the Tanlay & Ancy-le-Franc châteaux.
➕ Add a route name
Route, highlights, and tips…
🎓 Training & Certification
A partner may only skipper with an ICC (endorsed for Inland Waters), a CEVNI pass, and a VHF certificate (see the Handbook).
🌐 Waterways, Weather & Planning
Add links the group finds useful. Click a cell to edit; add a row in Edit Mode.
| Resource | What it's for | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Google My Maps | Shared pins (moorings, fuel, restaurants) | google.com/maps/d | |
| H2O — St-Jean-de-Losne | Home-port chandlery, fuel & repairs | h2ofrance.com |
🎬 How-To Videos
Walkthroughs for operating the boat's systems — filmed aboard. Stored on the shared Google Drive.
▶ Open the video folder on Google Drive
📸 Gallery
Click any photo to enlarge.
👥 The Partners
Eight couples, 15 shares (12.5%) each. Contacts below. Edit or add rows in Edit Mode.
| Partners | Location | Shares | % | Phones | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry & Brenda Hanson | Ferndale, WA | 15 | 360-510-4999 · 360-303-6079 | barryhanson970@gmail.com | ||
| Chet & Lynette Kenoyer | Bellingham, WA | 15 | 360-303-1450 · 360-303-7651 | chet@chetkenoyer.com | ||
| Randy & Carla Hartnell | Bellingham, WA | 15 | 360-319-8385 · 360-319-2007 | rhart55@gmail.com | ||
| Elie & Lisa Samuel | Bellingham, WA | 15 | 360-201-1964 · 360-305-6905 | eliesamuel@gmail.com | ||
| Kelly & Koelle Leenstra | Bellingham, WA | 15 | 360-201-1973 | k.leenstra@gmail.com | ||
| Lee Bogard & Nina Kuhlman | Bellingham, WA | 15 | 206-972-6829 · 360-393-7168 | lbogard@gmail.com | ||
| Jeff & Sherri VanderYacht | Bellingham, WA | 15 | 360-815-4196 · 360-815-4656 | jvanderyacht@psesurvey.com | ||
| Troy & Heather Muljat | Lynden, WA | 15 | 360-820-2000 · 360-223-0519 | troy@muljat.com |
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 to the company account based on ownership % (equal — 12.5% each), set at the annual budget meeting; cash calls cover shortfalls.
- During your own cruise, you pay your own diesel, electricity, pump-out, cleaning, and any transient (non-home) berthing.
- Managing partner may spend up to $1,000 per item on repairs/maintenance; 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 | |
| Home moorage / annual dock | $2,983 | |
| UK secretarial & accountancy (Companies House) | $1,850 | |
| Canal license (VNF) | $725 |
📌 Recent Financial Notes
| 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 being reimbursed ($6,500 each). | |
| Annual insurance renewed via Art Berry / Haven Knox (~£1,848). |
Full detail lives in the checking ledger (see Documents). Figures here are summaries — update in Edit Mode after the annual meeting.
🗂️ Documents
Key company & vessel records. Paste a shared-link URL into a row in Edit Mode (Dropbox / Google Drive). The master copies live on the shared Drive.