“Promotion to the Ocean”
It’s officially autumn, my friends, which makes this a perfectly natural migration time. The birds do it, the “snowbirds” do it, and now I’m going…
Sirocco and Bora Bora Breezes
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The builders of Korcula were excellent urban planners. Inside the walled city the narrow alleyways feel mazelike, but in fact they are…
The Scientific Testing of Sladoleds
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” We woke up early in Hvar to proper gusts straining us back on our mooring ball and a half-chafed through bow line.…
Fighting for Hvar
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The sail between Komiza and Hvar was a stretch in and out of lulls and wind alleys, which made for an active…
Lessons from American Sailing Week
American Sailing Week, ASA’s annual members’ event, took place on the beaches of Clearwater Beach, Florida, September 10-17. Captain Jean K Levine and Captain Jeff…
Otherworldly Blue
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The evening we anchored in Komiza marked the end of a splendid day of sailing. We left Luka Vis in the morning…
Anchor Tango
It’s like sticking to the right lane of traffic if you’re driving more slowly than everyone else. It’s just good etiquette, and will give you…
Six brandies, two kittens, and one lamb
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” The destination for our second day was the tiny island of Vis. After a lunchtime stop at Tito’s private submarine base (which…
Pag Cheese, Please
Continuing “Croatian Tapestry” I rather dread the process of provisioning. Some people might enjoy it, but I’m so finicky about what I eat at any…
Croatian Tapestry
Croatia is a stunningly beautiful country. Decades of time here are layered in clear relief: Renaissance structures sit atop pre-Roman ones, graceful Gothic windows are…
103 Textbook in the Works
We are currently in the throes of designing the next new ASA textbook–an accompaniment to the ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising course. Last week, the…
September’s Photo of the Month
This month’s theme was “Lessons in Action.” We received all sorts of photos, from textbook man overboard drills to non-textbook lessons “from the school of…
Driving on your cell phone
Cell phones and driving don’t mix–and that goes for driving a boat too. Recently USCG crew members were involved in two boating accidents due to…
Oil be d#$ned, sailors sail on!
Emerald Coast Yachts is located in Pensacola Florida, one of the coastal communities closest to the Gulf oil spill. But what started out as a…
Sailing Selflessly
I met Lee Winters through Twitter (@SOSChildrenUSA). He is circumnavigating solo (the old-fashioned, sane, take-your-time way)–and he’s doing it to raise awareness for the nonprofit…
Ocean Vs. Plastic
Whereas the Great Ocean can lick three layers of antifouling paint right of the bottom of your boat and deteriorate your huge zinc plates within…
Thousands of Words of Wilderness
Trying to capture July’s Gulf Islands flotilla with one-dimensional words would be futile. The wild beauty and solitude of the Canadian cruising ground is best…
Flotilla Fever
Three weeks from today I’ll be touching my toes in the Adriatic, commencing ASA’s first-ever Croatia flotilla! Jimmy Tanaka, an ASA Instructor, just returned from…