Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2015 i Soundings

“The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; not only will it shelter you from a tempest, but from the other troubles in life, it is a safe retreat.” — L. Francis Herreshoff I don’t think I ever left the dock, in the many years I have owned Bossanova, when I didn’t feel a visceral thrill, a small flutter near my solar plexus. Few things have ever made me happier than clearing the jetties, locking open the port and starboard pilothouse doors and switching the VHF to 16. When the pan-pans and securities grew repetitive, I’d change to channel 2 for the strangely soothing patter of the National Weather Service’s robo-voice. Music underway seemed like overkill. I was besotted, and Bossanova’s dry stack exhaust sounded like Barry White…

1. INTERNATIONAL RULES: A sailboat is approaching your power vessel from the port side. Who has right of way? A. Sailboat because he is on your port side B. Sailboat because he is under sail alone. C. You because you are on his starboard. D. You because he is under sail. 2. INTERNATIONAL RULES: A fishing vessel making way in fog with nets out gives what signal? A. short-prolonged-short B. one prolonged C. prolonged-short-short D. danger signal 3. INLAND RULES: Two short flashes on a signal light means: A. My horn is broken. B. I intend to leave you on my starboard side. C. I am turning to port. D. I am turning to starboard. 4. INLAND RULES: Which vessels are normally allowed to anchor in a narrow channel? A.…

The sea casts a wide net, calling to a range of personalities with disparate experiences and expectations, quirks and foibles. This diversity of personality is as obvious in boatbuilders as it is in those who use their vessels to answer the call of the sea. Among builders I know and think well of, racing master Reggie Fountain is drawn to speed, risk, competition and the limelight, pushing the envelope — and thereby risking his life — at well over 150 mph. Kurt Krogen, with his artist’s soul, loves the tranquility and solitude of ocean passages at hull speed in his namesake displacement trawlers. Hunt’s Peter Van Lancker, who created one of the world’s finest rough-water brands through ingenuity and tenacity, builds boats that are much like him, dealing with heavy…

Sitting at my perch as the last piles of snow on the docks melted, the vision of May in the Bay was a marvelous thing, indeed. If you are a regular reader of this column, perhaps you remember my prediction of a mild winter in the eastern United States. In reference to that prediction, I received the following email from an old friend in Maine: Question: What do Peter Bass and the Farmer’s Almanac have in common? Answer: Both forecasted a mild winter for 2014-2015. His next paragraph detailed New England’s extraordinary weather this winter and my shortcomings as a meteorologist. Of course, my prediction was based principally on the inverse relationship between the percentage of boats winterized at Tidewater Marina and the severity of the weather to be expected.…

Who We Are: Nestled in between a protected residential area and Hammonasset Nature Preserve, Cedar Island Marina is a perfect choice both seasonally and as a transient. Consistently rated one of the best marinas on the Connecticut Shoreline, we invite you to view our full-service facilities and to meet our expert staff whose experience in the marine industry is unmatched. At Cedar Island Marina, we offer more than just a slip to tie up at. We offer a community of diverse boaters and a complete summer experience. From those looking to go fishing early on a Saturday morning, those looking to relax with their families on a Sunday afternoon, or those looking to stay up way too late on a Friday night, we are confident you will find like-minded individuals…

ValvTect Marine Gasoline and ValvTect Marine Diesel Fuel sold at Certified Valv-Tect Marine Fuel Marinas throughout the country are specially formulated for marine engines. Both fuel types contain the correct additives in the right proportions to assure boaters receive the maximum benefit from their fuel purchase. ValvTect Marine Gasoline: Is specially formulated to protect and enhance the performance of hard working marine grade gasoline engines. It contains a state of the art gasoline detergent that goes beyond top tier type performance of improved fuel economy and performance from the cleanup of power robbing engine deposits. ValvTect Marine Diesel: This unique, specially formulated diesel fuel contains BioGuard biocide to help prevent bacteria. Diesel boaters know all too well the problems with diesel fuel like bacteria, water, corrosion and poor lubricity just…

It’s almost mind-boggling to consider the rate at which marine electronics have evolved, especially compared to similar timelines of change in hull design and power plants. Sure there are newer, lighter construction materials and methods, and everincreasing horsepower and fuel efficiency. But nothing has been as radical as the shift from paper charts to digital multifunction displays; from hand-steering to advanced autopilots; from dropping a lead weight on a rope over the gunwale to CHIRP sonar. New electronics can make boating easier, more enjoyable and safer. When they’re welldesigned and used properly, they should be all about simplifying our time aboard, increasing our level of ahhhhh. Rapid change is hard to keep up with, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by options. So we thought we’d take a look at…

The office walls behind Chris Cochran are covered with an armada of half models. Among them are Sayonara, Steinlager 2, Leopard, Plastic Fantastic and one that’s simply known as the Big Boat, an odd creation with an overall length of 133 feet that New Zealand used in 1988 for its Deed of Gift challenge for the America’s Cup, thus creating scandal and scrutiny. These are mementos of an illustrious past at Farr Yacht Design in the Maritime Republic of Eastport, Maryland, but Cochran deals with the present and its own realities. His gaze is fixed on the computer screens in front of him, which are plastered with columns of numbers, diagrams and photos of the carbon fiber laminate that belongs to Team Vestas Wind, the 65-footer that sailed up on…

I’ve always liked the saying that fishermen were the original conservationists — folks whose intimate connections to the lay of the stones, the reefs, the sands, the churn of advancing seas and tide give them a vested interest in the continued bounty of their home waters. Appropriately enough, it is often the sharpest fishermen in a given area, the ones with the most refined sense of the grounds and fish and the all-important issues of timing, who tend to be its most committed — and most effective — stewards. Although it’s generally the rodand-reel end of the fishery that gets mentioned in conjunction with conservation, there’s no denying the complex connections between those who harvest fish for market and the networks of fertile seabed structures. In my own development as…

