The Traveling Sailsman - Adam Helms

America's Cup 34!

2011-02-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

I have a common complaint... that 99% of sailing videos just plain suck. Granted, sailing is a difficult sport to film in an exciting way. For example, the excitement on board a boat with the wind and the spray in your face is subjectively quite different; when compared to the point of view of a man watching that same boat from the shore, where the boat hardly seems to move. However, now that the powers that be have decided to continue using multihulls in the next America's Cup, we can rejoice that sailing will continue to improve as a spectator sport.

Sorry stodgy traditionalist, but watching monohulls is boring. For sailing to actually end up on your TV again it needs excitement. It needs fast multihulls. "But what about the tactics and I skill of yachting found only in monohull racing," you may ask? Well tactics-shmactics... I want the future...I want speed...I want giant 70 ft plus futuristic multihull behemoths! Thank the sailing gods for the endless ego of Larry Ellison. He is exactly what this sport sailing needs; a kick in the ass.

So when I found this new video released by the folks putting together the next America's Cup here in San Francisco, I was thrilled. Sure, it is not realistic...the wind is blowing the wrong direction..the boats are going like 50 knts... but who cares? Just like the BMW Oracle footage from the last America's cup... this video got me excited about the future of sailing. So let's all be thankful that it's a great time to be a sailing fan.

Been a long time....

2010-07-21T23:48:00.000-07:00

It turns out it has been awhile since I have written anything new on here. Pretty sad when the last thing I have written was about a race I ended up not taking part in. I guess with the wet chilly Spring we had here in the Bay there was that much sailing going on for me. Other then a couple of Wednesday night beer can races at Oakland Yacht Club, the San Francisco Nood Regatta was the only big race I've done lately.

Overall the NOOD was somewhat fun but really was not my type of event. It is the type of race that requires an expert attention to detail in following "the rules of sailing." It really felt like a we were trying to race a monohull type of race with multihulls. This is not to knock one or the other; each has their own type of style of racing. Doing an upwind downwind kind of a course on a multi is just kind of dull. For example, close quarters tactics are far less important then getting the boat going as fast as possible. Anyways, not really my cup of tea, but to each their own I guess. Some good "tour" style races are coming soon which should be fun.

In general, just looking forward to going out for a sail or two this coming month. We have been working on an old Erickson. Having started sailing on multihulls, it will be fun to try messing around with a monohull for a while. I do not see any conversion in my future, but variety is the spice of life.

Double Handed Farallons Race

2010-02-26T10:41:00.001-08:00

This April my father and I will be taking part in the Double Handed Farallons Race. We had planned on doing the race on our Sprint 750, but after some deliberation decided that might be too wild of a ride for us. The Farallons race is one of the most dangerous races here in the Bay Area. Quite a few local racers have lost their lives over the years doing this race so I do not plan on taking things lightly.

Back in the late 90's my father flipped his F-31 trimaran over in the Frarallons Race. He was in the water for only a few minutes, and nearly died. I guess that is why this race has always kept me wary of participating in it. Hopefully, after this race is over, I will feel more comfortable about it. With my luck it will probably be a calm day with no wind at all, and this concern of mine will probably look silly in hindsight. Then again... I may just end up as shark bait. We'll see I guess.

Three Bridge Fiasco

2010-01-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

This Saturday I will be sailing with my father on the our Corsair 750 Sprint in the Three Bridge Fiasco race. Over the years I have heard that this is one of the most wild races that goes on here all year. What makes it so unique is that you can cross starting line from either direction. Then you must round the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and the San Rafael Bridge; the order you round them is up you.

The weather should be wet and windy; with the run off in the Bay complicating the tidal conditions. Overall I am really looking forward to this race, and hope to have pictures up this weekend.

Cool Sailing Video

2010-01-06T00:05:00.001-08:00

I loved this video when I saw it yesterday, but I had to change the music. No offense to the original creator of this. I just thought such an awesome sailing video needed a less distracting soundtrack than disco Euro Pop.

Mt. Whitney in 2010

2009-12-14T20:51:00.000-08:00

So as I was checking out my Facebook page this morning I came across a posting by my friend Raul. It read simply,"2010 Goal - Summit Mt. Whitney." Now, I'm not one to believe in signs or omens...much, but I found it odd that only a week ago I had the same thought come to mind. Not sure why or how it came in to my mind. I do not even like climbing mountains, yet it seemed like a great reason to get in shape. Also, I need a challenge...a big challenge. Tomorrow I'm going to start working out again. If all things go well, I should summit Mt. Whitney with Raul sometimes between next August and October. I'll keep you posted...

