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

SF Bay Status Granted

Event Horizon's crew is very happy and honored to be granted official live-aboard status at Westpoint Harbor Marina in Redwood City!

Westpoint Harbor is located in South San Francisco Bay, and surrounded by Greco Island to the north and east (part of the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge), Cargill salt-farming operations to the south, and Pacific Shores office park to the west.

Trick or Treat?

S/V Event Horizon has been splashed at NEB. Crew is preparing for a non-stop passage to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Estimated departure date is Nov 7th.

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.  

Wickford Cove Fall Sunset

Another spectacular Rhode Island fall sunset, as witnessed aboard sailing vessel Event Horizon while on her home mooring.

Approach to Charleston, South Carolina

Less than 70nm out from Charleston the sea state became increasing uncomfortable. We tried numerous sail configurations and even changed course in hopes of combating the short rolling seas but nothing seemed to help. We forged on with the engine until arriving dockside at 0300hrs on Tuesday, Nov 10th at The Charleston City Marina (in the rain) after a 6-day 860nm passage.

More Newport to Charleston Passage Photos

Special thanks to Tony O'Brien for being our media person and taking most of the photos.

Night Watch

Night watches (two 2-person shifts of 4hrs each between 6pm-10am) were spent keeping warm, dodging raindrops and tracking traffic by radar, which was mostly fishing vessels.