You know the feeling!

An Amazing 14 Months of Sailing the World

I had no idea these last few months would be the ultimate sailing of my life. It started in September 2024. I met a guy on a beach who admired my sailboat and he later asked me to join him and his girlfriend in Greece for some sailing. Ah, but of course! Me and a sailing buddy joined them on the islands, 150 miles outside of Athens. It was glorious. 25 knot winds, a skipper who was good at med mooring and beautiful weather. In November, I joined a couple for the Baja Haha. My 8th voyage from San Diego to Cabo (750 Miles) along with 100 or more boats and 400 folks. Good times indeed. In the spring, a sailing buddy and I headed to Tahiti for a charter. Bora Bora never looked so good! In June of this year we did an over the top charter out of Split, Croatia. Four other couples that we have known for 40 years, joined us on a 62' cat with a captain, chef and bartender. It was the best charter I have ever experienced with visits to ancient villages, wine tasting and bike rides thru coastal towns. We did not have much wind but no one seemed to care. We were having too much fun! Next, we did a 10 day sail down the California coast and hitting the most iconic harbors on the west coast. Santa Barbara is always my favorite stop. Lastly, my 9th Baja Haha just finished up last week. I had a blast meeting the fleet and also made a new friend, Tim. He has a boat in my marina and I hope to sail with him on his boat next week. I don't think I will ever be able to top this period of my life from a sailing standpoint. Not to mention all my day sails (150 days) on the SF Bay and a week in the Delto on the water. So, you ask, what's next? I have some excellent adventures planed with my wife, Bridget. Back to the Adriatic for a cruise from Croatia to Venice. South Afica is coming up in the summer with my sister and her husband. And then a circumnavigation of New Zealand on a lovely cruise ship. NZ has been on my mind for about 40 years and I am really looking forward to visiting all the beautiful locations on our itinerary. From a sailing standpoit, I would love to get back to the West Indies and St. Barts. Thailand is a possibility as is another trip to Tahiti. I am approaching 70 years old and I want to do as much as I can before I can't. I have also thought about heading back to Zihuatanejo and the Guitarfest. That is coming up in March. One of the fun saying on my boat is, It doesn't get much better than this! However...it keeps getting better!!

The Ocean = Danger

The sea is a dangerous place. The perils of the sea include sharks, pirates, shipping containers floating just below the surface, gales, fire, rouge waves, food poisoning, infection, dismasting, hurricanes, sinking, rudder failure, scurvy, tsunamis, fog, dehydration, salt water crocs, anchor failure, water spouts, contaminated water, lightning, terrorists, fire, hypothermia, drowning, fishing nets, lee shores, whales, malaria, unlit fishing boats, strong currents, unmarked obstructions, reefs, large ships, sea sickness, mutiny, dismemberment, and death. Sailing requires a huge amount of luck as well as constant vigilance so that these issues donot happen. Safety first!

Found a Boat! Haha 31 was a Blast!

My friend Lisa was nice enough to pick me up at the airport and chauffeur me around San Diego over the weekend. We first hit the public dock on Shelter Island and knocked on hulls of about 12 boats. No luck but we met several very cool skippers. That evening, we went to see a friend of mine that was playing guitar and singing at an outdoor venue. Lots of Dead and Floyd. Nice. Back at the hotel for a swim and tub. Next morning we rented a boat to get out to the HaHa anchorage. Only one boat! We headed off to a nice restaurant for lunch. That afternoon, same friend had a his band covering Dead tunes at a brewery. I went alone and really enjoyed the show. My phone died and I had to get someone to call me an Uber. Sunday morning is the skippers meeting and a chance to get in front of all the skippers. The first order was to introduce all the folks looking for a ride. Lisa was first and gave the Poobah a big hug. I got on stage and announced to the crowd that I was a diesel mechanic, a gourmet chef, and a brilliant conversationalist. As i got off the stage, a skipper met me and and asked that i join his crew. Yeah! I found a boat for the ninth time in a row. Lisa got a ride too. The boat is a 45' Hardin ketch from the late 80's. There will be a crew of five and the skipper is off to sail the world. I plan to join the boat on Monday morning. The party was fun and I met some old friends. That night I went to the Little River band concert and loved it. Cool Change, a song about sailing was a highlight. Next morning I meet up with the boat and we take off. The boat comes in at 42,000 lbs. and is a 4 knot boat. We have abit over 300 miles to Turtle Bay. We motor for the first two days and then wind arrives on the 3rd day. Winds Are high 20's and the boat is cruising at 6 knots. We arrive about 7:30am and the anchor is down. We hit the small fishing village for some lunch and to meet other cruisers. It was a beautiful day and everyone was in a great mood. We headed back to the boat for some dinner and an awesome party that I arranged with another boat. About 50 folks come by to dance and socialize. The party is off the hook!. The next day was the softball game at the ball field. I ran into a bunch of folks that said Hi. I introduced myself to one cruiser and he happens to have a very active boat in my marina. We hit it off and it is always great to make a new friend (Tim). I headed back to the boat and picked up some tacos along the way. The beach party starts at noon and I take a panga over. It's just getting started and I grab a beer and guacamole. Lots of activity and of course my bocce balls are a big hit. My new friend Tim is there and we have some laughs. My crew alerts me we are departing the harbor in 30 minutes to get a jump ahead of the fleet. We have a 70 hour sail with some decent winds at 12-15 that get down the coast. We arrive mid day and anchor inside Santa Maria. There are only 3 boats anchored. I head to the bow and set up my hammock and some tunes for a relaxing sunset. Next morning it is a beautiful 68 degrees with brillant sunshine. I head over to see Tim and Lisa who ended up on the same bopat. They have 8 on their 50' boat. Back to my boat for a nap and a swim to another boat for introductions. At 6pm we head over to a motor cruiser for another party aboard. Fish and steak are served and I run into a gal that I met on a Haha 10 years ago. Today we are headed for another beach party that features food and a rock band for dancing. Back from the party. We had a blast seeing old friends and making new ones. Tim has a boat in my marina and we are looking forward to getting together in the coming weeks. The band was great and the beers were cold. Next day, we took off at 3am to get an early start down the coast. Winds were light but built to the mid teens for most of the way to Cabo. The weather has been spectacular. We arrived in Cabo with no major issues. I checked into a hotel and the boat is anchored off the beach. Thanks to Jody our skipper and the rest of the crew on Elizabeth Heather. It was another fantastic Haha! By the way, they announced a new Poobah as Richard is retiring after 31 years. Thank you Richard for some great times comiong down the baja coast!! Looking forward to Baja Haha 32!

