Project BlueSphere

Filming was off to a slow start as I was really due for some down time. We have been out here over a month and I’m just starting to get my strength back for boat & creative projects. I’m finally getting into my creative space. I’ve mostly been focusing on shooting time-lapse video and working […]

I always write about the good stuff, today I’ll write about some of the cons of cruising. I was looking at this boat at anchor the other night and thinking about the film, it occupies much of my thoughts these days. What a magic and beautiful thing it is to be so free to sail […]

Well Carla’s Brother and his wife left yesterday. It’s always a sign of a good visit when the time flies quickly. He is going back to Miami to look at boats, something small (27-30) for the weekends and vacation time. If anyone knows of a uber-cheap slip/mooring in the Miamiish area please let me know. […]

Well I must say Carla’s brother and wife are good people, we are having a blast! He is a bit of a computer nerd and really set THOR (my new editing computer) up very well. I was worried about backing my film up and he took it one step further. I have 3 hard drives […]

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“Some men feel the rain while others just get wet” I live in a land of magical sunsets and moon rises. They are starting to blend with each other stitching my life together rather than with minutes, hours, days, weeks or months. Time is stopping and the sea has captured my soul once again. I […]

I’m really having to force myself to write today, I’m in 100% decompression mode. How is it I have been so close (40 miles) to my own private paradise for so long, and I’m only arriving just now? I find myself asking this question many times throughout the day as I gaze at the surf […]

Splendid is heavily laden with fuel, food, water, love, and dreams. She is ready to set sail and we have all the equipment needed to make a film. My pockets have a large hole once again but the pantry is stocked for 4-6 months, and I even have an extra spear for my gun. I […]

Where do I start? I suppose with Kickstarter. My Kickstarter campaign ended and I was able to raise $2,701.00! After Kickstarter and Amazon got their cuts I received $2,473.91, not bad! I also received a private $1,000 contribution which brought me up to a grand total of $3,473.91. It’s so nice to be making a […]

Man everything is in order & life is good in water-world! I’ve got THOR (my new computer) sorted out, money for a small generator & equipment on the way, and now we’re just waiting for the funds to clear so we can go to the San Blas. I’ll also have money for provisions & fuel. […]

Project BlueSphere has brought so many wonderful things to me over the years. Since I “let go & un-plugged” my life has aligned with my path and unless I’m battling with an aggravating and overly complicated system I’m pretty much at peace, ARRRRGGGGG, ALTERNATORS! When I first bought Splendid I started to design her electrical […]

Well I’d be lying if I said my days were anything but fantastic, life is uber-good! The rainy season is already upon us however Splendid is dry. With the decks done I’m able to do smaller and more manageable projects. It’s a welcome change to be able to see a project to fruition in a […]

  Someone in the last blog said they thought my spelling got better since Carla was around and the truth is a lot of things have got better. She really wants to see the Pacific. Our loose plan is to transit the canal in 8 months or so. David (my web guru) just set up […]

I polished up Splendid’s commissioning plate I wanted to show you what all my decks look like. My smile is so long it impairs my vision and I can’t see straight. Splendid is really shaping up. I was flat in the $ department and decided to sell my iridium satellite phone. I will need one […]

If you dream of cruising don’t hold your breath too long, it might be too late! Mark, a friend of mine had a heart attack and died on his boat (Melody) in the San Blas just over a week ago. He was a man who lived his life. It’s got me thinking as he was […]

I’d like to portray cruising as the “cruising” magazines do, “everyday a vacation on a beautiful deserted island”, but that’s just not the reality. I’ve submitted articles to some of the bigger sailing magazines in the past and I usually don’t fit into their “format”. They don’t like articles with talk of bad weather, pirates, […]

Funny picture. Carla and I are talking to each other but having a hard time connecting. Perhaps it’s the fact I’m on my shell phone? Computers on boats are always an issue. Most people only need a cheap mini computer for charts, pictures, & internet. However feature-length video processing, editing, and viewing full HD video […]

Carla’s first blog: Hi there everyone : ) I thought some of you might be interested in hearing about my first impressions. Not that I have experienced much sailing yet because we still haven’t really moved from this beautiful area. But we’ve been doing some work and I am getting to learn what it means […]

