Awesome Weekend Sails

Had some very nice sails last weekend. Started with a sunset sail with Dave and a few of his friends. Started out preety foggy as we left the dock. After an hour or so it cleared and we had a very nice sail out to Raccoon. Sunday I took the Conmys out and the winds were moderate and we had a very fun sail. Made it to Scott's cove for lunch and then a perfect sail home. Monday I had Travis and Steven out and it was blowing much harder. We only had the jib up and that was plenty. Lots of good times and plenty of wind. Might go for a solo sail this weekend. Cheers.

Big Ship Launches

Top Jumps of All Time

Some Adrenline to Get Your Weekend Started

Spotify is Live in the US

For those living under a rock, the greatest music service this planet has ever seen, has finally jumped thru all the legal hoops and is online now. Spotify has been availble overseas and folks have been enjoying this free/paid service like no other. 15 million songs are just waiting to be played on your desktop as well as many mobile devices (paid). For $9.99/month you can have it all. I just joined, picked the Premium package, downloaded the app and I am off and running! I am also hooked in with my iphone and can take it anywhere. You have got to check it out! Click here for more info. Start rocking out now!

360 view of the Discovery Cockpit

And we thought boating was complicated! See this great view of the cockpit.

Full Screen Only!

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

Watch this amazing view of our watery world. Full screen only!!!

Everything is a Remix

A very clever look at movies and music from an unusual perspective. Starting with Led Zepplin and how they took elements of songs from famous artists and made the songs their own, to George Lucas using scenes from other famous films and incorporating them into Star Wars. This is a very cool look at remixing our favorite works of art. Hell, this blog is a remix! Here is Part 1 and I highly recommend Part 2 and Part 3. Check it here.

Everything is a Remix Part 1 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

Pics of the Day

Click the pic for a larger view.

Cinemagraphs are Very Cool

Take a picture and then add movement to the mix. Check out this cool technique here.

Yacht of the Week

We don't normally feature motor yachts on these pages, but this one is pretty compelling. At almost 140', this yacht will turn some heads. She has some very futuristic lines and a minimalistic feel down below. Although top speed is in the low 20's, this carbon fiber philly will get you there in style. I think this boat would be awesome with a mast and cutter rig. Ballast would be needed, but she could go as fast under sail as she would with the iron genny. If you like boat porn, check out more pics and the stats on this one of a kind yacht.

Check out that cool steering wheel!

Via Sailing Anarchy

The Future of Computing?

g-speak overview 1828121108 from john underkoffler on Vimeo.

Fish Frenzy

via Handbreit

Pics of the Day

Sailing the Bay on Fast Boat

Ocelot Crewed Farallons 2011 from rob blackmore on Vimeo.

AC on the Bay

Loving Audio Galaxy - Cloud Music

I have been using Audiogalaxy for a couple months now and I have been very impressed with this free service. There is something so cool about having access to your music where ever you go. My music library is way to large to carry with me, so AG solves the problem by letting me store over 100k songs in the cloud. Why wait for Apple, why waste time with Google and Amazon when you can have access to AG whenever. I do a 10 mile loop on my bike every morning thru canyons and hills and the music (playing on my iPhone) almost never skips or stops. You can also stream it using Airplay all over your house. Don't wait another day. Go get this awesome piece of heaven. If you have multiple libraries to draw from, set up multiple accounts and rock out!

Video of the Day

Cool Pics

Top pic is the shuttle lift off.

Awesome Sunset Sail

It's been a busy spring with weekends full of travel and activities since mid April. Had a chance for a sunset sail the other day and I took it. Got up to the boat around 6pm and the wind was perfect at 15-18 knots. Headed thru the cut in the Berkeley Pier with just a full jib up. We took off towards Tiburon and had a very nice run into the shadow of Angel. A tack there and then a run towards the city. Kona is on board and down below. Most boats have headed to the barn so I have the bay to myself. I tack once more and get ready for the sunset. Wind is still pumping but a little lighter now. Our boat just turned 30 years young and she is still an amazing sailing machine. The sun sets behind Mt. Tam and we head for the harbor for a nice little slumber on board. Summer is here and it's time for much more sailing in my future.

