Do Washington State ferries monitor channel 16? Sort of…

Ask Bill Michael what he does for a living, and he’ll tell you that he hires and fires ferry captains for Washington State Ferries. Ask him what his meeting with a recent group of recreational sailors was all about and he’ll…

Why you don't get too close to glaciers

We came across this video of glaciers calving and thought it would be perfect for all the Alaska-bound cruisers looking for glimpses of these icy giants. Stay back, stay safe!

Video: See how a master outfits her boat

I recently stumbled across this excellent interview with my good friend and sailing inspiration Carol Hasse, which was done by OffCenterHarbor.com. Enjoy!

With racing on the horizon, it’s time to pull out the safety card

Looking out the window on the plane home to Alaska, Porter catches my eye while thumbing through the contents in the seat pocket in front of him. I don't say a word, yet I'm curious as to what he finds interesting. Within…

Rules, resolutions and varnishing in 2018

I spent far too much time in 2017 applying toxic marine products to my boat. On sunny, breezy summer days, it was hard to avoid feeling like the best part of the season had escaped me: respirator strapped on, I felt like…

Winds of Change: Rod Rigging Functionality, Interchangability, and Availability Considering Industry Changes

This article, by Lisa Vizzini, was originally published in the June 2017 issue of 48° North.  Earlier this year, the sailboat industry was shaken when Hall Spars and Navtec Rigging Solutions closed their United States…

Five Things a Monohull Sailor Should Know about Multihulls

This article, by Ray McCormack, originally appeared in the April 2017 issue of 48° North.  You can hardly think about chartering in 2017 without acknowledging that you may be sailing a big cruising catamaran. Even though the…