Cruising Life

Coast Guard Issues Largest Fine Ever in Crackdown on Illegal Charter Boats

By Peter Janssen on March 3, 2019 Cruising Life

The Coast Guard just issued its largest civil fine ever to a Chicago man accused of operating two illegal charter boats. The Coast Guard said the man, Robert Glick, violated three federal regulations for each of his two boats, Fun, a 40-foot pontoon boat, and Allora, a 37-foot Sea Ray. It said that it first warned Glick in June, 2016, that he was operating an illegal charter business, carrying passengers for hire, but that he continued to operate the charters anyway. Originally, the Coast Guard recommended fining Glick $214,000, but reduced the amount. The fines now include: $44,000 for operating without certificates…

New: State Department Issues Travel Warning for the Bahamas

By Peter Janssen on March 2, 2019 Cruising Life

The State Department just issued a travel warning urging U.S. travelers to “exercise increased caution in the Bahamas due to crime.” It cited armed robberies and sexual assaults, and urged travelers to be particularly careful in New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama Islands. It also specifically warned about problems with local watercraft. The new warning is called a Level 2 warning, which is relatively mild. Level 1 urges travelers “to exercise normal precautions,” while Level 4 says, “do not travel.” Still, the new warning said that “violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault, is common, even during…

Sydney Man Arrested for Towing Boat Down Street with Scooter. “Simply Daft,” Says Judge

By Peter Janssen on March 2, 2019 Cruising Life

This certainly isn’t the usual story we cover about cruising under power, but it’s just too good to pass up. It’s about an Australian man who was arrested for towing his 17-foot boat a little more than half a mile from his storage unit to his house behind his little red scooter. The entire idea, the judge said, was “simply daft.” As reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, Shane Swancott said he had done “research on numerous websites” about towing his boat with his scooter, and that using the scooter was “a great idea.” He wanted to move the boat…

Dept. of Homeland Security: Your Old GPS Might Not Work After April 6

By Peter Janssen on February 27, 2019 Cruising Life

If you’re cruising anywhere on or after April 6, you might want to check your GPS, particularly if it’s an older one. It might not be working. The problem is what is called a Global Positioning System Week Rollover Event on April 6. If your GPS is not designed to handle the rollover, it might revert to an earlier year, in which case it would not be able to calculate your position accurately. This situation should not appear with relatively new GPS devices, but it could appear in older models. The issue is severe enough that the Department of Homeland…

Royal Marines Vet, 48, Rows Across Atlantic Solo To Raise Funds for Post-Traumatic Stress Victims

By Peter Janssen on February 27, 2019 Cruising Life

For Tim Crockett, a 48-year-old former member of the Royal Marines Special Boat Service, the first 62 days rowing solo across the Atlantic weren’t so bad. It was the end, the last day, when he tried to reach the finish line in Antigua, that almost killed him. On the 63rd day, as his 24-foot ocean rowboat, Tame the Kraken, tried to get in to English Harbour, it was hit by a storm with sustained waves of 20 to 30 feet. He told the Marietta (Georgia) Daily Journal that the last hour and a half were the worst during his 3,200 mile…

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…

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