Sailing With Josh

Here is a short video of Sampaguita, a 1985 Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 sailboat, sailing under full main, drifter and a self-steering windvane in Port Townsend Bay, Washington.

The southeasterly wind was perfect! Under full main and jib, Sampaguita, a Flicka 20, charged toward the starting line for the Cruising Two class, just under hull speed and close-hauled. One hand...

I will be attempting a west-to-east transit of the Northwest Passage in the summer of 2022 as crew aboard a French-owned and built Boréal 47 sailboat. This trip begins in Anacortes,...

“How do you run a stern-tie setup when you have limited working and storage space on board?” This is one of the questions I asked myself in fitting out my Flicka...

The Port Townsend Sailing Association, Blackbird Associates, and Steve Scharf have relaunched the 1979 CHB Trawler race committee boat, Committee. (Yes, that’s the name. Underworld sounding? Or a little like naming your dog,...

Little Thunderbird I see your face. Little Thunderbird Ready to race. Your suit is creased And your shoes are worn Still you cut the waves For which you were born. *...

I crabbed the inflatable kayak along the sand bar, looking for a channel. There wasn’t one. The current was against me, spilling over the wide breadth of the cut like a...

My second attempt (actually my third, but #2 was un-noteworthy due to early becalming and retreat) to circumnavigate Indian and Marrowstone Islands entirely under sail with Sampaguita, my Pacific Seacraft 1985 Flicka...

A boat that wants to achieve balance is motivating, fun, and easy to sail. An endearing quality of Sampaguita, my Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, is her willingness to steer herself. I remember...