Tahiti Charter was Amazing!

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

Bound for Pape'ete for an Epic Charter

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

Sailing Doodles Brand New Boat Lost

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

Lake Erie Can Be a Dangerous Waterway

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

Bloggers Buy a Lemon and the Lemon Sellers Buy It Back

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

Pure Sail

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

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

Sail GP Heading to SF March 22-23

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

Tesla Roadster Still Oriting the Sun After 3.5 Trillion Miles

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

Portland Maine becomes round the world central

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

One of my favorite boats: Mayan

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

Cool Moon Fly Over

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

On Our Way

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

Bon Voyage!

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

Music Map

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

An Artistic Look at Nazare (gigantic waves)

A week on the water!

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

Somewhere in New Hampshire

My Friend Barry

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

MLK on 10@10

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

Sydney Hobart Race Film

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

Tahiti Charter Booked

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

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

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

Largest Wave Ever Surfed Hits Mavs

Alo Slebir, a 23-year-old Santa Cruz local, caught a towering wave at the Mavericks surf spot near Half Moon Bay that was recently estimated by Mavericks Rescue Team to be 108 feet tall, which would make it easily the world’s largest wave ever surfed. The current world record is 86 feet.

Mother Nature is Going Nuts!

Happy New Year to all!!

Direct Hit - Santa Cruz Habor with $20m in Damage

Mav's Explodes!

Jaw's was off the hook with the same storm swell from the northern Pacific.

Top Vids of the Year!

I got very misty during the Google video. Put these up on the big screen with some screen mirroring if you can. Enjoy and happy holidays.

The Apple Electric Car

I was really excited when Apple decided to get into the car biz (project name: Titan). They recruited some of the finest engineers in the industry. Spent billions to bring the car to market. Found the right batteries to make it 500 miles on a charge. But it was not to be. They abandoned the project a few years ago. How cool does this rendering look? Would you buy a $100k Apple Car?

Pipeline Goes Nuclear

SF to LA on a $2 Catamaran (amazing wildlife)

Heading towards the holidays and lots of rain ahead. It has been another incredible year of sailing and adventure. My main focus over the years has been day sailing on the SF Bay. My boat is in a slip near Berkeley and in the central bay. It is so easy to slip the lines and head out to the islands. I have been sailing to Clipper Cove alot for an anchor and Hana heads to the beach. I come in alone or with a bunch of friends and we hang out on the beach for 30 minutes or more. My anchor windlass went out in April and I was pulling up the very heavy anchor and chain rode by hand for many months. In October the windlass I ordered from Latvia finally arrived. The supplier jerked me around for over 6 weeks when I finally told him I was canceling the order. Sure enough, 5 days later it arrived. I attempted to remove the old one but it was not moving. I hired some pros who used a hydraulic jack to push it out. They did an efficient job of installing the new one and it works great with my Bluetooth remote. I must of sailed a good 125 days this year (last year was 200!). Lots of friends and family and really fun sails. With the tunes pumping, the wind blowing, the auto pilot engaged and a bunch of friends in the cockpit, I feel incredibly fortunate. One of the great reasons to own a boat is to share it with others. I especially enjoy taking the newbies out and all their interesting questions. I was lucky enough to get invited to sail the Greek Isles for a week. I had been dreaming of this for decades and it finally happened. We had 20-30 knot winds during my birthday week. A meltemi like this happens a few times each summer and we had the only one in September. Also did a 5 day trip to the Delta with Hana, Tex and Barry. Good times and even tho we got stuck for a few hours, it was an epic voyage. My last adventure was the Baja Haha. My 8th trip from San Diego to Cabo. 120 boats and 400 sailors with beach parties along the 750 mile course. If you click back to November you can read about the 30th annual rally. 2025 will mark my 42nd year of sailing the bay! It never gets old as each day is a little different. I have a week long sail charther to Croatia planned with my wife in June. She requires a large cat with a captain and gourmet chef. We are heading out with 3 other couples we have known for 40 years. The only orders I will be barking on this sojourn will be - one more margarita please! I also have Tahiti on my radar for May. We shall see. Lastly, there is a water festival up near Stockton in the Delta at the end of July. It's a bit of Burning Man on the water. It is called Ephemerisle. I will have more info on that as we draw closer. Have a great holiday and look for my end of the year vids from Google, GoPro and Youtube.

