merritt 56 catamaran

Jimmy Buffett’s Maritime Dream and Legacy

• By Capt. Karl Anderson
• March 13, 2024

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I suppose there are varying degrees of loving boats. Certainly, growing up near the water or having a heritage of seafaring people in your background doesn’t always guarantee that love, but in many cases, it is the rich stock for the gumbo of a water-loving life. And when that passion strikes, it can be so deeply ingrained that it is indeed the greatest ingredient of a truly full life. To say Jimmy Buffett was a lover of boats cannot be taken lightly.

Buffett’s longtime fishing buddy, the accomplished author and angler Carl Hiaasen, once put it into perspective, saying: “When Jimmy wasn’t on stage, he was on the water, or heading full speed to the water. He paid as much attention to the details of his boats as he did to his songs. Every line had to be just right.” Sadly, after battling skin cancer for four years, Buffett died on September 1, 2023, at the age of 76 of Merkel cell carcinoma.

A Life on the Water

Buffett was infected with a love of the sea and boats of all manner—so much so, he wanted to always live by the sea. He spent the majority of his time away from his musical pursuits on the water, sailing, surfing, fishing or just messing about on his boats.

In a recent conversation I had with his sister Lucy Buffett, she spoke so glowingly of their childhood and the threads of growing up on the Gulf Coast that were woven into her late brother’s love of boats and the sea that made up a great portion of the fabric of his life.

Buffett’s grandfather from Nova Scotia famously jumped out of a window of the family home at 13 years old to become a runaway going to sea. He became a cabin boy on a sailing ship, and the stories of his time at sea surely put dreams of travel and adventure into his grandson’s head. The sea calls many with its charms. Lucy recalls, “Our grandfather never returned home full time until he was in his 70s. Our parents both worked in the Mobile, Alabama, shipyards, building big ships. This, along with the constant dream for us kids of having a house on the water that my parents couldn’t afford, were the seeds of life around the water that were planted in us.”

As Lucy recounts, “The boating mythology has been in our family since we can remember, because we spent a lot of time on the Mississippi coast at our grandparent’s home. It was always a big deal whenever our merchant mariner grandfather Capt. Buffett came home, because he would have been gone for months and months at a time. He always returned with stories of where he had been, from all over the world. That’s the story of the song ‘The Captain and the Kid,’ and all of that was true.”

She continues, “As kids, our parents would rent a home for our vacations on Mobile Bay or at the beach, and Daddy and Jimmy would rent motorboats. Then our parents had some friends, the Kennedy engine family of Biloxi, who had a 100-foot wooden motor-yacht called Mariner II . They would go on extended trips on the boat to Tampa and the islands off the Mississippi coast. One year, Jimmy and their oldest son got to go on one summer trip as bait boys. That was the first time Jimmy was introduced to that type of leisure boating. They also had a seaplane in the 1960s, and those experiences were something Jimmy always talked about, saying, ‘Someday I’ll have one of those.’ So I think these things, along with the culture of the Gulf Coast to work hard and play hard on the water, had a huge impact on Jimmy. The first house he ever bought was for [his wife] Jane, and the second house was for my mom and dad, and it was on the water. It was their dream as well, working at the shipyard to have a house overlooking the bay. Jimmy also bought Daddy his first boat, a 17-foot Mako center-console.”

Lucy recalls, “Jimmy was always going to have some sort of boat. In Key West [Florida] in the mid- to late ’70s, it was the fascination of sailing and that romantic notion that led him to buy a little skiff with the first money he made. He then bought his first sailboat that he named Euphoria II , so that curiosity led to always having this bond with boats and being around the water. For him, there was no better place. He always had that forward-looking ability—‘What’s on the horizon?’—and he had to go do it.”

