A well-kept classic wooden boat always grabs my attention. Full disclosure: I’m partial to wooden sailing yachts’ sleek, graceful lines and impressive sailing performance. That said, I also enjoy viewing finely finished wooden motor yachts. While my favorite salty workboats have a decidedly quirky appeal, fine wooden motor yachts offer a real feast for the […]
As the July 4th anticipation continues to build, the United States is preparing to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. On July 4, 2026, Washington, DC’s National Mall and Washington Monument Grounds will host multiple Freedom 250 events around this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. If you love a good old-fashioned airshow, the Salute to America 250 Aerial Program […]
In the realm of memorable vacations, a trip to Bald Head Island may conjure up images of a quirky Disney attraction. In reality, this Cape Fear community is located on a fascinating island infused with generations of history. Today, lowkey Bald Head Island has become a refuge for affluent residents who enjoy a relaxed lifestyle […]
Attending Baltimore’s OpSail 2000 Tall Ships event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing these magnificent vessels up close helped me appreciate how traditional merchant vessels and navies navigated the oceans without the luxury of engines and electronic equipment. Yes, many of them really did use sextants and compasses to find their way to the right destination […]
Viewing a Tall Ships gathering is like getting a front-row seat at a maritime history reenactment. Beginning with ancient mariners, and continuing throughout much of the 20th century, merchants and navies plied the world’s waters aboard diverse types of boats. Tall Ships, with their impressive sail areas and large cargo holds, were the most visible […]
Living on a boat is a never-ending weather forecasting exercise. During almost seven years of living (and cruising) on our 46-foot trawler Holiday, we ran through nearly every weather scenario in the books (except tornadoes and waterspouts). We spent most of that time at an Annapolis, Maryland marina, in a region where the weather can […]
Returning from our sailboat cruise to Florida represented both the end ─ and the beginning ─ of a boating dream. When the trip was finally over, we docked Santorini at our local marina, giving our beautiful old sailboat a much-deserved rest. She had served us well, keeping us safe from the clutches of many on-the-water […]
Our Visit to These Legendary Vessels Viewing a world-famous sailing yacht might not be on everyone’s “bucket list.” In the United States sports landscape, sailing has never had the wildly popular following enjoyed by football and baseball. And to many non-sailors, watching a sailboat carefully navigate a race course is about as exciting as watching […]
During my 40+ years in the boating world, I’ve seen my share of memorable yachts. I never grow tired of seeing classic racing sloops’ beautiful lines. The vessels’ yacht club race wins, and their victories in the Annapolis-Bermuda Races, are a testament to their world-class design and construction. In 1990, the J-class America’s Cup yacht […]
Viewing a classic wooden boat is like delving into maritime history. For centuries, sturdily built wooden vessels have embodied their region’s maritime heritage. Each boat also reflects her builder’s craftsmanship. And even if the boat is a scuffed-up workhorse instead of a pampered gentleman’s yacht, her captain feels a certain sense of pride when he […]
