Features (Boating)

Article - Boating; by Steve Carr - 4/12/12

The Last Boat Standing

Leg 5 of The Volvo Ocean Race breaks hulls, bows and spirits

When we last checked on The Volvo Ocean Race, 20 monsoon-drenched days from China to New Zealand had ended in a bone-crushing duel. Leg 5 takes a wild ride across the South Pacific from New Zealand around South America to Brazil. Record crowds lined Auckland Harbor and took to the sea to cheer Camper on to victory in her hometown in-port race. While the fleet battled the stiff currents of Freeman’s Bay, Skipper Chris Nicholson used local knowledge to sail along the shore, edging out Puma...

Article - Boating; by Sandra Olivetti Martin - 4/12/12

Clean Marinas Make Good Neighbors

Ask if your marina is a Clean Marina. If not, why?

Boaters love the Bay. They love the look of it, the feel of it, the smell of it, the freedom of it, the generosity of it. All the Bay’s tributaries plus its ocean and fresh waters are part of that big love. Choosing a Clean Marina as your boat’s home — and your second home — is one of the best ways boaters can, in return, protect the Bay. If yours is a Clean Marina, it may be more Bay-friendly than your first home. In fact, your...

Article - Boating; by Steve Carr - 1/12/12

Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race

Battling rough seas and eluding pirates on the Indian Ocean

On a perfect day for racing in Capetown, South Africa, Telefonica tightened its stranglehold on first place by winning the in-port race. But the real winners were the three boats that had made it to the starting line after withdrawing from the first leg because of equipment failures. The following day, all six of the boats began Leg 2, a 5,000-mile slog to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Hundreds of spectator boats came out to watch that country’s boat, Abu...

Article - Boating; by Steve Carr - 12/8/11

Know Your Racing

The Volvo Ocean Race isn’t the only high-profile sailing event

The Volvo Ocean Race is an around-the-world marathon showcasing 70-foot high-tech sailing machines. Precise rules govern boat and sail design, making each boat similar. It takes the racers nine months to sail the globe, with extended stops in eight ports. The boats are sponsored by syndicates that hire the world’s finest sailors to ride these carbon-fiber, sail-powered rockets. It costs about $100 million to play that game. The winner gets a silver chalice that can easily hold a couple...

Article - Boating; by Steve Carr - 12/8/11

40,000 Miles of Heartbreak and Thrills

The Volvo Ocean Race is back on the water

The machines are scary sharp, the crews wear bright and sexy clothing and the thrills and spills will keep you coming back for your fear-factor fix. That’s sailing we’re talking about, not Grand Prix auto racing. While we await Christmas and winter, one of the biggest shows in the world is playing out. So take a break from holiday madness for a turn on the water. Follow the racers round the world at www.volvooceanrace.com...