If commercial shipping seems to be moving slower than last year, that’s because it is — and it’s due to the increasing cost of fuel. According to trade organizations, the 4,650 larger commercial ships of the world are now traveling at an average of 11.7 knots, about 7% slower than the year before. More »

After singing the lines, "It’s been a lovely cruise, I’m sorry it’s ended," at a concert at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, last night, Jimmy Buffett, the muse to many a sailor, made an unintentional face plant off the stage. More »

What could be nicer than paddling in from your boat and into a nice Mexican wall such as this? latitude/Nick
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC When surfers talk about riding waves on the North Shore, they are inevitably referring to the North Shore of Hawaii and all the famous world-class breaks there. More »

Larry Ellison, whose 100-ft trimaran USA won the America’s Cup, and who is bringing the ‘Auld Mug’ to San Francisco, has a new 288-ft motoryacht. He’s actually downsizing. As most readers remember, a few years ago Ellison commissioned the 452-ft Rising Sun. More »

Zihua Sail Fest is a fantastic annual event that’s not only fun for cruisers but helps the neediest of kids. © 2011 Zihua Sail Fest "This is the 10th anniversary of Zihua Sail Fest, to be held February 1-6, and if you’re cruising mainland Mexico, we need your help," writes Pamela Bendall of the Port Hardy, B.C.-based More »

There’s a new "largest privately-owned yacht in the world." She’s the 533-ft motoryacht Eclipse, which is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The title was formerly held by a boat owned by a fellow from Dubai, whose boat is now about two feet too short. More »

Nature has blessed Cuba with some of the most beautiful ocean waters of the world. TerraNova
©2011 Latitude 38 Media, LLC "We cruised the Caribbean last winter, during which time we spent two months in Cuba," write an American cruising couple, the male of which started cruising from Northern California. More »

Back in the December 10 ‘Lectronic, we ran a little quiz asking what fun-loving woman owned the colorful toes in the photo accompanying that ‘Lectronic item. We gave some hints: 1) She’s a West Coast woman who had considerable success racing a cutting-edge sailboat; 2) More importantly, she’s completed the magnificent restoration of a 55-year-old, 90-ft yacht, one of the most beautiful classics in the United States — if not the world; 3) Having cruised the yacht 10,000 miles on the East Coast, Caribbean and Mexico last year, she intends to sail her big ketch in the Los Angeles to Honolulu TransPac in July, and then continue on to New Zealand and, if the continent is not still underwater, Australia. More »

The sunrise was beautiful. But then it rained, as it often has in Southern California this winter. © 2011 Devan Mullins The above photo of Newport Harbor, taken by Devan Mullins on January 2, is his response to our recent ‘Lectronic photo of a sunrise at Barra Navidad, Mexico. More »