Author Archives: sarah
Riechers and Breymaier Win First Leg of The Atlantic Cup
The Class 40s competing in The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing finished up their first leg early Tuesday morning. Skippers Jörg Riechers and Ryan Breymaier on Mare crossed the finish line first at 1:20:13 a.m. ET with an … Continue reading
Salty Dog Rally to Depart Nanny Cay Today
The Salty Dog Rally, organized by Bill and Linda Knowles, is scheduled to leave Nanny Cay, Tortola, BVI today to return the fleet to the northeast of the U.S. Fifteen boats are participating in the rally with final destinations ranging … Continue reading
Major Engine Manufacturers Testing New Fuel Alternatives
There is no doubt that impending changes in fuel types could seriously affect many boat owners so we’re glad to hear about this testing program. BRP, Volvo-Penta and Indmar are participating in testing butanol-extended fuel (isobutanol) with the Argonne National … Continue reading
Nominate Your Maritime Hero Today!
This is a great opportunity to nominate someone you know who has made a real difference in the sailing community. Old Pulteney and US Sailing have teamed up to introduce the Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Award, which recognizes not the … Continue reading
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Boat Insurance–If You Don’t Have It This Could Be You
Before you take ownership of your boat, be certain to get insurance or you could have your dreams shattered like these cruisers. The owners of an uninsured yacht which smashed on rocks at the base of Mauao in New Zealand … Continue reading
ASA Releases New Coastal Cruising Textbook
If you want to take an American Sailing Association (ASA) on boat training program anytime soon, but can’t or you just want to update your sailing library with the most up-to-date reference books, then you’ll want to pick up the … Continue reading
PlanetSolar Finishes Circumnavigation by Solar Power
It can be done! On Friday, after precisely 32,401 nm, the M/S Tûranor PlanetSolar arrived back into the Hercule Harbor in Monaco, thereby achieving the first around-the-world voyage with solar energy! It was probably not planned, but appropriate, that the … Continue reading
Big Boats Crash on Final Day of Antigua Sailing Week
It’s never fun when this happens! It was yet another day of episode and drama at Antigua Sailing Week. This year’s Antigua Sailing Week is producing intense battles right through the fleet with close encounters a plenty. Stress levels were … Continue reading
The Moorings Opens New Charter Base in Annapolis
Cruising the Chesapeake just got a bit easier for non-boat owners. The Moorings newest charter destination is going to be in Annapolis, MD for bareboat sailing, power and skippered charters on the Chesapeake Bay. The fleet will include a range … Continue reading
Register Now for the Annual Women’s Sailing Conference
Whether you are a novice or an experienced skipper, this event is just for the ladies! But be sure to buy your tickets soon before it sells out. On Saturday, June 4, the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) will hold … Continue reading
Coast Guard Halts All Offshore Racing in CA Until Further Notice
Safety first! After the two recent deadly boating accidents in offshore races along the California coast, the Coast Guard has determined they need to further examine race courses and safety measures before allowing further racing. While it may be an … Continue reading
Newport Beach Man Reaches Settlement with Town on Boat Restoration Project
Our readers had passionate, although mixed opinions on whether or not Dennis Holland should have to remove his boat restoration project from his yard. Many of you are sure to be quite happy to hear of this settlement. The city … Continue reading
New Personal AIS Gets FCC Approval
You can now officially add this to your list of safety gear to add to the boat this season! Kannad Marine has announced that its SafeLink R10 SRS (Survivor Recovery System), the Overall Winner of the 2012 Pittman Innovation Awards, … Continue reading
Maritime Community Asked to Help in Search for Missing Cruiser
If by any chance you have spotted this yacht in your travels over the past month or so, please contact authorities as soon as possible. On the 30th June 2011, Polish sailor Tomasz Chichocki departed on a solo sail around … Continue reading
Low Speed Chase Survivor Speaks Out in Heartwrenching Letter to the Community
We can’t imagine how hard it was for Bryan Chong to write this letter, but we think he did an incredible job at honoring his crew mates and carefully examining if doing anything differently would have affected the outcome. All … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Water Sailing
Tagged Boating Accidents, Full Crew Farrallones Race, Low Speed Chase
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Swede Rescued After More Than 11 Weeks Drifting at Sea
We’re so happy to hear that this story has a happy ending, but we can’t help but think that an EPIRB would have saved this guy several weeks drifting at sea. The 66-year-old Swede Stig Lundvall was rescued last Tuesday … Continue reading
Matt Rutherford Becomes First Person to Solo the Americas Non-Stop