Haha Here I Come!

This week I head to San Diego in an attempt to find a boat that will take me to Cabo San Lucas. The Baja Haha is in it's 31 year and is the largest sailing rally on the west coast. This will be my 9th Haha and 10th adventure down the Baja coast. The 750 mile voyage takes us to three anchorages for huge beach parties along the way. This year we have over 130 boats and 450 sailors. I will arrive Friday and attempt to find a ride. I knock on the hulls of the Haha boats and introduce myself to the skippers in hopes that a boat will need a third person on the crew. If that does not work, I head to the kick off party on Sunday and continue the hunt. The boats depart Monday for the 10 day trip. The first leg is about 350 nm to Turtle Bay. 200 nm takes us to Santa Maria. The last leg is 150 nm to Cabo San Lucas. Wish me a grand bon voyage!

I Don't Give a Shit!

What makes the waves at Nazare so big?

When I was a kid, surfing was just getting started. Endless Summer was released in 1966, the first major movie about surfing the coolest waves in the world. I spent many an hour at Indian River inlet (southern Delaware) growing up and getting to know waves that were at most 3 feet. After college in Las Vegas (1980), I moved to Northern California and the Bay Area. During the surf season, November thru April, the waves were big and powerful. The best waves were in Santa Cruz. My go to's were Steamers and Pleaure Point. Both offered great rights with long rides. My first tube was at Zuma Beach near Malibu. I dropped into a good size wave and it wrapped around my sholders and head while the green room opened up. They say getting tubed is like returning to the womb. However, this is a womb with a view!

Snowbirds Fly SF

Last weekend was Fleet Week in SF. Instead of the Blue Angels we got the Canadian Snowbirds air team due to the shutdown. They were amazing. Went both Friday and Saturday and got 15 folks to join over the 2 days.

Largest Wave Ever Surfed

Last winter Maverick's was going off. One lucky surfer caught a wave estimated at 108 feet. We are still waiting for the hieght to be confirmed. Cowabunga!

Message in a bottle

On this, my 1,335th day since I threw the lines, Left Los Angeles and my old life behind, I had a thought that made me laugh out loud: my original timeline for this trip. What I thought would be a small piece of my story turned into a saga stretching toward forever, and somehow that makes perfect sense. The daydreaming plan was simple: blast around the world nonstop — a “fast lap,” a one-and-done adventure I could tuck neatly onto my life résumé — and call it finished. Not careless, not clueless — just focused on the horizon like a horse with blinders, convinced the only prize was at the finish line. Six months to a year at sea, ignorant to any of the logistics. The charm of it was in its audacity — like deciding to sprint a marathon in flip-flops just to prove you could. Once I started digging into the details, though, my "fast lap” plan collapsed faster than a cheap beach chair. I wanted to actually see a bit of the world along the way — but like most humans my world geography skills were about as sharp as a soggy paper map. Fortunately, I stumbled into a pack of weather-worn, grinning sailors who’d already unlocked the secrets. They whipped out photos like smug magicians pulling rabbits out of hats — turquoise lagoons, volcano silhouettes, waterfalls draped like lace curtains. "I want to go there!" I shouted, jaw unhinged with envy. "Where is there?" And just like that, my world geography improved ten fold and my tidy six-month lap stretched into “two, maybe two and a half years,” and I couldn’t have been happier about it. Cut to Fiji six months later: I’d blasted through Mexico, French Polynesia, American Samoa, and Samoa, chest puffed with progress, with so many experiences behind me and beauty in the rearview, certain I was crushing it. But the chorus from every cockpit and anchorage I zipped through was deafening: slow down, this isn’t a race. I have since learned that “race” is a very subjective word out here. You’re skipping so much good stuff! So my plan mutated again, this time from my “augmented fast lap” to the more common “visa-burner plan.” Stay as long as the stamps allow. Wait for the right weather window. Dance between hurricane seasons like a kid dodging jump ropes on the playground. At three to four years, all of those factors somehow line up quite well. It keeps the boat moving at a good pace but with a ton of amazing stops along the way — like a playlist where every track is a hit. Now, after 28 countries and over 40,000 miles, about four years at sea, three oceans, and one big detour around Africa, I’ve collected a treasure chest of moments — some terrifying, most astonishing, all unforgettable. And here in Panama, I can see it clearly: there was never a finish-line race. This is the Lifetime Plan. The point is, some race it, some rally it, some drift into decades — and four years later, with a beard smelling like diesel and coconuts, I can tell you: it’s not just a journey, it’s a whole world within a world — and the absurdity of chasing it is exactly what makes it worth doing. If I were to give any advice to anyone plotting their own grand escape, it’d be this: plan the technical side like your life depends on it — because it does. Have your redundancies, your tools, your life jackets, your life rafts. That stuff matters. But when it comes to the trip itself? Let it breathe. Let it happen. Don’t strangle it with a schedule or script. Go here, go there, follow the wind, follow your gut. The magic of this whole thing isn’t in checking boxes — it’s in watching the story unfold in ways you could never have planned. Cheers, Brian

