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Volvo Penta Introduces the Sterndrive Joystick for Gasoline Engines

2009-02-11T10:42:00.001-05:00

CHESAPEAKE, VA, February 10, 2009 (The Boating Channel) –Volvo Penta is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its industry-changing sterndrive propulsion system for power boats, the Aquamatic, with the introduction of the next big innovation in inboard-outboard engines. Owners of gas-powered twin sterndrives can now look forward to stress-free docking through the use of a Joystick.

Fly Fishing Chum Salmon Olympic Peninsula (Video)

2009-02-04T12:04:00.000-05:00

OLYMPIC PENINSULA, WASHINGTON (The Boating Channel)

- Bill Herzog has been fishing the Pacific Northwest for most of his life and is widely considered to be an expert on the region. The author of many books and articles from "Tying Strong Fishing Knots" to the "Color Guide for Steelhead Drift Fishing." Bill has also been a frequent contributor as a reporter for shows on the Outdoor Life Network, ESPN, as well as a regular columnist for Salmon, Trout, Steelhead.

Renovated Caribbean Princess Ready For Its Close-Up

2009-02-04T11:58:00.002-05:00

SANTA CLARITA, CA, February 3, 2009 (The Boating Channel) - Caribbean Princess has just emerged from an extensive three-week drydock to add many of Princess Cruises’ signature features that have proven so popular on its newest ships. Although only a bit over 4 years old, the 3,080-passenger ship was launched before some of the line’s most popular features had been introduced. The rennovated vessel now offers passengers the engaging street-café atmosphere of the piazza-style atrium with its International Café and Vines, the wine, seafood and cheese bar; the adults-only Sanctuary, seven new suites, and a more centrally located casino. Work is also nearly complete on a new Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant. [Read More]

Michel Desjoyeaux Wins Vendee Globe 2008-2009

2009-02-03T11:50:00.000-05:00

SABLES D’OLONNE, FRANCE, February 2, 2009 (The Boating Channel) – When Michel Desjoyeaux sailed his 60-foot monohull “Foncia” across the finish line yesterday, he became the first sailor to win the prestigious Vendee Globe for the second time.

Desjoyeaux completed the solo round-the-world race at 15h11’08’’ UT on Sunday February 1st, clocking a total time of 84 days, 03 hours, 09 minutes and 08 seconds. It is a victory that places him in the record books several times over, for he has also set a new benchmark for the 24,840-mile marathon. With an average speed of 12.30 knots, Desjoyeaux sailed past the previous record of 87 days, 10 hours, 47 minutes set by Vincent Riou in 2005. [More...]

boot duesseldor 2009 - Luxury Yachts (Video)

2009-02-02T13:07:00.000-05:00

DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (The Boating Channel)

Luxury yachts and mega yachts are the stuff that dreams are made of and always popular destinations at boat shows. This year's boot duesseldorf was no exception. Showing off their stuff were Oyster Marine with their new Oyster 655, and two custom yacht builders, Claudia and Albert Drettmann of the Drettmann Group and Sanlorenzo, designer-builders of mega steel yachts.

boot duesseldorf is the largest and most international boat show in Europe with 1,650 exhibitors from 56 countries filling 220,000 square meters of exhibition space in 17 gigantic halls.

Fly Fishing For Trout Mt Shasta (Video)

2009-01-30T13:01:00.003-05:00

MOUNT SHASTA, CALIFORNIA (The Boating Channel)
- Charlie West picked up a fly rod when he was 7 years old. With some time out for an education, he's been at it ever since. Join Charlie as he explores some of the unique trout fishing ponds in the Siskeel mountains of northern California with Guide Jack Trout.

Ecstatic Win for Telefonica Blue in Volvo Ocean Race Leg Four

2009-01-30T09:30:00.002-05:00

QINGDAO, CHINA, January 29, 2009 (The Boating Channel) - In a leg that has been full of drama, bravery and courage, Bouwe Bekking and his men racing Telefónica Blue have pulled off their second leg win a row to take first place on the podium in Qingdao, China, after sailing immaculately.

Shortly before crossing the finish in thick fog at 0700 GMT (1500 local time), after racing for 11 days, 2 hours and 26 seconds (11d:02h:00m:25s), Bekking said, “I feel far from comfortable. Even if it should go wrong, the guys should all feel like the moral winners of the leg; they sailed like champions.” [More...]

Boats - A Photographic Essay by Sunny Reynolds

2009-01-23T16:30:00.005-05:00

Discover the beauty and diversity of nautical vessels with Boats, captured through the lens of distinguished photographer Sunny Reynolds. Elegant excerpts of poetry and prose complement more than 75 stunning, full-color photographs of skiffs, steamers and schooners that cruise the waterways around the world.

From the gondolas in Venice, to rowboats near New Zealand, to giant sailboats off the coast of Nantucket, Boats encompasses watercraft of all sizes, shapes and cultures. Reynolds travels the globe to document these breathtaking maritime moments, and completes this photographic journey with the wit and wisdom of notable authors and poets, such as Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Shakespeare.

Cold Water Boating Safety Advisory (Article + Video)

2009-01-22T12:13:00.004-05:00

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer First Class Matthew Belson/First District External Affairs, Boston) - Coast Guard boating safety experts, including a crew from Coast Guard Station Boston, explain the hazards of boating during winter and the cold water safety precautions mariners should follow. Video includes footage taken on Boston Harbor Jan. 10, 2009 and storm footage the next day, Jan.11, 2009, on Cape Cod, Mass.