Jimmy’s Sport-Fishers

Many years and many more boats later, in 2006, Buffett owned a 42-foot Rybovich called Last Mango that he began to bring to the boatyard at Merritt’s Boat & Engine Works in Pompano Beach, Florida, for annual service and maintenance. This was the start of his long relationship with not only the yard but the Merritts as well. Over the years, there were several Buffett boats that frequently visited the yard, including the Rybovich, a 33-foot Freeman catamaran, a 42-foot Freeman cat project boat and even a sailboat—the only one to come into the yard—along with a host of support boats, including a Hell’s Bay skiff and an Albury Brothers center-console, among many others.

While still enjoying his 33-foot Freeman pilothouse boat, Buffett contracted Freeman to build a complete 42-foot hull without a console installed. If you have been anywhere near the water with an interest in boats and access to the internet, you certainly would have seen that vision of Buffett’s that came to life as a 42 Freeman with a walkaround cabin that was built and installed by Merritt’s.

As the 42’s hull and deck were being built, Buffett, along with his longtime captain, Vinnie Lasorsa, and Roy Merritt, went to work on what Buffett wanted in this next boat. Having years of experience with a vast assortment of vessels—both power and sail—Buffett had a unique vision for what would suit his needs best for his use at that time. This boat brainstorming and planning was nothing new.

Jimbo Meador, the legendary Alabama waterman and lifelong Buffett family friend and companion, told me: “Jimmy was a brilliant guy when it came to any kind of boat, electronics, navigation; he always had some kind of new idea as far as everything on the water. Whether it was fishing or designing those concepts into the boats, he was always improving what he had.”

The Freeman Project

Utilizing the boatbuilding and styling expertise at Merritt’s and the team of carpenters, glass crew, painters and mechanics, the house was built and integrated into the Freeman hull with direction and hands-on input from Buffett, Lasorsa and Roy Merritt.

Building a full-scale wood mock-up on the shop floor gave Buffett a real gauge of scale and space to make the most out of everything they could do, even down to reclining on the bunks to be sure he would be comfortable on his “camping out” fishing trips. Console layout was carefully executed to fit a host of the latest Garmin electronics and vessel-control systems. The cabin was designed for maximum storage and ample seating, and included a dinette area so Buffett, the always busy taskmaster, could work on his laptop and have a place to dine while on board. All of this was accomplished while still honoring the walk-around layout and 360-degree fishability of the boat.

The Merritt house was married to the hull and deck, allowing for electrical, plumbing and other finish work to happen, including the faux teak-painted cabin walls and ceiling beams as well as tower install, blending old-world classic boat feels with advanced composite construction and design. Freeman pulled the hull from the mold in January 2019, and the boat left Merritt’s yard just seven months later, in July—quite a task in a tight time frame, but it showed the commitment and vision by all parties to get it done. In 2009, before the boatbuilding process had even begun, Lasorsa had an idea to give back and help US military veterans. Buffett, ever the idea man, promoter and philanthropist, encouraged Lasorsa to start Freedom Fighter Outdoors. With Buffett’s endorsement and urging, they began hosting events to take injured veterans fishing in Florida and on Long Island, New York. Building Freedom Fighter Outdoors to four and five events a year has impacted the lives of those veterans who participate beyond measure. This is all done in the spirit of giving back—a testament to the spirit and heart of both men.

As is often the case, the boating disease for real boat lovers kicks in after a while, and the desire for a larger vessel or more improvements and upgrades for the current model comes along. The boat enthusiast in all of us keeps thinking and dreaming of the next thing, and soon, the bug to build a dream and create the desired platform triggers the need to build the project.

And that was the case with Buffett. He was so pleased with the Freeman catamaran with the Merritt house, he had Lasorsa set up a meeting with Merritt once again. As those meetings typically go, Buffett—who loves a unique project—pleaded his case of needing a bit more comfort, a stand-up head and shower, a stateroom with a proper berth for overnighting and a larger salon, because it comes with a bigger boat that can also handle a bit more weather.

