Delivery Skipper Tells His Side of the Story - The Sinking of Boatbumgal

This is an explanation from Ray McCormack, a USCG-certified 200-ton captain from Vancouver, Washington, on the sinking of Boatbumgal during this years Baja Haha. A cruisers rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The boat sank at the entrance to Turtle Bay, the first ancorage of the rally, about 350 miles south of San Diego. "On October 29 2023 I was contacted by the owner of BoatBumGal to help sail her boat from San Diego to La Paz while joining the Baja ha ha fleet. We mutually agreed that I would not be paid, but that she would pay for my expenses. We also discussed about the condition of the boat, and my position on the boat as being the most experienced individual on board out of the three of us." "Flew down to the boat on Monday morning October 30, after arriving to the boat I could see that this late 1970’s boat had marginal maintenance. Just as an example the tricolor light was wired into the running lights, the led deck lights where wired into the steaming light, and the AC charger on board had a 110 male plug that was plugged into a 110 plug box and was not on any breaker." "I figured that with traveling the Baja Ha Ha fleet there is safety in numbers. So we departed later that day around dusk, about 9 pm we saw the house bank run down to 10.5 volts, so turned the boat around and we went back into port. Next morning, we investigated batteries, regulator, and alternator. Found the charging post on the alternator was severely corroded and the main feed line terminal had basically fallen apart. After re-crimping the cable, cleaning all terminals and post on the alternator, we reassembled and finally got over 14 volt charging at the batteries while engine was running. We tried departing again around 5 pm on October 31." "As we headed down the coast we saw that the auto pilot would make 30 degree turns with out notification, this was a sign that the battery voltage was compromised. We proceeded to get out the portable generator and hook it up to shore power for charging batteries. Also, we found that when putting the auto pilot in standby mode the hydraulic pump would not release the helm for 20 seconds." "Around 10 pm on November 2nd I awoke to the boat healing over from wind. Got up and found that we had an offshore breeze blowing about 22 knots. Eased the sails and made the decision to turn inland a bit to mitigate the wind conditions the boat was seeing. The sails and rigging on this boat were quite aged. The boom vang had already broke off the mast. Our route had us going into the center of the entrance of turtle bay as noted by cruising guides, and this is what I have done over my last 4 times into turtle bay. The new plan was to run the 10 meter depth or 30 feet to get close to land allowing us to take the sails down. Usually when I deviate from my planned route I will drag my weigh points over to the new intended route, I did not do this which means I had no reference to the boat changing direction. Also, my coastal explorer stopped showing tracks for reference of the direction of the boat. I had a ticket out with rose point to try and address this, but this laptop is now in 40 feet of salt water." "At around 1 am we noted the battery voltage was dropping off again, so we started the generator but then the 110 breakers at the panel were tripping. We dragged out the extension cords to make it so the generator would be directly connected to the AC charger via that 110 male plug mentioned earlier. There was quite a bit of activity in the cockpit while this was going on and I suspect this is when the auto pilot made a turn, and I did not know about it." "Suddenly the crew up on the rail says he sees rocks, and just then I sea the breaking water on rocks. Immediately I tried putting auto pilot in standby, but it would not disengage. So I reached for the gear shifter to slam it in reverse, but just as I touched it we slammed into a rock. She popped over the rock and laid over on her port side. Each swell that came by flipped her over to the other side as she moved farther up onto the rocks." "Eventually we ended up on the port side again, and that is when I saw cabinetry moving down below and large amounts of water coming in. Bryan got on the radio and started making may day calls. It was high tide and the water was just starting to ebb, which dragged us off the rocks. We all put on our life jackets, Bryan went for the dinghy motor and gas, while I went to set the anchor. Eventually we all met at the back of the boat, the rail was just a few inches from the water. Got my Leatherman and cut all the lines holding the dinghy and we worked our way forward to the bow." "She slipped under and we fired up the dinghy motor and started heading toward the turtle bay pier. A fishing panga found us and gave us a ride to the pier, where were able to get a hotel for the night. Next few days the turtle bay folks, and in particular Maria’s helped us out so that we can make our way home. This was a terrible tragedy, with the owner losing everything she has. I am thankful that we are all safe." "Many questions can be asked: Should this boat have even made the trip? Should we not have been close to that shore? Should I have dragged my route over so that I had reference of direction? I hope others will learn from this mishap; I know that I learn something every time I go on the water."

Jeanneau's New 55: A Catamaran on a Monohull

The boat just won Boat of the Year! Some of the features are very inspired. This is hull #1 and a Austrailian couple has plans to sail 1300 miles in the western Med for a shake down cruise. Go to the 10:45 mark for the start of the tour of this fabulous new cruiser. If I could find that $1.5m I had sitting around here I would buy one!

Thanksgiving Swell Hits Jaws with Jaw Dropping Results

Be sure to go fullscreen!