Delivery to Ventura

My friend Barry has fallen head over heels for sailing. He met up with us on our voyage to Mexico in 2018. We took him to Santa Cruz Island (off Santa Barbara) for a long weekend. Lots of highlights on one of my favorite islands. Then we chartered in La Paz, Mexico and Tahiti. He was hooked. He looked around for a suitable boat and deciided on a Catalina 36. He found a 2006 in Alameda. We waited a few months to get it to his home waters 300 miles south. We decided on late September. We took off on the 23rd of September and harbor hopped down the coast in calm and fogless coinditions. Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey are all day sails with overnight stops in each port. Our first big hop was 90 miles to Morro Bay and our first overnigh sail on his boat. We arrived at sun up and spent the day at the Morro Yacht Club. Next morning we were off to Santa Barbara for another 100 mile overnight sail. As we were rounding Pt. Conception, we could see Vandenberg Airforce Base. Just for fun, I looked to see when the next Spacex lift off was. It was coming up in 30 minutes! We were 3 miles offshore when she took off, unload her payload and then landed on a barge for reuse. How cool was that? We made it into the Santa Barbara harbor about 10am the next morning. We love Santa Barbara and several friends visited. We went for a cool day sail the next day in 10 knot winds that was very relaxing. Barry is loving his new to him boat. The next day we were off to to his home port in Ventura. This is a huge marina. The next day we drove back to the bay after a very successful delivery. We saw some whales, lots of dolphins and 2 mermaids! Thanks to all of our visitors: Claire and Mark, Robin, Ricky and Cindy, Dan, Andy, Kendra and Joe.

How was Burning Man?

I love this video! This year had a rough start with a wild wind storm and the several days of rain. The second half was glorius according to my friends who attended. I went three times and loved it. That was plenty. My favorite story came from the 2016 burn. My friend Chris and I hit Sharky's Bar for a margarita. A gal asked for everyone's attention. She went into a pantomime where she came to burning man, fell in love, had a baby, and now is back at burning man and is lactating. She pulls off her top and squirts breast milk into her friends mouth 8 feet away. Wow! I started a slow clap as my buddy was returning to the bar. You just missed the best show at burning man. He was bummed. I went over the gal and asked for an encore. Sure, I have another boob! This time, I am on the recieving end of the breat milk. That was EPIC!

What a cool ride!!

In a few days we will be heading to Santa Barbara on a friends boat. He is from there and he purchased a boat up here. September is a great month to head south as most of the fog is gone and the wind is moderate. We will be taking our time and hitting 4 marinas on the way for overnights. Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Morro Bay and then Santa Barbara. Gonna be fun!

A Look Back at the 2010 America's Cup

Race of the Century!

Netflix has a great documentary on the America's Cup in the 80's. Dennis Connor loses the cup to Australia and the world is coming to an end...almost. It's a well done film that reveals some AC secrets along the way.

Penguin Falls Hard for Surfer

Just back from a 9 day road trip. Mendocino, Elk, Shelter Cove, Big Sur and Carmel. Hana and I had an amazing time together. Almost lost her as she chased a deer into the forest. In the end she was exhausted but happy. The deer got away.

Way Overhead in Bali

That Sinking Feeling

Winging It!

We had a very relaxing 5 days up on the Delta swinging on the hook in some beautiful waters. Lots of little raftups and DJs spinning their tunes. Not quite burning man but a very fun time. Check out this vid of some very aggressive paragliders in a remote location in Turkey. There is a 21 minute version over on Red Bull TV.

For the love of water!

