London to Monacooooooooooo! Part Deux
byOhhhhhhh, it’s good to be back in the fair country of France under a warm sun with good people doing good things for the ocean and…
Yachts, Adventure, Luxury, and Tech
This is why I ride
byHi Folks! I’m finally blowing the dust and the cobwebs off the ol’ Swizzle blog here because I’m taking a few days off from my beloved…
The Best Job In The World Just Got Better
byHi everybody! It’s been several months since my last post. But I have a new job and a good excuse. I’ve been crazy busy in my…
Bermuda is special
byIt just is. It was the first real “foreign country” I visited (as a 23-year-old) wannabe sailor/adventurer/runaway. Bermuda’s round “entry by sea” stamp was the first one,…
Warm People+Warm Beaches+Stunning Beauty=Mexico’s Baja California Sur
byMy recent fact-finding, fun-having, friend-making, and expectation-exceding trip the magical Mexican beachfront paradise at the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Sur has produced a warmth that goes…
Antarctica Changes You
byI honestly don’t know where to start. I don’t know what photos to post. I don’t know what stories to tell. And after being immersed in…
In The Wake Of Joshua Slocum
byI guess you could say that we all travel in the wake of Joshua Slocum, really. His solo sailing exploits around the world at the turn of…
When They Go Low, We Go South…Like Antarctica South
byI just bet that I’m not the only one that looks at the news, and some of small, fearful, dishonest, short-sighted, hyper-self-centered people making some very big…
Gratitude List 2016
byI love the week between Christmas and New Years. We always spend that time in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and bask in the down home…
What’s it like to fly a sexy, clearcoated carbon-fiber hull on the 66-foot-long, badass-fast HH66 “cruising” catamaran?
byWell, I had to fly about 10,000 miles (over the North Pole no less) to fly-a-hull and find out just how fast, luxurious, and well-built a brand-new…
Who wants to run away with me to the Magnificent Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo?
byAs one of the lucky ones who gets to travel to some of the world’s most special destinations, I’ve been welcomed at more than my fair…
A Bunch Of “Stiffs” Push Phaedo³ up over 25-Knots in Preperation For The RORC Transatlantic Race
byThe only thing I can say about the crew of Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD 30 Phaedo³ after today’s ultra-high speed #mannequinchallenge during the lead up to the…
Offshore sailing will never be the same again
byShortly after I was one of the lucky ones to be aboard when the first fully foiling “cruising” catamaran took flight, I shot this amazing video (Turn up the…
Flying Private
byThe magnificently opulent Principality of Monaco on the French Riviera attracts VIPs from all over the world. They come to gamble in its famous casino. They…
Can someone show me how to get back to the ocean, please?
byOkay, this post goes out to all of you who’ve been hoping to get a daily dose of salt water serendipity from ol’uncle Swizzle, but have…
I’m really not all that into bikes but…Robin Williams’ collection is something special
byUm, yes, I have a totally Gucci bike. I admit it and I’m incredibly grateful for it. It even has full carbon wheels that I honestly…
The Aston Martin AM37 requires a Tuxedo to Test
bySince speed and style is sexy (and sells), it’s easy to see why many sportscar manufacturers want to design, build, and put their brand on high-performance…
London Monaco Ride: The Story in Photos
byWe have all come back to earth after riding across France for the Blue Marine Federation. But since the ultra-pro Jonathan Bond’s photos from the London Monaco ride tell the…
Le Grande Finale: London To Monaco Ride Stage 10
byI know I’m not the only one that doesn’t want to let go of the utterly transformative London Monaco experience that we have all just shared. And…
The Queen Stage: London to Monaco Day 8
byThanks to the instant magic of social media, you’ve all seen that we arrived in Monaco with hearts bursting with love and faces that hurt from…
Epicness²: London to Monaco Ride Day 7
byI know “epicness” is not a word. So you can’t really multiply “epicness” by itself to produce “epicness²” but that’s just what happened on day 7…
Cycling To The Monaco Yacht Show Is Challenging, Good For The Planet (And You), And Most Of All, Fun
byA diverse team of bike riders that’s participating in the London to Monaco charity bike ride is halfway to Monaco. In fact, since I’m writing this…
Why we ride: London Monaco Ride Stage 4
byToday was the 4th day in a row that a good-sized group of cyclists of all shapes, sizes, experience, and nationalities have come together to accomplish several common…
Epic 130-mile Day: London Monaco Ride Stage 3
byMaybe I’m weird but, I’m very grateful for the chance to get up at 5 AM to finish the final edits of my upcoming feature story…
Bonjour France: 100 miles of awesome on day 2 of the London Monaco ride
byEven after all the excitement yesterday’s start at the Tower of London, and the amazing romp through the English countryside, our arrival in France, today’s 100-hammer on French…
London Monaco Ride: Chapter 1
byIt’s late and I’m wicked jet lagged, but I can’t go to bed without at least posting a bit of a ramble on the fantastic, long-awaited,…
Going to windward on a Morris M42 is good for the soul
byMorris Yachts‘ Cuyler Morris and I have been going to windward…for years. He and I have sailed more than a few offshore miles together on virtually every…
Happy 300th Birthday Boston Light!
