Blue Water Sailing
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
Man Ordered to Remove 72 Ft. Boat Restoration Project from His Yard
We appreciate this guy’s passion, but honestly, we wouldn’t want it hovering over our houses either. What do you think? A Newport Beach man who has been restoring a 72-foot wooden ship in his yard for six years has been … Continue reading
Florida Sailing & Cruising School Named to ASA’s Top 20 List
American Sailing Association (ASA) named Florida Sailing & Cruising School to its honor roll of 2011 Outstanding Schools, saluting it as one of its 20 best sailing instruction programs in North America. The international accreditation organization also selected FS&CS Chief … Continue reading
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Tagged Florida, Florida Sailing and Cruising School, Sailing Schools
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Delays at Panama Canal Setting Cruisers Back
Noonsite is reporting delays for cruisers trying to get through the Panama Canal even when they’ve gone through all the proper avenues. For anyone with plans to go through it in the next few weeks, it’s definitely worth taking a … Continue reading
What’s it Like to Break the World Speed Record? Something Like This
Wanna know what it’s like to go full speed around the world? Check out this record breaking video from Banque Populaire’s Jules Verne Trophy winning voyage.
BWS Sponsored Cruisers U Schedule Announced for Annapolis Spring Shows
The BWS sponsored Cruisers University at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show from April 26-29 has been announced. More than 50 classes will be offered covering everything from heavy weather sailing and collision avoidance to sail repair, electrical maintenance, and navigation … Continue reading
Bermuda Streamlines Visa Process for Visiting Yachts
Did someone say easier? Well, that’s a nice change! While Greece and Italy are putting up barriers to visiting yachts by charging berthing taxes and other fees Bermuda is making it easier for visiting yachts by streamlining their visa process, … Continue reading
New Port of Entry in Northern Cyprus
Karpaz Gate Marina, part of the all-new Karpaz Bay Resort in Northern Cyprus, is now an official Port of Entry. All marine vessels can now officially enter Northern Cyprus at Karpaz Gate Marina following the recent approval of Port of … Continue reading
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Tagged Customs, Karpaz Gate Marina, Marinas, Mediterranean, Northern Cypress, Port of Entry
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New Boating Expo in Maine to Offer Great Deals to Get into a New Boat for 2012
The Maine Marine Trades Association is launching a new boat show called Maine’s Boating Expo, which will be held April 13-15 in Brunswick Landing. The show is being launched in response to the membership’s need for an effective venue where … Continue reading
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Tagged boat shows, Maine, Maine Marine Trades Association, Maine's Boating Expo
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Andhoey Heads to South America with Stowaway Still Aboard
Tearaway Norwegian adventure sailor Jarle Andhoey has left Antarctica and is headed for South America, with New Zealand “stowaway” Busby Noble still on board, “mission accomplished”. He has NOT told Norwegian media that he has found anything of note about … Continue reading
Are Maryland’s Proposed New Boat Registration Fees Too Much?
Maryland is considering raising its boat registration fees by at least 100 percent for all boats. Is this too much or should Maryland boaters consider themselves lucky for not having seen an increase in fees for nearly 30 years? A … Continue reading
200 Foot Super-Yacht Sinks After Less than a Year in Service
There are bad days, and then there are really, really, really bad days! The Proteksan-Turquoise designed and built super-yacht, YOGI, sank Friday morning off the coast Skyros, a small Greek island located in Aegean Sea. (Click here for video) The … Continue reading
Oyster Marine Sold to Investment Firm
The UK’s Oyster Marine has been bought by HTP Investments, a Dutch investment firm owned by entrepreneurs Wim de Pundert and Klaas Meertens. The acquisition includes the Oyster Group companies Oyster Marine Ltd, Oyster Brokerage Ltd and Southampton Yacht Services … Continue reading
15 Companies Honored at Innovation Awards
Fifteen companies were recognized at the Miami International Boat Show this past weekend at the 2012 Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other … Continue reading
Experienced Cruiser Lost in MOB on Night Watch Off Thailand
They lived a sailing life, even owned and operated a sailing business, then sailed off from Australia’s Whitsundays inside the Great Barrier Reef to live and sail in the waters off Malaysia. So how did experienced sailor Carmel Brookes, from … Continue reading
LightSquared Appears to be Dead in the Water with New FCC Proposal
GPS supporters are praising the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to suspend LightSquared’s effort to create a wireless broadband network and suspend indefinitely the carrier’s authority to operate a land-based network. The FCC issued a conditional waiver last year that would … Continue reading
Should I Donate My Boat?
