Latest News
China: Foreign flagged yachts are now permitted to sail more of Hainan
Date Published - July 18, 2019
From July 16th, 2019 foreign-flagged yachts will be permitted to sail around Hainan island and the close-by scenic waters…. Read More
Gulf of Mexico to West Africa: Record-high bloom of Sargassum
Date Published - July 15, 2019
TransAtlantic Sailors preparing for departure this Fall should take note of the significantly high coverage of Sargassum weed in the central West Atlantic this year. Monitoring of the Satellite-based Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) is highly recommended…. Read More
Panama: Increased Canal Tolls - Public Consultation Period until July 15
Date Published - July 11, 2019
(Published June 17, 2019 – updated July 11, 2019) – The Panama Canal Authorities have announced a proposed change in tolls, bringing the transit rate for recreational yachts less than 65 feet up to 100% more than today’s rate. The public consultation period will extend until July 15, 2019 at… Read More
St. Martin to Colombia: Single-Hander Activated PLB – Alert for All Vessels in the Vicinity
Date Published - July 06, 2019
All vessels in the vicinity of the Caribbean Coast of Colombia between 73W to 74W are requested to keep a sharp lookout for the trimaran S/V TRINAVIS, which may be overturned and barely visible. The Italian Captain, ROCCO ACOELLA, is a very seasoned transatlantic cruiser, and very fit person…. Read More
UK - Brexit: RYA Holds Talks with Government Officials on Border Controls
Date Published - July 04, 2019
The future border regime between the UK and the EU is one of the most critical Brexit issues for recreational boaters. RYA holds talks with Immigration Minister and Home Office officials on border controls…. Read More
South Africa: Crew Rescued from Storm-Damaged Yacht on Passage to Madagascar – British Crew Member Drowns
Date Published - July 04, 2019
A catamaran on passage from South Africa to Madagascar was damaged in a storm earlier this week and the crew had to be rescued by a bulk-carrier. Sadly one crew member, a British woman, drowned. … Read More
USA: Coast Guard, partner agencies preparing for Operation Dry Water
Date Published - July 02, 2019
U.S. Coast Guard bulletin 07/02/2019 08:43 AM EDT: Operation Dry Water, the national campaign to prevent boating under the influence, will begin July 4, 2019 and law enforcement crews will be patrolling to ensure boaters are safe on the water…. Read More
Honduras, Gorda Bank: Missing Sailor
Date Published - June 28, 2019
(Updated July 5, 2019) – An Estonian sailor on passage from Jamaica to San Andres, Colombia has gone missing. Both of his EPIRBs were activated in the early hours of June 11, 2019, yet nothing but one of the EPIRBs and an oily life jacket has been found. This plea… Read More
A Dedication to Jim Baerselman – JimB Sail
Date Published - June 27, 2019
Jim Baerselman, who shared his knowledge of European cruising through his popular website JimB Sail, sadly died on 12th April, aged 82, at home with his wife Caroline by his side. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer for two years…. Read More
Mediterranean SSB Net from May to October
Date Published - June 20, 2019
This is an active cruising net which runs throughout the Mediterranean cruising season six days a week. Useful for sharing information on location, weather, security and passage plans…. Read More
Bermuda to Azores: Yacht Abandoned due to Rudder Failure
Date Published - June 20, 2019
(Published June 1 – updated June 2 and again June 20) – Halfway between Bermuda and the Azores the Grand Soleil ’50 “Boingo Alive” was abandoned by her owner and crew when she suffered rudder failure. After the owners appealed to the cruising community for help in recovering their yacht,… Read More
Portugal, Lagos: ARC Europe finishes at Marina de Lagos
Date Published - June 19, 2019
ARC Europe 2019 concluded in style with a packed final prizegiving dinner at Marina de Lagos on Sunday 16th June. … Read More
New Zealand to Tonga: Rig Failure Leads Crew to Abandon Yacht
Date Published - June 17, 2019
