Cruising southern France
Fifteen friends from District 28 traveled to France in May. We spent time in Paris, on the Rhône and Saône rivers, and at the French …
Exploring unknown waters
A safe and enjoyable trip into unknown waters requires a lot of careful planning.
Lost in the fog
We wanted to sail to Maine but had been warned about the fog. Several boaters told us they had been to Maine but “never saw …
Heart of Holland: Part I
Boaters take a canal trip through the Netherlands We knew this trip would be different. The idea to charter a boat and cruise the Friesland …
Using apps to decide: Go or not go?
It’s a lovely summer day, and you’re pining to go on a longer journey than your usual casual afternoon boating outing. You want to spend …
Boater encounters deteriorating weather while sailing to Cape May
In 1992, I headed north for the summer aboard my sailboat, SMAY. After traversing the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, I emerged into the top of …
Cruising the Douro River in Portugal
In May 2025, 12 friends from districts 22 and 28 traveled to Madrid for a once-in-a-lifetime cruise on Portugal’s Douro River. After a three-day stay …
Paddling and heat stress
In August 2011, I went on a kayak trip with Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers. We launched in the morning at Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs. …
Smuggler’s Cove
Boaters cruise the Channel Islands for Labor Day Last year, we decided to get the boat ready and head out to California’s Channel Islands over …
Vessel safety checks and National Safe Boating Week
For years, I have been presenting recreational boating safety programs to boating, sailing and paddling clubs during meetings, symposia, picnics, training, on-water trips and other …
Weekend outing fouled by leaky water pump
A recent Labor Day weekend outing on Most Precious was a series of blunders. While I’m proud of the way my first mate and I …
Exploring the beauty of Norway
My husband, Dave, and I aren’t frequent international travelers, and we never thought about Norway as a destination. But after a recent high school reunion, …
