“Bad days are actually good” Yesterday morning, like I do 3–4 times a week, I went paddling on the San Francisco Bay. When my paddling friends and I met on the Sausalito dock, we all said the same thing: “What a gorgeous, pleasant, nice day!”. The sky was wearing its…

In the 91 days, there were always new reasons to want to complain, to be negative, to despair, to fear, to think it wasn’t fair, to think it was too much, too far, too wet, too cold, too slow, too windy… Most times I could deal with them efficiently. Other…

Before going on this ocean crossing expedition, I always knew that I would pay a toll physically, in one way or another: lose weight (estimating between 15 to 25 lbs), lose flexibility and mobility, maybe get injured (tendons and joints), lose muscle mass. …

I arrived back home 5 days ago. Flying from Hilo to SFO in 5 hours felt very strange. So fast. So easy. So cheap (compared to the cost of my expedition). Why would one decide to cross that ocean in 3 months, when such a traveling medium is available? The…

Next year in May 2021, I will be leaving the shores of California, in a solo and unsupported kayak expedition, with the intention to reach Hawaii about 70 days later. During that ocean crossing, I will be solo, living and paddling on my own the whole way. This being said…

In the months leading to my ocean crossing, I have come to realize that the most important is self-motivation: to do, to think, to act, to contact, to call, to make, to train, to rest, to work, to prepare, to make happen…. Nobody is going to do it for me…

In early June 2020, I will be leaving from Monterey harbor (California), in a solo kayak, with the intention to reach Hawaii unsupported. Getting ready for it — physically, mentally and emotionally — is taking me on a learning journey. I want to share some insights that have come to…

It is amazing what you can achieve once you have no choice. Many people in the world act bravely, courageously, and surmount extreme difficulties with strength and endurance, simply because they do not have the choice to do otherwise. That’s what we must do when we have to mourn the…

This piece originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Wine Business Monthly Winemakers constantly debate the balance between art and technology. This is more than just the difference between Old World and New World wine production — it’s a fundamental question that every winery needs to address. I remember…