Splendid’s decks are almost done. Port, starboard, and aft decks are non-skidie ! I need a day or two to finish the foredeck & cabin house, but wow, the end of an era! No more Cheoy-LEEKY. Yesterday I had to mow the lawn (clean the bottom) as I’m heading to San Blas with Carla and […]

4 years of working on the decks & cabin house is paying off fast. I’ll be done in a few days and touching/cleaning up for a week or so. I did these three sections of non-skid in under 2 hours. The non-skid paint is a little darker than I had thought when I picked out […]

I know I’ve been really quiet but a funny thing happened to me on the way back from Panama city a few weeks ago, I met Carla. As all of you know I HATE the bus, well…, not so much this time. Anyway, on my way back from the city I needed to change buses […]

I found these old pictures of Splendid which were taken just a few weeks after I bought her. What a different boat she is now! Splendid was the first boat I looked at after returning to the United States from Japan. I heard about her from a friend, and heard she was rotting in a […]

Well, it’s that time of year again. I’ve never been a big fan of Christmas but the New Year is when I sit down to write, think, and ponder the events of the previous year and the one ahead. Splendid has been a huge project. If I think of the amount of work I’ve done […]

The images and photo opportunities on Splendid are turning from a horrible mess to beautiful. My new mainsheet is installed and all my winches are back. My friend on “Sara G” gave me 2 new stainless Hershoff cleats for my jib sheet, they’re beautiful. For the first time in a while I can go sailing […]

I love a good quote! The right words put together in a simple sentence can inspire a lifetime of work, start a revolution, or change the way we perceive things. Quotes are ideas that we can easily share with one and other. They are short and easy to understand, well at least they should be. […]

Sailing, working, thinking, reading, eating, sleeping, laughing, dreaming, and everything else is melding into a very manageable bundle with my new concept of time, I dig it. I went to Panama City for a few days to meet a friend from California and run some errands. I was close to the clock during this trip […]

Last night, I don’t know what time exactly, I made dinner as usual. It was raining and I knew it was coming as the howler-monkeys make a racket before the rain and stop once it arrives. They help me tell my time. I got to thinking about the cost of my dinner?  Maybe a dime […]

Here is a recent picture of splendid as she exists in my time, eah? I also got a recent picture of Namaste sailing in Australia flying her drifter and wanted to post it. I really love that little boat! If you only read my blogs in hopes of finding a cruising or sailing tip, stop […]

  Well after 8 years I finally came up with a t-shirt concept. I don’t know about you but personally I think it’s the coolest sailing t-shirt ever! The Chinese character for wind is featured on the back right shoulder, I.E. keep the wind at your back,  and the Chinese Character for courage rests over […]

Well I took off for the weekend to Panama City to attend my friends wedding. I stayed at my buddy Roger’s house, had a blast. Man…, I almost clean up okay? Mavis (right) is my friend Gary’s wife (Colombian), and the one who was bit by the monkey in recent discussion, she flew in for […]

I was really surprised to hear about Steve Jobs, he was too young, what a shame! Life can be brutally short! Some words of wisdom: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Everything — all external expectations, all pride, […]

  One of my favorite Spanish phrases, “Life is so”! It’s hard to explain but I’ve been in a really good place. My life is slowing down to a pace I can really manage as I’m realizing the “live slow” part of my mantra while working on the “sail far”! Part of it is…, for […]

No project is ever as easily executed  as when I conceptualize it. As you know I lost my battery bank to some lightning. My batteries were about 3 years old and I was planning to squeak another year out of them but I’m changing them out a bit early. I got a quote on 4 […]

Well, big news, I bought a Canon T3i day before yesterday. A friend is helping me produce the next film and you’ll see his name on it (Charles Lanham). Chuck is also looking for a gr8 deal on a solid 2 cabin cruising boat, so if anyone knows of something please let us know. Preferably […]

What a perfect night in the hammock last night, the kind I live for! Perhaps it was the fact that I’m fasting for two days, the wine, or some cosmic/narcotic jungle pollen floating in the air, but I was wholely blissful laying in my hammock last night. I know I am such a lucky man […]

Well my last week has been out of the ordinary. I’ve been driving a big fancy SUV  (Ford Everest), eating at restaurants, shopping, and having a ball. I took Sandra (Momma D) to see some beach front property and we ended up doing some real four wheeling through some pretty deep mud…, too much fun! […]

