The Ocean Race Begins in 3 Days

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

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

Best Sail of the Year!

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

2022 - A look back at our amazing year!

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

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

How Much Do The Top Sailing Channels Earn?

Race Start - Sydney Hobart

Race begins at the 28:36 mark.

Worst Day in 55 Years of Sailing

The former owner and editor of Latitude 38, Richard Spindler, owns a huge 63' cat that sails mostly in Mexico these days. Here is his summery of his worst day ever: My worst day in 55 years of sailing? I think so. And it was supposed to be such a great day, with us on Profligate going up against Fred and Judy’s all-conquering Serendipity 43 Wings, Randy and Sally-Christine’s Wylie 65 Convergence, and about 20 other boats. To add insult to injury, the event was the Pirates for Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity from Punta Mita to Paradise Marina, an event I started and have done countless times. It’s always a downwind sail in which, unlike the light-air upwind races, Profligate can shine. The morning started great, with the very young local kids putting on a dance performance for members of the fleet. Doña was in heaven, dancing and hugging all the little kids. But she wouldn’t be in heaven for long. As I motored Profligate upwind to raise the main, we were getting closer to the shore by the Punta Mita restaurants. We were having some issues with the lazy jacks, which meant it was taking longer to get the main up, which meant we kept getting closer to shore. But I know the area well, and judged that we were still in deep enough water. My judgment was proven wrong as Profligate slammed to an abrupt halt from about five knots when the starboard daggerboard crunched into one of the big rocks that are scattered around the otherwise sand bottom. While Profligate came to a complete stop, the 11 crewmembers didn’t. Some were tossed into bulkheads or knocked off their feet. But Doña, who had been leaning on the seagull striker, suffered the most. When Profligate stopped, she kept right on going. Right off the front of the boat. It wasn’t the most enjoyable swim of her life, as the current was pretty strong and she’s not the strongest swimmer. She never did get far from Profligate, still grinding her daggerboard on the rock, but it was easiest for a panga to fish her out of the water. Over the years we’ve seen a lot of very large “boat bites” during boat-bite contests in the Baja Ha-Ha. But when we got back to the condo that night, we discovered that Doña had the biggest boat bite we’ve ever seen. It’s a wicked-looking hematoma about the size of Rhode Island, right on her bum. And it was swollen. Striking the rock, and Doña’s going overboard, weren’t the end of our troubles. I’d invested a small fortune in some upgraded halyards and sheet stoppers that are a little bit different from the ones we had before. They are still a little confusing, too, so — and I still don’t know quite how — after we had the spinnaker up for a few minutes the spinny halyard slipped about 35 feet. We were shrimping! We tried to hoist the spinnaker back up, but that merely succeeded in getting the chute caught under both sides of the starboard hull. Merde! Not only was it the end of that old chute’s life, it took a lot of work on the part of the crew to retrieve it. Ultimately we got another chute up and had some decent sailing, but by this time Fred and Judy, and Randy and Sally-Christine, were so far ahead we couldn’t have seen them with the Hubble telescope. So we headed for the barn. Mind you, hitting the rock, Doña’s going overboard, and shrimping the chute were only the highlights of a day when pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the autopilot decided to stop working. Merde! Merde! Merde! When Doña was in the water, she was surrounded by bits of foam and fiberglass, the source of which could only be the bottom of Profligate‘s starboard daggerboard, now firmly embedded in the crash box. It’s likely going to need a haulout to get that daggerboard out, although we’ll try other methods. Hopefully it will be another 50 years before we have another day of sailing so awful.

Gnarly Wipeouts on Huge Waves

Bonehead Move of the Year!

Two sailors departed NJ recently on a 30 foot sailboat and got in trouble with the weather off Cape Hatteras. They lost their mast in a terrible storm and drifted north for 10 days. Out of food, out of water and ready to die when a tanker spotted them and made a rescue. Heading down the east coast to Florida this late in the season is not a wise idea. Not knowing there was a storm coming as they passed the most dangerous cape on the east coast was a bad mistake. Not having enough water is a terrible place to be. No emergency beacon either. These guys did not have a clue about what they were doing. They should have taken the intercoastal waterway and dodged the storm or gone into port had they known about it. They barely escaped disaster by sipping water out of their water packed bean cans. I hope this will be their last voyage! Glad they are safe. https://www.insider.com/two-men-pet-dog-rescued-missing-at-sea-days-2022-12

Top 25 sailing Blogs

Here is a list from the Adventure Junkies: Scuttlebutt, Sailing Anarchy, Sail World, Sailing World, Cruising World, Sailing Totem, Yachting Monthly, 48 North, Nauticed, Sailing Britican, XS Sailing, Rooster Sailing, First Class Sailing, 59 Degrees North, Yachtrubyrose, Sailing Europe, Danielis Yachting, Laser Sailing, Cream Puff, Dinghy Dreams, Live Free 2 Sail Fast, Bluefoot Travel, Coastapus, Escape Under Sail, Sailing To Win. Here is the original article with links to the blogs: https://www.theadventurejunkies.com/best-sailing-blogs/

A Voyage to the Line Islands on a Gun Boat

I featured this 4 part adventure a while ago but it is so good I have to run it again. John John Florence has been on top of the surfing game for a while now. He has fallen hard for sailing and wants to do an open ocean expedition. He and some buds take off for a one month odyssey. I really enjoyed rewatching this vid plus I love Gun boats!

