I have been a big-boat (27–42 feet) sailor for many years and am now enjoying sailing and learning on a smaller platform—my 20-foot-long Liteboat.
I spend my summers sailing in Southeast Alaska.
I just returned from an attempt to sail and row this new craft up the Texas coast, from Port Isabel at the Mexican border northward, with limited success but lots of fun and loads of learning. I describe my journey here: adventuresofcharley.com.
I am looking forward to joining my first Raid and to the camaraderie that is often mentioned in the reviews. I have sailed a big boat and paddled a kayak in the Desolation Sound area, but this will be my first small-boat journey there.
I enjoy long-distance adventures—sailing, bicycle touring, backpacking, and rowing—traveling at less than ten miles per hour. I wouldn’t want to ruin that pace in this Raid, so you speedsters are safe from any challenge.
The Boat
The boat is a 20 foot long Liteboat XP20, originally designed for the Race to Alaska and successfully sailed there. It offers a small cabin for sleeping and with the cockpit tent is quite comfortable for camping.
It only weighs 330 pounds empty and my challenge will be to keep it light and not carry enough supplies to cross the Pacific.
