Seamanship & Navigation - Ocean Navigator

21 Jan

Hands-On Training

Eric ColbyNavigation, Newsletter, Ocean Voyaging, Offshore Safety, Offshore Sailing, Seamanship & Navigation, Voyaging Skills, Voyaging Skills, Voyaging Tips

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…

17 Jan

Charlie Dalin Wins Vendée Globe

Eric ColbyOcean Voyaging, Offshore Sailing, Racing News, Sailboat Racing, Seamanship & Navigation

On January 15, solo sailor Charlie Dalin at the helm of MACIF Santé Prévoyance crossed the finish line for the 2024 Vendée Globe around the world sailboat race, shaving more than five days off the predicted time. “I am the happiest man in the world,” he said 20 minutes after claiming victory. “I have never experienced such emotion, never experienced that in my entire life. It is the most beautiful finish line of my career with this daylight breaking through.” He arrived at the finish in Las Sables-d’Olonne, France, on January 14 at 8:24:49 a.m. local time, finishing with a…

16 Jan

Proposed Boat Speed Limit for Atlantic Coast Withdrawn

Eric ColbyBoat & Gear News, Boat Accidents, Industry & Company News, Navigation, Ocean Voyaging, Offshore Safety, Offshore Sailing, Power Voyaging, Seamanship & Navigation

The National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Commerce Department have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have imposed speed limits on boats operating off the East Coast of the United States.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…

08 Jan

Cruising Club of America Awards Highest Honor

Eric ColbyNavigation, Ocean Voyaging, Offshore Sailing, Sailboat Racing, Seamanship & Navigation, Voyaging Skills

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…

06 Jan

New Slow Speed Zones in Miami

Eric ColbyBoat Accidents, Navigation, Power Voyaging, Seamanship & Navigation

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…

13 Dec

Cornell Announces High Latitude Challenge

Eric ColbyNavigation, Ocean Navigator, Ocean Voyaging, Offshore Sailing, Seamanship & Navigation, Voyaging Skills, Voyaging Skills, Voyaging Tips

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…

05 Dec

Sailor Lost at Sea During ARC Rally

Theresa NicholsonBoat Accidents, Cruising Rallies, Ocean Voyaging, Offshore Sailing, Racing News, Sailboat Racing, Seamanship & Navigation

Second vessel abandoned after taking on water. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers community, along with the extended sailing community, is mourning the loss of Swedish sailor Dag Eresund, who was lost overboard from Volvo 70 racing yacht Ocean Breeze on Monday. A mayday call went out at 2:30 UTC on December 2 from Ocean Breeze, sailing approximately 1,300 nautical miles east of Bermuda in challenging conditions with winds gusting more than 30 knots. A search was initiated by the vessel. The U.S. Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Norfolk, Va., (MRCC) put out an emergency alert to all shipping for…

19 Nov

Imray to Phase out Chart Publishing

Eric ColbyElectronic charting, Navigation, Ocean Navigator, Ocean Voyaging, Offshore Sailing, Seamanship & Navigation

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…

14 Nov

Tips for Snowbirds Heading South

Eric ColbyNewsletter, Seamanship & Navigation

With the 2024 hurricane season in our wake, many sailors and trawler owners from the Northeast are either en route or preparing to head south for the winter. Whether you’re a veteran or newcomer to navigating the eastern seaboard of the United States, it never hurts to brush up on the basics. We talked to veteran Ocean Navigator contributor Ann Hoffner from her home in Sorrento, Maine, and to John Hines, an instructor at the Offshore Sailing School, for some tips on making sure the trip is a successful one. You would think that prepping your boat and gear for…

14 Nov

New Safety Products Coming at METSTRADE Show

Eric ColbyOcean Voyaging, Offshore Safety, Offshore Sailing, Power Voyaging, Sailboat Racing, Seamanship & Navigation

ACR Electronics will introduce its new ResQFlare PRO and Ocean Signal will launch its rescueME EDF2 distress light at the METSTRADE international trade show for the recreational boating industry in Amsterdam Nov. 19 to 21. Nominated for a DAME Design Award in the Safety and Security category, the ResQFlare PRO distress light represents a step forward in distress signal technology. ACR said the light exceeds U.S. Coast Guard requirements and combines electronic and optical technologies to give the ResQFlare improved functionality compared to pyrotechnic flares. The buoyant electronic visual distress signaling device delivers a more powerful SOS distress alert system…