Trading Places

AS SEEN IN MARCH ISSUE OF SAILING MAGAZINE

When Suzy Leech appeared at Key West Race Week (KWRW) in her new J/70 Junkanoo, it was a classic case of ‘trading places.’ Leech, whose sailing resume lists her as “Bowchick” on the America³ all-female campaign for America’s Cup in 1995, determined at 47 she was finally ready to retire from ‘the foredeck union.

“I was not interested in getting that wet and cold and beaten up anymore, and decided this was my chance to transition.” But for Leech, a web and database programmer from Jamestown, RI; it was a humbling switch, to the back of the boat. “I never did any junior sailing or dinghies. I have only ever sailed on the bow of big boats: so this was really my first experience driving.”

And on this steep learning curve, not only did Leech trade places from foredeck to helm, but on the leaderboard as well  ...


Full article here.

GIRLS GONE FISHING

As seen in HARBORS inflight magazine March/April 2014

Girls Gone Fishing

Everyone is familiar with the axiom, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach him to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

But what happens when you teach a woman to fish ... ?

Fishing is thrilling and fun in an indelible way. Most people can tell you the specifics of the first fish they caught: even if it was decades ago.

But today women make up only about one-quarter of all anglers in North America. 

What keeps women from fishing more often? Having the right skills and equipment. Getting to the right place. The perceived ickiness of it.

Our mission was to bust this myth (if you’ll pardon the pun!) so Harbors Editor Susan Colby and I set out for the famed Campbell River, BC fishing grounds.

Read the complete article here

Fishing while sailing ...

or is it Sailing while fishing?

AS SEEN IN Oct 2013 SAILING MAGAZINE:

read the full article here

Sailing San Francisco Bay AS SEEN IN SAILING MAGAZINE

 The Bay of plenty

July 2013 By Betsy Crowfoot

San Francisco is one of the most iconic cities of the world. More than 16 million visitors come each year to see its precipitous streets, clanging cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge and other sights. The one-of-a-kind vibe of the City by the Bay is only heightened this year with the arrival of the America’s Cup regatta.

If San Francisco wasn’t on your bucket list before, it should be now!

What better way to explore than on the water? With several reserve days on the AC race schedule, sailors can tuck in a day of cruising here and there, or do as we did, spend a whole glorious week discovering one of the greatest sailing venues on Earth. 

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CRUISING WORLD: Grenada

August, 2012

The Spice of Life: Charter Grenada

With pursuits galore on land and water to satisfy everyone on board, a charter in Grenada may be just the adventure you're seeking.

by Betsy Crowfoot

photo: Bob Grieser

"I have one foot in the primitive age and one foot in the modern age,” announced Telfor Bedeau. As brown and sinewy as the branch he was hacking, Telfor swiftly fashioned a walking stick, then slid his machete back into a sheath slung across his chest. The swashbuckling machete stood in sharp contrast to the bright plastic “jelly” shoes and cornflower-blue raincoat that completed his outfit.

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"The Caribbean Unplugged" - as seen in CRUISING WORLD magazine

August 22, 2013

The Caribbean Unplugged

Just a daysail away from some of the Leeward Islands’ hot spots, St. Eustatius has much to offer cruising sailors—lush scenery, vibrant reefs and a laid-back vibe.

by Betsy Crowfoot 

photo: Bob Grieser

The strains of “The Star-Spangled Banner” rang clearly through the old Dutch fort. Sung so sweetly by the young islander, after “Het Wilhelmus” (the Dutch national anthem) and “The Golden Rock,” St. Eustatius’ anthem, it was surprising. After all, here we were on a tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, 1,200 miles from U.S. soil. Yet the 3,500 occupants of Statia (as St. Eustatius is colloquially called) claim a unique and affectionate connection to the United States.

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More from HARBORS Inflight Magazine

Travel Savvy: Flying Fish  

By Betsy Crowfoot

Chances are good you might be leaving Washington or BC with a salmon the size of your sister Sue. After last year’s El Niño, 2013 promises an action-packed, catch-your-limit kind of season. But buckling a carcass into the seat of a de Havilland Beaver may not be the best option for getting it home. Cargo limitations, flight time, missed connections and fisheries management regulations are just a few of the practical reasons you’ll want to devise a plan for flying fish you’ve caught home safely. (more)