byI don’t use exclamation points in titles that often (actually I don’t think I ever have), and Boston Light’s official “birthday” isn’t until tomorrow, and the story of…
London-Monaco Bike Ride Combines Superyachts, Royal Palaces, Cycling, And Saving The Oceans
byLondon-based Winch Design is a creative and award-winning firm that has designed the interiors of some of the most stunning superyachts, private residences, and private jets…
See The 5 Largest Yachts And The New VIP Club At The Cannes Yachting Festival
byThe Cannes Yachting Festival (taking place in the South of France from September 6-11) kicks off the season in elegant and oh-so luxurious surroundings on the tony shores…
5-Star Resort Report: Guana Island BVI
byWith the prospect of icy winds, and ice dams, and the temperature topping out at a ridiculous, polar-vortex-induced 3 degrees above zero returning to the Northeast…
Bikes. Boats. Protecting Our Oceans. Bellissimo!
byNow, you folks out there who have come to expect a heaping helping of fast boats, and opulent boats, and luxurious boats, and beautiful beaches, and sun…
Inside Le Tour de France: Riding Stage 6
byRiding the last 50 miles of Stage 6 in this year’s Tour “Pro-Am” was simply, surreal. That’s the only way I can explain it. Everything, from the…
Reducing Waste Makes a Big Difference at the Vineyard Cup
byI just love these bullet points I got from the folks who just put on the Vineyard Cup regatta over in one of my favorite preppie enclaves…
Inside Le Tour de France: Inside The Peloton
byI had a feeling that riding in an official car in Le Tour de France was going to be “sick.” I just didn’t think it would…
Inside Le Tour de France: Hangin’ With Cav, Kittel, and Peter Sagan
bySo, what was the first thing that happened when I got out of the official tour car that pulled in behind the barriers at the stage…
Inside Le Tour de France: Le Private Jet
byLe Tour de France is even more magical in person than I imagined it would have been. And that’s coming from a guy who’s expectations were already…
Miles Davis, Marco Pantani, and Me
byI’m utterly compelled to watch the vid of “il Pirata” blazing up through Italian mountain towns in the drops because it’s…..compelling. The maliga rosa. The bald…
Come with me on the ultimate, insiders tour of…Le Tour de France
byI’m serious. If you’re into cycling, or the French countryside, or the absolute pinnacle of sports, or most importantly, if you are looking for a joyful…
These Utterly British Watches offer an high-quality respite from the current Brexit turmoil
byIt’s no secret that the utterly British luxury brand co-founded by brothers Giles and Nick English has quickly established itself as one of the world’s premier…
Can Sunglasses made from ocean plastic Help People, the Planet, AND look cool too?
