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Following the harsh impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, The British Virgin Islands is making an impressive comeback this winter.
A snow squall blows down Buckham’s bay on the Ottawa river. What a contrast, a year ago our group of Ontario sailors where anchoring in an emerald lagoon just in time for a tropical rain squall -in the splendor of the Society islands of French Polynesia.
The British Virgins took a huge hit last fall from Irma. Boats were stranded on the shore by the dozens and roofs blown off with abandon.
When it’s cool here at home we love to charter down south. The problem often is that getting to the charter base often requires multiple connections and more time than you might hope.
At this year’s Toronto Boat Show then again on March 8 at Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club Toronto sailor/adventurer Diane Reid will present her experience circumnavigating the UK as the skipper of A Plastic Voyage.
Eyes turn and conversations on shore pause as one boat in particular approaches the Grand Hotel Serbelloni’s jetty that extends out into the sparkling blue waters of Lake Como off Bellagio, northern Italy.
Read more: A Trip To Iconic Italian Yachtbuilder Riva And...
After a good night’s sleep, no doubt helped by the gentle rocking of the boat on anchor and the evening cocktails, the Gabrovecs were ready to continue their vacation.
Read more: Cruising with the Dario and Zelijka : Part 2 -...
My trip to the Northwest Passage started long before I boarded the flight to Kangerlussaq with visits to Eddie Bauer, North Face, SAIL, MEC and Patagonia to purchase the clothing and equipment necessary to ensure I stayed warm, dry and comfortable and able to participate in whatever the daily sojourn offered.
Bridgetown, Barbados:With just four days to go before the start of the 2017 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January), the festival atmosphere in Barbados is starting to rumble.
The first time we sailed to Madeira we wondered if the island had vanished. Or at least that's how it appeared. Actually, it didn't appear. Not when we thought it should have.
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Blind Channel Resort
One of my favourite places
By Marianne Scott
Sailing north of Desolation Sound, the Discovery Islands and the Broughton Archipelago offer cruisers a bevy islands with ample anchorages. Tides cause swift currents to run through the islands’ waterways. Few marinas are found in this large, sparsely populated region but one that provides all the services boaters need and especially enjoy is Blind Channel, a marina and resort operated by the Richter family located on Mayne Passage on the east side of West Thurlow Island (50 24. 82N, 125 30. 00).
Read more about the Blind Channel Resort...
Lifestyle
Glenmore Sailing Club
By Katherine Stone
When I was young, I used to love watching westerns on TV.
I think my favourite program was Bonanza. I would rush home after school, get my homework done, clean up the dishes, and then I would watch the ol’ West come alive with those three handsome, funny brothers who thrived on adventure.
At the time, I thought that the adventuresome West - and the pioneers who could handle just about anything thrown their way - was the stuff of make-believe.
Read more about the Glenmore Sailing Club...
Boat Reviews
Beneteau Swift Trawler 47
By Andy Adams
You might look at the pictures of the new Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 and think that this is not a “performance boat”, but I think it certainly is, and here is why; it can top out at 30 mph to get you from A to B quickly or to beat the weather in, so it’s pretty fast, but it can also loaf along doing 1,250 rpm making 9.3 mph and at that pace, it travels 2.4 miles on a gallon of fuel. That’s great performance in my books!
With a light displacement of almost 28,000 lbs, this is a big boat. In fact, it looks and feels more like a small ship than a big boat.
Read more about the Swift Trawler 47......
Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 Wins The “european Yacht Of The Year Awards” 2019
By Andy Adams and John Armstrong
Beneteau Oceanis 46.1When Beneteau introduced their new Oceanis 46.1, they were inspired by the fact that their previous Oceanis 45 was one of Beneteau’s best sellers and the new 46.1 had to be a clearly superior boat. The Oceanis range is about space and comfort for cruising while still delivering strong performance.
The yachting world has now recognized the Oceanis 46.1 as being just such a worthy successor. On January 19th, 2019, the Oceanis 46.1 won the highly regarded title of European Yacht of the Year in the “Family Cruiser” category.
Read More about the Oceanis 46.1......
DIY & How to
Sea to Sky now RYA recognized training centre
Sea to Sky Sailing has just been approved as the only Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recognized training centre on the west coast of North America just in time to deliver an epic 2019 season!
“This transition from our previous International Yacht Training (IYT) certification to RYA is a huge benefit to our students as it provides them certification that is known globally as the gold standard for yacht training. The RYA requires training centres to undergo annual inspections of their vessels, business practices and training delivery in order to maintain a strong standard and guarantee a high quality experience for students.
Read More about Sea to Sky Sailing......
Marine Products
Zipwake controls ride
Featuring advanced, intuitive 3D controls, Zipwake Dynamic Trim Control Systems deliver a more comfortable ride, better performance and improved fuel consumption for any boat from 20 to 60 feet, regardless of the type of vessel or the sea conditions. Offering unmatched control of running trim, heel or heading, the system incorporates patented, durable fast-acting interceptors that provide efficient lift. Installation of the modular unit is simple with four different size blades allowing a near full beam arrangement.
Read more about Zipwake...
Making the leap from landlubber to a life at Sea
Gina de Vere approached me at the Canadian Yachting booth at this year’s Vancouver International Boat Show and introduced me to her book Blue Water Women. Listening to her, it took only a few moments to see her passion for sailing and her joy in sharing her experiences.
In her own words: “This book is for the young and young at heart who yearn for adventure. It is written for those women considering a life-changing direction and those seeking a career at sea. It is not an instruction book, but you will learn from the experience of other blue water women what you need to know to have your own adventures.”
Read more about Blue Water Women...
