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Picture This: Hangin' Out in Pentwater
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More new sailing shoes: Astral Porter Review
"If a man's fortune does not fit him it is like the shoe in the story; if too large it trips him up, if too small it pinches him." - Horace
This is starting to look bad. I never intended it to turn out this way. However, I can no longer deny that my collection of boat shoes has now surpassed my wife's total amount of shoes.
The latest culprit to push my tally past Erin's? The Porter shoe from Astral. Astral is probably best known for producing lifevests and shoes for kayaking and river water sports, but the Porters can easily cross over to sailing. In any case, the crew at Astral seems to know water and water recreation quite well.
I was first drawn to the Porter by their simple looks and color combinations, so apparently my vanity initially ruled over my sense of comfort and function. But it didn't last long because the Porters are SOOO comfortable to wear. They're light and airy (much more so than they look in pictures) and for once have zero pressure points to cause blisters on bare feet. For me, if a boat shoe can't be worn comfortably (and odor free!) without socks, then it's not really a boat shoe at all. The Astral Porter shoes pass this test with flying colors.
The uppers on the Astral Porter are constructed using Cordura fabric, something more often seen on backpacks and luggage, but it works well on a shoe and should provide good durability and resistance to abrasion and scuffs. Different, yes...but I like it a lot! The tongue and topside over your toes is a breathable mesh. The "Wetgrip" sole is rubbery and features a sipped non-marking tread that has held very well for me on our wet decks and dock. There are also drainage ports at the heel and front sidewalls that quickly let the water out, just like scuppers!
Good for sailing. Good on the dock. Just fine for a stroll in to town or down the beach. All in all, a very simple, comfortable shoe that's going to see a lot of deck time on my boat.
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Picture This: A Purple Haze
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| Purple Haze by K. Walters |
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1 Million...What a View!
1,000,000 pageviews. That's the number that SailFarLiveFree.com recently surpassed, thanks to you all! Actually, I'm officially at 1,035,614 as of today, but who's counting? And in reality 900,000 of those pageviews could be directly from my mom for all I know. In any case, I want to sincerely thank anyone who's been a reader of my musings here.
I started this blog in 2007 to simply chronicle the restoration of our first sailboat, keep myself accountable for my dreams and keep a journal of our adventures for my kids and I. I never intended to build an audience, but you've shown up nonetheless. And you've brought with you tons of inspiration and encouragement. Again, THANK YOU!
To show just a smidgen of my appreciation, I'm offering a pair of brand new recently published cruising books, As Long as It's Fun by Herb McCormick and A Sail of Two Idiots by Renee Petrillo, free for two random readers. To put your name in the hat, simply comment below on this post or send me a quick email. I'll draw out a couple of names in a week or so and mail out the books for your reading pleasure!
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And just so I can still keep this post at least partially about sailing, here's a progression of sailing related numbers from 1 to 1,000,000:
1 = The number of people who had sailed singlehanded around the world when Joshua Slocum completed the feat on June 27, 1898.
10 = The Beaufort number for storm force winds of 48-55 knots (55-63 mph) and waves of 29-41ft.
100 = The number of boat designs under Bob Perry's belt when he finished the Lafitte 44.
1,000 = The year that Leif Ericson reached North America from Norway, representing the first recorded sail across the Atlantic.
10,000 = The amount of money (in USD) required to purchase 25 of our first sailboat, a 1972 Helms 25 swing keel. The best $400 I've ever spent!
100,000 = The approximate total sea miles sailed by one of my favorite sailing writers, Capt. Fatty Goodlander.
1,000,000 = The number of pageviews that SailFarLiveFree.com has amassed up through August, 2014.
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| Pageviews are nice, but I prefer this view. |
I started this blog in 2007 to simply chronicle the restoration of our first sailboat, keep myself accountable for my dreams and keep a journal of our adventures for my kids and I. I never intended to build an audience, but you've shown up nonetheless. And you've brought with you tons of inspiration and encouragement. Again, THANK YOU!
To show just a smidgen of my appreciation, I'm offering a pair of brand new recently published cruising books, As Long as It's Fun by Herb McCormick and A Sail of Two Idiots by Renee Petrillo, free for two random readers. To put your name in the hat, simply comment below on this post or send me a quick email. I'll draw out a couple of names in a week or so and mail out the books for your reading pleasure!
And just so I can still keep this post at least partially about sailing, here's a progression of sailing related numbers from 1 to 1,000,000:
1 = The number of people who had sailed singlehanded around the world when Joshua Slocum completed the feat on June 27, 1898.
10 = The Beaufort number for storm force winds of 48-55 knots (55-63 mph) and waves of 29-41ft.
100 = The number of boat designs under Bob Perry's belt when he finished the Lafitte 44.
1,000 = The year that Leif Ericson reached North America from Norway, representing the first recorded sail across the Atlantic.
10,000 = The amount of money (in USD) required to purchase 25 of our first sailboat, a 1972 Helms 25 swing keel. The best $400 I've ever spent!
100,000 = The approximate total sea miles sailed by one of my favorite sailing writers, Capt. Fatty Goodlander.
1,000,000 = The number of pageviews that SailFarLiveFree.com has amassed up through August, 2014.
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Heavy Weather Tactics: 5 Options for Sailing Through a Storm
"I hate storms, but calms undermine my spirits." -Bernard Moitessier, The Long Way
Moitessier had a way with words. I would like to have been a fly on the bulkhead to hear the conversations he had with his sailboat on the long solo passages that define his sailing legacy. Consider his quote above. It wasn't heavy weather and storms that challenged his inner self, but rather the monotony and silence of being becalmed. Storms on the other hand, have a way of shaking us to the core and tossing us out on the other side a little scared but often a better sailor for the experience. And frankly, the threat of storms can sometimes undermine my normally free spirit.
How do you deal with storms while sailing? What follows is merely my overview of options for dealing with heavy weather while sailing, rather than a deep discussion about the particulars of each storm tactic. I personally don't have extensive experience with all of these tactics nor do I have offshore heavy weather experience, so I'm not qualified to give advice to anyone but myself on this topic. However, I've done a lot of reading and talking with folks who do have the requisite experience. This post is a result of those conversations and readings stewing in my head over the last couple of years. [Note - Several excellent resources (books, websites, podcasts, etc.) from experts are given at the end of the post.]
Keep in mind that all of the tactics below have several variations and their utility as part of your storm sailing repertoire depends on your own skills, your boat's design, your crew, and your willingness to practice and be prepared to implement any or all as needed.
If you have experience or details to add, please share them below. Hopefully we'll even get a few experts to chime in. In the coming months I also hope to have future blog posts with perspectives on some or all of these tactics from others who have used them at sea during storm events.
So if you find yourself sailing with a storm approaching and you can't (or won't) head for port to wait it out, here are your options as far as I can tell:
Fore-Reaching
This is a tactic favored by many of the experts, but one that admittedly seems a bit nebulous (at least to me) until you've had a chance to try it. Fore-reaching is generally done with just the mainsail. Beth Leonard (author of The Voyager's Handbook) recommends starting with the main sheeted to centerline and the helm locked in a position that holds the boat close-hauled. You're officially fore-reaching when the boat jogs up to windward until the sail starts to stall, the boat falls off to leeward, and then starts sailing again. The motion is a controlled weave or gentle s-curve to windward. Think of fore-reaching as a very active tactic for sailing into and through the weather. John Kretschmer (author of Sailing a Serious Ocean) lists fore-reaching as his go-to tactic for coping with truly severe weather, including large breaking waves.
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| A depiction of fore-reaching from SAIL Magazine |
Heaving-To
Heaving-to is a tactic that allows the sailboat to slow forward progress almost completely while requiring no input from the crew once the sails and rudder are set. Depending on conditions and your specific boat, you’ll likely still crab at about 1-2 knots to leeward, but things are slow and usually settled. Essentially, the sails and rudder are set so they are in balance and cancel each other out. The headsail typically gets back-winded while the rudder is held so the boat wants to turn to windward [For more details about heaving-to, you can read this earlier post].
This is a tactic we've practiced on multiple occasions and used for quick lunch breaks and rests while day sailing. While I haven't hove-to in high winds and storm conditions, it might be what comes to mind first since I'm comfortable with how our boat behaves and have practiced enough to potentially pull it off under the stress of a thumping gale.
The following are some considerations for heaving-to as a storm tactic (i.e. riding out the weather):
- Do you have enough sea room to allow the boat to crab slowly to leeward? The answer will obviously vary depending on your distance shore, the direction of the wind/current, and the longevity of the storm conditions. Remember, heaving-to is a passive tactic, so you’ve got to be o.k. with letting the boat do its thing while you hunker down in the cabin.
- Are your sails and rigging up to the task? As with many storm tactics, your sails and rigging will be subjected to high loads and chafe. Is your boat equipped with storm sails that can handle strong winds and potential flogging? Our boat's sails wouldn't be up to the task of remaining hove-to for hours on end, but I'm confident that I could ride out a short summer squall.
- How well does your particular boat heave-to and will it remain hove-to without putting your beam to the seas? Large swells and breaking waves can be trouble for a boat that doesn’t like to heave-to.