Well finally after converting my video shot on the flip to MPEG, editing it, converting it to .MOV, then to .FLV I have a video posted. The Cannon T3i that I want to buy shoots in full HD, and in .AVI format, something I can really work with! I feel weird about charging for the […]

  My aft hatch is just about done with lots of layer of varnish over it, pretty :) I’ve discovered a new way of painting, however it’s quite complicated. It doesn’t involve compressors, spray guns, or rollers. My new painting method uses something called a paintbrush. Rolling and tipping is a good method but without […]

One of the things I like so much about my life is every day on Splendid is a learning experience. I had no idea a hatch would set me back as long as it did but I know more about such things. I have the stern done and I’ve re-mounted my windvane. The paint looks […]

I don’t know about your weekend, but mine was lovely. I had a nice dinner Saturday night with some friends that are watching another friends house. It was a bit strange opening a refrigerator for a beer, using a “normal” bathroom, and sitting around a table having dinner with nice thin wine glasses. I tried […]

My health kick is going a bit south. I’m not eating dairy but ingesting a bit of wheat through beer :) Motivation comes in mysterious ways. For me…, if I feel I have done a good job by 2pm, I treat myself to a Snickers, Coca cola, and a few beers. Not so healthy but […]

“God gave man eyes, yet he can not see” “When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important weather I am afraid” – Audre Lorde “It’s easy to see, hard to foresee” – Benjamin Franklin “Only those who look with […]

Get up, make coffee, write a blog or comment, listen to music, make breakfast, mix fairing compound, apply it, sand it off, get frustrated, go fishing, eat fish (hopefully), clean up, sand some more, look at charts and dream of sailing, wonder if I can finish restoring my boat? The last few days have been […]

Wow, I’ve really been busting my ass and I wonder if the the ass busting blogs will be replaced with sailing blogs one day? I sometimes question my ability to finish Splendid? Have I opened a can of worms, or am I restoring Splendid the way she should be restored…, the right way? I just […]

Well I’ve pictured Splendid with a black hull since the day I first laid eyes on her. It took a little doing but I found a white that I really like, am content with, and will be glad to live with. It’s not too white (blinding) and not too creamy, its just right. It’s a […]

  Well I got a schooling on spray painting today. Its the first time I’ve ever shot paint, and I shot black, the hardest of all colors to shoot and I can see why. I put two coats of hi-build primer and fared Splendid’s ass till it was as smooth as a baby’s bottom. I […]

For the first time since I’ve owned Splendid I’m starting to feel like my old self. I don’t know if you remember my blog from Tahiti when I saw the blue steal boat and decided I needed a bigger boat and more complicated life, blah, blah, blah (July, 18, 07), but it all changed that […]

I have to vent a bit! I promised myself that when I returned to Panama I wouldn’t get caught up in the cruiser soap opera, keep to myself, and steer clear of bad JUJU and people. Sometimes it’s impossible. Many of the cruisers here get stuck and complacent as life here is very easy. It […]

Man, i cant tell you how sweet it is to get on my bike and drive to the store whenever I feel like it! I came back from Portobello yesterday in torrential rain. I had my West Marine fowlies (useless) with me and had to pull over to put them on. It’s amazing how “non-dry” […]

  Somebody please shoot me, I’m going mad with technical issues! What is it “they” say the definition of cruising is? “Fixing your boat in exotic locations”, true-dat! I’ve decided Splendid is just one big work surface! However I think something is the matter with my brain? I don’t understand why it is I need […]

Well I don’t know if it was a good decision or not but I spent the majority of my cash ($900) on a 1995 Yamaha DT175 enduro motorbike. I cant tell you how much I loathe spending 4 hours on a chicken bus to buy groceries, a screw, a chip brush, or masking tape. The […]

  Well I got some fairing compound on the boat early in the morning yesterday then the clouds arrived. I worried about rain but it never came. I’m going to have to contend with the weather a lot over the coming months, I know I must be patient and not loose focus. I have plenty […]

  An appropriate quote: “You don’t get something for nothing. You cant have freedom for free, you wont get wise with the sleep still in your eyes no matter what your dreams might be”. – Neil Peart I forget who said it but another quote is “ Don’t pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger […]

