Innehållsförteckning för August 2025 från Cruising World

Surviving SEASICKNESS Our boat was halfway to Bermuda in the middle of the capricious Gulf Stream. The 30-knot north-easterly breeze had us sailing fast, but it was uncomfortable pounding in the confused seaway. One of our crew was seasick. In truth, all of us on the boat—including me—felt sick as we slammed through the waves. I went below and encouraged the ailing crewmember to join us on deck. To her credit, she put on her foul-weather gear and made her way up, albeit looking pale. I invited her to the after part of the boat and got her on the steering wheel. The combination of fresh air, seeing the waves, and focusing on the task helped her overcome discomfort. I have watched many top sailors deal with seasickness. Everyone is…

It was shaping up to be another postcard-perfect day at anchor in Thailand. My husband, Jamie, was working on deck aboard our Stevens 47, Totem, when he let out a shout that made everyone’s spine snap straight. “Hey! Hey! Look out!” A bareboat charter catamaran was bearing down on us—fast—and the people aboard were too busy laughing and posing for selfies to notice. The skipper finally looked up from his phone just in time to veer away, clearing our anchor chain by maybe 10 feet. “I saw ya, mate,” he called out. Sure you did. For anyone who dreams of cruising, chartering can be a brilliant first step. But the gap between dream and disaster can be alarmingly narrow. Done right, bareboating is a confidence-building adventure. Done wrong, it can…

In not a lot of wind, maybe 10 to 15 knots, a square-top main and code-zero headsail had the Leopard 46 catamaran skipping across Chesapeake Bay at 7 knots and change, and sometimes quicker in the puffs. The steering was responsive. The helm, raised to deck level and protected from weather by a hardtop Bimini, was comfortable. From the two-person driver’s seat, I found good all-round visibility, and all sail-control lines were close at hand and easily managed by the electric Harken winches on the cabin top. On a Boat of the Year sea trial of any other big cruising cat, the sailing capability alone of this latest model from South African builder Robertson and Caine would have had my full attention. But even more than that, I found myself…

I called my brother Dan, who is my go-to guy for half-baked, far-flung sailing ideas. “The time is now,” I said, using an ominous voice. “Time for us to head north for some serious sailing adventure.” No, I was not talking about the San Juan Islands, that delightful archipelago in the far northwest corner of the contiguous United States. I wanted to cross the border, where the magic continues with Canada’s Gulf Islands. Like a baby whale tucked safely up against its mother’s belly, the 200 or so Gulf Islands are clustered around the southeast corner of Vancouver Island at the western terminus of the world’s longest international border. They benefit from the rain-shadow effect of the mountains there, with a mild, sunny climate and limited rain and snow. It’s…

From the turquoise shallows of Anegada to the sunset-kissed anchorages off Norman Island, the British Virgin Islands are more than a favorite cruising ground for Michael and Cindy Crosby—they’re a second home. In a recent episode of our Ahoy! podcast, the sailing couple shared what keeps them coming back year after year: the distinct personalities of each island, the deep friendships they’ve formed with locals, and the freedom to craft a different kind of escape with every visit. “It’s like your vacation home that moves,” Michael said. “Each anchorage, each island feels like its own neighborhood—with a unique vibe and a familiar welcome.” As longtime charterers-turned-owners of Scarlet Ibis, their Fountaine Pajot Isla 40, the Crosbys now enjoy the BVI from both sides of the charter experience. Whether anchoring off…

For many sailors, the dream of owning a yacht in the Virgin Islands is as picture-perfect as the Caribbean itself. But for some, that dream is also a strategic move that blends lifestyle, business and, in some cases, tax-smart investing. Crewed charter-yacht ownership can be a viable path to spending real time on the water while defraying the costs of boat ownership. Cruising World Editor-in-Chief Andrew Parkinson sat down with charter expert and BVI Yacht Sales broker Ted Reshetiloff for a deep dive into the world of charter-yacht ownership, based on his personal interactions with client-owners, brokers and charter operators. AP: Let’s start with the basics. Why would someone choose to own a professionally crewed charter yacht instead of using the boat solely for private enjoyment? TR: It’s a great…

The last time my husband and I met friends to sail out of La Paz, Mexico, all hell broke loose. A decade ago, Rob and I arrived in Baja with one giant backpack each, ready to hitchhike across the Pacific for a year. We began by spending two weeks with our good friends Mark and Katie, who were at the end of a yearlong cruise in the Sea of Cortez aboard a 28-foot Pearson Triton. On a star-filled March night, after copious fish tacos and rounds of margaritas, we lit a Chinese lantern and sent it to the heavens to commemorate the beginning and end of our journeys. We each made a wish as we watched the lantern lift high and ride the offshore breeze out to sea. The lantern…

My wife, Kati, and I had built a small and profitable business in Nottingham, England. We decided to take a well-earned six-week vacation in Greece during our two young daughters’ school holidays. We rented an RV to travel at our own pace, stopping wherever and whenever we wanted. When we arrived in Athens, we chartered a Coronado 35 ketch for a week and sailed around the stunning Peloponnese, crewed by two American lads because we had never sailed before. Inspired by this experience, we sold our business, house and furniture, and bought a 40-foot Endurance ketch, which we named Tranquility Base in honor of the first American moon landing. With our children aboard, we set sail for the Mediterranean on what was meant to be a two-year sabbatical—and we ended…

In the early 1980s, Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost were a couple of young naval architecture students in Southampton, England. They decided to merge their talents, and their initials, to create their own design firm. Today, VPLP is a global powerhouse with more than three dozen employees. It has designed everything from America’s Cup winners to round-the-world record-setters. VPLP’s first big break came in 1987, when a fledgling French boatbuilder called Lagoon commissioned the firm to draw the lines of a 55-foot cruising catamaran. It was the start of a long and productive relationship. VPLP has produced many more Lagoons since then, including the company’s latest model, the Lagoon 43. It’s a collaboration with exterior designer Patrick le Quément and interior designer Nauta Design. This background is important…

There’s nothing quite like the first sip of rum at anchor, the light dimming on the sea, the scent of salt and sugarcane in the air. For me, the daily craving started with a gallon jug of punch on a bareboat charter back in 1979. Since then, Caribbean rum and I have had a long, spirited relationship—one sip at a time, one island at a time. The seventh-annual Caribbean Rum Awards were held this past fall on St. Barts. This competition is all about sipping rums, not the more-pedestrian versions used for mixing evening cocktails, where most any good rum will do. Out of 60 rums entered, Martinique’s Trois Rivières Triple Millésime was crowned world champion. Kudos to the French. One of the great joys of sailing the Eastern Caribbean…