I’m a big hockey fan and there’s a pretty good—but not perfect—analogy to my current situation. If a solo crossing of the Atlantic is my Lord Stanley’s Cup, I’m preparing for game five of the best-of-seven series. I’ve got what sportscasters might say is a “comfortable” 3-to-1 lead and I just need to win oneContinue reading “Game 5”
Author Archives: PompanoDan
So High School
It’s the evening before Hazel and I are to depart on 18 days of sailing, give or take. I’m sitting in the saloon on her starboard setee with the dining table pulled out and typing out this post. There’s very little movement of the wind and water in St. George’s Harbour—hopefully, midday tomorrow we shouldContinue reading “So High School”
Bermuda Shorts
My time in Bermuda is coming to a close. In talking to my weather router on the high frequency radio and looking at the forecasts myself, I’ll likely be departing tomorrow (Wednesday, May 25), a day earlier than reported previously. Flexibility is key in this game. I’ve throughly enjoyed my stay in Bermuda. The islandsContinue reading “Bermuda Shorts”
Quick Update from Bermuda
An upper level TROF is favored to persist near the Azores with RIDGING along or offshore the E US through June 1. The TROF near the Azores supports a few low pressure systems which essentially act as a roadblock for Trades N of about 20N or 25N. The RIDGING off the E US prevents significantContinue reading “Quick Update from Bermuda”
A Thousand More Words
Sailing is a long lesson in patience. Bernard Moitessier, The Long Way While Lil’ Dinghy is launched and I’m anxious to get on land in Bermuda and see the islands, and also get some things done (provisions on/garbage off, propane, a good restaurant meal, couple new lines and fittings, etc.), this morning’s weather is conspiringContinue reading “A Thousand More Words”
Worth 1,000 Words
I fully believe in both, in the poetry and in the dissection. Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Naturalist,” 1834 If a picture is truly worth 1,000 words then this post will roughly equal the 85,000-word Heeling is Healing in value. Given my internet/satellite connectivity situation, allow me present a whole series pictures from our Ft. LauderdaleContinue reading “Worth 1,000 Words”
Departing in the Next 30 Hours
Destiny deals the cards, but we play them. Solo circumnavigator Bernard Moitessier, The Long Way Good morning! I’ll keep this quick… All indications are that Hazel and I will be departing Cooley’s Landing Marina in Ft. Lauderdale sometime tomorrow. Getting from the marina to the ocean is a little tricky given that New River isContinue reading “Departing in the Next 30 Hours”
Refreshed hjsailing.blog Home Page
Good morning! After getting some feedback from blog followers and thinking about the number of satellite posts that I hope to be making to my PredictWind satellite tracker during my transatlantic attempt, I put my nose to the grindstone and figured out how to embed the satellite tracker into the hjsailing home page. Please checkContinue reading “Refreshed hjsailing.blog Home Page”
Announcing the Release of “Heeling is Healing”
While I’m happy and proud to have gotten to this point with the project, I couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement of all of you. Thank you. Although I haven’t yet received substantive interest from publishers or agents, there’s magic in momentum and I have that magic now, and I want toContinue reading “Announcing the Release of “Heeling is Healing””
The Death of Each Day’s Life
I’m on my back and my field of vision is framed by Hazel James’s bow hatch. It occurs to me that I’m actually seeing (as opposed to dreaming that I’m seeing). As my eyelids close and reopen in a soft but long blink, I feel the slight crust of sleep around my lashes. My handsContinue reading “The Death of Each Day’s Life”