The Last Haha?

This weekend may mark the start of the very last Baja Haha. After 29 rallies, the Grand Pooba may be retiring. The Mexican government wants changes that will not allow the race to continue. I participated in 7 of these rallies and loved it. I would head down to San Diego on Friday and start knocking on hulls trying to find a ride to Cabo San Lucas. It always worked! I met some very cool folks and had great times cruising the 750 mile run. The fleet departs on Monday for the 10 day cruise and I wish I was there. I will be in Cabo celebrating my 30th wedding aniversary. Bon voyage to the Haha fleet!

Devistation in Acapulco

A Cat 5 huricane named Otis has devestated this resort town in southern Mexico. It went from a tropical depression to 165 m/h winds in less than 24 hours. It caught the town unprepaired in the middle of the night. Looting has created a dangerous situation as there is no food, water or fuel available. These folks will be suffering for a long time. So sad and unfortunatly, this will be happening more and more as the ocean warms. Our best wishes to those who survived.

A Beautiful week on the Water

The week began Monday with a sail with the dogs. Hana's brother and a cousin Seqouia along with the their owners. We sailed to Clipper Cove for lunch and a visit to the beach with the dogs. This is where the platform shines. We all jumped onto the raft along with lunch, as the dogs all swam to the beach. The dogs loved the water and sand and we had a bit of sand at the bottom of the wine glass. We took off for a 5 mile sail to Angel Island. Near the point, we tacked and headed out on a reach to the city. With folks at midship and hanging on the platform with outragous views of the city. It was magical. This is the time of year the winds mellows out a bit and is more like 12-15 instead of 20-25. We finished in fine style and everyone went home with a smile. I spent a quiet night aboard and headed home in the morning. Back on Wednesday for a peaceful solo sail. Hana loved the beach and we had good winds after. Yhursdsay we had Marc, Claire, Ted and me on board. We had anoother beautiful sail in 15 knot winds and took them all the way to Quarry beach at Angel. The day was warm as was the wind. We felt like we were in the Caribbean. A nice ride home and then I rushed home to meet Dave and Lucinda. To bed early and then back at it at 11am with them. We hit the beach at Clipper for a romp in the sand with Hana. Then a nice mellow afternoon sail. More magic. We had dinner and some music at Rudy's. At 9pm, I headed up to Berekely to see a Tom Petty band. It was Tom's 73 birthday and he would have been proud. Saturday I did a long run up to Red Rock and then beach and dinner at Quarry Beach on Angel. It was a great week on the water!

Hurricane Norma Bashes La Paz

Back in June we moved a friends boat out of La Paz and up north for this very reason. Many boats have been lost as the owners got lazy and did not move their boats out of harms way. So sad.

My Hero - Webb Chiles

"Almost dying is a hard way to make a living". Dive in with world record holder, Webb Chiles, as he expounds on extraordinary memories and what it means to push the limits of human experience on a 24 foot sailboat.

Dancing with Monsters in Nazare

Celebrating 65 with a bunch of fun travel!

Today is my birthday and we are off to a very full Lake Shasta for a house boat trip with friends of 40 years. Hana will be joing along with her sister and brother (dogs). Should be great weather and not too busy. Next week, it's Eastern Europe with stops in Budapest, Vienna and Prague with my wife. We will be back in mid October. Bon voyage to us!

I will never be a charter captain!

I took my friends out for a 4 day sojourn around the bay. We hit all the top spots. Angel Island, Sausalito, out the Gate, McCovey Cove, etc. Preparing the meals, cleaning up, sailing, and having a great time. On the last night, they were staying in a hotel and I was on boat clean up. 3 hours of non stop tidying up the boat. I returned home about 4pm, had dinner and promply passed out for 4 hours. Exhausted but happy. My dreams of being a charter captain in the Caribbean have been discontinued. This is very hard work! We had a lot of laughs and good times but chartering is too much work!

Hana paddles us to the beach!!

I mentioned my new toy for the boat earlier this summer, a 7'x7' platform that fits nicely on the foredeck. We hit a fabulous cove at my friends Scott's house and Hana took us to the beach with some doggie paddle. Check this really cute vid.

