Songs About Sailing - The Definitive List

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

Borrowed from Messing About in Sailboats

Go to the 8 minute mark for the sailing.

 

Epic Surfing Read

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

Teahupoo Goes Off One Last Time

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

Pics of the Week

Burning Man Drone Show...Otherworldly!

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

The Famous Flying Fish Story

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

The Man, The Myth, Did I mention Legend?

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

Top Reasons to go Sailing!

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

Looking for a new partner

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

Glorious Sailing in the Med

Great Commentary, Incredible Shot!

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

Wife's Away, A Sailor Will Play

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

Everything is fine...until it isn't

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

Remember this one? 1986

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

100 Foot Wave Flick - Nazare

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

The Maze!

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

Sailing to the Game!

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

McCovey Cove on a good day!

Wing Foil Attempt to Hawaii Fails

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

Transpacific Rower Rescued

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

I Give you the Mathew Turner

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

Build Me A Beast!

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

Maps of Home - ACTION EDIT

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

*Sail Away*

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

Outstanding

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

Engine Up and Running

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

16 Years Young!

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

A Great Explanation of the Ever Given Stuck on the Suez

Sailing with Tina Turner

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

Dolphins Galore

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

Whale of a Sail

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

Boat almost sinks due to failed transducer

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

Skydio Drone Has Arrived!

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

Take Every Wave - The Laird Hamilton Story

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

Race to Alaska 2021 Canceled

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

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

Aquarius Turns 20 Years Young

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

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

From the Archives: Tsunami Surge Hits Santa Cruz

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

Skydio Drone is Amazing!

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

Dark Water

Dear Fungod, When I am out sailing, I will see a gust ahead of me and the water turns a darker shade. Why is that? Chaz Hi Chaz, Alot of folks donot uderstand what is happening here. Because the wind is at a higher speed in that area, the waves are steeper and they reflect less light from the sun and this makes the water darker. You see this phenomenon everytime you go sailing as long as there is wind. Now you know. Sail on, Chaz.

Strange and Wonderful

Finally getting our first winter storm here in the SF area. Winds are at 50 and we are expecting 3-4 inches of rain and 10 feet of snow in the Sierra's. We need everything we can get as it has been dry a long time. Did you recognize the song?

Flyin' Hawaiian

Head to the 2min mark for the action.

One of the photographers severed his spine on the landing. He is going to make it. "That set came and really caught everyone off guard. I hurried to put my camera away in my dry bag and then I told Cam to just ‘go.’ “I just remember feeling weightless and it taking a really long time to come down. I didn’t realize how fast Cam sent us over the lip of that thing. There was no handle on the ski, so I couldn’t stand up and hold on and hope my legs would have absorbed some of the impact. So, I was just sitting on the back with a death grip on the leather seat. Next thing I know I hear a loud thud. It felt like the ski buckled in half. Along with that, my back sent a shooting pain and tingling feeling from my waist down to my feet. I remember saying, ‘[expletive, expletive, expletive] I’m paralyzed.’ I legitimately thought I was.” On another note: we have had our share of big surf this winter in Northern California. So much so that almost every weekend folks are being careless and losing their lives around the surf. Please look out and never turn your back to the ocean!

Having a great summer!

It almost feels like it. Our drought continues with temps in the 70's this week. It should be cold and raining but our usual weather has moved north to the Seattle area where they are getting pounded with atmospheric rives from Hawaii and Japan. Went out with my first mate Hana (she will turn 1 in Feb). Thursday was 15-17 and beautiful. We sailed smartly to Angel Island and a private beach for two. The weather was so nice and warm as we frolicked in the sand. Returning to the boat, the line sliped and off went the kayak in the wind. I stripped down quickly and jumped into the 53 degree water. Refreshing to say the least. I got the line in my hand and attempted to swim the 30 yards back. With the tide and wind against me there was a question weather I would make it before hypothermia set in. Hana watching me from the deck and even she is gettting worried. I finally make it and tie off the line securely. Back home for a nice curry chicken dinner and then I passout for 3 hours. Next morning I did some work on the boat and we are off by 10am into 14 knots of breeze. I just have the genoa up and we are moving nicely when the Coast Guard pulls up for an inspection. I had been stopped but not boarded just 3 weeks ago. They went thru the safety items and there were no issues. Within about 10 minutes, they were gone and I continued my sail. We made it to another private beach on Angel and went in for some fun. When I say private I mean the only way to get to the beach is by a kayak as the cliffs prevent access. Another warm day and I am naked on the beach with Hana. Some kayakers approach and I take off for a nice sunny hour in the cockpit with the tunes going. What a nice way to spend an afternoon. Back to the marina for a short nap and then home.

