My wife, Kati, and I are among the million boaters who helped to make Florida the state with more registered boaters than any other in America. We’ve lived in Orlando for three decades, cruising our 50-foot schooner, Britannia, all around the sailing haven and beyond to the Bahamas. Florida really is a paradise for those of us who love to take to the water. For so many boaters, it can be hard to imagine living anywhere else.

But last year, Kati and I reached a pivotal moment: We needed a fresh start in a new place, even if it meant bidding adieu to all we held dear. 

So, we looked to the north. Yes, there were drawbacks to this idea. Venturing north would elongate the return trip to the enchanting Bahamas, a paradise we longed to frequent. We didn’t want the biting chill of winter to necessitate an entire wardrobe overhaul. Nor did we care to wrestle with the tedious task of winterizing our boat’s engine and generator each fall. We weren’t seeking wholesale change, but instead an adjustment; we still wanted to live in a haven that would allow us to sail Britannia year-round.

A nautical map of the Eastern Seaboard drew our attention to a vast expanse of water on the eastern shores of North Carolina—Pamlico Sound, accompanied by its slightly smaller northern sibling, Albemarle Sound. Intrigued by these alluring destinations, we embarked on a weeklong exploration.

The picturesque town of New Bern greeted us, its charming streets steeped in British and Colonial history, adorned with an array of delightful restaurants and three adjacent marinas. Nestled at the convergence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, the town would give us easy access to Pamlico Sound, which sprawls 60 miles in length and 20 miles in width—a vast playground for sailors, replete with winding rivers, meandering creeks and quaint waterfront towns. The mighty Pamlico River also beckons sailors, enabling navigation for 40 miles up to the town of Washington—­affectionately dubbed “Little Washington” by the locals.

Among the renowned destinations on the Outer Banks—guardians of Pamlico and Albemarle sounds—is the legendary Kittyhawk, where the Wright brothers took their first flight. Sailors too are familiar with the treacherous Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras. This entire part of the Atlantic coastline has earned the moniker “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

Between the splendid realms of Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, Roanoke Island emerges. It’s where the first British settlers planted their feet in 1587, predating the Mayflower’s storied voyage by 32 years. Being natives of the United Kingdom, as we strolled through towns with stores called Ye Olde British Tea Shoppe, we felt an instant kinship with these once-­British colonies. Moreover, adorning the 150-mile stretch of the Outer Banks are some of America’s most pristine, untouched beaches—a true testament to nature’s majesty.

We also discovered a delightful oasis from Florida’s high marina fees in the form of city docks, which this part of the country generously offers to visiting boaters for a few blissful days. Aboard Britannia, we were saved from shelling out nightly sums ranging from $60 to $100. 

Then again, if we wanted marinas, Pamlico and Albemarle sounds had them: a dozen marinas within Pamlico Sound alone, each conveniently located a mere fraction of the 70-mile journey we used to undertake from Orlando to Cape Canaveral in Florida, sometimes just for a fleeting day of maritime pleasure. And marina prices here were a mere third of what we paid in Florida. 

We also chanced upon Fairfield Harbour on the Neuse River. It’s just south of New Bern, evoking images of a miniaturized Fort Lauderdale. Canal-style branches sprawl across the main lagoon, with an array of homes that have private docks and picturesque gardens. 

The allure proved ­irresistible for Kati and me. As self-­employed individuals—me freelancing as a boating writer, Kati operating her real estate company—we found ourselves with minimal hindrances to relocating to North Carolina. And this location would bring us 400 miles closer to our daughter and grandchildren near Charlotte.

Within Fairfield Harbour’s confines, two yacht clubs awaited our arrival, including Blackbeard Sailing Club and its marina. The warm embrace of the yachting community enveloped Britannia. In our short time exploring, we forged friendships with more fellow yachties than we ever did in Florida. 

In addition, the specter of falling prey to a catastrophic hurricane weighed far less heavily on our minds here. Hurricane Florence brushed the region in September 2018, causing severe flooding, but unlike in Florida, such occurrences were rare. We had gotten Britannia out of Florida before the devastating hit from Hurricane Ian in 2022, but even being unscathed, we thanked our lucky stars and considered the idea of a home base where such devastation is less likely to occur. North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound dances to the tune of ­prevailing winds, ebbing and flowing in response to their whims. During strong gusts, a surge of 3 feet might materialize—a mere trifle when compared with the dramatic tides of the Atlantic and the kind of storm surge that wipes out whole waterfronts along the Florida coast.

Our minds were made up. We listed our Florida house for sale, and a buyer materialized within a fortnight, sealing the deal in just five weeks. Our new abode is at Fairfield Harbour, nestled amid verdant woods—albeit without waterfront access or a private dock. The truth is, we couldn’t afford to be picky. But we can still dream and keep an eye on the local market.

After sailing Britannia northward to her new haven, I secured a sizable dock rental from the homeowners’ association. Our boat’s new home port is conveniently located within walking distance of our abode. The cost is a mere fraction of what we paid in Florida.

We’ve been here for a while now. During the winter, snowfall greeted us, a rare occurrence after years spent in Florida’s warm embrace. I relished the opportunity to join our grandchildren in building a snowman in our front yard—an experience that had been absent from our lives for far too long. Such simple pleasures only add to the wonderful feelings we have in our newfound coastal haven.

As of yet, we have embarked on only preliminary ventures into the sound, cautiously exploring the places we discovered during our earlier visits. Of course, we intend to explore more as we further settle into our new locale. From secluded anchorages to quaint waterfront towns, our journey through the Southern seas will undoubtedly be one for the annals—a tale of discovery, rejuvenation and the serendipitous sojourns of a Southern sailor.

If you too find yourself yearning for a respite from the unpredictable climes of the tropics and the frigid North, let the winds carry you to the pristine beaches of the Outer Banks, the enchanting shores of the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, and the warmth of Southern hospitality.

