How does a sail (wing) produce lift?

Now you know!

Jumping Dolphins

Dolphins are one of my favorite creatures.  Playful, intelligent, and able to communicate, these once land based mamals, have adapted to their watery environment with panache.  Last month I was in Cancun with my sister, Chris.  It was her birthday and I took her to the aquarium across the street and we were able to jump in a tank with a very friendly bottle nose dolphin.  I asked the trainer what the popular theory was on the evolution of dolphins.  He stated that they were once wolves that lived in a swampy environment and hunted aquatic creatures.  Eventually, over millions of years, they evolved into aquatic based hunters.  That really answered alot of questions for me.  When I look at seals, I see them as a cousin to Kona, my golden retriever. 

I really enjoyed this short film of dolphins in waves.  Especially when they all jump out of the wave simultaneously.  


Had a mellow sail out to Angel Island with John and Tina.  We had 10 knots of wind most of the day and due to a recent storm, we had very clear skies. After lunch, I put out the bean bag and put them up on deck.  The sun was bright and warm as we sailed towards the Gate.  They were almost dozing as some mellow Miles Davis played in the back ground. We set the kite for the run home.  After a comedy of errors, we got her flying and we zoomed home.  We were all very relaxed and mellow after another amazing sail on Addiction.  In at sunset.

Very Cool - Space Tourisum is Here!

Blue Origin, the private space firm owned by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, has just dropped a huge gauntlet in the race to develop a reusable rocket. It just launched its New Shepard space vehicle, consisting of a BE-3 rocket and crew capsule, to the edge of space at a suborbital altitude of 100.5 kilometers (62 miles). The capsule then separated and touched down beneath a parachute, but more importantly, the BE-3 rocket also started its own descent. After the rockets fired at nearly 5,000 feet, it made a a controlled vertical landing at a gentle 4.4 mph.  Your turn to float in zero gravity!

Pics You Will Enjoy

I like the cut of her jib.

I have some sails coming up this weekend. We did a work day on the boat with the partners last week and the boat is looking sharp.  Hope we have some wind!  Have a great Thanksgiving!

You Know You Are a Sailor When...

Sailing Today (from the UK) has come up with a list of 39 attributes of a real sailor.  How many ring true for you?

1. Knows what phase the moon is in

2. Can tell the wind speed by feel

3. Can light a cigarette no matter the weather conditions (French sailors)

4. Has lost a digit in a winching accident

5. Dresses in primary colours

6. Gets upset when people call the British national flag the Union Jack

7. Always passes port to the left (unless he’s in America)

8. Can sleep anywhere

9. Has an eclectic collection of yacht club-branded T-shirts

10. Sports sun-yellowed eyebrows

11. Is not afraid of seasickness

12. Does not carry an umbrella

13. Sniggers when hearing someone say ‘Over and out’ in a movie

14. Can always find a parking space

15. Drinks beer/rum/whisky for breakfast (after a long passage)

16. Never uses a wheelie suitcase

17. Finds it acceptable to eat and drink out of plastic

18. Owns a spork

19. Can fix anything (usually with epoxy or duck tape)

20. Can throw a great party in the smallest of spaces

21. Can make friends in an instant that last a lifetime

22. Is good at keeping in touch

23. Is adept at sewing up holes (in sails, in clothes)

24. Is good at whipping (but not in a 50 Shades kind of way, although he or she does know a lot of handy knots)

25. Daydreams of adventure

26. Actually goes on adventures

27. Shies away from botox, knowing that lines speak of a life well lived

28. Never goes for a manicure

29. Does not use the word ‘hurricane’ lightly

30. Is not daunted by third world lavatories

31. Is open-minded and big-hearted

32. Knows the name of a good pub or restaurant in every port town in the western hemisphere (and much of the eastern)

33. Has a friend in every port town in the western hemisphere – often a bartender

34. Can whip up a hearty meal consisting entirely of tinned and packet foods

35. Is not phased by the idea of making tea at 30° (whether lat, long or angle of heel)

36. Knows the difference between latitude and longitude – and is always aware of where he or she is

37. Has seen more sunsets and sunrises, dolphins and views of the Milky Way than anyone else they know

38. Is not afraid of the dark

39. Knows that lists like these are for desk-based landlubbers who aren’t busy off having adventures

Here is a list from H2uh0:

1.  Can bleed a diesel engine
2.  Can take apart a winch, grease and reassemble
3.  Has sailed many ocean passages
4.  Has the knowledge to use a sextant
5.  Has practiced man overboard drills with his/her crew
6.  Always turns on nav lights at sunset
7.  Knows a fine rum when he tastes it
8.  Studies the tide/current charts
9.  Knows that the moon comes up 55 minutes later each day
10.  Can tell a sailing tale or three

Damn, I got a ways to go!