He wanted to stay with the catamaran hull platform with Mercury outboards. He was also looking to leave a legacy in the marine industry, in which he’d been a vibrant participant for the greater part of his life. The problem: he was working with Roy Merritt, who himself has made a great success of his family business building top-of-the-line world-traveling sport-fishermen for titans of industry and a host of discerning clients. What Buffett wants is not what Merritt builds, or even wants to build. However, as Buffett recognized, these two guys have something in common besides their friendship and a true love of boats. They are both guys that have achieved great things in their respective industries. They have both kept pace with their audiences and figured out what they want and what they need.

Buffett, with Lasorsa in tow, put on his best sales pitch, and with a bit of arm twisting, he cajoled the reluctant Merritt to begin the special project. But not just to build a boat. Buffett the philanthropist and marketer envisions a situation where they start up a company that would build the boats and give back to the industry by having a technical school for training young folks in the marine trades of welding, carpentry, painting, electrical and the like, and perhaps help troubled kids with few other prospects. Buffett saw improving lives as a large part of the mission, and this is the thoughtful, ambitious, caring Buffett at his best. The dropback works, and he hooks Merritt as solidly as a perfectly pitch-baited blue marlin. All of this was done in the best of old-school partnerships with a firm handshake—no lawyers, no multipage contracts, just two friends doing business.

With the idea hatched and the basic parameters laid out, Merritt began just as he does with any new build. Having never done a catamaran hull, he enlisted the services of Michael Peters Yacht Design to create the running surface while he and his in-house team designed the layout and practical operating functions of the boat.

In order to satisfy the criteria for Buffett and have a fully functional rig with sufficient fuel capacity, a generator, a watermaker, ice makers, livewells and a host of other components that fit and can be serviced in place, all while getting the look of a finely styled classic boat, the length grew to 56 feet with a 17-foot beam.

There were a host of other considerations that were addressed during the development, such as the width of the walkaround, deck height off the water, tunnel height, major component placement in each hull, bow layout and seating, anchor locker and windlass configuration, flybridge layout, and a host of manufacturing and assembly issues that needed to be ironed out. Designed to be powered with quad 600-horsepower Mercury outboards for speed and reliability, the boat is certainly unique and fills a niche in the industry that has been missed to date. For Buffett, the inherent fishability of the walk-around layout, with a massive ­cockpit, combined with its length and beam, will make it a player on the blue water anywhere it goes. The big cat’s interior comforts, including a full-size stateroom, a large head with a shower, a spacious salon with a galley, an interior helm, a settee, a bar and a large flat-screen television, make it an ideal weekender and commuter. Topped with a spacious, beautiful flybridge, the Buffett-inspired 56 Merritt catamaran is as much a trendsetter as it is a practical fishing tool.

Read Next: Meet Roy Merritt in our exclusive interview with the legendary custom boatbuilder .

With this boat, Jimmy Buffett the visionary set the table for his marine legacy, while his trust and confidence in Merritt to build a quality boat are a testament to Merritt’s legacy and track record. With the great sadness of his passing, Jimmy Buffett’s dream will be realized, as the boat is being built as he envisioned it and wanted for his personal use, knowing that others would also see the many benefits of such a boat.

The treasured American writer Thomas McGuane spent a considerable amount of time with Buffett throughout his life as ­collaborator, friend and brother-in-law. Perhaps starting in the early ’70s ­fly-fishing for tarpon in Key West, they have logged many hours in various boats of all manner in many places far and wide. I’d say he put it best when it comes to Buffett and his love of boats and the sea when McGuane said: “I think Jimmy loved every boat that was ever born. As his knowledge of boats expanded through a lifetime of thinking about them, building and acquiring them, a day inevitably came when a boat project outlived him. Rest in peace, sailor.”

• More: Merritt Boats

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Freeman Boatworks x Merritt Boat Works collaboration for Jimmy Buffett

Jul 18, 2019

It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere…

Many of us in the boating world is familiar with Jimmy Buffet- the island hopping entertainer who is primarily known for his music. In November of 2017, Jimmy buffet bought a used Freeman 33 foot catamaran when he found out the waiting list for a new Freeman was several years. However, this was no typical Freeman fishing machine- it had a custom pilothouse fixed to it by Merritt Boat and Engine Works. 

