Captain's Log

I’ve witnessed the evolution of San Diego’s Waterfront all my life. As a teenager armed with my camera, I rode my bike through the railroad yard wastelands before the creation of Seaport Village and on the boardwalk planks of the Embarcadero, and watched the Portuguese and Italian tuna fisherman unload their catches. For many years, […]

“You haven’t lived until you’ve sailed.” Anyone fortunate enough to have stood on the deck of a sailing vessel as it cuts through the sea powered only by wind knows this to be true. In a world where adults spend, on average, a staggering 7 hours per day in front of a screen, a day […]

My Dad, a man of incredible bravery, was a WWII war hero, a father of five, and a devoted husband who had been married to my mom for over 50 years. His courage and dedication were unmatched, and I consider myself beyond fortunate to have him as my father. Dad introduced me to the magical […]

When I was born, my mother was 41, and in the 1960s, having a baby when you were over 40 was rare. I realized by the fifth grade that my parents were old. I don’t mean they were just older than me; they were ancient! My two best friends, Richie Brownsberger, and Mike Fillipponi, had […]

“The kids will love it”! Famous last words spoken by innumerable parents as they plan their spring break vacations: Past bad memories of family excursions gone awry fade as the fantasy of a successful vacation with the kids, full of love, laughter, and gratitude, soaks the parental brain into believing a fun-filled family outing will happen, […]

It always fascinates me how couples meet—a dinner party, arranged by a nosey aunt. A chance meeting with friends at a bar, or perhaps she just swiped right, and the rest was history. Clinton, a young man from Arizona, first saw Kaleen (his future wife) in 2017 on a beach in San Diego, precisely seven […]

Statistically, going to dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day does not end well. A recent poll suggests that 49% of all couples that dine out for the Holiday of Love find it disappointing. Yet, year after year, couples flock to overcrowded restaurants, go through the motions, and pay the swollen check on what is typically a […]

As we close the door on 2023; I want to thank everyone who has helped make Sail Riviera come to life. Four years ago, when we started this little adventure, we had a simple mission statement: Provide a customized private sailing experience that was luxurious, exciting, authentic, and fun. I’m happy to say we’ve managed […]

In August of 1977, I stood on the bow of a Ferry on its way from Olympia, Washington, to Victoria, British Columbia, and was amazed at the beauty of the Northwest. As a kid born and raised in Southern California, Vancouver Island, with its giant red cedars, Douglas firs, and Sitka spruce trees, along with […]

The heavy-set man in an oversized Hawaiian shirt stood on the stern swim platform of his prestigious 54-foot Grand Banks motor yacht. The large man, with hands on hips, was in the “bitch wing pose” as he scrutinized Victoria and me in our 42-foot sailboat. We were assigned to the mooring next to his spotless […]