Escape from Macquarie Harbour
After nearly two years of peace and security inside Macquarie Harbour, the word daunting came to mind when we considered leaving that safe haven to sail the wild Southern Ocean. For such a long time our ship had been a…
Cruising
Dedicated to Cruising the world under sail including destinations, navigation, sailing tips, safety ideas, yacht & multihull reviews along with stories and insights for the sail cruising life in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Abby Sunderland's 'Wild Eyes' found floating near Kangaroo Island
South Australia Police report that an overturned vessel found off the coast of Kangaroo Island on New Year's Eve has been identified as 'Wild Eyes', which had been abandoned eight years ago in the middle of the Indian Ocean during a…
Canaipa Passage dredging program provides 2.5m depth between Moreton Bay and Gold Coast
The Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) has invested $500,000 in maintaining safe navigational access in the Canaipa Passage, the important link between Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast. The dredging aims to provide a depth of -2.5m LAT (Lowest Astronomical…
Curtain call for a classic ARC
ARC 2018 came to a rousing conclusion last night in Saint Lucia with the prizegiving ceremony marking the end of the world's most popular sailing rally for another year. Crews, friends and families were joined by numerous supporters at the…
British sailor feared drowned after night of drinking
St Lucia Star. By Keryn Nelson. What happened to Roy Broughton? Hardly anyone seems able to provide details other than that the British yachtsman was last seen around ten at night on Thursday, November 15, 2018. Boughton, who frequented the…
Lisa Blair completes circumnavigation of Australia
On Monday, December 17,2018, 33-year-old Lisa Blair became the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted. Lisa crossed the finish line at Sydney Heads just after 2pm, giving a total elapsed time of 58 days and 3 hours….
A superb piece of navigation – the incredible story of the SS Warrimoo
The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought the master, Captain John Phillips,…
Transatlantic crossing – the Golden Globe for amateurs
In March 2019 ten amateur sailors will meet up on the east coast of the USA for a once ina lifetime challenge. Can they learn how to navigate at sea using just the sun, moon,stars and planets and then sail…
Queensland's “war on wrecks” gathers pace
271 unseaworthy vessels currently lie in an advanced state of decay in Queensland’s bays, rivers and creeks. That’s the latest count of vessels for which Maritime Safety Queensland needs to instigate removal action as part of the state government’s “War on…
Lisa Blair – just a Sydney Hobart left to go
Lisa Blair is attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted. On Tuesday morning (December 11, 2018) she had passed the entrance to the River Derwent and was heading up the east coast towards her…
Solo sailor's cat quarantined in New Zealand
AAP reports that a French yachtsman who is circumnavigating the globe single-handed has been separated from his feline first mate after running into New Zealand authorities. Navy, the cat, has accompanied sailor Francis Tolan since he set sail from France…
Lisa Blair heading north towards Sydney on circumnavigation
Lisa Blair is attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stp and unassisted. Having left Sydney and sailed across the top end, down the Western Australian coast and across the Bight she is now heading north towards…
Discover fascinating close-to-home destinations aboard PONANT luxury small ship expeditions and cruises
Dreaming of a stimulating holiday in a unique location, ideally not too far from home? May we suggest an intimate small ship cruise that can take you right into the heart of places, far from crowded maritime routes. PONANT is…
US Coast Guard rescues four from dismasted, disabled sailboat
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard crews returned four mariners to shore Wednesday, after their sailboat was demasted in a storm more than 100 miles off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Rescue Coordination Center Norfolk received a satellite emergency distress notification Monday…
Lisa Blair at Cape Leeuwin in circumnavigation attempt
Lisa Blair is attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted. After sailing up the east coast from Sydney, through the Torres Strait and dwon the west coast, she is now off Cape Leeuwin and…
RNLI rescues man whose lifejacket failed to inflate
The volunteer crew from Crosshaven were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 5.20pm this evening to reports of a person shouting for help at Drakes Pool, a mile upriver from the lifeboat station. On arrival, it was found the…
RNLI volunteer jailed for seven years on drugs charges
The Irish Times. By Barry Roche. An RNLI volunteer honoured for his part in the rescue of 30 students when a sailing ship sank off the west Cork coast has been jailed for seven years after he admitted distributing and…
ARC 2018 sets sail from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Cruisers, racers, and multihulls; sleek ocean racing machines, alongside comfortable family cruisers; superyachts with professional crews, and excited couples living the dream – these were the boats and sailors departing Las Palmas de Gran Canaria today to start the 33rd…
Lisa Blair is off Coral Bay after a long tack into the Indian Ocean
Lisa Blair is attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted. She is currently off Coral Bay on the Western Australian coast after being forced into a long tack offshore owing to headwinds. Here is…
Wrong direction and very strong – Lisa Blair finds the wind off Karratha
Lisa Blair is attemtping to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted. On Tuesday November 20 she was off the coast of Western Australia, not far from Karratha. Here is her latest blog: Well, I have…