(Jimmy Buffett with his custom 33 Freeman- via Freeman Boatworks Facebook)

Fast forward 2 years and the name Jimmy Buffett was finally at the top of the list to have his new Freeman catamaran built. This time he would opt for a 42 foot model with a seafoam green hull. Not long after it was announced that he would be partnering with Merritt once again- so the hull and quad Yamaha 300 outboards were soon being shipped from Freeman’s facility in Summerville, South Carolina to Merritt’s Boat and Engine Works in Pompano Beach, Florida. Following the release of the drawings for this one-of-a-kind boat, a crowd of boating enthusiasts formed a thread on The Hull Truth to share their findings of the build as well as discuss their opinions on it. This thread became so popular that Merritt themselves started to post updates with photos throughout the build for fans to see. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.

(Freeman 42 Pilothouse drawings- via Merritt’s Instagram)

Over time this group of fans was able to see Merritt’s signature quality touch being put on a Freeman. Many of the onlookers claimed this to be their “dreamboat” while others voiced concern for the added weight of the enclosure sacrificing some of the performance in regards to the ride quality, efficiency, and speed. Merritt however, had this thought out already by creating the pilothouse out of carbon fiber- which is known for being extremely lightweight without sacrificing strength.

(Merritt employees making sure everything in the model is perfect before creating the real enclosure out of carbon fiber- via THT)

In addition to the stellar work by Merritt, those following the build also praised how involved Jimmy Buffett was throughout the entire process. Being found on site quite frequently.

(Jimmy on-site- via THT)

The build is still in progress but was recently splashed for testing. Keep up with the build or review more of the details here! 

Sources: https://www.facebook.com/289963931032105/posts/jimmy-buffett-just-took-possession-of-this-freeman-33-pilot-house-its-five-ocloc/1913103215384827/

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/989182-freeman-merritt-42-outboard-cat-fisharound-jimmy-buffet.html

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The Last Mango: Jimmy Buffett’s custom 42 foot long Freeman sportfish catamaran

The Last Mango: Jimmy Buffett's custom 42 foot long Freeman sportfish catamaran

Freeman Boatworks and Merritt Boatworks combined efforts to create a custom 42 foot long Freeman sportfish catamaran for music legend, Jimmy Buffett.

Jimmy Buffett and his Cpn. Vinnie LaSorsa run the ship.

Vinnie is based in Pompano Beach, Florida .

Jimmy lives in Palm Beach, Florida .

They wanted a pilothouse on it with windows that go up and down as opposed to side to side, shock-absorbing seats and a retractable awning .

The boat has been nicknamed The Last Mango .

Powered by quad 300-hp Yamaha outboards , the boat can hold 800 gallons of fuel .

At the helm, there are two Shockwave seats (as requested) and a full complement of the latest Garmin technology.

Two  17-inch Garmin 8617 MFD s dominate the dash and run the new  EmpirBus switching system .  From the MFD, the captain can control all ship systems down to the ball valves used to fill the forward ballast tanks that Freeman installed to bring the bow down in a head sea.

The captain doesn’t have to manually open the valves, just tap the MFD and the icon on the screen will change when the valve is open to show if water is flowing or not. Pumps, aerators, AC, lights, horn, wipers—they’re all controllable through the EmpirBus.

There is a Yamaha Helm Master joystick on the main helm as well as the upper station. This lets the captain slide the boat sideways to the gas dock, hold position and drift in various configurations.

LaSorsa says he loves the maneuverability the Helm Master provides, but the Freeman drifts so nicely that he often doesn’t need the various drift-set functions when fishing.

When asked what his favorite feature of the boat is, LaSorsa answers quickly.

“I like being in the enclosed pilothouse ,” he says. “You don’t feel the wear and tear you feel when running a center console and cruising so fast. On those boats, you feel like a cocker spaniel in the back of a pickup truck on the highway . On this boat, you don’t get any of that. There’s no wind burn . It’s quiet and soft. You can hear each other. It’s easier on the body.”

