Author Peter Janssen

Cruising Life
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Katharine, a Popular but Missing Great White, Found Again

Here’s some good news on the great white shark front. Katharine, a 14’ 2”, 2,300-pound great white who once had a Twitter account with 61,000 followers and had not been heard from in about a year, just resurfaced about 200 miles of the coast of Virginia. Researchers from Ocearch, the ocean and fish research organization, say that their satellite heard three pings a week ago from Katharine’s tracking device, which enabled them to establish her location. Katharine’s previous ping was on May 12, 2019. Ocearch originally tagged Katharine in 2013 off Cape Cod. That’s when they measured her length and…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Jock Williams, 80, Completes Down East Loop in His Stanley 36

Last summer, when he was 80 years old, Jock Williams completed the 2,700-nm Down East Loop in a Stanley 36, a boat that he built in his own yard in Maine. Now, Williams says he’s ready to go cruising again, although he’ll have to wait for the coronavirus pandemic to end. Williams, who owns the John Williams Boat Company on Somes Sound on Mt. Desert Island, is no stranger to cruising. (He’s on the right in the picture above, with Reg Elwell, a cruising companion.) Williams grew up on Martha’s Vineyard, joined the Navy after graduating from Colby College, worked…

Cruising Life
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Passing Vessel Causes $1 Million Damage to Washington Marina

A large vessel passing the Port of Kalama, Washington, marina on the Columbia River early Monday morning caused more than $1 million damage to boats and docks there, Port officials said. Liz Newman, marketing manager for the Port, said the vessel passed the marina at “excessive speed” between 4 and 5 a.m. Some boats were tossed up on top of the docks, others were damaged, lines snapped and boats ran into other boats. The marina was filled with debris. The marina, with 222 slips, is sheltered behind a breakwater. Officials think a passing ship caused a swell and a suction…

Boat Reviews
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New: Lambo-Inspired, A88 Gransport Fast Cruiser

If you like fast cars and fast boats, take a look at the latest design from Milan’s Officina Armare Studio – the sleek, head-turning A88 Gransport cruiser that brings to mind many of the design elements in today’s cutting-edge hyper-cars, such as the Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder, pictured above. Powered by twin 2,600-hp MTU diesels, the four-stateroom, 88-foot A88 tops out at 46 mph. The two-seat Lambo, with a 640-hp engine, tops out at 202 mph. But then its base price is just $287,400, which is probably less than the A88’s fuel bill for a season. But there’s no question…

Boat Reviews
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New Greenline 45 Fly: A Comfortable Hybrid Cruiser

The new Greenline 45 Fly, the latest addition to the Slovenian builder’s hybrid fleet, was just shown at the Miami boat show in February. It has many power options, but with Volvo’s IPS600 pod drives it tops out 30 knots. Under all-electric power, it tops out at 6.5 knots, but those miles go by in peace and quiet, leaving behind zero carbon footprint. The new Greenline is meant to provide lots of cruising comfort, with many social areas, a light-filled interior, and a basic two-stateroom, two-head accommodations plan. The hull and exterior design are by J&J Design in Slovenia, with…

Cruising Life
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Cruising the Arctic in a Converted Lifeboat: See Video

Two British architects bought an old lifeboat, refurbished it, painted it yellow, and then cruised 3,100 miles through eight countries and ended up in Tromsø, Norway, the largest city inside the Arctic Circle. They wintered over there, and now are getting ready to finish cruising the coast of Norway this spring and summer. Guylee Simmonds and David Schnabel, both 28, bought the decommissioned lifeboat in February, 2018. They had dreamed of a big adventure, and they spent a year making it what they called “the supreme adventure craft.” Built in Norway in 1997, the vessel served as a lifeboat for…

Cruising Life
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Michigan Bans Use of Motorboats: COVID-19

Michigan has just prohibited the use of motorboats because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jet skis and other motorized watercraft are also banned under the state’s stay-at-home orders. You can go out on a sailboat, a kayak, a canoe or other non-motorized vessels. (I personally am not sure where an auxiliary sailboat, if it’s proceeding under power, fits in here.) Governor Gretchen Whitmer just updated the stay-at-home order prohibiting the use of motorized watercraft through April 30. The state’s Department of Natural Resources said that “people who use motorized watercraft typically need to procure secondary services for their craft, such as…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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New Cruising Grounds: Home. Here’s How To Enjoy It

Many of us are locked down at home, trying to make it through the seemingly endless coronavirus pandemic. We miss the water, we miss our boats, we miss going places. But there are things we can do to ease the pain. In fact, some of them are fun, and you might even want to keep doing them once we get back to the days when we have a choice in where we can go, what we can do. And those days will return. First, you can dream a bit. The Moorings is here to help you with that (see the…

Cruising Life
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B.C. Indigenous People: “Yachters Stay Home”

If you’re thinking about cruising in central British Columbia, or heading up the Inside Passage to Alaska, any time soon, you may want to change your plans. The indigenous people, who’ve lived there for 14,000 years, want you to stay away. They are worried about the spread of the coronavirus from outsiders, and they do not have the health resources to deal with it. Various indigenous communities in B.C. have imposed curfews and set up checkpoints to prevent outsiders from bringing in the virus. The Haida Nation issued a statement asking cruising people not to visit its islands. “This is…

Cruising Life
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Bahamas Locks Down. Wants Cruisers To Go Home

Dr. Hubert Minnis, the Bahamian Prime Minister, just told Parliament there that the island’s lockdown due to pandemic will continue, while he is encouraging people on recreational cruising boats to go back home for the duration. He also said that no incoming pleasure boats will be allowed to dock in the Bahamas. The government’s new lockdown started on Wednesday, April 8, and ends at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14. At that point a decision will be made whether to continue it further. There also will be a lockdown every weekend for the remainder of April from 9 p.m. on…

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