Dreamers with a Sense of Humor Renee D. Petrillo’s sailing memoir, A Sail of Two Idiots, tells the familiar but still irresistible story of a couple who decide to leave the 9-to-5 grind and trade it for life on the water. Published by International Marine in 2012, this 304-page paperback (priced at $12.16 through Amazon … Read more

Captain George Farnsworth — “Tuna George” and the Birth of Modern Game Fishing Captain George Farnsworth, widely known to his friends and fellow anglers around Catalina Island as “Tuna George,” stands among the early innovators who shaped big-game sportfishing off Southern California. Born in Connecticut, Farnsworth made his career on the ocean in the early … Read more

Cutwater Boats Unveils CW26 and CW28 Semidisplacement Pilothouse Cruisers Fluid Motion, the designer and builder behind the Ranger Tugs brand, has launched a new line of semidisplacement pilothouse boats intended for cruising, fishing and comfortable overnighting. Marketed under the Cutwater Boats name, the initial models in the series—the CW26 and CW28—focus on efficient, single-diesel propulsion, … Read more

Volvo Ocean Race Team Scallywag Suffers Tragic Loss as Crew Member Washed Overboard Team Scallywag, racing a Volvo Ocean 65, experienced a fatal man overboard incident in the remote South Pacific on March 26. British crew member John Fisher was swept overboard as the boat encountered a building gale. Despite an immediate and determined search … Read more

J Class Yachts Thrill Newport Just as They Did in Their 1930s Glory Days Photos by Jody Dole We gathered in a small launch in Newport, Rhode Island — three photographers, Soundings editor Bill Sisson and I — to witness the J Class Regatta. The event is part of a series of international competitions organized … Read more

Ferrocement Ships: Early 20th Century Concrete Vessels and Their Legacy What are these men doing, and what is all that metalwork? Look closely at the background and the curved outline of a ship’s bow reveals the answer. It’s the early 1900s, and the workers stand inside a lattice of rebar and wire mesh, building what … Read more

Hella Sea Hawk XL Marine LED Lamps — Compact, Dual-Color Lighting for Boats The Hella Sea Hawk XL is a compact, dual-color marine LED lamp designed for a wide range of onboard lighting needs. At roughly 6 inches wide by 2 inches high by 2 inches deep, these slim-profile fixtures deliver bright, controllable light while … Read more

Lessons from the Cosco Busan’s Collision with the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge The ship’s pilot who directed a 901-foot container vessel away from the dock in dense fog and then sideswiped the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge nearly two years ago will serve 10 months in federal prison. The vessel, the Cosco Busan, weighed roughly 68,000 … Read more

Where to See the Latest Boats and Marine Technology This Season Boat builders continue to introduce fresh designs, advanced systems and smarter materials, and the boat-show circuit is where many of those innovations make their public debut. Whether you’re shopping for a new boat, researching the latest propulsion and electronics, or simply enjoying the craftsmanship … Read more

I spent the first week of the America’s Cup in San Francisco, immersed in corporate hospitality and running between Pier 27, the Marina Green, Crissy Field, the top of the Transamerica Building, St. Francis Yacht Club and out on the racecourse. From every vantage point I visited, the racing was spectacular — San Francisco truly … Read more