Get ready to buy a boat in 2025! (cost breakdown)

Tubed in SF!

On the west side of SF is Ocean Beach. Some call it a nasty place to surf. I surfed there a bunch in my younger days and the currents will drag you far from your start point. About a dozen folks die here each year as they underestimate the tides, current and swell. However, on December 1 we had an amazing swell and the show is below.

Jules Vern Race Attempts to Break 40-Day Record around the Planet

A voice from heaven!

Chris Rogers Explores the Maldives

One of my favorite videographers!! Here's his film from Bali.

Week 3 Vendee Globe Update

Rides of the Year!

La Vagabonde Hit By Fishing Boat

Go to the 25 minute mark for the carnage.

Saving the boat from the reef!

Last Leg of the Baja Haha

I was up at 0600 for the morning radio net. We hear instructions and updates from the Poobah and he makes sure the fleet is ready to go. We have about 20 gallons of fuel left which will not get us to Cabo (about 180 miles away) unless we sail a good part of the way. We motor thru the morning and into the afternoon as the wind starts to build to 8-10 knots. We raise the spinnaker and she is a fine sight. We sail tru the evening untill the wind drops at 2200. Motor on. My watch begins at 0200. My last watch of the trip. I think about some of the highlights of my past 8 Haha"s. All the people I have met and all the fun times we have had. This is very cool way to get down the coast and I enjoy doing it. My watch ends and I head to a restful sleep. Up at 1030 and we are sailing again. The skipper thinks we are maybe not gone a make it to Cabo with the remaining fuel we have as the wind is dying. If we run out, we could be pushed by the wind onto the beach. Not good. I hail the other boats around us and ask for fuel. Sure enough Panther (the cat that I set the party up with) is nearby and have extra fuel. Within 15 minutes they are throwing over a line with a 5.3 gallon jug of diesel. This folks, is the true meaning of the Haha. Cruisers helping cruisers! We pour it into the tank and off we go for the final 8 miles to the harbor. We pull into the harbor for fuel, water and an inspection of our food. They take a few eggs, meat and produce that is not from Mexico. I jump off the boat and say my goodbyes. Thanks to Lisa and Byron for sharing this adventure with me. I had a blast and you guys were so sweet. I head to my hotel room but first have a margarita at the bar. After 8 Haha's I wonder if I will do another? I have been very lucky to hook up with some very cool folks by hitchhiking to Cabo on others boats. There was a beach party and an awards ceremony to attend once in Cabo. However, there was a big wind event coming and the leaders cancelled the events in an abundence of caution and to give everyone a chance to get up to La Paz or wherever before the storm hit. I met a bunch of cool folks from Santa Cruz and Monterey and hope to catch up with them again. And special thanks to Richard Spindler (that's him in the first pic with his 63' cat) for putting these rallies together for 30 years. We had a few snags on this voyage (immigration and weather) and it may be the final Haha as we know it. We will find out in the spring. Over and out!

2nd Leg Baja Haha

We departed about 0700 from Turtle Bay. The winds picked up about 1400 and we had a very nice spinnaker run. After a nice dinner, I hit the hay for some much needed rest. At 0200 I reported for my 4 hour watch. With no issues it was one of the best midnight watches ever. The big dipper was on its side at this latitude. No boats in our way and some great tunes on the stereo. With the coast clear I could reflect on my life and all the amazing things I have accomplished. On my watch I realized I have only one more night watch to go. In the morning we had a line break on the boom furler so we are motoring to Santa Maria. No big deal. We arrived at 7:30 and deployed the anchor with about 25 boats in the bay. I did the dishes and went off into a deep sleep. In the morning we need to get the dog to the beach. Byron took the dingy to look at the bar entrance and the beach beyond. A big wave swept over the dingy and Byron went in the water as the dingy turned upside down and swamped the motor. He and Lisa spent the afternoon getting it going again. In the mneantime, I asked two catamarans if they would be willing to raft up and host a boat party. They agreed and it turned out great. About 50 sailors showed up along with some kids. The only reason it worked was the space that cats afford. Meet some cool folks and had a great time. Back home about 2200 and went to bed. Today is the beach party and I am planning to DJ along with a band on the bluff. The locals prepare a fine meal and we dance the afternoon away. Our last leg is tomorrow and about a 24 hour run to Cabo San Lucas.

