Author Archives: skipperdadmin

2026 Florida 120

I’ve registered for the 2026 Florida 120!

I’ll be sailing Bluebell, my 2004 Com-Pac Picnic Cat.

I’m excited about taking on a sailing challenge I’ve never done before. The Florida 120 is an expedition-style adventure rally that takes place over 4-5 days along the Florida panhandle near Pensacola.

I’ll be beaching the boat each night and sleeping ashore in a tent.

You can follow my preparation, progress, and adventures on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@SkipperDAdventures

There are currently 32 captains and boats registered for the event. You can find the participants on the roster page of the Florida 120 website @ https://swidmier.wixsite.com/fl120/2021-roster

Found My Adventure Boat

After months of searching, I finally found my adventure boat—a 2004 Com-Pac Picnic Cat, a gaff-rigged catboat. She’ll serve as my platform for ham radio island activations and coastal sailing rallies. A few repairs and adjustments are needed to get her adventure-ready, but she’ll be on the water soon.

Common and Useful Knots for Sailing

These are common and useful knots for sailors to know, which are presented in ASA 101-104 certification books and classes.

  • Bowline
  • Cleat hitch
  • Clove hitch
  • Figure eight knot
  • Reef knot / Square knot
  • Rolling hitch
  • Round turn and two half hitches
  • Sheet bend / Double sheet bend
  • Trucker’s hitch

Additional useful knots include:

  • Cow hitch
  • Figure nine knot
  • Jam hitch
  • Simple slipped noose knot
  • Slip knot
  • Taut-line hitch

The better you understand knots, the better and more efficient sailor you can be. The key to learning them is to practice, practice, practice… and use them in practical applications!