We’ll be among the boaters waiting to greet you with a warm smile and local ­knowledge.

The post New Cruising Grounds: Switching Home Ports From Florida to North Carolina appeared first on Cruising World.

“willie, call me as soon as you can. i bought a boat. I haven’t seen it yet. It’s in the middle of Florida. We have to get it out of the boatyard by Monday.” 

When I received the voicemail, I was racing a Melges 24 regatta in Miami, and I knew adventure was brewing. My father-in-law, Chris, had started with casual boat browsing online and progressed to the sight-unseen purchase of La Reine, a 23-year-old Beneteau 381. In the process, he had set in motion a journey that would take my wife, Kim, and me on a 50-day, ­1,000-nautical-mile shotgun journey into the unknown. 

Starting with getting the boat off the hard for him within three days.

Two days later, I got my first sight of the boatyard where La Reine was waiting. Row upon row of deserted boats covered in various shades of mossy growth stretched as far as I could see. Imagination turned to panic as I drove past the first derelict hulls and pulled through the front gate.

As I entered the boatyard, heads popped out of companionways covered in fiberglass dust and paint. The boats in this part of the yard were notably more seaworthy, and a ragtag crowd was lovingly working on them.  

La Reine had a fresh coat of paint that made her shine, and a suite of new electronics gave her a modern feel. As a professional racer who has seen my share of collisions and repairs, I was very aware that the shiny new cosmetics might mask something far more daunting. I pushed the possibilities from my mind and set to work. 

The Caloosahatchee River makes up the western stretch of the Okeechobee Waterway, which connects the tranquil Gulf waters of Fort Myers to the Atlantic Seaboard at Port St. Lucie. We had not yet been able to secure a reservation in a marina on either coastline, so the plan was to take the boat a few miles downriver toward Fort Myers, and then leave her in Port LaBelle Marina to buy ourselves enough time to install safety gear and make a game plan.

That afternoon, one other boat was ceremoniously hoisted from its resting place in the yard in preparation for an adventure at sea. The excited young couple had spent the past two years on the hard fixing leaks, working on the engine, refitting plumbing, and everything in between. Briefly, the thought crossed my mind that La Reine should spend a few more months in the yard to go through all the systems, but it was too late for that. Whatever issues the new paint hid would be revealed soon enough.

After a three-hour round-trip drive to Fort Myers to acquire provisions for my first night on the boat, I returned to find that the stove wouldn’t light, so my quesadilla dinner became a cheese and tomato wrap. After dinner, I discovered that the toilet wouldn’t flush, thankfully in time to head up to the marina bathrooms.

Kim arrived early the next morning. After a pit stop to ­purchase parts, we started up the diesel on the first try. Our adventure was underway.

The first day was smooth motoring. Kim navigated the canal, and I watched YouTube videos to learn how to dissect the plumbing. As I wrapped up installation of a new pump and valve, we arrived at our first lock. The friendly lock operator walked us through the procedure, and the conditions were calm, making the process easy. When we were ready, the back gate closed, the front gate cracked open and dropped the water level 14 feet, and we were on to the next section of canal.

At Port LaBelle that evening, we were greeted by an alligator floating lazily past the entrance. We cut the drone of the diesel, so the only sounds left were nature: plentiful bird life and the distant moos of cows. It was the quintessential Southern evening. We still didn’t know where we were headed, but for the next few weeks, this would become our launch pad for the projects needed to make it to the ocean, and whatever lay beyond. 

We had only a few short days in Port LaBelle before I had to head back to work for a week, and Kim had a trip planned with friends. We crammed in as many projects as possible, with the expectation that we’d be headed to the ocean the next time we saw the boat.

When we returned to Port LaBelle, Chris had settled on a summer marina at Jekyll Island, Georgia. Meanwhile, Kim and I were plotting a one-month detour through the Bahamas. We would head east on the Okeechobee Waterway, then south to Miami and up through the Bahamas, then to Georgia. We didn’t have any marina reservations, but we felt that there was no better way to get to the top of the waiting list than to show up.

As soon as Kim arrived, we transferred a mountain of boxes we’d ordered online from the marina office onto the boat, and we bid farewell to Port LaBelle. With a nice following wind, we unfurled the jib for the first time and retraced our tracks from only a week before.

After about an hour, we arrived back at the lock that we had previously dropped down and prepared to float back up. “Ready?” came the voice of the operator. We thought we were.

As the back gate closed, I noticed that the fenders were slightly too far apart. The freshly painted rail of La Reine came to rest just inches from the cement wall as the front gate opened and water rushed into the lock. The boat seesawed at the mercy of the floodwaters. 

With my gaze fixed on the tiny gap between the rail and the wall, I wrestled with the dock line, fighting to avoid grinding off the fresh coat of paint. Minutes seemed like hours, but eventually, the water calmed and the boat came to rest. Miraculously, the rail was unscratched. 

For the rest of that afternoon, we motored lazily up the canal, past Glades Boat Storage and up the river to Moore Haven, where we spent the night on the city dock.

The morning was full of beauty, with golden sunlight pouring down on swampy vegetation and animal life. Alligators, turtles, lizards, and birds of all varieties seemed to wake with the sun and escort us down the next stretch of the ditch. 

By late morning, we passed through Clewiston and reached the entrance to Lake Okeechobee, where we set a course through the narrow channel. By noon, land slipped from sight and the wind built to the midteens. Our jib was deployed, and our adventure seemed to be in full force.

Kim was at the helm when the steady, rhythmic knocking of the diesel began to fade. At first, I thought one of us had bumped the throttle, but power quickly faded to an idle thrust. I spend a lot of time around outboard engines in my job as an Olympic sailing coach, but the diesel was a new beast. This felt like a gas issue, but the gauge read three-quarters full.

