Close to the Water: A Second Cruise with My Mate

A Second Cruise Brings Border Crossings, Uncertainty, and Lessons Learned.

Guest Dock: Hurry Up and Wait… For a Weather Window

The latest update from 48N Editor Andy Cross and the fun-loving crew of SV Yahtzee, who started in the PNW and are now in Colombia.

What’s in a name? Burgoyne Bay

Here's our latest destinations piece courtesy of Salish Sea Pilot about finding plentiful hiking on beautiful Salt Spring Island....

Costa Rica Recap: The Pura Vida Experience

If you're planning to cruise Central America, don't skip Costa Rica. The good life is for real. Prior to November 2021, our family had never visited Costa Rica before. From friends and acquaintances who have come to Costa…

Introduction to Polar Diagrams and Optimum VMC

A polar diagram is a graphic presentation of a sailboat's sailing performance in various wind conditions. But how do you interpret it? The same information is also often presented in the form of a table or spreadsheet, which…

Destinations: Secrets of Sulphur Passage

Here's our latest installment from Jim Burgoyne of SalishSeaPilot.com about a seldom visited part of Vancouver Island's west coast.

How to Print NOAA Custom Charts

Traditional paper charts are in the process of being replaced with electronic navigational charts (ENC) and a new form of paper chart called NOAA Custom Chart (NCC), based on these ENC. In this new system, the user designs…

No More NWICSA: A Shift for College Sailing in the Region

Elected in 2021, Northwest Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NWICSA) Undergrad President Anna Morrow took over a conference in limbo at the end of a season impacted by remote learning, canceled competitions and minimal…

Collision Avoidance Using AIS

As AIS becomes ubiquitous amongst boats of various sizes, it's important to know how to use it to avoid a collision. David Burch of Starpath Navigation offers a good tutorial here. Most navigation programs (electronic…

Destinations: Cozying up to Waiatt Bay

Enjoy our latest installment from Lynne Picard of SalishSeaPilot.com about a favorite anchorage on British Columbia's Quadra Island. With unsettled weather in our late-season forecast, we wanted a sheltered place to drop the…