Amazing Rescue at Sea

(August 8, 2022) - USCG-licensed captain, instructor and rigging specialist Andy Schwenk (57, Point Richmond, CA) has been brought safely to land by a combination of Coast Guard, Air Force, commercial shipping, and assistance from a fellow yacht. A rapidly-spreading infection required the action. Schwenk's Express 37 Spindrift V had completed the 2022 Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii, finishing first in her class on July 18. Returning to California, the boat faced heavy weather, damaging their mainsail and leading to an injury to Andy’s ankle, which subsequently became infected. Various elements of Spindrift’s communications tools were also damaged, leading to challenges in getting assistance. A relayed call to Pac Cup race organizers led to the diversion of fellow racer (and division winner) Surprise, a Schumacher 46 owned by Bob and Maryann Hinden and skippered for the return by Robin Jeffers, diverting to transfer antibiotics to Spindrift V. The August 4 transfer at 1:00 am was a “real pro job,” as Andy later texted. Because of Spindrift’s communications problems, many of the communications in this incident were routed through systems that had been established to manage the race itself. “When the boats couldn’t make direct contact, a lot of coordination took place on my iPhone,” commented Principal Race Officer Michael Moradzadeh. The infection progressed, and after a number of consultations with medical advisors at George Washington University (who had been retained to provide medical support) they, and ultimately US Coast Guard, recommend a medical evacuation. Taiwanese oil and chemical tanker FPMC35 diverted from its course to Panama to collect Schwenk (another midnight transfer) on August 5. Two medics parachuted to the FPMC35 from a C130 aircraft and stabilized his condition as the tanker steamed at 12 knots toward San Francisco. On August 7, an airborne flotilla comprising two Blackhawk helicopters, two refuelers, and two C130s combined to collect Schwenk and the medics and deposit them at Moffet Field, who then was transferred to Stanford Hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition. “We’re incredibly grateful for the actions of Surprise, the FPMC35, the Coast Guard and the Air Force, and our consultants at George Washington University’s Maritime Medical Access team,” said Pacific Cup Commodore Jim Quanci. “Without the concerted action of all these responders, Andy’s situation could have been much worse.” A veteran of dozens of crossings and over 300,000 ocean miles, this is the first time Schwenk has had to call for help, and he has expressed his thanks for the support. Spindrift V is proceeding toward the Golden Gate under the command of the remaining crew, including the very experienced Peter English. Travelling at 6.25 knots, Spindrift should arrive in about five days. (via Scuttlebutt)

Foggy and Cold In SF

Adrift from Simon Christen on Vimeo.

Barley hitting the mid 60's in SF. How is your weather today?

The weather is here, wish you were beautiful!

Time to start thinking about a charter or two. I did two this year: La Paz, Mexico and the BVI in the Caribbean. Both were superb and fun! The next two on my wish list are the Whitsundays and Croatia. Bon Voyage! Here is a glimpse of Croatia.

The Big Boys in St. Barts (2015)

Get Tubed with Kai Lenny!

Best waves of the last 15 years hits Maui after a tropical storm passes by. Biggest Teahupoo in 12 years!!

More R2AK

I sure enjoy the reading and videos of this amazing race. The inovations that are used to move the boat when there is no wind never cease to amaze. Plus the amount of heart and courage it takes to finish this 700 mile race. Lots of boats this year hit logs in the middle of the night and had to retire due to the damage from the impact. One team mentioned that when they hit the log, the bioluminesence created was impressive. One guy hit 5 logs in one night! I also love the beauty and solitude this race provides. I just watched a dozen videos of the race from the last few years and here a couple that really stood out. r2ak.com for more or browse youtube.

My Top 10 Favorite Movies

I have watched alot of movies in my almost 64 years. I don't watch many TV shows so instead I watch movies. There was a 25+ year period where my wife and I would go to a movie a week. I guess you would call me a movie buff! I started a list of movies that I love and realized quickly that there were alot more than 10. Here they are in no particular order. Oh Brother Where Art Thou, 5th Element, A Fish Called Wanda, Limitless, Wild Things, Intolerable Cruelty, V for Vendetta, Sideways, High Fidelity, North by North West, Some Like it Hot, ET, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Romancing the Stone, Something About Mary, Heartbreak Kid, Basic Instinct, Big Labowski, Matrix, Dark Knight, Get Out, Back to the Future, Yesterday, Edge of Tomorrow, Terminator 2, Body Double, Talented Mr. Ripley, Flirting with Disaster, American Beauty, Inception, Dead Poets Society, Born Yesterday, Midnight in Paris, I Care A lot

R2AK is Back!

The race to Alaska started a few weeks ago and is still going! The race begins in Port Townsend, WA with a check out leg to Victoria, BC. From there it continues up the inside passage to Ketchican, AK (700 miles). The catch is that no motors are allowed and the currents can be 14 knots against you! First prize is $10k, second is a set of steak knives (remember the famous speech in Glengery Glen Ross, Alec Balwin?). The crazy part about the race is that it can include rowers, paddle boards, and such. The cool part is the inovation on the boats use to create propulsion with oars, bike paddlewheels and so much more. This was the first year that teams could go west around Vancouver Island out into the Pacific. That is exactly what the winners did. Check the site for updates and great reads. https://r2ak.com/

Champs Again! GS Warriors

I started watching the Warriors back in the 2000's when they could barely win 30 games a season. The coaching position was a revolving door and they had Baron Davis hitting 3's left and right. Fast forward to the Curry Era and we are winning championships! I really enjoy watching these guys and the joy they bring to the floor. Now the question is, how long can we sustain this level of play and win another one? Time will tell.

Confirmed! Largest wave ever surfed! 86 feet (video)

Full Screen only! It has now been officially confirmed that Sebastian Steudtner (Germany) broke the world record for biggest wave ever surfed, when he tore across the face of an 86 f00t wave at Nazaré on October 29, 2020. This new record tops Brazilian big-wave froth lord, Rodrigo Koxa’s previous effort of 80 foot, set on November 9, 2017. Cowabunga, indeed!

Top Gun Goes Sailing on SF Bay

This is typical windy day in the summer on SF Bay. From April to early September we can expect these conditions most days. It is nice to get behind Angel Island for a break from the 25-30 knot winds. This is when we anchor and swim to the beach!

Back to Maui for some Sailing!

