I’ve just returned from crossing the North Sea on a Sparkman & Stephens Swan 48, with the outfit 59-North.  My friends, Andy & Mia – a dynamo offshore sailing couple – invited me to join them on their first offshore charter passage of the year, to help crew following their big refit over the winter.

We departed Marstrand, Sweden sailing do west for 36 miles and landing in Skagen, Denmark.  We then carried on, mostly bashing our way upwind to Kirkwall, on the Scottish Isle of Orkney…way, way north.  We had mostly clear skies, frequent visits from dolphins, reasonable seas of 6ft or so, and around 20 knots of wind for what amounted to 600 miles of sailing (out of 606 total) without starting the engine.  It was glorious!  And when we were becalmed in the middle of the North Sea for a couple hours, we hove-to and took a plunge in the frigid waters.  It was nothing short of exhilarating!

On my return, I landed in Seattle on Mother’s Day at 2pm in the afternoon and took clients out for a 5:30pm Sunset Sail booking!  So, sailing is in the air around here.  We can’t get enough of it.

Watch this super fun video documenting the experience!