Sail Magazine

by Peter Nielsen

Peter Nielsen is SAIL’s Editor-in-Chief.

BayRaider 20

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 18, 2012

When SAIL’s judges were weighing the candidates for the 2012 Best Boats daysailer award, there was no dissension over the winner: the BayRaider 20 scored a unanimous thumbs-up for its blend of portability, performance, good looks, build quality and innovation.

Gear Lust

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 18, 2012

After writing last month’s note about minimalist cruisers Thies Matzen and Kicki Ericson and their exploits in the much-traveled 30-foot sloop Wanderer III, I was overcome by some uncharacteristic soul-searching.

Hunter 33

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 16, 2012

The last iteration of the Hunter 33, introduced in 2005, was a big hit for the Alachua, Florida company. Its balance of value, volume and performance struck a chord with sailors

Flagships: Shipman 57

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 14, 2012

This carbon-fiber/epoxy performance cruiser is the result of yet another collaboration—this time between noted cruising boat designers J&J Design and performance specialists Doug Peterson and Guillaume Verdier.

AIS-Equipped Personal Locator Beacons

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 12, 2012

The uses for AIS—Automatic Identification System—continue to evolve far beyond the original intention of collision avoidance for large ships. The first AIS-equipped Personal Locator Beacons have just gone on sale.

Just Launched: Seawind 950 & TNT34

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 7, 2012

Along with the burgeoning popularity of catamarans comes the realization that there are nowhere near as many entry-level cruising cats as there are monohulls. If I want to buy a new 30- to 33-foot monohull for some unambitious, uncomplicated coastal sailing, then all of the major production builders have at least one model that would suit me.

Flagships: Cheveyo

by Peter Nielsen, Posted June 6, 2012

A collaboration between Sparkman & Stephens and England’s Spirit Yachts, this “Super J” is adapted from the plans for Ranger, which defended the America’s Cup in 1937.

From the Editor: A World of Difference

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 31, 2012

Twenty-something years ago I stood at the mouth of the Solent and watched the start of the Whitbread Round the World Race. I counted 23 boats making their way into the English Channel, with 32,000 miles of hard racing ahead of them.

Rolex International Regatta Rolls On

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 25, 2012

We were maybe half a mile from the leeward mark, surging along relentlessly aboard the X-65 Karuba V, when the rig came down to the accompaniment of a collective gasp from the crew. Thankfully, it wasn’t our rig—but we did feel sorry for the guys on Highland Fling XII, Irvine Laidlaw’s spanking new Reichel-Pugh IRC 52.

Beat the Barnacles

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 16, 2012

Do you antifoul your propeller? Looking around the yard where we keep our project boat, Ostara, the consensus seemed to be “no”. Most propellers showed the telltale signs of barnacle infestation, as indeed did our three-bladed Gori folding prop.