Sail Far Live Free

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." -Benjamin Franklin That's a simple quote, but an arduous task. And of course, the meaning of "worth" changes among readers and writers. But if you're here at SailFarLiveFree.com, I can safely assume sailing probably ranks high on your scale of things worth reading and worth doing. Below are the sailing related blogs that I've most enjoyed following during 2013. There are many more that I follow and countless others that are worthy of reading, but just as with years past , I've tried to narrow the field a bit. Some are very popular blogs and some will be new to you, but all benefit from writing and adventure that's outside the editorial constraints of magazines and other more traditional forms of written media. Notice also, I've included a selection of blogs to follow in the upcoming year. Many will be beginning new adventures in 2014. Enjoy! A sailing blogger'...

Winter Solstice by K. Walters

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." -Abraham Lincoln When the art of sailing gets technical, having a firm foothold on the deck is critical. If you've ever had to go forward to release a snagged jib sheet or tie in a reef when the seas are snotty, then you understand the importance of being able to stand firm in the most literal sense. I have a hard time narrowing my shoe choices when it's time to set sail for a cruise. Sometimes I like a shoe because of how it looks, sometimes because of how it feels, and other times because of how it performs. Occasionally there's a pair of shoes that checks all three boxes. Today I'm going give you the lowdown on four relatively new sailing shoes and see if any are the right place for a sailor's feet. [ Check here for for a couple of the sailing shoe reviews I've done in the past]. XTRATUF Finatic : First up is a pair of modest deck/dock shoes from a company that's known...

Tumblehome Perfection  by K. Walters tum - ble - home ( noun ): The inward curve of a ship's topsides. Or said another way, when the beam at the uppermost deck is less than the maximum beam of the vessel.

"I’ve made my voyages to please and interest myself.  I’m glad that others read what I write; but I would have sailed as I have if no one else ever knew." - Webb Chiles I created this website, SailFarLiveFree.com , to document my own growth as a sailor. Remembering where I came from and how I acquired a certain skill or memory is important to me and I've found is also sometimes of interest to others. A lot of the content on the website is my way of exploring the sailing lifestyle and examining the many different perspectives that make it so fascinating.  From time to time, I've brought in experienced voices to help me sort things out. For example, both Ted Brewer and Bob Perry have generously written guest posts here about bluewater sailboat design. In this particular post, I'm excited to share an interview I recently did with Webb Chiles, a well-known enigmatic sailing voyager who's completed 5 circumnavigations in a variety of sailboats spanning...

It's holiday season and the message boards are starting to fill with threads about "gift ideas for sailors", so I thought I'd offer up some ideas of my own based on sailing gear we're currently using (or plan to use very soon!). Look for more detailed reviews for many of these products in the near future. Ronstan Quick-Lock Winch Handle : Perfect for the grinder in your family, these new winch handles from Ronstan feature a one hand grab-and-release mechanism that is...quick! They're available in 8" and 10" models with single grip or palm grip. I've got a 10" palm grip model that I'll be testing out early next year on our Catalina 34. I like the longest handle I can get for maximum leverage, but if the space around your winch is limited by a dodger or other hardware, consider the smaller 8" model. Carmanah M550 Marine Lantern : This new self-contained and solar powered marine LED lantern is rated for 1-3 nautical mi...

Soooo thankful for my family and the time we have together!

"...I am trying to capture some of the stories that people have to tell about their journeys." - David Anderson from The Sailing Podcast If you're a regular reader of sailing blogs, you probably enjoy that most blogs share very personal perspectives that are unaltered by the editorial process of more traditional print media (magazines, etc.). Information from the blogosphere just feels real and often raw. Podcasts offer some of these same characteristics in an audio format. Unfortunately, sailing and the cruising lifestyle seem largely underrepresented in the podcast world.  However, thanks to the efforts of David Anderson from The Sailing Podcast , we all now have an excellent podcast dedicated to sailing life. David manages to produce a really informative show with very relevant topics and engaging guests, many of whom may be familiar as sailing bloggers. I recently contacted David and interviewed him in hopes of introducing you all to The Sailing Podcast and to...