Innehållsförteckning för October 2025 från Cruising World

Our 1969 Cross 46 trimaran, Migration, was assigned an extra-wide guest dock at Fukuoka’s Odo Marina on the island of Kyushu. Strong northwest winds were in the forecast, so we began tying lines together to reach 65 feet across to the opposite finger. That’s when Choichi-san wandered over. He’s a classic salt we’d met months earlier in Yakushima, where we shared a quay while waiting out a gale. He’d wasted no time showing us tricks for mooring to the barnacle-crusted walls of Japanese fishing harbors. And now, here he was again, appearing as if by magic to lend a hand—this time with a brandnew, ¾-inch braided line, long enough to keep Migration clear of the dock. When the blow had passed and we offered to return the line, Choichi-san declined,…

At some point, all of us classic-boat owners are faced with the expensive, time-consuming task of replacing the decks. Teak is the preferred material, right? Maybe. Maybe not. I was faced with this predicament 20 years ago, when the teak decks on Searcher, our Bowman 57 ketch, needed to be replaced. The teak on the working decks was 30 years old and getting paper-thin. Bungs were missing, screwheads were showing, and the seam caulking was coming adrift. So, I went looking for teak options. One alternative was cheap, plastic linoleum that tried to look like teak. There was real African teak or iroko, greenheart and tigerwood, but these, I thought, were better suited for a patio deck. Costa Rican teak might cost around $160 per square meter. I could have…

Our Stevens 47, Totem, is anchored with 370 feet of chain in 90 feet of water off Majuro Atoll. Around us lie the rusting hulks of cargo ships. We are also amid the coral reefs, aquaculture pens, and a mooring area with a half-dozen cruising boats. Squalls are frequent here, just 7 degrees north of the equator, in the capital of the Marshall Islands. Between downpours, my husband, Jamie, and I dinghy in to collect a package at the post office. It’s filled with pure convenience. Two weeks earlier, our portable gas generator wouldn’t start. This isn’t a problem in mostly sunny places, where Totem’s 1,215 watts of solar typically exceed our power needs, but here in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, thick cloud cover blots out the sun for days…

EDITOR’S NOTE: OUR ANNUAL PREVIEW IS A FAST PASS to the fresh estsailboat shitting the docks this season and next. Inside these pages is a sneak peek at innovations shaping the cruising world, along with the newest models to employ them. Scan the QR code above to unlock our full digital feature, which is packed with builder interviews, detailed specs, video walk throughs, and deep dives into the technologies and trends that make these boats so compelling. Whether you’re just browsing or planning for your next passage, we hope our coverage helps make your cruising plans a reality. Boat-show season is back with a boom. After several years of supply-chain snarls and pandemic-related delays, boat builders have regrouped and come out swinging. This year’s lineup includes nimble pocket cruisers, carbon-powered…

12 ON WATCH Even modern tools can’t outguess Mother Nature’s moods. 16 DESTINATIONS Gratitude greets a trimaran’s journey back to Japan. For many in our cruising community, October in Annapolis means one thing: the Annapolis Sailboat Show, where over four days (this year, October 9–12) the floating docks at this Super Bowl of sailboat shows brim with gleaming monohulls and multihulls—cruisers, racers and dayboats alike. As northern waterways begin their slow transition to autumn with the onset of cooler air, drifting leaves and whispers of haul-out season on the breath, sailors gather here to peruse the latest wares and swap stories amid a warm, familiar buzz—perhaps induced by a traditional Painkiller cocktail or two. It’s where seasoned hands and curious first-timers mingle, compare rigs and start thinking about the next…

Whether you’re out for a weekend cruise or logging ocean miles on an extended voyage, a reliable and hygienic freshwater system is essential to life afloat. Inconsistent pressure and biofilm buildup are among every boater’s challenges in managing onboard plumbing. We spoke with the marine systems experts at Vetus to get practical insights into the common problems cruisers encounter, and what to consider when upgrading or maintaining fresh- and wastewater systems. CW: What are the most common issues sailors face with freshwater systems? V: Out on the water, two problems tend to pop up again and again: bacterial contamination in tanks and inconsistent water pressure. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve opened a tank on a boat that had been sitting in the tropics for a while and…

As every cruiser knows, your engine might not be the heart of your boat, but it’s definitely the lifeline. That’s especially true when the wind dies or you need to punch through a tricky inlet. With fall haul-out season approaching, it’s a good time to revisit the basics of diesel engine care: clean fuel, proper lubrication and smart layup strategies that help prevent problems offshore or dockside. To dig into some of the most common questions sailors have about fuel and oil systems, Cruising World spoke with Bill McDonald, a longtime pro angler and Lucas Oil ambassador whose marine experience extends to fishing and cruising vessels. From stabilizing fuel to catching wear issues early, here’s what he recommends for keeping your engine healthy, whether the boat is on passage or…

I Books and Dreams The bars in Seattle were busy. Heading out for a drink with friends. Took a detour for a smoke. The gates of a cemetery slammed shut. A cop strolled past, asked what was up. Suddenly walking along the sidewalk of a small-town neighborhood. Christmas lights. Snowing. The street turned into a river. A happy kid floated past. Looked like fun. I jumped in. Which is when I woke up. Five days earlier, with seven crewmates, I had set sail from Newport, Rhode Island, bound for Kinsale, Ireland, aboard a rock-solid, Germán Frers-designed Swan 68 called Aphrodite, on which I was now snugly wedged into an aft bunk. At sea, in moments like this, crazy, colorful, lifelike dreams often pay me a visit. But as I slowly…

Repairing Awlgrip paint can feel intimidating, but with a little patience and the right technique, it’s possible to get a result that protects your boat and looks good from a boat length away. This step-by-step method is based on a completed repair our Cheoy Lee 41, Avocet, that’s been out in the weather for a year, imperfections and all. Our repair began, as they all should, with a close inspection. Scratches had cut clean through the Awlgrip topcoat and primer, but stopped at the gelcoat. That was good news because no filling or fairing was needed. A careful sanding would suffice to prepare the surface for new paint. Preparation is the makeor-break stage. We cleaned the damaged area thoroughly to remove salt, grime and oily residue that could sabotage adhesion.…

Marianna Fleischman had just finished racing one of the East Coast’s most prestigious offshore events. At the post-race party, clad in a matching crew shirt like many others in the crowd, she was swapping sailing stories with a man from another boat. § He gestured at her top and asked, “So did all the wives of the racers wear those matching shirts?” § She blinked. “Actually,” she said, “my husband is still out racing. I beat him to the party.” That moment, of course absurd, landed with the weight of every assumption that still drifts through the world of sailing like a fogbank: Who’s driving the boat? Who’s trimming the sails? Who belongs offshore? And who still has to prove it? In June 2025, Allegiant, a privately owned offshore boat…

Since 1979, Island Packet has become a Worldwide benchmark for cruising sailboats. With an aggregate log of millions of miles of cruising in all environments, from protected coastal waters to circumnavigations. Island Packets are re-knowned for their superior safety & seakeeping, versatile, easily handled sailplan, security & comfort on deck, protected prop & rudder, proper anchoring platform, abundance of storage & tankage and comfort & liveability below. The traditional teak joinery harkens back to a time of proud craftsmanship. Experience the pinnacle of offshore cruising with this exceptional yacht. One owner. Meticulously cared for. Loaded with top-tier gear. Systems carefully & professionally updated & maintained. Safety & reliability have been the highest priorities, with the vessel used primarily for family adventures. “Chinook” is ready to deliver. Call for details. Asking…