Sure, electronic navigation is great, but blindly relying on it, and on those who develop plotter software, could put us on the rocks.

When researching buying a cruising boat, we are deluged with information on all the gear she must have and how perfect she must be before we can go cruising. But is that really true? How about buying an old and tired boat and just getting out there? John tells his story of going cruising in a half-assed boat…and having one of the best times in his life. Will this work for you? He shares tips on how to decide.

Phyllis and I will be going on part two of our summer holidays (vacation) for ten days starting Monday, September 9th.

Andy, of 59˚North, shares his hard-won drone-flying secrets so that you can get the same cool video and stills while sailing offshore that he does.

So is it possible to get a real offshore cruising boat for around US$100,000, ready to go? John suggests a possibility for those willing to go smaller and older.

John has decades of navigation experience, much of it in fog, but there is always more to learn, particularly when single-handing an unfamiliar boat.

John, inspired by a near miss, shares vital tips to avoid a collision in fog.

In the final part of Colin’s series on coastal passagemaking, he and his crew cross to Scotland and wend their way through beautiful, but challenging, tidal straits to the finish. Colin then provides us with a succinct summary of the lessons learned, winding up a series that provides all of us the tools to plan and execute even the most difficult passages in a seamanlike manner.

So what boat size is optimal for offshore voyaging? There is no one number. Rather, we must understand our own expectations before we can zero in on that. John tells the story of a smart guy that saved him from getting this wrong.

John appeared on Andy and Mia’s popular podcast On The Wind for the third time. Here are the details.

When last we left Colin and his crew at the end of Part 3, they had just crossed the Celtic Sea and finessed both the tide at Lands End and and their Landfall in Ireland—all good results based on the planning that Colin covered in Part 1 and Part 2. Now, in Part 4 they make some early starts and bring Scotland in sight.

Phyllis and John have spent the last few months researching buying a smaller cruising boat. Here’s what they have learned so far. Also some thoughts on getting a good survey.

John’s back from his one week busman’s holiday (vacation) single-handing a borrowed boat on a whistle stop tour of the Bay of Fundy.

Lots of articles about storm survival lately here at AAC. It’s important stuff, but it’s time to move on to other things. Here’s a preview of what’s coming soon…after John and Phyllis take a break.