Water has been the biggest thrill of my entire life. It started at 2 in my Dad's arms at North Star pool in Delaware. By 4, I had joined the swim team. By 6, I was state champion in the 25 yard free with a state record. I continued competitive swimming thru college and at 66 still swim weekly. On the water sports side, we boated as a family on the Chesapeake in the summer. At 10, I started surfing in southern Delaware and got pretty good at. After college, I moved from Vegas to Carmel. The most beautiful beach town in California. After living in the desert for 4 years during college, I was back on the water and surfing up and down the coast. From Point Arena to Cabo San Lucas, I was hanging 10. In 1981, I moved to the Bay Area and met a guy who rented sailboats on the weekend. Falling in love with the SF Bay was easy with it's iconic views and storied winds. And then it happened, I found out how to really harness wind with a wind surfer. I fell hard, and soon I was skipping across the bay at 20-25 knots and loving the freedom that it brought to me. In my early 40's it was time to purchase a keel boat for bay adventures. Three of us joined financial forces and found the perfect bay boat in a Newport 30 from 1981. For the first few months, it seemed something broke everytime we went out. Once we got her up to speed, she was a platform for learning and fun. My goal was to learn everything about boat care and to immerse myself into sailing the bay and beyond. My self owned event planning company allowed me to sail a few times a week. Soon I was sailing over 100 days a year and soaking up tons of knowledge and wisdom along the way. My dream was to sail the Pacific. After 17 years on Addiction, I purchased my dream boat Aquarius. She was a 40 foot Jeanneau sloop. She was as fast as she was sexy! My biggest criteria was a three cabin boat as by this time I had enough open water experience to know that 4 hour watches are much more comfortable with 4 hours on and 8 hours off. With two sailors, you are constanly wiped out from lack of sleep. It took her a year to get her ready for the ocean. A complete refit and upgrade. In September of 2018, I embarked on a 7 month voyage deep into Mexico. Myself and two friends took off for the adventure of a lifetime. The 20 year old boat was flawless on the 4000 mile trip. 25 friends and family met us along the way to join in our fun. We arrived back under the Golden Gate in mid April, 2019. So glad we finished up before Covid! My present dream is to sail around the world...but fly to paradise instead of sailing to that spot. There is saying: sailing is the most expensive way to get somewhere where you can stay for free. While chartering is certainly not free, it is an amazing way to discover the garden spots of our world. In just the last 9 months, I have sailed Greece on a 52 foot Beaneteau with winds in the 20's all week long. In October, I was on the Baja Haha on a beautiful Catalina Morgan 440. Then in April, 7 days on a Leopard 45 catarmaran in Bora Bora, Tahiti. The water color is phenomenal. Lastly, an over the top luxury charter in Croatia. Glorius days on a 62 foot Lagoon cat with all the ameneties including captain, gourmet chef and bartender. To top it off, friends of 40 years joined as guests. I am used to giving orders on a boat, however the only ones I was giving was for more margaritas. Today, my love of our beautiful bay continues to grow. I am off to a 7 day celebration 60 miles up river to the Delta. For the uninitiated, there a 1000 miles of water ways just northeast of the bay. My first mate Tex and a sailing friend, Chris, will buddy boat up with another boat to what is called burning man on the water. Ephemerisle is over 15 years old and should be a kick in the pants. As you can see, water has been a huge part my life. In the last 25 years, I have sailed the bay approximatly 2800 times. A day of sailing refreshes the soul and opens the mind!

Webb Chiles - Almost dying is a hard way to make a living!

Webb Chiles is a pioneering figure in solo offshore sailing—a philosophical writer whose voyages were as much about inner discovery as external adventure. Over decades, he’s shaped a life rooted in passion, purpose, and artistic expression on the open sea. Now, already in his 80s, he balances the allure of one more journey with the joys of domestic serenity, continuing to wrestle with—and report on—the question: What comes next? He has been around the planet 6 times and was the first American to sail solo around Cape Horn. He has some very cool books out about his (mis)adventures. He also did a very long voyage in an open boat.

Ephemerisle

This weekend we head up to the delta for an extrodinary celebration. Ephemerilisle is also known as burning man on the water. We are expecting over 150 boats to join in over the weeklong party. Warm fresh water is the norm as this water is coming down from the Sierra Nevadas and heading to the Pacific. I will be posting the highlights next week upon our return. Stay tuned. https://ephemerisle.org/index.php/Ephemerisle

Rainblow!

A humpback inside the SF bay.