Sometimes there comes a time when you have to say good-bye to your good old boat. Charles Saylan, executive director of the Ocean Conservation Society, gives us the details on when it makes sense to donate your boat in this … Continue reading
The Moorings to Open New Base in Corfu
The Moorings has announced that it will open a new base in Corfu, located just off Greece’s northwest coast. Corfu is the perfect starting point for a luxurious Moorings bareboat sailing or skippered charter through the region’s famous northern and … Continue reading
Charleston Race Week Drawing Offshort Boats; Deadline Two Months Out
Bright, sunny skies and 70-degree temperatures across much of South Carolina must be catching the eyes of sailors around the country, reminding them that Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week begins in coming up from April 19-22. What has become the … Continue reading
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Tagged Charleston, Charleston Race Week, South Carolina
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Last Minute Charter Deal from Horizon Yacht Charters in Antigua
Horizon Yacht Charters is offering a special last minute deal on a Bavaria 40 for eight days and seven nights from March 11 to 19 in Antigua for only $2,500 plus $40 per night insurance and the $30 cruising permit. … Continue reading
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Tagged Antigua, Bavaria, Bavaria 40, Horizon Yacht Charters
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Alex Thomson’s Amazing Keel Walk
This is definitely one of the coolest things we’ve seen in a long time! But warning, don’t try this at home.
Blue Water Sailing Sponsors FREE Seminars at Strictly Sail Miami
Next week at the Strictly Sail Miami sailboat show (February 16 -20 at Miamarina at Bayside), Blue Water Sailing magazine and Cruising Compass are sponsoring four days of free seminars for sailors, cruisers and racers. The seminars are complimentary with … Continue reading
Navigation Hazard Reported Entering Jolly Harbor Marina in Antigua
If you’re headed to Antigua anytime soon, you’ll definitely want to be aware of this. During the evening of 26 January, S/V Sugar and Spice sank on the approach to Jolly Harbor Marina, Antigua. At the time of the sinking, … Continue reading
RYA Drops Approved Training Courses from Group After Three Rescues in a Year
We all shook our heads when we read about a recent rescue in the English Channel which was the third within a year for a Hot Liquid Southampton run cruise. And now we’re happy to hear that someone is taking … Continue reading
Electronics Made Easy
BWS Publisher George Day takes a look at how to simplify your setup by mounting your gadgets and antennas out of sight and out of mind. Check out the special section on Safety & Electronics in the February issue of … Continue reading
New Guide Available for Aeolian Islands
Anyone planning to cruise the Sicily region of Italy will want to be sure to get a copy of this guide. Il Miglio Blue, a bareboat and crewed pleasure yacht rentals company predominately in Sicily, has produced a pilot specifically … Continue reading
Strictly Sail Chicago is Coming & We’ve Got Discounted Tickets
Strictly Sail Chicago is coming to the windy city’s Navy Pier from January 26-29. This is the nation’s largest indoor all-sailboat show and BWS is sponsoring the seminars! Many free seminars are included in the show’s admission price, but there … Continue reading
New Visa Rules for Cruising in Turkey
Anyone heading to Turkey in 2012 will want to make sure they follow up to get the most up to date news on this information provided by www.noonsite.com. New visa rules for visitors to Turkey are to start on February … Continue reading
BWS Sponsored Salty Dog Rally Departing on Wednesday with 31 Boats
A new rally for experienced cruisers aptly named “The Salty Dog Rally” has been organized by cruiser Bill Knowles, who has more than 50,000 nautical miles under his belt. Bill and his cohorts originally planned to depart from the Bluewater … Continue reading
Got Offshore Video? You Could be the Next Reality TV Star
Are you sailing offshore to the Caribbean this fall? Have a video camera? Lone Wolf Documentary Group and SeaAcher Productions, two television documentary production companies, have teamed up to produce a reality series about the adventure and drama of offshore … Continue reading
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Scientists Feared Captured/Killed by Pirates in Papua New Guinea
Not only Somalia and Nigeria are dangerous for the roving adventurer of sailor. Three scientists missing after setting sail from New Britain Islands in New Guinea are now thought to have been killed by pirates, along with the crew of … Continue reading
Did Canibals Eat German Cruiser?