Where I Would Like to Visit in my Life.

2009-12-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

For a long time I have always enjoyed traveling to new places. Often thoughts of new experiences and places to visit come to mind, yet I forget to write them down. Today felt like a good time to finally construct a first attempt at a rudamentary list of destinations I would like to visit in my life. Eventually, as this list expands, it will include more detail and become more specific as to what I would like to do when I get there.

Here is my list so far:

Brazil - Rio De Janeiro during Canival, The Amazon
Costa Rica
Belize - Mayan Ruins
Mexico - Mexico City, Acapulco, Cozumel, Cancun, Teotihuacan, Mayan and Aztec Ruins
Portugal
Azores
Greece - Athens
England - London
Ireland - Dublin, Giants Cause Way
India - Mumbai
Thailand - Pucket
The South Pacific Islands - Fiji, Oceana, Bora Bora
The Caribbean - Jamaica, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cuba
Egypt - The Great Pyramids
Northern Europe - Amsterdam
Vancouver
Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo
Peru- Montu Pitue
Germany
Italy - Rome
France - Paris, South of France, Monaco
China - Hong Kong, Beijing
New Orleans during Mardi Gras

What about you? Have any suggestions?

SeaWind NorCal Rally

2009-11-18T20:17:00.001-08:00

Time for a shameless plug...On November 21 I will be at the SeaWind NorCal Rally here in Alameda, California. We are expecting half a dozen SeaWind Catamarans to show up. This will be my first time taking part in one of these SeaWind meet ups, and I'm looking forward to the food and mingling. For more information on this event check out the News section over at Helms Yacht Sales, or shoot me an e-mail.
http://www.helmsyacht.com/news/

It has been a while....

2009-11-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

So, as the title of this post suggest, it has been quite some time since I have wrote something for this little blog of mine. Not much sailing or traveling has been going on for me in the past month or so. Actually, the last time we took our Corsair Sprint 750 out our inflatable hydro-hoist decided to die on us.

A large wake came causing the the rusty bindings holding one of the hoist's pontoons to detach. Needless to say when I looked over it seemed as if Jaws had attacked the damn thing. So for the time being we will have to keep our Corsair on a trailer on land for a while. Oh well, life goes on.

In the mean time, I'm looking forward to doing some fall sailing on our Seawind 1000 out on the Bay before the December chill comes into the air. Until next time... peace.

Color Pictures From Nearly 100 Years Ago!

2009-10-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

While poking around the internet this morning I came across an article with color pictures taken in Russia around the time of the first World War. These are some of the most amazing experimental early color photographs I have ever seen. Often when I have looked at old films or photos it causes me to picture a different world that probably existed. For example, when you look at old grainy black and white pictures what you are looking at seems so different and foreign to your present day. Yet when I was looking over these old color pictures of Russia today, I was struck by how the quality of these photos brings one closer to what things may have really looked like 100 years ago.

Check out the photos at the following link:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/10/21/color-photography-from-russian-in-the-early-1900s/

Feeling Lazy....So Here is a Wakeboard Towed by a Trimaran

2009-10-02T18:36:00.001-07:00

I have been feeling a little lethargic ever since the end of the Nor Cal Boat Show a few weeks ago. Eight days straight of work will do that to you I guess. So, until I get my act together, here is a video to tie you over until I am back in the writing mood.

This video is a few years old, but still fun stuff.

Porpoises Playing With Our Catamaran

2009-09-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here is another short video I took from our Seawind Catamaran while going up the Coast of California. We had porpoises falling us most of the way, but next to Big Sur I was finally able to capture some on camera during the day time. Often the porpoises and dolphins would keep me company on my lonely watches captaining the boat in the middle of the night.

Whales!

2009-09-04T01:23:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick preview video to wet your appetite for my much longer project I'm putting together about my trip up the California Coast on a Seawind Catamaran. I spotted these Humpbacks off Point Conception in some cold rough seas. It was my first time seeing whales in the wild like this. Fun and exciting stuff.

Over One Year Later...

2009-08-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

So, recently I noticed that I have been doing this site for over a year and a half. Does that make me a real blogger now? Or just an unsuccessful one? Anyways, if you read my site regularly you will probably have noticed two things.

1. I like to start my postings with "So"

- You might say,"Gee Adam, for someone who claims to be a 'writer' you come off sounding like a teenage valley girl writing a text message.

Valid point, but I guess all I have to say to you is....So?

2. The site is called, "Traveling Sailsman"... Yet, I do not seem to travel all that much.

-True. Outside of Australia, I have not left California since starting this site. Let's be real, I too have suffered from this lousy economy.

