It began subtly—an occasional slip, a momentary hesitation. Then the winches grew stubborn, sticking and losing their reliability. A sailboat without trustworthy winches is little more than a motorboat, so the situation demanded attention. These winches are only two years old, always protected, yet Lewmar reminded us that even well kept gear needs annual care. I’d dreaded the task, but the EVO design makes servicing surprisingly simple. Armed with winch grease, pawl oil, and a spare parts kit, I took them apart piece by piece. Ninety minutes per winch, most of it spent cleaning away the hidden grime. When it was done, the winches spun smooth and strong again—and I gained both confidence and experience. Another project complete… and many more waiting in the wings. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

The only redeeming feature of July’s swampy doldrums is that it’s the magical moment when my heirloom tomatoes finally decide to ripen. These divas have been pampered since spring—started from seed, chauffeured through multiple transplants, fussed over like royalty—and at long last, after an age and a half, they begin to blush. That first hint of red triggers all sorts of lip smacking, tomato centric daydreams of gorging on real garden grown heirlooms. Under my vigilant supervision, I’ve relocated praying mantises to their leafy thrones, run daily security sweeps for Japanese beetles, encouraged parasitic wasps to set up a neighborhood watch against the dreaded hornworm, and fine tuned the automatic watering system like a NASA engineer. After all this devotion, I have earned—fair and square—the sacred right to enjoy the first tomato before anyone else. This presents a small challenge, of course, because Toni loves these tomatoes too. So I’ll simply bide my time until she heads out on an errand, at which point I shall claim what is rightfully mine. After all, scripture is clear: “Thou who nurtures the garden before the Lord shall reap its bounty.” And that blessed nurturer… is ME. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We wrapped up our evaluation of the new Seawind 1160XL with a short demonstration sail—an ideal way to see how she behaves when the breeze is barely cooperating. Any boat can look impressive in heavy air; it’s the light wind days that reveal true performance and determine whether you’re sailing or reaching for the throttles. Conditions couldn’t have been better for this test: gentle winds of 5–10 knots across the protected waters of the South River, just south of Annapolis. Even in the scant 5 knot puffs, the 1160XL slipped along at 2.5 knots and came alive quickly when the gusts arrived. The refinements in the 1160XL breathe new life into the iconic 1160 line, ensuring this beloved model will continue to shine well into the future. See our previous Seawind 1160XL episodes: Sneak Peek at the New Seawind 1160XL - https://youtube.com/shorts/bJFh0NbcaKQ?si=C2oFUSeAUMVeJZjR Episode 96 - Exploring the New Seawind 1160XL - https://youtu.be/uM7bHd-28mo?si=KWg7NIK6nZ_0WGSg We want to thank Sail Away Catamarans, the goto dealer along the Atlantic Coast, for allowing us access to film this first Seawind 1160XL in the United States. Please check https://sailawaycatamarans.com/ for more information on the Seawind 1160XL and other catamarans for sail, charter, and ASA Training. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Another slideshow hauled up from the depths of CD wreckage. Toni had long since declared a no more stray trunks aboard policy, and for a while I sailed under that flag… at least until this beauty crossed my bow. The moment I spotted this trunk for sale, I knew she was something special. A true heavy duty steamer—built like a ship’s hull, dressed in ornate hardware, fancy latches, extra wooden ribs, and wrapped in stamped faux alligator metal sheathing. She was in remarkable condition, the kind of trunk that had clearly never been stowed at the bottom of a cargo pile in a ship’s hold. This one belonged to someone of rank. When I asked about her history, the seller told me she had been in the family for generations and once belonged to a steamship captain who sailed the Great Lakes and Atlantic coastlines. The trunk had lived most of its