We have a nice time share over on the westside of Maui. We were there in September for my birthday. We are heading back this weekend for another adventure with a couple of friends. It should be an active week with sailing, SCUBA, snorkeling and some hammock time. I have been sailing a bunch this spring on the bay and it has been heavenly. On Monday, winds were in the low 30's for most of the afternoon. When it blows this hard, I usually head under the bay bridge for a mellower ride. Not this time as the wind was just as strong but the waves were a little smaller. Had a run up the city front and over to Angel Island for a trip to the beach with Hana. We spent the night in Kona Cove and I put out 100' of chain to make sure the tide did not affect us too much. Back to the beach in the morning and Hana scared up a coyote on the beach. She ran around the corner chasing it and thankfully came back in about 30 seconds as she hit the rocky side beach. Glad she decide not to join the pack! Couple more sails this week and then off to the isalnds!

Mavericks Big Wave Contest Moves to Video

The contest that started in 1999, has not been run in years due to many factors. However, Jeff Clark (origial Mav rider from the beginning) has moved this years contest to vid only. It gives a much broader view of the waves and the athelets. Instead of a one day contest on a mercurial wave, the contest runs from November to April. Winners recieve $5000, some of which goes to the photo person. Check the vid and get stoked! Move to 11:30 for the awards.

A Voyage to Savor!

We have just returned from 10 days in the Virgin Islands. We spent a few days on St. Thomas (USVI) at a house with a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea. Then is was off to Tortola (BVI) for our 7 day charter aboard Promiscuis, a 58 foot Leopard catamaran. The captain and chef did a fantastic job of keeping us happy and saitiated. We visited all the major hot spots with the highlights being the Soggy Dollar, the Baths, sailing to and from Anegada and snorkeling. The weather was fantastic as we had 20+ on the knot meter when we sailed. 12 years ago we had 12-15 during the same time period so this was a nice surprise. We were joined by 3 other couples that we have known since the 80's. We had a long day of travel coming home but it was all worth it. Good to be back. Our boat is getting some bottom paint this week and the adventure continues this weekend with more excursions on the bay! Here is a video that depics the adventures we had to the old world.

Sailing to 80 knots!

We are celebrating 17 years of bonehead moves on the water! That's pretty amazing. In that span of time, I have enjoyed some of the sweetest times of my life thru sailing. Here are some highlights: a 7 month voyage to Mexico and back to SF. Six Baja Haha's. Chartering in BVI's, Belize, La Paz (2), Grenedines, and on Monday we head back to the BVI's on a 58' cat with a captain and chef abaord. Thousands of sails on our Newport 30 (17 years) and our latest, a Jeanneau 40 (5 years). I could not not be much happier with our current boat. We installed a bluetooth anchor system recently for stress free anchoring from the cockpit. It doesn't get much better than this! Heading out today for one last sail before a sailing vacation. Bon voyage to us and 8 friends!

Capsize on the Bay

Sail GP is on the bay this weekend. During a test sail on Monday, the American boat had some issuses with the wing and it went turtle. Kai Lenny was a guest on the boat. The winner this weekend will receive $1m! Here is a previous race from Burmuda. I love the format of racing all together. Big collision at 30 knots. Go to 18:15 for the rumble. "Have a look at that shroud, Feddy!"

Racing in the Caribbean - LES VOILES DE ST BARTH RICHARD MILLE

The speed of these boat is amazing! We head to the BVI's for a charter in less than a month! Our first trip there was 2008. We have a captain and a chef aboard so Bridget will be joining us along with a bunch of old friends. Can't wait!

A little wave action in SF

Winds gusting 30-40 today...going sailing! I will be careful, promise.

The Best Sail Mag on the West Coast

Download it for free at latitude38.com

The Best of Yosemite

One of the most beautiful places in the US!

A Golden Birthday

We have been sharing golden retrievers with our friends for over 30 years. Three of the four below are siblings. That's my wife Bridget in the back and Hana too. The siblings turned 2 today. They are such a joy! For her birthday, Hana and I sailed over to Clipper Cove for a romp on the beach. She loved it. Then we did a nice sail in 12-15 knot winds towards Angel Island. It was a great day! And a great dog!

Life is an Adventure!

I found this on Quora. A site where folks ask questions to the world and you get to answer them. I am a big believer in having dreams. And dreams lead to adventure! Read on. Life is supposed to be a series of adventures. It's impossible to understand the meaning of life without understanding that. We're all supposed to be explorers, pioneers, and treasure hunters of the soul. We're not supposed to be sleep walking through the world, caught in a routine, heads down and eyes closed to the possibilities that lie waiting all around us. This world is a dramatic arena, and each of our lives is supposed to show that in the best possible way. "Without adventure, civilization is in full decay." (Alfred North Whitehead) I've become convinced that we are here in this world to live a grand adventure consisting of a series of smaller adventures. We are here for discovery, growth, creative accomplishment, and loving fulfillment. Anything less is a waste of time. Whether your adventure is noisy and glamorous, or subtle and deep, whether it plays out on a global stage, or within the borders of your own neighborhood, whether it involves changing the world, or just improving yourself, an adventurous approach to life is a requirement for becoming the person you're capable of being, making your mark in the lives of others, and experiencing a sense of lasting fulfillment along the way. I choose the word 'adventure' carefully. It's more than just a journey that I have in mind, a process of travelling from point A to B. An adventure is an extended experience, frought with risk and reward, unpredictable twists, guaranteed obstacles, and surprising results. You can take a trip, launch out on a voyage, or undergo a journey fast asleep. But an adventure has to be experienced. Eyes wide open. In disbelief, terror, amazement, or bliss. It is an essentially existential endeavor, a foray of the heart, mind and senses that calls into play every aspect of your existence. The term 'adventure' is in a sense value neutral. An adventure can be frightening, or it can be great. It can cause pain, or produce joy. It can end badly or well. But you never experience an adventure unchanged. In fact, adventure is all about change. It's about growth. And growth is the core of life. Successful lives grow out of successful adventures. The adventure of your life is so important that it demands the best of your attention, and the most of your energies, on a daily basis, so that it can be lived well. The world's greatest literature attests in many ways to the paradigmatic importance of adventure in human life. In the Iliad and the Odessey, the ancient poet Homer spun tales of striking adventures that have reverberated down the centuries, capturing the interest of people in every subsequent time. In the book of Genesis, one of the foundational stories of the Bible, an account viewed as of crucial importance by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, presents Abram as a man suddenly called out of the comfort and security of his homeland for a new adventure, a journey that would eventually lead him to The Promised Land. Renamed Abraham, this adventurer is viewed as the original Father of faith, and as an individual through whom all the nations will eventually be blessed. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go." (Hebrews 11:8, New Testament) The Buddha went on a quest. Mohammed lived an adventure. Moses, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Columbus, Gandhi, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, Martin Luther King - so many of the names that represent to us lives fully lived are those of adventurers, inventors, discoverers, liberators, creators, people who were not content to just measure out their days, but who threw themselves into a dynamic process of change for the sake of others as well as themselves. We're fascinated and inspired by mountain climbers, sailors on the open sea, serious rafters, hot air baloonists, scuba divers, spelunkers, astronauts, and pioneers of every kind. We admire those among us who are able to break out of their routines and take the risks involved in all discovery. And, in more subtle ways, we read with interest and satisfaction the stories to be found in great novels of character challenge, emotional learning, and personal growth. Adventures of exploration and conquest, as well as adventures of the heart, have dominated the human imagination at all times. Deep down we've somehow always known that life is meant to encompass challenging adventures, We've even suspected that human existence reaches its pinnacle in creative adventure, and yet this is an insight we too easily forget to apply to our own careers in this world. We might dream of fabulous adventures in our innermost thoughts, but thrown into an actual one, we often react with anxiety, aversion and fear. "When you¹re safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you¹re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home." (Thornton Wilder) We live in what could be the most adventure filled time of change in all of human history, but we have not been sufficiently prepared for living that adventure well. We don't deeply enough understand the necessity of personal adventure for the happiness and fulfillment that we all ultimately seek. We need new wisdom for our lives at a time like this. And wisdom is the philosopher's job.

