Get your boarding pass online and tour the Sense (55′) or the new Oceanis 41, 45 and 48 at your convenience.

The new Catalina 315 has the core attributes that made the 445 and 355 award-winning yachts. Features not found in many of the world’s yachts come standard with the Catalina 5 Series. Like her predecessors, the 315 has a bold emphasis on strength; a five-part structural construction insures a ruggedly-built boat that stands up to the test of time; a watertight StrikeZone™ collision bulkhead forward; a DeepDefense™ rudder system for failsafe steering, and the T-Beam MastStep™ system, with the benefits of a deck-stepped mast and strength of a keel-stepped mast. The SecureSocket™ mast support/chainplate system facilitates perfect load resolution and watertight integrity. Knitted fabrics create a stronger laminate without additional weight. And, Catalina’s trademark lead keels absorb impact for safety and require less maintenance than other materials.

On deck, the low profile cabin design has a sleek appearance and low windage, and the durable, diamond non-skid pattern adds an element of safety. An internal flange hull-to-deck joint is capped with a slotted toe rail, and the wide deck design allows effortless movement forward. Oversized traveler and winches ease sail handling in all conditions. “The deck of this boat has what every sailor wants – ergonomically correct features,” reported Gerry Douglas, vice-president and chief design engineer for Catalina Yachts. “The cockpit is optimized for efficiency and great visibility from the helm, with the instrument pods in easy line of sight, both port and starboard,” he said.

Below are solid surface countertops and solid teak interiors and laminates, hand-finished with satin and high-gloss varnish. Sleeping quarters have innerspring mattresses. The newly designed navigation panel has additional circuits for added options, plus a built-in amp draw meter to monitor electrical usage. The central modular filter locker is easily accessible. Quality fittings and hardware are recognizable, inside and out.

Like all Catalinas larger than 30 feet, the new 315 is robustly built to CE category A standards, NMMA Yacht Certified, and follows all applicable American Boat and Yacht Council Standards.

Catalina’s philosophy is straightforward: Design boats that stand up to real world conditions and sail well. They must be comfortable above and below, easy to maintain and hold their value. A commitment to owner satisfaction has enhanced customer confidence and loyalty, so that Catalina has become one of the most prominent builders of sailboats in the United States and the world.

The new Catalina 315 will debut at the 2012 Chicago Sailboat Show at Navy Pier January 26 – 29, 2012 at a base price of $116,495, FOB Largo, Florida. For more information, visit www.catalinayachts.com.

The Midwest’s only and the nation’s largest indoor all-sail boat show arrives January 26–29, 2012 at Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. The Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Chicago is a must-attend event for all sailors and has become one of Chicago’s favorite boat shows. The 2012 Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Chicago Show offers more boats, more gear, more seminars and more fun than ever!

Come see us in booths 240 and 260!

Click here to read our most recent newsletter for all the information.

The Unsalted Sailing Flotilla 2011 will offer newbie sailors as well as experienced hands a seven day sailing collaboration that begins Saturday, August 27th with a kick off reception and finishes Sunday, September 4th. A five day sailing option is also available. Weather dependent, the flotilla will sail waters of Grand Traverse and Little Traverse Bays, with the promise of showing even local sailors some sweet sailing spots they might not have experienced.

“The sailing fraternity is one big family,” noted Dave Conrad of Bay Breeze Yacht Charters. “And the flotilla is one of the best ways we know of to blend local sailors with sail enthusiasts from out of the area. Everyone’s invited, so the chemistry is bound to be good.”

He pointed out that Northern Michigan offers sailors some of the best cruising areas in North America. “We want to show off our area, as well as turn a lot of people onto sailing.”

The week-long event is being hosted and sponsored by BBYC , Snoloha, and Leelanau Wine Cellars.

Over the course of the cruise, American Sailing Association (ASA) classes will also be offered. Courses will fit all skill levels, from beginners to experienced sailors.

Unsalted Sailing Flotilla details are available at www.unsaltedsailing.com, as well as BBYC and Snoloha websites. Special merchandise designed for the flotilla is also available on the Snoloha website.

Summer Sailstice is a global holiday celebrating sailing held annually on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice, the longest sailing days of the year.

In 2010 sailors in 50 US states and 47 countries connected in a global celebration of sailing. Read stories from 2010 at Sailstice Tales and plan your 2011 sailing celebration.

Its easy to participate in Summer Sailstice and its free! Summer Sailstice participants simply register, go sailing and automatically become eligible to win one of over 400 prizes from our supporters, from a yacht charter with The Moorings to sailing gear from your favorite marine suppliers.

Visit the Summer Sailstice website for more information and to signup.

For those who seek to “Sail the Sunset” and share some sail time with us, we provide a rejuvenating retreat and getaway adventure from every day life.  You will find many great personal moments, and hopefully embrace the natural maritime beauty along with sailing fun, inspiration, and self discovery!  For our clients and customers, we serve with a desire for an unsurpassed sailing experience.

Bob and Ann have transitioned from mainstream business careers to the sailing lifestyle – allowing them to connect with nature and inspire people in positive ways. It’s about freedom, harmony, and purpose. “Freedom” means freedom of choice, freedom of time, and a way to freely use our talents and share interests, ”Harmony” means connecting with people, connecting with nature, connecting the experiences of our lives with others who will connect and be changed for the good.  “Purpose” is what drives a deeper meaning to why we sail – to provide an experience to connect people to people, people to nature, and because of that experience, our hope is that people leave inspired.  It’s not just about the sail, it’s about being a force for good.

Shop, compare and save at the ONLY all-sail boat show in the Midwest!

With nearly 300 exhibitors from around the world, Strictly Sail Chicago is a must-attend event for sailors or anyone interested in sailing.
Sailboats from 6–49 ft.—something for every lifestyle & budget

• The newest in sailing gear, accessories and hardware.
• Exciting charters: Plan a cruise or book your next excursion
• Extensive sailing seminar series for sailors of all abilities: Presentations  by John &  Amanda Neal, Lee Cheasneau, Pam Wall and more
• Sailing pond: Live remote control sailing returns—Challenge your family & friends to a race around the buoys

Hours:

Thursday & Friday 11am–8pm
Saturday 9am–7pm •     Sunday NEW! 10am–5pm

For advance tickets, show details and travel information visit StrictlySailChicago.com

*Present this card to the box office for a $2.00 discount or use the promo code exhpromo when purchasing tickets in advance online.   SAVE $2! *

New Thinking is the Common Denominator for 2011

Winners – sexier, faster, more maneuverable under power – make a quantum leap

Fresh ideas, innovative solutions, and, in one case, brand-new boathandling technology that could prove to be a real game-changer awaited the 2011 Boat of the Year judges as they went to work at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, over the long Columbus Day weekend. But I had a feeling that’d be the case, based on Cruising World’s preview of this year’s new models (see “New-Boat Preview 2011,” October 2010) and on what I’d seen at shows and during test sails earlier in the year.

After a couple of rough-and-tumble years for the new-boat marketplace, it was readily apparent this past fall that boatbuilders and designers have embraced the idea that coming up with new—really new—models that are sexier, faster, more comfortable, easier to sail, and more maneuverable under power is more important than ever. And you know who benefits from this? We do. I’ve been covering new boats for a long time now, and I honestly can’t remember a fleet of new designs that as a class was more intriguing.

Click here to read the entire article.

Read the entire article here.