Cruising Life

New Report: “Human Error” When 528-foot Ferry Hit Anchored 964-foot Container Ship

By Peter Janssen on January 9, 2019 Cruising Life

If you’re wondering how a 528-foot ro-ro ferry hit an anchored 964-foot container ship in the Med last October, driving its bow into the container ship’s starboard hull so far that the two vessels remained tethered together for three days, the answer is easy. No one was paying attention. Indeed, an international investigation just said the collision was caused by “human error” involving officers from both ships. The accident occurred just before dawn on Sunday, October 7, about 17 miles north of Corsica. The Tunisian roll-on, roll-off ferry Ulysee, with a top speed of 19 knots, was underway from Genoa to…

Palm Beach To Launch New Fast and Elegant GT50 Open at Miami Show

By Peter Janssen on January 9, 2019 Cruising Life

The new, striking Palm Beach GT50 Open, with its low lines, long sheer and elegant tumblehome, will make its U.S. debut at the Miami Yacht Show, running from Feb. 14 through 18. It comes on the heels of the successful introduction of the Palm Beach GT50 Salon Express, which was named Best New Powerboat at the Newport International Boat Show last September; the judges said the beautiful, fast and light new Palm Beach yacht was just plan “sexy.” Palm Beach developed the new GT series after it found a void in the high-performance market – a luxurious cruiser with a…

Hunt Unveils Two New Bluewater Cruising Boats, a 63 and a Flagship 76

By Peter Janssen on January 8, 2019 Cruising Life

The Hinckley Company, which bought Hunt Yachts in 2013, just announced it has integrated Hunt in its day-to-day operations and unveiled two new expedition-ready yachts, a Hunt 63 and a Hunt 76 (pictured above), in Hunt’s Ocean Series. Both new Hunts were drawn by the legendary Ray Hunt Design firm, with an emphasis on bluewater performance, safety and cruising comfort. The first of the new Hunt expedition yachts, a 76, has already been delivered to an owner in Europe, and two others are currently under construction. For cruising boats, Hinckley’s Talaria Series now runs from 43 to 55 feet. The…

Winter Gale Destroys Historic Lake Michigan Nav Beacon

By Peter Janssen on January 8, 2019 Cruising Life

You don’t see this very often, but heavy winds and waves on Lake Michigan just destroyed a historic 20-foot navigational beacon near the entrance to Manitowoc Harbor, Wisconsin. “We don’t know where the tower went,” said Coast Guard Chief Eric Olson. “It most likely has been pushed into the lake.” The fiberglass beacon, known as the South Pier Light Navigational Beacon, was built on top of a concrete platform and has served as a nav aid for decades. But early one January morning the area was under a gale warning, with 12- to 15-foot waves and wind gusts up to…

The 21 Best Travel Destinations for 2019. Take a Cruise To See the Stalking Jaguars in Central Brazil

By Peter Janssen on January 8, 2019 Cruising Life

Where in the world to go this year? Bloomberg answers that with a list of 21 destinations around the globe that will be hot with travelers for a lot of reasons – growing cachet, new resorts, new restaurants, and new transportation possibilities that open up places that were simply too hard to get to in the past. Some places on the list are hardly a surprise: Paris, anyone, or even Ibiza in the Balearics (see the picture at the top). But how about Pantanal, in Brazil (certainly new to me)? Bloomberg also gives a shout-out to both Savannah, Georgia, and Fort…

Giant 612-pound Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record $3.1 Million in Japan. That’s $5,050 a Pound.

By Peter Janssen on January 7, 2019 Cruising Life

A giant 612-pound bluefin tuna was just sold for a record $3.1 million in the annual New Year’s tuna auction in Tokyo. The fish was bought by Kiyoshi Kimura, who’s known as “the tuna king,” and who owns a series of restaurants there. Last year Kimura, pictured above with his latest catch, paid $632,000 for a smaller bluefin, but in 2013 he paid $1.76 million for a 488-pound bluefin, the previous record. Kimura was happy after the auction. He told the AP he was surprised at the high price, but said that “the quality of tuna I bought is the best.”…

New Fairway 37 Flybridge, a 17-knot Coastal Cruiser from Australia, Makes U.S. Debut at Seattle Show

By Peter Janssen on January 7, 2019 Cruising Life

The new Fairway 37 Flybridge, a traditional coastal cruising boat from Australia with a single 350-hp Yanmar diesel, will be introduced to the United States at the Seattle Boat Show on Lake Union from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2. The first 37, an updated version of the Fairway 36, with a redrawn interior, was launched at the Sanctuary Cove show in Australia last May. With standard bow and stern thrusters, the Fairway 37 will be easy to handle for a cruising couple, and it has two cabins and one head to accommodate a family or cruising guests. A full keel…

Fishing Trawler Sinks Off Block Island. Two Missing Despite Massive Search

By Peter Janssen on January 2, 2019 Cruising Life

A 52-foot fishing trawler capsized and sank just after midnight on New Year’s Day in 10-foot seas and 30-knot winds near Block Island, Rhode Island. A nearby fishing boat picked up one crew member but the other two were missing despite a massive search effort by the Coast Guard and local good Samaritan vessels. The Coast Guard suspended the search effort after two days. The first sign of trouble came at 1:30 a.m. when the captain of the Mistress, based in Point Judith, sent a Mayday call to the Coast Guard saying the boat was taking on water. It was…

Six Great Cruising Destinations for 2019

By Peter Janssen on January 2, 2019 Cruising Life, Destinations

The start of a new year is always a good time to plan for cruises in the next 12 months. But where to go? Here’s a list of Six Top Spots To See in 2019 from Southern Boating, spread along the east coast from the southern Caribbean up to Nantucket. Take a look, and start planning your cruises for the year ahead. The six top spots, working from south to north: 1.Bonaire, Caribbean. Just 100 miles northwest of Venezuela, this pretty island with a Dutch heritage is part of the ABC group, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao. Outside the hurricane belt, Bonaire…

What Boaters Want: The Top Ten Videos of 2018 from BoatUS

By Peter Janssen on January 2, 2019 Cruising Life

Here’s a fun story from BoatUS about their most popular videos last year. The top ten list starts with anchoring, and ends with maintenance. Here’s the list: 1.How To Drop and Retrieve Your Anchor: Eric Sorenson shows how to drop anchor for a nice afternoon in calm conditions. 2.How To Dock a Twin–Engine Outboard in a Really Tight Slip: Lenny Rudow shows stress-free techniques for backing into the worst slip in the marina. 3.Five Outboard Maintenance Jobs Most People Forget. Sean Stahl, a Yamaha technician, explains five often-overlooked outboard maintenance jobs. 4.How To Make a Fender Board To Protect Your…

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