Wave of the Decade at Mav's!

Getting tubed at Mav's is very rare. This is a special wave for a tested veteran of Mavericks.

Greeting from the Horn!

Charlie Dalin / Apivia Here is a discription of the emotions he felt sailing an endless ocean on the round the planet race, non stop, singlehanded called the Vendee Globe. "The big South is a special place. It's hostile, there is always sea, wind, more wind than you think. The wind is heavy, powerful because it is cold. It was a great experience: the permanent change of time and the tiredness, the depressions which follow one another, it is a jumble of feelings to be in the middle of nowhere, far from any civilization. I spoke to a fishing boat at the beginning of the Indian ocean, it was the only one that I met in the whole South. For 30 days, I saw no sign of human life. We forget our life before the south, just as we forget the life before the pandemic. I forgot about life before the Southern Ocean. The other boats no longer existed, the land no longer existed. You are in an endless world of water. It is unique in the world to be in a place where the closest people are the astronauts. Right now the contrast is stark like when I spoke with the lighthouse keeper a the Horn, I saw a British RAF plane that flew over me, and now the maritime traffic reappears. It is reminiscent of the movie Waterworld. I feel like I'm coming back from a water world where the land was a fantasy. I come back from another planet. I've been through things that I wouldn't have experienced anywhere else, obviously that will have an influence on me." He had just rounded the Horn and a slog thru the Indian Ocrean. He is currently in 2nd place with 6,400 nautical miles to go. About 18 days to go if they averaage 350 miles a day. Currently they are over 400 miles in a day!

Watch: Seattle’s virtual New Year’s at the Needle show welcomes 2021

Awesome Waves & Brilliant Soundtrack

The misic is Kevin MacLeod, Drone in D from the album Tranquillity 5. It works for me! Happy Nude Year!

Time to Change your Underwear!

I had a great year of sailing the bay! Usually we travel about 6 weeks out of the year. This year there was no travel. I must have sailed well over 100 days. Twice a week was the norm. I loved it. Our Jeanneau 40 performed flawlessly and sailed fast. I fixed a bunch of items and checked off many of the boxes on our list. A gift of $5k help bring the boat up to almost bristol and I am one happy sailor. We head into 2021 with high hopes and sailing dreams! Happy New Year...Its only going to get better!!

One Dramatic Pic!

Click the pic for an even more icredible view! Way back in 2008, Tom Perkins and his awesome 289 foot yacht, the Maltese Falcon, came to San Francisco. The masts were so tall that they had to wait for low tide to get under the 224 foot tall Golden Gate Bridge! They were here for a few weeks via Hawaii to support the Leukimea Cup. During their stay, a camper on Angel Island started a fire the ripped thru 3/4 of the island. The pic was taken from the Golden Gate Bridge. They also had a hit and run when a private sail boat ran right into this massive boat. The boat was built as a homage to the great Clipper Ships of the 1800's. The sails would drop from the yard arms with the push of a button. When the boat tacked, the masts would rotate with another button push. Too cool!

Day 2 from NZ - Highlights from the America's Cup World Series

The wind speed is 12 knots and the boats are sometimes going over 40 knots!!

Sea Floor Flyover: SF Bay

I started sailing the bay in 2000 when we purchased our 30 foot sloop, Addiction. Since then I have sailed more than twice a week on the bay. About 2000 times I estimate. That is alot. I know the bay like the back of my hand! What I know nothing about is what is underneath me. This video gives me a better idea. The bay has been carved by the rivers that flow into from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east. It's fasinating to see what's down there!

Rain Song w Plant & Page MTV Unplugged

Wow! That was beautiful. The strings and bass are amazing. What a moment.

AC Boats Ripping the Gulf!

Best Waves in 10 Years at Mav's!

