Chuan singlehands the massive tri en route to Shanghai. The yellow circle indicates where the broken tether was found. © Guo Chuan Sailing Late last month, when Chinese singlehander Guo Chuan, 51, sailed out the Golden Gate aboard the 97-ft trimaran Qingdao China, he was determined to set a solo nonstop record for the 7,000-mile passage to Shanghai, while spreading a message of "Sino-American friendship" and promoting "marine culture exchanges between the two nations." More »

At the risk of drowning in the attempt, these kissing-contest challengers were determined to keep their lips locked despite being pummeled by the Cabo shore break.  © 2016 Fin Beven Unless you’re well over 60, you’ve probably never seen the 1953 black-and-white film From Here to Eternity — except perhaps via an oldies TV channel. More »

Here comes the sun. . . One of the coolest things about sailing in the 750-mile Ha-Ha rally is experiencing little ‘gifts’ from Mother Nature, such as splendid sunrises and sunsets — not to mention night skies salted with a gazillion brilliant stars.  More »

Here on California’s North Coast, boaters who venture offshore have been reporting abnormally large numbers of whales in recent weeks. So many, in fact, that they pose a serious potential threat to small-boat operators, while their own safety is potentially threatened by ship strikes. More »

During the past two years, Mexican government agencies have worked hard to make it easier for recreational boat owners to visit Mexican waters — most notably, by the establishment of two new websites for obtaining visas and Temporary (boat) Import Permits online. More »

Writing about pumping out human waste from holding tanks is almost as uninspiring as actually performing that occasional chore. But it’s a very important topic. First, let us remind you that you can be fined up to $2,000 for discharging untreated sewage into inshore waters or within three miles of the coast — this includes the entire San Francisco Bay and Delta. More »