When I served in the U.S. Coast Guard I learned to be precise with safety guidance, and that is why the commonly repeated slogan “Always wear your life jacket” frustrates me. Wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) is usually good advice, but the word “always” masks nuance and can make the guidance feel meaningless. When … Read more
Selby Bay Yacht Club Cruises for Children The members of Selby Bay Yacht Club generously donated their time and vessels this summer to host families and children for cruises in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. The annual “Cruise for Kids” program gives club members an opportunity to reach into the community and offer boating experiences for … Read more
How to Buy a Boat Without Letting Looks Cloud Judgment There’s an old adage: life’s too short to own an ugly boat. While good lines and attractive styling matter, an appealing exterior can tempt buyers to overlook serious shortcomings. To avoid buying a vessel that becomes a burden instead of a joy, approach the search … Read more
Ode to an Active Herreshoff Schooner An impressive box-set publication celebrating one of the most elegant chapters of yachting’s Golden Age is available just in time for the holidays. This deluxe volume will appeal to sailors, historians, modelers and anyone who appreciates fine maritime photography and classic yacht design. Mariette & the Herreshoff Schooners (price: … Read more
After a long, cold winter, the idea of getting back out to the region’s favorite fishing and boating spots is irresistible. It’s always nice to hear the weatherman say spring has arrived on the calendar, only to be reminded by one last wet, heavy snowfall and then a string of chilly, rainy weekends. Still, warmer … Read more
Coast Guardsman Killed When Suspected Smuggling Panga Rams Law Enforcement Boat off Channel Islands One Coast Guardsman lost his life and another was injured in the early hours off Southern California’s Channel Islands when a suspected drug-smuggling panga deliberately rammed a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB) carrying a law enforcement boarding team. The collision occurred in … Read more
The America’s Cup has long been a theatre for cutting-edge technology, strategic intrigue and oversized egos — a contest where enormous wealth and relentless ambition collide. Winning the Auld Mug requires not only skill on the water but the resources to assemble the best designers, sailors and engineers. Even losing can be ruinously expensive: Sir … Read more
If you cruise enough, eventually you will face heavy weather. Preparing in advance is ideal, as I described in Part One (February issue) on how to ready a boat and crew for an approaching front. But if you are offshore when conditions deteriorate, you must manage what comes at you. The tactics you choose depend … Read more
Mystic, Connecticut: A Maritime Village Steeped in History Two centuries ago, this little port bustled with whaling ships and the village was renowned for building swift clipper vessels. Today the whales and wooden shipbuilding are part of history, but Mystic has preserved a warm Colonial character and an unmistakable maritime identity. Mystic Seaport: Living Maritime … Read more
SS Eastland Disaster on the Chicago River — July 24, 1915 On the cool, cloudy morning of July 24, 1915, a veteran Chicago newspaper reporter watched in stunned disbelief as a large passenger steamer tied to the Chicago River suddenly rolled onto its side and sank within sight of the wharf. The 275-foot SS Eastland, … Read more