NOAA Issues Final Guidance on Annual Catch Limits to End Over-fishing

2009-01-21T10:43:00.001-05:00

SOUTHAMPTON, NY, January 21, 2009 (The Boating Channel) - NOAA’s Fisheries Service yesterday issued final guidance on annual catch limits designed to help restore federally managed marine fish stocks and end overfishing.

Annual catch limits are amounts of fish allowed to be caught in a year. The 2007 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act required fishery management plans to establish mechanisms for specifying annual catch limits at such levels that overfishing does not occur. Additionally, the act calls for measures to ensure accountability with these limits, and that the limits do not exceed the scientific recommendations made by the regional fishery management councils’ scientific committees.

“The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that we end over-fishing by 2010,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “The commercial seafood industry and recreational saltwater fishing provide our nation food, jobs and other incredible benefits that we want to continue for future generations when we end over-fishing.“ [More]

Nemo 100 Mini Sub Debuts at boot duesseldorf 2009 (Article + Video)

2009-01-19T11:42:00.000-05:00

(DUESSELDORF, GERMANY)

New at boot duesseldorf this year is the Nemo 100 - a two-man mini-submarine that enables people to submerge without a license. The Nemo 100 has already won awards and attracted worldwide interest. And, At a cost of
about 180,000 Euros ($240,000 USD), it's a real bargain compared to other submersibles.

boot duesseldorf is the largest and most international boat show in Europe with 1,650 exhibitors from 56 countries filling 220,000 square meters of exhibition space in 17 gigantic halls.

Liquid Fame Surfing Documentary (Video)

2008-10-16T07:54:00.005-05:00

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA (The Boating Channel) - Liquid Fame is an award winning surfing documentary on the first U.S. Opens Surfing Championship held at Huntington Beach, California. The show features interviews with popular local surfing pros and an exclusive interview with Kathy Kohner Zuckerman - The original Gidget!

Kathy is the real life inspiration for the fictional character of Franzie (nicknamed Gidget) from the 1957 novel, Gidget: the LITTLE girl with BIG ideas, written by her father Frederick Kohner. The book sold over 500,000 copies and in 1959 Columbia Pictures, where Frederick Kohner had been a screen writer, adapted the novel into a film. Two other Gidget films were made, as well as a 1965 television series starring Sally Field and several television movies. As Kathy says, "Nobody knows I'm a real person -- they think 'Gidget' is Sandra Dee or Sally Field."

Watch BoatingChannel TV on Channel 69402 on TVU Internet Television

Vicious Squid Invade Northern California

2008-10-14T22:51:00.004-05:00

HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA (The Boating Channel) - Something mysterious has been stirring in the deep waters off northern California. Fishermen have been reporting bizare sitings ... of fiendish alien creatures, packs of canabalistic invaders... This is a documentary on the invasion of the ferocious Jumbo Squid

Pirates Beware!

2008-06-06T09:35:00.004-05:00

SAG HARBOR, NY (The Boating Channel/Carey London)

Imagine cruising peacefully into the sunset; you sit back, close your eyes, and smell the sweet sea breeze. Suddenly, several men in small speed boats drive up and hop onto your vessel. Pirates! They are greedy and heavily armed with automatic weapons, mortar shells and maybe even antitank rockets. They will surely kill you if you don't obey them. Chances are, they will kill you anyway.

Perhaps, you’re not cruising, but your multi-billion dollar company cargo is. It is traveling through pirate-ridden areas such as parts of South East Asia, Africa, and South America, and your hired crew has no understanding of the local people or of how to defend the ship in case of attack. The pirates may well have a computer printout of your cargo, and they will steal anything of value, frequently taking the entire container ship. Your crew stands a better than even chance of being thrown overboard. [More... ]

May We Offer You A Little Botox with That Massage?

2008-06-06T09:16:00.000-05:00

MIAMI, FL, June 6, 2008 (The Boating Channel) – If your fun in the sun isn’t enough to reduce those worry lines, or if those feel-good UV rays have added another wrinkle to two, how about a little Botox to make sure you return from your cruise looking better than ever?

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), in partnership with Steiner Transocean, LLC ("Steiner"), has announced that it is the first cruise line to offer BOTOX® Cosmetic, Restylane® and Perlane® facial aesthetic treatments in its Mandara-operated spas. The treatments, which are part of Mandara's medi-spa program, are currently available on select NCL ships, including Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Spirit, with plans to launch fleet-wide this fall. [More... ]

Lake Powell resorts & Marinas to Host Brostock Wakeboarding Expo

2008-05-12T15:20:00.003-05:00

PAGE, AZ, May 12, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

Although still awaiting NPS Special Permit Approval, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas has announced it will host the third annual BROstock Wakeboarding Expo June 12 through June 15, 2008. The event will feature a Wakeboarding competition with a $25,000 cash prize for the winner.

BROstock 2008, sponsored by Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas and Liquid Force, will feature some of the industry’s best-known wakeboarding professionals, the newest products on the market and exhibitions for enthusiasts to obtain tips from the pros. The event will take place in Warm Creek Bay at Lake Powell, located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, on the border of Utah and Arizona. [More... ]

Fishing Vessel Submerged at Oceanside, NY, Pier

2008-05-10T21:16:00.001-05:00

NEW YORK, NY, May 10, 2008 (USCG)

The Coast Guard is overseeing the salvage of a 70-foot fishing vessel that sank at the pier in Oceanside, N.Y., at around 8 a.m. today.