Yikes! We really hope this isn’t the case, but we caution cruisers to be very careful when in this area of the globe. Stefan Ramin, 40, from Hamburg, Germany, disappeared last month after reaching the remote tropical island of Nuku … Continue reading
Whale of a Tale: Cruisers Get Unwelcome Free Ride from a Humpback
Glenn Wilson and Nerida Higgins were enjoying a quiet evening moored in their yacht off Australia’s Queensland coast when a whale took their boat’s anchor rope in its mouth and dragged them out to sea. The frightening trip lasted 15 … Continue reading
Special Rate for Apprenticeshop Boat Building Course
The Apprenticeshop is offering an opportunity to join an intensive 12-week program for anyone interested in learning how to build a boat. Between now and the end of December, participants can enroll in the boatbuilding skills program at half price, … Continue reading
NMMA Appeals E15 Ruling
The National Marine Manufacturers Association, and its partners in the Engine Products Group, filed suit this week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule outlining a gas pump warning label as … Continue reading
Yacht Missing Between Bermuda and Ireland
Irish rescue services launched a major search for a missing yacht feared to have encountered difficulty during a transatlantic voyage. The Golden Eagle, a 32-foot vessel, departed from Bermuda in the middle of last month and was due to dock … Continue reading
77 Year Old Sets Record with 8th Solo Circumnavigation
This is what we call a dedicated cruiser. Congratulations to Minoru Saito on his recent record-setting accomplishments. An earthquake, two tsunamis, giant icebergs, towering waves and five typhoons: these may sound like typical challenges for anyone sailing around the world … Continue reading
BWS Hosting Lin and Larry Pardey at Newport Boat Show
Attention, cruisers! The time has arrived! BWS will play host to Lin and Larry Pardey, prestigious world cruisers and authors of 11 books, during the Newport International Boat Show this weekend (September 15th-18th, www.newportboatshow.com). The Pardeys, who have sailed more … Continue reading
French Cruisers Captured by Pirates: One Rescued, One Missing
A French hostage has been rescued from pirates off Yemen and her captors detained but her husband remains missing, EU defence officials say. Spanish troops operating with the EU’s anti-piracy force, Navfor, intercepted a skiff on Saturday, two days after … Continue reading
Extra Preparedness Aids in Rescue of Four French Sailors
The U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax, a Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules and two merchant vessels worked together to rescue four French sailors more than 1,400 miles east-northeast of Provincetown, Mass., Thursday. The 600-foot tanker Unique Sunshine, … Continue reading
Breaking News: Jan Quist Johansen and Family Freed from Somali Pirates
A Danish family of five and two crew members captured by Somali pirates in February have been freed and brought to safety, Denmark’s government says. Jan Quist Johansen, his wife, their three children, and two other adults were taken hostage … Continue reading
Rocna Owners Can Receive Refund from West Marine for Manufacturing Issue
West Marine, the biggest distributor of Rocna anchors in the U.S., has issued a “Product Specification Notice” in regard to 13 types of anchors sold by the New Zealand-based company. Rocna anchors are sold in 34 countries. The West Marine … Continue reading
How to Prep Your Boat for a Hurricane
Just in case you are the last minute type, the following recommendations are from Coast Guard Auxiliary 74 on how to prep your boat for a hurricane. We recommend you head their advice ASAP if you are in Hurricane Irene’s … Continue reading
Georgia Boaters Can Liveaboard for Longer Periods Thanks to Rule Change
This is good news for boaters who want to spend extended periods of time on Georgia’s coast. Boaters in Georgia’s saltwater coastal region might soon be able to get permission to spend more than 30 nights on their vessels under … Continue reading
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Red-Dye Fuel Causing Customs Issues in Europe for Cruisers
Admittedly they were megayachts, but the warning is clear for all cruising sailors headed for Europe after being in America, even for a short time. Two megayachts have been boarded and fined thousands of dollars by German customs officers in … Continue reading
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Gas Thefts On Board Increasing in MA Towns
While this doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem yet, it’s worth looking out for. With gas selling for about $5 a gallon at South Shore (MA) marinas, burglars have started going for the big gasoline containers boat owners sometimes … Continue reading
Where in the world is Laura Dekker?
It’s coming up to a year since Dutch solo sailor Laura Dekker, now 15, left Gibraltar on her planned circumnavigation on 21st August 2010. She is now more than half way round the world, heading for the labyrinth of coral … Continue reading
Najad Files for Bankruptcy
One of the best known names in international boat building for the last forty years has fallen victim to the economic downturn across the Western world. Swedish boat-builder Najad (Najadvarvet AB) has announced that it has submitted a petition for … Continue reading
Canadian Sailor Gets Lucky Off Australian Coast
For an allegedly experienced sailor, his lack of preparedness is quite shocking. This guy really lucked out. A lone Canadian yachtsman says he’s lucky a long out-of-date battery still powered his emergency beacon when he struck trouble in wild weather … Continue reading
