Point Loma is home to the Cabrillo National Monument commemorating the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who sailed his ship the San Salvador in to San Diego Bay in 1542, to become the first European to set foot in California. It’s a remarkable piece of land that overlooks San Diego Bay and the city of San Diego on one side and the boundless Pacific Ocean to the west. We made a trip there a few years ago and today’s holiday and recent news events brought it back to focus.

Point Loma is less well known as the home to the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, a solemn memorial for those who have served our country and a tranquil setting for reflection. It has been used for those who have served since the mid-1800s and the last unclaimed niche at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery was filled in 2014. This has ended an era at one of the nation’s most beautiful and historic burial grounds for veterans which includes at least 23 Medal of Honor winners. Those surviving spouses of veterans buried there and their eligible children may have spots reserved that will still allow them to be interned with their loved ones.

While the Point helps commemorate those who fought and died to preserve our cherished freedoms it also now highlights those that would risk their lives to achieve those same freedoms and opportunities. On May 3rd three migrants died as an overloaded trawler-style boat floundered on the rocks and reefs off the Point, the apparent result of a human smuggling operation gone bad.

The historic lighthouse did little to help the floundering trawler as it must have lost power and/or steerage as it crashed onto the reef around 10 in the morning. Had it been a night attempt the consequences would have been far worse.

As the crew of Second Wind sailed home through the storm of the rising COVID-19 tide last spring, we looked forward to a time when we could sail without constantly flying the yellow quarantine flag*. We believe that time is upon us, although we still must exercise caution we can prepare to continue our adventures. For us, those new adventures will include more land-based activities in warmer climes. For others, who have not yet had the chance to set their sails for distant shores, the opportunity is nigh. The motorsailer Second Wind is now available to handle the nautical adventures of her next owners.

Where has she taken us?

From the expansive inlets and mini-fjords of Downeast Maine, through the sounds of Long Island and the rivers of New York, the coastal waters of New Jersey, the bays and backwaters of the Chesapeake, through the Dismal Swamp and canals and rivers of the Carolinas, the meandering Moon River of Georgia, to the coastal towns and inlets of Space and Treasure Coasts of Florida, out across the deep-blue Gulf Stream to the Bahamas and then back through Palm Beach and then down through Miami and Key Largo, around the Florida Keys and up through the Everglades and into southwest Florida and the abundant bays and rivers. I’ve included assorted photos of locations and crew mates that we have enjoyed over the last several years, so please enjoy.

Take the step to explore the possibilities a motorsailer could offer you. By-water is a unique way to see the country, to spend good times with friends and family, to fish, snorkel and anchor in quiet hide-aways with millionaire dollar views of the water and expansive sunsets and sunrises. Click on the link below to find out the great pricing and immediate availability of this solid cruiser sitting ready on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay.

https://www.denisonyachtsales.com/yachts-for-sale/41-Island-Packet-Sp-Cruiser-2007-Rock-Hall-Maryland/7443045l

Happy Retirement to our favorite crew-mate BA!

Today was her last day of full-time employment and she is looking forward to the freedom her new schedule affords her, including a new grand-baby due in about a month. Congratulations and good timing as the country is finally starting to open up as the vaccines become more available.

*the quarantine flag was only used when we entered port in the Bahamas and then when we returned to the U.S.

It doesn’t pay to grab the COVID-19 gator by the tail, and so in the interest of player and fan safety what would have been the fifth annual edition of this prestigious golf competition has been cancelled. Organizers are working to secure dates for next year in order resume the annual tournament normally held in Florida in late February.

Last year’s event was held in the early days of ignorance about the growing spread of the COVID-19, even before we were debating about the value of wearing masks. With a swift roll-out of the vaccine we are hoping next year’s event can be held without special precautions.

Congrats to those who have survived the year in the U.S. One in one-thousand didn’t due to COVID-19. That’s better odds than a hole-in-one (1:12,500), winning $1,000 in the Wisconsin Millionaire’s Club instant scratch game (1:2,134), or the odds of drowning sometime in your life (1:1,121).