However, like many of you have probably discovered, that in times like these you learn to appreciate the adventures, travels, and experiences found closer to home. For me, I have rediscovered how great a State California is. I have been lucky to be able to travel up and down this California this year, and its been a blast.

In creating this site/blog I never really had a focus, or specific topic to write about. I just wanted an outlet to write, and figured that it would evolve into something eventually. In the end, this site will always be a place for me to share my thoughts, and to post my life's adventures(large or small), and hopefully share something entertaining and funny.

Thanks you for all that read my ramblings on here, and I will always try to make this enjoyable for you.

* I leave tomorrow for Catalina Island. From there I will help my Dad and his friend Dave take our Seawind Catamaran “Blue Water” up the Coast of California. It should be a rough trip since we will be going against the wind and the current. I plan on filming this, so stay tuned.

Picture of Pyewacket and Our Seawind 1000 Haul Out

2009-08-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

So these pictures are from last week, but my camera was misplaced the last few days. While in San Diego we had our Seawind 1000 "Blue Water" hauled out to be converted into a 1000XL. This means that the transom(back end of the boat) will be extended.

Well at this same boat yard we spotted Roy Disney's boat "Pyewacket." Now this boat is massive, and word is they won't even tell how much they spent on this boat. The mast was so tall that I could see it miles away as I drove into Mission Bay in San Diego. Usually I'm a multihull guy but this boat is amazing to see in person. The keel can be moved from side to side hydraulically, and it has dagger boards on each side. The mast and boom are carbon. It also holds a special spot in my heart because Roy Disney hailed my father on the radio while on the 1996 Trans-Pac on a previous version of Pyewacket. Such a cool boat.

Pyewaket Pics:

Just for Laughs

2009-08-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

This blog of mine has always been a self-indulgent celebration of well...myself(Hey, at least I'm honest). I am always trying to find funny videos online, because laughter is an essential part of my life. Therefore, I'm going to start posting videos I find on here from time to time that I find funny. The video below is a set of five commercials that are really clever. Check it out.

Go Rickey, Go!

2009-07-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

Growing up in the East Bay two of my biggest heroes were Jose Canseco and more importantly, Rickey Henderson. It has been a miserable year for an Oakland A's fan. The owner is openly saying that they are going to move the team, and they sit in dead last in the standings.

That is why amidst an unwatchable Oakland A's season I am so happy to see Rickey Henderson back on my TV, even for one day. For someone not known for his command of the English language, Rickey gave a Hell of a speech when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday. If it wasn't for Rickey Henderson I am not sure if I would have cared much about baseball, or even sports for that matter. He was an electrifying player to watch. I was truly lucky to watch one of the greats play, and I can still remember hearing my little sister yelling, "Go Rickey, Go!"

Truckee River

2009-07-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Finally put together a quick movie of our trip rafting down the Truckee River. There is a great part in the middle where my father has a close encounter with a tree. It always seems to make a movie funny when someone gets hurt.

Harmonic Convergence and Trans-Tahoe Race

2009-07-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Dan Mone has put together a great video of both the Harmonic Convergence and Trans-Tahoe Race which were up at Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago. I was lucky enough to take part in the Harmonic Convergence, but was not able to race in the Trans Tahoe. Unfortunately we hit a rock and destroyed our center board a day before the race. Good thing Dan got it all on tape.

Rafting Down the Truckee River

2009-07-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Today I awoke in a panic. My friend Dave said that my Dad needed my help with our Corsair Dash. Winds this morning in Lake Tahoe were gusting upwards of 30 miles an hour. We were afraid the anchor would not be strong enough to hold the boat in place. So we motored the boat through rough chop to the launch ramp. Then took the boat out of the water, and put it at it's own camp site. Luckily it was situated so that we did not have to put the mast down. Whew!

After a quick bite to eat, my Dad had a bug up his butt to go rafting down the Truckee River. What? "But I'm tired," I said. Oh well, he bribed me with some good pizza, and frosty Sierra Nevada. So, my Dad and Dave took an inflatable, and I took the kayak. Now, I had gone down the Truckee River years ago, but it felt so fresh and new. All my cares and frustration melted away. It was absolutely stunning. We slowly meandered down the river through a canyon of tall pine and redwood trees. The water looked so gentle and calm moving over smooth river stones. It was hard not to completely surrender to the peacefulness of our surroundings.

Then, came the rapids. What a blast! We dodged rocks and fell down small water falls. My Kayak filled with water. I was soaked. It was like a theme park log ride built by nature. A perfect log ride in every way.

