Ah, the beach. The sun, the waves, the blissful sound of seagulls stealing your lunch. It’s paradise — right up until you get home and discover that sand has somehow infiltrated your camera bag, your sandwich, your soul. You shake out your towel and three pounds of the Sahara come flying out. You find sand in … Read more
Ah, the beach life. Palm trees swaying, salty air filling your lungs, and the sound of waves that somehow makes every single problem feel approximately 1,000% smaller. People dream about living near the ocean — they pin it, they post about it, they put it on vision boards. But those of us who actually do it? We … Read more
At 30 you were performing the beach. At 60 you’re actually living it. There is a photograph somewhere — possibly buried in a box, possibly on a hard drive from 2003, possibly burned because you made certain decisions about your hair that year — of you at the beach in your 30s. You look great. … Read more
You’ve shown up without sunscreen. You’ve eaten warm, sad crackers. You’ve learned. This list is the result. There is a version of you from ten years ago who packed a beach bag the night before with great confidence and absolutely zero wisdom. She brought one water bottle for a four-hour beach day. She forgot a … Read more
There’s a certain kind of wisdom that doesn’t come from books or podcasts or a very enthusiastic life coach named Chad. It comes from years of hauling a tote bag the size of a small child to the water’s edge, losing a sandal to a rogue wave, and slowly, gloriously, figuring out what actually matters … Read more
There’s a special kind of silence that falls over a group of old salts when somebody pulls into the anchorage on one of *these* boats. You know the silence. It’s not rude. It’s the silence of people choosing their words carefully. The silence of a man who once did a survey on one of those … Read more
When I was shopping for a chart plotter two years ago, I kept asking myself the same question: “Is this really the best we can do for something that costs $1,000 or more?” For the most part, chart plotters have been stuck at the level of a 2000s-era car GPS — sold at the price … Read more
Owning a sailboat is a dream for many people—but the reality behind the dream often surprises new owners. In a new book, The Four Seasons of Boat Maintenance, marine professional Christopher Birch, the article explores one of the most common questions boat owners ask: Where can I cut back on maintenance? After four decades working … Read more
Sailing has always attracted a certain kind of person. It requires patience, independence, and a willingness to face the unpredictable power of the sea. Over the years, some very famous people have fallen deeply in love with sailing—actors, musicians, billionaires, kings, and even presidents. For many of them, sailing wasn’t just a hobby. It was … Read more
You find a sailboat for sale. It’s 30 or 40 years old. The pictures look great, the teak is glowing, and the owner assures you, “She’s solid.” The asking price is only $10,000. You start imagining yourself sailing it. Then someone says, “You should get a survey before you buy it.” Suddenly you’re wondering why … Read more