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Particular Harbor

  • Boat Life
  • Destinations
  • Money
  • Cruising Cats

Archive

  • Money

    May’s cruising costs and an update on life ashore

    by Michelle Zeratsky July 12, 2018July 13, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky July 12, 2018July 13, 2018

    Greetings from Milwaukee! If you were around here in the 80s and 90s, you may know the city as “A Great Place on a Great Lake”. I’ve always loved that…

  • Boat Life

    From the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea: Panama Canal by Sailboat

    by Michelle Zeratsky June 11, 2018June 11, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky June 11, 2018June 11, 2018

    Editor’s note: It was tough to choose a headline for this post. Very tempting to use one of the best palindromes ever: A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama! For…

  • Destinations

    Panama City Life

    by Michelle Zeratsky May 31, 2018June 1, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky May 31, 2018June 1, 2018

    We’re spending two weeks in Panama City before we take Pineapple through the Panama Canal. It feels good to be here.

  • Money

    Savings and Splurges: April’s Cruising Costs

    by Michelle Zeratsky May 21, 2018May 22, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky May 21, 2018May 22, 2018

    Greetings from Panama City! We’ve sailed about 4,500 miles since leaving San Francisco, and it’s hard to believe our first season of cruising is almost over.

  • Destinations

    Costa Rica by Boat: Mo Money, Mo Monkeys

    by Michelle Zeratsky May 14, 2018May 20, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky May 14, 2018May 20, 2018

    Editor’s note: The headline is a reference to “Mo Money Mo Problems” by 1990s hip-hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. (in an unforgettable collaboration with Mase and Puff Daddy). You picked up…

  • Money

    How Much is Enough? Building a “Someday Fund”

    by John Zeratsky May 8, 2018May 14, 2018
    by John Zeratsky May 8, 2018May 14, 2018

    We’ve written at length about how much it costs us to cruise. And we’ve shared our money plan for accumulating the assets that now support our lifestyle. But we’ve left out…

  • Boat Life

    Newly Salted: An Interview with John and Michelle About Cruising, Money, and More

    by Michelle Zeratsky April 25, 2018May 14, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky April 25, 2018May 14, 2018

    Before we left San Francisco, we were hungry for information, advice, and stories about the cruising life. Newly Salted and companion series Interview with a Cruiser became two of our…

  • Money

    March Was Expensive: Here’s Why

    by Michelle Zeratsky April 20, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky April 20, 2018April 21, 2018

    When we started our new habit of recording every single expense (see January and February here), it came with immediate rewards: We gained clarity about how we were spending our…

  • Destinations

    Nicaragua: I Wish I Knew You Better

    by Michelle Zeratsky April 12, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky April 12, 2018April 21, 2018

    As we assembled the jigsaw puzzle of our first cruising season, we started by building around a couple big pieces.

  • Cruising Cats

    Paw-ticular Harbor: Life of a Cruising Cat, Part 2

    by Michelle Zeratsky April 7, 2018April 20, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky April 7, 2018April 20, 2018

    Paw-ticular Harbor is back by paw-pular demand! (Okay, I’ll stop the paw puns now.)

  • Boat Life

    How We Make Healthy Food Choices While Cruising

    by Michelle Zeratsky March 28, 2018April 10, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky March 28, 2018April 10, 2018

    We have been in Northern Nicaragua for a week, and we’re loving every minute. Well, except the stifling heat. We’re pretty sure it’s reaching 100°F during the day, but can’t…

  • Destinations

    El Salvador: It’s complicated

    by Michelle Zeratsky March 22, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky March 22, 2018April 21, 2018

    Our 10 days in El Salvador were all about… contrast.

  • Money

    What it Costs to Cruise in Mexico: February 2018

    by Michelle Zeratsky March 17, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky March 17, 2018April 21, 2018

    It’s time for the second installment of “What it Costs to Cruise in Mexico”!