Here’s a toast to an improved roll-out of the vaccine and greater use of masks, contact tracing and social distancing. Until then, smoke ’em if you have ’em.

What to do if you fall through the ice:

• keep calm!
• keep your head above water – you can tilt your head back a bit;
• do not move frantically, losing strength, instead move your legs evenly, as if turning bicycle pedals;
• breathe as slowly and deeply as possible;
• if possible, call out;
• if a bag or heavy coat pulls you down, try to remove them.
• the ice is thin where you broke in, but it should be more durable where you stood before you fell.
• turn your face to the place where you came from and put your hands on the ice, stretch your arms as far as possible. Try to lie on the edge of the ice with your chest and try to push yourself out of the water.
• do not need to get up immediately, it is better to roll away from the dangerous place. Climb to the shore on the same path you came.
• when going ashore do not stop, but run to the nearest warm place.

Ice tips Courtesy of my Latvian brothers at LSM.LV

Make it a December-to-remember by planning for tomorrow’s adventures today. Check out Second Wind, the all-weather, go-anywhere motorsailer that is ready to take you on your cruising adventures. There’s still time for a sea trial in Rock Hall, MD and a Christmas delivery.

Now’s the best time to buy to take advantage of seasonal savings and start planning your spring travels. Or you can start heading south before the big holidays, because Second Wind knows the way. This Island Packet has completed several trips to Florida over the past several years and the fully enclosed pilot house makes travel comfortable in any kind of weather.

If the past year has taught us anything it’s that we shouldn’t put off our dreams for some distant future that might never come. Fortunately there is hope around the corner. Traveling in a solid and sturdy sailing vessel let’s you social-distance in style as your cruise in secluded comfort to those scenic anchorages that await. Between sail and solar power you can really stretch your fuel consumption and range. Large fridge/freezer units keep your galley well supplied for weeks.

Here’s a few photos from our coastal travels that have ranged from Northern Maine to Key West and the Bahamas.

This Halloween was a bit different under the spectre of the COVID-19, but local communities like this one shown in Beaufort, SC were able to maintain some semblance of normalcy. It’s important that we try to maintain certain standards, but only within the range of acceptable safety and hygiene factors. In our recent travels we still observe too many people that are oblivious or unconcerned enough to not wear the recommended masks in the general public.

COVID-19 Challenge Survey

The COVID-19 Challenge Survey early results conducted by this site included a participant group skewed towards people in their second half of life. Here is an excerpt of the results which show that most of these people will not be comfortable about traveling again until the vaccine is widely available. It also seems that the majority of folks would prefer at-home care solutions rather than nursing homes or continuing care communities.

Here are results from some of the key questions:

Be Prepared.

As we learned in last October’s blog “Be Prepared” , it always pays to follow the motto of the Scouts. Now that we have the COVID-19 upon us, it’s more important than ever to follow the guidelines we recommended last year at this time. Note the increasing importance of protective masks for both yesterday and today.

Congratulations to Kevin R. Cornwall who just received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition that Scouting can bestow to its local adult leaders. Kevin earned his Eagle Scout Award over 40 years ago and has served in several leadership roles within the Bucks County Council, now a consolidated part of the Washington Crossing Council which includes districts in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

No Man is an Island – unless you get marooned on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere and left with one bullet, one gun and one bottle of rum. 

Traditional marooning is the intentional act of abandoning someone in an uninhabited area, such as a deserted island. The word first appeared in writing in 1709 and is derived from the term maroon, a word for a fugitive slave.

The practice was a penalty for a crewmen, or for the captain at the hands of a crew in cases of mutiny. Generally, a marooned man was set on a deserted island, often no more than a sand bar at low tide. He would be given some food, a container of water, and a loaded pistol so he could commit suicide if he desired. The outcome of marooning was usually fatal, but a few people survived if a ship happened to be passing that way and noticed their signal.