The Big Waves at Nazare Explained

Here is a link to an article that explains why the waves are so big at this epic surf spot. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/waves-nazare.htm

Why the 1979 Fastnet Race was so Deadly

A Sad Lesson

I have heard this story too many times: A husband and wife take off on an around the planet cruise of a lifetime. The husband has prepared the boat and is a knowledgeable sailor. In his haste, he neglects to tell his wife the basics of the boat. They are far from shore when he falls off the boat. His wife has no idea how to turn the boat around and save him. The boat sails away with a very sad, frantic and remorseful wife sailing into the sunset with no idea how to even save herself. Showing your partner the basics of the boat and how to rescue the skipper with man overboard drilss is so very important. Even on a day sail. You can read the details here: https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/this-yacht-will-never-sail-again/article_20d12be6-6ad4-11ed-8664-5fa24c0ed283.html

The Tale of a Dog by John Muir

I ran across a wonderful story by naturalist John Muir. During one of his trips to Alaska in the late 1800's, he came upon a dog that joined him in a boating adventure. Muir is an amzing story teller and this adventure is riviting. Here is a taste of the story: On our trip he soon proved himself a queer character--odd, concealed, independent, keeping invincibly quiet, and doing many little puzzling things that piqued my curiosity. As we sailed week after week through the long intricate channels and inlets among the innumerable islands and mountains of the coast, he spent most of the dull days in sluggish ease, motionless, and apparently as unobserving as if in deep sleep. But I discovered that somehow he always knew what was going on. When the Indians were about to shoot at ducks or seals, or when anything along the shore was exciting our attention, he would rest his chin on the edge of the canoe and calmly look out like a dreamy-eyed tourist. And when he heard us talking about making a landing, he immediately roused himself to see what sort of a place we were coming to, and made ready to jump overboard and swim ashore as soon as the canoe neared the beach. Then, with a vigorous shake to get rid of the brine in his hair, he ran into the woods to hunt small game. But though always the first out of the canoe, he was always the last to get into it. When we were ready to start he could never be found, and refused to come to our call. We soon found out, however, that though we could not see him at such times, he saw us, and from the cover of the briers and huckleberry bushes in the fringe of the woods was watching the canoe with wary eye. For as soon as we were fairly off he came trotting down the beach, plunged into the surf, and swam after us, knowing well that we would cease rowing and take him in. When the contrary little vagabond came alongside, he was lifted by the neck, held at arm's length a moment to drip, and dropped aboard. We tried to cure him of this trick by compelling him to swim a long way, as if we had a mind to abandon him; but this did no good; the longer the swim the better he seemed to like it. I hope you will read the entire story here https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/stickeen/the_story_of_a_dog.aspx

Out The Gate

On Sunday I took some neighbors out for a sail along with their dog. The temps here on the bay are in the 60's and very nice when you get in out of any wind. We hit Clipper Cove and took the dogs to the beach. They loved it. Back on board the champagne was flowing. We hit the point and there was a bit of wind. Once we got going the wind changed direction and we were in a perfect position to head out the gate without tacking. This does not happen very often. Soon it was 12-15kts and we were flying. We made all the way to Pt. Bonita for a look up and down the coast. Beautiful. I only get out this way once in a while as the tides and the wind have to alighn. Heading back we kept the sails up but needed to motor sail. We came back in after dark to a happy crew and happy dogs. A day for the record books for sure. I told my friends that this was the sail of the year! That is saying alot as I sail 120-140 days a year!

Baja Haha Bummer!

Made it down to San Diego on Friday. I had the whole weekend to find a boat for the Haha. I hit the police dock and no one is looking for crew. Next day, I rented a jet ski for a tour of the local anchorages. The Haha boats are over 3 miles away so the jet ski got me there quick. No takers after hitting a dozen boats. Headed to the kick off party on Sunday and still no one looking for crew. I was getting concerned. Finally, I hooked up with Akela at the last minute at the party. His crew had cold feet and created a spot for me. We took off Monday and things were going great. We passed Ensenada and a few hours later the water pump on the engine failed. No more engine. We decided our best option was to sail back to Ensanda 60 miles and look for parts. We made it in with a tow the last mile. We found the part in San Diego. We took a car there. Joel got the parts and I headed back to SF on the plane. Joel and I hit it off and are life long friends. This would have been my 7th Haha. Maybe next year! Good luck to the fleet! When we were driving up the coast winds were in the high 20's on Thursday.

Baja Haha here I come!

Heading out on Friday to San Diego and hope to join a boat for the 750 mile run to Cabo with 130 boats and 450 friendly folks. I arrive on Friday and begin knocking on hulls to find a ride. This will be my 7th Haha. The first leg is about 350 miles to Turtle Bay, asleepy fishing village in the middle of nowhere. We have a big beach party there. The next leg is about 250 miles to Santa Maria and another bash on a bluff overlooking the fleet. Then an overnight run to Cabo. More celebrations! One of the many highlights was 1000 dolphins around our boat in 2010. A few years later, I felt it was a perfect time for the green flash so I announced my thought over the radio to the fleet. Several cruisers doubted me and one said he had been looking for 40 years and not seen it. As the sun went down, a huge green flash occured. No one could believe it. Wish me a bon voyage!

The Duke!

Coming soon to streaming! Ambassador of Aloha. Surfer of the Century. Six-time medal winner over the course of a 20-year Olympic career in swimming and water polo. Credited with popularizing surfing the world over. Actor. Lifesaver (literally saved eight drowning men at one time in Newport Beach). Rider of (presumably) the longest wave in modern times (1 1/8 miles). Sheriff of Honolulu (for 13 straight elections). Continue reading here: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2022/03/historical-badass-duke-kahanamoku-ambassador-of-aloha/

Download The Mag - The West Coasts' Finest Sailing Mag

Go to latitude38.com for the free download. October is looking like a sailing month indeed. Our transmission got replaced and she is running well. The part came from Lithuania on Ebay and fit perfectly. Back on the water! This week is Fleet Week (Blue Angels) and I plan to take some folks out. Then we are off to Monterey for a week. Tex will join me for a harbor hop down the coast (Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey) with day sails in between to each destination. Then at the end of October, I will fly down to San Diego and join the Baja Haha. I knock on hulls until I find a boat. On October 31, 140 boats and 500 friendly folk will depart for the 750 mile run down the Baja coast to Cabo San Lucas. Two stops along the way for some beach parties. This will be my 7th time on the Haha! I can't wait and will surley have some tall tales to tell. Bon voyage!