  • Destinations

    Leaving Mexico, Too Soon

    by Michelle Zeratsky March 7, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky March 7, 2018April 21, 2018

    Since sailing across the border into Mexico, we’ve covered 2,225 miles and stopped in 23 wonderful places. And now, after four incredible months, here we are at our last port…

  • Boat Life

    365 Miles with a Cruising Cook: Zihua to Huatulco

    by Michelle Zeratsky February 28, 2018March 4, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky February 28, 2018March 4, 2018

    As we transitioned from “cruising curious” to “let’s make a 5-year plan” to “let’s leave on Wednesday”, we read a ton. Naturally, we wanted to know what it would be…

  • Money

    Our 3-Step Money Plan for Cruising

    by John Zeratsky February 21, 2018April 21, 2018
    by John Zeratsky February 21, 2018April 21, 2018

    Back in San Francisco, get-to-know-you conversation seemed to follow a script. First, innocent small talk: What part of town do you live in? How long have you been in SF?…

  • Money

    What it Costs to Cruise in Mexico: January 2018

    by Michelle Zeratsky February 12, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky February 12, 2018April 21, 2018

    News flash! It’s a lot cheaper to live in Mexico than in San Francisco!

  • Destinations

    Cruisers’ Comforts in Barra de Navidad

    by Michelle Zeratsky January 30, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky January 30, 2018April 21, 2018

    Months from now, when I look back at our time in Barra de Navidad, I already know I’m going to have a silly grin on my face.

  • Destinations

    Southbound Again, to Tenacatita and Beyond

    by Michelle Zeratsky January 24, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky January 24, 2018April 21, 2018

    After three weeks in Banderas Bay, we’re on the move again. And we’re back in a comfortable cruising rhythm, sailing south, watching the coast glide past our port beam. As…

  • Boat Life

    A Tour of Pineapple! Our 46-foot Floating Home

    by Michelle Zeratsky January 15, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky January 15, 2018April 21, 2018

    After three weeks in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, we are finally ready to continue south. We plan to leave tomorrow.

  • Boat Life

    10 Lessons After 3 Months of Cruising

    by Michelle Zeratsky January 4, 2018April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky January 4, 2018April 21, 2018

    It’s hard to believe we left our life in San Francisco just three months ago. Since October 4, we’ve traveled almost 2,000 miles and made 23 stops. And in those…

  • Cruising Cats

    Paw-ticular Harbor: The Life of a Cruising Cat

    by Michelle Zeratsky December 26, 2017March 4, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky December 26, 2017March 4, 2018

    We’ve sailed just 173 miles since our last post from Mazatlan. It’s been easy going, apart from having to dodge whales and avoid fishermen’s “long lines.”

  • Destinations

    Gringos Go to Market

    by Michelle Zeratsky December 18, 2017April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky December 18, 2017April 21, 2018

    We’re back to city life these past couple weeks—in La Paz, and now in Mazatlan, which is our first stop on mainland Mexico and already a highlight of our cruise.

  • Boat Life

    Life at Anchor: Time to Reflect

    by Michelle Zeratsky December 6, 2017March 4, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky December 6, 2017March 4, 2018

    We stretched out the 120-mile trip from Cabo to La Paz, spending the last 11 days in five different anchorages just inside the Sea of Cortez.

  • Boat Life

    Navigating Pineapple with… iPads?!

    by John Zeratsky December 1, 2017April 21, 2018
    by John Zeratsky December 1, 2017April 21, 2018

    Seagoing navigation has changed a lot since the days of sextants and chronometers. Nowadays, most cruisers have a dedicated navigation display somewhere in the cockpit. On Pineapple, we do something…

  • Destinations

    Cabo: It’s Not So Bad

    by John Zeratsky November 23, 2017April 21, 2018
    by John Zeratsky November 23, 2017April 21, 2018

    The name of a place is not just a name. It’s a stand-in for all kinds of thoughts, feelings, prejudices, and memories for both visitors and yet-to-be-visitors.

