Gen X foodies learning to sail
Once onboard the Spindrift, a massive 50-foot catamaran that felt like driving a luxury SUV, rituals emerged to soften the inevitable friction of life in tight quarters. These weren’t enforced chores or rigid schedules. Instead, our crew naturally synchronized into a rhythm of coordination, achieving what Kent described as perfect geometric stability.
In this article, we get into the nitty-gritty, the highlights, the challenges, and insights into how we prepared, and how it impacted our experience, our lessons learned. If you are contemplating or preparing for your own trip, this one’s for you!
Our journey toward becoming sailors started five years ago, fueled by a dream to retire onto a sailboat. But nothing could have prepared me for the sheer wonder of our Grenada expedition. The trip was born from a whirlwind two-week scramble after a sudden change in plans: our original 41-foot monohull was replaced by a …
Continue reading "Spindrifters: A Grenada Sailing Adventure"
Retirement is still a long way off but it’s been creeping into more of our conversations lately. We both want our Captain's license in hand by the time we cast off for longer voyages, and I’ve started to realize that navigation—specifically, the chart-and-compass kind—has me spooked. The math, the precision, the possibility of being “off …
It’s true that docking is just one skill among many in sailing, but it’s practically its own discipline. Sail trim, points of sail, tacking — those are glamorous parts of sailing. But docking is different. It’s gritty and humbling. Docking is where nerves meet nuance. And after my gawd-awful dock-job a couple of weeks ago, …
The forecast for Chicago on Thursday: There would be a small craft advisory in the morning, west winds up to 30 knots - easing later to 20–25 - with 5–7 ft waves. On paper, not ideal conditions for a day-sail. Still, forecasts promised improvement, and we weren’t in a rush. We pushed our departure to …
Some sailing days are packed with purpose and progress, and a lot of play. That was the vibe for us on Lake Michigan this weekend. Smooth Start, Sunny Skies The day started strong. We’d slept well, had a good breakfast, and arrived at Burnham Harbor by 11:30 AM. Despite a tiny case of stage fright …
Winds up to 22 knots, a reef that wasn’t there, and the quiet thrill of doing something you once thought was too much — our second crossing of Lake Michigan was equal parts challenge and growth. This is the story of how our comfort zone expanded, one gust at a time.
After a rough first landing on our season opener, I was more than ready for a second shot. This time, everything clicked — calm winds, smooth sailing, and determination at the helm. I learned that docking isn’t about power; it’s about patience, timing, and a few well-placed nudges. And just like that, I found my redemption… and a rhythm I can’t wait to keep building on.
Having viewed endless hours of YouTube videos on sailing monohulls and catamarans, we have often wondered how monohulls compare to catamarans. Now that we have spent time on both, we can answer that question for ourselves! Through our experiences, and a fair bit of research, we've come to appreciate the unique characteristics of each. There's …
Continue reading "Monohulls vs Catamarans: Which is Right for You?"
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