Pipeline of Mexico

If you are not in the surfing world, you have most likely never heard of Puerto Escondido in southern Mexico. The wave at Zicatela Beach is one of the heaviest and hollowest waves on the planet. Reknowned for it's consistent size and power, this wave breaks boards and backs frequently. The location of this town is about 150 miles south of Acapulco and getting close to the boarder of Guatemala. The break is not very famous unless you are a surfer. However, those in the know compare it to Hawaii's famous Pipeline wave. Cowabunga indeed!

Fun Week with Friends on the SF Bay!

My college roommate and his wife are headed out for a 4 day sail on the bay aboard Aquarius. Bob was musically influental in my life and turned me on to progessive rock at it's height in the late 70's. Supertramp, Jethro Tull, Genesis, ELP, and Yes to name but a few. He lives in Montana now and we see each other rarely. We take off Thursday for a sail to Angel Island and a bike ride around the 6 mile perimeter. Some of the most beautiful vistas anywhere. In the evening, we head to see a Dave Matthews cover band. Friday we sail to Sam's for lunch and then on to Sausalito for music at the Cruising Club and dinner at Le Garage. The tides look good for a sail out the Gate on Saturday and a slip at South Beach in SF. In the evening we are headed to see a tribute band play music of the Bee Gees at Bimbo's. That should be a gas! Sunday we will relax on the beach at Clipper and a sail in the afternoon. Monday they head back and I get to clean up the boat! Gonna be too much fun!!

Son of a son of a sailor!

All sailors love the themes and songs from Mr. Jimmy. I have really enjoyed his music and books. My favorite was A Pirate Looks at 50. He flies around the world on his amphibious plane with wife and friends talking about his adventures. He sure lived a full, fun life and ended becoming a billionaire with all his holdings. RIP and I hope you find that lost salt shaker of salt!

It's Always Windy in SF!

I have been sailing a bunch this summer averaging about 3.5 sails a week. The bay waters have been a bit cooler than usual due to upwelling on the ocean outside the bay. The winds in the bay blow from March to October in the 25 knot range. We do see some 30's but not often. We have a geological element that doubles our wind speed every day. We have a very hot valley east of San Francisco that is usually in the 90's to 100 degrees or more all summer (Sacramento). The air rises with the heat and sucks the cold air (50's) off the ocean to the east. As it comes thru the valley of the Golden Gate Strait, it compresses the wind and the speed increases by double. The area east of the Golden Gate Bridge is called the Slot and it is the windiest part of the bay. However, if you get behind Angel Island it is sunny and warm. Swimming weather if you will. I do feel like the bay is a sailors paradise. It kind of a blessing that in the winter we get 10 knots of wind most days. It's nice to relax and enjoy the slower pace.

Wipeout of the Weekend

Pics of the Month

New Addition to Aquarius

Hope you are having a great summer! I sure am. The boat show came around in May. I stopped by a booth with a bunch of inflatables. I had been looking at these floating platforms online but at a grand I did not like the price. The guy at the boat show sold me a very nice one at half the price. This is the 7' x 7' version and it fits perfectly between the mast and traveler. What I really like about it is that now instead of my crew sitting on the boat while I kayak into the beach with Hana, they can jump on the platform and join me on the beach. 3-4 folks can fit along with all the beach gear. If I am out alone, its nice to anchor and take it out around the anchorage and say hellow to my fellow boaters. They have a bunch of cool stuff including an inflatable catamaran. Check them out here: https://furthercustoms.com/

Awesome footage from the Fastnet

Sunny Day

Check out this very cool playlist on Spotify!

The Weather is here, wish you were beautiful!

WOW! What a weekend we had attending the last three Dead shows by boat in SF. We had a slip right next to the venue and walked the 150 yards each night for the show. In the meantime, we had 3 great sails, 3 amazing tailgates in McCovey Cove and 25 friends visiting. After 58 years, the Dead have decided to stop touring and these were the final shows. On the last night we had an amazing drone show above Oracle Park. The band played all their hits and more. They did a group hug at the end and we headed to the boat and got some rain to finish the night. I was exhausted but very happy in the aftermath. I have a busy weekend this weekend with 3 sails coming up. The first is a fishing sail, HOS next and then a trip to the ballpark to see the Red Sox play the Giants. Batten down the hatches!