Last Mango Boatworks

https://www.lastmangoboatworks.com/

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Merritt Boatworks 58 Sportfishing Yacht OHHH BOY Listed For Sale

By Rob Bowman | Posted On Sep 27, 2021 Updated On Mar 23, 2022

United Yacht Sales is pleased to announce that the stunning 58-foot Merritt Boatworks Convertible Sportfish OHHH BOY is now available and listed with professional yacht broker Greg Graham . This is hull #069 for Merritt and is easily toured down in Key Largo , Florida. The benefits of a full time crew are easily noticed on board OHHH BOY as both the aesthetic and mechanical condition of the vessel are impressive. Family owned and operated, the Merritt Boatworks shipyard is known to be among the best in the production of custom sportfishing boats and this example casts no doubt of that reputation.

As the 'Top Gun' leader for United Yacht Sales two years in a row, Captain Greg Graham seems to be a popular choice among Ocean Reef Club residents for getting their yacht sold quickly. As of the time of this writing, Greg currently has 5 boats under contract and waiting for their closing date. Some of Greg's recent closings include a F&S 50 Custom Carolina and a Viking 60 Convertible . Greg's largest closing to date was a 136' Horizon Motor Yacht named Antithesis. If you'd like to learn more about OHHH BOY or talk to Greg about listing your yacht for sale, give him a call at 1-305-522-4739 or reach him by email at [email protected] . 

Since 1948, Allen Merritt and family have owned and operated Merritt Boats at their facility right on the intracoastal waterway in Pompano Beach. Even though the yachts produced have grown in excess of 80-feet, the personal touches of a family-run business are still felt all over the boat yard and that ambiance resonates with owners.

"Anytime you stop and see a Merritt at a fishing tournament, the boat always looks fantastic," said Greg. "Only the best materials are used in the construction process and for the woodwork in the cockpit. Combined with the fact that most of the team at the shipyard has been working there for decades and the result is an extraordinary custom boat that's proven to raise fish!"

OHHH BOY was originally set up to fish for Blue Marlin when it was first designed. The most recent owners modified the 58-foot sportfish to become a tournament sailfish boat with the addition of a 4 pump boxes and on-deck customized live-wells. These were not the only additions to OHHH BOY though, as there have been several notable upgrades that should be mentioned including:

• Seakeeper 9 and a Seakeeper 6
• Teak decks and covering boards
• 11 Rod Bluewater rocket launchers
• Spot Zero water system
• Spare props with fiberglass boxes
• Marquipt 1500 davit for tender
• Bow rails added

Comments from Greg about the Merritt 58: 

"Built by the most talented craftsmen in the industry using the finest materials available coupled with the most reliable Caterpillar 3412 motors it's a winning combination. Longstanding family-owned and operated Merritt Boat and Engine Works in Pompano Beach, Florida master carpenters and craftsmen build the stunning interiors with custom cabinetry, furnishings, mezzanine wings and varnished Teak trim, typical features of Merritt’s classic, elegant look and feel that garner admiring looks in marinas all over the world. Merritt’s custom sportfishing yachts are prized not only for their stunning beauty, but as superbly functional and well-engineered fishing machines, able to reach distant fishing grounds with the comfort and amenities of a luxury cruising yacht."

The business end of the Merritt 58 OHHH BOY is finally tuned for anglers to compete in serious offshore tournaments. Yet the cockpit (seen above) also imparts a wonderful cruising experience should you want to spend the winter island hopping or cruising to New England for summer. A sunshade provides relief from the sun, while the mezzanine seating and multiple drink cooler boxes offer comfort while enjoying the action....or the view! Rich teak wood surrounds you and your guests or crew as a compliment to the ambiance of your ocean surroundings.

