Flostam & Jetsam

Your letters and other notes

Regarding our Mini Globe Race article, reader Rick Pratt writes:

“Despite having over 60 years of sailing behind me, I have had only one friend who competed in singlehanded transoceanic races in relatively small boats. First in a 23-foot swing keel Mustang, and later a J30. I helped him prepare the boats and in one case, helped sail the boat home to Texas from Maine after the race.

But despite participating in some pretty high-risk endeavors myself, I have never understood the desire to perform long singlehanded ocean crossings, especially in very small boats. It seems a distinct brand of crazy.

If any of the readers of this great publication have one of these challenging adventures under their belt, it would be most interesting to hear the why of it all from a veteran.”

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On the same or similar subject, Rusty Knorr writes:

“There is a really fun IOS/Android game called Virtual Regatta (VR Offshore) where you can race virtually, in real time, with real live weather, against actual live racers. And incredibly, it’s free without ads! Of course to be competitive you would need to buy all the upgrades for your digital boat, but I just enjoy sailing the free boat and seeing how I do. Winners receive really nice prizes! And you can join the race at any time and be dropped somewhere in the middle of the pack (probably ahead of me). Give it a try, it’s really fun, and helps chase away the blues during the long dark of PNW weather. Feel free to look for me on there, we could race against each other. My name in game is Mazemusic. See you on the water! (Well, on your phone)”

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Following up on our Nautical Book Stacks series, contributor Jonathan Lewis sent this note and photo:

“Betsy and I are finally feeling a little settled in our new locale. We just unpacked a bunch of extremely heavy boxes packed with books and the attached photo is a partial shot of the results. Some of the highlights on the shelves are books by Bill Robinson: A Berth To Bermuda, South to the Caribbean)and his son Robby’s Sailors’ Secrets (I contributed a few…) Project Cheers by Dick Newick and Out Island Doctor.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2025 and waiting for sailing season to begin.”

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Speaking of Book Stacks, reader Casey Sterbenz writes:

“Attached are a couple of images of some of my books pertaining to boating and nautical interests. I have more volumes scattered around my home and workshop but these are the ones I have at hand.

The Nautical Book Stack image shows several boxes on the lower shelf—these boxes contain plan sets, building notes and magazine clippings of all things nautical.”

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