1. Knows what phase the moon is in 2. Can tell the wind speed by feel 3. Can light a cigarette no matter the weather conditions (French sailors) 4. Has lost a digit in a winching accident 5. Dresses in primary colours 6. Gets upset when people call the British national flag the Union Jack 7. Always passes port to the left (unless he’s in America) 8. Can sleep anywhere 9. Has an eclectic collection of yacht club-branded T-shirts 10. Sports sun-yellowed eyebrows 11. Is not afraid of seasickness 12. Does not carry an umbrella 13. Sniggers when hearing someone say ‘Over and out’ in a movie 14. Can always find a parking space 15. Drinks beer/rum/whisky for breakfast (after a long passage) 16. Never uses a wheelie suitcase 17. Finds it acceptable to eat and drink out of plastic 18. Owns a spork 19. Can fix anything (usually with epoxy or duct tape) 20. Can throw a great party in the smallest of spaces 21. Can make friends in an instant that last a lifetime 21. Is good at keeping in touch 22. Is adept at sewing up holes (in sails, in clothes) 23. Is good at whipping (but not in a 50 Shades kind of way, although he or she does know a lot of handy knots) 24. Daydreams of adventure 25. Actually goes on adventures 26. Shies away from botox, knowing that lines speak of a life well lived 27. Never goes for a manicure 28. Does not use the word ‘hurricane’ lightly 29. Is not daunted by third world lavatories 30. Is open-minded and big-hearted 31. Knows the name of a good pub or restaurant in every port town in the western hemisphere (and much of the eastern) 32. Has a friend in every port town in the western hemisphere – often a bartender 33. Can whip up a hearty meal consisting entirely of tinned and packet foods 34. Is not phased by the idea of making tea at 30° (whether lat, long or angle of heel) 35. Knows the difference between latitude and longitude – and is always aware of where he or she is 36. Has seen more sunsets and sunrises, dolphins and views of the Milky Way than anyone else they know 37. Is not afraid of the dark - See more at: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/11/17/how-much-of-a-sailor-are-you/#more

View From a Blue Moon - New Surf Film

Go full screen.  Available 12-1 on iTunes.   Filmed in 4k and beautiful.

PS. Leonids meteor shower is tonight.  Look up!

360 Sailing

Oh this is cool!  Drones with 7 cameras that allow you stitch together all the vids to make a 360 view.  Click here and then scroll down to the "Sailing with Dolphins".  You will be amazed.  Use your arrows or mouse to move around. 

The Silver Dragon

 The "Silver Dragon" is a tidal bore on the Qiantang River in the city of Hangzhou, China.  You may know Wingnut from Endless Summer 2.

Lost at Sea - 438 days and 6,700 Miles of Drifting

You  may have heard about the fisherman who got caught in a storm off Mexico and was lost at sea for more than a year.  Here is his story.

H2-UH-0

Still relishing my memories of the 2015 Haha.  Surfing down waves on a big cat, full moon rises, cool folks, and the beauty of our Pacific Ocean.  What a great 10 days!

New Speed Records

In winds reaching more than 50 knots, two new world speed records were set at the 2015 Lüderitz Speed Challenge on November 2 at Lüderitz, Namibia.

The current world speed record holder in windsurfing, Antoine Albeau (FRA), set a new outright windsurfing record of 53.27 knots, which improves the speed of 52.05 knots that he set in 2012. Also, Karin Jaggi (SUI) set a new female world windsurfing record of 46.31 knots, which improves on the speed of 45.83 knots set by Zara Davis (GBR) in 2012.

The records were set in an artificial 1km long channel located in the natural Lüderitz Second Lagoon just a few kilometers from Lüderitz town in the middle of the Namib Desert. Both records will need to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

New Pics

The Wonders of Digital Art

One of the amazing areas of current technology is the art form of digital artwork.  Every pixel is created on a computer.  The genre has evolved so fast that if you blink, you may have missed it.  Here are a few examples to set you on your journey.