Running-Off
Running-off means to run downwind, either with reduced sails or under bare poles if the wind is too powerful. If the waves aren’t too gnarly and you’ve got room or your destination is downwind anyway, then running-off seems like a decent option. We’ve all experienced the calming effect of a downwind run in “normal” conditions, so this tactic seems appealing up to a point. John Kretschmer, an accomplished and respected offshore sailor, views running-off as one of the very best short-term storm tactics and uses it often on his own passages.
Considerations for running-off:
- Do you have sea room to run off? That is, is there land, shallow water or other dangers downwind of your position that make this tactic unadvisable? Furthermore, will running off simply serve to keep you in the path of the storm longer than an alternative tactic?
- Can you maintain steering with the wind and waves on your stern quarters or directly abaft?
- Do you need to deploy a drogue or warps to slow your forward speed in order to maintain control and keep from being overpowered by the waves?
- Are you up for the physically exhausting challenge of manually steering your ship for potentially hours or days on end?
Lying ahull seems like the most passive and least favored tactic among the experts, at least for monohulls. It basically boils down to taking down all the canvas and securing hatches/ports while locking the rudder to windward and putting yourself at the total mercy of the storm. Again, depending on your boat’s design, you may find yourself lying ahull with the waves directly on your beam…not how I’d choose to ride it out. At best, this will be uncomfortable. At worst, you’ll be faced with repeated knock downs, pounding waves and even the real potential for a roll over. More modern designs with fin keels may find that the windage of bare poles is enough to keep the bow at least partially pointed to the weather and waves, which could make lying a hull more bearable…until the waves get really large and start to break. Note - lying a hull seems to be considered a more acceptable and safer tactic for moderate to large multihulls.
Given the passive nature of this tactic, rough motion and potential for a roll-over, I'm not sure I'd ever be ok with giving this a try unless I was too injured to for other tactics or damage to the boat (blown out sails, broken rudder, etc.) dictated that lying ahull was the only option.
Motoring
Here's a tactic that isn't mentioned by the experts as far as I can tell, so maybe I shouldn't even include it in this post. Still, it seems like something that could come to mind, particularly for new sailors who aren't fully comfortable with sailing yet somehow find themselves in a squall or worse.
On the surface, it may seem like just firing up the iron genny and pointing the bow towards safety is a simple solution. But as sailors, you all know that a sailboat is MUCH more balanced and stable with the sails up and the engine off. This may be lessened in storm conditions because of wave action, powerful wind and the fact that you sometimes can't have sails up (i.e. they're shredded or the wind is simply too strong). But the point is, several of the aforementioned tactics will likely provide better balance and control, which leads to increased safety. Furthermore, running the engine in these conditions probably isn't sustainable because of fuel limitations and the stress on the engine itself from operating at extreme angles of heel (think lubrication).
Perhaps in coastal conditions when dealing with a passing squall, motoring may be an option in some instances, but relying on the engine in offshore storm conditions wreaks of ill-preparation or signals something has going terrible wrong (dismasting?).
And don't forget to practice your man-overboard procedures!
We never left port on this particular day,
but could we have sailed in this if we had to?
Here are some excellent resources on sailing in heavy weather and dealing with storms. I've included each of these as a resource not only because they are from notable experts, but because they also each represent different and sometimes contradicting philosophies and perspectives for storm sailing. Each gives details about the tactics shown above and provides the specific experiences and examples of using the tactics. I found it interesting to compare the slight differences in how each expert implements a particular tactic and which tactics are favored by each particular person.
Books
Podcasts
Training
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Picture This: Chart Art
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| Chart Art (Lake Michigan) by K. Walters |
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Julbo Wave Review
"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." - Jonathan Swift
Sailors have great vision, speaking from a mental perspective. We see what's beyond the horizon. We see the journey being equally important as the destination.
Physical vision is important while sailing too, so it makes sense to invest in a quality pair of sunglasses that can combat the intense glare off the water and UV rays from the sky. But can't any frame and lens do that just about the same as any other? Maybe on land, but when you factor in spray and wind bombarding your eyes and the high level of activity sometimes required to sail a boat in challenging conditions, a specialized pair of sunglasses begins to make more sense.
Julbo Wave sunglasses handle the job of providing excellent optics by cutting glare and protecting your eyes extremely well, thanks to quality vented and polarized lenses that are light weight and shock resistant. That's all great, but again, there are many sunglasses on the market with good polarized lenses for use on the water.
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| Your humble SFLF author sporting Julbo Waves on a calm day |
So what makes the Julbo Wave special?
First, there's a cephalopod. A multi-armed mollusk, you say? In name only actually, but what Julbo's Octopus lenses do uniquely feature is "NTS technology" to darken or lighten with the ambient conditions, regardless of temperature. And then Julbo adds a water-shedding hydrophobic coating that keeps spray, rain and the occasional breaking wave from blurring the lens. There's also an oil-repellent coating to prevent finger prints, something that drives me crazy with most sunglasses!
Hannah and I tried a simple splash test on the Octopus lens. They shed water nicely and dry spot free.
But wait, there's more!
The Julbo Wave has a sporty appearance out of the box, but you can change from a sporty look to sporty function by adding the protective frame skirt and floating head strap. Now you've got sunglasses with an excellent watersports lens that function more like goggles. The skirt keeps water, spray and direct wind from reaching your eyeballs, while the strap holds everything in place even during ultra-active deck work or capsizing in a small keel boat (Laser, Butterfly, etc.). And the whole package floats, which is always a good feature for sailing gear.
With skirt and strap in place, you'll look like you're ready for some serious action. Which is to say, you probably don't want that look if you're lounging at anchor or schmoozing at the marina. No worries...Simply remove the skirt/strap and you've got a stylish, if not a bit large frame that will still draw some attention.
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| The Wave's skirt and strap installed. |
Want a pair of Wave sunglasses?
This kind of versatility doesn't come cheap at about $190 retail. Julbo also offers the Wave with a standard polarized lens (non-Octopus) for $120. Both versions comes with the snap-on frame skirt and sport strap.
Usually choosing apparel like sunglasses is a very subjective decision based on personal style preferences, but it's a no brainer for me to recommend the Julbo Wave simply because of all the function they bring for sailing and water sports.
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| The full package included with Julbo Wave sunglasses |
Looking for addition reviews of sunglasses suitable for sailing? Here are some previous reviews we've done:
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Three New Modern Cruising Sailboats Unlike Any Others
"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." - Margaret Mead
Sailors are often traditionalists and sailboats are often traditional in design. I'm perfectly ok with that. In fact, many of my favorite designs are quite traditional, often to a fault. But there are a few new cruising sailboats that have caught my eye and even made me scratch my head lately. It must be boat show season too, because I'm suddenly feeling like a sailing rag editor.
Broadblue Rapier 550
At first glance, the Rapier 550 looks similar to many other large modern cruising cats, but trust me, this one is truly unlike any other. Look just a bit closer at the exterior and you'll see sharp reverse bows. This boat actually appears to have a shorter length-on-deck than the waterline length. You'll also probably notice a smallish cockpit with a large slider door into the main cabin. What you'll notice is conspicuously absent from the exterior is much of the running rigging.
Why is it unlike any other cruising sailboat? The last sentence above should have tipped you off. All of the Rapier 550's control lines are lead to a carbon fiber compression post in the center of the main cabin. Jib sheets, traveler lines and all other sail control lines are found here on the inside and are controlled via electronic switches and winches. There's even an onboard computer system that can be set with pre-determined limits so the boat is automatically de-powered (sails let out, etc.) if the conditions become too much.
Take a look at that "helm". Is that the helm of a cruising sailboat or the driver's seat of an auto racing video game? The small Momo wheel might be cool on an 80's Supra or trendy on a souped-up Civic, but the look doesn't seem right for a sailboat. Tacking simply involves turning the wheel and pushing a button. Easy, but it barely qualifies as sailing. Toby Hodges from Yachting World said the boat felt a bit disconnected and foreign under sail. I haven't been aboard a Rapier 550, but that description seems to fit what I see.
Broadblue bills the Rapier 550 as "The Future of Performance Cruising", but to me it seems more like something a powerboater may opt for if they had a desire to cruise fast and far on a big budget. Interesting design concept, but I have a feeling that most sailors with this budget and desire for a 55-foot cat would opt for the Gunboat 55 if they want speed, and perhaps a Lagoon 560 S2 for max comfort in a production cat.
Varianta 37
Apple's iPhone has always been one of the top performing smartphones on the market. It's always sold well too, but that doesn't mean they're affordable for everyone. Enter the iPhone 5C, a model that performs nearly on par with the 5/5s, but adds value by taking away a few features like the all-alumnium body to hit a price point and meet the needs of a slightly different market. That's kind of how I think of the Varianta 37.
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| Varianta...Very plain, but very functional. |
Based on the hull molds of the Hanse 375, the Varianta 37 is a somewhat stripped down boat that still offers good performance and most of the space and amenities required for cruising. The benefit to this approach is a new 37-footer with a Hanse pedigree/hull for a sailaway price of $132k (more for a model delivered to the U.S.). For perspective, a new Catalina 385 costs about $215k, a Bavaria 37 is about $197k, the new Hunter 37 is north of $175k, and the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379 is somewhere between $175k-$245k, depending on options.
