Soundings is the news and feature publication for recreational boaters. Award-winning coverage of the people, issues, events -- and the fun -- of recreational boating. Check out our generous boats-for-sale section and our gunkholing destinations.
As this issue came together, I had the chance to get more face time with my colleagues. And what a refreshing experience that was, particularly since those in-person interactions were on boats. Our company, Active Interest Media, went remote a few years ago, as many businesses did in the wake of the pandemic. While I appreciate the benefits of working from home, there is a downside—namely, that occasional feeling of disconnection from coworkers. In short, there are days when I really miss my office peeps. Sure, we do what we can to keep communication open and interesting—regular Teams calls, more thoughtfully worded emails, the sharing of silly memes. But there’s no substitute for sitting across from the people you value professionally, particularly if you can do so on the water.…
Boaters and marina owners are all bracing for impact following predictions for an above-normal hurricane season that began June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expecting 17 to 25 named storms this season—including four to seven that are category 3 or stronger. Within that nail-biting forecast is an element that boaters should be keenly aware of: a likely increase in the number of short-fuse storms. A short-fuse storm is the kind that gets predicted more like a tornado than a traditional hurricane. Short-fuse hurricanes intensify a lot faster than traditional hurricanes, sometimes just two or three days prior to landfall. These types of storms can increase in windspeed by at least 35 miles per hour inside of a single day. For boaters and marinas, the shortened warning window…
The Wheeler Yacht Company of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, will launch a new adventure cruiser in partnership with Brooklin Boat Yard of Brooklin, Maine—the Wheeler 55. Founded in 1910 by Howard E. Wheeler Sr., the yacht company constructed more than 800 vessels for both World Wars, and yet it is perhaps best known for its pleasure boats, including Pilar, the 38-footer built for writer and sportsman Ernest Hemingway. Because boaters continue to admire the look and craftsmanship of that 1930’s commuter-style yacht, the company designed this 55. The yacht has been on the drawing board and in the yard for a couple of years, but Wheeler says she will be ready to splash this summer. “There’s a small, niche market for this kind of design. It’s going to be a…
Ron Russikoff grew up boating on the Delaware River, in the shadow of the Philadelphia skyline. His father and other relatives were members at the Quaker City Yacht Club, known as a working man’s club in a region with far more factories than luxury yachts. The spot has a mooring field instead of slips. Even today, the local “yachts” rarely top 50 feet. “We got married there,” says Dana Russikoff, who has been with Ron for more than 30 years now. The club became an even bigger part of the fabric of their lives after they created, installed and launched the first-ever SureShade there in 2007. “It’s where it all began,” she says. “It’s where we were inspired by boating.” In the ensuing years, as the couple built up their…
LOA: 48’8” Beam: 14’4” Draft: 2’3” Dry Weight: 25,353 lbs. Fuel: 396 gals. Water: 118 gals. Standard Power: (4) 300-hp Mercury Verados Max. Power: 1,600 hp I’m not the first person to be duped by the De Antonio D50 Coupe. The first time I saw it from a dock in Fort Lauderdale, I assumed the day yacht had a pair of brawny sterndrives under the big sunbed at the transom. But then I stepped aboard the new flagship from the Spanish builder. Somebody pushed a button near the helm, and that four-person sunbed rose up on an electric hatch to reveal four white Mercury Verado 300-hp outboards. “The engine hatch and enclosure that surround the outboards make the De Antonio unique,” said Lucas Hackathorne of Nautical Ventures, the U.S. distributor…
“What the heck is that?” says Udo Willersinn, who looks bemused. He’s at the helm of the Fjord 39 XP as we slowly approach another turn on the New River. Standing with shoulders squared, he tactically monitors the heavy traffic on this artery that cuts across the city of Fort Lauderdale. A low, black vessel glides by, like a shadow passing over the water. “It looks like something trying to be a submarine,” says Wendy Meade, who is sitting beside Udo in one of three bolster seats. She’s working the VHF so he can stay focused on navigation and keep both hands on the wheel. The couple—co-founders of Yacht Sales International, U.S. distributor for the Fjord brand—operate as a good team. I tuck my cell phone into my pocket with…
