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!