Pics of the Week

Click any pic for a better view. Now head to the water and have some fun!

My Next Sport

Bad Day at the Boat Yard

AC Pitchpole - Opps!

Local politicians, dignataries and the the press got a close up view of the AC 45's racing across the bay. Shortly after the VIP's left the race course, this is what happened.

AC Boats on the SF Bay

Getting excited about the America's Cup even though it's still 2 years away. This week, two of the 45' cats will be on the bay practicing and going over the proposed route of the race. Next year they break out the 75' cats that will be used in the Cup. This will be a nice appetizer! Here is some footage to wet your whistle!

Be Careful Out There

Our sailmaker Rui Luis of Rooster Sails passed over the weekend in a boating accident. He was moving from boat to boat and slipped into the Oakland Estuary on Sunday. Another boater saw him fall in and quickly came to his aid. Back on the dock, he was talking and responsive. He died shortly there after as his heart could not take the stress. I am so very sad. He was a great guy and helped me keep our sails in order. 48 years young and gone too soon. Rest in peace my friend. Make it a priority to be safe on the water and whatever you do.

Cool Time Lapse

El Cielo de Canarias / Canary sky - Tenerife from Daniel López on Vimeo.

Wavski

Tour of the Galaxy

Very Funny

Waterspoat Off Australian Coast

Pics of the Week

Enjoy the Holiday!

Bonehead Move of the Week

Perfect landing!

Blo Me Away

Top Boat Names

Found this list over at Boat US. Be sure to click the pic for a bigger view. One of my favs from Seinfeld: Serenity Now!

River Run - Hawaiian Style

A Waste of Time or Really Cool?

Concept Yacht

A winner of the 2011 “Dreamboat” Millennium Yacht Design Award, this brave interpretation of the motor boat concept by designer Hyun-Seok Kim was inspired by all of the natural beauty and fun activities found at sea. Tofi’s unconventional shape and unique furnishings compliment it’s far-out exterior and spaceship aesthetic, stimulating the imagination on board, while features like the hide-away diving board and safety buoy system promote fun in the water. More pics here.

Light the Candles = Six Years For H2uh0

And what a ride it's been. 2005 was the year and there were only a few sailing voices in the the blogosphere. Tillerman, Horse's Mouth and Tim Zimmerman were my hero's and inspired me to start this blog. Now there are so many voices it's hard to hear anymore! At this point I am transitioning to another point in my life. I am sailing like a crazy person on the bay and in Mexico (I depart this weekend to hang with my buds in Puerto Vallarta and sail Banderas Bay) as well as working towards my goal of sailing to New Zealand in 7 years. In pursuit of that goal I will sail in the Baja Haha several more times. This summer, I plan to sail up to Tomales Bay for a week. And there will be a lot more chartering in Mexico and the BVI's. The next big jump will be finding the boat to get me across the Pacific. That will be an adventure! But not for several more years. In the meantime, I will keep sailing our Newport 30 on the bay and beyond. I will continue to post on this blog as well as start a new blog that will be a resource for the trip across the pond. Thanks everyone for visiting over the years and for your comments. Sailing is the celebration of life!

Stream From the Cloud for free

Ever since Google purchased and shut down Simplify, I have been looking for a way to stream music from my home computer to my phone when away from the house. Amazon has a new service that does not work with iPhones and Apple is prepping their cloud service, but in the meatime, I need a solution. I found a great one in Audo Galaxy. Download the app to your computer and phone. Sync up your iTunes lib to the cloud and you are good to go. It's easy and you'll being able to get to all that music thru your iPhone or Android phone. There is something cool about streaming music to where ever you are and I think it is a very neat evolution in technology.

Sponge!

