Pacific Dismasting: Lessons Learned from 100 Days at Sea
We are all subconsciously aware that an atrocity may occur when we embark on an ocean passage; but dismasting rarely crosses our minds. Until...
The Social Dynamics of Offshore Cruisers
Offshore cruisers and boaters come in all shapes and sizes. The greatest highlight of my nearly 40 years of ocean sailing and over 200,000...
Caribbean Bareboat Chartering Basics: 2025 Updates
We just got back from a 10 day bareboat charter in the British Virgin Island (BVIs) and I wanted to share some new information...
Adding a Dive Compressor to Your Boat
Cruising gives you the freedom to go to both popular places and remote, out-of-the-way locations. If you have scuba equipment on your boat, the...
Bluewater Planning: The Right Crew
Each crewmember doesn't have to be an RYA Yacht-master or 6-Pack captain—I have sailed across an ocean with a complete novice. My wife was...
Bluewater Planning: Proper Preparation
Being out in the ocean means you are going to have to deal with whatever the weather sends your way. It also means you...
Bluewater Design: Weight and Dynamic Stability
It is not enough for the boat to be able to handle the conditions, she also has to carry a crew and everything they...
Caribbean Bareboat Chartering Basics: Daily Sail Plan
If you’ve read “Bareboat Chartering Basics” and want to delve deeper into the planning process, read on for our March 2025 sail plan, which...
When Electronics Fail: How to Navigate After Lightning Strikes
Lightning is an anomaly: It strikes wherever and whenever it wants. In my case, it struck me and by boat 200 miles south of...
Thinking Small for Big Ocean Crossings: Choosing a Small Offshore Cruiser
Today, the average cruising boat is probably in the 40- to 45-foot range. To my mind, that is too big for a couple to...
Bahamas for $5000? The Watkins 27 foot Sailboat
Is the Watkins 27 the ultimate small cruising sailboat? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Watkins 27 — a classic...
Latest Sailboat Review
Tartan 30: An Affordable Classic
The early 1970s was the heyday of the Tartan 30' racer/cruiser. In all, no less than two dozen boats of a similar size and type were introduced in just three years, many of them to become highly successful among sailors eager for the performance and amenities of big boats at a modest price. Among the most noteworthy and enduring of the 30-footers from this era has been the Tartan 30.