Navigation Systems for Cruisers
After a lightning strike, we had to replace all of our electronics-it was an eye opening task (published January/February 2018) A couple of years ago we were struck by lightning just as we were leaving West End, the Bahamas on our way north to our home port in Newport, RI.
Bahama Bound or Bust
A hurried finish to a refit, a new captain and mate, an owner who wanted his catamaran out of New England in late November and in the Bahamas for the holidays: what could possibly go wrong? (published January/February 2018) Methodical and timely refits are the preferred way of getting things
Lessons and Tales From the Cockpit
Gaining experience and learning from the experts while enjoying a 850-mile sail aboard Mahina Tiare III (a photo essay) (published November/December 2017) The first of July I was happily minding my own business when an email from John Neal of Mahina Expeditions came across my desk. “We are leaving in
The Year of the Hurricane?
The numbers aren't all in yet, but we already know that one year does not necessarily make a trend (published Nov/Dec 2017) For many, the hurricane results of 2017 have been horrific. That is undeniable and a statement which should add caution to our actions in the future. Frantic TV
Solar Survival
Bright ideas to keep you going in any situation (published Nov/Dec 2017) Watching the drama unfold as hurricane after hurricane battered the Caribbean and Atlantic this season was horrifying. Broken boats, broken homes and broken dreams were the only thing that seemed to make the news for weeks. As sailors
Stop and Go
Making tough decisions to keep the cruising life afloat (published October 2017) Sitting on a pebble beach, I poked our fire with a stick while Jill and I discussed what our next moves were going to be. A deep fjord lay in front of us and jagged mountains shot up
Essential Upgrades to an Offshore Cruising Boat
Preparation is the key to happy, safe cruising in a well fitted out cruising boat (published October 2017) When you are getting a boat ready for sailing offshore and passagemaking, there are a host of upgrades to any boat that need to be checked off the to do list. If
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
What’s In Your Ditch Bag?
(published October 2017) Imagine that your worst nightmare has come true; a catastrophic equipment failure, irreparable damage due to a collision at sea or human error puts your vessel in peril. You find yourself getting ready to abandon ship, but how prepared are you? Last year in western Canada there
Taking Care of Me
As well prepared sailors, we often consider how best to prepare the boat, get ready for spring launch, put her away for the winter, or where to head for the best winter cruising. At some point, preparation also needs to include some self-indulgent care and preparation for yourself (published October