Click here for more pictures.

Lake Tahoe. July 4th. Corsair Dash

2009-07-05T21:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, July 4th, I had a great night up here in Lake Tahoe. We launched the new Corsair Dash(that we have on loan)and it took less then 20 minutes to raise the mast, and motor away. We did not get a chance to sail the boat yet, but hopefully tomorrow we will test her out.

We did however snag a great anchorage next to the Tahoe Yacht Club. After a few beers, the four of us laid out on the boat's nets, and prepared to watch the fireworks. The shores were lined with people. The fireworks show was amazing, and was right over our head. In the distance we could see three other locations on the lake with firework presentations of their own. It was a great start to what hopefully will be a fun filled two weeks up here.

For more pictures click here.

Windsurfer Vs. Trimaran

2009-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

Not sure how old this video is, but there is something hypnotic about it. I might just cut it up, and put this video to some music. Until then... here is a windsurfer smoking a one-design trimaran.

Delta Ditch Run

2009-06-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I took part in the Delta Ditch Run. Now, I'm sure I probably have done this race when I was younger, but can not seem to remember doing so. That being said, what a fun race! On our Seawind 1000 we were able to fly the spinnaker for most of the race. Recently I've become pretty good at flying the spinnaker, so for most of the race it was my job to trim it, and let it out when needed.

This race greatly opened my eyes to the adventures that can be had on the Delta. As we sailed up the San Joaquin River, I could see all sorts of water front bars, camp sites, anchorages, and local haunts. Call me a Bay Area snob, but I guess I never really thought of the Delta as being interesting. For years I have longed for adventures out beyond the Golden Gate, but maybe I was looking in the wrong direction. Recently I sailed up the Napa River and had a similar "eye opening" experience. There really are a ton of great places to anchor on our local rivers and delta.

As for the race, we did quite well. We came in third overall after corrected time. After a great dinner at the Stockton Yacht Club, my Dad felt like we should pull an all nighter and motor back to Alameda. During my shift, from 4am to 6am, I noticed a strange sound coming from the engines. I pulled the engines up and noticed the props were covered in marsh grass. I won't name any names, but I think the man on watch before me must have wondered off the channel. Overall I had a blast, and I hope to take a short weekend trip up the Delta soon.

Fastest Boat in the World LHydroptere

2009-06-10T13:28:00.001-07:00

Looks fun but scary.

Geeking out! Windows 7 and Star Trek

2009-05-10T02:10:00.000-07:00

So... money has been a little tight lately, and that is cutting into the traveling budget. I did get to hang out in SoCal last week, but I have been itching to get out of town again. Don't get me wrong, I love the Bay Area in the Spring time. Still, it would be nice to spend some time sailing in some tropical local... living an alternative existence. Sigh...

However, alas, I am probably not going anywhere exotic soon. Therefore I have been taking the simple pleasure of playing with the new copy of Windows on my new laptop. (In case you didn't know, I am a total geek) Really, I promise, Windows 7 absolutely rocks. It's as if Microsoft took out all the crap in Vista, and your left with a beautiful zen like operation system.

Also, I saw the new Star Trek movie yesterday. Personally I was never a huge Star Trek fan, however this movie was a blast. It is a thrill ride type of film that is reminiscent of old school adventure flicks from my childhood.

Well, off to bed. Needed to get some ramblings out.

Strictly Sailing.... Kind of

2009-04-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

The past three weeks have been very hectic to say the least. First we had a Corsair 28 come in a cargo container, and had to assemble it. About half way through that assembly the new Corsair 750 Dash came in another container. On top of that we had the boat show looming only days away. Talk about pressure.

That being said, I did have a wonderful time at the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show this year. True, it was much smaller than in years past. It was also a little weird that they called it "Strictly Sail," and yet was also a power boat show. However, in these economic times it makes sense to combine the two.

The weather was great through the entire show, and it felt like a summer day in Southern California up here. To finish it all of we had a nice warm light wind day of demo sailing today on the Bay. Now it's off to get even more sun in Southern California for a week.

New and Improved Helms Yacht Site

2009-04-14T09:48:00.001-07:00

So after hours of tedious work, I have finally have the Helms Yacht Sales website back up. The site had been down for almost a month before I had noticed. I took this as a sign for me to finally redesign and take control of the site. While it's not quite polished yet, at least we now longer have a site that was designed in the 90's.

