All Blog Posts (984)

Years ago a sailing friend who specializes in building hydrofoils reminded a group of us that change only takes place via revolution or evolution. This was related to the development of such performance boats as high speed hydrofoil sailboats.It also applies to life. Take for instance the sudden change to a spouse left alone by his or her mate's untimely death. Suddenly decisions have to be made which may cause major change; selling a house, moving in with other family members, getting a…

Reading the Yanmar Diesel Manual was overwhelming at first. I scanned each page of it a few months back as I transitioned it into a looseleaf notebook. Important pages, like what type of oil to use and the maintenance checklist were put in a plastic sleeve. During my daily boat check on Monday I was too tired to take on any real tasks, like sanding the eyebrow the protects the gps in the cockpit, I slithered below to sit at the galley table. After gazing out the stern castle window, which…

Here comes another lesson to learn about diesels. Maybe I should keep a log of each thing I learn....well that's another blog entry. For now my concern is that the last two times, about a week apart, that I started up my Danny Diesel, 2 gm yanmar she made that grinding kind of sound that makes you say, "Come on baby, you can start!" Someone told me yesterday that a diesel should start up right away. So, do I check the battery, the alternator, or what?????

I had a guy look at my wiring…

Several times in the past month I read this statement. Not sure where or who wrote it, but I wish I would remember it and quit wasting time. It goes something like this:

           It is easier to make friends with sailors than to make friends into sailors.

This week-ends' GAM sponsored by the 7 Seas Cruising Association had a mediocre attendance. The two GAMS I attended during the past 4 or 5 years had many more attendees, vendors and speakers/seminars. Guess everyone's budgets are low. Or, perhaps, it's just the same old thing.

 On the one hand cruising, with all its technological/electronic gadgets, has made sailing safer. Perhaps, for some it has lost its appeal.  Certainly the median age is within the realm of being considered…

After  an encouraing phone conference with Jim Brown, designer and author, I am compelled to suggest you take the time to visit his website:

outrig.com

i find  many folks who write are  just that--WRITERS. i amnot that..i used to be , but time and  disabilities have   created  in me a  rather unique typo-ing  style.  folks complain about not being able to read my words--ok.  so i dont share many of  my  personal memories except as pictures.  …

It isn't every day two pioneers in the multihull faction have dinner together. So it was last Monday when Jim Brown on the left and Sam Bradfield had the opportunity to swap stories of their involvement over the past 50 years. Jim gets kudos from his Searunner line of trimarans while Sam boasts advances in the world of hydrofoils. Sam's latest design has been recently…

Size conversion:  

Local news is giving a forcast of another s*^&*)&  end of week/ weekend ?; we got to get this boat organised / fixed and out of the water to do the bottom job!

Got to find the problem so I may inform you all on the status. Everyone has given such great advise and the weather might be getting in the way of completing the task of updating you all with expedience.

Tomorrow is here; I have my food diary ready to carry with me and the reality of how attached I have become to my many possessions. For the cirumnavigation and certainly for my life after I can't take sailboards, snowboards, murals, paintings, life size pictures, flower vases, office furniture, my custom cherry wood bedroom suite, faux suede big chair, total gym, weights, recumbent bicycle, beach cruiser, dolls, and oh dear I can't leave my 62 year old Teddy Bear . . .

Whew, this is…

UUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGG, it's just too much camraderie with kids, friends, and neighbors. When will it end? I have a round the world cruise to plan. I have excess fat to remove. I have organizing that needs to be organized.I have a boat to spiff up, another boat to sell (boo hoo and bye bye Hobie 14) .... and cute little sunifsh is on her way out as well. I have a women's team that may default, a job I don't want to wake up for and I hate way too much candy.

Tomorrow will begin…

This is both good and bad. How I mean this is the first initial question, "why are American's, all of us, paying over $2.00 in fuel cost. We should be like the Arabic countries of which pay only mear .25 - .75 cents per gallon since it comes from their own lands. This means the Americans should have the same luxeries, and please correct me if I am wrong.

The other issue concern, drill baby drill mentality, are we going to have health and safety issues? They are looking at 48,000 wells…

If your caught in a storm, FYI, you may be lie - to a riding sail and a para - anchor. As other ships approach you will not be able to move quickly without slipping your drogue. Therefore, you adorn a "white" light upon your mast while your hanking your sails back on. Most of the time, a choice of sail is a trysail, the suggestion is that it is a storm orange. This may help for safety reasons of other vessels seeing you at a distance and have time to adjust their heading. The color white…

Hoping to connect with other offshore cruisers, past present and future.  What kind of boat have you?  Where have you cruised?  What is your favorite port? Where to next?

I was offshore nearly 15 years and lived aboard 21 years.Now, boatless and beached I am writing a book of anecdotes about those glory days. 

home from the sea and the hunter home from the hill! Cant remember who wrote that .. its from a poem that I learnt by heart a hundred years ago. I have always loved those lines. Arrived back last Sunday ...departed Corfu early in the morning ..flew to London Gatwick and then on to Cork in Ireland.There wasn't enough time in Greece to finish the blog so instead I am just going to mention a few highlights. 

I travelled back in time while we were in Frikes on Ithaca island! In a little…

After days of trying to get my blog log in correct I finally succeeded. What annoys me is that I finally succeeded after admitting my failed attempts to a fellow sailing friend and blogger. At least I answered her inquiry about writing up my adventure purchasing a Marples 35 foot tri in the Rio Dulce.

I guess with my log in back in order I'm ready to tell my story. Just to give you a taste, my journey actually culminated this afternoon while sailing with Jim Brown. If you…

Force 6 quickly became Force 8 with higher gusts. We left Trizonia by 7.30am. All boats headed out together and went under the bridge in a line. After that ..the boats spead out and visibility quickly deteriorated. The wind rose to a strong Force 8 ..following ..so we were surfing down the waves with the rain whipping our backs as we went .. but what a ride! We needed the GPS to find the entrance channel to Messalongi ...2 boats experienced difficulties ..one engine failure and one sail…