The New Revolution in Tide and Current Predictions

The New Revolution in Tide and Current Predictions

We had one tidal revolution in 2021 when NOAA announced that they were discontinuing the decades-long use of Table 2 lists of secondary station corrections, and that there will no longer be any sanctioned annual Tide and Current Tables. Plus there will no longer be any international tidal data published by NOAA. Going forward, the way we get official tide and current predictions is go to tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov and create a monthly or annual table for specific stations as PDFs and then print them. It takes four pages per year, per station. This is a superior system, as we rarely needed…
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US Sailing Names 2024 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year

US Sailing Names 2024 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year

US Sailing has announced the winners of the 2024 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Ian Barrows and Hans Henken are the yachtsmen of the year and Cole Brauer is the yachtswoman of the year. The awards acknowledge their accomplishments in sailing during the past year. The winners were honored on Feb. 6 during the US Sailing Awards Ceremony at the 2025 US Sailing Leadership Forum in Coronado, Calif. The selection process involved a vote by past Rolex Award winners and prominent sailing media members. To learn more about the selection process, visit ussailing.org. “This year’s Rolex Yachtsmen…
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New Anti-Collision System and Gyrocompass

New Anti-Collision System and Gyrocompass

Artificial Intelligence company SEA.AI has added to its machine vision systems with the SEA.AI brain. It integrates the technology with existing thermal cameras on a boat. The company demonstrated its abilities in its new Watchkeeper series of modular safety systems at the Boot Düsseldorf Show in Germany in January. Starting at less than $5,200, the Watchkeeper lets boaters customize a SEA.AI system based on personal preferences. The system comes with a 4k low-light camera with a wide field of view of 135 degrees, providing a comprehensive view of the surroundings around the boat. With integrated GPS and Intertial Measurement Units,…
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Hands-On Training

Hands-On Training

Most teachers or people in a training/instructing position will tell you that one of the best ways to learn something is by doing it. But even instructors start somewhere. Marc Hughston founded Santana Sailing in 2003 in Long Beach, Calif., but he took his first sailing lesson at the age of 14 and has been on the water for most of his life. He is a U.S. Coast Guard 100 Ton Master and an American National Standards Instructor/Assessor as well as a Mediterranean Sailing License and Credentials Instructor/Assessor. In 2007, he was working as an instructor and had a crew…
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Proposed Boat Speed Limit for Atlantic Coast Withdrawn

Proposed Boat Speed Limit for Atlantic Coast Withdrawn

The National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Commerce Department have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have imposed speed limits on boats operating off the East Coast of the United States. The rule was originally published in the Federal Register on Aug. 1, 2022, to amend the North Atlantic right whale vessel speed regulations. “NMFS withdraws this proposed rule in light of numerous and ongoing requests from the public for further opportunity to review and engage with the Agency on the proposal,” the fisheries service said in a statement. “NMFS’s existing vessel speed regulations remain…
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Cruising Club of America Awards Highest Honor

Cruising Club of America Awards Highest Honor

The Cruising Club of America has named Leiv Poncet of the Falkland Islands, the recipient of the 2024 Blue Water Medal. This accolade was established to honor exceptional seamanship and adventure by amateur sailors. It recognizes Poncet for his many high-latitude voyages around the world that were taken without fanfare. First granted 101 years ago, the Blue Water Medal is the CCA’s highest honor. Poncet follows in the footsteps of legendary sailors including Bernard Moitessier, Eric and Susan Hiscock, Thies Matzen and Kicki Ericson and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede. Poncet is the first to follow in the footsteps of his…
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New Slow Speed Zones in Miami

New Slow Speed Zones in Miami

The Captain of the Port for Coast Guard sector Miami announced the establishment of a new regulated navigation area for parts of the Port Miami. It creates a slow-speed zone for vessels shorter than 164 feet long transiting through Fisherman’s Channel and the Main Ship Channel, also known as Government Cut. The new rule was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 30, 2024, and will go into effect on Jan. 29. “Recreational boating safety in our busiest waterways is incredibly important for both the safety of life at sea and the continuity of commerce that flows through our marine…
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Cornell Announces High Latitude Challenge

Cornell Announces High Latitude Challenge

Offshore sailing legend Jimmy Cornell has announced a sailing flotilla around the American continents including voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic. It starts in 2026 and registration is open. Cornell founded the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers nearly 40 years ago and followed that up with other flotillas around the world. Greenland, the Northwest Passage, the North and South Pacific, Cape Horn and the Antarctic peninsula are all planned to be part of the High Latitude Challenge. “In recent years, high-latitude voyages have become increasingly popular with sailors interested in more remote destinations,” Cornell Sailing said in a press release. “The…
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Imray to Phase out Chart Publishing

Imray to Phase out Chart Publishing

On November 18, longtime British navigation chart publisher Imray announced that it is starting a gradual shutdown of chart publishing operations. The company said the decision reflects the growing shift toward digital nautical navigation. Imray will continue to serve the maritime community with pilot books, cruising guides and the “Explore with Imray” digital product. Chart production and support, including Imray Notices to Mariners, will continue through the 2025 season. Beyond that, new editions will cease. Imray says the lead time will provide an opportunity for captains to acquire paper charts while they are still available. The company is one of…
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App uses AI to Improve Trip Planning

App uses AI to Improve Trip Planning

Ditch, an AI-powered navigation app, introduced its Smart ETA feature at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October. The launch coincides with the app’s one-year anniversary. In addition to Smart ETA, Ditch is launching a new live navigation view that provides real-time updates on route distance, time to arrival and speed over ground. Smart ETA considers factors that are sometimes overlooked by ETA calculators including no-wake zones and a boat’s cruising speed. Ditch says users will experience more accurate ETAs, reducing stress and providing more accurate arrival times. The app also provides live updates on route distance, time to…
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