Kim turned us head-to-wind while I hoisted the main and cut the engine. The wind was puffing at nearly 20 knots and, luckily, carried us downwind toward the far lakeshore, but we knew we would need the engine to get through the lock on the far side. Kim drove while I went below to put on my mechanic’s cap.

After about an hour, I had drained some sediment out of the fuel filters. I was cleaning out the air-intake manifold when Kim called down: “I can see the lock getting closer. The waves are getting bigger. What are we going to do?”

I poked my head back up. The channel markers for the lock were getting close. 

We cranked the engine, throttled up, and La Reine plowed forward. 

“Sails down and fingers crossed—all we can do now is hope that it doesn’t die again,” Kim said with a worried look. 

We hailed the lock operator. The wind was now blowing a steady 20 with a lumbering, lumpy chop. The lock operator came on the VHF radio: “Conditions are rough, but it’s not getting any better. Let’s get you through. When you get inside, let me close the gate before you go to the wall so that the chop can die down.”

If the engine died now, we’d have major problems. We carefully nosed into the lock, with the boat pitching wildly from the chop. 

“Be ready with a mobile fender in case I lose control,” I told Kim. 

As the gate swung closed behind us, the engine held, but even with full power, I was fighting hard to keep the boat under control. The bow swung left, then right, at the mercy of the wind, so I tried to keep the stern centered to buy enough time for the chop to subside. 

“That’s it,” came the voice of the lock operator. The chop was still big, but we were fully committed, so I took a deep breath, tried to relax, and waited patiently for the bow to swing. As the next puff took hold, the boat rotated 20 degrees, lining us up for a nice approach to the wall. I hit reverse, praying that the engine would hold just 60 seconds longer.

In the end, it was one of our smoothest lock passages. While the lock operator commented on our excellent boathandling, I told myself, Better lucky than good.

I started to relax as we exited the cement box into the ­tranquility of the canal on the other side, but no sooner had we passed the final gate than the bridge ahead stole my focus. This 49-foot railroad crossing controlled the navigational height east of Lake Okeechobee. 

We radioed the operator for a final check on water-level height. When we told him we were 48 feet tall, he replied, “Don’t quote me on this, but I think you’ll probably make it.”

The adrenaline took hold again.

Back at Port LaBelle, I had gone up the rig and measured that we should have a foot of clearance above our mast, but seeing the bridge in front of us, my imagination ran wild. I envisioned a westbound motorboat trying to squeeze through the bridge at the same time as us, with its wake bouncing us into the top of the bridge. We figured that every inch mattered, so, using a hammock, we rigged up a seat for Kim on the end of the boom. As I swung her out over the water, the boat heeled 5 degrees to starboard. I had calculated that this should buy us 6 extra inches of clearance.

We went as slowly as possible, with the hope that impact at these speeds might give us a chance to save the rig, but the ­approach was agonizing. Hanging over the water, Kim worried that she might have a date with an alligator if things went south. 

At the last moment, I threw the boat in neutral. As we glided smoothly through the crossing, I looked up. Was it just me, or was the antenna on top of the rig tickling the bottom of the bridge? No, just my imagination. Elation. We were through.

We laughed and smiled and felt like heroes. We had avoided the lengthy western route through the Keys, and the sun was shining.

We didn’t notice the first few raindrops. All afternoon, I had been tracking the cumulus development to the north, and while the fluffy white pillars had grown into thunderheads, the radar showed no sign of southern movement. While we’d been preoccupied with the lock and the bridge, though, the system had veered sharply. Within minutes, I found myself diving for my foul-weather gear in pelting rain.

No sooner was I dressed than the engine died again.

Kim rushed below to grab the windlass controller. The crackle of thunder and lightning in the distance was getting closer. I swung the bow head-to-wind in the lee of a thicket of trees and, with the last of our momentum, did my best to estimate the swing of the boat in the narrow canal. 

“Drop 20,” I called, glancing at the depth gauge. Kim put down 20 feet of chain as the boat started backward. 

With the anchor set, we scrambled below and closed the hatches to wait out the rest of the squall and continue working on the diesel. 

Later that evening, La Reine slipped down the glassy canal as the towering cumulus above the forest reflected golden oranges contrasting with ragged, dark grays. La Reine’s diesel, alive once again, buzzed gently under my feet. The air was still thick from the rain, but it was cool now that the storm had moved off into the distance, having washed away much of the sweat, grease and stress that marked our first big day of delivery.

As we pulled into a slip just before the final lock of the trip for the night, I was reminded that man plans and God laughs. Of all the scenarios I had run through in my head, the leeward shoreline lock with a dead engine had not been one of them.

The next day, we headed for the Atlantic. We geared up, ­tethered in, and headed out of Stuart in a beautiful 15-knot northerly for La Reine’s first true sailing test.

The first hour was all smiles. We surfed the waves, reaching and winging our way down the coast. Through the afternoon, the breeze built and more rolling waves began to make Kim feel sick, so we set a course for an inlet a few miles down the coast. Before we could make it to the calm water, however, we heard a popping noise, and looked up to find a large hole in the luff of the main. A seam of old stitching had given out, and rotten threads on either side looked ready to give way too.

The mainsail blowing out wasn’t something that we could have predicted, but as soon as it happened, we made the best of the situation. Kim took the helm and spun us into the wind while I reefed the main to the second reef point. This confined the hole in the sail to the folds of the reefed slab, allowing us to continue down the coast at a good pace as we motorsailed to Hillsboro Inlet at Pompano Beach.

For the next few days, the clear-blue Miami water replaced the murky green twists and turns of the Intracoastal Waterway, and we began to feel one step ahead. As we wound our way through the juxtaposition of wild nature and intensive urban ­development, we were able to secure a mooring ball, schedule a mechanic to service the engine, and book an appointment to have the boat sized for a Bimini top.

In the final stretch, we navigated intense Saturday traffic in Miami: lavish yachts, loud music, and crazy chop from ­reckless boaters. As we turned into the calm waters of Dinner Key Marina, sweet relief washed over us.

