Sail Far Live Free

I'm introducing another series of blog posts that will show up just about every Wednesday (or thereabouts) here on SailFarLiveFree.com called "Picture This".  As the name implies, these are pictorial posts featuring a sailing/nautical theme and a simple caption. And so, here's this week's "Picture This" post: Looking back from a lonely shore (Photo credit: K. Walters)

Heeling is a way of life for monohull sailboats. Heeling is, not only natural, but in most cases essential for making good speed under sail. There's a lot physics that go into heeling and determining the proper angle of heel for a given set of conditions, but allow me generalize: Sailboats with narrower beams tend to tolerate larger heel angles than beamer boats. Modern hull designs tend to be faster when sailed flat (heel angles less than about 15 degrees) because they often have less drag with the deep high aspect ratio fin keels and spade rudders. In older designs, heeling increases the waterline length of the hull and helps produce more speed. Again, in general, 15 degrees of heel can be near optimal for many boats. After about 25 degrees of heel on my personal boat, she develops fairly major weather helm. She also has a tendency to want to round-up (turn the bow to windward) from say 20-30 degrees of heel. So how do I know my angle of heel? I have two clinometers installed o...

The following is an email I recently received from Ted Brewer. This isn't this month's " Question of the Month with Ted Brewer " post (that's coming next week!), but I found it to be an interesting story and thought I'd share it. Email from Ted Brewer to SailFarLiveFree.com: "Kevin, I just read your blog about the tragedy of Triple Stars and it really brought back some memories. In '64 I was working for Bill Luders and we had designed a steel 45 foot sloop, the Matinee , for a Connecticut owner. The yacht was built in Germany and, after he saw the drawings and the Matinee , Sir Bayard Dill of Bermuda ordered a sistership. Just like a lady, the Duchess of Devonshire was late in arriving and, by the time we offloaded her from the freighter in New York, towed her up to Luders Marine in Stamford, Connecticut and commissioned her, the autumn was well along. Indeed it was a cold and blustery day in early November before we sailed from the yard, with f...

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware." - Martin Buber Nicely said, Martin.  If I always knew the destination, the journey wouldn't be nearly as exciting.  I guess that means my answer is "no" to the age-old question of "Would you choose to know your future if it was possible?". What's your answer? I've written plenty about why I sail , about having a cruiser's spirit , and about sailing induced self-reflection . Lately I've been pondering what it really means to be a cruiser and what drives a cruiser to sail on to the next anchorage or harbor. What is it that differentiates a cruising sailor from say, a racer or a liveaboard?  Racing sailors obviously love something about sailing, whether it be the mechanics or the competition. And those that call themselves liveaboards must also share my passion for a life in close connection with the water. But there's something that sets a cruiser apart....

Whether you cruise on your sailboat, daysail or race, protecting your feet and having maximum grip on a wet deck should be on your priority list. Who among us sailors hasn't stubbed a toe on a deck cleat or stumbled on a slippery deck while going forward? I know some sailors who prefer bare feet while aboard, but I find that the right sailing shoes can prevent injury and mishaps while secondarily adding comfort and style. I've been sampling several shoes this spring that I think are all appropriate for sailing and boating. Have a read below and see which shoes might suit your needs [For additional reviews we've done for sailing shoes, click here ]. From left to right: Fila, Keen, Merrell, Vibram Keen Newport H2 : By now everyone has seen Keen's Newport H2 sandals, as they're very popular both on the docks and on the trail. While some of this popularity undoubtedly comes from the Newport's classic good looks, I'm certain some of it has been earne...

I'm really excited to announce a new monthly series that will be appearing here on SailFarLiveFree.com called "Question of the Month with Designer Ted Brewer ". Many of you are familiar with Ted and his sailboat designs and writing. For those that aren't familiar, you're in for a real treat! Ted has graciously agreed to be featured in my new monthly series where he will answer a sailing-related question (usually focused on design or Ted's experiences) that I present to him. Obviously I'm a big fan of Ted's work and have plenty of questions I'm eager to ask, but I'll also occasionally use questions submitted by you the readers here at Sail Far Live Free.  The first post in this series will appear in a week or so, but feel free to submit any questions/topics you may have for Ted to me via the comments below or email until then. Ted at the drafting table To whet your appetite, here's a bit of Ted's background in the form of a bio he ...

In a perfect cruiser's world, we'd all be either on passage or hanging out on the hook. Since we wouldn't be at the dock, there wouldn't be a need for fenders. But alas, being tied to one of the land's appendages is a reality we all face from time to time, and so I bring you a gear review featuring fenders. You might think all boat fenders are created equal, that choosing a specific brand/model of fender is trivial. But I've used undersized fenders, fenders made from hard plastic, and fenders that abrade and pick-up dirt and grime that gets transferred to your hull. When a boat fender ceases to provide protection for your boat and sometimes causes direct damage to your boat, then the issue is no longer trivial. TaylorMade SuperGard fenders guarding Island Bound 's new polish & wax I've recently switched my fenders to TaylorMade's SuperGard model . There are plenty of other choices on the market, many of which are cheaper, but you'll ...

"Go small, go simple, go now!" -Lin & Larry Pardey Iconic cruisers Lin and Larry Pardey are well-known among cruising enthusiasts for the above statement. Can it really be that easy? Grab yourself a small boat, outfit it properly but simply for offshore work, and get going while your dream and your body is still alive! Lin and Larry not only made the statement, they lived it. If you're looking to do the same, maybe some of the micro- or pocket-cruisers I've listed below can serve as your "go small" portion of the equation. Going small and choosing one of these or several other pocket cruisers will lead to trade-offs. Of course first and foremost you'll be giving up length, both on deck and at the waterline. This often leads to less storage space, less weight capacity, and slower sailing. But the upside is presumably less maintenance (less paint, less wood, fewer systems) and more affordable expenses. For example, replacing the s...

The day has come, the season is here; Boatyards are bustling, winter covers disappear. Just enough time for wax and paint; Soon there will be trips to places far and quaint. But first, there's oil to be changed; There's storage and gear to be rearranged. Don't forget to check batteries, plugs, and seacocks; Sand out, dry and fill those blistering pox. Bring aboard canvas, cushions, and sails; Soon water will be rushing past the rails. Diesel smoke, clackety-clack and more loud sound; The travel lift is on its' way to awaken s/v Island Bound . Up she rises, off the jack stands in a flash; To the launch basin and finally...SPLASH! Launch Day 2012: I couldn't be happier!