TedTalk - R2AK

Golden Globe Race

In September 2022, Kirsten Neuschäfer will line up at the start of the Golden Globe Race, a solo, unassisted, non-stop single-handed race around the world. This retro race is run on the anniversary of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968/9, which was won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who became the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world. Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to what was available to Sir Robin in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation aids. In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the ‘Golden Age’ of solo sailing. The only woman entered in this edition of the race, Kirsten has been sailing dinghies since her childhood, and became a professional sailor in 2006. Undertaking many inter-continental sailboat deliveries, she has over 150,000 nautical miles of sailing experience. In 2015, she began working for Skip Novak on his Pelagic Expeditions to South Georgia, The Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia and the Falklands. Kirsten has sailed several film crews down to capture the beauty of the Antarctic, taking the National Geographic series “Wild_Life Resurrection Island with Bertie Gregory” and the BBC series “Seven Worlds, One Planet” to remote South Georgia. When she was just 22, Kirsten cycled on her own from Europe, across the entire African continent, back home to South Africa. The trip brought trials and tribulations but was life-enriching in every sense, giving her the deepest appreciation of Africa and its people. The Golden Globe Race sets out from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France on September 4th, 2022, and follows a route down the Atlantic, eastwards around the Southern Ocean via the five Great Capes, and back to France – a distance of over 30,000 nautical miles. It will involve seven to nine months at sea. This is a race of attrition, luck, seamanship… and adventure! Small yachts in the Southern Ocean are extremely vulnerable, and it will require self reliance and tremendous strength of character and self belief to reach the finish. This short film tells the story of her extraordinary journey to the start line of the Golden Globe Race 2022.

Men Are So Simple

Boat won't start...can't figure out why.

R2AK - The Movie

As you may know I love the spirit of this race. It's a 750 mile dash up the "river" from Pt. Townsend to Ketchikan, AK. There are very few rules which is on purpose. The biggest being that there are no motors, only humum inovation to keep the boat moving when there is no wind. The race started back in 2015 so by now there is tons of footage to make a movie. The movie is currently making its rounds in the multiplexes but you can also rent it and stream it on the big screen thru airplay. Contact is: ian@r2akthemoviedotcom $20 If you are at all interested please rent it and enjoy. It is a great look at a very unique race thru the wilds of Canada and the Inside Passage. Winner gets $10k, second place: a beautiful set of steak knives!

Best of Nazare

Burning Man!

I love that vid! I have been very fortunate to find a group of like minded folks at the Burn. Our camp consisted of 49 friendly folks in a great setting. Our RV's circled the camp which housed our awesome art car the Bioluminesent Slug, a fire pit and canopies with netting to keep the dust out. We spent our days touring the playa, heading to parties, dancing to the hottest DJ's on the planet and dodging dust storms. Each night we had a group dinner that was filled with great food and conversation. The weather was one of the best in recent years. The morning were usually cloud covered, falling to blue skies and then a bit of wind and dust in the afternoon. The evening were spectacular with mild temps and no wind. When you enter the playa at night you are blown away by all the LED lights on the people, the art cars and the bikes. Like Vegas on steroids. On the night of the burn, we headed to the playa. Everything was perfect. As soon as the sunset, the wind gods came alive with an amazing dust storm and violent winds. After 30 minutes, it began to mellow and the burn was on. Pretty amazing indeed. On our way out, we got caught in a 8+ hour delay at the gate. Someone was lost so they closed the gate. Took about 15 hours to get home. If you are thinking about joining the tribes next year, I would say go and have the metamorphosis of your life! This report was from 2016. My third burn.

Boat Follies

I don't usually post these vids as they are ubiquitous on Youtube. I watched this one and I could not resist. There must be a few million in damages here. Hope they all had insurance.

From the Achives: The boat that started our foiling craze!

The Hydroptere is an amazing foiling boat that really started it all. Take a look back at how it all began along with their many failures and success. We saw this boat on the bay back in 2013 when they stopped by while training for a record run to Hawaii (they ran in to some trouble and did not break the record of 4 days and change). The French eventually sold the boat to a group in Richmond. They were getting the boat ready and the lead guy died of a heart attack and things have slowed to a crawl. Have not heard from them in a while although I can still see some of their containers in Richmond near KKMI. Hope they get back on their feet, er foil!

America's Cup Documentary

Netflix has released a new vid you should check out. Relive the magic of the 1983 America’s Cup in The Race of the Century, a new episode of Netflix’s Untold Series, available today. The hour-and-a-half documentary tells the story of an underdog group of Australians who set out to dethrone the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak in the world’s most prestigious sailing race. Directed by Emmy Award-winning brothers Chapman and Maclain Way and produced by Ben Silverman, the film features never-before-seen footage and the expertise of the likes of John Bertrand, Dennis Conner and other key members of the 1983 U.S. and Australian crews. “The 1983 America’s Cup is an incredible story of characters and patriotism,” says Chapman Way. “What really fascinated us was that the competition was less about physical athleticism and more of a test of engineering and intelligence.”