Global Solo Challenge - Ronnie Simpson Update

Thursday November 24 – 2023 As the clock has just rolled over to midnight and signaled the beginning of a new day, it is now Thanksgiving Day; a day to contemplate all that i’m grateful for. And today, most of all, i’m just eternally grateful for my friends and loved ones who have supported me in chasing this long-held dream of mine in racing solo and around the world on a sailboat. Beginning with Whitall Stokes, who initially offered me the boat, and extending to each and every one of my amazing friends, supporters and sponsors who have made it possible for me to be in this position, I am grateful for you. In summer of 2022, this race wasn’t even on the cards, and yet by Thanksgiving of 2023, i’m in the Southern Atlantic Ocean and racing fast towards my first depressions which will carry me towards South Africa. Mind-bogglingly cool. Since crossing the equator, we have again had almost entirely very nice sailing conditions. Dare I say it, but this trip down the Atlantic has been rather dreamy, and easy, if we’re being honest. As the breeze went more and more aft, it was both Code Zeros and then into both running spinnakers as Shipyard Brewing and I rode tail winds down the coast of Brazil, headed southwards. With brilliant rays of sunlight, my recently installed Solbian solar panel set-up completely took care of my power needs for the past week. When sailing downwind in moderate winds, the wind generator doesn’t do much, and is just in the way, so I tie it off. And as for my hydrogenerator, well, it’s just a backup on this boat; I still have yet to use it since starting the race. I’m sure i’ll use it more as the skies get grey down south. The past few days have been very challenging, yet also very fun when you get down to it. When reaching across southeast trades, the strategy was simple; go south. With consistent winds that were forward of the beam, there was no dealing with flying sails (spinnakers and Code Zeros), and there was little in the way of trimming or squalls and wind shifts. Set it and forget it, let the boat do it’s thing until the wind changes. Now however, the sailing has been a lot more hands on. In the past three days i’ve used every sail in the inventory. Working with my friend and supporter Jason Christensen back in Seattle, I am mostly happy with how we’ve sailed the race so far from a navigational standpoint. We haven’t always had the quickest boat in the race and there have been times when I had challenges onboard and couldn’t sail the boat as well as I would have hoped, but for the most part, we’ve gone the right way and it wasn’t by accident. A whole lot of planning and constant dialogue went into getting me through the last weather system and front, and then into this current weather system around the Saint Helena high. As i’m currently making good progress on a good heading with a full main and fractional Code Zero up, i’m feeling confident that we made it through the hardest part of the Saint Helena high without parking up as bad as most of the competition, so i’ll take that as a small and well deserved victory. The weather has begun to change dramatically, and get much cooler. Right now at 27 South it’s downright comfortable. After a couple of weeks without a shirt on in the tropics, I found myself donning a shirt yesterday and then a fleece last night and for some of today. Things are cooling down to where soon I can feel i’ll be in socks, boots and long underwear, and soon after that i’ll be wearing under layers. As soon as I get into windy and bumpy conditions where water is splashing around again, i’ll be donning foul weather gear from here on out, whereas up until yesterday i’d just run outside in shorts and a life jacket with no shirt and handle my business, and be good. But no longer. Tropical Ronnie is now having to turn into Southern Ocean Ronnie in a matter of days. You can feel the change coming. On the plus side, the days are beginning to get notably longer. I have kept my ship’s time on UTC for the race, so sunset and sunrise are still relatively normal, but soon the times will get all out of whack as i’ll be running due east with the sun rising and setting earlier and earlier each day. Another thing that has changed greatly is that we are now entering some of the most remote waters i’ve ever sailed in before, as I get closer and closer to the South. Right now we’re crossing a shipping lane between Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope, so there’s a bit of a ship traffic. But for the most part, ship sightings are becoming rare. And in a rather new experience, i’m being hailed on the radio by Ship’s Captains that are wondering just what the hell a sailboat is doing down here. Until now, I’ve yet to sail to a place yet where passing ships will hail on the radio and ask what i’m doing and where i’m going. A quick glance at Marine Traffic or an AIS tracking application or website shows that there aren’t many private yachts sailing down here at all, save for some singlehanded weirdos in the Global Solo Challenge. Life onboard is still mostly quite comfortable as it’s been mostly downwind in moderate conditions for the majority of our descent of the Atlantic. My completely un-tested food has been mostly good. In America, I had some go-to freeze dried food brands, but in Spain I ordered a bunch of food from France, and thus far i’ve been pretty pleased. I do wish I had brought slightly more food however. For now i’m okay, but when I get to the South and burn more calories due to being colder, I may end up starving a bit. We’ll see. As of yet, I have been un-successful in catching any fish. I had big hopes for today – going perfect mahi mahi speeds in warm waters – but alas I did not find any friends to hop on for a Thanksgiving feast. Speaking of Thanksgiving feast, I do have something special planned. Anyone who hung out with me in A Coruña knows that my favorite restaurant was the ham bar Jamoneria Leonesa. On my second to final night there I purchased five vacuum sealed bags of ham and cheese to eat on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Cape Horn and my birthday. Well, today is Thanksgiving and so I will get to eat ham for the first time since leaving Spain! My friends Genevieve and Grace got me a bottle of port before I left, and I think i’ll bust that out to emulate some vino tinto, or red wine. ‘Jamon y queso y vino tinto!’ at Jamoneria Leonesa became a bit of a theme while in Spain, and I really can’t wait to go back in there and go huge at the ham bar with my favorite folks once this whole race is over. I will also be rinsing my ham and cheese down with a Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale or American Pale Ale. I only brought about a dozen of each, and I am saving them for special occasions. I think Thanksgiving entering the South is warranted to drink a Shipyard. Thanks again to everyone, all of my sponsors, (especially Shipyard Brewing), all of my friends and supporters, my amazing partner Marisa, and everyone who has followed or sent messages of support. Sailing Shipyard Brewing in the Global Solo Challenge is fun, it’s an adventure, but it ain’t easy. So to everyone who has helped me in any way over the past 15 months, thank you. I appreciate you today and every day. Happy Thanksgiving from Shipyard Brewing.

A Look Back at the 77-78 Ocean Globe Race

The second edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race cemented the race's place as a fixture and pillar event in the sport of sailing. Dutchman Conny van Rietschoten would claim the race on corrected time in Flyer, a Sparksman and Stephens design that can still be seen sailing today. Clare Francis became the first woman to skipper a boat in the race and Sir Peter Blake, making his second Whitbread appearance as one of the crew on board Heath's Condor, was forced to make a spectacular man overboard rescue in the Southern Ocean. 15 boats would start the race in Portsmouth and all 15 completed the four-leg, 27,000 nautical mile course. The 50th anniversary edition is taking place now. https://oceangloberace.com/

Thankful Indeed

It's been another amazing year of sailing and fun! And more to come. I am very thankful that I have a beautiful bay to share with friends and family. Our 22 year old 40' sailboat continues to impress and keep us safe. She is not getting older...she is getting better. I continue to fix things big and small. My boat partner John has stepped in when I get stumped and has been a big help. My sailing days per year continue to increase. I don't have an actual figure but it's around 200 sailing days per year. That's 4 sails a week!! I love it. So does my dog Hana. Her favorite part is swimming to and romping on the beach. Took a bunch of friends and strangers sailing this year. Close to 80 folks or so. The highlight so far was the Dead and Co. weekend at Oracle Park. We had a slip there and friends came for a sail during the day, tailgate parties and then 3 shows with this being their last tour after 58 years. What fun!! My wife and I are loving retirement and celebrated 30 years of marriage recently. We spent 4 days in San Jose del Cabo at a luxery hotel on the beach. Great times with Bridget. My childhood best friend heads down from Reno today for more sails and Thanksgiving. It just keeps getting better!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Boat Sinks on Baja Haha

A boat entering Turtle Bay hugged the coast a bit too much and hit the rocks at the entrance. All crew are safe after jumping in their dingy and motoring in. Granted it was night time, however, 3000 Haha boats have entered this bay without issues. My last time in, we entered at night and you do have to be carefull entering the bay. This is the third boat to sink during the Haha. One was taken out by a whale and another sank about a mile from the entrance to Turtle due to inattention and rocks. The fleet is on their way to Cabo this morning and will arive at the finish line on Thursday afternoon. I just got back from Cabo and a luxurious stay at a grand resort celebrating my 30th wedding aniversary with Bridget. Hence, my reason for not being with the fleet on my midnight watch. This would have been my 8th Haha. Maybe next year?

duPont sets biggest wave record!

