Author Peter Janssen

Boat Reviews
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Beneteau Building New GT 45 Express Cruiser

Beneteau just announced that it’s building a new GT 45, the newest in its popular line of express cruisers. With larger windows and more sophisticated systems, the new 45 replaces the 46 in Beneteau’s GT model line. The new 45, to be launched in September, has sporty lines, a swept-back windshield and cabin top, and windows all around for visibility and natural light. It has two cabins, with an optional third, and two heads on the lower accommodation deck, which also has much-larger-than-usual windows in the hull sides. Standard power comes from twin 380-hp Volvo diesels, while twin 440-hp IPS600…

Cruising Life
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New Proposal: 20-Foot Seawall To Protect Miami

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has written the draft of a new proposal calling for a $6 billion, 20-foot-high wall in downtown Miami to protect it from storm surges and rising sea levels. Most of the wall would be inland, separating neighborhoods, but a one-mile stretch would be built in front of the financial section along Brickell Blvd. The proposal is still in its early stages, and any construction is at least five years off. But the idea of a massive sea wall cutting across Biscayne Bay has already drawn some criticism. “The $40 billion in assets you’re trying…

Cruising Life
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Dag Pike, Master Seaman, Dies at 88

Dag Pike, who first went to sea as a teenager and went on to become one of the world’s most respected – and most prolific – boat racers, navigators and seamen, passed away earlier this week. He was 88 years old, and lived in Bristol, UK. I first met Dag at a Miami boat show in the early ‘80s, when he was already a legendary international boating figure, and he was writing for Motor Boating & Sailing, where I was the editor. In person, Dag was memorable; he always had a smile, he always had a new tale to fell,…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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After Four Years, Dirona Comes Home to U.S.

After four years of cruising in Europe, James and Jennifer Hamilton (and their cat, Spitfire), are back home. Earlier this week, they tied up Dirona, their 2009 Nordhavn 52, in Charleston, South Carolina, after a 2,922-nm , 19-day leg from Horta in the Azores. “It’s great to be home,” James wrote on their blog, mvdirona.com. They cleared customs, got their first Covid vaccinations two hours after landing, and picked up dozens of Amazon packages that were waiting for them. The Hamiltons, who had already completed a circumnavigation, left Newport, Rhode Island, in May, 2017, and cruised through northern Europe for…

Boat Reviews
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Fjord 40: A Less-Is-More Success Story

About half a dozen years ago, I cruised on a then-new Fjord 40 from Key West to Miami. There were four of us on board, and we stopped along the way at the over-the-top Little Palm Island Resort, where the dockmaster was more than happy to have us stay for a while because the boat was so stunning. The Fjord, with its post-modern, straight-line, minimalist Bauhaus-on-the-water design, was just about the polar opposite from my own much-beloved Grand Banks 36. But I guess opposites attract, because I also loved the Fjord. It performed, it had style, it was unique. With…

Boat Reviews
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New Palm Beach GT60: Sleek and Fast Cruiser

The latest Palm Beach GT60 just made its debut at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show below Brisbane in Australia. The sleek, sexy, low-slung sedan with a classic tumblehome and long sheerline drew the crowds and admirers the brand is known for. The standard GT60 comes with two large staterooms with double beds and generous en suite heads and showers. It also has a modern gourmet galley and both indoor and outdoor dining and social areas. Beyond its head-turning looks, the GT60 performs. The boat has a low center of gravity, and its warped-V hull slices through the waves (instead…

Charter
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The Moorings Opens Charter Base in Historic Corfu

The Moorings just announced that their marina in Corfu, in the northwest corner of Greece on the Ionian Sea, is now open for charters. One of the most glamorous destinations in the world, Corfu is one of the seven Ionian islands, and offers everything from gorgeous beaches and snug harbors to lively tavernas and waterfront resorts. With a charter from Corfu, you can explore the smaller Ionian islands, as well as make forays to historic ports of call along the Greek mainland. Many cruisers think the Corfu waters offer the best cruising in Greece. They certainly are among the most…

Cruising Life
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New Water Bike Foils at 5.2 mph. See Video

The Manta5 hydrofoiling bike is now in full production in China and is being distributed around the world. The first one off the production was just introduced at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in Australia two weeks ago. The bike weighs 6.7 pounds (including the battery and motor) and can hit a top speed of 13 mph. It starts to foil at 5.2 mph, and cruises at 7 to 8 mph. The Manta5 uses the same hydrofoil technology as America’s Cup sailboats. It has carbon fiber foils and an aircraft-grade aluminum frame. A 70 cell lithium-ion battery pack delivers…

Cruising Life
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Russian Plans Solo Transpacific Voyage on Solar Cat

A Russian adventurer plans to become the first person to cruise solo across the Pacific on a solar-powered catamaran, starting in December. The 9,000-mile trip will take about three months. Fedor Konyukhov, a Russian priest and balloonist, is no stranger to long ocean voyages. He has completed four circumnavigations and was the first person to row solo across the Southern Ocean, from New Zealand to Chile. Now he will be on NOVA, a 36-foot-long cat with a 23-foot beam, going from Chile to Australia. NOVA has two electric motors powered by 710 square feet of solar cells on the deck…

Boat Reviews
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Arksen Building 3 New Explorer Yachts

Arksen, the innovative British builder, just announced that it’s planning three new explorer-type yachts, the Arksen 45, 65, and 85. The 45, pictured above, will be launched later this  year. The 85 is scheduled for next spring, and the 65 will be launched sometime after that. The 45 is designed as a go-anywhere, off-the-grid cruiser that can function as an explorer, a chase boat, a dive boat, whatever. It is being built in the UK, with a composite hull with foam-filled D-tube fendering all around in partnership with Ring Powercraft, which specializes in RIBs and fast sport boats. The Arksen…

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