2021 October 1
Whenever a newcomer comes to town I usher him or her to our priceless waterfront and we talk sailing. If I see even a flicker of curiosity, I suggest sailing lessons. Our town benefits greatly from on
Home / Columns & Blogs / On the Wind
2021 September 1
I was considering the 55th anniversary of SAILING, and I asked the question, “What is the one thing that binds all SAILING readers together aside, of course, from great photos and even greater
2021 July 1
If you’re a child of the 1960s or before, you may recall the first oil embargo when prices spiked and shortages had drivers wasting weekends in line at the gas pump, like we saw in May 2021 on the E
2021 June 1
She Who Must Be Obeyed is a big believer in affirmations. Until she entered my life one spring vacation many moons ago, I freely admit that I didn’t know what an affirmation was. Or, at least, I did
2021 March 31
Sailing can seem bicameral—like a 50/50 Senate—split between racers whose passion is intense competition, strategy and speed, and cruisers seeking fun-in-the-sun and vacations to exotic locales.
2021 March 1
Last weekend, with a fine breeze blowing, I decided to take the Laser out. Me to She Who Must Be Obeyed: “Hey, honey, do you know where my oxygen tank and mouthpiece are?”
SWMBO to me: “Where t
2021 January 1
Before Covid-19, sailing seemed stuck in place: it was the same boats moored in the same marina sailing to the same destination or starting on the same line and racing the same course against the sa
2020 November 1
Full disclosure. I love showers. Hot showers. Long, hot showers. I have done some of my best thinking during a leisurely shower, and it reached the point where I installed my own waterproof notepad: a
2020 October 1
The question I’m asked about most often is about family sailing. The scenario differs only slightly: Usually a parent of teenagers aspires to sail in a family group, but can’t convince the kids to
2020 September 1
Didn’t you cut it a little close to Point Loma?” my friend Jon said on the phone the other day.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
“I’m looking at the course you laid out to cl
2020 July 1
Memories of post-race parties run together, but one stands out, not just for the fun being had (fun was definitely had) but for the shocking dockside news that awaited the unknowing fleet.
After thre
2020 June 1
It had never occurred to me, until this pandemic put everyone into self-imposed exile, that sailing is a magnificently and spectacularly solitary endeavor. I now realize that many of my best memories
2020 May 1
Sailing boasts unmatched power to make quick comrades from nemeses.
For example, when climate change provocateur Greta Thunberg chose to sail across the Atlantic Ocean instead of flying, sailing soci
2020 April 1
Iwent sailing with an old friend recently on his 38-foot racer-cruiser that shall remain nameless because what I’m about to say has nothing to do with the boat, which was quite fun to sail.
B
2020 March 1
It was a quarter of a century ago but it seems like yesterday.
We were 50 miles into a 120-mile overnight passage bound north by northeast. Our homeport lights had fallen below the horizon so o
2020 February 1
To be a real sailor is more than knowing your knots and how to trim sails for the conditions. It’s also looking the part. Just as Boy Scouts have merit badges, so too do sailors have their status sy
2020 January 1
Footage of the foiling IMOCA 60s is sci-fi. And I’m not just talking about the sailing shots.
Watching the new Apivia emerge from its shed is like seeing a stealth fighter jet for the first t
2019 November 1
I admit it: I belong to way too many yacht clubs. I realize this, but it seems to be a chronic issue, like keeping every copy of the New York Times for 30 years or creating huge balls of string.
2019 October 1
Last August a friend issued a challenge. John and his partner Pat were enjoying frequent summer weekends at a cottage on Flathead Lake in Montana, but their sailboat—a 15-foot centerboard trailer-sa
2019 September 1
I was skimming a boating blog when my eye was caught by a plaintive headline: “How do I stop a Seagull?” I thought for a moment and then I started laughing, to the point of tears running down
-
This rugged pilothouse cutter can handle the rough stuff in comfort
-
This small oceangoing cruiser can be built by DIY builders
-
This folding trimaran for fun cruising offers plenty of options