The record was set in Cortes Bank. A mysto seamount 100's of miles off the California coast. Takes 24 hours to get there by motor boat, Justine duPont struck gold on this amazing wave. She just won Female Surfer of the Year plus several other prestigse awards. And yes, she has huge balls! This wave was voted Wave of the Year and just about 75 feet. This wave is off the charts.

The Last Haha?

This weekend may mark the start of the very last Baja Haha. After 29 rallies, the Grand Pooba may be retiring. The Mexican government wants changes that will not allow the race to continue. I participated in 7 of these rallies and loved it. I would head down to San Diego on Friday and start knocking on hulls trying to find a ride to Cabo San Lucas. It always worked! I met some very cool folks and had great times cruising the 750 mile run. The fleet departs on Monday for the 10 day cruise and I wish I was there. I will be in Cabo celebrating my 30th wedding aniversary. Bon voyage to the Haha fleet!

Devistation in Acapulco

A Cat 5 huricane named Otis has devestated this resort town in southern Mexico. It went from a tropical depression to 165 m/h winds in less than 24 hours. It caught the town unprepaired in the middle of the night. Looting has created a dangerous situation as there is no food, water or fuel available. These folks will be suffering for a long time. So sad and unfortunatly, this will be happening more and more as the ocean warms. Our best wishes to those who survived.

A Beautiful week on the Water

The week began Monday with a sail with the dogs. Hana's brother and a cousin Seqouia along with the their owners. We sailed to Clipper Cove for lunch and a visit to the beach with the dogs. This is where the platform shines. We all jumped onto the raft along with lunch, as the dogs all swam to the beach. The dogs loved the water and sand and we had a bit of sand at the bottom of the wine glass. We took off for a 5 mile sail to Angel Island. Near the point, we tacked and headed out on a reach to the city. With folks at midship and hanging on the platform with outragous views of the city. It was magical. This is the time of year the winds mellows out a bit and is more like 12-15 instead of 20-25. We finished in fine style and everyone went home with a smile. I spent a quiet night aboard and headed home in the morning. Back on Wednesday for a peaceful solo sail. Hana loved the beach and we had good winds after. Yhursdsay we had Marc, Claire, Ted and me on board. We had anoother beautiful sail in 15 knot winds and took them all the way to Quarry beach at Angel. The day was warm as was the wind. We felt like we were in the Caribbean. A nice ride home and then I rushed home to meet Dave and Lucinda. To bed early and then back at it at 11am with them. We hit the beach at Clipper for a romp in the sand with Hana. Then a nice mellow afternoon sail. More magic. We had dinner and some music at Rudy's. At 9pm, I headed up to Berekely to see a Tom Petty band. It was Tom's 73 birthday and he would have been proud. Saturday I did a long run up to Red Rock and then beach and dinner at Quarry Beach on Angel. It was a great week on the water!

Hurricane Norma Bashes La Paz

Back in June we moved a friends boat out of La Paz and up north for this very reason. Many boats have been lost as the owners got lazy and did not move their boats out of harms way. So sad.

My Hero - Webb Chiles

"Almost dying is a hard way to make a living". Dive in with world record holder, Webb Chiles, as he expounds on extraordinary memories and what it means to push the limits of human experience on a 24 foot sailboat.

Dancing with Monsters in Nazare

Celebrating 65 with a bunch of fun travel!

Today is my birthday and we are off to a very full Lake Shasta for a house boat trip with friends of 40 years. Hana will be joing along with her sister and brother (dogs). Should be great weather and not too busy. Next week, it's Eastern Europe with stops in Budapest, Vienna and Prague with my wife. We will be back in mid October. Bon voyage to us!

I will never be a charter captain!

I took my friends out for a 4 day sojourn around the bay. We hit all the top spots. Angel Island, Sausalito, out the Gate, McCovey Cove, etc. Preparing the meals, cleaning up, sailing, and having a great time. On the last night, they were staying in a hotel and I was on boat clean up. 3 hours of non stop tidying up the boat. I returned home about 4pm, had dinner and promply passed out for 4 hours. Exhausted but happy. My dreams of being a charter captain in the Caribbean have been discontinued. This is very hard work! We had a lot of laughs and good times but chartering is too much work!

Hana paddles us to the beach!!

I mentioned my new toy for the boat earlier this summer, a 7'x7' platform that fits nicely on the foredeck. We hit a fabulous cove at my friends Scott's house and Hana took us to the beach with some doggie paddle. Check this really cute vid.

Pipeline of Mexico

If you are not in the surfing world, you have most likely never heard of Puerto Escondido in southern Mexico. The wave at Zicatela Beach is one of the heaviest and hollowest waves on the planet. Reknowned for it's consistent size and power, this wave breaks boards and backs frequently. The location of this town is about 150 miles south of Acapulco and getting close to the boarder of Guatemala. The break is not very famous unless you are a surfer. However, those in the know compare it to Hawaii's famous Pipeline wave. Cowabunga indeed!

Fun Week with Friends on the SF Bay!

My college roommate and his wife are headed out for a 4 day sail on the bay aboard Aquarius. Bob was musically influental in my life and turned me on to progessive rock at it's height in the late 70's. Supertramp, Jethro Tull, Genesis, ELP, and Yes to name but a few. He lives in Montana now and we see each other rarely. We take off Thursday for a sail to Angel Island and a bike ride around the 6 mile perimeter. Some of the most beautiful vistas anywhere. In the evening, we head to see a Dave Matthews cover band. Friday we sail to Sam's for lunch and then on to Sausalito for music at the Cruising Club and dinner at Le Garage. The tides look good for a sail out the Gate on Saturday and a slip at South Beach in SF. In the evening we are headed to see a tribute band play music of the Bee Gees at Bimbo's. That should be a gas! Sunday we will relax on the beach at Clipper and a sail in the afternoon. Monday they head back and I get to clean up the boat! Gonna be too much fun!!

Son of a son of a sailor!

All sailors love the themes and songs from Mr. Jimmy. I have really enjoyed his music and books. My favorite was A Pirate Looks at 50. He flies around the world on his amphibious plane with wife and friends talking about his adventures. He sure lived a full, fun life and ended becoming a billionaire with all his holdings. RIP and I hope you find that lost salt shaker of salt!

It's Always Windy in SF!

