Shark Attacks Swimmer In Californa (Article + Video)

SOLANA BEACH, CA, April 26, 2008 (Boating Channel News)

A swimmer was killed Friday morning after a shark attack off Fletcher Cove, officials said.

Sheriff's deputies said they were called at 7:20 a.m. to aid the man. A helicopter initially was sent to take the man to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead on the beach.

The swimmer, who was believed to be in his 50s, was attacked as he was swimming about 150 yards offshore, lifeguard officials said... [Full Story + Video]

Source: ABC-7 Los Angeles
By Karen Kucher
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
and Terry Rodgers
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

China Cup Offers Charter of Beneteau First 40.7s to Entice Qualified Crews

SAG HARBOR, NY, April 25, 2008 (The Boating Channel) – China Cup International Regatta today invited bids from experienced international crews to charter its Beneteau First 40.7 yachts to race at this year's October event.

With 22 teams from countries around the world already having expressed an interest in the opportunity, the competition to secure one of the yachts is expected to be intense.

China Cup bought a further 20 yachts in March to add to the 10 it purchased for the inaugural China Cup last year.

Of those, crews for ten the boats will be selected by Beneteau in its role as Global Strategic Partner and 20 crews will be selected by the China Cup management committee.

Each yacht will be available for a basic charter fee of HKD 50,000 (US$6,400), for seven days of sailing including four days of racing, with sponsored teams asked to pay extra costs for displaying their advertising and branding. Full details will be made available to teams on receipt of their bids... [More]

The Fourth Fleet Is Back

MAYPORT, FL, April 25, 2008 (NNS)

(By 3rd Class Alan Gragg, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs) - Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, announced yesterday the reestablishment of U.S. 4th Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan as its first commander. Kernan is currently serving as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. The U.S. 4th Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) which encompasses the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and the surrounding waters... [More]

Dance With A Tree Snake

AHOY AMERICA! Take a break for a BoatingChannel Short. Today's movie is Dance With A Tree Snake. The word "Dance" is a double entendre as this is one of Bill Dance's Fishing Bloopers.

I'm not sure whether this is funny or scary. My guess is that it's funny if you were raised in the South where they kind of take these critters for granted. But if you're from Yankee land and this happened to you, you'd probably never go fishing again! Dance With A Tree Snake is playing now on Today's Boating Video.

Killer Tortoise Defends His Territory

Have you ever seen an aggressive tortoise? Well, take a couple of minutes and meet "Killer" - He's a small guy taking on a couple of cats who are unwittingly poaching on his territory. He may be slow, but he's persistent in evicting the invaders! Killer Tortoise is playing now on Today's Boating Video - Time: 2:06

Florida Woman Finds Alligator In Kitchen

OLDSMAR, FL, April 22, 2008 (The Boating Channel) What's for breakfast mom? A woman in the Tampa, Florida area found an 8 ft alligator in her kitchen this morning. According to authorities in the Pinella County Sheriff's Office, the gator must have pushed through the back porch screen door and gained entrance to the house through an open sliding glass door. It then walked through the living room, down a hall and into the kitchen! The gator, which had been cut from a plate being knocked over, was removed by a trapper from Animal Capture Of Florida, a licensed wild life trapping company serving the Tampa area.

Scuba Diving Cat - New Video

AHOY AMERICA! - Take a break and meet Hawkeye, the world's only Scuba Diving Cat, and her best friend and diving buddy, Mutton - The world's only Scuba Diving Dog! It's playing now on Today's Boating Videos.

Lake Tahoe To Host Coast Guard Interagency Homeland Security Law Enforcement Exercise

TAHOE CITY, CA, April 21, 2008 (The Boating Channel) -

The U.S. Coast Guard, working with the Washoe County Sheriff Department and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, will be conducting law enforcement training exercises on Lake Tahoe, tomorrow, Tuesday April 22.

The event will be hosted by Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe and will include the Coast Guard's Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) 91105 from San Francisco in a joint training exercise. The Team will plan, deploy, and complete simulated Homeland Security Law Enforcement drills onboard the passenger vessel "Dixie II."