“Today is probably the best and the biggest day in recent memory,” Oliver Henrikson, a resident of the Outer Sunset neighborhood in San Francisco and local surf reporter for Surfline, wrote in an email. “The waves are 25 to 30 feet (40- to 50-foot faces), but the winds are light offshore (blowing from the land to sea) making for surface conditions that have been clean and buttery smooth all day. This combination of big swell and clean conditions gives surfers the best, most inviting chance to get a wave that could be the pinnacle of their winter season, if not entire surf career.”

Wave of the Year!

Twiggy at Mav's on 12-8. They say these were the best waves in 10 years. Temp: 75, Wind Offshore: 8 knots, Excitement Factor in the Line Up: 10!!! More to come from this epic day in Half Moon Bay, CA! Click the pic to make it even more impressive.

Year in Review

2020 stared off with some great days on the bay! Then the pandemic hit. Did some solo sailing with very few boats out. Summer was windy as usual with 20-25 almost eveytime I went out (38 knots was the highest). We lost our golden Kona in mid Febuary and it was a sad period. But in May, a new crew member arrived: Hana. She was 10 weeks old and we started heading to the boat a few weeks later. It took her a while to get used to the water but now she loves it. We headed to the beach almost every sail for a romp in the sand and a bathroom break. We both had a ball. She has been amazing and is almost 10 months now. Here are some of the high lights of my sailing year: Fixed abunch of stuff: stove, kill switch for engine, navigation light, steering noise, and a bunch of little stuff. Over night in a new location: Aquatic Park. You need a $10 permit from online but what a lovely spot. Tons of swimmers in the morning. Overnights at Clipper Cove and Angel Island. Added 2 partners in July to reduce costs. Last overnight at Angel with my favorite crewmate Tex. He is moving back home to Tennessee. We sailed together for 20 years and had many an adventure. He was also my 1st mate on our 7 month voyage to Mexico and back to SF. I will miss him greatly. Replaced broken inverter in Feb. Thanks Tex! Awesome NYE in SF with the boat parked next to the Dead and Co. concert with a fab dinner and show at the Chase. 5 day trip to the Delta with Tex and puppy Hana. Nice to finally have a chartplotter onboard! Bringing the boat back to bristol. Waxed, buffed and varnished. She looks terrific. Long weekend with my buds and dogs joining in on the fun. We sailed one day and hit the beach the next. Looking forward to 2021! Baja Haha (my 7th), a month in Monterey, head to the Channel Islands for a month, BVI's, and much more. I have realized with that the pandemic that life is short. I hope to increase my days chartering with Croatia and Greece on the radar. I know next year will be a whole lot better and hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Holiday Greetings to All

Departing Tomales at the wrong time!

A dozen or so folks die here every year. The best time to enter or exit is a flood near high tide. Or never go there would be the safeest.

Waking Life Scene

Cool movie on youtube.

Jaws Roars to Life December 3rd, 2020

Circumnavigating Aboard Our Jeanneau 53

What an amazing 5 year voyage for this couple. Please watch and share! Full screem only!

Perfect Wave!

I fell in love with surfing back east when I was about 10. I continued into my 30's and have surfed all over Northern California. Hence, all the surf vids. If you have never tried it, its not too late to start. Check out this amazing wave from Uluwatu, Bali.

How The SF Bay Was Formed

Many times out sailing the bay with friends, I will get asked about the geology of the Bay. Many of our hills and valleys are formed by the massive tectonic plates the surround the Bay Area. However, a large portion of the area was influenced by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the rivers flowing from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Here is a video that explains many of the influences that formed one of the greatest and most beautiful estuaries in the world.

From the Archives: Why we love sailing!