Coast Guard Station Jones Beach received the initial call that the Miss Edith, a clamming dredge owned by Bayhead Inc., Manahawkin, N.J., was submerged in roughly 20-feet of water and leaked 100-gallons of diesel fuel in the Hog Island Channel. The owner reported he had deployed a boom around the vessel to stop the leakage. [More...]

Artemis Transat Fleet Prepares for Sunday Departure

2008-05-10T14:29:00.001-05:00

PLYMOUTH, UK, May 9, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

The clock is ticking down in the Barbican, the medieval center of Plymouth where 23 skippers prepare for the start of the Artemis Transat 2008. The single-hand race across the Atlantic leaves from Pylmouth on Sunday, May 11. The Class 40 fleet will head for Marblehead, Massachusetts, 2,739 miles away, while the IMOCA fleet will travel 2,743 miles to finish in Boston harbor.

The course includes gates (obligatory points of passage), in a zone where ice floes represent a huge danger. Four years ago, the skippers set themselves a waypoint to avoid the icebergs and growlers, and for this thirteenth edition ice has already been spotted to the South of the banks of Newfoundland (41°30 North). [More... ]

5 U.S. Teams to Compete in Qingdao International Disabled Sailors Regatta

2008-05-07T16:42:00.000-05:00

Ten members of the US Disabled Sailing Team AlphaGraphics have landed in Qingdao, China, and are preparing for five days of racing at the International Association For Disabled Sailing (IFDS) Qingdao International Regatta.

The U.S. has sent five of its top-ranked teams to this May 11-15 event. Although it is not an official test event, the IFDS Qingdao International Regatta will serve as the most realistic training the teams and the organizers will see before the Paralympic Games in the fall. Head Coach Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.) says in an email from China, “There is no substitute for practicing at the venue in preparation for the big show.” [More... ]

Coast Guard Reports Hazardous Spill in Richmond, California

2008-05-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

RICHMOND, CA, May 6, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

A spill of toluenediamine, a flammable substance that can cause irritation by inhalation, at the Reaction Products facility in Richmond, California, has brought out the U.S. Coast Guard along with the California Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Fish and Game and Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Team.

The chemical spill occurred at an unconfirmed time this past weekend. The spill has been fully contained by booms and absorbent pads. The spilled chemical is not believed to have reached the San Francisco Bay. A safety zone was established and enforced by the Coast Guard Monday afternoon and has since been lifted. [More...]

Creature Craft - A Ride On The Wild Side (Article + Video)

2008-05-03T18:59:00.003-05:00

The Creature Craft is certainly the strangest looking river raft we have ever seen. But, if you're looking for a ride on the wild side and want to come out of it with your body intact, this may be the boat for you. The Creature Craft is a river raft designed to run the most turbulent rapids, surf over dams, ride over waterfalls, jump tall buildings (okay, that's an exaggeration) - But it really can go over pretty steep waterfalls and maintain its stability. [Article + Video]

Challenger Powerboats Seeks Chapter 7 Protection

2008-05-02T17:17:00.005-05:00

WASHINGTON, MO, May 2, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

Challenger Powerboats filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court last week.

According to a report in Boating Industry, the SEC filing says: “The company believes that its assets will be insufficient to satisfy the claims of all creditors and it is unlikely that the company's shareholders will be eligible to participate in any distributions of the company's assets as a result of the bankruptcy.” [More]

Navy to Commission Submarine North Carolina in Wilmington

2008-05-02T10:26:00.003-05:00

WILMINGTON, NC, May 2, 2008 (the Boating Channel)

The U.S. Navy has announced that its newest attack submarine North Carolina will be commissioned Saturday, May 3, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Port of Wilmington.

The Coast Guard is enforcing a vessel protection zone while the submarine is in port. During the commissioning ceremony Saturday, part of the Cape Fear River will be closed... [More]

Shark Attacks Swimmer In Californa (Article + Video)

2008-04-26T09:57:00.005-05:00

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

2008-04-26T08:48:00.000-05:00

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

2008-04-26T01:01:00.004-05:00

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

2008-04-25T08:57:00.005-05:00

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

2008-04-23T10:34:00.003-05:00

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

2008-04-22T13:38:00.004-05:00

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

2008-04-22T10:41:00.004-05:00

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

2008-04-21T22:22:00.003-05:00

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

2008-04-20T22:47:00.006-05:00

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

2008-04-17T14:51:00.003-05:00

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

2008-04-10T18:04:00.004-05:00

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.

Frauscher Boats Brings Hybrid Power to Recreational Boating

2008-03-31T04:42:00.002-05:00

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 28, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

As the 2008 boating season approaches and gas prices continue to soar, the first glimmer of alternative options for power boaters will arrive in San Francisco this coming May. On Thursday May 15th, California Chris-Craft will introduce Frauscher boats, makers of the world’s first production hybrid propulsion system for recreational boats. The Hybrid Launch event will feature viewing and ...

Coast Guard Saves Couple and Pets from Sinking Boat in N.C.

2008-03-28T23:12:00.008-05:00

PORTSMOUTH, VA, March 27, 2008 (The Boating Channel) - The U.S. Coast Guard reports that rescue crews from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and Coast Guard Station Hobucken, N.C., rescued two people from a life raft after their boat sank near the mouth of the Neuse River on Wednesday.

Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received a mayday call at 11:42 a.m. from James and Carol Warren, the crew of the 28-foot Linger While, stating that they were taking on water, and that the pumps onboard could not keep up with the flooding, and that they were abandoning ship.