Get ready to buy a boat in 2025! (cost breakdown)

Tubed in SF!

On the west side of SF is Ocean Beach. Some call it a nasty place to surf. I surfed there a bunch in my younger days and the currents will drag you far from your start point. About a dozen folks die here each year as they underestimate the tides, current and swell. However, on December 1 we had an amazing swell and the show is below.

Jules Vern Race Attempts to Break 40-Day Record around the Planet

A voice from heaven!

Chris Rogers Explores the Maldives

One of my favorite videographers!! Here's his film from Bali.

Week 3 Vendee Globe Update

Rides of the Year!

La Vagabonde Hit By Fishing Boat

Go to the 25 minute mark for the carnage.

Saving the boat from the reef!

Last Leg of the Baja Haha

I was up at 0600 for the morning radio net. We hear instructions and updates from the Poobah and he makes sure the fleet is ready to go. We have about 20 gallons of fuel left which will not get us to Cabo (about 180 miles away) unless we sail a good part of the way. We motor thru the morning and into the afternoon as the wind starts to build to 8-10 knots. We raise the spinnaker and she is a fine sight. We sail tru the evening untill the wind drops at 2200. Motor on. My watch begins at 0200. My last watch of the trip. I think about some of the highlights of my past 8 Haha"s. All the people I have met and all the fun times we have had. This is very cool way to get down the coast and I enjoy doing it. My watch ends and I head to a restful sleep. Up at 1030 and we are sailing again. The skipper thinks we are maybe not gone a make it to Cabo with the remaining fuel we have as the wind is dying. If we run out, we could be pushed by the wind onto the beach. Not good. I hail the other boats around us and ask for fuel. Sure enough Panther (the cat that I set the party up with) is nearby and have extra fuel. Within 15 minutes they are throwing over a line with a 5.3 gallon jug of diesel. This folks, is the true meaning of the Haha. Cruisers helping cruisers! We pour it into the tank and off we go for the final 8 miles to the harbor. We pull into the harbor for fuel, water and an inspection of our food. They take a few eggs, meat and produce that is not from Mexico. I jump off the boat and say my goodbyes. Thanks to Lisa and Byron for sharing this adventure with me. I had a blast and you guys were so sweet. I head to my hotel room but first have a margarita at the bar. After 8 Haha's I wonder if I will do another? I have been very lucky to hook up with some very cool folks by hitchhiking to Cabo on others boats. There was a beach party and an awards ceremony to attend once in Cabo. However, there was a big wind event coming and the leaders cancelled the events in an abundence of caution and to give everyone a chance to get up to La Paz or wherever before the storm hit. I met a bunch of cool folks from Santa Cruz and Monterey and hope to catch up with them again. And special thanks to Richard Spindler (that's him in the first pic with his 63' cat) for putting these rallies together for 30 years. We had a few snags on this voyage (immigration and weather) and it may be the final Haha as we know it. We will find out in the spring. Over and out!

2nd Leg Baja Haha

We departed about 0700 from Turtle Bay. The winds picked up about 1400 and we had a very nice spinnaker run. After a nice dinner, I hit the hay for some much needed rest. At 0200 I reported for my 4 hour watch. With no issues it was one of the best midnight watches ever. The big dipper was on its side at this latitude. No boats in our way and some great tunes on the stereo. With the coast clear I could reflect on my life and all the amazing things I have accomplished. On my watch I realized I have only one more night watch to go. In the morning we had a line break on the boom furler so we are motoring to Santa Maria. No big deal. We arrived at 7:30 and deployed the anchor with about 25 boats in the bay. I did the dishes and went off into a deep sleep. In the morning we need to get the dog to the beach. Byron took the dingy to look at the bar entrance and the beach beyond. A big wave swept over the dingy and Byron went in the water as the dingy turned upside down and swamped the motor. He and Lisa spent the afternoon getting it going again. In the mneantime, I asked two catamarans if they would be willing to raft up and host a boat party. They agreed and it turned out great. About 50 sailors showed up along with some kids. The only reason it worked was the space that cats afford. Meet some cool folks and had a great time. Back home about 2200 and went to bed. Today is the beach party and I am planning to DJ along with a band on the bluff. The locals prepare a fine meal and we dance the afternoon away. Our last leg is tomorrow and about a 24 hour run to Cabo San Lucas.