Congratulations to Matt Rutherford on his history-making voyage! Matt Rutherford had just sailed the entire circumference of North and South America nonstop in an old, tiny sailboat. The 31-year-old had nearly capsized in the Arctic as he battled waves and … Continue reading
New Boat Show Set for The Netherlands This Coming September
Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB launches major what it plans to be the largest in-water boat show in Northwest Europe. Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB has announced plans for ANWB Boot Batavia, an on-water boat show organized for the first … Continue reading
New Marina Opens in Cork Harbor with Free Dockage
There’s a new reason (in case you needed another one) to add Ireland to your list of cruising stops, and if you can do it by mid-July you’ll save a bundle on docking fees too! The new Port of Cork … Continue reading
Coast Guard Diverted from Titanic Ceremony to Rescue 3 Sailors
It’s always nice to hear when a program fully meets its intention, and particularly on such a commemorative occasion. A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft which was diverted from a Titanic ceremony successfully coordinated the rescue of three … Continue reading
Sunsail Opens First West Coast Base
Sunsail is thrilled to open its very first base on the U.S. West Coast in San Francisco, CA in June 2012 with a brand new matched fleet of Sunsail First 40s. This new destination represents the launch of a new … Continue reading
Yacht Path to Offer Pacific to Caribbean Yacht Transport in Fall of 2012
Yacht Path Marine Group will be offering a new service this fall, connecting its current Pacific Coast ports of call to the popular cruising destinations of the Caribbean. “Mexico continues to be one of the most popular destinations for American … Continue reading
New Marina Coming to Sri Lanka
With pirates keeping away circumnavigating cruising yachts from the north Indian Ocean, one would have to wonder at the timing, but top Sri Lankan boatbuilders, Cey-Nor have announced that they will be building a “marina park” in the southwest coastal … Continue reading
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The Sailing GPS Does What No Other GPS Can
Racers and cruisers alike are going to love this new GPS gadget specific to sailors! The Sailing GPS is the first GPS in the world that accounts for the tacking that sailboats do. It can tell you the optimal tacking … Continue reading
World Cruising Calendar App for iPhone and iPad
A new app has been released for sailor’s looking for an electronic alternative to Pilot Charts. The World Cruising Calendar app will help you plan your transcontinental journeys and your world trips. For each month, a global map shows the … Continue reading
Get Ready to Participate in “Ready, Set, Wear It!”
With summer almost here, families and friends are eager to get outdoors and spend time on the water – boating, fishing, sailing and more. But, with approximately 500 people drowning each year from recreational boating accidents, it is imperative to … Continue reading
Free Cruising Guide to Puerto Rico Now Available Via ePub Stores
FreeCruisingGuides.com has announced that A Cruising Guide to Puerto Rico by Frank Virgintino is now available at Amazon Kindle and other ePub bookstores. The guide is also available for download as a free PDF at freecruisingguides.com. A Cruising Guide to … Continue reading
Rescue 911 System Now in Place Along Entire Atlantic and Pacific Coasts
Law enforcement officials from several state, local and federal agencies joined a host of dignitaries at the United States Coast Guard base in South Portland to formally accept Rescue 21. Rescue 21 is an advanced communications and command system that … Continue reading
Posted in Blue Water Sailing
Tagged 911 System for Mariners, Coast Guard, Maine, Rescue 21
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Replacement Skippers Lowered to Rescue Boat
What a fabulous program the Kiwis have when another sailor is in trouble and what a testament to the bond of sailors across the globe! Two Whangarei boaties are being praised for dropping everything they were doing to be winched … Continue reading
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Cruiser Attacked in Panama
Noonsite is reporting an attack on a cruiser in Colon, Panama that all cruisers in the area should be aware of. In the first serious incident involving yachts in Colon this year, the s/v African Seawing, anchored at the Club … Continue reading
Chilean Navy Detains Andhoey with Armed Guards
He was bound to be stopped somewhere along the way… After a much publicized illegal voyage from New Zealand to Antarctica with a “stowaway” on board and then across the Southern Ocean to South America, the “Wild Viking” Jarle Andhøy … Continue reading
Rutherford Almost Around the Americas; Already Planning Next Trip
Solo the Americas sailor Matt Rutherford announced on his blog last week that he is less than two weeks away from the finish line and that he is planning to make his first steps back onto soil in Annapolis, MD … Continue reading
Abu Dhabi Pulls Off Amazing Repair in Extreme Conditions
