Passagemaker Magazine has announced the spring TrawlerFest will take place at the Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, WA from May 17^th – 21^st! The Pacific Northwest is a fantastic spot for cruising and an extensive trawler community, so we anticipate this to be a wonderful event with a great turnout.

The Anacortes Boat and Yacht Show featuring TrawlerFest already has a fantastic list of boats participating (hyperlink https://anacortesboatandyachtshow.com/boats-on-display/ ) and the seminar schedule is loaded with experienced and knowledgeable presenters. JMYS will be present as an event sponsor, and Jeff will be presenting and moderating the following seminars:

Dialing-In-Your-Trawler on May 17^th from 9am – 11am

Trawler Buying Tips on May 19^th from 11am – 2pm

Going Offshore on May 20^th from. 9am – 11am

Cruisers Perspective: A Town Hall Meeting on May 20^th from 4:30pm – 6:00pm

Tickets are now on sale! Use code Lucky20 for 20% off all seminar tickets!

We have a selection of photos taken from the event so you might see yourself, or, see what you missed!

The modern boating world offers many services and programs to ensure your safety out at sea. However, very few offer the daily updates and assurances of Passage Guardian, a completely free of charge safety service offered by Peter Mott to recreational cruising yachts conducting coastal and ocean passages. This service brings confidence to first time and even seasoned cruisers, and getting started with this service is easy – just simply file a float plan! We asked Peter a few questions to learn more about Passage Guardian.

How do you know Jeff?

I have known Jeff Merrill since 2006 when he brokered the purchase of our Nordhavn 47 “Southern Star”.  Jeff is a world authority on trawlers, immeasurably helpful, and a decent bloke.  A definite rarity in yacht brokerage.

When and why did you start Passage Guardian?

Passage Guardian and my maritime coast station Pacific Maritime Radio (opened in 2016) are dedicated to the seven crew of sailing vessel Nina which was lost in the Tasman Sea during a storm in 2013.

https://nzsar.govt.nz/assets/Downloadable-Files/Nina-Independent-Review-June-2014-1.pdf

It is thought SV Nina sank quickly without time to send a distress signal or activate an EPIRB.

I wanted to create a service that all recreational cruisers could access, and that would keep watch over them as they crossed the world’s oceans.  As well as providing the Passage Guardian service, I am a strong advocate for redundancy in communications technology aboard recreational vessels, and optimizing AIS systems to permit reliable tracking via satellite.

https://passageguardian.nz/pages/best-practice-ais-for-bluewater-sailing-yachts

How many people have used your service to date?

From establishing the service in 2016 through to 2020, when COVID-19 put a temporary end to recreational cruising, approx 200 vessels per year used Passage Guardian or checked in daily to my HF/SSB maritime station, mostly in the Pacific Ocean.  I am looking forward to borders being re-opened and recreational cruising to resume.

Have you ever needed to “save the day”?

My service exists to keep cruisers safe, and therefore not needing to be rescued.

There have been a handful of situations where a vessel has declared distress whilst I was talking to them on the high frequency (HF) radio and I have passed this information onto the rescue coordination centre.  The most notable was the Australian sailing vessel RAFIKI on a circumnavigation, which sank in International waters south of Alaska.  I was able to guide US CoastGuard resources out of Kodiak to the scene, resulting in two lives saved.

You have two primary information sources, why did you select them?

MarineTraffic.com has the features I need;

I setup vessel stopped notifications using MarineTraffic for each vessel subscribed to Passage Guardian, to alert me if they may be in difficulty.  Combined with weather data, I can make an assessment.

I look ahead on each vessel’s intended route for fishing fleets and provide information as to where they are well before they can be seen on the boat’s AIS.  This allows boats to adjust their route to stay clear of fishing vessels and their nets / lines.  This is particularly important at night, and in areas where there are large numbers of fishing vessels.

For single handed boats, I tell them about large merchant ships expected to cross ahead of them during their rest periods.  Knowing what’s ahead significantly aids rest, and helps sailors function better when on watch.

As I have full visibility of recreational vessel locations, I can suggest nearby vessels who may be able to assist with spare parts, engineering or medical support.  This typically occurs in the South Pacific Islands where there are few terrestrial AIS stations, and vessels are often anchored outside AIS and VHF radio range of each other.

