Fate made him surgeon to the Swan Medical trainee traded his scalpel for a gelcoat peeler and built a high-end marine restoration practice in Annapolis “It was Michener,” Matthias “Marty” Muench says without hesitation. The German-born sailor first read James Michener’s Chesapeake during his cruising years and was drawn to Annapolis. That curiosity brought him … Read more

Seven Family Members Float 20 Hours After Boat Sinks Off Charleston; Rescued by Coast Guard A fortunate chain of events and quick thinking saved seven family members who spent nearly 20 hours in the Atlantic waters off Charleston, South Carolina, after their 38-foot powerboat sank. The Coast Guard located them when a helicopter crewman spotted … Read more

Fierce, ferocious winds sweep over a beleaguered landscape. Sand disappears as towering waves crash across an island that a short time before had stood solid and dry. Survivors of such storms describe a sound like a freight train roaring overhead or an avalanche that never stops. Marine artist Carl Evers translates those sensations into paint … Read more

Sailing has not been a mainstream sport during Cole Brauer’s generation. The United States’ golden era around the America’s Cup ended long before many young adults today were born, and solo ocean racing has traditionally been dominated by the French. American sailors, especially women, have rarely stood in the spotlight as front-runners or public figures. … Read more

How the U.S. Coast Guard Conducts Searches and What Boaters Can Do to Improve Rescue Chances When a boater calls in distress, U.S. Coast Guard command duty officers immediately begin collecting critical information. On the other end of the line, senior chief petty officers like Jenell Webster and her colleagues use a concise reference card … Read more

As durable, energy-efficient light sources, LEDs are rapidly becoming the preferred choice for boat owners and marine professionals. Their low power consumption, long service life and robust construction address the particular demands of marine environments, where reliability and reduced maintenance are essential. One convenient way to upgrade onboard lighting without replacing existing fixtures is to … Read more

Fatty Knees: The Revival of a Beloved Traditional Dinghy Saved from the scrap heap by a lover of classic design, the Fatty Knees dinghy has made a strong return to the water. The story begins with George Dow, who found exactly the boat he wanted—a 24-foot Bristol Channel cutter named Seraffyn—but was even more taken … Read more

Boston BoatWorks and mJm Yachts: Lightweight, Efficient Powerboats When four sailors pooled their skills to build powerboats, the result was unexpected and compelling: vessels that combine the sensitivity of sailing experience with the speed and convenience of powerboats. Sailors bring a refined awareness of wind, current, tide and seakeeping that influences the way these powercraft … Read more

Are AC72s “Too Big, Too Fast, Too Light”? A Practical Look at Safety and Design Questions have been raised about whether the America’s Cup AC72 catamarans have reached a point where they are “too big, too fast, too light” to be safe. From my perspective, the answer is no — not in any categorical way. … Read more

Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about sailboat sea trials. The purpose of a sea trial A sea trial should be more than a pleasant cruise; it is a disciplined, detailed evaluation of how a prospective sailboat performs in real conditions. You and your surveyor may have inspected the boat thoroughly … Read more