Matador - sailing

From the Anchorage at Redondo Beach

Crazy Dane — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:39:35 -0500

My thanks to all ye faithful who check my blog regularly, I owe you an update at least, if not a full, proper short story. So much has happened, and I'm having major trouble keeping up. Here's a brief synopsis, however, with specific stories following in the next posts. I have indeed been writing in...

Southward to Avila Beach

Crazy Dane — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:28:43 -0500

The sailcover was off, headsail hanked onto the forestay, safety jacklines in place and the motor purring as Mark slipped the last line from the mooring. One of the best things about staying in a place long as I had is all the great people you meet. I was fortunate to have met Mark, a 26 year-old...

28 Days Later...

Crazy Dane — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:18:55 -0500

I've been here nearly a month now, and Cadence is growing a beard of seagrass on her waterline. There's something magnetic about these sleepy little towns on the coast that sucks you in day by day and every time you think you're ready to leave, something or someone happens and gives you a reason to...

On the way to Morro Bay

Crazy Dane — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:11:57 -0500

I hung out in the anchorage at San Simeon for a week before the forecast turned sour – a predicted 11-18 foot seas off the coast a few days out, and I knew it was time to go before the anchorage became a washing machine. The morning wind hadn't yet materialized when I raised anchor at 10am so I...

San Simeon or Bust!

Crazy Dane — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 14:43:49 -0500

It was one of those classic days from everyone's childhood memories, warm and sunny, baby blue sky with a scattering of cotton balls as far as the eye could see. Except also with a dash of wind, to make it a true sailor's delight of a day. The forecast had said it would be too light, but it was...

I Saw Three Ships

geotraveler — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:46:46 -0500

We stuff leftover chocolate cake, brie cheese and crackers along with crispy bread and lox into a rugged rucksack. A silver canister filled with piping hot coffee joins the mix. Laser-like sun rays spill indoors through the balcony glass door warming everything in their path. I quickly slip into...

Sailing The World For One Year

Gaijin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:30:37 -0500

What do you do when you have no job, no woman, no kids, and someone close to you ask's, " would you like to try and sail around the world". Do you think to ask about what there experience level is, do you think to ask how long it will take, or do you simply say, " Yes, I am in"
This question was asked...

Fear of losing it all.

Drifterboy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:32:18 -0500

I know most of you have traveled with everything you own on your back. With that there is always the fear that it could go missing. We have all come back from a trip and notice that some item is missing. Usually it is something small, never do you come back and your home has gone...

Getting Ready To Sail Away; Someday

Drifterboy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:31:11 -0500

First things first, sorry I have not posted on here enough. This is one of my favorite sites for inspiration, but someimes daily life gets to you.

My thoughts over the last year have jump between just hitting the road with my backpack, or cycling around the US. Every once...

Bridges of the ICW

Liesbet — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:14:25 -0600

For some people they are a nightmare, because you have to
estimate your time of arrival constantly and they slow you down. You could plan to get there in time thanks to
all your electronics, and drive the boat accordingly. Or, you just get there whenever, burning the
fuel necessary, and...

Pleasant Encounters

Liesbet — Mon, 3 Dec 2007 12:22:26 -0600

It was a rainy day in Deltaville. Mark and I had just arrived after an all day
battle with the weather elements. We
took the dinghy to shore and prepared ourselves for a long walk to the boat
store and the supermarket. Soon it was going
to be dark, so we felt rushed. Once...

Pirates of the Caribbean

hawaiibren — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:34:58 -0600

Aaarrr, matey! Now me know de life of a pirate!

Lora and I woke early yesterday morning to set sail on the caribbean blue. Captain Bill met us in Coral Bay and we slowly made our way due west for Hassel Island off the southern coast of St. Thomas. Unfortunately, no fish were caught from...

Teach yourself how to sail

Ross — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:01:01 -0500

Recently, my good friend Doug, called me and told me he was
buying a sailboat. At first I thought it was a horrible idea. After all,
any boat is a money pit and furthermore, Doug has no clue how to sail.
But as he began to break it down, it all started to make sense and I
encouraged him to...

The plan

Liesbet — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:27:14 -0500

What does one do while being stuck in the house of a friend for four months? It happened in Austin, Texas, in winter, while we were trying to sell our last mode of transportation/housing. Our trip through Central America was finished. We had broken up, and gotten back together. We decided...

A Scandinavian Mary Poppin's Kick-Ass Shit Tale

morrisabroad — Mon, 2 Apr 2007 23:54:31 -0500

Arrived here (here being northern Panama) last week after a 7day sailing adventure from Colombia. Mark and I chose to sail from Cartagena to Colon. We hooked up with an English guy and an Irish lad, and hunted out a boat and captain to hire for the ride northwest. We met a sketchy 65 year old...