  These chain plates look better than in the last blog, eah? You know when you work on a boat project and you end up going to west marine 5 times that day? Well for me every trip is an 8 hour bus ride, a hotel, or staying at a friends house. HOW THE HELL […]

  I was thinking it would take me an hour to unbolt these two chain plates, pull them, grind down the base, re-bolt them, and re-5200 (seal) them. Ha, That was day before yesterday. I do have stainless covers that fit over them and screw to the deck but they are purely cosmetic. I ended […]

Sunday was a good day. I got a number of projects done but it was the quintessential Panama spring day. About 95 degrees, sunny, 5 knots of breeze, and the hammock had my name on it. My toe rail took a bad hit in Jamaica and I did manage to glass it up. I just […]

Donny Brown I hope your the guy that needed this charter the most, congratulations. I’ll send you an email in case you don’t read this, we’ll work out the details :) I hope you like fish! Man I had a weird dream last night! I went for a swim off of Splendid and the water […]

  Well I ended up partying pretty hard last light, guess I had to blow off some steam? I went to my favorite micro-brewery and ended up in the casino. I used to gamble a bit and the worst thing you can do when you gamble is drink. I told myself I’d loose $50 bucks. […]

   I thought this was a cool photo i snapped with my iphone on the way to my job from Panama. I’ve always wanted to fly but have never been able to afford it. I believe one can find a similar peace and freedom in the sky as on the sea, in the desert, or […]

Wow, I’m soooo F’n tired. I’ve been grinding, welding, cutting, demoing, building, from  7am (getting up at 5:30) to 7:30 – 11:00 pm every night since I’ve been here. Only 6 more days to go, I want to go home. Sometimes I wonder if I can make it? All I do is get up, do […]

  My trip to Panama City was fantastic, I had a really good time and got so much accomplished :) I’m told I may not have access to internet during my job which starts on the 10th. The ship is upgrading wireless. I may not be able to check in until the second week of […]

Well I got my steal-toed (roughneck) boots out of the closet and I’m putting together my tools for my job in April. I’m going to have to leave the tranquility of waking up when I want, eating when I’m hungry, and taking a walk or swimming whenever I have the urge. I’ll put in three […]

Perhaps we all should write one? Time is one of those things we endlessly try to comprehended, yet no matter the effort; the result will always be the same, ignorance. We have no idea where our lives will bring us and we fear the unknown. Maybe this is why we take such comfort in the […]

I really don’t understand the preoccupation with moorings. I just don’t think they are nearly as reliable or safe as anchoring properly. Here is a very expensive Cabo Rico on the reef. It was on a nearby mooring and chafed through its lines yesterday. A proper anchor (for the ground), all chain, and at least […]

  So I’m taking a leek at the Balboa Yacht Club in Panama city this morning and this is the sign that was printed and taped to the wall in front of me and the urinal. It gave me a good laugh. Obviously the staff is doing maintenance on the 21st but I didn’t really […]

Writing a “decree” or “words to live by” is a positive action, it promotes perspective. I highly recommend it. A friend recently suggested I write my decree backwards, “picture yourself at your own funeral, and look back on the life you wish to have led”. Well, I’m doing just that, and living that life. By […]

This is the Chinese symbol for wind. As Splendid was born in China, and is Chinese, I plan on respecting her heritage with some symbology. Once her hull is painted I will hand paint this on her stern as a reminder to keep the wind at her back. I will also have it tattooed on […]

It’s 3:45am and I’m getting a jump on the day so I may fish later. My dreams seem to be centered around a freedom motif lately. In my dream last night I was backing up an old airplane on the tarmac and almost plowed the tail into some other small planes. I was laughing as […]

“You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” I throw myself out there and don’t mind being judged by my peers, ridiculed, nor […]

  It’s been one of those days. It’s time to make a choice. This is the day you say Alex Dorsey has completely lost his mind or he’s a visionary? Let me tell you a story. In the last three years the Atlanta police department entered my sisters home, tazed her three times, and broke […]

Well the artwork isn’t done but I spent a few hours putting together a flyer for “Splendid sailing”. I will put it up at various youth hostels and hotels. Every referral gets $25.00 a head, I’m sure I’ll do fine. I’m not so happy with the shape colors yet but you get the general idea. […]