Why is it unlike any other cruising sailboat? "Simple" and "agile" are words that describe the Varianta. She's also a bit plain looking with the lack of a factory cove stripe or any other hull graphics. Not only has the cove stripe been removed, but there must be other "stuff" taken off too, because the displacement is about 1,000 pounds less than the Hanse 375 she's based on. Joinery work in the cabin is at a bare minimum and the look is very white and spartan...like an Ikea showroom. In fact, you can even opt for bean bag style settees in place of traditional foam cushions in the salon. Most systems are as simple as they can possibly be while still maintaining functionality.
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| Aisle 7 at Ikea or main salon of the Varianta 37? |
So the feature that makes the Varianta 37 unique is actually a lack of features found on more expensive boats. But don't confuse this lack of features and a lower price point with shoddy workmanship or questionable build quality. SAIL Magazine and Yachting World both report that the boat seems structurally robust and at least up to Hanse's normal reputation in the production sailboat world. While I'm guessing the Varianta will probably do well in the charter market and as a trainer for sailing schools, I'm willing to bet she'll also become a a decent option for budget minded cruisers who want a new boat, but don't want to spend the ~$200k that a 37-footer typically commands. Kinda reminds me of the kit boats that were popular with cruisers in the 1970's.
Neel 45
The popularity of multihulls among cruisers (and bareboat charters) is validated by simply scanning any popular anchorage in the Caribbean. For many, the allure of vast cabin spaces, multihull stability and the potential for monohull-besting performance is tough to pass up. Still, multihulls, whether they be catamarans or trimarans, have always seemed a bit radical.
Now along comes a large cruising trimaran that pushes the edge of what is considered radical, even by traditional multihull standards. The Neel 45 is the offspring of Eric Bruneel, former general manager for cruising catamaran giant Fountain-Pajot.
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| The Neel 45 flying a hull on an easy reach |
Why is it unlike any other cruising sailboat? First, this is a legitimate world cruising trimaran. How many of those do you know of? Then, there's performance. The Neel 45 reportedly makes 10+ knots easily on most points of sail and averaged 230NM days on a recent transatlantic crossing. Next is the very unique look and layout. This isn't your typical v-berth forward, salon amidships and galley aft arrangement found on many cruisers.
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| Cabin layout for the Neel 45 |
The Neel 45 is a unique boat that I'm guessing will require a unique buyer. But if you value speed, and want something different from a name with a reputation (Eric Bruneel), then this might be your boat. Want to learn more? Visit Neel Trimarans.
So there you have it: a monohull, a cat, and a trimaran all breaking new ground in the cruising sailboat realm. Cool boats, but I'll still take a Hans Christian 33t and a nice starter fund for the cruising kitty.
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Deck Shoes or Dive Boots? Zhik ZK Boatshoe Review
If you're at all familiar with footwear for sailing from Zhik, their line of boots probably comes to mind first. But they also make a couple styles of deck shoes. I've recently been trying out the Zhik ZK Boatshoe and have to say, so far I'm impressed.
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The look of the ZK Boatshoe is fairly traditional (think Sperry Topsider/Sebago Docksides), but the build and materials are unique. Instead of canvas or leather, Zhik uses perforated neoprene for the uppers. The neoprene gives a snug and spongey feel and holds your foot firmly in place over the sole, but the upper stretches and contorts to your movements. I know that sounds strange, but it's actually really comfortable. The "ZK sole" uses a proprietary rubber formula to give excellent grip in wet conditions. It's a sticky sort of feel and is really reassuring on fiberglass and smooth surfaces. I'm not sure how long they'll stay sticky, particularly if I continue wearing them on the dock and on tera firma, but so far so good.
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Think of the ZK Boatshoe as a hybrid offspring of deckshoes and a dive boot. You get the timeless nautical style of the deckshoe without stiff leather. And you get the made-for-water toughness of the dive boot without the fashion disaster. Not digging the look of the ZK Boatshoe but like the idea of a super grippy sole and neoprene upper? Zhik also makes ZKGs that offer the same materials and the same sole (as far as I can tell), but with different styling.
The look of the ZK Boatshoe is fairly traditional (think Sperry Topsider/Sebago Docksides), but the build and materials are unique. Instead of canvas or leather, Zhik uses perforated neoprene for the uppers. The neoprene gives a snug and spongey feel and holds your foot firmly in place over the sole, but the upper stretches and contorts to your movements. I know that sounds strange, but it's actually really comfortable. The "ZK sole" uses a proprietary rubber formula to give excellent grip in wet conditions. It's a sticky sort of feel and is really reassuring on fiberglass and smooth surfaces. I'm not sure how long they'll stay sticky, particularly if I continue wearing them on the dock and on tera firma, but so far so good.
Think of the ZK Boatshoe as a hybrid offspring of deckshoes and a dive boot. You get the timeless nautical style of the deckshoe without stiff leather. And you get the made-for-water toughness of the dive boot without the fashion disaster. Not digging the look of the ZK Boatshoe but like the idea of a super grippy sole and neoprene upper? Zhik also makes ZKGs that offer the same materials and the same sole (as far as I can tell), but with different styling.
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From Dream to Reality - The BEST Sailing Locations
"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." - Walt Disney
I've been pondering favorite sailing locations and am finding it difficult to narrow the list to a reasonable number. I'm beginning to realize that the problem isn't necessarily that the Great Lakes are an amazing cruising ground (they are!) full of "best locations", but rather that my true favorites are usually the last place we visited or the next place we're planning to sail to.
The reality is that the memories of quality family time spent getting there and being there make just about any place we've sailed part of my "best" list. Old Walt had it right when he singled out people as the key ingredient.
Still, I'll give it a shot to identify just one location in response to LOOK's quest to find the world's best/most exotic sailing locations (see here) based solely on places I've visited on my own sailboat.
The one place that stands out among all others I've visited is that one little gunkhole on the south side of South Benjamin Island. This spot is truly nature's own pink granite marina with slips carved into the rocks by 1,000's of years worth of wave action.
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| Hard to beat watching Hannah and Izzy scrambling on coastal boulders |
Yup, South Benjamin has all the boxes checked for a classic "best sailing location":
- Island location - Check!
- Protected anchorage - Check!
- Beautiful scenery - Check!
- Crystal clear water - Check!
- Wilderness ambience - Check!
We've spent time here on a couple of different occasions, once in the company of other cruisers and once in complete family solitude. Both were great experiences.
If you decide to visit, look for the narrow natural channel on the very south end of the island that cuts through from west to east and stay to the middle. As you wind your way through, you'll see plenty of tempting coves and nooks among the granite shoreline to tuck in for a night...or a week. Don't forget to look for the iron rungs embedded into some of the granite that can be used for a shore tie.
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| Welcome to the pink granite marina! That's s/v Island Bound in the background. Hopefully we'll take s/v Bearly-A-Wake there soon too! |
Once settled in, you'll enjoy hiking on the giant pink rocks, exploring the little pine forests that dot the island, and collecting wild blueberries for pancakes the next morning. I'm sure you'll also find plenty of perfect places for a sundowner campfire among the bowls in the granite. As evening falls, watch for ursine creatures coming down to the water on the main part of the island to the north and keep an eye skyward for stars so bright and clear you'd swear they're heavenly LED's.
I guess it's no surprise that I've written about South Benjamin Island several times before, so if you're planning a visit or want more details to help you decide, try here and here.
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I've seen the light - Imtra Gibraltar PowerLED
For a sailboat from the late 1980's, we think s/v Bearly-A-Wakestill shows and performs very well. This is partly due to the builder (Catalina Yachts) choosing mostly quality fittings, and largely due to regular maintenance and upgrades. One of the original fittings that still functions just fine, but actually is showing some age is the plastic light fixture in the head. The plastic casing is turning yellow and the incandescent bulbs inside are the last remaining non-LEDs in the cabin. Time for an upgrade!
I recently removed the old plastic fixture and replaced it with Imtra's Gilbraltar PowerLED dome light. I chose the warm white with red bi-color model, so it has an on/off toggle that can switch between white light and red for times when we'll want to keep our night vision intact. Also note, this fixture has double gaskets for splash protection, so you could potentially install one in the cockpit too. Hopefully those gaskets will never get tested in our head, but you never know what's flying about when you go below in snotty weather.
The first thing I noticed when removing the Gibraltar from the packaging is the polished stainless bezel and solid glass frosted lens that give this fixture a heft that's lacking in the all-plastic fixture I replaced. It looks both classy and durable, but time will have to tell.
Installation was simple. Just use the paper template provided by Imtra to choose an appropriate mounting location and drill the two 3/8" clearance holes for the casing nuts, splice the red and black lead wires to the feeds, and secure the fixture with the three provided screws. This particular model is flush mounted (except for the clearance holes) and comes with a soft rubber/foam gasket to help create a seal. In addition to the red positive lead and black negative lead, there is also a white (+) dimmer lead and a grey (-) dimmer lead. Since I won't be using mine on a dimmer, I didn't connect these two wires, but the option is there for those want to be able to dim the light.
I'm very happy with the new, clean look and the brighter (equal to 25W halogen) lighting in the head. I'm also pleased to now feature a cabin with all LED lighting, which will hopefully save us power and maintenance. So is there a downside to this upgrade? Only if you're on a tight budget because the Gibraltar will set you back $229 USD, though a similar G4 halogen model is available for $79 USD. Kind of makes you wish these fixtures came standard from the factory.
Want more info about these fixtures? Practical Sailor recently bestowed an Editor's Choice award to the Gibraltar PowerLED (May/June 2014).
