# Sailicon Valley Magazine > sail + Silicon Valley = Sailicon Valley Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### Promise to Readers and Clients URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/promise/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T04:16:42.000Z - No A.I. slop, ever. Written by humans, for humans (especially humans on boats). Only human-sourced stories and human-written stories, always. - We will never sell your data. Period. - No B.S., no politics, no agenda. Only relevant, inspiring, interesting, helpful news and reviews. (We might occasionally profile someone in politics, but only in as much as that person's story is relevant to startups or sailing. We're not here to push any particular opinion, and will try our best to share a balance of views). - Transparency and full disclosure, always. No conflicts of interest, no pay-to-play. - How we’re funded: We accept [advertising and sponsorship](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) revenue, and we will always clearly label [ads and sponsored content](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) as such. ## **Find Us** Find Sailicon Valley on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/sailiconvalley/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [TikTok,](https://www.tiktok.com/@sailicon.valley?ref=sailiconvalley.com) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sailiconvalley?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SailiconValley?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592408197723), [X/Twitter](https://x.com/boatmagic?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Substack](https://substack.com/@sailiconvalleycom?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and of course on the homepage, [SailiconValley.com](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/). ## **About Us** sail + Silicon Valley = Sailicon Valley ***"Sailicon Valley is for adventurers and dreamers everywhere, inland or offshore, whether you're on Sand Hill Road or on the other side of the world."*** Sailicon Valley covers sailing startups, ocean tech, the blue economy, the social side of sailing and business, boat shows, entrepreneurs who sail (*"from the C-Suite to the Sea-Suite"*), ideas worth pondering, various legends, and Salty characters. If it touches the water, is near the water, is about the water, or is just plain fascinating, then we want to know about it. The overlap between the two worlds of sailing and Silicon Valley seemed obvious enough for this space to deserve its own outlet. That's why Sailicon Valley was launched. This project was launched by a NorCal kid who discovered that many sailors are just as adventurous in their "day jobs" as they are on the water. This is true beyond the Bay Area too: sailors and entrepreneurs alike usually have a story or two that's worth hearing. And so, the goal for Sailicon Valley is to share with you the best ideas and most interesting stories of the people "behind the helm." You may notice that the topics we cover might wander, meander, zigzag, just like any memorable sailing adventure. So too do we expect to change course from time to time and chart new territory. The idea for Sailicon Valley may have started in the SF Bay Area, but we'll look beyond the Bay and across the oceans to find the people and stories that vivify the spirit of sailing and the idea of Silicon Valley. Likewise, Silicon Valley and San Francisco are places that are in flux and transient,filled with people from somewhere else, who are comfortable with change and eager to create. The name "Silicon Valley" has become a metonym for any center of innovation, even outside of the Bay Area. And sailing, of course, is untethered and global. Sailing, like Silicon Valley, is a state of mind, unbound by geography, only limited by infinite possibility. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/IMG_6712--1--6.JPG) (C) Sailicon Valley ### Sponsorship & Advertising URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T17:26:01.000Z Reach an audience of sailors, entrepreneurs, leaders, investors, and thinkers. Please start by reviewing our [promise to readers](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/promise/) at the link here. We're transparent with our readers and all ads and sponsored posts will be clearly marked as such. You may sponsor a newsletter issue (email), a post on the website (or both), sponsor an interview or company spotlight, sponsor an event, or partner with us on a social media campaign. New stories are continuously posted to our website, and newsletters will be emailed to our subscribers twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Ready to be a sponsor? Say hello and drop a note via email to: hello@sailiconvalley.com. Please include your daytime phone number, location and time zone, and your preferred hours of contact. Please state clearly what service or product you'd like to promote. *Please note that we'll reserve the right to decline any and all ad or sponsor offers for any reason or no particular reason.* We will work with you to ensure both parties are satisfied with the content of an ad, but we reserve the right to decline particular text or images. We screen all potential sponsors and advertisers for reputation and relevance to our audience. Thanks for your interest. *\-- Last updated August 2026.* ## Posts ### The Motivator: 10 questions for Catherine Breed, the only person to swim the 900-mile coastline of California. URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/the-motivator-10-questions-for-catherine-breed-the-only-person-to-swim-the-900-mile-coastline-of-california/ Last updated: 2026-09-25T12:47:38.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-24-7.59.52-PM.png) Catherine Breed's live tracker as of September 25, 2026\. Image courtesy of Swim California. Catherine Breed is currently swimming the entire length of the California coast, about 900 miles from Oregon to Mexico. She started this journey in July, and as of today, September 25th, Catherine is near Santa Barbara and has already swum 659 miles. This Bay Area-based swimmer honed her skills at [Aquatic Park](https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/index.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com), San Francisco. [Bonnie Tsui](https://www.bonnietsui.com/why-we-swim?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [Judy Irving](https://www.pelicanmedia.org/19-arrests-no-convictions?ref=sailiconvalley.com) spotlighted this place and its subculture of misfits and mavericks, who motivate one another with sayings like, “only the bold swim in the cold.” For generations, Aquatic Park has served as both a playground for water sprites swimming leisurely laps around the Cove and also a training ground for serious athletes preparing for something bigger. Swimming from Alcatraz or across the span of the Golden Gate Bridge is merely a small step for these swimmers who have their foggy goggles focused on the [English Channel](https://cspf.co.uk/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) or [Oceans Seven](https://ultraswimming.org/database/challenges/oceans-seven?ref=sailiconvalley.com). In that context of bravado and brash optimism, maybe the impossible doesn’t seem so out of reach, after all. When you see Catherine swim, with each stroke slicing through the water, you’re seeing the living ideal of grit, determination, and human willpower. No excuses, just action. And maybe that’s the real magic of Catherine Breed, because by raising the bar so high, she embodies a new dimension of motivation. Catherine has already made history simply by being the only person to ever have attempted anything like this. No one else has dared to even try it, let alone come this far. When she completes this milestone, she will have earned the rarest feat in sports. Because while climbing Everest or winning the SuperBowl are certainly remarkable achievements, no one person can say they’re the only ones to have accomplished those feats. So even if Catherine doesn't make the front of a Wheaties cereal box or have a shoe named after her (if those are supposed to be the perks reserved for our best athletes), what Catherine will always have is an undisputed place in sports history, an unforgettable moment for collective memory. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/dji_swim_dark-water.jpg) Catherine Breed photo from Swim California. *Many thanks to Catherine Breed and her team for taking the time during this historic swim to answer the following ten questions.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/Facetune_26-06-2026-09-30-19--2-.jpg) Catherine Breed at Aquatic Park. Photo from Swim California. --- **\[SV\] *Please share your earliest memory of swimming in the open water of San Francisco Bay. Please share what led you to Aquatic Park, and describe the feeling or sensation. Were you "hooked" immediately or did it take some getting used to?*** **\[CB\]** "In 2016 I jumped off Muni Pier into Aquatic Park and the next few weeks joined the Dolphin Club. My first swim was post ACL surgery and I swam with the current from the Bay Bridge to Aquatic Park. I was immediately hooked, it was one of the most unique and special ways I had ever experienced the SF Bay." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/2025_Aug_25_Swim_3970.jpg) Catherine Breed photo from Swim California. **\[SV\] *Please share any words of support or inspiration that a friend or family member shared with you that may have encouraged you to turn the vision of this swim into a reality.*** **\[CB\]** "It was so many people that instead of saying this is crazy or impossible said I want to help, I am on your team. So many have offered their time, advice, talents to make this a reality." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/2025_Aug_25_Swim_3120.jpg) Catherine Breed photo from Swim California. **\[SV\] *You already made history simply by endeavoring to accomplish what no one else has. Please describe that experience. What has the media attention been like?*** **\[CB\]** "The media has been overwhelmingly positive. I think in our current political climate everyone needs something positive to rally behind and women's sports has been that, or at least in my social media algorithm. It is an honor to be one of the women doing something big this year and it is a privilege to inspire other women and girls to go after big goals. Most of the negativity online is about my, according to the internet experts, “desire to be shark food.” I find that those comments come from people who do not spend any time in the ocean. The ocean is amazing and while we have seen only 4-5 sharks from a far distance in over 650 miles we have seen HUNDREDS of whales and dolphins and sea birds and sea lions." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/a23w0598.jpg) Catherine Breed photo from Swim California. **\[SV\] *How do you stay balanced and focused on your goal when there can be so many distractions?*** **\[CB\]** "LOL I don’t. I just try to enjoy the few hours of quiet I get while swimming and to be REALLY excited when we have a beautiful day on the coast. Having a great team has helped with the distractions, they have done an incredible job fielding everything and helping me tell the story of this swim and our coastline." **\[SV\] *What are you thinking about when you swim?*** **\[CB\]** "Usually when I get to eat next (every 30 min), what my pace is, and I am constantly adjusting my stroke to the ocean conditions in order to protect my shoulders and joints. Today I got to swim with a dozen or more bottlenose dolphins and I thought how lucky I am that I GET to do this." **\[SV\] *During this swim, what's a typical day like for you?*** **\[CB\]** "Crew wakes up 6am and starts the boat. I wake up but stay in bed and check the current and wind forecasts. We motor to the GPS start point 1-2 hours. I get ready an hour before by eating what I can, stretching, [Theragun](https://www.therabody.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). 30 minutes before I swim we do a medical check and a morning briefing on the plan and conditions. I swim 2-5 hours depending on the weather window and how far we have to motor after the swim. That is usually 6-12 miles. Post swim I rinse off with a bucket of warm water, change into warm clothes and eat what the crew has prepared. Up north when the water was 46-53 \[degrees\] Fahrenheit \[7.7 - 11.6 degrees Celcius\] I would stay in my berth for hours shivering. Now I sit on deck and enjoy the sun. After an hour we all have lunch during the transit back to our shelter for the night. That can be anywhere from 1-6 hours. We pick up, dock or anchor, have dinner and bed by 8 for the crew. I typically watch a show, read, or post on social, then do my nightly recovery and go to bed around 930/10." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/2025_Aug_25_Swim_1345--1-.jpg) Night swim prep (2025). Photo from Swim California. **\[SV\] *Are you swimming in the dark at night? What’s that like?*** **\[CB\]** "I am not because it has not been in our safety protocol to do so. In my past marathon swims I have and it is scary at first but once you settle into the night it becomes cathartic. The bioluminescence are amazing at night. It's an amazing experience." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/2025_Aug_25_Swim_1639.jpg) Night swimming isn't for everyone (2025). Photo from Swim California. **\[SV\] *Any dramatic moments or close-calls? (Wildlife encounters? Lost items? Boat encounters? Severe weather?).*** **\[CB\]** "We are able to forecast weather and the team has done an incredible job with that. On the north coast we did have a day where the winds picked up much earlier than expected and hit 40 knots \[46 miles per hour or 74 kilometers per hour\], I got out of the water and we were able to tuck in along the Lost Coast. The only wildlife encounters I have had have been with marine mammals that are curious about what I am and what I am doing. The crew is made up of expert sailors who are yacht masters. Our captain has over 100,000 NM \[nautical miles\] under her belt, with that amount of experience and professionalism I do not expect any close calls. If the crew does see a fin even from very far away I get out, we had that happen a couple times north of Trinidad but the shark was a about 3-4ft salmon shark so we felt comfortable to continue the swim." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2025-11-17-at-9.20.57---PM.jpg) "Comfortable with the sea life" from a young age. Photo from Swim California. **\[SV\] *What would you say about keeping San Francisco Bay open and accessible for recreational use, whether that be for swimming, sailing, rowing, etc.?*** **\[CB\]** "The SF Bay and for that matter all the ocean is for EVERYONE. It is imperative that not only does it stay accessible for recreational use but that it also is a welcoming space for everyone. Creating advocates for a space starts when someone falls in love with how they can experience that space. That is part of the reason I founded [Sea Dreamers](https://www.seadreamers.