Cruising News

Vanishing Sail

by Lindsey Silken, Posted May 4, 2012

Of the hundreds of sailing vessels that were introduced by Scottish settlers in the 19th century and launched in the West Indies, very few remain. Filmmaker Alexis Andrews is documenting the boatbuilders of Carriacou in the Grenadines, who are trying to keep this dying skill alive.

The Truth about Lionfish

by Greg LeBreton, Posted April 10, 2012

Bahamian reefs, which have suffered for years from over-fishing, pollution and plastic waste, now have a new environmental menace to contend with. Fortunately, this one is delicious.

Voice of Experience: When Ciguatera Strikes

by Jan Hein, Posted April 5, 2012

After over five months of sailing from the Pacific Northwest, down the west coast of North America, through the Panama Canal and on into the Caribbean, we were finally approaching St. Maarten. We were only 100 miles from our final destination, and a giddy feeling of anticipation had begun to set in.

The Twin-Keel Advantage

by Peter Nielsen, Posted March 5, 2012

No one loves twin-keel boats like British and French sailors, except maybe the odd Canadian. And few photos better illustrate the chief advantage of a twin-keel boat.

Sailing Icons: The Painkiller

by Sail Staff, Posted March 2, 2012

No afternoon at October’s U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis is complete without at least one of those delicious rum drinks called a Painkiller. Indeed, the Annapolis show and the Painkiller are inextricably entwined in the minds of regular showgoers.

Viewpoint: The Discomfort Zone

by Craig Carter, Posted March 1, 2012

In my early 30s I went on an Outward Bound expedition. It was designed for adults and boasted an alluring theme: life renewal. Like any Outward Bound experience, the trip was intended to push a participant’s physical and emotional limits, and it delivered in spades.

Just Launched: SAIL's new blog site SAILfeed.com

by Lindsey Silken, Posted February 13, 2012

This is a different kind of launch than we usually share with our readers. It has an engine, it’s got ballast and we’re hoping it sails…but it’s not a boat. We’re excited to introduce you to SAIL’s newest website, SAILfeed.com.

A Mermaid Muse

by Sarah Eberspacher, Posted October 31, 2011

The sailors of old may have filled their free time with activities like scrimshaw and fancy knot work. But during a recent yearlong cruise with her family, 8-year-old Emily Ehlers (now 12) stayed busy creating a new card game, which is now being marketed under the name “Mermaid Beach.” A native of Portland, Oregon, Emily, her parents and two brothers sailed their 42-foot Pearson 424,

Air and Water

by Adam Cort, Posted October 31, 2011

Most sailors only go aloft when necessary—either to do some kind of repair or maybe to get a better view while picking their way into a strange harbor. For French sailors Franck Rabilier and Delphine Lechifflart, though, messing about in their boat’s rigging is the most natural thing in the world. Currently partway through a circumnavigation, the two acrobats have staged dozens of performances at

Halloween Haunts

by Meghan Dente, Posted October 28, 2011

With Halloween fast approaching, sailors across the nation are finding ways to combine the holiday with their love of the water. Here are a few family-friendly options that you may want to consider: 1. Haunted Ship Tours Forget haunted houses; let’s talk haunted ships. Many vessels become supernatural hotspots during the Halloween season, offering both guided tours