Doug Ryan Imagine a 750‑mile race from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK – no motors, no support crew, all guts. That’s the Race to Alaska (R2AK), a madcap endurance marathon on water. Organizers describe it as a “throwdown with one of the most storied and unforgiving coastal passages.” Racers battle tidal rapids, steep waves, 20‑knot currents, … Read more
“It’s just wind in your hair and dolphins at the bow,” they said.But let’s be honest: sometimes, it’s also pure chaos, questionable decisions, and an unspoken agreement with Poseidon himself. Sailing, as much as we romanticize it, isn’t always sunset cocktails and starry skies. Sometimes it’s a game of chess with the sea—and you’re down … Read more
If you’ve spent any time boat shopping or lurking around online sailing forums, you’ve probably stumbled across the phrase “twin keel” — sometimes called bilge keels.Two short fins instead of one big one, hanging under the hull like training wheels for sailors. And boy, do people have opinions.Some swear by them. Others wouldn’t go offshore … Read more
You ever walk down a marina and notice the same boats sitting in the same slips month after month? Clean decks, polished hulls, good sails — but no buyers in sight. It’s like a floating graveyard of dreams that once had diesel fumes and salt spray running through their veins. Something’s changed out there. The … Read more
There’s a dirty little secret in the world of yacht racing: for a lot of sailors, it’s just not fun anymore. Between screaming skippers, broken gear, and complicated handicaps, the average weeknight race feels more like an IRS audit on water than a casual evening sail. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s … Read more
When muscle cars met mainsails—and it actually worked for a while. If you thought Chrysler only made cars that roared down the highway, think again.Back in the 1960s and ’70s, the same company that gave us the Hemi engine decided to try its hand at something a little quieter: sailboats. Yes, for over a decade … Read more
If you hung around a boat ramp in the late 1990s or 2000s, you probably saw one — a shiny white sailboat sliding off a trailer, a big 50-horsepower outboard on the back, and an owner grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. In the background you likely saw some traditional sailors looking wondering if … Read more
Remember when yacht clubs were packed with shaggy-haired teenagers rigging 420s and arguing over who forgot the bailer? Fast forward to today, and most docks sound more like a symphony of creaky knees than a summer camp. Recent numbers tell the tale: just 2% of Americans aged 20-39 owned a boat in 2015, down from … Read more
So you’ve watched a few YouTube sailing channels. Now you’re fantasizing about sailing off into the sunset with your spouse, your kids, and maybe a golden retriever named “Salty.” But before you sign papers on that big, beautiful catamaran… pump the brakes. Because living aboard a catamaran in the U.S. or Canada is not just … Read more
There’s one in every marina. You know the one—up with the sun, sanding brightwork before coffee, elbow-deep in a diesel engine by lunch. His boat hasn’t moved in three seasons, but he’s this close to launching… just after one more coat of varnish and a “quick” electrical upgrade. If you’re pointing to yourself—or chuckling at … Read more