Magazine meets new marine trend

The cover of Pacific Passagemaker. Photo / Supplied

A new marine magazine, targeting those interested in trawler-style "passagemakers", has been launched by D&B Publishing.

The summer 2011 edition of Pacific Passagemaker went on sale in New Zealand and Australia shortly before the start of the holiday season.

It is, according to co-publisher and editor Barry Thompson, Australasia's only publication dedicated to trawler-style and passagemaking powerboats.

"The magazine is a response to the fast-growing interest in a slower, more sedate way of going boating", he says. "Through our other publication, Pacific MotorYacht, we have noticed for some time that there is a trend, in fact groundswell of interest, towards this style of boating.

"It therefore seemed right to produce a magazine that caters for this part of the market."

The first issue of the magazine features what Thompson describes as a full listing of all the serious passagemaker and trawler-style boats available on local markets.

It also provides profiles of all these brands and includes reports on dozens of models.

"The issue also includes features on equipment of special interest to owners of these types of boats and respected ocean adventurer Scott Flanders explains how easy it is to take that first step and head offshore," says Thompson.

Pacific PassageMaker, a larger than A4 format magazine, will have two further 2011 editions, May and December. Thompson says there are plans to publish the magazine as a quarterly in 2012.

Available through bookshops, magazine outlets and direct distribution to key outlets, it will also be available online from late this month.