British Virgin Islands Reopen for Charters on December 1: What Travelers and Operators Need to Know In mid-September officials announced that the British Virgin Islands (BVI) would reopen to visitors on December 1 after a prolonged Covid-19 closure. For yacht charter operators, crewed and bareboat sailors, and vacationers who have long favored the BVI’s sheltered … Read more
Imagine a place where you can land a record-size snook in the morning, target reef species after lunch and hook a trophy sailfish by late afternoon—all within a 15-mile boat ride. It may sound like an angler’s dream, but this place exists: Florida, a global hub for fishing and boatbuilding. This 500-mile-long peninsula has produced … Read more
The Bertram 31 Tracy Ann is shown here rigged for a day of sportfishing off Cabo San Lucas, a picture from the Soundings archive that captures the boat’s purposeful silhouette. Authors David Patten and Jeffrey Rodengen labeled the compact convertible “the workhorse of the sportfishing industry” in their book The Legend of Bertram, a fitting … Read more
More Novice Boaters Drive Demand for Online Courses from America’s Boating Club From her base on Sanibel Island off Florida’s Gulf Coast, Mary Paige Abbott has noticed the same trend many experienced boaters have observed: a surge of newcomers on local waterways looking for a socially distanced way to enjoy time outdoors — and many … Read more
In a surprising move for the marine performance market, Volvo Group — the majority owner of Seven Marine — has announced it will discontinue production of Seven Marine’s high-powered outboard engines. The decision reflects Volvo’s broader climate and technology strategy as the company accelerates its shift toward fossil-free, electric, hybrid and fuel-cell propulsion. Volvo Group … Read more
Cargill to Fit Giant Wing Sails on Cargo Ships to Cut Fuel Use and Emissions Minnesota-based Cargill Inc., one of the world’s largest agricultural commodities traders, is moving forward with plans to equip some of its chartered cargo fleet with large rigid wing sails. The company, which typically charters around 600 vessels at any given … Read more
16-Year-Old Killed in Indian Shores Boat Crash; Teen Driver Faces Vessel Homicide Charges Early Sunday morning, 16-year-old Rachel Herring died after a boating accident in Indian Shores, Florida. The operator of the vessel, also 16 and reportedly driving a boat owned by his parents, has been charged with vessel homicide as authorities continue their investigation … Read more
I was meeting with 40 professional mariners to review man-overboard procedures in cold-water regions. Because most of them operate where the water stays below about 60°F for much of the year, I asked my favorite question: “If you go overboard in January wearing street clothes when the water is just above 33°F, how long until … Read more
98.4-Foot Wave Recorded Off Ireland as Hurricane Epsilon’s Remnants Pass Offshore monitoring systems registered a massive wave measuring 98.4 feet (about 30 metres) in the waters west of Ireland last week. The extraordinary reading came from an offshore weather buoy and has been described as one of the largest waves ever recorded in Irish waters. … Read more
Albemarle Boats and Spencer Sportfish Announce Partnership for New 53-Foot Offshore Hull Just before the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) opened, Albemarle Boats and Spencer Sportfish publicly announced a strategic partnership to develop a new 53-foot offshore sportfishing hull. The collaboration combines Albemarle’s manufacturing capacity and reputation for quality with Spencer Sportfish’s Carolina-style, semi-custom … Read more