‘Cruising Life’ Archives
Provisioning in foreign ports
A few weeks ago I wrote about basic provisioning for a local boating trip. However, there are many cruisers who cruise outside of the United States. These kinds of trips offer many different kinds of provisioning from modern supermarkets, to open air markets found on every island, as in Trinidad, for example. Be prepared for many foods such as [...]
Cruising with Children
We have found that one of the greatest gifts you can give a child is a skill that can be learned and enjoyed for a lifetime. We started our children very early on and offered them these lessons and experiences which they still enjoy and can now pass them on to their children. My husband and I wanted to do something special as a family. Life was [...]
Mooring balls, dinghies and motors
Next to your purchase of a cruising vessel, the most important item on your list should be a dinghy and motor. Why? There are so many places to go and so many places to stay that a dinghy is the second most important means of transportation. Not all the best and scenic places to see and visit have docks. Some places only have anchorages and [...]
Cruising with pets
Cruising with pets is one of the most enjoyable activities you can experience. Pets are pets whether they are in your home or on your boat. My family has cruised with pets at one time or another since 1975. If you are planning to introduce a dog or cat to sailing life, it is best to do it while they are young and agreeable to a lifestyle change [...]
Living “on the hard”
I never intended or even imagined that I would be writing this article of “Living on the Hard.” For those of you who are not familiar with this term, it means to stay aboard your vessel while it is out of the water and stored on land. Oh, this is not the first time that we lived aboard Grendel while there was work being done to her. We did it [...]
Provisioning for a boating trip
Each of you out there knows your own boat’s storage capacity, length of time for your expected voyage, and the amount of time you want to devote to food preparation. This said, we should all be prepared for the unexpected delays that may and will occur at one time or another. Weather may deteriorate; there may be breakdowns to boat [...]
Overnight Cruise
What is meant by day sailing? For me, it means being able to sail port to port in one day. It could include sailing for a few hours, or to a neighboring port to get a slip for the night or anchoring up for the night, before moving on the next day. From Marco Island you can make a landfall in one day to Panther Key, Indian Key, Everglades City, or [...]
Sailing group does more than sail and socialize
Today, instead a column on Cruising Life, I would like to introduce you to our local organization: Sailing Association of Marco Island, known as SAMI. The purpose of the SAILING ASSOCIATION OF MARCO ISLAND shall be to encourage the sport of sailing and promote the science of navigation and seamanship among all who love to sail. Neva [...]
Off we go! (But first, get to know your boat and be prepared!)
Well, you and your family have decided you want to go cruising! Where to start is always a difficult decision, perhaps because we all have a different expectations and goals. Some want to day sail close to home; and others want to explore their neighborhood coastline and local harbors; and of course, some want to sail to distant harbors, states, [...]
A life on the ocean wave…
CRUISING LIFE by Frances Diebler Hello. My name is Frances Diebler and I’ll be writing a sailing column each week. I want to give you some of my background so you know a little about my experience on the water. My husband, Herman, and I have been sailing for forty years. We first learned to sail in the late ‘60s and never stopped. [...]