life in the captain’s quarters, and later under the watchful care of his heirs. The only work ever done was a simple re lining of the interior. I bought the trunk—or perhaps I bought the story of the trunk—with a promise that she’d continue her long, respected voyage with me. I made a few repairs to the tray, and Ben and I carried her into the living room. When Toni came home, she was… let’s just say, less than thrilled, and ordered us to get that thing off her deck immediately. I stalled, hoping the winds would shift. After a week—and a bit of gentle, subliminal navigation—Toni finally saw the trunk for the treasure she was. Today, the Captain’s Trunk serves as our living room coffee table, and inside it we stow the board games of our youth—our own little cargo of memories. Here’s hoping the Captain’s Trunk is ready to gather new moments in time on this next leg of her journey. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We hardly used our dinghy, Miss Annemarie, during our winter in Florida waters, so when we returned to Solomons in the spring, we splashed her and took her for a spin through the creeks—stretching her legs, exercising the motor, and soaking up the sunshine. This episode also marks the moment I finally surrendered and replaced the galley faucet. The original never stayed tight, and Admiral Toni made her feelings about it abundantly clear. With the new faucet installed, peace has been restored and we are now both happy. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Toni and I were fortunate to get early access to the brand new Seawind 1160XL—the next evolution of the iconic 1160. The upgrades are substantial and clearly designed to carry the 1160 line forward for years to come. In this episode of Sailing with No Agenda, we’ll take a deeper dive into the 1160XL and explore what noticeable improvements were made to the iconic 1160 line. The 1160XL is built to be compliant with Category A "Ocean" rating which is the highest marine certification under the European Union’s Recreational Craft Directive (RCD). We want to thank Sail Away Catamarans, the goto dealer along the Atlantic Coast, for allowing us access to film this first Seawind 1160XL in the United States. Please check https://sailawaycatamarans.com/ for more information on the Seawind 1160XL and other catamarans for sail, charter, and ASA Training. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Toni and I were fortunate to get early access to the brand new Seawind 1160XL—the next evolution of the iconic 1160. The upgrades are substantial and clearly designed to carry the 1160 line forward for years to come. In the next episode of Sailing with No Agenda, we’ll take a deeper dive into the 1160XL and explore what makes this model such a standout. We want to thank Sail Away Catamarans, the goto dealer along the Atlantic Coast, for allowing us access to film this first Seawind 1160XL in the United States. Please check https://sailawaycatamarans.com/ for more information on the Seawind 1160XL and other catamarans for sail, charter, and ASA Training. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We were up before dawn and had the anchor raised by 05:30. Toni took her place in the forward dolphin seat, sweeping the flashlight across the crab pots as we eased our way back into the channel and into the Alligator Canal. We slipped under the Wilkerson Bridge—always the worst one—with the VHF antenna tinking almost horizontal. Heading north, we made good time, our VHF antenna tinking under a few more bridges, each one uncomfortably close, but we kept moving. Luck was on our side. By late afternoon we were tied up at Coinjock Marina, sitting down to their famous prime rib—with no reservations. The next morning we continued north through Virginia’s ICW, timing the drawbridges perfectly, passing through the lock, and soon enough entering the Elizabeth River and the industrial world once again. With northerly winds forecast to build the following day, we made the call: push through the Chesapeake Chop overnight and get home before the worst of it. Twenty four hours after leaving Coinjock, NC, Moments in Time was back in Solomons, MD. It felt good to be home. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