I have been sailing a bunch this summer averaging about 3.5 sails a week. The bay waters have been a bit cooler than usual due to upwelling on the ocean outside the bay. The winds in the bay blow from March to October in the 25 knot range. We do see some 30's but not often. We have a geological element that doubles our wind speed every day. We have a very hot valley east of San Francisco that is usually in the 90's to 100 degrees or more all summer (Sacramento). The air rises with the heat and sucks the cold air (50's) off the ocean to the east. As it comes thru the valley of the Golden Gate Strait, it compresses the wind and the speed increases by double. The area east of the Golden Gate Bridge is called the Slot and it is the windiest part of the bay. However, if you get behind Angel Island it is sunny and warm. Swimming weather if you will. I do feel like the bay is a sailors paradise. It kind of a blessing that in the winter we get 10 knots of wind most days. It's nice to relax and enjoy the slower pace.

Wipeout of the Weekend

Pics of the Month

New Addition to Aquarius

Hope you are having a great summer! I sure am. The boat show came around in May. I stopped by a booth with a bunch of inflatables. I had been looking at these floating platforms online but at a grand I did not like the price. The guy at the boat show sold me a very nice one at half the price. This is the 7' x 7' version and it fits perfectly between the mast and traveler. What I really like about it is that now instead of my crew sitting on the boat while I kayak into the beach with Hana, they can jump on the platform and join me on the beach. 3-4 folks can fit along with all the beach gear. If I am out alone, its nice to anchor and take it out around the anchorage and say hellow to my fellow boaters. They have a bunch of cool stuff including an inflatable catamaran. Check them out here: https://furthercustoms.com/

Awesome footage from the Fastnet

Sunny Day

Check out this very cool playlist on Spotify!

The Weather is here, wish you were beautiful!

WOW! What a weekend we had attending the last three Dead shows by boat in SF. We had a slip right next to the venue and walked the 150 yards each night for the show. In the meantime, we had 3 great sails, 3 amazing tailgates in McCovey Cove and 25 friends visiting. After 58 years, the Dead have decided to stop touring and these were the final shows. On the last night we had an amazing drone show above Oracle Park. The band played all their hits and more. They did a group hug at the end and we headed to the boat and got some rain to finish the night. I was exhausted but very happy in the aftermath. I have a busy weekend this weekend with 3 sails coming up. The first is a fishing sail, HOS next and then a trip to the ballpark to see the Red Sox play the Giants. Batten down the hatches!

A little bit of summer

Just returning from a family trip to Sausalito. We stayed at a resort near the Golden Gate Bridge. While the rest of the bay was in the 80's and above, we were in winter with big wind and temps in the low 60's. It cleared enough for the fireworks show and that was great. Got home to Fremont area with a 20 degree difference in temps. The fog was intense and beautiful as it came over the hilside. I plan to sail the next few days and then next week we move the boat to SF and the marina next to the ball park. The Dead are playing their very last shows after an almost 60 year career. The bus stops here. Lots of friends stopping by and sailing and tailgating as we are going to all three shows. Should be a blast!

Ocean Race Bonehead Move of the Year (so far)

A Detailed Look Back at the Finals of Sail GP (Grand Prix) in SF

Amazing Rescue After Demasting

In the June issue of Latitude 38 there is a must read story of a family who lost their boat in the Pacific due to a demasting. I won't tell you all the details but will say these guys have guts! Go to https://www.latitude38.com/ and download the mag. Go to page 64 and read all about it. Great job to the crew and all those who made this story so spectacular.

R2AK is in the bag!

After 5 days and change, We Brake for Whales has crossed the finish line in Alaska. This is the engineless race of 700 miles from Victoria, Canada to Ketchikan, Alaska. The boat was a 40' wood boat with eight crew. The also had pedal power on the stern and water ballast. They won ($10,000) by over 50 miles as the seas were horrible the last few days and they soldiered thru. At one point during the race, they baked cookies for the crew! Check the vid below. Also the website: R2AK.com

End of the Haha?

I received a note from the Grand Poobah of the Haha and he says the 29th Haha may be his last. Richard has escorted thousands of cruisers from San Diego to Cabo during that time. I have done 7 Haha's on other peoples boats and have always had a blast. Usually there are anywhere from 100-150 boats with over 500 friendly folks sailing south. We have two stops along the way to meet and greet as well as dance and party. We arrive in Cabo 10 days later and the party continues for a few more days. My bet is someone will take up the role (Latitude 38?) as organixer and keep this tradition alive. I sure hope so!!

La Paz to Loreto

I met Joel and his boat Akela (Bristal Channel Cutter 29') at the 2022 Baja Haha. Our cruise from San Diego to Cabo ended shorty after the first night out when the water pump on the engine failed. We sailed back to Ensanada to find parts and I flew home. He found the part and continued to La Paz. With huricane season upon us, he needed to move the boat north to San Carlos. I joined him for the sail last week and we headed up the coast about 125 miles to Loreto. The Sea of Cortez (east side of Baja) is unusually beautiful and filled with wild life underwater. There are a ton of anchorages along the way and we hit the hot spots. Isla San Francisco, Los Gatos, Agua Verde to name a few. We averaged about 22 miles a day and took it very easy. There was very little wind so we motored in very lonely waters. Saw a few boats but not many. Once we got to Loreto, we meet up with a bunch of friends at a resort for dinner and fun. I flew out the next day and the boat is currently in San Carlos for the huricane season (June-November). I hope to rejoin the skipper for the return to La Paz in the fall.

Foil Surfing with Kai

I am getting ready to depart for La Paz to met my Haha friend Joel for a sailing adventure. He owns a 29' Bristal Channel cutter that he will leave in MX for a few years while he commutes back and forth to LA. We have a 12 day cruise planned up the Sea of Cortez to Loreto. It's only 120 miles so we will have lots of time to relax and enjoy these amazing waters. This will be my 10th sailing adventure in Mexico. I have some friends staying in Loreto and hopefully we will cross paths. Can't wait to get back to some warm water and hot weather. It's been perrty cool this spring in SF.

San Francisco Sail GP Highlights and Finale

We made it out both Friday and Saturday for the racing. Friday they were warming up and Saturday we saw 3 races. Exciting stuff! Winds were in the mid teens both days. Sunday was a few races and the finals. Check it out!

when the Big Boyz Fail

In a few weeks I will head to La Paz to meet my Haha buddy Joel for a 12 day sail. I joined Joel on last years Baja Haha. We only got about 70 miles down the coast when the water pump on the engine failed. We sailed into Ensanada to find the part and ended up back in San Diego to get it. At that point I flew home. Joel got the engine fixed and made it 850 mile to La Paz. I plan to meet him in La Paz and move the boat up the coast to Loreto (about (120 miles). We plan to sail the islands and enjoy the beauty of this magical place. I depart on May 20.