2015 Baja Haha Log

And so begins the 22nd annual Baja Haha.  I was able to find a crew position on a 42' cat with a couple and their 2.5 year old girl.  I met the skipper at the captain's meeting and we agreed to meet on Monday before the start of the rally to Cabo San Lucas.  There are 130 boats and 500 folks joining us for a 750 mile sail to the cape.  The rally begins outside San Diego Bay at Point Loma.  The gun sounds at 1100 hours and the wind is light at 10 -12 and we are sailing.   Shortly after the start, a whale breaches just 30 yards from the boat. Wow!  The wind increases and decreases throughout the day.  Just before sunset, I mention the green flash.  Sure enough a big one sparks right before our eyes. That night, we are motor sailing down the coast.  I have the 0300-0600 shift.  After dinner, I head to bed and am on deck at the appointed time.  The full moon is out and Mars and Jupiter are looming large to the east.  It's a beautiful night.  We cross several other boats from the rally.  The wind is 10-14 most of the night.  Next day the coast is clear and the boat is moving at 4.5 knots with the main and some engine.  I spend a good chunk of the day on the trampoline reading and enjoying some great tunes in the headphones.  The couple I am with are heading for the Bahamas.  They will have tough going in the winter thru the Caribbean. She is French and he is from Bulgaria.  My watch is coming up so time to get some rest.  One of the things I am really enjoying on this adventure is that the couple and there daughter are in one hull and I am in the starboard hull with my own head.  The state room is huge with headroom in the bed.  There is also a door for privacy and it allows me to sleep in late after an early morning watch.
The next two days are uneventful.  We are motor sailing mostly.  At night, Mars and Jupiter are on the eastern horizon.  Our first stop is Turtle Bay and we arrive at 0730.  We get the anchor down and hit the hay.  Up about 10:30 and go for a swim.  The wind is picking up and the others are off to the beach.  We are dragging and I turn on the engine to avoid hitting a boat behind us.  This 42' cat has a width of about 23 feet.  It's big!  The wind is about 20-25 and I an worried.  I keep us in place and finally the skipper shows up and we move the boat to a more open space and re-anchor.  I tell him it is very important to back down and set the anchor.  He waves me off.  Huh?  His wife also tells him to back down on the anchor and he agrees.   We do that and have no more problems.  We head to the beach for lunch at a restaurant.  After, we head to the annual cruisers softball game.  See a couple folks I know and we have a blast.  Back to the beach and I run into Chris.  He had heard all my stories and decided to give it a go.  He got a last minute ride at the police dock the morning of the rally.  He jumped on a cool boat named Que Sera.  We have a few beers and head to his boat.  We hang for a while and take about the first leg.  He is loving it.  Jumping back on the tender, we are heading against the wind and I am soaked.  We get to our boat and the rest of our crew shows up for some drinks.  I end the night on the trampoline in the bow and enjoy some music, wine and the moon.
Today is the beach party.  We re-anchor over at the beach for the event.  I bring the volleyball net and the fun begins.  There are about 300 folks at the beach.  I met many of them at the net and see some old friends too.  It's a perfect day and we love every minute.  One of the gentleman I meet recommends a Pearson 424 for my adventure to Australia in three years.  Good advice!  We head back and Orale prepares a French onion soup. We solve most of the world's problems at dinner.
After a good nights sleep, we are up at 0600 for departure.  The wind builds during the day and we are seeing 20-25 knots on the altimeter.  It is one of the best days of sailing of the five Haha's I have participated in.  I spend most of the day in the cockpit as the skipper tries to resolve a charging problem.  At 1500, I head down for a nice nap.  After a lentil soup dinner, I take the helm for a couple hours.  It's a magnificent evening and the stars and milky way shine brightly.  Jupiter and Mars are also on the eastern horizon again.   My crew mate asks me where is the moon?  I mention to her that the moon comes up about 55 minutes later each day.  She was not aware of that fact. I begin my 0300 watch by heading to the trampoline in about 20 knots of wind.  I can duck down and get out of the wind.  It is glorious.  "Southside of the Sky" by Yes comes on the headphones and I am loving it.  One of my favorite songs.  Being in the bow with the moon and stars is a great way to enjoy this amazing passage.  We have great wind, heading on the correct course for our next destination, a beautiful, strong boat surfing the waves and some awesome tunes.  This was my favorite of all my Haha days!!  I finish it by doing the dinner dishes and head to bed at 0630.  Up around 1030, we are about 90 miles from Santa Maria.  It's a beautiful day with little wind so far.  Around noon, we stop the boat and go for a swim in the middle of no where.  The water is so inviting and blue.  Oralee trys a pull behind the boat on her paddleboard.  More motoring and then in the late afternoon, the sails go up and we are doing 5 knots in abut 12 knots of wind.  It's the perfect magic carpet ride.  Dinner is served with some nice wine and we enjoy the sun set.  And another green flash.  After dinner, Barnabas takes the wheel and I am off to bed.  I watch Mr. Brooks and fall off to a deep sleep.  Up about 0200 and I can see the lights of the Haha boats in Santa Maria Bay.  We drop anchor and I am ready to hit the town...alas, there is no town, so I head to the bow hammock and enjoy the stars and moon show.  Welcome to Bahia Santa Maria.