The chief practitioners were pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries, to such a degree that they were frequently referred to as “marooners”. The pirate’s articles of agreements, also known as the Pirate Code, specified marooning as a punishment for cheating one’s fellow pirates or other offenses. In this context, to be marooned is euphemistically to be promoted and “made governor of an island”.

The Articles of Agreement or the Pirates Code

The Pirate Code strived for fairness and equality. People of color were offered opportunity to join the crew and several famous women commanded their own ships. And even without televised debates then, the selection of the captain was quite a democratic process. If the chosen captain performed well and there was booty to share, he kept his job. If he wasn’t so successful, well then they all hung together when captured. On the occasion where they just weren’t finding any ships or bounty to plunder, then the captain would need to start looking for a new position.

Here are two of the Pirate articles that reference marooning as the prescribed punishment:

II. Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.

VII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning.

The Modern Form of Marooning

In the 21st century we can now break time into B.C. – before COVID and eventually we hope to have an A.C., but for now we will call it the new normal.

In the pre-COVID-19 (or B.C. period) corporate marooning, a company employee or crew member is thrown out of the office with only a cell phone and laptop and left to sit at home waiting for further instructions. Their crimes are not usually fully explained, but are often the result of corporate restructurings, realignments or downsizing. It was considered more humane to cull them from the regular work force before their termination. In this context, to be marooned is euphemistically to be promoted to “a position in charge of special projects” or as a “senior advisor”.

These unfortunates were still paid a salary, but suffered a total loss of job identity, authority and career-based self-worth.  Though still part of the company, their calls were not returned and their emails unanswered by their previous colleagues.  As one marooned victim lamented “it is as if I never worked there, as if I don’t exist…”.   In an attempt to give the illusion of a future return to status there could be some discussion of future positions or possible job rotations, and an occasional job interview.

During our current COVID-19 environment, or the new normal, employees are already exiled to their homes, so the procedure is a lot simpler. With a cell phone and a laptop all it takes is a simple mandatory ZOOM call and a follow-up e-mail to complete the termination process.

Today it seems it can happen to anyone, even someone who was working at the happiest place on earth or flying the friendly skies. Without even a single bottle of rum for consolation.

With the economic uncertainty, no one seems to be truly safe, so if you are still employed, keep an eye out for any passing ships.

If you are worried about being marooned, why not sign up for a free newsletter and updates about topics important to those considering retirement. And remember, even if YOU aren’t actively considering retirement, there may be somebody else who is (like your boss). You’re welcome to join our crew communications!

Updated Oct. 2, 2020

The crew of Second Wind has been spending the last many months near inland waters, far from the call of the open sea.  It’s been interesting to see how people are adapting to life during the continuing spread of the corona virus.  In Wisconsin the bars are open, many of the churches closed and wearing a mask is optional in most places.  While many feel wearing a mask is prudent protection, somewhat greater numbers feel it is better to express one’s individual liberty by not wearing a mask, often ignoring social distancing guidelines.  The local mayors in Wisconsin pleaded to not have President Trump hold a rally this weekend, but with today’s news, that won’t happen.

With each state setting their own restrictions and guidelines, often based on the current rate  of disease progression, it’s difficult to make plans for travel.  It’s not easy to hit a moving target.  In the end it will be a matter of your own personal sense of safety and comfort and consideration of your age and outstanding health issues. When will you feel it is safe to fly and freely travel again?  To dine in any restaurant?

How has your planning for travel and future vacations been affected by the virus?  Does an RV or boat rental vacation now sound more appealing as you can control your environment much better than relying on random motel rooms?  If you’re near the end of your working career does working from home change your timing or plans for retirement?  How do you feel about your personal health and safety now that both the U.S. President and First Lady have been effected?

Please share your thoughts by taking a few minutes to complete the COVID-19 Challenge Survey.  You can now do so anonymously through Google forms.

Thanks for your participation.  Here are a few photos of inland boating on beautiful Geneva Lake.

