Join us at the West Marine Tent during the Annapolis Sailboat Show at 5pm on Thursday, October 13^th, for an intimate live Q&A event with the Sailing Totem crew, Behan and Jamie Gifford.

In this special event presented by Cruising World and West Marine, enjoy a lively audience Q&A session followed by a casual meet-and-greet with featured guests Behan and Jamie Gifford, and the editors of Cruising World magazine. 

Ask Sailing Totem LIVE! is free for Annapolis Sailboat Show attendees. Please arrive on time as space is limited.

Planning to attend? Click here to indicate your interest level at the official Event page!

Meet the Sailing Totem crew

Behan Gifford

Behan sailed south from the Pacific Northwest in 2008 with her husband and three children aboard their Stevens 47, Totem. Sabbatical plans morphed into an open-ended adventure, with 48 countries/territories visited while putting over 65,000 miles under the keel to date. She is co-author of “Voyaging with Kids,” the de facto guide to cruising with children, and passionate about sharing her experiences to inspire others to chase the blue horizon.

Jamie Gifford

Jamie is a “recovering racing sailor.” His therapy was a 10-year circumnavigation with his wife and three children on Totem, their Stevens 47. As a sail designer, he was behind the sails for winners in the America’s Cup, Vendee Globe Challenge/BOC, Whitbread, and numerous other regattas. In recent years, Jamie’s focus is on cruising sails, rigging, and systems for offshore and regional sailors. His experience, accumulated through over 100,000 miles of sailing, affords him a vast knowledge on a wide variety of cruising-related topics.

Learn more about the Giffords at sailingtotem.com.

The post Ask Sailing Totem LIVE! appeared first on Cruising World.

After last year’s ­pandemic-related hiatus, boat shows are making a comeback for fall 2021. Cruising World will be hitting the docks at Rhode Island’s Newport International Boat Show, September 16-19, and the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, October 14-18. Whether you’re heading to a show to check out new boats and gear, learn new skills, or just want to catch up with old friends, from the looks of it, there will be something for everyone.

I checked in with Nancy Piffard, NIBS director, and Tara Flanagan, educational coordinator for the Annapolis Boat Shows, to see what visitors can expect when they arrive at the shows and what’s new.

“Our entire team is ­working fervently to make sure our Golden Anniversary Show is an event not to be missed,” Piffard says. “In addition to being the kickoff to the fall boat-show season and the place for manufacturers from around the world to debut their new models of boats and products, the show is known for excellent educational opportunities, the Newport for New Products awards program, and special events to entertain sailors of all ages. We can’t wait to see everyone in September!”

Currently both the Newport and Annapolis shows will have no cap on attendance, although visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time through the show websites (newportboatshow.com and annapolisboatshows.com). Unvaccinated guests must wear a mask, and everyone should still practice safe distancing. Some dealers and manufacturers might institute a “by appointment only” policy to board their boats. Visitors should check the show websites for the latest updates and any COVID-related restrictions.

Looking to pick up some new skills and jump into the cruising life? Newport will host a variety of educational experiences including on-water courses by Freedom Boat Club, as well as a full schedule of seminars by circumnavigator Pam Wall. Register for the sessions on the show website.

In Annapolis this year, visitors will find the return of Cruisers University and the Take the Wheel and Offshore Emergency Medicine programs. “Cruisers University is now a seven-day program running from Monday, October 11 through Sunday, October 17,” Flanagan says. “There are four Master Classes being held: Diesel, Marine Electrical Systems, Marine Weather Forecasting and Cruising Women. There are also many all-day seminars throughout the week, and students can also attend one-, two-, or three-day customized packages made up of three or four classes per day. This year, Cruisers University will be held at the Graduate Hotel of Annapolis to accommodate more students and classes. I expect the enrollment to reach 250 ­students over the seven days.”

RELATED: Medical Training to Prepare for Cruising

If you’re looking for some time on the water, the Take the Wheel program has daylong sessions available on October 15, 16 and 17. Mornings will include classroom instruction by Behan and Jamie Gifford of Sailing Totem, and afternoons will give students the opportunity to sea-trial two catamarans or monohulls.