by Matthew Fortune Reid How does one define a life of adventure, challenge, pleasure and pain? Especially that of a sailor? As JFK so appropriately said, “All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.” No truer words have been spoken, especially for those of us who cannot let go of the ocean. Mistress, lover, soul-mate and guidance councilor, etc., the ocean is to many of us the beginning and the end. For myself, it represents freedom. Freedom from the mundane. The annoying. The box so many people live in. As we all know though, freedom can come with a heavy price. There are certain comforts and securities that are sacrificed. I have never been married. I have no children and have my possessions scattered from Hawaii to Newport RI, literally. My life aboard the last two years as Captain of Passion 4 C (Bill Tripp 56) has been that typical of any Captain live aboard…2 waterproof duffle bags of sea-worthy clothes, scads of sunscreen and hats. And I still think I am overpacked… Now let me give you all some background on this whole story. I am a child of northern California, Napa Valley to be exact. I lived the quintessential upper-middle-class childhood. Snow skiing in Tahoe, water skiing on the local lake and swim team from the age of five. My father was a commercial airline pilot, my mom an almost full-time volunteer with the school board, grand jury, etc. Having a dad who worked in the airlines, we got to travel…a lot. Hawaii was our go-to place and as a young boy, I imagined myself living there. I began surfing at about age seven on our holidays and before I knew it, I had moved there at the age of 24. I ended up at the University of Hawaii, Manoa and graduated with a degree in Finance at the age of 30. The interim years were spent surfing, diving and camping with my friends in ‘da islands’. My assimilation into the Hawaiian Island Culture was over a period of more than five years. I was fortunate enough to have a friend, Eric Phillips, help me along this path. ‘Bad-style’, was slowly weaned from my psyche and replaced with the spirit of Aloha. I finally achieved kama’aina status and was no longer a haole. Probably the biggest achievement of my life. The Aloha Spirit is an all-encompassing lifestyle based upon the various good things from all the asian-pacific cultures. Politeness, courtesy and a ready smile. Treating all individuals as equals. Paying it forward as a rule, not an exception. Helping those who crossed my path with no expectation. Sharing food, family and music—kanikapila, the old Hawaiian way. I worked in banks after Uni and then became a modest developer on my own. Having some success, I had free time. Sailing came into my life. Specifically, racing. Oddly enough, I was doing a project in Chicago of all places (another story all-together) and was missing the water. I saw boats on the lake with spinnakers and said to myself, “I am out there.” In 2002, I found myself on a Sydney 41 as rail meat. I immediately knew I was destine to be a bowman and over the next two years pursued my skill set with a laser-focused passion. Luck and personal dedication brought me over 100 days on the water every year since. I have raced in 23 offshore races (including Transpac, Sydney to Hobart, etc), countless regattas all over the world and just spent the last year crossing the Pacific Ocean from Newport Rhode Island to Sydney Australia. I love one-design racing and have been bowman on four different Farr 40s, a Swan 42, sailed Melges 32s, Etchells, Solings, Shields and the like. So now, we get to my story of What the Stars Have Taught Me. I have approximately 1,600 sea-days now and over 60,000 offshore miles. Not a whole lot, but not a little either. As well, I have garnered my miles in a very consistent fashion, having started the process late in life. My favorite time to sail is at night. I don’t like cooking my body in the sun and I love the solitude of night watches. Just me, the stars, and my thoughts. My thoughts. How many hours over the years have I had to sort out life? More than most, that is for sure. My conclusions are not earth-shattering epiphanies. Nay, they are only the affirmations of those things that we all know to be most important. Family, friends, heath and happiness are all that count. Status, possessions, opinions, etc., are all superfluous to what really matters. At night, during my musings, ego is lost and only the pure soul exists. I know sometimes, alone, out there a thousand miles from nowhere, that I am only the stuff of stars. The atoms of my body are stardust. The blood in my veins is like the water in the ocean. To live or die at that moment, that one instant of self-realization, is of no consequence. That moment, that clarity and purity of thought is what I have lived for, night after night, mile after mile. I cannot get enough of it. Any offshore sailor will tell you that it is almost impossible to articulate the ‘why’ we do it. ‘Why’ we love it. The discomfort. The exhaustion. The storms. The issues of breakdowns and the ever-constant problems of keeping a boat moving and functional. The nagging worry of hitting a container or whale or reef, etc. I have now sailed in some amazing venues. From Chicago to Fairhaven, transiting 4 great lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, up around Newfoundland and down across the Gulf of Maine, through the Cape Cod Canal to Fairhaven. The adventures include Porto Cervo, Sardegna. Antibes. Season after season in the Caribbean. Manhattan and the Long Island Sound. Maine. Nova Scotia. Key West. Panama Canal. Galapagos. Marquesas. Tuamotus. Society Islands. Tonga. Fiji. Vanuatu. New Caledonia. New Zealand. Australia. Tasmania. Hawaii. Mexico. And more. All in 12 years. I have seen the aurora borealis, sailed with the big dipper over my right shoulder and the southern cross over my left shoulder and seen the moonrise so bright that it is almost discomfiting. My nighttime companions and beacons of hope. I have made friends and companions on this whole journey of sailing from the first race on that first day in Chicago. Sailors, as a group, are a ready-made set of friends worldwide. I now have friends all over Europe, the south pacific, both coasts of the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, Canada and beyond. Whether racing inshore or offshore or passage-making, I am surrounded by the people of like-mindedness. Always ready with a smile and a helping hand, sailors are good people. And sailing is the ultimate equalizer. Billionaires sharing good times with college students and tradesmen. And everything in-between. The boat and the ocean is the one place we can all be ourselves and peel away the veneer of that life which many of us must live on a day to day basis. Ultimately, this is a diatribe of gratitude. For I am most grateful for the stars, who have taught me that, to be yourself, to live your life as a true spirit with the only expectation of life is not that expectation of what you may think others have of you, but only the expectation of self-fulfillment and to live a life filled everyday with your best effort and best intentions. To greet each new sunrise with a deep breath of appreciation and the desire to live that day to its fullest. Whether in the office or on the ocean, to enjoy the moment and the people around you. To share the gift of life by the giving and sharing of your personal Aloha. I thank you, the stars, for this incredible insight into life you have taught me. In return, for I have learned that gratitude unexpressed is merely ingratitude, I am learning celestial navigation and continuing my Captain’s education as far as I can go.