A C-130 crew from Air Station Elizabeth City was diverted from a training flight to the vessel's location, where they sighted the two boaters sitting on top of the overturned vessel's hull.
The C-130 crew remained on scene until the Station Hobucken rescue crew arrived and safely transferred the Warrens, their two dogs, and their pet bird aboard the 25-foot rescue boat.

The Warrens and their pets were taken to Station Hobucken. "I did four years in the Navy, and after today I have a lot more respect for the Coast Guard. They did a really great job. It was a very quick response - they were out there 22 minutes after we called on the radio," said James Warren.

"The Warren's actions exemplify proactive thinking in regards to safe boating practices," said Chief Petty Officer Jeremy McConnell, the officer in charge at Coast Guard Station Hobucken.
"When the crew arrived on scene, the Warrens were wearing their life jackets and maintaining a position next to the sunken vessel ensuring that they didn't drift away from the wreckage. They also utilized a VHF radio to call out their distress. Their prudence as mariners helped save their lives and the lives of their animals," said McConnell

2 Medivaced From Vessel in NY’s Ambrose Channel

2008-03-26T04:52:00.003-05:00

NEW YORK, NY March 25, 2008 (The Boating Channel)

The U.S. Coast Guard has medevaced two severely injured mariners from a 619-foot vessel anchored in Ambrose Channel at 3:20 p.m. today. A Coast Guard boarding team discovered that the two crewmembers were injured while the team was conducting a security boarding at 10:40 a.m. Due to the length of time the vessel will be at anchorage and the unknown severity of the injuries, a flight surgeon recommended the medevac.

One crewmember is reportedly suffering from a broken right leg, as well as injuries to his chin, knee and back. The other is reportedly suffering from an injured collarbone and back and is presently immobilized. The injuries reportedly occurred due to heavy seas while the mariners were working on board the Thor Alliance, home ported in Thailand, while the vessel was en route to New York Harbor Saturday, March 22.

A Coast Guard HH60 helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod arrived on scene at 3:15 p.m. and lowered an emergency medical technician to the vessel to determine if an airlift would be physically safe for the crewmembers. Once the medevac was determined to be safe, the injured men were hoisted onto the helicopter and transported to a local hospital on Staten Island.

"It's crucial to take precautions for all medical conditions you might receive while underway on the water," said Chief Petty Officer James Moore, Coast Guard Sector New York command duty officer. "Had it not been for the quick thinking of the Coast Guard boarding team members, the crewmember's injuries could have gotten progressively worse."

Weather on scene is reported as calm with 10-15-knot winds and one-foot seas.

Better Than Uncle Weatherby: Just Look Up!

2008-03-23T17:46:00.011-05:00

WESTHAMPTON, NY (By Vincent Pica, Division Captain, Division-18 (1SR), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary - The Boating Channel)

Anybody who was borne prior to, say, 1970, can remember the newscaster/weatherman Tex Antoine, aka, Uncle Weatherby. While weather forecasting is far more reliable than ever before, it pales in our esteem for the mariner that can open the back door, look up, gaze knowingly for a second or two, and pronounce, "nah, we'll be coming home in a whopper. Tomorrow will be better." And, sure enough, a half day later, it is pouring. This is all about that mariner.

Clouds are Batteries

Since this column started, we've written about the weather and seamanship three times (see "Skippering in Heavy Weather", SSP, 10/11/06; "Lightning - Shocking!", SSP, 3/07/07; "Weathering the Squall", SSP, 11/28/07 - for copies email me below.) And, as those columns implied, clouds are batteries that store water and tremendous power. But the history of weather forecasting goes back to the dawn of time and is loaded with old wisdoms ("mare's tails and mackerel scales make tall-ship captains take in their sails") and many jokes, ("where else can you be so wrong so often and keep your job!?") So, where does the weather, and these "sayings", come from?

Part of the problem of weather forecasting was solved over a hundred years ago by British meteorologist, Luke Howard, when he devised a system of nomenclature that the rest of the world's scientists were constantly arguing about. Every country wanted to use its own language and definitions for naming clouds and their effects. Howard came forward using - you guessed it - Latin and the fight was over. Meteorologists the world over accepted his type/sub-type system:

Cirrus ("hair") - wispy, high-level clouds that foretell a major weather system on its way (the mare's tails)

Stratus ("layer") - these cloud formations have no specific feature except that they only form at specific altitudes (see the diagram)

Cumulus ("pile") - the puffy clouds than coalesce into the thunderheads we all recognize that then presages the near immediate arrival of a major storm. BTW, the warmer the weather, the bigger they get (pile up into the sky.)

Nimbus ("precipitating") - we're all familiar with these. By this time, it's raining. And, the darker they are, the more water they are carrying.
Alto ("high") - like in music, while it means high, it means the second-highest (soprano or treble is higher in music) and cirrus's and, often, the cumulo's (thunderheads) are even higher.

Look Up!

Watching the weather over hours or even days, often subconsciously by that back-door mariner, adds to your skills in predicting the weather. And it is all about the sun, the sea and the land interacting.

The sun heats the land faster than the sea. The warm air rises, taking some moisture from the sea, lakes, creeks and rivers with it, and forms cumulus (puffy) clouds. This vacuum effect then brings in cooler air from the sea to fill the gap created by the rising air over the land and we have what we call a sea-breeze ("winds are known from whence they blow, currents are known for whence they flow.")

The opposite effects happen at night, as you might guess. The land cools faster and the process reverses. All this is generally called "convection." And where convection is occurring, clouds are forming - and they are batteries storing up water and power.

