As we head towards the re-launch of 59-north.com in the next few weeks, I'm starting something today that I plan to continue and make a feature of the new site/newsletter. In short, I learn a lot about what I talk and write about when it comes to offshore sailing by voraciously reading others. I'd like to share that. Here's new original content from 59-north.com, plus what I found most interesting this past week around the web and in print:
On Ocean Sailing
- Expecting the Unexpected, by retired USCG rescue swimming Mario Vittone: An excellent article on offshore safety, when to abandon ship, how it might actually endanger the rescue crew itself, and more. Written from the unassaible perspective of the guy in the 'copter. The comments are just as insightful as the article itself. Mario was on the podcast a few weeks ago. One of my favorite episodes.
- Adventure 40 Rig & Deck Design, by John Harries of Morgan's Cloud: This boat looks like it's going to be a game-changer in offshore sailing. Whatever you feel about 'modern' underbody hulls with fin keels and separate rudders, this boat is full of innovative, simple, smart solutions. I can't wait to sail the prototype, which I've been promised! Hear John talk the philosophy behind the boat on the podcast.
- How to make your keel safe, by Mattheew Shehan & Yachting World: No link for this one (other than to the magazine's website itself), as it's in print, but I read it yesterday in the train station in Stockholm. Great follow-up on the Cheeki Rafiki tragedy, with actionable tips on what you can do to avoid the same fate. Scary how common keel failures and 'near misses' are with production sailboats.
- Single-handed cruising women, by Charlie Doane: Fellow SAIL compadre Charlie Doane wrote this for his blog over at wavetrain.net (syndicated on sailfeed.com). Great inspirational look at women in sailing who weren't lured aboard by the men in their lives. I'm particularly intrigued by Liz Clark. Love her Cal 40.
Other Inspiring & Thought-Provoking Reads
- On a Gunboat Catamaran, you can have your martini and 30 knots too, by Daniel Fisher, Forbes Magazine: Cool lifestyle article about the slick stuff going on at the new Gunboat facility in North Carolina. I covered a bit of them when I edited All at Sea Southeast a few years back. Neat!
- Peter Thiel disagrees with you, by Roger Parloff, Fortune Magazine: I'm a big fan of Tim Ferriss, and tend always to click on articles he's linked to. While I don't get too excited about the financial-world stuff, I love the philosophy and thought-provoking ideas in this article. Great read, and some of the contrarian thinking can indeed be applied to sailing and adventuring. It's the 'off-the-beaten' path mentality that excites me.
- The art of strategic laziness, by Tim Ferriss, fourhourworkweek.com/blog: Another one from Tim which I read a few weeks ago, but fits in this space. Super cool story of programmer-cum-racecar-driver who 'hacked' his way to the top of each discipline using smart shortcuts. His coding essentially created the possibility of sites like Twitter and the like. Cool stuff, very inspiring.
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