Cruising Life

Boat Starts to Sink; Coast Guard Rescues Three Men, Two Dogs

By Peter Janssen on October 14, 2016 Cruising Life

I’m partial, but I’ve always got to hand it to the Coast Guard for being there when you need them. Latest example: When the Coast Guard near New Orleans got a call that a powerboat was sinking off Dauphin Island, Alabama, they launched a 45-foot fast response boat and two helicopters. The rescue boat got there first and plucked three men and two dogs from the water. If you look the picture, I think you’d agree that the Coast Guard got there just in time. http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-rescues-3-people-2-dogs/2016/10/12/

David Cowper Conquers Most Dangerous Spot in Northwest Passage

By Peter Janssen on October 12, 2016 Cruising Life

There’s little doubt that David Cowper is one of the most accomplished blue-water adventurers in the world today. Back in 1982, he became the fastest person to sail single-handed around the world. He’s sailed around the world both ways. He’s also sailed around the world, single-handed, through the Northwest Passage, which has almost become a second home for Cowper, since he’s actually transited it five times. Now, in his 48-foot aluminum powerboat named Polar Bound, Cowper and his son transited one of the Northwest Passage’s most dangerous areas, the Hecla and Fiury Straits. They were the first people to…

After Matthew, Here’s What’s Open, What’s Still Damaged

By Peter Janssen on October 11, 2016 Cruising Life

Here’s a comprehensive list of marinas and facilities from the Carolinas to the Bahamas, telling what’s open, what’s closed and what’s somewhere in between. If you’re planning a trip to any of these areas, or if you’re already there, take a look. It also has an interactive element so you can help update the situation in your own area. http://ahoy.dockwa.com/hurricane-matthew-marina-status?utm_campaign=Hurricane%20Matthew%20-%20Hurricane%20Hole%20Marinas&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Here’s What To Do If Matthew Hit Your Boat

By Peter Janssen on October 10, 2016 Cruising Life

Here’s some good advice from BoatU.S. about what you should do right away if your boat was damaged during Hurricane Matthew: Remove Valuables. If your boat has washed ashore, remove as much equipment as possible and move it to a safe place to protect it from looters or vandals. It’s a good idea to put your contact information somewhere conspicuously on the boat — along with a “No Trespassing” sign. However, for your safety, never climb in or on boats that have piled up together or are dangling precariously from dock pilings or other obstructions. Minimize Further Damage. Protect your…

Best Way to Predict Matthew’s Path

By Peter Janssen on October 5, 2016 Cruising Life

Nothing is more important this time of year than knowing where Matthew – or any other hurricane – is heading your way. Here’s some great advice from a professional shipping weather expert about the best sites to look at for the most reliable predictions. You’ll want to look at this, and save it. https://gcaptain.com/best-online-hurricane-tracker/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29

Great Video of Ray Hunt’s Designs and Why Deep-V Hulls Are So Good

By Peter Janssen on October 5, 2016 Cruising Life

If you like to think about what makes boats go fast – particularly in rough water – take a look at this video. It’s a really interesting presentation by Winn Willard, VP of C. Raymond Hunt Associates, about how Ray Hunt developed the Deep-V hull about 56 years ago, and why it is so good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-RbCLrN_Sk&feature=share

Lobster Wars Escalate off Port Clyde

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2016 Cruising Life

Somebody in Port Clyde, Maine, doesn’t like Tony Hooper, a lobsterman there, and they’re taking it out on his boat. In a major escalation of the area’s occasionally simmering lobster wars, someone has cut the mooring line and hoses on Hooper’s boat, Liberty, three times since Aug. 17, causing it to sink or fill with water and run aground. In the picture above, Hooper watches as Liberty is hauled out in nearby Rockland to have the engine and electronics repaired – again. Read all about it: http://bangordailynews.com/2016/10/03/news/midcoast/port-clyde-lobster-boat-sunk-for-the-third-time-since-august/

Salvage Crews Race to Pull “Time Out” to Shore in Palm Beach

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2016 Cruising Life

With Hurricane Matthew heading north, salvage crews are racing to pull Time Out, the 72-foot yacht that ran ashore in Palm Beach, up to the beach where they will cut it up and cart it away. You may remember that Time Out hit the beach about a month ago after the owner said he had downed a few Long Island Iced Teas; he subsequently was charged with boating under the influence. The owner and the town were fighting about who was going to pay the $200,000 to get the boat out of the water. See the story below: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/grounded-yacht-slowly-moving-off-palm-beach/nsj6Z/

Thief Tries to Steal 80-foot Hatteras, Hits Other Boats, Sinks Hatteras, Swims Away

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2016 Cruising Life

The captain returned his 80-foot Hatteras to its slip in Miami Beach Marina about 11:30 at night and went home. Half an hour later, a thief broke in, started the engines and tried to drive away. He hit half a dozen other boats and a concrete bulkhead before the Hatteras started to sink. He swam away. Take a look at the video here of another boat owner who saw the whole thing: http://www.oceanofnews.com/stolen-80-hatteras-yacht-crashes-sinks-miami-beach-marina/

Renewed Debate about Boating Safety after Fernandez’ Death

By Peter Janssen on September 28, 2016 Cruising Life

Now the stories about boating safety and drinking are starting to appear in the aftermath of the death of Miami Marlins’ star pitcher Jose Fernandez when his 32-foot center console hit a jetty in Government Cut, immediately killing him and two friends, about 3 a.m. on Sunday. It turns out, according to this story, that Fernandez was at American Social on Brickell, a popular restaurant/bar with a dock on the Miami River, about an hour before the accident. As people who love to go cruising, in Florida and around the world, it’s important for us to know what the press…

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