We are working on the new tool for the fly bridge version of the Sabre 40. Now before I start, I admit that I am a dyed in the wool hard top express boater. I love the fact that rain or shine I can go boating in interior the comfort of my helm deck. I also have enough time in the skin doctor’s office to tell me that an interior helm deck is the best place for me.

The tooling drawing of the Sabre 40 Fly bridge

But (and there always seems to be a but) I still love the fly bridge experience. There really is nothing quite like the open air and the sun on your face that a bridge boat offers. It gets you away from the noise of the exhaust too and that is a very good thing for me. And when the boating is done for the day the coolness of the bridge and the birdseye view of your surroundings is very sweet. I even know one boater who buys bridge boats because the cigar smoking is permitted up there and not down below.

So this begs the question, to bridge or not to bridge?”In my family the answer is clear but in so many, it is not. Do you have an opinion or a story to share that might shed light on the conundrum?

This coming weekend presents an opportunity to attend one of Maine's two great boat shows. The first show takes place in the gloom of late winter in Portland but this one is held under the sunny summer skies of Rockland, Maine in August. The Maine Boats Homes and Harbors show is a terrific display of all that is beautiful and artful about boats built here in Maine.

If you talk to the locals we haven't had summer yet except for last Saturday. That was one heck of a day. The locals here call summer "eight weeks of bad sledding" so when it's nice we really celebrate and celebrate we will this weekend.

We'll have the new Sabre 40 Sedan at the show (her debut actually) and we'll also have the gorgeous Sabre 52 salon express available to view. We look forward to seeing you and don't forget the sunblock.

http://www..com/member/ekaterina/

Until June of this year, each time I left my dock at Brewers South Freeport (Maine) I set my eyes on the magnificent Sabre 386 Ekaterina belonging to Michael Bull. She is with no doubt one of the prettiest boats in our harbor and that is saying a lot given the fleet of boats in the harbor we call home. I came into work one day and heard that Michael was setting sail for Ireland and since then I have followed his blog as he sailed through tempests and light airs, bright sunshine and moonlit nights.

I found Ekaterina's blog to be a compelling story about three good friends fulfilling a lifelong goal to sail across the North Atlantic. By the looks of this barrel collection (photo from the blog) the boys built upquite a thirst along the way.

Congratulations to Captain Michael and the crew of Ekaterina.