For my money, some of the most exciting designs being produced today come from the office of my old friend Mark Mills working in County Wicklow, Ireland.  Mark produces high-performance racing y

The cruising life is often difficult enough, with confined space and endless maintenance. Throw an animal into the mix aboard a sailboat, and cruisers are presented with a whole raft of additional cha

The charter business was born 50 years ago in the British Virgin Islands with six 35-foot sailboats and a dream by Charlie and Ginny Cary to help people go sailing in one of the best cruising grounds

Dear Boat Doctor,  I am taking my boat to Grenada and would really like to be able run an air conditioner. I have read about the new efficient air conditioners that you can run from an inverter.

I was skimming a boating blog when my eye was caught by a plaintive headline: “How do I stop a Seagull?” I thought for a moment and then I started laughing, to the point of tears running down

On any given day in 2019, the average person in a supermarket checkout line knows more about the weather than I did when I set off on my first cruise in my first cruising-racing sailboat. Americans a

Features  Sailing with sandy paws and salty whiskers Cruising with your pets can be rewarding with a little planning Return of the Twelves 21 classic 12-Metres gather on Narrag

The seaworthy Downeaster 32 was designed by Bob Poole, who founded Down East Yachts in Santa Ana, California, during the fiberglass boatbuilding heyday of the 1970s. Poole was an East Coast native and

The following multi-tiered approach to maintenance stems from recommendations from manufacturers and the U.S. Coast Guard, and covers both hydrostatic (pressure sensing) and bobbin type (water soluble

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