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• Catalina 12.5 Expo
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MAINSHEET MAGAZINE

• TRUE NORTH YACHTS

A legacy built on precision, innovation and unmistakable American craftsmanship.

Elevate your sailing experience with a touch of true American Luxury.

CHEERS! TO OUR OWNERS, DEALERS & TEAM

A key to our success and longevity is the relationship and communication with our owners, dealers and team. For more than 50 years they have propelled us forward as America’s largest sailboat builder.

We are a Catalina family.

MEET OUR FLEET

We’re not just building sailboats; we’re creating experiences that resonate with the essence of American Luxury. Our fleet is a testament to a legacy built on precision, innovation, and the spirit of adventure, with the unmistakable touch of American craftsmanship.

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Find your dealer.

We have a roster of dealers across the country who represent the Catalina fleet and there’s a good chance they’re planing a show, event or open house to showcase their in-stock Catalina models.

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Performance hardware, sails, custom apparel, mats, sheets and much more!

The official publication for thousands of Catalina Yachts sailboat owners around the world.

FORGING AHEAD

From the past 50 years, and to the next 50, Catalina is devoted to providing owners and dealers with quality and value that has made Catalina America’s largest sailboat builder.

Frank Butler’s vision and philosophy carries forward with Sharon Day, who worked alongside Frank for 48 years, at the helm of a veteran leadership team.

TRUE NORTH BY CATALINA

True North initiates Catalina’s entry into the growing market segment of Downeast-style powerboats and promises traditional style with great performance and Catalina value.

PROUDLY OWNED, DESIGNED & BUILT IN AMERICA

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PARTS & TECH SUPPORT

727-544-6681

7200 Bryan Dairy Rd

Largo, FL. 33777

• THE CHRISTENSEN DIFFERENCE
• YACHTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Christensen Difference

A YACHT OWNER'S SHIPYARD  Nearly four decades ago a successful contractor named Dave Christensen couldn’t find a rugged, beautifully finished U.S.-built yacht, so he decided to build his own. When he succeeded, he decided he could offer the same quality and reliability to other yacht owners, and so Christensen Shipyards was born.

Today, Christensen continues the company’s original founding vision to deliver  beautiful, ocean-going yachts  to other fellow yachtsmen. Today, Christensen is led by two owners – who have owned six Christensen yachts – and are committed to elevating Christensen Yachts to new heights in quality and the building experience.

With nearly 1,000 man-years of boat building experience under one roof, Christensen offers an incomparable workforce. Each of our 120 boat builders is committed to honesty and transparency to ensure each boat is not only built to the highest quality, but delivered on time and on budget.

When Dave Christensen opened the shipyard he had a sign put over the entrance, “Through these doors pass the finest boat builders in the world.” To which the shipyard’s new owners add: “And the world’s most satisfied yacht owners.”

• RELIABILITY
• TRANSPARENCY

RELIABILITY  Fiberglass construction results in significantly less maintenance, freeing the crew to focus on keeping the yacht running like a five star hotel. Metal hulls often result in blistering, rust, corrosion and the growth of mold. Every captain and yacht manager knows that the success of the yacht for its owner and guests relies on its crew. With more crew man-hours available to enhance the yachting experience, a composite fiberglass boat offers a distinct advantage in overall success for the vessel.

COMFORT  Composite hulls are fully insulated, thus eliminating the “double boiler” effect, especially in warmer cruising climates, which in solid laminate and metal boats results in significant condensation that can lead to corrosion, damage of interior finishes and mold infestation. In addition, the foam-cored structure of Christensen construction provides a natural absorption of mechanical and structural energy that significantly reduces shipboard noise transmission and vibration.

STRENGTH  All Christensen yachts are built with the finest composite materials available. Our cutting-edge construction process includes large-scale vacuum infusion coupled with proprietary in-house techniques to create a strength-to-weight ratio seven times stronger than steel and solid laminate. This makes all Christensen yachts true deep water, transoceanic global explorers. The superior strength of infused composite construction is shown in the photo to the right. When balanced between two points on bow and stern inferior construction methods will cause other hulls to buckle as much as eight inches, while hulls built at Christensen have a barely measurable deflection.

TRANSPARENCY   We believe that creative people working together with a common purpose and common goals is the way to ensure superb yachts and happy, satisfied customers. Inspired teamwork is the only way to produce a world-class boat on time and on budget. Cementing that team work is a new ownership that in 2016 introduced an industry-leading profit-sharing program among its employees with a full 1/3 of its annual operating profit going back to the workforce in the form of bonuses. The shipyard's motto is "Whatever it Takes" and every quarter an employee who best exemplifies this philosophy is singled out to receive the company's WIT Award. Shared commitment, shared values and shared profit is a winning combination at Christensen Shipyards and a guarantee of our clients will get the very best from out talented and dedicated boat builders every hour of their yacht's construction. 

Full transparency is also the order of the day. Clients will never have to worry about how many hours have been spent on their boats. We offer full accounting for every dollar and every man-hour spent on the boat and are committed to maintaining an equitable balance of work versus progress payments. We believe that transparency is key to a happy and successful building experience for our clients and their project management team. 

INNOVATION  Smarter. Better. Faster. These principles guide a never-ending drive to improve both the quality of Christensen's products as well as its construction processes. The company has become a world leader in FRP vacuum-bag constriction, a process that saves time and money, and results in lighter and stronger hulls, decks and superstructures. No builder in the world spends more time in R&D than Christensen. For example, every new hull is thoroughly tested with heat guns to locate spaces where additional insulation can be added. Christensen's use of four small full synchronized and auto-managed generators-- rather than two or three large gensets-- keeps electricity from being wasted in load banks and minimized wear and tear. The newest innovations include building our own comprehensive HVAC systems, replacing copper nickel salt water piping with composite piping and incorporating easy to repair or replace compressors. Christensen's next launch, Hull 38, will feature Christensen's first truly integrated "glass bridge" a development the company believes will vastly improve the functionality and beauty of the bridge while at the same time dramatically lowering the cost and raising the reliability of the entire navigation package. 

OUR COMMITMENT IS TO BUILD WORLD CLASS SEAGOING MOTOR YACHTS FINISHED BY THE FINEST AMERICAN CRAFTSMEN TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE

METALWORK The Christensen metal department is an efficient, modern facility housing the world’s most talented metal smiths. These craftsmen create handrails, stairways, anchor pockets and myriad other stainless steel parts that are fit to precision and polished to a mirror finish. Christensen prides itself in the use of only the highest-grade stainless steel stock, resulting in exceptional finishes that will last for the life of the vessel. 

STONEWORK Christensen sources the highest quality marble, onyx, quartz, granite and limestone from around the world. Slabs of stone are brought right to our facilities for fabrication. Using modern water jet cutting, sanding and edging machines, the yard’s master stone workers transform these raw materials into intricate inlaid floors, book-matched panels, and handcrafted counter tops of unsurpassed quality and beauty.

WOODWORK Christensen is known worldwide for the superiority of its built-in cabinetry and woodworking finishes. In cooperation with a client’s designer, the yard’s master woodworkers can turn virtually any species of wood into a superlative yacht interior. All of the shipyard’s cabinetry related skills including painting, varnishing, sanding and buffing takes place in modern shops with environmentally controlled finishing booths.

UPHOLSTERY The quality of the upholstery work at Christensen shows in every stitch. Unlike many yards, which employ subcontractors for the many pillows, cushions, headliners and built-in furnishings, we work one-on-one with world-renowned yacht interior designers, to achieve our client’s exact wishes.

