This Cat Combines Looks and Performance with Comfort and Ease of Handling. Construction of the first Alpha 42 is underway at Alpha Yachts in Patchogue, NY. This high performance cruising catamaran, which has several innovative features hitherto unavailable on a production cruising multihull, was designed by Gregor Tarjan, President of Aeroyacht Ltd. in Setauket, NY and engineered by Marc Anassis, NA, President of Alpha Yachts.

The Blue Jacket 40 is the first brand new American-built performance cruiser – from the keel up – to hit the market in over 30 years. This modern interpretation of a performance cruiser features either a two- or three-cabin arrangement with the amenities and build quality expected of a luxury sailing yacht. The powerful, versatile Solent-type sail plan features a working jib with self-tending Hoyt Boom® along with a larger overlapping genoa for use in lighter air. Twin wheels and a large cockpit enhance both sailing and socializing, and all frequently used sail controls are convenient to the cockpit. Construction features 100% vinyl ester resin-infused composite cored fiberglass laminates for both hull and deck. Springline Yacht Sales is the exclusive dealer in New England for the exciting new Blue Jacket line. For more information, visit bluejacketyachts.com and SecureYourDream.com or call 860-415-4810

Live the Magic of the Sea

The Beneteau Sense 46 follows in the footsteps of the original Sense 50. An intelligently designed, comfortable boat, providing functionality second to none on a cruising monohull, that you could cruise ‘round the world with. Prioritizing the enjoyment of life with family and friends, the Sense 46 has two spacious cabins and keeps the general layout that made the concept so successful. The Sense 46 is available at Prestige Yacht Sales, with offices in Norwalk, Essex and Mystic, CT. Visit prestigeyachtsales.net or call 203-353-0373 for more information.

The all-new RIBCRAFT 4.8T combines superior handling with yacht-like features for comfort and on-water enjoyment. Featuring RIBCRAFT’s deep-V hull design and full length lifting strakes, the 4.8T is a true sport boat offering the refinements of a yacht tender and the comforts of a runabout without sacrificing performance.

With an upholstered full width aft bench seat, an offset console and a bow seat with storage, the 4.8 T offers a comfortable social layout. The roomiest RIB of this size on the market, the configuration was designed to optimize passenger comfort and maximize deck space. Whether you’re looking for the perfect yacht tender or a comfortable runabout that’s fun to drive, the RIBCRAFT 4.8T has you covered. Call 781-639-9065 or visit ribcraftusa.com.

The Hook & Moor boat hook from New England Ropes helps you to thread a mooring rope through a mooring ring with a simple push or pull. The unique and innovative Hook & Moor uses your mooring line directly – no messenger or guide lines needed – and it works as an ordinary boat hook when the hook head is locked in place. The Hook & Moor is available in three different sizes to fit any need. To find out more information on the Hook & Moor, visit neropes.com or call 508-678-8200.

Cape Breton Island’s premier sailing event, the first of its kind, Race the Cape is set to launch on July 17, 2013. International sailors and racing enthusiasts are buzzing about the 120 nautical mile point-to-point sail race through Cape Breton’s spectacular inland sea, where yachts explore the most picturesque locations in Atlantic Canada. Experience firsthand an elite race, made to challenge and thrill crews. Cape Breton Island is famous for hospitality, and crews will be treated to a “roaring good time” at the end of each leg.

National Geographic Traveler has just released their picks for the Best Trips in the World, naming Cape Breton Island among the top 20 must-see places! Visit racethecape.com for more information, and join us in July for what is sure to be one of the best sailing races in one of the best places in the world!

Providence Boat Show
January 18 - 20
Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI

New England’s winter boat show season kicks off in Providence. With more than 300 boats on display, you can check out what’s new in powerboats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes and inflatables, along with the latest in engines, electronics and accessories.

New features include training seminars, hands-on demonstrations, a live trout fishing pond and a marine bargain basement on the lower level of the Convention Center. Admission is $10, with ages 16 and under free when accompanied by an adult. Hours are 4 - 9 pm Thursday, 12 - 9 pm Friday, 10 am - 9 pm Saturday, and 10 am - 5 pm on Sunday. For more information, call 401-846-1115 or visit providenceboatshow.com.

44th Annual CMTA Hartford Boat Show presented by Evinrude BRP
January 24 - 27
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT

Presented by the Connecticut Marine Trades Association in partnership with Evinrude BRP, the Hartford Boat Show features hundreds of new powerboats, sailboats, kayaks, inflatables, engines, electronics, fishing equipment and more, along with several boating and fishing seminars.