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)— to get more women and girls into the ocean via sailing, surfing, swimming, marine research—you name it. That is also why I am proud to say [Swim California](https://www.swimcalifornia.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) is a female led expedition, to show other young female sailors strong role models." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/sun-boat.jpg) Photo from Instagram @catherine.breed **\[SV\] *Are there certain technologies or innovations that you've found particularly useful or have thought about during your swim?*** **\[CB\]** "I have been using mainly [Predict Wind](https://www.predictwind.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [Windy](https://www.windy.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) we prefer the HRR and ECMWF models. The Tidal, Mercator and RTOFS current models are used to see what directions the ocean currents are going and we double check that with [NULLSCHOOL](https://earth.nullschool.net/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Most technology is not showing what we are experiencing, it has been a constant puzzle that we are having to figure out in real time. Wind of course has been fairly accurate on the models." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/09/igexport-DbjPuKrkjuA-4.jpg) Photo from Instagram @catherine.breed --- ## **Learn more about Catherine Breed**: Swim California: [https://www.swimcalifornia.com/](https://www.swimcalifornia.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Sea Dreamers – Connecting Women to the Ocean: [https://www.seadreamers.org/](https://www.seadreamers.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Follow Catherine Breed’s historic swim on the **live tracker** linked here: [https://zerosixzero.com/catherinebreed/swim-california](https://zerosixzero.com/catherinebreed/swim-california?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Instagram @catherine.breed [https://www.instagram.com/catherine.breed](https://www.instagram.com/catherine.breed?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/jeanneau-sails-into-san-francisco-bay-with-a-local-option-to-buy-new/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Jeanneau sails into San Francisco Bay with a local option to buy new URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/jeanneau-sails-into-san-francisco-bay-with-a-local-option-to-buy-new/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T04:54:53.000Z San Francisco Bay sailors in the market for a new Jeanneau sailboat will no longer have to schlep to Annapolis to buy one, with the August 25 announcement of a new local dealer in the East Bay. [Marine Servicecenter](https://marinesc.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), which already maintains several locations along the West Coast from San Diego to Seattle, is now the [exclusive](https://www.jeanneau.com/en-us/articles/3002-marine-servicenter-named-jeanneaus-exclusive-northern-california-sailboat-dealer?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Northern California dealer for Jeanneau. The dealer partnered locally with the nonprofit sailing school and club [Group Nautique](https://groupnautique.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) at Brickyard Cove, Richmond, to give Bay Area sailors a venue to check out and hop aboard [new](https://www.jeanneau.com/en-us/boats/sailboat/4-jeanneau-yachts?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Jeanneau models. “Expanding our distribution partnership with Jeanneau was a smart decision for us,” said Dan Krier, Vice President of Marine Servicenter, in a statement. “Jeanneau builds innovative, high quality sailboats that are in high demand, and we are looking forward to bringing the same sales and service standards our customers have come to expect to Northern California.” Jeanneau and its sister brand Beneteau are well-known for their midsized monohulls and are a common sight on SF Bay. Cruisers and racers alike generally have positive perspectives on Jeanneaus. Volvo Ocean Race sailor [Hannah Diamond](https://www.yachtingworld.com/fastnet-race/women-2019-rolex-fastnet-race-122350?ref=sailiconvalley.com) said of her Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300, “Everything is led back to the cockpit nicely. It has water ballast, which makes a massive difference with only two of you on board. There are lots of different sail configurations and it is very manageable with just two people.” But Jeanneaus sometimes receive mixed reviews from the salty, ocean-bound set who look for something more substantial in sailboats that can take a slam from a wave. And [Tim Labute](https://ladyksailing.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of Lady K Sailing [questions the availability](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4B0b47nYSo&ref=sailiconvalley.com) of some Jeanneau replacement parts, like porthole windows. The Jeanneau parent company, [Groupe Beneteau](https://www.beneteau-group.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), is based in France, but many of its boats were American-made for decades, with factories in Marion, South Carolina and Cadillac, Michigan. [August](https://www.mlive.com/news/2026/06/boat-manufacturer-to-shut-down-cadillac-plant-that-makes-four-winns-other-brands.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) marked the [closing](https://press.beneteau-group.com/news/in-a-market-affected-by-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east-groupe-beneteau-is-undertaking-a-targeted-restructuring-of-its-operations-in-the-united-states-a8ea6-49529.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of its last American factory after some difficult [reorganizing](https://www.yachtingnews.com/beneteau-group-usa/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Beneteau’s boatbuilding is expected to be consolidated at plants in France and [Poland](https://boatingmag.com/boats/polands-boating-industry-riding-a-wave/?srsltid=AfmBOooXif9KcTlC2xx46ccvN39u-w13CryxDyE%5FlW8O9llRz3xQ6xkk&ref=sailiconvalley.com). Jeanneau remains popular and is among the [top three](https://www.davidwaltersyachts.com/blog/united-states-sailboat-market-report-trends-and-insights-aug-2025?ref=sailiconvalley.com) sailboat brands by sales in the US. If you’re gaga for Jeanneau, the brand is exhibiting at three upcoming boat shows in Seattle ([September 17-20](https://marinesc.com/event/seattle-fall-boats-afloat-show/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)), Sausalito ([September 25-27](https://marinesc.com/event/sausalito-boat-show/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)), and [Annapolis](https://www.jeanneau.com/en-us/events/2998-annapolis-sailboat-show-annapolis-md-usa?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (October 15-18). If you’re local to the Bay Area, you can check out the new dealer location at Brickyard Cove, Richmond, which has quick access to the Slot and views of San Francisco. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2947--1-.jpg) Brickyard Cove sunset, soon to be viewed from more Jeanneaus at the dock. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/we-asked-peter-verbica-what-puts-the-wind-in-silicon-valleys-sails/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Sailing, rowing, and boatbuilding aren’t typical afterschool programs. Rocking the Boat may change that. URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/sailing-rowing-and-boatbuilding-arent-typical-afterschool-programs-rocking-the-boat-may-change-that/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T03:45:21.000Z Kids who grow up in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco live near the water, about as close as you can get without living on a houseboat. But getting on the water has been out of reach for many, historically, on this site of a former Navy shipyard. And while boating struggles with perceptions of elitism and limited access, one nonprofit is shaking up the status quo and making boating accessible to teens. Since 2024, “[Rocking the Boat](https://rockingtheboat.org/sf?ref=sailiconvalley.com)” has been teaching Bay Area high schoolers historic boat building practices and the sport of rowing, and they next plan to launch into sailing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/5-ship.png) Freighters pass in the distance while students learn to row. Photo credit Rocking the Boat. “We make sure the program is easy to access. It’s free of charge,” said Chris Childers, Executive Director of San Francisco’s Rocking the Boat. “We know many of our participants don't have swimming ability and may even have traumatic experiences around the water, so we provide swimming lessons for free to all participants in the summer.” Like boating, swimming has also come to be recognized as prohibitive, because many don’t grow up with access to a pool. In recent years, more nonprofits and activists have worked to make [swimming more accessible](https://vimeo.com/918450155?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and Rocking the Boat teaches participants a range of services and skills, including swimming, adding to teens’ confidence on the water. “We know full bellies promote learning, so we provide a warm meal at every program offering,” added Childers, a familiar figure on San Francisco Bay who has taught hundreds of kids to sail. “This makes learning to do boating easier. We provide Family nights to get moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas, brothers and sisters on board. We also realize high school kids are dealing with a lot, so we partner with a Social Work clinic to provide behavioral health and social work support to students at every program offering.” A team of teens spent the past year building a 16-foot boat from scratch during afterschool work sessions at Rocking the Boat’s waterfront workshop. The handmade wooden rowboat is a replica of the historic Whitehall, “*Alderbrook*.” Students christened, launched, and rowed the boat for the first time on August 8, at India Basin Waterfront Park in San Francisco. [Launch Day](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-day-on-the-bay-tickets-1992938152663?aff=oddtdtcreator&ref=sailiconvalley.com) was attended by 16 student boat builders and their families, local residents, officials from the City, and even San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. The new boat will be housed at India Basin Waterfront Park as a resource for the community, with public rows every other Saturday. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/2-Mayor-2.png) Mayor Daniel Lurie attends the Boat launch, August 2026\. Photo credit Rocking the Boat. “It’s not your average after school program, and it’s not as easy as it might look. You need space, you need equipment, you need materials, you need a boat builder,” said Kim Howard, Development Manager for Rocking the Boat San Francisco. Howard says the nonprofit is a tribute to [the history of boat building at Bayview-Hunters Point](https://www.sfheritage.org/research/hunterspoint/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and serves the community through a combination of youth programs and job readiness skills. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/3-navy.png) Learning to row near former Naval shipyards. Photo credit Rocking the Boat. “For many kids, the idea of being on and around the water is anxiety inducing, and so the reactions come in stages: timid participation at first, then curiosity and interest, and then eagerness,” said Chris Childers. “We have more than a few students who have been incredibly nervous about getting on a tippy rowboat, and it has taken weeks or months to get them to warm up. Much of the warming up is the result of repeated exposure, leaning into safety and positive risk-taking, all known benefits from playing in boats.” This is the second location for a project originally founded in 1996 in the Bronx, New York. Rocking the Boat next plans to launch a sailing program locally, after a [sailing program](https://rockingtheboat.org/youth-development/sailing?ref=sailiconvalley.com) was already proven successful at their sister location. Expect to see the Rocking the Boat teens sailing soon on San Francisco Bay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/4-rowing.png) India Basin provides a training course free from the kind of shipping traffic found elsewhere on SF Bay. Photo credit Rocking the Boat. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/we-asked-peter-verbica-what-puts-the-wind-in-silicon-valleys-sails/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### 5 ways to fund your ocean startup idea URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/5-ways-to-fund-your-ocean-startup-idea-2-have-deadlines-next-week/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T18:52:34.000Z Here are five ways to fund your next ocean startup idea. This list is for you especially if you’re interested in [aquaculture](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/aquaculture-funding-opportunities-and-grants?ref=sailiconvalley.com) or [haute couture](https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/yachts-owned-luxury-fashion-designers-chanel-gucci-armani?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [submersibles](https://www.2oceansvibe.com/technology/startup-develops-permanent-underwater-base-for-ocean-researchers-watch/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) or [wearables](https://www.yachtingworld.com/yachts-and-gear/best-garmin-watch-148449?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [AI](https://www.seadeep.io/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) or [WiFi](https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gear/the-connected-yacht-best-marine-internet-solutions-for-2026-104594?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [crews in boat shoes](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/crocs-started-at-a-boat-show/) or [boats with no crews](https://www.saildrone.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). What counts as an ocean startup? The answer changes depending on which sailor you ask, but it’s generally agreed upon that this includes businesses and technologies that touch the water, clean the water, move people around on or in the water, or just *“make a splash.”* ## ****Opalene Climate Challenge** The Opalene Climate Challenge by VertueLab offers a funding opportunity for climate tech and clean tech startups in the Pacific Northwest (the Challenge **deadline is August 24**). VertueLab claims to have invested over $9.5 million in startups with over $600 million in follow-on funding. Examples of VentureLab-backed winners include [Cascadia Seaweed](https://www.cascadiaseaweed.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (liquid kelp extracts and sustainable aquaculture) and [Aquagga](https://www.aquagga.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (clean water battling PFAS contaminants). Details: [https://www.vertuelab.org/opalene-climate-challenge](https://www.vertuelab.org/opalene-climate-challenge?