“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.

When I think back on my bareboat chartering experiences, certain comparisons naturally come to mind. Compared with the boats of yesteryear, modern charter boats are marvels of design and engineering, with best-in-class comfort and convenience. These vessels, especially the popular catamarans, have spacious staterooms, fully equipped galleys and luxurious furnishings. Features such as air conditioning, watermakers and efficient refrigeration are now standard, ensuring a consistent level of comfort anywhere you book.   

The guest experience is king, often as important as the destination itself. This trend has raised the bar for charter operators around the globe to meet customers’ high expectations. Peter Jones, broker at Voyage Charters, says that just five years ago, his company was renting out boats with manual pump toilets and no air conditioning. Today, the fleet includes the luxurious Voyage 590, which won Cruising World’s 2022 Boat of the Year. It has six guest staterooms with en suite heads and state-of-the-art accoutrements.  

 Cool. But beyond the plush interiors and deluxe amenities remains the broader appeal of chartering—the escape itself. Bareboat chartering isn’t only about the boat; it’s about the adventure. Each trip is a chance to discover hidden coves, vibrant marine life, uninhabited islands and more. The thrill of plotting your own course with two or 10 of your best mates can turn a vacation into memories of a lifetime.  

Charter is also about embracing the unexpected. Three years ago, with some friends and my wife, I chartered a nifty new power cat with all the bells and whistles in the British Virgin Islands. Sure, because of the pandemic, ours was a vastly different experience from the typical BVI charter. We couldn’t have cared less. We dived the RMS Rhone wreck, sipped Painkillers opposite a plexiglass shield at the Soggy Dollar Bar, explored the stunning Baths on Virgin Gorda, and danced with waves of colorful fish around the reefs of Anegada. Despite the travel hassles, the freedom of cruising in such a beautiful place made it all worthwhile. The boat was perfect, the memories unforgettable.

 Earlier this year, I joined a rally in the Leeward Islands aboard a scaled-down sailing charter catamaran. We discovered stunning new-to-me destinations, including Orient Bay, Anse Marcel and Ile Fourchue. 

Mother Nature got in on the action, giving us a rare ridge of high pressure that completely stole our breeze, but the adventure became more than just sailing. It was about the camaraderie, the beautiful anchorages and the simple joy of being on the water. Our boat, even with its modest mainsail and self-­tacking jib, provided the perfect vessel for this laid-back expedition, proving that sometimes the best adventure is found in the journey itself.

Even the most experienced charterers can face unexpected challenges. Just last month, a reader shared a story of chartering off Florida’s Gulf Coast. Despite having more than 30 years of sailing and chartering in his wake, his carefully planned itinerary was disrupted by equipment failures and unexpected weather conditions. 

A tropical storm brought high winds, heavy rain and lightning, testing the crew’s resilience and adaptability. His experience highlights the importance of flexibility and preparedness in chartering. It also stresses value in the option of hiring a professional captain, especially in unfamiliar waters, so you can relax and enjoy the journey.

To me, always, the joys of chartering far outweigh any difficulties. It offers the chance to explore new destinations, try different boats and create unforgettable memories. 

If you’re a current subscriber, as you read through our August 2024 Charter Special issue, you’ll find stories and insights from fellow sailors who have embraced these comforts and thrills. I hope it all inspires you to book your own charter adventure. 

No charter is perfect, nor is any one charter experience the same. That’s the whole point. Dive in. The water’s fine. —Andrew Parkinson, editor-in-chief

The post For Bareboat Bliss, Embrace the Unexpected appeared first on Cruising World.

As winds of change continue to sweep through our sailing community, and as more participants enter the world of cruising, a startling question has emerged: Could the traditional monohull actually lose its market dominance to the up-and-coming catamaran? 

For years, the monohull-­versus-cat discussion has ignited passion among sailors worldwide. As we all continue the great debate about which type of boat is better, sales figures offer a hint at what kinds of boats we might see along the docks in the future.

According to market research by the Maryland-based Fact.MR, the global ­catamaran market stood at $1.9 billion in 2023. It is expected to see an annual growth rate of around 5.6 percent during the next 10 years. Interestingly, although sailing catamarans held a share of more than 50 percent globally in 2022, power catamarans are projected to see a noticeable increase compared with sail.