Boaters Worst Nightmare Comes True

First Leg of the Haha

My adventure started in early September with a Latitude 38 Crew Party in Sausalito. Those who need crew and those looking to crew gather to find a spot on the Haha. The problem is there are 50 sailors looking to crew and only 4-5 skippers looking for crew. I spoke with Byron and Lisa and told them I had done the Haha 7 times, I would provision the boat, cook all the meals and do all the dishes. Why would I do all this? Because I want to be on the Haha! They spoke with a few other newbies and then realized I would be an asset to their voyage and they asked me to join them. I of course said yes. I would meet them in San Diego and assist in all faucets of the trip. They need to get the boat from Alameda to San Diego. They had never been offshore before so I gave them a bunch of tips for their trip south. I arrived in San Diego a few days before departure and stayed in the hotel attached to the marina. It worked well and I could take a few steps and be at the boat. The highlight of the stay was the ZZ Top concert right at the marina. Byron and I attended and they were great. Monday morning was departure time for the 30th annual Baja Haha. 131 boats and 455 sailors. All the boats gather at the starting line and at 1100 we start the rally to Turtle Bay some 380 miles south. The winds are just under 10 and we raise the sails. We sail for about 6 hours and then motor thru the night. My watch is 2-6 am and pm. That gives me plenty of time to rest, eat and watch a movie. The next day we got the sails up again for about 8 hours. No wind on the third day so we motored on. We arrived in Turtle Bay at sunset and threw down the anchor in the midst of 20-30 boats that had arrived before us. I pulled out some French Champagne and we celebrated our boat’s first foreign anchorage. It was sweet. That night we get a radio message that a boat is 5 miles out and out of fuel and the wind has blown out their sails. A boat heading south was able to get them 9 gallons of fuel and they safely got into the bay. They anchored in the bay and went to bed. The wind was up to 20 and the anchor picked up and they drifted out of the bay and by the time they woke up, they were 5 miles out again. They had plenty of fuel and got back in safely. On Thursday we had a fun softball game at the local baseball field. Dinner at Maria’s with a dockmate Rob from my marina. Friday was the beach party and it was fun with lots of happy sailors. One of the guys had caught an 80 pound tuna and was serving everyone tacos that were delicious. Saw some old friends and made some new ones. This morning we are off for a 220 mile run to Santa Maria and another epic beach party. We have Starlink onboard so I will be able to update as we head south.

Boat in Trouble on the Haha

We are anchored safely at Turtle Bay 350 miles south of San Diego. We just received a radio message from a boat 5 miles out that is out of fuel and their sails have been blown out in big winds. I hope the Mexican Navy can assist them as we have some strong winds coming in tonight.

Bon Voyage!

Getting ready to depart for San Diego this week. The Baja Haha starts on Monday November 4. With 2 stops it will take 10 days to sail the 750 miles to Cabo San Lucas. I am sailing on a Morgan Catalina 44 that has made her way to San Diego and is ready to rock. I am joining the owners for their first big voyage. They intend to end up in the Caribbean sometime next year. Be on the lookout for the trip log in mid November.

The Big Boyz!

A fascinating contest for monohull line honours was staged at the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Huang-Seng Lee’s Scallywag 100 (HKG) prevailed as the first yacht to complete the 606-nautical mile course following an epic duel with rival 100-ft Maxi Black Jack 100 (MON). Her elapsed time was two days, 21 hours, 33 minutes and 29 seconds. An international fleet of 112 yachts are contesting the 45th edition of the race which starts and finishes in Malta and comprises an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Sicily. The focus now switches to the race’s most significant prize, the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy, awarded to the overall winner on handicap. Rolex has partnered both the race and its organizers, the Royal Malta Yacht Club, since 2002.

30 years ago big wave surfer Mark Foo drown at Mavericks

So glad I sail in a bay!

NZ Wins Cup in Barcelona! 3 times in a row!

2024...so far!

