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…
Tips to Get Your Boat Out of its Winter Slumber
From the April 2021 issue of 48° North. One of the fortunate parts of being a boater in the Pacific Northwest is that the waters of the Salish Sea are open for year-round racing and cruising adventures. That said, most…
Farewell Lifeline Netting, You Were a Win-Win
At this point 7 years ago, Porter was on the verge of his first birthday and in the preceding few months had become increasingly mobile aboard Yahtzee. Holding onto the settees and cockpit coaming to stand up and take small…
U.S. Coast Guard Announces Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-off Switches
As of April 1, 2021 operators of recreational vessels of less than 26 feet in length will be required to use an engine cut-off switch in U.S. waters. When the following USCG press release announcing the new requirement of…
Spontaneity Rewarded
From the March, 2021 issue of 48° North.
Reminiscing on unplanned racing, downwind sailing and idyllic anchorages turning from winter to spring