A little bit of summer

Just returning from a family trip to Sausalito. We stayed at a resort near the Golden Gate Bridge. While the rest of the bay was in the 80's and above, we were in winter with big wind and temps in the low 60's. It cleared enough for the fireworks show and that was great. Got home to Fremont area with a 20 degree difference in temps. The fog was intense and beautiful as it came over the hilside. I plan to sail the next few days and then next week we move the boat to SF and the marina next to the ball park. The Dead are playing their very last shows after an almost 60 year career. The bus stops here. Lots of friends stopping by and sailing and tailgating as we are going to all three shows. Should be a blast!

Ocean Race Bonehead Move of the Year (so far)

A Detailed Look Back at the Finals of Sail GP (Grand Prix) in SF

Amazing Rescue After Demasting

In the June issue of Latitude 38 there is a must read story of a family who lost their boat in the Pacific due to a demasting. I won't tell you all the details but will say these guys have guts! Go to https://www.latitude38.com/ and download the mag. Go to page 64 and read all about it. Great job to the crew and all those who made this story so spectacular.

R2AK is in the bag!

After 5 days and change, We Brake for Whales has crossed the finish line in Alaska. This is the engineless race of 700 miles from Victoria, Canada to Ketchikan, Alaska. The boat was a 40' wood boat with eight crew. The also had pedal power on the stern and water ballast. They won ($10,000) by over 50 miles as the seas were horrible the last few days and they soldiered thru. At one point during the race, they baked cookies for the crew! Check the vid below. Also the website: R2AK.com

End of the Haha?

I received a note from the Grand Poobah of the Haha and he says the 29th Haha may be his last. Richard has escorted thousands of cruisers from San Diego to Cabo during that time. I have done 7 Haha's on other peoples boats and have always had a blast. Usually there are anywhere from 100-150 boats with over 500 friendly folks sailing south. We have two stops along the way to meet and greet as well as dance and party. We arrive in Cabo 10 days later and the party continues for a few more days. My bet is someone will take up the role (Latitude 38?) as organixer and keep this tradition alive. I sure hope so!!

La Paz to Loreto

I met Joel and his boat Akela (Bristal Channel Cutter 29') at the 2022 Baja Haha. Our cruise from San Diego to Cabo ended shorty after the first night out when the water pump on the engine failed. We sailed back to Ensanada to find parts and I flew home. He found the part and continued to La Paz. With huricane season upon us, he needed to move the boat north to San Carlos. I joined him for the sail last week and we headed up the coast about 125 miles to Loreto. The Sea of Cortez (east side of Baja) is unusually beautiful and filled with wild life underwater. There are a ton of anchorages along the way and we hit the hot spots. Isla San Francisco, Los Gatos, Agua Verde to name a few. We averaged about 22 miles a day and took it very easy. There was very little wind so we motored in very lonely waters. Saw a few boats but not many. Once we got to Loreto, we meet up with a bunch of friends at a resort for dinner and fun. I flew out the next day and the boat is currently in San Carlos for the huricane season (June-November). I hope to rejoin the skipper for the return to La Paz in the fall.

Foil Surfing with Kai

I am getting ready to depart for La Paz to met my Haha friend Joel for a sailing adventure. He owns a 29' Bristal Channel cutter that he will leave in MX for a few years while he commutes back and forth to LA. We have a 12 day cruise planned up the Sea of Cortez to Loreto. It's only 120 miles so we will have lots of time to relax and enjoy these amazing waters. This will be my 10th sailing adventure in Mexico. I have some friends staying in Loreto and hopefully we will cross paths. Can't wait to get back to some warm water and hot weather. It's been perrty cool this spring in SF.

San Francisco Sail GP Highlights and Finale

We made it out both Friday and Saturday for the racing. Friday they were warming up and Saturday we saw 3 races. Exciting stuff! Winds were in the mid teens both days. Sunday was a few races and the finals. Check it out!

when the Big Boyz Fail

In a few weeks I will head to La Paz to meet my Haha buddy Joel for a 12 day sail. I joined Joel on last years Baja Haha. We only got about 70 miles down the coast when the water pump on the engine failed. We sailed into Ensanada to find the part and ended up back in San Diego to get it. At that point I flew home. Joel got the engine fixed and made it 850 mile to La Paz. I plan to meet him in La Paz and move the boat up the coast to Loreto (about (120 miles). We plan to sail the islands and enjoy the beauty of this magical place. I depart on May 20.