Sail Charter Aboard Adriatic Tiger in Croatia

Here is a look back at our summer 2025 European vacation. We landed in Zurich a week before our charter in Croatia. We then drove to Interlaken as Bridget had never been to Switzerland. We had a cute hotel near the river for 4 nights. We did an amazing e-bike tour around the town and visited both lakes that are stunning. I am so impressed by this beautiful town. One of the coolest aspects is the paragliding from the cliffs above. I estimate between 200-250 a day are soaring the friendly skies. The stable air makes this area one of the hotbeds of the sport. The next day we went up to the mountain for a view of the area. On the last day we drove up the local mountains for a view of Eiger that was spectacular. The next day we went back to Zurich to see an old friend. Steve gave a brief tour of the city and then off to the lake to relax. Steve said he moved because of the spot we were sitting in. He loved the lake the weather and the vibe…he never left. Dinner at his house with his family and we had a fondue feast! We spent the next day on a boat cruising the lake with a visit to a chocolate factory. Delicious! The next day we did a 700 mile hop to Split, Croatia. Our hotel was in the heart of Old Town and the Palace. A walking town, some of the walkways are single file. We met up with the other couples for a fine dinner in town. Next we were off to a tour of the national park nearby. The Krka waterfalls were spectacular. On Saturday, we boarded the boat. Wow, what a beauty. 62’ and sleeps 14. We took of to a small cove 1.5 hours away. The captain likes to anchor with the main anchor in front and then two lines to shore to stabilize the boat. It worked well. The meals were superb as the chef worked in a famous restaurant in Slovenia. The next day we were off to the waterfront town of Jelasa. We took off the next morning on an e-bike ride that was so beautiful. Much of it on a trail along the coast. We did make it to another village and then returned for lunch. Breathtaking indeed. One of the highlights was our next stop in Korcula. Tons of charter boats and the cutest town I have ever seen. We spent the afternoon wine tasting. Then after another fine meal went into Old Town. Perched on a hill, this 6000 year old town was hopping in a good way. Along one sea wall were hundreds of folks eating dinner in a beautiful setting. I walked thru the city ally ways and encountered more bars and restaurants that were all busy on this beautiful evening. The next morning we had a long run to a small island with a light house. We were to have dinner at the light house. After a nice lunch and nap, we arrived in the small cove below our dinner spot. At the appointed time we took a 15 minute hike up the hill for lobster, pasta and fresh fish. It was beautiful over looking the waters and at the sunset. I was determined to get down the hill before dark as the trail was a bit dangerous. I got to the dock and took off my clothes for a swim to the boat. As I entered the water a fishing boat was headed my way in the darkness. He could not see the anchor line to shore which if he hit it it would have been terrible. I was able to grab the line and shout to turn around. They heard me and said they need to tie up to the dock as they had lost their anchor. I asked them to wait for the captain as I was a guest. They did so and shortly the captain appeared and motored the dingy over to talk to them. It was decided they would raft up to us for the night. Disaster averted! The next morning we motored to Vis. After a fune lunch aboard, we headed out on e-bikes. In the first few miles I developed a flat and headed back. As I was coming thru, I spotted a bunch of banners from Yachtweek! I have been following these guys and have featured a few vids on this blog. Yachtweek is a company that organizes flotillas of young folks for a week in the summer. Thay have groups in different parts of Europe and the BVI’s. It’s basically a weeklong party on yachts in paradise. I interviewed one of the skippers and told him some tall tales as well. They were getting ready for the farewell party so the talk was quick but insightful. Our last day was spent on a very fast speed boat and out to the Blue and Green Caves. The Blue Cave is a major tourist attraction with tons of folks heading into these beautiful caves. The colors are truly dramatic and a must see. Over at the Green Cave, we could swim and dive in the cave. Lots of fish here too. We met with the mothership in short order for another delicious lunch. The wind had come up to the teens and we were able to sail finally. We did a three hour sail and made it back to Split for our last meal aboard. The chef and crew were fantastic. The captain took care of all the details. When I told bim I had been on a dozen charters and this was the best he was extremely happy. I highly recommend a sail vacation in Croatia. I also recommend a captain as the local knowledge makes the experience effortless.

If you have some extra cash...this yacht is for you!

Heading to Croatia on Friday for a week of sailing. Switzerland has been exceptional.

Reef Nightmare

Addiction Back in Action

Way back at the start of my sailing days in 2000, two friends and I purchased a 1981 Newport 30, Addiction. We sailed that boat like there was no tomorrow. I estimate that in the 17 years I was a partner, I sailed her 1500 times. After I sold my share to purchase my 40' Jeanneau in 2017 (for the voyage to Mexico), the boat was sailed a few more times. For the last 5 years, she has sat there waiting for love. Out of the goodness of my heart, I approached the owners and asked them if they would like me to help pass the boat on. They agreed and I contacted a local charity. Because the 44 year old boat does not have much value, they declined. I put a listing on Craigslist for a free boat and my inbox exploded. I sent a note out to everyone that replied, reminding them that operating expenses on a free boat are about $10k per year (slip fees, insurance, etc.). On the appointed day, two folks showed up and decided to partner and take over the boat! Yesterday we went for a sail out to the islands and low an behold everything went well. She handled the 25 knot breeze and the sails are still in great shape. The guys are excited and looking forward to sailing the bay. It was a very nostalgic trip for me as I have so many memories on this boat. I am so happy I was able to get her going again and back on the bay. Here is an old clip on the Addiction with my boy Kona.

Departing for a Sail Charter: Croatia

We depart in a week for one of my dream vacations. I have been thinking about this trip forever and now it is coming to fruition. We have a huge cat waiting for us. My friends of 40 years (8) and my wife will join as we tour the highlights of this historic island nation. Hvar, Vis, Split and more! We have a captain (which I understand is important as he has local knowledge that we don't) a gourmet chef and a bartender. Below is a video of some of the highlights of this extrodinarily beautiful place. We also have a week in Switzerland with friends as well as meeting a friend who lives in Zurich. I can't wait to tell you about our adventures!

The Sea!

Too Cute

A Sailing Story of Survival (Barely)

My Latest Crush = Ms. Tucker

I am not a big Facebook fan but once in a while I get sucked into Reels. Random video clips. I keep running into this beautiful sailor, Elizabeth Tucker. From what I gather, She was disenchanted with the corporate world and started sailing. Fell in love with sailing long distances and now has big plans. She just recently sailed 14,000 miles to Sydney with Cole Brauer and her boat First Light. Za, as she is known, has purchased the boat for future racing around the world. Here is an interview after the two had arrived in Sydney.

Do You Know the Answer?

Best of the Best: New Cats for YOU!