Not So Fun

Went out for a solo sunset sail the other day and man was it cold and miserable. The wind was up and a cold fog was rolling in from the Pacific. I tacked towards the Berkeley Pier and got behind the dodger after letting out just a little bit of jib. The wind was in the high 20's and biting at every piece of exposed skin. I tack and look back at the channel makers and I have not gained much headway. The wind won't let me move forward. Most of the boats are already in for the day and I am the only boat I can see at the moment. Who else would be crazy enough to be out in this? I hit the next tack and head back towards the pier. I have a pretty high tolerence for cold winds on the bay but this is bad. I am not having much fun. I could put on the warm gloves and hat I carry on board. I could huddle under the dodger to attempt to hold off the cold. I have been out about an hour and start thinking about heading in. This is the first time I have ever thought about coming home early as I am a diehard sailor. I still had another hour to sail but the cold has changed my mind and I head for the warmth of the harbor. Once back at the dock, I pour myself a large draw of Don Julio in our grande snifter and sit back in the saloon and enjoy our new interior speakers and a little Jack Johnson. It's days like this that make you appreciate being tied to the dock...and safe and warm.

DAY 3: EXTREME! A major collision, 4 capsizes, 1 broken mast.

The Trials of a Solo Sailor

Lee Winters has been solo sailing out of Texas for the last two years on a voyage to help the children of the world. He did not have very much background in the ways of the sea but found a great boat, worked hard on her to get her ready and then set off. Here is a great video of his first leg thru the Gulf of Mexico to Isla Mujeres, MX. You get a good feel of the terror, frustration and lack of sleep that you encounter on a solo voyage. He has made it all the way to NZ! For more, go to his website.

Sailing Solo Across the Gulf of Mexico from Lee Winters on Vimeo.

Ouch!

Bonehead Move of the Week

Boat Show at Jack London this Weekend

Don't miss the the biggest sail boat show on the west coast this weekend at Jack London Square in Oakland. First there is a Baja Haha Reunion on Friday at 6pm. Free beer and munchies. There will also be lots of free seminars going on each day. And don't forget to kick some tires of the new sailboats and multi hulls. I am meeting a friend on Sunday to look at the new catamarans. He hopes to buy soon and put it in the charter trade in the BVI's. Looking forward to more time down their on his new boat! Read all the details at the source.

Fixated on Fifty

Here is a look back at some heroic attempts at reaching the mythic 50 knot barrier on water. The current record of 55 knots is held by a windsurfer, Robert Douglas. For a wiki look at the history of speed, go here.

Outdoor Film Fest

The weather in Norcal is turning balmy with 80's the norm. It's time to get outside and do the voodoo that you do! I found a site that features a bunch of inspiring outdoor films. Here is an example:



To view the rest of these films, go here.

Spring break is next week and that means some skiing is in order. We are heading to Mammoth!

Jaws Goes Wild

Rare Phenomena - Morning Glory Cloud

Here is something cool that I was not aware of, the Morning Glory cloud. Here is an explaination from Wikipedia:

A Morning Glory cloud is a roll cloud that can be up to 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) long, 1 to 2 kilometres (0.62 to 1.2 mi) high, often only 100 to 200 metres (330 to 660 ft) above the ground and can move at speeds up to 60 kilometres (37 mi) per hour. Sometimes there is only one cloud, sometimes there are up to eight consecutive roll clouds.

The Morning Glory is often accompanied by sudden wind squalls, intense low-level wind shear, a rapid increase in the vertical displacement of air parcels, and a sharp pressure jump at the surface. In the front of the cloud, there is strong vertical motion that transports air up through the cloud and creates the rolling appearance, while the air in the middle and rear of the cloud becomes turbulent and sinks.

The cloud can also be described as a solitary wave or a soliton, which is a wave that has a single crest and moves without changing speed or shape.

More Bonehead Moves than you can shake a stick at!

Stolen from CaptainBlack.

Modern Cruising

Here is a great description of cruising from a 30 something couple on an around the world cruise on their honeymoon.

There is truly nothing more magnificent that catching the wind in your sails, kicking your feet up and sailing off to a new horizon, a new place, a new adventure…

Traveling by sailboat is different than any other form of travel I have experienced. First of all, you are traveling in your home. Anything you need is there, usually within an arms reach.


Secondly, you are almost entirely self sufficient. We make our own energy with our solar panels and make our own water from the sea. We use so little energy and know so specifically what we need and when. It’s amazing to be able to measure your own carbon footprint. In addition, you have to work to get where you want to go – really work. You must trim sails, crank winches and steer your ship through waters calm and rough. The reward of finally getting to a destination by catching wind is truly something to relish. Finally, the world opens up to you in a such a way that it never did before. You become in tune with the rhythm of nature – the ebbing of tides, the clocking of winds, the direction of waves. Mother Nature is number one out here and to be surrounded by her, with her, know her and depend on her is a truly beautiful gift to experience.

