6 days ago
Topic:
New Sailing Books
Dan.ReasonerPosts: 1
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An account of how planning, risk management and luck helped overcome obstacles during our around-the-world sailing voyage.
“What Almost Prevented Our Sailboat Trip Around the World” on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHKX78JK
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12 days ago
Topic:
Crew Opportunity East Coast US to Pacific
Bill.TobinPosts: 1
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Hello, we are looking for a Unicorn, and this may not be you but perhaps you know the right person. We are a family getting ready to circumnavigate. We are looking to bring on someone that can assist with all aspects of family life aboard. From learning to sail the boat to helping with cooking and cleaning and some child care from time to time. We are looking for the right person, preferably between 22-30 years old, educated, sports minded, not afraid of camping. The boat is a very comfortable and capable 50’ cat. We are experienced live aboard sailors with safety as a top priority. This could be a great paid experience for the right individual looking for an adventure.
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13 days ago
Topic:
Nancy Martz Cruising Plans Bahamas, Panama San Bla
George.CurtisPosts: 22
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Yacht/Vessel: Ara
Coordinates: -73.69262696709484 20.955080856897528
Feedback:
Bahamas mid Dec 2025-late Jan 2026, Panama San Blas Feb 2026, Roatan & Bay Islands, Providencia March 2026, Roatan to Savannah GA early April 2026
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13 days ago
Topic:
fuel filters: A note for skippers going to sea for
DickPosts: 427
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A note for those going to sea for the first time (or it has been a while):
Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy 01-26
An often-ignored preparation for boats going to seas is to be ready for an event that is actually fairly hard to ensure will not occur. The best preparation is to have the skipper, boat and supplies ready to react: somewhat like being prepared for a flooding event.
I am referring to the boat’s primary fuel filters becoming clogged and stalling the engine.
Many of us have casual habits around our fuel and their tank(s) (and this can occur even with diligent habits). We pride ourselves on sailing everywhere thereby not using our fuel up and letting it sit for long periods. We do not “polish” our fuel, generally. And we are not religious about the fuel treatments that contribute to our fuel staying clean.
The above may be fine in coastal cruising, but open ocean passage-making is just an exponential increase in boat movement (hard to imagine until experienced), especially if boisterous conditions are encountered. What happens is that the agitated fuel in the tanks get thrown at the walls of the tank where “bad stuff” (technical term) loosely adheres and all gets stirred up eventually finding its way to the primary fuel filter.
Enough “yuck” and the primary slows fuel delivery to the engine and it slows and eventually stalls.
I am not convinced that fuel polishing/cleaning operations actually get (or can get) to the walls of the tank to scour them and ensure clean fuel. The best we as skippers can do is prepare for the possibility of a clogged primary filter. To this end changing a filter on the fly is good to plan for and practice.
Changing primary filters on the fly is made far easier by the installation of a dual filter assembly such as the dual Racor filter assembly.* This assembly makes the changing of filters a mere flip of a valve. This isolates the clogged filter making it easy and far less messy to change.
In addition, the dual Racor filter assembly has a vacuum gauge which can give early warning of a clogging filter.** Some assemblies also provide an option of early warning of water accumulation in the fuel.
Finally, there is little down-side at carrying a lot of filters. When Alchemy left for extended cruising, we carried 10+ primary filters***
* A dual Racor fuel filter assembly (from memory mine is a 500MA using 2010TM 10 micron filters) and looks just like this: https://www.go2marine.com/75500MAX30-Marine-500-Turbine-Fuel-Filter-WS-Shielded-Bowl-30-Micron_2?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21119200762&gbraid=0AAAAAD_v3nHU-bjxSZ2Cs6yMieBtMktqt&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoZbBBhDCARIsAOqMEZWkSL1iZG3_RriYLFnPDp1osVPcYrdzbkW-tRGWlXEzF7sYTXNqdVsaApfLEALw_wcB
**A vacuum gauge is also recommended for vessels with a single primary fuel filter just by placing one in the fuel line for its ability to provide early warning. Descriptions of its use and guidance for installation can be found at Steve D’Antonio’s web site (https://stevedmarineconsulting.com/) and search for the articles (among many other useful articles) in his E-Magazine.
