When I retire, in April 2027, I plan to sail a Hobie 16, from Key Largo to Elbow Key, Abaco Bahamas. Having entered 8 Everglades Challenges with 4 official finishes, I feel we have garnered enough experience to have a successful voyage ! John Federico(tenzan)
Sailing north at midnight up Puget Sound in a good southerly with the spinnaker pulling. Two couples enjoying the warm August wind and watching the Meteor shower as we passed under the Narrows Bridge and into Gig Harbor.
Sailed from Houghton in Michigan’s U.P. across Lake Superior. Circumnavigated Isle Royale and sailed back. Alone. At night. In a pea-souper. Also sailed through Death’s Door in 30kts. Both trips in a Montgomery 17. 10/10 would do it again. R2AK is my (current) Everest.
A dream trip for me would be to put in at the north end of the sea of cortez. Make my way down the east coast of baja. Then crossing over to the mainland to end up in Sayulita, Nayarit. And have breakfast at my sister's café, "The Dojo"
Indeed. My parents, three siblings and I, sailed a westsail 32 out of Ventura, CA down to the area back in '87. I was 9 then. Ended up spending most of my formative years there. Some of us are still there, the rest of us return often :)
A trip on the outside, rounding Fishermans Island and sailing sixty miles north to Chincoteague, Virginia - at night.
Looking for perfection - picking the perfect night; SW winds 8 to 12, quarter moon with low humidity, no clouds, no off shore/mid atlantic storms. Reaching for twelve hours in star lit skys with coffee, snacks and a meal all night long with a friend. With the closest housing lights 8+ miles away, there will be little to no land light (polution), just Va Beach fading off the transom. Hoping to see the Milky Way for the first time on the east coast! Of course there will be a hotel room waiting to sleep the day away
I have sailed offshore and gone transAtlantic in big boats. In small boats, I have completed the Everglades Challenge in my ThistleCruiser, but potentially more intimidating was the passage along Florida's Big Bend from Carrabelle to Yankeetown. All very shallow, no beaches or barrier islands, few ports, and a 45 mile exposed hop across the open water of Apalachee Bay. After months of talking and planning, I did it with a well matched buddy boat and it was PERFECT! Favorable winds, fair skies, smooth water, great scenery, no problems with overnight stops, great company and no boat issues. One of those rare trips where everything matches your highest hopes. I don't want to repeat the trip as I am sure it would be a disappointment in comparison.
Good. We have had it out once. had an overnighter planned for last weekend, but it got cancelled due to summer weather- hot, no wind and severe thunderstorms. Seemed like good practice for crossing the Doldrums, but no one else wanted to come play. You may have seen that he crewed for me in the Everglades Challenge.
Rounding the Southeastern tip of Puget Island, near the Columbia River's Cape Horn, was an exciting moment this summer. Transitioning from hours of glorious broad reach sailing to dead on the nose, heave to, put a reef in and short tacking through the shallows was a shock! Getting late in the afternoon, I had to find an anchorage for the night, and didn't fancy tacking all the way to Cathlamet in the dark. I spotted an opening in the slough that looked like the ticket, but try as I may, It was just too shallow for the Montgomery 17 to make it inside. Too tired to carry on, I dropped anchor and had a very rolly, and sleepless, night. The wind continued to blow all night but made for a nice sail early the next morning, heading back down river. All part of the fun!
Many years ago I set out in my El Toro from Portland's 42nd ave launch on the Columbia River bound for Astoria. As it turned out, it rained the entire day with me sitting in the bottom of the boat. My cheap dry gear failed me on all counts, the ICOM handheld fried in the water despite bagging it, and my food got wet. I sailed to Sauvie Island channel, called my friend to bring his truck, and went home. A trip undone but fun anyway! And another story to tell....
My friend and I made up for that trip when he returned from several years sailing in warmer climes and he and I returned his Eric 32 ferro cement cutter from Honolulu to Astoria in 29 1/2 days.
I have two personal sailing challenges. One is to finally head north out of Port Townsend to Victoria and then the Inside Passage. The other is to spend a summer sailing the Santa Barbara Channel Islands off the coast of California.
On the Great Loop now in a Paul Gartside designed (#143), Geoff Kerr built, 24 ft. wooden cabin cruiser (6 knot average cruising speed). My wife and I left from the Chesapeake Bay mid May. Our boat is currently on the hard in Gatineau Canada (on the other side of the river from Ottawa) awaiting parts for a stuffing box repair and we are in a hotel. It's not an adventure without adversity, right. We are looking forward to the Rideau and Trent-Severn Canals and Georgian Bay.
50 years ago, sailed my Hobie 16 from Long Beach, CA to Ripper's Cove on Catalina Island, in company with my brother's Prindle 16 and a Boston Whaler chase boat. Stayed a week, and the two cats returned unaccompanied. Navigation by wrist compass. My 16 days are long over but I dream of doing the trip on my Adventure Island.
When I retire, in April 2027, I plan to sail a Hobie 16, from Key Largo to Elbow Key, Abaco Bahamas. Having entered 8 Everglades Challenges with 4 official finishes, I feel we have garnered enough experience to have a successful voyage ! John Federico(tenzan)
Sailing north at midnight up Puget Sound in a good southerly with the spinnaker pulling. Two couples enjoying the warm August wind and watching the Meteor shower as we passed under the Narrows Bridge and into Gig Harbor.
Sailed from Houghton in Michigan’s U.P. across Lake Superior. Circumnavigated Isle Royale and sailed back. Alone. At night. In a pea-souper. Also sailed through Death’s Door in 30kts. Both trips in a Montgomery 17. 10/10 would do it again. R2AK is my (current) Everest.
