Cruising Life

Coast Guard Closes Mississippi Near St. Louis: Flooding

By Peter Janssen on May 3, 2017 Cruising Life

Bad news for Loopers trying to get an early start or anyone else cruising on the Mississippi River: Due to heavy rain and flooding, the Coast Guard has closed the Mississippi to all traffic near St. Louis, from mile marker 184.5 to mile marker 179, near the MacArthur Bridge. More rain has raised the possibility of other river closings in the Upper Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois River basins, and the Coast Guard is worried about rising water levels near the Cape Girardeau area this week. For more: http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-closes-portion-of-upper-mississippi-river-to-all-vessel-traffic/2017/05/02/

Ten Most Outrageous Charter Guest Requests

By Peter Janssen on May 2, 2017 Charter, Cruising Life

We all know that the goal of a charter vacation is to relax and have fun, and that generally the goal of the captain and crew is to keep everybody safe and happy. But what happens when the guests make outrageous requests? How outrageous? Well, try this top ten list, including calls for a seaplane to deliver more champagne when the onboard stock is running low, or the guest who demanded that the breakfast cucumbers be cut into exactly 10-millimetre cubes. And those are just for starters. Read the list: http://www.boatinternational.com/charter/luxury-yacht-charter-advice/the-most-outrageous-charter-guest-requests–30013/frame-2

A Fast Guide to the Best Bars, Marinas and Fun Spots in Key West

By Peter Janssen on May 2, 2017 Cruising Life, Destinations

If you’ve ever been there, I think you have to admit that Key West is unique, a one-off, there’s nothing like it. Ernest Hemingway, for one, loved it, writing that “it’s the best place I’ve ever been, anytime, anywhere.” The southernmost point in the United States, Key West is the heart of the Conch Republic, a jumping off point for Cuba for a lot of cruisers (including me, more than a decade ago), a sportfishing mecca, and the center of parties and celebrations that go on and on – from the evening gathering at Mallory Square to catch the…

Coast Guard Rescues Five from Sinking Boat in Mona Passage

By Peter Janssen on May 2, 2017 Cruising Life

The first sign of trouble came in to the Coast Guard in San Juan, a Mayday call from a 38-foot recreational power boat with five men on board that was taking on water in the often-treacherous Mona Passage, the strait between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The boat already had taken on three feet of water and more was pouring in. The five men had put on their life jackets and were abandoning ship, and they did not have a life raft. The Coast Guard immediately dispatched a Dolphin helicopter while sending out an urgent message to vessels in…

Why Are So Many Humpback Whales Dying on the Atlantic Coast?

By Peter Janssen on May 1, 2017 Cruising Life

What’s killing so many humpback whales? In an average year, eight humpback whales are stranded somewhere along the Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Maine. But in the past 15 months, 41 whales have died from North Carolina to Maine. Scientists at NOAA are baffled by such a large increase, calling it an “unusual mortality event.” We do know that ten of the 41 humpbacks were killed by ship collisions; they suffered from blunt force trauma or large propeller cuts. But the scientists also are puzzled about this increase, since there has not been a proportional increase in ship traffic in…

Outer Reef 880 Rounds Cape Horn: You-Are-There Photo Gallery

By Peter Janssen on May 1, 2017 Cruising Life

It’s not often that we get to see some great pictures of a recreational powerboat going round Cape Horn, one of the most treacherous cruising grounds in the world. But when Argo, an Outer Reef 880, conquered the Horn a few months ago, photographer Andrew Ulitsky was on board, as was Argo owner Paul Hawran and Outer Reef Yachts president and CEO Jeff Druek. Take a look below as some shots of the adventure of a lifetime. And for more, go to: http://www.outerreefyachts.com/expedition-yacht-adventure-to-cape-horn

New Prestige 460: French Lines with Lots of Light, Space and Zip. Plus Video

By Peter Janssen on April 27, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Just launched at the Yachts Miami Beach show in February, the new Prestige 460 flybridge has the same French lines, creative use of space and large amounts of natural light that have become the company’s hallmarks. Nick Harvey, president of Prestige America, says the two-cabin, two-head cruiser “is the perfect size with outstanding performance and exceptional accommodations.” Prestige makes five flybridge boats, from 42 to 56 feet, all using Garroni Design with engineering from JP Concepts. Part of the powerhouse Beneteau Group, Prestige was created more than 20 years ago. Since then, it has sold more than 2,500 yachts worldwide.…

Coast Guard Pulls Up Buoy with 20 Bullet Holes Off Block Island

By Peter Janssen on April 27, 2017 Cruising Life

This is just too weird. During a routine maintenance run, the Coast Guard pulled up a sunken buoy off Block Island, Rhode Island, and found that it had 20 bullet holes in it. The Clay Head buoy number 7 marks a large rock three feet under the surface. Crewmen from the Coast Guard cutter Ida Lewis were conducting regular aids to navigation maintenance when they pulled up the buoy. It was the second buoy discovered with bullet holes in the past week, the Coast Guard said. “While it may be fun to use a buoy for target practice, it is…

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Tells How to Survive the Unexpected Offshore

By Peter Janssen on April 26, 2017 Cruising Life

What do you do when the unexpected happens offshore? When the winds build, say, from 40 knots to 60 knots, to 70 knots? When your mental and physical preparation could mean the difference between life and death? And that preparation involves a lot of practice, according to Mario Vittone, a retired Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer and instructor and expert on surviving at sea. (In 2007, Vittone was named the Coast Guard’s Enlisted Person of the Year.) Here Vittone uses real world examples of how people survived the unexpected, where a common thread is that those who had successful experiences…

Retired Couple, and Their Dog, Tackle the Great Loop in a C-Dory 25

By Peter Janssen on April 26, 2017 Cruising Life

Pat and Patty Anderson, of Birch Bay, Washington, just north of Bellingham, love to go boating. They bought their C-Dory 25 Daydream at the Seattle boat show in 2005, and have spent much of their free time cruising the nearby San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands. The boat is powered by a single Honda 150-hp outboard, with a backup 15-hp Honda as a kicker. The longest time they have spent on board was about two weeks. But Pat, a retired lawyer, wanted to expand their horizons, so the Andersons decided to tackle the Great Loop. With their dog Baxter, the…

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