My son Ben and I attended the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Show on June 20, 2026. We’ve been to this show before, but this year carried a different kind of magic. For the first time in my life, I watched what I consider the most beautiful aircraft ever to take to the sky—the Vought F4U Corsair—flying in all her glory. In a world full of iconic WWII warbirds—the P 40 Warhawk, P 51 Mustang, P 38 Lightning, even the Spitfires and Messerschmitts—the Corsair is the only one that speaks directly to me. Maybe it’s that thunderous 2,650 hp Pratt & Whitney R 2800 Double Wasp radial engine, maybe it’s those unmistakable inverted gull wings… or maybe the connection runs deeper. Some joke it’s because I watched Baa Baa Black Sheep, but the truth is the opposite—I watched the show because it featured the Corsair. Seeing her in the air for the very first time was awe inspiring. A true moment in time. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

The wind and waves made it clear that rounding Cape Hatteras would have been anything but kind, so we slipped into the ICW at Beaufort, North Carolina instead. The days that followed were cooler than usual, with more rain than we cared for, but just before entering the Alligator Canal we were gifted one perfect, peaceful night at anchor. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

My son Ben and I carved out two precious hours from our busy schedules to share a Father’s Day lunch together. To mark the occasion, we ordered something we almost never indulge in—a shot of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Reserve. It’s the kind of pour you save for the rarest of moments, and this one qualified. A true moment in time. We enjoyed a few appetizers, talked, laughed, and let the world slow down just long enough to appreciate the gift of being together. Then, as all good moments eventually do, it was time to rejoin reality back home. It was a great Father’s Day for both of us—simple, meaningful, and absolutely one for the books. Another Moment in Time. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We chose to slip into the ICW at Beaufort, North Carolina when the weather around Cape Hatteras began turning against us. Leaving Safe Harbor Jarrett Bay Marina under low, gray skies and a misting rain, we fell in behind our buddy boat—another Seawind 1260, "Winging It"—and pointed north. The ICW carried us through a patchwork of narrow canals, winding rivers, quiet bays, and open sounds. Some stretches felt secluded and almost untouched, others were lined with sprawling waterfront homes, and still others gave way to wide marshlands. Between the rain, the boat traffic, the crab pots scattered across the channel, floating debris, strong currents, tight passages, and low bridge clearances, the day demanded full attention from start to finish. By late afternoon the clouds finally broke. We dropped anchor just outside the Alligator Canal and were rewarded with a beautiful sunset before calling it a night. Tomorrow comes early. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

This is the last trunk restoration CD rescued from the bit bucket. I was not looking to restore any more trunks, but this John Goman Camelback trunk popped up on my radar and was in very good condition for its price so . . . This trunk was made by John Goman. John Goman was a prominent manufacturer in the trunk and bag business during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily operating in New York City. John Goman operated from roughly the 1880s to the early 1900s manufacturing various styles of travel luggage, including steamer trunks, flat-top trunks, and dome-top (camelback) trunks. Despite its expensive brass lock, the shallow camelback, stingy protective wood slats, leather strap enclosure buckles, and canvas covering indicate that this trunk was priced to sell in the competitive New York luggage market. The camelback lid wasn’t just for looks—it kept other trunks from being stacked on top of it in a ship’s hold, protecting it from damage. And like all trunks, they carried a history. What stories could this one tell? Who owned it? Where had it traveled? What treasures once rested inside? Another trunk rescued, another trunk ready to collect new moments in time." Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We caught Amazon’s rocket launch and then turned in for the night. At first light we were up again, following the sunrise out into the Atlantic—our quiet farewell to Charleston, South Carolina. But the weather window we were counting on began to collapse, forcing us to divert into Beaufort and pick up the ICW. From there, we would finish the final stretch of our voyage home along the inside route. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Another trunk restoration CD rescued from the bit bucket. This trunk restoration was for Toni. She wanted a trunk to store “this and that’s”, so we found another wall trunk that needed to be rescued. Wall trunks were unusual pieces, built by only a handful of craftsmen, each using their own patented hinge system that allowed the trunk to open fully while sitting flat against a wall. Because of those clever mechanisms, they cost more than the average trunk back in their day. This trunk was made by Clinton. The Clinton Wall Trunk Company was based in Clinton, Massachusetts, and was a prominent late 19th-century manufacturer known for patented trunks with special hinges designed to open flat against a wall, maximizing space. Owned by builder Lyman Leighton, the company thrived around the 1880s–1890s, specializing in innovative space-saving storage and travel trunks. The Clinton Wall Trunk Company was one of the most recognized American makers of wall trunks. This trunk was dated circa 1890. While wall trunks were popular for travel, they are highly functional for small apartments or spaces, making them highly sought-after antiques today. This trunk had traveled back in the day with various pings, dents, and scourges in the metal work, which adds to it charm. And like all trunks, they carried a history. What stories could this one tell? Who owned it? Where had it traveled? What treasures once rested inside? Another trunk rescued, another trunk ready to collect new moments in time." Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

