Letters From the Sea

I just received a note from a friend who sailed from SF to French Polynesia and back to SF.  Here is the note:

Aloha Capt. Craig,
Yep made the circle from Mex to Tahiti to Hawaii and back again. I learned a lot - about sailing, about people, about myself. No regrets. It was a great adventure, though I could have picked a better captain. Highlight was definitely diving in the Tumamotus. Fakarava is amazing. When you go plan to spend as much time there as possible, and stock up on fruit and veggies while you're in the Marquesas. One of the best shark dives in the world. And gorgeous fish. Make sure you're at the south pass the first full moon after the summer solstice for the massive grouper spawning. They're so tired you can pet them, and the sharks have a feast. Marquesas are fantastic too, but the water is murky. A few times I saw hammerheads hunting around the boat while sipping my morning coffee. Pretty incredible. Tahiti and the Societies are a little bit of a let down after the Marquesas and the Tumamotus, but I hear it gets better as you keep going West from there. Pay attention to the weather. And take lots of different kinds of glue. Help everyone you can. Got caught in a nasty storm headed back from Tahiti to the Marquesas. A 4 day crossing turned into 9 days beating into 50 knots (at least it was 50 before we lost the wind vane). I had busted my eardrum and was pretty much useless. But it was totally unnecessary misery. Lesson not to push a schedule. But that crossing from Mexico was a piece of cake. Downhill all the way. Going up to Hawaii was a fast broad reach all the way, but we were about 1 day away from a hurricane as we neared the Big Island. Crossing from Hawaii was pretty much misery. We left with a 1 foot tear in the main, without an extra sail, and it was soon shredded. Hit a big high and had no wind for days and days. Lost the transmission. Captain's borderline tendencies in full swing as we tried to sew the sail. I kept a blog for a while but the captain was very concerned about maintaining control of his spin on his decisions, so dropped it.

The electric motor sounds very cool! Don't know much about them. I like the reliability and distance we got out of the diesel. We used it often to charge the batteries in the Marquesas. It rained so much the solar panels were pretty useless.

Good luck on the prep for 2018! Make decisions with your head and not your ego. ;-)

Introducing Lilly - The Camera that Follows You

I just signed up to be a Lily beta tester when they come out in Feb!


Had a nice 26 hour overnighter with Dan, Kona and Tex.  We took off on Saturday morning around 11am for Angel Island.  The wind was from the south and about 12 when we headed out the channel.  This wind direction allows us to head towards the Gate and not have to tack all the way there.  We got out towards Alcatraz and the wind begins to build and shift to a more westerly direction.  We head towards Sam's around 2:30 but there are no parking spots available so we head back towards the city for a fine run.  Then to Angel for the night.  We snag the moorings at Ayala Cove and settle in for dinner.  The BBQ comes out as does the Coleman for a fine meal for Thai chicken and some brussel sprouts.  Kona needs a run on the beach so we get him over as I paddle and he swims.  We have a nice night and some good times.  Morning comes early and Kona is ready for the beach again.  After breakfast we head to the picnic grounds for a couple games of Bocbee.  We play a round of bocce and Frisbee golf.  Couple of great shots and fun games.  We head back to the boat and for the run home.  Winds are light so we rig the spinnaker.  She goes up easy and soon we are flying towards Emeryville.  As we come out of the lee of Angel the wind starts to build and we are over powered.  I send Tex up to douse the spinnaker.  A few feet down she jams badly.  We are headed into a race and the sock we are using to douse the kite is jammed.  We release the halyard and bring her down.  We throw up the jib again and we are cooking towards the channel.  At the dock it takes an hour to fix our jammed pulley and get the deck cleared.  We clean up and head home after a great night on our favorite Angel Island.  And I am exhausted!

32 Knots on a MOD 70

Did not know CNN has a feature called Mainsail and they have a gal that travels the world reporting on sailing.  This segment covers the amazing MOD 70 trimaran.  There are alot of other cool vids here and each is about 7 mins long.  If you have some time, watch them all.  Check it here.

Set Sail For Summer!

There is something about these videos that captures the essence of sailing and the exuberance of youth.  It takes me back to my house boating days on Shasta and Oroville in the 80's and 90's.  I wish I could have done something like this but alas the lakes were the closest we came.  But we had a blast and even had folks from across the country join us!  Enjoy the vid and maybe relive a bit of your youth!

The Human - Dolphin Connection

I have always felt a direct connection with dolphins and less so with apes (my apologies to Mr. Darwin).  Once I saw a skeleton of a dolphin.  The "hands" of a dolphin were strikingly similar to our hands as well as the feet.   When thinking about dolphins, they are very social creatures with large brains.  They can communicate and they love to fool around and play jokes on each other.  Like humans, they have sex for fun, apes don't. When humans and dolphins have sex, they are face to face, but not apes. Homosexuality is common in dolphins and humans, but not in apes.   In the hair department, we are much closer to dolphins than apes (except for my friend Andy). 

Dolphin brains are very close in size to human brains, however they say that dolphin brains are superior with echolocation and the fact that they sleep by turning off one hemisphere of their brain while the other stays awake as they continue to swim 24/7.

Humans and dolphins have a love of water and apes are scared of water.  Biochemicicaly, dolphins are land mammals living in a marine environment. 

Here is a link to an interesting site that expands on some of the above observations.  Click here.

We Were Promised Jet Packs

Heading out for an overnight on Saturday to one of the nicest spots on the bay: Angel Island.  They have mooring balls in Ayala Cove that we will tie up to for the night.  They say sleeping on a boat is like returning to the womb.  The gentle rocking brings you right back to the start.  But this is a womb with a view!

In August of 1775, Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala, a Spanish Naval officer, sailed the ship the San Carlos into San Francisco Bay and anchored into what is now know as Ayala Cove. The first Europeans to sail into the San Francisco Bay, Ayala and his crew spent forty days making a chart of the area. Following a practice then common among Catholic explorers naming sites for the religious feast days nearest to the time of discovery, Father Vicente, the chaplain of the San Carlos, christened the little island Isla de Los Angeles.
The next recorded European visitors to the cove were in 1814 when a British 26-gun sloop-of-war, HMS Racoon, anchored in the cove to make repairs. HMS Racoon gave her name to Raccoon Strait (the reason Raccoon Strait was originally spelled with only one “c”) and the cove, then known as “Racoon Cove”.  The ships officers explored the island and named the major points after their sur names.  Hence, Blunt Point was named after one of these officers.  Now you know!  And spread the word!