Blankets presage Rain

Another sign that weather is approaching is when the sky cover builds and the sea breeze stops… The cloud cover has now gotten so thick that the sun can't heat the air underneath the clouds. That's when someone mutters, "Please, let it rain and clear out this humidity…" The cloud is acting like a blanket - and you know how much you like blankets in the summertime!

Ancient mariners looked for clouds for two reasons. They didn't know that convection was causing the wind but clouds meant wind. They also meant land. Convection first lines the shore line with clouds. "Land Ho'!" And it builds from there. Some more proverbs: See if you can divine why they are true, based on what you now know:

"The moon with a circle brings water in her beak…"
"Rain before seven? Over by eleven."
"Red sky at morning? Sailor take warning!"

BTW, if you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux2008@aol.com or go direct to MaryJo Cruickshank, who is in charge of new members matters, at FSO-PS@emcg.us and we will help you "get in this thing…"

Coast Guard, San Mateo County Sheriff Dive on Vessel Wreckage

2008-03-22T22:53:00.002-05:00

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 21, 2008 (The Boating Channel)- The Coast Guard, working in partnership with the San Mateo Country Sheriff's Department Dive Team and members of the San Francisco Police Department, has located what is believed to be the wreckage of the sailing vessel "Daisy." Yesterday afternoon at approximately 1 p.m., the San Mateo County Sheriff's Dive Team and the Coast Guard Cutter SOCKEYE located a portion of the vessel underwater using side sonar equipment. The wreckage was located approximately 3 nautical miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Divers from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office dove on the wreckage and reported no persons found among the underwater debris.

Weather limitations for the sonar equipment and for diving operations prevented the operation from occurring earlier in the week.

The Coast Guard and its partner agencies conducted an extensive search Saturday and Sunday after the sailing vessel "Daisy" was reported overdue from a race to the sea buoy and back. Coast Guard Investigators have been actively pursuing any information related to the "Daisy's" disappearance, and have been tracking down debris believed to be related to the case.

A final determination has not been made as to what happened to the "Daisy." The Coast Guard is continuing an inquiry into what may have caused the vessel to sink.

Rescued Boaters Arrested - Suspected of Killing Charter Boat Crew

2007-10-03T06:41:00.000-05:00

From CNN:

MIAMI, Florida, October 2,2007 (The Boating Channel) -- The two men found rescued by the Coast Guard in the Florida Straits last week have been arrested. According to the story, they are suspected of having murdered the crew of the Joe Cool, a fishing boat they had chartered.

Kirby Archer, 34, and Guillermo Zarabozo, 19, the two suspects, were denied bond Tuesday. The magistrate ruled they are a danger to the community and flight risks. More

Wind, Waves, and A Suicidal Boat

2007-09-26T10:22:00.001-05:00

By Chris White

(The Boating Channel / Review) -- Author Chris White is no weekend warrior heading out for well-planned adventures in a comfortable vessel to do battle with the sea’s bounty. For twenty-five years he has worked the waters off Alaska boating in minimal craft and under horrendous conditions. His commitment was to run his own commercial fishing business, beginning his career with an old rented boat that was determined to rest in peace.

This slim volume of stories covers the more than two decades White has spent fishing the frigid Alaskan waters - the close calls, the bad decisions, the terrifying storms of the Bering Sea with fifty-foot waves and hundred-mile-per-hour winds, and the undying optimisim of a man who has found his purpose and his soul leaving behind the security of solid ground... More

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 2 of 6 Missing Boaters

2007-09-25T21:46:00.000-05:00

MIAMI, FL, September 25, 2007 (USCG)- The Coast Guard has rescued two of the six missing boaters Monday after they departed Miami en route Bimini, Bahamas Saturday afternoon on a 47-foot sport fisher.

The names of the rescued are Guillermo Zarabozo and Kirby Archer.

Missing are Jake Branam, captain of the vessel Joe Cool and his crew, Kelly Branam, Scott Campbell and Sammy Cary.

Family members reported the vessel overdue at approximately 5:45 p.m. Sunday after the vessel failed to return to Miami Beach Marina at its scheduled time.

The Joe Cool was found by crewmembers of the cutter Pea Island late Sunday evening 160 miles south of Bimini. Boarding team members from the Pea Island discovered the abandoned vessel in disarray with the life-raft missing.

Zarabozo and Archer were found by an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter approximately 12 miles north of that location and taken to the cutter Confidence.

According to the Global Positioning System on board the vessel, the Joe Cool made several erratic movements and began heading south about halfway into their voyage.

The Coast Guard immediately began searching with a HC-130 aircraft from Elizabeth City, N.C., the Cutter Confidence, the Cutter Pea Island and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Miami deployed to the Confidence.

The Cutter Pea Island is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Cutter Confidence is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Port Canaveral, Fla.

E-20 Gas Amendment Offered To Energy Bill

2007-09-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

Boat/US Magazine

SAG HARBOR, NY, September 22, 2007 (The Boating Channel)

Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) are sponsoring an amendment to the energy bill that can help Boaters avoid damaging their marine engines and fuel tanks with gasoline blended in high concentrations of ethanol.

According to the story, "Shadegg learned firsthand of the destructive power of ethanol in marine fuels when he pumped E-10 gas into the fiberglass gas tank of his 1973, 28-foot Bertram, Inevitable. The tank degraded rapidly, resulting in thousands of dollars of damage to the boat and its engines."

