Author Archive for: brookstownes

Newspaper and magazine journalist Brooks Townes began sailing at age seven. He’s crossed the Atlantic in a square-rigger, several times sailed California to Hawaii, most coastal waters between Halifax and Juno, twice via Panama. He and Ernie Gann were shipmates. When he had to move inland for family in the 90s, Brooks took up soaring, soloing first at age 60, then monopolizing the Carolina Soaring Association's G-102. His love of aviation really began in high school: a buddy had an early Waco UPF-7 in which the two did aerobatics over the Pacific, cutting classes when necessary. He’s retired on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.