Offshore Anticipation
Preparations for the Bermuda Race are about to commence, but getting ready for an offshore passage isn't unfamiliar territory despite the myriad possibilities that lurk in the future (published June 2016) I just made my flight reservations. Moondance, the Swan 56 we brought to Spain last June is now in
Emergency Signaling Devices
Today's sailor has a wide array of devices to call for help in an emergency (published May 2016) Several years ago during the annual Fastnet Race from Cowes to Fastnet Rock and back, the crew of Rambler 100—a 100 foot super maxi—had the sudden, unlucky experience of having the boat’s
Reaching Into Your Bag of Tricks
With enough time and miles at sea, encountering problems and equipment failures is inevitable. Having the original equipment manufacturers' authorized spares and repair kits onboard is not. Regardless of those mutually exclusive constraints, getting home safely is still your responsibility (published May 2016) After years of rigorous training and practice,
The Great Inflatable PFD Debate
Safety at Sea instructor Paul Cunningham helps us to understand the differences between inflatable PFDs, and the pros and cons of manual and auto inflate models. As the old adage goes, the best PFD (personal flotation device) is the one you’re wearing. But when it comes to inflatable PFDs, the
When To Go
Picking a favorable weather window from the east coast of the United States to the Virgin Islands (published April 2016) The hardest part about the passage from the east coast of the U.S. to the Caribbean in November is making the best decision about when to leave the dock. The
No One’s Forecast Was Correct
December of 2015 and the first week of January 2016 will live in the weather records, history books, ships' logs and personal diaries for the unusual and extraordinary weather seen in the eastern United States, coastal water of Florida and the Bahamas (published April 2016) Tragically these records will also
Going with the Flow: Navigating the East Australia Current
Funny how the beginning and end of a voyage can parallel each other, even when they're three years and thousands of miles apart (published April 2016) In 2011, when I set off from the U.S. East Coast for Panama with my husband and eight year old son, the greatest complicating
Doublehanding for the Distance
Shorthanded sailing presents both benefits and difficulties. Most of the difficulties can be overcome with a little forethought. Establishing a good watch system lays the foundation for problem avoidance as well as problem solving. (published April 2016) Consensus thinking often leads one to believe that fewer crew implies fewer logistical
The Voyage Starts Here
(published March 2016) Standing at the chart table, my buddy Will and I poured over charts of the Northwest coast from Alaska to Oregon. Large and small scale were all there for us to peruse and we talked of plans ahead; how we’d handle certain stretches of water and, of
Making a Visual Commotion
A guide to everything you should know about visual communication (published March 2016) From our boat anchored alone between cities off the Indian River on July 4th, with NASA’s iconic vehicle assembly building to our east, we enjoyed at least 10 fireworks shows. Complementing the professional shows were any number