It's been another amazing year so far. We had lots of travel around the planet, my son got married, several sailing vacations and lots of day sails on the bay. We started the year with a trip to Florida to visit my sister. She lives in an awesome water based community called Ocean Reef. We also did a fun stop at Disney World with a VIP tour of the top rides. Then it was off to Norway with Bridget. We did a cruise up the coast and into some amazing towns and villages. The highlight was a night time dog sled run in a snowy valley with a full moon. We did a week in Kauai and stayed near Hanalei. Lots of hammock time and kayaking. Iceland was next with Bridget, my two sisters and brother in law Tom. What a special voyage on a beautiful ship. Our highlight came on a coastal trip on a small boat on the Faroe Islands. Big mountains of ancient lava coming right down to the sea. Also had a great hot springs experience. In July I took off on a road trip to Oregon with Hana. I had plans to visit a few friends and then hit the coast. Some great kayaking and a fun time visiting my friends. In August I hit Vegas with a buddy and we went to see Dead & Co at the Sphere. The most amazing concert experience of my life! We also did a 5 day sojourn to the Delta with Tex and Barry. Last month I celebrated my birthday on a week long voyage to the islands of Greece. We met the boat 100 miles off Athens in the heart of the Aegean Sea. We hit a very windy week with winds 20-30 every day! My day sails have been epic. Hana and I anchor off the beach for a few hours while the wind builds and then have some great winds to Angel Island. The boat continues to amaze while keeping the crew safe. This weekend I am taking out a total of about 20 folks over a three day period to the air show over the bay that includes the Blue Angels. To finish off the year, I am on an awesome boat for the 30th annual Baja Haha. The 750 mile regatta down the coast from San Diego to Cabo. 120 boats and 400 friendly sailors will be joining us. Check back in mid November for the recap of my eighth Haha.

J Class Barcelona Regatta 2024

The J Class sailboats are a group of prestigious racing yachts that emerged in the 1930s, primarily designed for the America's Cup. Here’s a brief overview of their history: Origins 1930s Design: The J Class was created to comply with the 1930 America's Cup rule, which stipulated that yachts be at least 75 feet long, with a maximum sail area. The "J" designation comes from the specific measurement of the boats, which were over 75 feet long and had a number of variations. Notable Yachts Ranger and Endeavour: Among the most famous J Class yachts are Ranger (built in 1937) and Endeavour (built in 1934). Ranger, designed by Olin Stephens, won the 1937 America's Cup. Shamrock: Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V also competed in the 1930s, showcasing the class's international appeal. Design and Features Sail Plan and Construction: J Class yachts are known for their impressive sail plans, often with large mainsails and headsails. They were built using traditional wood construction techniques, which contributed to their beauty and performance. Decline and Resurgence Post-War Era: After World War II, interest in the J Class declined, and many yachts were abandoned or repurposed. However, the 1980s saw a revival of interest in classic yacht racing. Modern Reproductions: In recent years, several new J Class yachts have been built, replicating the designs of the original boats. Events like the J Class Regatta have further popularized the class. Cultural Significance Heritage: The J Class represents a significant chapter in yachting history, combining artistry and engineering. They are celebrated not only for their racing prowess but also for their aesthetic appeal. Today, J Class yachts continue to be symbols of elegance and competition, attracting enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

The Cup Races begin this Sunday! Brits vs.NZ

The Cup match is scheduled to run from October 13-22. The regatta is being live-streamed on the America’s Cup YouTube channel.

Direct from Barcelona

“Probably the most frustrating part of the day was just the wind limit, but we did get the race off and from there, the boys just bounced back brilliantly, especially after that unfortunate issue with the mainsail,” LRRP helmsman Jimmy Spithill said. “It was an awesome race, just a full-on street fight and we love that sort of stuff, it was a lot of fun. It’s just great for the team to be under that sort of pressure that sort of stress and load, because you need to be able to go through that as a team,” Spithill continued. “Once again, the guys just didn’t falter, just kept their heads up and executed, but also full credit to INEOS Britannia. They just kept coming, but ultimately that’s a good one for the team to take away.”

A Bonehead Move of My Own

A few years back I was doing a bit of night sailing which I loved. I was out one windy night and as I approached the channel to my marina the wind was in the high 20's. I decided to sail her in and bring the jib in once I was inside the marina. I made my way to the turn into the marina after the last channel marker. A huge gust hit and the boat started to round up...into the channel marker. I turned the wheel as hard as I could to avoid disaster and the possibility of the shrouds getting caught on the marker. The tide was just right and I ended up hitting the lifeline post (stantion) and it was bent but no other damage that I could see in the dark. That was until the next day when I saw the channel marker. Bonehead!