The Whale That is Stuck in the Bay

A Grey Whale has been hanging around the bay for over 70 days setting a new record. I have seen the whale about 10 times over the last 3 months. Usually between Angel and Alcatraz. This is unusual and the migration from Mexico to Alaska is taking place but most whales don't come in the bay. I have oficially named him Wally and hope to see him again soon!

Where have the bloggers gone? Celebrating 18 years of Bonehead Moves!

I purchased my first keel boat way back in 2000. I started reading all about sailing and lots cool sailing blogs. My hero's were Proper Course, Wetass Chronicles, Frogma, and Horse's Mouth to name a few. They have all left the game and moved on (Horse still posts every few months). Me, I am still sailing hard (3-4 times a week) and blogging a few times a month. The highlight of the blog came when we did our 7 month voyage to Mexico and back to SF. That was amazing! The boat was awesome, the crew delightful and 25 friends and family meeting us along the way. Now we have the video blogs on Youtube. So many it is hard to keep track. My two favorites are La Vagabond and Sailing Doodles. There are so many others! Most feature a beautiful woman or two and lots of thong bikinis. Someone encouraged me to do a video blog and I told them no one wants to watch a bunch of old men motoring around Mexican waters. I think I am correct. This blog is getting close to 3000 entries and one million visits. Not bad for a guy with a dog, a boat and a dream.

Ocean Race Highlights - Southern Ocean

A Lucky Sailor!

Here’s one I will never forget. We were sailing up the Malacca Straits in a loose company of fellow cruisers and headed for the island Kupang off the west coast of Malaysia. The weather was benign and we were able to anchor our ketch Clover in a snug cove surrounded by lush tropical jungle. Not long after we had the anchor down, a good friend, a singled woman aboard her 27-foot sloop, motored into the anchorage and slowly circled us. “Have I got a story to tell,” she called out. So, we invited her over for cocktails and dinner. Five hours earlier, she had been running up the straits in a calm following breeze, wearing only a bikini bottom as she often did in warm weather. She went to the mast to hoist her staysail, gave the halyard a great pull and, since the halyard was not attached to the sail, it ran free propelling her backwards and over the lifelines into the water. She was still holding the halyard as the boat continued to sail away steered by the wind vane. She could hold on, but not hand over hand against the force of the water to get back to the boat. What to do? Not far away she saw a fisherman in his small motorboat and she made the decision to do the only think she could do, she let go of the line. Swimming will all her force toward the boat, she stopped several times to call out and, luckily, the fisherman eventually heard her. He motored to her and helped this half-naked English amazon into his boat. Not sharing any language, our friend managed to make him understand that the little boat sailing away was hers and she needed to be returned to it. He did so but wasn’t happy about it. A blond mermaid emerging from the sea was surreal to him. When they got alongside her boat, he followed our friend aboard and began demanding payment. She offered him a little money from her cruising kitty but he wanted more. Now, seriously afraid for her well-being, alone on her boat with a Malaysian fisherman far from the shore, our friend gave him all she had and then insisted he leave. He did and she was alright, just barely. Shaking and on the verge of tears, she boiled the kettle and made herself a cup of tea. She said after all, “I don’t ever get really traumatized, I just have another cup of tea.” That stiff upper lip served her well and three years later she finished a safe and seamanlike circumnavigation. No, I will never forget her special tale of survival or that very special woman.

Is Sailboat Ownership Worth It?

