http://www.cooksails.com Voyage of s/v Audentes Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:47:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en One of the great benefits of living in California is the diversity of destinations within driving distance. Driving to work, I can often see snow-capped mountains ahead and the glistening Santa Monica Bay in the rearview mirror. There are mountains, beaches, deserts, cities, and forests all within a couple of ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/a-weekend-in-napa I’ve never had a real pet. A few goldfish lasted several weeks, but that was as close as I came. My mom and I are allergic to both cats and dogs, so that was one substantial obstacle. Plus, growing up, my family travelled a lot, so having a pet never ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/a-cat-named-captain As we enter the waning days of 2009 and look back at the past year, it is shameful that I have been so negligent in providing journal entries. The lack of updates is not due to a dearth of noteworthy events. In fact, 2009 was one of the most eventful, ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/the-year-ending-2009 The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity followed by everything grinding to a screeching halt. The common theme for the first three months of the year was travel. I spend an inordinate amount of time in airports, on planes, and living out of a suitcase. While I ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/ring-of-fire After spending just over a day in Taormina, a lovely village perched on a hill overlooking the sea, we drove an hour south to Siracusa. Despite enjoying Taormina, our first taste of Sicily, the change to Siracuse was welcomed for a couple of reasons. For ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/blown-away-in-siracusa I have spent Christmas and New Years’ in some memorable places. When I sat down and tallied the various locations where I have celebrated the holidays, I came up with roughly 12 different places for Christmas and 15 different states or countries for New Years’ Eve. ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/la-to-sicily-planes-ferries-automobiles I left Audentes tucked snugly into a boatyard in New Zealand on November 15, 2006. Exactly two years to the day, I finally returned to Whangarei to check in on my neglected vessel. The journey was brought about by a fortuitous business trip to Australia ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/730-days Few American ports have as much maritime history as Newport, Rhode Island. From north to south, America's Cup Boulevard follows the natural arc of Newport Harbor, which is thickly studded with marinas and yacht clubs. It's also protected in most directions thanks to the mainland and a sturdy penninsula that ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/brian-sails-in-newport For a long time, I’ve been interested in doing a triathlon. I have always gravitated towards endurance sports and I was attracted by the diversity of training for three separate events. In the past, I’ve completed a number of marathons and I always enjoyed the process ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/trials-tribulations-of-a-triathlon I have struggled to come up with an appropriate way to share the big news that happened recently. I had considered a romantic ode attempting to articulate my feelings, but I soon realized that this was bound to fail. I thought of resorting to humor, but this ... http://www.cooksails.com/journal/rules-of-engagement