Do you have an ebook reader (Kindle, iPad, Nook, etc.)? Do you like to read books about sailing?
Then check out all of these free and amazing nautical books.
Tagged books, free sailing booksClearly the sailors in the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai are all experts and at the top of their game. However, I always have to give a little extra praise to the mast-climber on the team.
Tagged climbing, dubia, louis vuitton, mastThere are three types of sailors: those who’ve gone aground; those who haven’t, but are going to; and liars.
The quote and title of this post are taken from an excellent short anecdote by Douglas Bond over at 48* North. I think the overall message is to always be prepared for the unexpected at sea, and that no matter how careful or cautious you may be, you can find yourself in undesirable situations in the blink of an eye.
Tagged agroundThe fleet for the Phuket King’s Cup race in Thailand encounters the unexpected at their anchorage. Follow the link below to read the story.
Anchoring Disaster in Thailand
Tagged anchorage, anchoring, Phuket King's CupFor many of us, the time is close at hand to take our beloved boats out of the water and prep them for storage during the long, cold winter. Here are a few tips, or maybe just a refresher, on some items that should not go overlooked.
- For inboard engines, consider changing the oil, replacing the oil filter, remove the spark plugs, and circulating anti-freeze throughout the manifold.
- For outboard engines, flush the entire system with fresh water.
- Filling the fuel tank completely helps to eliminate condensation build up. Consider adding a fuel stabilizer.
- Ensure that the bilge is dry. Now is also a good time to do any cleaning in that area.
- Drain all water from the fresh water system. Add a non-toxic anti-freeze to the mix. Do not forget to do the same for the hot-water system.
- Pump out the head completely.
One of the things I find can be valuable during this time of the year, but tend to either forget or am too exhausted to bother, is to remove certain items from the boat that could be worked on during the winter. For instance, all line whipping or splicing can be done at home during the winter, and saves valuable time for boating when spring arrives.
Also be sure to remove any valuables from the boat. It can be easy to forget something like a camera in a drawer, only to have your boat shrink-wrapped and lose access for the winter.
Mystic Seaport, the museum of America and the sea, is hosting the Northeast Maritime Exhibition from May 14-16. From the Mystic Seaport website:
Attendees will have the opportunity to view and board beautiful new and brokerage yachts on the Mystic River while strolling through the picturesque Mystic Seaport. Additionally, an array of nautical vendors will be on-site offering everything from the perfect, new GPS to the best foul weather gear. Be among the first boaters to learn about the cutting edge technology of marine electronics and charting for mobile devices all while enjoying the historic atmosphere of Mystic Seaport.
Check out the Mystic Seaport website for more information.
Tagged mystic seaport, northeast maritime exhibitionEver since Joshua Slocum was the first to sail a single-handed circumnavigation of the world, many have followed in his foot steps. All sorts of records have been set and broken, from doing so without any assistance, being the youngest male, to being the youngest female.
Jessica Watson, aged 16, is looking to break records by being the youngest person to solo around the globe, and she’s not going to stop there. She also intends on doing so without any assistance. Her vessel: a 34′ Sparkman & Stevens named Ella’s Pink Lady.
Jessica Watson departed from Sydney, Australia on 10/18/2009, and is expected to return to Sydney in early May of this year, approximately two months earlier than planned. Regarding her precise route, from Wikipedia:
Her circumnavigation route is planned to start and end at Sydney and will pass near New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, South East Cape.[22] In accordance with the definitions set out by the International Sailing Federation World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) for circumnavigations, the equator must be crossed; this was done near Kiritimati.
Jessica Watson’s endeavor has not been without criticism. During a test sail prior to the beginning of her voyage, she collided with a freighter and was dismasted. Many claim that this proves her immaturity and inability to handle a feat of such magnitude.
Personally, I find such criticism to be moot. Jessica Watson is a young hero. Not only does she exemplify courage and a sense of adventure that so many of us can only dream of, she is performing a feat (and indeed appears set for undoubted success) that most people twice her age would never fathom. Jessica Watson gives life and sailing the excitement it deserves.
Check out her blog to stay up to date on her travels.
Tagged circumnavigation, jessica watson, joshua slocum, single handed, solo circumnavigationBoating in general, and sailing in particular, has changed drastically even over the past 50 years, but there is more likely 100 years of difference between these two boats above. All of the obvious luxury aside, the main mast on the ketch is twice the size of the main mast on the old schooner. It makes the meeting of the two seem awkward at best.
It makes one wonder who or what (or even if) the modern ketch will meet in the next 100 years, and what that will look like.
I like to whip a lot of my lines to prevent fraying and unraveling, but needed a brief refresher on how to get the job done. Fortunately, the internet and its infinite resources came to the rescue. If you’re new to whipping lines or, like me, are in need of a quick refresher, I recommend the following video:
Tagged whip, whipping, whipping lineI had the opportunity to visit the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) a few months ago, and got to tour view the restoration-in-process of the schooner Coronet. At 133′, it was no small undertaking and quite impressive to behold. A history of the yacht can be found here.
Besides the restoration of Coronet, the school has a strong reputation within the marine industry for churning out professionals in their three areas of focus: Boat building / restoration, marine systems, and composite technology. When I visited the campus, I was impressed with the professionalism of the staff and the solid operations.
It’s never to late to take on a new trade, and the IYRS boasts a diverse range of students with ages from 18 to 60. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, head on over the IYRS web site and see what more they have to offer.
Tagged boat building, boat restoration, composite technology, coronet, international yacht restoration school, iyrs, marine systems, schooner