Happily Home on the Sea
Last week I wrote a sailing story for the blog, but it felt a bit rushed to jump back in after so many months off and I didn't hit publish. We'd recently returned home to Yahtzee in southern Mexico, cleaned her up, gotten…
Return to Alaska
With their beloved boat Yahtzee on the hard for hurricane season, the Cross family returns to their old haunts for the summer and finds their way onto the water. Rows of sailboats and fishing vessels of all shapes and sizes…
The Buddy System
Seasoned cruisers share their experiences pairing up with other sailors. This article was originally published in the September 2021 issue of 48° North. Smoke drifted upward from the grill on the stern, salads and side…
Pacific Gale Sail: 24 Hours of Preparation, Endurance & Recovery
This article was originally published in the August 2021 issue of 48° North. The triangles on the cold front symbol remind me of teeth — fangs, actually — while I stare at a weather map on my computer screen. Sailing…
Weekend Warriors: Alaska Amazes Again
The surprise of a borrowed power-cruiser gets the Cross family back out on the water to one of their favorite anchorages in Alaska. Sitting in the cockpit of our friend's sailboat, I listen to conversation and laughter,…
Thank You For Teaching Me to Row
For Love of the Water and Family… And Sharing it with Others Over the power of the wind and the rhythm of the waves pushing Yahtzee westward away from the coast of Central America, the buzzing phone in my pocket pulls me…
Glorious Ballard Cup: An Ode to Beer Can Racing
Sailing is great. Sailing with friends is even better. Sailing with friends as part of an amazing community is best of all! If there's one thing to know about me, it's that I love, LOVE, racing sailboats. I've been doing it…
Video: 450 Glorious Downwind Miles from Nicaragua to Mexico
The crew of Yahtzee embarks on a 450-mile passage from Nicaragua to Mexico. With hurricane season coming in the tropics and a summer in Alaska on the horizon, our crew decided to leave San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and head…
Adventure in Place: Previewing the WA360 Race
This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of 48° North. I’ll admit it, when I heard that Race to Alaska (R2AK) was being canceled for the second year in a row, I was a bit bummed. While I understood and…
Embracing ‘One Week Cove’
When a lone anchorage unexpectedly becomes home base for a week, the best thing to do is make an adventure out of it... Sitting on Yahtzee’s cabin top, I watch in utter fascination as prehistoric-looking pelicans catch their…