Archives
The following Resourceful Sailor piece was meant to compliment another, previously published by ‘Lectronic Latitude on April 19, 2024, called The Resourceful Sailor Talks Whisker Poles — the Good and the Better. A question often arises about the proper way to use a whisker pole. Does it go on the sheet? Can you attach it to a soft shackle? Can you attach it directly to the clew? The Resourceful Sailor is not… Read More
The Vendee Globe Race has little appeal to me, but the Mini Globe Race is another matter all together. If you are visiting this site, there’s a good chance you too are a fan of small boats. I have been watching this race develop for a few years now, and it’s an undertaking after my own heart. I am not participating as I just recently finished my own Flicka 20 expedition from… Read More
Here are a couple videos about lowering masts on small sailboats for the DIY folks. First, a keel-stepped mast using a gin pole. Courtesy of the Port Townsend Sailing Association. Video: Steve Scharf Second, a deck-stepped mast using the boom. There was also a write-up on this in ‘Lectronic Latitude – Lowering the Mast on a Small Boat with The Resourceful Sailor.
September 18, 2023 Some cruising friends and I were exclaiming how dramatically Sampaguita rolled in this anchorage. Timing is everything. December 23, 2024 Fortunately, not there now.
“What did you call me!?” It’s another Resourceful Sailor installment brought to you by Latitude 38 and ‘Lectronic Latitude. This one covers the marlinspike craft of baggywrinkle and how The Resourceful Sailor applied it on Sampaguita. It was published on December 9th, 2024. Click here for the full article.
Thanks to Monica and Latitude 38‘s online version, ‘Lectronic Latitude, for publishing The Resourceful Sailor Says GPS Is Not Guaranteed Positioning System on October 23, 2024. It conveys an experience in the Port Townsend area regarding GPS and a new Standard Horizon VHF radio installed on Sampaguita, a 1985 Flicka 20 sailboat. Click the link below to be directed to the full article. Thanks for checking it out. https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/resourceful-sailor-gps-not-guaranteed-positioning-system/
Have you ever skyed a halyard on your sailboat? Not yet? Give it time. Here we go again…‘Lectronic Latitude, the online version of Latitude 38, was kind enough to publish another Resourceful Sailor article called The Resourceful Sailor: Skyed Halyard Retrieval Made Easy for their September 13, 2024 issue and I really appreciate it. And there’s a video to boot. It discusses how I retrieve a skyed halyard on Sampaguita, a Pacific… Read More
I found this Flicka 20 and Pacific Seacraft 25 bowsprit and bow platform diagram in my boat papers and realized I had never posted it. It came with Sampaguita when I purchased her. I believe it to be accurate. A previous owner replaced Sampaguita‘s bowsprit. They opted to use a solid piece of teak. I believe the factory sprit was laminated Douglas Fir (or Spruce.) The teak has proven rot-resistant and strong… Read More
Thank you Latitude 38 and ‘Lectronic Latitude editor, Monica Grant, for publishing the latest installment of The Resourceful Sailor with a rare hard copy appearance in the August 2024 edition of the magazine. In this piece I give experiential insight on Sampaguita’s solar energy solution while voyaging. I wrote this while at anchor in La Paz, Mexico waiting for the season to head for Marquesas.
This is pretty much what it is, except when it isn’t. The boat goes tick-tock from side to side as the following sea rolls under it. A soundtrack to fall asleep to. A motion to hypnotize you. It just goes on and on. The grey skies make it chilly and moist. Everything salty sucks up the moisture. Foulies keep you dry and warm. And a hot cup of tea……