Great winds and beautiful islands - Seven Day Greek Charter

Flying from SF to Athens takes about 16 hours with layovers. Its a lomg ways but doable. My sailing bud Arnie and I met in Athens and jump on a very fast ferry to Naxos. About 100 miles off the coast. Our friends had chartered a 50' monohull and had been on the water a couple weeks. We met them about noon and took off for lunch. Cute little port town that was busy, especially in the evening. We took off the next day about 3 after awaiting the arrival of a outboard from the charter company (the other had been stolen). We had light winds as we headed to our first anchorage. We anchored at Apollonas Bay on Cyclades Island. Had a nice dinner in a local restaurant and noted that the pricing was very inexpensive. A carafe of wine was $5. The next morning the winds were up! This was the start of the meltemi that would be with us for the entire voyage. Meltemis are strong dry winds that blow from May to September and are formed by high and low pressure systems in the area. The winds ranged from 20-30 knots every day! Our next stop was a beatiful cove with a nude beach and taverna. The water was delighful as we swam to and from the beach. After dinner we did a night swim back to the boat with bioluminesence. The winds were way up for our sail to Amorgos. As we pulled into the bay it was a task to get the sails down. The piers were busy and we needed to med moor. On our first atempt we got tangled with a huge anchor. It tooks us about 30 minutes and the help of a fellow boater to untangle the mess. We headed to another pier and dropped anchor again and slide into our spot. Not easy and lots of shouting from land but we made it in safely on our second try. The winds contributed to making this the most difficult moor of the trip. What a cute town and its my birthday. Arnie and I head a few steps down the way and propmptly order some champagne and food. I take it easy that night as the crew heads off about 9:30 for dinner. I watch a movie and try to sleep with jet lag heavy on my mind. The next morning Arnie and I rent scooters for a tour of the island. The lady tells us there is only one road on the island so we won't be getting lost. We head to huge cliffs on the otherside that are magnificent. We push off about 1:30 for Nisos Skhorousa and a nice anchorage. Our boat neighbors insist we anchored too close so we move away. Late that night the skipper and his girlfriend get in a fight and she takes of in the dingy. The motor won't start and she is being blown away in a strong wind. A fellow boater went a got her and brought her back safely. Note to self...never take off in a dingy without starting the engine first. The drama continues but I go to bed. In the morning we head to the islands only port for breakfast. We set off in the afternoon for a beautiful sail to Nisos Koufonision. I hit town alone and find a nice spot for dinner and the sunset. The next day is a beach day after breakfast in town. I find a tree near the beach and set up the hammock and nap until depature. About 2pm we take off for Paros. We find a nice spot off town and do our last anchor off a cute town. Dinner with our feet in the sand with some great food. Next morning up for breakfast and then a cab ride to the port to pick up our ferry back to Athens. We stayed in a beachside hotel that night for a mid day departure. We noted that the area we were sailing is the same latitude as SF. Hence we had weather in the 70's each day and as I mentioned we got so lucky with the winds. It was a epic trip to a place I have been reading about for decades. Here is a link to our course thru the islands: https://share.garmin.com/rallik

Bonehead Move on the Bay!

No one in the cockpit is looking!

Worst Surfing Wipeouts

Let's Haha!

I attended the crew party on Wednesday in Sausalito in an attempt to find a boat and a ride down the Baja coast in November. I met Byron and Lisa and they agreed to accept me as crew for the 10 day voyage. Great news! They own a Catalina Morgan 44 and I will assist in helping them sail down to Cabo San Lucas. The Baja Haha is a cruiser rally in it's 30th year. The 750 mile sojourn is attended by about 125 boats and 450 sailors. The voyage starts in San Diego on November 4th and ends on November 14th in Cabo. Along the way we have two stops with huge beach parties. The party really starts when we get to Cabo! The will be my 8th Haha!! My first was in 2010. But before that, I head to Greece for a 7 day charter. It looks like a great fall sail season awaits!

Best of Burning Man

I attended BM three times over the last few years. My last visit was 2016. We had an amazing art car, camp and folks to have fun with. So glad I got to experience this amazing event.

Let the games begin!

Just back from a 5 day sojourn to the Delta. Just to the east of the bay is 1000 miles of waterway near Sacramento. Barry, Tex, Hana and I were looking to relax and enjoy this beautiful area and fresh water from the Sierra's. The weather was perfect and the waterways very quiet. We also had a full moon with some great moon rises. Back on the weekend and I was a tired boy! Good fun and Hana had a blast. Here is a look at the America's Cup from Barcelona.

