Author: Chris Szepessy

Marion Bermuda Race… Now’s the time and we’re here to help.     Ocean racing is not easy, but a well-designed, well managed race can make it an experience of a lifetime. The Marion Bermuda Race touches all of the bases when looking for that bucket list adventure. So, what does it take to realize your dream? You are new to offshore racing but you are an experienced sailor who wants to make the leap from coastal…

A lifelong sailor and surfer, and more recently an avid kiteboarder, Alie Toppa is a four-time Collegiate All-American, the first winning skipper of the New York Yacht Club Women’s Championship and, along with her twin sister Liza, one of vineyard vines’ Real Good People. “I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and learning to sail there was pretty epic,” says Alie, who now calls Newport, Rhode Island home. “Alongside my twin sister Liza, we had a super-tight…

By Dave Hemenway The fall of 2024 was not the kindest season to me, even though I had hoped it would be as it’s my favorite time to sail. The winds were good, the water was warm and the weather was more temperate than the hot, humid summer. Freedom, my Greenwich 24 sloop, waited patiently on her Thames River mooring in New London, Connecticut. I was expecting a great fall when I came down with the dreaded…

By Anton Huggler Editor’s note: A story by R.J. Rubadeau in our September 2024 edition, “On Becoming a Captain” (windcheckmagazine.com/article/on-becoming-a-captain/), recounting a transpacific yacht delivery from Sydney to San Diego, brought back memories for Anton Huggler, who served as first mate for a transatlantic delivery on the same yacht, one of the legendary Ondines.   1976, end of September, Saint Tropez, France Ondine was readied for an Atlantic crossing back to the U.S. after racing and cruising…

The Adventures of Captain Marco, Volume 1 By Lesley O’Brien Illustrations by Emmett Donovan Orange Kitty Kreative LLC $18.95 Written for sailors and story lovers from 5 to 95 (and all salty sea dogs), Unfurmiliar Territory is the first in a series of stories by Lesley O’Brien about a rough-around-the-edges orange cat who becomes the Master of a sailboat. Fortune had not always favored Captain Marco. Not long ago he and his brother were shivering in rainy…

By Killian Duborg, Connecticut communications specialist   As a new Congress and state legislative sessions start, it’s more important than ever that we are all conscientious consumers of information. With energy issues high on the agenda, you will likely hear a variety of perspectives. Unfortunately, misinformation spreads easily, even among well-meaning individuals. One topic particularly prone to myths and misunderstandings is offshore wind energy. Well-sited offshore wind is a safe, proven, reliable, and cost-effective energy solution that’s…

A reluctant frostbiter at first, the author learned the sport is a winter-long training camp for both body and mind. Story & photos by Blaine Davis     It’s November, and the boatyard is alive with activity. Boats are being hauled out and power washed while the low hiss of a blowtorch punctuates the air. In the back lot, yard workers shout to each other as they maneuver a keelboat into its winter parking spot. My boat,…

1. Tell us about Flagship Yacht Sales. I started Flagship in 2023 after sixteen years selling boats at a larger firm. It was time for a change and I was ready for the challenge of starting my own business. We are based at Nichols Yacht Yard in Mamaroneck, New York, right at the center of the vibrant sailing scene on western Long Island Sound. 2. How did you get your start in the business? In the mid-2000s I was…

Registration is now open for the 40th biennial Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, which will leave Marblehead Harbor on Sunday, July 6, 2025. First started in 1905, it is the oldest ocean race in North America. The 361-nautical mile race is sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.   A World Sailing Category 2 event, the race is open to all yachts meeting the Offshore Safety Regulations (OSR) requirements published in…

AC Zzzzzz? Ben Cesare’s November/December 2024 Publisher’s Log, “The Amazing America’s Cup” (windcheckmagazine.com/article/the-amazing-americas-cup/) resonated with many. Ben, Well said. The 37th America’s Cup was boring. I would like to see a lot more time in the box fighting it out for position. I love sailing and especially match race sailing, but found myself not even caring that racing was on. Best, Paul Grenauer Ben, Firstly, these are not yachts, or yacht racing with a sailing crew. They are at…