Boaters Worst Nightmare Comes True

First Leg of the Haha

My adventure started in early September with a Latitude 38 Crew Party in Sausalito. Those who need crew and those looking to crew gather to find a spot on the Haha. The problem is there are 50 sailors looking to crew and only 4-5 skippers looking for crew. I spoke with Byron and Lisa and told them I had done the Haha 7 times, I would provision the boat, cook all the meals and do all the dishes. Why would I do all this? Because I want to be on the Haha! They spoke with a few other newbies and then realized I would be an asset to their voyage and they asked me to join them. I of course said yes. I would meet them in San Diego and assist in all faucets of the trip. They need to get the boat from Alameda to San Diego. They had never been offshore before so I gave them a bunch of tips for their trip south. I arrived in San Diego a few days before departure and stayed in the hotel attached to the marina. It worked well and I could take a few steps and be at the boat. The highlight of the stay was the ZZ Top concert right at the marina. Byron and I attended and they were great. Monday morning was departure time for the 30th annual Baja Haha. 131 boats and 455 sailors. All the boats gather at the starting line and at 1100 we start the rally to Turtle Bay some 380 miles south. The winds are just under 10 and we raise the sails. We sail for about 6 hours and then motor thru the night. My watch is 2-6 am and pm. That gives me plenty of time to rest, eat and watch a movie. The next day we got the sails up again for about 8 hours. No wind on the third day so we motored on. We arrived in Turtle Bay at sunset and threw down the anchor in the midst of 20-30 boats that had arrived before us. I pulled out some French Champagne and we celebrated our boat’s first foreign anchorage. It was sweet. That night we get a radio message that a boat is 5 miles out and out of fuel and the wind has blown out their sails. A boat heading south was able to get them 9 gallons of fuel and they safely got into the bay. They anchored in the bay and went to bed. The wind was up to 20 and the anchor picked up and they drifted out of the bay and by the time they woke up, they were 5 miles out again. They had plenty of fuel and got back in safely. On Thursday we had a fun softball game at the local baseball field. Dinner at Maria’s with a dockmate Rob from my marina. Friday was the beach party and it was fun with lots of happy sailors. One of the guys had caught an 80 pound tuna and was serving everyone tacos that were delicious. Saw some old friends and made some new ones. This morning we are off for a 220 mile run to Santa Maria and another epic beach party. We have Starlink onboard so I will be able to update as we head south.

Boat in Trouble on the Haha

We are anchored safely at Turtle Bay 350 miles south of San Diego. We just received a radio message from a boat 5 miles out that is out of fuel and their sails have been blown out in big winds. I hope the Mexican Navy can assist them as we have some strong winds coming in tonight.

Bon Voyage!

Getting ready to depart for San Diego this week. The Baja Haha starts on Monday November 4. With 2 stops it will take 10 days to sail the 750 miles to Cabo San Lucas. I am sailing on a Morgan Catalina 44 that has made her way to San Diego and is ready to rock. I am joining the owners for their first big voyage. They intend to end up in the Caribbean sometime next year. Be on the lookout for the trip log in mid November.

The Big Boyz!

