Octogenarian Odyssey Part IV
To celebrate both of us turning 80 and our 60th wedding anniversary, my husband, David, and I took a long-distance cruise on the Down East …
Updating paper charts
If you’re considering a significant voyage this coming boating season, now is a good time to examine and update your backup paper charts—especially those printed …
Paddlecraft rescue and towing
In The Ensign Spring 2022, I discussed capsize recovery and stressed how important it is for a paddler to hold onto the boat during a …
The Resurrection of Pauline
After Fort Myers Power Squadron Commander Gene Kent’s beloved 1976 Irwin sailboat, Pauline, sank at the dock during Hurricane Ian in September 2022, he told …
Lure of High Ice
Photography by David Thoreson There’s a rule of thumb veteran ice skippers like Roger Swanson come to understand about the Arctic: You don’t know what …
Exploring the Inside Passage
The Inside Passage, which runs along the northern U.S. west coast and British Columbia, Canada, has been one of my family’s favorite cruising destinations over …
Paddlecraft vessel safety checks
As an experienced paddler and vessel examiner, I know that many paddlers don’t see themselves as boaters and rarely take boating safety courses. Paddle sports …
Sailors face lightning storms in Costa Rica
During our six-and-a-half-year world cruise, we watched the weather carefully, especially in places like Mexico’s Gulf of Tehuantepec and France’s Gulf of Lion where gale-force …
Octogenarian Odyssey Part III
To celebrate both of us turning 80 and our 60th wedding anniversary, my husband, David, and I took a long-distance cruise on the Down East …
Summer Cruise Circa 1990
After two months of planning, the day finally arrived for our long-awaited summer cruise from our home port at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in Little …
Cold water paddling
Water temperatures start to drop as we head into fall and winter. While paddling in cooler climes can be a lot of fun, paddlers need …
Couple cruises the Lower Danube
As they did for so many people, global events caused us to “adjust” our plans to cruise from Budapest, Hungary, to the Black Sea. First, …