The amendment adds roadblocks to the permit process for states to require gas blended with ethanol concentrations higher than 10%.

U.S. Luxury Yacht Builder Moves Production To China

2007-09-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

SAG HARBOR, NY, September 22, 2007 (The Boating Channel)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KALAMA, Wash. -- North Star Yachts has laid off 60 workers in this Columbia River town north of Portland, Ore. The company is moving production to China for lower labor costs according to The Associated Press in a story reported two days ago.

About seven employees will remain at the headquarters and parts warehouse of NorthStar Yachts, chief operating officer Jerry Clark told The Columbian newspaper earlier this month.

"We tried to make it work here, but economics forced us to look at different options," said Jerry Clark, chief operating officer of NorthStar.

The company makes luxury boats from about 80 feet to 125 feet long with price tags of $6 million to $13 million, producing one to two a year. Competing yachts made in other countries are available for about $2 million less, Clark said.

North Stars 112' Raised Pilothouse Motoryacht

"A lot of the expense is labor," he said. "With cheaper labor, hopefully our sales will increase."

To maintain quality control, Northstar is establishing and managing its own operation in Zhuhai, a maritime business zone in China, he added.

"We originally went over there thinking we were going to subcontract with an existing company," Clark said.

The layoffs mark the end of three generations of yacht building in Cowlitz County. The founders of Northstar began by buying the assets of Tollycraft, which was founded in Kelso in 1936 and closed in 1998.

"This is really, really tough for me," Clark said. "I have been working with people here for 15 or 20 years, and they were like a family to me.

"Unfortunately, it's a game of survival. And this is also exciting. A few American yacht builders are already here, but in many ways we're pioneers."

The Boatswain's Mate (Article + Video)

2007-09-21T07:33:00.000-05:00

SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK, September 20, 2007 (BoaterB,The Boating Channel)

U.S. Coast Guard Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jessica Walsh
practices her technique with the Boatswain's Pipe

Have you ever thought about the a Boatswain's Mate? Do you know what a Boatswain's Mate is? I've never given it much thought myself. I knew the term, and might have even guessed the right answer on Jepordy. But, I wouldn't have known where to start in an open-ended question like "What is a Boatswain?" Fortunately, I came upon a Coast Guard Video Interview with Joseph Klemencic, from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, about his job as the boatswain mate of the watch, otherwise known as a BMOW.

Mr. Klemencic does a good job of laying out the functions of a BMOW. He starts by telling us how the BMOW relates to the other major job functions that keep the Cutter Boutwell ship-shape, and ready for action. "The OD puts the focus on the ship, where we're going, piloting. CUMO makes sure the OD is getting the correct information as far as navigation is concerned, and "The BMOW is a watch standard, keeps all that running together, running smoothly." We're then taken on his tour of duty, checkin in on this and that, waking a guy at 5:00AM, rather thoughtfully considering the hour...

The full article and video can be seen at: BoatingChannel.com

Royal Caribbean Floats Out Its Next Jumbo Ship

2007-09-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

MIAMI, FL, September 18, 2007 (The Boating Channel) – Royal Caribbean floated out the third ship in it super mega-ship class. The 160,000-ton Independence of the Seas was moved from dry dock to wet dock on Friday at the Aker Yards in Turku, Finland. The sister ship to Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will now undergo many months of finishing leading up to her May 2008 debut in Southampton, England.

She will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe and is a statement of the company’s conviction that cruise travel in Europe will continue to grow as more and more cruise vacationers seek destinations beyond the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii.

The official ceremonies were held at the shipyard and attended by Royal Caribbean and Aker executives, who joined together to turn the valve releasing 87 million gallons of water into the wet dock area.

Independence of the Seas, which will share the title of worlds largest cruise ship with Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, will be able to accommodate 3,634 guests, double-occupancy. In addition to new programs and onboard embellishments yet to be announced, amenities Independence will include the popular innovations introduced on her sister-ships, including the FlowRider surf simulator; the wet and wild H20 Zone aqua park; and cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean. The ship will also boast an ice-skating rink; a boxing ring; and the 1,215-square-foot Presidential Family Suite, which sleeps up to 14.

Royal Caribbean International currently has 21 ships in service and three under construction.

Search off New York for Tanker Crewman Suspended

2007-08-08T06:25:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK, NY August 7, 2007 (USCG)
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended an extensive multi-agency search at 10 p.m. last night for a crewman who fell from the 600-foot tanker ship Overseas Altamar about 20 miles south of the Ambrose Channel 10 a.m. Sunday.

Coast Guard, New York Police Department, Nassau County Police, and Air National Guard rescuers in 11 ships, boats, airplanes and helicopters searched approximately 2,000 square miles, an area greater than the size of Rhode Island, for 36 hours without locating the 46-year-old Philippine national.

Authorities are withholding his name until next of kin notifications can be completed.

"The Coast Guard and our first responder partners take great pride in saving lives so suspending any search is an extremely difficult decision that we take very seriously," said Lt.j.g. Richard Sullivan, Coast Guard Sector New York duty officer.

"We came to this decision after considering many factors including sea temperature, this ?crewman's attire, the known location of where he fell overboard, and searching an expansive area for 36-hours with multiple rescue crews without finding him. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his friends and his shipmates."

The Overseas Altamar was en route to the Port of New York from the Netherlands when the crewman apparently slipped and fell into the sea Sunday morning. Other crewmen threw him a life ring, and the ship radioed the Coast Guard and changed course in an attempt to relocate him. He was reportedly wearing orange coveralls and a blue flotation jacket. The water temperature was reported at 73 degrees, the seas at two feet, and about two miles of visibility throughout Monday's search.