A fascinating contest for monohull line honours was staged at the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Huang-Seng Lee’s Scallywag 100 (HKG) prevailed as the first yacht to complete the 606-nautical mile course following an epic duel with rival 100-ft Maxi Black Jack 100 (MON). Her elapsed time was two days, 21 hours, 33 minutes and 29 seconds. An international fleet of 112 yachts are contesting the 45th edition of the race which starts and finishes in Malta and comprises an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Sicily. The focus now switches to the race’s most significant prize, the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy, awarded to the overall winner on handicap. Rolex has partnered both the race and its organizers, the Royal Malta Yacht Club, since 2002.

30 years ago big wave surfer Mark Foo drown at Mavericks

So glad I sail in a bay!

NZ Wins Cup in Barcelona! 3 times in a row!

2024...so far!

It's been another amazing year so far. We had lots of travel around the planet, my son got married, several sailing vacations and lots of day sails on the bay. We started the year with a trip to Florida to visit my sister. She lives in an awesome water based community called Ocean Reef. We also did a fun stop at Disney World with a VIP tour of the top rides. Then it was off to Norway with Bridget. We did a cruise up the coast and into some amazing towns and villages. The highlight was a night time dog sled run in a snowy valley with a full moon. We did a week in Kauai and stayed near Hanalei. Lots of hammock time and kayaking. Iceland was next with Bridget, my two sisters and brother in law Tom. What a special voyage on a beautiful ship. Our highlight came on a coastal trip on a small boat on the Faroe Islands. Big mountains of ancient lava coming right down to the sea. Also had a great hot springs experience. In July I took off on a road trip to Oregon with Hana. I had plans to visit a few friends and then hit the coast. Some great kayaking and a fun time visiting my friends. In August I hit Vegas with a buddy and we went to see Dead & Co at the Sphere. The most amazing concert experience of my life! We also did a 5 day sojourn to the Delta with Tex and Barry. Last month I celebrated my birthday on a week long voyage to the islands of Greece. We met the boat 100 miles off Athens in the heart of the Aegean Sea. We hit a very windy week with winds 20-30 every day! My day sails have been epic. Hana and I anchor off the beach for a few hours while the wind builds and then have some great winds to Angel Island. The boat continues to amaze while keeping the crew safe. This weekend I am taking out a total of about 20 folks over a three day period to the air show over the bay that includes the Blue Angels. To finish off the year, I am on an awesome boat for the 30th annual Baja Haha. The 750 mile regatta down the coast from San Diego to Cabo. 120 boats and 400 friendly sailors will be joining us. Check back in mid November for the recap of my eighth Haha.

J Class Barcelona Regatta 2024

The J Class sailboats are a group of prestigious racing yachts that emerged in the 1930s, primarily designed for the America's Cup. Here’s a brief overview of their history: Origins 1930s Design: The J Class was created to comply with the 1930 America's Cup rule, which stipulated that yachts be at least 75 feet long, with a maximum sail area. The "J" designation comes from the specific measurement of the boats, which were over 75 feet long and had a number of variations. Notable Yachts Ranger and Endeavour: Among the most famous J Class yachts are Ranger (built in 1937) and Endeavour (built in 1934). Ranger, designed by Olin Stephens, won the 1937 America's Cup. Shamrock: Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock V also competed in the 1930s, showcasing the class's international appeal. Design and Features Sail Plan and Construction: J Class yachts are known for their impressive sail plans, often with large mainsails and headsails. They were built using traditional wood construction techniques, which contributed to their beauty and performance. Decline and Resurgence Post-War Era: After World War II, interest in the J Class declined, and many yachts were abandoned or repurposed. However, the 1980s saw a revival of interest in classic yacht racing. Modern Reproductions: In recent years, several new J Class yachts have been built, replicating the designs of the original boats. Events like the J Class Regatta have further popularized the class. Cultural Significance Heritage: The J Class represents a significant chapter in yachting history, combining artistry and engineering. They are celebrated not only for their racing prowess but also for their aesthetic appeal. Today, J Class yachts continue to be symbols of elegance and competition, attracting enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

The Cup Races begin this Sunday! Brits vs.NZ

The Cup match is scheduled to run from October 13-22. The regatta is being live-streamed on the America’s Cup YouTube channel.