Champagne in hand, we video-chatted with Chris, telling him we’d made it and that La Reine was in one piece. We spent the rest of the evening reliving our endless snafus, laughing and smiling. It was amazing how much life we had lived in just four days.

What had we learned? No matter whether you order your boat new or find one online, plans will eventually fail. And when they do, the real adventure will begin. 

The post Sailing Across Florida: An Unexpected Adventure appeared first on Cruising World.

At some charter companies, the fleets of boats can feel cookie-cutter and impersonal—stripped of any details that make clients feel like they’re aboard a true home away from home.

That’s why Waypoints Yacht Charters strives to provide a boutique-style, elevated yacht charter experience aboard boats that have character and high-end amenities, with everything from the softest blankets to the best coffee machines ready for guests to enjoy.

“The boats each have their own story,” says Susan Restauri, who, along with Waypoints president Kirstie Palmer, brings a combined 45-plus years of charter-industry experience to helping Waypoints Yacht Charters’ clients have the best possible experience.

The company’s fleet of new-model yachts is housed at four bases—in the British Virgin Islands; US Virgin Islands; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Annapolis, Maryland—always in the heart of these incredible locations for easy access to all the best sights and activities.

Waypoints BVI is located at Nanny Cay on Tortola, just a short walk from local restaurants, beach bars, provisioning spots and more. The location has an on-site spa and swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, and luxury showers, among other amenities, so charter clients can relax and feel at home even before they set off to explore the islands. There are several grocery stores in nearby Road Town where bareboaters can provision, and there are several beverage companies to choose from as well.

The US Virgin Islands location is at Frenchtown on St. Thomas, a hub of activity in the island chain. In fact, guests who start their charters here can go from the airport to the base in a 10-minute cab ride, which puts them afloat in their anchorage in less than two hours after getting off the plane. Or clients can linger near the base and take some time to check out all the local restaurants and duty-free shopping. Grocery stores are bountiful for provisioning, and some services will do provisioning in advance of the client’s arrival, so the food and stores merely have to be stowed on the boat before setting off.

In downtown St. Petersburg, the Waypoints Florida base marina is at an award-winning hotel that adjoins Vinoy Park and Beach Drive, overlooking the Vinoy Yacht Basin in Tampa Bay. Clients arriving from nearby locations can leave their vehicles in one of several easily accessible public parking lots, and access for clients flying in from farther afield is easy from Tampa International Airport, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport or Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

Up in Annapolis, the Waypoints base is in historic Eastport, overlooking the United States Naval Academy. Charter clients can walk or take a dinghy ride to the historic Annapolis downtown, which is filled with quaint shops and restaurants, before heading out to explore Chesapeake Bay on the boat. Grocery provisioning is convenient at this base too, with delivery available from several stores. There’s also the option of a private onboard chef from the Annapolis base, with sample menus available on request.

And no matter what other questions clients have at any of the Waypoints locations, the staff is highly experienced and prepared to answer.

“Everybody who works with us has sailing experience,” Restauri says, adding that the Waypoints staff is composed of far more than just people who take bookings over the phone. “We can actually tell you about these boats and locations.”

Options for how to enjoy time on board abound in each of the four base locations. Clients can choose to book as bareboaters or with a captain, and can select from sailing monohulls, catamarans and motoryachts from top-notch manufacturers, including Fountaine-Pajot and Dufour. Each yacht is privately owned with comfort and performance amenities such as generators, air conditioning and watermakers—again, setting the fleet apart from those that offer stripped-down boats with virtually no creature comforts at all.

Making sure clients can choose from a fleet of high-quality boats is a hallmark of the Waypoints Yacht Charters brand. One of the things that helps the team at Waypoints ensure access to top-notch charter boats is the company’s exclusive partnership with Atlantic Cruising Yachts, one of the top yacht dealers in the world, with locations across North America. ACY introduces the Waypoints brokers to yacht owners at the time they are buying and outfitting their boats, a process that lets the Waypoints team make sure from the start that everything charter guests expect will in fact be on board.

And, after a charter is booked on any boat, the Waypoints team goes above and beyond to make sure that everything the client requested is ready to go.

“We had one situation in Annapolis where a charter client didn’t get his beverage order, which he had placed himself at a local store,” Restauri says. “A member of our Waypoints team drove to the liquor store for him. That’s the kind of personalized service that sets Waypoints apart. It’s the extra step that we’re willing to take. We want people to feel totally special.”

To learn more about Waypoints Yacht Charters and to receive exclusive charter offers and event invitations, sign up for the Waypoints newsletter.

The post Waypoints Yacht Charter: A Boutique, Elevated Charter Experience appeared first on Cruising World.

Back to the BVI

Missing Painkillers, Anegada lobsters and tunes at Foxy’s? Well good news—the government of the British Virgin Islands announced on September 21, 2020 that the territory plans to reopen its borders to international visitors on December 1, 2020! Details to be announced soon. Keep up with the latest information at bvitourism.com.

Sailing Solution: Flotillas

Amid pandemic concerns, flotillas are a good option, simultaneously offering privacy and socializing with other boats from a safe distance. Companies offering trips through 2021 include Colgate Sailing Adventures Flotilla Cruises and Med Sailing Adventures.

Enjoy locations such as Tahiti, Greece and Sardinia with -experienced guides on a lead boat. For rates and other details, contact the companies.

More Florida Sailing Options

Dream Yacht Charter opened its new base in Coconut Grove, which is located in central Miami, in August 2020. This base is convenient to all that Southeast Florida has to offer, from Biscayne Bay through the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. Enjoy excellent diving, fishing and sailing, not to -mention some of the best sunsets anywhere.

The Miami fleet includes an Astrea 42, Bali 4.5 and a Fountaine Pajot Motor Yacht 37, available for bareboat and skippered charters. Guests will be able to sail one way and start or end their charters in Key West, Key Largo and Marathon, as well as Miami. For details, contact Dream Yacht Charter.