For the specs nerds:
Warm white (2850K) / Red Bi-Color
Power Consumption: 5.5W
Voltage: 10-30VDC
Dimmer Interface: Pulse Width Modulation
Dimmensions: Trim ring = 6.5" diameter, Height = 1.42"
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| Out with the old... |
I recently removed the old plastic fixture and replaced it with Imtra's Gilbraltar PowerLED dome light. I chose the warm white with red bi-color model, so it has an on/off toggle that can switch between white light and red for times when we'll want to keep our night vision intact. Also note, this fixture has double gaskets for splash protection, so you could potentially install one in the cockpit too. Hopefully those gaskets will never get tested in our head, but you never know what's flying about when you go below in snotty weather.
The first thing I noticed when removing the Gibraltar from the packaging is the polished stainless bezel and solid glass frosted lens that give this fixture a heft that's lacking in the all-plastic fixture I replaced. It looks both classy and durable, but time will have to tell.
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| ...In with the new. |
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| Are your pupils dilated? |
I'm very happy with the new, clean look and the brighter (equal to 25W halogen) lighting in the head. I'm also pleased to now feature a cabin with all LED lighting, which will hopefully save us power and maintenance. So is there a downside to this upgrade? Only if you're on a tight budget because the Gibraltar will set you back $229 USD, though a similar G4 halogen model is available for $79 USD. Kind of makes you wish these fixtures came standard from the factory.
Want more info about these fixtures? Practical Sailor recently bestowed an Editor's Choice award to the Gibraltar PowerLED (May/June 2014).
For the specs nerds:
Warm white (2850K) / Red Bi-Color
Power Consumption: 5.5W
Voltage: 10-30VDC
Dimmer Interface: Pulse Width Modulation
Dimmensions: Trim ring = 6.5" diameter, Height = 1.42"
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Picture This: Getting to the Point
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| Getting to the Point by K. Walters |
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A Sailing Rockstar - Fugoo Bluetooth Speaker Review
"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." - Bob Marley
Do you listen to music while you sail? Or perhaps you play tunes in the cockpit during sundowners. Maybe you like to kick some beats at the beach when you go ashore. No matter the circumstance, having a small portable Bluetooth speaker opens the possibilities for more time spent enjoying the music you like.
I can hear some of you asking, "Why do I need a Bluetooth speaker when I've already got a perfectly good stereo and fixed-mount speakers on my boat?" I can think of many advantages of a portable Bluetooth speaker for sailing. To name a few, try these:
- Beach music - You can bring a Bluetooth speaker with you when you go to shore.
- Dinghy music - Ditto. Now your dinghy has a sound system too.
- Dock music - Ever want to have tunes on the dock or up at the marina grill?
- Digital music library - Does your boat stereo have a connection for your phone or iPod? If not, a Bluetooth speaker allows you to play digital music from your device library and other sources like Pandora and Spotify
- Energy savings - Using a portable Bluetooth speaker saves your house batteries
- Non-boating uses - A Bluetooth speaker can be used at home too for backyard bbq's, etc.
The Fugoo (rhymes with "who knew") speaker is touted as being shockproof, snowproof, sandproof and waterproof to 3 feet for up to 30 minutes. Much of this "proofing" comes from the components being shock-mounted on reinforced case materials and protected by impact absorbing end caps on all eight corners. The speaker itself is essentially an internal core that is then covered with a choice of jacket designs, including the Sport model I tested. The base Style model lists for $199 and features a fiber/cloth shell. The Sport ($199) has a fiber-reinforced resin shell with rubber trim for added impact protection. And finally, the Tough model ($229) is crafted from resin and aluminum, creating the highest level of durability (I've seen a video of it being run over by a Jeep without issue).
I could go on about other technical features like dynamic EQ, magnetic ferrofluid, and passive radiators, but wouldn't you rather just see the results of Hannah and I dunking the Fugoo underwater?
Come Sail Away, indeed!
As you can see, the Fugoo is happy to swim and keep on playing music (and hold the Bluetooth connection) without much fuss. I'm not sure how Fugoo managed to keep water from entering via the open mini-USB charging port, but I'm happy to report they've done it.
Putting aside all of the ruggedness and suitability for a watery environment, the Fugoo also boasts really good sound quality, at least to my ears. Music comes through clear and crisp with no noticeable distortion, even at full volume. However, full volume may not be loud enough for some if you're hoping to share your music with the entire anchorage. For most, the volume range is plenty for what you'll require onboard.
The sound comes from two tweeters for highs, two woofers for midrange sound and two passive radiators for modest bass. Fugoo's press materials specifiy 95 dB, but the highest I attained was 91 dB using the Decibel 10th app on my iPhone. Another nice feature is that this speaker is set up for 360 degrees of sound, so you don't necessarily have to have it pointed in one direction or another to hear it. Omnidirectional!
Battery life is listed as 40 hours at 50% volume on continuous play. I didn't let it play for that long continuously, but we've been using it off and on now for a couple of weeks and still haven't exhausted the initial charge.
What about accessories? There are a few really cool accessories to make the Fugoo even more useful. The one I've been trying out is the Bike Mount, which actually is perfect for attaching the Fugoo to a stanchion or the steering binnacle, as long as your tube diameters are between 7/8" and 1 1/4". You can also get a wireless remote control and other mounts.
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| Bike (stanchion) mount |
I really like the Fugoo speaker, but to be a true review, I've got to come up with some nitpicks too, right? First, the price. Starting at nearly $200 makes this one of the most expensive options for a portable Bluetooth speaker, so you've really got to value the rugged/waterproof design. And speaking of design, I felt like the form factor is a bit large considering some of the competition. Size for a Bluetooth speaker might be subjective, but it also represents a trade-off between portability and sound quality. So far I haven't run across a smaller speaker with better sound than the Fugoo, let alone the protection the Fugoo offers from the wet environs of a sailboat. So maybe the Fugoo's 1.1 lbs and roughly ~8" length strikes the proper balance.
In any case - Sport, Style, Tough - the Fugoo is a high quality choice for serving up sailing music.
Pros: durability, sound quality, battery life
Cons: cost, size (for some)
Bottom Line: A speaker that delivers music to the sailing experience in all conditions
>>Click here to get your Fugoo and read reviews from Amazon.com<<
Find SFLF's other sailing gear reviews here.
Find SFLF's other sailing gear reviews here.
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Picture This: Lines
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| Lines by Hannah Walters (Kudos to my daughter for these macro shots) |
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Nautical Scout Collapsible Gear (and giveaway!)
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." - Steve Jobs
Storage space seems to be a limiting factor on many cruising sailboats. Because of this, many of us are forced to make tradeoffs. Should we leave both side decks open or cram one full with a SUP lashed to the stanchions? Do we want to bring along the spinnaker and play musical sail bags when it’s not in use, or should we leave it at home and curse the light air?
On our particular boat, a Catalina 34, storage tradeoffs often occur in the galley since lockers are limited there. So naturally I was eager to get my hands on some of the collapsible cookware from Nautical Scout. I tried the tea kettle over the weekend and came away impressed with the quality and how little the collapsibility effects overall function as cookware. It simply extends up from the 2.4” collapsed position in a second or two and is ready for duty as a 5-cup kettle (5.5” tall, 6” wide). I boiled a full kettle of water on our stove and didn’t have any issues pouring into a coffee cup, though the food-grade silicone does get slightly more flexible when filled with hot water. The kettle’s bottom (as with the other collapsible cookware available from Nautical Scout) is made of stainless steel. This little kettle will become part of our morning coffee routine while anchored out and make pouring through a filter screen into a coffee cup much safer than pouring directly from the sauce pan we’ve been using.
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The other collapsible product I tried out was a 1.85 gallon bucket, also from Nautical Scout. This is a product that will get some serious use on our boat. We use a bucket to wash our decks, take showers in the cockpit, rinse laundry on the hook, collect beach treasures when ashore, and bail the dinghy after a hard rain. The 2” collapsed height will make it a welcome addition to the cockpit lazarette. When fully expanded, the bucket measures 7.75” high and has a maximum width of 11.5” at the top.
The best space-saving bucket I’ve used before this collapsible one was a bucket made of canvas. However, the canvas buckets don’t hold their form as well and tend to accumulate the dirt, oil and soap they are exposed to. The 100% food grade silicone from the collapsible bucket seems completely impervious to soap and dirt, something I hope proves to be true with time.
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And I’m not the only one who likes these new collapsible products. My kids are oddly entertained by collapsing and then expanding the bucket and kettle repeatedly as if they were magicians. I'm not quite sure they care about the space-saving benefits of the design, but they're certainly impressed by the collapsing action.
Want a chance to win a free collapsible kettle from Nautical Scout? Simply share the link to this review on your blog, Facebook page or Twitter account and send us an email with your name. We'll choose one winner at random in 2 weeks to receive a free collapsible tea kettle.
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Quirks & Perks of Sailing with My All-Female Crew
"What would men be without women? Scarce, sir...mighty scarce." - Mark Twain
Sometimes there are comments from the peanut gallery as we walk down the docks. “He’s gonna be in trouble when they get older”, they say. Or “He’s severely outnumbered!” For the record, I'm usually agreeing with these comments in my head.
What the peanut gallery has noticed is that I lead (and am lead by) an all-female crew. Things aren't any different on land either since even our cat is a female. I am blessed and THANKFUL to be surrounded in such a way and so, I thought I would share some of my observations as the only male onboard.
