Cruising World

red sox replay

“I discovered a whole new way to spend pleasurable evenings surrounded by the great outdoors: Sit back and watch it get dark.” You’ve got to be flexible. One of my favorite pastimes used to be sitting out in the cockpit on a summer evening listening to the Red Sox. For one thing, baseball is played at a pace that can be enjoyed without a screen staring you in the face. You can drift in and out of the game, chat with pals, enjoy the scenery, and know you’ll be immediately back in it a pitch or two later, alerted by the play-by-play banter or the roar of the crowd. And, I might add, a radio is equally well-suited for life away from the dock. An AM/FM set is easy on the…

cruising world

EDITORIAL EDITOR Mark Pillsbury mark.pillsbury@bonniercorp.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Herb McCormick herb.mccormick@bonniercorp.com SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Brett jen.brett@bonniercorp.com MANAGING EDITOR Megan Williams megan.williams@bonniercorp.com ELECTRONICS EDITOR David Schmidt COPY EDITOR Cindy Martin ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dave Weaver EDITORS AT LARGE Bernadette Bernon, Cap’n Fatty Goodlander, Gary Jobson, Elaine Lembo, Tim Murphy, Angus Phillips CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jim Carrier, Lynda Morris Childress, Wendy Mitman Clarke, Barbara Marrett, Michel Savage, Alvah Simon, Diana Simon, Ronnie Simpson PRODUCTION GROUP PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Rina Murray ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Kelly Kramer Weekley PRODUCTION MANAGER Shari Smith shari.smith@bonniercorp.com PRODUCTION ARTIST Peter Coffin BONNIER MEDIA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Gregory D. Gatto EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Shawn Bean VICE PRESIDENT, MANAGING DIRECTOR Glenn Sandridge CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dave Weaver EDITORIAL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Stephanie Pancratz COPY CHIEF Cindy Martin GROUP MARKETING DIRECTOR Haley Bischof MARKETING MANAGER Christopher Cole DIGITAL STRATEGY DIRECTOR Mike Staley DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Mark MacKenzie DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGIST Jackie Fry DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION DIRECTOR Michellina Jones DIGITAL PRODUCER Jeff Williams PUBLISHER SALLY HELME 401-845-4405 sally.helme@bonniercorp.com ADVERTISING ADVERTISING…

ote’a dance practice on the wharf

July is festival month in French Polynesia. Outrigger canoe racing, artisan fairs, food stalls and, most of all, dancing and dance competitions. Traditional dance, called Ote’a, is very much alive throughout the South Pacific, and arguably reaches its pinnacle at the Heiva i Tahiti, the competition that draws dancers from all over Polynesia every July. The dances—and the stunning costumes—are highlights of a voyage across the Pacific: Indeed, many sailors time their cruising to reach Tahiti at some point during the Heiva. But all over the French Polynesian archipelagos, smaller Heiva festivals take place featuring local dance troupes. Rather than heading to Tahiti itself, my husband, Seth, and I had chosen instead to spend most of our cruising season in the Tuamotus, the immense chain of atolls that stretches southeast to…

passage notes

DAN Boater Bonus! The American Sailing Association has teamed up with DAN Boater as part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to enhancing sailor safety. With this new partnership, ASA members can now purchase a DAN Boater family membership for $50. DAN Boater offers its members a medical information line, a 24/7 emergency hotline, worldwide medical evacuation and repatriation services, search and rescue expense coverage, and more. Learn more at ASA (asa.com) and DAN Boater (danboater.org). The Winner Is… Congrats to Tiffany Cupp, who won a $250 West Marine gift card in the Cruising World Pets Aboard Photo Contest with her “hatch hound!” View all the adorable entries at cruisingworld.com/petsaboard (and while you’re there, sign up for our weekly enewsletter).…

buck up, dive in

Saludos! I was halfway through fully digesting this summer’s Cruising World Charter Issue when I earnestly began reading Hannah J. Knecht’s article “Taking the Risk.” I instantly identified with her when she explained her attendance at a diesel-engine class as the only female. I am the only male (except for a dog) in my family consisting of a wife, three daughters and two sailboats. As the only male in this household—as opposed to her being the only female in her class—I was emboldened by Hannah to show courage through questioning. My wife gave me her answer. I have permission to enroll in the closest diesel-engine class I can find in this area as soon as possible. Thank you, Hannah. —Mark Nering, Laguna Madre Yacht Club, fleet captain THE REST OF THE STORY In…

meet the totem crew

Behan and Jamie Gifford and their three children, Niall, Siobhan and Mairen, have sailed more than 60,000 miles and have (so far) completed one circumnavigation. Seeking a family-focused life afloat and a different kind of education for their kids, the family set off from the Pacific Northwest in 2008 aboard their Stevens 47, Totem. Since then they’ve visited 48 countries/territories, from Mexico to Madagascar to Martinique. With their eldest fledged to college, the reduced crew of four are currently cruising Mexico. Behan has long chronicled the rewards and realities of life afloat on the blog Sailing Totem, which will now appear on Cruising World’s website (cruisingworld.com). Look for regular blog posts online and articles from the Giffords on topics ranging from seamanship to living aboard with teens to getting the…