How Tides Really Work

Humpback Rescued Then Breaches 40 Times!

Priceless

Here is another favorite!

Fun Facts

1. In maritime law, a yacht is often classified as a pleasure vessel, and owners must comply with international regulations such as the MARPOL Convention to prevent pollution from ships, ensuring the protection of the marine environment. 2. If you walk the docks at any big marina in the late afternoon, it’s pretty clear yachts are pumping effluent overboard instead of into their holding tanks. (Why don’t I ever hear about enforcement on this issue?) 3. In recent history, the Coast Guard reported 84% of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. 4. Since 2008, Sea Tow has provided over 100,000 life jackets to boaters as part of their Life Jacket Loaner Program. 5. Approximately one in six New England residents own a boat. 6. Approximately one in ten Americans own a boat. 7. Length Overall (LOA) and Length on the Waterline (LWL) are two measurements for a boat, but other ways to measure a boat include Length Over Deck (LOD), Length Over Spars (LOS), Length Extreme (LE) and Length Between Perpendiculars (LBP). 8. Many marinas and shipyards apply a Length Extreme measurement to calculate your dockage charge. 9. There is a federal regulation (40 C.F.R. Section 229.3) detailing how to go about getting permission to dispose of your vessel in the ocean. 10. In recent history, the Coast Guard reported approximately 4,000 to 8,000 recreational boats sink each year. 11. 55 C.F.R. Section 224.103 creates a 500 yard ‘security zone’ around right whales. 12. Seagulls get a respectful distance to avoid stress under the Migratory Bird Act. 13. Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will likely go into effect in December 2024 requiring more thorough documents descriptions in a party’s Privilege Log. (I’m including because this rule change will be helpful to us maritime plaintiff lawyers!) 14. Some yachts get the label “bad penny,” meaning something that’s unwanted but keeps appearing. 15. Foreign flagged yachts chartering in New England without government approvals (you know who you are!) can face fines of $15,000/passenger as well as seizure and forfeiture. (Why don’t I ever hear about enforcement on this issue?) 16. In my opinion, it wouldn’t take much effort for the CPB to identify foreign flagged yachts marketing charterers in New England waters that are “doing it dirty” with charter arrangements that don’t satisfy the law. 17. In recent history, the Coast Guard reported that kayaking incidents account for 15% of all reported boating incidents annually. 18. Iowa and Minnesota require non-motorized kayaks to be registered, which doesn’t appear to the case in New England waters. 19. Typically, a capacity plate on a boat will show the Maximum Weight Capacity (the total weight the boat can safely carry) and will show the Maximum Person Capacity. 20. A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character code that every boat manufactured from 1972 onward is assigned. The first three characters refer to the manufacturer; the next five characters are the serial number for the hull; the ninth and tenth characters indicate the month and year of manufacture (with A being January, B being February, etc.) and the last two characters are the model year of the boat. 21. Sailors love to explain the difference between starboard and port; a halyard and a topping lift and the Genoa from the Code Zero, but could they tell you why their boat moves forward when the wind blows? When wind flows over a sail, it creates a pressure difference which creates lift that “pulls” the boat forward; throw a keel or centerboard into the mix and you’ve got yourself a sailboat that’ll take you places. 22. A sailboat can sail faster than the true wind speed especially if on a reach. How? As a sailboat moves forward it creates its own wind, which when combined with the true wind creates a stronger apparent wind. The sailboat’s shape and sails allow it to harness this apparent wind to sail faster than the true wind speed. 23. If your boat is less than about 66 feet, you typically don’t need to show an anchor light if anchored in a designated anchorage – but why wouldn’t you? via Tom Whitwell

Sail GP Final Race in SF

This is the 13th location of the 2024 edition of Sail GP. And the site of the grand finale. The final race of the series starts at the 1 hour, 6 minute mark. Winner recieves $2,000,000.

Drone Big Waves

Happy July 4! Heading up to Sausalito for the weekend and a sail on the Matthew Turner. This 132 foot brigintine is a classic. A replica of a boat from the 1800's that now plys the bay with students and learning the ways of the sea. Then some music and fireworks. June was a great month of sailing and friends. Hana has been loving her swims to the beach. I have a road trip to Oregon as well as a family reunion on a lake in New Hampshire this month. I have plans for a charter in Athens in September and the 30th annual Baja Haha in November. Its shaping up to be another amazing year! Be safe!