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF  One thing that distinguishes Christensen Shipyards is the extent of the work done by our in-house boat builders. Elegant woodwork, exquisite and elaborate stonework, impeccable stainless steel, and custom upholstery are all done onsite by our master craftsman in modern facilities, using state-of-the-art tools and machinery. By keeping as many trades as possible in-house, Christensen can maintain it's high finish standards as well as control it's production process. Using computer-driven CNC machines, Christensen can very quickly build custom components for its boats, including such built in features as exterior settees, bars, cabinets, hot tub surrounds, and Bimini tops. While other yards outsource trades such as cabinetry, painting, piping and electrical installation, Christensen is proud to offer all of the skills and trades necessary to build a world-class yacht under one roof. 

Yachts Under Construction

Christensen has two 50M yachts now under construction and available for purchase. Christensen also offers the immediate availability to begin an additional hull. 

Hull 38 - Scheduled Launch 2018

A Classic Christensen Yacht matching the pedigree of great yachts such as Silver Lining and D'Natalin IV.

164' (50m) Series

Hull 42 - Projected Launch 2019

A Modern Christensen Yacht in the style of the Award Winning yachts Chasseur and Odessa. 

Avaliable 2019

FLEET GALLERY

Christensen yachts.

View Hull 30 "Party Girl" Photo Gallery

View Hull 31 "Lady Joy" Photo Gallery

View Hull 32 "Casino Royale" Photo Gallery

View Hull 33 "Primadonna" Photo Gallery

View Hull 34 "Odessa" Photo Gallery

View Hull 35 "Remember When" Photo Gallery

View Hull 36 "Silver Lining" Photo Gallery

View Hull 37 "D'Natalin IV" Photo Gallery

View Hull 40 "Chasseur" Photo Gallery

Shipyard locations, state of the art facilities.

Vancouver, Washington, USA

Full-service shipyard and marina.

Christensen's flagship facility is located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, in Vancouver, Washington directly across the mighty Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, minutes from the historic Pearson Field Airport KVUO, and Portland International Airport PDX. The yard consists of 180,000 square feet of climate-controlled manufacturing space and a seven-acre marina. A dozen large shipbuilding bays located directly across from all major craft shops allowing the companies workforce to build with extremely high levels of efficiency. Christensen's facility houses each supporting craft and trade including state-of-the-art stone shop and a world-class upholstery and finish studio. Christensen's existing shipyard allows it to build world-class yachts up to 50 meters (164 feet) in length.

TELLICO LAKE, TENNESEE, USA 

Future full-service shipyard and marina.

Nestled in beautiful eastern Tennessee, Christensen's future shipyard located in Tellico Lake, Tennessee, will consist of 55-acres with 450,000 square feet of climate-controlled manufacturing space and will offer 13 large manufacturing and assembly bays. This much larger yard will allow the Christensen's portfolio to expand to include yachts up to 225 ft, while still manufacturing yachts up to 50M at the Vancouver, Washington facility. This new yard will maximize Christensen's strong stance in the global yacht market by allowing both an east coast and west coast presence for the world renowned brand.  

NEWS & Awards

 M/Y CHASSEUR

2017 winner,   best power design  40-65m, international superyacht society 2017, fort lauderdale international.

(Left) M/Y Chasseur, Columbia River, Oregon, USA

(Right) Jim Gilbert on behalf of Don Burns

JUDGES SPECIAL AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT

M/y chasseur, 2017 boat international, series yachts, 2010 robb report, best of the best, best interior, 2010 showboat international, design awards, best motor yacht interior, m/y lady joy, 2008 showboats international, m/y primadonna, 2008 robb report, m/y marathon, 2007 robb report, (360) 831-9800.

• Tellico Lake, Tennessee
• Vancouver, Washington

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America’s 10 Best Yacht Builders

In America, the yachting industry might not be as established. Yet, today, America’s best luxury yacht builders continue to put out award-winning and state-of-the-art designs. Who are America’s best yacht builders?

From Christensen to Trinity, we countdown the best yacht builders in America and highlight what makes each shipyard unique. Here are our favorites:

1. Christensen

Christensen is one of the most established yacht builders in the U.S., and the company is known for its completely custom yachts. Each yacht the company produces is designed according to owner specifications.

Known for its classic hull design, and upscale finishes, Christensen produces some of the most luxurious superyachts in the U.S. That’s thanks in part to the builder’s in-house design team. Many other builders outsource design. Plus, the builder is known for its exquisite interiors, featuring spacious layouts and the finest finishes. Christensen also regularly wins innovation awards for their efficient and powerful displacement systems and state-of-the-art stabilization.

2. Westport

Since 1964, Westport has been a leader in yacht design and manufacturing in the U.S. And its earned a reputation for developing sporty, classically-styled superyachts.

That wasn’t always the case. Originally, Westport designed and built commercial fishing vessels, but today, Westport focuses exclusively on luxury motor yachts, including 34-, 38-, 40- and 50-meter yachts. Westport’s raised pilothouse and tri-deck yachts feature classic nautical hulls with modern touches. The interiors are sleek and comfortable and known for their spacious outdoor deck areas.

3. Derecktor

Derecktor is one of the country’s oldest yacht builders. It was founded on Long Island, NY in 1947, and during its early years, the company produced commercial fishing and passenger vessels. (Even today, Derecktor manufacturers high-speed ferries for cities around the world.)

Derecktor’s output has changed quite a bit in its 70-year history. Today, the company continues to build commercial vessels, but it’s also a top builder of custom motor yachts. Derecktor produces both explorer yachts and motor yachts, and many of its luxury motor yachts feature explorer-inspired designs. Many Derecktor yachts, for example, feature towering superstructures positioned forward. This opens up an abundance of aft-deck space for outdoor dining areas, beach clubs, and even helipads.

In addition to style, Derecktor yachts are renowned for their performance. They might be sizable. But they’re fast, and the ride is stable.

4. Hatteras

Hatteras is a legendary name in American shipbuilding, known for its high-speed and beautiful motor yachts. Initially, the shipyard focused entirely on sportfish yachts – something they’re still known for today. Yet, the company’s line-up of motor yachts offers the best of the best in luxury yachting.

Hatteras offers a full range of superyachts, including the 100 RPH, a stunning 102-foot raised pilothouse motoryacht, and the M90. Hatteras certainly shows its sporty roots in all of its designs; Hatteras exteriors are sleek and streamlined, sharing design details with its sportfish line.

At Trinity , size is the name of the game. The Gulfport-based shipyard produces yachts up to 123 meters (400 feet), including some of the largest luxury yachts ever built in the U.S.

The yachtbuilder has many signatures. For example, classic nautical architecture is one. Trinity produces some of the most inspiring superstructure designs that feature sleek lines and an abundance of glass. When you charter a Trinity yacht, you’ll have plenty of places to relax, as most of their designs incorporate an abundance of deck space. In the past, that’s include beautiful sky lounges and sprawling aft-deck dining/bar areas.

Below deck, Trinity yachts delivers spacious layouts. The yachtbuilder is know for their opulent owner’s suites and staterooms, as well as stunning salons.

6. Broward Marine

Founded by legendary boatbuilder Frank Denison in the 1950s, Broward Marine has been a leader in superyacht design throughout its history. For example, in 1954, Broward launched its first luxury superyacht, ALISA V. At the time, the 96-footer was a behemoth – similar in grandness to today’s megayachts of 150+ feet.

