Author Peter Janssen

Destinations
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Ecuador: Home of 2,800 Giant Manta Rays

If you want to see some giant manta rays, lots of them, head to Ecuador this summer. A new study says that more than 2,800 of them gather there in August and September, more than ten times the number of rays found anywhere else in the world. A recent study by the Marine Megafauna Foundation and the Manta Trust said the overall population of oceanic manta rays could be as high as 22,000, if you counted those off the coast of Ecuador and neighboring Peru. Oceanic manta rays are indeed giants. They grow to be as large as 29 feet…

Cruising Life
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Oceans Warmer Than Ever Before: Report

Last year was the warmest ever for the world’s oceans, according to a new study by scientists from 16 institutes around the world. It actually was the fourth year in a row to set records for high ocean temperatures. To make matters worse, the speed at which oceans are getting warmer is faster and faster, raising concerns about more powerful storms in the near future, as well as melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica and rising sea levels around the world. The new study was published last week in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. It examined the temperature…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Saxdor Unveils Versatile 400 GT

Saxdor just unveiled plans for its new 400 GT, an aggressively styled, versatile cruiser with a low profile, large fold-down terraces and outboard performance. The new Saxdor, built in Finland, will be ready later this year, and the company says it is designed for boaters “whether you are spending the day under the hot Miami sun or driving through a blizzard in Norway.” It will turn heads with its modern Scandinavian look, almost vertical bow, and sleek cabin roof. It has windows all around, for 360-degree visibility, and sliding doors on both sides of the wheelhouse lead to the folding…

Boat Reviews
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Ferretti Holds Debut for Sporty New 580

The Ferretti Group is holding the world premiere of its new Ferretti 580 at the big Düsseldorf show that runs from January 21 through 29. The new 580 has more sporty and sculpted lines than many previous Ferrettis, with a nod to its Italian roots, particularly in the interior décor. The exterior is by Filippo Salvetti, who now has designed six yachts for Ferretti, and the interior is by Ideaeitalia, the Italian design firm that’s also worked on other Ferrettis. The yacht manages to achieve a clean, forward-looking profile, with the flybridge set well aft and its hard top so…

Cruising Life
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Coast Guard Rescues 7 from Disabled Tug

Coast Guard helicopters rescued all seven crew from a disabled tug boat about 30 miles off Ocean City, Maryland, early Saturday morning, after its lines snapped and got tangled in both props. About 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, a crew from the 103-foot-long tug Legacy called the Coast Guard, saying the tug was disabled and the crew was preparing to abandon ship. The Legacy had been towing a 290-foot foot barge from New Jersey to Guyana, when a 1,000-foot-long line snapped and got tangled in its starboard prop. The tug continued underway, running on one engine, until another tow line snapped…

Cruising Life
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How To Navigate Under Bridges

You probably already know all this, but a fast refresher never hurts. Here’s some great advice from America’s Boating Compass, formerly the U.S. Power Squadrons, about how to make your way safely under bridges, a particular issue if you’re cruising in Florida or along the Great Loop. I just want to add that you definitely need to know how to maneuver your boat in close quarters; you’ll often find yourself waiting, with several other boats, for a bridge to open, perhaps while dealing with a current, and you have to stay out of each other’s way. Approach bridges slowly and…

Cruising Life
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Harbor Pilot Dies After Fall from Ladder

A marine pilot was killed while boarding a merchant ship earlier this month in the Humber Estuary on the east coast of northern England. Francisco Galia had been working for Associated British Ports for more than 20 years and was on the edge of retirement when he fell off the boarding ladder of a large ship entering the estuary. A second pilot from the pilot boat jumped into the water and was able to maneuver Galia back on board. A medevac took Galia to the hospital, but he did not survive. The UK  Pilots Association said “This tragedy highlights the…

Destinations
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Hawks Cay: Popular Keys Resort

Hawks Cay Resort, sprawling over 60 acres in the Florida Keys, about half way between Miami and Key West, has become an increasingly popular boating destination. It’s easy to see why. First off, as the real estate saying goes, it’s all about location, location, location. The resort is on Duck Cay, mile marker 61, about 90 miles south of the Miami airport and 61 miles north of Key West. It’s just a bit north of Marathon, where you can cut under the bridge if you want to head up the Gulf Coast of Florida, and a bit south of Islamorada,…

Boat Reviews
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Prototype All-Electric Axopar at Dusseldorf Show

Axopar will display its prototype 25-footer, powered by an EVOY 300-hp electric outboard, at the Düsseldorf show, starting Jan. 21. The all-electric Axopar runs for 25 minutes at 25 knots, and the batteries can be recharged in an hour. Jan-Erik Vitalia, the founding partner of Axopar, says the partnership of the two companies was designed “to expand the boating community and offer new ways of mobility for the future.” The prototype boat was designed to cruise with zero emissions, zero fumes, and almost no noise. The prototype used EVOY’s 300-hp electric motor, the largest available, with low consumption, high torque…

Boat Reviews
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New Xquisite 40 Cat To Debut in Miami

Xquisite Yachts will launch its new low-profile, well-proportioned 40 Power catamaran at the Miami show, starting Feb. 15. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Xquisite was started in 2014 with the goal of building sail and power cats “for adventurers who wish to explore our oceans without giving up their lifestyle.” Xquisite sailing cats have won a number of prizes in the past few years. The company previously announced a 60 Solar Power Cat, and now is introducing the 40, which will be built in Portugal. The new Xquisite was designed in collaboration with Dixon Yacht Design to create a…

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