Every Day Phrases from the High Seas

Mind your P's and Q's This expression is used to remind someone to be polite or aware of proper decorum for any given situation. Although the origin of the phrase is contested, one theory is that sailors — one of the main patrons of dockside pubs — would have their "pints" and "quarts" tracked via a tally chart and chalk. Every once in a while, a tipsy bartender would add an extra "P" or "Q" — prompting their patrons to cry foul. By and large This term describes anything generally successful or on the whole — as in, “By and large, we made out well this quarter.” Yet its origins are more specific. Sailors would call a ship “by and large” when it was able to navigate well by sailing directly into the wind (by) with the wind blowing the widest part of the rear of the ship from behind (large). In other words, the definition still carries through. A ship that could navigate winds “by and large” was generally a good ship. Cat’s out of the bag Loose lips sink ships and this classic feline idiom refers to a secret being revealed. One theory suggests that the Royal Navy’s cat o’nine tails, which was a type of whip used for punishment, was stored in a bag to protect it from salty air. If a secret comes out, there would be pain and punishment. On a similar catty note, the expression “not enough room to swing a cat” that refers to close quarters is also linked to naval slang and not having enough space to bring out the whip. Limey Americans love crafting nicknames for different cultures and "limey" was applied to British sailors. The British navy, in an effort to curb scurvy, ensured the crewmen were getting enough vitamin C by serving regular doses of lime juice. Three sheets to the wind If a boat is literally three sheets to the wind, it's in danger of capsizing. "Sheets" in a sailing context refers to ropes that control the trim of the sail. Changing all three sheets to sit sideways to the wind is typically only used in a major storm to help balance the boat. The position of the sheets means things are getting more than a little topsy turvy — just like an inebriated sailor. Pass with flying colors If you breezed through a test, you might use this expression to boast. The phrase references ships, victorious in battle, sailing home with their colors or flags flying quite visibly. Great naval victories might have been more impressive than just passing a driving test, but the spirit is the same. Scuttlebutt This quirky word refers to a rumor or gossip. Back in the early 1900s, sailors would get their drinking water from a “water butt” on the deck of a ship. Just as in modern times, this old-fashioned water cooler was the spot for gossip swaps. Loose cannon A loose cannon is wildly irresponsible and recklessly dangerous — as in a wildly unpredictable cousin, or a cannon freed from its restraints rolling around on a ship deck. Either way, this colloquial phrase spells trouble. Hunky Dory Hunky Dory is an abbreviated version of a street name in Japan known for the services provided to the sailors who visited there. It is meant to mean all is well or perfect. For example: He reassured his teacher that all was hunky-dory and that the project was on track for completion within the given time frame. Shanghai Shanghai is a city in China and was often an area where people were kidnapped and pressed into service on ships. To be Shanghaied is to be taken or betrayed. The Cut of His/Her Jib Jibs are a type of sail, and many ships would fly unique jibs to show their country of origin or what type of ship it was. For example: I always liked the cut of her jib!

Back from Africa

What a glorious trip to the Seringeti. Bridget and I, along with six others took in four different camps and tons of wild animals along the way. I can tell you honestly that it is a long way from California but worth it. We saw all the we wanted and more. The guides and camps with And Beyond were terrific. Some camps were a little rustic and others over the top. We had breakfast in the bush several times and it was great. The food was outstanding in the camps and the staff was always top notch. Several in our group lost passports, wallets and electronics along the way...all got returned. The wildlife is flourishing out there. Millions of widebeasts, tons of lions and so much more. The rihno was tough to find and near our last day we had an encounter to remember. A mother and daughter were roaming the bush and we were about 75 yards away. Very cool. The ride home was exceptional with Lufthansa. Full lie downs with comforter and great service. They even had a bedroom and shower in the lounge for me to take a nap during our layover. Too much fun indeed!

Wing Foiler Action at the Golden Gate

I have had a teriffic summer of sailing this year! Lots to be thankful for and sharing this amazing sport with friends and dogs. I also do alot of solo sails with my golden Hana during the week. A few weeks ago I took a group from Got Wind and Water (meetup) for a nice summer sail to Tiburon. Dropped them at 4 back at the docks of Emeryville. Then took off for an 8 mile sail to Sausalito. I needed to get there before 6:30 to meet my sister (visiting from New Hampshire) for dinner. I made it and paddled over to dinner in the kayak. We had a lovely time. Stayed the night and then a quick sail home in the morning. It keeps getting better! I depart on Friday for a flight to Amsterdam and eventullay Africa for a safari or two. My other sis is joining along with some old friends. Great way to wrap up the summer. In September, Tex will join me for a trip down the coast to Monterey and back to SF. We will habor hop to Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and then Monterey both up and down the coast. Nice 4-6 hour sails in daylight. You may remeber that Tex was my first mate on our 7 month voyage to Mexico and back in 2018/19. He moved a year ago out of state and I have not seen him since. It will be great to sail with him again. The distance to Monterey is about 90 nautical miles. Looking forward!

Amazing Rescue at Sea

(August 8, 2022) - USCG-licensed captain, instructor and rigging specialist Andy Schwenk (57, Point Richmond, CA) has been brought safely to land by a combination of Coast Guard, Air Force, commercial shipping, and assistance from a fellow yacht. A rapidly-spreading infection required the action. Schwenk's Express 37 Spindrift V had completed the 2022 Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii, finishing first in her class on July 18. Returning to California, the boat faced heavy weather, damaging their mainsail and leading to an injury to Andy’s ankle, which subsequently became infected. Various elements of Spindrift’s communications tools were also damaged, leading to challenges in getting assistance. A relayed call to Pac Cup race organizers led to the diversion of fellow racer (and division winner) Surprise, a Schumacher 46 owned by Bob and Maryann Hinden and skippered for the return by Robin Jeffers, diverting to transfer antibiotics to Spindrift V. The August 4 transfer at 1:00 am was a “real pro job,” as Andy later texted. Because of Spindrift’s communications problems, many of the communications in this incident were routed through systems that had been established to manage the race itself. “When the boats couldn’t make direct contact, a lot of coordination took place on my iPhone,” commented Principal Race Officer Michael Moradzadeh. The infection progressed, and after a number of consultations with medical advisors at George Washington University (who had been retained to provide medical support) they, and ultimately US Coast Guard, recommend a medical evacuation. Taiwanese oil and chemical tanker FPMC35 diverted from its course to Panama to collect Schwenk (another midnight transfer) on August 5. Two medics parachuted to the FPMC35 from a C130 aircraft and stabilized his condition as the tanker steamed at 12 knots toward San Francisco. On August 7, an airborne flotilla comprising two Blackhawk helicopters, two refuelers, and two C130s combined to collect Schwenk and the medics and deposit them at Moffet Field, who then was transferred to Stanford Hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition. “We’re incredibly grateful for the actions of Surprise, the FPMC35, the Coast Guard and the Air Force, and our consultants at George Washington University’s Maritime Medical Access team,” said Pacific Cup Commodore Jim Quanci. “Without the concerted action of all these responders, Andy’s situation could have been much worse.” A veteran of dozens of crossings and over 300,000 ocean miles, this is the first time Schwenk has had to call for help, and he has expressed his thanks for the support. Spindrift V is proceeding toward the Golden Gate under the command of the remaining crew, including the very experienced Peter English. Travelling at 6.25 knots, Spindrift should arrive in about five days. (via Scuttlebutt)

Foggy and Cold In SF

Adrift from Simon Christen on Vimeo.

Barley hitting the mid 60's in SF. How is your weather today?