7048

The SEVENTY48 is a unique, human-powered boat race covering 70 miles from Tacoma to Port Townsend, Washington. Participants have 48 hours to complete the course using only human power—no motors, no sails, and no support crews. This year’s race starts on June 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM from the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma . The race concludes with the “SEVENTY48 Necktie Affair” on June 8, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend. This celebration includes an awards ceremony and festivities for racers and fans alike. What makes this race so cool is the innovative uses of technology used to move thru the water. I will be featuring some of the wild and wacky ways participants are using. Be on the lookout for updates this weekend on those that dare these wild waters. They have decided to do R2AK every other year so this is a race to fill in the gap. Presented by the same folks that host R2AK.

H2uh0 Turns 20!!

If you can find another sailing blog 20 years old, I hope you will tell me who it is. All my heros and those that encouraged me along the way are long gone. Wetass, Frogma, Proper Course, my2fish, and Horse's Mouth have all gone below the surface and sunk. So why am I still here?? The fact is I love everything about sailing. From my thousands of day sails over the last 25 years, to chartering in exotic locations (we depart for Croatia in a few weeks) to taking my dog and friends out on the SF bay, to my 8 Baja Haha's, my 7 month voyage deep into Mexico and back, and lastly to owning the boat of my dreams (40' Jeanneau). As a retiree, I am sailing 3-4 times a week with Hana (dog) and friends. My inspiration for starting the blog was a couple of sailing accidents on the bay on a weekend in 2005. I brainstormed the name and my thought was we could learn from other's mistakes. The blog has veered in to music, sailing history, chartering, some of my life stories, burning man, astronomy and of course, bonehead moves on the water. I am currently 66 and hope to continue sailing well into my 70's and maybe more. Who knows? Thanks to the 1,326,118 and more visitors to my site. And here to the 1000+ guests I have had aboard my boats. Here is my toast to all of you: Here's to wooden ships, fiberglass ships and steel ships. And here is to the most important ships of all. Friendships! Here is my favorite sailing quote: "Something about sailing a boat brings so many senses and sensations into play that it's very difficult to pinpoint what it is specifically that makes me like it so much: the sight of sails and sheets overhanging the water; the foam and spray flying as the bow cuts the water; the motion of the boat; the physical and mental ballet necessary to handle the boat correctly. A sailboat might just be the most beautiful, sensuous and intelligent blend of man/machine/and elements that exists in the world today. The relationship between the three is the most harmonious I have experienced so far. Besides, you can have a beer while you do it". --anonymous

Sail GP in Trouble after Dismasting

They have cancelled Rio and hope to be back on the water in June. This is the third dismasting in the fleet this year. Hopefully they can get it resolved before the NY dates in June.

Tahiti Charter was Amazing!

We arrived in Raiatea in the early morning to check in for our week long adventure. Our crew consisted of my sailing/swimming friend Barry, and two other couples. All had sailing experience and a great attitude. We did a bit of provisioning and then were were off in the mid afternoon. We spent the afternoon checking out the controls of our almost new Leopard 45. We got the sails up in light winds and headed for our first overnight destination. After a fine meal we turned on the generator and got the A/C going. We needed it as it was over 80 degrees and little wind. In the morning we sailed to Bora Bora. It was about 40 miles but it went very quickly. In this part of the sailing world the markers are reversed so red right returning does not work. We sailed smoothly and soon we were on a new island and tied to a mooring ball. That night we had dinner at the Bora Bora Yacht Club. It gave us a chance to meet the rest of the 3 boat flotilla. Our leader Daniel was seated next to me and we had lots of sailing experiences to share as well as some laughs too. The next morning were off to our next detination about 9 miles away. The water was shallow so we formed a line to follow our lead boat. When we arrived in Fareone Bay we were stunned by the amazing water color. Jumping in for a swim the water temp is a perfect 80. A little snoreling ensued and we were feeling very tropical. The next day we swam with some sharks and eagle rays. Beautiful. At noon, we headed to shore for lunch at a small compound. Mahi Mahi was the main course and it was delicious. Back to Fareone that afternoon. In the morning, we departed for Taha'a and a new anchorage. We were invited to dinner and dancers on the island. As we anchored, I saw a red hulled boat from our marina in Emeryville. I yelled hello and hoped to hook up with them later. Another group dinner and more fun. The next day it was short sail to a river entrance. Barry and I took the dingy into this tropical pardise. So pretty! I was blown away with the flora along tis stretch of water. Dinner on board and we cooked up some tuna steaks prepared with coconut sauce. Our last day we did a 3 hour race out to a mark and back to the island. Our next anchorage was in very shallow water (4 ft) but it worked. After some snorkeling we headed to a pot luck dinner with all the crews. We were a hit with the tunes and a large pot of spaghetti. In the morning it was a two hour motor back to the base and a flight to SF. We had 9 hours to kill so we hit up one of our friends staying at a fancy hotel and spent the afternoon having lunch and and hanging out at the pool. For those that have not chartered in these waters, I say go! We worked with Moorings and they did an outstanding job. They even came out to the boat twice to make some minor repairs. These are some of the most beautiful islands I have ever visited. And trust me when I say, I have been to many islands. Thanks to all for making this a very memorable expedition to paradise.

