Cruising Life

After 35,000 Miles Around the Pacific on Their Selene 53, the Youngbloods are Wintering Over in Sitka, Alaska, and It’s Cold

By Peter Janssen on February 12, 2019 Cruising Life

After circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean on their 2004 Selene 53 Mystic Moon, John and Kathy Youngblood have spent the past two months in Sitka, Alaska. And the title of their latest blog says it all: “Captain’s Log: Freezing in Sitka.” The Youngbloods have been cruising on Mystic Moon, usually at 7 or 8 knots, since the spring of 2005. Starting in Seattle, they’ve gone to Alaska, Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan. They finished their six-year, 35,000-nm circumnavigation of the Pacific last fall when they reached the Aleutians, and then continued down to spend…

Something New: Cetera 60, with Vertical Repositioning and Lots of Light All Around

By Peter Janssen on February 11, 2019 Cruising Life

It’s not often that you see some new concepts in yacht design, but the Italian-built Cetera 60, just unveiled at the Düsseldorf show, has more than its share. Francesco Guida, who usually designs larger yachts, created what Cetera calls “vertical repositioning” on its new 60, meaning that each of the three decks serves a distinct purpose, with the goal of making life on board easier and even more private. The main change is that that the accommodations– three staterooms all with en suite heads and showers – are centered on the main deck. A central passageway then leads to a…

A Tragic Story of Life – and Death – on the Bering Sea

By Peter Janssen on February 11, 2019 Cruising Life

The Seattle-based, 92-feet-long crab-fishing boat Destination left Dutch Harbor, Alaska,on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, with six men on board. The weather forecast was dicey at best, calling for 40-mph wind gusts, 13-foot seas and 18-degree temperatures. But Jeff Hathaway,60, the captain, was a veteran of the Bering Sea crab fleet, and he was under time and money pressure to deliver his catch. He also was a driven man; he ran his ship his way. Two days later Destination suddenly sank, taking all six men with her. There was no Mayday, just an EPIRB signal. Later, tracing images from the boat’s transponder,…

Aquila Launches New 30 Power Cat with Twin Outboards at Miami Show

By Peter Janssen on February 10, 2019 Cruising Life

Aquila is introducing its newest power cat, a 30-footer with twin Mercury outboards, at the Miami International Boat Show. The latest entry into the Aquila fleet, which goes up to 48-feet, the new 30 has a single cabin and a head and shower, and will go into the MarineMax Vacation charter fleet as well as into the large MarineMax dealer network for sale to individual buyers. The new Aquila 30 come on the heels of the Aquila 36, which had two cabins. The 30 is simply a smaller version of its larger sibling. An overnight cruiser for two, the 30…

For a Different Cruise, Try the French Canals on a Luxurious Belmond Barge

By Peter Janssen on February 10, 2019 Cruising Life

If you want a different kind of cruise this summer, one where you can relax while someone else does the driving, cooking and planning, you might want to take a look at the Belmond River Cruises in France. They’re luxurious, relaxed, and they wind through some of the most beautiful parts of the French countryside. Belmond, a luxury hotel and river cruise operator, has a fleet of seven barges in France, offering a variety of routes and experiences. The Hirondelle, pictured above, has four staterooms, all with en suite heads and showers, and it cruises through the heart of the…

Beneteau, Tactical and Raymarine Win Best in Show Awards in Vancouver

By Peter Janssen on February 10, 2019 Cruising Life

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 35 (pictured above), the Tactical T-40 and Raymarine’s ClearCruise Augmented Reality all just won Best in Show awards at the Vancouver International Boat Show in British Columbia. The awards, now in their fifth year, were given by Pacific Yachting magazine. Beneteau’s Swift Trawler 35 won the award for Best Powerboat 39 Feet and Under. The judges said it seemed larger than its 35 feet and liked its innovative use of space, particularly the head with enclosed shower and the walk-around forward berth. They noted that the 35 was Beneteau’s effort to improve its most popular model, the…

New Luxe Version of 26-foot Jet Capsule Holds 12, Hits 62 Knots

By Peter Janssen on February 9, 2019 Cruising Life

If you’re worried about your boat looking like everyone else’s boat, think about the Jet Capsule. It may look like an egg, but the new Royal Version 001 is 26 feet long, 12 feet wide, can carry up to 12 people, and tops out at 62 knots, according to the company. The new Royal Version 001 is a larger, faster and more luxurious version of the original Jet Capsule pod craft. A carbon-fiber door at the rear, opened at the touch of a button, leads to the teak-trimmed interior, with a head, a wet bar and leather seats. The futuristic Jet…

From ProPublica: A Thorough Account of How Two Navy Destroyers Collided with Container Ships, Killing 17 U.S. Sailors

By Peter Janssen on February 9, 2019 Cruising Life

Here’s a thorough – and thoroughly chilling – account from ProPublica of two separate collisions in the far Pacific involving the USS Fitzgerald and the USS John S. McCain, both Navy destroyers, causing the death of 17 American sailors and injuries to many more. It’s called: Years of Warnings, Then Death and Disaster. How the Navy Failed Its Sailors. Read it here: When Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin was elevated to lead the vaunted 7th Fleet in 2015, he expected it to be the pinnacle of his nearly four-decade Navy career. The fleet was the largest and most powerful in the world,…

Catalina Buys True North. Will Make a True North 38 with Outboards

By Peter Janssen on February 6, 2019 Cruising Life

Catalina Yachts, which has been making sailboats for the past 50 years, just bought True North Powerboats as an entry into the growing Downeast-styled powerboat market. Catalina also said they would introduce a new True North 38 with twin outboard power to go with True North’s 34 Outboard Express model (pictured above). Sharon Day, the vice president of sales and marketing for Catalina, said the sailboat maker had been talking to its dealers and owners and found that “the True North line is a brand that appeals to sailors, making it a good fit for Catalina yachts.” True North was…

New Schiller Water Bike: Have Some Fun and Get Some Exercise on Your Next Cruise

By Peter Janssen on February 6, 2019 Cruising Life

If you want to get some exercise on you next cruise, take a look at this new Schiller water bike. It’s essentially a portable bike sitting between two inflatable pontoons, and it looks like it’s a lot of fun. The Schiller water bike is easy to assemble, use and store. You can put it together in about ten minutes, and that includes inflating the two pontoons. Once it’s launched, you pedal it, just like any other bike, except that you don’t have to worry about tipping over; the two pontoons will keep you upright. When you’re done, you can store…

Browsing: Cruising Life