By Matt P. If you like having money in your bank account, don't own a sailboat! This is countered by the following... “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” ― Kenneth Grahame , The Wind in the Willows Owning a sailboat is not the choice of the sane. From a pure logic and economic perspective, a sailboat is packaged insanity. It will cost you more than you can possibly imagine, it will never give back any value close to what you put into it and it will demand more from you than the worst spouse imaginable. But treated well she will be your most loyal friend and take you to places where dreams are made of and stories are told from. And where others will long with envy at the tales that trail in the water leaves behind. If I was sane and rational, and I usually am, I wouldn't own a sailboat. The pure financial aspect doesn't make sense. It would be cheaper for me to charter a boat for the times I've sailed on my boat and even then, the costs of doing so work out to the hundreds of dollars per hour. Why do I do it? For the convenience of having my boat when I want it, where I want and on my schedule. And for the fact that she is "mine". Sharing a boat with someone else or using the one bought and paid for by others is like having a turn with the town prostitute. Eventually everyone will know her good points and bad points and the locals know who's been out dallying with her. Boats are best when they are monogamous. Just you and them. It's ok to bring friends out with them to play and socialize but she goes home with you. I love watching starry-eyed people at the sailboat show, giddy about the dream and talking about all the things they will do with a boat. Good boat brokers don't sell boats; they sell dreams. They are weavers of fantasy, beguiling liars telling tales of faraway lands. And it works! I'm on my fourth boat. But I shake my head and smile at the dreamers. They'll learn soon enough... ...that there are worse things to do with your money than buy a sailboat. In the end you may come to regret the purchase and may eventually get rid of her. We all eventually do. The two best days of a sailor’s life are the day you buy her and the day you sell her. But the days in between count too. And those are the ones you will remember fondly long after the money is gone and the boat has found a new home. And you won't begrudge them a bit. Years and memories will fade but the brightest will always be those days among the waves. Don't allow a sailboat into your life! Because once that bug bites hard enough it won't let you go. You'll be a slave to wind and the water. Addicted, entranced, enraptured. And you will be taken as far as you'll allow your soul to wander and your dreams will carry you. It is most definitely not worth it to own a sailboat! You have been warned.

My Favorite Surfer Dude

History Lesson: Ayala, First Sailor to Sail into the SF Bay

Sailors first began to sail the west coast way back in the 1500's. They sailed by the entrance of SF Bay for over 250 years, before a Spanish exploror sailed his boat into the bay in 1775. The first report about San Francisco Bay came from Sgt. José Francisco Ortega (1734-98). Ortega, who had been born in Mexico and served in the army, was with the Portolá expedition in 1769-70. When Portolás party was looking for Monterey Bay in 1769, they went north to what is now the San Francisco Peninsula. There, on November 1, Sgt. Ortega met some Indians who seemed to be telling him that there was a ship anchored to the north. When Ortega went to investigate, he saw a large, unknown body of water blocking his way. Ortega followed the shoreline far enough to see that the water stretched far to the north. Portolá was not interested in the discovery. He wrote: “I did not linger there, nor did I see anything worthy of description there, save only a labyrinth of bays and channels which inundate the territory.” This was the shallow southern end of the bay. Father Crespí saw more possibilities. He wrote: “It is a very large and fine harbor, such that not only all the navy of our most Catholic Majesty but those of all Europe could take shelter in.” Portolá left California in 1770 after establishing the Monterey presidio (fort). Lt. Fages, who was in charge there, did some exploring around San Francisco Bay in 1771-72. While scouting on the east side of the bay, he saw the Golden Gate entrance. It was about this time that the name Bahia de San Francisco (Bay of San Francisco) began to be used. The explorers thought the new bay was an estuary of the smaller bay to the north (now called Drake’s Bay) which had been called San Francisco Bay by Sebastián Cermeño in 1595. AYALA’S JOURNEY Ayala was in Mexico in the spring of 1775. An expedition was being readied to sail from San Blas (Mexico) to Alta (Upper) California. Three ships would make the journey: the frigate Santiago, the schooner Sonora, and the San Carlos, which had been part of the Sacred Expedition to San Diego in 1769. The mission of the San Carlos was to sail into San Francisco Bay. The other two ships were to continue north along the coast, searching for a Northwest Passage across the continent. Ayala was to be the captain of the Sonora. Just before sailing, however, the captain of the San Carlos had a mental breakdown and Ayala took over as captain of that ship. The San Carlos carried a cargo of dried meat, garlic, red peppers, and live chickens and cows, and a crew of 23. The San Carlos reached Monterey Bay near the end of June 1775. Planning his exploration into the great bay, Ayala had the ship’s carpenter make a canoe from a big redwood tree. On August 4, 1775, the San Carlos was at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. The water was choppy and looked dangerous. Knowing that a small boat had more chance in choppy seas, Ayala sent a group of sailors in the canoe with instructions to row through the opening, into the bay. If the canoe got through, Ayala would follow with the ship. In charge of this canoe was a young navigator named José Cañizares. He had been on the overland part of the Sacred Expedition from Baja (Lower) California to San Diego in 1769, and had remained in San Diego. Now he was serving as Ayala’s pilot. Hours went by, and there was no sign of the canoe returning. About an hour before dark, Ayala decided to take the ship through the entrance anyway. He managed this safely, and anchored near the shore. In the morning, Cañizares and the crew of the canoe were there. Ayala then found a good harbor for the San Carlos at an island in the bay where there was a supply of wood and water. Ayala explored the bay for 40 days, making drawings and descriptions as well as making friends with the local indian tribes. He named Angel Island and Alcatraz Island (though the island he called Alcatraz is now Yerba Buena Island and the name Alcatraz was transferred to another island). He had hoped to find a passage from the north end of San Francisco Bay out to Drake’s Bay, but none existed. He did find the mouth of the Sacramento River emptying into the bay at the north end. He described the salt marshes at the south end of the bay, and the groves of oak trees on the hills to the east of the bay. Before leaving San Francisco Bay, Ayala put up a wooden cross near the bluff where they had anchored the first night. Beneath it he buried a message about their exploration. He then sailed the San Carlos out through the Golden Gate on September 17, 1775. WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED Ayala was the first to sail a ship through the Golden Gate and into San Francisco Bay. He made the first charts of the bay, taking soundings to determine the depth of the bay at 485 places. LATER YEARS Ayala and the San Carlos went back to Monterey, and then on to Mexico. The other two ships in the fleet had gone north, one of them as far as Alaska, but found no Northwest Passage across the continent. They met Ayala in Monterey and the three ships returned together to Mexico.