Bound for Pape'ete for an Epic Charter

We depart on Friday for a bareboat charter to the Society Islands (Tahiti). We plan to hit 4-5 islands with a flotilla of three 45' cats. The leader of the grop has done this trip several times and will lead the group thru the reefs and into the lagoons. I had thought that I would sail my own boat here one day. However with age and experience I have realized that nothing goes to weather like a 787-9 Boeing aircraft! It would also take 7 months to get there from the west coast by boat. Its 7 hours by plane! I am going with an old swimming buddy from Delaware who has gone nuts for sailing since I introduced him to it on our voyage to Mexico in 2018. He is on the cusp of buying a Catalina 36 for cruising in his home waters of Santa Barbara. Wish us a bon voyage!

Sailing Doodles Brand New Boat Lost

Boy oh boy it seems that some of the most famous video bloogers are having trouble. First, La Vagabond gets hit by a fishing boat in the middle of the night causing extensive damage to their brand new boat. Then, Gone with the Wynns have a year of issues on their brand new boat and sell it back to the manufacturer. Recently, just 3 months after he purchased it, Sailing Doodles loses their boat on a beach. All these folks have been cruising for years and making big bank along the way. The good news is LV is back on the water, the Wynns will find another hot boat and SD has purchased his old boat back that he sold in 2021. He is currently cruising the Bahamas. See below for the details on how he lost his pride and joy.

Lake Erie Can Be a Dangerous Waterway

Due to its shallow waters, Lake Erie has been a place of many marine diasters over the years. One of the issues: sudden squalls that can create 15 foot waves. In 1913, there was a storm that killed 235 sailors and sank 12 ships. The deadliest shipwreck was in 1850 when a steamboat caught fire and 240 perished. Lastly, the PS Erie had a fire caused by a varnish explosion killing 175. Lake Erie also sees 12-15 drownings each year. Folks need to respect the powers of lakes and their weather. Here is a link that will give you some guidelines for the lake and all bodies of water around the world. https://www.richmondvona.com/blog/boating-safety-on-lake-erie/

Bloggers Buy a Lemon and the Lemon Sellers Buy It Back

You may follow a popular Youtube couple (Gone with the Wynns) that purchased their dream 45' cat that turned out to have as many issues as a 70's era Fiat. Lots of issues. One of the biggest was some stray energy from one of the 4 motors that was causing all the metal on the boat to breakdown. After almost a year of dealing with the issues, the manufacturer is buying back the boat. In the second vid, Mr. Boat looks at many of the issues and breaks it down. Check both vids!

Pure Sail

Lots of rain upon our return from Southeast Asia. We had an amazing time and met lots of cool folks. Vietnam is nuts with 8 million scooters trying to hit you. Hong Kong was beautiful as it is surrounded by hills and water. Glad to be back home. Hope to get out his weekend but the weather is in charge.

World Speed Record of 65 Knots to be Broken Before Summer?

Sail GP Heading to SF March 22-23

The flying machines will be back on the bay next weekend. I have a boatload of folks joining me and hope to get some great views of these guys approacing 50 mph (43 knots). Tradionally, SF has been the final stop to the season. This year however, they have racing into November. Hopefully, we will get some nice weather!

Tesla Roadster Still Oriting the Sun After 3.5 Trillion Miles

It's been 7 years since Musk rocketed a Tesla Roadstter into space as a publicity stunt to introduce the car to the public. He added the payload to one of his latest rockets in February of 2018. Inside the car is a mannequin in a space suit listening to a famous David Bowie song on repeat. Am I crazy or is it the hash? This month it was spotted and offically listed as an asteroid. Here is the scoop: Musk's car was accidentally and briefly classified as an asteroid in 2025. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center issued a bulletin on Jan. 2 announcing 2018 CN41 as a newly discovered near-Earth object. NEOs include asteroids and comets. The MPC issued a follow-up notice on Jan. 3, saying, "The next day it was pointed out the orbit matches an artificial object 2018-017A, Falcon Heavy Upper stage with the Tesla Roadster. The designation 2018 CN41 is being deleted and will be listed as omitted." Time flies when you're floating aimlessly through the cold, inhospitable wasteland that is space. And it's already been seven years since SpaceX test-launched its powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, shooting founder Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster into space. The cherry-red sports car is still out there after taking off on Feb. 6, 2018, and even suffered from a recent case of mistaken identity when astronomers thought it might be an asteroid. A lot has happened since 2018. Musk turned Twitter into X. Tons of Starship development. Tons of Falcon 9 launches. Some more Falcon Heavy launches. Through it all, the red car and a mannequin named Starman have been in orbit around the sun. Tesla Roadster as near-Earth object. Where exactly is the car now? Whereisroadster.com tracks the location of Elon Musk's car in space. Whereisroadster.com has been in operation since 2018, tracking the car on its journey through space. Created by Ben Pearson, the site follows the car's location and calculates the distance it's traveled. As it passes its seventh anniversary in space, the Roadster has "driven" around 3.5 trillion miles. It takes the car about 557 days to orbit the sun. According to Pearson's work, the Tesla has exceeded its 36,000-mile warranty by over 96,330 times. The car famously pumped out David Bowie's song Space Oddity at the start of its journey. If the battery and speakers were still working, the on-board mannequin would have heard Bowie's masterpiece over 692,000 times. Talk about an earworm. Researchers had already looked into the chances of the car hitting Earth some day, and calculated the odds at just 6% within 1 million years. The team also worked out that the Roadster will make a close(ish) encounter with Earth in 2091, when it will come within a couple hundred thousand miles of the planet where it was made. Space is a harsh place, so it's likely the Roadster and its pilot are pretty roughed up at this point. What will be its ultimate fate? It could be doomed to wander the solar system, or perhaps we'll go fetch it someday and put it in a museum. Anyone want to buy a lightly used, well-traveled electric car?