On the west coast of Florida, The Moorings now has charters available through Sailing Florida in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the Vinoy Resort Marina. Florida’s Gulf Coast includes some of the state’s most beautiful -beaches, and the cruising grounds include picturesque Sanibel and Captiva islands, Tarpon Springs, Marco Island, and even Key West and the Dry Tortugas. The fleet includes a variety of new monohulls from Jeanneau and Beneteau and sail and power cats from Fountaine Pajot. For details, contact The Moorings.

Repeat Clients Rewarded

BVI Yacht Charters in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, offers repeat guests a 10 percent discount on charters of seven or more days.

Other year-round offers include:

• Book seven nights or longer within six weeks of departure and save 30 percent.
• Save 10 percent when you book two or more boats.
• Earn a 10 percent discount for charters booked a year or more in advance.

The company has also added Serenata, a six-cabin 2020 Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 sailing catamaran. Serenata is available from December 15, 2020. For details, contact the company.

Check Out Conch’s Cuts, Cats

Conch Charters in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, has incentives for vacation sailors who are looking for a getaway this winter.

Want to start 2021 off the right way? From January 6 to January 31, 2021, you can sail nine nights for the price of seven.

Repeat clients save 10 percent on charters booked directly with Conch from December 16, 2020 to April 30, 2021, when no other discount has been applied. Fleet additions include a 2016 Lagoon 450F, 2018 Lagoon 450S, 2015 Helia 44 and 2019 Lucia 40. For details, contact the company.

The post Chartering Update Fall 2020 appeared first on Cruising World.

During these times of social distancing, chartering a sailboat might just be the perfect vacation—just you and your family or a few close friends aboard and the opportunity to be just as secluded as you wish. Now there are two more domestic bases to choose from in sunny Florida: Coconut Grove and St. Petersburg. 

Dream Yacht Charter is opening their new base in Coconut Grove, which is located in central Miami, on August 7, 2020. This base is convenient to all that Southeast Florida has to offer, from Biscayne Bay through the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. Enjoy excellent diving, fishing and sailing, not to mention some of the best sunsets anywhere. 

The Miami fleet includes an Astrea 42, Bali 4.5 and a Fountaine Pajot Motor Yacht 37, available for bareboat and skippered charters. Guests will be able to sail one way and start or end their charters in Key West, Key Largo and Marathon, as well as Miami.

RELATED: Domestic Sailing Adventures

Dream Yacht Charter founder, Loic Bonnet, said: “We continue to rapidly adapt to the new trend for domestic tourism for our US customers who want to sail closer to home. The opening of our new base in Miami comes a few months after opening at Compass Point Marina in St. Thomas, USVIs, which has proved incredibly popular. We’re pleased to partner once again with Navtours.”

On the West Coast of Florida, The Moorings now has charters available through Sailing Florida in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the Vinoy Resort Marina. Florida’s Gulf Coast includes some of the state’s most beautiful beaches, and the cruising grounds include picturesque Sanibel and Captiva islands, Tarpon Springs, Marco Island, and even Key West and the Dry Tortugas. Steady breezes, year-round sunshine, wildlife, amazing sunsets, secluded anchorages and modern marinas are what you can expect from a sailing vacation in southwest Florida. The fleet includes a variety of new monohulls from Jeanneau and Beneteau and sail and power cats from Fountaine Pajot.

The post New Vacation Sailing Charter Options in Florida appeared first on Cruising World.

Let’s face it, we could all use a vacation, and what could be better (or more socially distant) than escaping on a sailboat with your family or a few close friends? If a charter vacation is calling your name, but travel restrictions are keeping you close to home, fear not—there are plenty of vacation sailing opportunities that are just a drive (or short domestic flight) away. 

We checked in with charter companies in the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and Southwest Florida to see how summer 2020 is shaping up for them, and what charter guests can expect in this new normal.

“This year is such a head-spinner,” said Cindy Kalow, owner of Superior Charters in Bayfield, Wisconsin. “Wisconsin opened up boat rentals early in May, so we’ve been able to open on schedule. We usually have 60 percent of our season booked up by our season start, in mid-May. This year, we experienced a 54 percent reduction in where we would have been by season launch! On a brighter note, in the last few weeks we’ve seen a significant increase in calls, emails and bookings on our website. We are getting a lot of new customers—many who had trips overseas cancelled or even trips domestically, but didn’t want to fly—who want to drive to a vacation destination. We have families looking for an alternative to more crowded vacation options. People are also not planning very far in advance. We’re experiencing more bookings for the same week or a few weeks out. People are uncertain about the future, but feel they need to get out of the house and do something fun and outdoors.”

Barb Hansen, owner of Southwest Florida Yachts, which offers both sail and power charters from the company’s base in Cape Coral, Florida, agrees: “I talk to a lot of people who say they don’t want to get on a plane. They want to be able to get to their destinations by car. With our location being easily accessible by car or plane and with our miles of beautiful barrier islands, Southwest Florida is a perfect choice for those looking to get away from it all.”

Dream Yacht Charter, which has bases all over the world, has reopened two locations that are both accessible to US sailors. “For the first bases that opened, St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands, and Annapolis, Maryland, we were overwhelmed with the demand and bookings are strong. Most of our Caribbean bases are opening in June, if people can get there. We have customers wanting to sail in the British Virgin Islands now, but the borders are opening in September,” said Emily Turner, Dream Yacht Charter’s global marketing and communications manager. 

So what can charter guests expect? Similar restrictions to what you’re already likely getting used to at home. At Superior Charters, in addition to handling all paperwork remotely ahead of time, orientations will be held outside, and all boats will have a minimum of 24 hours of down time between each trip for additional cleaning and sanitizing. 