The weather is here, wish you were beautiful!

Time to start thinking about a charter or two. I did two this year: La Paz, Mexico and the BVI in the Caribbean. Both were superb and fun! The next two on my wish list are the Whitsundays and Croatia. Bon Voyage! Here is a glimpse of Croatia.

The Big Boys in St. Barts (2015)

Get Tubed with Kai Lenny!

Best waves of the last 15 years hits Maui after a tropical storm passes by. Biggest Teahupoo in 12 years!!

More R2AK

I sure enjoy the reading and videos of this amazing race. The inovations that are used to move the boat when there is no wind never cease to amaze. Plus the amount of heart and courage it takes to finish this 700 mile race. Lots of boats this year hit logs in the middle of the night and had to retire due to the damage from the impact. One team mentioned that when they hit the log, the bioluminesence created was impressive. One guy hit 5 logs in one night! I also love the beauty and solitude this race provides. I just watched a dozen videos of the race from the last few years and here a couple that really stood out. r2ak.com for more or browse youtube.

My Top 10 Favorite Movies

I have watched alot of movies in my almost 64 years. I don't watch many TV shows so instead I watch movies. There was a 25+ year period where my wife and I would go to a movie a week. I guess you would call me a movie buff! I started a list of movies that I love and realized quickly that there were alot more than 10. Here they are in no particular order. Oh Brother Where Art Thou, 5th Element, A Fish Called Wanda, Limitless, Wild Things, Intolerable Cruelty, V for Vendetta, Sideways, High Fidelity, North by North West, Some Like it Hot, ET, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Romancing the Stone, Something About Mary, Heartbreak Kid, Basic Instinct, Big Labowski, Matrix, Dark Knight, Get Out, Back to the Future, Yesterday, Edge of Tomorrow, Terminator 2, Body Double, Talented Mr. Ripley, Flirting with Disaster, American Beauty, Inception, Dead Poets Society, Born Yesterday, Midnight in Paris, I Care A lot

R2AK is Back!

The race to Alaska started a few weeks ago and is still going! The race begins in Port Townsend, WA with a check out leg to Victoria, BC. From there it continues up the inside passage to Ketchican, AK (700 miles). The catch is that no motors are allowed and the currents can be 14 knots against you! First prize is $10k, second is a set of steak knives (remember the famous speech in Glengery Glen Ross, Alec Balwin?). The crazy part about the race is that it can include rowers, paddle boards, and such. The cool part is the inovation on the boats use to create propulsion with oars, bike paddlewheels and so much more. This was the first year that teams could go west around Vancouver Island out into the Pacific. That is exactly what the winners did. Check the site for updates and great reads. https://r2ak.com/

Champs Again! GS Warriors

I started watching the Warriors back in the 2000's when they could barely win 30 games a season. The coaching position was a revolving door and they had Baron Davis hitting 3's left and right. Fast forward to the Curry Era and we are winning championships! I really enjoy watching these guys and the joy they bring to the floor. Now the question is, how long can we sustain this level of play and win another one? Time will tell.

Confirmed! Largest wave ever surfed! 86 feet (video)

Full Screen only! It has now been officially confirmed that Sebastian Steudtner (Germany) broke the world record for biggest wave ever surfed, when he tore across the face of an 86 f00t wave at Nazaré on October 29, 2020. This new record tops Brazilian big-wave froth lord, Rodrigo Koxa’s previous effort of 80 foot, set on November 9, 2017. Cowabunga, indeed!

Top Gun Goes Sailing on SF Bay

This is typical windy day in the summer on SF Bay. From April to early September we can expect these conditions most days. It is nice to get behind Angel Island for a break from the 25-30 knot winds. This is when we anchor and swim to the beach!

Back to Maui for some Sailing!

We have a nice time share over on the westside of Maui. We were there in September for my birthday. We are heading back this weekend for another adventure with a couple of friends. It should be an active week with sailing, SCUBA, snorkeling and some hammock time. I have been sailing a bunch this spring on the bay and it has been heavenly. On Monday, winds were in the low 30's for most of the afternoon. When it blows this hard, I usually head under the bay bridge for a mellower ride. Not this time as the wind was just as strong but the waves were a little smaller. Had a run up the city front and over to Angel Island for a trip to the beach with Hana. We spent the night in Kona Cove and I put out 100' of chain to make sure the tide did not affect us too much. Back to the beach in the morning and Hana scared up a coyote on the beach. She ran around the corner chasing it and thankfully came back in about 30 seconds as she hit the rocky side beach. Glad she decide not to join the pack! Couple more sails this week and then off to the isalnds!

Mavericks Big Wave Contest Moves to Video

The contest that started in 1999, has not been run in years due to many factors. However, Jeff Clark (origial Mav rider from the beginning) has moved this years contest to vid only. It gives a much broader view of the waves and the athelets. Instead of a one day contest on a mercurial wave, the contest runs from November to April. Winners recieve $5000, some of which goes to the photo person. Check the vid and get stoked! Move to 11:30 for the awards.

A Voyage to Savor!

We have just returned from 10 days in the Virgin Islands. We spent a few days on St. Thomas (USVI) at a house with a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea. Then is was off to Tortola (BVI) for our 7 day charter aboard Promiscuis, a 58 foot Leopard catamaran. The captain and chef did a fantastic job of keeping us happy and saitiated. We visited all the major hot spots with the highlights being the Soggy Dollar, the Baths, sailing to and from Anegada and snorkeling. The weather was fantastic as we had 20+ on the knot meter when we sailed. 12 years ago we had 12-15 during the same time period so this was a nice surprise. We were joined by 3 other couples that we have known since the 80's. We had a long day of travel coming home but it was all worth it. Good to be back. Our boat is getting some bottom paint this week and the adventure continues this weekend with more excursions on the bay! Here is a video that depics the adventures we had to the old world.

Sailing to 80 knots!

