The Mares 38 High Performance Powercat is advertised as a great poker run boat.  This is one of the only high performance catamarans which features a full cabin with a double bed and an enclosed head.  The cockpit area is also large, with plenty of room for entertaining and sunbathing.  The 38 foot length of the Mares 38 makes it perfect for offshore cruising.  For more information, see the Mares Powercats website.

Manta Catamarans has built custom catamarans since 1993. Located in Sarasota, Florida, Manta has been recognized by Cruising World magazine as one of the top manufacturers of sailing yachts. In 2005, Manta introduced the Manta 44 Powercat. This motor yacht is designed for long-range, fuel-efficient offshore cruising. The custom built cabin makes this is a yacht you can also live aboard. Find out the specs for the 44 Powercat on the Manta website.

With the ninth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race complete, Ericsson 4 is the winner of the round–the-world title after winning 5 of the 9 legs. A final leg and an in port race remain to be run; the results of those events will determine second place. For Ericsson 4 skipper Torben Grael, the victory was all the sweeter since he came in third skippering Brasil 1 the last time he participated in the Volvo Ocean Race. Grael is a five-time Olympic Gold Medalist and sailed with the same 11-member crew throughout the entire race.

“We are finishing Ericsson 4’s circumnavigation,” Grael said after finishing leg 9 in Stockholm in third place behind American boat PUMA and Ericsson 3. “The boat was built here and left here nearly a year ago, so she’s back after sailing around the world and winning the race. It couldn’t be any better. We have a wonderful crew with a lot of experience.”

World Cat is a top manufacturer of world class powercats for fishing and cruising. The World Cat website at www.worldcat.com lists these benefits of a power catamaran:

• Greater stability, since a powercat doesn’t pivot on a centerline the way a mono hull does.

• Allows fishing from one side without listing.

• Shallow draft allows greater access to areas unreachable by conventional hulls.

• Wider footprint facilitates navigation of rolling seas.

To see a World Cat in action in big waves, check out this YouTube video:

Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race completed on May 24. The transatlantic crossing race from Boston to Galway was won by Ericsson 4, which is the current overall leader. Next is Leg 8, starting on June 6 in Galway and finishing in Marstrand, Sweden. The entire event finishes in St. Petersburg on June 25.

If you’ve tried all kinds of water-based vacations and adventure tours, then maybe it’s time to try bareboat cruising. With a bareboat cruise, you charter a boat and provide the crew and provisions. Talk about adventure — what could be more exciting than chartering a power catamaran and cruising an exotic location. Bareboats BVI offers charter powercats in the British Virgin Islands. You can also find bareboat cruises in the Florida Keys. If that’s not your part of the world, how about bareboating in Greece?

If the idea of a bareboat vacation sounds intimidating or like too much work, you can also take a crewed powercat cruise. Read an article here about a crewed powercat cruise of the Greek Islands. Whether you choose a crewed or bairboat powercat cruise, it’s sure to be the adventure of a lifetime.

Powerboat P1 is one of the most exciting offshore race series in the world. State-of-the-art powerboats race neck to neck at some of the most exotic locations on the globe. It’s all about sound, speed and guts.

The competition started on May 8, 2009 in Malta and ends on October 24, 2009 in Bahrain, with events in Turkey, Italy and Sweden. Each round combines the thrills of powerboat racing with exhibitions and live entertainment in a carnival-like venue. Spectators can watch from on land or at sea.

Television coverage will be available on ESPN, Fox News and other major sports broadcasting channels throughout the world. The coverage is described as the most extensive in the history of powerboat racing. Powerboat P1 has also set up a dedicated YouTube channel.

For more information and videos, the Powerboat P1 official website.

Boat ownership can add a new dimension to your life. Time spent on the water can be relaxing, exciting or an adventure – it all depends on what type of boat you own and where you take it. If you’re thinking about buying a boat, there’s no time like the present. Here are 5 easy steps to help you realized your dreams of boat ownership.

1. Choose your boat – Once you know what type of activity you want a boat for, it’s easier to decide on the type of boat to buy. Do you want to race, water ski or sail? Make a list of what you expect to do in your boat.

2. Shop around – Visiting boat dealers and showrooms is a good way to start shopping. Talk to other boat owners and do some research in boating magazines and on the Internet. The more you know about what’s out there for you in the boating world, the easier it will be to find your perfect boat.

3. Get educated – Look into the rules and regulations governing boating in your area. Before you take the plunge and purchase a boat, it’s a good idea to take some classes on boat operation and safety.

4. Do Research – Find out all you can about financing and insurance. Boats can be financed in the same way as cars, but insurance for boats varies widely between companies. It pays to shop around.

5. Find a Home for your Boat – Before purchasing a boat, it’s a good idea to decide where you’ll store it. Will you tow it to water or keep it at a marina? Many marinas have waiting lists, so you should check into this before buying your boat.

Once you’ve done your homework and covered these 5 steps, you should know everything you need to know about buying a boat. Now it’s time to find your boat and beginning to own life as a boat owner.

Safehaven Marine in County Cork, Ireland is a small boat manufacturer specializing in pilot boats and commerical craft. Their Interceptor hulls are used for fishing, recreation and dive boats.

This YouTube video shows a compilation of Interceptors in rough seas. It’s had over 800,000 views in the last two years.  You can download additional rough seas videos from the Safehaven website.

In first place is Ericsson 4, with Telefonica Blue and PUMA Ocean Racing in second and third. All of the boats are in good shape due to an easier than expected Leg 6 from Rio de Janeiro. Following their stay in Boston, the yachts head out on May 16 across the Atlantic to Galway, Scotland for Leg 7. Read more on the Volvo Ocean Race website.