The Whale That is Stuck in the Bay

A Grey Whale has been hanging around the bay for over 70 days setting a new record. I have seen the whale about 10 times over the last 3 months. Usually between Angel and Alcatraz. This is unusual and the migration from Mexico to Alaska is taking place but most whales don't come in the bay. I have oficially named him Wally and hope to see him again soon!

Where have the bloggers gone? Celebrating 18 years of Bonehead Moves!

I purchased my first keel boat way back in 2000. I started reading all about sailing and lots cool sailing blogs. My hero's were Proper Course, Wetass Chronicles, Frogma, and Horse's Mouth to name a few. They have all left the game and moved on (Horse still posts every few months). Me, I am still sailing hard (3-4 times a week) and blogging a few times a month. The highlight of the blog came when we did our 7 month voyage to Mexico and back to SF. That was amazing! The boat was awesome, the crew delightful and 25 friends and family meeting us along the way. Now we have the video blogs on Youtube. So many it is hard to keep track. My two favorites are La Vagabond and Sailing Doodles. There are so many others! Most feature a beautiful woman or two and lots of thong bikinis. Someone encouraged me to do a video blog and I told them no one wants to watch a bunch of old men motoring around Mexican waters. I think I am correct. This blog is getting close to 3000 entries and one million visits. Not bad for a guy with a dog, a boat and a dream.

Ocean Race Highlights - Southern Ocean

A Lucky Sailor!

Here’s one I will never forget. We were sailing up the Malacca Straits in a loose company of fellow cruisers and headed for the island Kupang off the west coast of Malaysia. The weather was benign and we were able to anchor our ketch Clover in a snug cove surrounded by lush tropical jungle. Not long after we had the anchor down, a good friend, a singled woman aboard her 27-foot sloop, motored into the anchorage and slowly circled us. “Have I got a story to tell,” she called out. So, we invited her over for cocktails and dinner. Five hours earlier, she had been running up the straits in a calm following breeze, wearing only a bikini bottom as she often did in warm weather. She went to the mast to hoist her staysail, gave the halyard a great pull and, since the halyard was not attached to the sail, it ran free propelling her backwards and over the lifelines into the water. She was still holding the halyard as the boat continued to sail away steered by the wind vane. She could hold on, but not hand over hand against the force of the water to get back to the boat. What to do? Not far away she saw a fisherman in his small motorboat and she made the decision to do the only think she could do, she let go of the line. Swimming will all her force toward the boat, she stopped several times to call out and, luckily, the fisherman eventually heard her. He motored to her and helped this half-naked English amazon into his boat. Not sharing any language, our friend managed to make him understand that the little boat sailing away was hers and she needed to be returned to it. He did so but wasn’t happy about it. A blond mermaid emerging from the sea was surreal to him. When they got alongside her boat, he followed our friend aboard and began demanding payment. She offered him a little money from her cruising kitty but he wanted more. Now, seriously afraid for her well-being, alone on her boat with a Malaysian fisherman far from the shore, our friend gave him all she had and then insisted he leave. He did and she was alright, just barely. Shaking and on the verge of tears, she boiled the kettle and made herself a cup of tea. She said after all, “I don’t ever get really traumatized, I just have another cup of tea.” That stiff upper lip served her well and three years later she finished a safe and seamanlike circumnavigation. No, I will never forget her special tale of survival or that very special woman.

Is Sailboat Ownership Worth It?

By Matt P. If you like having money in your bank account, don't own a sailboat! This is countered by the following... “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” ― Kenneth Grahame , The Wind in the Willows Owning a sailboat is not the choice of the sane. From a pure logic and economic perspective, a sailboat is packaged insanity. It will cost you more than you can possibly imagine, it will never give back any value close to what you put into it and it will demand more from you than the worst spouse imaginable. But treated well she will be your most loyal friend and take you to places where dreams are made of and stories are told from. And where others will long with envy at the tales that trail in the water leaves behind. If I was sane and rational, and I usually am, I wouldn't own a sailboat. The pure financial aspect doesn't make sense. It would be cheaper for me to charter a boat for the times I've sailed on my boat and even then, the costs of doing so work out to the hundreds of dollars per hour. Why do I do it? For the convenience of having my boat when I want it, where I want and on my schedule. And for the fact that she is "mine". Sharing a boat with someone else or using the one bought and paid for by others is like having a turn with the town prostitute. Eventually everyone will know her good points and bad points and the locals know who's been out dallying with her. Boats are best when they are monogamous. Just you and them. It's ok to bring friends out with them to play and socialize but she goes home with you. I love watching starry-eyed people at the sailboat show, giddy about the dream and talking about all the things they will do with a boat. Good boat brokers don't sell boats; they sell dreams. They are weavers of fantasy, beguiling liars telling tales of faraway lands. And it works! I'm on my fourth boat. But I shake my head and smile at the dreamers. They'll learn soon enough... ...that there are worse things to do with your money than buy a sailboat. In the end you may come to regret the purchase and may eventually get rid of her. We all eventually do. The two best days of a sailor’s life are the day you buy her and the day you sell her. But the days in between count too. And those are the ones you will remember fondly long after the money is gone and the boat has found a new home. And you won't begrudge them a bit. Years and memories will fade but the brightest will always be those days among the waves. Don't allow a sailboat into your life! Because once that bug bites hard enough it won't let you go. You'll be a slave to wind and the water. Addicted, entranced, enraptured. And you will be taken as far as you'll allow your soul to wander and your dreams will carry you. It is most definitely not worth it to own a sailboat! You have been warned.