The flybridge and tower on the Merritt Boats 58 will leave other captains with envy. Guests and crew will enjoy riding from the upper bridge thanks to comfortable helm seats and additional cushioned benches. Updated electronics are found on the bridge and tower and include a Garmin 7670XSV (Bridge), a Garmin 7607 (Tower), Garmin 7612 (Bridge), Fusion stereo to get you pumped to fish, and much more. Whether you're chasing birds or enjoying the fall foliage on an east coast cruise, Merritt has created a perfect platform in its flybridge and tower for you to get unbelievable views.

The salon on this Merritt 58 sportfish features all of the amenities and comforts you enjoy at home. While much of the attention on custom sportfishing boats is paid to the fishing equipment, the interior of this Merritt 58 more closely resembles a luxury motor yacht . U-shaped wrap-around seating with a cocktail table center not only provides a great conversation area, but also allows everyone to watch the game on the pop-up flat screen tv. The galley is forward an is equipped with a Merritt refrigerator and freezer, Regency 4-burner stove with oven, and much more to feed everyone on board.

There are 3 staterooms on the Merritt 58 OHHH BOY that comfortably sleeps up to 6 people. The master suite features its own head with shower, as well as a queen-sized berth. There is plenty of storage space in the master stateroom, as well as the guest cabins, for extended fishing trips and cruises. In addition to the master bathroom, there are two additional heads with showers on board.

Power for the Merritt 58 are twin Caterpillar 3412E 1,400HP engines that have had only 300 hours put on them in the last 3 years. Owners can expect a cruise speed in the high 20 knot range with WOT speed in the mid 30's depending on the overall load. The engine room is clean and has been very well-maintained by a knowledgeable service team. Other equipment onboard includes a Watermakers Inc water-maker, Eskimo ice maker, Flow Marine AC Chillers, and a lot more.

United Yacht Sales is a leader when it comes to the sale of pre-owned sportfishing yachts, but can also represent you in the purchase of a new boat. Our team of over 200 professional yacht brokers worldwide creates the largest network of boat buyers and sellers in the industry. Combined with our top support team, there is no better professional brokerage firm to assist you in your boating endeavors. To get started with United Yacht Sales, feel free to contact our main headquarters in Stuart, Florida at 1-772-463-3131 and we will connect you to the best yacht broker near you .

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Check out this pre-owned 37′ Merritt for sale!

Word just came in from Gregg Silver that he has a deal on a pre-owned 37′ Merritt boat for sale in Georgia that must be sold! This gorgeous, one-of-a-kind vessel shows as new!  With over $200,000 invested in renovations including all new wiring and plumbing, re-powered twin 440 Cummins Diesels, and a fresh bottom job, she is ready for serious fishing! This is the original 37′ Merritt masterpiece that all latter manufacturers tried to copy but seldom got the same effect. The first time the term “Head Turner” was ever used at a marina it was due to this classic fisherman arriving. Hull #7 was born in the Merritt Yard in Pompano Beach. She just went through a 6 month revitalization bringing her back to show boat condition. Besides the enormous list of very recent upgrades this vessel also had an engine refit of high performance engines which required the addition of auxiliary flotation chines to handle the increased displacement which was an expensive upgrade to complete. For more information on this pre-owned 37′ Merritt boat for sale be sure to contact Gregg Silver today!

For over 56 years Atlantic Yacht & Ship has been serving the yachting community. Our headquarter sales office is dockside at Harbour Towne Marina in the heart of the yachting capital of the world, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Our in-house  waterside service department  provides general yacht services from new teak, to engine rebuilds, captain services, and everything in between. Whether purchasing or marketing a quality vessel, Atlantic Yacht and Ship, Inc. is your one stop resource for the highest quality service and sales in the yachting industry today. If you are looking at  yachts for sale , or thinking about  selling your yacht , it is always wise to have an experienced broker representing your interests throughout the deal. Contact  Atlantic Yacht & Ship  at 954.921.1500 or  click here .