We drove back home so Toni could have her surgery and begin recovery, leaving Moments in Time secured in Charleston, SC. But the marina deadline was looming — we had to be out by the end of the month, and suddenly we were down to just four days. We kept a close eye on a developing weather window and, right after the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, we flew south to meet the boat. With only a single day to prepare for a coastal passage, we hustled through the checklist — including a trip up the mast to remove the lightning rod so we’d have the option to duck into the ICW if the forecast fell apart. At first light we slipped out of Charleston on the slack tide and spent the day sailing, motor‑sailing, and motoring up the South and North Carolina coast. By the time we rounded Cape Fear, it was clear the weather window wasn’t going to hold. We diverted into Beaufort Inlet and accepted that the rest of the journey to the Chesapeake Bay would have to be via the ICW. No usable offshore window around Cape Lookout or Cape Hatteras was shaping up anytime soon. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Another old photo CD rescued from the digital abyss. This one held a trunk restoration Ben and I tackled back in 2003. We had stumbled across a rare wall trunk—one that was clearly begging to be saved. Wall trunks were unusual pieces, built by only a handful of craftsmen, each using their own patented hinge system that allowed the trunk to open fully while sitting flat against a wall. Because of those clever mechanisms, they cost more than the average trunk. And like all trunks, they carried a history. What stories could this one tell? Who owned it? Where had it traveled? What treasures once rested inside? This particular trunk was made by Eggeman, Duguid & Company, a respected late 19th century manufacturer out of Toledo, Ohio. They were known for producing high quality canvas covered steamer trunks, and their signature “wall saver” designs. The company operated from the 1880s into the early 1900s and even offered a lifetime guarantee on their hinge system. This trunk dated circa 1890. Wall trunks are still highly sought after today, so finding one in need of rescuing felt like striking gold. This one had once been covered in green canvas, but over the years it had been painted black—again and again. The canvas was torn and missing in places, far beyond saving. With its flat lid, it had likely spent years at the bottom of cargo stacks in steamship holds, and it showed the scars: stress fractures, cracks, and begging for plenty of repairs. Restoring this trunk was a fun project, and Ben was thrilled with the result. He still treasures it today. Another trunk rescued, another trunk ready to collect new moments in time." Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

Toni’s surgery is now behind her. She’s already had her follow up appointment and some of the stitches removed, with another follow up and the remaining stitches scheduled in three weeks. After attending the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, we flew down to Charleston, South Carolina, where Moments in Time had been waiting for us. We had just one day to get her ready for the trip north to the Chesapeake Bay, but the weather windows refused to cooperate. Still, we were determined to make it home before Toni’s next appointment. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

I stumbled across an old photo CD I made back in 1999. Since CDs tend to lose their data integrity over time, it took some effort to recover everything—but the memories were worth saving and sharing. A lot of folks still don’t recognize a VW Karmann Ghia when they see one. On the U.S. East Coast, they’re nearly impossible to find anymore; most rusted away long ago. This one came from California, where the dry air helped it survive. Our 1971 Karmann Ghia Convertible had been restored in true California style, so not much of it remained original. It was Admiral Toni’s car, and she loved driving it. The tiny back seat had no seat belts, so we rarely put the kids back there. These cars were a blast to drive. They looked much faster than they actually were, but this one—with its 1500cc upright air cooled engine—would cruise at 70 MPH without breaking a sweat. People often mistook Karmann Ghias for Porsches, but they were actually Italian designed. Karmann was the same company that built the VW Beetle Cabriolet for Volkswagen. These days, she doesn’t get driven much. The car mostly sits in the garage collecting dust. The peaceful country drives in fresh air have been replaced by congested roads and unpredictable drivers. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

“Moments in Time” is tied up in Charleston, South Carolina. The city looks like a place we could happily get lost in, but with only a single day to explore, we set our sights on the French Quarter. We wandered the market, found a good lunch, strolled the waterfront, and wrapped up the evening with a fine dinner—just enough to know we’d like more time here. But once again, the tide of obligation is running. We need to secure the boat, rent a car, pack up some gear, and make the long drive back to Maryland so Toni can prepare for her surgery. With luck, the procedure and recovery will go smoothly, and we’ll return to Charleston with renewed hope—ready to enjoy what Charleston has to offer before waiting on the next weather window for our next hop north. Subscribe and share in our adventure! Become part of the conversation on Facebook by liking https://www.facebook.com/SV.MomentsInTime/ As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.