PlanetSolar Completes 12,500-Mile Expedition Along the Gulf Stream Framed beneath London’s iconic Tower Bridge on Aug. 31, the world’s largest solar-powered boat, PlanetSolar, concluded a 12,500-mile, 156-day voyage to gather scientific observations along the Gulf Stream. The expedition combined cutting-edge renewable energy technology with oceanographic research and public outreach, stopping in major coastal cities to … Read more

Shamrock V: The Living Link to 1930s America’s Cup and J Class Heritage Few yachts preserve a direct, sailing connection to the golden age of ocean racing like Shamrock V. Built to the J Class rule and launched for the 1930 America’s Cup challenge, Shamrock V remains one of the most significant and best-preserved examples … Read more

Bertram Unveils New 58-Foot Convertible Inspired by Iconic 54 Bertram Yachts of Fort Lauderdale has announced a new 58-foot convertible that follows the company’s recently revived 35-foot model. Construction on the 58 is scheduled to begin in June, with a planned launch in late 2017. The new convertible draws heavily on the pedigree of the … Read more

The Western Flyer: Rescuing a Literary and Scientific Icon What appeared at first glance to be nothing more than an abandoned, deteriorating workboat on Swinomish Indian Reservation land in Washington state turned out to be a vessel with deep literary and scientific significance. The 76-foot boat, known to many as Gemini and long showing peeling … Read more

I was livid. Stranded on I‑5 with a flat tire, missing a critical part, I had to call for a tow — not just for the delay but for the humiliation of asking someone to rescue me. That sense of helplessness is exactly what Derk Wolmuth faced at sea, only his problem was far worse … Read more

Vanquish 26 Center Console: Doug Zurn Hull Now with Forward Cuddy and Enhanced Comfort Vanquish Boats has introduced an updated version of its Doug Zurn–designed 26-foot center-console, now featuring a forward cuddy cabin and a collection of comfort-focused refinements. Built primarily for day cruising with family and friends, the refreshed model blends the clean lines … Read more

After the Hurricane — Winslow Homer’s Masterful Watercolor of Sea and Storm A veil of rain and receding storm clouds lift away from a dark, restless sea, leaving the aftermath of a tropical hurricane in their wake. On the shore a lone sailor sits among the broken timbers of his boat, while pale blue-green waves … Read more

Let’s take a 45-foot DWL yacht. The commonly used rule of thumb for estimating the theoretical maximum hull speed of a displacement hull is 1.34 times the square root of the waterline length (DWL or LWL) in feet. This formula gives a practical upper limit for a displacement hull before it begins to climb its … Read more

Panga Skiffs: Practical, Efficient, and Growing in Popularity A Panga may not win any beauty contests. Its bow sits high, the beam is relatively narrow, and the basic versions used by small-scale fisheries in developing countries often amount to little more than a simple hull with no frills. Yet the Panga’s strengths are practical and … Read more

One week into the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the fleet is being tested by extreme conditions: sustained winds approaching 50 knots and towering seas with maximum wave heights reported at 46 feet. These raw elements push both boats and crews to their operational limits, turning routine sailing tasks into high-stakes decisions where … Read more