We are celebrating 17 years of bonehead moves on the water! That's pretty amazing. In that span of time, I have enjoyed some of the sweetest times of my life thru sailing. Here are some highlights: a 7 month voyage to Mexico and back to SF. Six Baja Haha's. Chartering in BVI's, Belize, La Paz (2), Grenedines, and on Monday we head back to the BVI's on a 58' cat with a captain and chef abaord. Thousands of sails on our Newport 30 (17 years) and our latest, a Jeanneau 40 (5 years). I could not not be much happier with our current boat. We installed a bluetooth anchor system recently for stress free anchoring from the cockpit. It doesn't get much better than this! Heading out today for one last sail before a sailing vacation. Bon voyage to us and 8 friends!

Capsize on the Bay

Sail GP is on the bay this weekend. During a test sail on Monday, the American boat had some issuses with the wing and it went turtle. Kai Lenny was a guest on the boat. The winner this weekend will receive $1m! Here is a previous race from Burmuda. I love the format of racing all together. Big collision at 30 knots. Go to 18:15 for the rumble. "Have a look at that shroud, Feddy!"

Racing in the Caribbean - LES VOILES DE ST BARTH RICHARD MILLE

The speed of these boat is amazing! We head to the BVI's for a charter in less than a month! Our first trip there was 2008. We have a captain and a chef aboard so Bridget will be joining us along with a bunch of old friends. Can't wait!

A little wave action in SF

Winds gusting 30-40 today...going sailing! I will be careful, promise.

The Best Sail Mag on the West Coast

Download it for free at latitude38.com

The Best of Yosemite

One of the most beautiful places in the US!

A Golden Birthday

We have been sharing golden retrievers with our friends for over 30 years. Three of the four below are siblings. That's my wife Bridget in the back and Hana too. The siblings turned 2 today. They are such a joy! For her birthday, Hana and I sailed over to Clipper Cove for a romp on the beach. She loved it. Then we did a nice sail in 12-15 knot winds towards Angel Island. It was a great day! And a great dog!

Life is an Adventure!

I found this on Quora. A site where folks ask questions to the world and you get to answer them. I am a big believer in having dreams. And dreams lead to adventure! Read on. Life is supposed to be a series of adventures. It's impossible to understand the meaning of life without understanding that. We're all supposed to be explorers, pioneers, and treasure hunters of the soul. We're not supposed to be sleep walking through the world, caught in a routine, heads down and eyes closed to the possibilities that lie waiting all around us. This world is a dramatic arena, and each of our lives is supposed to show that in the best possible way. "Without adventure, civilization is in full decay." (Alfred North Whitehead) I've become convinced that we are here in this world to live a grand adventure consisting of a series of smaller adventures. We are here for discovery, growth, creative accomplishment, and loving fulfillment. Anything less is a waste of time. Whether your adventure is noisy and glamorous, or subtle and deep, whether it plays out on a global stage, or within the borders of your own neighborhood, whether it involves changing the world, or just improving yourself, an adventurous approach to life is a requirement for becoming the person you're capable of being, making your mark in the lives of others, and experiencing a sense of lasting fulfillment along the way. I choose the word 'adventure' carefully. It's more than just a journey that I have in mind, a process of travelling from point A to B. An adventure is an extended experience, frought with risk and reward, unpredictable twists, guaranteed obstacles, and surprising results. You can take a trip, launch out on a voyage, or undergo a journey fast asleep. But an adventure has to be experienced. Eyes wide open. In disbelief, terror, amazement, or bliss. It is an essentially existential endeavor, a foray of the heart, mind and senses that calls into play every aspect of your existence. The term 'adventure' is in a sense value neutral. An adventure can be frightening, or it can be great. It can cause pain, or produce joy. It can end badly or well. But you never experience an adventure unchanged. In fact, adventure is all about change. It's about growth. And growth is the core of life. Successful lives grow out of successful adventures. The adventure of your life is so important that it demands the best of your attention, and the most of your energies, on a daily basis, so that it can be lived well. The world's greatest literature attests in many ways to the paradigmatic importance of adventure in human life. In the Iliad and the Odessey, the ancient poet Homer spun tales of striking adventures that have reverberated down the centuries, capturing the interest of people in every subsequent time. In the book of Genesis, one of the foundational stories of the Bible, an account viewed as of crucial importance by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, presents Abram as a man suddenly called out of the comfort and security of his homeland for a new adventure, a journey that would eventually lead him to The Promised Land. Renamed Abraham, this adventurer is viewed as the original Father of faith, and as an individual through whom all the nations will eventually be blessed. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go." (Hebrews 11:8, New Testament) The Buddha went on a quest. Mohammed lived an adventure. Moses, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Columbus, Gandhi, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, Martin Luther King - so many of the names that represent to us lives fully lived are those of adventurers, inventors, discoverers, liberators, creators, people who were not content to just measure out their days, but who threw themselves into a dynamic process of change for the sake of others as well as themselves. We're fascinated and inspired by mountain climbers, sailors on the open sea, serious rafters, hot air baloonists, scuba divers, spelunkers, astronauts, and pioneers of every kind. We admire those among us who are able to break out of their routines and take the risks involved in all discovery. And, in more subtle ways, we read with interest and satisfaction the stories to be found in great novels of character challenge, emotional learning, and personal growth. Adventures of exploration and conquest, as well as adventures of the heart, have dominated the human imagination at all times. Deep down we've somehow always known that life is meant to encompass challenging adventures, We've even suspected that human existence reaches its pinnacle in creative adventure, and yet this is an insight we too easily forget to apply to our own careers in this world. We might dream of fabulous adventures in our innermost thoughts, but thrown into an actual one, we often react with anxiety, aversion and fear. "When you¹re safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you¹re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home." (Thornton Wilder) We live in what could be the most adventure filled time of change in all of human history, but we have not been sufficiently prepared for living that adventure well. We don't deeply enough understand the necessity of personal adventure for the happiness and fulfillment that we all ultimately seek. We need new wisdom for our lives at a time like this. And wisdom is the philosopher's job.

