Author Peter Janssen

Cruising Life
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Best Spots for Water Sports in the BVI: From Kite Surfing to Scuba Diving

Wondering what to do in the British Virgin Islands? Personally, I’d recommend a little cruising (in some of the easiest, most beautiful cruising grounds on the planet), some swimming, some walking on pristine white sand beaches, and some coffee in the morning and a glass of wine (or rum punch, etc.) in the evening to keep a smile in your face. But if you want to be a bit more active (like former President Obama kite surfing, pictured above), there’s plenty to keep you busy. From those in the know, here are some of the best places to take in…

Cruising Life
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New York Banker To Achieve Lifelong Dream: Dive to the Titanic

Renata Rojas been diving ever since she was 12; her father taught her in Mexico. Now she’s 49 and a banker in New York, and she spends weekends diving for shipwrecks in the waters off New York and New Jersey. Her lifelong ambition, however, is diving for the Titanic. “I actually wanted to find the wreck, but somebody beat me to it,” she says. But now Rojas can do the next best thing: In a year she will dive down to the Titanic on a manned research sub owned by OceanGate Expeditions, which is launching a series of dives to…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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On Watch

Carlo Riva: The Engineer Who Created an Icon Ten years ago, my wife and I were cruising along the western shore of Lake Como, not far from the Villa d’Este, looking for George Clooney’s waterfront estate. She was hoping to see Clooney; I wanted to see his Riva. As it happened, we both struck out. But as the day wore on I was able to satisfy my Riva quota; there are more than a few Rivas running around on Lake Como. Actually, they’ve been built nearby in the little town of Sarnico, on Lake Iseo, since 1842. The great-grandson of…

Boat Reviews
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Bruckmann Plans New Abaco 47: As Elegant as the Abaco 40, but Bigger

Based on the performance and popularity of the Bruckmann Abaco 40, the Toronto-based builder is now planning a larger version, the Bruckmann Abaco 47, with more accommodations and space for long-range cruising and living aboard. The new 47, like the 40, is designed by Mark Ellis, and it still has the classic Downeast lines, straight-forward, traditional interior and fuel-efficient hull of the smaller boat. The Abaco 47’s hull is designed to perform well throughout the speed range; the boat comes up on plane at 12 knots. It can be powered by a single or twin diesels. With a single 1136-hp…

Boat Reviews
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Doug Zurn-Designed Duffield 58 with Downeast Lines Launched in Newport Beach, California

Marshall “Duffy” Duffield, the owner of Duffy Electric Boat Company, finally has the cruising boats of his dreams. His new Duffield 58, designed by Doug Zurn, of Zurn Yacht Design of Marblehead, Mass., was just launched in Newport Beach, California, and it’s a beauty, with Zurn’s trademark low profile, narrow beam, low CG and lightweight construction. As a result, the new Duffield, with a single 600-hp CAT C-12 diesel, mounted well aft with a V-drive to keep noise levels low, tops out at 27 knots and cruises at 18 knots. Fuel-efficient, the Downeast-style Duffield burns 29 gph at cruise. Duffield…

Cruising Life
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Which Is Better: 34′ Nordic Tug or 27′ Airstream? An Owner’s Report

Which vehicle has more living space: A 2013 Nordic Tug 34 or a 2010 Airstream 27-foot RV? Not many of us have a chance to compare the two. But Laura Domela, a Portland, Oregon, photographer, and her husband, Kevin Morris, editor of “Electronic Engineering Journal,” have spent hundreds of nights on both. Each one, as it turns out, has its own advantages – and disadvantages. Here’s her report: http://slowboat.com/2017/03/interior-living-space-compared-27-airstream-vs-34-nordic-tug/

Cruising Life
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How To Read Your Charts: 7 Signs of Danger

As the old adage goes, if you say you’ve never run aground, either you haven’t been cruising enough or you’re not telling the truth. But there’s a big difference between running aground on the mud, say, and running into a coral reef. That’s where your charts come in. How well can you read them? Do you remember the different symbols for a wreck, an obstruction or an islet? If you do, great. If not, or if you just want a fast refresher, take a look here: http://www.skippertips.com/public/831.cfm

Cruising Life
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Mykonos Beckons: Azure Water and a Glamorous Nightlife

It would be hard to find a cruising or chartering destination with a richer history – or more beautiful surroundings – than the island of Mykonos in the Aegean. After all, according to Greek mythology, the island was named after Mykons, who was either the son or grandson of Apollo (the records are sketchy). But now, as then, the azure waters are gorgeous; the white sand beaches long and inviting. Today, Mykonos also has a thriving waterfront restaurant, bar and nightlife scene, known to be one of the best in the Med. If you’re interested in that sort of thing,…

Cruising Life
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Rogue Waves: Tales from Those Who Survived

“The Perfect Storm” is one thing; a rogue wave is another, and their destructive force is simply a disaster in the making. Here are stories from some survivors, with the idea that if we more accurately understand what happens, then we can be better prepared if we see one coming. Rogue waves may happen more often than we think, and there is no doubt that they are terrorizing. One survivor described an 80-foot wave, “breaking at the top and stretching from horizon to horizon.” Another recounted “a Niagara-type roar.” Read more here: http://www.yachtingworld.com/special-reports/rogue-waves-real-life-stories-destructive-power-sea-106135

Cruising Life
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How To Keep Your Boat from Sinking

Unfortunately, this happens a lot more than we’d like to think. Small boats, big boats, all kinds of boats. Lots of times there are things you can do to keep your boat afloat (like not hitting that reef in the first place) before you get in serious trouble. The point is, seconds count; so do strong bilge pumps. Here’s some great advice about what you can do once things start to go south: http://www.boatingmag.com/how-to/how-to-prevent-your-boat-sinking#page-7

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