Sailing to the Giants Game

On Friday, my best bud Tex and sailed over to our first Giants game of the season.  After departure in the late afternoon, we headed north on a long tack away from the stadium.  After a few more tacks we are set up for a straight shot to the park.  We head past the city with only the jib up and she's blowing a good 25.  We arrive with plenty of time and quickly meet up with some friends for some tailgating on the boat.  The great thing about having a slip is that it costs less to park my boat than my car on game day.  We head to the game and grab a beer.  Bases loaded and we witness a grand slam by our 3rd baseman (who is having a terrible start of the year).  We win it 5-0 and head for a nice slumber on the boat.  No traffic, nice and serene on the boat.  What a way to go.

In the morning, we are motoring out at 0700.  We hit the light wind line as the coffee is poured and we set the sails.  We greet the day with some blueberry pancakes and all is right with the world.  After a 3 hour cruise, we head to the slip and then home.  What a great way to start the weekend!

McCovey Cove on a big weekend series.  Looking for that splash hit home run!

A Floating Paradise

Cloud 9 is a floating paradise located close to the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. Situated in the turquoise waters of Vanua Malolo on Ro Ro Reef, Cloud 9 is a 40-45min boat ride from Port Denarau, and a 10 minute speed boat ride from Musket Cove Resort, Lomani Resort and Plantation Resort.
The open concept, two-level, floating lounge bar and restaurant features an Italian wood fire pizzeria, day beds, hanging chairs and 360-degree view of the ocean. The floating bar can accommodate up to 100 people and activities include swimming, parasailing and jet ski rental.
For more information check out the official website at cloud9.com.fj

Wimbledon of Sailing Comming to SF

A former America’s Cup executive is launching an international regatta, the Golden Gate Yacht Racing Challenge, which will be sailed annually on San Francisco Bay beginning in July 2017 in an version of the 12-meter class.

Tom Ehman, who most recently had been with the America’s Cup Event Authority and remains vice commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, said he wants to restore stability and style to yacht racing. The regatta will offer yacht racing’s largest purse, $500,000; have a strict nationality rule; and be contested in the strong, steady breeze that blows through the Golden Gate.

Ehman said he envisions the Golden Gate Challenge as the Wimbledon of yacht racing in that it will be held every year at the same venue. Unlike the America’s Cup, all teams will be challengers, meaning they’ll start on equal footing each year.

“This is an opportunity to do something for the sport and the former Cup community,” Ehman said.

The Golden Gate Yacht Racing Challenge is being planned at a time when the America’s Cup has lost some of its luster and is being criticized by many for abandoning its traditions.

Oracle Team USA, then based in San Francisco, successfully defended the America’s Cup in 2013 in one of the greatest comebacks in sports, in 72-foot catamarans. When San Francisco officials didn’t offer the same terms for the next regatta, Cup officials picked Bermuda. Teams and the event itself are struggling to secure sponsorships.

The star of the regatta could be the 12-meters. They were used in what many consider the golden era of the America’s Cup, from 1958 through ’87, when personalities such as Dennis Conner and Ted Turner dominated.

via SFgate.com

Au Naturel

You are out there in the middle of no where and nobody is around.  The boat is sailing by herself and the sun is warm on your skin.  Now is the perfect time to shed your garments and sail naked!  Even though it's not exactly tropical here in San Francisco, there are many days when the wind is lighter and the conditions are perfect for au naturel sailing.  If you have never tried, please be my guest.  One time I headed out for a sunset sail and the weather was nice.  Just out of the channel and off they come.  I see a wind line up ahead and raise the sails.  Getting back to the cockpit its a breeze of about 15 knots.  All the sudden, it shoots up to 30 and I am in trouble.  I can't let go of the wheel, I am stark naked and boats are heading my way.  Usually I just sit down as they pass.  No chance here.  The boat is bucking, water is coming over the bow and I am holding on for dear life as both boats pass.  They must think I am nuts to be out there in those conditions with no clothes on.  OK, I am.  I sail like my life depends on it to the lee of Treasure and get the boat under control and my clothes back on.  Whew. 

Good news, I applied for my Naked Sailing License with the State of California and it has arrived.  See below.  I purchased the Topless and Bottomless rating.

So get out there and be discreet and have some good clean fun!

Flying High

Gunboat G4 near St Barths doing 25 knots.

XXL Best Waves of the Year

We have had somewhat of a warm week in Norcal.  However, yesterday the fog came roaring in and our natural air condition and wind generator is back.  Heading up for a sail today with some friends that should be outta sight.

Major Air

Getting ready to take some kite boarding lessons.  My plan is to include a kiteboard on the boat for our trans Pacific sail.  After wind surfing for 15 years, I hope to pick this up quickly.  Imagine that, we are in Tahiti with lagoons that stretch for miles with good winds and flat water.  We pull out the board and start flying!  Cowabunga.

An Ode to My First Mate

My golden retriever Kona has been the best first mate a sailor could ask for.  We have been sailing together for the last 6.5 years and have had some amazing times sailing the bay and swimming to the beach together.  We have sailed together almost 500 times!  Napa, Sausalito, Delta, Petaluma are all destinations we have spent multiple days together on the water and on land.  Kona loves having crew aboard and snuggles up on a long reach.  He gets in the way alot when we are tacking but its no big deal.  When I sleep on board he is right next to me in the v-berth.  I love having him on board and so does my crew.  Here to you boy, the best dog a guy could hope to have. 

The top shot he is about 12 weeks.  The second shot was taken in April 2015.