The Alisa paved a path for the company, which shifted its focus exclusively to luxury motoryachts. In the 1980s, for example, Broward was quick to respond to the trend of the superyachts; Broward sold some 80 yachts in the 1980s, an impressive sales feat.

Under new management in the early 2000s, the company continued its focus on stunning megayachts in the 100- to 160-foot range. Broward yachts are grand in scale, with stunning tri-deck and raised pilothouse designs, and they’re also some of the first to feature farmhouse kitchens. Today, the company focuses primarily on refits, but many of their majestic yachts are still available for charter.

7. Hargrave

Hargrave has been producing yachts since the 1950s, and throughout its history, the shipyard has built a reputation for inspiring yacht designs. In fact, the company initially only focused on design. Founder Jack Hargrave, the famed nautical designer, worked closely with other top U.S. yacht builders including Burger and Hatteras, helping to launch numerous brands.

In 1997, the company transitioned from design to designing and building its own luxury yachts. The company quickly made a name for itself. Hargrave has won numerous awards for its sporty tri-decks and sportfish-inspired motoryachts. Hargrave yachts feature contemporary interiors, matched with sleek profiles.

A Horizon yacht has a distinctive look. The company’s yachts have stately exteriors with tons of classic nautical architectural details. Inside, too, Horizon yachts have a lot of character. Most Horizon yachts feature sprawling windows, creating light and airy interior spaces.

Today, the company produces yachts in the 56- to 150-foot range, and their offerings include power catamarans, tri-decks and raised pilothouse motor yachts.

If you’re looking for a power cat, that’s a Horizon specialty. The company’s PC Series features a range of mid-sized power cats up to about 80 feet, with numerous concept yachts in the works. Yet, Horizon does it all. You’ll find Horizon yachts in just about any style, from Fast Displacement yachts (FD Series), to customized tri-decks (CC Series).

The Burger Boat Company is one of the most historic shipbuilders in the U.S. Originally launched in 1863, the company has built more than 500 yachts in its history (more than 250 of which are still in operation). The company was a pioneer in steel yacht building, but today, Burger primary builds aluminum yachts.

Burger produces a range of custom tri-deck motor yachts, ranging from 112- to 214-foot motor yachts. Burger boats have a distinctive look and feel. They have spacious deck areas, like the wrap-around deck on its current 214-foot tri-deck concept, as well as innovative exterior lounge areas.

10. Delta Marine

For more than 50 years, Delta Marine has been producing world-class motor yachts from its headquarters in Seattle. The boatbuilder is known for its sleek exterior designs. Delta Marine yachts feature clean, flowing lines throughout, and the company produces a range of raised pilothouse and tri-deck motor yachts.

Plus, the interiors are completely custom. As such, no two Delta Marine yachts look the same, and the interiors are as unique as their owners. Delta yachts are also well-known for their performance. Many feature performance-minded hulls, and feature state-of-the-art displacement systems.

Plan Your Next Luxury Yacht Charter with Worldwide Boat

Worldwide Boat offers exclusive access to vessels from America’s best luxury yacht builders. Want to hire a Trinity Yacht for your next vacation? We can help.

Plus, our charter brokers are experts on each builder’s specialties. Contact your broker today to learn more about any of our exclusive charter yachts .

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LAZZARA YACHTS

LSX Sport Express

LSY Sport Yacht

LMY Motor Yacht

UHV Ultra High Volume

LPC Power Catamaran

Lazzara Yachts is a legendary American company with decades of yacht building experience, delivering innovation and uniqueness in every design. As an experienced shipyard we have complete control over each and every build and we emphasize quality over quantity. This translates into building a “limited” number of yachts, so you’ll not find a Lazzara in every harbor.

Lazzara offers Express (LSX), Sport (LSY), Motor (LMY), Ultra High Volume (UHV), and Catamaran (LPC) series yachts. Lazzara owners become part of an exclusive group who appreciate the individuality of their vessel and the super yacht quality that goes into each and every build.

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A HANDCRAFTED AMERICAN LEGACY

With a rich history and unrivaled passion, Cruisers Yachts creates American-made boats for the world.

American Luxury Meets Innovation

Introducing an All-New Flybridge Series

Explore more about the upcoming launch of the all-new groundbreaking Flybridge series, a brand-new evolution of our popular Cruisers Cantius series.

OUR CORE BELIEFS

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10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 20, 2023

‍ There's no denying that sailors are certainly a passionate bunch. We’re so passionate about our boats that we always try going for the best sailboats. To make it a lot easier for you, here are the best sailboat brands.

Owning a sailboat is an indulgence that many of us only dream about but very few ever have the privilege of sailing the seas in what they can actually call their own.

While there's nothing wrong with renting a sailboat, the honor of owning one is certain what many sailors dream of.

With a perfectly crafted sailboat as company, gliding through the water, waves, and wind brings some sort of unmatched comfort and peace.

Add this to the fact that sailing takes you far away from the daily hustles and bustles that we've become accustomed to in our daily lives and you'll see why the life of sailing is very appealing to the masses.

But without a proper sailboat, all this fun and the good life of sailing are thrown out of the window.

Contrary to the widespread opinion, owning a sailboat isn't beyond anyone's reach. It's something that we can all achieve. But before getting into that, it's important to know some of the best sailboat brands.

The best sailboat brands will make your life as a sailor a lot easier and more fun. The best sailboat brands have, for decades if not centuries, mastered the art of woodworking. They've dedicated their skills and immense amount of their time to designing and manufacturing nothing but the best quality of sailboats in the industry.

So if you've been looking for the best sailboat brands from all over the world, you've come to the right place. We'll discuss the best of the best, something that will give you a perfect getaway from your normal life.

Table of contents

‍ Must-Have Features for Your Sailboat

Before highlighting the best sailboat brands, it would be appropriate to jog your mind a little with some of the features that must be available in your sailboat.

Choosing a sailboat can sometimes be a matter of compromises. In other words, it's sometimes sensible to accept that a sailboat cannot have all the features that you desire.

As such, it's all about going with a sailboat that has the features that matter to you most.

For this reason, let's look at the most basic features that can make the difference in both safety and comfort while improving your sailing experience.

A Safe and Comfortable Sailing Cockpit

You'll most definitely be spending a huge amount of time in the cockpit. Whether you're keeping watch, trimming sails , helming, or just enjoying the scenery, there's no better place to do all these than from the cockpit. That being said, a good cockpit should have the following.

• Have a good depth for safety reasons and adequate drainage
• Should give you a quick and easy access to jammers, cleats, and other important parts of the winch system
• Should have a seat or seats that are about 35 cm high, 50 to 55 cm wide to provide ideal support
• The seats should be adjustable to offer maximum comfort and allow you to change your position

GPS Chartplotter

Use a GPS Chartplotter once and your sailing will never be the same without it. It not only allows you to map a course but is also a great way of ensuring that your sailboat exactly follows that course. It also gives you constant updates on ocean conditions, weather conditions , and potential hazards such as deadly currents and sandbars.

A GPS Chartplotter is also an important safety device that can help you in some very critical situations while out there on the water.

For instance, it has a man-overboard button that is essentially meant to allow you to receive coordinates of the exact location should someone fall off your boat.

Electric Winch System

This is an amazing addition to any sailboat. It allows you to sheet a jib even in high and strong winds with a simple press of a button. It also gives you the chance of trimming a mainsail easily while still carry out other essential tasks in the sailboat.

