Sail Magazine

by Meredith Laitos

Meredith Laitos is SAIL’s Senior Editor. She sails in and around Boston and specializes in charter destinations.

Gunboat Opens Boatyard in North Carolina

by Meredith Laitos, Posted February 1, 2012

Gunboat, manufacturer of high-end racing and cruising catamarans, announced the opening of its new boatyard in Wanchese, North Carolina. The company will employ 71 people at the new 30,000 square foot facility, from which it will be able to haul, launch, sea trial and service boats year round.

A Pit Stop at Refuge Cove

by Meredith Laitos, Posted February 1, 2012

From June to September, the Cove is open to the public, and twenty families live and work there together. In the off-season, the number decreases to 12 residents and fuel and water are only available three days a week. In the words of another local, “Refuge Cove is for the sort of people who max out after three months of socializing.

Charter Chat: February 2012

by Meredith Laitos, Posted January 30, 2012

Find out what's new in 2012 from your favorite yacht charter companies, including deals and new boat additions. If you're thinking of chartering this year, read this first for valuable booking information.

The SAILing Girls' Guide to Cute Boat Shoes

by MacDuff Perkins, Posted January 24, 2012

Women are constantly on a quest for the perfect shoe. And that extends to women sailors as well. SAIL editors MacDuff Perkins and Meredith Laitos went on the hunt to find that Jimmy Choo of topsiders, and here is what they came up with.

Lemon and Line Bracelets

by Meredith Laitos, Posted January 19, 2012

From Newport, Rhode Island comes Lemon and Line, a new nautical-themed jewelry company specializing in fashionable and affordable bracelets crafted from genuine marine-grade line.

St. John: Worth the Stop

by Meredith Laitos, Posted January 15, 2012

During a November charter with TMM Yacht Charters, a friend's wedding in Caneel Bay put St. John on our itinerary, and I'm glad it did. It's well worth clearing customs to visit St. John on a BVI charter

More than a Map

by Meredith Laitos, Posted October 31, 2011

As sailors continue to debate the pros and cons of digital navigation apps and paper charts, map junkies just grin and think: the more, the merrier! Well, junkies, rejoice. The National Geographic Society has expanded its “Trails Illustrated Maps” series to include a number of popular sailing locations, including the Virgin Islands, Channel Islands, Apostle Islands and Boston Harbor Islands. In

MarineMax Vacations Launches New Charter Company

by Meredith Laitos, Posted October 12, 2011

The BVIs are known for being a chartering playground, and there’s about to be another kid on the block. MarineMax Inc., the nation’s largest recreational boat retailer, recently announced the opening of MarineMax Vacations, a BVI-based charter company that will operate out of Tortola beginning December 15.

Flotilla Adventures

by Meredith Laitos, Posted October 4, 2011

Looking for a new way to enjoy a charter sailing vacation with friends and family? Join SAIL on a Flotilla Adventure in the British Virgin Islands, where a SAIL host will guide you through a week of fun and relaxation with new friends. Traveling aboard a fleet of Sunsail charter boats out of Tortola, we’ll explore BVI hot spots, visiting old favorites and discovering new

If Paris Were an Island

by Meredith Laitos, Posted September 28, 2011

"Wait right here. There’s something you must see.” Erique grins, then hurls his muscular figure into a forest so thick he’s invisible within seconds. We hear him wrestling with branches as a light rain falls around us. Erique, our fearless guide, has led us to a ruined sugar mill deep in the hills of Marie Galante, a tiny island south of Guadeloupe. Because of his expertise,