A sailor knows that a boat can’t be sailed directly into the wind, even if that’s where she wants to go. Aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, design and skill determine how a boat will sail, and how close into (toward) the wind a sailboat can go. Velocity Made Good, or VMG, is a sailing term referring to the …
Offering Maine Solace
We left Newburyport last Saturday afternoon, regretfully missing our yacht club ‘s party and annual fireworks gathering. But the summer is waning, and downeast Maine has been calling. We arrived at Tenant’s Harbor after a pleasant overnighter, just short of where technically downeast Maine is designated. But it’s close enough for a “base camp”, where …
Forty Islands – One Winter
Perusing Fayaway’s logbook, I realize that we visited nine countries and stepped four bare feet upon forty (40) distinct islands between late November and May (‘22-‘23 season). At only one sandy spit did we not actually anchor - because it was so crowded we motored across the busy thoroughfare with Korykory.) Wow, we have so …
Sailing Onomatopoeia
A kind reader recently commented at how he enjoys the more mundane of my postings. Enjoy! On a tracking post (pre-April ‘23) I defined Sailing Perfection - just the right amount of wind and calm-enough seas to make-way an easy 7+ knots. During another such bout of fantastic bounding across the ocean, distantly offshore, reclining …
Spare Bits – How Much Is Enough?
We reached the decision point, while on a brisk sleigh ride ENE. Seemingly non-intuitive, we decided to exit the Gulf Stream while riding along at a respectable 8 knot clip. It didn’t feel right. However, to avoid getting slammed by yet another northerly around Cape Hatteras we cut diagonally across the Gulf Stream speedway on …
SV Fayaway 