Life of Kai

Red Bull has put together a video series about Kai Lenny and his plan to be the best big wave surfer on the planet. The episodes are about 15 minutes each and trace his quest to win big wave surf contests at Jaws and Nazere. It's great stuff and if you are into surfing at all you should check it out. Copy and paste this into your browser: https://www.redbull.com/int-en/episodes/life-of-kai-s1-e1

Amazing Day Sail

My college swimming buddy and best friend Dave and his wife joined me for a sail on Sunday. We had a cold front moving thru and the winds were forcast 20-25 with gusts to 30. We headed out and in the channel ran into my old boat Addiction heading into the bay. We gave them a shout and Theo recognized me and our boat. We put out a full genoa and took off towards the Golden Gate Bridge. The wind picked up near the city front and we needed to duck behind some piers to take in some sail. We headed towards our lunch spot at Angel Island. We made it in and set the anchor with 75' of chain just off Quarry Beach at Angel. Lunch and great convo about some of the best music and albums of the last 50 years. I looked across the bay and it seemed it was raining in the east bay. Soon there was a bit of a rainbow confirming my suspicion. As we looked further we could see it streaching across the sky. We hardly ever see rainbows on the bay! After lunch, we picked up the anchor with our trusty windlass and took off with a small jib rolled out. As we came out of the lee of the island the tempest hit! Winds in the 30's and it was raining hard. If I steered towards our harbor there was too much wind and the boat was broaching. I steered more downwind and towards the the west side of Yerba Buena. After hitting a high of 37 knots, the wind started to die off. We had been hit by an amazingly powerful squall! The boat did fine and I was lucky I only put out a small bit of the jib. We made back under motor as the wind was soon under 10. What a day! The wind and rainbow, as well as the crew, made the day unforgettable. Cowabunga my friend!

Check out those white caps!

On Stand By

Currently waiting for the weather window in France for a lap around the planet. Gitania's goal is to win the Jules Verne Trophy and get under the current record of 40 days and change. Also on Sunday, the Vendee will begin their own solo non stop challenge around the globe. Alex Thomson hopes to win after trying for the last 20 years. Expect records to fall as these flying boats are hella fast. 33 skippers will be on the starting line.

Kissed by God

Watched a very insightful surf flick about the late Andy Irons.   He is the only surfer to win king of the surfing world 3 times in a row.  He had some mental issues as well as drug issues that eventually killed him 10 years ago at 32.  His bipolar disorder gave him a laser focus and brought him many big wins.  It also tore him down into deep depression.  Pretty sad story but amazing as well.  It's free on Amazon with Prime.

California Summer Comes to an End

With our time and season changing, I thought I would jot down some highlights of the summer.  We are blessed with great weather into early November here in the SF Bay Area and this year has been spectacular.  The smoke has cleared, the days are bright and the wind continues to blow.  