An electric winch system can be of great importance, especially if you're short on crew. This is because it can free up some crew members to carry other important tasks. In other words, it can make duties that would otherwise require more crew members a lot easier.

More importantly, an electric winch system can maintain safety even in the roughest of conditions, thereby preventing you and your crew from getting injured. In essence, an electric winch system will make your sailing a lot safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

Reverse Osmosis Watermaker

This is a very valuable accessory, especially if you're going on long sea voyages. You can spend days on end without drinking clean and safe water.

As the name suggests, you can use this accessory to turn seawater into purified drinking water. It uses the reverse osmosis method that's essential not only in removing bacteria and parasites from the water but also in turning the water into purified and safe drinking water.

Even though this device is pricey, it's a great way to mitigate the over-reliance on huge water tanks. All you have to do is to ensure that it's properly maintained and you'll have an endless streak of safe drinking water no matter where you are.

Wide and Clutter-free Deck

While the deck is often an overlooked feature of a sailboat, it can be the difference between a great sailing experience and a stressful one. In essence, the deck of a sailboat should be wide enough and clutter-free.

This is significant as it can enable you to quickly access different parts of your sailboat with hindrance or getting tangled. As you can see, this is particularly important in improving safety and reducing stress.

With that in mind, make sure that the deck is organized in such a way that you can have easy access to sails, masts, and winches.

You should, therefore, avoid sailboats with decks that are designed in such a way that you have to climb on top of the cabin just to access these features. Needless to say, this can be quite unstable and very dangerous especially when conditions are rough.

The Best Sailboat Brands and Why

1. hallberg-rassy.

Hallberg-Rassy is a Swedish yacht maker that's very well-known in the blue water cruising circles for making some of the highest quality and sturdiest sailboats. For many sailors, this is the number one sailboat brand as it offers absolute comfort, utmost safety, and good and easy handling.

This brand is not only synonymous with sturdy construction but you won't worry getting soaking wet while out there on the water. This is because it has a well-protected deck and cockpit, finished with nice woodwork, and has a powerful engine with a big tankage just to ensure that you can go on long voyages.

When designing its sailboats, this brand has made it a norm to add some features that stand out from the rest. For instance, the bowsprit is an integral feature that makes sailing a Hallberg-Rassy quite easy and much enjoyable. This is because it grants easy access to and from the deck. Its electric anchor winches facilitate smooth maneuvering. Even more, its large steering wheels makes it much easier to control the boat even in the roughest of conditions. In essence, this brand has features that provide good control and an extra sense of safety.

Although this brand has evolved over the years, you'll easily recognize it even from a distance. And why is this? A Hallberg-Rassy never goes out of style. This is a unique sailboat brand that has always stayed true to its principles and concept. No matter which part of the world you go, Hallberg-Rassy will remain the undisputed king of blue water cruising.

2. Nautor's Swan

For over 50 years, Nautor's Swan has endlessly raised the sailing levels by designing and manufacturing new sailboat models that not only push the boundaries but also meet that many requirements and demands of sailors across the world. Thanks to its wide range of seaworthy, timeless, elegant, and highly-performing sailboats, the Nautor's Swan remains one of the best if not the best sailboat makers in the world.

Based in Jakobstad, Finland, this brand has severally set the industry standard with its speedy and sleek models such as the Swan 48, Swan 65, Swan 98, Swan 78, and Swan 120. These models have one thing in common: they never compromise on safety. As a brand that puts safety first, it ensures that its models are made of foam-cored glass fiber and reinforced both with carbon-fiber and epoxy. In essence, Nautor's Swan is widely revered for its unmatched seafaring and safety records.

Additionally, Nautor's Swan models are incredibly responsive. You can easily tell this just by the feel of the wheel. This brand has models that will gracefully slice through the biggest of waves with ease. That's not all; the interior of these models that are very comfortable even when the going gets tough. This is, without a doubt, a brand that strives to create self-contained worlds with each model.

3. Beneteau

This is perhaps the most selling sailboat brand in the world. For over a century now, this brand has based its models in a combination of simplicity and performance. This is a brand that will serve you just right across all latitudes and in all circumstances. Whether you prefer the Oceanis Yacht 62 or the Figaro Beneteau 3, this brand will never let you down on all fronts.

This brand revolves around a simple concept of creating a link around the world. From the deck space to its design and light, this brand does everything possible not just to uniformly transform life at sea but also to open doors to new horizons in a very luxurious yet practical way. Its models are designed with clear deck plans, stable hulls, simplified maneuvering and interior materials and equipment that can be easily personalized.

Whether you're looking for a racing sailboat or something that's designed to explore and enjoy the world in the company of friends and family, Beneteau is a true combination of sensations and simplicity. This is a brand that brings to the seas fun, simplicity, smartness, toughness, safety, intuitiveness, as well as dazzling reinvention.

4. Amel Yachts

Based on the ethos of designing and manufacturing comfortable, robust, and easy-to-handle boats, this French brand has, for over five decades, offered sailors and other sailing enthusiasts the perfect opportunity to explore the seas with the utmost quality, comfort, and more importantly, safety.

Using 100% French know-how, this brand has brought to the sailing world some of the best boats such as the Santorini, the Mango, the Super Maramu, and the Maramu. We would be doing this brand total injustice if we said that they're distinctive. Truth be told, there's nothing comparable to an Amel model. Well Amel was and still is, the ultimate standard by which other sailboat models are measured.

From items such as electric winches and furling, to generators, Watermaker , and washing machine down to the simplest of items such as towels. Spare filters, bathrobes, deck brush, and a boat safe, the Amel is in reality with what the real life of a sailor is and should be.

Although some may say that Amel still has room for improvement in terms of specifications and personalization, it cannot be denied that the Amel is a serious brand that designs and manufactures complete boats. With this brand, you'll be guaranteed of a higher degree of reliability, safety, and an edge of fun while out there on the water.

5. Hinckley Yachts

Based in Maine, United States, Hinckley Yachts is a brand that has been building robust, luxury, and safe sailboats for more than 90 years now. In its sailboat class, you'll find several sailboats that have classic shapes, inner strength, dramatic lines, and features that are absolutely essential in dealing with the challenges of the North Atlantic.

This brand has been successful in integrating impeccable craftsmanship with new technologies to ensure that their models always stand out while articulating advanced sailing practices, timeless aesthetic, robust construction, and the utmost safety. Whether you choose the Bermuda 50, the Sou'wester 53 or any model for that matter, you'll never be short of advanced performance based on the best design and technology.

In terms of features, this brand provides sailboat models with modern performance hulls. These hulls are constructed with inner layers of carbon, outer layers of Kevlar, and are aligned with computer-designed load paths. Every feature is designed without compromising comfort.

To this end, this brand offers you a perfect combination of both fun and sail. This brand offers more than just sailing. Instead, it offers a unique sailing experience that's combined with the pure joys of sailing in the blue waters with an ease of ownership and maneuverability.

6. Oyster Yachts

If you've been looking for luxury more than anything else, Oyster Yachts provides you with numerous solutions. This British brand is widely known for manufacturing a wide range of luxury cruising sailing yachts. Its sailboats are among the finest in the world and are immensely capable of taking you to some of the far-flung places in the world without having to worry about high winds and hellish waves.