The Gorilla Strikes

Back in the early 90's (I was about 32), I was working at an event company and a call came in. A woman was asking about having someone in a gorilla suit come out and entertain at her daughters 16th birthday party. I asked her to hold while I called the costume shop to make sure they had a suit available. I got back to the Mom and told her $500 for an hour of mayham! The next day I rented the suit and headed to the party. Now this was something I had never done. We are usually coordinatining large corporate events. But what the heck, let's have some fun. I burst into the party of 20 girls all shrieking and jumping up and down. Most were cheerleaders I was to find out, and very cute. I had my boom box blasting "They say it's your birthday" by the Beatles. Then we went into a bunch of fun dance tunes. The girls loved it and I was having a ball. As I was leaving, the birthday girl is saying goodby and thanking me. She asks me to take off my head gear so she can see my face. She says, "Oh you are so cute, I am going to have you come back for my 21st birthday and have you strip!" That was a nice complement! So I had that to look forward to!! Afterwards, I took the gorilla suit to a Grateful Dead show at Shoreline. I got a huge response from the crowd. Especially the ones tripped out on LSD. They thought I was the real deal and had escaped from the zoo!

Big Yachts in Sardinia

*(&^II February sailing on the bay has been spectacular with 10-15 knot breezes. We are in the middle of an unprecidented drought in California, however, the weather is down right amazing. Today will see low 70's on the water. Too cold to swim at with the bay at 54 degrees. Heading for an overnight on the island with Hana (the dog!) and some good winds expected Saturday. Bon Voyage! Also planning to spread some of my late great Mom's ashes, Evelyn.

Trip Report: Sea of Cortez, Mexico

La Paz Sailing Adventure January 2022 John, Arnie, Barry and Geoff joined me for a charter out of La Paz. Dream Yacht Charter supplied us with a 40’ cat for week in the islands. We spent a night in La Paz and provisioned the next day. At l2 we arrived at the base at Costa Baja Marina and prepared for departure. At 2pm we were off to Espiratu Santos. I went down to take a nap and a few hours later we were anchored in a huge bay with one other boat. I prepared dinner and we cheered our arrival to this beautiful location. Barry provided a sound track of Pink Floyd and we retired to the bow for a gourgous evening of looking at the stars and milky way. On Tuesday we were up early for breakfast and a snorkel. We moved to another smaller bay and enjoyed the 70 degree water and some cool fish. Lunch took us up to Isla Partida and the clear waters of the Sea of Cortez. We finished the day with a bocce game on the beach and a lot of laughs. Arnie prepared a shrimp dinner that was out of sight. Our destination on Wednesday was 19 miles north to Isla San Francisco. We arrived at lunch time and proceed to relax a bit. At this point we had mostly motored north. The winds were up so we went for a 2 hour afternoon sail. After returning to SF, we went for a snorkel with millions of fish next to the rocky wall. Very impressive. Arnie went for a paddle and said it was his best in years. A few miles north was another island with a mangrove sanctuary. John and I stayed on the boat as it would have been a tight fit with the five of us in the zodiac. The boys were gone for about 2 hours and they had a great time motoring in waterways. After lunch, we decided to pick up anchor and go sailing. It was glorious. We returned to SF once more as the winds were over 25 at that time. The next morning we took off early for San Evaristo. A small fishing village 30 miles to the north. The winds were in the high 20’s so we motored into the storm. We made it and headed to dinner at a small restaurant. Retired early and slept well. The best day of sailing was upon us. On Saturday we saw winds in the 30’s blowing in towards the south. We had a fantastic down wind sail back to Santos. 4 hours of 5-7 knots and effortless sailing. We ended up in a beautiful bay and more snorkeling. We played a round of Liar’s Dice and called it a night after another great meal. Sunday we were up early for one last snorkel and some hammock time in the bow. We had luch at a busy beach with lots of tourist boats. Then it was time to head home and back towards the base. Dinner was a lot of leftovers. We turned the boat in the next morning and said good by to La Paz. We had an amazing week of fun with great friends and weather! The boat exceeded our expectations. We are very happy sailors!

Stuck in Mexico

We had a marvalous week sailing the islands off La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. Our chartered cat worked well for the 5 crew. Unfortunatly, after taking our covid tests to re-enter the US, 3 of the 5 have covid. We are in a hotel in Cabo isolating for the next 5 days. We hope to depart Sunday after receiving clearance from a local doctor. The weather is nice but we really can't enjoy it.

Big Upgrade on Aquarius!

I purchased our Jeanneau 40 back in October 2017. We had issues with the anchor as the socket the remote plugs into was corroded. It always worked but the connection was very iffy. The last 8 months it did not work at all. I asked my engineer friend to give me a hand. He mentioned we should consider a Bluetooth controller. I had always joked about that with guests and today we hooked it up and voila! I am soooo happy! I have been doing the raising manually and getting my hands muddy each time is not my cup tea! Picked up the remote for $20.

Nazare Goes Huge!

2022!

I have much to be thankful for and look forward to this coming year. In January we head off for a week long charter to La Paz, MX. Boyz trip on a fine cat to the islands off La Paz. We did a side trip here on our voyage to Mexico in 2019. Incredible islands and La Paz is a very cool town. Then in April we head to the Caribbean. A week in a home in St. John's and then a week on a 60' cat with a captain and chef. That is gonna be a hoot with old friends from the bay area. Bridget is joining us. She hates sailing unless the water is 80 and a chef is cooking! Later in the year we are off to Africa on safari! We hope! Depends on the state of the pandemic. Then lots of sails aboard Aquarius here on our bay in San Francisco. Currently going out 2-3 times a week with an overnight here and there. Yesterday had a great sail to the city in 15-20 knot south winds. Very nice, just me an Hana (2 year old golden). It's going to be another year to relish and savor even given our sad state of health across the land.

Surf Pic of the Year!

Peter Mel at Maverick's in Half Moon Bay, CA. January 2021 Click the pic for a bigger view.