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Sunset Catamaran Sail in Merritt Island

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Due to the ecological impact of plastic water bottles, we have a jug of water aboard in our cooler. Please bring reusable water bottles, if you prefer. Thanks for your understanding.
• 290 Marine Harbor Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA Our slip is in Cape Crossing Resort and Marina and runs along the Barge Canal. Follow the signs to our slip. Please arrive 15-30 minutes before the tour start time. WE LEAVE PROMPTLY AT TOUR TIME AND DO NOT WAIT FOR LATE ARRIVALS. WE WILL NOT ISSUE REFUNDS DUE TO LATE ARRIVALS.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 32 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at 290 Marine Harbor Dr 290 Marine Harbor Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA Our slip is in Cape Crossing Resort and Marina and runs along the Barge Canal. Follow the signs to our slip. Please arrive 15-30 minutes before the tour start time. WE LEAVE PROMPTLY AT TOUR TIME AND DO NOT WAIT FOR LATE ARRIVALS. WE WILL NOT ISSUE REFUNDS DUE TO LATE ARRIVALS. See address & details
• Pass by Merritt Island Cape Crossing Resort & Marina Intracoastal Waterway
• You'll return to the starting point

• kerrycX4130VP 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Water and Wildlife Fantastic trip. Jen was so knowledgeable. the weather wasn't the best, but we had a great time! We would definitely go again. Read more Written May 30, 2023
• andreabX8601QQ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great crew! The crew was amazing! The weather wasn't great and so we had to end the cruise early, but the crew did everything they could to make the trip memorable, and it was. We saw dolphins and my daughter and I had a blast. Thank you for a great trip! Read more Written May 27, 2023
• lorainem360 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Susie’s birthday group of 21 We sailed with Captain Jen and Don! They were awesome. Such fun and they gave us really interesting fun facts during the trip. Read more Written May 25, 2023
• 917katiel 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing, amazing, amazing. Captain Jen and First Mate Andrew were great. Very knowledgeable on what lives and goes on in the local Indian Lagoon - super fascinating to learn more about the dolphins and other wild life in the area. Thank you both for making this experience so great! Read more Written May 25, 2023
• D2549JBvanessaw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sailing Excursion Captain Jen and First Mate Andrew were amazing! Friendly, attentive, humorous, knowledgeable, etc. It was such a relaxing trip. They made sure to help my mom (who is nervous around water) feel at ease! The complimentary drinks and photos were the icing on the top of this wonderful experience! Read more Written May 16, 2023
• laurahQ7192ON 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Cruise We had a great time, the staff was very friendly and we were able to see dolphins, manatees and all kinds of birds. We would definitely recommend it. Read more Written May 15, 2023
• 6phyllisk 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Ever Best sunset trip! Captain Jen & Captain were the best They made the sail more fun just by interacting with everyone. Would definitely do this again and recommend it for anyone looking to do a fun beautiful but peaceful sail Read more Written May 8, 2023
• larryw747 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 5 star Being on the water on a beautiful evening enjoying a magnificent sunset with family. Not to forget to mention the dolphins we saw too! Capt Jen and Don treated us like royalty! Read more Written May 7, 2023
• Tom M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sunset Catamaran Cruise Captain Jen and Captain Don took us on a lovely and romantic sunset tour of the awe inspiring Indian River Lagoon. The weather was perfect, dolphins put on a great show and sunset was spectacular. What a treat! A definite must see on the Space Coast. Read more Written May 5, 2023
• Susan P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Catamaran sunset cruise We did a catamaran sunset cruise with Captain Don and First Mate Andy and had a great time. Lots of interesting facts along the way and we had the opportunity to help raise the sail. We saw lots of birds and dolphins and the sunset was amazing. I highly recommend it. Read more Written May 2, 2023
• Explore34392338243 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Girls trip, had so much fun! Absolutely fabulous trip! The people who run this are so freaking cool! They were very accommodating when we had tk reschedule. There were no fees, no hassle. That’s unheard of nowadays. The tour itself was such a blast! Really nice, clean boat. Captain Don and Smiling John were awesome! 5+++ stars. We will def be back for another adventure. Read more Written April 24, 2023
• Pdrum07 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing If I could give 10 stars I would. This was our 1st time out in a sailboat and we enjoyed every minute of it! Captain Jen and 1st Mate Andrew were amazing. They were very friendly and always checking to make sure everyone was ok or asking if we needed anything. We enjoyed our conversations. We saw several dolphins which followed the boat on the way in. We enjoyed sitting on the nets on the front of the boat. If your in the Cocoa Beach area, I would highly recommend sailings with Sail Cocoa Beach! Read more Written April 12, 2023
• kristengP9571WI 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun family activity Our family of 10 loved our afternoon sail. We saw dolphins, many different kinds of birds and enjoyed the weather. The staff was very attentive. Captain Jen let our 5 kids "drive" the boat and they were thrilled. Read more Written April 11, 2023
• roberson925 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great evening activity Great staff, beautiful trip. Fun for all ages in a big group. We got to see some dolphins, watch the sun set, and enjoy the scenery. Read more Written April 6, 2023
• Expedition78965 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience!! My husband and I totally enjoyed the sail. The scenery was beautiful, so cool to see the dolphins swimming around the boat, and Captains Ron and Jen were knowledgeable and made the afternoon a lot of fun!! Read more Written March 27, 2023