For cruisers heading to more-remote destinations, the Offshore Emergency Medicine course is worthwhile. The intense three-day course covers everything from pain management and allergic ­reactions to wound care and injections.

Find the full class listings, ­instructor information and tuition options at the Cruisers University website.

The post Fall Boat Show Update appeared first on Cruising World.

A common benchmark of cruising expertise is number of miles at sea. It was the kickoff question to start up the Let’s Talk Sailing! panel with a spectrum of sailors – mostly cruisers – at our Annapolis meetup during the show (So.Much.Fun!).

Mileage is a sensible way to provide context to backgrounds – or is it? It offers experience context but largely this proficiency proxy is a myth: the mileage myth. Distance sailed is a measure of enjoyment or fortitude, not a certification of expertise in the myriad of skills that make up cruising.

Supporting sailing dreams is important to us, and in Annapolis we worked to reinforce ways to help ease the path to cruising, rather than make it feel more remote. Mileage can be aspirational, but also intimidating. Putting those factors together, and we generated a few ways for sailors to build important foundation skills that don’t involve banking a bunch of miles.

Weather

Least appreciated during cruising prep, and yet most critical to our everyday comfort and safety: weather errors are a major cause of bad days and dreams terminating. A few months ago, we watched as an unusually large, low, dark cloud formed over the bay near our anchorage off La Cruz, Mexico. G’bye shoreside plans: time to hustle back to Totem! Passing new cruisers as we fast-walked to the dinghy dock, we asked if they thought it might rain. “Our weather app says 7% chance,” they replied, continuing on as if weather took direction from the forecast. But weather is dynamic, forming and changing imperfect predictability.

Jamie breaks down are three steps to building marine weather smarts. First, learn weather theory and fundamentals, like – what makes wind? For this, crack the books. Second, learn and understand weather forecast tools, such as GMDSS text forecasts, GRIB forecasts, etc. – and know the difference between the data (such as the GFS model) and the viewer (such as PredictWind’s Offshore app). Third, apply the first two! Even if you’re looking at the water instead of on it, you’ll gain a richer understanding of what it’ll be like if you choose to leave the dock. The forecast may only show four-foot waves, but remember when a similar forecast was very uncomfortable be the waves were steep sided and confused?

Mechanical aptitude

Cruisers end up needing to diagnose or repair rigging, sails, diesel engine, electric motors, steering system, electrical issues, and everyone’s favorite, toilet issues – it’s probably a good idea to have at basic knowledge of some of those systems, even if you’re all thumbs. It’s intimidating, and we definitely started behind the curve. Starting with reliable systems helps. YouTube has made it easier. Classes are an option. Another winner: be That Person who asks their dock neighbor to tag along for oil changes, rig inspections, solar panel installation, or winch servicing. You’ll be more ready to troubleshoot when the ice machine breaks!

Medical training

Sailors preparing to go cruising sometimes have nightmares imagining what-if medical disasters, and confidence gained through courses may abate that stress while imparting important knowledge. CPR and First Aid are a first step; offshore or wilderness training preferred. As important as tech skill is the softer side of responding to medical and emergency situations. As we learned from Dr. Curtis Edwards: “first, stop and take your own pulse,” a revered quote on Totem. Reasoned rather than hasty, it demands slowing long enough to say, “yes, I will clip-in before going to the aft deck to fix the towed dinghy.” The alternative could bring a real nightmare.

Where to turn? Check out WildMed’s Offshore Emergency Training (gets raves), but if it’s less accessible to you, Wilderness First Responder training in general is a good proxy for important skills when a medical event can’t be addressed through nearby emergency services. Empowered through knowledge, the nightmares abate, and the skills are real.