Why the sustained rise in popularity? In my experience, there always seems to be a “wow” moment whenever a monohull sailor sets foot aboard a catamaran for the first time.

Who can blame them? These sporty, twin-hulled vessels have spacious layouts, stability, and impressive speed. Catamarans come with expansive accommodations, making them ideal for extended cruising with family and friends. Their shallow drafts enable better access to skinny water, opening up new horizons for adventurous cruisers. Some proponents go so far as to suggest that catamarans represent the future of sailing.

But there is also reason to pump the brakes on wild-eyed predictions. Even amid this catamaran craze, the venerable monohull refuses to be sidelined. With its time-tested design and seafaring heritage, the monohull remains the stalwart of the sailing world. Monohulls are renowned for their stability and seaworthiness. They excel in challenging conditions. They are a dependable choice for extended offshore journeys. They slice through waves with grace and precision. Many sailors favor monohulls for their responsiveness and feel, making them the preferred option for racing enthusiasts and purists alike.

According to Grand View Research, the monohull segment dominated the overall market with a share of 59 percent in 2023 and will grow at an annual rate of 4.4 percent through 2033. That steady growth suggests that, while multihulls undoubtedly have carved out a significant niche in the sailing market, ­monohulls continue to hold their own. 

Yet, it would be remiss to ignore the challenges that monohulls face in the age of catamarans. As demand for spaciousness and comfort grows, some monohulls might struggle to compete with multihulls. Catamarans’ stability at anchor and under sail has prompted many sailors to make the switch—raising questions about the future of monohull design and innovation. But that’s a conversation for another day. 

The debate about ­catamarans and monohulls extends beyond mere preference. It’s a reflection of the evolving landscape of sailing. Both types of vessels have their strengths and weaknesses, catering to different sailing styles, preferences and priorities. But the question of whether catamarans are killing off traditional monohulls is more nuanced than it might seem. While catamarans have shaken up the sailing scene, monohulls continue to endure, driven by the timeless art of sailing. 

As for me, give me a favorable breeze, a big patch of water and some Bob Marley, and I’ll gladly take the helm, whether it’s one hull or two.

The post Are Cats Killing the Monohull? appeared first on Cruising World.

If you’re ever looking for a good dose of humility, try joining the French crew on a French-built performance catamaran in a sporty breeze on Rhode Island’s Newport Harbor.

I was nursing a cold one with my longtime yacht broker pal and sailing buddy, El Jefe (yes, that’s actually what he goes by), at the Black Pearl on Bannister’s Wharf, comparing notes on a sweet Nautitech we had just sailed. The breeze was stiff on the sound in the wake of a front that had ripped through, and, as anticipated, the ride was a thrill.

What I hadn’t expected was to feel so utterly useless. To be honest, I got my ass handed to me out there. I spent most of the ride trying to stay out of the way as the crew made the catamaran fly.

I’d been raised in a family who sailed monohulls, so opportunities to sail cats had been few and far between, save for the occasional charter or sea trial, which usually tends to err on the milquetoast side of sailing. My lack of experience showed that day. I consider myself a pretty darn good sailor, but put me on a fast-paced multihull machine, and I’m about as useful as a putter in a sand trap.

So, when Steve Burzon, co-founder and organizer of the Caribbean Multihull Challenge, hit me up to join this year’s rally, I leapt at the opportunity. I signed on to help crew a Sunsail 424 charter cat for four days in the Leeward Islands.

To be clear, I’m not a racing guy. Dave Reed, editor of our sister publication, Sailing World, is a racing guy. That dude can carve circles around me on a course. And, for many a monohuller, an event with the words “multihull” and “challenge” in the title might conjure feelings of inadequacy. I get that. But for me, the idea of steering a little outside my lane, challenging myself to become a better multihull sailor, had a lot of appeal.

And so I joined the ranks of scores of other casual sailors who decided to take a new tack in their cruising careers, pushing their boats—or even just themselves—a little bit further. Around the water cooler, I’ve started referring to this as competitive cruising.

Competitive cruising can be different things for different sailors. It can be racing, to some—the regatta scene is robust and a great opportunity to test your competitive spirit in a controlled environment with other like-minded cruisers. For others, it might be joining a rally to somewhere over the horizon, as I did. And for the scant few who become skilled and confident enough, maybe it means chasing adventure way off the grid.

