Checking In

Captain Alex Aalberg of TowBoatU.S. Mystic in Groton, CT received a Meritorious Service Award for a rescue in Fishers Island Sound last summer. Aalberg and five other captains of the on-water recreational boat-towing service were honored by their peers at a ceremony held at the annual BoatU.S. Towing Conference in Arlington, VA in January.   On a blustery afternoon in July, with waves from two to three feet and thunderstorms chasing down the Sound, the 72-year-old captain…

The Connecticut Spring Boat Show will be held Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 at Essex Island Marina, a Safe Harbor Marina, located at 11 Ferry Street in Essex, CT. This in-water “boutique” show is a production of WindCheck Magazine and is sponsored by Essex Island Marina, the Yacht Brokers Association of America, Essex Boat Works, Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, and YachtWorld. As in previous years, 100% of attendee gate proceeds will go to Sails…

The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee is proud to announce the race has earned gold-level certification from Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas program, a race of its own aimed at restoring ocean health. Administered by Newport, RI-based Sailors for the Sea, Clean Regattas is a certification system with five levels – Participant, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – enabling sailors to protect their local waters with as many of 25 best practices as possible, making sustainability approachable and easy. The race earned Clean Regattas certification previously, in 2014 and ‘16, but 2018 was the first year the race reached the Gold level.

Our friends at the Cruising Club of America (CCA) are offering their popular International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-On Training Course. Taught by experienced, lifelong sailors, the course is designed to prepare sailors of all types and abilities for survival offshore in demanding situations and emergencies.

The Classic Yacht Owners Association (CYOA) has announced a plan to continue and expand the series formerly known as the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge into 2019. With Panerai’s recently announced intention to discontinue their support of classic yachting events in both Europe and the U.S., the series was left without an Organizing Authority. This is one of the things CYOA was built to do, and working in partnership with the individual event organizers Corinthian Yacht Club, Nantucket Community…

Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, has appointed Nick Ewenson (Newport, RI) as Race Programs Manager. Ewenson will be responsible for developing youth racing programs and racing sailors on all age levels, managing the coaching staff and overseeing youth regatta participation at Sail Newport and for travel events. Sail Newport’s high-performance Brooke E. Gonzalez Advanced Racing Clinic will also be under his direction. “We have wanted to enhance and expand our youth racing programs for both…

RACE Coastal Engineering, a waterfront structural, geotechnical and regulatory consultation and design firm in Stratford, CT, has joined join the Connecticut Maritime Coalition (CMC), the State’s maritime industry advocate. Comprising 23 member businesses that share market knowledge and expertise and work together with government, businesses and private organizations to solve issues, CMC develops strategies to strengthen and grow the State’s maritime economy. “We’re excited to be part of the revitalization of Connecticut’s waterfront cities and towns for…

The National Sailing Hall of Fame, currently located in Annapolis, MD, is relocating to Newport, RI. Executive Director Gary Jobson said the Sailing Hall of Fame hopes to welcome visitors at its new location in the Armory building, located at 365 Thames Street, in May 2020. Jobson said the Sailing Hall of Fame would enter into a contract with the City of Newport to purchase the Armory on or before November 8, before the actual closing takes…

Italia Yachts, headquartered in Venice, Italy, has expanded its international footprint with the opening of Italia Yachts U.S.A. in Milford, CT. Building on its existing European and Australian customer bases, Italia Yachts’ presence in the U.S. will enable it to better serve a growing client base in this region and meet rapidly expanding demand for sailing yachts in the 34 to 54-foot range that deliver optimum levels of speed without sacrificing comfort and luxury. “This is an…

Extremely light winds prevailed for the 2018 Ideal 18 North American Championship, hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club in Larchmont, NY on September 29 & 30. Thirty-seven teams competed, and when the dust had cleared one of the 12 teams from the host club stood atop the podium. Cardwell Potts was at the helm with Ted Ferrarone calling tactics as these two LYC sailors raced neck-and-neck with Skip Shumway and Aslan Sweeney (Rochester, NY) throughout the four-race regatta….