Cruising Life

Now: Book a Charter in French/Dutch St. Martin, with Lots To Do on Shore and on the Water

By Peter Janssen on February 26, 2019 Cruising Life

You don’t have to worry about running out of things to do on a charter vacation to St. Martin, one of the most appealing islands in the Caribbean. On shore, the island is unique, in that it is the smallest island in the world that belongs to two sovereign nations, France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a political division that dates to 1648. As a result, the culture is a charming and inviting mix of Caribbean flair and European sophistication; the island is a true melting pot. On the water, charters can take you to harbors and beaches all…

Brand-New ARKUP: A 7-Knot Cruiser and a Self-Sufficient Luxury Home

By Peter Janssen on February 26, 2019 Cruising Life

If you drove over the Macarthur Causeway at the Miami show, you probably did a doubletake as you passed Star Island, where the new 75-foot ARKUP was on full display, usually along with an ever-changing parade of visiting boats or jet-skiers. At 75-feet-long and with full-glass windows all around, ARKUP certainly turned a lot of heads. But what most of us didn’t realize is that ARKUP was built at Merrill-Stevens with help from Donald L. Blount, the naval architect. It’s designated as a recreational boat by the Coast Guard, and it’s available for sale or charter. ARKUP, developed by a…

You See a Flare. Now What? First, Make a Fist – and Other Tips from the Coast Guard

By Peter Janssen on February 25, 2019 Cruising Life

You’re cruising at dusk or at night, and you suddenly see a flare shoot up in the distance. But at night distances can be confusing. How far away is it? How can you help? Here are some tips from the Coast Guard. First, try the “fist method” to figure out the position of the flare from your boat. When you call the Coast Guard, they’ll ask where you are. Then they’ll need to know where the flare is. To determine the height of the flare from the water, hold your arm out straight and make a fist. Hold the bottom…

Horizon Launches New 77 with Unique Hybrid Hull and Windows Everywhere

By Peter Janssen on February 25, 2019 Cruising Life

Horizon Yacht will debut its new FD77 at the Palm Beach show, starting March 28. It’s designed for the owner-operator market with large windows all around, major entertaining areas and a hybrid hull with hard chines, soft chines and a tunnel. All in all, an interesting new boat. The new 77 is Horizon’s entry level in its Fast Displacement series, with boats going up to 125 feet. The FD77 is specifically meant as a couple’s cruising boat, with all the amenities of the builder’s larger yachts but on a scale that does not require a crew. It has a contemporary,…

Veteran Cruisers, An Italian Doctor and His Wife Buy a New Sirena 58 and Design It Their Way

By Peter Janssen on February 24, 2019 Cruising Life

Dr. Antonio Collarino is a leading Italian vascular surgeon, and an early pioneer in laser surgery there. He’s a scientist. He’s precise. He knows when things work and when they don’t. Dr. Collarino also is a veteran cruiser, having spent more than 30 years sailing and boating around the Mediterranean. He and his wife just bought a new Turkish-built Sirena 58, which they heavily customized, and they couldn’t be happier. “My boat is called Avalon,” he said, “because it is above all a place where I can find myself. I used to like to sail quickly. But now I want to…

Dead Whales Washing Up on Outer Banks Beaches. At Least One Hit by a Ship

By Peter Janssen on February 24, 2019 Cruising Life

A growing number of dead whales are washing up on beaches on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Some appear to have been hit by ships, but others have died of still unknown causes. The latest incidents involve four dead whales found on beaches in the Outer Banks in just two weeks earlier this month, part of a rising death toll over the past two years. One humpback whale was found on a beach in Corolla, which is on the Outer Banks between Kitty Hawk and Virginia Beach. Another, also a humpback, was found the same day not far away…

Coast Guard Faces Backlog of Repairs, Grounded Planes, After Shutdown

By Peter Janssen on February 24, 2019 Cruising Life

Here’s a sobering story from The New York Times about how the government shutdown has affected the Coast Guard. It’s a story about grounded aircraft, postponed repairs and reduced missions. Read it here: WASHINGTON – The government shutdown that ended last month has taken a lasting hit on the Coast Guard, which has grounded aircraft, stopped ship repairs and will leave parts of an air station in Puerto Rico without emergency generators for the start of hurricane season because of a backlog that will take months to process. Internal documents obtained by The New York Times show that the Coast…

Ocean Alexander’s New 45 Divergence: A Fast, Creative High-End Day Yacht

By Peter Janssen on February 20, 2019 Cruising Life

I knew the Ocean Alexander 45 Divergence was a different kind of boat, but I didn’t realize how different it was until I stepped on board at the Miami Yacht Show. Many builders are now making large day boats, high-end sport boats and larger and larger center consoles, all with more and more powerful outboards. The Divergence turns that market on its head. Ocean Alexander is a luxury yacht and megayacht builder with a lineup from 70 to 155 feet. It created the new Divergence line for people wanting a high-end, yacht-quality day boat. “Yes, you can look at the…

Dream Boat Clubs To Open Across U.S., Offering Low-Cost, Worry-Free Boating

By Peter Janssen on February 20, 2019 Cruising Life

Here’s something that seems like the right idea at the right time. Riding the wave of a sharing economy, Dream Yacht Charter just announced that it will start the Dream Boat Club in the United States, offering members access to a wide variety of powerboats at a reasonable price. In the announcement at the Miami Boat Show, Dream Boat Club said it would partner with Zodiac and Beneteau to roll out clubs in the U.S. Dream Boat Clubs were started just two years ago in Marseilles, France, and have proven popular in Europe. They give people access to boating without…

Elegant New CL Yachts 72, a 31-Knot Cruiser, Makes a Debut in Miami

By Peter Janssen on February 19, 2019 Cruising Life

CL Yachts, a new brand under the Cheoy Lee Shipyards umbrella, unveiled its first two yachts at the Miami Yacht Show – a CLB76 and a just-sold CLB72. The new owner of the 72 celebrated the sale with a champagne toast for his family and friends; he plans to cruise in Florida and the Northeast. The new 72 (pictured above) is a four stateroom, four-head cruiser, with a two-berth crew cabin and head aft. It carried a listing price of $3.95 million. Powered by twin 1,000-hp Volvo diesels with IPS1350 pod drives, it has a top speed of 31 knots…

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