Author Peter Janssen

Charter
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Northwest Explorations: Still Spots Open for Flotilla to Alaska

Northwest Explorations, the Bellingham, Washington, company that runs the legendary Mother Goose flotillas up to Alaska, just announced that it still has a few openings on its cruises this spring and summer. The reason that people, experienced skippers and those who are not so experienced, like the flotillas is that they offer safety in numbers, and they are planned, and led, by captains and crew from Northwest Explorations who have done this many times before. You cruise in a group, with planned stops every night, and excursions on shore that highlight the best of the natural beauty of this part…

Cruising Life
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Antarctica Hits Historic 65 Degrees, “Doomsday Glacier” Melting

Here’s a disturbing story from USA Today, with a video, about a historic high of 65 degrees in Antarctica. Scientists also found warm water under the “Doomsday Glacier” there, which could accelerate its melting. The temperature was recorded at an Argentine research base on the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. It beats the previous record of 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 2015. The Antarctic Peninsula is among the fastest warming regions on Earth. A balmy temperature of nearly 65 degrees was recorded in Antarctica on Thursday, and if verified, it would be an all-time record high for the normally bitterly…

Boat Reviews
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Burger Building New Cruiser 50 with IPS Pod Drives

Burger is working on a new 50 Cruiser, with an aluminum hull by Vripack and an interior by De Basto Designs, in its yard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Founded in 1863, Burger is one of the most historic names in American boating; it usually makes larger yachts, up to 260 feet. The company uses all that experience to create a semi-custom build for its 50 Cruiser line. The new boat will be powered by twin 600-hp Volvo IPS800 pod drives, delivering a cruising speed of 26 knots, a top speed of 31 knots, and a range of 300 nm. It has…

Cruising Life
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See Spectacular Shots of Coast Guard Surf Training

Here are some of the best pictures I’ve ever seen of Coast Guard motor lifeboat crews training in rough surf. The photographer is Jeremy Burke, and the story, from USA Today Sports, was shared on social media.  Burke took the pictures of two boats from Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay training in 20- to 25-foot waves off Newport, Oregon. The station schedules training days when the surf or winds are high. Watch the crews, who are all experienced, challenge the waves head on. Take a look: Pete Thomas February 4, 2020 12:24 pm When a massive swell slammed Oregon recently,…

Charter
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New Discounts on Some Great European Barge Cruises

Here’s some good news if you’re thinking about taking a barge vacation in Europe this year, but you have to act fast. European Waterways, the luxury hotel barging company, is offering up to a 20 percent discount on prices of some of its best cruises in France, Italy and Scotland, but you have to place the booking by Feb. 17. European Waterways is calling the discounted cruises Days of Wine and Whiskey, and it says that guests will have the opportunity to enjoy world-class wines on the French and Italian cruises, as well as famed Scottish whiskies on the barge…

Boat Reviews
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Nautitech To Introduce New 47 Power Cat at Miami Show

In another example of the growth of power cats, Nautitech Catamarans will have the world premiere of its new 47 Power at the Miami International Boat Show. The new boat, from the French company that also makes sailing cats, is powered by twin 225-hp Volvo Penta diesels. With its fine entry and clean lines, the Nautitech 47 has all the design elements of a contemporary European catamaran. Windows stretch all around the salon, letting in an enormous amount of natural light, while windows in the hull sides admit light to the four cabins below. The large flybridge, with an upper…

Cruising Life
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Kayaker, 67, Missing in Everglades for 12 Days; Rescued by Cell Phone

A 67-year-old on a solo kayaking expedition was missing in the Everglades for 12 days. But then sheriff’s deputies found his cellphone on the banks of a river, recovered  his last know GPS coordinates, and found him the next morning. As it turned out, they found the man, Mark Miele, from Virginia, just in time. “When we found him it didn’t look like he was moving and we didn’t know if it was going to be a rescue or a recovery,” Ed Henderson, the rescue helicopter pilot told CBS affiliate WINK. Miele had severe hypothermia and was dehydrated. Originally, Miele…

Cruising Life
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Best New Electronics: NMEA Technology Award Winners

If you’re thinking about buying new electronics for your boat, either as part of a new vessel or as an upgrade on your existing one, you’ll want to take a look at this review of some of the best from NMEA Boater. It lists the winner and four other finalists for the National Marine Electronics Association Technology Award in 2019, and it’s certainly a good place to start. It has the manufacturers’ own descriptions of their entries. The overall winner was Raymarine/FLIR ClearCruise (pictured above). The entry says it “is an industry-first navigation technology that brings leading-edge Augmented Reality to…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Cruising in Mexico: “What We’ve Learned So Far”

After cruising in Mexico since October on their 2005 Nordhavn 55 Red Rover, Kevin and Allison Jeffries took a break recently to fly home to Seattle for the big boat show there. The time away from the boat gave them the chance to reflect on their trip, and to put together some thoughts that might help other cruising people heading that way. The Jeffries (and their two shelter dogs, Zoe and Max) are hardly new to cruising. They’ve put more than 6,000 nm under their hull since they sold their house in Seattle and moved aboard Red Rover full time…

Destinations
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After the Shows, What To Do in Miami

One of the most vibrant, lively and warm of all American cities, Miami has long been a magnet for people from all over the world. The draw: A combination of the culture, the water, the beaches and, in the middle of February, the boat shows. But Miami is always a great place to visit at any time, particularly for cruising boat owners. It’s a great destination in its own right or as a stopover on the Great Loop, a starting point for a cruise down to the Keys or over to the Bahamas. Whether you’re heading to Miami for the…

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