I thought I would post an update to my sailblog to let you all know that sailing is still my passion. I'm bored on a Tuesday night in my hotel out in Los Angeles for work and have been thinking about posting an update for a while, but I've been so busy. Having not updated my sailblog since I sold my Sapphire Breeze last September, it may have left my blog on a some what sad note. I wrote that honest post on my thoughts of selling, but things have been great since then and I still have no regrets whatsoever on selling my Sapphire Breeze last Fall. People often ask if I miss her, and my immediate response has always been, "Nope!" I always look back at all the amazing memories I had over those four sailing seasons, but really I do not miss owning her. She was such a great sailboat and owning my own sailboat definitely had its perks, but I would not have made some very positive, significant changes in my life this year if I had not sold her.

For years I have wanted to move out of the suburbs and into the city. I made the move over this winter and could not be happier. Selling my boat made this a lot more feasible. I now have an amazing apartment overlooking the Washington, DC skyline and have joined a sailing club that is only 5-10 minutes away! I can easily ride my bike down to the marina. Just this past weekend, my friend and I went for a run and came across a 125' Barkentine ship that is in port down in Old Town Alexandria. We took a tour and I will be going back with my camera to take some photos once I'm back from LA. I love where I live. Another benefit is I am half the distance to the Chesapeake Bay compared to my old place. So, now I get to sail during the week after work on the Potomac River and go sailing with my friends on the bay on the weekends.

Another positive outcome to selling my Sapphire Breeze is it has freed up my expenses and allowed me to travel. So, one of my dreams for many years has been to go sailing in the Caribbean. Last month, six friends, me, and my younger brother Brian chartered a 50' Jeanneau sailboat down in the British Virgin Islands and spent 10 days island hopping. One of our stops was at the Bitter End Yacht Club at the Bitter End of Tortola. Brian and I rented a Hobie Getaway catamaran; wow those things are a blast! I've always wanted to try sailing a cat and they are so much fun. We had such an incredible vacation.



Since selling I'm also getting more involved with other hobbies and interests. Sailing used to consume all my free time and I felt I had to spend all my free time sailing since I had so much invested owning my sailboat. Now I'm free to pursue anything without the pressure of feeling I'm neglecting my sailboat. I'm getting more serious with my photography and recently bought a new camera. Here are a few photos I took last week during some Wednesday night racing at my club:











So, I have no regrets on selling my boat. I'm really enjoying everything else I have going on and I am sailing just as much, if not even more than before now that I live so close to the water. I'm sure I will own another sailboat someday later in my future. I still look at classified ads every so often dreaming of my next sailboat, but at this stage in my life, it's hard to ask for things to be better. If only I had a winning lottery ticket, then I'd be seriously shopping for my next boat!