Patrick Healey rarely goes a week without fishing from one of his Viking yachts. I caught up with Healey, Viking’s executive vice president, during a seven-day fishing stretch that began chasing sailfish off Jupiter, Florida, aboard a Viking 70 and finished on a 50-footer hunting Pacific sailfish off Los Sueños, Costa Rica. “You have to … Read more

To many anglers—especially those who fish along the coast—the U.S. Coast Guard feels a lot like the local police: they’re there to protect you, and you appreciate that presence. But they also enforce safety regulations, which can sometimes result in expensive citations. Still, most boaters would agree it’s better to comply than to be on … Read more

SeaFair Megayacht Joins Fort Lauderdale Boat Show as VIP Club and Traveling Showroom The Fort Lauderdale boat show expands this year with the arrival of SeaFair, a 228-foot megayacht designed as a floating showroom. Launched in 2007 and built at a cost of roughly $40 million, SeaFair brings a unique blend of international fine art, … Read more

Jeanneau DB43: A New Premium Dayboat with Contemporary Styling Dayboats remain one of the fastest-growing segments in recreational boating, and French builder Jeanneau has expanded its premium dayboat line with the striking DB43. With a contemporary profile, a plumb bow and clean, modern lines, the DB43 represents a deliberate move toward sleeker, more lifestyle-oriented boat … Read more

Blown Over: Testing Leopard Catamarans in Cape Town’s Stormy Seas They don’t call it the Cape of Storms for nothing. I arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, with fellow nautical journalists Chris Dixon (Power & Motoryacht) and Jeff Moser (Passagemaker) to tour Robertson & Caine’s production facilities and sample the Leopard 40 PC, the company’s … Read more

In a world defined by water, the foundation of an enjoyable boating life is a boat that is well-built, well-maintained, safe and reliable. A solid, dependable vessel is what turns unsettled days into memorable ones; everything else is merely peripheral. Sadly, poor workmanship, inadequate repairs and ill-conceived systems remain the flip side of excellence. Sloppy … Read more

Beetle Cat Boat Shop: Preserving a Century of Classic Wooden Sailing Bill Womack doesn’t look like the stereotypical structural engineer turned boatbuilder. With a white Imperial-style beard, wire-rimmed glasses, a baseball cap and flannel shirt, he resembles the familiar faces you see around New England docks and boatyards. But beneath that unassuming appearance is a … Read more

Low Country Waterfront Home on the Intracoastal Waterway near Beaufort, NC Ollie and Nancy Dixon selected an exceptional spot for their dream house: deep, protected water on the Intracoastal Waterway, situated roughly 10 miles south of the mouth of the Neuse River and about 10 miles north of Beaufort Inlet. Their Low Country–style, two-story residence … Read more

Matthew Stackpole: A Life at Sea — From Nantucket to Mystic Raised in a family steeped in whaling history, Matthew Stackpole has spent a life shaped by wooden decks, sea air and historic ships. His career blends hands-on seamanship with museum stewardship and historic vessel restoration. Few people stumble into a lifelong calling the way … Read more

Dismasted at Sea: A Night of Damage Control in the Caribbean It was Thursday, January 24, two days out from Puerto Rico and roughly 200 miles north of Colombia when everything changed. I came off watch at 1600 into a perfect afternoon: the ship was driving hard under a full canvas—main and fore t’gallants, main … Read more