A dream trip for me would be to put in at the north end of the sea of cortez. Make my way down the east coast of baja. Then crossing over to the mainland to end up in Sayulita, Nayarit. And have breakfast at my sister's café, "The Dojo"
Do it!! I want to go down there and dive at the south end of baja where i here the giant manta rays swim ~◇
Beautiful destination! My wife and I went there for our honeymoon.
Indeed. My parents, three siblings and I, sailed a westsail 32 out of Ventura, CA down to the area back in '87. I was 9 then. Ended up spending most of my formative years there. Some of us are still there, the rest of us return often :)
A trip on the outside, rounding Fishermans Island and sailing sixty miles north to Chincoteague, Virginia - at night.
Looking for perfection - picking the perfect night; SW winds 8 to 12, quarter moon with low humidity, no clouds, no off shore/mid atlantic storms. Reaching for twelve hours in star lit skys with coffee, snacks and a meal all night long with a friend. With the closest housing lights 8+ miles away, there will be little to no land light (polution), just Va Beach fading off the transom. Hoping to see the Milky Way for the first time on the east coast! Of course there will be a hotel room waiting to sleep the day away
I love it. Please send us the article when you're done.
The Columbia River has a feature called 'Little Cape Horn' just before you sail into Cathlamet, WA. It's only messed me up once!
Yes, not too far from the photo I posted with this article (I think).
I wondered about that as the clouds looked familiar!
I think that is the rock I hit with my keel!
Point Lookout, MD, at the mouth of the Potomac, is known as “Little Cape Horn” here on the Chesapeake Bay
I have sailed offshore and gone transAtlantic in big boats. In small boats, I have completed the Everglades Challenge in my ThistleCruiser, but potentially more intimidating was the passage along Florida's Big Bend from Carrabelle to Yankeetown. All very shallow, no beaches or barrier islands, few ports, and a 45 mile exposed hop across the open water of Apalachee Bay. After months of talking and planning, I did it with a well matched buddy boat and it was PERFECT! Favorable winds, fair skies, smooth water, great scenery, no problems with overnight stops, great company and no boat issues. One of those rare trips where everything matches your highest hopes. I don't want to repeat the trip as I am sure it would be a disappointment in comparison.
I followed your trip on the WCTSS FB page. BTW How is Salvatore doing with the Hunter that I sold him?
Good. We have had it out once. had an overnighter planned for last weekend, but it got cancelled due to summer weather- hot, no wind and severe thunderstorms. Seemed like good practice for crossing the Doldrums, but no one else wanted to come play. You may have seen that he crewed for me in the Everglades Challenge.
Yep - bob and bake isn't always fun. He did tell me about the EC. I've pondered that but the Non-EC sounds more my speed. LOL
Desolation Sound calls to me.
I live in Virginia, and just got a Peep Hen, hoping to retrace the steps of Robert de Gast , in Five Fair Rivers
Rounding the Southeastern tip of Puget Island, near the Columbia River's Cape Horn, was an exciting moment this summer. Transitioning from hours of glorious broad reach sailing to dead on the nose, heave to, put a reef in and short tacking through the shallows was a shock! Getting late in the afternoon, I had to find an anchorage for the night, and didn't fancy tacking all the way to Cathlamet in the dark. I spotted an opening in the slough that looked like the ticket, but try as I may, It was just too shallow for the Montgomery 17 to make it inside. Too tired to carry on, I dropped anchor and had a very rolly, and sleepless, night. The wind continued to blow all night but made for a nice sail early the next morning, heading back down river. All part of the fun!
My small goals which mean something only to me, I'm sure:
Sail under the Mackinac Bridge.
Sail at night, even for just a short time (I've never done it).
The North Channel.
A week cruising around Pensacola, preferably when the Blue Angels are buzzing around.
Many years ago I set out in my El Toro from Portland's 42nd ave launch on the Columbia River bound for Astoria. As it turned out, it rained the entire day with me sitting in the bottom of the boat. My cheap dry gear failed me on all counts, the ICOM handheld fried in the water despite bagging it, and my food got wet. I sailed to Sauvie Island channel, called my friend to bring his truck, and went home. A trip undone but fun anyway! And another story to tell....
My friend and I made up for that trip when he returned from several years sailing in warmer climes and he and I returned his Eric 32 ferro cement cutter from Honolulu to Astoria in 29 1/2 days.
I have two personal sailing challenges. One is to finally head north out of Port Townsend to Victoria and then the Inside Passage. The other is to spend a summer sailing the Santa Barbara Channel Islands off the coast of California.
On the Great Loop now in a Paul Gartside designed (#143), Geoff Kerr built, 24 ft. wooden cabin cruiser (6 knot average cruising speed). My wife and I left from the Chesapeake Bay mid May. Our boat is currently on the hard in Gatineau Canada (on the other side of the river from Ottawa) awaiting parts for a stuffing box repair and we are in a hotel. It's not an adventure without adversity, right. We are looking forward to the Rideau and Trent-Severn Canals and Georgian Bay.
Nice! Keep us posted.
50 years ago, sailed my Hobie 16 from Long Beach, CA to Ripper's Cove on Catalina Island, in company with my brother's Prindle 16 and a Boston Whaler chase boat. Stayed a week, and the two cats returned unaccompanied. Navigation by wrist compass. My 16 days are long over but I dream of doing the trip on my Adventure Island.
A Delmarva loop in my Halman 20.