Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

The rain has been unrelenting. I cannot remember a year like it. My dreams of sailing around subtropical islands with steady wind and glorious weather have not yet been realized. At least I have succeeded in rigging a pretty good … Continue reading →

The rain goes on and on. I realize I have to fabricate a low lying cockpit cover to try and keep the majority of the rain out of the cockpit. Off I go and set to work. I also charge … Continue reading →

I have great ambition for single handed sailing around the Ryukyu Islands. I determine to sail all by myself on Sunday to see if I can manage on my own. It is a very beautiful day but there is hardly … Continue reading →

So the dreadful weather lets up and at last there is a nice day. In Okinawa you expect the weather to be wonderful all the time and we are left bewildered by poor conditions. Luckily Emily is free to crew … Continue reading →

My best friend died suddenly on Sunday. I am desperately sad. Sandy was the most entertaining man I have ever met. He lied about everything so convincingly that he created his own universe of hilarity into which you were sucked … Continue reading →

It hosed down last night. I get to the boat to find the grating floating around on over 2 feet of water. I install the new Gulper. At the moment she only pumps out the bilges but Kiyuna san and … Continue reading →

There are 2 pumps on the boat, a hand pump that can pump water from the bilge and the cockpit well and mighty Gulper who blasts the stuff from the bilge automatically. Both break down within days of each other. … Continue reading →