Coast Guard Sector New York Command Center, Coast Coast Guard Sector New York Command Center, Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook, Coast Guard Cutters Ridley, Seneca and Chinook, Coast Guard Air Stations Atlantic City and Cape Cod, New York Police Department Harbor and Aviation Units, Nassau County Aviation and an Air National Guard Unit were involved in the search.

"OSG Ship Management would like to express their sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of our ?crewmember who was lost at sea Sunday," said Capt. Robert E. Johnston, Senior Vice President of Overseas?Shipholding Group, Inc. "We would also like to thank the U.S. Coast Guard, the New York City police and all the local mariners who participated in the massive sea and air search for the valued member of our seafaring family."

The U.S. Coast Guard will coordinate with the vessels flag nation in investigating the cause of the incident.

Bridge Failure Early Warning System - Video Report

2007-08-04T16:26:00.000-05:00

Glenn Washer, University of Missouri Engineering Professor, is developing early warning sensors that will detect a bridge's deterioration and failure.

View This Report and a video of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis collapsing at BoatingChannel.com

Ahoy America!BoatingChannel.com: The Kayak Roll

2007-08-04T16:05:00.000-05:00

Ahoy America!
BoatingChannel.com: The Kayak Roll

Bridge Failure Early Warning System - Video Report

2007-08-04T16:00:00.000-05:00

Glenn Washer, University of Missouri Engineering Professor, is developing early warning sensors that will detect a bridge's deterioration and failure.

You can view this Video Report At BoatingChannel.com

The Kayak Roll

2007-08-02T06:34:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder how those guys kayaking down waterfalls and disappearing underwater come back up? They use the Kayak Roll! Here's a video that shows you how to do a smooth and effortless roll. Crystal clear underwater footage, a demonstration and voice-over explaination make you feel you can actually do it.

I might even give it a try again. I've had a Stearns Pivot for a couple of years now. It's a self-bailing whitewater kayak meant to be used in rough water, which I tried once in the ocean. Riding a huge wave in, I got rolled and couldn't get the kayak to come around. Now, I'm an expert swimmer, but I have to admit, there was a moment of fear when I had to release the thigh straps to free myself from the boat. I'll practice my kayak roll in the bay this time.

The Kayak Roll is playing on Today's Boating Videos

Fair Winds, Calm Seas,

BoaterB

Towing Vessel Hits Recreational Boat on Ohio River

2007-08-01T04:09:00.000-05:00

(MEADE COUNTY, KY, July 30, 2007 USCG) At just after 7 PM (EDT) Monday, Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report from the towing vessel CHARLES E. MARTIN that its tow had collided with a 17-foot recreational boat. The incident occurred near Ohio River mile 638.

Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley, Meade County EMS, and Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources responded. The operator and passenger of the recreational boat made it to shore without assistance. The recreational boat has been moved and secured to the nearby shoreline.

Coast Guard marine investigating officers are on-scene, assessing the conditions of the towing vessel and its barges, and investigating the cause of the incident.

What Does 40,000 Lbs of Cocaine Look Like? (Video)

2007-07-31T06:53:00.000-05:00

The Coast Guard offloaded more than 40,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $500 million from cutter Sherman here April 23, 2007, seized by the crew in three busts near Central America in February and March.

The offload included approximately 38,000 pounds of cocaine seized in the largest cocaine bust in maritime history.

Video: What Does 400 Lbs of Cocaine Look Like?

If It's On The Water, It's On The Boating Channel!
www.BoatingChannel.com

USCG Investigating Debris Field in Georgia Waters; Requests Help from Public

2007-07-25T06:51:00.000-05:00

CHARLESTON, SC, July 24, 2007 (USCG) Coast Guard crews at Station Brunswick, Ga., received a call from the research vessel Lady Lisa reporting the debris field. Rescue crews launched to search the area and confirmed the report. Coast Guard crews also located a stern portion of the vessel with the name Turmoil on it Cumberland Island, Ga.

The debris doesn't have any marine growth on it, which would indicate that it hasn't been at sea for an extended period of time.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Savannah, Ga., is searching the area along with a boat crew from Station Brunswick. The Coast Guard cutter Yellowfin from Charleston, S.C., is also assisting in the search. A Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., is also assisting in the search.

Coast Guard units have determined the debris field is approximately 30-miles long extending from the mouth of the St. Mary's River, Ga., to Sea Island, Ga.

The vessel was last registered in the state of Georgia to Harry Jones of Brunswick. Jones sold the vessel to Jack Evans of Darien, Ga., approximately three years ago. It's not known whether Evans still owns the vessel, but Coast Guard investigators are trying to track down the current owner of Turmoil. Jones told rescue coordinators the Turmoil was an approximately 65-foot shrimp vessel.

Coast Guard rescue coordinators received a call from a sailing vessel reporting they heard a mayday call over VHF marine radio channel 16. No Coast Guard units heard the call. A Coast Guard helicopter searched the area and didn't spot any signs of distress. Nothing indicates that the two cases are related.

If anyone has any information, they are urged to contact the Coast Guard at Sector Charleston at 843-724-7616 or on VHF marine radio via channel 16 immediately.

Fly Fishing - Art In Motion (Video)

2007-07-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Get your fly rod out! The Fly Fishing - Art In Motion series is a 7 video playlist from which you can actually learn to fly cast. The first two videos are an introduction to the art and mechanics of fly casting. Video's 3-7 are lessons on specific casting techniques -- The Roll Cast, Back Cast, Shooting Line, Hauls, and the False Cast.

