North America

Thin-Water Paradise

by Adam Cort, Posted April 1, 2013

The waters off Southwest Florida are one of those places where looks can be deceiving. At first glance, it’s “water, water everywhere,” until you look at the depths and then it becomes “nor any drop to, uh, sail.” But don’t give up.

Key Largo to Key West: An Historic Route & Modern-Day Haven

by Meredith Laitos, Posted March 25, 2013

Sailing alongside Florida’s Overseas Highway, the road that follows the route of Flagler’s historic East Florida Railway from Miami to Key West, it’s easy to picture the turn-of-the-century developer pushing to expand his vision of Florida.

Block Island Revisited

by Lindsey Silken, Posted March 20, 2013

Narragansett Bay is an ideal charter locale, but it’s also my home port. So when I found myself planning a charter out of nearby Bristol, I wasn’t expecting any surprises.

The Chesapeake to Ourselves

by Adam Cort, Posted March 15, 2013

We’d been watching the weather all week and couldn’t have been more pleased. Not only was the sun out, it was downright hot as we checked out our Bavaria 32 at the Horizon Yacht Charters base in the Yacht Haven Marina in Eastport, Annapolis.

Chartering Mount Desert Island

by Meredith Laitos, Posted November 2, 2012

From my vantage point aboard a Cal 31 sloop sailing out of Southwest Harbor, the cottages look more like castles, with immaculate grounds atop pink granite cliffs that drop into the chilly Maine waters below. The day couldn’t be more perfect for sailing

The Five Best Things about Indian Summer Charters

by Lindsey Silken, Posted October 23, 2012

In September, SAIL editors Meredith Laitos and Lindsey Silken caught the last breath of summer on opposite coasts of the country. Though Labor Day marks the end of the season for many a northern sailor, these late-season charters revealed just how much they’re missing out on.

A Day at Sunsail’s Newest Base: San Francisco Bay

by Kimball Livingston, Posted July 31, 2012

One day is all that was needed for proof of concept of Sunsail's newest base, located on the northern reach of San Francisco Bay. Here in the center of a booming tech industry, at the gateway to the California wine country, on the cusp of an America's Cup year.

Weekend Chartering

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 7, 2012

I’m told that weekending is one of the latest, and fastest growing, trends in charter vacations. Ideally, you’d take a bareboat out for a week—or two, if you’re European—but such is the pace of modern life that many people can’t carve out blocks of more than two or three days.

Sailing Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay

by Adam Cort, Posted March 14, 2012

I’ve sailed past Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay many times, first as a deckhand on various ore boats making their way between Minnesota and Indiana Harbor, Indiana, then during the course of a number of Chicago-Mackinac races.

The Six People you Meet in Desolation Sound

by Meredith Laitos, Posted March 14, 2012

Two hundred and fifty miles north of Seattle and 3,400 miles from home, our crew of six was more than a little slaphappy after a long day of travel. As we drove toward Comox, British Columbia, we decided to create a wish list for the charter trip ahead.