First, some heartfelt introspection. My wife and three daughters ensure that I'll always have an identity, that my calling in this world isn't hidden or perceived in my own mind as being scarce. I'm thankful every day for the opportunity to be a husband and father to three girls.
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| Hannah, Soleil, Erin and Isabel guiding my ship. |
My all-female crew provide me a real sense of purpose. Because of them, there's more to sailing than just leaving the harbor, hoisting the sails and allowing the wind to carry the boat to the next harbor. There are lessons to learn, views to share, boredom to overcome, fears to set aside, and memories to make. Come to think of it, those last few sentences are a good metaphor for our life away from sailing too.
As a humble and probably all too often introvert (Wannabe hermit?), the females in my crew keep me in touch with the social side of sailing and humanity. Whether it’s singing at the top of our lungs in the cabin or socializing with power boaters in a marina clubhouse, my crew pushes me out of my comfort zone. I try to return the favor by occasionally dipping the rail in the water or having one of them take the helm around the docks.
Here's some other quirks and perks I've picked up on:
- I'm never short-handed. There's always a willing partner to heave a line, wash the deck, or help with the helm. Girls dig boats too and mine are definitely able seawomen.
- When a scream comes from the cabin at the sight of a spider (the BIG creepy nautical types!), I can easily lay blame on one of the females. "Wasn't me! I'm not afraid of spiders!"
- The females on our boat tend to ask questions that might otherwise go unasked by the captain, even when he doesn't know the answer. This is good. The captain learns this way.
- The little ones open me up with their innocence and unknowingly remind me to be amazed at my surroundings. So what if I'm not sailing around the world? The blue water we're on is still beautiful.
- My wife helps me to be me, and even encourages it!
- Have I mentioned that I’m the only one in our crew that can easily pee over the rail? Using the head is fine, but it’s not a necessity for me!
- Sailing requires patience. Parenting demands patience. I'm learning to become more patient to the benefit of both.
I historically lean towards the typical male "fight or flight" response to stress, whereas Erin and the girls are more "tend and befriend" in their approach. Over the years I've shifted to the middle, which seems best for dealing with sailing's stressors such as weather, unreliable engines and power boaters (kidding!). I owe this shift to my crew.
A few years back I saw a comparison of sample diary entries from a fictional husband and wife used to illustrate the difference in the male and female mentality. Maybe you've seen it? I'm going to share my own version of some fictional log entries from Erin and I for the same purpose. Here goes:
Log of s/v Bearly-A-Wake; July 10, 2014 by Erin
Weather was fine today - mostly sunny with moderate wind. Sailing was very relaxing and I was able to read more than half of a novel on the 5 hour passage to South Manitou Island. The girls played for hours on deck with Matchbox cars, pretending each had it's own name and personality. Soleil napped for 1.5 hours in the v-berth but was eventually awoken when Izzy dropped a car through the overhead hatch. Kevin seemed unusually distant this evening. He was in his element during the sail, smiling and loving every second of the long beam reach to the anchorage on the island, but now his mood has disappeared. Was it something I said? Did the Matchbox cars strewn all over the deck or the Polly Pockets littered in the cabin push him over the limit? I wonder if he's concerned about the approaching low pressure system to the north. We cooked an excellent pasta dinner and ate together in the cockpit, but he didn't say much. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. After dinner he just sat there for a while, staring at the horizon. He was clearly distracted and his thoughts are elsewhere.
Log of s/v Bearly-A-Wake; July 10, 2014 by Kevin
Dinghy outboard won't start...can't figure out why.
In reality, our dinghy motor has always run just fine and SailFarLiveFree.com is as close as we have to a ship's log. My point with the above fictitious log entries is that Erin and I (and likely our daughters too) think differently and sometimes on different levels. Some of that is just who we are, and some is due to our genders, I'm certain. The cool thing is that our thought processes are usually complimentary when we're sailing.
All I really know is that I am thankful for my family and am a better sailor and person for having them in my life.
What about you and your crew?
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Jump Start Your Sailing - Genius Boost GB30 Lithium Review
There are cool hi-tech gadgets for cruising and then there are must-have accessories. But how many of those cool hi-tech gadgets are must-haves? Thankfully, not many. I'm not sure sailing and cruising would be quite as satisfying if we all needed cutting edge gear to make it happen. After all, many of us like the fact that at the core, it just takes a little wind and a simple craft to sail far and live free.
Want more cool features? The GB30 also includes a built-in bright dual LED flashlight with 7 modes (SOS, emergency strobe, flashlight beam, etc.). Charging the unit is done with the included 40" USB to micro USB cable. The cable can also be used to power and charge other accessories (such as laptops, phones, tablets, etc.) from the GB30. The unit itself can hold 70% of its rated capacity for up to one year. While not completely waterproof, the GB30 does carry the IP65 water resistant rating and has port covers, so it'll be just fine on a boat as long as you don't submerge it.
I'm very impressed with the Genius Boost. It's safe, powerful and compact. Just what I want in a jump starter for the car or boat.
Want your own Genius Boost GB30? Get it here through our Amazon affiliate link and help support our website without paying any extra:
However, Noco's tiny Genius Boost GB30 lithium jumpstarter has very quickly become a must-have hi-tech gadget on our boat. We've all run down engine starter batteries, whether in your automobile or sailboat. In fact, between Erin and I, our automobile has required a jump start no less than 4 times during the last 12 months. We haven't ever ended up with a dead battery on our sailboat (we have 3 total: 2 house, 1 starter), but I'm happy to have the added insurance of the GB30.
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| Genius Boost - Tiny, portable jump starting power! |
The Genius Boost GB30 jump starter is amazing, particularly if you're familiar with the large, heavy traditional jump starters that are essentially like carrying around an extra lead-acid group 24 battery with jumper cables built-in. The GB30 is lithium-ion powered so it weighs only 1 pound (Yes - One pound!). At that size, you're probably thinking there must be a power trade-off. Nope. This thing has a peak current rating of 400A and can be used for up to 20 jump starts on a single charge. At that size and with the power to start just about any sailboat's auxiliary engine, why wouldn't you carry this in your emergency gear?
But perhaps the best feature is that this jump starter is extremely safe. The processor inside the GB30 includes thermal sensors and power management, so it won't produce any spark or boost until it is correctly hooked up, as indicated by the LED lights on top of the unit. You can touch the clamps together and nothing happens. No reverse polarity worries either.
Hooking the GB30 up correctly is simple too. Just hook the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative terminal on your dead starter battery. The internal processor senses the correct connections and illuminates the LED to indicate you're ready to start the engine.
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| Genius Boost GB30 ready to start our Honda Pilot |
I haven't tried jump starting our Universal M-25XPB diesel (3-cylinder, 1 liter) with the GB30, but I did successfully jump our Honda Pilot (6-cylinder, 3.5 liter) 3 times for this review. I purposely ran down the battery overnight by leaving on the interior map lights. By morning, the battery was so dead the ignition just clicked when I turned the key, but the engine didn't even attempt to turn over. The GB30 got it started immediately (see video below). I then tried starting again with the GB30 with the headlights, air conditioning and radio all on. It didn't jump to life quite as quickly, but it did fire up after about 4-5 seconds. There are even a couple of YouTube videos showing the GB30 jumping cars with the battery totally removed. Suffice it say, I don't think I'll have any problems jumping our little sailboat diesel if the need ever arises.
Want more cool features? The GB30 also includes a built-in bright dual LED flashlight with 7 modes (SOS, emergency strobe, flashlight beam, etc.). Charging the unit is done with the included 40" USB to micro USB cable. The cable can also be used to power and charge other accessories (such as laptops, phones, tablets, etc.) from the GB30. The unit itself can hold 70% of its rated capacity for up to one year. While not completely waterproof, the GB30 does carry the IP65 water resistant rating and has port covers, so it'll be just fine on a boat as long as you don't submerge it.
I'm very impressed with the Genius Boost. It's safe, powerful and compact. Just what I want in a jump starter for the car or boat.
Want your own Genius Boost GB30? Get it here through our Amazon affiliate link and help support our website without paying any extra:
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An Interview with Andy Schell from 59-North
“Offshore, it’s all about expectations. If you expect life onboard to be like life at home, you won’t enjoy it and you probably won’t be successful at creating it. It’s supposed to be an adventure, so treat it like such.”
–Andy Schell
–Andy Schell
I started SailFarLiveFree.com to document and share my passion for sailing, but also as a tool to help me grow and learn as a sailor. This is one of those blog posts where I get to sit back and learn from a pro, literally a sailing professional.
I’m pleased to present an interview I recently did with Andy Schell from 59-North.com. For those of you who don’t know Andy, he has connected his passion for sailing with a career. Andy and his wife Mia help organize and manage cruising rallies, perform yacht deliveries, and offer ocean passage/crewing opportunities. Andy also produces an excellent sailing podcast (59 North podcast) and is currently a Contributing Editor for SAIL Magazine.
I want to say THANKS up front to Andy for taking time to participate in the interview while he’s down in St. Lucia for the ARC!
An Interview with Andy Schell, by Kevin Walters from SailFarLiveFree.com
Kevin (SFLF): You and your wife Mia manage the U.S. office of the World Cruising Club and are event managers for several cruising rallies (Caribbean 1500, ARC USA, etc.). What are some of the benefits of cruising in organized events and joining clubs as opposed to just striking out on your own, so to speak? I expect shared resources (weather, route planning, etc.) and social perks will be part of your answer, but can you expand on those and give us a few others?
