Seamanship – for me – means practicing skills that make me nervous and challenge my abilities to handle a sailboat I’ve been watching the US Coast Guard’s efforts to build a skills-based standard for recreational boat operation for some time and with mild skepticism. The effort was started in June of 2011 as the National...
The love of being on the water and the constant search for new challenges brings a Chesapeake Bay sailor to an experience that he had not quite expected Sometimes I think I came to my sailing life in reverse. What I mean is that I knew from the age of fifteen that I was drawn...
Historic Chesapeake Bay Schooner sets sail in annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Being a licensed Captain is a great source of pride to me. I have enjoyed working with my clients as well as pursuing other commercial opportunities like relief captain jobs on various schooners, water taxi and tow boat jobs, and tour boat and ferry...
How to plan for meals and galley provisions for boat trips, cruises or charters from an experienced charter chef In previous articles, I have discussed trip preparation through the use of checklists – like how to create good checklists and three checklists you should create for your boat. I have also discussed how cruising couples can have...
Experience sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with a professional yacht captain offering charter sailboat cruises The Chesapeake Bay is an amazing body of water to explore. The largest estuary in America, the Chesapeake Bay is approximately 200 miles long from its northern headwaters in the Susquehanna River in Maryland to its outlet in the Atlantic Ocean at Virginia. And of...
A professional captain’s point of view on everything you need to consider when hiring a delivery captain to relocate your yacht or boat There are lots of reasons one may wish to have a boat relocated. Perhaps you have purchased your dream boat but it is lies several hundred miles away in a distant and unfamiliar...
Boating, yachting, and sailing are a lot of fun. The salubrious benefits of on-water recreation are many. I, probably not unlike many of you, like to go to my boat and just be there… resting, relaxing, or puttering with her systems. And it is always a good time when one invites family and friends aboard...
As a person of a certain age, I have come to appreciate the value of lists. However, the attraction is not new. When I began my flight training in the early 1980’s, there were checklists for pre-flight activities, pre-departure, entering a Terminal Control Area, landing, securing the aircraft, and on and on and on. When...
I am proud of my boat handling skills. However, what is more meaningful to me is having taught my crew what to do in ALL the roles on board. On a number of occasions when my first mate/galley steward Theresa and I have returned from a charter, people on the dock or adjacent boats comment...
It has been said that if you love what you do, you will never have to work. I do enjoy my engineering work and that makes it easier for me to get up at 5AM five days a week to go to work. But anyone who knows me well knows that the true passion burns...
Thailand sailing destinations in the beautiful Andaman Sea For the past few years, Thailand had seen incredible increase in number of tourists. Some are headed for major cities and urban environments, while others are the natural sight-seeing (and experiencing) type. One of the most beautiful ways for one to see the beauties of the Andaman...
Planning a dream sailing trip to vacation destinations in Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and India Sailing the waterways of the Atlantic, Pacific or even Australia is diverse enough, but how about something completely different? The largest continent, Asia, is hard to pin down as a single travel destination. Stretching over 44,579,000 km², there are few men,...
Tips for keeping your dog or cat safe, happy and well cared for when cruising Ask any pet owner how their furry friend has changed their life, and you will get the same answer – high maintenance, but a best friend for life. Sailing, also a high maintenance hobby, can only become more difficult with...
Navigating the waters and islands of Tahiti by boat – with tips on inlet anchorages, marina berths and amazing must-see destinations on your trip French Polynesia comprises of 118 islands of which the best known is Tahiti, earning it the unofficial name Tahiti and Her Islands. Popular tourist destinations are scattered all around them, and...