The Bonehead Move that Started This Blog

Ten years ago this month, two sailors were heading towards the Golden Gate Bridge and the south tower.  Their 22 foot boat was going fast when she was picked up by a large set wave.  The wave picked her up and tossed her crew into the ocean.  The sailors were rescued by some surfers and the boat sank.  The cool part was the photographer that caught the action and posted it on his blog.  The accident made me think that maybe by starting a blog about sailors mistakes, we could all learn something and not make the same mistake in the future.  A blog was born that day.  Here are the pics from the accident.

The Meaning of Life

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral of this story is: ......... Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

Wow! The Greatest Sail of My Life!!

Looking back on 10 years of H2uh0...

Feb. 2011
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!!!

Greatest Sailing Venue on the Planet

Someone asked me what it like to sail the San Francisco Bay.  I thought for a moment.  After sailing this bay in excess of 1000 days,  I have an opinion.  For nine months of the year, it really sucks...literally!  The cold air comes off the Pacific and is sucked thru the Golden Gate to replace the hot air in the eastern valley.  Wind speeds double just at the Bridge and we have some of the most consistent winds on the planet.  20-30+ knots almost everyday.  What makes it interesting is the two big land masses in the central bay.  When we head out the harbor in the East Bay at Emeryville,(directly east of SF) it it usually blowing hard from the Northwest.  This lines us up on a tack towards Angel Island.  We can be very cold and miserable coming across the slot.  Once we reach Angel or Tiburon, the wind drops, it's sunny and summer like temps return.   We swim, picnic, head to the beach and enjoy the beauty.  Besides the wind, there are so many SF highlights right in front of you: Alcatraz, The City, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Mt. Tam. and the distant hills of Napa.  Finally, the bay itself.  Being the second largest body of inland water ways ( Chesapeake is #1), there is lots to explore.  Some of the highlights include: Sailing to the Giants ballpark and going to the game, Heading up the great rivers: San Joaquin, Sacramento, Petaluma, and Napa.  Spending a week or summer in the Delta.  Whatever you are doing on the bay, it's going to be good.  There is also a good deal of respect that comes with sailing the bay.  Many things can go wrong and its easy to get in trouble.  We try to minimize that by running a safe ship.  One tip for newer sailors that is important.  Make sure your crew knows how to start the engine, take down the sails and use the radio to get help.  If you as skipper end up in the water, it will be difficult to tell them what to do as you tread water.

Here are some racing highlights that will give you a feel of sailing this amazing bay that we love so much.

My Biggest Bonehead Move

One of our editorial caveats is that we never write about our own bonehead moves.  On this 10 year blog anniversary, I would like to tell you a funny story. 

My buddy Tex and I were up in the Delta for a 5 day trip.  One day we got stuck in some thick mud.  I dropped the kayak in the water so I could paddle the anchor and drop it back in the deep water.  We then put the anchor rode on a winch and pull ourselves slowly towards the deep water.  We got to the end of the rode so I jumped into the kayak once more.  As I was coming back to the stern ladder, the current took my loose painter under the boat and it promptly wrapped around the propeller.  It quickly pulled me in and started spinning the kayak with me in it.  Tex was not looking so he was not aware of what was happening.  After a few spins, I realized this fact and as I came around the next time I yelled "Turn", which was all I had time to say as I was spinning fast.  Next time up, "It" and lastly, "Off".  He realizes my predicament and hit the kill switch.  How funny is that?  We still tell that story many years later and it still gets a laugh.  What is your biggest bonehead move?

Bonehead Move Of the Decade

This award is not given out without a lot of thought and attention to detail. We do not give it out on an annual basis, but only when an act that is deserving and truly bonehead in nature. The 2008 Bonehead of the Year goes to: The sailors on the boat "Stand-By" who ran into one of the largest sailing yachts in the world, the Maltese Falcon (at 289 feet) in the San Francisco Bay in October. The Falcon was cruising the bay one glorious afternoon when Stand-by inexplicably rammed the Falcon. Here is what the owner, Tom Perkins, and others had to say about the incident, "A few minutes before this photo sequence was taken, the Falcon had turned to port, to give the right of way to the smaller yacht, which was to leeward on the starboard tack. The Stand-By was originally on a roughly reciprocal course to that of the Falcon. Prior to the photos shown here, Stand-By was bearing away, and the two yachts were on safe courses to pass roughly with a distance of 200 feet separation. After Stand-By had sailed past the Falcon's bow, the smaller vessel suddenly rounded up, possibly to tack in order to follow the Falcon, when she lost control. With her main sheeted hard in, the smaller boat was unable to bear away to avoid a collision. A San Francisco Bay Pilot was on the Falcon's bridge overseeing the Falcon's course at all times. The pilot is also an experienced sailor and sailboat owner. Because of the Falcon's tonnage, a licensed pilot is required whenever the yacht is underway, approaching, or inside the Bay. The Stand-By did not stop after the collision. The Falcon furled her sails and pursued the 40-footer under power, in order to determine her name and registration number. The pilot radioed the U.S. Coast Guard, which intercepted Stand-By and boarded her. The accident was caused by Stand-By's sudden change of course, which was much too quick to permit the Falcon to respond. The Falcon sustained damage to hull, capping rail, superstructure and main lower topsail, but fortunately there were no injuries to persons aboard either vessel."

We spoke to others who were aboard Falcon, such as Tad Lacey, who has been sailing and racing the Bay for more than 50 years, and they were dumbfounded at what happened. Lacey and the others said the boats were passing with no problem until Stand-By suddenly luffed up.

To add to this bonehead move, the folks on Stand-By tried to run and were tracked down by the Coast Guard and arrested. They were seen being taken away in handcuffs. Amazing! To my knowledge the folks on Stand-By never came forward to tell their side of the story. If anyone heard it, please pass it along.

If you are interested in seeing some interior pics of the Falcon, click here.

 During her visit to the Bay in October 2008, a campers fire started a huge fire on Angel Island.  The Falcon looks on as 2/3's of the island burns.