This spring, 29-year-old sailor Cole Brauer just became the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world, finishing in second place in the Global Solo Challenge aboard her 40-foot racing boat, First Light. Brauer, who captured worldwide attention through her Instagram posts chronicling the treacherous 30,000-mile journey, said that she hopes young girls in and out of the sport can draw inspiration from her experience. She has received hundreds of comments from people saying that although they’d never sailed before, they were amazed by her bravery, tenacity and positive outlook.

Her milestone is more than a physical triumph; it’s a testament to her courage. She faced a challenge head-on as she persevered through rough seas and navigated the complexities on board for 130 days. That’s the sort of indomitable spirit we should all celebrate as adventurers of the sea. She may not have won the race, but she’s a champion all the way.

Competitive cruising is about the fact that the allure of sailing lies not just in the destinations we reach, but also in our journey of continual learning and growth.

As I navigated the tumultuous waters of Narragansett Bay, grappling with the complexities of an unfamiliar catamaran, I realized that the true sport of sailing transcends vessel types. It’s about embracing the unknown, embracing the challenges, and embracing the exhilarating feeling of sailing into uncharted territory. With that as our compass, our learning never ends.

The post Competitive Cruising: It’s a Rally, Not a Race appeared first on Cruising World.

Regardless of your position on climate change, two undeniable truths have emerged in recent times: Our oceans are warming, and severe weather events are occurring more sporadically and with greater intensity. As has many a cruiser, I’ve had the displeasure of witnessing both of these happenings firsthand.   

On one boating excursion with friends this past summer in the Florida Keys, not too far from Key Largo, we floated over branch after branch of lifeless white coral that looked more like something from a snow globe than a tropical paradise. Those silvery corals, which are becoming more the norm than the exception these days, are but a small telltale of a much broader issue: In and around the tropics, coral reefs are bleaching at an alarming pace, and many of them are dying.

As the science has been telling us, one culprit is extreme heat. Raise your hand if you thought this past summer felt a little warmer than usual (read: “like the fiery pits of hell” in some locales). As I understand it from some of our islands-based readers, the Caribbean was cooked—literally. Some buoys where I live in South Florida registered temperatures in excess of 100 degrees in July. That’s not a nice, warm bath; that’s a hot tub. And it’s well beyond the threshold for coral bleaching in the region.

Not only are oceans warming, but they are also becoming more acidic as they absorb carbon dioxide from the air, posing a threat to marine life that relies on calcium carbonate to form hard shells and other vital components of marine ecosystems. It’s not only about aesthetics. Climate scientists, with decades of research, foresaw these consequences, and we are now witnessing the realization of their predictions with stronger storms and more-frequent extreme-weather events.

As the consequences of these changes ripple through the maritime world, the global sailing community is facing unprecedented challenges. More than any other group, sailors possess an acute awareness of nature’s nuances, from wind and waves to storms and calms. Climate change has entered their glossary, becoming a defining factor in their cruising endeavors. The impacts are far-reaching.

As we reported in our November/December 2023 issue, changes in global weather conditions across the world’s cruising routes prompted the need for an update to the book Cornells’ Ocean Atlas. According to its co-author, Jimmy Cornell, trade winds, once reliable companions for sailors, are now shifting in strength and consistency because of the accelerated warming of polar regions. Once regarded as one of the most reliable trade-wind routes in the world, the trans-Atlantic passage, a traditional route for more than 1,000 boats annually, has become less predictable, prompting sailors to seek alternative paths to find favorable winds.

Fast-forward to Cornell’s latest findings, which reflect on a forewarning he made in 1994 about the impact of climate change on sailing routes, emphasizing the increasing unpredictability and intensity of weather conditions. In the 30 years since, global weather patterns have in fact undergone significant changes, marked by rising ocean temperatures, melting ice caps, and more-active hurricane seasons. Interviews with fellow sailors reveal unanimous concern about climate change’s threat to voyages and its broader impact on humanity, while issues such as overfishing, pollution, and rising sea levels are also raising concerns.

