Sailing with Josh: The Stern-Tie Setup
“How do you run a stern-tie setup when you have limited working and storage space on board?” This is one of the questions I asked myself in fitting out my Flicka 20, Sampaguita, for Pacific Northwest expeditions.…
Tales of the Northwest Passage: What’s in a fish?
This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of 48° North. Night had begun to return since leaving the last settlement of Cambridge Bay. Headed west, the wind on our nose, Breskell pounded into the teeth of the…
It’s Electric! The Port Townsend Race Committee Boat Gets a Refit and Repower
When the Port Townsend Sailing Association's committee boat needed repowering, the decision was made to go electric! The Port Townsend Sailing Association, Blackbird Associates, and Steve Scharf have relaunched the 1979 CHB…
Exploring Local: Kilisut Harbor
Making the most of a pandemic holiday, I did what sailors do — I sailed. I left Boat Haven late Friday morning bound for Scow Bay, at the southern end of Kilisut Harbor. A Gale Warning had been declared for the evening, with…
The Kilisut Cut by Kayak
I crabbed the inflatable kayak along the sand bar, looking for a channel. There wasn’t one. The current was against me, spilling over the wide breadth of the cut like a fan, the bottom visible a couple of feet below. I made…
A Glutton For Punishment: Rounding Indian and Marrowstone Islands
My second attempt (actually my third, but #2 was un-noteworthy due to early becalming and retreat) to circumnavigate Indian and Marrowstone Islands entirely under sail with Sampaguita, my Pacific Seacraft 1985 Flicka 20, was…
Life in 240 Inches
Living Aboard a Flicka From the May 2019 issue of 48° North. The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 has a reputation as a well built, good sailing, bluewater sailboat. Most sailors will be familiar with the design. In spite of, or…
Essay Contest Winner: The Meaning of May
For adventures and good fortunes large and small, the meaning of May is being thankful. The following is our winning entry for our first-ever (to our knowledge) 48° North Essay Contest. The essay prompt was simply: What does…
A Flicka Sails Herself
Finding the sweet spot for balance on a 20-foot Flicka A boat that wants to achieve balance is motivating, fun, and easy to sail. An endearing quality of Sampaguita, my Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, is her willingness to steer…
As the…