Whether you choose the iconic Oyster 565 or the immense Oyster 595 you never fall short of experiencing the new world like never before. These are models that will enable you to own your adventure, choose your destination, set your courses, pick your anchorage, and stay safe at all times. If you want to hold the wheel and pull the sail while feeling the tang of salt spray on your face, Oyster Yachts is the way to go.

This is, unquestionably, a brand that's meant for you if you want to explore the seas in comfort, luxury and utmost safety. From craftsmanship, sailboat design, to hull, deck, and keel configurations, everything is designed to allow you to circumnavigate the world in comfort, elegance, and style.

7. Tartan Yachts

Based in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, there's arguably no better to begin your sailing adventures than with a sailboat designed and manufactured by Tartan Yachts. With several award-winning designs and construction, this brand is widely known for providing easy handling, great performance, and an ultimately stable platform.

This brand always strives to deliver a unique and the best possible experience to every sailor. As a brand, Tartan fully understands that every sailor has his/her unique sailing needs. As such every component of their models is designed with engineering levels that guarantee optimum performance, excellent on-deck visibility, and luxurious interior.

From the Tartan 5300, the Tartan 4300, the Tartan 345 to the New 365 and the Fantail, this brand makes it a priority to ensure that its models are among the strongest, lightest, and more importantly, the safest in the sailing industry. In essence, this brand can be ideal if you appreciate performance. It has rewarding sailing features both in narrow water lines and wider passages. Add this to its easy handling and you'll have a top-notch performer in virtually every condition.

8. Catalina Yachts

As one of the most popular boat manufacturers in the world, this American brand is widely revered for building the sturdiest boats that can hold up perfectly well in real-world conditions. These are generally family-oriented boats that are intelligently designed to ensure that your entire family can have fun out there on the water.

Some of the models include the cruiser series such as the Catalina 315, the Catalina 385, the Catalina 425 while the sport series include the Catalina 12.5 Expo, the Catalina 16.5, and the Catalina 14.2 Expo. As the current winner of the "Boat of the Year" Cruising World, you'll rarely go wrong with a Catalina model.

It offers a wide range of sailboat sizes that suits your lifestyle. This brand makes it a priority to ensure that all their models are not only safe but offer the best ownership and sailing experience. If anything, this brand is widely known to have one of the most excellent resale values in the sailing industry.

9. Island Packet Yachts

From the IP 525, the IP 439 to the IP 379, the Island Packet Yachts is a brand that encourages its customers not to keep the world waiting. This brand is meant for sailors who want to explore the world in utmost comfort and safety.

The first thing you'll notice in an IP sailboat is its large aft deck. This is not only perfect for sunbathing but can also serve you well if you want an impromptu dinner with friends and family while out there on the water. The living space is also large enough to carry most of your belongings, which is an added advantage especially if you've been planning to spend longer periods in the seas.

With modern evolution and refinement, as well as proven features, this brand is known to offer sailors maximum comfort, luxury, and safety. You'll have better access to the cockpit, have enough space, and are excellently designed to provide superior seafaring and the best features to enable you to spend extended periods when cruising.

10. Sparkman & Stephens

For more than 90 years, Sparkman & Stephens has been at the forefront of the belief that sailboat excellence goes beyond hull lines and deck plans. Instead, this brand believes in excellent naval architecture, innovation, sophistication, and beauty. This is a brand that has laid the foundation of sailboat as a sport not just in America but all over the world.

These models have graced the world for decades and bring immense pleasure to their owners in terms of innovation, performance, and excellence. Though rooted in tradition, the brand has pushed sophistication, technology, and sailing experience to a whole new level. You'll be a proud owner of the Sparkman & Stephens model.

There you have it; these are the best sailboat brands in the world. Although there are several other sailboat brands to choose from, the-above described brands stand shoulder above others in terms of quality, safety, performances and luxury.

Hopefully, you're at a much better place when it comes to choosing a sailboat that suits your lifestyle, needs, and budget .

Happy sailing!

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Welcome to American Sail

Builder of small sailboats, catamarans, and daysailers.

Small sailboats are our specialty! We've made fun family sailboats for over 40 years.

American Sail got its start over 40 years ago in 1976 with the purchase of the Aqua Cat catamaran.  Over the years we have grown to offer many more sailboats in our line including a larger version of the Aqua Cat and four daysailers that are the Aqua Finn Daysailer, Pennant Daysailer, American 14.6,  and American 18 Daysailer.

If you're looking for the best small sailboats you've come to the right place.  All of our family daysailers are designed for fun and not hard-core racing. Any of our boats can be rigged by one person in under 20 minutes.

We are factory direct. If you have any questions regarding pricing or parts orders please do not hesitate to give us a call at 800-844-2399 or use our CONTACT FORM .

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The Classic Yacht Register of Heritage is a database of the worlds Vintage, Classic and Grand Prix (Spirit of Tradition) sailboats. The Registry includes surviving, and destroyed vessels, and inclusion is either by vessel’s historical significance, invitation or request.

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Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance) – An important classification within each vessels profile that recognizes the dedicated stewardship, preservation, and celebrity of all the men and women that have cared for and sailed on these legendary vessels. All helping to preserve and add to the historical significance of these vessels for future generation to come.

Reunions – If you wish to be reunited with the vessel that you were once associated with, please let us know and we will do our best to reunite all for a special celebration. Please view the video “Banzai – A Celebration of Life” for one of our reunions. Banzai Reunion.

Wartime Registry of Civilian Sailing Vessels – Dedicated to the Men and Women of the Coastal Picket Patrol – “Semper Paratus,” where civilian sailing vessels and their civilian crews were commissioned into service to defend the front lines of American and European Shores. Wartime Registry.

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ASA Sailing Schools in Southern California

Click on the red cluster circles to zoom in, or on the individual pins for more information.

Directory of American Sailing Association sailing schools located in Southern California where you can take beginning to advanced sailing lessons.

Aventura Sailing Academy Dana Point, Southern California

(949) 493-9493 aventurasailing.com.

Aventura Sailing Academy is Dana Point Harbor’s Premier Sailing Club and Academy. For over 44 years we have been successfully teaching students, from the beginner to the advanced. We are a West Coast leader in producing well trained Sailors.

USCG Master Class 100T Captain Ric Dahlin (Director of  Academy) is also a Collegiate level sailing instructor, and as a professional educator, Aventura’s classroom and lectures have been providing “best in class” sailing instruction with top results. All of our Certified ASA instructors are friendly and dedicated to your sailing instruction. Aventura Academy’s classes are challenging, fun and engaging but most importantly highly effective.

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Blue Pacific Yachting Marina del Rey, Southern California

(310) 305-7245 bluepacificyachting.com.

Let Blue Pacific Yachting help you realize the joys of sailing. Learn to sail in a safe and supportive environment under the expert guidance of our certified instructors. Students gain hands-on experience and acquire the knowledge and confidence to sail aboard a modern, mid-sized, fully-equipped yacht.

Bluewater Sailing Marina del Rey, Southern California

(310) 823-5545 bluewatersailing.com.

Sailing lessons in Marina del Rey, the Pacific Ocean and beyond. In addition to our ASA courses, we offer year-round innovative sailing possibilities that are tons of fun with many opportunities to get out on the water and meet others in our vast community of sailors with all levels of experience. 

California Sailing Cooperative Marina del Rey, Southern California

(909) 861-5673 www.californiasailingcoop.org.