Portland Maine becomes round the world central

Racers from far and wide are picking a few boatyards in Maine to prepare their boats for a lap around the planet. Read the article here:https://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/the-storied-legacy-of-shorthanded-around-the-world-sailing-based-in-maine

One of my favorite boats: Mayan

Beau is the Commadore of the St Francis Yacht Club and a perfect owner for the classic beauty.

Cool Moon Fly Over

Firefly's Blue Ghost lander captured more incredible footage of the Moon during its third lunar orbit maneuver on February 24 that inserted the spacecraft in a near-circular low lunar orbit. The footage below, sped up by 10X, was captured about 100 km above the lunar surface, showing the far side of the Moon and a top-down view of Blue Ghost's RCS thrusters (center) and radiator panels on each side. The radiator panels are moving nominally to protect Blue Ghost's subsystems from extreme temperatures.

On Our Way

We departed Singapore on our cruise and are now heading to Thailand. At sea today we booked my biggest bucketlist item! I have been dreaming of a trip to New Zealand forever. We will depart December of 2026 for Sydney with a circumnavigation of NZ. Silver Sea again. I can't wait. Only 696 days until departure! Below is a pic of the incredible Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore.

Bon Voyage!

My wife Bridget and I are off for a cruise in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. We have been on Silver Seas a few times and they always do a great job. On another note, there will be another Baja Haha in 2025. I hope to get on a boat but there is always a chance i won't find one. But not for a lack of trying. I usually fly into San Diego on the Friday before and start knocking on Haha hulls to introduce myself. It has always worked in the past. Last Haha I was on a great boat with a fantastic crew. I hope to repeat in 2025.

Music Map

I went to see one of my favorite artists this week. David Gray was in town and he put on an inspired show. His album, White Ladder is still one of my all time favs. I put his name into musicmap.com and it came up with some very interesting artists. Here is the result of interrelated artists. Give it a try with your favorite artists.

An Artistic Look at Nazare (gigantic waves)

A week on the water!

My wife is out of town and my friend Barry drove up from LA and we took off for a sailing adventure. We found some wind on the days we sailed and one day of rain. Saw some great music too. Dead tribute bands including DSO and a Tom Petty tribute band. Coming in on the last day we got stuck at low tide near the channel entrance. Sat there for 2 hours and then we were able to motor off. I took a nap. Had some great food too. Painkiller at Trader Vics to end the trip. Not related but here is a tip for an idle big screen TV. You can search for different countries to fly over. This one is Italy.

Somewhere in New Hampshire

My Friend Barry

My friend Barry and I swam on the same team back in Delaware. We lost touch after high school both going off to swimming scholarships on different sides of the country. We hooked up again 40 years later and he joined me for a boat charter out of La Paz, Mexico. He has joined me a few times on the bay and last summer we took a week long trip to the delta. He has fallen in love with sailing. He is currently taking classes to get up to speed as well as looking for a boat. He is heading up next week for more sailing on my boat and some great music at local venues. In April, we head to Tahiti for a 7 day charter. Barry's only wish was that he started 20 years ago as he has about 15 more sailing years to go (80?). The lesson here is don't let the years slip by. Buy a boat and live life to the fullest! Cool song and musicians!!

MLK on 10@10

Sailed the last 6 days as Bridget is on the road. Mostly solo but with several Meetup groups on the weekend. No wind on the weekend but we still had some fun taking Hana to the beach. Below is one of my favorite SF radio shows called 10@10. Ten great songs from one great year. This show features Martin Luther King Jr speaches and songs. Check it out!

Sydney Hobart Race Film

The 60th running of the race proved to be a challenging one with 50 knot winds and 15 foot waves hitting the fleet in Bass Strait. Watch the highlights (and lowlights) below.

Tahiti Charter Booked

I visited Tahiti way back in 1992 with the Too Much Fun Club. Had some great scuba with my then fiance Bridget (married 31 years now). I am heading back in April with my friend Barry. We are joining a small flotilla for a cruise around the islands. We each have a private berth on a 45' cat. You will be hearing more about the trip as we draw closer. Check out this beautiful vid below about the beauty and tranquility of this very special place.

World's largest sailing yacht gets ready to celebrate 100 years!

Allegra Gucci’s first palpable memory was aboard her family’s sailboat, the 214-foot Creole. As she recalls growing up, the world’s largest wooden sailing yacht formed a playful cocoon for water fights, running along hundreds of feet of teak decks, swallow dives into the ocean, and, at peak performance, adrenaline rushes as the boat thundered at full sail in the Mediterranean. Fun and games belie this superyacht’s stature. Creole is a head-turning behemoth with a crown of sails and an ink-black hull. Born in 1927, the boat is a work of genius from Charles E. Nicholson, the era’s greatest naval architect. “Creole is Nicholson’s masterpiece,” Gucci tells Robb Report in a rare interview, noting the boat has been in her family since her father purchased the then-dilapidated three-masted schooner in 1983, two years after she was born. Read the rest here: https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gucci-creole-sailboat-1236133133/