The Gorilla Strikes

Back in the early 90's (I was about 32), I was working at an event company and a call came in. A woman was asking about having someone in a gorilla suit come out and entertain at her daughters 16th birthday party. I asked her to hold while I called the costume shop to make sure they had a suit available. I got back to the Mom and told her $500 for an hour of mayham! The next day I rented the suit and headed to the party. Now this was something I had never done. We are usually coordinatining large corporate events. But what the heck, let's have some fun. I burst into the party of 20 girls all shrieking and jumping up and down. Most were cheerleaders I was to find out, and very cute. I had my boom box blasting "They say it's your birthday" by the Beatles. Then we went into a bunch of fun dance tunes. The girls loved it and I was having a ball. As I was leaving, the birthday girl is saying goodby and thanking me. She asks me to take off my head gear so she can see my face. She says, "Oh you are so cute, I am going to have you come back for my 21st birthday and have you strip!" That was a nice complement! So I had that to look forward to!! Afterwards, I took the gorilla suit to a Grateful Dead show at Shoreline. I got a huge response from the crowd. Especially the ones tripped out on LSD. They thought I was the real deal and had escaped from the zoo!

Big Yachts in Sardinia

*(&^II February sailing on the bay has been spectacular with 10-15 knot breezes. We are in the middle of an unprecidented drought in California, however, the weather is down right amazing. Today will see low 70's on the water. Too cold to swim at with the bay at 54 degrees. Heading for an overnight on the island with Hana (the dog!) and some good winds expected Saturday. Bon Voyage! Also planning to spread some of my late great Mom's ashes, Evelyn.

Trip Report: Sea of Cortez, Mexico

La Paz Sailing Adventure January 2022 John, Arnie, Barry and Geoff joined me for a charter out of La Paz. Dream Yacht Charter supplied us with a 40’ cat for week in the islands. We spent a night in La Paz and provisioned the next day. At l2 we arrived at the base at Costa Baja Marina and prepared for departure. At 2pm we were off to Espiratu Santos. I went down to take a nap and a few hours later we were anchored in a huge bay with one other boat. I prepared dinner and we cheered our arrival to this beautiful location. Barry provided a sound track of Pink Floyd and we retired to the bow for a gourgous evening of looking at the stars and milky way. On Tuesday we were up early for breakfast and a snorkel. We moved to another smaller bay and enjoyed the 70 degree water and some cool fish. Lunch took us up to Isla Partida and the clear waters of the Sea of Cortez. We finished the day with a bocce game on the beach and a lot of laughs. Arnie prepared a shrimp dinner that was out of sight. Our destination on Wednesday was 19 miles north to Isla San Francisco. We arrived at lunch time and proceed to relax a bit. At this point we had mostly motored north. The winds were up so we went for a 2 hour afternoon sail. After returning to SF, we went for a snorkel with millions of fish next to the rocky wall. Very impressive. Arnie went for a paddle and said it was his best in years. A few miles north was another island with a mangrove sanctuary. John and I stayed on the boat as it would have been a tight fit with the five of us in the zodiac. The boys were gone for about 2 hours and they had a great time motoring in waterways. After lunch, we decided to pick up anchor and go sailing. It was glorious. We returned to SF once more as the winds were over 25 at that time. The next morning we took off early for San Evaristo. A small fishing village 30 miles to the north. The winds were in the high 20’s so we motored into the storm. We made it and headed to dinner at a small restaurant. Retired early and slept well. The best day of sailing was upon us. On Saturday we saw winds in the 30’s blowing in towards the south. We had a fantastic down wind sail back to Santos. 4 hours of 5-7 knots and effortless sailing. We ended up in a beautiful bay and more snorkeling. We played a round of Liar’s Dice and called it a night after another great meal. Sunday we were up early for one last snorkel and some hammock time in the bow. We had luch at a busy beach with lots of tourist boats. Then it was time to head home and back towards the base. Dinner was a lot of leftovers. We turned the boat in the next morning and said good by to La Paz. We had an amazing week of fun with great friends and weather! The boat exceeded our expectations. We are very happy sailors!

Stuck in Mexico

We had a marvalous week sailing the islands off La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. Our chartered cat worked well for the 5 crew. Unfortunatly, after taking our covid tests to re-enter the US, 3 of the 5 have covid. We are in a hotel in Cabo isolating for the next 5 days. We hope to depart Sunday after receiving clearance from a local doctor. The weather is nice but we really can't enjoy it.

Big Upgrade on Aquarius!

I purchased our Jeanneau 40 back in October 2017. We had issues with the anchor as the socket the remote plugs into was corroded. It always worked but the connection was very iffy. The last 8 months it did not work at all. I asked my engineer friend to give me a hand. He mentioned we should consider a Bluetooth controller. I had always joked about that with guests and today we hooked it up and voila! I am soooo happy! I have been doing the raising manually and getting my hands muddy each time is not my cup tea! Picked up the remote for $20.

Nazare Goes Huge!

2022!

I have much to be thankful for and look forward to this coming year. In January we head off for a week long charter to La Paz, MX. Boyz trip on a fine cat to the islands off La Paz. We did a side trip here on our voyage to Mexico in 2019. Incredible islands and La Paz is a very cool town. Then in April we head to the Caribbean. A week in a home in St. John's and then a week on a 60' cat with a captain and chef. That is gonna be a hoot with old friends from the bay area. Bridget is joining us. She hates sailing unless the water is 80 and a chef is cooking! Later in the year we are off to Africa on safari! We hope! Depends on the state of the pandemic. Then lots of sails aboard Aquarius here on our bay in San Francisco. Currently going out 2-3 times a week with an overnight here and there. Yesterday had a great sail to the city in 15-20 knot south winds. Very nice, just me an Hana (2 year old golden). It's going to be another year to relish and savor even given our sad state of health across the land.