California Sailing Cooperative (CSC), founded in 1994, is a non-profit club and school offering comprehensive sailing instruction, including ASA certifications, at an affordable cost on a well maintained Catalina 36. The teaching team, headed by Training Director Capt. Charlie Hentges, consisting of CSC’s ASA certified instructor/skippers and club mates, all of whom have completed at least 3 ASA courses. CSC earned the 2012 ASA “School of the Year” award.. CSC’s training philosophy permits members to work on their ASA certifications at their own comfort level, setting their own time table, thus combining expert instruction with at-sea experience. Every sail is …

Freeman Marine Institute Newport Beach, California

(916) 792-8478.

Freeman Marine Institute is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and helping students gain access to the amazing world of Sailing.

Harbor Sailboats San Diego, Southern California

(619) 291-9568 www.harborsailboats.com.

Harbor Sailboats is San Diego’s Premier Sailing Club, offering award winning instruction aboard Southern California’s most modern fleet of sailboats. Founded in 1969, Harbor Sailboats offers ASA sailing courses from Basic Keelboat to Advanced Coastal Cruising. In addition to offering the International Proficiency Certificate for European/Mediterranean chartering, Harbor Sailboats also offers learn to sail vacations. Spend the week aboard a luxurious sailing yacht while a certified instructor prepares you for a lifetime of confident sailing.

Learn to Sail San Diego San Diego, Southern California

(619) 316-6430 www.learntosailsandiego.com.

We offer live aboard and learn to sail courses in beautiful San Diego. All of our classes are private, so only you and your friends or family will be on board our Beneteau 36s7.

Leo Robbins Community Sailing Center Ventura, Southern California

(805) 658-4746 www.cityofventura.net.

Quality instruction, award winning instructors, affordable pricing and scheduling.

Los Angeles Yacht Club San Pedro, Southern California

(310) 831-1203 www.layc.org.

Offering beginning and advanced ASA certification courses, Los Angeles Yacht Club’s mission is to bring its sailing heritage and tradition to everyone. Our ASA certified instructors will teach you to sail our 22’ Capris safely and confidently over five, 4-hour lessons. Classes are offered Tuesday through Sunday in a group setting, with no more than three students per boat. Private and family lessons are also available.

Marina Sailing – Channel Islands Oxnard, Southern California

(805) 985-5219 www.marinasailing.com.

Marina Sailing is Southern California’s oldest and largest sailing charter and instruction company. Started in 1962, our six locations along the coast offer a wide range of boats from 22 to 50 feet, including monohulls, catamarans, and powerboats.

Marina Sailing – Long Beach Long Beach, Southern California

(562) 432-4672 www.marinasailing.com, marina sailing – marina del rey marina del rey, southern california, (310) 822-6617 www.marinasailing.com, marina sailing – newport beach newport beach, southern california, (949) 548-8900 www.marinasailing.com, marina sailing – redondo beach redondo beach, southern california, (310) 318-2772 www.marinasailing.com.

Marina Sailing – San Diego San Diego, Southern California

(619) 221-8286 www.marinasailing.com, naos yachts marina del rey, southern california, (310) 821-8446 naosyachts.com.

The Naos Yachts team consists of offshore, coastal and dinghy racers, as well as long distance cruisers. Our instructors are all ASA certified and we provide instruction on brand new Beneteau yachts and Lagoon catamarans.

Newport Beach Sailing School Newport Beach, Southern California

(949) 209-9931 www.newportbeachsail.com.

The Newport Beach Sailing School is unique in that we specialize in private and semi-private sailing instruction off the coast of Southern California. Our motto is ‘The best value in private sailing lessons.’ We are dedicated to providing highly personalized instruction, and the classes are scheduled according to your availability.

Redondo Beach Recreation Redondo Beach, Southern California

(310) 318-0610 ext. 3399 www.redondo.org.

Sail Channel Islands Oxnard, Southern California

(805) 750-7828 www.sailchannelislands.com.

COASTAL CRUISING AND BAREBOAT TRAINING in Channel Islands NationalPark. That’s what I do. That and cruises for up to four people just for the fun of it. In terms of ASA qualifications, I only do private lessons – just you and your crew. And if your crew is a spouse who just needs a vacation, that’s fine, too.

San Luis Yacht Club Avila Beach, California

(805) 546-3132.

Learn to sail in the San Luis Yacht Club flagship, the 30 ft. Bermuda sloop “Second Wind”, on beautiful Avila Bay, California. These classes bring participants, ages 16 and up, to ASA 101 (beginner level) standard. Classes cover basic sailing theory, parts of the boat, crew communications, tacking, jibing, sail trim, crew overboard recovery, safety and more. Fee includes a textbook and tests. Upon successful completion of class and passing the ASA 101 Exam, an additional $39 will be collected by the instructor for students wishing to get certified. The certificate is internationally recognized and can be used to help …

Santa Barbara Sailing Center Santa Barbara, Southern California

(805) 962-2826 www.sbsail.com.

The Santa Barbara Sailing Center offers award winning instruction in one of the finest training locations in the world. We average 10-15 knots of wind right outside The Santa Barbara Harbor for our ASA 101 & 103 courses. During our 104 & 106 courses, we average 20-25 knots of wind at The Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary. Training Vessels include Catalina 22’s, 28’s, 32’s, 36’s, 42’s & 50’s. All instructors all USCG licensed & ASA certified. We offer world renowned Corporate Regattas which emphasizes Team Building.

Seaforth Boat Rentals San Diego, Southern California

(888) 834-2628 www.seaforthboatrental.com.

At Seaforth Boater Education we offer sailing classes and lessons for every level of sailor, from beginner to advanced. If you are just starting out, we offer the Amercian Sailing Association’s Basic Keelboat Sailing course designed to teach the beginner the fundamentals of sailing. If you have been sailing for a while in the bays and are interested in getting more out of your sailing, take a look at our 3-Day or 4-Day ASA 103/104 Combo Class where you can learn more advanced coastal sailing techniques. All of our classes are designed to allow you to get the most out …

South Bay Sailing Redondo Beach, Southern California

(310) 937-3180 www.southbaysailing.com.

South Bay Sailing has been offering a wide range American Sailing Association Certification Courses, Charters, Rentals, Youth Lessons/Camps, Social Events and much more since 2005. Learn basic through advanced sailing skills or just enjoy the day on the water with a twist of performance aboard one of our J/80s or our Farr 40. And why not hold your next team building regatta on actual race boats! No matter what sailing option you choose, our ASA certified sailing instructors will have you on the open ocean minutes after your departure. South Bay Sailing has always prided itself in making sailing accessible …

West Coast Multihulls San Diego, Southern California

(619) 365-4326 charter-catamaran.com.

Catamarans and trimarans are not just another income stream for West Coast Multihulls, they are our passion. If your sailing goal is to become a proficient confident multihull sailor, we are the school for you. Our staff and Instructors have decades of multihull, training, sailing and live-aboard experience to draw from and share with you. We sail out of beautiful San Diego, CA with sailing classes offered year-round from the Sunroad Resort Marina. San Diego enjoys a comfortable, moderate climate with light to moderate winds throughout the year. We are the only catamaran and trimaran specialists in California. West Coast …

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770-792-3070

127 Church Street, Suite 210

Marietta, GA 30060

American Boatbuilders Association

Welcome to the American Boatbuilders Association, Inc., America's leading buying group for independent boat builders. ABA was founded in 1992 by a group of visionary boatbuilders. Our initial objective was to buy engines together to improve our competitive edge. We expanded our efforts to buy raw materials, manufactured products, equipment, and services together to reduce costs and leverage our buying power. We also focus on sharing knowledge and member collaboration to improve our businesses.