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Application: [https://airtable.com/appZR2hYP4jwDGdS1/pagCOjrpBsJwpydoV/form](https://airtable.com/appZR2hYP4jwDGdS1/pagCOjrpBsJwpydoV/form?ref=sailiconvalley.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/pexels-kindelmedia-8849617.jpg) Can kelp be an alternative to plastic? Cascadia Seaweed thinks so. Image by Kindel Media. ## ****VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator** The [VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator](https://venturewell.org/ocean-enterprise-accelerator/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), backed by the US federal government through NOAA. This program is for blue economy innovators working in marine and coastal sectors, coastal management, marine carbon, water quality, aquaculture, shipping, ports, and even tourism. They offer different “stages” for entrepreneurs in different levels of development, starting with “Stage 0” for the curious and those who are new to the world of commercialization and venture development, and includes coaching and support. “Stage 1” offers awards of $15,000, and “Stage 3” offers awards of up to $125,000\. Examples of Accelerator participants include [OctaPulse](https://www.tryoctapulse.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (robotics and AI for aquaculture and fish hatcheries), [CargoCheck](https://www.cargocheck.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (cargo tracking and chemical logistics software), and [Blue Sea Farms](https://blueinnovationlabs.com/blue-sea-farms-1?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (aquaculture and restoration). Applications now open for the Fall 2026 VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator. The deadline for the next “Stage 0” program is **August 25**, with additional dates for other programs. Details: [https://venturewell.org/ocean-enterprise-accelerator/](https://venturewell.org/ocean-enterprise-accelerator/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Application: [https://venturewell.org/ocean-enterprise-accelerator-apply/](https://venturewell.org/ocean-enterprise-accelerator-apply/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Beyond the sea, the larger [VentureWell](https://venturewell.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) organization has funded over $40 million in grants with over $9.8 billion in follow-on funding. There are various programs under the VentureWell umbrella with applications in even healthcare and transportation, and even programs for *students*, so poke around the website to find the match that’s right for you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/pexels-chi-trung-le-2147845722-33655747.jpg) Harnessing wind energy with coastal windfarms. Image by Chí Trung Lê ## ****1000 Ocean Startups** 1000 Ocean Startups is a big booster for ocean tech startups. It’s really more of a *coalition* of accelerators and funds that helps connect capital with projects focused on restoring ocean health, with backing by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. They’re working to fund 1,000 startups by 2030, and so far, they’ve helped more than 900 startups with a combined valuation of at least $12 billion. A few examples of their handpicked winners include [SolarDuck](https://solarduck.tech/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (offshore floating solar), [CalWave](https://calwave.energy/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (ocean wave energy), and [Sway](https://swaythefuture.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (compostable seaweed packages to replace plastic). You might say it’s like the “*Y Combinator for the Blue Economy*.” They search for startups in a variety of fields, including ocean restoration, climate solutions, ocean intelligence, low-carbon transportation, sustainable ocean energy, and sustainable aquaculture. Since 1000 Ocean Startups doesn’t accept pitches, the best way to connect is through their **Radar** page, which provides regular updates on funding opportunities, meet-ups, and open-calls. Details: [https://www.1000oceanstartups.org](https://www.1000oceanstartups.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Radar: [https://www.1000oceanstartups.org/radar](https://www.1000oceanstartups.org/radar?ref=sailiconvalley.com) 1000 Ocean Startups organizes meetups connecting founders with funders. ## ****StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator** The [StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator](https://startblue.ucsd.edu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (San Diego) is unique in that it requires no cost and no equity to participate. The program helps entrepreneurs with fundraising, networking, mentorship, and more. Two startups supported by StartBlue include [Flood Dynamics](https://flooddynamics.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (tools to mitigate flood impacts) and [Nereus Systems](https://www.nereus.systems/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (autonomous swarming for underwater surveys). The program is affiliated with NOAA and the [Scripps Institution of Oceanography](https://scripps.ucsd.edu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). StartBlue applications are closed for 2026, but the application window will re-open in spring 2027\. Check the StartBlue website directly for program details and an application. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/pexels-matt-botha-3167589-4777687.jpg) San Diego has plenty of scuba spots to take a break from your startup. Image by Matt Botha. ## ****Ocean One Ventures** [Ocean One Ventures](https://www.ocean1.vc/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (Europe) specializing in investing in the Blue Economy and the leisure industry, and their portfolio includes startups [Cat Sale](https://www.cat-sale.de/en/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (Catamaran marketplace and sales) and [SEARIUS](https://www.searius.net/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (Maritime SaaS). Start planning now for the next [**Summer Fundraising Bootcamp**](https://summer-bootcamp.eu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [newly launched](https://marineindustrynews.co.uk/yachting-ventures-ocean-one-ventures-launch-marine-startup-bootcamp/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) by Ocean One Ventures, culminating with a Demo Day in at the Genoa Boat Show in Italy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/genoa.jpeg) Demo Day at the Genoa Boat Show. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/we-asked-peter-verbica-what-puts-the-wind-in-silicon-valleys-sails/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. \* Correction added 8.24.26: The StartBlue application window is closed for 2026 and re-opens spring 2027\. Please check the StartBlue website directly for details. ### We asked Peter Verbica: What puts the wind in Silicon Valley's sails? URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/we-asked-peter-verbica-what-puts-the-wind-in-silicon-valleys-sails/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T12:25:57.000Z Silicon Valley has many copycats and pretenders in places around the world that want a shot at the title, claiming that their own special recipe of talent, capital, and pluck is poised to take the crown. And while we’d love to see opportunity spread evenly around the globe, the plain fact is that [Silicon Valley](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/technology/venture-capital-silicon-valley-investors.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) is simply the dominant global epicenter for startups, unicorns, and venture capital. There’s just no comparison. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/County-Map-SF-Bay.png) The nine counties of the SF Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Source: Bay Area Council. Consider this: In our “[spiky world](https://creativeclass.com/whos-your-city/maps/?ref=sailiconvalley.com#Economic%5FActivity%5Fin%5Fa%5FSpiky%5FWorld)” of global talent and capital, Silicon Valley in particular and the SF Bay Area in general stick out like an especially “spiky” sore thumb. The nine counties of the Bay Area rank as the [17th largest economy](https://www.bayareacouncil.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in the world. [5 of the top 7](https://www.reuters.com/graphics/MAG7-AUTOMATED/MARKET-CAP-RANKING-TABLE-LIVE/zgvoamklyvd/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) companies by market cap on the S&P 500 today are headquartered in Silicon Valley, with a combined value of nearly $18 trillion (yes, *trillion*). And that’s not counting those in nearby San Francisco which aren’t publicly listed (Anthropic and Open AI). A [side-by-side comparison](https://startupgenome.com/ecosystems?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of how global “startup ecosystems” stack up to Silicon Valley in terms of value and funding leaves no room for doubt. Even London, the global center for finance with a head start of a *millennium* to accumulate capital, is still dwarfed by the level of dedicated VC funding and startup success percolating in Silicon Valley. And there’s an obvious reason why so many global universities vie for a [satellite](https://sf.wharton.upenn.edu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) [campus](https://sv.cmu.edu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in [San Francisco](https://academicvillagesf.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) or [Silicon Valley](https://bayarea.northeastern.edu/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), because these schools all recognize the region’s success, and they want to be able to market themselves as a platform for such success. In so many words, Silicon Valley and the SF Bay Area are leading, while everyone else is playing catch-up. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-43b0cfac-2087-477b-bfcd-c5f84f485035.png) Side-by-side comparison of startup ecosystems, interactive dashboard at [Startup Genome](https://startupgenome.com/ecosystems?ref=sailiconvalley.com). But Silicon Valley’s success was never a foregone conclusion. 60 years ago, the San Francisco Bay Area didn’t look so different from other American industrial clusters. The Bay Area had [heavy industry](https://www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [manufacturing](https://www.foundsf.org/Industry%5FBuilds%5FOut%5Fthe%5FCity:%5FThe%5FSuburbanization%5Fof%5FManufacturing%5Fin%5FSan%5FFrancisco,%5F1850-1940?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [steelworks](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/MEN-OF-STEEL-For-five-generations-a-Pittsburg-2943743.php?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [shipbuilding](https://www.sfheritage.org/research/hunterspoint/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and several [military bases](https://www.foundsf.org/Bay%5FArea%5FMilitary%5FBases?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Changes are seen in land use too; a recent article about Santa Clara Valley notes that, "[At midcentury, an estimated 109,000 acres were orchards; fewer than 4,000 acres remain](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/business/andys-orchard-silicon-valley.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com)." Before it was called Silicon Valley, this was an agricultural hub better known by its formal name, Santa Clara Valley, or to many, “the Valley of Heart's Delight," a place better known for *apples* than *Apple*. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/vintage.jpg) "Springtime in Santa Clara Valley." Image source History San José. With the onset of industrial decline and outsourcing in the late 20th century, the Bay Area was just as vulnerable to the shifting sands of the economy as any other place. But while cities in the Northeast and Midwest succumbed to the “[Rust Belt](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rust-Belt?ref=sailiconvalley.com)” label – that pejorative that still stings today – something different was happening in the Bay Area. The [rebranded](https://computerhistory.org/blog/who-named-silicon-valley/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) “Silicon Valley” was able to weather the storm and succeed, the story goes, because the region shifted gears, retooled, and refocused on [emerging industries](https://www.businessinsider.com/what-silicon-valley-looked-like-in-1991-2014-10?ref=sailiconvalley.com). How exactly that happened is a question leaders in other regions have been asking for half a century, hoping to make some of that same Silicon Valley magic work in their own hometowns. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/11492000.jpg) Silicon Valley in 1982\. Source: David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford University Libraries. So to try to find out, “***what puts the wind in Silicon Valley's sails***,” we asked Peter Verbica. Here’s why we knew he’d be the right guy to ask. Peter Verbica works in Silicon Valley as a veteran startup investor and is a managing director at [Silicon Private Wealth](https://www.siliconprivatewealth.com/our-team?ref=sailiconvalley.com), he’s a [candidate for Congress](https://ballotpedia.org/Peter%5FVerbica?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in California's 19th district (which includes parts of Silicon Valley), a contributing writer at [Opportunity Now Silicon Valley](https://www.opportunitynowsv.org/about?ref=sailiconvalley.com), a sailor, [speaker](https://www.prlog.org/13115057-verb-presents-features-vanguard-personalized-indexing-utilizing-advanced-tax-loss-harvesting-technology.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and [poet](https://www.solumpress.com/contributors-peter-coe-verbica?ref=sailiconvalley.com). This fifth-generation Californian is even related to the namesake for [Henry Coe State Park](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page%5Fid=561&ref=sailiconvalley.com), a former family ranch that became an 87,000-acre idyllic public [preserve](https://morganhilltimes.com/daughter-preserved-fathers-memory-with-henry-coe-park/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in the South Bay offering a rare glimpse at *what Silicon Valley looked like before the silicon*. Here’s what he had to share. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/Verb-_-500x-1.png) Source: Silicon Private Wealth, Peter Verbica. Used with permission. **\[SV\] Why is Silicon Valley a nexus for innovation and capital? What makes the region a global competitor ?** \[Verbica\] Wildly successful entrepreneurs can be at times reticent to extend specific praise to anyone beyond themselves. But, in addition to hard work and hutzpah, there can be additional, important forces at play. To wit in Silicon Valley: an often-underemphasized contributor to our region’s initial momentum is the US government and its early underwriting of foundational technologies: i.e., the Internet, micro-processing, analog-to-digital transformation, and much more. Those able to commercialize and adapt applications have an opportunity to enjoy big wins. Capital of course is another driver; larger, NYC underwriters had a historical lock on the major deals (i.e., utilities and Fortune 100 companies); so, innovative boutique investment banks, such as [Robertson Stephens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson%5FStephens?