Surf Pic of the Year!

Peter Mel at Maverick's in Half Moon Bay, CA. January 2021 Click the pic for a bigger view.

Reflections on the year: 2021

Started the year with some great winter sails. I love "winter". Temps 55, sunny and warm, winds 12-15. A nice break from the constant 25-30 we get from April to Late September. Our 1 year old pup, Hana is a joy on the boat. We head to the islands most days and swim to the beach for a romp in the sand. We took out Hana's siblings and our friends several times and the dogs are becoming great swimmers. One day we showed up at Clipper Cove and Hana's sister was on the beach. As soon as we got within 500 yards, Hana could smell and see her on the beach. We anchored and Hana swam to the beach and the dogs went nuts. We sailed to 3 baseball games over the summer and the Giants were on fire. Took out a bunch of friends as usual for day sails. Signed up two new partners, one in March and one in October. We have a total of 4. We had the engine looked over in late March and it took a while to get the heat exchanger installed. It all worked out and she is purring like a large lion. We had lots of sailing in 30 plus knots this summer. Took out my guy friends for a weekend of sails in June with great success and dinner aboard. Got a request from my old friend Yvonne and we took out a bunch of her friends for an afternoon sail out of Sam's. Had a great couple of days with my friend Dave and we stayed over in Sausalito for the night. Next day we were up early to bike around Angel Island. What a beautiful ride with a 360 tour of the SF Bay. We are in a rainy period as the holidays arrive. I have one more over night coming up before the New Year with Frank and Andy. I figure I was on the water about 100 days plus this year! Here's to a great 2022! Here is a video blogger I watch every now and then.

Mike Plant's Old Boat

You may know the Mike Plant story of a young man wanting to challenge the best in an around the world race called the Vendee Globe.  His original boat has been sitting in a front yard for 25 years and is now being turned into a family cruiser. They are documenting the redo on the boat for our pleasure.

 

 

A Trip Back in Time...Galapagos

We finally made it to the islands!  I had planned to sail there in 2019.  Didn't happen, voyaged to Mexico instead.   We had planned the trip with friends for 2020.  Nope, covid.  Finally made and it was a trip to savoir.  We flew from Ecuador to the islands and jumped on Evolution (an old whaling ship turned into a beautiful passenger yacht).  With 31 passengers and 20 some crew, we were off an an adventure of a lifetime.  November is a perfect time to visit.  Daytime temps rarely hit the mid 70's.  The ship was outfitted well with zodiacs ready to take us to the islands for hiking and snorkeling.  We took 8 friends with us and we were all friends of 30+ years.  We spent our days with our guides who were well versed in the flora and the fauna of this storied archipelago.   The beauty of the islands is that for most of the creatures, there are no predators so the animals are not afraid of you.  We saw many species of birds including the blue footed boobies.  The snorkeling was magnificent as we are in the middle of nowhere (about 650 miles off the coast).  Sharks, sea turtles, millions of fish,  iguanas and seals everywhere.  On our last day we headed up into the hills and visited the giant tortoises.  120 years old and 500 pounds some of them.  We spent a week on the water and visited about 5 islands.  Everyone in our group had a splendid time and we would highly recommend this group for a tour.  https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/mv-evolution

Click any pic for a better view:

Burning Delight

 

An amazing Burning Man exhibit. If you look closely, you can see some Burners in the reflections.  My three voyages to the playa have been life enhancing!  We had an amazing set up of tents and screens to keep a good portion of the dust to a minimum.  Inside we had seating for 30 at several long tables, a kitchen, and an area to relax with couches for a comfy vibe.  The piece de la resistance was the Bioluminescent Slug, our art car!    We had a flatbed truck turned into a 2 floor disco with a kick ass DJ system.  The design was brilliant.  PVC pipe supported a fabric skin that along with the lighting and sound made this art car a head turner.  Comfortably we could accommodate 30 people on the two floors.  We had as many as forty five!  Our gift to the playa was free rides on the slug.  We also did a wedding in an outdoor chapel and drove the bridal party to a dance tent after the nuptials.  Some of the creative exhibits were mindblowing.  And some were so simple.  One guy who came thru our camp sat down with a bag of coconuts and commenced to break them open so we could drink the milk.  Another guy brought a half pound of cocaine which he shared with who ever wanted some.  No wonder the parties went all night!  The first time you enter the playa at night, your whole concept of life will change.  It is amazing to say the least.  Thank-you Burning Man and a big hug to my camp mates at High Maintenance.

Skinny Dipper Almost Sinks

 

Galapagos Adventure

Bridget and I are off the Ecuador for a week long trip to the islands of Darwin fame.   We are taking 4 other couples along for the ride.  Be looking for some pics after the 20th of this month.  Bon voyage!

Halloween is Upon Us!

 

Over the Edge - Surf Movie

Streaming everywhere!

Chasing the Dream

You get a lot of time to think when you are alone at sea on a small boat, with few distractions but the water rushing by, and the stars at night, standing on deck alone and insignificant on the wide ocean, naked, peeing into the full moon... The downhill run to Papeete is a classic one, sailing right into the southern cross, It took 8 days to sail from the Marquesas to Tahiti, and in that time I experienced every emotion in the rainbow, from sheer terror, to sadness, to un-controllable mirth. I purged every dark corner of my mind, with nowhere to run from the truth, and came away cleansed, lighter, and much much stronger.

I realise now that I have shed almost all my fears. I am not afraid of dying, and I am not afraid of being alone. Actually, my life is wonderfully streamlined when I am left to my own devises. I am not afraid of being judged. I am not afraid of what I do or don't have. My idea of success is not based on money, but rather on the ability to wake up and say "yes, let's go to the waterfall today". The idea that freedom IS the end goal, and that money is just a means to that end, and that if you are not careful to make the distinction, the chasing of money can actually take away from that freedom--the means becomes the end. By that measure, my life so far has been a smashing success, and the only thing that scares me anymore is letting this crazy, beautiful life pass me by. No matter how hard I try, I will only have a fraction of the adventures I would like to. I will only see so many sunsets, I will only hold so many beautiful women in my arms.

Saying yes becomes more urgent as we get older, yet harder and harder to say. Life thunders by, and dreams are crushed beneath the wheels of time. I find that not being afraid is a tremendous freedom in itself. I will remember to say yes, more than just 'whenever possible', for it is at these times when I am most alive.

