My Father and Papa

Ever since you guys did the article on our trip around the Great Loop (“Great Adventure,” September 2016) it seems like every port we pull into we’re contacted by a Power & Motoryacht reader who has been motivated to do the Loop or wants us to sign a copy of their magazine, or just wants to take us out for drinks.

Over the last couple months we’ve kind of grown accustomed to it, but this last weekend was out of this world when a Power & Motoryacht reader invited us onto their 100-foot Leopard for a day trip down to Marquesas.

Because of Power & Motoryacht, we got to spend the last day of 2016 on a superyacht with some of the nicest, most generous people we’ve ever met. It was absolutely incredible and we just wanted to say thank you. —Thomas DeBacco Via e-mail

Pike’s story about his cruise with Bruce and Joan Kessler in Maine last summer (“The Long Run”). I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

I feel it is important to acknowledge the generous and giving nature of both Bruce and Joan. When my wife and I first started cruising, we reached out to them looking for some guidance and advice. Now, many years later, countless hours of well-thought-out answers to our many questions have resulted in many miles of safe, happy cruising.

What we are most grateful for, however, is the time we have spent with Bruce and Joan. Our lives have been immeasurably enriched. Anybody who knows them understands exactly how we feel. Thank you, Bruce and Joan! — Nick and Kate Vanoff Via e-mail The picture at the beginning of “The Enemy in the Machine” (February 2017) reminds me of the many fishing tournaments that

on my father’s boat was patterned after Pilar’ s, to keep the weight low, only ours had stainless steel tubing whereas Pilar ’s was painted steel. Also, our 38 Wheeler was a postwar model and had been upgraded with GM4-53 diesels!

Mary was fishing in her own boat because Hemingway believed that women were bad luck in a fishing boat and would not allow her on his boat during tournaments.

The picture on the third page of the article with Ernest holding a liquor bottle is very appropriate as I must admit that I saw him sober less often than I saw him under the influence. He was a jolly man and he sure enjoyed fishing, his liquor, and Pilar ! —Juan A Galan Jr.

Via e-mail