top of page
So, too, with H28. If you love and cherish her, you can learn to draw sweet melodies from her and she will carry you through all the scale of gales and calms, for she is based on well proven principles. She will lay to well into the wind, under the mizzen, or steer well in a following sea and ghost along in light weather.
~
L. Francis Herreshoff
Rudder Magazine, 1943
2023
Inaugural Season
2024
Delayed Start
Future Plans
Endless Potential
Mattapoissett to Portland
I will never forget the moment of witnessing Holiday be released from the slings for the first time. The homeward bound journey began in the hallowed waters of Buzzards Bay and panned out to be largely single-handed. We would be welcomed ashore by keepers to explore lighthouses and islands, escorted into harbors by porpoise, and graced by some of the most magical days of sailing we could ask for. Sailing into her homeport of Portland, Maine was a moment of overwhelming pride, joy, awe, and gratitude. The voyage truly cemented that taking stewardship of this boat was the inception of an adventure beyond the grasp of even my wildest imagination.
Italy and Nepal
Anticipating a summer on the hard with the impending Idaho project, I tucked Holiday in the barn, grabbed the backpack, and headed overseas for the winter. Had I stayed in Maine, I would have undoubtably gone deep into projects and not been able to leave the ole gal come spring. So, I preemptively set off for a few months of skiing in the Dolomites, experiencing an Italian Christmas, living with a world-class chef in the Prosecco Hills, exploring European cities, teaching English deep into the Nepal countryside, and trekking in the Everest region of the Himalayas. Holiday sure was on my mind but a winter well spent nonetheless.
Homecoming, eh?
Holiday was built in 1951 in Eastern Canada. I have yet to fully pin down the exact location but nonetheless, I am quite set on sailing her up into the Canadian Maritimes to celebrate her 75th birthday in 2026. With our luck, I am confident we can track down a descendent of her builder and take em for a sail. At the very least, the ole gal deserves to be celebrated and it will be such a privilege to explore Canadian waters with her. The Nova Scotian coast has been a bucket list destination for many years. The rich history, incredible landscapes, and traditional culture is too enticing to pass up and I am sure Holiday will be welcomed with open arms.
Down East Bound
After a brief shakedown period in Casco Bay, we set off east. A quintessential Maine summer ensued, brimming with full sails, island excursions, and getting deeply acquainted with the place we so proudly call home. The stories were all time and I am stoked to write them. Late in the season, I connected with a fellow wooden boat enthusiast and he presented me with the opportunity to design and build a cabin in the Grand Tetons. I was certainly excited to dive into the laundry list of projects amasses over the summer but this project was too good to pass up and so we changed course, hauled out, and made plans to head west.
Barn to Bahamas?
I bid Holiday a bittersweet adieu and hit the road, bound west in early May for a summer of construction and adventure. The cabin design had come together incredibly as of mid June but some bureaucratic delays have made a 2025 build more realistic. Upon this news, it was a matter of seconds and I was contemplating how I could salvage a sailing season already well underway and with quite a list of projects to tackle pre-launch. First thought, head south. How far? We shall see, but the image of Holiday in the mystical blue waters of the Bahamas sure has planted a seed in my mind that I may not have a choice but to nurture. Stay tuned!
Pacific Pipe Dreams
As I spend more and more time out at sea, I find that some of the most enchanting experiences have been offshore passages. Days on end with land out of sight, with nothing but ocean on the horizon is a feeling like no other. As I transition from crewing vessels professionally to taking the helm of my own boat, the freedom makes my mind wander with the endless potential ahead. While at one point in time, the H28 had more circumnavigations than any other vessel, her days of rounding the globe may be over but not ruling out some epic voyages like a Trans Pac. Fortunately, we are lucky to call some fellow adventurers friends and one way or another, oceans will be transitted.
bottom of page