Ask the Captain Categories

Sponsored by DAN Boater While travel can be fun, it can expose you to obvious as well as hidden hazards, possibly causing illness or exacerbating existing health issues. Lack of sleep combined with stress, dehydration, increased exertion levels, musculoskeletal stresses and a change in medical-care delivery systems could have an impact on the traveler. A Read More

Whether it’s a day cruise to anchor and picnic off your favorite island or the start of a blue-water passage, boaters watch the weather intently to know if it’s going to be a safe and enjoyable day on the water. Fortunately, there is more weather information available today than ever before, but a certain amount Read More

What does this mean for hurricane season? Written by Captain Mike The first few months of 2015 have been marked by a rather active storm track across the Atlantic. Frequent wintertime storms have marched from offshore of the East Coast U.S. and Canadian Maritimes, while early spring cut-off gales have plagued waters from the Azores Read More

Southern Mexico and Central America Written by Keith Jaszka – Weather Routing Inc. Each year, localized windstorms known as Tehuano winds blast the Gulf of Tehuantepec with dust and can wreak havoc on unprepared mariners. The topography of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the narrow strip of land separating the Gulf of Mexico from the Pacific, Read More

Written by Captain Chris Caldwell To prepare your boat for safely riding out a storm in your marina here are a few tips. Be sure to minimize the vessel’s wind resistance by removing everything that can be detached from your vessel: the canvas, vinyl windows, sails, sail covers and don’t forget the dinghy. Next, think. Read More

Written by Amanda Delaney It’s early winter and another migration is coming to an end. In this case we are not talking about birds, but mariners in the northern latitudes who are heading south into ports along Southern Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. These regions are desirable in avoiding the cold and snowy weather, Read More

Written by Amanda Delaney Many mariners have heard the saying, “red sky at night, sailors’ delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” Although there is some truth to this saying, how many times have you heard good weather predicted the following day, to then wake up to an ominous sky? Which clouds or Read More

Written by Amanda Delaney There is nothing worse than hearing the news that a tropical storm or hurricane could potentially threaten your location. Not only does it ruin your plans but it forces you to make critical decisions such as, can I get the vessel out of harm’s way in time and, if I can’t, Read More

Written by Amanda Delaney Usually May kicks off the start of the New England and Eastern Canadian Maritime cruising season. By then, the gale track shifts to the north and temperatures warm, luring mariners back north from the tropics. Although summer and early autumn are the best times of year to travel in New England Read More