Direct from Barcelona

“Probably the most frustrating part of the day was just the wind limit, but we did get the race off and from there, the boys just bounced back brilliantly, especially after that unfortunate issue with the mainsail,” LRRP helmsman Jimmy Spithill said. “It was an awesome race, just a full-on street fight and we love that sort of stuff, it was a lot of fun. It’s just great for the team to be under that sort of pressure that sort of stress and load, because you need to be able to go through that as a team,” Spithill continued. “Once again, the guys just didn’t falter, just kept their heads up and executed, but also full credit to INEOS Britannia. They just kept coming, but ultimately that’s a good one for the team to take away.”

A Bonehead Move of My Own

A few years back I was doing a bit of night sailing which I loved. I was out one windy night and as I approached the channel to my marina the wind was in the high 20's. I decided to sail her in and bring the jib in once I was inside the marina. I made my way to the turn into the marina after the last channel marker. A huge gust hit and the boat started to round up...into the channel marker. I turned the wheel as hard as I could to avoid disaster and the possibility of the shrouds getting caught on the marker. The tide was just right and I ended up hitting the lifeline post (stantion) and it was bent but no other damage that I could see in the dark. That was until the next day when I saw the channel marker. Bonehead!

Great winds and beautiful islands - Seven Day Greek Charter

Flying from SF to Athens takes about 16 hours with layovers. Its a lomg ways but doable. My sailing bud Arnie and I met in Athens and jump on a very fast ferry to Naxos. About 100 miles off the coast. Our friends had chartered a 50' monohull and had been on the water a couple weeks. We met them about noon and took off for lunch. Cute little port town that was busy, especially in the evening. We took off the next day about 3 after awaiting the arrival of a outboard from the charter company (the other had been stolen). We had light winds as we headed to our first anchorage. We anchored at Apollonas Bay on Cyclades Island. Had a nice dinner in a local restaurant and noted that the pricing was very inexpensive. A carafe of wine was $5. The next morning the winds were up! This was the start of the meltemi that would be with us for the entire voyage. Meltemis are strong dry winds that blow from May to September and are formed by high and low pressure systems in the area. The winds ranged from 20-30 knots every day! Our next stop was a beatiful cove with a nude beach and taverna. The water was delighful as we swam to and from the beach. After dinner we did a night swim back to the boat with bioluminesence. The winds were way up for our sail to Amorgos. As we pulled into the bay it was a task to get the sails down. The piers were busy and we needed to med moor. On our first atempt we got tangled with a huge anchor. It tooks us about 30 minutes and the help of a fellow boater to untangle the mess. We headed to another pier and dropped anchor again and slide into our spot. Not easy and lots of shouting from land but we made it in safely on our second try. The winds contributed to making this the most difficult moor of the trip. What a cute town and its my birthday. Arnie and I head a few steps down the way and propmptly order some champagne and food. I take it easy that night as the crew heads off about 9:30 for dinner. I watch a movie and try to sleep with jet lag heavy on my mind. The next morning Arnie and I rent scooters for a tour of the island. The lady tells us there is only one road on the island so we won't be getting lost. We head to huge cliffs on the otherside that are magnificent. We push off about 1:30 for Nisos Skhorousa and a nice anchorage. Our boat neighbors insist we anchored too close so we move away. Late that night the skipper and his girlfriend get in a fight and she takes of in the dingy. The motor won't start and she is being blown away in a strong wind. A fellow boater went a got her and brought her back safely. Note to self...never take off in a dingy without starting the engine first. The drama continues but I go to bed. In the morning we head to the islands only port for breakfast. We set off in the afternoon for a beautiful sail to Nisos Koufonision. I hit town alone and find a nice spot for dinner and the sunset. The next day is a beach day after breakfast in town. I find a tree near the beach and set up the hammock and nap until depature. About 2pm we take off for Paros. We find a nice spot off town and do our last anchor off a cute town. Dinner with our feet in the sand with some great food. Next morning up for breakfast and then a cab ride to the port to pick up our ferry back to Athens. We stayed in a beachside hotel that night for a mid day departure. We noted that the area we were sailing is the same latitude as SF. Hence we had weather in the 70's each day and as I mentioned we got so lucky with the winds. It was a epic trip to a place I have been reading about for decades. Here is a link to our course thru the islands: https://share.garmin.com/rallik

Bonehead Move on the Bay!

