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Archive for May 2014

Tragedy in the Night

May 21, 2014
By Monday morning the big southern swells had lain down substantially along the Kona coast. But the night before, 8-foot rollers drove the Ventura-based Nordic 40 Seaquel onto a rocky shelf of reef. More »

A Bad End to a Good Weekend

One of the best parts of cruising is meeting new people — or, as is often the case, reconnecting with old friends. Anchored in uncharacteristically warm and placid Half Moon Bay last Friday, this writer and her husband watched as several boats anchored nearby. More »

The New Rambler

Hugo Boss‘ dismasting and subsequent repairs in Newport, Rhode Island may have grabbed the headlines, but there’s a lot more going on in the nation’s smallest state right now. Just down the river in Portsmouth, RI, the new Rambler has come out of the molds at New England Boatworks. More »
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Don’t Be One of the 500

May 19, 2014
PHOTO There have been plenty of reminders lately why boating safety is a deadly serious matter. The issue of safety comes into special focus this week, May 17-23, as it’s been officially designated as National Safe Boating Week — timed, of course, to immediately precede Memorial Day weekend.  More »

Schooner Gals Show Their Stuff

"Sailing changed my life," exclaimed Abby Mohan from the helm of Freda B, an 80-ft (LOA) gaff-rigged schooner. Only six years ago, she took her first sailing lesson, fell in love with the sport, quit her land job and pursued a floating career. More »

And Away He Goes

Some people like nothing better than to be alone on a vast ocean in a small boat. Webb Chiles is definitely one of those sailors. © Steve Earley "Unless you hear from me otherwise before 9 a.m. More »

Ta-Ta Sign-Ups Climb

Since registration began last Thursday, 19 boats have signed up for September’s reggae-themed SoCal Ta-Ta cruisers’ rally, meaning there are only 31 slots left until the max of 50 is reached. More »

Jack van Ommen Has Replaced Fleetwood

May 16, 2014
A svelte Jack van Ommen with Fleetwood on the French canals months before the boat was lost to a storm in the Med. Jack van Ommen
©2014 Latitude 38 Media, LLC We’re delighted to report that Jack van Ommen of Gig Harbor, Washington, has found a replacement boat. More »
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SIM Card Controversy

In an NPR interview last Sunday, offshore rescue survivor Eric Kaufman of Rebel Heart explained that when his sat phone stopped functioning correctly while roughly 900 miles offshore, he and his wife Charlotte lost the ability to consult with US Coast Guard personnel about their emergency situation. More »

Sign Up For The SoCal Ta-Ta II Now

The course for the SoCal Ta-Ta – from Santa Barbara to Catalina – should require little or no upwind sailing. © 2014 The SoCal Ta-Ta II — aka ‘Reggae ‘Pon da Ocean’ — to be held from September 7-13, is now open for entries. More »