Coast Guard Auxiliary members, as well as Station Lake Tahoe personnel, will participate in the training. The Coast Guard simulated response will involve the use of 23-foot Over the Horizon boats, 25-foot response boats, as well as a safety boat provided by the Washoe County Sheriff Department... [More]

Underwater Engagement - New Video

Underwater Engagement is about a couple of Divers getting (pardon the pun) "deeply" engaged. Yup, you've got the idea. They're getting engaged while SCUBA Diving off Lanai, in a dive site aptly named, "First Cathedral." Excellent video and music. Very enjoyable 1:39 minutes.

Man Rescued Off Marin Headlands Cliff, Another Rescued in SF Bay

MARIN COUNTY, CA, April 15, 2008 (The Boating Channel) -

The Coast Guard, working with the National Park Service, responded to a report of two people injured on the cliffs above Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands yesterday afternoon.

At 3:02 p.m., Monday, the Coast Guard received notification through California Highway Patrol dispatch that a male and female were in distress after falling down a steep area near the water. The Coast Guard immediately launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Station Golden Gate, and a HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter from Air Station San Francisco. The National Park Service responded from the landside, and began searching for the two people.

The crew aboard the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat visually located the two people on the cliffs above Rodeo Beach, and directed the helicopter to their location. The helicopter conducted a hoist rescue of the man, who was injured but conscious, and in stable condition.

The man was attempting to rescue the other individual, who fell from the cliffs above while the two were hiking in the area. The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident, and was hoisted off the cliff by the helicopter.

In a separate incident Sunday evening, The Coast Guard, working with the Foster City Fire Department and Coyote Point Marina Harbormaster, rescued a 20 year-old male from the San Francisco Bay.

At 7:20 p.m., Sunday, a Coast Guard Auxiliary mobile unit reported seeing a person floating 150 yards off of Coyote Point in San Mateo County. The Coast Guard immediately launched a 25-foot boat from Station San Francisco at Yerba Buena Island. The Coast Guard Auxiliarist remained on scene to maintain visual contact with the person in the water, and serve as a liaison between the Coast Guard and local authorities.

At 7:48 p.m., the Coyote Point Harbormaster got underway with two members of the Foster City Fire Department, and upon arriving on scene, was able to bring the man onboard the boat. The man was transferred to the Coast Guard boat, and taken to the Coyote Point Marina where San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services were waiting.

The man was taken to Mills Peninsula Medical Center, where he is reported to be conscious and in stable condition.

Huckins Announces New Atlantic 44 Jet Drive – A High-Tech Classic

JACKSONVILLE, FL, APRIL 10, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

Custom boat builder Huckins Yacht Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Florida, has announced the construction of their Atlantic 44 Jet Drive motor yacht. Following in the wake of the Linwood 56 Jet Drive, the Atlantic 44 Jet Drive will also be a first of its kind, slated for completion in October.

According to the company, the Atlantic 44 Jet Drive, built on Huckins’ famous Quadraconic hull, will combine elegant styles of the mid 20th century with modern high-tech amenities and the latest in marine technology. The interior and exterior design will be completely tailored to fit the desires of the owners of this one-of-a-kind yacht, who have already named the boat “American Dream.”

The Hamilton 322 jet drives – with a full electronic Blue Arrow System, paired with twin Cummins QSB 480 hp on the Huckins hull – will allow the yacht to navigate easily through even the shallowest of water – less than 30-inches of draft. The engines, accessible via the cockpit, will accelerate “American Dream” to an estimated cruising speed of 28 knots and an estimated top speed of 33 knots.

The interior of this “American Dream” will include everything needed to feel right at home, including rich, luxurious joinerwork and hardware such as hand-oiled brass fixtures, granite countertops and mahogany and holly soles. Every detail has been addressed.

The entire forward accommodation, normally comprising two staterooms, will be designed for one very large stateroom with enough space for a king size berth and a creatively situated dressing area.

The second level will be complete with a full gourmet galley, dining area and lounging area with a slide out double berth converted from the deep tufted leather sofa.

The main helm, with custom seating for the first mate and space to entertain guests, will be located on the upper level. Along the aft portion will be a U-shape lounging settee and cocktail/luncheon table. The bridge area will have three points of egress that allow for good traffic flow over the spacious side decks and forward.

The 80-year-old yacht-building company is recognized as one of the oldest continuously family-owned boat builders in the United States. Huckins defines its mission as: “One at a time. One of a kind.”

For more information about Huckins Yacht Corporation or to speak with a Huckins representative, contact Laura D’Abbondanza at 407-629-9484 ext. 228.