No one in the cockpit is looking!

Worst Surfing Wipeouts

Let's Haha!

I attended the crew party on Wednesday in Sausalito in an attempt to find a boat and a ride down the Baja coast in November. I met Byron and Lisa and they agreed to accept me as crew for the 10 day voyage. Great news! They own a Catalina Morgan 44 and I will assist in helping them sail down to Cabo San Lucas. The Baja Haha is a cruiser rally in it's 30th year. The 750 mile sojourn is attended by about 125 boats and 450 sailors. The voyage starts in San Diego on November 4th and ends on November 14th in Cabo. Along the way we have two stops with huge beach parties. The party really starts when we get to Cabo! The will be my 8th Haha!! My first was in 2010. But before that, I head to Greece for a 7 day charter. It looks like a great fall sail season awaits!

Best of Burning Man

I attended BM three times over the last few years. My last visit was 2016. We had an amazing art car, camp and folks to have fun with. So glad I got to experience this amazing event.

Let the games begin!

Just back from a 5 day sojourn to the Delta. Just to the east of the bay is 1000 miles of waterway near Sacramento. Barry, Tex, Hana and I were looking to relax and enjoy this beautiful area and fresh water from the Sierra's. The weather was perfect and the waterways very quiet. We also had a full moon with some great moon rises. Back on the weekend and I was a tired boy! Good fun and Hana had a blast. Here is a look at the America's Cup from Barcelona.

How Tides Really Work

Humpback Rescued Then Breaches 40 Times!

Priceless

Here is another favorite!

Fun Facts

1. In maritime law, a yacht is often classified as a pleasure vessel, and owners must comply with international regulations such as the MARPOL Convention to prevent pollution from ships, ensuring the protection of the marine environment. 2. If you walk the docks at any big marina in the late afternoon, it’s pretty clear yachts are pumping effluent overboard instead of into their holding tanks. (Why don’t I ever hear about enforcement on this issue?) 3. In recent history, the Coast Guard reported 84% of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. 4. Since 2008, Sea Tow has provided over 100,000 life jackets to boaters as part of their Life Jacket Loaner Program. 5. Approximately one in six New England residents own a boat. 6. Approximately one in ten Americans own a boat. 7. Length Overall (LOA) and Length on the Waterline (LWL) are two measurements for a boat, but other ways to measure a boat include Length Over Deck (LOD), Length Over Spars (LOS), Length Extreme (LE) and Length Between Perpendiculars (LBP). 8. Many marinas and shipyards apply a Length Extreme measurement to calculate your dockage charge. 9. There is a federal regulation (40 C.F.R. Section 229.3) detailing how to go about getting permission to dispose of your vessel in the ocean. 10. In recent history, the Coast Guard reported approximately 4,000 to 8,000 recreational boats sink each year. 11. 55 C.F.R. Section 224.103 creates a 500 yard ‘security zone’ around right whales. 12. Seagulls get a respectful distance to avoid stress under the Migratory Bird Act. 13. Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will likely go into effect in December 2024 requiring more thorough documents descriptions in a party’s Privilege Log. (I’m including because this rule change will be helpful to us maritime plaintiff lawyers!) 14. Some yachts get the label “bad penny,” meaning something that’s unwanted but keeps appearing. 15. Foreign flagged yachts chartering in New England without government approvals (you know who you are!) can face fines of $15,000/passenger as well as seizure and forfeiture. (Why don’t I ever hear about enforcement on this issue?) 16. In my opinion, it wouldn’t take much effort for the CPB to identify foreign flagged yachts marketing charterers in New England waters that are “doing it dirty” with charter arrangements that don’t satisfy the law. 17. In recent history, the Coast Guard reported that kayaking incidents account for 15% of all reported boating incidents annually. 18. Iowa and Minnesota require non-motorized kayaks to be registered, which doesn’t appear to the case in New England waters. 19. Typically, a capacity plate on a boat will show the Maximum Weight Capacity (the total weight the boat can safely carry) and will show the Maximum Person Capacity. 20. A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character code that every boat manufactured from 1972 onward is assigned. The first three characters refer to the manufacturer; the next five characters are the serial number for the hull; the ninth and tenth characters indicate the month and year of manufacture (with A being January, B being February, etc.) and the last two characters are the model year of the boat. 21. Sailors love to explain the difference between starboard and port; a halyard and a topping lift and the Genoa from the Code Zero, but could they tell you why their boat moves forward when the wind blows? When wind flows over a sail, it creates a pressure difference which creates lift that “pulls” the boat forward; throw a keel or centerboard into the mix and you’ve got yourself a sailboat that’ll take you places. 22. A sailboat can sail faster than the true wind speed especially if on a reach. How? As a sailboat moves forward it creates its own wind, which when combined with the true wind creates a stronger apparent wind. The sailboat’s shape and sails allow it to harness this apparent wind to sail faster than the true wind speed. 23. If your boat is less than about 66 feet, you typically don’t need to show an anchor light if anchored in a designated anchorage – but why wouldn’t you? via Tom Whitwell