Andy (59-North): Rally benefits are pretty well-known at this point – weather forecasting (which I should say, is notweather routing), tracking, shore support and an active website for family and friends, not to mention the social parties and networking we facilitate.
But what many American sailors and rally detractors miss is the simple fact that a rally, at least the kind that we run, is an event. Mia and I are runners, and we compare it to running a marathon – the whole atmosphere having other like-minded people around striving for the same kinds of goals is electric and inspiring. That’s the intangibles of the event that you cannot simply describe to someone, and which makes it difficult for us to sell to a skeptic. You just have to be there to experience it.
I think the biggest advantage is the fact that rally owners have made a commitment, have a start date and have a definite goal to strive for rather than just a ‘one of these days’ kind of dream. People every event talk about how nice it was to have that deadline looming on the horizon that they could strive for. It’s like an idea I talked about on my essay podcast last week– once you announce your dreams to the world, you’re now accountable for them, and they become easier to accomplish. The idea that the universe conspires to help you once you’ve announced your intentions, I believe, is a real thing.
That said, rallies aren’t for everyone, and not all rallies are created equal (hear my rant about the Salty Dawgs on my podcast). There are some people who just don’t like the feeling that they’re being told what to do, despite our best-practice regulations, and we’ll never convince those guys to join us, and that’s okay. We want the guys who are happy to be there (the Canadians have been awesome in the Caribbean 1500!), and who add to the whole supportive and inspiring feeling of the event. Yes, it costs money to join, but the folks who are mentally prepared to be there see the value as far outweighing the monetary cost, while the naysayers inevitably whine and complain that they aren’t getting enough.
I’d say the people best suited for a rally are the most social folks out there and the ones who have knowledge to share with others (that’s another misconception, that rallies are for newbies – tell that to someone like Rick Palm, who’s circumnavigated and done the 1500 a dozen times. For him, it’s about sharing his knowledge, and importantly, re-living that experience of going offshore for the first time vicariously through the other folks who haven’t yet done it. That’s a special energy) and the folks who are looking for advice on how to prepare and how to safely cross an ocean. The folks who think they already know it all, probably won’t enjoy it.
Kevin (SFLF): You also work as a delivery captain and offer offshore passage experiences. What can crew expect during one of these experiences in terms of learning opportunities, sailing conditions, etc.?
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| Andy sailing in New Zealand |
Kevin (SFLF): You also work as a delivery captain and offer offshore passage experiences. What can crew expect during one of these experiences in terms of learning opportunities, sailing conditions, etc.?
Andy (59-North): I sail the boat offshore. We won’t motor unless the wind dies completely (or we’re on a very tight delivery time schedule and the owner is paying for fuel!). Crew can expect to learn the intricacies of sail trim, how to make the boat sail fast and smoothly, how to properly navigate on paper (including celestial, if you’re interested!), and most importantly, how to enjoy an offshore passage philosophically and in the moment.
Crew get the opportunity to stand night watches alone (if they choose), one of my favorite parts of ocean sailing. I keep things very simple – it’s always about sailing the boat safely, quickly and efficiently above all else, especially electronics. Those used to staring at instruments and navigating on the chartplotter will get a little wakeup call sailing with me. And not to sound too arrogant, but crew I’ve sailed with have commended my ability to remain calm and have fun as a skipper. Plus, I love to experiment with sail combinations, sheeting ideas (like leading the genoa sheet through the mainsail boom end) and fly a variety of spinnakers. You’ll learn how to adapt to the conditions to make the boat sail fast. There is no rule book for this.
Weather-wise, well that’s down to the gods, but you can usually be assured of running the gamut on passages longer than a week. On this Caribbean trip I’m doing in February – BVI to Grenada and back on a Shannon 43– it’ll be Trade Wind sailing, close-reaching on the way down and getting our butts beat up, and broad-reaching on the way back, a reward for the upwind leg! Coming north on the Swan in Aprilwill be sailing between seasons – we’ll be in shorts when we leave, and we’ll likely see temperatures in the 30s on the Chesapeake, so we’ll have lots of gear for that one.
Kevin (SFLF): While many of us aspire to a cruising lifestyle, I think the next best thing may be to make a living through sailing and to be involved as a professional by helping others realize their cruising dreams. Do you view sailing as your long-term career? What parts of the "profession" do you enjoy the most (writing? deliveries? event management? etc.) and the least? Any realities or advice you can give to others wanting to find a way to support themselves with a connection to sailing?
Andy (59-North): I’ve been lucky to be able to cobble together what I call ‘half’ of a career within the sailing world (‘half’ referring to the money involved!). To be honest, Mia and I had planned to get jobs on bigger yachts, maybe run an 80-foot Oyster or something. But when I got my Yachtmaster, I failed the color vision test and couldn’t get a commercial endorsement (I pass the color standards in the US, to be clear). Because 80% of private yachts are foreign flagged, that option suddenly became pretty limited.
Around that same time, we got more involved with the rallies, working as event staff on the ARC and Caribbean 1500. I always hated rallies, actually, being a more independent-minded person privately. But I came to learn that there is a definite teaching aspect to running these events, and I really enjoy that aspect of it. Plus, it’s great fun helping them accomplish their dreams.
Long-term, good question! We want to have a family, so all of the travel we do doesn’t really jibe with a long-term career in sailing, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life (I went to college for Pro Golf Management and wanted to be a teaching pro!), and I still don't. A friend told me recently, ‘you weren’t worried about where you’d be in 5 years, 5 years ago. So don’t worry about the next 5 years.’ I think its excellent advice, and kind of how I view my career. So we’ll see what happens.
Deliveries and the passage making I like by far the best in the moment, but I also wouldn’t want to do it all the time. I like the back and forth time between being on the boat and being in the office, doing media stuff and other things, and especially the time spent planning future expeditions from back home. I cycle and run a lot when I’m home, and we live in Amish country in Pennsylvania, so when we’re away from sailing, we’re very far away! Media wise, the podcast is a blast, though doesn’t earn much income!
Which brings me to the realities of it. You’ll never get rich in the sailing world, unless you wind up at the very top, or pursue the superyacht route (which basically is selling your private life for a life afloat, something I never wanted to do). Writing wise, it’s easier to get published than you think – there are few good sailors who are also good writers – but again, you won’t make much money doing it. This is all reallya lifestyle-type career, but it works for us. Mia and I say all the time that it’s not what you earn, but what you spend. Check out mrmoneymustache.comfor my inspiration on that topic.
Finally, one more reality to point out is that when you sail for work, it’s still work! You run the risk of burning out (like I did with golf), and not enjoying the sport as you might were it just a hobby. That feeling comes and goes for me.
Kevin (SFLF):You and Mia have a combined 5 Atlantic crossings under your keel. Any advice/tips you can share generally for offshore passages and specific for the Atlantic? Obviously, this is a huge question with tons of possible answers, but can you boil it down to some of your best advice? To help narrow your answer, maybe you can touch on the mental side of going offshore since I noticed on your website that you're very interested in mentally preparing for ocean sailing.
Andy (59-North): Ocean sailing is at least 80% mental. And as you’ll read below, if you’ve got a well-maintained and outfitted boat, no matter the size or the type, you can safely cross an ocean. Beyond a certain threshold, it’s entirely about how comfortable you want to be.
With any ocean crossing, but particularly in the far north Atlantic, you’ve got to just be mentally prepared to be wet, cold, tired, hungry and seasick. You’ll have hellish lows, but they’re offset by heavenly highs. I’ve never been as frustrated and annoyed as I’ve been offshore, but I’ve also never been as happy. You have to learn that your mental state offshore is never permanent – your high will come down, your low will come back up.
You need to be prepared to hand-steer, and be prepared to go without some of the modern luxuries if you expect to make it from A to B. Stuff will break, and you need to learn how to function without it, how to decide what’s a luxury and what’s ‘mission critical’, otherwise you’ll either never leave the dock or you’ll continually turn back to fix the refrigerator. I emphasize the need to expect to hand-steer, because that’s sailing. Even if you’re double-handed, be prepared for it, and it will be exhausting. But it also adds a greater sense of accomplishment.
Gear-wise, a watertight and sound hull, bulletproof rig (including chainplates, mast tangs, sails, and running rigging), a good wind vane (I like the Cape Horn) and enough dry stored food to survive if the fridge quits or you lose propane will get you there. Anything more than that is just luxury, and so long as the boat is still sailing and not sinking, you can fix other issues when you arrive.
We’ve added on Arcturus a plug-in cool box fridge system and two 50W solar panels, just big enough to store milk and leftovers. We have an AIS receiver built into our VHF radio, and use paper charts with a handheld GPS hard-wired into the breaker panel so we don’t use so many AA batteries.
Offshore, it’s all about expectations. If you expect life onboard to be like life at home, you won’t enjoy it and you probably won’t be successful at creating it. It’s supposed to be an adventure, so treat it like such.
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| Andy and Arcturus nearing landfall in Ireland after an Atlantic crossing |
Kevin (SFLF):Cruising sailors and those dreaming of sailing away seem to eat up information, resources and shared experiences from other sailors, which is part of the reason I wanted to interview you here on SailFarLiveFree.com. Your 59-North podcast is an excellent resource with tons of cruising information delivered in a very professional and approachable format. Can you tell us what to expect with the podcast in the future (upcoming episodes, interviews, etc.) and highlight an episode or two that you're particularly proud of?
