“Dear Mr. Parkinson: I’ve been a loyal Cruising World reader since the beginning.” 

Since the day I began at the editor’s desk almost three years ago, I’ve probably received more than two dozen letters from readers that started with these exact words. Naturally, when a letter from a reader leads with the phrase “since the beginning,” I tend to sit up a bit straighter in my chair, set down the coffee, and pay close attention.  

Still, I couldn’t fully appreciate the gravity that those words carried until this magazine snuck up on its golden anniversary and I took a deep dive down memory lane. 

For fun, I’ve been spending my nights and weekends this summer combing through 18 boxes of Cruising World archives dating back to the very first issue. Fifty years ago, an Aussie sailor named Murray Davis launched Cruising World on a shoestring budget and a whole lot of hope. It was a new voice for the cruising sailor dedicated to the great life afloat that came at a time when racing competition largely carried the headlines. 

For me, those early issues of Cruising World offer a fascinating snapshot of a time that feels both familiar and distant. As I turned fragile page after page, I was struck by how much has changed about cruising over the years, yet how much remains the same. 

Back then, gear was as basic as it gets. A compass, a paper chart and a healthy dose of seamanship were all you really needed to set sail—well, that and a boat of course. VHF radios were a luxury, and the idea of a GPS was pure science fiction. We’ve come a long way, but the core of the magazine has always remained the same. It’s about the journey itself, not just the means or the destination. 

I can’t say I’ve been a Cruising World reader since those early days—I was still a twinkle in my mother’s eye back when the magazine was born—but I sure remember the day I became one. I was 10 years old and really into sailboats at my first Newport International Boat Show back in ’86. My eyes were as wide as winches. We didn’t come home with a boat, but we did sign up for a subscription. 

Those first issues arrived in our mailbox like a lifeline to a kid dreaming of what lay beyond the breakwater of our local inlet on the Connecticut shoreline. I wasn’t cruising yet. Just the son of a sailor dad, but the articles about how to sail and all the faraway places you could go once you learned ignited a fire that’s never really gone out.

When my parents finally took the plunge into sailboat ownership in the ’90s, the tech revolution was just beginning. VHF radios, wind instruments, depth sounders and GPS were standard accessories. Yet, I rarely met a serious cruiser who didn’t have a sextant, either on board or back at home.

While I appreciate the comforts of modern cruising, I imagine that there’s a large contingent of longtime Cruising World readers who still yearn for the simpler days. I get it. Yet, change is inevitable. It’s hard to deny the allure of technology when it comes to safety and efficiency. As long as we remember the core skills of seamanship, these advancements can only enhance our cruising experiences. And as you’ve probably noticed, the way we cover them has evolved significantly as well.

Friends, with our October 2024 issue, the Cruising World brand is 50 years strong. It seems like an eternity, and at the same time, for many of those “since the beginning” readers, probably fleeting. In my time here, I’ve found that the true lifeblood of this magazine has less to do with names on a masthead, and more to do with our extraordinary community of cruising enthusiasts, contributors and readers who fuel it—lending each issue their technical expertise, their tales of adventure, and their shared love for the cruising experience.

Through all the years, we’ve met some neat people and heard some incredible stories. With your enduring passion to wonder and wander, I’m eager to see what the next 50 years will bring.

One thing’s for sure: The journey will be the adventure.

The post Gold Standard: <i>Cruising World</i> Turns 50 appeared first on Cruising World.

Take a stroll down the docks at any boat show, and you’ll likely hear the classic quip: “The two happiest days in a sailor’s life are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it.” While that might get a chuckle or two, for some of us, it’s more cringe than comedy. 

Boat ownership is like parenthood—exhilarating, but with challenges. Sure, the day you buy your boat feels magical, but the real hocus pocus happens when you launch it. I’ll always remember the day we took our 31-foot Hunter, Ragtime, off its mooring for the first time: engine purring like a contented cat, sails popping open and filling with life, wood creaking and rigging shifting as we heeled over on a close reach.

Our first shakedown cruise was up the Connecticut River to Hamburg Cove, where we anchored under the stars on a sheet of glass, my family and I sharing laughs and lobster bisque by the light of an oil lamp. It seems like yesterday. That, friends, is what boat ownership is all about. 