Sail GP Final Race in SF

This is the 13th location of the 2024 edition of Sail GP. And the site of the grand finale. The final race of the series starts at the 1 hour, 6 minute mark. Winner recieves $2,000,000.

Drone Big Waves

Happy July 4! Heading up to Sausalito for the weekend and a sail on the Matthew Turner. This 132 foot brigintine is a classic. A replica of a boat from the 1800's that now plys the bay with students and learning the ways of the sea. Then some music and fireworks. June was a great month of sailing and friends. Hana has been loving her swims to the beach. I have a road trip to Oregon as well as a family reunion on a lake in New Hampshire this month. I have plans for a charter in Athens in September and the 30th annual Baja Haha in November. Its shaping up to be another amazing year! Be safe!

Winners! R2AK

On the night of Day 6, the Fish House hosted the 8th edition of the only official finish line awards party possible for a race whose finishers stagger in over a three-week period. But tonight, for a fleeting moment, the top four finishers were in the same room before scattering to the winds in the coming days. Team Malolo was given their first-place winnings in the traditional form—100 crisp Benjamin Franklins nailed to a piece of firewood with an outlandishly large spike. Race Boss said onto the masses, “We shall nail $10,000 to a tree in Alaska and see who gettest it.” And lo, they did race. Racers could not come to the tree, for there was much difficulty, and it was brought to them. And so it is written, and so it shall be. Or something. Less holy and closer to true, someone thought it was funny and it stuck. Eight years in and there’s $80K in US currency floating around with an R2AK-sized hole in Franklin’s nose. In front of Ketchikan, god, and everyone, Team Malolo got the log and the money, Team Brio got the steak knives. Team Hullabaloo and Stranger Danger (the latter landed within minutes of the party starting) both held the impressive, empty honor of being the first teams to not win anything. To commemorate this, they were awarded with a bucket of nothing. An actual empty bucket. R2AK AF. Insult to injury, they had to give the bucket back at the end of the night. It was on loan from the Fish House. Malolo got to keep the firewood. To the victors go the spoils. It was a night of revelry between teams, families of teams finishing soon, local news, local fans, and at least a few members of the R2AK’s Tracker Nation who had flown in specifically to bask in Ketchikan’s finish line glory. And. It. Was. Glorious. Read the full report here:(copy this link and insert into browser) https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/06/19/r2ak-official-finish-line-awards-party/?

R2AK!

The Race to Alska movie was release a few years ago and is a great look at the race the beauty and the competitors. It is currently straming on Prime for free. Check it out.

Pipeline Comes to Mexico!

This place is south of Alcapulco.

$1 Boat Takes 7 Years to Rebuild

Fastest 100 footer on the Planet!

Think About It