Abell Point owner buys Coral Sea Resort
Paul Darrouzet, owner of the multi award-winning Airlie Beach marina precinct, Abell Point Marina, last week exchanged unconditional sale and purchase contracts for the acquisition of the iconic Coral Sea Resort. This strategic move is the next step in Darrouzet’s…
Whitsunday Escape equips all boats with Shark Shields
Following two shark attacks at Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays, one of which proved fatal, Whitsunday Escape has purchased 40 of Ocean Guardian’s FREEDOM7 shark deterrent devices. They will be included on all 40 of the boats in the Whitsunday…
Colourful national flags parade opens ARC 2018
The majority of boats and crews taking part in the 33rd edition of the ARC – the world's largest transocean rally for cruisers – have now arrived in their temporary 'home' of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Today, it was…
Margate Marina’s first stage is now open
The first stage of the redeveloped Margate Marina at Baretta is now open for business. Sail and power boat customers are now moving in to the initial 50 berths which are complete with power, water and CCTV monitoring… ideal timing…
Environmental management proves a key business focus for Abell Point Marina
Abell Point Marina has been named the first marina in Australia to achieve a score of 100% on the International Clean Marina audit. In an assessment on 30 October, Abell Point Marina was re-accredited as a Level 3 Clean Marina…
The first ARC+ St. Vincent sets sail
The inaugural edition of ARC+ St. Vincent set sail today from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria marking the second wave of boats in the 2018 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers to begin their Atlantic adventure. They now are on their way…
Lisa Blair's circumnavigation – some unexpected visitors
Lisa Blair is attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted. She is currently off the north-west coast of Western Australia, where she had an unexoected encounter with Indonesian fishing vessels. Here is her latest…
NZ sailors get set for a week of back-to-back sailing events
Sailors in the north of New Zealand will be able to take part in an exciting week of non-stop competitive sailing from 22 to 28 January 2019, after two of New Zealand’s biggest sailing regattas joined forces to create a…
First wave of ARC+ 2018 away
The docks of Muelle Deportivo in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria were a hive of activity this morning as crews of ARC+ 2018 prepared to lead the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers across the Atlantic. As so many boats now want…
NZ Navy ship rescues yacht off Poor Knights islands
By Annette Lambley on Stuff.co.nz A Whangarei yachtie, who was towed off rocks at the Poor Knights Islands by the Protector class off-shore patrol vessel, HMNZS Wellington says he has learned a few lessons. Lucas Remmerswaal had been enjoying his sail from Tutukaka Harbour…
Aussie sailor pleads guilty to killing wife before scuttling catamaran
A sailor with joint Australian and British citizenship has admitted killing his new wife who went missing from their catamaran off the coast of Cuba on their honeymoon. Lewis Bennett (41) has reached a deal with US prosecutors to plead…
When is the right time to set sail?
Our story will be familiar to many. My husband sailed as a youngster and always dreamed of owning his own boat; he would sail it up the Queensland coast and possibly further afield. However, I had rarely sailed and did…
Things that make you go beep
Censorship in media has been around for a long time. We all like to think we live in a society where the rights of free speech are enshrined by law and by morality. Well think again, how many times have…
Old sailors never die, they just rejig their yachts
Some sailors will be lucky enough to continue to sail well into their 80s but, well before that age, most will find they need to progressively curtail their activities. Various infirmities in themselves, or partners, may make it increasingly difficult…
Tempting the sea gods: renaming your boat
Superstitions abound in all cultures, but you probably will not encounter a more superstitious bunch of people than sailors. Why is this? Most psychologists believe that superstitions evolve from a feeling of lack of control. Writer and psychology professor Stuart…
One man's sailing life: from racing to cruising, a history
Happy memories of my boating days are as wide and varied as are the different craft I owned: varying from single rowing shells to a prawn trawler. In between exists a number of fine yachts which I cruised and raced….
Under pressure? Then you should go with the flow
It is February and you are anchored in a little bay in remote Arnhem Land. For some reason you have been unable to communicate with the outside world for a few days. However, you have been watching the barometer as…
Taking smaller bites, crossing the Great Australian Bight
The Great Australian Bight separates western from eastern Australia. Like the Nullarbor Desert on land, the coast is inhospitable and there are no coastal towns in the 600 miles from Ceduna to Esperance. Large chunks of the intervening coastal waters…
Lisa Blair reaches Cape York on Australian circumnavigation
November 2, 2018. Lisa Blair is attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate Australia non-stop and unassisted. At 6am Australian Daylight Time, she was off Cape York. Here is her blog from yesterday: Last night was fairly uneventful as…
Check your bilge pumps – catamaran sinks off Airlie Beach
A catamaran which sank off the Port of Airlie has prompted calls from Whitsunday Water Police for boat owners to ensure their bilge pumps are in working order, according to the Whitsunday Times. The 11.5m catamaran had been moored between…