Reflections on the year: 2021

Started the year with some great winter sails. I love "winter". Temps 55, sunny and warm, winds 12-15. A nice break from the constant 25-30 we get from April to Late September. Our 1 year old pup, Hana is a joy on the boat. We head to the islands most days and swim to the beach for a romp in the sand. We took out Hana's siblings and our friends several times and the dogs are becoming great swimmers. One day we showed up at Clipper Cove and Hana's sister was on the beach. As soon as we got within 500 yards, Hana could smell and see her on the beach. We anchored and Hana swam to the beach and the dogs went nuts. We sailed to 3 baseball games over the summer and the Giants were on fire. Took out a bunch of friends as usual for day sails. Signed up two new partners, one in March and one in October. We have a total of 4. We had the engine looked over in late March and it took a while to get the heat exchanger installed. It all worked out and she is purring like a large lion. We had lots of sailing in 30 plus knots this summer. Took out my guy friends for a weekend of sails in June with great success and dinner aboard. Got a request from my old friend Yvonne and we took out a bunch of her friends for an afternoon sail out of Sam's. Had a great couple of days with my friend Dave and we stayed over in Sausalito for the night. Next day we were up early to bike around Angel Island. What a beautiful ride with a 360 tour of the SF Bay. We are in a rainy period as the holidays arrive. I have one more over night coming up before the New Year with Frank and Andy. I figure I was on the water about 100 days plus this year! Here's to a great 2022! Here is a video blogger I watch every now and then.

Mike Plant's Old Boat

You may know the Mike Plant story of a young man wanting to challenge the best in an around the world race called the Vendee Globe.  His original boat has been sitting in a front yard for 25 years and is now being turned into a family cruiser. They are documenting the redo on the boat for our pleasure.

 

 

A Trip Back in Time...Galapagos

We finally made it to the islands!  I had planned to sail there in 2019.  Didn't happen, voyaged to Mexico instead.   We had planned the trip with friends for 2020.  Nope, covid.  Finally made and it was a trip to savoir.  We flew from Ecuador to the islands and jumped on Evolution (an old whaling ship turned into a beautiful passenger yacht).  With 31 passengers and 20 some crew, we were off an an adventure of a lifetime.  November is a perfect time to visit.  Daytime temps rarely hit the mid 70's.  The ship was outfitted well with zodiacs ready to take us to the islands for hiking and snorkeling.  We took 8 friends with us and we were all friends of 30+ years.  We spent our days with our guides who were well versed in the flora and the fauna of this storied archipelago.   The beauty of the islands is that for most of the creatures, there are no predators so the animals are not afraid of you.  We saw many species of birds including the blue footed boobies.  The snorkeling was magnificent as we are in the middle of nowhere (about 650 miles off the coast).  Sharks, sea turtles, millions of fish,  iguanas and seals everywhere.  On our last day we headed up into the hills and visited the giant tortoises.  120 years old and 500 pounds some of them.  We spent a week on the water and visited about 5 islands.  Everyone in our group had a splendid time and we would highly recommend this group for a tour.  https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/mv-evolution

Click any pic for a better view:

Burning Delight

 

An amazing Burning Man exhibit. If you look closely, you can see some Burners in the reflections.  My three voyages to the playa have been life enhancing!  We had an amazing set up of tents and screens to keep a good portion of the dust to a minimum.  Inside we had seating for 30 at several long tables, a kitchen, and an area to relax with couches for a comfy vibe.  The piece de la resistance was the Bioluminescent Slug, our art car!    We had a flatbed truck turned into a 2 floor disco with a kick ass DJ system.  The design was brilliant.  PVC pipe supported a fabric skin that along with the lighting and sound made this art car a head turner.  Comfortably we could accommodate 30 people on the two floors.  We had as many as forty five!  Our gift to the playa was free rides on the slug.  We also did a wedding in an outdoor chapel and drove the bridal party to a dance tent after the nuptials.  Some of the creative exhibits were mindblowing.  And some were so simple.  One guy who came thru our camp sat down with a bag of coconuts and commenced to break them open so we could drink the milk.  Another guy brought a half pound of cocaine which he shared with who ever wanted some.  No wonder the parties went all night!  The first time you enter the playa at night, your whole concept of life will change.  It is amazing to say the least.  Thank-you Burning Man and a big hug to my camp mates at High Maintenance.

Skinny Dipper Almost Sinks

 

Galapagos Adventure

Bridget and I are off the Ecuador for a week long trip to the islands of Darwin fame.   We are taking 4 other couples along for the ride.  Be looking for some pics after the 20th of this month.  Bon voyage!

Halloween is Upon Us!

 

Over the Edge - Surf Movie

Streaming everywhere!

Chasing the Dream

You get a lot of time to think when you are alone at sea on a small boat, with few distractions but the water rushing by, and the stars at night, standing on deck alone and insignificant on the wide ocean, naked, peeing into the full moon... The downhill run to Papeete is a classic one, sailing right into the southern cross, It took 8 days to sail from the Marquesas to Tahiti, and in that time I experienced every emotion in the rainbow, from sheer terror, to sadness, to un-controllable mirth. I purged every dark corner of my mind, with nowhere to run from the truth, and came away cleansed, lighter, and much much stronger.

I realise now that I have shed almost all my fears. I am not afraid of dying, and I am not afraid of being alone. Actually, my life is wonderfully streamlined when I am left to my own devises. I am not afraid of being judged. I am not afraid of what I do or don't have. My idea of success is not based on money, but rather on the ability to wake up and say "yes, let's go to the waterfall today". The idea that freedom IS the end goal, and that money is just a means to that end, and that if you are not careful to make the distinction, the chasing of money can actually take away from that freedom--the means becomes the end. By that measure, my life so far has been a smashing success, and the only thing that scares me anymore is letting this crazy, beautiful life pass me by. No matter how hard I try, I will only have a fraction of the adventures I would like to. I will only see so many sunsets, I will only hold so many beautiful women in my arms.

Saying yes becomes more urgent as we get older, yet harder and harder to say. Life thunders by, and dreams are crushed beneath the wheels of time. I find that not being afraid is a tremendous freedom in itself. I will remember to say yes, more than just 'whenever possible', for it is at these times when I am most alive.

Who said, our greatest fear is not that we are weak, but that we are powerful beyond measure?' That hits the nail on the head. I don't know where this crazy, stormy, leaky boat of a life is headed, but I sure know that its beautiful out here under these stars with dolphins chasing my stern...

Super Maxi Bonehead Moves

 Heading home from Yucatan to a storm on Sunday.  Sailing should be in the mid twenties and a sailors dream.  Go full screen!