All Stories and Articles
America’s Cup? Nevermind!
In my previous posting I was really pumped-up about the multihull matchup for the 33rd America’s Cup. After coming up to speed on the run-up to the event, I have changed my mind. After a lifetime of sailing, I’m fed up with wannabe clowns who have no business on the water. From SailWorld.com: There is little... »
Seasickness Solutions
After many hundreds of hours behind the helm I was never sea sick, however, a couple of years ago I signed on as crew (along with my wife), on a crossing of the Gulf of Mexico from St. Pete to Isla Mirada/Cancun, Mexico aboard a 53’ sloop. The first two days of the four... »
60 Knot Sailing
Bill Lee is famously quoted as saying “Fast is fun”. How about 60 knots of sailing fun? Length - 18 meters Beam - 24.5 meters Mast Height - 27 meters Height of Lateral Foils - 6.5 meters Weight at Takeoff with 5 crew - 6.5 tons Weight in Flight with Wind Ballast - 7 tons Main Sail Area - 165 square... »
Einstein and Boat Shrinkage
Einstein explained that the faster one goes, the smaller the dimensions of objects become until, at the speed of light, that contraction causes those objects to become infinitesimally tiny. My boat must be much faster than I thought because I have found that as I venture father offshore where the wind and sea get up... »
Heineken Regatta, 2009
We are on final approach for the Heineken Regatta and I am starting to work through our landing checklist. So far everything appears to be in order. As near as I can determine, the islands are still located at about 18.03N 63.03W and the Trades are still blowing from the east. Transportation to St.... »
ASUS Follow-up Report
I’m back from the Heineken Regatta now and here’s what worked and didn’t work with my ASUS. Overall the ASUS was a terrific little machine both on and off the water. In addition, it drew lots of attention and when I told people the price, they were flabbergasted! Pluses Portability was outstanding. I was able to wedge... »
Heineken Regatta: Santa Cruz Mid-winter race
Okay, okay! so it was way harder to get online for daily posting than I anticipated. The series is over now and I'm waiting for Monica to arrive for few days R&R. All I can say is that it was the most sailing fun I' ve had in a long time! Tomorrow... »
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Many years ago I would drive up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to San Fransico with my young son to survey the sea conditions before racing my sailboat along that notorious section of coast. I kept him entertained during the drive with stories about monsters that inhabited the region. In stormy weather, Pigeon Point, the... »
What would you have done?
Seventy-Year-Old Sailor Rescued Off Santa Cruz Island Rescuers say a lone 70-year-old sailor lost all electricity on his 50-foot yacht near Santa Cruz Island and was airlifted to safety by a U.S. Coast Guard crew before his vessel ran aground and was destroyed. A Coast Guard official said that without electricity, the man could not start... »
Blowback 5 - In the Middle
We landed in Saint George Harbor, Bermuda, in late May of 2002 after a boisterous and eventful five-day crossing from Norfolk, Virginia. There we met the crews of other eastbound sailing vessels, all closely monitoring daily weather forecasts. Every afternoon we gathered in a little waterside pub to talk about the 1800 miles of... »

Capt. Marc, veteran of multiple ocean crossings, offshore and one-design racer, and instructional pro, invites you to join him for lessons and/or excursions under sail.