Best of H2uh0 - Pics of the Week

Just a small sampling of some of the 1000's of pics featured on H2uh0.  It's been a fantastic 10 years of sailing the SF Bay on our Newport 30.  I have been lucky enough to charter or just get out for a day sail in sublime sailing hot spots such as:  Mexico, Belize, BVI's, Bahamas, Croatia and Hawaii.  I still have a long ways to go to realize my biggest dream.  An 18 month cruise from California to New Zealand and Australia. I plan to purchase a Beneteau 423 and head down the coast of California in the fall of 2018.  Our first big destination will be the Channel Islands.  In late October, we will join the 25th annual running of the Baja Haha from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas.  150 boats and 450 friendly folks.  Many of them we will see again and again as this is a popular westward route.   My crew will be friends and family and most likely a few kind strangers.  My best bud Tex is planning on joining me for the entire trip.  We will sail Mexico for 3 months and then jump down to Central America and Costa Rica. In April, we will join the Pacific Puddle Jump and head to the Galapagos for a spell.  We then depart on our longest passage of about 2100 nautical miles.  This sail will take anywhere from 18-25 days depending on the winds.  Our destination is the Marquesas Islands.  Some of the most awe inspiring islands in the world.  Another 800 mile passage with take us to Tahiti and the plethora of islands in the South Pacific.  Our three month visas in French Polynesia run out in August and we will head towards Fiji and Vanuatu.  Cyclone season arrives in October and we plan to head down to New Zealand for 3 months.   Then the last leg up to Tasmania & Australia with some diving on the Great Barrier Reef.  Every sailor worth his salt looks forward to sailing into Sydney Harbor, and we will too.  Lastly, we will finish up with a short sail to Brisbane and sell the boat, then fly home.  We will be taking school supplies and Frisbees with us to share with children in need.  Along the way, we will kite board, surf, scuba, hike, swim, laugh, meet some fascinating people and sail 10,000+ miles.  I have been thinking about this trip for 20 years and it is coming together.  My wife Bridget will join me along the way at some of the garden spots.  She is not a sailor.  Her motto is: Nothing goes to weather like a 747! 

 We will arrive home in the spring of 2020.  18 months later.  I will be 61 and changing careers from event planning (been doing that for 25 years, loved it, but time for something different) and getting into retirement mode with a sailing venture of sorts.  Maybe charter on the Bay, teach sailing lessons, something to do with boats.  We shall see!  It's going to be a grand adventure and it will be everything I have been dreaming about for so many years.  I have been blessed in so many ways and this will be the culmination of all my time spent on the water.  From growing up on the Chesapeake, to moving West on a swimming scholarship, to my glory days of surfing the West Coast, mastering windsurfing on the Bay and ocean and finally getting into sailing in a big way on keel boats.  For me, sailing brings together everything I love in my life.  Friends, music, nature, the ocean, great food, wine, wild animals, sea creatures, and a floating home.

14 years ago, I started focusing on keeping in shape.  I started running, biking and swimming.  Most days I make time for two workouts.  Usually a morning 10 mile bike ride in the hills overlooking the bay.  And then in the late afternoon, a run in those same hills with Kona, my trusty golden retriever.  I try to throw in some swimming 2-3 times a week.  It has certainly paid off and I will continue this routine until we depart.

If you have read this far, I would like you to consider your own dreams.  What would you like to do that will stretch you as a person, inspire others, and make your life complete?  What is your dream?!?  Take your time and think about this.  This is not a bucket list thing, this is bigger.  This is something you look forward to for many years and work towards a good part of your life.  I have asked several friends what their dream is and very few have any idea or have never thought about it.   I think they should start thinking about it and so should you!  Dream big and aim high!  Bon voyage!

Sailing Scenes From A Movie, Pt. 7 (last one)

If you have not seen this one please do!

Bummer!

Earlier this week we featured the G4 foiling cat.  Sailing circles around all the other boats in Caribbean bliss.  Billed as a screamin' family cruiser, this boat seemed to have it all if you got a mil or two sitting around.  Now this from yesterday.



Might want to rip up that contract you signed last week with Gun Boat and get a fast lead leaner instead.  When you are on the cutting edge, prepare to get cut.

From Pieterjan Dwarshuis
"Fantastic day of sailing ended with a dumb capsize.
Ticked that box of the test program too. Everything fine, mainsail only some broken battens, and my iphone didn't survive..
Need a quicker main dump valve on the hydraulics that's what we learned !
Only way to develop a great product even better is to test it ...."
R&D at it's best.

The Heaviest Wave on the Planet

Nicknamed "The End of the Road," Teahupoo carries that distinction for more than one reason. The obvious being that the small town is essentially the last stop on the road that partially rings both Tahiti Nui ("big Tahiti") and Tahiti Iti ("small Tahiti"). The less-obvious reason is the one that's become clearly understood by the surf community in the past decade: If you lose your concentration out there, the expression "the end of the road" could be referring to your life.

Located half a kilometer off the coast of the fishing village of Teahupoo, this monster left-hand reef pass has become synonymous with waves of consequence. Surf journalist Gary Taylor wrote about it in 2000: "Teahupoo isn't a wave, it's a war zone. A freak of nature that some bastard decided to call a surf spot." Though it rarely grows taller than Hawaii's marquee spots, the marked feature of the wave is that it seems to have no back, appearing more like a tidal surge. Because Tahiti has neither a continental shelf nor an outer reef to diffuse the power of Southern Hemisphere swells, the backless beasts hit like sledgehammers, and head-high waves at Chopes have the power of double- or even triple-overhead waves elsewhere. Over twelve feet, the wave becomes too hard to paddle into, and that's when the event goes on hold and the tow boards come out.

Full Screen Only Vid!

There is something magical about large yachts sailing in the French West Indies.  And when you see these amazing yachts from above, it gets even better.  This is one of my favorites!  It comes from the St. Barths Bucket Race of 2014.  Sit back and enjoy...full screen please!  If you can throw it up on your TV, even better.

My Favorite Bay Cruise - Napa!

If someone told me 10 years ago, that I could sail up the Napa River and bike to some of the greatest wineries on the planet, I would have said you are nuts!  And if someone said you can sail the 12 mile river all the way without tacking, I would have said that's unbelievable!  Here is the blog post from our second trip up the river from 2012.