Now, selling a boat? That’s another story. When we finally waved goodbye to Ragtime more than 20 years later, it felt like parting with a family member. Every imperfection told a story—like the not-quite-white patch of cockpit nonslip where red wine was spilled one fuzzy evening on the hook in Fort Lauderdale, leading to a strict “no red wine aboard” policy. Ragtime was a floating scrapbook of memories. 

The infamous quip about the two happiest days probably came from someone who bought a fixer-upper and expected smooth sailing. Newsflash: Boats need TLC. A boat owner often has to channel their inner MacGyver to plug leaks, protect the gelcoat, keep the sails and rigging in good working order, and ensure that the engine runs smoother than a Steely Dan guitar solo.

Upkeep can be pricey if you’re not handy, and a boat’s initial charm can mask a lot of hidden issues. Excitement can quickly become frustration as maintenance costs soar. I get that. You probably do as well, which is why most of us learn to love the smell of marine grease in the morning and to find joy in every successful DIY repair. (If you know, you know.) 

If you’re already a boat owner, or are thinking of becoming one this fall boat-show season, the September 2024 issue of Cruising World has you covered—starting with marine industry veteran Ralph Naranjo’s guide to boat-show shopping, intended to help you navigate the often-overwhelming experience on the docks and ensure that you end up not just with a boat that you love, but also with one that meets your needs and dreams.

Also in the issue, off-grid adventurer Hilary Thomson’s “The Bricolage of Boating” delves into the art of DIY projects and how they bring sailors together as a vibrant cruising community. Cruising legend Jimmy Cornell, in “Chasing Perfection,” describes his five attempts to build the perfect cruising boat, giving us all a masterclass in perseverance and passion. And, with an active hurricane season upon us, sailing veteran David H. Lyman’s “Riders on the Storm” is a must-read firsthand account of surviving Hurricane Hugo that offers vital insights and a sobering reminder of the power of the sea.

While the adage about the happiest days might ring true for some people on the docks this season, it misses the heart of the matter. For die-hard sailors, the happiest days are the ones spent on the water.

My advice? The next time you hear that saying, just smile and keep your eyes on the horizon. Because for us boaters, the real happiness lies in the journey—not just the destination.

The post Finding Real Joy in Boat Ownership appeared first on Cruising World.

Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters with vessels that have a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation to be wary of any letter arriving by U.S. mail offering renewal. BoatUS advises that while the Coast Guard does send official annual renewal notices by U.S. mail, other notices being received by BoatUS members are not from the Coast Guard but rather third-party companies whose name or return addresses may appear similar to that of the official U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).  Members have complained that these letters direct them to websites that may be mistaken for the actual Coast Guard NVDC located in Falling Waters, West Virginia, and appear to show a significant increase in the annual fee to renew Coast Guard documentation.  

A 2017 Coast Guard bulletin says in part: “The NVDC is aware that there are commercial entities that offer to manage the certification/renewal process on behalf of vessel owners for a fee. The Coast Guard does not endorse any of these companies, and the companies do not operate on behalf of the Coast Guard in any way. Any fees charged or agreements offered by such companies are in no way associated with the NVDC certification process. In addition, these companies are not authorized to issue any form of documentation, including travel letters and/or permits that authorize operation of ANY vessel. Customer complaints can be made through the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website at https://www.ftc.gov/.”  

While third-party companies may legitimately provide services to assist with vessel documentation renewals, the Coast Guard’s own renewal process is simple for most vessels and the price, $26 annually, is often much lower than what third-party services may charge.  

To renew, go to the U.S. Coast Guard National Documentation Center website and click on “instructions and forms,” then “Certificate of Documentation Application for Renewal.” The Coast Guard NVDC also offers renewal options up to five years for recreational vessels.  

To be documented, a vessel must measure at least 5 net tons (10,000 lbs.) and, except for certain oil-spill response vessels, owned by a U.S. citizen. About what size is that? Vessels at least 27 feet long generally meet the minimum weight requirement. 

BoatUS also advises boaters who may have received mail that they believe is misleading or deceptive to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or through its website.

The post BoatUS: Be Vigilant When Renewing Vessel Documentation appeared first on Cruising World.