Antares Feature Stories

Breadfruit, Nutmeg and Sail Trim: Antares U Heads for the Islands

When you buy an Antares 44i you get a unique opportunity to participate in Antares University - an in-depth boat orientation program. In the past, we've held our program in Charleston, SC, Kingston, ON and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This past December we invited new Antares owners to the Caribbean island of Grenada to not only get educated, but to also get a taste of cruising in the Caribbean.

[Link here for highlights from Antares U - Grenada]

Playing the Numbers Game in Pirate Alley

This past February, two Antares owners traveled across the Arabian Sea, into the Gulf of Aden and through the Red Sea. The region is notorious for pirate activity and this year saw the capture of two sailing yachts and the consequent murder of four Americans aboard SV Quest.

This is the story of cruising through the notorious 'Pirate Alley' as told by both John Wild, owner of Antares Spirit of Nina who was traveling around the world with the Blue Water Rallies organization, and Ron Bruce, owner of Antares Miss Jody who along with his wife Joanne, have been sailing around the world since the winter of 2005. [Link here to READ MORE]

Blue Dawn: the boat that doesn't cry

"It's been one hell of an adventure," says Alon, describing not only the time he's spent cruising on his Antares Blue Dawn form Buenos Aires, Argentina to Brazil and eventually in the Caribbean, but also about the relationships made with the people at Antares.

This isn't Alon’s first catamaran; in fact, he’s been sailing aboard what he describes as a “run of the mill” brand for the past 10 years. [Link here to READ MORE]

A First Voyage

Alberta Crewed sits at a dock in the turquoise Caribbean waters in Trinidad after sailing nearly 5000 miles up the coast of South America. Craig, Laurie and guest (there is always a guest) have just come back from exploring the beaches, their biggest decision is should they open one of the many bottles of Malbec they picked up in Mendoza or should they fix up a caipirinha – a favourite Brazilian drink made with a distilled sugarcane alcohol called cachaça?

[Link here to READ MORE]

Miss Jody in 'Pirate Alley"

"The first day was very pleasant. We sailed most of the time in light wind from the NE. Seas 2-4ft from the north. Our formation worked reasonable well. During the dark of the night a large wooden boat motored between us. He had no running lights or working lights. The last boat in our group saw him pass. So much for being stealth."

Ron & Joanne left Pensacola, FL in the winter of 2005 on their Antares Miss Jody to circumnavigate the world. In February, Ron, with another crew member, sailed from Uligamu, Maldives to Yemen and into the Red Sea through some of the world's most active pirate region. [Link here to read excerpts from his log]

Antares University in Argentina

The program took place in San Fernando - a few steps away from the Antares factory - at the Yacht Club Argentino. Participants learned about boat systems, boat handling and sailed along the Rio de la Plata. A trip to the factory and to the North Sails sail loft and an evening of Argentinean food completed the both social and educational program. Here are a few photographs from this year's program. [Link for more]

Miss Jody in Thailand

"This report is our 5th anniversary since Miss Jody departed Pensacola Fl on a six month trip to the Caribbean.  Some where along the way we lost our direction.

Miss Jody and crew have spent the last three months in Thailand. We anchored in Ao Chalong Bay off of the South end of Phuket- Thailand's most popular Island.  There are over 150 boats of all types anchored in the bay.  They are spaced 50-100 feet apart until the wind shifts , then it may be closer. " [Link here to READ MORE]

Miss Jody in China

"We passed a bicycle loaded down with tiny baskets full of singing crickets and grasshoppers. Michael explained that many people purchase them for pets because they bring good luck. The amount of noise coming from the bundle of baskets was amazing. Throughout our tour we would first hear the telltale sound of a cricket and then notice a tiny basket hanging by the door."

[Link here to READ MORE]

Miss Jody in Singapore

"From Tioman we traveled 180 miles further north to Palua Redang, a remote island group 25 miles off shore and not convenient to any large city... The occupancy was 95% Chinese, most from Singapore.  Their boat outings were a sight to behold, 25 to 50 persons on a big flat boat, all dressed in red life preservers, two to four boats arriving at one beach, every one jumps in the water and most stay in one spot laughing and having a good time."

[Link here to READ MORE]

Miss Jody's Southeast Asia Adventures

"We flew from Johor to Hanoi, Vietnam. What an amazing place!! It was fun to watch the locals travel on streets 25 feet wide, packed with bikes, motorcycles, cars and trucks. There are very limited traffic lights and no one observes the stop signs - the traffic seems to flow in all directions and when you get to an intersection you just merge."

[Link here to READ MORE]

A long way from Pensacola Bay - Miss Jody in Southeast Asia

Ron & Joanne left Pensacola, FL more than 3 years ago on their Antares Miss Jody to circumnavigate the world - currently they are sailing in Southeast Asia.

"Indonesia, our introduction to SE Asia. Another beautiful part of the world with names so strange we can hardly pronounce them. The worlds largest archipelago with 17,504 islands." [Link here to READ MORE]

13,009 miles aboard Miss Jody - Florida to Australia

"We arrived in Bundaberg Australia at 0700 on Oct 30, 2008. A 13 day passage to cover 1100 miles from Port Vila, Vanuatu. We spent 6 of those days at anchor in 2 of the numerous reef areas scattered across the Coral Sea...[more]

Antares University in Charleston for First Time

Participants also sailed the ICW and anchored for lunch in Hamlin Sound, learning proper bridge protocol, how to read charts and spotting the occasional dolphin along the way. [Link for more]

Scenes from Annapolis: Sea Trial Results

The Annapolis Boat Show is certainly a highlight for us - and this year was another exceptional year. This year's Antares 44i featured a full suit of laminate sails, the Antares MainTamer, and a beautiful Baltic Blue hull colour. Antares 44i Blue was this year's show boat. [more]

The Live-Aboard Experience

During the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD, we had the opportunity to interview Antares owners Pete and Tracy Richmond. Pete and Tracy have been living aboard KAVU full-time since they took ownership more than a year and a half ago. Following is the un-abridged interview. [more]