Sailing

I was given a Snark Sailboat when I was 15 and sailed that little boat on Elm Island Lake, just south of Aitkin, MN

That boat, with its many repairs, eventually gave way to something bigger. I took sailing classes in the Duluth Harbor, as a student at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

After a sailing hiatus, I resumed sailing on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN. I had a 16' Rebel sailboat on a trailer. I became a member of the American Sailing Association (ASA), and completed Basic Keelboat certification (ASA 101) on Lake Minnetonka. That led to Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103) and Bareboat Chartering (ASA 104) courses in San Diego, CA.

I chartered a Hunter 376 in St. Thomas, USVI in 2002 and knew I was going to be a skipper on my own cabin cruiser at some point in my future!

In 2010 I purchased a mini-scow (Johnson Boat Works) at Whitebear Boatworks. This mini-racing boat was kept on a trailer and I sailed it on a variety of lakes. On a particularly hot and windy mid-September day, my mini-scow and one other boat were the only boats sailing in the strong winds that September day. Later, my dad (who lived north of the cities), told me that the evening local TV news featured two sailboats on Lake Harriet. Yup, it was me! I sold the scow in 2014 to make room for a 1997 Miata M Edition!

I was a member of the Minneapolis Sailing Center, where I skippered 21' Ensign sailboats. I keep my sailing gear in the trunk of my Miata (pictured below), so I am always ready to drive to the center for an evening sail on Lake Bde Maka Ska.

In the Fall of 2021, I completed Coastal Navigation (ASA 105) in Minneapolis, MN.

I currently own a 1979 Pearson 323, "Diamond Girl", and the boat is moored on Lake Pepin at the Lake City Marina, in Lake City, MN.

I keep my sailing gear in the trunk of my Miata (pictured below), so I am always ready to drive to Lake City!