The autopilot on my 35ft sloop, Second Wind, had been both commissioned and sea-trialed. I had also completed all of the other upgrades I’d had planned in preparation for perhaps a year-long cruise through the Caribbean. Working with various local technicians, I’d added solar panels, a new …
DetailsTrawlerfest Anacortes (Pssst, Sailors. You Should Come Too) 29 ‘Propulsion Agnostic’ Seminars Destinations, Solar Electric, Weather, Power Systems, Satellite Communications, Repairs & Maintenance… Even though the event is called Trawlerfest, and it’s brought to you by Passagemaker magazine, …
DetailsAn ex-Vendée Globe racer is an unusual choice as a world cruiser, so why was it ours? Although we already both owned a pair of production boats, my partner, Timo, and I were searching for something to spice up our cruising life. We toyed with the idea of a classic schooner, but weren’t sure we …
DetailsWith an increasing number of truly massive yachts on the docks at boat shows these days, it would be easy to assume that the boatbuilding industry is going all in on the “bigger is better” approach. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. As demonstrated in these three new …
DetailsFor quite some time, I had contemplated an expansion of the house battery bank aboard our 1987 Sabre 38MKI, Orion. There were several potential issues that had kept the project from becoming a reality. But fortunately, while not trivial, in the end, they were all surmountable, and I was able to …
DetailsIt’s official. Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are ditching their fans in Auckland for the port city of Barcelona, Spain. No word yet on how many pieces of silver will be changing hands as part of the deal that will see Barcelona play host to the 37th …
DetailsSince you’re reading this in a multihull magazine, chances are you’re already a fan of catamarans and are familiar with their advantages. They offer more room than same-length monohulls, they have system redundancy built in, they tend to produce less seasickness because they don’t heel much, and …
DetailsDame Ellen MacArthur was born July 8, 1976 in Derbyshire, England. She grew up sailing with her aunt on the eastern coast of England. At age eight, she saved her lunch money to buy an eight-foot dinghy. At 17, she began working at the David King Nautical School in Kingston upon Hull. A year later …
DetailsI was recently asked to run a charter for friends. As non-sailors, they didn’t know what to expect or who else to invite. I suggested bareboat chartering is living with people in close quarters, sometimes in stressful situations due to weather and schedules, and that they should select the crew …
DetailsIf you’ve watched America’s Cup or grand prix sailboat racing you may have noticed the mindboggling technology that goes into moving a mass of magnificently crafted composite around some buoys or around the globe. These machines are otherworldly. But in case you think those speedsters have nothing …
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