Raising the Mainsail: Ruth Montgomery and the Carrie Winslow A new mainsail is being raised aboard the bark Carrie Winslow in a remarkable photograph taken before the ship departed Portland, Maine, for Buenos Aires in 1903. The mast stands in silhouette against the bright sky, the lower mizzen just visible. The image, shot by Ruth … Read more

Hurricane Irene: Dry Air Collapsed the Eyewall While Heavy Rain Flooded the East Coast Computer models, satellites, and advanced instruments have greatly improved hurricane forecasting, yet Hurricane Irene — long feared to be a storm of historic intensity — surprised forecasters. Instead of becoming the catastrophic wind-and-surge event many predicted, Irene weakened unexpectedly and became … Read more

In the 1990s, choosing a passagemaking powerboat was straightforward: sail or power. For those who wanted power but worried about burning through fuel in the first few hundred miles, trawlers were the obvious answer. Their slow, fuel-sipping diesels earned them a loyal following among serious cruisers. The trade-off was speed—most traditional trawlers struggled to exceed … Read more

Aphrodite: One of the Most Interesting Yachts in the World The name and image of Aphrodite have long captured the imagination of boating enthusiasts and the public alike. Built in 1937 by the Purdy Boat Company of Port Washington, New York, this 74-foot commuter yacht was commissioned by the young Manhattan financier John Hay “Jock” … Read more

Beneteau has introduced the Swift Trawler 35, a clean-sheet replacement for the Swift Trawler 34. Scheduled to make its U.S. debut at the United States Powerboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, this October, the Swift Trawler 35 presents a fresh design direction for the series while staying true to the trawler-yacht concept that made its predecessor … Read more

Rhode Island Marine Plumbing Business Steered by Owner Through Personal and Economic Storms Terri Cortvriend is a sailor, business owner and mother who has built and kept Ocean Link on course despite personal loss and changing economic tides. Her deep familiarity with boats and long-standing passion for the water helped Cortvriend grow Ocean Link into … Read more

When we first saw Roseway moored at a rundown dock in Rockland, Maine, it was obvious she was exactly the right vessel for the World Ocean School. Despite her worn condition, Roseway’s history, build quality, and size made her uniquely suited to an educational sailing program. Built in 1925 by John James at his family … Read more

Bertram at 50: The Legacy of a Hard-Core Fishing Machine Celebrating Bertram Yacht’s 50th anniversary, company president Alton Herndon describes today’s Bertrams as “hard-core, kick-ass fishing machines.” That blunt summation echoes how many enthusiasts remember the boats Richard Bertram built: rugged, seakindly, maneuverable vessels designed to take the worst the sea could throw at them … Read more

San Francisco’s Red & White sightseeing fleet runs on biodiesel, and Seattle’s King County Water Taxi uses biodiesel to ferry passengers across Puget Sound. Along the Eastern Seaboard, the Atlantic Cup — which promotes itself as one of the United States’ most environmentally responsible sailboat races — has fueled its Class 40 fleet with biodiesel … Read more

Couple Accused of Welfare Fraud After Purchasing an 83‑Foot Trumpy Yacht Colin A.J. Chisholm III and his wife, Andrea, cultivated the lifestyle of the wealthy: an 83‑foot Trumpy motoryacht, upscale homes in Minnesota and Florida, and a public image that included claims of Scottish nobility. Their luxury life ended when fraud investigators tied the couple … Read more