I will be the gladdest thing under the sun, I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay

Visit their blog here.

Rainy Days by the Bay

March has been wet and cold in the Bay Area. We have had 17 days of rain so far and with that some flooding and weather related problems. Up near Donner Summit in the Sierra's, almost 700 inches of snow has fallen. We could ski till mid August at this rate. Tide ebbing out the Gate will be much stronger when the snow starts melting. We found that out the hard way a few years ago. The water management folks are ecstatic as the reservoirs that hold our drinking water are almost full and the snowpack has not even begun to melt yet. This all bodes well for our great state as we have been behind in water deliveries for a handful of years. We should also have a banner year as far as wild flowers go. The hills are very green and spring like weather should arrive this weekend. If you are a bay area resident, make plans to get outside and play. You deserve it!

Awesomeness From the Hubble

Found a site with many of the top photos from our wandering telescope. Spoke to a guy a NASA and we were talking about the problems they had during the first few years with the mirrors used to get these fine pictures. Seems the folks in charge of grinding the mirrors to perfection made a small error and all the pictures were off. They sent up a space shuttle and the crew spent a week making repairs 300 miles above earth. Once she was powered up again, the images came back sharp and clear and beyond all expectations. My friend at NASA said, "It's amazing what you can do with a $629 million pair of contact lenses." Click this link for all the pics.

So You Want To Become a Sailor

Go full screen if you wish.

Trip Log: Sea of Cortez Bareboat Charter

Five young at heart men on an intrepid voyage in the Sea of Cortez. We flew in to Cabo

on Saturday afternoon the 12th of March. Our van driver was waiting and we took off

for 130 mile drive through the desert to the town of La Paz. Arriving about 7pm, we off

loaded our gear on the 41' Morgan Out Island Ketch and headed to dinner.

After a great night sleep, we needed to do a walkthrough with the boat manager and provision the boat. Time was of the essence however, we did not depart until 3pm.

Winds were light, so we motored to our destination for the

evening. We were headed to a small bay north of town. We got the hook down in a

wonderful spot with several anchored boats in an adjacent bay. As soon as we toasted

our arrival, a panga is heading our way. Could this be the the lobster fisherman we had

heard about with fresh lobsters for trade? Not so fast. Turns out it was five federales

with machine guns. The skipper boards our vessel as the boat circles with guns at the

ready should we make a sudden move. He wants to see our papers and boat docs. They

were very professional and there were no problems. At the end he hands me a form to fill out. I need to rate his performance and was he courteous, etc. I look over at the machine

gun and figure I should give him high marks. They depart and we continue our fiesta and

the BBQ comes out for some Thai Chicken. We have a nice night looking at the stars

and go for a late night kayak around a small island. The pelicans don’t like it and 100’s

fly off in the night. We have a great sleep and lots of dreams.

Day 2 we take off after an egg breakfast and head to the first island group called Isla Espiritu Santo. Huge island that broke away from the mainland many years ago. Lots of cool coves and beaches surrounded by towering mountains. We head to Gabriel Bay and

anchor in 8 feet of water. Swimming, kayaking and some hammock time are in order.

Burritos are served in the cockpit along with cold cervezas. At 2pm, I call for a sail and

we load up and head out. The wind is up and soon we are doing 6 knots on our 41’ 1973

Morgan Out Island. All the sails are up and it is a glorious reach towards the Baja Peninsula. We sail for about 3 hours and then head in to a cove on the island for the night. It’s a bit windy but we find a nice spot and anchor for the night. Murray cooks up some steaks and we have

another round of Margs to celebrate our arrival. We have a tender that we are towing

and jump in for a tour of the bay. Dinner is awesome and we have a very warm night on

board. The stars are brilliant and we have an amateur astronomer on board and he gives a

tour of the heavens. Rigel, Spica, Aldebaran, Plelades, Betelgeuse and many more are visible as we are in the middle of no where. We head to bed around 11 for another round of dreams and snoring.

