After a long, cold winter, the idea of getting back out to the region’s favorite fishing and boating spots is irresistible. It’s always nice to hear the weatherman say spring has arrived on the calendar, only to be reminded by one last wet, heavy snowfall and then a string of chilly, rainy weekends. Still, warmer … Read more

Coast Guardsman Killed When Suspected Smuggling Panga Rams Law Enforcement Boat off Channel Islands One Coast Guardsman lost his life and another was injured in the early hours off Southern California’s Channel Islands when a suspected drug-smuggling panga deliberately rammed a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB) carrying a law enforcement boarding team. The collision occurred in … Read more

The America’s Cup has long been a theatre for cutting-edge technology, strategic intrigue and oversized egos — a contest where enormous wealth and relentless ambition collide. Winning the Auld Mug requires not only skill on the water but the resources to assemble the best designers, sailors and engineers. Even losing can be ruinously expensive: Sir … Read more

If you cruise enough, eventually you will face heavy weather. Preparing in advance is ideal, as I described in Part One (February issue) on how to ready a boat and crew for an approaching front. But if you are offshore when conditions deteriorate, you must manage what comes at you. The tactics you choose depend … Read more

Mystic, Connecticut: A Maritime Village Steeped in History Two centuries ago, this little port bustled with whaling ships and the village was renowned for building swift clipper vessels. Today the whales and wooden shipbuilding are part of history, but Mystic has preserved a warm Colonial character and an unmistakable maritime identity. Mystic Seaport: Living Maritime … Read more

SS Eastland Disaster on the Chicago River — July 24, 1915 On the cool, cloudy morning of July 24, 1915, a veteran Chicago newspaper reporter watched in stunned disbelief as a large passenger steamer tied to the Chicago River suddenly rolled onto its side and sank within sight of the wharf. The 275-foot SS Eastland, … Read more

Weeklong Passagemaking Course Aboard an Endeavour 40 Trawler Catamaran Just in time for the spring cruising season along the U.S. East Coast, Sea Sense is offering intensive weeklong passagemaking courses. Conducted aboard a fully equipped Endeavour 40-foot trawler catamaran, these hands-on classes give cruising boaters practical experience in real conditions under the guidance of professional … Read more

Autotether Marine Wireless Kill Switch for Outboards: Instant Engine Cutoff When the Operator Falls Overboard Autotether’s marine wireless system is designed to provide a reliable, immediate engine cutoff if the operator falls overboard or becomes separated from the vessel by more than 150 feet. The system replaces the traditional red safety lanyard with a compact … Read more

This converted Pacific Northwest workboat is both durable and charming. It’s almost a rule of thumb: a stroll along B-Dock at the Boat Haven in Port Townsend, Washington, will stop for a look at Petrel. Tied up there, the 42-foot converted salmon troller draws passersby — even those who don’t know much about boats — … Read more

Soundings writer speaks on Cuban cruising travels Peter Swanson, a contributing writer for Soundings and a recognized Cuba cruising expert, will present at CubaCon 2010 on June 11 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. His presentation, titled “Great Bahamas–Cuba Loop: A Post‑Embargo Cruising Strategy,” is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., and may include input from additional marine … Read more