Saying ‘Yes’, A Cruising Lifestyle Philosophy

We had just moved 3,000 miles across the country to Seattle, drawn by its enigmatic inland sea fueled by the Pacific Ocean and embraced by jagged snowy peaks, when our friendly neighbor in Ballard invited us to go racing on…

Lessons Learned: Flush With Options, Spring Cruising Starts

By the time the rhodies peak, Puget Sound sailors are deep into plans or actions for spring commissioning and anticipating the sailing season ahead. Here in Mexico, springtime is when crews typically make plans to set sail…

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…

Buying a Bluewater Sailboat During the Pandemic

A Complicated Delivery, An Unplanned Adventure, and One Family’s Maiden Voyage From the January, 2021 issue of 48° North. In March 2020, the Coronavirus hit our hometown of Nelson, British Columbia, and an isolated…

Sneaking Out: A Quick Overnight Cruise on the Columbia

Come late August, it dawned on my wife that we’d never managed to go on vacation this year. I’d been on a solo weeklong cruise, but Kate hadn’t spent a night away from home since 2019. Our college-age son had moved back…

Unbelievable Serendipity

Knocking Opportunities and a Post-Cruising Miracle From the August 2020 issue of 48° North. In 2012, my husband, Wayne, and I quit our jobs; abandoned friends, family, and mainstream modern conveniences in the Pacific…