Day 3 starts with a motor to Isla Partida. The "parted island". The geology suggests an

active fault that has moved this land from the mainland as the San Andreas lies under the surface and is still moving things around at the pace of an inch a year. We anchored and

the kayaks hit the water and swimming in the 72 degree water commences. We relax,

have lunch and by 1pm we are setting sail for another run up the coast. The winds are

not as strong as the day before but we are heading north at a good clip and it is another

glorious day. The boat is on rails and we sit back with a cerveza in hand. After 3 hours

or so we head in to another cove for dinner and sleep. We find a beautiful cove but we

are inundated by friendly bees and need to pull up anchor and find another spot away from these creatures.The food on the trip is prepared each day by one of the crew and tonight is chili. All the food has been great so far. After some excellent conversation and a fine meal, I head into the master suite and watch a movie, Salt. Very fun. Also reading a great book on the iPad and loving the new 2. Did not sleep well but got lots of reading in.

Morning is sunny and we have huevos rancheros prepared by Arnie and we enjoy a float

in a beautiful bay. About 9am we head to a small island inhabited by seals. We all

dive and swim with these social beasts and it is a highlight for the crew. Lots of tour

boats out of La Paz and groups of kayakers. About noon we head off for our northern

most destination of Isla San Francisco. Winds are light and we are sailing the 16 miles

at about 3 knots. Takes 5 hours and we motor in to the cove. Lots of jellies so no

swimming. We meet a boat next door and they are cruisers from the Bay Area. Arnie out

does himself again and we have another awesome meal with lots of wine and more fine

conversation about Paul’s love life. Arnie and I continue our backgammon tournament

and I walk away with a few more victories. Sleep is fine and we have a restful night. It’s

Paul’s turn to cook today and we are hopeful he keeps the bar high.

Up around 8am for a breakfast of rice and eggs. After cleanup we discuss the day. We

are hanging around for another night at The Hook so we need to decide our itinerary for

this glorious day. We decide to head north and check out the next couple of coves and

maybe head up to another anchorage for lunch . We see the next seal rock and do a little snorkel as the boat idles around ready to pick up the divers. Lots of great fish and more seals. We head toward a fishing village on Isla Coyote and find a nice spot to anchor. We snorkel

the area and lots of fish abound this beautiful place. Two crew head to the fishery and

pick up a couple pounds of fresh yellow jack for dinner. We set sail upon their return

for a magical afternoon of sailing in light winds. The water color is very deep blue and

perfect. All the sails go up and we relax, joke and talk story. It’s amazing. After three hours of spectacular sailing, the wind dies and we motor back to the anchorage for sunset. We hike up to the bluff for one of the greatest sunsets of my life. We are 500 feet above a perfect anchorage with about 10 boats on the hook. As the sun sets, we can see blue whales spouting, dolphins in the anchorage and and fish jumping on the surface. Since this is a small island, we have a 360 view of the Sea of Cortez and sheer cliffs on both sides. I have a perfect perch and the sun goes over the Baja Peninsula. Wow!! We paddle back to the boat and dinner is served and it pasta with fresh fish off the bbq and some white burgundy. The best meal of the trip. We continue to open wine and the conversation is lively. We have a very warm evening in the cockpit and lots of laughter. Everyone heads to bed but I linger in the hammock in the bow and enjoy some great tunes and the almost full moon and a 20 knot breeze that has sprung up.

Delightful!!! A memorable day indeed!!

We depart before 8am for our trip home. It's a beautiful day but there is no wind. We motor back to the seal rocks and do another swim with the seals. One is circling me and we began a little dance where I chase him and then he chases me. How cool. After everyone returns to the boat we take off and continue south. We anchor in a nice cove and I go for a quick jog on the beach. Then It time for the sunset and Murray makes a quick call home. Rain and more rain in the Bay area as he says hello to his wife. We head back and two kayakers join us for the last round of margs and dinner. Our last night is grand and we have a windy, bumpy night in our berths. Up early, the wind is about 15 knots and we get to sail out of the anchorage. It's a little chilly but not too bad. The wind is on our nose but we are making way towards the harbor of La Paz. The wind dies around 11 and we motor the last two hours. What a fantastic seven days in Baja. There are no bars or services in this area as it is very remote and primitive. If you are looking for quiet anchorages, starry nights and great sailing, I highly recommend a week long charter out of La Paz!! If you are interested, please contact these folks.

