The Best Sailing Blogs of 2012

"The sea is a great university of the story-telling art." -Norman Freeman

I really enjoy writing content for SailFarLiveFree.com. In fact, writing sailing related content is second only to time spent with my family and actual sailing in bringing me fulfillment. The more I write and the more I get to interact with readers, the more I find I'm inspired to continue writing. So thank you to my longtime readers, new readers who have started following my blog sometime during 2012, and to all those who comment and contact me.

There's a lot of great bloggers in the sailing and cruising community and I also get a lot of inspiration and enjoyment out of reading their content. And so, this blog post is an attempt to recognize and thank some of my fellow sailing bloggers. If you read SailFarLiveFree via the webpage (as opposed to an RSS feed or email subscription), you're probably familiar with a lot of my favorite sailing bloggers from seeing them listed in my blog roll.  In any case, I highly recommend you follow the blogs below in the coming year. [Looking for the best sailing blogs from 2013? Check here]

SailFarLiveFree's Best Sailing Blogs from 2012

Windtraveler: Brittany and Scott have a great website and share candidly about their adventures, their life, and their cruising experience. Their blog is well-written, informative, and updated more frequently than just about any other sailing blog around. It's looking like 2013 will be an even more exciting year on their blog since they're about to begin another long cruise through the Caribbean on their new-to-them Brewer 44, this time with their little daughter, Isla. Given their origins on Lake Michigan and their family-cruising focus, I'm a big fan of Windtraveler.

s/v Wondertime: Picture a down-to-earth family of four (mom, dad, two daughters) sailing across the Pacific from Seattle to New Zealand, and adventuring on all the islands in between. While it's fairly common to see blogs about a cruise through the South Pacific, you'll be hard-pressed to find one that's written better or with a more genuine tone than what the crew of s/v Wondertime produces. I thoroughly enjoyed following their journey throughout 2012 and will miss their cruising stories if they decide to stay in New Zealand for 2013.

Controlled Jibe: If you're anticipating going through sailing-blog-withdraw from the completion of journeys like those described from s/v Wondertime above, tune in to Controlled Jibe during 2013 and you'll be reading from the front end of a new sailing journey down in Mexico's Sea of Cortez. 2012 was all about Mark and Katie finding and fitting out of their classic Alberg, but now they've recently begun their cruise and are going to "Sail til the money's gone".

Zero to Cruising: Fans of sailing/cruising blogs who haven't been on ZeroToCruising.com are either just starting to explore quality sailing blogs or are living under a rock. While there have been more popular cruising blogs in the past, I'm willing to give the current crown to ZTC. Mike and Rebecca are rockstar bloggers who started back in 2008 up in the Great Lakes with no sailing experience and are now Caribbean veterans who post tons of great advice, pictures, and stories almost on a daily basis. ZTC will keep you warm through the coldest of winters.

Bumfuzzle: It's almost cliche to have Bumfuzzle on a "best of" list these days since Pat and Ali have been doing it right for years and have a huge following of readers. I first became a reader back when they were kid-less and admittedly clueless catamaran sailors nonchalantly circumnavigating the globe with almost no sailing experience. They've since graduated to a race across America in a 65' Porsche, a 60,000 mile road trip in a 58' VW bus, and now parenthood aboard a monohull in Mexico. Pat's photography and writing are top-notch!

Log of s/v Del Viento: Mike, Windy, and their two daughters are hardcore cruisers. They've covered the West Coast of the United States and Mexico and are currently cruising in British Columbia. Mike writes openly and knowledgeably about a variety cruising topics, but I guess my honest attraction to the Del Viento blog is seeing how their young daughters grow through cruising experiences. Well, that, and I'm a big fan of the Fuji 40 as a cruising sailboat.

