Mr. Safety nudges you toward the Danger Zone Dana called me out, loudly, “if there is anyone who embodies one of the stereotypes in that video it’s you; you’re ‘Mr. Safety.’” We were at the bar after an uneventful evening circling cans and haranguing each other using the latest sailing video to make the rounds. […]
Boston Sailing Conditions Links
Last updated 6-Jan-2018 There are some great free resources available to scope out the sailing conditions around Boston. And by “around Boston” I mean most of New England. These resources are even better if you tweak their parameters and can get to them directly, especially on a mobile device! Here is my take on those […]
SavvySalt’s Ultimate Guide to Dockline Handling!
Watch this video to learn dockline handling’s key techniques and concepts; become invaluable to your skipper when pulling into the dock. This video that doesn’t allow embedding shows you why you should never sacrifice yourself to save the boat: the boat will be OK! Slides: SavvySalt’s Ultimate Guide to Dockline Handling from SavvySalt Transcript Docking […]
Raster vs. Vector Charts: Why I don’t trust vector charts
I believe a well constructed Raster chart is always superior to a vector chart when constructed using the same underlying data. More specifically for US waters I would never rely on NOAA vector charts when NOAA raster charts are available. The main difference is that raster charts were ‘rendered’ by a skilled human using a […]
Following SavvySalt and friends at sea
I’m new to satellite messaging and if you’re reading this you probably are too. I bought a DeLorme inReach Satellite Communicator (affiliate link) and am trying to use it to help keep friends and family ashore informed about how things are going out at sea. When I’m sailing offshore with friends I try to have the […]
Marion to Bermuda EPII: Safety At Sea Seminar
Video sharing some of the lessons I learned at US Sailing Safety at Sea Seminar prepping for Bermuda. Learn about swimming in foul weather gear with shoes on, hydrostatic PFD automatic inflation and the challenges of climbing into a life raft wearing that inflated PFD. Even in the 70 degree pool some sailors were showing […]
Barbuda Passage Plan vs. Reality
Due to provisioning delays and a charter briefing recommendation against overnighting in Dickenson Bay given the prevailing swells we wound up leaving for Barbuda from Five Islands Harbor so the passage would be about 5nm longer than anticipated. Barbuda was the most ambitious passage of the trip so some planning had gone into it. Want […]
Quixotic Catamaran Anchoring
Anchoring confidently is always a challenge on a charter boat. You’re dealing with ground tackle that you haven’t selected, setup or tested. Add the complications of being new to catamarans and unfamiliar with chain rode and we had an unfailing recipe for drama. That said we anchored four of our eight nights in Antigua and, […]