Category: Uncategorized

Just Launched – Taswell 49

Published in SAIL Magazine, 1988 Just Launched – Taswell 49 by Tom Dove Any list of the world’s top quality yacht builders would have to include Ta Shing, and their new Taswell 49 illustrates the reason. This center cockpit long range cruising cutter combines a moderate hull form with intelligent detailing and an interior that Read More …

Just Launched – PDQ 34

First  published in SAIL Magazine, 1989 Just Launched – PDQ 34 by Tom Dove If you can keep your way when those about you are losing theirs, you are probably sailing a PDQ 34. This spacious catamaran has remarkable light air ability. According to Canadian builder David Slater, the PDQ 34 is at its best Read More …

Just Launched – Condor 30

First published in SAIL Magazine, 1990 Just Launched – Condor 30 by Tom Dove The Condor 30 may not impress you dockside with its functional, simple interior but take it sailing and your opinions will change quickly. We thoroughly enjoyed sailing this boat which has all the fun of a planing dinghy combined with the Read More …

The Multihull Thrill

First published 11/24/89 in several Maryland newspapers The Multihull Thrill by Tom Dove After thirtysomething years of sailing monohull boats, I finally got a chance to find out what all the catamaran and trimaran fuss is about. As part of my continuing assignment to test new sailboats for SAIL magazine, my wife, Pam, and I Read More …

New Boat Features 1988

Originally published in several Maryland newspapers; 11/11/88 Test sailing the new boats by Tom Dove One of the perquisites of being a boat tester is that you can try out all the newest technology on somebody else’s boat without having to buy it. My wife, Pam, and I have sailed a number of new and Read More …

1989 United States Sailboat Show

Originally published in October 1989 What’s New In Sailboats by Tom Dove At the 1989 United States Sailboat Show sailors will see an evolution and refinement among traditional monohull craft and a blossoming of designs in multihulls. The Dennis Connor/Michael Fay America’s Cup aberration last year may have generated more hard feelings than sportsmanship but Read More …

The Right Boat

Originally published 4/28/89 in several Maryland newspapers The Right Boat by Tom Dove You probably wouldn’t choose a Chevrolet sedan to drive across Africa. You might make it, but there are more suitable vehicles for the trip – a Land Rover, for instance. The same Land Rover isn’t really right for a trip across the Read More …

Sea Stories

Browsing through my 24-year collection of published articles about sailing and boating (more than 1000 in all), I’ve decided to start posting a number of them on this blog. In future weeks, look for a more-or-less chronological series of magazine and newspaper articles originally published in SAIL Magazine, Cruising World, Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Waterway Guide, Read More …

The Family

Genealogy is more than finding tombstones. It’s the door that we came through to get here and a window back to see where we came from. Tracing your family gives you a direct link to human history, cultural geography and the development of ideas. It’s neat stuff. My progeny comprises a daughter, Jennifer Carrita, a Read More …

Orange Blossom Cannonball

This has to be the most conflicted railroad image that words ever assembled. How do you assemble flowers into a weapon, anyway? No matter. The Orange Blossom Cannonball is gorgeous. Everybody must love a train like this. If you have seen an old train in a movie, this was it. Literally. The perfectly restored 1903 Read More …