#TBT: Turning Adversity into Adventure
In our latest Throwback Thursday, we're kicking it back to a near miss story in the October 2003 issue of 48° North by Lance Ekhart. It all started innocently enough. I am careful to always shorten my dinghy painter before…
A Tale of Two Passages: Colombia>Aruba>Curaçao
We've owned the good ship Yahtzee for 11 years now and, with all the passages in our wake and the places we've been, our family has learned a lot about life and the realities of living aboard a traveling sailboat. Besides…
The Outside Passage
The lightning started at 1 a.m. on night four of our 600-mile offshore passage from Craig, Alaska, to Neah Bay, Washington. We were 40 miles west of Vancouver Island and our 50 foot aluminum mast was providing the highest…
#TBT The ABSURDITY of Boat Projects
Pacific Northwest-based cruisers Becca and John sailed away on their Valiant 40 Halcyon and shared their great stories with 48° North for several years. In the time since, they've returned to our local waters, moved aboard a…
Close to the Water: Sketching the Sea
Sailing a small boat is like moving a paintbrush across the water. It’s slow, thoughtful, and requires a careful, continuous attention to detail. A typical cruising day for me covers just 10 to 15 nautical miles. On a pretty…
A Life Changing Weekend Cruise
The author's husband, Andrew, has spent his life around boats. I wasn’t born with a love of sailboats. In fact, I would say that I still don’t have a huge passion for them, even though I’ve owned one since 2018. They’ve been…
#TBT: Trekka Sails Again
In our latest Throwback Thursday, we revisit the relaunching of John Guzzwell's famous 20-foot yawl, Trekka, from the October 2005 issue of 48° North by Shirley Hewett. After 25 years on shore, one of the world’s most…
Close to the Water: The Log of Row Bird
No matter the size of the vessel, a log book still has a place aboard. When I tell fellow sailors that I keep a log for my 18-foot sail and oar boat, they mostly look puzzled. Why would I want to do that? I see them wonder.…
Close to the Water:The Fourth Dimension
Joining the party aboard the E&E Paddlefish. It was well past my usual bedtime when I was invited aboard the Paddlefish, along with my friends Mia and RJ. The Bee Gees were pumping through speakers; tinsel and disco…
Sailing the Worries Away:Cruising with My Mother
The author's mother aboard Hecate in Princess Louisa Inlet. When I first got my 1965 Pearson Triton, I sent my mother an original advertisement for it along with the accompanying text, copied from the official Pearson Yachts…
