Author Peter Janssen

Cruising Life
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Paddling Alone Across the Atlantic Three Times: Voyages of Obsession and a Search for Meaning

At 71, Aleksander Doba, from Police, Poland, knows a lot about obsession. He also knows a lot about testing his endurance and spirit against the elements and whatever nature can throw his way. And he knows even more about paddling a 23-foot kayak alone across the Atlantic Ocean, something he has done three times. The first time, he took the southern route, from Dakar, Senegal, to Brazil. The second time, he took the mid-Atlantic route, from Lisbon to Bermuda to Florida. The third, and most recent time, he took the treacherous northern route, starting in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, and…

Boat Reviews
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New, Wide-Open, Light-Filled, 25-Knot Okean 50 Cruiser from Brazil

It’s not often that we see a truly innovative boat, but take a look at the new Okean 50, filled with natural light and housing a space-creating pair of “balconies” or “terraces” that fold down from its sides. The Okean, a fresh build from Brazil, was introduced to the U.S. at the Fort Lauderdale show in November, and it’s being presented here by HMY Yacht Sales in Miami. A three-stateroom, two-head cruiser, the Okean 50 is remarkable in the 360-degree views available from the salon. There are tempered glass windows and doors all around, and there are no window…

Cruising Life
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MIT Launches SoFi, World’s First Robotic Fish, To Study Life in the Ocean

Here’s SoFi, the world’s first robotic fish. SoFi, short for soft robotic fish, looks like a fish and swims like a fish, but it actually is the most versatile robot of its kind. Created at MIT’s computer science and AI lab CSAIL, SoFi (pronounced Sophie) is 18.5 inches long, weighs 3.5 pounds, and can stay underwater at depths of up to 60 feet for 40 minutes. SoFi is built with printed 3D plastics and has a built-in buoyancy tank full of compressed air. A hydraulic actuator pumps water in and out of a pair of chambers to make SoFI go,…

Cruising Life
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Largest Cruise Liner in the World Just Launched; 18 Decks, 6,680 Passengers

Here’s some news that’s either awesome or frightening, depending on your point of view. Royal Caribbean has just launched the biggest cruise ship in the world, the new Symphony of the Seas, which is 1,188 feet long and weighs in at 228,081 gross tons (about 1,000 tons more than its older sistership, Harmony of the Seas). The new Symphony of the Seas has 18 decks (including 16 for guests), and it holds 6,680 guests in 2,759 staterooms. It also carries 2,200 crew, and cruises at 22 knots. The liner is the first to have a two-deck-high family suite, the Royal…

Cruising Life
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This Checklist from BoatUS Makes Spring Commissioning Easy. Take Heed

It’s that time of the year again, and cruisers in northern climes are starting to get their boats ready for the water again. You probably already have your spring commissioning tasks down pat; at least you probably have a routine that works for you and your boat that you follow year after year. But it never hurts to have a checklist to follow. Here’s a thorough, easy-to-do spring commissioning checklist from BoatUS that will help you get your boat ready for a full and safe season ahead. SPRING COMMISSIONING CHECKLIST Before You Launch: Hose clamps should be inspected and replaced…

Charter
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The Moorings Reopens Its Charter Base in Beautiful, Historic Mallorca in the Med

The good news is that The Moorings is reopening its charter operation in Palma, Mallorca, on April 1, after it has been closed for the winter. Just 50 miles off the east coast of Spain, Mallorca is surrounded by the Med’s sparkling blue waters and is dotted with secluded beaches and natural beauty. And from Palma, you can cruise through the other Balearic Islands – Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera – or just enjoy the sun and gentle breezes around Mallorca itself. Mallorca is rich in history. The Romans first occupied the island in 123 BC and founded Palma as an…

Cruising Life
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The Lobster Boom in Maine Is Slowing Down, Says State Report

Is the Maine lobster boom over? Or is it just cooling off a bit? The state’s Department of Marine Resources just released the numbers for the annual lobster catch in 2017, and it was the lowest in six years. The industry is still strong; Maine fishermen brought in more than 110.8 million pounds of lobster last year, a healthy number. But they caught more than 120 million pounds in each of the previous five years. And Maine lobstermen, who catch about 80 percent of all lobsters in the U.S., made slightly less money last year, when they were paid $3.91…

Cruising Life
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Coast Guard Rescues Eight Fisherman After Their Boat Sinks 400 Miles North of Hawaii

It certainly pays to have a working EPIRB, flares and other safety equipment if you’re going offshore. That truism was brought home recently when the Coast Guard found eight people on a raft 400 miles from Hawaii – because they had activated their EPIRB when their 89-foot commercial fishing boat started to sink. The Coast Guard in Honolulu launched a HC-130 to search for the fishermen after it received an EPIRB alert that showed them in the Pacific about 400 miles north of Hilo. The aircrew started a search of the area and saw a flare and a liferaft with…

Cruising Life
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KVH Launches New TracPhone with Much Faster Connections and Greater Reach

KVH just introduced a new, much faster marine satellite communications package with unlimited data and greater range so you can stay connected and enjoy the internet on your boat just as you do at home. The new KVH TracPhone V7hts, the company’s newest SATCOM, supports downloads at up to 10Mbps and uploads of up to 3 Mbps, streaming HD content and video chatting. Those speeds are three times faster than the download and six times the upload on the original mini-VSAT broadband server. The new KVH TracPhone antenna is only 24 inches in diameter and weighs just 57.6 pounds. KVH…

Boat Reviews
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New Walker Bay 325 Light Console RIB Holds 5 Passengers, Provides Dry Ride

Here’s a small, lightweight RIB that can hold up to five passengers and that promises a comfortable, fun and dry ride even in a chop. The new Walker Bay Supertender 325 Light Console is 10’ 8” long and weighs just 244 pounds and has a deep-V fiberglass hull for performance. Its hard chines provide traction in turns, and its wide bow is designed to block spray so you’ll have a dry ride in most conditions. The center console has room for a 7” screen; it also has a stainless-steel helm and handrail, two cupholders and padding on the port side…

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