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Offshore Boat Insurance
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 1262 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: December 30, 2006
Offshore Boat Insurance
Jack and Marla M., of Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrote to tell us that they're about one year from their cruising departure on their Manta 40 cat, and they wanted information about boat insurance. Many people lately have emailed us to ask if we have boat insurance and, if so, what kind, and this topic also is a frequent discussion among cruisers out here in the field.


From Bernadette: We do have insurance for Ithaka. First, we had BOAT/US insurance while we were ...... Read More

Best Remedy For Seasickness
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 488 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: December 16, 2006
Best Remedy For Seasickness
Since we've been cruising, we've had many questions from readers, and from potential cruisers, about seasickness and what is the best way to guard against it.


From Bernadette: We've tried many different medications, and homeopathic solutions, such as pressure bands and ginger, and the best remedy by far is to take Stugeron. I first heard of this highly effective seasickness medication when I was working at Cruising World and interviewing a lot of the sailors com...... Read More

Do you have air conditioning on Ithaka?
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 430 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: December 15, 2006
Do you have air conditioning on Ithaka?

Walt, in Ohio emailed us, asking Douglas if we have air conditioning on Ithaka. “I don't recall any mention of it in your logs,” wrote Walt, “so I assume the answer is no. Assuming this is correct, did you purposely avoid getting air conditioning in a pathetic male attempt to keep your wife from wearing clothes at night? And if this is correct, does it work?”
From Bernadette: No air-con here. When we’re cruising in the tropics, we spend all our time at anchor, so we’re always pointing into the wind. We have awnings...... Read More

What are GRIB files and buoy reports?
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 668 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: December 12, 2006
What are GRIB files and buoy reports?
John R asks: “What do you mean when you say you’ve ‘downloaded a GRIB file’ or that you’ve gotten ‘a buoy report’?
From Douglas: On Ithaka, every day, we get weather information in three ways: one, by observing our barometer and baroscope to note pressure changes in the atmosphere that signify coming weather changes and their intensity; two, by tuning our single-sideband radio into the morning cruising net, and listening to the weather forecast; and, three, through our single-sideband radio, where we download...... Read More

What Are Some Good Boxed Wines?
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 416 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: November 17, 2006
What Are Some Good Boxed Wines?
From Bernadette: In Cruising World magazine this month (August 2004), we have an essay called "Lowering Your Standards," about a phenomenon that occurs as time goes by on a cruising boat whereby, bit by bit, no matter how hard you try to keep up appearances, when you're out in the back of the beyond, eventually you just let your standards slip, and make do with what you have. Take wine for instance. Throughout Central America, in the little places you sometimes find yourself re-provisioning, there may be no nice wines at decent prices. But you notice...... Read More

Good Books to Read While Cruising
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 379 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: November 03, 2006
Good Books to Read While Cruising
Many readers have written asking us to name more of our favorite books, as we did in a log about a year ago. Good books are a hot topic among cruisers, and we're happy to share with you what we've liked.

From Bernadette: Because we've chosen not to have a television or VCR aboard, reading has been especially important, as entertainment and private time, as well as a way to gain some perspective on the countries we're traveling throu...... Read More

Any Regrets?
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 376 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: October 20, 2006
Any Regrets?
Arlene H. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, writes that she and her husband are in the exit lounge, getting ready to quit their jobs and set off next summer on their Bavaria 47 for long-term cruising. She writes: "We're getting a lot of advice from people as we get closer to our cruising date. Did you get any bad advice before you left home? Any regrets?"

From Bernadette: Well, we wish we'd sold our home closer to the top of the real estate market, a...... Read More

Safety Harnesses
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 357 times and there are 0 comments
Posted: October 06, 2006
Safety Harnesses
Carl L., from Chicago, who sails the Hylas 45 Demitasse, emailed us, asking "Do you guys wear harnesses, and if so when?"

From Douglas: Actually, we're religious about them. When we're making passages, harnesses go on before nightfall. We wear them whether we're on deck or in the cockpit, until it's light again, and we also wear them during the day if the wind strengthens too much. Sometimes, this is a pain, but once you're cruising, you...... Read More

Bits and Pieces
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 325 times and there are 0 comments
Posted In Cruising Log
Posted: October 01, 2006
October 1, 2006
Sandy Bay--El Bight
Isla de Guanaja, Honduras, CA
16º 27.313 North
85º 52.161 West
Bits and Pieces
By Douglas Bernon
We have a friend, a successful sailboat racer, who admits that in his youth he would try and confound his opponents by any means, fair or foul. When passing another boat or being passed, he would sometimes throw rusty cotter pins or half-sheered bolts up against their main sail, so that when they fell to the deck, either the sudden sound or the later discovery would unnerve ...... Read More

The Light House
Contributed by The Ithaka - This blog has been viewed 326 times and there are 0 comments
Posted In Cruising Log
Posted: September 15, 2006
September 15, 2006
Sandy Bay--El Bight
Isla de Guanaja, Honduras, CA
16º 27.313 North
85º 52.161 West
The Light House
By Bernadette Bernon




... Read More

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