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If your heart is for the salty smell of the sea, and the secure, comfortable cruising a well-equipped motorsailer can bring, here is an opportunity you should not miss.  If not now, then when?  Just in time for the excellent fall sailing season on the Chesapeake:

Click here for Second Wind sales listing and to see new fall pricing.

The Key to Viral Survival is to follow established best practices by leading experts in the field. This includes Wang Zhou, Chief Physician of the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Editor of  The Coronavirus Prevention Handbook, Skyhorse Publishing.  At the same time, don’t forget the bullet more likely to get you by not forgetting the most common causes of death for your age group. (see #5 below)

1. When a person sneezes don’t say “Bless You”, turn and run the other way.
2. Spend more time outside in nature, away from the crowds.
3. Wear a mask and eye protection whenever in public.  Sunglasses or regular glasses help, contacts don’t.
4. Use tele-health services for chronic conditions and maintain your health and normal check-ups.
5. Wear a life jacket when boating or swimming in open waters.  While you’re avoiding the virus, you may be putting yourself at risk for other more likely causes of death.  For younger people – drug overdose, accidents, suicide, for older people heart attacks and strokes, various forms of cancer and lung disease.  Most deaths are the result of lifestyle choices, not infectious diseases. UPDATE: CDC reveals that COVID-19 will make the top leading causes of death for 2020. The current published list for 2018 is shown below.
6. Wash your hands and then your face often, always when returning home from public spaces.
7. Establish a decontamination room in your home if space permits.  A mud room is ideal if you use it.  Leave outside shoes and clothing and even packages in this area, anything that can bring in outside materials that can harbor germs and viruses.
8. Don’t drink Clorox or Lysol products, use them liberally on external surfaces to remove contaminants.
9. Balance risk with reward – avoid the free Taco Tuesday buffet at your local watering hole, and take a pass on the complimentary bar peanut bowls.
10. Dine and drink in outside areas whenever possible and frequent establishments where the staff properly wear masks.
11. Avoid high-rise buildings with their attendant crowded elevators and sticky push buttons.
12. Avoid urban areas and crowds: higher density=higher disease risk.
13. Play the LAVA game with your hands instead of your feet.  Avoid touching anything in public spaces.
14. Update your living will and last wishes – if you are whisked away to an isolation ward in intensive care without these, it is already too late.
15. Vote with your feet – don’t try to convince someone in public to put on their mask, just leave the area.
16. Don’t be an easy target – strengthen your immune system by improving your diet, sleep schedule and by avoiding smoking and excessive drinking.
17. ISOLATE if you have chronic conditions (including advanced age) including heart and lung issues, diabetes, obesity, and are a smoker.
18. Be aware of asymptomatic spreaders – the unseen enemy.
19. Avoid hot zones and cruise ships when and if they start sailing again.  Instead, why not get your own personal  SHelter In Place (SHIP)  perfectly suited for extending cruising?  Click on the link above to see the perfect bug-out boat!  And it’s renewable energy powered!

These are just a few suggestions, please feel free to offer others below under comments.

Right now for a limited time you can order your favorite Laughing Pirates Air Freshener and Odor Neutralizers at special 50% savings.  Order your favorite scent and we will send you another unit at absolutely no extra cost.  Whether you prefer the safety and comfort of your own boat, RV or tent when you travel, you can count on the specially developed pirate-powered gel formula to keep things smelling fresh and odor-free.  Click here to make your selection.

Travel tips

When traveling in public, always have a face mask/head scarf ready for those close-quarters situations that you can’t avoid – narrow hiking trails, crowded street corners and busy shops and bars.  While these aren’t medical grade solutions, they’re better than nothing!  Also, carry your own supply of wipes and sanitizers when you can’t avoid door knobs or credit card screens and pens. Do your part to slow the spread while still supporting your local businesses.

Covid 19 Question:  How has viral survival changed your travel plans this summer?  Will you consider traveling by boat, camper or RV instead of flying and staying at a hotel?  Please answer in the comments section below.