At Dream Yacht Charters, “guests will notice a difference when they arrive at our bases, when they will be asked to observe our COVID-19 measures,” said Turner. “Only one guest is allowed in the office area and only the skipper will take part in the technical briefing and on the pontoon for check in. Check-in and check-out procedures will be conducted outside where possible. Guests will be asked to wear masks and sanitize hands before any face-to-face interaction. Once on board, guests do not need to take any additional precautions than you would going about your daily business at home right now. Keep washing hands, keep to social distancing when not with members of your immediate household, and respect the local restrictions. We can help with ideas for provisioning and itinerary tips to avoid crowds.”

Hansen adds, “We want to let all of our customers know that we are as committed to offering you a beautiful, clean vessel as we have been for the last 36 years! Our office and our boats are receiving an even higher level of cleaning at this time. So, come and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air!”

Adventures Close to Home

We asked the experts: What makes these sailing destinations spectacular?

Great Lakes

Superior Charters’ location in Bayfield, Wisconsin, is right on Lake Superior and is the gateway to the beautiful Apostle Islands. “Sailing the Apostle Islands has always been a pristine wilderness sailing experience,” Kalow said. “This is THE year for people to experience it as we are always naturally social distancing here. The anchorages are not crowded. The beaches are nearly deserted. The scenery is breathtaking. We call this the ‘Caribbean of the North’ as you’re always sailing within sight of land, in the protection of islands, and the islands are within five to 10 miles of each other. The water is crystal clear and the beaches are rippled sand.”

Chesapeake Bay

The Dream Yacht Charter base is located in beautiful, historic Annapolis. “Chesapeake Bay offers 11,600 miles of coastline, so it is ideal for finding a remote creek or anchorage where you watch wildlife in a truly stunning landscape,” Turner said. “The area is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, scenery, vibrant history, crabs and bird species. Soak up the local history at Oxford, one of Maryland’s oldest towns with a rich maritime history. Immerse yourself in the beauty of St. Leonard’s Creek on the Patuxent River, or head to the nearby Perigeaux Vineyards. Enjoy peace and quiet at Herrington Harbour, explore the six miles of trails on Wye Island and watch the birds at the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge on the Chester River.”

Southwest Florida

Florida’s southwest coast, on the Gulf of Mexico, is a world away (yet a very reasonable drive) from the busy east coast metro areas of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. “For people who have never cruised in Southwest Florida I would say that they don’t know what they are missing!” Hansen said. “They will definitely be pleasantly surprised by the variety of cruising in our area. There are quiet anchorages, private islands, resorts with all the amenities including pools and beaches, fabulous restaurants, great fishing and more. We customize our clients’ float plans to meet the style of cruising they want. We can book you into a marina every night or you can anchor out your whole charter and never go ashore. Most people do a combination of staying ashore and staying on the hook during their charter whether it is for three days or three weeks!”

Domestic Charter Resources

For domestic and international charter provider listings, visit Cruising World’s Charter Directory

Great Lakes

Superior Charters

Great Lakes Sailing Co.

Chesapeake

Dream Yacht Charters/ Annapolis Bay Charters

Waypoints/ Cruise Annapolis

New England

Bareboat Sailing Charters

Florida

Southwest Florida Yachts

Florida Yachts and Charters

Pacific Northwest

San Juan Sailing

Anacortes Yacht Charters

San Francisco Bay

Club Nautique

The post Domestic Sailing Adventures appeared first on Cruising World.

Lying awake in my berth, listening to the roaring wind, I whipped up this little classified ad—or was I dreaming it?—in my mind. “Boat for sale: Beneteau 361 in great condition. Includes dinghy, watermaker, solar panels and wind generator.”

As all sailors can attest, these moments of doubt come around. That night, I would have sold my beloved Liberte for pennies on the dollar.

It had been a day of ridiculous logistics. Some land-based friends in Florida wanted to meet at the Sanibel Marriott for sunset hour. Simple enough, but the hotel dock wouldn’t work. The docks next door were private. There was no anchorage for shelter in the predicted northerlies.

I found a place on the charts that might work, and for several hours, we motored the twisting Intracoastal Waterway against current to go just 2 miles as the seagull flies. We crept around a long shoal and through skinny water to drop the hook. We were far from shore with no wind protection, but in flat water, or so we thought.

A fishing boat came blasting by, so close that our mast rocked in its wake. Then another. It appeared I had anchored smack dab in the middle of a local shortcut. Each driver gave us the stink eye as they hit the throttle. Doubt crept in, the scourge of any untested anchorage.

A TowBoatUS boat pulled up, and the driver hollered over: “You guys OK? Never seen anyone anchored here.”

“Uh, yeah…. Just here for a couple of nights.”

“Wow, you’re here on purpose? All the boats run through here.”

“We noticed.”

“Can’t believe you got over the bar,” the tow driver said. “I’d get back out at the next high tide if I were you.”

“Thanks! Now go save someone else, pal.” (I said that last part under my breath).

Now the breeze was lively. My wife, Rebecca, and I hoisted the dinghy off the foredeck, and it wanted to sail away. I stepped into the rollicking dink and fitted the outboard, my limbs jerking like a character in an old-time movie. I yanked the starter, remembering to use my left hand because the right arm was tweaked from before. All the while I muttered versions of the phrase, “This is ridiculous!”

Rebecca still had her sunny smile, so much better at these times than me, and we motored upwind in our foulies against breeze and spray. We tied up to the hotel docks with the guilty manner of not knowing if we belonged. Our friends looked fresh, unwrinkled, sensible and sophisticated. We pulled off our wet gear and smoothed our crazy hair.

The sunset was a five-star masterpiece, but we apologized and made the transit back to Liberte before dark. As we tossed about in our inflatable, feeling oh-so-vulnerable, I looked up at the Sanibel Island causeway. There were the smart people, unbound by charts and shallows. To change their weather, they just summoned the heat or air conditioning. They were no doubt destined for crisp sheets in a quiet hotel room. Those lucky people.

