and in the "The boat did just fine" department...

On the subject of editorial intervention, something interesting about universe building, and in the "Don't worry your pretty little head about it" department...

Some good news and something to think about.

Listening to the Artisanals

So it goes...

a race of note and a luddite pleasing app...

A depressing note, EBM on  the subject of "hearts and minds" and in the  "racist, misogynist, bigoted cult of personality that worships Trump" department...

I'll admit I'm sorta/kinda looking forward to the upcoming Golden Globe race in the hopes that it will give a shot in the arm to the idea that seamanship actually matters. Plus, it really should be a pretty good race and is more or less accessible to folks who actually have to work for a living and not just the same old same money wins and rich folk behaving badly affair which seems what most racing has become these days.

On the subject of eroding seamanship skills I'm actually quite impressed with the newish FastSeas routing app as it seems to do the required job for an affordable price (or free) so you might want to add it to your tool set and check it out.

Listening to Fármacos

So it goes...

Some MOB heresy well worth reading...

Wendig has some excellent advice (really a must read), something from the "You didn't leave me, you just beat me to the door" department, and an interesting way to compensate for the impact of President tRump's climate policies...

The new issue of Yachting Monthly has a really excellent article on MOB that makes a lot of sense that is well worth the cost of the issue.

Good stuff!

Listening to Jungle Fire

So it goes...

Crossing the English Channel in an Optimist...

How socialism works in America, just another case of the wealthy stealing from the poor, and, apparently, someone thinks their dick's too small...

Folks wonder why the French seem to better sailors so here's a hint.



More about it here.

Listening to Johnny Hallyday

So it goes...

But seriously...

Regarding rising mortality rates for some, a question about a quarter billion dollars in cash, and a good point being made...

So, yesterday I had a video of Robin Knox Johnson being just a bit pissy on the antics of Captain Snafu and the Fubar Kid which resulted in no small amount of mail as a result.

Surprising mail as it happens...

Most of it being of the "well accidents happen, stuff breaks, and they're newbies so no reason to be so hard on these guys" sort.

Obviously some folks have not been paying attention...

Then again maybe they have and are simply too dense to understand just how dangerous these idiots are both to themselves and, mostly, to those who go to sea to rescue sailors in peril.

Then there's the other thing... Sailing for Americans is pretty lax on rules, safety requirements, and licensing. A situation I heartily approve of as it requires, to a great extent, that we as sailors take responsibility for our own safety and actions. Not all countries take that viewpoint but because the US of A is who it is, they allow us to sail their waters without a lot of red tape and onerous licensing requirements. This, of course, could change.

Captain Snafu and the Fubar Kid are just the sort of poster boys that will have politicians in a variety of countries falling all over themselves to write new laws regarding how foreign sailboats are allowed in, what hoops their crews will have to jump through to be deemed acceptable, and, the icing on the cake, a whole new plethora of fees to support a whole new bureacracy. Sort of a politicians wet dream is it not?

So, maybe it's just me, but the next time I sail to the UK, France, Turkey, Argentina, Tahiti, or wherever-the-fuck I really do not want to have to get a license to drive my boat in their waters or post a million-dollar rescue bond to prove that I actually have a clue how to sail a boat, have a modicum of common sense, and that, in the event of needing rescue, I will be able to pay for the full cost of the rescue and any damages or injuries caused to those rescuing me.

Just think about that scenario for a few minutes.

Oh yeah, for those who are thinking to themselves that their ASA 104 Bareboat Certification card that came in a box of Cracker Jacks will past muster, you might also be interested in a metal tower I have for sale in Paris...

Listening to some Marty Balin covers

So it goes...

on hard work, smart sailing and how the two don't belong in the same sentence...

How mystery meat just became a whole lot more mysterious, a quick primer on inequality, and nope no problem here...

There's an opinion held by a great many that sailing is really hard work and judging by the way some people talk and outfit their boats you might even begin to believe it.

I don't.

The thing is, I'm the first to admit that I'm a pretty lazy guy. It's not so much that I'm against hard work in a good cause but hard work for the sake of hard work when it's not needful just isn't smart. Or to be a little bit clearer... Seriously dumb.

A well-designed boat should not involve a lot of hard work to sail it and, if you're having a hard time, there is a goodly chance that you have simply set the boat up badly, not sailing the boat correctly, or just doing something stupid.

By all means call me opinionated...

There is an excellent little video over at Off Center Harbor (you really do need to subscribe) showing a guy single handing his schooner in a no-muss-no-fuss-trauma-free fashion that shows just how easy sailing could be when you let the boat do most of the donkey work and keep things simple.

Listening to some Americana raga

So it goes...

Why I seldom read forums...

Obvious but true, a pretty solid reading list, and something well worth reading...

There is a really depressing thread on a certain popular forum discussing sailing in close quarters, anchoring/mooring under sail, and suchlike. It would seem a whole lot of cruisers (and I use the word advisedly) seem to think it's dumb, dangerous, and arrogant.

It would seem to me that not possessing the needful skills (which most certainly include maneuvering in close quarters) of sailing your boat is the more dangerous and dumb option.

Listening to some more Ramones covers

So it goes...

So, just how did old school sailors in a hurry tack a dipping lug rig?

Just one thing you should read today...

This is just amazing.



Maybe it's time to reevaluate how we think old school sailors actually sailed?

Listening to some Neil Young covers

So it goes...

A link well worth checking out...

This is all sorts of interesting, a whole lot of lobster dinners, and why the big difference...

I've mentioned before how I think that learning how to sail is no bad thing and, by learning to sail, I don't mean going to some McDonaldsesque franchise that specializes in giving you a piece of paper that says you know enough to sail a bumperboat bareboat.

Something like this program is more the sort of thing you should be looking for. Certainly worth checking it out...

Listening to Ashford & Simpson

So it goes...

Here's a link to something needful...

Something scary about starfish in the Pacific, about that Coke ad, and on the subject of canaries and coal mines...

I'm in the midst of some projects, but here's a great post over at Simply Sailing Online that everybody should read and think about...

Really.

Listening to Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers

So it goes...