byDuring my wanderings as a yachting and travel writer, sunglasses are as much an occupational necessity as they are the requisite expression of what my wife says is my “unique”…
Sailing to Bermuda in 30 to 50 knots is a great way to lose weight
byWe weren’t expecting what was waiting for us. The warmth of the sunrise, a slowly building northerly breeze, and some of the strongest coffee on the…
Comanche: Here’s what 25 knots of easy, breezy, record breaking boatspeed looks like
bySometimes things just fall into place. Like yesterday’s little pre-Newport Bermuda Race practice run we did from Newport to Block Island and back on Jim Clark’s 100-foot…
Smilin.’ Hull Flyin.’ And buzzing the tower like Tom Cruise in Top Gun
bySo, the title pretty much sums up this story like the 14-Mile Sunfish Cruise sums up last weekends hi-jinx. But the cool thing about buzzing the committee…
Sometimes You Simply Need To Go For a 14-Mile-Long, Cape Cod Sunfish Cruise
byI’d actually wanted to sail my mighty Sunfish to Nantucket. The plan was to shadow the FIGAWI fleet on its annual booze-cruise to the cobbled streets of…
130 Miles Of Awesome: Biking From Belmont to Provincetown In A Day (Redux)
bySoooo, my annual, get-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and-ride-130-miles-on-or-about-my-birthday-to-officially-kick-0ff-summer is almost upon us again. And since I’ve been running way more than riding these days, I’ve warmed up a post from…
Behold The Awesomeness
byOk, so, I’m a dad. And I love my cute little family. But I still like to ride expensive bikes and sail fast boats with my…
Indian Ocean Exotic: Sailing in the Seychelles
byWarm, sweet air washed over us like aromatherapy. After 30-some hours of flying from Boston to Mahé Island off the east coast of Africa, Caroline and…
The magic and utter insignificance of an internet troll
byI’m hardly the first person to report that the internet is an amazing, equalizing, entertaining, informative and at times, even kinda inspirational communication platform. And I’m…
Sailing Shout-Out: Exotic. Iconic. Cuba.
byThe following is an excerpt from a fantastic post about a recent sail to Cuba written by my friend Andy Schell of 59 North, Ltd. Please…
America’s Cup Behind The Scenes: Sir Ben Ainslie Knows Best
byMy buddy JC (who happens to live in TriBeCa) has asked some very good questions regarding this weekend’s historic, high-profile, fantastic—and frustrating—America’s Cup World Series event…
Superyacht spotlight: Tripp-designed 280-foot superyacht is NOT too big to SAIL
bySince I’ve been following and writing about this 280-foot “superyacht that actually sails well”since 2014, I feel weirdly connected to it, and vicariously proud that she…
America’s Cup + NYC + Star Power + Behind the Music= Game Of Thrones?
byIt may have been rainy. And cold. And the combination of ultra-light winds and ripping current may have forced an early stop to the “racing.” In…
America’s Cup: Behind The Music
byYou remember “rock-umentaries”—tales of long-haired musicians achieving rock star heights only to have it all come crashing down in “creative differences” and car crashes—that played on VH1…
8 Pro Sailing Instagram Feeds You Should Follow Right Now
byI started my career as a “sailing journalist” on April 10th, 1995. It was sunny and crisp Spring day. I wore a striped tie, a hand-me-down…
Mercedes-Benz designers meld high-tech and high-style on a brand new yacht
byMercedes-Benz designers are no strangers to high performance boats. In fact, muscle car fast, Mercedes-AMG “inspired” Cigarette power boats have been around for a while. And come to…
Superyachts, Super-fast yachts, Summertime, and…The Mighty Sunfish
byI don’t care if the temps are hovering in the high 30’s, and the snow is still flying north of the Massachusetts border. It’s time to celebrate…
America’s Cup Racing Returns To New York City After Almost 100 Years
byThis is not the first time the iconic silver “America’s Cup” has returned to New York after a team of Australians beat Dennis Conner and the New York…
Les Voiles de St. Barth serves up hot racing, cool parties, and loads and loads of luxury
byHaving just returned to planet Earth after racing aboard a brand-new, 100-foot-long racing yacht at Les Voiles de St. Barth (and swimming, and running, and partying, and lounging by the…
Galateia gives Comanche a run for her money at Les Voiles Des St. Barth
byOk, so, I’ve just spent a spectacular day racing aboard the 100-foot-long Wally Cento Galateia with the legendary Tom Whidden of the North Marine Group calling tactics, Jim Pugh (of…
Luxury Race Report: Les Voiles Des Saint Barth (preview)
byOk. So…I was told the infinity pools go on to infinity here in magical St. Barth. But, whaaaat, this is NOT and infinity pool! However, the…
When the going gets tough, the tough go to St. Barth
byThe Les Voiles Des St Barth (and the Caribbean 600 for that matter) are relative newcomers to the spring Caribbean racing circuit, but man, they really…