Departing for the Islands

My boat partners and I are heading for La Paz, MX on Saturday for my first bareboat charter. We have a 41' Morgan ketch for a week to explore 5-6 island groups in the area. The wild life in the area is superb and we hope to see whales, dolphins, rays, seals and lots of birds. The area we are going to is fairly desolate and very pristine. I will be writing a daily journal and uploading the results upon my return on the 21st. Check back in 10 days for the trip reports! Adios amigos.

77' Four Devils Charter Boat Sinks

"There's water over the floorboards." That's not what you want to hear at 7 p.m. on a dark night at sea.

But that's the news that Marion Dallond of St. Barth had for her boyfriend, Tom Perry, captain of the CNB 77 Four Devils, and crew Edmund Murray, also of St. Barth.

Tom and Marion couldn't have been more stunned. They'd been on the 10-year-old luxury yacht — $25,000 a week — for three years, had done the summer in Croatia, and had most recently sailed her 4,000 miles across the Atlantic to St. Barth. When the bad news came on the evening of March 2, they were 25 miles NNE of St. Martin on their way to Martinique to pick up the French owner for a month-long cruise.

The situation could have been worse — it was calm and there was only a four-foot swell. "It would have been pretty bad two weeks ago when it was blowing 30 knots and there was a big swell," agrees Tom. "But safety first, so Eddie and I got the liferaft ready and put the tender over the side. We quickly checked all the obvious places for the source of the ingress of water, but couldn't find anything. We would later strap tarps over the side to see if that would help, but there was no noticeable effect."

Tom then got on the satellite communication system and emailed the owner that they had water coming in, were in distress, and needed help. He also put out a mayday on VHF, which was picked up in Fort de France, Martinique, 200 miles away. Either it was a good radio bounce or the French have some sort of relay system. Fortunately, the mayday was also picked up by the Dutch navy ship Rotterdam, which sent a helicopter in advance, and immediately began steaming toward Four Devils.

By 7:45 p.m., Four Devil's engine died, and with it her bilge pumps. Tom got his crew off the boat and into the tender, with the liferaft streaming behind. He'd also paid out all the chain to keep the hull from being destroyed in the off chance she drifted up close to an island.

The Rotterdam arrived at about 9:30 p.m., and their smaller rescue boat reached the Four Devils crew about 10 minutes later. The Four Devils crew was taken to the Rotterdam for a medical and general assessment. Hey, it's the Caribbean, so for all the Rotterdam crew knew, the boat could have been filled with drugs, illegal immigrants or who knows what.

After Tom had a discussion with the Rotterdam engineers, they returned to Four Devils with some pumps to try to keep her afloat. But it soon became clear there was nothing they could do. A salvage tug appeared on the scene, decided there was nothing they could do either, and left. The captain of the Rotterdam was nice enough to stand by, so the Four Devils crew got to see the Four Devils' hull go under at about midnight, and the top of the mast disappear about two hours later. Four Devils is now 600 meters down, having joined countless other sailing vessels on the floor of the Caribbean Sea.

A former oysterman on Long Island sound before becoming a professional skipper 25 years ago, Tom Perry knows his stuff. He'd run J Class Yachts and skippered a number of mega sailing yachts to a string of important victories in Caribbean sailing regattas. We asked him how many times he's heard of large boats suddenly sinking.

"Oh, maybe five or six. But big motoryachts sink more frequently than big sailboats. Big Eagle sank in the Med, Miss Turnberry sank off St. Martin, and there was another big motoryacht that went down off Puerto Rico. And aluminum boats tend to fail catastrophically. But we have absolutely no idea what happened to Four Devils, as we've been actively sailing her for a long time and had just sailed her across the Atlantic. We can only speculate that she must have hit something that caused major damage to the hull."