Hours are 12 - 9 pm Friday, 10 am - 9 pm Saturday, and 10 am - 5 pm Sunday. Admission is $12. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. For information, call 860-767- 2645 or visit HartfordBoatShow.com.

7th Annual Boatbuilders’ Show on Cape Cod
February 8 - 10
Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, MA

Presented by the Cape Cod Marine Trades Association, “the best little boat show in the Northeast” showcases custom and limited production sailboats and powerboats in both wood and fiberglass. You will not find boats like this at the major metropolitan shows, and you can discuss all details of a boat order with the person who builds it.

Admission is $5. Children under 12 are admitted free, and there’s plenty of free parking. Hours are 2 - 7 pm Friday, 10 am - 6 pm Saturday, and 10 am - 4 pm Sunday. Visit boatcapecod.org for more information.

57th Annual Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show
February 16 - 24
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA

More than 750 boats – and the season’s best deals – await winter-weary boaters at the Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show. SailFest is back and bigger than ever, with sailboats from 8 to 42 feet from over 20 manufacturers, along with more than 100 booths including sailmakers, canvas, sailboat hardware, cordage, electronics, rigging equipment and services, fractional sailing companies, sailing schools, foul weather gear and clothing. There are also more than 180 seminars throughout the show.

Hours are 10 am - 8 pm on both Saturdays, 11 am - 6 pm Sunday, February 17, 1 - 9 pm Monday through Friday, and 11 am - 5:30 pm Sunday, February 24. Admission is $15 for adults, and free for ages 15 and under when accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 617-472-1442 or visit NewEnglandBoatShow.com.

26th Annual Maine Boatbuilders Show
March 15 - 17
Portland Company Marine Complex, Portland, ME

With over 70 custom and semi-custom boats on display, the Maine Boatbuilders Show, also known as the “Gathering of the Clan,” is a unique event for boatbuilders and the boating community from Maine, Canada and New England.

Attendees can inspect a wide selection of Maine-built fiberglass and wooden sailboats, powerboats, rowing boats, kayaks and canoes, and speak with the craftsmen who actually built them. Many of the 200 companies that exhibit their products at the Maine Boatbuilders Show only do so at one or two other shows a year.

Show hours are 10 am - 6 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am - 4 pm Sunday. Admission is $15, and children under 12 accompanied by adults will be admitted free. For more information including a list of exhibitors, shuttle bus pickup locations, seminar schedule and lodging in and around Portland, visit portlandcompany.com/boatshow.

For Rhode Islanders, boating season is over — unless you’re a frostbiter who braves the cold to get your racing fix. But for a few days this January, New England boaters can indulge in their passion for being on the water by heading to the Providence Boat Show. The 20th running of the show will be held January 18-20 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI.

“The Providence Boat Show is an opportunity for local boaters to attend the first show of the season and kick off their plans for the coming year,” said Tom Delotto, Director of Newport Exhibition Group, which owns and manages the show.

Getting dressed for frostbiting can be tricky. Especially in the early season when the air can still be warm but the water cools off. As the big chill sets in here are a few gear choices that keep me warm and toasty while on the water.

A good base layer is the best defense against getting a chill. You want something that fits close to your skin and will wick sweat off your body. The Gill i2 Base layer is perfect. It fits well, is great for wicking and it’s made from scorched bamboo, so there’s active carbon in the fibers which means that this sweat-wicking base layer won’t smell.

Springline Yacht Sales is the Exclusive Northeast Dealer

Island Packet Yachts, headquartered in Largo, FL, has announced the launch of a new line of performance cruising sailboats called Blue Jacket Yachts. The first model in a planned series, the Blue Jacket 40, was designed by Tim Jackett (ex-President and Chief Designer at Tartan and C&C) in collaboration with Bob Johnson (CEO and Chief Designer at Island Packet). 

French boat builder Dufour Yachts introduced their new Dufour 36 Performance yacht at the Paris Boat Show in December. Last month, the Northeast Dufour dealer, Northstar Yacht Sales, invited us to the D36 P’s North American debut in Portsmouth, RI.

The D36 P was built to appeal to both the cruiser and the racer. The generous sailplan is balanced by a “T” shaped keel bulb to keep the boat comfortably on its feet without a large crew hiking on the weather rail. The boat is beamy, weight is centralized and waterline is maximized with its plumb bow. 

The stunning new Hunter 33 is Cruising World’s 2012 Best Compact Cruiser 30-35 feet. Hunter’s signature window line gives this yacht the sleek feel of the latest Hunters, and the flush-mount deck hatches complement the new profile. The hull has a wider beam further aft and more profound bow hollow, resulting in a longer dynamic waterline for more speed. A fold-down swim platform extends the cockpit at the dock or at anchor.