Bahia Santa Maria is a beautiful stop along the Baja pemisula.  The entrance to the bay is 5 miles wide and the bay is huge.  On the south side of the beach, there is a river with mangroves.  We decide to take a tour.  Five of us and two paddlers entered the river on a dingy.  It was beautifully tranquil and quiet.  We went way back till we could go no further.  We had some laughs and headed back.   At 1800, we head over to the raft up.  There must have been 80 or more dingies all tied up on the leaders 63' cat.  They had some games and dance contests and I was able to meet a few more cruisers.  We ended up over at my cat with Chris and my crew.  We played an interesting variation on liars dice and then called it a night.  As I dropped Chris back to his boat, he reached over to shake my hand as he stepped aboard his boat and very nearly fell over board.  After a restful sleep, I headed in for the beach party the next day.  They had an awesome band with a great female vocalist.  Meet more friends and made some new ones.  At the end of the bash, I put on a dance mix of oldies and the dance floor filled for the next 30 minutes with some great old tunes.  Too much fun.  We ended up on another boat for an after party.    We get there and there and their dingy is missing.  Three of the crew headout into the night to search.  After and hour, they return with no luck.  I find out the next day, one of the other boats had taken it as a joke.  I would have been so pissed if someone had done that to me.  This skipper just shrugged his shoulders. Back to our boat for some hammock time in the bow.  My favorite place!

We were up early for the start of our last leg and the winds were in the 20's and we were cooking.  They kept building and hit 30 by the evening.  It was pretty exciting and I am a little nervous.  The boat was moving along in the 10-12 knot range most of the day (our highest speed of the trip was 15.6 down a big wave).  At around 0200, the wind started to settle down into the upper teens and it became very comfortable.  Made it thru two watches.  Once the moon came out around 0100, everything got better.  We made it into Cabo about 1330 and promptly headed to a restaurant for lunch and some margs.  All is right with the world.  I had a great time on this trip and alot was due to my skipper Barnabas and his wife Oralee.  This was my favorite Haha out of the five I have done!  A few more parties to go and I will head home on Saturday.  Adios amigos.

Here is a quick list of the highlights:
Great crew with awesome meals prepared by Oralee
Nice big boat with my own hull and stateroom
The trampoline and hammock in the bow
Awesome winds and weather
Great beach parties with the fleet (3)
Hanging with my buddy Chris
The stars, planets and full moon are always way better on the ocean and away from the city lights
The band at Santa Maria!
Swimming to the other boats for a morning hello in Santa Maria
Surfing the waves on A Volante (boat name)

Thanks to Richard and the folks at Latitude 38 for another fun run to Cabo!!!  See you in 2016!

2105 Baja Haha - Best Ever!

Hola from Cabo San Lucas!  I have just completed the 22nd annual Baja Haha.  I was able to jump on a 42' cat with a couple and their 2 year old daughter.  We had excellent winds and exciting sails down the 750 mile stretch of the Baja coastline.  We have one last beach party today and then I head home on Saturday.  I will have a full report on Sunday, so check back for all the details of our amazing adventure.