One More Last Time
Having made the passage from Newport to the Caribbean dozens of times, the author skippers a big Swan in the NARC one last time and reflects on the challenges and pleasures of the offshore passage (published April 2018) Strong gusts threw short rollers into the marina pinning our Nautor Swan
Ten Years After
What Worked, What Didn't (published October 2017) After 10 years of cruising, we aren’t going home any time soon. We are on our way across the Indian Ocean to South Africa; then, Tierra Del Fuego has an enticing tone. Along the way we are still finding some things that work
Pirate Attack
In the Gulf of Vietnam, they were chased by pirates and barely got away. Here's what happened and what they learned (published May 2017) “Rebecca, QUICK, I need another flare from the hanging locker!” The jib alone was just barely pulling Brick House southward at a pace slower
What Worked, What Didn’t Nine Years Later
After nine years at sea, we are proof that a cruising sailboat is a maintenance treadmill. But occasionally there is equipment we replace because newer, better options have come onto the market. Investing in that equipment now can save us grief and expense later (published October 2016) RAYMARINE CHARTPLOTTER AND
What Worked
After having spent the past eight years crossing oceans on our 40 year old Valiant 40, we have discovered what equipment has given us the best service and lasted the longest (published October 2015) STEERING PEDESTAL [caption id="attachment_8637" align="alignleft" width="360"] Looking towards the future: Cricket Edson steering[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8636" align="alignleft"
What Worked, What Didn’t
Gear and personal cruising items that have kept us safe, happy and healthy after six years of world cruising (published October 2013) Cruising into our sixth year of exploring oceans, we have had little go wrong. But now, when we anchor in a location with good mail service from the
Year 5: What Worked, What Didn’t
(published October 2012) Setting off from Rhode Island five years ago to sail around the world, we installed a multi-page list of new equipment on our old Valiant 40. But nothing on a long range cruising sailboat stays new for long. Here is a short list of items that are
Fenders for Tenders
[caption id="attachment_4644" align="alignleft" width="486"] Top Photo: Acrylic paint may help ease abrasions, but it also helps owners identify a dinghy and shields it from harmful UV rays.This Photo: Even Captain Crunch cannot harm an old fender that has been split open and secured to the bow (or anywhere else around
Remasting in the Pacific: Part Two
From Rust Rises Endurance (published May 012) After Brick House’s port upper shroud chainplate snapped in a remote area of the Pacific due to internal corrosion, Patrick and Rebecca Childress began the onerous task of replacing the mast. The couple holed up in Majuro, Marshall Islands and played the waiting
Remasting in the Pacific
Part 1: What goes up should never come down (published April 2012) From a soft breeze and tropical sunshine, the sudden blast of wind dimmed the horizon and stung us with horizontal pebbles of cold rain. With eyes squinched against the precipitation, I went to turn the wheel downwind to