Serendipities Of A Writer's Life

Many people dream of sailing around the world in a small boat – and many more who have no desire whatever to actually go to sea enjoy the vicarious pleasures of a voyage through other people’s books.
Thankfully this has created a steady demand for books about nautical adventures that run the full spectrum from solo [...]

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Savouring a small personal achievement.
With good reason, rounding Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America is still regarded as a major accomplishment for any sailor. Storms (one category above mere gales!) can rage for days with waves reaching 80 – 100 feet high. Numerous ships and countless sailors have lost their lives in [...]

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Every sailor has a destination or a crossing that marks for them both a challenge and, if they make it, an accomplishment.  While doing the Yachtmaster course in England two winters ago, it was crossing the English Channel.  Now, on my way east to Labrador, it was the 28-mile crossing of the St. Lawrence from [...]

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I’m still trying to get over my shock and disappointment to receive a big, new and extra bill from the marina in Rimouski almost two weeks after paying the bill, checking twice that everything was paid and leaving.  This extra billing has happened before at the marina (see below) but I’m trying not to let  [...]

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Another “bulletproof” sailboat of dreams. This Tahitiana was built in 1984 and was listed for sale in Buddina, Queensland, Australia in January 2010. See the photo gallery.

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This is my own boat, bought four years ago, and she is now almost completely refitted and ready for her voyage to Labrador and Ungava Bay.  I bought the boat in Penetanguishene, in Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, Ontario, from David Perry, a master sailor and schoolteacher. He’d sailed “Barbarick” (as she was known at [...]

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The sight of a boat under full sail still thrills me. Take a look at this one of Wisp. See the photo gallery.

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Here’s a shocking report on AFP that speaks for itself.:

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Oceans’ Fish Could Disappear in 40 Years: UN
By AFP
May 17, 2010 “AFP” — NEW YORK (AFP) – The world faces [...]

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There are several different ways to add heating to a boat – propane, diesel, electric, wood – and each has its advantages and it’s drawbacks.  Propane and diesel tends to create a lot of condensation which is exactly what one doesn’t want on a boat.  Electric will ewither keep you tethered to the dock-marina-paycheck or, [...]

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Every sailor fears the sea (and those who don’t are too dangerous to crew with). But long before we cross an ocean or meet our first typhoon we must face a thousand smaller challenges of sailing and navigation – any one of which can torment us with apprehension, even fear.
Making our first passage on our [...]

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