Quaranteaming and hitting the pause button for hurricane season
Though I've been doing a lot of writing lately, it has been difficult to put words together for the blog. With all that has been going on in the world, writing about cruising in Mexico on a sailboat just hasn't seemed…
PNW Sailors Head… EAST?
Stalwart Pacific Northwest sailors take an opportunity to change their lifestyle and formulate a plan to hop cross-country to explore the East Coast Adventure. The sailor racing their boat around the world, the mountaineer…
#TBT: Trekka Sails Again
From the October 2005 issue of 48° North by Shirley Hewett After 25 years on shore, one of the world’s most famous yachts returned to the water in Victoria Harbour for the June Tall Ships 2005 events. With her builder John…
A bumpy passage and lost toilet seat
Brisk winds and turbulent seas lead to an overboard toilet seat at the end of a passage The Charlotte Straits can be as calm, serene, and peaceful as any sailor in the dead of night could…
Sailing with My Clan
From the April 2020 issue. I’m hardly the first to row or sail the Inside Passage in a small craft. Yet, during the first 100 miles of my journey south from Port McNeil, Row Bird was the sole open boat on the water. Pulling…
Totem Bears Witness: An Environmental Photo Essay from Around the World
Immersing our family in the realities of the natural world is a meaningful part of our cruising dream When we set off from the Pacific Northwest aboard Totem over a decade ago, we anticipated the rewards of living with a…
Rally Reflections, Part Two: The Real Business of Living
The big bay of the Crown Jewel. Exploring the Crown Jewel Sucia Island is both well known and well loved, and is commonly referred to as the "Crown Jewel of the San Juan Islands". It is a favorite among savvy cruisers and…
Rally Reflections Part One: Sailing to Sucia
Take a Trip Back in Time to Last Year's 48° North Cruising Rally (formerly called the Cascadia Cruising Rally) It’s natural to hop in the time machine right now—fly off to carefree days of travel, exploration, and…
Infernal Combustion Blues: Learning To Go With The Flow On Cortes Island
“Life is short. Whatever happens, make sure you enjoy it." Liam, the author's partner in life and extravagant travel plans. Silver Linings of an Engine Breakdown The engine squealed, loudly. It was the kind of squeal that…
Sirius 40 DS Boat Review
48° North Tests the Stout, Twin-Keeled Bluewater Cruiser The Sirius 40 Deck Saloon (DS) just made its North American Boat Show debut in Seattle in January, and I have to admit, it had not been on my radar. It certainly is…