Approaching Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in fog on our Sept 1st return to San Francisco Bay.

Emirates Team New Zealand Wins Louis Vuitton Cup

America's Cup World Series 2012-2013

The AC World Series has officially begun its second year of pre-Cup promotion with professional one-design 45-ft catamaran racing in San Francisco Bay. The world's best sailors compete for points in a mix of 35-minute fleet racing and 15-minute two-boat match races. 

The August 21-26 event is designed to inform, thrill and engage everyone--not just sailors. Based on my viewing of Tuesday's practice, the event will keep its promise to impress with fast and furious racing, all easily viewed from San Francisco's northeast shoreline (Fort Mason to Crissy Field). For maximum fun, visit the event tents at Marina Green, or spring for a ticket to sit in center-stage bleacher seats.

The AC45 racing continues around the globe through May 2013, including a return to San Francisco Bay October 4-7, 2012.

Cruising Fever?

While the Event Horizon crew continues to suffer from sailing withdrawal, I have self-prescribed an ample dose of armchair sailing, usually absorbed on Fridays.

You might think this tactic is more torture than help but reading nautical blogs and sailing newsletters reminds me just how easy life is on land compared to living life afloat. Oh don't get me wrong. If given the choice, I'd be back in the cockpit faster than you could lift the sails. But for the time being, while I am a temporary land dweller, I have decided to think of this phase in my life as a working vacation--like one of those trendy volunteer holidays.

Full-time cruising is the ambition of many but a lifestyle choice that is not for everyone. I wanted the adventure that comes with cruising but (new to sailing) feared I would fail. Determination and perfectionism kept me focused on the cruising goal for 4-years before I took the plunge of becoming a full-time live-aboard. By then I had read every book available on the cruising life (sometimes twice), taken numerous courses to improve my nautical skills, spent nearly every weekend between April and November on the water, struggled to understand the science of weather, and downsized my personal belongings to fit into two large duffle bags.

Despite all my careful efforts, I was not fully prepared. Apparently few people are. A recent post on the Windtraveler blog is a mindful list towards smooth sailing. I'm keeping this list handy to read again next year before I step back onboard.  

Crosshaven, County Cork

We’ve spent the past week in Crosshaven, known among sailors as the home of Royal Cork, the world’s oldest yacht club and Cork Week, Ireland's largest International Sailing Regatta. With three marinas, a boatyard, a huge racing scene and a fine selection of pubs, it’s a fun village for sailors. The flowing taps of Irish Stout (the Murphy’s is especially wonderful) and friendly locals are icing on the cake.

Other Crosshaven highlights include Wednesday night trad sessions (Irish music) at the Moonduster, Saturday farmer’s market in the village square and Sunday racing fleets parading through the harbour. County Cork has always been my favorite part of Ireland and my love for the area has only increased.

Like us, other boats are enjoying the comforts and beauty of Crosshaven waiting for the right weather window to journey south, which appears to be starting tomorrow…

Dunmore East to Dun Laoghaire

After 4 days of fun in the west, the boat was calling me home. Actually my captain was calling me home, ready to resume our journey north. So on Tuesday, 24th of July, we departed for the Irish Sea. I’ve heard many rough stories about the Irish Sea but she was in a good mood on this sunny day giving us gentle seas and a steady 17kt breeze perfect for flying the spinnaker most of the 14hr (116nm) passage to Dun Laoghaire Harbour.


In route we passed four wind farms, which made us smile. The first three wind farms we passed were land based but the last one (shown) is Ireland's first offshore wind project, the Arklow Bank Wind Park which is built on the shallow Arklow Bank in the Irish Sea five miles off the coast of County Wicklow and 40 miles south of Dublin.