Back at the boat, the anchor light was out, so I cobbled together a “nonapproved” version using headlamps. I tried to read a book but instead inserted some more details into my imaginary ad: “Boat for sale. High engine hours. Jib needs replacement. Bottom paint due. Wind instruments behaving strangely. Fridge needs three sharp raps on the thermostat to come back on.”

The wind whistled, and the cabin was colder than seemed possible this far south. There was a squeeze in my chest, the unsettling feeling of making a big mistake. This sailing life made no sense at all. I would have to find a broker in the morning.

I went topside for a look around. That one step still squeaked. The winches needed servicing. My makeshift anchor light was already fading. It would be a great relief to hand all this to a new owner. Let him deal with it.

And then the cool north wind smacked me upside the head. I stood there for a long while, just drinking in the sensation of it.

The wind I chased through hills as a boy and sent me to the islands on my first ocean passage. The wind that silently, wondrously, put Rebecca and me next to a mother humpback and her calf as they dived and surfaced for 20 magical minutes I will remember with a smile all my life.

I smiled now too, in the darkness. Thoughts of the winds that had carried us to so many places. The fragrant land breeze of Pacific Mexico at night and the sea breeze in the afternoons. The clean, sweet wind of the West Indies. The pleasures of the Pacific trades. That epic night off Cape Mendocino, surfing a narrow groove with a scrap of sail, nothing more important in the world than to steer a course and keep the boat in one piece until morning. This little boat named Liberte that had given me thousands of sunsets and a million sparkling memories.

The deck was familiar under my feet. I knew my route over it and could find the corresponding handholds by instinct. Looking around in the moonlight, everything was tidy and in its place.

Even the blemishes had meaning. Who else would understand how that scrape or ding came to be? I had put them there myself over the course of years and adventures aplenty. I knew with a warm rush of memory all the stories here.

My eyes darted again to the bridge and all the cars. Their brake lights crawled along, constrained by tollways, traffic, convention and routine. Perhaps there was one kid, a younger version of me, looking out the window at a lone boat under the moon and dreaming.

Maybe he was thinking, Those lucky people.

“Baby, are you coming to bed?” A beloved voice from below. The gleam of polished wood. The good books, well-appointed galley and simple pleasures.

Yes, I most certainly am. And tonight I will sleep the sleep of a sailor, wrapped in water sounds and rocked off to dreamland.

“Boat for sale?” Not a chance.

You’ll have to pry old Liberte from my banged-up sailor’s hands.

David and Rebecca Kilmer spent this past winter aboard Liberte exploring Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, and savoring every bloody moment.

The post Point of View: Boat for Sale appeared first on Cruising World.

Congrats to Cruising World authors who were recognized at the start of the 2020 Miami International Boat Show in an annual awards program conducted by the membership of Boating Writers International (BWI) for their “Excellence in creating compelling stories about the boating lifestyle through entertaining, educational and inspiring journalism.” In all, CW writers took home three 1st Place awards, three 2nd Place awards, two 3rd Place awards, and four Certificates of Merit.

The BWI Writing Awards, presented for 27 years, attracted 112 participants submitting 299 entries. In addition to first-, second- and third-place awards, 45 Certificates of Merit were presented to other entrants who scored closely to the third-place tallies in each category. All submissions to the contest were published in 2019.

Seamanship, Rescue & Safety – sponsored by Sea Tow Services International

1st place, “Touching the Water” by John Rousmaniere. Jim Rhodes said, “Rousmaniere grabs the attention of the reader at the outset with a compelling and moving lead, and then delivers on the promise with a well written story based on personal experience. A thoroughly good read.” Certificate of Merit: “To Moor or Anchor” by Tom Zydler.

The Business of Boating – sponsored by Evinrude

Certificate of Merit : “The Case for Buying a Charter Cat” by Tim Murphy

Boating Adventures – sponsored by Yamaha Marine Group

1st, “The Art of Cruising” by Tom Zydler; 3rd, “Chasing a Pacific High” by Ronnie Simpson. Judge Richard Armstrong commented, “The slow-motion adventure of a skipper/author and his artist wife as they explore the Canadian Maritimes and Greenland takes the reader on a journey past ice floes, calving icebergs, rugged terrain, and wildlife in a world most boaters will never experience.”

Boat Projects, Renovations & Retrofits – sponsored by Boats Group

2nd, “The Full Quiver” by Ronnie Simpson; 3rd, “Sweat, Tears and Fiberglass” by Jordan Wicht

Boating Travel or Destinations – sponsored by Kicker Marine Audio

Certificate of Merit: “Riding the Rideau” by Mark Pillsbury

Boating Profiles – sponsored by ZF Marine

Certificate of Merit: “Hard Aground, Caught Aback” by Gary Goodlander

Boating Columns – sponsored by KVH Industries, Inc.

2nd, “Off Watch” by Herb McCormick

Boating Lifestyles – sponsored by Discover Boating

1st, “Back to the Abacos” by Tim Murphy; 2nd, “Sisters from Other Mothers” by Barbara Marrett; Judge Betsy Haggerty noted, “In Back to the Abacos, long-ago journal entries and vivid descriptions of new experiences combine to bring readers along on a three-generation catamaran cruise that highlights the closeness of the family and the beauty of sailing in the Abacos.”

The post Cruising World Authors Win Big at 2020 BWI Awards appeared first on Cruising World.

February might be the perfect time to be in South Florida, particularly when there are boats involved. If you are heading down to sunny Miami for the show, here are some cool boats and gear items to check out, where to go and what to do!

Where and When: The Miami International Boat Show will be held at the Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin on Virginia Key, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL.

The show opens on Thursday, February 13th and runs through Monday, February 17th. Check out the latest info on parking and getting to the show here.