Closing out the partnership of the boat with 2 new partners to make it a 4 partner boat.  July.

Getting my guy friends out for a sail over a long weekend along with the pups.

Getting our pup up to speed on being on the water.  Hana has been grreat and is turning into a good swimmer.

Saw a high wind speed of 38 knots near Angel in July with Andy and Tom.

A 5 day sojourn up to the Delta for the Delta Doo Dah.  We had a free slip for 3 nights and spent the days at Potato Slough.  I believe this was my 6th trip up there and it was great to have a chartplotter.

With the Bay Area on lock down, solo sailing was spectacular as many days I was the only boat on the bay.

A weekend trip with Andy to Aquatic Park and Angel.  We biked around the island for some amazing views of the Bay and the Mathew Turner schooner. 

Getting beach time with Hana every time we go out.

Bocce with Olivier and John at Angel.

Fixing the stove/oven!

Getting the boat varnished, waxed and buffed was huge.  Thanks Glenn!

Being the only boat at Clipper last week and romping on the beach with our new pup. 

A small Delaware reunion over Labor Day with a perfect sail.

An overnight on John's boat to China Camp with beach time and Hana.

*********

The low point of the summer was getting some water in the fuel tank.  It was expensive and time consuming to clear the tank and get the engine running again. I sure learned alot about our fuel system.

The winds die off in the winter, however, we still have some nice 10-15 knot winds from time to time.  And the bay is always crisp and clear.  I really enjoy the lighter winds as 20-30 knot winds every day in the summer gets to be a bit much...but we love it anyway!

 

Just in Time for Halloween

 So fun!

Greatest Baseball Comeback Ever!

If you missed the World Series game on Saturday, you missed a doozy! This is the last half of the bottom of the 9th.  Full screen baby!

 

Kekoa - An amazing story of a homebuilt boat lost twice!

 

Hana at Montara

 About 7 months old here.  She has been a treat and a nice addition to our family.  Love you girl!

Heading out for a weekend of summer sailing!

I recently put about $5k into the interior and exterior of the boat with the experts buffing, waxing, sanding and varnishing our 2001 Jeanneau.  She looks exceptional!   Heading out this weekend for a sojourn with my best childhood friend Andy.  Not a whole lot of wind but some fine weather is forecast.  Hana will be joining.  She turns 8 months this weekend.  She has been an excellent addition to our boat.

Checkout the legs in the air on the white boat.

A Row Across the Pond - Lia's Story SF - HI

 On Wednesday, June 17, I rowed out under the Golden Gate Bridge after midnight. Almost three months later, I made landfall in Hawaii before sunrise. In between, I found myself in every nightmarish situation you can imagine, including sharks circling my boat and capsizes that nearly drowned me.

A licensed captain, I have sailed the equivalent of eight laps around the globe. In 2010 I became the 53rd woman to row the Atlantic.

The row from San Francisco to Hawaii — alone in a 21-foot fiberglass craft with no support boat — was supposed to be training. I thought of it as a 2,500-mile “half marathon” before the “full marathon” I’m planning to do next year: rowing 5,500 miles from Japan to San Francisco.

Nineteen attempts have been made to row from Japan to San Francisco solo. Only two were successful — both men, both towed the last 20 and 50 miles to land, respectively. I am on a mission to claim this last great first, not as a woman but as the first person to row land to land across the North Pacific.

My reasons are complex, but the bottom line is I set out to empower myself. I wanted to rebuild my body, my mind and my self-esteem. “If I don’t meet someone and have a baby by 2015,” I told my friends, “I am going to row the North Pacific.”

Over time I realized that I wasn’t going to meet someone and have a baby because I needed to row the North Pacific.

I set out for Hawaii in June without any fanfare. The voyage was supposed to be a fast-blast sunshine cruise once I passed the continental shelf. But the wind pushed me south and made turning west extremely difficult for weeks.
Rower Lia Ditton sits by the shoreline on October 1, 2020 at her current residence in Lanikai, HI.

Then 300 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico, on day 21, I capsized. A 40-foot wave broke into a rumbling avalanche of white water. I was thrown into the sea and my boat rolled upside down.