Ocean Race Drone from Leg 3

I love the reaction of the crew when they see how cool the boat looks from above sailing along at just under 30 knots of boat speed.

J Class Crash

This happened in Antigua a few years ago. Apperently the skipper on the boat that got hit swung the stern around towards the other boat and they collided. Had he stayed on course, there may not hve been a collision. These boats are so big and their rudders are small and don't respond very well. The racer that went overboard suffered some broken ribs and survived.

Sailboat Sinks in South Pacific after Encounter with Whale

Ealier this week a sail boat was 13 days into a 20 day passage to the Islands. They encountered a whale and the boat sunk. Mayday was announced and within 10 hours another sailboat resuced them from their life raft. Read the full account here: https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/2023/03/15/#sailboat-sinks-rammed-by-whale-pacific

My New Favorite Song!

I am not a musician however I am a music lover, also know as a melomaniac. I found this song on a cool station on SirusXM called Coffee House Classics, acoustic songs from the 90's and 2000's. The song is 47 years in the making. It was recorded after a near death accident by Bob Dylan and members of The Band. Here is the history of the song: Bob Dylan is universally regarded as one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed songwriters, musicians and performers, having sold more than 125 million albums and performed literally thousands of shows around the world spanning six decades. His influence and impact on our culture is unparalleled, and his artistic output of recordings and songs are both cultural landmarks and the genesis of countless great songwriters and musicians that have emerged in the decades since Dylan exploded onto the global stage. Among Dylan’s many cultural milestones, the legendary Basement Tapes – dozens of songs written and recorded by Dylan in 1967, backed by members of his touring ensemble who would later achieve their own fame as The Band – have long fascinated and enticed successive generations of musicians, fans and cultural critics alike. Having transformed music and culture during the preceding five years, Dylan had reached unparalleled heights by 1966 through the release of three historic albums, the groundbreaking single, “Like A Rolling Stone,” a controversial and legendary ‘electric’ performance at the Newport Folk Festival and wildly polarizing tours of the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom. Dylan’s mercurial rise and prodigious body of work in that decade came to an abrupt end in July, 1966 when he was reported to be nearly killed in a motorcycle accident in upstate New York. Recovering from his injuries and away from the public eye for the first time in years, Dylan ensconced himself, along with Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson (and later, Levon Helm), in the basement of a small house in West Saugerties, New York – dubbed “Big Pink” by the group. This collective recorded more than a hundred songs over the next several months – traditional covers, wry and humorous ditties, off-the cuff performances and, most important, dozens of newly-written Bob Dylan songs, including future classics “I Shall Be Released,” “The Mighty Quinn” and “You Ain’t Going Nowhere. When rumors and rare acetates of some of these recordings began surfacing, it created a curiosity strong enough to fuel an entirely new segment of the music business: the bootleg record. In 1969 an album mysteriously titled Great White Wonder began showing up in record shops around the country, and the music from that summer of 1967 started seeping into the fabric of our culture and penetrating the souls of music lovers everywhere. With each passing year, more and more fans sought out this rare contraband, desperate to hear new music from the legendary Bob Dylan. The actual recordings, however, remained commercially unavailable until 1975, when Columbia Records released a scant 16 of them on The Basement Tapes album. Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes is a music event 47 years in the making. The album celebrates the discovery of never-seen Bob Dylan lyrics from that legendary 1967 period and marks a creative highpoint for the album’s participants – Burnett, Costello, Giddens, Goldsmith, James and Mumford – who have brought them to life nearly 50 years later. As Burnett explains, “What transpired during those two weeks was amazing for all of us. There was a deep well of generosity and support in the studio at all times, which reflected the tremendous trust and generosity shown by Bob in sharing these lyrics with us in the first place.” Marcus Mumford is the vocalist on this song.

