Michael Camarata’s article, “Dumbest Boating Decision Ever,” about a bridge too narrow, published in the Midwinter issue of Points East, hit very close to home for me. I have also made a dumb boating decision involving a bridge.

Since the announcement of the upcoming publication of “Being Big Red,” a bunch of Points East readers have asked me, “How about a taste of what’s to come?” So why not a sneak preview? Here’s a piece from the middle of the book. “Big Red” is based on a six-foot,Read More

The Coast Guard is planning on removing lots of buoys in Massachusetts and Rhode Island waters. In particular they plan to remove all the buoys in Robinson’s Hole in order to “maintain or improve navigation safety while increasing efficiency and cost effectiveness.” You can read the particulars by copying andRead More

Barrington, R.I. Bob died May 26. His great passion was sailboat racing. He owned a number of boats, all named Banshee. He was a life member of the Barrington Yacht Club, serving as its Commodore in 1987 and 1988. He was honored with the Isaac B. Merriman Award for hisRead More

It was a two lab evening at Power’s Beach on Cape Rosier. The tide was a low drainer which meant a long soggy walk to toss sticks for Otis while Zeke waded nearby, avoiding the direct line of action. At the roadside a daysailer sat on a lightweight trailer justRead More

Bristol, R.I. Ken passed away May 17. Ken loved his family, the Marine Corps and sailing, but mostly he loved Ruth, his devoted wife of 64 years. During the summer, he and Ruth ran a live-aboard sailing school, along with his brother and sister-in-law, on their boat Pizzazz. He wasRead More

Points East & SailMaine’s 2016 Crew Match party hosted once again at Handy Boat Casco Bay lived up to its annual rite of spring status. More than 75 enthusiastic sailors talked over the upcoming season and plans to join crews on a dozen different boats sailing from around Portland andRead More

Sighted off the docks of the Portsmouth (NH) Yacht Club as I was delivering the May issue this morning. You have to look closely, but that’s a submarine in the middle of the action. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is just to the left of the photo. For a fascinating historyRead More

I was on my boat headed East through Woods Hole when I saw a large “yacht” a bit bow down off Nobska Light heading into Vineyard Sound. I mentioned it to my wife, Gretchen, and daughter, Ellen, who agreed something was not right. We watched closely as the yacht wasRead More

Just add water – such a simple concept when you’re making instant oatmeal or hot chocolate, but not so simple when you’re trying to commission a boat on the hard, early in a New England spring.