PredictWind is the most popular and well-known weather routing solution available.  I use it because that’s what recreational vessels have aboard, and I can be another set of eyes on their weather.

What on board communications equipment should people have to better connect with you?

Iridium Go! with and external antenna for email, back-up voice, and backup tracking.

AIS transponder installed according to my best practice document for primary tracking

SatPhone with external antenna for primary voice comms.

Where are your services offered, and are there any plans to expand your service to other regions of the world?

My services are already offered globally.

You do this as a free service, kind of the email float plan man.  How can people support you for your efforts?

They can make a donation on my home page https://passageguardian.nz

How often should a client check in with you once they have left the dock?

Daily

Thank you, Peter! To find out more about Passage Guardian or to file your first float plan, visit https://passageguardian.nz!

The Nordhavn 40 KEMO SABE has closed in Delray Beach, Florida. Congratulations to the sellers, the new owners and their broker, as well as listing brokers John Hoffman and Jeff Merrill!

Jeff Merrill has always been a strong supporter of this particular sailing Nordhavn. While at PAE, he recorded a series of three Nordhavn 56 motorsailer YouTube videos.  In 2017, JMYS listed NordSail One and we filmed a Talk Through Tour that is still active.

As the owner of NordSail One, you will have a variety of underway options to enjoy the journey with easily furled sails and possibly the most efficient engine package ever installed on a sailing yacht. Inside, her two staterooms and living areas are not only beautifully crafted with varnished teak and granite countertops, but also incredibly space efficient.

Ready to learn more? JMYS has created a new Talk View Tour with unused footage from 2017.

Watch Talk View Tour

To learn more about NordSail One, visit her dedicated website: https://nordhavn56forsale.com

Please contact listing broker, Jeff Merrill, to schedule your viewing appointment.

Jeff Merrill | mobile +1 949.355.4950 (call or text) | email: Jeff@JMYS.com

JMYS is pleased to announce the successful sale of the Nordhavn 43 Cayenne.  She was surveyed in Ensenada, Mexico and closed in U. S. waters off of San Diego, CA. Jeff Merrill represented both buyer and seller.  Congratulations to the sellers and many happy cruising adventures ahead to the new owners.

Peter Swanson, a longtime marine industry friend of Jeff’s, has an extensive knowledge of the industry and once held the position of editor-in-chief at Passagemaker Magazine and played a large role in organizing TrawlerFests. Peter’s best talent is as a writer and he has adopted the column handle “Loose Cannon” (which is a perfect fit if you know Peter).

At JMYS, we try to steer clear of divisive topics like politics, religion (and now vaccinations).  Our focus is on trawlers and getting everyone out on the water as floating equals. But when it comes to defining a yacht, we feel we have the experience and knowledge to weigh in on that conversation.

Peter asked Jeff to comment on a particular steel motor boat that serves as a getaway of sorts for a Washington, DC politician who is currently making headlines.

Peter’s article is about definitions, not policies, and since this was written for a publication in West Virginia, we figured you probably didn’t see it.

Again, we aren’t picking sides here.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and when you read the article you can make your own judgement on this serious matter: Trawler Yacht, Containership, or Houseboat?

2022 is here, have you made your cruising plans?

Make sure to leave room for a stop in Stuart, FL for the first TrawlerFest of 2022 to be held March 1^st – March 5^th at the Marriot Hutchinson Island Resort and Marina.

This packed event will offer more than 30 seminars and plenty of opportunities to mingle with fellow trawler enthusiasts! The seminar schedule has been released and tickets are now on sale.

Jeff will be presenting/moderating the following seminars:

Offshore Essentials on March 2nd from 1pm – 3pm

(Moderating) The Boat Buyer’s Guide on March 3rd from 2pm – 5pm

(Moderating) Ask The Experts: A Town Hall Meeting on March 4^th from 3pm – 5pm

Dialing In Your Trawler on March 5th from 12pm – 2pm

Follow the link below to find the full seminar schedule, tickets, and information on discounted lodging on site using the Passagemaker group rate.

Use code “JMYS” for 15% off all tickets and seminars.

Buy Tickets:

https://www.passagemaker.com/trawlerfest/trawlerfest-stuart-2022