HelmsYacht.com

Double Handed Farallones

2009-03-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

So, I helped out (or really just stood around) the race committee deck) during this past weekend's Double Handed Farallones Race. While I was there, I was surprised at how many boats had dropped out early due to a lack of wind. From inside the Golden Gate it seemed windy, however offshore boats were sitting in eerily still conditions.

After a few hours of munching on pizza and chatting it up with the race committee, I decided to head home. Frankly, it seemed as if it was going to be an uneventful race. Then on Sunday I awoke to a call from my father saying that after I left a boat had capsized, and had been rescued by the Coast Guard.

This gave me a flashback to ten years ago when we received a call informing that my father had capsized during the Farallones Race. Luckily, like my father 10 years ago, this year's capsized boat's crew were saved. Still, I feel for them and their families, because I remember what a scare something like this can be for all involved. If you would like to read more about their ordeal or the race in general there is a great article at the Latitude 38 Website.

New Domain Names

2009-03-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I checked GoDaddy.com, and was able to find two domain names I've been wanting for a while now. Some dude in South Carolina had been sitting on AdamHelms.com for years now. Well, today I rightfully own my own name. So if you type in adamhelms.com or travelingsailsman.com you will be directed to this site. I may end up doing something different with these domains, but for now they will be an easier way to find my blog. Let me know if this works....if anyone is actually reading this that is. Also I am working on getting a digital camera, because I would like to put up more pictures on here. Hopefully when I do get a new one I can avoid breaking it, unlike the last five that I have owned. Until next time...

Passed the Test

2009-03-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

After a long morning drive to Sacramento, I took the California Yacht Salesman License Exam today. I stayed up all night reading the study material that they had provided. Some of the legal papers I had to study were horrendous. Now, I'm sure they are important, but I have never read more convoluted writing.

It was nice of the lady administering the test to tell me I passed before I drove home. Talk about a long drive back. It was tough keeping my eyes open. If I had more energy I would take a picture of my new license to put on here, but talk about a boring photo. So... who want's to buy a boat?

Holly Shamrocks!

2009-03-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, I finally decided to post this morning and almost forgot what day it was. What kind of half Irish guy am I? So, just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Saint Patrick's Day. Little story... I was out in San Francisco this past Saturday, and let's just say there were plenty of people stumbling around at two in the afternoon. Now, I'll be staying inside studying for my exam, but please do be safe out there people! Erin Go Bragh...

Salesmen License Test Tomorrow

2009-03-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ah, the smell of books and fear are in the air again. After years of schooling you would think that I would have grown up, and learned not to procrastinate on an exam. Well my friends, you thought wrong. Tomorrow I have to drive to Sacramento to take my California Yacht Salesmen License exam. Why am I on here you may ask, and not buried in a book studying? In college I discovered that cramming before a test is how I do my best. Not sure if this theory is going to help me here, but it's worth a shot. So the moment this post goes up I have a plethora of material to read. Hopefully, growing up around boats, and the boat business will help a little.

If I do well on this test I'll be sure to let you all know. If not, well, this blog post will mysteriously be redacted. Until then...

Quick Update

2009-03-10T01:49:00.000-07:00

So, events in my life have kept me from updating this a whole lot lately. This month I am taking my test for my Yacht Salesmen License. Also, I am going to be taking two test so that I can start the process of becoming a high school teacher. While I'm not sure if I want to teach, I do want to keep my options open. I have been doing a whole lot more screenwriting lately, which has been fun to play with. Also, I am thinking of starting some kind of podcast...maybe one on movies. A ton on my plate lately, but I would not have it any other way. Oh yeah, I am almost done editing a little movie about the Corinthian Midwinters Race.

Corinthian Midwinters

2009-02-17T12:44:00.000-08:00

Its been almost a month, but I thought it was time to put up some pictures from the first leg of the Corinthian Midwinters. We had a great time in this race, even if there was hardly any wind. I mean, how can you complain about temperatures in the mid 70's in January? This coming weekend will be the second part of the race. I'm excited to get back out there, but it looks like we're going to get some cold wet seasonal weather this time.

Chinese New Year 09 - San Francisco Chinatown

2009-02-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I was in San Francisco for the Chinese New Year Parade. Surprisingly, this was my first time seeing the parade in person. There were thousands of people lining the street for miles and miles. In these tough economic times it was fun to see people out having a good time.

Below is a short video of the parade I threw together. It is shot on a cheap digital camera, and edited using a crummy Windows editing program. So, please don't judge it too harsh.

Seawind Starts New Podcast

2008-12-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

Now, I am a Podcast junkie and can't get enough of them. Just wanted give our friends over at Seawind a plug for their new Podcast. So far they have some interesting talks with Seawind owners about their crusing expieriences. Check it out at Seawind Podcast, or you can find it on iTunes.