Having had a great gig with a great owner for three years, Tom and Marion's futures are unclear. "We'll have to see if the owner wants to get another boat or not," says Tom. But the couple, who are good friends of Latitude's, have a backup plan, having purchased a great house in a small French village in the mountains an hour north of Nice. "Located in a beautiful little village, the house has three floors and six bedrooms, and it will be a great place for us to have a Chambre d'hote — bed & breakfast — and to raise a family."

Of course, you can't take sailing out of Tom's body any more than you can take the blood out. "We're also planning to get a classic 10 Meter — a sistership to Cotton Blossom that Dennis Conner restored — for chartering in the Med. In fact, there's one such 10 Meter, Hope, on San Francisco Bay. So we'll just have to see."

So much for the crew. How is the owner taking the loss of his yacht, particularly on the eve of a much anticipated month-long cruise? "Not very well," admits Perry.

Here is a link to the website with pics of this beauty:

Click here.

via Latitude 38

Formation Flying

Exploring the Sky - Wingsuit Flying 2011 from Richard Schneider on Vimeo.

Stories of human flight have persisted for millennia. From Icarus’ brush with the sun, to DaVinci’s thoughts of eyes turned skyward watching the birds. Man has managed to fly for more than a century now, but it is only during the past decade of wingsuit development that we have been able to shed most of the mechanical aids and begin to glide with a minimum of help. Of course, so far we’re only able to do so with a minimal amount of glide.

The evolution of wingsuit flying, beginning with the extended free fall of a parachutist, has now reached the point where glide ratios of 2.5:1 (which means that it can glide 2.5 feet forward for every foot it descends) are possible. This doesn’t allow wingsuit fliers to travel very far or stay aloft more than a handful of minutes, but they are starting to achieve better control and are beginning to stretch their flights out farther and farther.

For anybody who has had dreams of flying through the clouds, this video gives us an actual glimpse of what it is like. Filmed in California, Florida, Nevada and Puerto Rico, the six-minute clip gives a look at some wingsuit formation flying and the simple joy of human flight.
via Wired Mag

Wow - The best sail of my life!

I estimate I have set sail over 1000 times over the last 30 years. Sunday was the best sail of my life! There was danger, pure speed, elation, beauty, and gratitude. Here is a recap: I made it up to the boat with my trusty golden Kona about 10am. Went to start the engine and after three tries it's a no go. I pull the cover and begin the bleeding process. Try again and she starts right up! We head to the channel and the wind is from the south east and 6-8. I rig the spinnaker and as we hit the last maker I pop the chute. Perfect. Now I just need to head up enough to miss the 2 mile long Berkeley Pier. I clear it and now it's a nice run to Angel. The sun is bright and the temps are in the 50's. The Golden Gate beckons me! I got around the south side of Angel and the wind direction changes. It's blowing into the island and pushing me towards the beach. I head towards the island knowing I have to get the spinnaker down. She comes down quickly and I bag her and turn the boat away from the island. That was only the second time in 10 years I have raised the spinnaker on a solo run. Awesome! I raise the main and jib and reef the jib as it is 15 knots at this point. I hove to for a few as I need a break to reduce the adrenaline rush. After a few, I head towards SF to give Kona a break. We head over to Gas House Cove, empty the holding tank and take K for walk. Back on the water the wind contunies to build. So much for the forecasted 5-10. I head towards the Gate and I can see my first big fog bank of the year. That's why the wind is so strong! I get under the bridge and it is always special to sail out towards the Pacific. The waves build, the view is stunning and its only 2ooo miles to Hawaii! Opps, not enough wine on board to make it that far! I tack a few times and realize that I have not seen any ships moving today. Not a one! That's unusual. I head to the west side of Baker Beach enjoying the sea motion. It's getting late so I head back. Once under the Gate, I throw up the chute once more. It wasn't a perfect hoist and had a wrap or two but she goes up. By now it's almost 5pm and there are very few boats on the water. I am blasting across the water at 7.5 knots and it's a perfect run to the barn. I drop the chute as I approach our channel and I am exhausted with a huge smile on my face. The sun is getting ready to set just as I head in. Two spinnaker runs, 20 knots of breeze and the most amazing sail of my life! Our Newport 30 has been such an amazing platform for fun and good times on the bay. I love this boat and sailing my home waters of the San Francisco Bay!!!