NORWEST MARINE invites you to visit our full-service facilities, meet our friendly team, or browse our well-stocked ship store (special orders arrive daily in the summer). Whether you’re looking to go fishing early on a Saturday morning, relax with your family on a Sunday afternoon, or stay up late on a Friday night, we are confident you will find like-minded individuals here. Come for the season or drop in for a transient stay, and you’ll see why Norwest is a perfect choice for dockage. Our marina is located on the sheltered Pawcatuck River-- safe from storms while offering direct access to Watch Hill, Block Island, Fishers Island, and Sandy Point. Dock with us and enjoy all the amenities Norwest has to offer. Your slip comes equipped with electrical hook-ups, water,…

She was the dedicated keeper of Lime Rock Light Station in Newport, Rhode Island, and an expert small-boat handler. Admired by a U.S. president for her courage, she was a 19th century rock star, featured in Harper’s Weekly and Putnam’s magazines. She earned the Gold Lifesaving Medal and was officially credited with saving at least 18 lives. Ida Lewis was known as the “Bravest Woman in America.” The title, bestowed upon her by the Society of the American Cross of Honor, reflected her long, hard life. When her father — the keeper of the Lime Rock station — was disabled by a stroke in 1879, Ida took over. She learned how to run the light, hauling oil up the winding stairs to fuel the beacon, and how to handle a…

After three years on the West Coast, the annual US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Awards ceremony returned to the iconic Model Room at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. Held annually since 1961, this year’s event honored the accomplishments of two sailing tacticians: Terry Hutchinson, of Annapolis, Maryland, and Stephanie Roble, of East Troy, Wisconsin. The Feb. 26 ceremony saw both winners choke up with emotion, as did the colleagues who introduced the honorees — 1999 winner Dawn Riley and 2013 winner Brian Porter — in a packed house of family, friends, crewmates and the press. Roble, 25 and a first-time winner, stressed how important collaboration has been in getting to this point in her life and particularly this past year, when she was a…

Many sailors gravitate to powerboats so they can cover more cruising ground in their shrinking leisure time. But how many end up owning five cruising powerboats from 38 to 50 feet in a 14-year span — all from the same designer and builder? Meet Jack Deupree of Camden, Maine, who last summer splashed his fifth Wesmac Down East express cruiser. All have been named after his wife, Kathleen. “I’ve had nothing but great experiences with all of the boats, so there has been no reason to switch to anything else,” says Deupree, 68, a former certified public accountant. “Any time you can work with a boat of the same design and the same builder, you have a chance to make incremental modifications and improvements. What can I say? I like…

I’ve always wondered whether cruising would be more fun if I had a lot of money. I can’t speak from a wealth of experience, but I do believe that a ton or two of money would make a difference. But some of us have to just get by on seamanship, which may be more valuable than the bucks. We saw what money can do some years ago when we were hanging out at a beautiful island in the far eastern Bahamas, although I’m not sure that a little el cheapo chart reading wouldn’t have been better. It had taken us weeks to get there from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and we were enjoying our wonderful, relaxed island time. One afternoon, as we were sitting on the hill looking out on the…

SPECIFICATIONS LOA: 45 feet, 6 inches BEAM: 15 feet, 4 inches DRAFT: 3 feet, 3 inches WEIGHT: 38,000 pounds HUL TYPE: modified-vee POWER: twin diesels TANKAGE: 500 gallons fuel, 140 gallons water BUILDER: Cruisers Yachts, Oconto, Wisconsin, (920) 834-2211. cruisersyachts.com Kermit and Katherine Ruegamer had the dream, did the homework and made the plan. Now they’re ready to “rock ’n’ roll.” The Ohio couple has moved aboard a 2001 Cruisers 4450 aft cabin Express Motoryacht, embracing the liveaboard lifestyle. “Good Karma is going to be our full-time home for the foreseeable future,” says Kermit Ruegamer, 64, who retired from a Fortune 500 sales career. “This summer we will do a lot of day trips and a couple of weeklong trips with various yacht clubs and cruising friends. Then we’ll head…

Getting your bearings is easy at Nantucket Boat Basin, a full-service marina located in historic Nantucket Harbor. The Boat Basin is the premier luxury destination for New England area sailors and yacht captains. At this full service marina, guests enjoy luxury amenities, pet-friendly docks, and concierge service. With 240 boat slips, the marina accommodates a variety of vessels. Nantucket Boat Basin Services: The friendly staff provides activity planning, concierge, dock-side spa bookings, and catering. One of the most environmentally conscious marinas in the U.S., offering recycling and complimentary pump-out services, the Boat Basin has been voted the Best Small Marina in the U.S. by Marina Dock Age and the Best Transient Marina in the U.S. & Canada by Marinalife. Nantucket Restaurants: Stop by White Elephant’s Brant Point Grill to take…

Mystic River Marina is found on the secluded Mason’s Island. A tranquil setting on the Mystic River with beautiful views of Long Island Sound, the marina is located in a protected area below the bridges. Identified as New England’s Finest Yacht Basin, this full service marina has been family owned and operated since 1957. At Mystic River Marina, we provide you with the highest quality marina services from the moment you arrive until the time you leave. Our 165-slip, full-service marina caters to some of the world’s most discriminating travelers. Our professional, courteous staff is here to serve your boating needs. Dedication to dependable service has been our trademark for 58 years. Mystic River Marina offers yacht brokerage, seasonal and transient dockage, clean heads, laundromat, clubhouse, cable TV, free WiFi,…