My Favorite Surfer Dude

History Lesson: Ayala, First Sailor to Sail into the SF Bay

Sailors first began to sail the west coast way back in the 1500's. They sailed by the entrance of SF Bay for over 250 years, before a Spanish exploror sailed his boat into the bay in 1775. The first report about San Francisco Bay came from Sgt. José Francisco Ortega (1734-98). Ortega, who had been born in Mexico and served in the army, was with the Portolá expedition in 1769-70. When Portolás party was looking for Monterey Bay in 1769, they went north to what is now the San Francisco Peninsula. There, on November 1, Sgt. Ortega met some Indians who seemed to be telling him that there was a ship anchored to the north. When Ortega went to investigate, he saw a large, unknown body of water blocking his way. Ortega followed the shoreline far enough to see that the water stretched far to the north. Portolá was not interested in the discovery. He wrote: “I did not linger there, nor did I see anything worthy of description there, save only a labyrinth of bays and channels which inundate the territory.” This was the shallow southern end of the bay. Father Crespí saw more possibilities. He wrote: “It is a very large and fine harbor, such that not only all the navy of our most Catholic Majesty but those of all Europe could take shelter in.” Portolá left California in 1770 after establishing the Monterey presidio (fort). Lt. Fages, who was in charge there, did some exploring around San Francisco Bay in 1771-72. While scouting on the east side of the bay, he saw the Golden Gate entrance. It was about this time that the name Bahia de San Francisco (Bay of San Francisco) began to be used. The explorers thought the new bay was an estuary of the smaller bay to the north (now called Drake’s Bay) which had been called San Francisco Bay by Sebastián Cermeño in 1595. AYALA’S JOURNEY Ayala was in Mexico in the spring of 1775. An expedition was being readied to sail from San Blas (Mexico) to Alta (Upper) California. Three ships would make the journey: the frigate Santiago, the schooner Sonora, and the San Carlos, which had been part of the Sacred Expedition to San Diego in 1769. The mission of the San Carlos was to sail into San Francisco Bay. The other two ships were to continue north along the coast, searching for a Northwest Passage across the continent. Ayala was to be the captain of the Sonora. Just before sailing, however, the captain of the San Carlos had a mental breakdown and Ayala took over as captain of that ship. The San Carlos carried a cargo of dried meat, garlic, red peppers, and live chickens and cows, and a crew of 23. The San Carlos reached Monterey Bay near the end of June 1775. Planning his exploration into the great bay, Ayala had the ship’s carpenter make a canoe from a big redwood tree. On August 4, 1775, the San Carlos was at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. The water was choppy and looked dangerous. Knowing that a small boat had more chance in choppy seas, Ayala sent a group of sailors in the canoe with instructions to row through the opening, into the bay. If the canoe got through, Ayala would follow with the ship. In charge of this canoe was a young navigator named José Cañizares. He had been on the overland part of the Sacred Expedition from Baja (Lower) California to San Diego in 1769, and had remained in San Diego. Now he was serving as Ayala’s pilot. Hours went by, and there was no sign of the canoe returning. About an hour before dark, Ayala decided to take the ship through the entrance anyway. He managed this safely, and anchored near the shore. In the morning, Cañizares and the crew of the canoe were there. Ayala then found a good harbor for the San Carlos at an island in the bay where there was a supply of wood and water. Ayala explored the bay for 40 days, making drawings and descriptions as well as making friends with the local indian tribes. He named Angel Island and Alcatraz Island (though the island he called Alcatraz is now Yerba Buena Island and the name Alcatraz was transferred to another island). He had hoped to find a passage from the north end of San Francisco Bay out to Drake’s Bay, but none existed. He did find the mouth of the Sacramento River emptying into the bay at the north end. He described the salt marshes at the south end of the bay, and the groves of oak trees on the hills to the east of the bay. Before leaving San Francisco Bay, Ayala put up a wooden cross near the bluff where they had anchored the first night. Beneath it he buried a message about their exploration. He then sailed the San Carlos out through the Golden Gate on September 17, 1775. WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED Ayala was the first to sail a ship through the Golden Gate and into San Francisco Bay. He made the first charts of the bay, taking soundings to determine the depth of the bay at 485 places. LATER YEARS Ayala and the San Carlos went back to Monterey, and then on to Mexico. The other two ships in the fleet had gone north, one of them as far as Alaska, but found no Northwest Passage across the continent. They met Ayala in Monterey and the three ships returned together to Mexico.

Ocean Race Drone from Leg 3

I love the reaction of the crew when they see how cool the boat looks from above sailing along at just under 30 knots of boat speed.

J Class Crash

This happened in Antigua a few years ago. Apperently the skipper on the boat that got hit swung the stern around towards the other boat and they collided. Had he stayed on course, there may not hve been a collision. These boats are so big and their rudders are small and don't respond very well. The racer that went overboard suffered some broken ribs and survived.

Sailboat Sinks in South Pacific after Encounter with Whale

Ealier this week a sail boat was 13 days into a 20 day passage to the Islands. They encountered a whale and the boat sunk. Mayday was announced and within 10 hours another sailboat resuced them from their life raft. Read the full account here: https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/2023/03/15/#sailboat-sinks-rammed-by-whale-pacific

My New Favorite Song!

I am not a musician however I am a music lover, also know as a melomaniac. I found this song on a cool station on SirusXM called Coffee House Classics, acoustic songs from the 90's and 2000's. The song is 47 years in the making. It was recorded after a near death accident by Bob Dylan and members of The Band. Here is the history of the song: Bob Dylan is universally regarded as one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed songwriters, musicians and performers, having sold more than 125 million albums and performed literally thousands of shows around the world spanning six decades. His influence and impact on our culture is unparalleled, and his artistic output of recordings and songs are both cultural landmarks and the genesis of countless great songwriters and musicians that have emerged in the decades since Dylan exploded onto the global stage. Among Dylan’s many cultural milestones, the legendary Basement Tapes – dozens of songs written and recorded by Dylan in 1967, backed by members of his touring ensemble who would later achieve their own fame as The Band – have long fascinated and enticed successive generations of musicians, fans and cultural critics alike. Having transformed music and culture during the preceding five years, Dylan had reached unparalleled heights by 1966 through the release of three historic albums, the groundbreaking single, “Like A Rolling Stone,” a controversial and legendary ‘electric’ performance at the Newport Folk Festival and wildly polarizing tours of the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom. Dylan’s mercurial rise and prodigious body of work in that decade came to an abrupt end in July, 1966 when he was reported to be nearly killed in a motorcycle accident in upstate New York. Recovering from his injuries and away from the public eye for the first time in years, Dylan ensconced himself, along with Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson (and later, Levon Helm), in the basement of a small house in West Saugerties, New York – dubbed “Big Pink” by the group. This collective recorded more than a hundred songs over the next several months – traditional covers, wry and humorous ditties, off-the cuff performances and, most important, dozens of newly-written Bob Dylan songs, including future classics “I Shall Be Released,” “The Mighty Quinn” and “You Ain’t Going Nowhere. When rumors and rare acetates of some of these recordings began surfacing, it created a curiosity strong enough to fuel an entirely new segment of the music business: the bootleg record. In 1969 an album mysteriously titled Great White Wonder began showing up in record shops around the country, and the music from that summer of 1967 started seeping into the fabric of our culture and penetrating the souls of music lovers everywhere. With each passing year, more and more fans sought out this rare contraband, desperate to hear new music from the legendary Bob Dylan. The actual recordings, however, remained commercially unavailable until 1975, when Columbia Records released a scant 16 of them on The Basement Tapes album. Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes is a music event 47 years in the making. The album celebrates the discovery of never-seen Bob Dylan lyrics from that legendary 1967 period and marks a creative highpoint for the album’s participants – Burnett, Costello, Giddens, Goldsmith, James and Mumford – who have brought them to life nearly 50 years later. As Burnett explains, “What transpired during those two weeks was amazing for all of us. There was a deep well of generosity and support in the studio at all times, which reflected the tremendous trust and generosity shown by Bob in sharing these lyrics with us in the first place.” Marcus Mumford is the vocalist on this song.

