My husband Neil and I left Mexico in March aboard our Liberty 458 Distant Drummer with a plan to spend the rest of the year on a leisurely voyage down the Pacific coast of Central America. After enjoy

Sailors know that when a person goes overboard the crew must go immediately into recovery mode. Man overboard procedures are studied and practiced. But what happens if you are the person in the water?

We hoped the gale warning forecast was wrong as we set out for the 48th annual Figawi Race from Hyannis to Nantucket on Cape Cod in May. It wasn’t. But my friend Josh Antrim was committed to sailing

We can talk about this boat later. First I want to talk about Bruce Roberts. There are several ways you can be a yacht designer, Bruce chose his own way. Born in Victoria, Australia, Bruce opened his

The new Hallberg-Rassy models designed by German Frers are always fun to review. I get a wry smile when I look at the new designs considering what HRs looked like 45 years ago when my Valiant 40 was i

 Few boats are without at least one knife, but when you need a knife in an emergency, you need it immediately. Sailors should carry a folding blade that can be opened one-handed. The Assist Salt

 Life jackets have become highly specialized, so investing in your own, rather than using whatever a boat may have available, is a good idea. You can customize the fit, but more importantly you c

 A personal flashlight is a must-have if you are doing any nighttime sailing, but using one that is waterproof and has a strobe function makes it a safety device as well. One problem with many po

 The cheapest piece of safety gear might just be the most important thing you carry on a boat. Whistles have proven their value in man overboard situations. Those without a “pea” that will ke

 Pyrotechnic flares are important to have onboard, but adding an electric “flare” to the safety kit can be easier for all crewmembers to use and it never expires. The SOS Distress Light, whic

 Not every boat needs a life raft, but depending on where it sails it can be a great addition. Most life rafts pack small so they don’t take up a lot of room, but make sure they are stowed some

Instead of assembling your own first aid kit, consider picking up one specifically designed for a marine environment and for the kind of sailing you do. Adventure Medical Kits’ Marine 1000 is suited

The Pacific Seacraft Orion 27 has been called many things, from an overbuilt floating apartment to the sort of boat an adventurous sailor might choose to sail around the world. During production in th

The 105-foot classic ketch Whitehawk is set to race the Great Lakes Mackinac races.What do you do when you no longer have your Volvo 70 Il Mostro to race the Mackinac races on? If you’re Peter Thort

Dear Boat Doctor, I am doing some maintenance on my old electric Barient winches. I have taken down the manual parts of the winches, and I am pretty clear on how to clean and lubricate those parts. I

Sailing friends who sail the Chesapeake endeavor each year to join a select group called the Century Club. To qualify, one must sail 100 days in a year. Of course, this is easier for folks who don’t

Features  Alone at sea Istvan Kopar managed broken gear and bad luck for 263 days in the Golden Globe Race Heartbreaker The boat that broke one owner’s heart is reimagined with an unco

 A friend, poking gentle fun, once told me that my august position at the top of the masthead as publisher just means that I get to drive the magazine bus. If that’s true, then I’ve been going on frequent busman’s holidays. I read magazines obsessively. Maybe that should be called an ink-stained wretch’s holiday.  I consume magazines with omnivorous taste, on subjects ranging from cars to cooking, but, naturally, sailing magazines get priority. I read every one I can get my hands on, good and bad, domestic and foreign.
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