Woof, woof

Online forums seem to attract the salts who qualify responses to newbie questions with their miles sailed, as if expertise was implied. Who dares challenge the big dog? Perhaps only “I’ve got 200,000 miles” will shrink the 100k mastiff to chihuahua – meanwhile, we know circumnavigate I wouldn’t want to sail across a lake on a mild day with! And what is it with the temptation of cruisers and fishermen to inflate their claims, and every coastal cruiser claims “we’re sailing around the world!” anyway? We’re averse to even the appearance of big dog pretensions. At the end of the day, mileage is a flawed yardstick of cruising competency. As hopeful cruisers start to tick up their own miles, whether for enjoyment or through persistence, opportunity to develop skills to make life on the water better are endless– and it doesn’t matter if the big dog is barking at chihuahuas.

The post Sailing Totem: Cruising Skill and the Mileage Myth appeared first on Cruising World.

Cruising World magazine today announced its roster of nominees for the 2020 Boat of the Year awards. Testing for the awards is taking place during and after the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, which begins today along the shores of Chesapeake Bay.

Twenty-four boats – 17 monohulls, 6 catamarans and a trimaran – have been nominated for the 2020 Boat of the Year prizes. The annual awards, selected by an independent judging team, recognize the best new production cruising boats and multihulls laid out and equipped for coastal and offshore sailing and voyaging. This year’s judging panel is comprised of systems expert Ed Sherman of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC); Ralph Naranjo, a veteran cruising sailor and author; and well-known technical writer and cruiser Dan Spurr.

“This is a deep and highly diverse fleet, ranging in size from the compact Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 to the full-sized Hanse 675 to the Eagle Class 53 catamaran, a radical foiling cat with a rotating wing mast,” said Herb McCormick, Cruising World Boat of the Year director. “It promises to be a very competitive contest, and our judges will certainly have their work cut out to determine the winning entries.”

The 2020 Boat of the Year awards will be announced in the January issue of Cruising World. The full list of nominees is below. For more information, contact Herb McCormick or visit cruisingworld.com.

2020 Boat of the Year Nominees include:

• Amel 50
• Bali 5.4
• Bavaria C50
• Bavaria C57
• Beneteau Oceanis 30.1
• Beneteau First Yacht 53
• Catalina 545
• Dufour 390
• Dufour 430
• Eagle Class 53
• Elan Impression 45.1
• Excess 12
• Fountaine Pajot Elba 45
• Grand Soleil 34 Performance
• Hallberg-Rassy 44
• Hanse 675
• Italia 9.98
• J/99
• Sun Fast 3300
• Lagoon 46
• McConaghy MC 50
• Neel 47
• Swan 48
• X4.6

The post Cruising World Announces the 2020 Boat of the Year Nominees appeared first on Cruising World.

Nearly 10,000 people attended the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show on Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28 in Annapolis, Maryland. More than 50 sailboats were on display in the water for visitors to climb aboard, and several dozen smaller boats were shown on land.

In its 8th year of operation, the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is the newest of the four annual Annapolis Boat Shows. Its sister show, the United States Sailboat Show, will hold its 50th annual show on Oct. 10-14, 2019.

“The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show went very well,” said Paul Jacobs, President and General Manager, Annapolis Boat Shows. “It was a bigger show than in previous years, despite the weather. We had a good crowd of people who came out despite rain on Friday and high winds throughout the weekend.”

With winds hovering in the teens and peaking at 22 mph on Saturday, Jacobs said the crew had to work diligently to secure the boats in the temporary marina built for the show. Anchors were down and fortunately there were no reports of damage.

Although the Spring show is smaller than the U.S. Sailboat Show in October, the focus in the Spring is on the entertainment value, including live music performances, wine tastings and activities, workshops and the educational component, according to Jacobs.

“In the Fall the manufacturers bring their complete line of products. In the Spring they have representation with a few boats, but not the entire line,” said Jacobs. “A lot of local regional dealers display in the Spring with more international manufacturers in the Fall.”

“In terms of event guests, in the past I would say the Fall show is more international and this one more focused on the Mid-Atlantic, but that has changed,” Jacobs commented. “This show has an increasingly broad geographic reach for attendees, including many guests from the Midwest and Canada.”