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [Hambrecht & Quist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hambrecht%5F%26%5FQuist?ref=sailiconvalley.com) solicited smaller VC business and went after riskier, revenue light/no revenue IPO prospects, inventing new metrics such as “stickiness” and “eyeballs” as proxies for dividends. Apple, Genentech, Adobe, Amazon, and many others, can tip their hats to the risk-tolerant financiers. **\[SV\] “Economic development” is a hot topic, and other regions try to emulate the success of Silicon Valley. What can other regions do to foster and support innovation?** \[Verbica\] One thing that’s been a happy coincidence for Silicon Valley is the transition from hardware-intensive industries to software-centric industries; some of this has followed the massive, multi-decade outsourcing of the US industrial base; and also: software and AI prove harder to tax for a revenue starved, high tax state such as California; Sacramento does get the windfall once equity stakeholders liquidate (its revenues often mimicking the IPO calendar), but the underlying businesses have been able to pursue high profit, difficult to tax business models which utilize code, intellectual property, cloud computing and remotely delivered services; legislators have gone after this Golden Goose: reportedly, the definition of taxable personal property will include certain digital products on Jan. 1, 2027, giving tech-centric businesses another incentive to escape the State. **\[SV\]** [**Steve Case**](https://www.stevecase.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **of AOL went on a nationwide bus tour in 2014 to promote “**[**Rise of the Rest**](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venture-capitalist-steve-case-spreading-funding-to-middle-america-with-rise-of-the-rest-60-minutes/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)**,” to invest in startups** [**outside**](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/rise-of-the-rest-the-bay-area-still-dominates-venture-capital/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley. What works or doesn’t work with such efforts? Because while Silicon Valley is not the be-all end-all for innovation, it remains the dominant global capital for startups. Why is that?** \[Verbica\] In contrast to Silicon Valley, the Washington–Northern Virginia–Maryland technology and defense corridor (commonly known as the National Capital Region) remains heavily dependent on systems integrators and federal spending. Other attempts to recreate Silicon Valley have struggled to replicate its unusual willingness to risk early-stage capital—and then quickly cut off oxygen to ventures that fail to demonstrate promise. The National Capital Region, by contrast, thrives largely on the legacy, relationships and annuity-like revenues associated with government contracting. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/VC-LQ-Map.jpg) Brookings Institution map of early-stage venture capital in 2014, the same year Steve Case kicked off the "Rise of the Rest" bus tour. **\[SV\] As a lifelong Californian, as someone who works in Silicon Valley, and as a political candidate, what do you think the region does right for the startup economy, and what can be changed or improved?** \[Verbica\] In California, well-intentioned, but horrifically misguided policies are incentivizing both successful entrepreneurs and companies to migrate to other lower tax, more business-friendly states. Stanford continues to thrive, but for the first time, private grants may exceed federal funding due to the political environment. Silicon Valley should take a closer look at the drivers which are contributing to our exodus of talent; California’s biggest export continues to be humans: it ranks number one. (A dubious honor in contrast to N. Carolina and S. Carolina which are welcoming new immigrants to their states. The income-to-housing ratio in the Bay Area continues to deteriorate despite Soviet-style housing projects with no setbacks. Meanwhile, public employee unions’ contributions to state and municipal political candidates arguably lead to compromised bargaining and misaligned allegiances; many pension and OPEB packages in our state have resulted in untenable unfunded liabilities; rather than solve this crisis through fiscal prudence, many of these entities—including Oakland, Richmond, Sonoma County, and San Jose—have converted pension liabilities into bonded debt through pension obligation bonds, but the gum still sticks to their shoes until the debt is paid off. These are efforts to “kick the can down the road,” while our state and many of our municipalities continue to place tax increases and additional bond borrowing before voters. Even [FDR said this](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/letter-the-resolution-federation-federal-employees-against-strikes-federal-service?ref=sailiconvalley.com) about public sector unions, “meticulous attention should be paid to the special relationships and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the Government. ...All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. ...militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees.” **\[SV\] As someone who seems to embrace both technology and art: How do we balance the development of personal skills and talent (poetry, art, writing) while also embracing new AI technologies that seemingly supplant human skill and talent?** \[Verbica\] Singapore looked at what made Silicon Valley unique and reportedly adapted its educational approach to place greater emphasis on the arts, extracurricular activities, and interdisciplinary learning as means of encouraging independent and creative thought. (Ironically, these are some of the very programs that wind up on the chopping block in California schools.) Some argue that we are now paying the price for abandoning much of the traditional Western Civilization curriculum at the high school and collegiate levels. Meritocracy, civic responsibility, critical thinking, individual liberty, and innovation are among the valuable inheritances of this historical tradition; abandoning its study risks weakening the values that built the modern Western world –leaving a vacuum that older, more authoritarian or theocratic systems of thought (medieval at their worst) may be all too willing to fill. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/art.jpg) Art and culture converge in Silicon Valley. Source: Living Digital Space exhibit at the Pace Gallery, Menlo Park. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/the-future-is-waterfront-startups-and-maybe-even-cheap-rent-a-look-at-the-sf-port-blue-economy-initiative/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Chores on Shores: These waterfront laundromats, pump-outs, and discount stores come with surprisingly stunning views while you do your errands. URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/chores-on-shores-these-waterfront-laundromats-pump-outs-and-discount-stores-come-with-surprisingly-stunning-views-while-you-do-your-errands/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:10:32.000Z Here are a few fan favorites for the best places in and around the Bay to do your “chores on shores.” Washing your dirty clothes comes with breathtaking views at one Bay Area marina. While boatyard amenities are usually an afterthought, tucked away into a closet somewhere, the laundry room at the [Brickyard Marina](https://brickyardmarina.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in Richmond overlooks boats bobbing on the Bay, complete with stunning sunsets when you fold your foulies. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/brickyard.png) Is this the world's most beautiful laundry room? View from Brickyard. ****©** Sailicon Valley Pumping out the head (emptying the toilet tank) is a necessary burden for boaters, but in Sausalito, at least this unpleasant chore comes with pleasant views. From the [Clipper Yacht Harbor](https://clipperyacht.com/fuel-dock/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) pump-up station and fuel dock you can see [wisps of fog hugging the Headlands](https://www.oursausalito.com/fog-in-sausalito.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and more *multimillion dollar views* – really, the pump-out dock sits on Richardson Bay across from [Belvedere](https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/crest-of-belvedere-house-marin-county-1238055479/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5418.JPG) Stop and smell the roses with these views at the Clipper pump-out. ****©** Sailicon Valley Berkeley Marine Center actually welcomes [Do-it-Yourselfers](https://berkeleymarine.com/about?ref=sailiconvalley.com), a rare allowance for boaters who want to do their own boat chores and maintenance without having to pay a professional. Berkeley’s [policy](https://berkeleymarine.com/yard-diy-policies?ref=sailiconvalley.com) allows you to work on your boat, paint, polish, scrape, sweat, sand and varnish all while overlooking the beautiful Bay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-05-131505.png) World famous views for your dockside shores in Berkeley. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is a discount chain known for selling seasonal surpluses, overstocks, and infomercial gadget closeouts that couldn’t sell at retail. Found mostly on the West Coast but pushing into the Northeast, there are more than 500 Grocery Outlet [locations](https://www.groceryoutlet.com/store-locator?ref=sailiconvalley.com) nationwide, but only one store in particular sticks out like a yacht in a dinghy race. The Grocery Outlet in Pacifica is kissed by Northern California’s famous beachy [ice plants](https://centralcoastparks.org/ice-plant-the-iconic-but-destructive-piece-of-california-coastal-landscape/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and it's at a spot surfers love, adjacent to Pacifica State Beach. One [report](https://www.kneedeeptimes.org/resisting-retreat-for-coastal-communities/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) points out that, "the waterfront shopping center was little more than a surf shop, a café, and a dirt lot 20 years ago. But in the past 15 years, it has seen major investments and upgrades, including a supermarket and craft beer taproom—all just a few feet above the current high-tide line." (In fact, the area is so [popular](https://www.rwcpulse.com/uncategorized/2018/08/11/surfing-silicon-valley-tour-the-beaches-that-attract-techies-and-locals-alike/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) among beachgoers and barefoot patrons that the "[upscale](https://locations.tacobell.com/ca/pacifica/5200-coast-highway.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com)" Taco Bell nearby –called the “[World’s Most Beautiful Taco Bell](https://sf.funcheap.com/worlds-most-beautiful-taco-bell-reopening-party-w-djs-free-tacos-pacifica/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)”– is one of the few in the world with a [walk-up window](https://californiathroughmylens.com/taco-bell-pacifica/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [margaritas](https://youtube.com/shorts/--BKR90-aKY?si=k-DKSPDsTlZXxelU&ref=sailiconvalley.com), [DJ](https://posh.vip/e/retrofit-x-taco-bell-cantina-takeover?ref=sailiconvalley.com)s, and dedicated [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/102282351538167/taco-bell-cantina-pacifica/?hl=en&ref=sailiconvalley.com) fan group). The Pacifica Grocery Outlet even gets shoutouts on the Reddit surfing community, with one local [redditor](https://www.reddit.com/r/surfing/comments/sk2cfz/why%5Fdoes%5Flinda%5Fmar%5Fget%5Fso%5Fmuch%5Fhate/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) gushing, “*not enough talk of my lord and savior Grocery Outlet. Honestly don't even like surfing but those sweet deals just make my week.*” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/grocery-out-1.png) The parking lot of the Grocery Outlet in Pacifica leads to some of the world's best surfing. The iconic [Pier 39 Marina](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Pier-39-harbor-master-sea-lions-marina-tourists-14411029.php?ref=sailiconvalley.com) includes a guest lounge where you can sort your socks and wash up at one of the world's most photographed places. The views are unbeatable, the shops offer fresh-caught seafood, and you can even perform your best stand-up to an audience of [sea lions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFuxTlugMVo&ref=sailiconvalley.com) who will clap even for the lamest joke. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2610.jpg) USS Potomac and Alcatraz spotted outside the laundry room at P39\. ****©** Sailicon Valley The Central Bay's marinas have incredible views of your oldies but goodies like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, and many of the views are surprisingly accessible to the public. Next time you have a few errands to run near the Marina, the San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor offers the public [free parking](https://sfrecpark.org/1702/FAQs?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (6:00 AM–10:00 PM), in addition to [free WiFi](https://www.sf.gov/sfwifi?ref=sailiconvalley.com) from the City, ADA restrooms, and even kayak/small boat [launch](https://sfbaywatertrail.org/trailhead/san-francisco-marina/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) by request. The Saint Francis Yacht Club and Golden Gate Yacht Club may be private, but they rent from a public port. So soak it up and knock out your errands with some free parking. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/sfm.jpg) Free parking... **here?* YES. Photo by San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Floating data centers were proposed back when BlackBerry outsold the iPhone. Are they finally making a splash? URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/floating-data-centers-were-proposed-back-when-blackberry-outsold-the-iphone-are-they-finally-making-a-splash/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:10:19.000Z Data centers need lots of water, so it might seem reasonable to build one on a barge and set it afloat on a bay or gulf. That was Google's idea in 2007 when it filed US Patent Number 7,525,207 for a [Water-Based Data Center](https://patents.google.com/patent/US7525207B2/en?