Tex, my golden Kona and I have just returned from a glorious trip up the Napa River to downtown Napa.  We started the trip with a spinnaker run up San Pablo Bay to Vallejo.  We hit the Napa River and the wind was perfect for sailing up the river.  The wind direction and river orientation allow us to sail the river without tacking.  It's amazing to be sailing so fast on such a narrow river.  We reached our destination of the Napa Valley Yacht Club at 5:30.  We headed up to the bocce court for a spirited best out of three.  Then it was on to dinner on the boat along with some nice wine.  Monday we were up early for some wine country appointments.  William Hill, Luna, and Reynolds.  It was about a 30 minute bike ride to the wineries.  We had a great time riding in a mist like rain.  Monday night it rained so we hung out at the boat with a nice dinner and some Saturday Night Live.  Tuesday we had to fix some flats but not too worry we made it out about 11am for our next round of wineries.  My niece Julie showed up at one of the wineries and joined us for a few days.  She is on a road trip from the east coast.  That evening we had a nice time hanging on the boat with some more great food and fun.  On Wednesday we moved the boat to the Carneros region for more wine tasting.  Julie met us and we headed off to Mueller winery and had a great time chatting with Julius as he poured us some tasty tidbits.  He mentioned that we could ride our bikes thru the winery for a nice short cute to Etude.  That was cool.  We had a very nice taste at Etude and then got hit by a huge rain storm.  We retreated to the boat for lunch and then headed out by car to Artesa Winery.  One of the most beautiful wineries in the area, and the wine was good too.  The next morning we headed back to the bay with a nice motor down river.  We hit San Pablo Bay and there was a big storm off the starboard beam.  We heard thunder at one point.  It was heading south and soon it found us and hit us with a 30 minute downpour.  We had the proper clothing and no problems.  Once we got to the Richmond Bridge, the wind piped up and we sailed out to Angel Island.  The Blue Angles were practicing and we saw some nice flyovers.  We headed to Sausalito after a beautiful sunset and tied up at Schoonmaker Marina.  Spent the night there and it was a quiet one.  Up early as they were working on the dock.  We headed out for breakfast floating off the GG Bridge.  Beautiful.  The breeze came up from the east and we headed to a beach on Angel so Kona could get a run.  He loved it and so did I.  Around noon the wind came up for real and we headed out to the Pacific for some wave riding fun.  On our way back, a fishing boat passed and slowed.  We caught up with them and they asked if we would like a salmon.  We said sure.  Tex went on deck and made a great catch of a big fish!  That was classic!  Then it was back on the bay for the Blue Angels show.  We sailed and watched their intricate display of acrobatics.  Back to our slip in Emeryville after the show, we took a quick nap and then cleaned up the boat.  It was another great trip up the Napa River!

Bonehead Move of the Year 2010

Here is an all time classic H2uh0 and one of my favorite Bonehead Moves.

History of Windsurfing

My introduction into sailing started when I fell head over heals for windsurfing in 84.  A friend gave me a board to enjoy on the lagoon in Foster City.  Pretty soon I was sailing on the bay and soon the ocean.  From there, a couple small boats and eventually keel boats over the last 15 years.  This spring I plan to take kite boarding lessons so I can have access to the lagoons of the South Pacific during our trans Pacific crossing in 2018.  Wind surfing showed me the freedom you can experience on the water.  It has only gotten better since purchasing our 30' Newport.



This is a great little documentary on one of my favorite sports!

Sailing Scenes From A Movie, Pt. 6

You may have forgotten this one?



I am a big Robin Wright fan.  She does a great job in this movie.  If memory serves, there is a Newport sailboat towards the end of the movie.  Guess I will have to watch it again.

Best of H2uh0 - Sailing to The Wall (May 2012)

Friday was a special day.  Roger Waters was performing The Wall at AT&T Park.  The Wall was released over 30 years ago and is considered a rock and roll masterpiece.  I have listened to many of the songs hundreds of times yet never understood the meaning of the album.  I searched the web and found a site that breaks down each song.  If you enjoy Pink Floyd, you should check it out.  The album is about Roger's life: the loss of his father in WW2, teachers bullying him, rock and roll super stardom, a cheating spouse and much more.  All these aspects lead him to build a wall around himself and then he finally breaks the wall down.

I had invited my best bud Frank to join me for the show.  Since the show was at the ball park, I decided the only way to do this was to sail to the show and use the boat as our celebration platform.  I had planned a leisurely sail to the park with a departure around 1pm but fate would have none of it.  I was at an appointment when my wife called to say their was a rattle snake in the house.  She discovered it when Kona started barking at it in the kitchen.  Animal control was called and they came and took it away.  The problem was, had Kona been bit?  A call to the vet told us that he would need to be under supervision for the next 12 hours.  My wife had an appointment that could not be missed so I was pressed into action to watch him while she went to the appointment.  That delayed me by 3 hours, but you do what you gotta do!  Kona was fine and I made it to the boat by 4pm.  I had planned to meet Frank about 5:45 so off I went.  The wind was blowing 25 as I exited the channel.  Our little 13 horse Yanmar barely got me out to the end of the channel and then a bit of jib went out and I was off to the races.  I had to tack a few times to line myself up to get under the Bay Bridge.  Once under, the wind and waves calmed down and I had a nice sail to the park.  I tied off the boat to look up and see Frank walking down the pier.  Perfect timing.  We motor over to McCovey Cove and set the hook.  I had hoped to get a slip at South Beach but this is a popular thing to do and there were no slips available.  I broke out some nice French Champagne and we chatted as the boat swung in the wind.  The stadium is off to starboard.  After a nice hour or so, I pull out the double kayak and off we go to the show.  We arrive, find our seats and admire the WALL!  It is gigantic!  We are facing the out field and the wall stretches from outfield foul pole to outfield foul poll.  This is also the length of the stage.  Amazing.  It's 2/3's built with the middle of it not yet finished.  The show begins and the sold out stadium erupts with thunderous applause and fireworks from the stage.  The wild part is that the wall is the largest video screen ever made.  It comes alive with images, movies, the band, everything.  I really cannot do justice in describing this part because it is so awesome.  As the concert goes along, so does the building of the wall.  During the second half the wall explodes into many pieces and is gone.  This is done thru video images and the wall is still there and the amazing images continue.  This was the best concert of my life.  And I am a true concert fan having attended over 500 shows over the years.  State of the art masterpiece!!!  If this show comes to your town, don't miss it.