Andy (59-North): Thanks for the compliments! The podcast was always just a passion project. I listen to a ton or other podcasts myself, and was inspired to try doing one on my own. Plus, it’s an excuse to get my sailing heroes to talk to me for an hour or so! I’ve gotten lots of feedback on which direction to take the show, who to interview, etc. I love hearing ideas, but I have to balance the fact that this has always been a personal project, and the interviews will continue to be mainly things that interest me personally, which I also think makes for a better show because I’m more engaged.
Coming up, I hope to get both more family cruisers (I’ll be doing lots of interviews here in St. Lucia with ARC sailors) and more professional sailors on. I have commitments from Gary Jobson, for example, which should be a fun one, as well as Ryan Breimaier, who won the NY-Barcelona double-handed race on Hugo BOSS.
I also really like yacht design, and I’ve spoken with Peter Johnstone of Gunboat and Philippe Briand, the famous superyacht designer about doing the show. I also have an interview setup once I get back to Sweden with a French designer from VPLP, who design a lot of the Vendee boats and some big multihulls.
My favorite episode personally is the recent one with Tedand Claudia Reshetiloffthat I did in person onboard their boat in Tortola. They had their kids there too. That was just super inspiring for anybody who dreams of going cruising with their family.
Other than that, getting to speak with Volvo Ocean Racelegend Magnus Olsson, on his home turf in Stockholm, was really cool. He’s always been a hero of mine, even more so after I met Mia and got into Swedish culture. We met him at the ARC one year and became friends, with the Swedish connection certainly helping. Magnus and his partner cycled down to our boat in downtown Stockholm and had coffee onboard before I interviewed him, so that was a real star-struck moment. It was really sad to hear of his passing, and all the more reason I’m glad to have gotten to know him.
Kevin (SFLF): I've heard you mention your father and his boat s/v Sojourner a couple of times on the podcast, so I suspect each has played a role in shaping your career and sailing aspirations. How did you first get involved in sailing and what keeps you interested?
Andy (59-North): I should really be mentioning both my mom and my dad when I talk about Sojourner. After mom died in 2012, I tend to kind of leave her out. Anyway, she and my dad learned to sail on their honeymoon when they were in their early 20s. My mom always said she was hooked when the captain shut off the motor. Their first real boat was a Bristol 24 called Felicity Anne. They moved up to the first Sojourner, a Phil Rhodes designed Chesapeake 32 (very similar shape to Arcturus actually), which they took to the Bahamas on a sabbatical when they were like 28 and 30. Then they had an almost-custom Kaiser 37 double-ended ketch called Tzigane, which I sailed on in diapers, and after that, the next Sojourner, an Allied Princess ketch. We took that to the Bahamas when I was 9, along with my younger sister Kate (she was 7 then), and two cats. That was my 4thgrade year, and kind of some of my first memories as a human. I attribute that trip to being where I’m at today with sailing philosophically, but it wasn’t until working for the schooner Woodwind in Annapolis that I realized you could do it as a career. Dad taught me the ropes, so to speak, while mom had always provided the philosophical inspiration and encouraged me to ‘follow your heart, the money will come.’
What keeps me interested? That’s a very good question. I love ocean sailing, and feel like I have something to contribute to it with the knowledge and experience I’ve earned over the past ten years or so since I started doing this seriously. It’s fun getting into debates about stuff offshore and teaching people what I feel are the Right-with-a-capital-‘R’ way of doing things. I guess it’s kind of a default career at this point too – I’m so far into it now, that I don’t have much experience with anything else, and I’m not sure what else I’d do! But it’s definitely not my entire life, as much as my social media presence and website would make it sound. Sailing is a hobby and half of a career, but it doesn’t define who I am as a person, and I think that’s an important distinction.
Kevin (SFLF): What are your future sailing/cruising plans? I know you and Mia sailed your own boat, s/v Arcturus, to Sweden from the U.S. in 2011. Any other must-visit destinations or passages for you, Mia and Arcturus?
Andy (59-North): Mia and I met in New Zealand, and I always said that if we go back, it would be by boat. So that’s kind of an ultimate dream, but not really on our horizon in the near future. Maybe one day with kids (and I’d like to go, from Sweden, by way of the Southern Ocean, around Africa and across to South Australia. Tasmania is one of my favorite travel destinations, so it’d be cool to stop there en route. Plus, of course, sailing in the Southern Ocean!).
Long-distance sailing is kind of out of my system, strangely, at least on my own boat for the moment. We’d like to get to St. Petersburg while we’re in the Baltic, just to see Russia. Our sort of intermediate plan is to take the boat back out of the Baltic and up the west coast of Norway. Ultimately, over the course of several seasons, I’d like to go far north into Norway and sail across to Spitsbergen. Then make a loop down to Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and back to Sweden. The Arctic is really pulling at my heart right now, and I’d love to do some sailing and skiing in the fjords in Norway. But we’ve got a few years left in the Baltic for sure, it’s just amazing over there.
Kevin (SFLF): Along those same lines, do you have a favorite sailing location, passage or anchorage?
Andy (59-North): My favorite passage is easily our Atlantic crossing on Arcturus, via Nova Scotia and Ireland. That was just pure magic, realizing this ultimate dream on our own boat, and at a young age. Plus, we’d just gotten married two weeks before! So that’s an easy one. 23 days sailing along around 50º North with Mia and my best friend Clint. Nothing will top that one.
Location-wise, closer to home I loved Nova Scotia. Lunenburg was incredible, and I loved the cooler temps up there. And it’s not that far, only 600 miles or so from Cape May. Same distance as sailing to Bermuda, and much more interesting in my opinion.
The Baltic, like I'll talk about in the next question is still my favorite ultimate place I’ve sailed. As for a single anchorage, I think all things considered, I’d have to say it was almost a tie between an anchorage we had at the top of Loch Lochy on the Caledonian Canal and a spot in the outer archipelago in Åland. In Loch Lochy, my dad was along, and my mom had only died a few months earlier. So we were all reeling from that (she died of a glioblastoma, brain cancer). Arcturuswas surrounded by green Scottish hills, littered with sheep. It was so quiet you could hear them baaing on the far hillsides. It was chilly, and Dad and I sipped Lagavulin whisky, which we’d bought right from the distillery, and reminisced about mom. In Aland, it was just Mia and I. There was nothing to the north, just open sea all the way to the top of the Baltic, and we were anchored along the red cliffs at 60º North, still our farthest north so far. Just a magical spot.
Kevin (SFLF): I assume many sailors from the U.S. haven't experienced sailing in Scandinavia. Since you and Mia liveaboard in Sweden during the summers, can you tell us what the sailing and cruising is like there?
Andy (59-North): Surprisingly, Arcturus, at only 35-feet, is usually the largest boat in many of the small anchorages we frequent. That’s the biggest difference. You tend to see large families – two adults and three kids, for example – on boats as small as 25 feet. The cool part is that without tides, and with steep-to shorelines, your liveable area unfolds dramatically when you can anchor to the rocks. You let out a stern anchor, then inch the bow into the shore, hop off with a line and tie it to a tree. So you wind up picnicking on the shoreline, getting off the boat, expanding your area.
The archipelago outside Stockholm has over 30,000 islands, no tides, and endless hidey holes. We’ve now explored the region for the past two summers. Some favorite spots are the medieval city of Visby, on the island of Gotland – it feels like your inside a Lego castle when you’re there – the Finnish archipelago of Åland, and the quieter anchorages north of Stockholm around Öregrund.
It’s cold there, even in summertime. Or chilly, I’ll say. The water remains in the 60s (it was 53º F the last time we swam last August). Daytimes get into the 70s or maybe 80, with very little humidity, and the evenings are cool, into the 50s. Perfect hoodie weather. And in summer, it never gets dark! Contrast that with what I was used to growing up – humid summers on the Chesapeake, with temps in the 90s – and it’s a fantastic difference!
Kevin (SFLF): Internet sailing forums are filled with threads on full keel vs. fin, classic design vs. modern, mono vs. multihull, etc. You've sailed offshore on a variety of boats (50' Beneteau, large Swans, a schooner, others?, etc.), but ultimately chose a classic yawl as your own boat. So speaking of s/v Arcturus, tells us about some of your preferences in an offshore sailboat and why you chose her?
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| Arcturus in the Stockholm Archipelago |
Kevin (SFLF): Internet sailing forums are filled with threads on full keel vs. fin, classic design vs. modern, mono vs. multihull, etc. You've sailed offshore on a variety of boats (50' Beneteau, large Swans, a schooner, others?, etc.), but ultimately chose a classic yawl as your own boat. So speaking of s/v Arcturus, tells us about some of your preferences in an offshore sailboat and why you chose her?
Andy (59-North): The short, but perhaps arrogant answer to this one is quite simple – it’s not the boat, it’s the sailor. Same goes for golf clubs and snow skis. I’m firmly of the opinion that you can sail anything across an ocean, so long as it’s well-maintained and properly outfitted. Matt Rutherford proved this beyond doubt with his Around the America’s trip in a 27-foot Albin Vega. Take care of the important things – rigging, hull integrity, self-steering and sail defensively – and you’ll make it, regardless of hull shape or boat type.
