AJ Oliver

Well shut my mouth !! The USCG now approves this light for night use instead of magnesium flares for the waters we sail. https://siriussignal.com/ Not sure if it is OK for Aotearoa waters. It's pricey, but I better get one lest KMM chastise me.

Yeah, we'd sure like to get that flare thing straightened out, but we're too busy debating whether guns should be able to marry each other . . I like Canadians too - sail over there frequently. From our Club it's about four hours to the Canadian islands and six hours to the mainland.

For BP - http://boards.cindysbeentrippin.com/t/america-wtf-brought-to-you-by-friends-of-canada-for-us-presidency/13030 Maybe Aotearoa could be Vice President !!

So I'm on a pitching disabled boat and I light a magnesium flare which starts dripping molten metal on gel coat, metal, flesh . . Nope, not gonna happen !! No way would I EVER ignite one on a sailboat of less than 40 feet under any circumstances. There are WAY too many things that could go badly wrong in a hurry. So, . .as a gringo I apologize for the USCG's corruption and bureaucratic inertia for not having addressed this decades ago. And, um, while I'm about it, I also apologize for our totally dysfunctional politics in general, and Donald Trumph in particular.

Lots of gringo boats sailing at night run with anchor lights on, but it's generally out in open water where it's obvious (we hope) that no one is anchored. Usually, the anchor light is the first indication one gets that a boat is nearby. Never, ever heard of a fine for having a white masthead light on underway. Red all around? Never saw that one. Does seem confusing - moving or not. Come on, Kiwi racers, you run with that white bad boy on at night too, don't ya?

Deepest regrets from the Sweetwater Seas. We lost a sailor at one of our regional races last year as well. Sail safe . . . but sail. From my main man . . https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://becauseofgrace.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/mark-twain.jpg&imgrefurl=https://becauseofgrace.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/sail-away-from-the-safe-harbor/&h=375&w=500&tbnid=da4jGEJIzXXYiM:&docid=cvtIUtp9KsbLEM&ei=mb_TVpLFG8f5mAHl0IbIAQ&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwjS9cyyiJzLAhXHPCYKHWWoARkQMwgeKAEwAQ

The military thinks a big part of their job is to intimidate. Navies are particularly egregious in this respect. Don't let them. Veterans For Peace

I'd protest vigorously to the Ozzie parliament and green movement. That behavior is really un-neighborly. Almost as bad as trying to bring nukes in.

Reminds me of those beautiful and sobering photos on the wall at the Royal Port Nelson YC captioned . . Lost with all hands. Sail safe.

Doesn't Rassy have a lock on it?

A free advert for someone . .

Is this the one? Yah, we've had these proposed in our area, but no one could figure out how to make them work reliably - especially when weather is on the way returning boats are supposed to have priority. Or this one?

Jeebus in a Jump Suit !! I thought it was summer down there !!

Glad you are safe - Looks like you may have just missed the Saturday Gisborne farmers' market. It's a very good one.

Hey Kevin - Thanks for your interest. The Golden Rule is a 30 foot (on deck) Angelman Alpha 30 ketch. Under previous owners she cruised successfully for many thousands of miles in both Polynesia and the Caribbean. She is in very good shape, and more improvements are being made as I write. A major safety advantage is that we have excellent, professional weather routing available - which we use to stay away from iffy weather. In 2015 she cruised about 2,000 miles along the California coast without incident. Please let us know if you have any fur

Dear Kiwi Sailors - We are in search of international crew for the first and most historic peace vessel afloat - The Golden Rule. Next year (2016) the Golden Rule will be cruising the US Pacific Northwest for peace and nuclear abolition. Right now, she is at her home port, Humboldt Bay in Northern California, being prepped for the coming season. Crewing for short stints of two or three weeks is possible. You should be in rough agreement with the values of Veterans For Peace, and will spend time interacting with the media and the public. The Golden Rule is a

Very sorry - it could happen to any of us. Cannot tell you how many Idiot Moments I have lucked out on.

How long until the Tasman breaks through and it becomes the "North-North Island"?

Damn-It-All-To-Hell !! Wish I could do that - but I'm in the wrong hemisphere.

Offer to bring rum. That will "git 'er dun."

From KMM - "But I will and do wear a serious lifejacket, and insist others do as well, when the situation dictates it." What happens repeatedly is that even experienced sailors become pre-occupied & busy when conditions go bad, and forget to don PFD's. Full disclosure - Have to admit I have done it myself. Sorry I cannot give you examples from NZ, but that is what happened in recent US races in Mobile Bay, and twice in Lake Erie.

If you want to try out an M20, you can rent one at "Great Escape" in the BOI. Darren and Wendy (think they are still there) are very helpful. I chartered an M20 with them and thought it sailed very well - in winds up to 25 kts but no waves. http://www.greatescape.co.nz/boat-hire-bay-of-islands/davidson-20/

Seriously, do a bunch of reading . . I like this one . . http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/complete-sailor-second-edition-david-seidman/1100258729/2682088306847?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+Paperbackshopus_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP23296&k_clickid=3x23296 And sail every chance you get - the smaller the better.

OK, I have to know where that is . . British Columbia? But the lighthouse does not appear to be Canadian . . Hmmmm . . US Pacific North West? Here is one near us from the Polor Vortex winter . .

Some marine contractors in our area (fiberglass & paint & electrical) flat out refuse to give estimates for the work that they do. It's all "time & materials" - take it or leave it. So I leave it.