Dedicated to Cruising the world under sail including destinations, navigation, sailing tips, safety ideas, yacht & multihull reviews along with stories and insights for the sail cruising life in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
“I’d never sail the lakes in a boat without a draw-up keel.” The owner of a modestly-sized trailer sailor shakes his head as he eyes the length of our Jarkan 36. The envy lacking in his gaze becomes understandable as…
One of the most heartwarming things we can do is to see a long-held dream fulfilled. But we must take care and ensure that everything we do is done in safety. Otherwise, life can take a very dramatic turn. I…
We all know fire can do devastating damage in a very short time.So why then are many of us reluctant to put a little more effort into fire detection and suppression equipment? Personally, I would like to see any boat…
It was not really an auspicious start to the cruise on Windjammer. Our early 0500 departure from Puerto Natales in southern Chile stretched out to an 1800 departure when we tried to raise our anchor and found that it was…
Readers may have seen the support Cruising Helmsman gave for the recent Down Under Rally.The rally organiser, John Hembrow, has been nominated by John Thornely for the Cruiser of the year award to be decided later this year. It is…
St Thomas Source. By John Baur. A sailing community website reported Wednesday that a Frenchman sailing through the Virgin Islands on his way to Guadeloupe in January was attacked and seriously injured at sea. According to reports, the sailor, 70-year-old…
Offshore racing crews will get to experience one of the world’s most exceptional race courses when they take part in the Volcano Race 2016, off the west coast of Italy over 16-22 May. Organised by the International Maxi Association (IMA)…
PATTAYA, Thailand – The 12th Top of the Gulf Regatta Presented by Ocean Marina will showcase the Gulf of Thailand's world-class sailing credentials when sailors from around the world descend on Ocean Marina Yacht Club from 30th April to 4th…
When Patricia Lucas emailed me to say she was sending me a copy of Alan Lucas' latest book, I was naturally excited. I have Alan's excellent cruising guides to the NSW and Queensland coasts and have obviously read every article…
Alan and Patricia are one of the first nominations for the inaugural 'Cruiser of the year' award. If you want to nominate someone you think worthy then read to the bottom of the story and click on the e-mail address…
PHUKET, Thailand – Billed as 'Asia's fun regatta', The Bay Regatta 2016 is set to welcome over 40 yachts and more than 250 competitors to the four-day inter-provincial regatta that starts and finishes in Phuket and races through some of…
The Courier. By Ben Hansen. BEYOND SAVING: The $600,000 yacht that sunk off King Island early Thursday morning. Photo The Courier. A $600,000 yacht sank off the south-east coast of King Island on Thursday morning. Tasmania Police said the…
For those in the south anticipating a cold, wet winter, perhaps a trip to Port Douglas for the Mickey Ink Port Douglas Race Week would be the solution. Held in the beautiful tourist town north of Cairns every year, with…
When Coffs Harbour handyman and avid surfer Andrew Witton left Australia in 2006 it was supposed to be the trip of the lifetime. His plan was to sail across the South Pacific, visit friends in South America and then make…
For some sailors the Kingdom of Tonga is just a stop on the coconut milk run; another country to check off the list and a spot to provision in the rush across the great Pacific Ocean in one frenzied season….
