Latest News
Ocean Cruising Club Challenge Grant: Now Accepting Applications
Date Published - August 15, 2019
The Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) has established a Challenge Grant to encourage ambitious expeditions for environmental conservation or challenging oceangoing adventures and is now accepting applications for the 2020 season. The OCC Challenge Grant programme consists of two categories, the Conservation/ Environmental Grant and the Adventure Grant. … Read More
South Pacific, Niue: Australian Catamaran Runs Aground on East Coast
Date Published - August 10, 2019
In recent weeks the Niue Police Search and Rescue vessel “SAR1” has been deployed a number of times to assist yachts in trouble as they approach Niue. At the end of July both land-based and sea rescue teams kicked into action when an Australian catamaran ran aground on the eastern… Read More
Atlantic Hurricane Activity: Could we see an increase now El Nino has ended?
Date Published - August 08, 2019
August 8, 2019 – NOAA announced today that the current El Nino in the Pacific Ocean has ended and neutral conditions have returned. This now increases the possibility of above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year.
… Read More
Egypt, Port Said: Significant Reduction in Clearance Fees for Southbound Transits of the Suez Canal
Date Published - August 02, 2019
After a dramatic increase in clearance fees at Port Said for yachts wanting to transit the Suez Canal southbound in May 2018, authorities have now brought fees down to a more acceptable level from August 1st. Although not as reasonable as they were prior to May 2018, this does see… Read More
Atlantic Spain and Portugal: The Indispensable Cruising Guide for this Varied Coastline
Date Published - July 29, 2019
The Imray Cruising Guide for Atlantic Spain and Portugal has now been updated for the 8th time by the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation. Bob Earlie of the Irish Cruising Club has this review…. Read More
International Boat Watch Network: New Management and Facebook Group
Date Published - July 25, 2019
Glenn and Eddie Tuttle, co-ordinators for the SSCA KPK Net and Cruisers Network Online, have taken over the management of the International Boat Watch Network from Bobby Graves. This group is dedicated to assisting Search and Rescue Authorities in locating overdue and missing vessels worldwide and now has a new… Read More
Portrait of a Cruiser: Dog Chloe from SY Mojito
Date Published - July 24, 2019
For a new spin on our ‘Portrait of a Cruiser’ series, this month we are profiling a four-legged crew member. Labrador mix, Chloe, has just spent 18 months visiting 13 countries. At almost 12 years old she has proved to her owners Tim Goodyear and Jules Buckley that you can… Read More
North Pacific, Palau: Fees Increase by 400% for Visiting Foreign Vessels
Date Published - July 22, 2019
On June 17, 2019, the President of Palau, Tommy E. Remensegau Jr., signed into law a bill that increases the fees charged to foreign yacht owners and cruise ships entering Palau waters…. Read More
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 Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua are requested to keep a sharp lookout for the trimaran S/V TRINAVIS, which may be overturned and barely visible or wrecked. Help spread the information about Italian captain Rocco Acocella’s disappearance. Initial alert from the SSCA… 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 Aug 7, 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
