Silent-Yachts Scales Up Production of Solar-Powered Electric Catamarans Silent-Yachts, the Austrian pioneer in solar-powered catamaran design, has moved from early adopter status to a rapidly scaling production business. After selling its first solar catamaran in 2018, the company now reports 11 of its electric yachts afloat and has committed to a substantial production run for … Read more
A Sailing Couple in the Vendée Globe Sam Davies of Great Britain and Romain Attanasio of France balance two demanding lives: they are partners at home, raising a nine-year-old son, and they are solo ocean racers who compete in some of the world’s toughest offshore events. Both are seasoned skippers accustomed to long hours at … Read more
Déjà vu hit me the moment my husband, Gary, and I climbed aboard the Formula 380 Super Sport Crossover (SSC) Outboard at Keystone Point Marina in Miami. A year earlier we had test-driven a nearly identical 380 SSC, but that model hid twin 520-hp Mercury Racing sterndrives beneath an expansive swim platform. This version carried … Read more
Ask nearly any Maine boatbuilder where they source quality lumber and they will point to Richard Simon and his business, America’s Wood Company. For builders who need specialty planking, interior joinery, or long, wide boards, Simon’s inventory is a consistent go-to. “It’s a great place,” says Sam Temple, owner of Rockport Marine in Rockport. “Rich … Read more
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