In Aden, Yemen, the local navy commander told us we would have nothing stolen from our sailing boat because the local pirates had told him we were their friends. But, he warned, we could have our throats cut if we…
Bathed in the soft light of a new day, Playa Zipolite some 80 kilometres east of Puerto Escondido on Mexico’s southwest coast, looked like a poster child version of today’s modern Corona beer billboards. But unfortunately, the beer commercial comparison…
The Boat Owners Association of the United States have released a reminder and useful instructions on how to check a lifejacket. The instructions concentrate on the popular yoke-style inflatable life jackets that keep you cool on a hot day and…
Daily Express (Malaysia): Kota Kinabalu: A young family from China can now add another chapter to their adventures at sea when choppy seas and a faulty engine inadvertently landed them at the Sepanggar Naval Base here, on Sunday. The family…
Cape Times. By Francesca Villette. The Irish embassy and British High Commission have confirmed they are liaising with local authorities to give support to the families of two people who died when the yacht they were sailing in ran aground near Melkbosstrand…
Ocean Currents. By Joanna Gyory, Lisa M. Beal, Barbie Bischof, Arthur J. Mariano, Edward H. Ryan. European navigators in the 15th Century, not knowing about the Gulf Stream, were afraid to risk trans-Atlantic crossings to reach the Far East. Although the…
Yacht racing in or to Queensland waters is far from new, the popular Brisbane to Gladstone event being nearly as old as our world famous Sydney Hobart Race, which began late 1945. Since then, many yachting events have accrued along…
BBC: Two yachtsmen who have been rescued nine times in seven months have been described as a “catastrophe waiting to happen” and urged to “leave UK waters”. In the latest mishap, US citizens Bob Weise and Steve Shapiro, both 71,…
As exciting as it is to fly coloured sails at sea, the reality is that most cruising yachts confine their experience to sheltered waters in clement conditions. When it comes to downwind ocean sailing with an uncertain weather forecast, the…
Bridgetown, Barbados (27 January, 2016): Following the success of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Series, which concluded last weekend, plans are already in place for the 2017 event with the dates confirmed for 16-23 January. This popular regatta,…
The Phuket News. By Eakkapop Thongtub: PHUKET: Police are attempting to identify a foreign man whose body was found on a New Zealand-registered yacht anchored off Phuket’s Nai Harn Beach this morning (Jan 23). A local hotel worker passing…
Durban's Highway Mail. FAMILIES of the three missing yachtsmen are anxiously waiting to find out more about the overturned hull spotted by a Brazilian navy vessel last week. It is believed that it is being towed back to port today….
A 50-foot sailing yacht reported missing yesterday morning was discovered run aground off an island between Phuket and Phi Phi. Somboon Chooseng, the owner of Anemone, reported that the yacht had gone missing from Phi Phi Don on Wednesday night, confirmed…
To be awarded at the Cruising Club of America's Annual Dinner March 4 in New York, we've announced five major awards for 2015: Blue Water Medal “Without Date” Awarded to Jon Sanders: Recognizing a lifetime of sailing achievements including eight circumnavigations….
A recent article in an overseas magazine has prompted discussion on the value (and danger) of tying yourself to your boat. John and Lyn Martine of the Island Cruising Association wrote this excellent piece in reply, aimed at cruising couples:…
Thirty boats sailing as part of World ARC 2016-17 departed Rodney Bay Marina in Saint Lucia on Saturday 9 January for the start of an epic 26,000 mile adventure around the world. World ARC is a circumnavigation rally for cruising…
The Northern Advocate. By Imran Ali. A yachtie is helpless to stop opportunist thieves helping themselves to prized possession on board his stricken yacht – 11 days after it ran aground off Ruakaka on New Zealand's north east coast. Geoff…
From Business Day Live. By Staff Writers. THE National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) went to the aid of a yacht which was reported to have a snapped anchor chain and was being swept towards rocks at Mass Bay near Kleinmond…
Mmmm, lobster. Rather expensive to buy, but rather easy to catch. Lobster is one of those ingredients that needs little effort or fussing about to prepare a wonderful meal from. Butter, champagne and tarragon, I am convinced, are things put…
Recently, I almost put to sea fully aware that my vessel’s exhaust system might be on its last gasp. Fortunately, commonsense prevailed and I remained at anchor to unwrap the lagging and check it out, an act that caused the…
We came to Streaky Bay after crossing the Great Australian Bight from the west and have now traversed further south towards Port Lincoln. But we figure sailing the opposite way would make good use of the south east prevailing winds…
Handy Shipping Guide: ATLANTIC OCEAN – Early on 27 December 2015, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' ship Braemar came to the aid of a sailing yacht marooned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with the dramatic rescue of the 14-metre…
Ottawa Citizen. By Bruce Deachman. Northern Magic, the 42-foot steel, twin-masted sailboat that most famously carried Ottawa’s Stuemer family on a four-year, 65,000-kilometre circumnavigation of the globe, now lies grounded on Uruguay’s rocky coastline, only six metres or so from the…
Bridgetown, Barbados (22 December, 2015): As preparations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January 2016), and to commemorate 50 years of independence for Barbados continue, islanders have welcomed the first overseas race…
Stuff.co.nz by Michael Forbes and Tom Hunt A boatie who bought a $500 yacht with no engine, radio, navigation equipment or life jackets had to be stopped from sailing it from Wellington to Westport. Maritime New Zealand said the Wellington yachtie…
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