(June 17, 2019) – Having departed Opua on June 9th for Tonga, yacht Squander suffered major mast rig failure three days into the passage. Turning around and battling headwinds for four days, the crew finally had to abandon the yacht just 90km off Great Barrier Island…. Read More
Mediterranean Cruising Update - regarding the migrant crisis
Date Published - June 17, 2019
(Originally published April 1, 2019 – updated June 17, 2019) – The migrant crisis, once most prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean, has now encompassed the Western Mediterranean Sea particularly between Morocco and Spain. European countries continue to harden their policies against refugees arriving by sea and yacht skippers should be… Read More
USA, Georgia: Proposed Anchoring Restrictions
Date Published - June 12, 2019
(Published June 12 – further updates July 10, 2019) – The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has proposed a number of amendments to the current rules for liveaboard boaters, concerning over-night and long-term anchoring in the estuarine area of the state…. Read More
Portugal: Request Permission to Anchor or Face a Fine
Date Published - June 12, 2019
The RCC Pilotage Foundation has reported that a yachtsman has been fined for anchoring in the Portinho de Arrábida in the Rio Sado (south of Lisbon) without permission…. Read More
Cuba: New Travel Restrictions for US Citizens and US Recreational Vessels
Date Published - June 06, 2019
(June 6, 2019) – After enjoying a few years of legal cruising to Cuba from the US, it is now no longer possible for US cruisers to arrive at the Island on their own keel. The US Government yesterday introduced a new law banning the “People to People” category, including… Read More
South Pacific, Cook Islands, Suwarrow: World ARC 2019-20 Reach Paradise Island
Date Published - June 06, 2019
(June 6, 2019) – The sound of coral sands crunching under flip flops and ripples of soft laughter could be heard across the turquoise waters as dingies arrived onto the shores of the paradise island of Suwarrow. Participants welcomed each other with great enthusiasm as they gathered together on the… Read More
Vall Ellis, Noonsite Site Researcher, Retires after 19 Years with Noonsite
Date Published - June 06, 2019
At the end of April 2019, we said a very fond farewell to the longest-standing team member with Noonsite, Val Ellis (Site Researcher, holiday cover for the Editor and all-around amazing asset to the Noonsite team). … Read More
Noonsite June Product Update
Date Published - June 05, 2019
Since our beta launch April 30th we have been busy improving Noonsite. Read on to find out more . . …. Read More
Grenada to Trinidad: New Convoy Process Makes Passage to and from Trinidad Safer and More Fun
Date Published - June 04, 2019
(June 4, 2019) Chaguaramas, Trinidad, YSATT – Concerned about sailing to Trinidad? Now you can join a convoy! The Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YSATT), working with Jesse James of Members Only Maxi Taxi Service, and with the assistance of several long-time cruisers, has implemented a process to… Read More
25th Edition of ARC Portugal Sets Sail
Date Published - June 03, 2019
Heading out into a cloudy Plymouth Sound on Sunday 2 June, seventeen boats began their three week adventure sailing to the sunny Algarve with World Cruising Club’s annual sailing rally ARC Portugal…. Read More
Mediterranean Yacht Transport: Superyacht "My Song" Falls Overboard During Transit
Date Published - June 01, 2019
(Updated May 31, 2019) – The 130-foot cruiser/racer “My Song” was being transported to Genoa when she fell off the deck of the carrying vessel at 0400 on May 26, 2019…. Read More
USA, Atlantic City: Cruising Couple Rescued as Boat Sinks after Microburst Hits
Date Published - May 31, 2019
(May 31, 2019) – Peter Bailey and Heidi Snyder lost their home on May 29, 2019, on the last leg of their circumnavigation, when they were hit by a microburst off the coast of New Jersey…. Read More
Summer 2019 eNews from World Cruising Club!
Date Published - May 30, 2019
(May 30, 2019) – Featured in this edition are details of the 2019 Bluewater Weekend, results of the ARC Survey in Yachting World Magazine, World ARC 2021 entries now open, an SSB helpful guide and much more…. Read More