Inside the latest IMOCA60

The Ocean Race is well underway and these boat are flying around the planet at 25 knots and more. Take a tour of the latest technologies and design with Team Malizia. Here is an look at racing these boats from the inside. They are capable of 600 miles in 24 hours! This is Team 11th Hour.

Out the Gate with Hana

We took off about 2pm with a 10 knot breeze from the south. As storms approach the Bay Area, the wind always comes from the south. This is a pefect set up for going out the Gate. The tide was flooding so that conditions were ideal, as if you get in trouble out there, the tide will push you back into the bay and not the ocean. Within a couple hours, we were sailing out towards the Pacific. Good tunes, lots of gusts to over 20 and a very memorable sail. Did I mention I was the only boat out on a Monday? For us in Northern Califonia, summer begins with Daylight Savings and what a great start to my favorite season!

Been Gone and Now Back in Action

A few vacations stacked up that were very fun indeed. Two weeks ago we got caught in that monster storm in Lake Tahoe. Hana and her two siblings, along with our best friends headed up to Tahoe just before the storm hit. We got snowed in for three days and 50 inches of snow. The roads were all closed for very good reason. We got a break in the storm and the roads opend and we took off for home. We made the best of it and the dogs loved the snow. Then it was off to Arizona with the boys for a little spring traing games with the Giants and the A's in Scottsdale. We rented a house and attended three games in 70 degree weather. More storms at home and no sailing so it was a perfect time to get away. In Lake Tahoe, we are passing all records for snow at this time of year. Several ski resorts are reporting over 600 inches of snow. That's 50 feet! This bodes well for our water supply in California. Another big storm is due to arrive on Tuesday. The hits just keep on coming with the storm door wide open and much more wet stuff on its way.

SailGP in Sydney

The races were close and exciting. Then the freak storm came and one of the wings took off in the storm causing lots of damage. Never thought I would ever see something like this!

Netflix Sailing Movie: True Spirit

I followed her voyage around the world back in 2009/10 pretty closely. I did not know about that last storm. I enjoyed the movie and thought the lead did a great job. Check it out

Unreal Video: The Death Zone, Mt. Everest

I have a friend who is thinking about climbing this 29,000 foot mountain. After watching this video he had second thoughts about the summit. Would you attempt such a climb? Here is some info to digest: It costs about $50k - $60k to hire guides and sherpas to help you summit. It takes about 6-8 weeks on the mountain to get to the top. Most folks take a year to get in the best shape of their life for the climb. About 6,000 folks have made to the top. About 350 people have died making the attempt. Most die on the way down. Most of their bodies are still on the mountain. On summit day, there can be long lines of people trying to get to the top. A traffic jam on top of Everest! About 700-800 people attempt the climb each year. Only 50% will summit. There is alot of suffering on this climb due to length of time at high elevation and lack of proper rest. The brain won't sleep when it does not have enough oxygen. Full screen only!