Despite these challenges, sailors express a determination to embark on long voyages, emphasizing safety measures and reliable weather information. While the insurance industry anticipates increased challenges and costs because of climate-change-related events, an increasing number of sailors are heading to high latitudes for more-favorable conditions, acknowledging the impact of climate change on sea conditions in these regions.

If there’s a positive somewhere in this, it’s that the Northwest Passage is more accessible to pleasure boaters than ever before. And as temperatures continue to increase, that passage is likely to be open more often in future summers. Don’t miss world wanderer and Cruising World contributor Ben Zartman’s exciting recount of his recent trek from Greenland to Alaska, which graced the pages of our March 2024 issue.

Like it or not, as sailors, we find ourselves on the front lines of these changes, intimately connected to our surroundings and witnesses to the impacts of a changing climate. As we navigate the future, I expect our big little cruising community to play a vital role in raising awareness, advocating for action, and minimizing our own impacts on the waters we cherish.

The post Winds of Change appeared first on Cruising World.

Take your boat out cruising enough times, and you’ll be smacked upside the head once or twice by the golden rule. 

No, I’m not talking about the “doing unto others” thing. I’m instead referring to the golden rule that should be etched into the trim somewhere in every cockpit: “Never cruise on a hard schedule.”

Being the perpetual planner that I am, I’ve always had a penchant for making a float plan. I probably get too much satisfaction from surveying a chart and, along with a tide table and my favorite weather app, plugging in some waypoints on the eve of a long sail. Double points if it’s a paper chart and I get to bust out a set of parallel rules and a pencil. 

Yet, as we voyagers know, that “three-hour tour” doesn’t always go according to plan. 

I recall one particularly sporty passage from Martha’s Vineyard to Newport, Rhode Island, many years ago. It was the final leg of a summer getaway with my wife on a diversion from her parents’ Great Loop undertaking. We stole away for a few days, and I got to introduce that side of the family to my old, cherished southern New England cruising grounds.

Going against my golden rule, everything was contingent on a Sunday return to Newport. My wife and I both had to be back at work on Monday, so we were handcuffed to a late-afternoon flight out of Providence on Sunday. Well, Mother Nature is always subject to change. Right around sunrise on Sunday, a cacophony of metal shrouds and stays slapped the mast as an unwelcome wake-up alarm. If not for those flights, we certainly wouldn’t have left Vineyard Haven that morning into a sea of whitecaps—not insurmountable, but not exactly pleasurable conditions. A prevailing northeasterly breeze coming off the mainland allowed little protection, though it did give us a favorable wind angle for reaching. We pounded all the way down Buzzards Bay and into Rhode Island Sound, soaked to the bone, taking spray in the face like we were in a locker-room Champagne celebration after winning the Stanley Cup. 

After one heck of a sleigh ride, we had a quick celebration of our own as we snugged the lines at Bannister’s Wharf and grabbed a cup of chowder at the Black Pearl before departing for the airport. The lesson: Even the best-laid waypoints can’t account for elements beyond our control, which is why you should never boat on a schedule. A hard schedule can pose a logistical nightmare, and it can suck a lot of the fun out of the broader cruising experience. 

I was reminded about all this during Cruising World’s annual Boat of the Year contest in October at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. With anywhere between a handful and a herd of boats vying for the coveted award each year, regardless of how well-organized our team is, some logistical challenge usually rears its ugly head. The judging, done over the course of a few days, is always on a tight schedule. This year, there were 19 qualifying nominees that needed dockside inspections and on-water sea trials amid the usual boat-show melee.

The first domino fell early, when we had to replace one of our judges because of an illness just days before the show. Then, one boat missed the show altogether, courtesy of a shipping snafu. A nasty virus soon sidelined our veteran photographer, as well as a few key nominee-boat representatives.  

Luckily, our Boat of the Year crew are a bunch of experienced sailors with a knack for assessing a situation, tacking out of bad air, and continuing toward the waypoint. And, oh, the sailing was sweet—as you’ll find here, and also in our January/February issue. 

Whether navigating the unpredictable sea or the turbulent eddies of a Boat of the Year contest, remember this: Sometimes the true joy of our journeys is found in the exhilarating freedom to navigate the unexpected. 

Follow Andrew Parkinson on Instagram @andrewtparkinson.

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