RELATED: Where to Eat and Drink in Annapolis

“The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is a great annual show. Good mix of new and brokerage sailboats,” said Bob O’Brien, of West Palm Beach, FL,” a 35-year veteran in the boat brokerage business. “It’s widely referred to as the unofficial launch to sailing season in that region.”

On display at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show were new and brokerage boats, including multiple catamarans, monohulls, family cruisers, daysailers and blue water sailboats.

Several advanced luxury boats were on available to board at the show, including Oceanis 46.1, the first Beneteau sailboat built in the U.S. by the France-based company. On display was also the new Bavaria C 57, the largest model of Bavaria’s new performance cruisers line, designed by Maurizio Cossutti.

“Notable at this year’s show was the large number of catamarans, including a St. Francis 50, the newest boat by South Africa’s St. Francis Marine, which debuted in the U.S. at the Miami Boat Show in February before being shown in Annapolis,” Jacobs said. Other catamarans on display included a Bali 4.1; Seawind 1160 and 1260; Voyage 50; Fountaine Pajot Saona, Lucia and a 44; Gemini 35 Legacy; Nautitech 40; and Lagoon 42.

Vendors at the show displayed navigational equipment, electronics, boating accessories, gear and more. Charter businesses, fractional ownership and boating clubs were represented.

Free sailing seminars were also held each day. Throughout the weekend, classes and seminars were available to learn to sail or cruise.

First Sail Workshops were held to teach beginning sailors the fundamentals by attending a classroom session followed by instruction on the water with accredited instructors.

Cruisers University hosted more than 50 classes at the show for sailors and power boaters interested in learning about blue water cruising. More than 180 people attended Cruisers University during the weekend, according to Jacobs. Topics of instruction for boaters of all experience levels included: marine weather forecasting, navigational techniques, diesel maintenance, heavy weather sailing–and much more.

Throughout the weekend, event guests enjoyed entertainment, including continuous live music and wine tastings, and the stunning sunsets each evening over the marina.

Next up for sailors in Annapolis is the United States Sailboat Show on October 10-14. Find out more at: annapolisboatshows.com.

The post Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show Launches the Mid-Atlantic Sailing Season appeared first on Cruising World.

The 2019 Boat of the Year awards will be announced in the January issue of Cruising World. The full list of nominees is below. For more information, visit www.cruisingworld.com.

2019 Cruising World Boat of the Year Nominees:

• Bali 4.1
• Beneteau Oceanis 46.1
• Catana 53
• Dufour Grand Large 360
• Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42
• Hanse 348
• Hanse 418
• Hanse 548
• Hylas 48
• Island Packet 349
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490
• Lagoon 40
• Lagoon 50
• Leopard 50
• Neel 51
• Seawind 1260
• Tartan 395
• Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 42
• X-Yachts Xp 55

The post 2019 Boat of the Year Nominees appeared first on Cruising World.

Cruising World magazine today announced its roster of nominees for the 2019 Boat of the Year awards, and welcomed Helly Hansen, a leader in technical sailing apparel, as the event’s presenting sponsor. Testing for the awards is taking place during and after the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, which begins today along the shores of Chesapeake Bay.

Twenty-two boats – 15 monohulls, 6 catamarans and a trimaran – have been nominated for the 2019 Boat of the Year prizes. The annual awards, selected by an independent judging team, recognize the best new production cruising boats and multihulls laid out and equipped for coastal and offshore sailing and voyaging. This year’s judging panel is comprised of systems expert Ed Sherman of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC); Tim Murphy, a veteran cruising sailor and writer; and two-time circumnavigator Alvah Simon, an award-winning author based in New Zealand.

“This is an incredibly deep list of nominees, perhaps our strongest in recent years,” said Herb McCormick, Cruising World Boat of the Year director. “There are a good number of solid contenders under 40-feet, a fine selection of mid- and full-sized go-anywhere cruising yachts, and an intriguing collection of multihulls, which seem to become more impressive and innovative every year. Our judging panel will have its work cut out for them.”

The 2019 Boat of the Year awards will be announced in the January issue of Cruising World. The full list of nominees is below. For more information, visit www.cruisingworld.com.

