Articles - Ocean Navigator

Industry Leader Honored by Trade Association

The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) presented longtime industry leader and former co-owner of Baert Marine, Warren Kelly, the Frank Farrell Distinguished Service Award. After a varied decades-long career, Warren Kelly and Bill Baert recently sold their dealership to Port Harbor Marine based in Portland, Maine, and both have since retired. Warren has been a leader in the recreational boating industry for half a century and has always been a strong supporter of the MMTA and the Business of Boating (BOB) conference in Massachusetts. Warren is the fifth recipient of MMTA’s Farrell award, joining Joe O’Neil, former owner of the…

First Woman to Circumnavigate Solo Nonstop

Former University of Hawaii at Mānoa sailor Cole Brauer has become the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world. The native of East Hampton, New York, finished second out of 16 competitors in the Global Solo Challenge, a race that started and ended in A Coruña, Spain. The marathon 30,000-mile journey took 130 days, and she crossed the finish line on March 7. Starting the competition October 29 on her vessel, First Light, Brauer sailed south around Africa, across the Indian Ocean to Australia, then crossing the Pacific Ocean to South America before returning north to Spain.…

The Ocean Race Europe

Cruising sailors in the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea may catch a glimpse at boats competing in The Ocean Race Europe 2025. The race will be the second edition of The Ocean Race Europe, following a debut event in the summer of 2021. The event will build on the foundations of the inaugural race and will be held under the banner of “Connecting Europe,” with a race course that stretches from the Baltic Sea, through the North Sea and English Channel, into the Atlantic Ocean before a finish in the Mediterranean. Racing will take place in the newest generation…

C-MAP Reveals Latest Tech

C-MAP, based in Viareggio, Italy, and a leader in digital marine cartography and cloud-based mapping technology, recently announced a major update to its North America charts, introducing detailed data for hundreds of lakes, improved satellite imagery, enhanced shaded relief and more. “We are thrilled to roll out this new update to our C-MAP users in North America, significantly transforming their navigation experience,” said Jakob Svensson, C-MAP’s product manager. “Our product team is dedicated to sourcing new data and continually enhancing and improving our charts.” The new data includes satellite imagery improvements in over 19 states, including North and South Carolina…

Notable New Titles

The Backside of Normal: A Sailing Life of Adventure” by Roger Olson Seaworthy Publications $20 Like many fellow boating authors and journalists, I make a living wading through personal accounts of fellow writers, weighing their opinions and observations as part of my research for a potential new book or article. Most of what I read is well written and poignant. But every now and then, I find a book that goes beyond the predictable, forcing me to review my own motivation for pursuing sailing and adventure as a way of life. Roger Olson’s book, The Backside of Normal: A Sailing…

AIS Transceivers: An Offshore Imperative

Wherever we may find ourselves on our vessels, there are sure to be other craft out on the water moving along at cruising speed with their crew occasionally looking out over the water for other vessels. Although having someone on watch 24-7 is imperative, this practice is not foolproof, particularly in heavy fog or rain. Fortunately, with the latest generation of AIS transceivers, we have a means of knowing what is out there, even in those moments when the watch takes a nap. The standard AIS-equipped VHF radio is limited to receiving AIS transmissions and displaying them either on…

Solaris 44

Solaris Yachts of Aquilea, Italy, designs and builds a unique line of state-of-the-art cruising yachts for sailors who desire the best mix of speed, stability, comfort and ease of maneuvering in all kinds of weather. With sailing vessels ranging in size from 40 to 111 feet LOA, you can sail the world’s oceans in a deck and cabin setting that embraces a rare blend of easy handling, ergonomics and simple, functional luxury. The Solaris 44 is emblematic of the company’s focus on technology and responsiveness to the needs of crew and passengers. Measuring a modest 44 feet, roughly the size…

Comfortable Cruising on a Nordhavn 68

Many of us who cross oceans on rough-going sailboats often wonder what it would be like to undertake voyages in comfort and style while maintaining a good turn of speed over the water at the same time. After all, crossing oceans doesn’t have to be painful or complicated. Hence the choice of a larger, faster, more comfortable motor yacht. If you are ready to invest in a vessel that provides for all your passage-making requirements while keeping you comfortable while on the high seas, consider the Nordhavn 68, by Nordhavn, a builder of high-end luxury motor yachts in Dana Point,…

Feel of the Wheel

There’s nothing quite like the feel of a tiller or wheel in your hands, that tactile sensation of flesh on wood as you steer the vessel to a distant waypoint. To me, this has always been the most rewarding part of sailing. With gentle movements of your fingers, the boat responds—silent, stealthy, ready to go anywhere there’s wind. Driving a boat is all about the senses, and the skilled sailor learns to use them all. The wind on your face, the angle of heel and the gurgle of water sliding past the hull all play a part in the ballet…

A Rare Tropical Storm in the South Atlantic

On Feb. 18, an area of low pressure just off the coast of Rio de Janeiro was identified by the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center’s Serviço Meteorológico Marinho as a subtropical depression. Two days later, it became a tropical depression and that evening was named Tropical Storm Akará. This was surprising news. Tropical storms are uncommon in the South Atlantic Ocean, leaving the impression they don’t exist. While there’s no official South Atlantic season, tropical weather does occasionally form between December and May during Southern Hemisphere summer and fall. NOAA’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations makes projections of tropical storm formation and gives positions…