Amazzzing Sail

Hana and I took off with a favorable tide and light winds on Wednesday. Winds were 8-10kt which is perfect for a winter sail. Boat speed was 3-5k and the water surface was smooth. Heading towards the city we spotted 2 whales near Angel Island in about 40 feet of water. That's rare, however after 40 years of sailing, I have seen about a dozen. Three sailboats were around me, they tacked towards the city and I took off in great winds towards Red Rock and the only boat for miles. Another tack towards Angel and we hit the beach for some fun. I am loving the 10kt days on the bay and there have been many. This week I will sail 5 out of 7 days (wife out of town!). Cowabunga!

Bonehead Move of the Week

Up in Oregon, a man stole a motor yacht and tried to head to sea. The boat ran into trouble at the river bar and the Coast Guard was called. As a rescue swimmer attempted to get to the boat, a huge wave hit the boat with the man standing near the aft of the boat. Both rescuer and man were rescued and the man on the boat later arrested.

Growndswell - the movie

Celebrating 40 years of Sailing the Bay!

Way back in 1983, I started sailing the SF bay. My friend Jeff would rent boats and invite friends to go sailing. I had no idea back then it would become my passion later in life. In 84, I moved in with my girlfriend into an apartment overlooking a big lagoon. A friend let me borrow his windsurfer for the summer and I was hooked. Eventually I purchased my own board and started sailing the bay and delta. I loved the speed and freedom. In 2000, I purchased my first keel boat. The "Addiction" (what an appropriate name!) was a 30 foot sloop that would take us all over the bay as well as the Napa and Petaluma Rivers. I sailed her hard for 17 years and she was a joy even in the big winds of the bay. My dream was to sail to Australia after retirement. It would take a year to get to Sydney. My best friend Tex was game and we sailed together weekly for many years. I sold the Addiction in August of 2017 and purchased a beautiful 40 foot sloop for the voyage. In the midst of refitting her and upgrading the electronics on "Aquarius", my wife asks that I shorten the trip to 7 months. I agree and we target an adventure deep into Mexico and then back to SF. We take off a few days into retirement in September 2018 and head down the California coast. The Channel Islands, Santa Barbara and San Diego held many highlights for us. We spent several weeks in each location with friends visiting along the way. We arrived in Mexico in November and hit our southern most point in March 2020. Zihuantenejo is a beautiful harbor and all of the locals were friendly and warm the entire trip. We headed north in early March and arrived under the Golden Gate in mid April after a most successful voyage. The boat and crew did an awesome job and I could not have been happier. Fast forward to today and boat lives up near Berekely and she is sailed weekly. I found my passion and my life is full of sunshine and seagulls. The SF Bay is one of the greatest sailing venues in the world. With 25 knot winds all summer and a bit mellower in the winter, I am one happy sailor!! Here is some nice drone footage of the bay. This is not my boat but "Wild Card" is looking good in the vid.

MLK Day with 10@10

Our local rock station used to honor MLK day with a musical tribute on 10@10. KFOG is long gone but another DJ picked up the 10@10 show and even got the original host, Dave Morey involved. The tag line was "10 great songs from one great year." Here is a show from Soundwaves copying the 10@10 formula and featuring MLK. Listen and learn! There are about 400 other 10@10's on Soundwaves for you to enjoy. https://www.mixcloud.com/soundwavesFM/soundwaves-1010-108-mlk/

Massive Waves Slam California

Having lived near the ocean in the Bay Area for 40 years, I have seen my share of storms and waves. The storms started rolling in New Year's Eve and have not stopped since. And this is after many years of drought. Our biggest reservoirs have been storing less than 45% of their capacity. Trees and forests are dying due to the drought. Fires are raging in the summer and causing our skies to darken at mid day. California is struggling to say the least. Now with the onslaught of these storms, we struggle more. Yes we need the water but this has been too much. Towns being wiped out by waves, flooding, homes inundated with water, thousands of trees down due to satuated soil, rivers surging over their banks, people found dead in their cars when they drove in water that got too deep, and the list goes on. Today is Friday the 13th and it is still raining with 3 more storms on the way. They say it will be clear in a week or so and that will be none too soon. Lastly, the good news, the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada, which provides our drinking water, is over 200% at the moment. We are expecing another 8 feet in the coming days. Mammouth Mountain ski resort closed earlier this week due to too much snow. 440 inches have fallen, which is twice as much as all season last year. We still have 2.5 more months of snow to go! ve

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!