July 2020

While writing the March Publisher’s log in February, I unwittingly foreshadowed the record levels of boat buying we have seen since mid-April. I wrote about finding the perfect boat at my better half’s insistence. It has been quite a journey to find the foiling catboat that can sleep four and tow 12-year-olds on wakeboards while still looking great without too much bright work to tend to. And my spouse has been very, very patient, helped a tiny…

It is with great sadness that we report that our friend Howard McMichael, Jr. died at the age of 82 on Tuesday, June 2. Howie, as he was known to family and friends, suffered a stroke on Thursday, May 28, from which he never recovered. Howard McMichael, Jr. was the longtime leader of and inspiration for McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers, having taken over the company from his father, Howard McMichael, Sr., upon Howie’s return from serving…

The National Sailing Hall of Fame and Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame have announced at partnership to open an America’s Cup Hall of Fame location in Newport, RI. Every sport has its legends, comprised of people who provide inspiration to take on new challenges and achieve new heights. Sailing is no different, and the accomplishments of inductees to these halls of fame illustrate the breadth of talents and contributions that have shaped the…

By Nick Bowen                                              Tom D’Albora’s Coconut (left) and David Schwartz’s Mischief (right) sailing downwind.   The Twenty Hundred Club has a reputation for hosting adventurous sailboat races and on Sunday, June 7 they again pushed the envelope with a new race called the “Bridge Fiasco,” modeled after a similar race in San Francisco Bay. The…

By Diane Kropfl & Eileen Campbell, Ms. Race Co-Chairs     In sailing, Stay the Course is a common refrain used to convey forward momentum to reach either the next mark or destination. Amidst these unprecedented times, it is only apropos that the theme of this year’s Ms. Race is “Stay the Course.” The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club in Atlantic Highlands, NJ is planning for the 16th Annual Ms. Race charity sailboat race on Saturday, August 22…

The windward mark is a literal and figurative turning point in almost every race, so it’s important to approach the mark smartly and have a good rounding. As you get closer to the mark, there are many things you can do to help improve your chances of success. Here is a brainstorm list of some to consider. Of course, it won’t be possible to do all these things all the time. In fact, if you’re sailing a…

Double-Handed Racing and Friendly Fun Will Have Renewed Emphasis By Barby MacGowan, MediaPro International   The annual Ida Lewis Distance Race, scheduled for its 16th edition starting Saturday, August 15, has announced that Jeanneau America is the event’s new Presenting Partner. The news comes on the heels of the race changing its start date from Friday to Saturday to better accommodate an inclusive weekend schedule and coincides with other exciting changes for the event, including a Mixed (co-ed) Double-Handed class…

By Caroline Conzatti, CBC Assistant Director “CBC has been a huge confidence boost for me in the past four years. Sailing makes me feel more free and like I can overcome obstacles. I love to share this feeling with others.” – Carlyn, CBC Junior Instructor     Community Boating Center, Inc. in New Bedford, MA is a youth mentorship and outreach organization that uses boating and the marine environment to involve kids in safe, fun learning experiences….

By Juliana Corrales, eXXpedition Ambassador Editor’s note: Author Juliana Corrales sailed as a guest crew on Leg 7 of eXXpedition Round the World (RTW), an all-female, three-year sailing voyage and environmental mission that began in the United Kingdom in October 2019 and finishes there in September 2022. On board SV TravelEdge, a total of 300 women are sailing thirty voyage legs that will cover more than 38,000 nautical miles. Co-founded in 2014 by Mission Director Emily Penn,…

By Joe Cooper Facebook is many things to many people, from the keeping up with Grandma and the grandkids to yelling back at bot-driven political memes. During this morning’s coffee-lubricated graze through my various FB pages (Yeah, I know I’m looking for the 12-step program) in a full DeLorean moment, I came hard aground against a post from a fella I used to work with. Cue the Flux Capacitor and file the following under ‘Little known details…