Who said, our greatest fear is not that we are weak, but that we are powerful beyond measure?' That hits the nail on the head. I don't know where this crazy, stormy, leaky boat of a life is headed, but I sure know that its beautiful out here under these stars with dolphins chasing my stern...

Super Maxi Bonehead Moves

 Heading home from Yucatan to a storm on Sunday.  Sailing should be in the mid twenties and a sailors dream.  Go full screen!

Songs About Sailing - The Definitive List

• 4 Preps - 26 miles
  "Aaliyah - ""Rock The Boat"" "
  Al Stewart - Life In Dark Water
  Arlo Guthrie - Sailor's Bonnet
  Avalon - Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music
  Basil Poledouris- The Dinghy Race (Senta) .
  Beach Boys - Kokomo
  Beach Boys - Sail On Sailor
  Beach Boys - Sloop John B
  Beca Boys - Sail on Sailor
  Billie Holiday - A Sailboat in the Moonlight
  Blondie - The Tide Is High
  Blue4s Image Ride Captain Ride
  Bob Dylan-  Shelter from the Storm
  Bobbie Darin - Beyond the Sea
  Burl Ives - Away Rio
  Burl Ives- Leave her Johnny leave her
  Burl Ives- What do you do with a drunken sailor
  Buster Poindexter- Hot hot hot
  Carbon Leaf - Home
  Cat Steven - Longer Boats
  Cat Stevens - Angel Sea
  Cat Stevens- The Wind by
  Cecilio and Kapono (from Hawaii) - Sailing
  Chris De Burgh - Sailing Away
  Christie Moore - The Voyage
  Christopher Cross - Chris Cross
  Chubawumba -Tubthumping
  Come Sail Away - Styx
  Commodores - Sail On
  Cowboy Junkies- White Sail
  Craig Toungate-Yo Ho, Ho (and A Bottle of Rum)
  Crash Test Dummies -Swimming in your Ocean
  Cream—Tales of Brave Ulysses
  CSN - Shadow Captain
  CSN - Southern Cross
  CSN&Y - Lee Shore
  CSNY  - Wooden Ships
  David Gray - Sail Away
  Dire Straits - Down To The Waterline
  Dire Straits - Singlehanded Sailor
  Doors - Land Ho
  Doors—Crystal Ship
  Double - Capt. of Her Heart
  Duran Duran - Rio
  Ella Fitzgerald- Smooth Sailing by
  Elvis Costello - Shipbuilding
  Enya - Caribbean Blue
  Enya - Orinoco Flow
  Enya - Sail Away
  Eric Bogel' - Safe in the Harbor
  Eric carmen - Boats Against The Current
  Eric Wakely - Sailing Solo
  Every Mother Son -Come on Down to my Boat Baby
  Frank Sinatra - Summer Wind
  Freddy McGregor - Big Ship Sailing
  Garth Brooks - The River
  Glenn Yarborough - Chanteyman
  Glenn Yarborough - I Could Have Been A Sailor
  Goldfinger - 99 red balloons
  Gordon Bok - Isle a Haut
  Gordon Lightfoot - Ghosts of Cape Horn
  Gordon Lightfoot - In the Lee of Christian Island
  Gordon Lightfoot—Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald
  Grand Funk Railroad - I'm Your Captain / Closer To Home
  Grand Funk Railroad -Closer to my Home
  Grateful Dead - Ship of Fools
  Grateful Dead- Franklins Tower
  Grateful Dead- Lost Sailor
  Great Big Sea - A Boat like Gideon Brown's
  Great Big Sea - Boston & St Johns, Great Big Sea - Wave over Wave
  Great Big Sea - Captain Kidd
  Great Big Sea - Lukey
  Harry Belefonte- Day Oh (Banana Boat song)
  Harry Belefonte- Jamaca Farewell
  Ian Matthews- keep on sailing -
  Jack Johnson-  A Pirate Looks at Forty
  Jack Johnson- The Horizon has been defeated
  James White -Splendid Adventure
  Jeff Beck -Blue Wind
  Jefferson Starship—Santiago, Wooden Ships
  Jerry Jeff Walker - Pissn' in the Wind
  Jim Morris  - Key Wasted
  Jim Morris  - Laid Back
  Jim Morris -The Sailor Race
  Jimi Hendrix -  Drifting
  Jimmy Buffet - Lovely Cruise
  Jimmy Buffet - Take It Back
  Jimmy Buffet - changes in latitudes
  Jimmy Buffet - Fins
  Jimmy Buffet - Landfall
  Jimmy Buffet - Margaritaville
  Jimmy Buffet - mother ocean
  Jimmy Buffet - one particular harbor
  Jimmy Buffet - Pirate
  Jimmy Buffet - Sea of heartbreak
  Jimmy Buffet - Landfall
  Jimmy Buffet -Boats to Build
  Jimmy Buffet Sea of Heartbreak
  Jimmy Buffet- Son of a Son of a Sailor
  Jimmy Buffett - Boats To Build (with Alan Jackson)
  Jimmy Buffett - One Particular Harbor
  Jimmy Buffett - The Captain and the Kid
  Jimmy Buffett- Lovely Cruise
  Jimmy Buffett- Mother Ocean
  Joan Baez—Spanish Boots
  Joe Cocker- Sail Away
  Kalapana - Midnight Sailing
  Kenny Chesney - French Kissin' Life
  Kenny Chesney -Be as you are
  KT Tunstall - Silent Sea
  Leadbelly-Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On
  Lindisfarne - Fog on the Tyne
  Little Feat - Sailin' Shoes
  Little River Band - Cool Change
  Loggins and Messina - Vahevala
• Loggins and Messina - Sailin' the Wind
  Looking Glass-Brandy
  Loudan Wainwright's III - Good Ship Venus
  Luka Bloom - Sunny Sailor Boy
  Lyle Lovett - If I had a boat
  Maggie reilly- Silver on the tree / angel tears
  Mark Knoppfler and James Taylor - Sailing to Philadelphia
  Mary Black - Columbus
  Men at Work - Down Under
  Michelle Shocked - It must be Luff
  Moon Mulican - I'LL SAIL MY SHIP ALONE
  Morcheeba - The Sea
  Mountain - 'Nantucket Sleighride'
  "Nick Cave -""The Ship Song
  Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay
  Paul Simon - American Tune
  Peter Frampton - sail away
  Peter, Paul & Mary - Big Boat
  Phil Ochs—Scorpion Departs, Thresher
  Queen - Sail Away Sweet Sister
  Randy Newman' - Sail away
  Rod Stewart - Sailing 4x
  Roger & the Goosebumps - 'Gilligan's Island’ to the tune of 'Stairway to Heaven'
  Roger Whittaker - The Last Farewell
  Ry Cooder/Chieftains- Coast of Malabar
  Salty Dick -  A Matlow Told Me
  Salty Dick - Christopher Columbo
  Salty Dick  North Atlantic Squadron
  Salty Dick - Priests and Nuns
  Salty Dick -The Whores of Sailortown
  Sandy denny and the strawbs - sail away to the sea
  Sonia Dada- Sail Away
  Split Enz - Six months in a leaky boat
  Stan Rogers -  Flowers of Bermuda
  Stan Rogers - Fogarty's Cove
  Stan Rogers - The Bluenose
  Stan Rogers - The wreck of the jeanie c
  Stan Rogers - White Squall
  Stan Rogers -Barrett's Privateers
  Stan Rogers -Make and Break Harbor
  Stan Rogers -The Mary Ellen Carter
  Stan Rogers,-  Sailing Down to Ol' Maui
  Sting - Valaparaiso
  Sting - Why Should I Cry for You?
  Sting The Wild Wild Sea
  Styx - Come Sail Away
  Taj Mahal - Fishin Blues
  The beautiful South - I sail this ship alone
  The Doors - Land Ho!
  The King Singers - The Skye  Boat Song
  The Muppets (from Muppet Treasure Island) - Sailing for Adventure
  Toni Childs - Where the Ocean
  Van Halen - Feels So Good
  Van Morrison - Into the Mystic
  Wagner -Ride of the Valkyries Wagner

