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!
This trip was born from a sudden change in plans three weeks before departure: our original 41-foot monohull was replaced by a massive Moorings 5000 catamaran. A whirlwind scramble to find crew commenced. Within a week, against the odds, we assembled a five-person team ready to embrace the unknown. My sister Maria and her friends, …
Continue reading "A Grenada Sailing Adventure – Part 1: Finding Our Sea Legs"
Our plan looked tidy on paper. We picked a boat. We selected a destination. We sketched an itinerary. And, we imagined a Grenada trip like this would answer some big questions about how we are able to handle the cruising lifestyle. Well. The universe had other ideas. A week ago, the charter company called to …
Continue reading "An Unbelievable Course Correction: New Boat, New Crew"
It’s time for the next step in our journey, and we’re glad to have you along! After a successful BVI trip, and an amazing Lake Michigan season, we’re ready for our next challenge. We’re cruising the Grenadines in January! While we’ve loved having company on our trips, this one will be just for us: we’re …
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 …
We Plan to Float, and Float the Plan. I have to admit, for me, "floating" implies the least active of all water activities. It’s kind of the bare minimum, especially if you’re on a boat. Floating is job one for a boat, and it is a pass/fail exercise. But for purposes of this discussion, a …
Continue reading "Setting Sail Safely: A Float Plan is Non-Negotiable"
SAIL & SAVOR BLOG 