Frank heads home and I head to the boat.  By this time, there are a dozen boats in the cove.  They are hanging out getting the echoes of the music from afar.  I get back on board, put some music on and settle in for a night on the hook.  In the morning, I am up early and the wind is still in the 20's.  Don't you love these wind patterns of the bay area?  I head out with jib again and in a short while we are sailing towards the fog shrouded Angel Island.  My boat partners are heading out today for a sail, so I don't have all day to get back.  We are on a nice beam reach and I pullout the Coleman for some tea and blue berry pancakes in the cockpit.  I am mostly in the lee of Angel so the wind is light and the food is great.  Just as I hit the wind line to head back, I take everything below and sail home.  Back in the sun, I have a perfect reach to the harbor.  What an amazing experience.  Even though sailing there is alot of work and time, it is always worth it.  Wish you were here! ; ~}



This is from the Sandy Relief Show, no Wall this time.

Lastly, the band name Pink Floyd, Where did it come from?  Well, they had a bunch of names prior to PF.  Mega Death, Tea Set, and more.  They were over at Syd's flat trying to come up with a name.  Frustrated, Syd says, "I am going to grab two albums from my collection and we are going to come up with a name".  The first was an obscure blues guy named Floyd Council.  The second was Pink Anderson, a  blues guy from the 30's.    Now they could have called themselves the Council Anderson Band but history would not let them.  Pretty cool trivia, me thinks.

Sailing Scenes from a Movie, Pt 6

Hot Cat Goes Foiling

The Gun Boat is one of the coolest cats in town.  Now they have made it even better and faster with foils.  This boat is gonna cost you a close to a mill, but it will be worth it!  I saw one with a pizza oven and a huge wine cellar.  Who do I make the check out to? This is a 40' cat.

Sailing Scenes from a Movie, Pt. 5

Dead Calm is a great thriller with Nicole Kidman and Sam Shepard.  The couple are out for a cruise when a mysterious ship along with one of the crew appears nearby.  I won't give away the rest but implore to watch this great movie.  If you download Time4popcorn, you can watch it (as well as a boat load of other movies) for free.

The Perfect Husband

A blast from the past.  Had a great sunset sail last night after a wonderful weekend in Carmel with friends and Kona's sister.  Headed out about 6 into 20 knots and sunny.  Put out the jib for some sweet no hands on the wheel sailing.  Nobody out so I had the east bay to myself.  It was a nice night to be out and the sunset was perfect.  Back about 9 to button up the boat.  Had a couple hoots and hollers it was sooo sublime.

Sail Scenes from a Movie, Pt. 4

Actually this is the full movie.  Starring Kevin Costner, the planet has been covered by water and the remaining human race is water bound.  The trimaran is so tricked out.  It's worth it just see how he can single hand this monster as well as the cool tricks he has up his sleeve.  Check it out!

BVI Trip Highlights

Looking back over the last 10 years of H2uh0, my favorite charter so far has been our trip to the BVI's.  A 57 foot cat (brand spanking new at the time) for a week of fun was the call.  My sisters and their husbands joined us for the 2008 charter.  Here are the highlights:

1. Having a captain and chef aboard was wonderful. The food was always a treat and always topnotch. Having a captain allowed us to do and see twice as much, as he new where to go and what to skip. I know if I had been doing his job, it could have been more stress than I wanted.
2. Our Red Stripe Regatta at Bitter End Yacht Club was a blast and a lot of laughs. A beautiful spot as well.
3. Everyone on the cat got along and had fun. Our whole crew and boat crew were a great match. It may have been the best trip ever taken in the BVI. I am checking the records and will let you know.
4. Sailing to and from Anegada. Both days we started off with low winds in the forecast. Both days we had fabulous sails with great weather.
5. The boat! What an amazing yacht. The sound system was Bose and there was a nice set of speakers under the first spreader. My favorite spot was laying on the hammock in the bow with the remote in my hand. We had a great selection of music and I could control the volume from the hammock. Our state room had a very large bed that allowed me to stretch out (I am 6'6"). We ate in the stern deck area at a table that accommodated us all.
6. The three dives we did were awesome. The highlight of course was the wreck of the Rhone and diving thru the hull of this famous sunken ship.

We truly had a trip that exceeded all my expectations. Everything came together and we are very thankful for such an epic adventure in the BVI's. We highly recommend Voyage Yacht Charters for assisting in the planning phase and for providing an outstanding boat and crew. Special thanks goes to Denis an Rita for all their hard work and for all the fun and great days on the azure waters of this very special place. Now go visit, ya'all!!!

Sailing Scenes From A Movie, Pt. 3

Wind was one of the first full length movie based on sailing.  If you haven't seen Wind, we highly recommend it.

Bonehead Move of the Year - 2011

Best of H2uh0



Top Captions Contest:

"So what part of 'starboard' don't you understand, you big red behemoth?" — Walter Conner.
"Tanker Foils Yachts Attempt to Steal Ships Anchor." — Jak Ayres
"And now our top nominee for the Sailor's Darwin Award is. . ." or "Sailor's cure for constipation" — Dan Begonia
"Diagnosis: Crew suffers from acute case of SFB (shit for brains)." — Patrick Okey
"In the immortal words of Jim Kilroy, 'Mass times velocity equals right-of-way.'" — Chris Ericksen
"Vessel limited in her ability to maneuver runs down vessel limited in her ability to think." — Tim Schaaf
"Captain to crew, “hold my beer, watch this!" — Jim Van Cleve
"Does insurance cover new underwear?" — Bob C.
"Sometimes it sucks to be the frontrunner! — Ken Fouts
And our favorite: "Artist Cristo attempts to wrap a supertanker in pink," submitted by Paul Clausen.