RASSENFRAGIN ^$*$)(W(*&$(*^%*&)E)(*&$&W$$!OPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Sorry I have to vent a bit! Well guys, here it is. The IRS is seizing my assets and I’m a very bad man! I came to Panama city to get my health stuff done and now I’m sitting in a $15.00/night hostel (not bad/cute girls) with $4.19 in my pocket (not […]

As many of you know I used to write for Latitudes & Attitudes, and will most likely do so again. One of the best pieces of cruising advice they give is “Attitude”, that’s what cruising its all about, and its true! Change Latitudes, change Attitudes! I meet so many cruisers who just don’t adapt to […]

Well its been an interesting week. I had a great crew and made some new friends. We spent our first day of our 5 day charter in the western Lemons. There is a small bar/internet hut, good snorkeling, and beautiful surroundings. Then we went to Chichime, boy was it blowing! When we got to Chichime […]

Here is Splendid as she sits off of the island of PorVaneer in the San Blas. I almost didn’t make my charter. I ran around like a madman all day yesterday and when I got home I pulled the Yamaha 9.9 and put it in the cockpit and put the dink on deck. I got […]

Wow, what a day. Up at 5am and off to the dentist. I’ll add prices as so many people seem to be interested about health care costs in South America. I told my dentist I was concerned the root canal was bad and my bone infection was spreading to my brain as my ears were […]

I wish I could paint a picture of tonight. A beautiful sailboat anchored under a million stars. The sound of the jungle and a good solid wind blowing from the east. The smell of fire, sea, and earth fills the air and my ipod is playing in the background. As usual I’m being introspective while […]

Well I’ve been trying to figure out why my engine has been hunting (for an RPM) lately and I found the reason. I over tightened the lid to my racor filter and cracked it at some point, the fuel system is sucking small bits of air. I ordered a new lid ($24.00) and slathered silicone […]

All good things come to those who wait. I have a small charter the 10th threw the 14th ($150/day), and another March 30 threw April 4th. My job on the ship looks like its a go as the drug test can take place on the ship. When I get back from the job in the […]

  Where else can you find such tasteful artwork? Panama is planning on taking over the busing business and take it away from the independent business man, that really breaks my heart, and will rob some very important culture from this amazing country. An old American school bus is a families livelihood and they take […]

I know I had decided to continue my journey without an H2O maker but opportunity presented itself and my good friend Roger traded me an old Sea Recovery system for a few days work when he hauls his new boat in March. It’s a 110 system and all I need to get it going is […]

When you live as close to nature and the weather as I do you can understand why people of the past worshiped the sun. After so much rain the sun seems like a kiss from the Gods! The days seem so much brighter (literally) and my luck has seemed to take a turn for the […]

Well, you’ve heard me talk about a Tayana 37 more than once. Here is Primo. She is anchored in Linton and has been for a few years. I spoke with the owner because I just hate to see such a fine boat go un-loved. I spoke with him on the phone and he has done […]

My friend Alex is Flying to Rio (Brazil) on Tuesday. After that I’m going to wrap up a few things and decompress in the San Blas for a while. I want to pull the plug on everything for a few months. The root canal and visit from Alex cleaned me out financially and when I’m […]

  Do I look like Frankenstein or what? So many cruisers are afraid of foreign medical care and I want to share my experience this morning. Well I had a bit of an emergency on Saturday. My tooth which started to feel better took a turn for the worst and abscessed. It felt like I […]

Happy New Year everyone! With every passing year I aspire to learn a little more of this beautiful blue Sphere I sail upon. The last year was one of great personal contrast. I’ve had some really amazing experiences in 2010 and I also lost things so very precious to me. My favorite time in 2010 […]

The locals are dumb founded. The weather just wont quit this year! My friend Alex arrived in PC this morning and I’m stuck on the boat for the next 36 hours. I really wanted to be at the airport to meet her but unless I surfed onto the beach it just isn’t happening. I had […]

Well its that time of year again, and a good time to make a New Years resolution. Every day is a good day to make a resolution but many seem to like change with a new calendar year. Want to go cruising? Make definite plans, put some money away every month for your boat. I […]