Borrowed from Messing About in Sailboats

Go to the 8 minute mark for the sailing.

 

Epic Surfing Read

Vacationing down in the Caribbean and am reading a great book about chasing the perfect wave back in the day. Check it out, Barbarian Days. You will not regret it.

Teahupoo Goes Off One Last Time

The surf season in Tahiti is winding down after a very active few months. Here are some amazing rides by some of the top chargers in the South Pacific. Follow the link to Surfline for this amazing vid. https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/exclusive-edit-teahupoos-swan-song/133786

Pics of the Week

Burning Man Drone Show...Otherworldly!

This years burning man did not happen...officially. However,18,000 folks showed up to celebrate the man anyway! Saturday they tradionally burn the man and it is spectacular. This year they used drones for an unforgettable show. Start thinking about going to BM 2022!

The Famous Flying Fish Story

In the 2011 Haha, we were approaching Cabo at sunrise. Still 30 miles away, the sun started to rise. The crew was asleep and I was in the bow thinking about how sailing had enhanced my life, the experiences I had and all the great people I had met. All of the sudden, a flying fish jumped out of the water and flew into the tip of my penis. It shocked me but no injuries were reported. He was flopping on deck so I picked him up and threw him back into the water. Do you know what they call that? Crotch and release! True story.

The Man, The Myth, Did I mention Legend?

Most waves you catch last a few seconds, maybe five - ten seconds if you catch a good one. Here is Laird catching a 3 minute wave. Cowabunga my friend!

Top Reasons to go Sailing!

I have a few days of sailing coming up and looking forward to some birthday sails! We also have the Lat38 Crew Party on Thursday. Sunday is the Annual Beach Bash that I have hosted since 1987! Good stuff is happening so steady as she goes.

Looking for a new partner

Here is the ad from craiglist: Have you ever wanted to have a large, elegant yacht to enjoy and share with friends and family at a very reasonable price? Yet, you did not want all the hassle of boat ownership? Welcome aboard our three-cabin 2001 Jeanneau 40. She had a major refit in 2018 for a successful voyage deep into Mexico and back. Large touch screen chart plotter, autopilot, AIS, radar, new rigging, new jib furler, new jib, 200' of chain with Rocna anchor, awesome Bluetooth windlass for hassle free anchoring, stack pack with lazy jacks, all lines led aft, spinnaker, new head, galley with 2 burner stove and oven, steering cables replaced, LED lights everywhere, video system for DVD movies, 4 huge AGM batteries, inverter, Bluetooth stereo with indoor/outdoor speakers, wind speed, depth, dual wheel, swim deck with ladder, six-man life raft, two heads, dodger, and bimini. I have been managing successful sailing partnerships for 20 years. At $150 per month, this is one of the most affordable partnerships on the bay. The equity cost is $20,000 (4 partners). With an equity partnership, you get the $20k back when you leave the partnership (or whatever the market will bear at that time). I take care of all the maintenance while you get to go sailing! Our last partner to join recently paid a great compliment to the partnership. He said, "I feel like I won the lottery!" He recently spent the weekend on the hook at Aquatic Park and had a blast. When I advertised for a partner last time, I filled the spot in 2 days, so this will go fast. I am available on Labor Day (9/6) for viewing the boat. If that is not convenient, I am available during the week and the following Saturday. Looking for experienced and confident sailors only. Emeryville sits at the end of the slot and is known for its consistent 20-25 knot winds as you depart the channel. If you want to sail affordably and without all the hassle of boat ownership, you could be our newest partner! We recently had $6000 of engine work done and the Yanmar 56 is strong and ready for the next adventure. Here is a walk-thru of a sister ship with 2 cabins. https://youtu.be/Sjwzepp-uMw Please note that the boat in this video is not our boat, but very similar. Contact me: fungod@gmail.com

Glorious Sailing in the Med

Great Commentary, Incredible Shot!

I have been playing disc golf since college (over 40 years). And still playing several times a week. I love that is such a simple game, yet very difficult. Enjoy this shot from the national championship in Utah. This is a shot of 247 feet!!

Wife's Away, A Sailor Will Play

My wife had a family function to attend in SLC and I dropped her at SFO. I took off for the boat about 30 minutes away. After some chores, Hana and I took off for a sail. Winds in the 20's got us to Clipper Cove and a nice beach in no time. There were a few boats there and anchoring is usually easy. I tried twice but the anchor did not bite, so we headed back to the dock. Friday I had a few friends join me for another sail to Cilpper. We swam to the beach and had a great lunch as well. The winds were in the high 20's as we hit the end of the island. After a tuff tack we made it around and back to the marina. Had a bunch of chores on Saturday including changing the transmission fluid. Out for a short sail and then home. Sunday was a big day for Hana as her brother was onboard. They played and wrestled as we sailed to Angel Island. I took them to the beach and they had a ball swimming for the stick. 30 knots of wind got us home quickly and my friends loved it. I even made it on time after the sail to pick up my wife at the airport.

Everything is fine...until it isn't

Having your mast break on the ocean is right up there with losing your keel. You hope and prey you never have to deal with either. As this couple finds out, it can happen on a glorious day! And they catch it all on film. Be safe out there!

