From the Editor: Reporting From the Water and Working Remotely The Soundings editorial team thrives on getting out where the stories happen. For Executive Editor Pim Van Hemmen, that meant heading to the Damariscotta River in Maine to report on a local oyster-harvesting operation before winter closed the waterfront. On a bitter December morning, Pim … Read more

Rich Wilson’s Solo Vendée Globe: Endurance, Injuries, and Resolve Rich Wilson sits at home in Marblehead, Massachusetts, carrying a head full of memories and a body marked by the cost of a single-handed circumnavigation. Wilson, who turned 59 in April, became only the second American to complete the Vendée Globe, the notoriously demanding solo round-the-world … Read more

Pride of Baltimore II remains one of the world’s most revered tall ships, delighting crowds wherever she sails. We will use 2018 to reassess the ship’s future, working closely with our partners in the public and private sectors to make sure we don’t witness the end to Pride’s wonderful history. – Pride of Baltimore Inc., … Read more

Historic 1932 Norwester Yacht Grounded near Prevost Harbor The 76-foot, 1932 Norwester—a yacht with deep ties to both naval service and Hollywood—has run aground near Prevost Harbor in the San Juan Islands and now faces a perilous future. Built in 1932 and later used by the US Navy during World War II, the vessel became … Read more

Annapolis: the boater’s paradise Maritime Annapolis: A History of Watermen, Sails and Shipmen (The History Press, 2009; $19.99) by Rosemary F. Williams is a richly detailed portrait of Annapolis, tracing the city’s maritime life from its earliest days through the era that defined its relationship with the Chesapeake Bay. Williams organizes the city’s past around … Read more

Kinder Industries Shifts from Boat Covers to Face Shields to Support Hospitals Kinder Industries Inc., based in Bristol, Rhode Island, has spent 23 years making boat covers and enclosures. In response to the coronavirus pandemic and urgent needs from hospitals and medical staff, the company has repurposed its production lines to manufacture personal protective equipment … Read more

How to Choose a Reputable Boat Dealer or Broker After an Illinois Fraud Indictment A recent 21-page federal indictment in Illinois has put a spotlight on dealer fraud in the marine industry and offers a timely reminder about steps boat buyers should take when choosing a broker or dealership. Two former employees of Clinton Marine … Read more

W-Class Yachts: Revival of One-Design, Spirit-of-Tradition Sailing If you have spent time in Newport, Rhode Island, or attended any of the world’s classic yacht regattas, you have likely seen the striking W-Class sailing yachts. These boats combine the grace of traditional yacht lines with modern construction and performance, and they were conceived to restore close, … Read more

Ted Hood’s WhisperJet 38: A Waterjet-Powered Downeast Cruiser Reimagined Ted Hood was already recognized as one of the sailing world’s most inventive minds when he turned his attention to powerboat design. Best known for rethinking sails, sailcloth and hull lines—and for helming the 12 Meter Courageous during the successful defense of the 1974 America’s Cup—Hood … Read more

Shane Couch: Painting the Great Classic Yachts Not every marine artist has the opportunity to stand on the decks of the vessels they paint. Shane Couch is an exception. His lifelong fascination with the grand sailing yachts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries has taken him aboard many of the classic schooners celebrated … Read more