46 Knots Today. 50 Knots Tomorrow.
byOh hum. “46 knots today. 50 tomorrow” is the matter-of-fact description that kiteboard/kiteboat visionary Don Montague posted with this video clip of what he and his…
Chillin’ like Richard Branson in the BVI (sort of)
byWith neighboring islands owned by Sir Richard Branson, the fun-loving founder of the Virgin Group (Necker), and Google co-founder Larry Page (Eustatia), it would be a…
Bermudaaaaahhhh
byAs a guy who’s been lucky enough to spend more than my fair share of time on exclusive islands around the world, and more specifically, summer…
Caribbean Kismet
bySometimes things just work out…. I wasn’t supposed to be on this trip. Meetings in Boston. Basement remodel. Bidding war for the house of our dreams….
When the going gets tough…the tough get going on a 90 mile downwind sleigh ride from St. Martin to Virgin Gorda
bySo…things have been pretty “sporty” in Swizzle-land recently. And the manic pace shows no signs of slowing up now. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not…
ORACLE TEAM USA’s Tom Slingsby talks about their recent capsize in Bermuda
byYou’ve all seen the video of ORACLE TEAM USA doing their little whooopsie in Bermuda recently. But what I really wanted to know was…what really happened?…
When the going gets tough, the tough go to Bermuda
byThis upcoming press trip to Bermuda couldn’t have been better timed. And I couldn’t be more grateful to be invited to escape the gray Northeast and experience…
Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Kicks Off In…Oman
byIt’s good to be king. Or, in the Sultanate of Oman on the Arabian peninsula, it’s good to be His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. But…
Mercedes-AMG+Cigarette Racing Team=100 MPH Muscle
byMercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing have teamed up again to “pump up the performance” with the launch of the Cigarette Racing Team 41’ SD GT3. It’s billed as the most…
Ever Wonder What It Would Be Like To Own A 252-Foot-Long, $86 Million Dollar Superyacht?
byTo say the 252-foot long, Silver Fast is aptly named is a bit of an understatement. It’s capable of achieving top speeds close to 29 knots. It has a…
Brenta 80 Boat Porn
byI’m going to make a prediction. The new Brenta 80 DC is going to be the star of the Miami International Boat Show later this month (the Strictly Sail portion to be…
How To Charter A Boat In The Tropics (Part 1)
byThere’s nothing better than sitting in front of a roaring fire when the wind is whipping, and the snow is flying, and the temps hovering in the…
Ocean Astronaut
by“The smiling, stubble-faced 35-year-old owner and co-skipper of the lime-green and chrome MOD70 trimaran Phaedo3 is still trembling with adrenaline hours after he and a small crew of…
Gratitude List
byAs is often the case, the idea for this post came to me in the middle of the night. This is partly because we’ve been a…
Trailrunning in the Tropics
byMy much better half Caroline, our talkative 3-year-old, Sam, and I have just returned from truly inspiring week spent on a truly magical island in the…
Adventure Style
byThe new line of expedition yachts from Dutch shipbuilders Damen shows that there’s much more to some superyachts than meets the eye. In fact, since Damen’s designers and…
Badass. Bugatti. Boat.