Six presumed dead after cargo ship crash levels Baltimore bridge

BALTIMORE — A major Baltimore bridge collapsed like a house of cards early Tuesday after it was struck by a container ship, sending six people to their deaths in the dark waters below and closing one of the country’s busiest ports.

By Tuesday evening, search-and-rescue efforts for six people who were working on the bridge when it collapsed had transitioned into a recovery mission, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon N. Gilreath said.

“We do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” he said, noting the water temperature and the amount of time that had passed since the ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused it to collapse around 1:30 a.m.

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, earlier said that one person had survived. Their names were not released.

Earlier Tuesday as an extensive search was ongoing, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore held out hope that the missing people might be found and expressed heartbreak after officials suspended the active search for survivors.

"Our heart goes out to the families," he said after the active search was suspended. "I can’t imagine how painful today has been for these families, how painful these hours have been have been for these families."

It was a crushing blow to the loved ones of the missing men, who had waited for hours at a Royal Farms convenience store near the entrance of the bridge for word of their fate. 

Follow live updates here

The tragic chain of events began early Tuesday when the cargo ship Dali notified authorities that it had lost power and issued a mayday moments before the 984-foot vessel slammed into a bridge support at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph.

Moore declared a state of emergency while rescue crews using sonar detected at least five vehicles in the frigid 50-foot-deep water: three passenger cars, a cement truck and another vehicle of some kind. Authorities do not believe anyone was inside the vehicles.

Investigators quickly concluded that it was an accident and not an act of terrorism.

Ship was involved in another collision

Earlier, two people were rescued from the water, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said. One was in good condition and refused treatment, he said. The other was seriously injured and was being treated in a trauma center.

Moore said other drivers might have been in the water had it not been for those who, upon hearing the mayday, blocked off the bridge and kept other vehicles from crossing.

“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives.”

Nearly eight years ago, the Dali was involved in an accident. In July 2016, it struck a quay at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, damaging the quay.

The nautical commission investigated the accident, but the details of the inquiry were not immediately clear Tuesday.

The Dali is operated and managed by Synergy Group. In a statement, the company said that two port pilots were at the helm at the time of Tuesday's crash and that all 22 crew members onboard were accounted for.

The Dali was chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, which said it will have no choice but to send its ships to other nearby ports with the Port of Baltimore closed.

The bridge, which is about a mile and a half long and carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of Baltimore, was "fully up to code," Moore said.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said that her agency will lead the investigation and that a data recorder on the ship could provide more information.

"But right now we're focusing on the people, on the families," she said. "The rest can wait."

President Joe Biden vowed to rebuild the bridge and send federal funds.

"This is going to take some time," the president warned. "The people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them, at every step of the way, till the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

Speaking in Baltimore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed the president's promise.

"This is no ordinary bridge," he said. "This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure."

But Buttigieg warned that replacing the bridge and reopening the port will take time and money and that it could affect supply chains.

The Port of Baltimore, the 11th largest in the U.S., is the busiest port for car imports and exports, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023 alone, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.

Writer David Simon, a champion of Baltimore who set his TV crime drama "The Wire" on the streets of the city he once covered as a reporter, warned online that the people who will suffer the most are those whose livelihoods depend on the port.

"Thinking first of the people on the bridge," Simon posted on X . "But the mind wanders to a port city strangling. All the people who rely on ships in and out."

Timeline of crash

Dramatic video captured the moment at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday when the Dali struck a support and sent the bridge tumbling into the water. A livestream showed cars and trucks on the bridge just before the strike. The ship did not sink, and its lights remained on.

Investigators said in a timeline that the Dali's lights suddenly shut off four minutes earlier before they came back on and that then, at 1:25 a.m. dark black smoke began billowing from the ship's chimney.

A minute later, at 1:26 a.m., the ship appeared to turn. And in the minutes before it slammed into the support, the lights flickered again.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the workers on the bridge were repairing concrete ducts when the ship crashed into the structure.

At least seven workers were pouring concrete to fix potholes on the roadway on the bridge directly above where the ship hit, said James Krutzfeldt, a foreman.

Earlier, the Coast Guard said it had received a report that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was the Dali, a containership sailing under a Singaporean flag that was heading for Sri Lanka.

Bobby Haines, who lives in Dundalk in Baltimore County, said he felt the impact of the bridge collapse from his house nearby.

"I woke up at 1:30 this morning and my house shook, and I was freaking out," he said. "I thought it was an earthquake, and to find out it was a bridge is really, really scary."

Families of bridge workers wait for updates

Earlier in the day, relatives of the construction crew waited for updates on their loved ones.

Marian Del Carmen Castellon told Telemundo her husband, Miguel Luna, 49, was working on the bridge.

“They only tell us that we have to wait and that they can’t give us information,” she said.

Castellon said she was "devastated, devastated because our heart is broken, because we don’t know how they have been rescued yet. We are just waiting for the news."

Luna's co-worker Jesús Campos said he felt crushed, too.

“It hurts my heart to see what is happening. We are human beings, and they are my folks,” he said.

Campos told The Baltimore Banner that the missing men are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Active search and rescue ends

The Coast Guard said it was suspending the active search-and-rescue effort at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"Coast Guard’s not going away, none of our partners are going away, but we’re just going to transition into a different phase," Gilreath said at a news conference.

Maryland State Police Superintendent Roland L. Butler, Jr., said it was moving to a recovery operation. Changing conditions have made it dangerous for divers, he said. 

Butler pledged to "do our very best to recover those six missing people," but the conditions are difficult.

"If we look at how challenging it is at a simple motor vehicle crash to extract an individual, I'm sure we can all imagine how much harder it is to do it in inclement weather, when it's cold, under the water, with very limited to no visibility," he said.

"There's a tremendous amount of debris in the water," which can include sharp metal and other hazards, and that could take time, Butler said.

'A long road in front of us'

Built in 1977 and referred to locally as the Key Bridge, the structure was later named after the author of the American national anthem.

The bridge is more than 8,500 feet long, or 1.6 miles. Its main section spans 1,200 feet, and it was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance .

About 31,000 vehicles a day use the bridge, which equals 11.3 million vehicles per year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The river and the Port of Baltimore are both key to the shipping industry on the East Coast, generating more than $3.3 billion a year and directly employing more than 15,000 people.

Asked what people in Baltimore can expect going forward, the state's transportation secretary said it is too early to tell.

"Obviously we reached out to a number of engineering companies, so obviously we have a long road in front of us," Wiedefeld said.

Julia Jester reported from Baltimore, Patrick Smith from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Julia Jester is a producer for NBC News based in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Six workers presumed dead after crippled cargo ship knocks down Baltimore bridge

• LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
• Six workers presumed dead
• Search and rescue operations suspended

BIGGER DISASTER AVERTED

'SHOCKING SIGHT'

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Thailand moves closer to legalising same-sex unions as parliament passes landmark bill

Thailand's parliament overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill on Wednesday, a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to becoming its third territory to legalise same-sex unions.

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Search resuming for 6 missing and presumed dead after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore

By Brian Dakss , Kerry Breen , S. Dev

Updated on: March 27, 2024 / 5:42 AM EDT / CBS News

The search was to resume Wednesday morning for six people missing and presumed dead in the wake of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. It crumbled early Tuesday  after a support column was hit by a large container ship that had lost power, sending people and vehicles into the Patapsco River, authorities said.