Inside the latest IMOCA60

The Ocean Race is well underway and these boat are flying around the planet at 25 knots and more. Take a tour of the latest technologies and design with Team Malizia. Here is an look at racing these boats from the inside. They are capable of 600 miles in 24 hours! This is Team 11th Hour.

Out the Gate with Hana

We took off about 2pm with a 10 knot breeze from the south. As storms approach the Bay Area, the wind always comes from the south. This is a pefect set up for going out the Gate. The tide was flooding so that conditions were ideal, as if you get in trouble out there, the tide will push you back into the bay and not the ocean. Within a couple hours, we were sailing out towards the Pacific. Good tunes, lots of gusts to over 20 and a very memorable sail. Did I mention I was the only boat out on a Monday? For us in Northern Califonia, summer begins with Daylight Savings and what a great start to my favorite season!

Been Gone and Now Back in Action

A few vacations stacked up that were very fun indeed. Two weeks ago we got caught in that monster storm in Lake Tahoe. Hana and her two siblings, along with our best friends headed up to Tahoe just before the storm hit. We got snowed in for three days and 50 inches of snow. The roads were all closed for very good reason. We got a break in the storm and the roads opend and we took off for home. We made the best of it and the dogs loved the snow. Then it was off to Arizona with the boys for a little spring traing games with the Giants and the A's in Scottsdale. We rented a house and attended three games in 70 degree weather. More storms at home and no sailing so it was a perfect time to get away. In Lake Tahoe, we are passing all records for snow at this time of year. Several ski resorts are reporting over 600 inches of snow. That's 50 feet! This bodes well for our water supply in California. Another big storm is due to arrive on Tuesday. The hits just keep on coming with the storm door wide open and much more wet stuff on its way.

SailGP in Sydney

The races were close and exciting. Then the freak storm came and one of the wings took off in the storm causing lots of damage. Never thought I would ever see something like this!

Netflix Sailing Movie: True Spirit

I followed her voyage around the world back in 2009/10 pretty closely. I did not know about that last storm. I enjoyed the movie and thought the lead did a great job. Check it out

Unreal Video: The Death Zone, Mt. Everest

I have a friend who is thinking about climbing this 29,000 foot mountain. After watching this video he had second thoughts about the summit. Would you attempt such a climb? Here is some info to digest: It costs about $50k - $60k to hire guides and sherpas to help you summit. It takes about 6-8 weeks on the mountain to get to the top. Most folks take a year to get in the best shape of their life for the climb. About 6,000 folks have made to the top. About 350 people have died making the attempt. Most die on the way down. Most of their bodies are still on the mountain. On summit day, there can be long lines of people trying to get to the top. A traffic jam on top of Everest! About 700-800 people attempt the climb each year. Only 50% will summit. There is alot of suffering on this climb due to length of time at high elevation and lack of proper rest. The brain won't sleep when it does not have enough oxygen. Full screen only!

Amazzzing Sail

Hana and I took off with a favorable tide and light winds on Wednesday. Winds were 8-10kt which is perfect for a winter sail. Boat speed was 3-5k and the water surface was smooth. Heading towards the city we spotted 2 whales near Angel Island in about 40 feet of water. That's rare, however after 40 years of sailing, I have seen about a dozen. Three sailboats were around me, they tacked towards the city and I took off in great winds towards Red Rock and the only boat for miles. Another tack towards Angel and we hit the beach for some fun. I am loving the 10kt days on the bay and there have been many. This week I will sail 5 out of 7 days (wife out of town!). Cowabunga!

Bonehead Move of the Week

Up in Oregon, a man stole a motor yacht and tried to head to sea. The boat ran into trouble at the river bar and the Coast Guard was called. As a rescue swimmer attempted to get to the boat, a huge wave hit the boat with the man standing near the aft of the boat. Both rescuer and man were rescued and the man on the boat later arrested.

Growndswell - the movie

Celebrating 40 years of Sailing the Bay!

Way back in 1983, I started sailing the SF bay. My friend Jeff would rent boats and invite friends to go sailing. I had no idea back then it would become my passion later in life. In 84, I moved in with my girlfriend into an apartment overlooking a big lagoon. A friend let me borrow his windsurfer for the summer and I was hooked. Eventually I purchased my own board and started sailing the bay and delta. I loved the speed and freedom. In 2000, I purchased my first keel boat. The "Addiction" (what an appropriate name!) was a 30 foot sloop that would take us all over the bay as well as the Napa and Petaluma Rivers. I sailed her hard for 17 years and she was a joy even in the big winds of the bay. My dream was to sail to Australia after retirement. It would take a year to get to Sydney. My best friend Tex was game and we sailed together weekly for many years. I sold the Addiction in August of 2017 and purchased a beautiful 40 foot sloop for the voyage. In the midst of refitting her and upgrading the electronics on "Aquarius", my wife asks that I shorten the trip to 7 months. I agree and we target an adventure deep into Mexico and then back to SF. We take off a few days into retirement in September 2018 and head down the California coast. The Channel Islands, Santa Barbara and San Diego held many highlights for us. We spent several weeks in each location with friends visiting along the way. We arrived in Mexico in November and hit our southern most point in March 2020. Zihuantenejo is a beautiful harbor and all of the locals were friendly and warm the entire trip. We headed north in early March and arrived under the Golden Gate in mid April after a most successful voyage. The boat and crew did an awesome job and I could not have been happier. Fast forward to today and boat lives up near Berekely and she is sailed weekly. I found my passion and my life is full of sunshine and seagulls. The SF Bay is one of the greatest sailing venues in the world. With 25 knot winds all summer and a bit mellower in the winter, I am one happy sailor!! Here is some nice drone footage of the bay. This is not my boat but "Wild Card" is looking good in the vid.