Where Does the Term Knot Come From?

Looking back at 10 years of H2uh0...

As you know, sailors have been doing their thing for thousands of years. From the primitive animal skin that may have been used to propel a man on a log to modern day yachts that can approach 40 knots on the open sea, we have some very archaic sailing terms that have been with us for a long time. How did they originate? Simple terms like cockpit, shroud and cunningham. Let's take a look at a term we all use when we go sailing. "How fast is the boat moving thru the water?" "7 knots", comes the reply. Knots refers to nautical miles. It corresponds approximately to one minute of latitude along any meridian. For our discussion today, we are looking for the origin of the word "knots". The term knot and log originally are derived from the practice of using a "log" tied to a knotted rope as a method of gauging speed of a ship. The log would be thrown into the water and the rope trailed behind the ship. The number of knots that passed off the ship and into the water in a given time (from an hourglass) would determine the speed in "knots". Is that cool or what? It's fun to tell your sailing friends this story when out sailing. They will be amazed at your in depth knowledge of the sailing world!



How many knots is this yacht going?

Great Sailing Scenes from a Movie, Pt 2

Wild Things, one of my favorites!

Join Us for a Sail on the Addiction!

In celebration of 10 years of H2uh0, we are offering a sail aboard our very fine sailing vessel Addiction.   We will do a day sail out to Angel Island with lunch and if you are brave enough, a swim to the beach.  Our boat is such a sweet ride so please don't pass up this opportunity.  No experience needed!  Just a big smile and a sense of wonder.  The wind is free and so is this sojourn.  RSVP by sending me a note in the comment section.  Kona will be joining as well.  Heck, if no one responds, I will still go sailing and enjoy this amazing bay and boat. 

Yesterday I was busy signing up a new partner on our boat.  One of our partners enjoyed bay sailing so much, he decided to buy his own, a Pearson 33 in fine shape.  Good luck Tom.

Here is a candidate for Bonehead Move of the Month!  Not the boat owner but the bridge tender.

Celebrating Ten Years of H2uh0

This is kind of a big deal.  There are not many bloggers that last a year!  They say a blogger's year is equal to a dog year so in this case we are turning 70!  Feels like it.  Other sailing bloggers that have been going this long include the Tillerman at Proper Course and the Horse's Mouth, Joe.  Congrats to them!  Heck, they gave me some motovation to get started.  What really inspired me was a couple accidents on the bay.  The most famous of the two was the Santana 22 that got caught at the south tower of the GGB.  Their boat got caught in a huge breaking wave and they were rescued but the boat was at the bottom.  It was all caught on film by a surf photo guy.  I thought, why not do a blog about people making mistakes on the water so we can learn from them.  Bonehead Moves on the Water was born.  The site has evolved over the years, but we still are running with the main theme.

To celebrate this momentous occaision, we will be looking back at some of the top posts.  There have been well over 2000!  It going to be fun and I hope you will stick around.  On Friday, I will have a big announcement to make!  Keep sailing and stay safe!

So here we go with a blast from the past.

Preparing for My First Ocean Passage (October 2010)

As I put the final touches on the departure for my trip to San Diego and on to meeting the boat that will take me down the coast of Mexico, I think about all the water adventures I have had that have lead me to this point. My love for the water started when I learned to swim at 3, joined the swim team at 4, water skiing and boating on the Chesapeake as a boy, learning to surf at 10, swimming on scholarship at UNLV, moving to Carmel, CA at 21, surfing the Pacific coast, moving to the bay area and sailing with friends on a rented sailboat, learning to windsurf in Foster City and then the bay and delta, houseboat trips to Shasta, Don Pedro and Oroville, receiving a Sunfish from my future wife for my birthday, moving up to a wooden dory in 1999, and finally buying a 30' sailboat for bay adventures ten years ago this month, and sailing that boat once a week or more for the last ten years! It has been an amazing adventure indeed. The Baja Ha Ha sailing rally starts in 5 days and I will be on a 36' cat with a crew of four. 200 boats and 600 sunshine seeking sailors will set sail for Cabo San Lucas on Monday, October 25 at 11am. The journey will take us 750 miles down the Baja coast. The first 330 mile leg will take us to Turtle Bay for a two day stopover to rest, relax, fix broken parts and have a beach party. Then it's off for a 220 mile leg to Bahia Santa Maria for another beach potluck and fun. I am bringing the volleyball net and bocce. Our last leg will be 180 miles to Cabo for another round of beach events. We will have a car there and will spend a day at Palmia and San Jose del Cabo. I return on the 6th of November to celebrate my 17th wedding anniversary. I will be blogging down the coast but will not be able to upload our adventures until we get to Cabo due to the remoteness of our route. I am looking forward to seeing the stars and planets in a very dark setting, watching dolphins dance in our bow wave, drinking that first beer in Turtle Bay, meeting 600 friendly folks, and seeing the arch at the end of the Cape as we round the corner into Cabo. Please check back and take a look at the fun and the laughs we plan to share on this beautiful sail down the coast of Baja Sur!

Great Sailing Scenes From a Movie, Pt. 1

Go full screen!

Here is the first in our series of sailing scenes in famous movies.  Thomas Crown Affair is a classic movie with great acting and adventure.  In the movie, Pierce Bronson plays a rich playboy who steals art for fun.  This is a remake of a 1968 film of the same name.  More movies coming your way in April.

The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

Oh what a lovely weekend in Norcal.  70's sunny and windy.  Went out to Craig's Cove a couple times for swimming and beach time.  I had been there a week ago and lost a kayak paddle.  Long story but  when I swam up to the beach a week later, there was the paddle.  My lucky day!  The beach is next to a steep cliff on Angel.  No way to get there except a swim or kayak.  The highest wind we saw over the weekend was 22 knots off of Pt. Blunt on Angel.  Did you know that all the points and top of Angel are named after a military ship's officers?  The British ship, called HMS Raccoon, was sinking in the early 1800's and they beached on Angel Island for repairs.  The water way also bears their name: Racoon Strait.  Be sure to share that when someone asks, "Why do they call it Raccoon Strait?"

