Boating Blog Links

The Value of Fractional Boat Ownership

Sarah — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:17:03 +0000

As addressed in last week's RedEye (see last post for details), fractional boat ownership is making waves as more people look for affordable options to get on the water. Check out the following video from Crain's Chicago Business to see if fractional boat ownership is something for you -

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Already a part of this growing category of boaters? Share your experiences with us!

A Peek Inside Chicago’s Boating Scene…

Sarah — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:42:41 +0000

Last week, the Chicago redeye interviewed several boat owners on how they got into the boating scene in Chicago - check out the story for some entertaining photos and information that may just tempt you to purchase that boat you've been eyeing and discover what fun on the water is all about!

Happy weekend!! It's time to sneak off onto the water :-)

Chicago's Nick Gauen on his boat Liquid Assets - a purchase he made with his roommate, and "the best investment he ever made..."

Booklet charts will help boaters better find their way

Matthew Stanmyre/The Star-Ledger — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:30:04 +0000

Charts available easily from home computer

"A Race That Gave You Everything"

Sarah — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:35:45 +0000

The 102nd annual Race to Mackinac, aka the famous "Chicago Mac," came to a close yesterday with Lady K winning the Chicago-Mackinac Trophy Division, bestowing on herself the overall win with a finish of 46:53:05. The talk amongst all participating sailors is that this year's race provided a little bit of every weather condition, making for a challenging and interesting race. Click here for the full report.

Do you have any boating experiences that gave you a bit of everything on the water?

CONGRATS LADY K! Until next year...

The racing rules

Charles Zusman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:38:13 +0000

"On opposite tacks, the port tack boat must keep clear..."That's simple enough, but the sailing racing rules can be a lot to learn for the beginner to sailboat racing. I admit to staying off the race course, except as crew,...

Junior sailors in Belmar Harbor capsized their boats on purpose

Charles Zusman — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:09:07 +0000

That's what they were trained to do, in the event of a storm

Three Easy Ways to Get on the Water

Kelly — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:41:19 +0000

Summer is heating up and we have ways to get you out on the water to cool off, disconnect and have some fun with family/friends. Newbie boaters and boating enthusiasts, not just boat owners, can find easy ways to test the waters and discover the boating lifestyle this summer.

Whether considering boat ownership or just looking to get your feet wet, Discover Boating has on-the-water options to float your boat:

Rent or Charter. Boat rentals come in a variety of forms, from hourly and daily rentals to weeks-long charters. Renting is a helpful way to compare boat types and explore local waterways from a new vantage point. Multi-day chartering may help save on trip expenses such as food, lodging and activities, which can often be negotiated into the overall cost of a chartering package.

Share Time and Costs. Fractional boat ownership, similar to lodging timeshares, are cost-effective ways to use well-appointed boats and distribute costs related to fueling, pump-out, maintenance and insurance among a group of friends or other local timeshare boaters. Members pre-schedule use of the boat online and often get the added benefit of lessons, flotillas and additional crew, if needed.

Join a Club. Local boating clubs and organizations allow inexperienced boaters the chance to test the waters through lessons, regattas and events. Clubs provide members with access to a variety of boat types, interaction with fellow boaters and events for all skill levels for an annual or monthly fee.

Safe boating course

Charles Zusman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:54:49 +0000

            The US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 10-07, will be conducting an “About Boating Safely” course  on Sunday, July 25th   from 8:30am till 4:30pm.  The class is sponsored by the Hopatcong Fire Department and will...

Life is Better on a Boat: Day 7

Dana — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:29:44 +0000

Day 7: Sail to Peter Island and Wickhams Cay, Tortola (Sunsail Base)

Upon waking up just off Norman Island, we enjoyed a brief breakfast aboard our boats and set sail for our last adventure on the water! Before doing so, we made a brief pit stop at an area called The Indians, just off Pelican Island. The Indians consist of four jagged tooth-like pinnacles of rock protruding from the sea that have created a series of canyons and grottoes, featuring both hard and soft corals – a great spot for a morning snorkeling excursion.

After exploring the area for a bit, we headed out to sea for a two hour sail through the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Peter Island, docking at Peter Island Resort. Peter Island is a private island located about 5 miles south-west from Tortola. Once docked at Peter Island, the group boarded a powerboat to get in a little speed before wrapping up our trip. The folks at King Charters met us at Peter Island Resort Marina and we jumped aboard for an afternoon of learning to drive, steer and operate a powerboat. Along the way, we had the opportunity to see a slew of islands including, Cooper, Salt, Dead Chest and Ginger. After a speedy day on the water, we rejoined our flotilla and set off for our final sail to the Sunsail base in Wickhams Cay, Tortola.

To wrap up our 7 day adventure, the entire group enjoyed a casual dinner at the Mariner’s Inn – recalling our greatest stories, fears, achievements and memories that we created throughout the past week. All and all it was an experience that none of us would forget and we truly came to the realization that, indeed, life is better on a boat!

Sailing in to Peter Island Resort

Our group enjoying the powerboat ride

One of our own learning to drive

Live action video....

The group for our last dinner together

A Day in the Life of Long John Silver: Day 6

Dana — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:18:28 +0000

Day 6: Sail to Soper’s Hole, Tortola and The Bight, Norman Island

After awaking in Cane Garden Bay our group set sail early for Soper’s Hole, a quaint marina with great shopping. Upon arriving at Soper’s Hole we moored and drove our inflatable boats to shore for an afternoon of exploring the local shops and restaurants. After a little retail therapy, we boarded our sailboats for a three hour sail to The Bight, just off of Norman Island. As we left the marina, we noticed the winds blowing at 18 knots and conditions were perfect for sail races! So, us crewmen on all four boats took position and we were off and running! While our captains steered, the rest of us manned our boat’s lines during tacking, jibing and heeling – it was very exciting, especially for those who had never been sailing.

Once we caught up with the flotilla at Norman Island, we grabbed a mooring ball and relaxed a bit before heading to shore for dinner at Pirates Bight. Known for fun dinners and wild party nights onboard the William Thornton (Willy T) ship, The Bight plays a large part in the history of Norman Island with tales of pirates and treasure caves. This island was the model for Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - perhaps the most famous legend of all. While the island’s now uninhabited, farmers used to raise cattle there.

After dinner some headed to Willy T’s boat bar for cocktails, while the rest of us headed to bed for the evening in preparation for our last day on the water.

Some learned to drive the inflatable boats

Others were naturals…

Soper’s Hole Marina

Our boat heeling during sailing races

Sunset on Willy T’s

The group on Norman Island