Winners! R2AK

On the night of Day 6, the Fish House hosted the 8th edition of the only official finish line awards party possible for a race whose finishers stagger in over a three-week period. But tonight, for a fleeting moment, the top four finishers were in the same room before scattering to the winds in the coming days. Team Malolo was given their first-place winnings in the traditional form—100 crisp Benjamin Franklins nailed to a piece of firewood with an outlandishly large spike. Race Boss said onto the masses, “We shall nail $10,000 to a tree in Alaska and see who gettest it.” And lo, they did race. Racers could not come to the tree, for there was much difficulty, and it was brought to them. And so it is written, and so it shall be. Or something. Less holy and closer to true, someone thought it was funny and it stuck. Eight years in and there’s $80K in US currency floating around with an R2AK-sized hole in Franklin’s nose. In front of Ketchikan, god, and everyone, Team Malolo got the log and the money, Team Brio got the steak knives. Team Hullabaloo and Stranger Danger (the latter landed within minutes of the party starting) both held the impressive, empty honor of being the first teams to not win anything. To commemorate this, they were awarded with a bucket of nothing. An actual empty bucket. R2AK AF. Insult to injury, they had to give the bucket back at the end of the night. It was on loan from the Fish House. Malolo got to keep the firewood. To the victors go the spoils. It was a night of revelry between teams, families of teams finishing soon, local news, local fans, and at least a few members of the R2AK’s Tracker Nation who had flown in specifically to bask in Ketchikan’s finish line glory. And. It. Was. Glorious. Read the full report here:(copy this link and insert into browser) https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/06/19/r2ak-official-finish-line-awards-party/?

R2AK!

The Race to Alska movie was release a few years ago and is a great look at the race the beauty and the competitors. It is currently straming on Prime for free. Check it out.

Pipeline Comes to Mexico!

This place is south of Alcapulco.

$1 Boat Takes 7 Years to Rebuild

Fastest 100 footer on the Planet!

Think About It

Solo Sailor Falls Off Boat in Shark Infested Waters

Race to Alaska Begins June 9

We here at H2uh0 love this race. No motors! Pedal power, sail, row, paddle and favorable tides are the only means of transport. 750 miles thru some of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable from Victoria to Ketchikan, AK. And stiff tides that can exceed 14 knots...against you. No outside assistance either. Winner gets $10,000. Second place a set of steak knives. It's one of our favorite races due to the inginuity some teams put together to keep the boat moving forward. This video follows three brothers who are out to win on their second attempt. I also included the vid that inspired them to add steak knives as a prize. This is such a cool race! And an inspiring vid to boot.

20 second barrels!

What a spring travel season we are having! First we hit Norway for some fun on a cruise up the coast with 2 other couples in March. Dog sledding and ice hotels were the highlights. Norhtern lights too. We even did a night sail on a cat and hit some wind as well. Then a beautiful week on Kauai in Princeville. Kayaking and good food was the theme. We are currntly circumnavigating Iceland on a cruise ship with 200 guests as well as my two sisters on board. Whale watching today and we saw many. Lots more later this year with a sail boat charter in Greece plus the 30th annual Baja Haha and my 8th trip down the coast of Mexico on this rally of 100 boats and 400 sailors. A highlight year for sure. Plus my 28 year old son is getting married in December. Hang on for this wild ride!!

MLB Home Run McCovey Cove

One in a million hit out of the park!

New Cruisers Recount a Bunch of Bonehead Moves During the 1st Year Cruising

Hurricanes, groundings, collisions, oh my!

Ronnie Simpson Podcast

Ronnie recently lost his boat after a rig failure off Argentina in a solo race around the world. Head to Sailing Arnachy to hear Ronnie talk about the rescue and his future in the racing world. I have been following Ronnie's sailing endevours since the beginning about 15 years ago. Over the years, he has lost a rudder, a keel, 2 rigs and more. Check it out.

Hate my neighbors!

Vital Bridge Hit By Tanker in MD

A container ship rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md. The ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below.

How Long Have Humans Been Sailing?