While we typically don’t cover racing news on the BWS News & Notes, we think this amazing repair job that was performed by team Abu Dhabi in order to save their boat and therefore likely their lives is well worth … Continue reading
Pirate Attack in Maldives Expands Unsafe Zone
The hijack of a ship by Somali pirates in the waters of the Maldives may keep cruising yachts away from the idyllic necklace of atolls in the central Indian Ocean. Up until now, the Maldives has been a popular stopping … Continue reading
Cruisers Being Evicted from Honduran Moorings
According to Noonsite.com the latest news from cruisers in Hondurus’ West End, Roatan, is that the Mayor of West End has “thrown out” all the boats using the Marine Preserve moorings and those at anchor. Anchoring in West End/West Bay … Continue reading
James Cameron Reaches Completes Trip to Depths of Mariana Trench
Many of us may have imagined what it’s like at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but now only one really knows. Hollywood icon James Cameron has completed his journey to Earth’s deepest point. The director of “Titanic,” “Avatar” and … Continue reading
After Brutal Attack, Cruisers Advised to Stay Away from Pelican Range of Cayes
The following is a report from Noonsite.com: The Central American sailing community has been left reeling following the latest attack on a cruising boat, this time in “safe” Belize. News of the horrific attack, which took place on Sunday, March … Continue reading
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Tagged Attacks on Cruisers, Beliza, Charters, Pelican Cayes
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2012 Palma Boat Show Canceled Due to Lack of Vendors
After what have been mostly positive reports coming back from this year’s boat show participation, it is surprising to hear this news from Palma, and so shortly before the show was scheduled to take place. The 29th Palma International Boat … Continue reading
The First Annual Coal Pot Regatta
Lyman-Morse is planning The First Annual Coal Pot Regatta with a big party at the end on July 3. The regatta is open to any and all boats heading to New England in general, Thomaston, Maine specifically at the end … Continue reading
Fountaine-Pajot Launches New Sanya 57 (Video)
Fountaine Pajot has launched it’s latest model, the Sanya 57. This catamaran combines performance and luxury in a well laid out plan both inside and out. It’s built for the cruiser who is enjoys being out on the water while … Continue reading
MD Backs Down on Huge Boat Tax Hikes
Recreational boaters in Maryland will not see such a significant fee increase as originally proposed, Maryland Department of Natural Resource officials announced Tuesday. DNR officials plan to propose amendments to House Bill 1307 that would reduce what that bill initially … Continue reading
Boat Finishes 164 Day Journey With No Crew
A sound yacht’s ability to stay afloat regardless of the actions of a crew is never better demonstrated than when a vessel floats its way across vast stretches of ocean alone. Yet another yacht has made a solo journey safely … Continue reading
Essential Offshore Gear: Why SSB?
The following is an excerpt from Daniel Collins’ Tech Talk column in the April issue of BWS. Pick up the issue on newsstands for much more on this topic. The astute reader may be wondering what is so useful about … Continue reading
Missing CA Man’s Boat Washes Ashore in Mexico; Loved Ones Searching for Answers
Unfortunately, the waters off Mexico prove to be unsafe once again. If you’re heading that way, be extra cautious. In mid-January a young house-builder and sailor, Donn Pinkney set off for an adventure sailing trip south from Dana Point in … Continue reading
Congratulations to Strictly Sail Chicago Seminar Attendees Jeff and Tracy Sandkam
Congratulations to Jeff and Tracy Sandkam who won a SeaLife Mini II Underwater Camera through participating in the BWS sponsored seminars at Strictly Sail Chicago! Jeff, a retired policeman, and Tracy, a Clinical Manager at an Ophthalmology practice in St. … Continue reading
Boaters Fleeing Turkey Due to New Immigration Policy
Anyone with plans to head to Turkey might need to re-think their itinerary. Ibi News is reporting that boat owners are leaving Turkey in droves following a new immigration policy. Turkey’s new immigration policy says that foreigners without a resident … Continue reading
Panama Now Enforcing $110 Crew Visa
The following is a report from Noonsite.com which will certainly have a large impacts on cruisers heading to Panama: Panama Immigration are tightening up on the rules for visiting yachts. On March 6, Ronaldo Menoza Tapia – Regional Manager of … Continue reading
New Zealand Yachties Lose Boat on Venezualan Reef
We never like to hear stories like these. We’re glad everyone was safe, but it’s a good reminder for anyone planning to cruise in this area to be extra careful. A New Zealand owned yacht, Chinook Wind, a 37 ft. … Continue reading
Foreign Owners Now Exempt from Controversial Italian Tax
We’re happy to see that this has been settled, and cruisers will still be able to visit Italy without paying exorbitant fees. Italian marine industry association UCINA today confirmed that the Italian government has exempted foreign owners of boats and … Continue reading
