The Ocean Race 2023 — Leg One: Alicante to Cape Verde The opening leg of The Ocean Race 2023 set off from Alicante, Spain, on Sunday with a fleet divided between five IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) entries and six VO65s. This first stage is a fast, tactical run of roughly 1,900 nautical miles … Read more

Rafael Nadal Joins E1 Electric Racing as Team Owner to Support Marine Restoration Twenty-two-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has become the newest team owner in E1, the world’s first all-electric raceboat championship. Nadal’s investment is focused on environmental stewardship: it will support efforts to combat the loss of marine ecosystems and biodiversity while raising … Read more

U.S. Representative John Sarbanes describes himself as an avid, if occasional, boater. “I love being out on the water, but I don’t get much of a chance to do that,” the Maryland Democrat told Soundings. “Whenever I’m out on the water, I’m in seventh heaven.” That affection for the Chesapeake Bay underpins a new proposal … Read more

Boating Safety: Inspect Your Equipment Before You Leave the Dock When I taught seamanship and boat handling to new owners, everyone seemed eager to learn how to make a perfect docking maneuver—then blast out of the marina. But my first lesson was always about safety. One memory sticks with me: a middle-aged man who, excited … Read more

Camano 31: A Practical Coastal Cruiser by Bob Warman The Camano 31, designed by Vancouver naval architect Bob Warman, is a compact coastal cruiser that blends the robust, practical qualities of regional working boats with comfortable cruising accommodations. Originally referred to as the 28 when Warman built, launched and sold the first hull, the design … Read more

Bequia: The Gaff-Rigged Wooden Cutter That Traveled from a Caribbean Beach to Marina del Rey I was sailing down the inner channel of Marina del Rey beneath a warm red sunset when Nills, one of the crew, pointed toward a distinctive 40-foot gaff-rigged wooden cutter tied at the end of a dock. Its classic lines … Read more

When Intuition Matters at Sea: Lessons from Fatal Boating Voyages Deb Kiley felt uneasy before boarding the 58-foot sailing yacht Trashman for a trip from Maryland to Florida. She didn’t get along with one crewmate, Mark Adams, and there was a deeper, persistent sense that something wasn’t right about the voyage. Still, she had plans … Read more

Tourism in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is not yet exactly where it was five years ago, but it’s making a strong comeback. Most charter bases and marinas have been repaired or rebuilt, businesses are reopening, and fuel, groceries and provisions are generally available. That renewed activity means popular anchorages and restaurants can be busy: … Read more

Aberration launched in early 2021 after a full conversion from a 35-foot sailing catamaran into a wheelchair-accessible, electric-powered passenger catamaran. Anne in Newport, Rhode Island, 1985. The Luau 35 after being towed to Jersey City, New Jersey, from Westport, Connecticut, by the Transworld 50 fantail Consensus (left), before continuing up the Hudson River to Albany, … Read more

OLD-SCHOOL GENTLEMAN Thank you for the excellent profile of Jock Williams of Hall Quarry in “A Charmed Boating Life” (December 2022). Jock is the kind of Maine boatbuilder and craftsman who embodies the traditions of the region: skilled hands, unshakable integrity, and a lifelong commitment to his customers. His reputation as a trustworthy craftsman is … Read more