MLK Day with 10@10

Our local rock station used to honor MLK day with a musical tribute on 10@10. KFOG is long gone but another DJ picked up the 10@10 show and even got the original host, Dave Morey involved. The tag line was "10 great songs from one great year." Here is a show from Soundwaves copying the 10@10 formula and featuring MLK. Listen and learn! There are about 400 other 10@10's on Soundwaves for you to enjoy. https://www.mixcloud.com/soundwavesFM/soundwaves-1010-108-mlk/

Massive Waves Slam California

Having lived near the ocean in the Bay Area for 40 years, I have seen my share of storms and waves. The storms started rolling in New Year's Eve and have not stopped since. And this is after many years of drought. Our biggest reservoirs have been storing less than 45% of their capacity. Trees and forests are dying due to the drought. Fires are raging in the summer and causing our skies to darken at mid day. California is struggling to say the least. Now with the onslaught of these storms, we struggle more. Yes we need the water but this has been too much. Towns being wiped out by waves, flooding, homes inundated with water, thousands of trees down due to satuated soil, rivers surging over their banks, people found dead in their cars when they drove in water that got too deep, and the list goes on. Today is Friday the 13th and it is still raining with 3 more storms on the way. They say it will be clear in a week or so and that will be none too soon. Lastly, the good news, the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada, which provides our drinking water, is over 200% at the moment. We are expecing another 8 feet in the coming days. Mammouth Mountain ski resort closed earlier this week due to too much snow. 440 inches have fallen, which is twice as much as all season last year. We still have 2.5 more months of snow to go! ve

The Ocean Race Begins in 3 Days

Since 1973, The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other. Over four decades it has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the greatest sailors and been the proving ground for the legends of our sport. 

 The Ocean Race is often described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world, sailing’s toughest team challenge and one of the sport’s Big Three events, alongside the Olympic Games and America’s Cup. To truly understand the race, though, it’s better to think of it in a way the athletes who take part will recognise immediately. Put simply, The Ocean Race is an obsession, and many of the world's best sailors have dedicated years, even decades of their lives trying to win it. Take Sir Peter Blake, who competed in the first edition of what was then the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973-74 and came back again and again until he finally conquered his Everest, securing an overwhelming victory with Steinlager 2 in 1989-90. Only then was he able to fully turn his attention to other projects. The race sits, just as it always has, at the intersection of human adventure, and world-class competition. Thanks to the work of the Onboard Reporters embedded with every team, fans are given a unique insight into just what it takes to win a race that is relentless in its demands – as teams give everything they have, 24 hours a day, in pursuit of the tiny advantages that can make all the difference. The race’s concept is simple: it’s a round-the-clock pursuit of competitive edge and the ultimate ocean marathon, pitting the sport’s best sailors against each other across the world’s toughest waters. It’s relentless: the importance of winning, the adventure of life on board, the transformative effect on the sailors — all of these combine to give the race its power and depth. The last edition of the race was the closest in history, with three teams virtually tied, approaching the finish line. After 126 days of racing spread across 11 legs, the winning margin for Charles Caudrelier’s Dongfeng Race Team was only 16 minutes. The top three teams were separated by just four points. A total of 2.5 million people visited the Race Villages during the 2017-18 event, getting a first-hand taste of the action. Millions more followed the action on our digital platforms, television and via the news as the race set new high-marks for international coverage. Now we enter a new era as the event continues to evolve. Two classes will compete in the 2022-23 edition of the race with the addition of the high-tech, foiling IMOCA 60 class adding a design and technical element. The one-design VO65 fleet will race on its third lap of the planet in 2022, with an emphasis on competition, youth and crew diversity. Following the success of our ground-breaking and award-winning sustainability efforts in the last race, sustainability will continue to be a core value of the race as we go forward, as we redouble our efforts to restore ocean health and lead, inspire and engage on this critical issue. The next edition of The Ocean Race will start from Alicante, Spain on 15 January 2023.

Best Sail of the Year!

Welcome to 2023! New Year’s Day turned out to be a spectacular sailing day! Winds were forecasted to be 10-15 with gusts to 30. We got the 10-15 but otherwise sunny and mild. The winds move to the north in the winter and make some very long tacks towards Red Rock. We had a huge rainstorm the day before and so I was on the lookout for debris but found little in my way. Hana and I set out at 11:30 just as the wind was coming up. No ferries, tankers or barges all day! We had a fabulous run up to Paradise Cove and Scott’s House. Hana was itching for the beach so I threw a stick overboard, she fetched it and was on the beach in no time. I soon followed in the kayak. After a nice lunch in the cockpit we headed back under motor. As we got to the Berkeley Pier, the wind picked up and we sailed her in as the sun set. What a way to begin another fine sailing season on the SF Bay. 2023 will mark my 40th year of sailing the Bay!!!!

2022 - A look back at our amazing year!

2022 was off the hook! We had a bunch of travel that had been postponed due to restrictions and it all came to fruition this year. Also, in my 4th year of retirement, my sailing days increased as did the pleasure of being out there both solo and with friends. It may have been the best year of my life! New motto: At 64...there is so much more! My family is doing great and my wife is happy too. Here are some of the highlights: Finished up 2021 with a trip to the Galapagos. We took 8 friends with us for a voyage to the islands of Darwin.  Our ship was an old whaling vessel that had been converted into a luxury cruiser.  30 guests and 20 crew made the trip memorable.  The guides that took out exploring each day were awesome.  They loved showing off their islands and passing on their intimate knowledge of the flora and fauna.  The weather was great as was the food and drink.  Next up was a sailboat charter out of La Paz, MX.  5 guy friends and a 40 foot cat took us to some incredible islands for snorkeling and kayaking.  We had a breath taking first night with an amazing sunset and conversation.  More fun ensued until we were ready to depart.  Three of us tested positive for Covid and had to quarantine at a Cabo hotel for 5 days.  Next it was on to the BVI's for a 60' cat charter with 3 other couples.  These are friends of 35 years and we let the good times roll.  With a chef and captain, the only orders I was giving was for more boat drinks!  The Baths and Soggy Dollar were the highlights.  Our last big adventure was 12 days of safari in the Serengeti of Africa.  I must say the animals seem to be thriving and we saw it all.  4 camps with great guides to show us the best that Africa has to offer.   Beside the two sail charters,  I had lots of time to hit the SF Bay for some rip roaring good times.  Our 40' Jeanneau is doing well and sailing like a champ.  I took out loads of friends and dogs as well as lots of solo sails on the Bay.  We also sailed to a few Giants games where we park the boat in a slip next to the ballpark and head in for some fun.  Most sails include a stop at the beach for a swim with our golden Hana.  She loves to swim to the beach and romp around.  Our Bluetooth anchoring system is a dream and makes it very easy to anchor from the cockpit.  I am loving retirement and keeping very busy.  Here is to another fantastic year in 2023!  Cheers. 

McCovey Cove at the Giants ballpark on a good day to catch a homer into the water!

How Much Do The Top Sailing Channels Earn?