Have a great week!  We at H2uh0 are gearing up for a big month in April.  We are celebrating 10 years of H2uh0 with a look back at our most popular posts as well as the new stuff.  Hope you will stick around for the party!  We will also be offering a ride on our sweet boat Addiction to a few lucky readers.  So come on, let's party like it's 1999!

Under The Bridge

Fog and and drizzle this am.  Wind on its way!

Hurricane Marie vs. The Wedge

August 2014

The winds are back on the bay!  We go through a lull in winter as the winds mellow out to 5-10 from December to March.  The spring winds can be some of the biggest of the year.  We are getting close to that time, however Sunday was just perfect with 10-15 knots and some good friends on board.  We hit the channel shortly after 11 and started our cruise to Angel Island.  A bocce challenge would take us to Ayala Cove and the beautiful picnic grounds.  We hit the course and a highly contested game commenced.  On the run home, we hoisted the kite and were off on a 6 knot run to the barn.  What a memorable day.  The boat is in great shape for the big winds of summer!   Thanks to Mike, Ryan, Hannah, John and Summer.

Our two main repairs are complete and the Addiction is in race ready condition.  We had a wire banging inside the mast that was like having a guy with a hammer banging on the mast during a  sail.   Not a very peaceful setting when you are trying to be one with the boat.  Then the traveler car was not in the best of shape.  With a 30 year old boat, sometimes you run into parts that have not been removed in all that time.  In this case, it was the end of the traveler track.  It seemed the screws were cemented to the end piece and would not budge.  We drilled the screws out and removed the car from the track.  From there, Murray took the car home and rebuilt it.  Now its strong again and ready to do it's job.  Halaluya brother.  I am a happy sailor now that the repairs are complete.

This our 30 year old spinnaker still pushing us along at fast speeds.  Mostly used to get us home quick at the end of the day.  And what a great way to end the day.

Promote Our Sport Of Sailing (or let it die a slow death)

Beginning with the transformation from wood to fiberglass boats, our sport of sailing went through a tremendous growth period in the early 70's.  At that time, some 12 million folks went sailing at least once a year in the US.  The building of boats became big business and the west coast was a hot bed for manufactures.  There was a downturn in the 80's when a luxury tax of 10% was included on boats selling for $100k or more.  Hundreds of boat builders had a stake driven into the hull of their business and sank as a result.  Towards the the turn of the century, boating has taken a huge hit due to the computer revolution and the Internet as well as economic realities.  Now only 4 million folks have sailed one time per year and just over a million have sailed more than 7 times per year.  That's a huge drop.  Is sailing dying?  Well, the numbers speak for themselves.  In 2001, a gentleman from Northern California and Latitude 38 started a sailing campaign that has sparked a small resurgence in sailing.  It's called Summer Sailstice and it happens right around the official start of summer.  Marinas, yacht clubs and sailing organizations throw huge events that revolve around getting on the water.   I went to one a few years ago on Treasure Island.   We had a blast walking the grounds, bumping into a few friends and making some new ones.  One of the cool events was the boat building contest.  Teams were given the raw materials and they were charged with building a boat that could go from A to B without sinking.  And they did it in a few hours.  Brilliant!
Check out this years sailstice site here.

Another way to increase participation is to take a friend sailing.  Over the last 14 years since we have owned our 30' sailboat,  I estimate I have taken close to 1000 folks out in those years.  That's about 70 per year.  This weekend I have a crew of 6 heading out into the wild blue yonder.  Another way to get involved is to join a Meetup group in your area.  In the Bay Area, we have Got Wind and Water of which I am a member.  In January, I posted a note on the site on a Wednesday.  On Sunday, I had a crew of 8 happy sailors heading out.  We had a ball.  There are over 1000 folks that want to go sailing in this group.  It's a great way to hit the water and when I sail with this group, there is no charge to the crew.  If you want to sail the bay and donot own a boat, this is a great way to find out if this is the sport for you.
Check it out here.

Next month, and in honor of my 10th year with this blog, I will offer my readers a chance to join me for a sail on the Addiction.  Kona will be joining as well.  So get out there and invite family and friends to join you for a sail.  Or join a local group and hit the high seas.  Let's grow the sport and show folks that getting on the water does not have to break the bank.  We have 6 partners on our humble yacht.  I like to tell people that I sail the worlds most beautiful bay for $3 per day ( that's right, we each pay only $3 per day at $100 per month per partner).

When I ask folks what it is they like about sailing, most tell me it's being on the water that floats their boat.  Some talk about the beauty of the wild life and nature.  For me, I connect to my spiritual side with all the beauty the bay has to offer.  The sun, the wind, the water all dance before my eyes.  The mental ballet of working the boat and the wind.  The freedom of escaping the 7 million people that make up the Bay Area.  Plus, I can have a beer while I am doing it!

The Addiction heading up river to the Delta in 2012.  We had 50 boats and 150 folks join us for the week long Delta Doo Dah.

Super Solar Storm

 We are in the midst of what is being touted as the strongest Geomagnetic Storm of the 11-year solar cycle! Folks from all over the world sent in their pics from a terrific night of northern light watching.  Check the pics here.

My only experience with these light shows was in BC in 85.  It was a life changing experience!

Pics of the Week

Must See: Physics of Sailing

This is one of my favorite vids that I have featured on this blog.  Check it out!



Had a great sail on my friends 41' yesterday.  The winds were 15 or so when we departed Tiburon and hit 20 when we rounded Angel.  John brought his girlfriend Tina and we had a blast as we sailed to the Bay Bridge and back.  The yacht is a 41' Islander Ketch from 1974.  Another awesome day on our lovely bay.  Kona had a good time too.

Volvo Ocean Race - Extreme Round the Planet Update

This week, the fleet is battling across the South China Sea, leaving the sailors wet and exhausted. Two teams take a gamble heading north, hoping for stronger winds and a tactical gain.
Meanwhile, Team Vestas Wind are finally getting their boat on its way to Europe to start the repairs.



Back east this week visiting family.  Hope you are on the water...somewhere.