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Officially, the plan has just been sitting there collecting dust for nearly two decades, and the idea never moved beyond the blueprint. Fast-forward to 2013 in San Francisco, a time and place that offered visions of the future that are just now being realized today far outside the Bay Area. Select fans were invited to try a prototype for [smartglasses](https://nypost.com/2014/07/14/is-google-glass-cool-or-just-plain-creepy/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) long before we'd see [Mark Zuckerberg](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-trial-mark-zuckerberg-ai-glasses/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) hawk [RayBans](https://www.ispot.tv/ad/fMjs/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-pool-featuring-tinashe?ref=sailiconvalley.com). The predecessor to [Waymo](https://waymo.com/blog/2017/06/from-post-it-note-to-prototype-journey/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), which now seems [ubiquitous](https://youtu.be/ajhLhiGxQ9Y?si=71zSYhRMHagi6W47&ref=sailiconvalley.com), was still testing driverless prototypes on the streets of San Francisco. A scrappy startup named [DoorDash](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/doordash?ref=sailiconvalley.com) was one of many food delivery apps vying for market share in a City with an appetite for ordering in. And on the waters of San Francisco Bay, a mystery barge rumored to be an experimental floating data center was drawing suspicion and ire years before data centers were a touchy topic at city council meetings across America. In October 2013, [CNET](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/san-franciscos-bay-barge-mystery-floating-data-center-or-google-glass-store/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) magazine dropped a sensational claim: The mystery barge, owned by a [shell company](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2013/10/30/googles-crazy-barge-scheme-your-complete-guide/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) protected by Delaware’s corporate privacy laws, was really linked to Google, and reporter Daniel Terdiman claimed that the old Google patent for a water-based data center hadn't been forgotten after all, but was instead now very real and floating on the Bay. Once Google's ownership of the barge could no longer be denied, Google [changed course](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/google-oh-you-mean-those-barges/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and claimed that the barge was merely an innocent "[showroom](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/06/google-barge-mystery-solved-interactive-learning-center?ref=sailiconvalley.com)," much like an Apple store. That's still the official story today. But the claim didn't hold water for some, because building a mostly [windowless showroom](https://youtu.be/u1z0A82%5Fl4I?si=27cm%5FUBTOiJF0PJT&ref=sailiconvalley.com) on picturesque San Francisco Bay didn't quite add up. There were actually several mystery barges along the West Coast in 2013, forced to hop from port to port, while proposals to park one [near Aquatic Park](https://www.nbcnews.com/businessmain/googles-barge-be-artistic-structure-nautical-whimsy-8c11566228?ref=sailiconvalley.com) caused an uproar, and each barge was "shooed" away in an early case of [data center NIMBYism](https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-hottest-nimby-issue-data-centers-sanders-desantis-2026-2?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Then just as mysteriously as the first "Google Barge" appeared, it disappeared like a ghost ship. A mere apparition, a rumor. The barges were [hauled away](https://www.techtimes.com/articles/4218/20140311/google-explains-barge-move-to-stockton-asparagus.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [scrapped](https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/08/21/google-barge-shipped-to-quincy-sold/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and mostly forgotten. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/barge.jpg) Google barge pulled to the Port of Stockton. But what about Google’s patent from 2007? Assuming that the Google Barge was exactly what Google said it was – just a showroom – then are we ever going to see a prototype for the “water-based data center?” New players are revitalizing the idea for the floating data center, and using modern technology to tackle the logistical restraints that seemed more challenging two decades ago. *Ocean waves* will be the alternate energy source for one [data center](https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/05/silicon-valley-bets-on-floating-ai-data-centers-powered-by-ocean-waves/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) proposed by [Panthalassa](https://panthalassa.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [backed by Peter Thiel](https://fortune.com/2026/05/14/peter-thiel-leading-investment-ocean-data-center-panthalassa/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). This system, already built in two prototypes with a third on the way, houses servers inside steel orb nodes and transfers data via satellite. An [*underwater*](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/09/worlds-first-wind-powered-underwater-datacentre-starts-operating-in-china?ref=sailiconvalley.com)data center is underway now in Shanghai, led by [China Communications Construction](https://en.ccccltd.cn/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), while [Microsoft](https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/sustainability/project-natick-underwater-datacenter/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) has been experimenting with [underwater](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/09/17/davy-joness-data-centre?ref=sailiconvalley.com) data centers since at least 2020 (“[Project Natick](https://natick.research.microsoft.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)”). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/micro.jpg) Credit: Microsoft Source news center, photo by Jonathan Banks. *100-megawatt* floating data centers were proposed by [Seatrium](https://seatrium.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in July, which [promises](https://www.offshore-mag.com/business-briefs/equipment-engineering/news/55394471/seatrium-and-mocean-push-offshore-data-center-concepts-to-meet-rising-ai-demand?ref=sailiconvalley.com) “natural seawater cooling, embedded power generation and flexible offshore siting.” Samsung Heavy Industries already has a date on the calendar for the launch of its floating data centers, which it claims will be on the water by 2028\. On August 3, Samsung and its partner Mousterian Corporation [announced](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mousterian-corporation-and-samsung-heavy-industries-sign-engineering-contract-for-the-partnerships-first-floating-data-center-deployment-in-the-united-states-302841432.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) plans to build moored floating data centers each delivering 50 megawatts of IT capacity, planned for deployment in Texas and elsewhere in the US. "Floating data centers are a natural extension of the engineering, fabrication, and project delivery capabilities we have built over five decades in offshore and maritime construction," said Sung-an Choi of Samsung Heavy Industries in a statement. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/FDC-samsung.jpg) Credit Samsung Heavy Industries, rendering of a floating data center. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/Eng-Contract-Signing-Cropped--1-.jpg) Sung-an Choi (left), Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Heavy Industries, and Min Suh (right), Chief Executive Officer of Mousterian Corporation What was old becomes new again. And just like in 2013, when the mere thought of a floating data center on SF Bay faced [pushback](https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/11/05/location-location-location-google-keeps-barges-secret-by-building-on-water/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), in 2026, when data centers are even more controversial, at least one industry magazine [cites](https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/sustainability/riding-the-wave-the-rise-of-floating-data-centers?ref=sailiconvalley.com) their distance from the public as one benefit to moving a data center off land and onto the water. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### The future is waterfront startups (and maybe even cheap rent?).  A look at the SF Port Blue Economy Initiative URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/the-future-is-waterfront-startups-and-maybe-even-cheap-rent-a-look-at-the-sf-port-blue-economy-initiative/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:10:06.000Z Video interview with SF Port's Kirsten Southey and Boris Delepine. The Port of San Francisco’s newly launched [Blue Economy Initiative](https://www.sfport.com/blueeconomy?ref=sailiconvalley.com) offers a vision of a future economy that is bolstered by ocean tech startups, marine science, sustainability-focused innovators, and ecotourism. [Announced](https://www.sfport.com/about/news/port-san-francisco-launches-blue-economy-initiative-offering-50-leasing-incentives?ref=sailiconvalley.com) on July 15, the Initiative offers matching companies a rare opportunity for space to grow, concierge services, regulatory coordination, technical guidance, and potentially even cheap rent. Since you can usually count on the cost of rent to only go up in San Francisco, heads will turn at these waterfront rents with potential discounts of up to 50%. You can learn more and meet the SF Port staff in-person at an Open House on Wednesday, August 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pier 1 on The Embarcadero (the event is free to attend but [registration](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/port-of-san-francisco-blue-economy-initiative-open-house-tickets-1994881012810?ref=sailiconvalley.com) is required). Other West Coast cities have launched their own [versions](https://www.sfport.com/media/11414/download?inline&ref=sailiconvalley.com) of a blue economy initiative, each with its own niche. SF Port is hoping to stand out to blue tech startups because of San Francisco’s unique proximity to Silicon Valley. “Our biggest strengths are our partnerships, and our people,” said Kirsten Southey, Project Manager with the SF Port’s Executive Division. “We're at the epicenter of tech, AI, and venture capital.” “I think what distinguishes San Francisco is our proximity to venture capital, to AI, and to a deep water working port, a working waterfront,” added Boris Delepine, SF Port’s Government Affairs Manager. “One of our strengths is the amount of space we have in San Francisco.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/DJI_0139--1-.jpg) Photo credit Port of San Francisco. For a city that seems to have limited space, the SF waterfront still actually offers room to grow, with empty warehouses, offices, and piers waiting for the right tenant who doesn’t mind a little fog (a 2026 memo states that, “Vacancy at the Port’s directly managed office buildings currently exceeds [16%](https://www.sfport.com/sites/default/files/2026-03/item%5F11a%5F2026-2028%5Fparameter%5Fnew%5Fpolicies.docx.pdf?ref=sailiconvalley.com)). In fact, SF Port manages 7.5 miles of shoreline and over [1,000 acres](https://www.sfport.com/files/2021-07/Strategic%20Plan%202021-2025.pdf?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of prime land, from India Basin to Hyde Street Pier. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/DJI_0007--1-.jpg) Photo credit Port of San Francisco. So who are the potential players in the “blue economy?” The San Francisco Bay Area already has some especially unique “water-based” startups and established companies. [Reefgen](https://www.reefgen.io/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) uses robots to rebuild reefs. [WhaleSpotter](https://www.whalespotter.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and the [Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory](https://news.ucsb.edu/2026/022586/new-ai-system-uses-cameras-and-thermal-sensors-steer-ships-clear-gray-whales-san?ref=sailiconvalley.com) operate AI-powered whale monitors on the SF Bay. [BUOY.fish](https://buoy.fish/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) deploys GPS-tracked buoys to monitor and recover fishing gear (a potential blessing to anyone who’s ever had to dodge crab pots at night). And then there’s [Saildrone](https://www.saildrone.com/capabilities/metocean-survey?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [DOER](https://www.doermarine.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) submersibles across the Bay in Alameda. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/pexels-tamara-adeyemi-2155344798-33676251.jpg) Photo by Tamara Adeyemi “Globally, the blue economy supports 5.4 million jobs and generates nearly [$580.9 billion](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004484862600061X?ref=sailiconvalley.com) USD in gross value added annually,” according to an Aquaculture study (impact estimates for the blue economy are sometimes conflated with the larger ocean economy, which includes non-sustainable practices). Dozens of blue economy campaigns, startup [accelerators](https://ioos.noaa.gov/ioos-in-action/accelerators/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and nonprofits have financial support from the [UN](https://www.unepfi.org/blue-finance/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [World Economic Forum](https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-regenerative-blue-economy-pathways-to-prosperity/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and [NOAA](https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/coastal-and-marine-planning/blue-economy-support/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/1000.png) The 1000 Ocean Startups ecosystem is an initiative of the World Economic Forum (independent of SF Port). SF Port’s ability to “pivot” from its industrial past to a blue future may offer insights to other cities. After all, historically, the San Francisco Bay Area was solidly [industrial](https://www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and even a [military hub](https://www.foundsf.org/Bay%5FArea%5FMilitary%5FBases?ref=sailiconvalley.com). There was shipbuilding at [Mare Island](https://www.nps.gov/places/mare-island-naval-shipyard.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Hunter's Point](https://www.sfheritage.org/research/hunterspoint/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Pier 70](https://www.sfport.com/sites/default/files/FileCenter/Documents/127-Pier%2070%20History.pdf?