It wasn’t until we used our winch one day, and it made a horrible sound, that we discovered that it needed to be serviced. No – we didn’t have a Lewmar winch service checklist to remind us of this job. I suppose we’re not unlike most bluewater cruisers in that we’re always learning as we[Read More]
Videos
High Wind Sailing Techniques
You can’t avoid high winds if you’re going to be a bluewater sailor – squalls and even minor storms pop up unexpectedly. Heck – just last week a Tropical Storm unexpectedly popped up over the top of us and we had absolutely no warning. So…if you’re going to become a bluewater cruiser it’s important to[Read More]
Sailing From A Tropical Storm
After watching a weather disturbance for days we felt confident that nothing more than a bit of rain and wind was coming. Unbeknown to us, Tropical Storm Karen, formed overnight and crossed just north of our current anchorage. Knowing that serious weather bands might cause high winds and a large swell we made a decision[Read More]
Teak Deck Repair – An Easy-To-Follow 10 Step Process
In this post, I’ll show you what needs to be repaired on a teak deck, the tools and supplies necessary to repair it, the step-by-step teak deck repair process, and I’ll also offer some tips and tell you about what does and doesn’t work. Read the steps and then watch the video at the end[Read More]
How To – Mooring Ball & Mooring Buoy
In this video, I’ll show you how to easily tie onto a mooring ball (otherwise know as a mooring buoy), how to release the lines and leave a mooring ball and at the end I’ll give you a little know technique about how you can prevent a mooring ball from hitting your hull (making a[Read More]
How To Leave A Dock (The Easy Way) – Video & Checklist
Newbie boaters often find success or failure in their bluewater cruising dreams based upon their first few experiences, not with sailing (ironically), but with getting the boat in and out of the marina. Time after time, I’ve seen dreams shattered due to a bump, crash, and/or a full-on anxiety attack. If you can learn how[Read More]
CopperCoat Antifouling Nightmare
We had CopperCoat Antifouling applied to the hull of our Oyster 56′ in 2016. Since then we’ve had nothing but problems. To get the full story, to date, watch the following video that highlights: our first CopperCoat application in North Carolina a haul out in South Carolina for CopperCoat USA to inspect issues and instigate[Read More]
The Caribbean Carnival – A Cruisers Bucket List Item
Throughout the Caribbean, each island or country has its own unique Carnival. Some last a week, others last a day and there are many that take place over a few days. The various Carnivals are spread out throughout the year so it’s possible to visit several islands and several Carnivals (or a Junkanoo as they[Read More]
Sailing Cruising Lifestyle – The Roles
Do you and your partner want to explore the world, or parts of it, and buy a sailboat? Are you curious as to what the sailing cruising lifestyle is like? Who does what when it’s a couple or a family? What roles and responsibilities does each person play? (Sailing Cruising Lifestyle Video below) On our[Read More]
Quickest & Easiest Man Overboard Procedure
When it comes to sailing and sailboats there are several different ways to do a variety of tasks. Some captains and sailing schools preach one method and others preach another. Your best bet is to understand the options and then choose the system, or way, that works best for you. How will you know what[Read More]
