When I die, I want my leftovers to be buried at sea. Wrap a heavy chain — used, of course — around my bones and floatables to sink everything long enough for the bottom feeders to do their work. (Read More…)

There might be a lot in the literature of psychiatry on my condition, and if so, I would appreciate help in finding it. For now, I’ll call it Crew Overload Disorder, or COD. It happened again last weekend, and it is clear that I need treatment or some good drugs. (Read More…)

It’s good to see Jason Wright back at work in the boatyard. A couple of weeks ago, while he and Steve Larrimore — they’re the yard’s riggers — were working on a boat, Jason moved wrong and something gave in his back. (Read More…)

When I noted in a blog a few days ago that I had a preference for the ice cream from the Oxford Market, in comparison with that offered by another local purveyor, “boatbod” commented: “ ‘Less tasty scoops’ eh? I recommend you get your taste buds checked.” I haven’t taken that advice, but it has made me think about the nature of “taste.” (Read More…)

We have a junk drawer at home. It is habit-forming. We also have a junk drawer aboard Robin. I suppose its location is telling of our priorities as boaters. (Read More…)

Robin and I sit at the dock 10 or more months a year, she my comfortable office, I her semireliable caretaker. For most of that time our greatest seamanship concern is whether the dock lines are secure and will hold her off the pilings in a blow. (Read More…)

Skip Moorhouse warned me when I picked up the new mainsail he made for Robin that I would curse him when I tried to get all those slides in the mast and boom grooves. So I was prepared when, in the noonday sun, I began the project. Prepared to hate. (Read More…)

I got a taste of what the cruising lifestyle could be like when Dick and Libby Mills parked their Westsail 32, Tarwathie, off the end of the dock yesterday and invited me aboard. They are the real deal, a couple who disposed of their terrestrial possessions three years ago and have been ebbing and flowing along the Eastern Seaboard ever since. (Read More…)

There is one light on over the port settee as I begin filing this report. Monica has turned in across the saloon after a very gratifying day aboard Robin. For the first time ever, we got our closest grandchildren aboard over the weekend, and by any measure the day was a success. (Read More…)

The best time to go fishing most places I’ve ever tried is either before sunrise or right at dusk. The other best time is whenever you have a chance, and so I saw an opening at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and took it. (Read More…)