Cruising Life

Bimini Boating Fling: Sign Up Now

By Peter Janssen on July 3, 2023 Cruising Life

The annual Bimini Boating Fling, a promotion created by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to encourage more boaters to cruise across the Gulf Stream from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini, is underway. This month the Fling has a special meaning, because the nation of The Bahamas celebrates its 50th Anniversary of Independence on July 10. The Bimini Boating Fling is actually a flotilla of up to 30 boats, under the auspices of an official lead boat, that cruise together 51 nm from the Bahia Mar Marina to Bimini. The idea is that there’s safety in numbers, and that boat owners who…

7 Tips for Safe Coastal Navigation

By co_admin on July 2, 2023 Cruising Life

Here are seven tips about how to prepare for your next cruise, even before you leave home, from Skipper Tips. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, or whatever, pull out your paper charts (oh, you think your GPS will work all the time?), and get ready for a safe cruise. 1. Mark Shoals and Set the Alarm! Use a dark blue pencil to mark any shoal within one to two miles of your sailing tracks. Set your depth sounder alarm to trigger when you sail within a mile or so of any of these shoals. This will give you more…

Porsche and Frauscher Planning All-Electric Boat

By Peter Janssen on June 28, 2023 Cruising Life

Porsche and Frauscher, the Austrian boat builder, just announced that they’re working together to produce a 30-foot, all-electric boat next year. The boat will use the electric platform that Porsche is planning for its first all-electric vehicle, the Taycan sports saloon. The new boat will be called the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air electric yacht. It’s based on Frauscher’s existing 858 Fantom Air, and it will have power from Porsche’s Premium Platform Electric, including a 100kWh lithium-ion battery pack, an electric motor, and 800-volt DC charging so it can be charged at DC fast-charging stations. (AC charging will also…

New, Unique, Nordhavn 96 World Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on June 28, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Wow! Take a look at the latest Nordhavn 96, a massive, powerful, blue-water cruiser that fulfills the company’s promise to take its owners to the corners of the world, or anywhere else they might want to go. The exterior lines, while impressive, are still recognizable as a Nordhavn. But take a look at everything else, inside and out, to see what can be done. The new Nordhavn, named New Journey, is hull #18 of the 96 series. It was delivered to its new owners last month. They didn’t waste any time, heading south to the Sea of Cortez and then…

Garmin Unveils New Series of Open-Array Radars

By Peter Janssen on June 27, 2023 Cruising Life, Electronics

Garmin just unveiled a new GMR xHD3 series of open-array radars with high-definition imaging and the latest technology for new levels of clarity and performance. The new xHD3 series uses scan averaging, a first for Garmin’s magnetron radar, to help filter sea clutter and interference to provide users with enhanced, consistent targets. Processing of target size uses pulse expansion to optimize on-screen shapes for easier interpretation at all ranges, and true echo trails show a historic “trail” of boats on the water, removing the influence of relative motion, so users can more quickly identify moving targets and potential threats of…

Riviera Launches Luxurious 78 Flagship

By Peter Janssen on June 27, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Riviera Yachts recently launched its new flagship, a luxurious four-stateroom, 78-foot motoryacht that’s capable of cruising more than 1,000 nm at 30 knots. Riviera joined with the Italian designer Luca Valabonna, who often works with superyachts, for the new 78. The resulting flagship is a completely new build for the Australian builder, and all three decks are filled with big-yacht touches as a result. Riviera’s fleet now includes 24 models from 39 to 78 feet. You can climb on board the 78 from a teak swim platform; at the touch of a button, it lowers into the water and opens…

Lazzara LSX 67 Wins Prizes in Venice

By Peter Janssen on June 27, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Lazzara Yachts new LSX 67 Limited Edition just won two prestigious awards, one for Best Motor Yacht Under 25 Meters, and one for Best Master Cabin Design, at the annual International Yacht and Aviation Awards in Venice. The awards honored the unique design features of the LSX 67, particularly the full-beam master suite with direct access to the entertainment center and beach club on the aft deck. The company says the LSX 67 is the only yacht in its class to offer such an arrangement. The large master suite offers uninterrupted views outside both port and starboard sides, as well…

Fatal Boat Crash Closes Port of Miami

By Peter Janssen on June 26, 2023 Cruising Life

A fatal boat crash closed the Port of Miami for about 12 hours over the weekend. A 32-foot center console hit the Pelican 11, a Fisher Island ferry, about 3 a.m. on Sunday. (A sistership is pictured.) The boat then sank in the north channel near Dodge Island. The ferry crew pulled one man, Angel Dominguez, 29, from the water. He said his friend, Cristian Gaston Fernandez, 27, had also been on the boat and was missing. Miami Fire-Rescue workers found Fernandez’ body in the water. Dominguez was taken to a trauma center in serious condition. No one on the…

How To Stay Safe on the Fourth: BoatUS

By co_admin on June 26, 2023 Cruising Life

Here’s some great advice from BoatUS about how to stay safe while enjoying the Fourth on your boat: ANNAPOLIS, Md. June 26, 2023 – Lakes, launch ramps and harbors will again be crowded on the boating season’s traditional peak holiday period surrounding the July Fourth holiday. As the number of boats, personal watercraft and paddlecraft goes up, boaters should no look further than recently released annual U.S. Coast Guard statistics for some lessons on how to keep everyone aboard safe during this busy time of the year, especially for on-water fireworks shows. According to data from the recently released 2022…

Two Deputies Save Manatee

By Peter Janssen on June 26, 2023 Cruising Life

Here’s a feel-good story for the start of summer. Two deputies in Florida held a manatee’s head up out of the water for more than two hours, keeping it from drowning, before help arrived and ultimately set it free back in the water. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office gave this account of the manatee rescue: Deputy Jill Constant got a call recently, when the red tide levels were high, from a woman saying that a manatee was in distress in the Intracoastal Waterway. The animal was trying to beach itself on some rocks on Shell Key Preserve, about 11 miles…

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