Two people were rescued from the water Tuesday.

All eight people were part of a construction crew that was filling potholes on the bridge at the time, Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the U.S. Coast Guard said at a news conference Tuesday evening. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Security Board, said Tuesday afternoon that the workers were employed by a local company, Brawner Builders. 

One of the rescued workers was unhurt. The other was treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center and has been discharged, CBS News Baltimore reported. 

Search and rescue operations were suspended at 7:30 p.m. ET as officials transitioned to recovery efforts.

"Based on the length of time that we've gone in this search, the extensive search efforts that we've put into it, the water temperature — that at this point we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive," Gilreath said.

Col. Roland Butler Jr., with Maryland State Police, said conditions in the water, including changing currents, low visibility and sharp metal objects, made it dangerous for divers and first responders. 

Divers were to begin recovery operations at 6 a.m. ET Wednesday, Butler Jr. said, adding that officials didn't know where the victims are located.

The nonprofit organization CASA identified one of the missing workers as Miguel Luna, from El Salvador. "He is a husband, a father of three, and has called Maryland his home for over 19 years," CASA executive director Gustavo Torres said in a statement Tuesday night.

Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said two of the missing workers were from that country. One was 26 years old and the other was 35 years old, according to the ministry. The state's consul general was on site assisting the affected families.

Honduras' Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio García told The Associated Press a Honduran citizen, Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, was missing. García said he'd been in contact with Suazo's family.  

The Mexican Embassy in Washington said there were Mexicans among the six as well.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at an earlier news conference   Tuesday afternoon, "There is not a single resource we will hold off on deploying ... to make sure that this search and rescue operation is carried out to its fullest intent."

"Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of the victims," Moore said in a Tuesday evening statement after the rescue efforts were called off. "We will continue to work in partnership with leaders at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure that we can provide all those affected with the closure they deserve."

Maryland Democratic Rep. David Trone told CBS News recovery efforts will likely be conducted with underwater drones. He said the drones will be able to locate the vehicles and that authorities have identified one in particular that likely has casualties.

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, told The Associated Press the construction crew was working in the middle of the bridge's span when the crash happened. 

"This was so completely unforeseen," Pritzker said. "We don't know what else to say."

"We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers," he added. "But we never foresaw that the bridge would collapse."

Moore declared a state of emergency shortly after the collapse, saying in a statement that "we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration. We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety."

The ship — the Singapore-flagged Dali — was operated by charter vessel company Synergy Marine Group and was chartered by Maersk, carrying Maersk customers' cargo, the companies said. 

There were 22 crew members, including two pilots, aboard the ship, according to a statement from Synergy. All 22 are Indian nationals. Synergy said it had activated its incident response team and is cooperating with state and federal officials. Homendy said the NTSB is communicating with Singaporean officials as part of their investigation. 

Wiedefeld said that FBI was on the scene "to see if there was any terrorism connection, which there is not." 

William DelBagno, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore field office, said at a subsequent news conference that "there is no specific or credible information to suggest that there are ties to terrorism in this incident." 

An FBI official told CBS News FBI dive teams had joined in the search for the missing and that the FBI underwater search and evidence response team was in the water. The FBI has also sent a victim specialist to assist families impacted by the incident. 

The NTSB said Tuesday morning that it had dispatched a 24-person team to investigate the incident. At the time, the team was waiting to board the ship to enable search and rescue operations to continue, and it hoped to access recordings from the ship Tuesday night or Wednesday, Homendy said.  

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, said it would provide some 1,100 specialists to help in the recovery. 

"In accordance with USACE's federal authorities, USACE will lead the effort to clear the Federal channel as part of the larger interagency recovery effort," the USACE said. "Together with local, state, and federal partners, they are working closely to determine the key actions required to remove the fallen bridge."

Ship had a "power issue" before the collision

Officials have confirmed that the ship lost power right before the collision. Moore said the crew notified authorities of a "power issue." 

Two U.S. officials told CBS News multiple alarms rang out on the ship, alerting pilots and crew to an issue on board. The crew ran several system tests to attempt to remedy the loss of propulsion from the motor, but the tests proved unsuccessful. At that point, the pilot alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Authority. 

Roughly two minutes elapsed between when the ship's pilot notified state authorities of an issue on board and when the bridge collapsed, Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski said.

Officials said in a news conference that the call allowed officials to order a mayday and stop traffic onto the bridge.

Moore said that the decision to stop traffic onto the bridge "saved lives last night." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told CBS News the mayday call "saved many lives" and allowed emergency personnel to get to the scene quickly.  

Officials did not clarify how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Infrared video showed that vehicles did enter the water, but it's not clear if those vehicles had occupants. Multiple vehicles remained in the river as of mid-morning. 

Homendy said it was too early in the investigation to clarify an exact timeline of events for the accident. 

The ship's crew made an effort to deploy the anchor, though it remains unclear how much progress was made, multiple officials said.

"If it lost steering and power, then basically it's a dead ship just being carried by the current or its own momentum," James Mercante, the president of the New York Board of Pilot Commissioners, told CBS News.

He said video shows a "big, big puff of black, real dark black smoke" which might indicate that the vessel's power was "restored at the last minute" and that the pilot was "attempting to make an emergency maneuver" to prevent the collision. However, it would be difficult to stop the 900-foot-long vessel. 

"It would take quite a while — probably the length of five [or] six football fields — to bring that ship to a stop, even after dropping the anchors, because of its power and momentum. This is a behemoth," Mercante said. 

"An unthinkable tragedy"

The Baltimore mayor headed to the scene and told reporters at a morning briefing that  the collapse was "an unthinkable tragedy."

"We have to first and foremost pray for all of those who are impacted, those families, pray for our first responders and thank them," Scott said.

A witness  told CBS News Baltimore  the sound of the collapse was massive, shaking his home. 

"Earthquake — sounded like a big bash of thunder," the resident said. "And then just like I said it felt like an earthquake, the whole house vibrated. Like my house was falling down."

The man said he never thought in his "wildest dreams" he would see something like this happen. 

Shipping in and out of the Port of Baltimore has been halted. Moore said that it was too early to estimate how long it would take to rebuild the bridge or for shipping to resume. 

"Our exclusive focus is on saving lives. Our exclusive focus is on search and rescue," he said. 

Location of the Key Bridge in Baltimore

The Francis Scott Key Bridge spans the Patapsco River, a key waterway that serves with the Port of Baltimore as a hub for East Coast shipping. 

CBS News Baltimore reports that the 1.6-mile span was used by some 31,000 people per day and carried 11.5 million vehicles annually.

The Maryland Transportation Authority  said  all lanes were closed in both directions on I-695.  Traffic was being detoured to I-95 and I-895.

All ship traffic at the port, the second-largest seaport in the mid-Atlantic region, has been halted. According to Census data, the Port of Baltimore handled more than $80 billion in imports and exports in 2023, marking a 20-year record.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the port is going to lose some $15 million per day in economic activity due to its closure. The newspaper cites Daraius Irani, chief economist at the Regional Economic Studies Institute at Towson University, as coming up with that estimate.

According to a CBS News  report , the port directly supports 15,300 jobs, while another 140,000 in the area are related to port activities. The jobs provide a combined $3.3 billion in personal income.

The bridge, which opened in 1977, is named after the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner." 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on social media that he's "spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT's support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response."

—Pat Milton, Nicole Sganga and other CBS News and CBS News Baltimore staff members contributed reporting.

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