Fastnet Turns 50

The 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet race was one to remember, with extreme conditions wiping out a quarter of the fleet before tapering off for a slog to the finish. The biannual race is a 625-mile marathon from Cowes, UK, around Ireland’s Fastnet Rock, and then down to Cherbourg, France …

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At The Helm: Grandma Ocean

This column is usually about seamanship, a technical look at things to make us better sailors. But how does history play a part in that? I was recently in Fort Lauderdale for a medical renewal of my captain’s license, and I stayed with Pam Wall, a young-at-heart old salt who’s become a close friend …

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Birth of a Sail Loft

I first met Sebastian and Samantha in St. Augustine, Florida, at a meet and greet for cruisers. We had to be the youngest people at the function and certainly the only ones sporting dreadlocks. We were riff-raff sailors on production boats. We were also semi-broke and looking for work. They were …

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Golden Globe Glory

When he competed in the first Golden Globe Race in 1968-69, French sailor Bernard Moitessier achieved legend status not for winning, but rather for precisely the opposite—opting instead to keep on sailing, “because I am happy at sea, and perhaps to save my soul.” It’s a sentiment that Kirsten …

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Dangerous Bravado

The Cruising Club of America (CCA) is a collection of 1,400 ocean sailors with extensive offshore seamanship, command experience, and a shared passion for making adventurous use of the seas. Their experiences and expertise make them, collectively, one of the most reliable sources of information on …

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New Boats: HH44-SC

With the new HH44-SC, HH Catamarans is pursuing dual purposes: producing a luxury, high-performance cat for cruising families and couples, and answering what HH CEO Paul Hakes says has been sailors’ frustration at “the slow pace” of the marine industry’s adoption of electric-based technologies. …

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A Rookie on Rio 100

“What? Are you kidding me? That never happens!” Such was the response from a sailing buddy when I told him I was joining the Rio 100 crew for the 800-mile Newport to Cabo race. His reaction was certainly justified. While I’ve sailed off and on my whole life, my racing experience is limited to some …

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