This community based map on Platial shows dozens of great places to sail all over the world. Platial is an application based on Google maps that allows anyone to add a location marker and notes to a location on a map. The map currently shows 197 different locations, with many on the East Coast of the U.S. and in Western Europe.

In July, the sailing community and the world lost a giant figure when former news anchor Walter Cronkite passed away. A lifelong sailor, summers found Cronkite boating in the waters around Edgartown near his home in Martha’s Vineyard. He also sailed to Rhode Island and Maine. During the winter, he often sailed in the Caribbean. He owned a variety of boats, all named Wyntje, including a Westsail 42, a Sunward 48 and a Hinckley 64 ketch.

Cronkite summed up his love of sailing well in his autobiography, where he wrote, “There is nothing more satisfying than dropping anchor in an otherwise deserted cove just before sunset, of pouring that evening libation and, with a freshly roasted bowl of popcorn, lying back as the geese and ducks and loons make your acquaintance and the darkness slowly descends to complement the silence.”

This popular YouTube video shows some thrilling highlights from the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09:

This “Everest of Sailing” competition is held once every three years. The race traverses over 37,000 nautical miles over a period of nine months. For more details, see this post onThe Volvo Ocean Race: Life at the Extreme.

Nantucket Island, south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is one of the most beautiful of the East Coast yachting destinations. Clear waters, scenic beaches and plenty of activities make Nantucket Island one of the most popular upscale boating locations in the U.S. A wide variety of restaurants will satisfy even the most discerning palate, and there are many hotels and cottages featuring quality accommodations on the island. There are several places to moor your boat or yacht, and boat rentals are also available. Sightseeing on Nantucket Island includes the Great Point Light, a stone tower that marks the spot where the original Nantucket Lighthouse was built in 1784. The Brant Point Light is another historic lighthouse, built in 1746 and still in operation today.