Water Trick

Since this is a water blog, how about a cool water trick. I don't know the physics behind this but it sure is cool.


Cool videos

Trip Planning 2011 - Bay Area

So you have been sailing the bay a few years and 2011 looks like the year to spread your wings and plan a trip on the bay. The big trip inside the bay is to the delta and up the San Joaquin River. You need a minimum of 5 days to do any type of exploring. It's worth it and I have had some wonderful days up there swimming, hanging on the hook and exploring. If you have a long weekend of three days, you could head up the Petaluma or my favorite, the Napa River. If you do it right you can sail all the way up to downtown Napa. Past the Napa Valley Yacht Club, you will need a tender, however if you bring your bikes, you can ride there. On day 2, the bikes will come in handy again as you can ride to the local wineries. Stop at the Napa Valley Marina and start from there. Most of the wineries near the marina require appointments and it is worth it. Our fav was Adastra. If you do a search on this blog, you can read about all our trips to these locations. You will have a blast! If that seems too much like work, head over to Schoonmaker Marina in Sausalito for a weekend. Head to Angel Island and camp out on the boat. Or for those that don't like to hand out the green backs, head over to Clipper Cove off Treasure Island and drop the hook. Our plan this year is to head up to Tomales Bay with an overnight at Drakes Bay. I'll be renting an EPIRB (Electronic Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) from Boat US for that one. Start thinking about some sailing trips for the summer and fall and get out there and enjoy your boat. Be sure the tides are in your favor when doing these trips up the rivers and delta. Bon voyage!

Wipeout WInners

I have had a few scary wipeouts in my life. I recall one in Todos Santos, MX where I caught a big wave during a famous surf safari. My leash snapped and I had to go in and get it over a reef filled with sea urchins. Needless to say my feet and hands were filled with tiny spikes from these creatures. Got the board back but did not go out again that day. Enjoy these wipeouts!

Single Hand

A fantastic guide has been published by the Single Handed Sailing Society. It outlines the procedures as well as the mental preparation needed when sailing alone in the middle of nowhere. I also hope that those of you who have never sailed solo will take the necessary steps to skipper your own vessel under sail...alone! Download this gem here.

Yacht Review: Gunbooat 66

Get out your check books and get in line! You'll love the interior as much as the covered deck space for all those lobster dinners. You'll be cruising in comfort as the speedo hits 20!. Ladies and Gents, I give you the yacht of your dreams:

$4.5m will get you in the door!!!

How to Build a Space Station

Check out this cool graphic on the building of the space station. You will not believe how big it is! Click here.

Getting Ready for Another Trip to Baja

Last October I spent 12 days cruising the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula as a participant in the Baja Haha. In about a month we will head down to Baja again for a 7 day cruise. This time we will be on the east side of the peninsula in the Sea of Cortez near La Paz. There will be 5 guys on the trip (three of them are partners on our boat). There are several large islands to visit in the area. We plan to do lots of exploring, kayaking, relaxing and who knows, maybe a wild party will break out. We have chartered a 41' Morgan from these folks. It's very affordable and a great way to escape. It will be a another oppourtunity to blog from the boat and send in some reports to H2uh0. Look for it towards the end of March. For more info on the sailing area, click here.

Pics of the Week

Somebody placed a piano on a sand bar in FLA.

Top Jumps

We have featured many of these jumps over the years, including the top jump. You will be blown away at some of these incredible stunts, including the diver. Watch it now!

Slippery When Wet

There is a secret spot in HI that boasts the world's largest slip and slide. Sssshh, don't telll anyone I told you about it. Enjoy.

Surfski

You love the downhill and you love big waves. So why not combine the two. Here are the results.

Pure

"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

Weekend Pics

It was a beautiful weekend in Norcal with temps in the mid 70's. A little too warm for this time of year. Had some old chums out for a sail on Saturday with winds in the 10-12 range, it was perfect spinnaker weather. We had a great run from Sausalito to Emeryville with the speedo hitting 7. Sunday was even nicer and I did a nice long bike ride in the hills and then we celebrated my son's 15th birthday. Great weekend!

Big Mistake, Big Crash

Kool Kat