Hitting the Trails

2008-11-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

Was planning on going to the annual dealer conference in Vietnam in late November, but it turns out I will not be going this year. I will however be holding down the fort in Alameda while the boss is over in Nam.

On the plus side, two friends and I hiked near my home in El Sobrante. This trail is mostly used by dirt bikers, and is across the street from Carriage Hills(a massive cookie cutter suburb). I grew up here in El Sobrante, but always seem to find new trails that go on and on forever. If any of you live in the East Bay I highly recommend you get out there and take advantage of these fantastic trails. Especially now, while it's still warm, and the hills are turing green. Next week we are planning to go hiking in Canyon, which is this mirco-sized rain forst near Moraga California. I'll be sure to bring my camera along.

Yes We Can... Finally

2008-11-05T00:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight is my Moon Landing moment. As I saw Barack Obama win the election tonight, I can say that I am more proud of my Country then I have ever been. Not only am I excited about how far we have come as a Nation, but also very excited that young people like myself are eager to get out there and rebuild our Country. Frankly, I am speechless...and trust me, that does not happen often. Tonight I am honored, humbled and excited to be an American.

Bad News... and Good News

2008-11-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

So I did not get to take the Seawind 1160 up the coast of California as planned. Instead, I drove the crew down to Santa Barbra where the boat was docked. Afterwords I drove down to LA and then San Diego to visit my girlfriend. I did get to go to the Wild Animal park in Carlsbad, which was pretty cool.

With the Winter weather fast approaching, I'm not too sure how much sailing I will be doing in the coming months. You never know though, we do have a new Corsair 750 in stock. Also, the Seawind 1160 is on the current cover of Multihulls magazine, so check it out.

Taking 1160 Up the Coast Tomorrow...

2008-10-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

Last week I helped my Dad take delivery of two new Corsair 750's. They came in one cargo container from Vietnam. Now, imagine getting two 24 foot boats crammed in one steel container with no instructions on how to get them out. Fun stuff...

Also, tomorrow morning I will be driving down to Santa Barbara to help take a Seawind 1160 up the coast to San Francisco. It has been a long time since I have taken an open ocean sailing trip. Hope I still have my sea legs. Then after I get back I will turn around and drive to San Diego. I should have some video of the trip up in a week or so.

Boats Comming In Tomorrow

2008-10-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

My Dad has two Corsair 750's coming off the container ship tomorrow, hopefully. This was suppose to happen last Friday, but keeps getting delayed. I'll have more about this tomorrow...

One Day After the Crash

2008-09-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to avoid writing about the stock market crash that took place yesterday. However, with the Dow dropping over 700 points in a single day this is going to effect everyone. Now, I am not what you would call a knowledge person when it comes to economy. Hell,anything that has to do with finances, stocks, money or even numbers gives me a headache. That being said, we are at the beginning of a historic event.

Like many people I spent yesterday in a stunned haze. Now, many people out there are going to have it much worse then me. Frankly I am young, unemployed, and have nothing to loose. So, why was I left with a bad taste in my mouth all day, and a feeling of anger building up in the pit of my stomach? Well maybe it is the people that I know around me that have lost so much, or stand to still loose. Maybe it's the fear that I may have to relieve the horror stories my grandparents told me as a child about The Great Depression. At any rate, this just sucks.

I spent the latter part of yesterday cleaning a catamaran on Oakland Estuary. When I get in a funk, manual labor and my Ipod always seems to cheer me up. When I finished cleaning the boat I grabbed a cold beer and sat up on the forward nets. As I watched the boats go up and down the estuary, it was difficult to worry about all these issues out of my control. I've always prided myself on being caught up with the news of the world, but I may just start to cut back. Right now, we may just need a little more time with the things that make us happy, and a little less time worrying about doom and gloom outside our control.

First Day of Fall

2008-09-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Sharp pain shot through my joints early this morning leaping me in to action. This weekend I decided to play Ultimate Frisbee, and thought I was Jerry Rice laying out for catches. Problem is, when cursed with flat feet, one's body has an odd way of distributing your weight. I am one of these lucky few to be blessed with this affliction.

Being as I was unable to return to sleep, I decided to go for a morning skate boarding session along the Alameda beach front. How lucky am I to be able to go for a nice morning skate wearing only a t-shirt and flip flops on the first day of Fall? Absolutely great to be out there shredding up the concrete.