The Retirement Project: While the Retirement Project blog isn't necessarily new, the crew of Kintala haven't officially started their big cruise yet. So far, readers have been treated to a refit of the Tartan 42 and the refinement and learning of sailing skills on inland waters as TJ and Deb prepare to shove off into a cruising life, potentially sometime during 2013. I'll be eagerly reading as they depart through the Great Lakes and head towards salty seas.

Proper Course: Hopefully Tillerman doesn't take offense when I say that Proper Course is the odd-ball among my list of best sailing blogs for 2012. I mean it as a compliment, honest. Tillerman has a bit of disdain for cruisers and aspires to "cheat the nursing home and die on his Laser". But still, his writing manages to be entertaining, informative and almost always unexpected.

Swell Voyage: Liz Clark and the Voyage of Swell is simply really good, honest, cruising experiences. Liz Clark is a women's collegiate national surfing champion turned solo-sailor and environmentalist. She's sailed solo across the Pacific and writes about a simple way of life. I think she serves as a great role model for my three daughters and I look forward to her adventures in 2013.

John Vigor's Blog: John's blog appears simple and visually reserved, but his writing is interesting and informative even without pictures or illustrations, so I recommend you have a visit. Many of you probably know John from his many published books (Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere, Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing, etc.). His blog features quick tidbits and great tips all grounded in  his vast experience.

Got other favorite blogs you love to follow or know of some that should be picking up momentum in the coming year? We'd love to hear about them, so please share in the comments below.

Ready to start your own blog? Get an affordable domain and hosting here.

For SFLF's best sailing blogs of 2013, check here. For the 2014 edition, check here.

Comments

  1. Thanks for including my blog on your top 10 list. I am well aware that my approach to blogging about sailing is not everyone's cup of tea (as we say in England.) So I will take "odd-ball" as a compliment.

    And congratulations to all the other blogs on your list. I was familiar with some of them and will definitely check out the others.

    Keep up the good work on your own blog!

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    1. Wow, I didn't realize you were from England. Does that mean I can now read your posts in a British accent? ;) In any case, Proper Course is great reading.

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  2. Yes, we are from England originally and I am told I do still have an English accent. We have lived in the USA since 1989, first in NJ and for the last 5 years in RI. Thanks for the kind words about Proper Course. Pleased you like it.

    And I like it too that you took the trouble to compile a Best Sailing Blogs list. I used to do this for many years but you are more than welcome to take over the role as official top 10 sailing blog lister.

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  3. I would like to invite you to follow my sailing blog. I've recently just come back from a couople of months of not writing but am currently preparing for a solo voyage in a 1957 classic sloop. To make things a bit more interesting it's during the active cyclone season out here in the South Pacific. I hope you enjoy it!

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    1. Thanks Rob. You're website looks great and your boat is gorgeous! I'll be following as you prepare for your trip and eventually shove off.

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    2. Glad to hear you like it, it's always good to get feedback from fellow bloggers. Especially from someone with such a beautiful blog like yours.

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  4. Thank you so much SFLF for including us on your list - it's such an honor!! Hopefully one day in the near future we can all toast the wonders of the bloggy world together! In the meantime, happy new year to you and your beautiful family! xo

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    1. Brittany - You're very welcome...and Windtraveler.net was very deserving of the list. Keep up the great writing!

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  5. I hope I will make it one day....All great blogs and a few ones I need to follow...Thanks

    www.kewlchange.com

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    1. Nice website, Kewlchange! Thanks for being a reader here at SFLF.

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  6. We are so honored to be on your list! Although we won't be moving around for a couple years I'll keep blogging about life onboard Wondertime - a totally new adventure of living and working and schooling in a foreign country. Just another phase of cruising. :-)

    P.S. I am excited to be back in the land of internet so I can finally follow other blogs like YOURS that I haven't been able to!

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    1. Thanks Sara. Your blog has truly been an inspiration for our family. It's really good for my girls to see other girls "out there". They sort of have a running tally of the places they want to visit when we finally get out there too.

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  7. We're in our 20s and are starting to save so that we can sail when we are about 27 or 28. Are there any young sailing bloggers like us?