Remember this one? 1986

This is the most played vid on MTV ever. Celebrating 40 years of MTV this week. Check out the top 100 videos of all time. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-music-videos-1194411/

100 Foot Wave Flick - Nazare

Just watched the 2nd episode of HBO's 100 Foot Wave documentry and very much enjoyed the action and drama of this very dangerous break in Portugal. Garrett attempts to surf the biggest wave ever ridden. It's a sweet ride with a fantastic finish. Check it out on HBO and stream it to the big screen! The waves are soo huge and almost bone crushing.

The Maze!

I got such a kick out of this video. I hope you do too. Off to the Delta with my girl Hana for a week. Sailing, relaxing and some adventure!

Sailing to the Game!

It's been 2 years since we sailed to a Giants game. John and I took off in 20 knot winds and made it down the city front. Our slip was ready at South Beach and we strolled into the stadium. Great seats as we watch the Giants win 3-1 and the best record in baseball. Not many expected the Giants to be this good! We jumped back on board for a 25 knot sail home. Dinner on board with steak, chicken and polenta. Nice. John heads home and I hit the hay. Hana and I are up early for a romp in the park. Then as the tides turn favorable, we head out in 15-18 knot winds from the southwest. We make it to Paradise Cove in Tiburon and head to the beach. Hana loves it. On our way home we had steady 30 knot winds and I was glad to see the channel markers and our home port. In about 10 days, I head to the Delta solo. Should be interesting.

McCovey Cove on a good day!

Wing Foil Attempt to Hawaii Fails

The big-wave surfer who set out from Half Moon Bay last week in hopes of crossing the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii alone pulled into Morro Bay on Sunday night, shutting down his trip after six challenging days. Chris Bertish, the South Africa-born waterman who stand-up-paddleboarded 4,000 miles across the Atlantic by himself four years ago, launched from Pillar Point Harbor last week on a custom-made hydrofoil boat powered by a handheld sail — a novel craft for the 2,400-nautical-mile voyage he was attempting. Bertish had planned to spend about two months at sea. He hewed closely to his planned route for the first several days but then, off the Big Sur coast, diverted back to shore in San Luis Obispo County after his “main electronics systems drained overnight, which shouldn’t happen,” according to a statement from his shore crew. He also had “some issues with water getting into the craft previously, and he realized that he could not move forward across the Pacific without addressing these two issues first,” the statement said. “With all these adventures you have to be 100% confident in your craft and the integrity of the vessel you’re with, and until that’s in place, the only right and rational decision is to get the craft up to speed before continuing on,” Bertish said in the statement. Bertish is transporting his boat to Berkeley for repairs. He said he hopes to restart the trip at some point — potentially in the next month. Despite cutting his journey short, Bertish may have set an obscure world record in the process for traveling 212 miles unsupported on his wing-foil boat, according to his crew’s statement.

Transpacific Rower Rescued

On the morning of May 31, Bay Area kayaker Cyril Derreumaux paddled out the Golden Gate on a solo journey to Honolulu, HI. The 43-year-old father of two expected to paddle 2,400 nm over 70 days, solo and unsupported. However on Saturday, June 5, the US Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a report at 9:42 p.m. “from a kayaker who was making a solo voyage from Sausalito to Honolulu.” Cyril was rescued on Sunday morning approximately 70 miles west of Santa Cruz. Upon his leaving San Francisco Bay, progress had been steady, and Cyril’s InReach message on ‘Day 1’ indicated all was well. “Great day, seeing lots of whales along the route. Paddled for the entire day only stopping once for a 1/2 hour nap in the cabin. Stopping for the day to use the good conditions to deploy the sea anchor and work on a routine for the nights to come.” By the third day the swell and wind had increased and were forecast to keep increasing over the coming days. Cyril then spent a number of days on the sea anchor waiting for conditions to improve and allow him back into the seat to continue his journey. On the fifth day he wrote, “Still on anchor. Valentine is my cocoon and I feel safe even with the noisy waves crashing on me. I feel rested even if I wake up every one to two hours to check plotter.” After three days on anchor riding out 30- to 35-knot winds with gusts to 45 knots and rough seas with troughs of 4.5 meters, during which Cyril reported, “the waves breaking on the cabin of my kayak with an impressive noise,” the kayaker’s ground crew told him they had lost his AIS signal for three hours — the GPS signal had been lost and could not be recovered. In a sudden turn of events the sea anchor now also appeared to be damaged and the kayak began behaving erratically. “In a few moments my kayak was positioned almost parallel to the axis of the waves, and I found myself violently tossed from side to side, along with all the equipment that was stored in the cabin,” Cyril reported. It quickly became clear to the solo kayaker that he could not safely enter the water to deal with the problem. “Attempts to get out to more accurately assess the condition of the sea anchor and to resolve the issue were unsuccessful and resulted in water entering my cabin.” Throughout this time Cyril was in constant contact with his land-based support crew discussing the circumstances. “As night had just fallen, it was clear that the situation was not sustainable: inability to eat, drink, sleep, communicate easily with my team ashore.” They jointly decided to contact the US Coast Guard to explore all their options. “Being still quite close to land (60 nm) and considering the deteriorating weather conditions which could have made a rescue operation more complex and dangerous for all in the days to come, I made the very difficult decision to request an evacuation.” In the early hours of Sunday, June 6, the USCG hoisted the tired but uninjured adventurer into a helicopter and returned to Air Station San Francisco. Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll said, “Recognizing that the situation was beyond his capabilities and calling for assistance allowed our crews to reach him in time for a successful rescue.” The next step is to locate the vessel and recover it so he can continue his voyage.

I Give you the Mathew Turner

Matthew Turner is a tall ship designed after the ship Galilee, which was built in the late 1800’s by the ship designer and builder Matthew Turner. The Galilee held the San Francisco to Tahiti passage record of 19 days for many years. Matthew Turner will expand the capacity of programs that are currently running onboard Seaward, which currently serves middle school aged youth and engages them in marine environmental education. Expanded programming will enable Call of the Sea to reach even more students (from 5,000 to 15,000 served annually). Ship Specifications: Length Overall: 132′ Length on Deck: 100′ Beam: 25′ Draft: 10′ Sail Area: (11 Sails) 7,200 sq ft Height of main mast: 100ft Displacement: 175 tons 38 Berths for voyaging Constructed with Douglas Fir, Oregon White Oak and Bronze Fastenings Two 200 KW electric motors regenerating power under sail Two 50 KWH banks of Lithium batteries Two 265 KW bio-fuel generators Took 7 years to build at $6 million Most of the work was done by volenteers

Build Me A Beast!

I don't know if I have every seen a yacht this beautiful. Now, where did I put that $50mil?

Maps of Home - ACTION EDIT

John John Florence is one of the top surfers on the Tour. He brings it everytime as you will see in the vid. This edit is from his 22 minute film of the same name. Enjoy the tubes.