One of the observations made about vacuum gauges is that one can change filters when there is shown to be a rise in pressure indicating that the filter is loading up. I have never done this (or needed to) and tend to change to a new filter once a year which, when cruising full time, often had me using a filter for 250 up to 500 hours. I am not sure whether there is a “recommended” interval as there is for oil filters: hard to do with the quality of fuel potentially varying widely. Because I “polish” my fuel regularly, my filters emerge pretty clean with no build-up of yuck and not even overly darkened element.
*** My Racor primary filter uses 2010TM filters which are easier to store (as much smaller) than spin on filters and are less expensive. They are smaller and take up less space: important as for widely wandering boats who might get bad fuel have lots of spare filters can be crucial. I carried ten when cruising remote areas, in part for the fuel quality when we purchased diesel from 55g steel tanks that were often rusty and old.
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22 days ago
Topic:
CCA Grenadines Cruise, 24 Jan 2026 to 7 Feb 2026
ADDISON THOMPSONPosts: 2
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Stateroom available to share on Dufour 390.,Contact Tad Thompson, 804-240-4993, tad.silinsurance@gmail.com
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24 days ago
Topic:
Chesapeake to UK Spring 2026
Ken.ColePosts: 2
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Hi all,
A change in our plans... instead of going for the north route, we cross via Bermuda / Azores / Northern Europe this summer. Happy to connect with others and travel together where it makes sense. Best regards,
Ken
SV Remedy
864.350.2131
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28 days ago
Topic:
Antigua - Entrance Formalities
Paul.WestonPosts: 1
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Hello does anyone know if Antigua customs require a printed copy of the Attestation of Clearance from Guadeloupe on entry to Antigua. Some islands such as Dominica are happy to see the document on the phone but we wondered if we need to print the document for Antigua. Sally Weston Kadash
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29 days ago
Topic:
Winter 2026/7 in/near Stockholm suggestions
Simon CurrinAdministrator Posts: 832
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Tom,
Our advice may be out of date but we over- wintered our boat at Oxelosund in 2008 and it worked well for us : http://www.oxelosundsvarv.se/in-english. The yard was cheap and very close to Stockholm’s 3rd airport which gave cheap flight connections to the uk. Let me know if you want more details.
Simon
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29 days ago
Topic:
Winter 2026/7 in/near Stockholm suggestions
tom.moranPosts: 1
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Greetings all. Phase I of a muti-year plan was completed 2025, namely Chesapeake to Scotland via Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Ireland. Boat is currently on the hard for winter storage. Summer 2026 plans are for Caledonia Canal, across to, and then through, the Baltic ending up in or near Stockholm for next winter's layup.
That's the general plan . . . many details still being filled in. A (quite) significant one is where to winter the vessel. Never having been there, not sure whether being "in town" is a criteria or not. Anticipate either: a. only being in the vicinity long enough to complete winter perparations or; b. if I can secure a Sweedish Visa, stay for an period of time after the sailing season.
Anticipate enjoying the Sweedish archipeligo for some time early 2027 season, then utilizing the Gota system to cross Sweeden back to the entrance to the Baltic, and back to the UK for winter 2027/8.
All that being said. . . . . any suggestions from folk who have experienced similar cruising winter storage in the area, or even better, are home-based in the vicinity?
Thanks much in advance,
Tom
s/v Courage
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29/12/2025
Topic:
Shetland Light Dues
DickPosts: 427
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Hi Lisa,
Understood.
Sometimes it is just better to up-anchor and move on.
Is there any mechanism within the OCC to explore and try to understand this seemingly random and arbitrary invocation of a fee?
Perhaps the Shetland Island’s PO could explore.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
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28/12/2025
Topic:
Shetland Light Dues
Charles.LenhoffPosts: 8
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Friends,
Christina Sutton @ Light House Administration hit us up for 90 pounds and we're going to pay it cuz it's not worth disputing and we want to be honorable visitors to her turf.