My father, Gary, just returned from his trip to Catalina where he was off playing on a Corsair 750. Sure wish I could have gone with him, but had other things to attend to. Still can not believe I have never been out to Catalina. Anyways, I washed the 750 for him, and got her looking like new again. Maybe I'm a wierd bird, but I love washing boats. Listening to Podcast and washing a boat is sublime enjoyment in my eyes.

As I sit here, it is hard not to be thankful for a day like today. It is great that a day with such a painful start could end up being such a fulfilling experience. I mean, it really could have gone either way, and today seemed destined to be one of those days where nothing goes right. So, it feels good on this first day of Fall to push through, and get things started on the right foot, even if it's flat.

Australia

2008-08-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

So, I've been home from Australia for almost half a month, and I think I finally have some control over my jet lag. I had never travel such a great distance in my life, and let me tell you, going across the International Dateline is a sonova bitch! That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the land down under.

We headed out to Australia on July 23rd for the Seawind dealers conference. It was fairly chilly day in San Francisco, but when is it not? The flight was 14 hours or so, and I'd rather not talk about it. Just picture being on three consecutive flights in a row to Hawaii, and you can kind of get the idea. When we landed it was very cold in Sydney. About 53 degrees and raining. What struck me right away is how very similar to the United States Australia is. I mean, I guess I thought it'd be like Europe or something. Sure, the cars were a little smaller, and you didn't see as many raised monster truck hillbilly mobiles roaming around, but it was still pretty similar.

Our Taxi driver took us to our motel just outside of Sydney. Actually, calling the place a motel would be a misnomer. It was really just an apartment that is rented out daily, and this is the Australian version of a motel I guess. We spent our second day taking in the sites of Sydney. We saw the Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, a street fair, their Space Needle looking tower thing, and the new Apple Store. It really is a beautiful city. I was most impressed by how few cops I saw in Sydney. I mean, it is a huge city, and I don't think I saw one cop for at least three days into the trip. A truley astonishing thing to be hold for a former Los Angeles resident like myself.

Richard, the founder of Seawind Catamarans took all of us dealers out for a sail on Sydney Harbor. Truely, sailing there is a religious experience for any sailor. It reminded me much of going out on the San Francisco Bay. I can see now why the two cities are often said to be so alike. We also saw no less then half a dozen Seawinds out on the harbor. Part of me wishes it had been the summer though, because I would have loved to go out to Manley Beach.

We spent the next three days down South in Wollongong visiting the Seawind factory, and having various meetings. The factory visit was a real treat, and it was fascinating to see how much work goes into building a Seawind. It's so rare to see such craftsmanship go into Yacht construction, and it is easy to see why Seawinds are such well made and study boats. During our stay in Wollongon we slept in an old farm house, where I found a huge spider. Let's just say I didn't sleep so well that night, and could of sworn I felt something crawling on me.

The next few days were spent in Sydney again. We attended the Boat Show, and it was great to see so many boats that you never see in the Bay Area. Also, I was able to scope out some of the French Cats, which I just do not get. Call me a hater if you want, but I think they are floating homes with a mast. It does seem like multihulls are more accepted out in Australia, and this made me a little more envious. Well, that and the fact that they have a $17 an hour minimum wage can make you jealous too.

I wish that I could have traveled around Australia some more, but time did not allow it. You can be sure that I will be going back to Australia soon. Next time I hope to make it up North to Brisbane to check out the Great Barrier Reef. Then, off to New Zealand, hopefully. I really liked the dealers from New Zealand, who were gracious enough to teach me the rules behind rugby while we watched New Zealand exact out revenge on Australia's team. Anyways. Definitely an exciting trip, and Australia, good on ya mate.

Video from my film school days.

2008-08-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post this video I made in school. Many of my friends are still very involved with this cause, The Journey of Hope. It is a cross country bike ride held every summer.

Wednesday Night Racing

2008-08-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

Tonight my Dad, John Green, and I raced in the OYC Wednesday night race series on a Corsair 750. My Dad sails this race weekly, but this was my first time tagging along. It was a blast to get out there on the Oakland/Alameda Estuary. After all, this is where I learned to sail. As a child I spent many a days dodging cargo tankers in an small El Toro. Hell, I nearly sank the damn thing once or twice out there, but that's another story.

It sure was nice today to race in a friendly low key situation for a change. Often times races are so intense that the crew ends up wanting to kill each other before they cross the finish line. Due to the tight quarters of the estuary, we were practically be on top of our competition, which gave us plenty of opportunities to yap it up with them. To top it off we came in first, and just in time for a beautiful red and gold San Francisco sunset.