*Sail Away*

A beautiful film about the freedom and mystery of the sea. Enjoy.

Outstanding

Found this guy on Youtube that is an amazing film editor and creator. Check him out. "16 Years Young" below also features his amazing skills.

Engine Up and Running

We have a 20 year old Yanmar 56 on our Jeanneau. After our 4000 mile trip to Mexico and back, I wanted to have an expert check her out. As luck would have it, she needed a good going over. The heat exchanger needed a replacement. Due to Covid, the parts have been delayed in transit. Instead of the 5 days we were told, it will end being about 45 days. The part has not arrived, so I asked them to put the old part back on. Finally it is done and we will wait for the new one to arrive. Lots to look forward to as the sailing season is kicking into high gear with 25-30 knot winds on tap for the next 5-6 months. Yipee!

16 Years Young!

H2uh0 just turned 16 this month! That is pretty amazing considering todays blogoshpere. We are getting close to 3000 entries with many more to come. The sailing world continues to evolve with the big guys on Youtube getting paid by their patrons to sail the world. Pretty amazing and lucky too. Me, I am just a humble blogger talking about sailing and learning from the mistakes of others. Looking back over the years, here are my top 10 highlights: 1. America's Cup right in our backyard with these flying machines hitting 40 knots! 2013 2. Sailing my 40' Jeanneau to Mexico and back to SF for a 4000 mile voyage over 7 months. 2018/19 3. A visit from the 289' Maltese Falcon for a month in September. 2008 4. Multiple trips up the Napa River with biking to the wineries. 5. Multiple trips up to the Delta including two Doo Dah's. 6. Six adventures on the Baja Ha Ha on other peoples boats. San Diego to Cabo San Lucas 7. Chartering in Belize, BVI, Grenadines, and La Paz with friends and family. 8. Safeley sailing our amazing bay with my dogs and friends. 9. Sailing to the ballpark and getting a slip so we can attend the game. 10. Twenty years of managing partnership boats to keep the cost down. With my years of windsurfing included, I am getting close to 40 years of sailing! It has been a wonderful journey and one I hope to continue for another 20 years! Wish I was 25 once more...

A Great Explanation of the Ever Given Stuck on the Suez

Sailing with Tina Turner

I just watched the HBO documentry on Tina Turner and was blown away by how amazing this woman is. I fell in love with her on a cross contry drive from Delaware to California in 1987. I listened to her album Private Dancer many times on cassette on that drive. What I enjoyed most about the film was how she reinvented herself after her marrige to Ike failed. Ike was a monster. if you are a music lover like myself, you will love this film. No I did not sail with her but its a sweet dream anyway.

Dolphins Galore

I have seen this phomennon once before in Mexico. It is a truely amazing experience. Check it out.

Whale of a Sail

We were out sailing about a week ago and heard there was a whale inside the bay. It happens but not very often. We were between Angel and Treasure Island when she surfaced very close to the boat. Cameras came out and this was the result.

Boat almost sinks due to failed transducer

Guy buys a boat that has been on the hard for 4 years. Works for 4 months and during the shakedown sail, the boat fills with water. Could happen to any of us. Take a look and learn.

Skydio Drone Has Arrived!

The drone was delivered over the weekend and the fist flight was Sunday in our cul de sac. Everything worked fine. I will start working with the beacon this week. Check the vid to learn more about this amazing aircraft.

Take Every Wave - The Laird Hamilton Story

Larid is one my heros as far as surfing goes. Such an innovative and fearless pioneer in the big wave surfing world. I have seen some other films about him but this one really captures the excitment he has brought to the genre. The last shot of the movie is a 2 minute ride on his new and improved foil. I have never seen anything like it. You can watch the film uninterrupped on Hulu. Cowabunga my friend!

Race to Alaska 2021 Canceled

This is bad news! I was hoping this summer event would happen but no. However, they are running a video series called the Time Machine where they look back at 25 of the best moments of the race over the last few years. Here is a good one with my favorite team Freeburds brother combo.

Check out the rest here: https://r2ak.com/r2ak-time-machine/

Aquarius Turns 20 Years Young

Here is a letter from my Jeanneau 40 on her birthday!

Greetings from your Birthday Boat! I was born in 2001 in La Harve, France and am writing you this note to celebrate 20 years of sailing the planet. I was purchased from the factory and sailed to the Caribbean by a young French couple, Mauro and Fredriqa. We sailed the islands for 2 years and then they dumped me! But, they wanted to start a family so I forgave them. I was sailed to Florida where I was promptly sold to Tom Durig in Sausalito. They dropped me on a truck bigger than me and across land we went. I had never gone so fast! We arrived at the docks and like a duck in water, I was floating again. It seemed I did a lot of that in Sausalito! Tom was a busy biotech CEO and had little time for me. However, he did take very good care of me with maintenance and upgrades. In 2017. a famed sailor from Emeryville stepped on board and I smiled with delight as he is known as a sailor’s sailor. We had a few sails that were fun and exciting including a boat load of folks for the Blue Angles show. Then it was off to the yard for 6 weeks. We still sailed on weekends and some of the upgrades felt good. I finally departed KKMI and to my new home in Emeryville. We sailed like crazy and we kept adding new stuff like the Rocna Vulcan anchor and lots of chain. My bimini came back on board as I had not seen that since the islands. Soon it was time to shove off for a 7 month voyage to Mexico and back! Departing mid September 2018, we had a marvelous 2 months in Cali and then crossed the boarder in November. The crew was kind to me and I kept them safe. In mid April 2019, we returned to the Golden Gate and all were safe and sound. What a splendid voyage indeed. I am currently part of a partnership and I love all the attention I am getting. I go out most weekends as well as during the week and sail in one of the most beautiful estuaries in the world! What could be better? Lastly, if you partners take care of me, I will take care of you! Bon voyage! Aquarius

From the Archives: Tsunami Surge Hits Santa Cruz

Way back in 2011, a devasting earthquake hit Japan. It created a trunami that traveled at 600 mph across the ocean. It caused some major damage along the coast of California. Here is some vid from that day as it came into the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Skydio Drone is Amazing!

You may have heard about this drone but I just discovered it. Remember a while back when the much hyped Lily drone was the big thing? It followed you, it was waterproof and pretty cool too. Well it never came to fruition even after raising over $30m in preorders. Now, there is a new kid in town that is hands down the best drone on the market for collision avoidence while it follows you. I think this might be a perfect drone for boaters as you launch it and it flies around the boat while you do nothing to controll it. The technology does not come cheap but this looks like a paradigm shift in autonomous flying. Check out this review of the drone and you may want to consider adding the Beacon to the package. And look forward to some drone footage from high above Aquarius in the near future.