The water was cold, the waves huge and the boat began to settle upside down. My chances of survival were slim. I knew I needed to act immediately to maintain the inertia of the boat and threw my body on the hull. Miraculously the boat started to move and I was plunged back underwater. When I resurfaced, I tried to haul myself on deck, but there was no strength left in my upper body. I was, again, a beat from drowning. A refusal to accept this end drew every core muscle to force my body up and onto that boat.

I rowed on.

My second capsize was 1,000 miles east of Hawaii on day 52. I was sleeping inside when a wave caught the stern and turtled the boat once again. The cabin hatch was ajar and water gushed in. “GET OUT! GET OUT!” screamed the voice in my head.

The boat did self-right, but I struggled to fall asleep during the remainder of the trip, 34 days.

“Right here, right now,” I would tell myself in moments when anxiety about the capsizes threatened to overwhelm me. I couldn’t control the future, and I couldn’t escape the environment of the past. I rowed 10 hours each day and wrote a blog for a growing audience of online followers every night. My writing became raw and vulnerable, but I never felt self-conscious. If I could verbalize what was going on in my head, I could purge some of the pressure.

I found comfort in the beauty of the ocean. On some of my toughest days, the sun shone through sheets of squally rain to draw rainbows so vivid and spectacular it was hard not to believe in something greater than myself. A troupe of 3- and 4-foot yellowtail tuna swam alongside my boat for days, while flying fish dive-bombed my boat’s deck at night.

I was alone but rarely lonely. My bird, fish and even shark visitors kept me fascinated, and I found joy in bringing these encounters alive for my followers through my blogs and videos. I travel somewhere most people will never go and see things most people will never see, and I take seriously my responsibility to share these wonders.

Having said that, I had no idea my journey was drawing an audience of tens of thousands across social media.

After 84 days, I saw land: first a Chernobyl-like mushroom cloud over the mountains, then the faint outline of a flattened potato. In the video of this moment, my voice cracks with emotion. My world had, quite literally, been turned upside down — twice — and the strain was there to see. But the voyage wasn’t over yet.

Twenty-three hours out from arriving, I realized I was going to have to row nonstop for land. As night fell, I entered the Molokai Channel a.k.a. the “Channel of Bones.” The waves were invisible in the dark and the current was driving me south, away from the island.

“THIS ISN’T HOW THIS ENDS!” I screamed.

For my team, my Believers and above all for myself, I drove through my legs and whaled on my right oar until my muscles were on fire. This was the final showdown, a battle of Lia versus the elements in the 11th hour.

At 6:08 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, I touched the dock of the Waikiki Yacht Club. I had smashed the world record by 13 days.

I wanted to arrive wearing a bikini top — attire befitting a Pacific island. Plus I had tanned completely through my clothes. But I knew if I raised my arms in celebration, my underarm hair would become the story.
Rower Lia Ditton gets into the water on October 1, 2020 in Lanikai Beach, Kailua, HI.

It is perfectly acceptable for men to emerge from these long-distance adventures with giant beards and scraggly hair, looking like they have been marooned on an island for a year. We might be disappointed if they didn’t.

But women with body hair? The horror of it!

Ultimately, I decided to arrive in a long-sleeved shirt. But I haven’t shaved my underarms to this day.

I still have a lot to process about my adventure, but one thing I am sure of: After three months battling the sea, I care less what people think of me.

Here next voyage will be Japan to SF, a sojourn of 5000 miles!  This was just a little shake down cruise.

Never Sail During a Hurricane (or Bonehead move of the week!)

 The sailors on Yes Dear were rescued twice in one week.  Hurricane Sally in the Gulf finally put an end to their ill fated odyssey with a container ship rescue.   Yes Dear is now for sale, to the lowest bidder.  Ripped sails and all.  Bene 423.

Coyote: The Mike Plant Story

I was always intrigued by this sailing legend and now I know why.  Here was a guy with very little resources who made a huge splash in the round the planet races.  He was always working by the seat of his pants but he made it happen.  He won some races and was becoming a rock star in the sailing world.  In his quest to get to a race start in France in his radical new boat, he failed to take care of some paperwork and it had disastrous results.  Check it out on Amazon.

Bonehead Move of the Weekend

 

If we rock her back and forth we might get off the damn rocks!