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    1. Sure there are. Check out www.mjsailing.com and ControlledJibe.com. Thanks for sharing your blog, too.

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    2. We're also young and sailing. Best of luck as you prep and feel free to reach out with any questions along the way.

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    3. Oh cool, I was actually looking for a site that focused on younger sailing bloggers as well. However in general this list is excellent, a few I already know but some good new ones to explore.

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  8. Does not post as frequently as I would like, but this is one of my favourites http://2gringos.blogspot.co.uk/ not 100% sailing but I thing it still qualifies

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    1. Gary - Thanks for reminding me about the 2 Gringos blog. I use to follow them a few years ago but haven't visited in a while. I'll have to catch up!

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  9. We started our journey 6 months ago now, and followed some of the blogs you mention, as they were indeed filled with great ideas and advice ! Others we don't know, but look forward to reading, thanks for posting !!

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    1. Dave & Alexandra - Thanks for visiting and commenting! Looks like your blog has a ton of good info and great pictures too. I look forward to following along.

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  10. Thanks for including us on your list! If nothing else, our blog has been the definition of dogged determination, and we're determined to get this show on the road (or rather the sea) this year. Thanks even more for your continued encouragement through our many trials.

    Deb
    S/V Kintala
    www.theretirementproject.blogstpot.com

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    1. Deb - I love reading preparation blogs as much as I do blogs of people "out there". It's amazing to see who everyone gets their life in order for a big cruise. Can't wait to read about Kintala's travels in 2013!

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  11. Thanks so much for adding Controlled Jibe to your blog list - what an honor! We're happy to have folks following and hopefully getting inspired for their own adventure.
    Katie, Mark and Wylie

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    1. Thanks Controlled Jibe. You guys rock and we're excited to see where your adventure lead.

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  12. What a great list! Some of these folks are friends, and we've been following most of the blogs you mention for quite some time - can't wait to check out the last three you mention. I'd like to add two more blogs worth checking out: bettiedelmar.blogspot.com and karenandjimsexcellentadventure.blogspot.com We're still fledgling writers but you're welcome to check out our blog too: nyonlog.blogspot.com

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    1. Kyra & Rick - Great suggestions! Your blog looks great too, can't wait to read it more in depth in the near future. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. What a great list of wonderful blogs. We've followed a few of these over the years and are glad to find this list and learn of new ones we didn't know about before.

    We'd sure love to have ours included on your list... we're having a ball right now in the southern part of Pacific Mexico and hope our pics and stories inspire future sailors ... roadslesstraveled.us

    --Emily & Mark
    s/v Groovy

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  14. Great tip, I 've been looking for a few good blogs to read! :)

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  15. Nice blog! Congrats!
    Thats mine www.blogspot.com/watatumi
    From Argentina!

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  16. Great list, would like to offer up ours also as we've admired some of those noted.

    We are www.impetuoustoo.blogspot.com and are refitting our alajuela 38 in the hope of sailing far and living on little. We built our own rudder, bowsprit and wooden mast and have spent more months than we'd care to remember in the last few years sanding and grinding fibreglass. We just went in the water this week so sailing far is just a month or so away now after four long years...

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  17. I thought it is worth sharing
    http://frogma.blogspot.in/

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    1. Yup, I've been a follower of Frogma for about a year now. Good stuff!

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  18. Some of these Sail Links are fun. One thing I find intolerable is a website with all the crazy background wallpaper and colors that will not permit easy reading of the available text. One of my favorite sailing web-blogs is oceantrader.co We are in the Caribbean now so we soak-up anything that will enrich our travels through the islands. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks for reading, O Sage! I agree, layout and design can make or break a website.

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  19. Good job.

    We will work hard to be in the 2013 list :D

    Regards,

    ReplyDelete
  20. Some of these Sail Links are fun. One thing I find intolerable is a website with all the crazy background wallpaper and colors that will not permit easy reading of the available text. One of my favorite sailing web-blogs is oceantrader.co We are in the Caribbean now so we soak-up anything that will enrich our travels through the islands. Thanks.

