February 2025

© Rick Bannerot We have a long room in our house, the long side of which faces south. We try not to heat that room in the winter. The bummer is that my office is in this room. The other bummer is that there is a two-and-a-half-story house about 30 yards to the south. But the other day, fully a month past the solstice, the sun heated the room up to 68! Unassisted! Alas, it only lasted…

AC Zzzzzz? Ben Cesare’s November/December 2024 Publisher’s Log, “The Amazing America’s Cup” (windcheckmagazine.com/article/the-amazing-americas-cup/) resonated with many. Ben, Well said. The 37th America’s Cup was boring. I would like to see a lot more time in the box fighting it out for position. I love sailing and especially match race sailing, but found myself not even caring that racing was on. Best, Paul Grenauer Ben, Firstly, these are not yachts, or yacht racing with a sailing crew. They are at…

Registration is now open for the 40th biennial Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, which will leave Marblehead Harbor on Sunday, July 6, 2025. First started in 1905, it is the oldest ocean race in North America. The 361-nautical mile race is sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.   A World Sailing Category 2 event, the race is open to all yachts meeting the Offshore Safety Regulations (OSR) requirements published in…

1. Tell us about Flagship Yacht Sales. I started Flagship in 2023 after sixteen years selling boats at a larger firm. It was time for a change and I was ready for the challenge of starting my own business. We are based at Nichols Yacht Yard in Mamaroneck, New York, right at the center of the vibrant sailing scene on western Long Island Sound. 2. How did you get your start in the business? In the mid-2000s I was…

Marion Bermuda Race… Now’s the time and we’re here to help.     Ocean racing is not easy, but a well-designed, well managed race can make it an experience of a lifetime. The Marion Bermuda Race touches all of the bases when looking for that bucket list adventure. So, what does it take to realize your dream? You are new to offshore racing but you are an experienced sailor who wants to make the leap from coastal…

A reluctant frostbiter at first, the author learned the sport is a winter-long training camp for both body and mind. Story & photos by Blaine Davis     It’s November, and the boatyard is alive with activity. Boats are being hauled out and power washed while the low hiss of a blowtorch punctuates the air. In the back lot, yard workers shout to each other as they maneuver a keelboat into its winter parking spot. My boat,…

When you’re trying to catch other boats on a windward leg, the good news is that the fleet usually spreads out a lot on beats. If the wind changes very much in direction or velocity, this separation creates good passing opportunities. But the bad news is that the boats you’re trying to catch are all between you and the wind. This means you must constantly dodge wind shadows, especially when you are sailing toward the ‘favored’ side….

By Killian Duborg, Connecticut communications specialist   As a new Congress and state legislative sessions start, it’s more important than ever that we are all conscientious consumers of information. With energy issues high on the agenda, you will likely hear a variety of perspectives. Unfortunately, misinformation spreads easily, even among well-meaning individuals. One topic particularly prone to myths and misunderstandings is offshore wind energy. Well-sited offshore wind is a safe, proven, reliable, and cost-effective energy solution that’s…

With Valentine’s Day in the offing, it is time for all those who stand a watch and wait for the return of those that went to sea to think about being the “safety officer” before they go! And, skipper, how about the love you have for those that go to sea with you – kids, grandkids and mates – and creating the safest environment aboard that is feasible or possible?   From the Heart to the Head…

Bercy Arena, Paris. Depeche Mode’s Exciter Tour. Leagues later, it’s the imagery of the backup singers banging out the rhythm that sticks. Their primal enthusiasm for the tracks was nitrous oxide redlining the ennui of a youthful age into wild energy. If you were there, you’d remember even if you were mainlining pharmaceuticals and pawing your partner. You surely would. Whether aboard the yacht or in the witness stand, backup singers bring the juice. It’s the nonparty…