byThe makers of the world’s fastest production super sports car, Bugatti, and the world’s largest motor yacht builder, Palmer Johnson, are embarking on a joint project. Under licence…
PHAEDO3 SAILS 690 MILES IN 24 HOURS, CLAIMS LINE HONORS
byPhaedo³ Co-skipper Brian Thompson (pictured below) is not only a world record holding speed demon and bona fide MOD70 Jedi Master, he’s also a genuine good guy…
MOD Mania Rips Across the Atlantic at over 30 knots
byHere’s a little taste of the roostertail speed aboard Phaedo³.–BS The MOD70’s that are currently ripping across the Atlantic in the RORC Transatlantic Race may have just…
Mid-Atlantic Onboard Report From Phaedo³
byThe following is a direct report from Phaedo³ Co-Skipper Brian Thompson as he and the crew of Lloyd Thornburg’s chrome and lime green MOD 70 trimaran rip…
Offshore, Offline, and the Essence of Ocean Crossing
byAs the world continues to erupt into violence, bigotry, hatred and…the banality of red Starbucks cups or the size of Kim Kardashian’s ass being “news,” I’m even…
Time to Drool Over (and vote for) The Best Yacht Racing Photography Of The Year
byI admit I’m a bit biased but, wouldn’t you agree that nothing can stimulate the senses or evoke images of power, and freedom, and the intoxicating effects…
Superyacht Racing Can Be Way More Than Just a Spectator Sport
bySailboat racing has always been exclusive. And superyacht racing is uber exclusive BUT…the paradox is…it’s not as exclusive as pro football, or Formula One, or any…
What’s it like aboard this totally PREPPIE superyacht?
bySuperyachts are migratory creatures that follow the sun and the whims of their wealthy owners to enclaves of exclusivity all over the world. And the paradox…
What’s it really like to sail at 35 knots on Phaedo³?
byI’ve spent a bunch of time with Owner/driver Lloyd Thornburg and his merry band of speed freaks so I could see what it’s like to sail crazy fast…
Could this be the next “Bond Boat”?
byIt would be if it were up to me. I say this after learning about this 40-foot-long, hundreds of horse power-powered, hydrofoil that’s being developed by Sunreef Yachts in…
What’s it like to do 16.8 knots on a Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 in a race?
byThe short answer is…adrenline-pumpingly-awesome. And I’ve been lucky enough to sail on some pretty darn fast multihulls this year. So, needless to say, I’ve acquired a bit…
Megayachts in Monaco
byAs was noted earlier this month, the French Riviera is the place to scratch your superyacht itch in September. But the true megayachts (those well over 200-feet-long), don’t…
Newport Boat Show Preview: Gunboat G4
bySince I was one of the lucky ones to “fly” aboard the Gunboat G4 when it was first “launched” in St. Maarten last Spring, and there…
Fiat Heir Lapo Elkann Unveils His Ultra-Stylish New Speedboat
byAccording to a recent ForbesLife profile written by Guy Martin about the ultra-cool, ultra stylish, ultra-Italian heir to the Fiat fortune (and owner of other business ventures), Lapo…
Who you callin’ a “limousine liberal?”
byMegayachts and the VIP’s that own them always draw attention (and rightfully so), but the incredible variety of craftsmanship and design that you’ll find in all of the…
Hidden Caribbean Treasure: Coco Point Lodge
byThe Coco Point Lodge is special for many reasons. But it all starts with this impossibly unblemished beach on an island in the West Indies that many people…
7 Must-See Yachts You’ll Find at the Cannes Yachting Festival
byThe French Riviera is well known for attracting some of the world’s most glamorous people and most of the world’s most outrageous superyachts during the Cannes Film…
All The Cool Kids Are Doing It
byTurns out I’ve been all wrong about the speed craze that’s rocked world of sailing (at least my world) these days. In fact I’ve found something that’s way,…
Bliss at the Banyan Tree
byPicture yourself in this pool. It’s sunny. And hot―like 1,000 miles off the East Coast of equatorial Africa hot. The palm trees are rustling. The waves…
24-Hours of Luxury At the St. Regis Hotel In Florence With a 1-Year-Old
byAs I learned while travelling in Tuscany with my wife and our cute, and oh-so-bald one-year old, a luxuriously stimulating and restorative visit to Florence with…
Private Planes, Trains, Automobiles…and Crazy Fast Boats?
byThe Andrew Winch Design firm has a well-earned reputation for designing the interiors of some of the most stunning superyachts in the world. But as I learned during…
Planes, Trains, Automobiles…Helicopters…Crazy Fast Boats…
byI’m feeling pretty lucky to be on the magical mystery tour I seem to have found myself on during this glorious month of July. That’s because…