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  21. Thanks for the list! Some new blogs to check out. I've been a fan of "Sailing with Totem" lately, a family from Seattle currently in year 5 of a circumnavigation. She wrote infrequently at first but now updates very regularly. Also Ben Zartman, whose writings have appeared in Cruising World for the last few years, is blogging as he embarks on his voyage across the Atlantic. Those are two that I particularly enjoy, and hope someday I make your list! (I need a boat first tho!)

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  22. This list is wonderful. Many thanks for your great blog. We're in a our second cruising season in the Mediterranean and have been looking for good blogs to follow. This is very helpful!

    http://wildspiritsabroad.blogspot.com



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  23. This is a great blog. This will help people who loves to cruise. They can have lots of ideas to know things about sailing. There are lots of people that are looking for some things about sailing, and this blog will be a very great help.

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  24. Just stumbled upon this list! Always enjoy new reading material (says the girl who's been down an internet rabbit hole for three hours and can't seem to find her way out). I think your blog should have made the cut :). You should be sure to check out http://withbrio.com/ and http://uncensoredrestraint.wordpress.com/. Both of those blogs are a lot of fun. We're at www.taketothesea.us. Looking forward to the 2013 list!

    Sincerely,
    Harmony

    SV Serenity

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  25. What a great list! I always love new reading material (says the girl who has fallen down an internet rabbit hole for the past three hours and can't seem to find her way out). I think your blog should have made the cut. So much useful information here! Be sure to check out http://withbrio.com/ and http://uncensoredrestraint.wordpress.com/ - both really fun blogs that I enjoy reading. We're at www.taketothesea.us. Looking forward to the 2013 list!

    Sincerely,
    Harmony

    SV Serenity
    www.taketothesea.us

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  26. Great list.

    Didn't see http://www.worldtourstories.com on it anywhere and that's a good read.

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    1. Thanks Nick. I do read World Tour Stories from time to time, but it doesn't make my "Best of" list.

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  27. Great list, coming up for one in 2013? I don't plan on making it this year - but in 2016 I hope to see myself up there :) http://thenomadtrip.com

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  28. This is a great article. I particularly follow sailing, especially back when Elliott Wislar Wo IOD Worlds in Northeast Harbor, Maine.

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  29. Anonymous08 September

    "The sea voyage is more than an adventure; it is a rite of passage, as decisive as a wedding. It marks the end of the old self and the birth of the new." Jonathan Raban

    www.nomadicliving.com

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  30. I have a sailing and recipe blog about cooking on a boat and circumnavigation. I'd love to hear what you think! www.sallyinthegalley.net

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  31. Anonymous22 September

    Hey! I write a sailing and recipe blog about cooking on a boat circumnavigating the world called Sally in the Galley. Check it out, I'd love to hear what you think! www.sallyinthegalley.net

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    1. Thanks for sharing, I'll definately stop by for a read and a recipe or two.

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  32. Thanks for share this informative blog on Sailing

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  33. Great list of sites. I've been getting more interested in sailing ever since I took a sail trip around the Olympics.

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  34. Great list, provides a lot of information for sea lovers like us. Followed several over the years and sure is great to catch up with some new ones. I know a number of people who would appreciate this, ought to share it with them.

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  35. Thanks for providing the great list of information. Much appreciated bro.

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  36. Just like you, I also have a great experienced of boating last week and it was awesome. Thanks for sharing this. I hope you guys are having fun.

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  37. Thanks for the list! Some new blogs to check out. I've been a fan of "Sailing with Totem" lately, a family from Seattle currently in year 5 of a circumnavigation.

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  38. Thanks for the list! Some new blogs to check out. I've been a fan of "Sailing with Totem" lately, a family from Seattle currently in year 5 of a circumnavigation.

    ReplyDelete

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