The Hylas 60 is making its long-awaited debut at the show. Designed by renowned naval architect German Frers, the new Hylas H60 delivers the familiar quality and safety features that Hylas Yachts are known for, but introduces an edge for performance and modern styling that’s brand new. Pier 9, Slip 933

Looking for luxury? The Sunreef 80 will be the largest yacht at the show. This 80-foot catamaran features an open saloon that merges with the generous cockpit, which extends onto a large aft platform. The flybridge has moveable furniture, a Jacuzzi(!) and a fully equipped wet bar. Inside the hulls you’ll find accommodations with details like walk-in closets and spacious en suite heads and showers. Pier 9, Slip 926

If performance is more your thing, check out the new X40 from Danish builder X-Yachts. At 39 feet, 8 inches LOA, the X40 is the smallest in the company’s XRange. It’s available with a two- or three-cabin layout in an interior that’s designed to maximize the space available and Scandinavian styling. Pier 8, Slip 822

Two power cats are also making a debut at the show: the Lagoon Sixty 7 and Nautitech 47. The Sixty 7 motor yacht is a smaller sister of the flagship motor yacht Seventy 8, and was designed by the catamaran experts Van Pethegem Lauriot Prevost (VPLP) and Patrick Le Quement, with interior design by Nauta Design. Pier 9

The new Nautitech 47 Power offers plenty of comfort and speed. Racy and contemporary lines are combined with optimized hulls for real performance: 22 knots top speed with two Volvo 300hp engines and a range of 300 miles at 15 knots and 1,000 miles at 8.5 knots. Pier 9, Slips 941 & 943

New Gear at the Show

West Marine Inc. Showcases Newest Boating Tech and Safety Products, Tent C, Booth C448

Miami Boat Show presenting sponsor West Marine will be on-site demoing the following accessories for the everyday sailor: ACR Electronics ResQLink 400 Personal Locator Beacon, FUJINON Techno-Stabi 1440 stabilizing binoculars, SPOT – Trace Theft Alert Tracking Device, ICOM – M37 Floating 6 Watt Handheld VHF Radio, and the Taylor Made – AquaFi Mobile Hotspot Kit

OneUP, Tent E, Booth E105

OneUP, is a cool, ultra-compact and portable self-inflating PFD. It weighs less than a pound, and is designed to be thrown a long distance. Upon contact with the water, it inflates within seconds to become a horseshoe-style PFD.

Sunglasses made from recycled fishing nets – Costa Del Mar’s Untangled Collection

Need some new sunnies? Check out Costa’s Untangled Collection, a line of sunglass frames made entirely from recycled fishing nets, which are some of the most harmful form of ocean plastic. The collection features four frame styles made from 100 percent recycled fishing nets, each featuring mineral glass polarized lenses and recycled aluminum Costa logos.

Seminars

Educational seminars will be held upstairs at the Rowing Center, which is adjacent to the East End food court and next to the water. Register at miamiboatshow.com/seminars

Pam Wall is hosting several seminars to get you ready to cruise, including:

Cruising the Bahamas – an in-depth presentation geared to thoroughly prepare you

• Thursday, Feb. 13th, 11am
• Duration: 6 hours
• Cost $169 (includes show admission)

Family Sailing with Kids

• Saturday, Feb 15th, 11am
• Duration: 3 hours 
• Cost: $99 (includes show admission)

Outfitting for Blue Water Sailing

• Sunday, Feb. 16th, 11am
• Duration: 3 hours
• Cost: $99 (includes show admission)

Cruising in the Bahamas

• Monday, Feb. 17th, 11am
• Duration: 3 hours
• Cost: $99 (includes show admission)

Join weather Guru Chris Parker from Marine Weather Center

• 20 Interesting, and useful, things you probably don’t know about marine weather
• Sunday, Feb. 16th, 2pm
• Duration: 3 hours
• Cost: $99 (includes show admission)

Interested in the America’s Cup? Join Tucker Thompson, the AC’s TV commentator

Chasing the Cup: An America’s Cup update featuring American Magic

• Saturday, Feb 15th, 2pm
• Duration: 3 hours
• Cost: $99 (includes show admission)

The post Must-See Boats and Gear at the 2020 Miami International Boat Show appeared first on Cruising World.

The U.S. Coast Guard approved the use of a series of Automatic Identification System Private Aids to Navigation (AIS PATON) to mark restricted navigation areas around commercial space launches.

The Coast Guard authorized the Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, to use AIS PATON to inform mariners of non-charted restricted zones during sea-based space launches.

The zones will be established from Cape Canaveral, Florida, into the Atlantic Ocean in different areas based on the flight path. The safety zones are designed to keep vessels from entering the launch area while an active rocket launch is taking place. The first use is scheduled for a December 4 or December 5 SpaceX launch.

This approval is the culmination of a two-year effort between the Coast Guard’s Office of Navigation System, the 7th Coast Guard District, and SpaceX, and represents the first official approval for a dynamic restricted area.

“The Coast Guard does not authorize private aids to navigation for all restricted areas, particularly those that are permanently charted,” said Jorge Arroyo, the AIS program manager in the Coast Guard’s Navigation Technology and Risk Management Division. “However, these space launches are not charted and they are sporadic and temporary.”

“For a given launch, only one (of four potential restricted zones) is likely to be activated,” said Gene Stratton, the chief of the Marine Planning and Information Section at the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami. “The notification of which zone is active is traditionally broadcast through Notice to Mariners and published weekly in the Local Notice to Mariners.”

Stratton added that the AIS PATON will also show on a chart plotter capable of receiving AIS signals. The AIS PATON associated with each zone will only be active when that zone is active.

“Keeping our waterways safe is a team effort,” said Justin A. Kimura, the chief of the Navigation Technology and Risk Management Division. “We are working with international, interagency and industry partners to make American waterways safer, more efficient and more resilient.”

Leveraging AIS technology supports the U.S. Coast Guard’s effort to modernize Aids to Navigation and Marine Safety Information Systems, as outlined in its Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook, said Kimura.

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