That said, of course one has preferences. I’m a sucker for classic hull shapes, simply because they are beautiful to look at. Dorade, the classic S&S yawl is one of my favorites. I love Bristol Channel Cutters. Arcturus has a similar shape to Dorade, just smaller.
There’s a big difference between sailing fast and sailing well.Arcturus just feels right under sail – she moves easy in light air and sails smoothly and sweetly. It’s difficult ot describe, but you just know when you’re sailing a sweet boat, and that’s most important. The Mason 44 has that quality, as does perhaps my favorite offshore boat (though not for looks), the Saga 43. The schooner Woodwindwas perhaps the best example of this – classic looks, with a modern shape beneath the water and lightly built. She sailed like a dream. And because of that, I’ll never be a cat sailor (at least on the cruising cats).
Offshore, Arcturus was slow upwind, but only cause her tacking angles are wide. She still has that sweet feel to her, which makes sailing fun. To me, going offshore is about being out there and enjoying the wilderness, much more than getting there quickly. So I don’t mind having a slow boat, so long as it’s fun to sail. A big, heavy, clunky cruising boat – I’m thinking of my dad’s old Irwin 42 ketch – is the opposite of this. They look salty and pirate-y, but they’re usually lousy sailboats. I do in fact hate the centerboard on Arcturus. Just one more thing to maintain and potentially fail. But I love the rest of the boat.
Recently I’ve come to admire the fast, though aesthetically pleasing boats. J/Boats fit this example, as do the newer Swans. I loved the Outbound 46 I sailed to Tortola. Specific to offshore, the standard production boats are awful. I’ve delivered plenty of them, and while fast off the wind, they’ll pound your brains out going to weather and make for a miserable trip.
I think if you’re into numbers, the best one to look at is the Sail Area to Displacement number – that is, SA/D. That should give you a good idea on how ‘sweet’ the boat will sail, especially in light airs. Anything 16 or over is pretty good, into the 17s and 18s even better. Anything below 15 is a pig. The Displacement to Length, or D/L, number is deceiving – Arcturus is labeled as a heavy cruiser, for example, but that’s just down to design. She’s got a higher SA/D, and sails sweetly for it.
My dream boat for ocean sailing? Probably the currently in-design Adventure 40 that my friend Erik de Jong is working on with John Harries at morganscloud.com. I love the older Swans too. They’re beautiful, solid and proven. Otherwise, something like Beth Leonard’s Hawk, the aluminum Van de Stadt 47 would be it – a great sailor, and something I can take to the Arctic.
But the financially responsible thing is for us to just keep Arcturus. She’s well-equipped enough to sail anywhere tomorrow, and with a stouter dodger and a diesel heater, we can take her to the Arctic. Just might be a little bit bigger of an adventure, but then isn’t that the point?
Kevin (SFLF):Are there any questions you wish I'd asked or perhaps one that you thought I'd ask?
Andy (59-North): I think I better stop here, this is getting long! I guess the last comment I’d like to make is that for anyone out there aspiring to do this stuff, any kind of sailing, try hard to filter out the noise that pervades the sailing industry. Realize when you read magazines and brochures what people are only trying to sell you, versus what is actually necessary. This is difficult for newcomers, I understand, but think about the source a bit before you form any solid opinions. What tends to happen more and more, are that new sailors read all this crap about gear to make their boats more comfortable, then they go out and do it with that gear and write about it, then more newcomers read that stuff and you end up with this vicious cycle of baloney. Read the people that have been out there doing it for a long time, successfully and with little drama, and follow their lead. Guys like John Kretschmer, John Harries of morganscloud.com, Erik de Jong, Matt Rutherford.
And the bottom line is just to get out and do it! It’s not rocket science, and it shouldn’t be.
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Picture This: A Cruiser's Neighborhood
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| A Cruiser's Neighborhood (by K. Walters on S. Benjamin Island, Lake Huron) |
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Best Sailing Blogs of 2014
"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe." - Gustave Flaubert
So true. My writing forces me to examine my beliefs and my inner thoughts. That's free therapy and part of what I enjoy about blogging.
But I learn just as much about my own beliefs from reading what others write.
And so, it's that time of year again. No, I'm not talking about New Year's resolutions, fruit cake or boat shows. It's time to give some love back to the sailing blogs I've enjoyed following during 2014 and look ahead to other blogs that should provide new cruising adventures in 2015. (Need to catch up on the best blogs from 2013 or 2012? What are you waiting for!?).
SFLF's Best Sailing Blogs of 2014:
Sailing Totem: The s/v Totem crew has been cruising and blogging since way before 2014 and probably should have showed up on my annual "best sailing blogs" list sooner, but nonetheless, here they are. Inspiring stories, practical tips and destination information - That's how Behan describes her sailing blog. To that, I'll add honest and family focused. If you're looking to follow a family and learn the rewards of cruising with kids, take a virtual sail on s/v Totem.
Get a feel for Sailing Totem with this post: Finding Bliss in Stagnant Cruising
Where the Coconuts Grow: Lots of cruisers don't like rules. Many leave land to escape them. But Jody and Peter's 80/80/80 rule is ok by me! It goes like this - They strive to cruise where there's 80 degree air temps, 80 degree water and 80 feet of visibility for snorkeling/diving/swimming. If you're looking for a tropical escape through your computer screen, Where the Coconuts Grow delivers in spades. And they cruise with their two (2!!) dogs, so bonus for pet lovers.
Get a feel for Where the Coconuts Grow with this post: Welcome to Carriacou - A Wild Ride
John Vigor: If you like beautiful pictures and fancy graphics in the blogs you read, you might want to skip John's blog since he has neither. But if you do skip it, you'll be missing some of the most practical sailing knowledge available from an accomplished author and sailor. John's signature blog post finish is always "Tailpiece" - a quick and usually humorous joke relating to the post. He's also originally from England (now living in Washington state) so you can read his posts with a British accent for added entertainment!
Get a feel for John Vigor's blog with this post: Ideas Changes with Age
s/v Delos: Every year there seems to be a cruising boat and crew that attains rock star status in the blog community and this year Brian and crew have been the ones on stage. The Delos crew cruise the way many of us would when we were younger, even if just for a day or two. Parties, moonshine, nekkid swimming...it's all there aboard s/v Delos. Bonus - The Delos crew also produces some excellent and very entertaining videos about their cruising escapades that are shown on their YouTube channel.
Get a feel for s/v Delos with this post: The Manila Experience
Liz Clark and the Voyage of Swell: Surfer, solo sailor and environmentalist Liz Clark makes another appearance on my "best sailing blogs" list because quite simply, she rocks! This may well be the most honest and deeply passionate sailing blog on the planet.
Get a feel for the Voyage of Swell with this post: Hovering Neon Droplets - A Moment Between the Sea and Me
Attainable Adventure Cruising: John Harries' website is much more than just a blog. It features a ton of how-to resources and articles for offshore sailors written by offshore sailors (up to at least 3 authors contribute to the blog). There are some traditional travel log type blog posts on John & company's sailing adventures, but Attainable Adventure Cruising also serves as a great collection of informational resources on everything from rigging and storm tactics to plumbing and passage planning. ATT is even collaborating on the design and production of a new "affordable" (if $200k qualifies as affordable) back-to-basics voyaging sailboat called the Adventure 40.
Get a feel for Attainable Adventure Cruising with this post: We Are Not "Captains"
MJ Sailing: Here's a lively and inspiring young couple from my hometown and homeport who started their sailing journey in 2012 on the Great Lakes as green as the spring grass and have now explored the Atlantic Ocean on both sides. They've recently upgraded to a new-to-them aluminum sailboat and are currently (January 2015) on passage crossing the Atlantic again, this time from the Canaries back to the Caribbean.
Get a feel for MJ Sailing with this post: When Everything Works Against You, It Sometimes All Works Out
LAHO Wind:Sailing is very photogenic. From light dancing off the water and beautiful mountains rising from the sea to spray filled action shots and sun soaked anchorages, it's easy to find appealing subjects for a photo. But it's not easy to have the shots come out looking like they belong in a coffee table book. Enter Kim and her adventures with Jereme from LAHO Wind. New cruisers for 2014, these two have been thoroughly enjoying a run through the Bahamas and Puerto Rico while sharing it all quite masterfully through Kim's camera lens. That's not to downplay her writing (it's approachable and entertaining), but her photography is simply the best you'll find on any cruising blog.
Get a feel for LAHO Wind with this post: All Business in Georgetown
Up and coming blogs - Cruisers who have recently begun or will begin their journey in 2015:
Skelton Crew: Another homeport favorite. Ron and Jackie are deep in the preparation stage of getting their sailboat and lives ready for departure from Lake Michigan during the summer of 2015.
s/v Smitty: The to-do list for the crew of s/v Smitty is getting smaller and smaller. Looks like October 2015 is their planned departure date.
Sundowner Sails Again: I'm a longtime Sundowner Sails Again follower. They've done a remarkable job restoring and outfitting their Westsail and now it's time to reap the rewards. Congrats to Dani and Tate for cutting the dock lines! Read along as they leave Louisiana behind.
Project Atticus: Here's a fresh fix-it, learn it, sail it blog complete with plenty of videos. Desiree and Jordan spent a portion of 2014 finding and fixing their Allied Seawind. 2015 should bring sailing and and adventure.
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