  • Boat Life

    10 DAYS, 720 MILES, 2 STOPS. NOW WE PARTY.

    by Michelle Zeratsky November 13, 2017March 4, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky November 13, 2017March 4, 2018

    We are thrilled to report we’ve made it all the way down the Baja peninsula and are now in Cabo! We are feeling super accomplished and proud we’ve made it…

  • Destinations

    Day of the Dead

    by Michelle Zeratsky November 3, 2017April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky November 3, 2017April 21, 2018

    We’re now in Mexico! On Sunday we made the 65-mile trip from San Diego to Ensenada.

  • Boat Life

    Steam in the Exhaust: Our First DIY Engine Repair

    by John Zeratsky October 24, 2017October 24, 2019
    by John Zeratsky October 24, 2017October 24, 2019

    Last Friday, after deciding to abandon our anchorage at Smuggler’s Cove on Santa Cruz Island, we started the engine, weighed anchor, and got underway for Prisoner’s Harbor on the other…

  • Cruising Cats

    Guinny’s Big Adventure

    by Michelle Zeratsky October 16, 2017October 24, 2019
    by Michelle Zeratsky October 16, 2017October 24, 2019

    On Friday we left Santa Barbara, planning to anchor on Santa Cruz Island for the night on our way to Los Angeles. The island is a short 25-mile trip, and…

  • Boat Life

    Monterey to Santa Barbara, Overnight

    by Michelle Zeratsky October 12, 2017October 24, 2019
    by Michelle Zeratsky October 12, 2017October 24, 2019

    After an unexpected long weekend in Monterey, we were antsy to keep moving south as soon as the swells and wind died down along the coast.

  • Boat Life

    Earth, Wind, and Fire: Power on a Cruising Sailboat

    by John Zeratsky October 9, 2017April 21, 2018
    by John Zeratsky October 9, 2017April 21, 2018

    Everyone knows that sailboats are powered by the wind. But “powered” isn’t quite the right word. In practice, it’s just a few circumstances—mostly downwind, with somewhere between 10 and 30…

  • Boat Life

    Here We Go

    by Michelle Zeratsky October 6, 2017October 24, 2019
    by Michelle Zeratsky October 6, 2017October 24, 2019

    On October 4, we left Sausalito for our passage to Mexico. We’ll have more stories to share along the way, but in the meantime, here’s a few photos of what…

  • Boat Life

    She’s here! A mid-commissioning update

    by Michelle Zeratsky August 8, 2017April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky August 8, 2017April 21, 2018

    Good news: It’s a girl! Which would make this a mid-berth update, I suppose… Sorry, I will make better jokes next time. I promise. This post comes to you from…

  • Boat Life

    Made in China (Coming Soon to Oakland)

    by Michelle Zeratsky July 20, 2017April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky July 20, 2017April 21, 2018

    After waiting more than a year, our new Outbound 46 is finally on its way from Xiamen, China! We’ve been inching towards this goal since we ordered the boat in…

  • Boat Life

    Pine·ap·ple

    by Michelle Zeratsky July 14, 2017April 21, 2018
    by Michelle Zeratsky July 14, 2017April 21, 2018

    We chose the name Pineapple more than two years ago, and now we are this close to having a boat to bear the name: Our new Outbound 46 is on…

  • Boat Life

    This Particular Boat

    by John Zeratsky July 6, 2017April 21, 2018
    by John Zeratsky July 6, 2017April 21, 2018

    Of all the boats in the world, how did we choose this particular boat? (Pun intended, naturally.) There’s one simple reason. The Outbound 46 was designed for exactly what we’re…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Summer Camp at Night

    by John Zeratsky November 2, 2016July 20, 2017
    by John Zeratsky November 2, 2016July 20, 2017

    Last summer we sailed our boat to Catalina Island. After a week ashore, including three noisy nights in Avalon, we retreated to the island’s quiet northwest corner to prepare for our…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Five lessons after five weeks of cruising in Southern California

    by John Zeratsky October 1, 2015July 20, 2017
    by John Zeratsky October 1, 2015July 20, 2017

