Sailing Lake Lanier, the Florida coast, and the Atlantic

I'm Darren, aka Skipper D. I'm a sailor based in Atlanta, GA, and I skipper club boats on Lake Lanier, sail my Com-Pac Picnic Cat Bluebell on the Florida coast, and have crewed offshore in the North Atlantic.

Darren at the wheel of a sailboat on open water, in a sun hat and sunglasses, smiling.

Logbook totals

hours underway
305
nautical miles
951
USCG sea days
26
trips as skipper
45

From 73 logbook entries, Sep 28, 2024 to Oct 25, 2026. Sea days toward my OUPV license

Latest video

Play video: Man Overboard (MOB) Drills Using the Figure Eight Method

Man Overboard (MOB) Drills Using the Figure Eight Method

Oct 20, 2026 · Watch on YouTube: Man Overboard (MOB) Drills Using the Figure Eight Method

Recovering a man overboard under sail with the figure-8 method on the Hunter 29.5 Odyssey: the procedure, three passes at a throwable cushion, the mistakes and how to fix them, then tacking versus jibing, light air, staying calm, getting the person aboard and warm, two people overboard at once, and visibility.

Next up

January 2027

Lake Lanier US Islands activations

Sailing to Lake Lanier's islands and operating my ham radio from them for the US Islands amateur radio awards program.

Boat: Com-Pac Picnic Cat Bluebell

Recent trip reports

Skipper D Adventures on YouTube

How-to and trip videos from Lake Lanier, the Florida coast, and the Atlantic.