New Movie: The Race to Alaska

The brain trust that started the R2AK has now released their own documentary on the 700 mile race.  I just watched it from the Port Townsend Film Festival online.  It was a great film and one I highly recommend.  I love this race because of the challenge, danger and ingenuity that must be employed just to finish this race.  The first rule is no motors.  The second rule is that you are on your own if you get in trouble.  We have everything from Hobie 16's, paddle boards, rowers, cats, tris, and many others.  The race starts in Port Townsend, WA and finishes in Ketchikan, AK.  The racers can encounter currents of 15 knots in some areas, gale force winds, huge logs, and no wind at all.  I have no interest in doing a race like this, however, I love the spirit and the courage it takes to complete a race such as the R2AK.  This years race did not happen but hope is high for 2021.  Trailer below.

Go to the Port Townsend Film Festival website to watch, $12.  Worth every penny!

theracetoalaska.com

Poerty in Motion

Full Screen Please!

The Maxi is preparing to challenge the Jules Verne Around the Planet record of 40 days (23 hours and 30 minutes), is the exact time to beat if the crew
of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is to topple Francis Joyon and IDEC
Sport, the current record holders. It’s also the time that Gitana Team
has left before it officially commences stand-by for its first attempt
at the Jules Verne Trophy. Indeed, from 1 November, it will be all
systems go to take on the challenge of the round the world record under
sail, which the skippers of the latest addition to the Gitana fleet
describe simply as the outright round the world! However, this same date
will herald the start of a new ‘race’ to pinpoint the optimum weather
window to extract themselves as quickly as possible from the Breton
coast and, on a larger scale, the North Atlantic.

“A round the world is no mean feat and there’s a very strong human
dimension in this exercise. The fact that we’re one of the first of this
generation of flying boats to take on this record inevitably adds a
sense of adventure to our story”, admits Charles Caudrelier.

Well-versed in crewed round the worlds, notably with two victories to
his credit in the Volvo Ocean Race, the skipper will however be setting
sail on his very first Jules Verne Trophy, as is the case for Morgan
Lagravière and David Boileau. The first is known and acknowledged for
his incredible feel for the helm and his acumen with regards getting a
boat making fast headway. The second is one of the mainstays of the
Gitana Team, of which he has been a part for over ten years. The boat’s
strongman, crew and an extraordinary technician, David Boileau is the
boat captain on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. Though they hail from
very different backgrounds, the two sailors have a number of things in
common: they both share a passion for anything that flies, they’ll both
be on watch together in the round the world and they’ll be contesting
their very first Jules Verne Trophy. So here we have the boat’s rookies
presented to you via this quick profile comparison!  Good luck and God's speed to the crew!  

Lenny Rides Best Wave Of His Life

 

 

 Go full screen with this amazing wave.

Lia Arrives in HI after Rowing for 86 Days!

She departed SF in June and after several almost fatal capsizes, she has finally arrived in Honolulu.   This is an amazing accomplishment.  Some may ask Why?  Why put your life in danger for such a self indulgent act?  As a mater of fact, another rower died trying the same thing during her voyage.  Humans are born to experience hardship and isolation.  We have an unbelievable tolerance to endure.  I was just reading about 3 boys who tried to escape boring island life so they stole a boat and were found drifting and barely alive after 51 days at sea.   Wow!  Check out Lia's site for more updates.  Currently, she is asleep at a luxury beach front hotel.  After 86 days at sea, they did not require her to go in quarantine.  

rowliarow.com

Largest Wave Ever Surfed 73.5 Feet!!

 

 

 Full screen only!

2020 Baja Ha Ha Canceled

They just announced the cancellation of this years Haha.  I had hoped to help a boat get safely down the peninsula and complete my 7th Haha.  My first Haha was in 2010 aboard a quick cat.  I have had nothing but wonderful adventures sailing the coast on other folks boats.  The sojorn is 750 miles and takes 10 days with stops in Turtle Bay and Santa Maria.  The destination is Cabo San Lucas.  150 boats and 500 folks.  What fun.  You can still safely sail to Mexico and with that in mind, one of the long time participants is organizing the Nada Haha.  40 boats have already signed up!  Cruising in Mexico is permitted at this time and the folks that doing it are enjoying their time.  I will look forward to next November and hope the Haha tradition continues.  

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