Sailing is the oldest of our recreations, with the exception of hunting and fishing. The history of our sport is not hundreds, nor thousands, but hundreds of thousands of years older than tennis, golf, biking, or skiing. The earliest undoubted evidence of human voyaging is the settling of Australia by the aboriginal discoverers. They could not have reached it without an ocean passage of twenty-five miles or more. Further back, there is trustworthy evidence of human habitation on Crete 130,000 years ago, before Homo sapiens were in Europe, which implies those explorers were Neanderthals. Crete has been an island sixty miles from the mainland for millions of years. But the most radical possibility for early voyagers is the case of Homo floresiensis, also known as the “hobbit people,” who inhabited the island of Flores in Indonesia a million years ago. As to the common theory that any of these folks were accidentally blown by storms to these destinations, this ignores the fact that in order to gain a sustained foothold, which is what they did, you need quite a number of fellow pioneers to start, including, obviously, females. It required repeated, planned trips in some kind of boat. Despite all the fluctuations in weather, sea level, and human interaction since those early times, the ocean waters you sail on now are the same as those faced by these early voyagers. Besides boats, another ancient technology is cordage. On my first day at Tradewinds as a beginner, I was struck by the fact that in the twentieth century, ropes were being used to control the boat. Ropes? We have servos and actuators and hydraulics. What is with this primitive gear? Like the first boats, ancient cordage, made of organic things like vines or sinew, doesn’t survive through the ages so we lack archaeological proof. The earliest hominid technology we have evidence of, over three million years ago, is stone tools. Knapping stone tools is not easy, and takes skill and foresight. It is much less difficult to strip leaves off a vine, creating a rope. Again, nameless people, who weren’t yet human, thought up a simple contrivance to help with their lives that we still use today. The connection to these earliest technological innovators is part of the heritage I became aware of through sailing.

Post 3000! A Fish Story

I have been looking forward to this post for some time. I started the blog almost 20 years ago on a different platform. Found Blogger and have been here ever since. In honor of this auspicious occasion, I give you my favorite fish story: After a 7 day passage from San Diego to Cabo, it's early morning and I am at the bow of my sloop looking at the sunrise. Thinking about how sailing has enhanced my life and all the people I have met. I am having a moment of clairity. Out of nowhere, a flying fish comes out of the water and hits me on the tip of my penis. I am shocked. God, are you talking to me? Anyway, it’s about 8 inches long (the fish not my penis). It’s flopping on the deck and so I pick it up and toss her into the ocean. They call that crotch and release! True story. Oh yeah, the blog has well over a million views!! I am pretty proud of both accomplishments. Took one hellava long time!

Flying fish are ray-finned fish with highly modified pectoral fins. Despite their name, flying fish aren’t capable of powered flight. Instead they propel themselves out of the water at speeds of more than 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour. Once in the air, their rigid “wings” allow them to glide for up to 650 feet (200 meters). The winglike pectoral fins are primarily for gliding—the fish hold the fins flat at their sides when swimming. Their streamlined bodies reduce drag when the fish are “flying.” Another interesting characteristic of the flying fish is its unevenly forked tail, which has a top lobe that’s shorter than the bottom lobe. Flying fish can be up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) long, but average 7 to 12 inches (17 to 30 centimeters).

How Fast Can You Sail Solo Around the Planet?

First American woman to circle the planet solo in a race

Big congrats!!! Brauer’s sailing and social posting have both been remarkably consistent and have inspired many to follow her closely below the great capes, across the Southern Ocean, and north through the Atlantic. She is looking to become the first American woman to complete a singlehanded, nonstop race around the world and is sitting in a very solid second place. At 5 feet 1 inch and 100 pounds, she’s demonstrated that physical size and power are not a requirement for success. The Class 40 is very popular in Europe as a high-performance shorthanded offshore race boat, with some growing popularity in the States. Local boats such as California Condor, Glass Slipper and Move are all about the scale and power that Cole Brauer has deftly maneuvered around the world while she also entertains everyone with the trials and tribulations she’s faced along the way. Perhaps no other singlehanded race has managed to be as closely experienced by such a large audience.

Waterman Movie @ Amazon

The story of an American Icon and Waterman, Duke Kahanamoku. The man who brought surfing to the world and Olympic gold winner.

My biggest bonehead move was truely boneheaded!