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and [Sausalito](https://www.sausalitohistoricalsociety.com/marinship75-events/2017/3/18/liberty-ships-and-the-lesser-known-facts?ref=sailiconvalley.com). [Shipping](https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/america-on-the-move/online/transforming-waterfront?ref=sailiconvalley.com) wasn’t only in Oakland like we see today, but also in San Francisco. And there was a strong [manufacturing](https://www.foundsf.org/Industry%5FBuilds%5FOut%5Fthe%5FCity:%5FThe%5FSuburbanization%5Fof%5FManufacturing%5Fin%5FSan%5FFrancisco,%5F1850-1940?ref=sailiconvalley.com) presence in the City, from [Folgers](https://www.folgerscoffee.com/history?ref=sailiconvalley.com) to [Levis](https://www.levi.com/US/en%5FUS/features/about-us?srsltid=AfmBOopl-Orb6DPp0wGjGkIDFsUObmnTHVCRb%5F4vnQt0Lv6g70mj0ZTp&ref=sailiconvalley.com). The San Francisco Bay Area could have just as easily succumbed to the same “Rust Belt” effects experienced by the industrial cities of the Northeast, had it not been for the region’s “re-brand” and marketing of itself as a tech hub starting in the [1970s](https://computerhistory.org/blog/who-named-silicon-valley/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). “This is the story of San Francisco. We are unique because we're able to adapt and take lessons away from these previous historical points – whether it's the tech booms of the 90s, the decline of the Port after containerization, or shipbuilding that went bust, or the Gold Rush,” added Boris Delepine. “San Francisco is a port city. Literally, the foundation of [our city is built on the hulls of ships](https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/buried-ships-of-san-francisco.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com). And the transitions that this city has gone through are evident today along our waterfront.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/safr_20171011_BuriedShipMap--1-.png) A map of the buried ships under San Francisco. (SF Maritime National Historic Park) **Check out the focus areas of the Blue Economy Initiative and view the application on the SF Port website:** [**https://www.sfport.com/blueeconomy**](https://www.sfport.com/blueeconomy?ref=sailiconvalley.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/810.jpg) Photo credit Port of San Francisco. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### “GPS-denied navigation” just made sextants sexy URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/gps-denied-navigation-made-sextants-sexy-again/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:09:38.000Z Sextants are obsolete relics, they said. Spending time studying celestial navigation or using paper charts and hand tools to plot your course is a silly pastime for dinosaurs, they said. We can rely on our phone to get around with confidence, by land and sea, and the entire world has been thoroughly mapped and snapped to the point that drivers and skippers alike assumed that the Global Positioning System (GPS) would be a permanent aid and comfort. GPS has been around for half a century, and it’s been widely available to the public for a quarter century, so why wouldn’t we expect it to still be around tomorrow? Then one day we woke up and realized that getting around by satellite isn’t always a sure thing, especially in war zones or during a cyberattack. GPS jamming and spoofing as a form of “[navigational warfare](https://www.jpost.com/international/article-794443?ref=sailiconvalley.com)” has been deployed recently in [Ukraine](https://www.gpsworld.com/ukraine-attacks-changed-russian-gps-jamming/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/major-gps-disruptions-in-middle-east-coming-from-idf-airbase-ny-times/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and [Iran](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/science/gps-jamming-ships-planes-iran-war?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (jamming isn’t uncommon – “[1,100 ships](https://www.wired.com/story/gps-attacks-on-ships-spike-amid-the-us-and-israeli-war-on-iran/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)” were affected by recent denial attacks in the Middle East, and a June report found that in only a three-month span, “more than [a million GPS jamming incidents](https://news.sky.com/story/everyone-is-doing-it-the-dark-art-of-gps-jamming-in-the-iran-war-13542156?ref=sailiconvalley.com) have been recorded since the start of the Iran war”). The threat of [EMP](https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/us-military-emp-attack/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) attacks causing chaos to electronic navigation systems also looms. Even non-state actors are jamming GPS – a million bucks worth of tequila backed by celebrity chef [Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar](https://rntfnd.org/2024/11/26/gps-spoofing-helps-in-1000000-theft-of-celebrity-tequila/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of Van Halen fame was stolen using a GPS denial attack. What’s more, [GPS is run by the US government](https://www.faa.gov/about/office%5Forg/headquarters%5Foffices/ato/service%5Funits/techops/navservices/gnss/gps?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and could, hypothetically, be taken offline at any time (which is why [Russia](https://www.intellinews.com/venezuela-embraces-russian-glonass-in-challenge-to-us-satellite-dominance-378458/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [China](https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3348900/chinas-gps-rival-beidou-getting-upgrade-beijing-eyes-global-adoption?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and the [EU](https://insidegnss.com/inside-galileo-europe-decides-to-build-up-its-own-global-satellite-navigation-system/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) launched their own alternatives to “American GPS”). Responding to this new reality, “GPS-denied navigation” is the sexy new thing in VC and tech, and a slew of [startups](https://www.ventureradar.com/keyword/GPS-denied?ref=sailiconvalley.com) are rushing to attach their alternative nav products to drones, boats, bots, submersibles, tanks, and missiles. Within a few years, the value of this “GPS-free” market is expected to approach [$17 billion](https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/inertial-navigation-systems-global-market-report?ref=sailiconvalley.com). But the old Salts never lost touch with the ways of the ancient mariner. Silicon Valley can learn from the art of sailing, especially when it comes to navigating without having to rely on a modern Sputnik sputtering directions for you. Consider, for example, that even the US Navy, for all its sophisticated navigation systems and high-tech arsenals that are the envy of the world, still [teaches](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2264003/charting-a-new-course-celestial-navigation-returns-to-usna/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) sailors how to use the sextant. Naval officers learn to steer by the stars at [Annapolis](https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Majors-and-Courses/course-description/NS.php?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [Newport](https://www.stripes.com/news/2016-01-29/break-out-the-sextant-navy-teaching-celestial-navigation-again-1538665.html1?ref=sailiconvalley.com), because, as one reporter put it, “[you can't hack a sextant](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2015/11/01/naval-academy-reinstates-celestial-navigation/?ref=sailiconvalley.com).” Dead reckoning (AKA *ded* reckoning), celestial navigation, sextants, paper and pencil, a compass, and triangulating a position at the center of the “cocked hat” – who knows? Maybe these old tools and methods will come back in vogue. In the meantime, there are plenty of sextant [tutorials on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAkrgZRb9Y&ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [CelNav](https://www.ussailing.org/education/adult/certification-courses-endorsements/celestial-navigation/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) courses at [US Sailing schools](https://www.ussailing.org/education/adult/certification-courses-endorsements/find-a-school/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) you can try. Find your way to one with this school [map](https://www1.ussailing.org/wheretosail/wheretosail.aspx?ref=sailiconvalley.com) – GPS optional. @classicmara "Exploring the Sextant: My Journey with Celestial Navigation" **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Young sailors connect with raft-ups, parties, and "Floatchella" URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/young-sailors-connect-with-raft-ups-parties-and-floatchella/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:09:49.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-19-2.15.49-AM-1.png)](https://www.instagram.com/youngcruisers?ref=sailiconvalley.com) YCA Instagram [@youngcruisers](https://www.instagram.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) The Young Cruisers Association makes waves around the world, from their annual [Annapolis](https://youngcruisers.org/annapolis?ref=sailiconvalley.com) meetup each October to the "[Floatchella](https://youngcruisers.org/floatchella?ref=sailiconvalley.com)" raft-up that started in The Bahamas and moved to points beyond. Members host real-world raft-ups, meetups, and even award ceremonies. Many are single while others are raising their kids on boats, and a few even work remotely, relying on Starlink while working aboard. YCA even launched an app, "[SeaPeople](https://dashboard.seapeopleapp.com/group/e8e15f11-7a9d-45bc-abf7-afadc34734c6?ref=sailiconvalley.com)," featuring a digital logbook and GPS boat tracker to help connect the "floating community" with international friends. According to their own origin story, the first iteration of YCA started in the 1970s, then was revamped, in [quote](https://youngcruisers.org/where-it-all-began?ref=sailiconvalley.com), "2018, over a bottle (or 3) of rum, chatting by a fire, a few of us decided it was time to make it easier to find, meet, and hang out with other rad people who said f\*\*\* it, and took off sailing." Today, YCA claims 10,000 members who week adventures, and aim to turn sailing from a "later" dream into a "now" experience. While the name suggests 20-somethings – and there are those too– the Association also prides itself on an inclusivity that seems to looks beyond age. Sailing is a sport that skews older, but the YCA sailors flip that notion upside down, when they state their motto: *"This is life, not retirement."* Website: [https://youngcruisers.org/](https://youngcruisers.org/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) Instagram [@youngcruisers](https://www.instagram.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Your ship has come in URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/your-ship-has-come-in/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:09:27.000Z The phrase, “your ship has come in,” is used to refer to becoming successful or wealthy, and as you probably guessed, it used to have a literal meaning, when one’s ship *came in* to port, bringing with it goods to be sold and profits and riches to be made. A boat owner or merchant might have all their wealth tied to a single vessel, and so it was a cause for celebration when their boat successfully crossed an ocean and made it safely to port. In San Francisco, long before Silicon Valley had silicon, before the A.I. Boom and Dot-Com Boom, there was the Gold Rush. Hundreds of tall ships arrived in the Bay starting in 1849, bringing people and goods from around the world that would change the landscape of California forever. The ship traffic broke new records with each passing year, and as news of California’s riches spread, ship traffic only increased. A network of signal towers or “semafors” was used to announce the news that a “ship had come in.” The most famous of these sat atop Loma Alta, which commanded some of the most majestic views of the Bay. The hill became so well known for its signal tower announcing when ships came in – or telegraphing – that it was renamed to the same name it’s known as today – Telegraph Hill. Perhaps you could say the modern equivalent of the semafor or telegraph announcing that someone’s ship has come in might be the Bloomberg Terminal or any smartphone flashing stock quotes or crypto prices. And as coincidence would have it, San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill has a clean view of the Financial District and offices of some of the nation’s highest valued companies, like Open AI, Saleforce, Stripe, VISA, and Anthropic. Maybe some things don’t change. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/TelegraphHill_IMG_5309.jpg) Photo Credit: SF Exploratorium - "Telegraph Hill." **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Crocs started at a boat show URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/crocs-started-at-a-boat-show/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T20:15:43.000Z Crocs, your favorite foam clogs, started out as *boat shoes*. Today, over [100 million](https://www.designlife-cycle.com/crocs?ref=sailiconvalley.com) pairs of Crocs are made each year. They’re an international sensation, and a favorite among [celebrities](https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/23/stars-who-rock-crocs-happy-croc-tober/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) like Heidi Klum, Diplo, Paris Hilton, and [Al Pacino](https://trish003.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/celebrities-that-have-lost-their-self-respect/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). CROX is even listed on the NASDAQ, with a peak market cap that reached as high as [$11 billion](https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/CROX/crocs/stock-price-history?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Accessorizing Crocs has turned into a secondary revenue stream. “[Jibbitz](https://www.crocs.com/c/jibbitz?ref=sailiconvalley.com)” are the personalized charms pinned around the distinctive holes on the shoes (Crocs prefers to call the holes “ventilation ports”). These little trinkets alone make up a surprising [8%](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/05/crocs-big-bet-on-personalization-paid-off-heres-how-it-happened.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of the company’s revenue. But it wasn’t always this way. The success of Crocs wasn’t a foregone conclusion at the company’s start. In the beginning, in 2002, three friends pitched the shoes to sailors, selling their first stock of just 200 pairs of Crocs in a weekend at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The idea for the shoe germinated whilst [sailing](https://5280.com/burning-rubber/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), when it’s said that Lyndon "Duke" Hanson, George Boedecker Jr., and Scott Seamans first came up with their idea for a cross between a boat shoe, a sandal, and a clog. “[Crocs meet all the needs of the most discriminating boaters](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2004/06/27/if-the-croc-fits/?ref=sailiconvalley.com),” is how the South Florida Sun Sentinel celebrated the invention of Crocs. The story of Crocs is also a story about the success of “**mature-age**” entrepreneurs, and confirmation that “**inland sailors**” can have fun on the water even if they live far from the shore. That’s because the three Crocs co-founders were all in their 40s when they founded the company, dreaming up the perfect “boat shoe” while sailing in the Caribbean, far from their landlocked homebase. All three founders met in Colorado originally, which is where the company is now headquartered, nearly 900 miles from the nearest spot where you can dip your toes in Pacific waters. **The lesson of the Crocs story: Even if you’re not a 20-something living in San Francisco, fear not, because there’s still a place in sailing and startups for you too**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/08/IMG_2308.jpg) Crocs on docks. Photo by Sailicon Valley. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### The white-knuckled work of marine salvagers: Bounty hunters of the sea URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/the-white-knuckled-work-of-marine-salvagers-bounty-hunters-of-the-sea/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T19:47:41.000Z $100 million worth of treasure sits locked inside a sinking ship, and under maritime law, a piece of the prize is there for the taking, for anyone brave enough (or crazy enough) to try to save it before it slips away. The crew of the cargo carrier *Cougar Ace* were en route from Japan to California in the summer of 2006\. While near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, a volcanic archipelago known for its harsh conditions (think, “[Deadliest Catch](https://youtu.be/A2KqofR05TE?si=VXRu8AYeKIRkFxz2&ref=sailiconvalley.com)”), the crew was transferring the ship’s ballast, when something went wrong, a mistake that severely impaired the vessel and caused it to start listing. The ship weighs 55,000-tons and stretches 654 feet in length (about 199 meters), meaning that if it were stood vertically, straight up, it would stand taller than Seattle’s Space Needle. Now on its side at a 60-degree angle, the ship [founders](https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/can-a-ship-flounder?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in the cold waters of the North Pacific. If something isn’t done soon, it will take its “treasures” to the bottom of the sea floor, which are, namely, about 5,000 Mazda sedans. Enter the salvagers. They work within a high-stakes, “winner take all” reward system, determined by the ancient rules of the sea. Marine law incentivizes the rescue of cargo in peril by granting successful salvagers the right to generous rewards, often including a cut of the cargo’s estimated value. If they can pull this off – a truly complex operation and risky feat of engineering – then they stand to win big, but if they fail, they get nothing, and the cost to enter this race isn’t cheap. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/060728201_p015.jpg) ****Photo Credit: ADEC -- J. Brown** Wyoming isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a marine salvage master, but that’s where Captain Rich Habib called home, at Jackson Hole, nearly 700 miles inland as the crow flies from the Pacific shoreline. His company, [TITAN Salvage](https://www.crowley.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Crowley-TITAN-Salvage-Brochure-Portfolio-Operations-Projects.pdf?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (now part of Crowley), employed an international team of experts, including Swedish mechanic Hank Bergman, British diver Colin Trepte, and naval architect Marty Johnson, who made 3-D models of ships on-the-fly, a critical skill for this kind of work. With the clock ticking, the team can assemble quickly to anywhere in the world, chartering planes and boats as they bring their own sophisticated equipment to the rescue. And perhaps a little like James Bond, they usually arrive at their client ship by helicopter or speedboat. When they arrive at *Cougar Ace*, the salvagers are armed with ropes and headlamps, as they rappel down into the pitch-black interior of the wounded giant, which is now a claustrophobic steel labyrinth of dead ends and pitfalls. They dodge suffocating carbon dioxide blasts from the ship’s disabled fire prevention system, which can now make it impossible to breathe at times in parts of the ship. All while Johnson calculates how to pump out a thousand tons of trapped water without triggering a fatal “flop” that could capsize the vessel in a snap. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/060728201_p007.jpg) ****Photo Credit: USCG** But salvage is a deadly gamble. In a split-second nightmare, [Marty Johnson](https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Salvage-crewman-who-died-on-listing-ship-1210560.php?ref=sailiconvalley.com) slips on the slick deck, and falls 80 feet to his death. Staring up at the massive hull, the remaining crew faced the ultimate test of grit: save their lives by cutting their losses and abandoning the ghost ship, or risk everything to finish the job. Defying the odds, the team eventually rights the listing ship, thanks to pumps and pluck, and for doing so, win a $10 million payday. (A memorial [scholarship](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/crowley-donation-honors-marty-johnson?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and [student leadership fund](https://www.webb.edu/blog/2015/07/13/thomas-b-crowley-sr-memorial-scholarship-recipients/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) was later dedicated to Marty Johnson). Captain Habib’s [career](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/renowned-salvage-expert-passes?ref=sailiconvalley.com) of marine salvage was legendary. In 2014, he was even instrumental in raising the [*Costa Concordia*](https://youtu.be/xEt%5F7oU0hgk?si=-vKrmFxdcSETGCRh&ref=sailiconvalley.com), something that many said couldn’t be done. He and a team of 500 engineers raised the [infamous](https://youtu.be/Qh9KBwqGxTI?si=Z61fRPAfns0Xd-m6&ref=sailiconvalley.com) cruise ship, and in turn helped save Italy’s [delicate coastal habitat](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-16597720?ref=sailiconvalley.com) from certain environmental catastrophe. Rich Habib was an avid adventurer to the end, and tragically lost his life in 2016 while snowboarding in Utah. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/18/d8/18d8ce4b-2fb4-491d-842a-feda854efc22/content/images/2026/07/060728201_p018-1.jpg) ****Photo Credit: ADEC -- J. Brown** *\[*Sources and Credits*: 1)* [*NOVA by PBS*](https://www.pbs.org/video/nova-sunken-ship-rescue/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)*, “*[*Sunken Ship Rescue*](https://youtu.be/xEt%5F7oU0hgk?si=-vKrmFxdcSETGCR&ref=sailiconvalley.com)*;” 2) The Marine Executive magazine, “*[*Renowned Salvage Expert Killed*](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/renowned-salvage-expert-passes?ref=sailiconvalley.com)*;” 3) Epic Magazine, “*[*Deep Sea Cowboys*](https://epicmagazine.com/deep-sea-cowboys/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)*” by Joshua Davis; 4) Photos from the United States Coast Guard and the Alaska sate government’s Division of Spill Prevention and Response, “*[*M/V Cougar Ace*](https://dec.alaska.gov/spar/ppr/spill-information/response/2006/18-cougar/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)*.”\].* **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Why are there two Helly Hansen stores in Annapolis? And why are they both on the same block? URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/why-are-there-two-helly-hansen-stores-in-annapolis-and-why-are-they-both-on-the-same-block/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:08:47.000Z 132 Main Street is the home of the official Helly Hansen store in Annapolis – and if you miss that, just walk down three stores over to 118 Main Street, on the same block, where you will find a second Helly Hansen. To find out why there are two Helly Hansen stores in Annapolis, we decided to unleash the best investigative journalist on our team to get to the bottom of this mystery. Okay, sure. This isn't one of those big picture, Earth-shattering questions that we turn to the news for answers. But hear us out. If the name is unfamiliar, Helly Hansen is a popular brand for sports apparel and gear – it's beloved by many sailors and skiers alike. It's generally considered to be "high-end" and pricey, and even Robb Report gives it a nod for being "[seaworthy](https://robbreport.com/style/fashion/lists/best-sailing-gear-1236960313/helly-hansen-mens-crew-vest-2-0/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)." So you'd expect to find their stores near sailing hotspots, like Annapolis. But two stores in the same town on the same block? *Why?* Check our math: There are at least [50](https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/helly-hansen-asa?ref=sailiconvalley.com) licensed Helly Hansen stores in the world, and only about a [dozen](https://wh1969.com/news/helly-hansen-to-open-global-flagship-store-in-newport-ri/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) spread across the US and Canada. Annapolis is a town of 40,000 people, which means it is incredibly oversupplied in its share of Helly Hansens. And yes, Annapolis does call itself "the sailing capital of the world," and yes, Annapolis gets a huge influx of tourists and sailors flocking to boat shows with dollars burning holes in the pockets of their [salopettes](https://www.hellyhansen.com/en%5Fus/hp-foil-flyer-salopette-34541?color=291475&ref=sailiconvalley.com). But still, can this town really sustain two Helly Hansen stores, on the same block, no less? For context, here's a short list of other American sailing destinations that don't have a single Helly Hansen store... San Diego, Montauk, Key West... wait, make that the entire state of Florida, which has the largest proportion of boat owners in the country and is also the gateway to the Bahamas, yet is still deprived of boasting a single standalone Helly Hansen store. Even the San Francisco Bay Area, with a population of nearly 8 million and with some of the best sailing in the world, supports only one lonely Helly Hansen store, and that one is buried in a [mall](https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/san-francisco/stores/helly-hansen?ref=sailiconvalley.com) somewhere in Livermore. See what we mean? Helly Hansen has a special relationship with Annapolis, sure, and the Annapolis Yacht Club even hosts one of the coveted ports of call along the [Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series](https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series-annapolis/?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Here's the [skinny](https://www.naptownscoop.com/p/15-cant-miss-festivals-in-annapolis?ref=sailiconvalley.com#:~:text=%E2%9B%B5%20Helly%20Hansen%20squared%20%E2%80%93%20The%20iconic%20sailing%20brand%20just%20doubled%20down%20on%20Annapolis.%20Literally.%20Just%20down%20the%20street%20from%20the%20main%20store%2C%20HH%20just%20opened%20a%20new%20storefront%20focused%20on%20technical%20sailing%20gear%20and%20marine%20lifestyle%20apparel.%20You%20can%20find%20the%20new%20store%20at%20118%20Main%20Street.): The second Helly Hansen location in Annapolis used to be a Musto (both brands are owned by the same parent company), and when that closed, the owners converted it into the second Helly Hansen. The two stores offer slightly different offerings, with the main store focusing on popular apparel and the second store focusing more on marine apparel and sailing gear. And even though the two stores are on the same block, maybe that was a smart move, after all. Considering both stores sit on Main Street, the tourist cattle chute– err, corridor– leading straight to the [Annapolis Boat Shows](https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com)' entrance at City Dock, Helly Hansen may have the last laugh. *PS: This article officially wins the prize for repeating the name "Helly Hansen" 17 times. And no, this post wasn't sponsored. But maybe we should call and suggest they sponsor the next round, hey, Helly?* **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Veblen at the Boat Show: Anthropologist Wanted URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/veblen-at-the-boat-show-anthropologist-wanted/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:08:37.000Z Before “flexing” was flexing, there was Thornstein Veblen. He identified social signals and flexes long before Silicon Valley knew what a [Patagonia sleeveless vest](https://www.tiktok.com/@morningbrew/video/7065401193425571118?is%5Ffrom%5Fwebapp=1&sender%5Fdevice=pc&ref=sailiconvalley.com) was, and certainly before executives [ditched neckties](https://www.hockerty.com/en-us/blog/business-casual-for-men?ref=sailiconvalley.com) for hoodies, in the ultimate workplace flex. Veblen actually lived in Silicon Valley before the *silicon*, with an [address](https://www.veblen.org/Veblen-Family/Photos/photos.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) no less prestigious than on Sand Hill Road. But of course, back then, before it became the global headquarters for venture capital, Sand Hill Road was better known for just, well, *sand*. So we wonder what the author of [The Theory of the Leisure Class](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/833/833-h/833-h.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com) would have said if he visited a boat show? Thornstein Veblen coined the phrase “conspicuous consumption,” and we can’t think of consumption more conspicuous than at a boat show. If you’re looking for social signals and flexes, then look no further than your local boat show – whether that be in Annapolis, the SF Bay Area, Florida, or Monaco. Peacocking and popped collars are part of the show – whether you go sockless when you wear your loafers or put on socks with embroidered sailboats, whether you wear a pink golf shirt or prefer a yachty blue blazer – boat shows are the place to see styles and fashions that are a world unto themselves. Not to mention the one-upsmanship of the boats at the boat show, where worth is measured by LOA – Length Overall. That’s why Sailicon Valley is searching for an anthropologist to accompany us on an assignment in Annapolis – the town with not only one but [*two*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/why-are-there-two-helly-hansen-stores-in-annapolis-and-why-are-they-both-on-the-same-block/) Helly Hansen stores on the same block. Think [Bill Cunningham](https://youtu.be/9OLUmiyZc6E?si=i9p2QS5ZMKl6ku1n&ref=sailiconvalley.com) in the wilds of the Upper East Side, [David Attenborough](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfgxOcS4tTQ&ref=sailiconvalley.com) peering at peacocks, or [National Geographic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTwT1-TpFhE&ref=sailiconvalley.com) does the docks. We’ll be at the [Annapolis Sailboat Show](https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in October documenting the *wildlife*. Will you be there? This is a serious ad for an anthropologist. Know someone we should be talking to about this? Hit us up. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Quantum knots from Beyond URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/think-you-got-a-tough-knot-here-are-knots-so-complicated-that-they-only-exist-in-another-dimension/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:08:27.000Z ### ***Think you got a tough knot? Here are knots so complicated that they only exist in another dimension.