~Lisa
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19/12/2025
Topic:
Guide for cruising NE Australia
rachelle.turkAdministrator Posts: 55
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https://occ-cruisingnorthernaustralia.notion.site/Welcome-to-Cruising-North-Eastern-Australia-2a6a26b3369880c594b2c6d504823ea5
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10/12/2025
Topic:
Shetland Light Dues
GingerPosts: 13
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Hi Lisa,
We (Alchemy) were in and out of Lerwick and the SIs over a number of years (~~2014) and even over wintered our boat there one winter. We never heard a word of what you report.
Not only was Lerwick wonderful but also the archipelago for land or water cruising.
As Americans, the UK allowed us 6 months as opposed to Europe and Norway where we had to be out in 3. From Lerwick it was an easy overnight to the Norway coast and then back at the end of 3 months.
A historical book of great interest to the area is “The Shetland Bus” about WWII and the boat traffic from the SIs to Norway.
I have notes on Lerwick and the SIs and Norway if interested. Contact me off-line at alchemy128(at)gmail.com.
My best, Envious of your being in those waters, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
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09/12/2025
Topic:
Shetland Light Dues
Simon CurrinAdministrator Posts: 832
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Lisa,
The Northern Lighthouse Board collect Light Dues for the General Lighthouse Fund but, as far as I am aware, it is only paid by commercial vessels and is based on tonnage.
We have never been asked to pay in the UK but lighthouse fees are levied on leisure craft in some Pacific Island nations eg Tonga.
Simon
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09/12/2025
Topic:
Shetland Light Dues
Romy.McIntoshPosts: 3
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Hi Lisa,
You could try contacting the PO for Shetland and see if he has any more information: Andrew Halcrow, elsiarrub@gmail.com
Thanks!
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08/12/2025
Topic:
Shetland Light Dues
Charles.LenhoffPosts: 8
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Friends,
I received an email out of the blue from Cristina Sutton who claims to be a "Light Dues Administrator" in Shetland...
She's asking a dues payment for entering Lerwick from Norway in July on our boat.
I called her and she explained the dues were for using the lighthouses as navigation aids.
She sent us the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 which outlines her claim for Light Dues.
But nothing in applies to us and something smells fishy here.
Has anyone heard about this?
~Lisa
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21/11/2025
Topic:
Chesapeake to UK Spring 2026
DickPosts: 427
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Ken, Sorry for the redundancy, I just noticed that I had already replied to this stream. Dick
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21/11/2025
Topic:
Chesapeake to UK Spring 2026
DickPosts: 427
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Hi Ken,
I suspect you are aware of the newly published CCA Essential Guide to the Viking Route. I was part of the group who wrote it. My wife and I did the VR from Europe to North America in 2017. Had the VR guide existed, it would have saved us well over a hundred hours in preparatory research in the year before we left and answered many of the questions that were difficult to get information on.
It was a great way to get across the Atlantic. We were not in “delivery mode” and spent most of the season in the crossing cruising the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland, before fetching up in Newfoundland: and then falling so in love that we stayed in the Canadian Maritimes for the next 3 years.
Come back with questions.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy
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21/11/2025
Topic:
Chesapeake to UK Spring 2026
Ken.ColePosts: 2
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Hi Philip,
My wife and I are planning to cross 2026 summer to northern Europe. We may not be beneficial as crew, but happy to collaborate or buddy boat across. We are wintering in Annapolis, MD (Chesapeake) and at the moment evaluating the north Viking route across. We have several friends that may join as crew for different legs, and may know 1-2 that could potentially crew with you. Feel free to reach out. Best,
Ken
SV Remedy
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14/11/2025
Topic:
Electronic Navigation Systems V2
Alan LesliePosts: 3
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This new publication from the Royal Instuitute of Navigation is excellent and should be on the reading list of every amateur skipper and navigator.
Free download : https://rin.org.uk/page/ENav
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