More to explore in Merritt Island

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Sunset Catamaran Sail in Merritt Island provided by Sail Cocoa Beach

Strange Glow Over Moscow Skies Triggers Panic as Explosions Reported

B right flashes lit up the night sky in southern Moscow in the early hours of Thursday morning, new footage appears to show, following reports of an explosion at an electrical substation on the outskirts of the city.

Video snippets circulating on Russian-language Telegram channels show a series of flashes on the horizon of a cloudy night sky, momentarily turning the sky a number of different colors. In a clip shared by Russian outlet MSK1.ru, smoke can be seen rising from a building during the flashes lighting up the scene.

Newsweek was unable to independently verify the details of the video clips, including when and where it was filmed. The Russian Ministry of Emergency situations has been contacted via email.

Several Russian Telegram accounts said early on Thursday that residents of southern Moscow reported an explosion and a fire breaking out at an electrical substation in the Leninsky district, southeast of central Moscow.

Local authorities in the Leninsky district told Russian outlet RBC that the explosion had happened in the village of Molokovo. "All vital facilities are operating as normal," Leninsky district officials told the outlet.

The incident at the substation in Molokovo took place just before 2 a.m. local time, MSK1.ru reported.

Messages published by the ASTRA Telegram account, run by independent Russian journalists, appear to show residents close to the substation panicking as they question the bright flashes in the sky. One local resident describes seeing the bright light before losing access to electricity, with another calling the incident a "nightmare."

More than 10 villages and towns in the southeast of Moscow lost access to electricity, the ASTRA Telegram account also reported. The town of Lytkarino to the southeast of Moscow, lost electricity, wrote the eastern European-based independent outlet, Meduza.

Outages were reported in the southern Domodedovo area of the city, according to another Russian outlet, as well as power failures in western Moscow. Electricity was then restored to the areas, the Strana.ua outlet reported.

The cause of the reported explosion is not known. A Telegram account aggregating news for the Lytkarino area described the incident as "an ordinary accident at a substation."

The MSK1.ru outlet quoted a local resident who speculated that a drone may have been responsible for the explosion, but no other Russian source reported this as a possible cause.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Moscow with long-range aerial drones in recent months, including a dramatic wave of strikes in late May.

On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the region's air defense systems had intercepted an aerial drone over the city of Elektrostal, to the east of Moscow. No damage or casualties were reported, he said.

The previous day, Russian air defenses detected and shot down another drone flying over the Bogorodsky district, northeast of central Moscow, Sobyanin said.

There is currently no evidence that an aerial drone was responsible for the reported overnight explosion at the electrical substation in southern Moscow.

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