Back from OZ

2008-08-07T11:52:00.001-07:00

So, it's been a few days since I've been back from Australia. I am still very tired from the whole 14 hour flight, and lack of sleep. I'm going to have more about it soon... when I get some energy. Cheers.

Smokey Trans Tahoe Race

2008-07-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my Dad and I took part in the Trans Tahoe race up at Lake Tahoe. With our friend John Green, we towed up his new Corsair 750 from Alameda. On the way up to Sacramento the sky began to turn progressively gray and smokey. Over 1000 wildfires were burning in California that day, and the air quality was terrible.

John's mid-nineties pick up truck towed the 750 up the Sierras surprisingly well, and we got there in about four hours. It was amazing how much smoke had poured in over the Lake. In many ways Lake Tahoe almost looked like San Francisco on a foggy day. Even worse, there was absolutely no wind. With no chance of sailing that day, we launched the boat and hit the yacht club.

The next day however we awoke to similar conditions. At the skippers meeting the race committee said that they, at their most optimistic estimate, predicted only 6 knots of wind. This, of course, was not good. They also informed us that the race would be postponed until late in the afternoon. Luckily some of the other Corsair owners decided to improvise.

As we motored the boat over back toward our mourning at the launch ramp we noticed two Corsair 24's were beached close by. We pulled the 750 between the two, and cracked open a few cold ones. This turned out to be the best part of the day. It was still very smokey, but warm enough to take a dip in the Lake.

After a few hours of swimming, sandwiches, and drinking we motored out to the race course. Of course when we got there there was still no wind. Many racers had resorted to jumping off their boats, and taking a swim to escape the heat. Finally, late in the afternoon, the race started. I skippered the boat during the race, and was surprised how quickly the wind showed up. The wind became stronger then I think anyone could have hoped for. As for where we finished in the race, somewhere in the middle. Give me a break though, I have not raced in two years. All in all, it's always a good time in Lake Tahoe.

Back in the Bay

2008-07-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

Well after 6 years of being away, it sure is good to finally be back home in the Bay Area. I must say though, forgot how much colder it can be up here sometimes. I am looking forward to the fourth of July and spending time with the family. Still tired from the drive up though. On Sunday I packed the truck up with everything I owned then drove all the way up from San Diego in the middle of the night. Thank God for podcast and my IPOD or I would have been bored out of my friggin mind.

Today my sister and I are going to try to look for some part time work. It would be nice to get a easy summer job to get myself settled in up here. Now that I live at home I can save my money up towards some fun trips. Living by the beach in San Diego was just too pricey. Was a prisoner in paradise so to speak. I figured I could get a great job straight out of college, which in hind sight was a little naive. Still, nothing wrong with being ambitious. In some ways it was exciting to be a little poor for the first time in my life. That being said, I don't ever want to have to scrape by like I was doing in San Diego ever again. For now I just want a name-tag job until I can begin selling boats, and producing online entertainment.

Did I mention it feels great to be home?

Corsair spotted off Pacific Beach

2008-05-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Today, on my daily bike ride along the Pacific Beach Boardwalk, I spotted a trimaran disappearing and reappearing behind the rough surf. The trimaran was only about a surfer's distance away from the shore, which is quite uncommon for boats considering monohulls are usually much further out. "It has to be a Corsair," I thought. Without the aid of my eyeglasses, it was too difficult to be sure. So, I ditched my beach cruiser, and ran towards the surf. Sure enough, it was a Corsair Trimaran tacking back and forth.

As the cold ocean swept up to my shins, I decided to race back home to grab my camera. Of course, this was a waste of time because, personal basis aside, I think its safe to say Corsairs are fast boats. So by the time I returned, with camera in hand, it was gone. So, just like the existence of UFO's, Bigfoot, or the Loch Ness Monster you'll just have to take my word for it.

The Original Multihull Sailors

2008-05-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

This is a part 1 of a fascinating PBS special about how the ancient Polynesians were able to create the geographically largest civilization ever. By using catamarans, they were able to discover and inhabit the most isolated islands in the world. Having sailed Corsair trimarans and other catamarans most of my life, it was interesting to see where this superior boat design came from. Once the video is done, it can be continued by clicking on part 2 and so on. Definitely worth watching.

Pics from the Getty

2008-05-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

This is a little movie that shows some of the sites I saw at the Getty museum in Los Angeles. Pretty cool place...and admission is free. Also, it has some great views of smoggy LA. :)

Welcome

2008-05-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

So I have switched my blog over to Blogspot... figure might as well be using a Google company right? Going to try this out for a bit, and let's see how it works.