    As of October 1, we’ve been cruising Southern California for five weeks. With a little help from King Neptune and Mother Nature, we should have Aegea should be back in…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Our week on Catalina Island

    by Michelle Zeratsky September 24, 2015July 30, 2017
    by Michelle Zeratsky September 24, 2015July 30, 2017

    After picking up Jennifer and Chris in Oxnard, we spent the night anchored in Paradise Cove off Malibu. Then we set off for the final leg of the Ta-Ta –…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Spinnaker sailing

    by John Zeratsky September 23, 2015July 30, 2017
    by John Zeratsky September 23, 2015July 30, 2017

    Aegea came with a decent sail inventory. Older working sails: a main and 95% jib. A 120% genoa for light-air sailing. A storm jib and storm trysail we’re unlikely to…

  • Cruising Aegea

    SoCal Ta-Ta

    by John Zeratsky September 21, 2015July 5, 2017
    by John Zeratsky September 21, 2015July 5, 2017

    Last week we sailed south, on a zig-zag course from Santa Barbara, to Santa Cruz Island, to Oxnard, to Malibu, to Catalina. We were traveling with a group of 50…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Santa Cruz Island

    by John Zeratsky September 9, 2015July 30, 2017
    by John Zeratsky September 9, 2015July 30, 2017

    During Labor Day weekend, we sailed out to Santa Cruz Island (part of Channel Islands National Park) and spent two nights anchored in Prisoners Harbor. Big swells made the sailing…

  • Cruising Aegea

    The people you meet

    by John Zeratsky September 4, 2015July 5, 2017
    by John Zeratsky September 4, 2015July 5, 2017

    Last Friday, after we arrived in Santa Barbara, after we hosted an impromptu cocktail hour with Nick’s friends Paul and Ginger, after we had dinner at the yacht club, after…

  • Cruising Aegea

    “There’s kelp on the rudder”

    by John Zeratsky August 30, 2015July 5, 2017
    by John Zeratsky August 30, 2015July 5, 2017

    During our recent passage to Santa Barbara, the sail from Half Moon Bay to Morro Bay was quiet. We saw one ship, steaming north in the offshore shipping lane, and…

  • Cruising Aegea

    San Francisco to Santa Barbara

    by John Zeratsky August 30, 2015July 20, 2017
    by John Zeratsky August 30, 2015July 20, 2017

    The week of August 24, I sailed Aegea from San Francisco south 350 miles to Santa Barbara. My friend Nick Baum came along as crew, and we did the passage in…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Drinking-water safe

    by John Zeratsky August 22, 2015July 15, 2017
    by John Zeratsky August 22, 2015July 15, 2017

    After three years with Aegea, our freshwater system is finally safe for drinking water. Just in time too — we’re leaving for a two-month cruise on Monday, and I wasn’t looking…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Runabout cruise to Sacramento

    by John Zeratsky August 19, 2015July 5, 2017
    by John Zeratsky August 19, 2015July 5, 2017

    In July we took our runabout (a 2001 Sport Nautique) up the Sacramento River for a weekend in Old Sacramento. We stayed on the Delta King, a restored riverboat that…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Point Richmond

    by John Zeratsky August 18, 2015July 5, 2017
    by John Zeratsky August 18, 2015July 5, 2017

    In March we commissioned Aegea for the season and celebrated with a weekend cruise to Point Richmond. Point Richmond is in the Northeast corner of San Francisco Bay. It’s an…

  • Cruising Aegea

    Full-moon sail on San Francisco Bay

    by John Zeratsky August 17, 2015July 5, 2017
    by John Zeratsky August 17, 2015July 5, 2017

    Since moving to San Francisco in 2010, we’ve have talked about sailing the Bay under a full moon. On March 15, 2014 we found the perfect night to do it:…

About John & Michelle

About John & Michelle

We’re a San Francisco couple in our 30s, sailing south to Mexico and beyond aboard our Outbound 46 Pineapple. We left our jobs and stuff behind, but brought our cats.
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