If you have some extra cash...this yacht is for you!

Heading to Croatia on Friday for a week of sailing. Switzerland has been exceptional.

Reef Nightmare

Addiction Back in Action

Way back at the start of my sailing days in 2000, two friends and I purchased a 1981 Newport 30, Addiction. We sailed that boat like there was no tomorrow. I estimate that in the 17 years I was a partner, I sailed her 1500 times. After I sold my share to purchase my 40' Jeanneau in 2017 (for the voyage to Mexico), the boat was sailed a few more times. For the last 5 years, she has sat there waiting for love. Out of the goodness of my heart, I approached the owners and asked them if they would like me to help pass the boat on. They agreed and I contacted a local charity. Because the 44 year old boat does not have much value, they declined. I put a listing on Craigslist for a free boat and my inbox exploded. I sent a note out to everyone that replied, reminding them that operating expenses on a free boat are about $10k per year (slip fees, insurance, etc.). On the appointed day, two folks showed up and decided to partner and take over the boat! Yesterday we went for a sail out to the islands and low an behold everything went well. She handled the 25 knot breeze and the sails are still in great shape. The guys are excited and looking forward to sailing the bay. It was a very nostalgic trip for me as I have so many memories on this boat. I am so happy I was able to get her going again and back on the bay. Here is an old clip on the Addiction with my boy Kona.

Departing for a Sail Charter: Croatia

We depart in a week for one of my dream vacations. I have been thinking about this trip forever and now it is coming to fruition. We have a huge cat waiting for us. My friends of 40 years (8) and my wife will join as we tour the highlights of this historic island nation. Hvar, Vis, Split and more! We have a captain (which I understand is important as he has local knowledge that we don't) a gourmet chef and a bartender. Below is a video of some of the highlights of this extrodinarily beautiful place. We also have a week in Switzerland with friends as well as meeting a friend who lives in Zurich. I can't wait to tell you about our adventures!

The Sea!

Too Cute

A Sailing Story of Survival (Barely)

My Latest Crush = Ms. Tucker

I am not a big Facebook fan but once in a while I get sucked into Reels. Random video clips. I keep running into this beautiful sailor, Elizabeth Tucker. From what I gather, She was disenchanted with the corporate world and started sailing. Fell in love with sailing long distances and now has big plans. She just recently sailed 14,000 miles to Sydney with Cole Brauer and her boat First Light. Za, as she is known, has purchased the boat for future racing around the world. Here is an interview after the two had arrived in Sydney.

Do You Know the Answer?

Best of the Best: New Cats for YOU!

7048

The SEVENTY48 is a unique, human-powered boat race covering 70 miles from Tacoma to Port Townsend, Washington. Participants have 48 hours to complete the course using only human power—no motors, no sails, and no support crews. This year’s race starts on June 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM from the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma . The race concludes with the “SEVENTY48 Necktie Affair” on June 8, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend. This celebration includes an awards ceremony and festivities for racers and fans alike. What makes this race so cool is the innovative uses of technology used to move thru the water. I will be featuring some of the wild and wacky ways participants are using. Be on the lookout for updates this weekend on those that dare these wild waters. They have decided to do R2AK every other year so this is a race to fill in the gap. Presented by the same folks that host R2AK.

H2uh0 Turns 20!!

If you can find another sailing blog 20 years old, I hope you will tell me who it is. All my heros and those that encouraged me along the way are long gone. Wetass, Frogma, Proper Course, my2fish, and Horse's Mouth have all gone below the surface and sunk. So why am I still here?? The fact is I love everything about sailing. From my thousands of day sails over the last 25 years, to chartering in exotic locations (we depart for Croatia in a few weeks) to taking my dog and friends out on the SF bay, to my 8 Baja Haha's, my 7 month voyage deep into Mexico and back, and lastly to owning the boat of my dreams (40' Jeanneau). As a retiree, I am sailing 3-4 times a week with Hana (dog) and friends. My inspiration for starting the blog was a couple of sailing accidents on the bay on a weekend in 2005. I brainstormed the name and my thought was we could learn from other's mistakes. The blog has veered in to music, sailing history, chartering, some of my life stories, burning man, astronomy and of course, bonehead moves on the water. I am currently 66 and hope to continue sailing well into my 70's and maybe more. Who knows? Thanks to the 1,326,118 and more visitors to my site. And here to the 1000+ guests I have had aboard my boats. Here is my toast to all of you: Here's to wooden ships, fiberglass ships and steel ships. And here is to the most important ships of all. Friendships! Here is my favorite sailing quote: "Something about sailing a boat brings so many senses and sensations into play that it's very difficult to pinpoint what it is specifically that makes me like it so much: the sight of sails and sheets overhanging the water; the foam and spray flying as the bow cuts the water; the motion of the boat; the physical and mental ballet necessary to handle the boat correctly. A sailboat might just be the most beautiful, sensuous and intelligent blend of man/machine/and elements that exists in the world today. The relationship between the three is the most harmonious I have experienced so far. Besides, you can have a beer while you do it". --anonymous

Sail GP in Trouble after Dismasting

They have cancelled Rio and hope to be back on the water in June. This is the third dismasting in the fleet this year. Hopefully they can get it resolved before the NY dates in June.

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/