On Watch with Peter Janssen

Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

Yacht Runs Aground, Is Rescued, Sinks

By Peter Janssen on March 9, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Two weeks after it ran aground, Nakoa, a 94-foot, 2004 Sunseeker, was freed from a reef in Hawaii and then sank in 800 feet of water before it could be towed to Honolulu, 90 miles away. Nakoa’s problems started on Sunday, Feb. 19, when Jim Jones, who owned it as part of Neolani Yacht Charters, spent the weekend on board with his family. It was moored in Honolua Bay near the northern tip of Maui. Somehow the mooring line failed and the yacht drifted onto a reef near a marine sanctuary. All eight people on board were taken off the…

New Zeelander 5 To Debut at Palm Beach

By Peter Janssen on February 27, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

The new Zeelander 5, with all the builder’s trademark curves and elegant lines, will make its world debut at the Palm Beach show, starting March 23. The 48-foot Zeelander 5 is the latest masterpiece from the Dutch builder, an updated version of the Zeelander 44, except that it’s larger, faster and quieter. It has Zeelander’s unmistakable profile, with its low profile and generous tumblehome leading to a large sun lounge and swim platform that folds out from the transom. The new Zeelander 5 is a two-stateroom, two-head, luxury cruiser that tops out at 40 knots and delivers a soft and…

Is This the Future of Boating?

By Peter Janssen on February 23, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Bluegame Yachts in Viareggio, Italy, is making a 35-foot foiling, hydrogen-powered America’s Cup chase boat that may help shape the future of boating. The boat is called American Magic, and Bluegame is building it for the New York Yacht Club, one of the challengers for the 37th Cup races next year in Barcelona. It’s powered by two electric motors driving props on the forward foil; they are run by two 70kW EODev hydrogen fuel cells (one in each hull). American Magic is scheduled to be launched this summer. It foils once it reaches 24 knots, and it’s projected to have…

Up Next: Palm Beach Show, March 23-26

By Peter Janssen on February 22, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen, Palm Beach Boat Show

The popular and increasingly important Palm Beach International Boat Show starts next month, on Thursday, March 23, and runs through Sunday, March 26. It will have a lot of cruising boats on display, including many that were not at the Miami show last week. Over the past few years, the Palm Beach show has earned a reputation as a serious buyers’ show, for a lot of reasons. It’s a manageable show, where it’s easy to see the boats. They’re all in one location (as opposed to Miami), and the show is easy to get to, with parking and restaurants nearby.…

Aquila 42

Cats Rule in Miami

By Peter Janssen on February 15, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Power catamarans have grown in number and in popularity in the past few years, and those trends are getting a big boost at the Miami show this week. Here’s a fast look at some of the new breed that made their debuts at the show: Even before the show officially opened on Wednesday morning, Aquila celebrated the global debut of its new 42 power catamaran (see picture) at the show’s Herald Plaza site. Designed by VPLP, the French naval architects, the new 42 has two cabins (with en suite heads), although it can be configured for three or four. The…

Iridium’s New Portable Device with Global Coverage

By Peter Janssen on February 9, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Iridium just launched its new go-anywhere portable wireless device, Iridium GO! exec, that provides global, off-the-grid connections for smartphones, laptops and tablets. The new GO! exec is a significant upgrade from Iridium’s GO! and is 40 times faster. It enables users to make calls, get email and messaging, share pictures, post to social media, collect weather information, and even send an SOS from a dedicated button. It also serves as a WiFi hotspot for multiple devices. For boat owners, it has an external antenna and fixed installation kit. The new device is powered by the Iridium Certus 100 service that…

New Silent 120 Cat Has Airplane, Submarine

By Peter Janssen on January 29, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Silent Yachts has just taken the idea of adventure or explorer yachts to an entirely new level by announcing that its new 120 Explorer will have both a vertical takeoff and landing airplane and a personal submarine. The all-electric powered catamaran also will have trans-oceanic capabilities and virtually unlimited range. The plane, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) named the XP4, is made by the British startup VRCO. It can hold four people, cruise at 160 knots, and fly for an hour. Large solar panels on the yacht’s roof slide out to port and starboard to open a touch-and-go…

European Boat of the Year Awards

By Peter Janssen on January 26, 2023 Cruising Life, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The winners of the annual European Boat of the Year Awards were just announced at the Düsseldorf show. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges from 12 European boating magazines, and they consider each boat’s workmanship, handling, layout, safety, value, and new ideas and concepts. For this year’s contest, the judges looked at more than 250 new boats, and ultimately choose the winners, and multiple finalists, in six categories. (The Prestige M 48 is shown at top.) The winners are: Sportboats up to 8 Meters (26’): Winner: Askelladen C 78 Cruiser (above) Finalists: Bayliner M19, Beneteau Flyer 8…

Sirena Building a 48 Starter Yacht

By Peter Janssen on January 22, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Sirena Yachts just announced plans for their new 48, the smallest Sirena yet, at the big Düsseldorf show. It is scheduled to be launched in time for the Cannes Yachting Festival next September. In the announcement, the Turkish builder said the new 48 is designed as its entry boat; the Sirena fleet now has a 58, 68, 78 and 88. The company says the 48 “will appeal to a new generation of boaters and marine enthusiasts.” It’s designed by Germán Frers, the acclaimed Argentina naval architect, who also has worked on the larger Sirenas. It has three cabins (sleeping six)…

Saxdor Unveils Versatile 400 GT

By Peter Janssen on January 17, 2023 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Saxdor just unveiled plans for its new 400 GT, an aggressively styled, versatile cruiser with a low profile, large fold-down terraces and outboard performance. The new Saxdor, built in Finland, will be ready later this year, and the company says it is designed for boaters “whether you are spending the day under the hot Miami sun or driving through a blizzard in Norway.” It will turn heads with its modern Scandinavian look, almost vertical bow, and sleek cabin roof. It has windows all around, for 360-degree visibility, and sliding doors on both sides of the wheelhouse lead to the folding…

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