2019 Cruising World Boat of the Year Nominees:

• Bali 4.1
• Beneteau Oceanis 46.1
• Catana 53
• Dufour Grand Large 360
• Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42
• Hanse 348
• Hanse 418
• Hanse 548
• Hylas 48
• Island Packet 349
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490
• Lagoon 40
• Lagoon 50
• Leopard 50
• Neel 51
• Seawind 1260
• Tartan 395
• Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 42
• X-Yachts Xp 55

The post Cruising World Magazine Announces 2019 Boat of the Year Nominees appeared first on Cruising World.

The post 2017 Annapolis Boat Show in Photos appeared first on Cruising World.

Breakfast:

Chick & Ruth’s
165 Main St
(410) 269-6737
chickandruths.com

Sophie’s Crepes
1 Craig St
(410) 990-0929
sofiscrepes.com

Happy Hour:

Boatyard Bar and Grille
Favorite of local sailors, happy hour and pint drinks.
400 4th St, Eastport
(410) 216-6206
boatyardbarandgrill.com

McGarvey’s Saloon and Oyster Bar
The boat-show crowd hangout. Order the Maryland Crab Soup, French Dip, and Bloody Mary.
8 Market Space
(410) 263-5700
mcgarveysannapolis.com

The Chart House
Best harbor view.
300 2nd Street, Eastport
(410) 268-7166
chart-house.com

Ram’s Head Tavern
Best beer selection.
33 West Street
(410) 268-4545
ramsheadtavern.com

Armadillo’s
Best margarita.
132 Dock Street
(410) 280-0028
armadillosannapolis.com

Pusser’s
Best painkiller.
80 Compromise Street
(410) 626-0004
pussersusa.com

Dinner:

Davis’ Pub
Best burger, and local sailor favorite.
400 Chester Avenue, Eastport
(410) 268-7432
davispub.com

Cantler’s Riverside Inn
Go by boat for the crabs!
458 Forest Beach Rd
By boat: On Mill Creek, off Whitehall Bay: a trip of two or three miles
(410) 757-1467
cantlers.com

Severn Inn
Best river view.
1993 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard
(410) 349-4000
severninn.com

Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs
Best crabs downtown.
100 Main Street
(410) 626-1100
buddysonline.com

Market House
Open late Friday and Saturday.
25 Market Space
(401) 263-7949
markethousemerchants.com

O’Leary’s Seafood
Best upscale seafood.
310 Third St
(410) 263-0884
olearysseafood.com

Lewnes’ Steakhouse
Best steak and key lime pie.
401 Fourth St
(410) 263-1617
lewnessteakhouse.com

Tsunami
Best sushi, worth the walk! Make sure to order the moving Yomatos Tofu.
51 West St
(410) 990-9868
tsunamiannapolis.com

Fox’s Den
A fun gastropub right on Main Street. Try the pizzas!
179B Main Street
(443) 808-8991
foxsden.com/

Harvest Wood Grill + Tap
Farm to Table goodness, tapas style.
26 Market Space
(410) 280-8686
harvestwoodgrill.com

Middleton Tavern
Go for the oyster shooters
2 Market Space
(410) 263-3323
middletontavern.com

Lemongrass
Awesome Thai food!
167 West Street
(410) 224-8424
lemongrassannapolis.com

The Blackwall Hitch
In Eastport; Great rooftop deck and live music 400 6th Street, Eastport
(410) 263-3454
theblackwallhitch.com

Red Red Wine Bar
Convenient location right on Main Street, open late 189 Main Street (410) 990-1144
redredwinebar.com

Level
Interesting cocktails and tapas-style “small plate” food
69 West Street
(410) 268-0003
levelannapolis.com

Vida Taco Bar
A new favorite for team CW. Great tacos and tequila selection.
200 Main Street
(443) 837-6521
vidatacobar.com

Special thanks to Eddy Lavino and Tim Murphy for their suggestions!

The post Where to Eat & Drink in Annapolis appeared first on Cruising World.

The post Photos: Annapolis Boat Show appeared first on Cruising World.