It was my senior year in high school in 1976 and if I won the 100 yard back stroke ( 4 laps) in the championship, I would receive the high point award for the meet. This was back of the 70’s and lane lines had small plastic markers to keep the lines a float. They were spaced about 8 feet apart. On your marks, Go! I hit the wall in first place and had a perfect turn. I took a few strokes and unbeknownst to me, I swam over the lane line and into the next lane. I hit the wall perfectly again and BAM! My head slammed into the swimmer in the next lane (he was approaching his second turn, I had completed mine). I stopped and was disqualified with a nice concussion. Needless to say I did not win the award and was very disappointed! I did however go on to have an amazing college career on a swimmming/water polo scholarship. Shorty after that, lane lines improved and that could never happen again. Here is the latest swimming controversy:

Caudrelier Sails the Planet in 50 Days for Win

Tuesday 27 February at 07:37:42 UTC, Charles Caudrelier crossed the finish line of the Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest. At the helm of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the skipper of Gitana Team, who yesterday celebrated his fiftieth birthday, wins this race of pioneers, completing his first solo circumnavigation of the globe in 50 days 19 hours 7 minutes, 42 seconds at an average speed of 23.74 knots over an actual distance of 28,938 miles. A victory that is shared with Ariane de Rothschild and all the team founded in 2000 by Benjamin de Rothschild. Below vid is from a race a few years ago. This is the boat Chuck used for his recent voyage.

Surfings Top 10 Rides of All Time

Here is the number 1 ride: Here is the complete list with vids: https://www.theinertia.com/features/surfings-top-10-rides-of-all-time/

Simpson Dismasted

As of 9 p.m. EST on Feb. 11, Ronnie Simpson was set to finish third in the race, having rounded all three capes and beginning his trek up the eastern coast of South America toward the finish. Weather was not cooperating for Simpson, however, who passed Cape Horn on Feb. 2 fighting winds in the 50-60 knot range. While he was hoping to be out of the worst of it, unfortunately things did not get any better. In a Global Solo Challenge blog post dated Feb. 10, Ronnie wrote, “Even when rounding the Horn, I muted my celebrations because I knew I was going to be facing something that no one else in this race has faced; a huge 40+ knot northerly shortly afterwards. That blow has now become a general theme in my ascension of the Atlantic. Perhaps I will celebrate my Horn rounding when I finally reach the Trades and escape this cruel and dreadful place.” Simpson opted to hug the coastline as he made his way north, considering the low-pressure systems to the east. With the wind coming out of the north, the coastline did give him some respite from the worst of the wind, but the geography of the Andes Mountains made things shifty and unpredictable. Simpson began his move eastward toward the Tradewinds, hoping to keep the boat moving fast enough to avoid the worst of the weather patterns. Sunday night, as he was sailing at 9 knots under three reefs and a storm jib, the boat was launched off a wave and landed particularly violently in the trough. “I heard a bunch of big parts falling on the deck, and that was the mast,” he said in an Instagram live Monday morning. Simpson was hoping to salvage the mast and jury rig the boat to get him back to the Argentinian coast, but the volatile sea state was throttling the mast against the boat’s hull. Fearing that the mast could eventually puncture the hull, and unable to salvage the rig, he was forced to cut the mast free. Simpson has been successfully rescued by a passing ship. His dream of a circumnavigation shattered in as many pieces as his mast.

All Alone!

A look back at 2023 via GoPro

Heading out to Norway for a cruise in the fjords. Our adventure includes the northern lights, dog sleds and an ice palace. Happy Febuary to all!!

Solo Race Around the Planet on Foiled Tri's (may break the 42 day mark!)

Sailing: A Year in Review - 2023

Pro Crew Hits the Rocks

Some of the biggest waves ever recorded at Mavericks

A huge swell hit the west coast on 12-28-23 and a very highly regarded surf videographer was there to capture all the action. Go to the 20:25 mark for some remarkable footage. Famous watermen from all over the planet flew in for the festivities.

Made Me Smile

Gone But Not Forgotten

I was looking over a list of musicians we lost last year and three names really stood out: David Crosby, Tina Turner and Jimmy Buffett. Those are really big names and they are gone forever. A few more notable ones: David Lindly, Burt Bacharach, George Winston and Jeff Beck. To view a list of musicians who passed, copy this link. https://www.billboard.com/photos/musicians-who-died-2023-1235193415/115-02-alan-rankine-1980-billboard-1548/