SpaceX Capsule Splashdown in Gulf of Mexico Surrounded by Private Boaters When the SpaceX capsule carrying astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley touched down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, recovery teams expected to be first on scene. Instead, several recreational boats reached the floating spacecraft before official crews, surrounding the capsule and creating … Read more

Hundreds Attend 10th Annual “White Trash Bash” in East Peoria Despite COVID-19 Surge Despite a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across Illinois, roughly 500 people gathered over the weekend for the 10th annual “White Trash Bash” in East Peoria. The gathering—centered around heavy boat traffic, drinking and large social groups—drew attention because attendees largely ignored … Read more

Isaias Expected to Become a Hurricane Before Reaching the Carolinas, Officials Warn As Tropical Storm Isaias moved away from the Florida coast on Monday morning, forecasters warned it was likely to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall along the Carolinas later that day. The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued an 8 a.m. advisory placing … Read more

Blue Sea Systems M2 Vessel Systems Monitor (VSM) — Overview Blue Sea Systems continues to advance practical marine electronics with the launch of the M2 Vessel Systems Monitor. Designed for boats with growing amounts of onboard technology, the M2 VSM consolidates critical monitoring functions into a single, compact module. “With so much technology on boats … Read more

Exploring the Green Banana: One of Florida’s Deepest Blue Holes Blue holes — the deep, often circular sinkholes that punctuate the ocean floor — are scattered across the world’s seas. Among them, a sinkhole nicknamed the Green Banana has drawn particular scientific interest. Located off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida, this blue hole sits … Read more

Cox Powertrain CXO300 Diesel Outboards Begin Arrival in North America Cox Powertrain’s production 300-hp CXO300 diesel outboards are now starting to reach the North American market. After the first production units were delivered to Singapore-based distributor Sime Darby, Florida-based Ring Power is preparing for the next shipment and plans to showcase the engines across the … Read more

Larry Pardey, Renowned Bluewater Sailor and Author, Dies at 81 Larry Pardey, a celebrated figure in the global cruising community, has passed away at the age of 81. Pardey and his wife, Lin, rose to international recognition for their adventurous, self-reliant approach to sailing and for sharing their experiences through books and articles that inspired … Read more

During the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, when 12-Meter yachts contested the America’s Cup off Newport, Rhode Island, the city’s Armory on lower Thames Street served as the event’s primary press office. Skippers, navigators and other sailing legends came through the preserved 1800s brick building to give interviews and recount events, often still salt-scented from life … Read more

Proteus: The World’s Largest Underwater Research Station Aquanaut Fabien Cousteau and industrial designer Yves Béhar have unveiled plans for Proteus, a proposed 4,000-square-foot underwater research station and habitat. Designed to rest approximately 60 feet below the surface of the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Curaçao, Proteus is envisioned as a two-story, stilt-supported complex where … Read more

Solo Sailor Bert ter Hart Completes 267-Day Non-Stop Circumnavigation Using Only Celestial Navigation Bert ter Hart, a 62-year-old sailor from Gabriola, British Columbia, has completed a remarkable 267-day nonstop circumnavigation of the globe aboard his 43-foot sailboat. What makes his voyage especially notable is that he navigated entirely by celestial methods — using a sextant, … Read more