*** The whole point of nautical knots is that they need to be strong and reliable while remaining simple to tie and untie quickly and with ease. But every sailor still deals with the occasional cantankerous knot, those stubborn suckers that seem so stiff and stuck that you need to pull out your marlin spike just to loosen them. So imagine encountering a knot so knotted up, so tangled and tough that it required the help of a mathematician or even a *quantum physicist*. Welcome to the world of topology, the science of knot theory, where some knots are so [complex](https://youtu.be/8DBhTXM%5FBr4?si=4%5FpYBvNmgKDPc6PZ&ref=sailiconvalley.com) that they exist outside the bounds of reality. Curiously, all [knots](https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=FJXiKIaJAn5gZD64&v=aqyyhhnGraw&feature=youtu.be&ref=sailiconvalley.com) are [undone](https://abel.math.harvard.edu/archive/21a%5Fspring%5F06/exhibits/unknotting/index.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) instantly when a [fourth dimension](https://phys.org/news/2026-02-dimensions.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) is added, reducing the most ostentatious knot into a humble circle. That means, in our day-to-day reality within the limits of three spatial dimensions (length, width, height), any [knot](https://www.imaginary.org/film/knots-in-4d?ref=sailiconvalley.com) you’ve ever tied, whether it be a bowline or a monkey’s paw, ceases to be a knot in [four-dimensional space](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-dimensional%5Fspace?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (4D). Even the [Conway knot](https://mathworld.wolfram.com/ConwaysKnot.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) with its 11-crossings,[*a knot that took 50 years to “untie,”*](https://www.quantamagazine.org/graduate-student-solves-decades-old-conway-knot-problem-20200519/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) is no match for 4D. (For a fun explainer with Carl Sagan about how we perceive dimensions, watch his 1980 video, “[Flatland](https://youtu.be/UnURElCzGc0?si=KQNogRwYksiAZXJT&ref=sailiconvalley.com).”). Simple [spheres become knots](https://www.quantamagazine.org/dimension-126-contains-strangely-twisted-shapes-mathematicians-prove-20250505/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) in a higher dimension – meaning that [mooring ball you can’t hook to save your life](https://youtu.be/E2eTu5E7MZ0?si=aPQc6rE-3HS%5FKZNv&ref=sailiconvalley.com) actually causes *multidimensional* grief. And there are attempts to take this all a step further, to create nearly unfathomable, [*higher dimensional knots*](https://arxiv.org/abs/1304.6053?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Examples of these strange creatures include “[magnetic knots](https://spectrum.ieee.org/topology-in-computer-magnetic-knots?ref=sailiconvalley.com)” or hopfions, and “[wild knots](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7U3yvMF8Sw&ref=sailiconvalley.com),” which become progressively smaller to infinity, making them nearly impossible to fully untangle. More than just abstractions, complicated knots may [shine new light](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmhGWCvxKF8&t=69s&ref=sailiconvalley.com) in distant fields of study, and may even have practical, real world applications. Knots are relevant to [mathematics](https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-mathematicians-study-knots-20221031/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [quantum](https://www.ias.edu/ideas/2011/witten-knots-quantum-theory?ref=sailiconvalley.com) [mechanics](https://www.sas.rochester.edu/mth/undergraduate/honorspaperspdfs/allen%5Fshao%5F2026.pdf?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [quantum](https://nationalmaglab.org/news-events/feature-stories/untangling-magnetic-knots/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) [data storage](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250827010722.htm?ref=sailiconvalley.com), and maybe even future medicine and understanding the shapes of [DNA](https://www.siam.org/publications/siam-news/articles/untangling-dna-with-knot-theory/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) strands, because, as one scientist put it, “[the physical properties of knots are important in understanding the stability of macromolecular structures](https://www.quantinuum.com/blog/untangling-the-mysteries-of-knots-with-quantum-computers?ref=sailiconvalley.com).” And quantum [knots are even used to explain the birth of the cosmos](https://studyfinds.com/quantum-knots-explain-why-matter-exists/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), when researchers [claimed](https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/s3vd-brsn?ref=sailiconvalley.com) that in the time immediately after the Big Bang, “twisted knots of energy… collapsed to create all the matter around us,” in a period called the “knot-dominated era.” Think about that next time you’re tangled up with a tough knot, then maybe that knot won’t seem so complicated. And be happy that you’re not in a *knot-dominated era*. A sailor really only needs to know a few knots to handle most situations that arise on a boat, everything beyond that is just showing off. But that’s why we’re here, to help you show off. So here are four knots to master if you want to peacock and impress your friends at the dock (check out [Animated Knots](https://www.animatedknots.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) for step-by-step instructions): - Monkey’s Fist (used as a weighted heaving line), - Turk's Head (an intricate tubular covering knot), - Diamond Knot (used for decorative lanyards). And last but not least: - [**The Dragon Bowline**](https://youtu.be/fAjg82yV%5FXc?si=7itpEMfoZsfBIWgX&ref=sailiconvalley.com). (Ya know, *draggin*’). **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Sterling Hayden or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Sail URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/sterling-hayden-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-sail/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:08:11.000Z *“Have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water? Vodka. That's what they drink, isn't it? Never water… Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation? Fluoridation of water?…Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?… I can no longer sit back and allow… the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.”* And with those fabulous, rambling lines, the paranoid General Jack Ripper instigated a nuclear war in Stanley Kubrick’s [*Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb*](https://youtu.be/J67wKhddWu4?si=tEu-l3TRzA8NO5bd&ref=sailiconvalley.com)*.* The man behind the character – actor Sterling Hayden – was in at least 70 films and television shows, including the Godfather (as police Captain McCluskey). But acting was just a way to pay the bills, according to Hayden. How else could he afford to live on a boat in [Sausalito](https://www.sausalitohistoricalsociety.com/2023-columns/2023/5/3/when-hayden-named-names?ref=sailiconvalley.com)? Well, that may be understating it – Hayden’s “boat” was a 99-foot *schooner*. Hayden was so enamored with sailing that he once declared, “I'm no actor! I'm a sailor.” The real-life Hayden was far more fascinating than any character he played on screen. He was a spy and operative who smuggled arms through enemy waters, as well as a decorated Marine, awarded the Silver Star (today, he’s even honored on the official [CIA](https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/sterling-hayden-hollywood-star/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) website). Before his first acting role, Sterling Hayden had already earned his Master Mariner license at 21, and commanded a merchant vessel at 22\. Hayden sailed the Eastern Seaboard since he was a kid, and even crewed a circumnavigation voyage on a ship that later graced the [cover](https://ngscollectors.ning.com/photo/yankee-under-sail-and-in-all-her-glory?overrideMobileRedirect=1&ref=sailiconvalley.com) of National Geographic. Oh, yeah. And about that “Commie” line from Dr. Strangelove? It hit closer to home than many might assume. Sterling Hayden actually was a “card carrying Communist,” at least for a brief time during his work in Eastern Europe. That was still long enough for him to be targeted by HUAC, the House Un-American Activities Committee (yes, that one, of Joe McCarthy infamy). Hayden later said he regretted the choice, stating it was the “stupidest thing I ever did.” Yeah, maybe that and also the time he [defied a court order](https://www.sausalitohistoricalsociety.com/2019-columns/2019/6/26/sterling-haydens-tahiti-voyage?ref=sailiconvalley.com) and took his kids across the Pacific to Tahiti. Sterling Hayden, the man behind so many great characters, reminds us that truth is stranger than fiction. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved. ### Meet the people who work remotely from their boat URL: https://www.sailiconvalley.com/meet-the-people-who-work-remotely-from-their-boat-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T14:08:01.000Z You’re on a Zoom call and the guy on the other line has a background of a tropical island scene, replete with palm trees and azure waves lapping against a beach. Obviously just a digital backdrop, right? But imagine if you really could work remotely from your boat while cruising the world. In this piece, we'll discuss some of the ways people are doing exactly that, living the dream, and you’ll learn the technical ins and outs of turning this fantasy into a reality. **Comms check** First, let’s talk comms. Communications are more readily available, accessible, and cheaper than ever before. In the 1987 [movie](https://youtu.be/sLAan2iZs%5FY?si=77Ij3rxe2v%5FiUkhW&ref=sailiconvalley.com) Wall Street, when Michael Douglas made a work call from a beach in the Hamptons using his brick-sized cell phone, at the time such a call was a rare flex and status signal. But that scene foreshadowed today’s nearly universal access to remote work, when anyone can make that call from a beach (or a boat), for less money, with better signal, and with a much *smaller* phone (with video!). At the marina, you can usually rely on the tried and true favorites you’re used to like WiFi and a cell signal. Cell phones lose signal only a few miles offshore, so even if you’re only planning a little cruise up and down the coast, you’ll need to step up your comms game. For coastal cruises up and down the shore, consider a [marine signal booster](https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gear/the-connected-yacht-best-marine-internet-solutions-for-2026-104594?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Similar to that WiFi booster that boosts the signal in your garage, these devices boost cell phone signals from land to your boat, allowing for cell and data access up to 30 miles offshore. But in the middle of the ocean, there are no cell towers, so you’re going to want a satellite phone. Sat phone options include [Iridium](https://www.iridium.com/products/iridium-extreme-satellite-phone?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Inmarsat](https://www.inmarsat.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Thuraya](https://www.thuraya.com/en/products-list/land-voice/thuraya-xt-pro/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) are just a few popular [options](https://www.yachtingworld.com/gear-reviews/best-satellite-phone-8-devices-for-adventurous-sailors-136504?ref=sailiconvalley.com). Even the big cruise ships use satellites for their guests’ [WiFi on board](https://www.virginvoyages.com/ahoy/stories/how-wifi-works-on-a-cruise-ship?ref=sailiconvalley.com). [Starlink](https://starlink.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) changed the game dramatically, bringing internet access to even the most remote ocean-bound workers, from [Pitcairn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcairn%5FIsland?ref=sailiconvalley.com) to [Point Nemo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole%5Fof%5Finaccessibility?ref=sailiconvalley.com#Oceanic%5Fpole%5Fof%5Finaccessibility). But do your homework, because satphones are illegal or restricted [in certain countries](https://www.globalrescue.com/common/blog/detail/where-satellite-phone-illegal/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (such as India, Sri Lanka, China, Russia). **Cash or card?** Online banking is accessible from your boat using the same sat comm features mentioned above. Credit cards are practically [universal](https://merchantmachine.co.uk/visa-mastercard-amex/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), so unless you’re planning to travel to North Korea or another country under similar [sanctions](https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/will-your-credit-card-work-abroad?ref=sailiconvalley.com), you should be able to count on your plastic to work abroad. In a few situations, cash is still king, and you’ll want to consider how to [safely](https://www.cruisingworld.com/how-to/managing-money-while-cruising/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) access and spend cash abroad. **You’re got mail** If you’re trying to keep your jaunt a secret from snooping co-workers, or if you just need packages and snail mail forwarded to your boat, then consider a [mail forwarding service](https://www.spinsheet.com/cruising/ways-get-your-mail-while-cruising-abroad?ref=sailiconvalley.com). A [few options](https://www.sailingtotem.com/blog/2016/07/the-best-mail-services-for-cruisers.html?ref=sailiconvalley.com) include [Dockside Mail](https://www.docksidemailandshipping.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com), [Anytime Mailbox](https://www.anytimemailbox.com/?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (previously Traveling Mailbox), and [Earth Class Mail](https://app.earthclassmail.com/login?ref=sailiconvalley.com) (owned by LegalZoom). **Part-time counts, too** Working remotely from a boat can be a “spectrum,” and isn’t limited only to the fulltime sailors living and working on a boat. Part-time work counts too. This is an important distinction for those who want to indulge the fantasy but can’t afford the full jump into sailing life. Nudging one Zoom meeting or a few hours a week to working on a boat can make a big difference in inching one step closer to the dream. **To tell or not to tell?** Let’s face it, people can be jealous, especially co-workers. And what some people consider sharing others call bragging. So maybe think twice before sharing with everyone on the team call that you just spotted dolphins as you island hop along the BVI. **Like stories like this? You know what to do.**[ **Subscribe**](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/#/portal/) **to Sailicon Valley.** *\[Learn how to* [*sponsor*](https://www.sailiconvalley.com/ad/) *a post on Sailicon Valley\].* (C) All Rights Reserved.