The Fly Fishing Series leads with Joan Wulff's "Greatest Flycaster In History" movie trailer. With Mozart in the background, Joan engages you with the Art of Fly Casting and good counsel on the three stages of fly casting. Very enjoyable even if you're not into fly fishing

Go to www.BoatingChannel.com

Life On Myanmar's Inle Lake, Burma (Video)

2007-07-23T08:13:00.000-05:00

Life at Inle Lake, Burma

Excellent video on Life at Inle Lake, Myanmar, Burma. Opening scenes of the people are priceless - Soundtrack "over The Rainbow" melding into "A Wonderful World" into "Wish Up A Star" might get you feeling all fuzzy and contemplative of just how wonderful we peoples of planet earth are... but, hey... what's wrong with that? Time: 04:54. Enjoy.

Go To BoatingChannel TV to see Life At Inle Lake, Myanmar, Burma.

About Inle Lake - Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the mountains of Shan State in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 sq miles and one of the highest at an altitude of 2900 feet. During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet, with the deepest point being 12 feet, but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet. It is widely reknowned for it's traditional leg-rowing boat style, floating markets and prolific birdlife. In this unique wetland environment, whole villages sit on floating islands on the lake. Colorful hill tribes inhabit the surrounding fertile valleys and forested mountaintops, and their hand-woven silks are a specialty of the region...

Flames Consume Rhode Island Fishing Vessel

2007-07-22T07:38:00.000-05:00

BOSTON, MA, July 22, 2007 (The Boating Channel)

The Coast Guard and the Jamestown, RI Fire Department responded to a burning fishing boat four miles south of Newport, R.I. last Thursday morning

Chris Lutyens, the only person aboard the Lucy when it burst into flames, was taken aboard a 25-foot response boat from Station Castle Hill, transported to the Jamestown pier and transferred by awaiting Jamestown EMS to Newport Hospital for follow-up treatment.

The Jamestown Fire Department arrived on-scene around 7:30 a.m. and fought the fire until the vessel sank in about 100-feet of water.

Lutyens escaped in a life raft and called Coast Guard Station Castle Hill by cell-phone, reporting the Lucy, a Jamestown-based boat, on fire south of Lands End, R.I. around 6:20 a.m.

The crew of another fishing vessel, the Odyssey, observed the fire and took Lutyens aboard.

Coast Guard Station Castle Hill responded with a 25-foot-response-boat crew and a 41-foot-utility-boat crew, who arrived on-scene around 6:35 a.m.

"Since Mr. Lutyens had a life raft aboard and the knowledge of how to use it, he was able to safely evacuate the vessel and call for help. We strongly urge all boaters to ensure they have operable emergency equipment when planning to be at sea," said Petty Officer Jason Ronin of Station Castle Hill.

Coast Guard Rescues Sailboat Crashing Against Rocks (Story w Video)

2007-06-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

(SEATTLE, WA, June 2, 2007) - The Coast Guard assisted four people on a sailing vessel that ran aground at the south end of Lopez Island, Wash. on May 27th. Coast Guard Group Port Angeles received a call from the 36-foot sailing vessel, the Shekinech, that they had ran aground and needed assistance. A Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles and a Coast Guard 33-foot small response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Bellingham also launched to the scene. Upon arrival the 33-foot small response boat pulled the Shekinech off of the rocks while the helicopter hovered in case of further complications. A commercial assitance vessel arrived at the scene and established a tow enroute Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, Wash. No injuries were reported.

Video: Dramatic Rescue of Sailboat
Crashing Against Rock Cliff

If It's On The Water, It's On The Boating Channel!
www.BoatingChannel.com

Horny Dolphin - Video Pick Of The Day

2007-05-29T19:14:00.000-05:00

Today's Boating Video (See Left Menu). This is a mammal with a sense of humor. Very funny.

Coast Guard Rescues NJ Pleasure Boaters

2007-05-29T18:46:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE OF OCEAN CITY, NJ, May 29, 2007 (USCG) - Coast Guard and commercial salvage crews de-watered a 27-foot pleasure craft on Sunday, May 27, 2007.

The Coast Guard received a call for assistance from four people aboard the vessel, taking on water about five nautical miles east of Ocean City at 11:23 a.m.

Boatcrews from Coast Guard Station Townsends Inlet, N.J., and Coast Guard Station Great Egg, in Ocean City, responded to assist.

After the pleasure craft was successfully de-watered, it was towed into port by the crew of the commercial salvage boat while the four crewmembers were transported to Somers Point, N.J., by the Station Great Egg boatcrew

If It's On The Water, It's On The Boating Channel!
www.BoatingChannel.com

BoatingChannel TV Launched - Hilarious Boating Bloopers

2007-05-27T05:47:00.000-05:00

The Boating Channel officially launched BoatingChannel TV last week with the company's industry acclaimed video coverage of Boot Duesseldorf 2007, and a new program called Today's Boating Video (See Left Menu). There's a wealth of video out in the public domain that is interesting, funny, sad, outrageous, and all very entertaining. The program is in beta right now, but take a break and come take a look. They are short clips. There's nothing to download. Just click and play.

Our Boating Video Pick of the day is Hilarious Boat Bloopers - This is slap stick comedy at it's au naturel or Realty TV best. If you're a boater, you can't help but laugh and cringe at the same time at almost every scene.

Fair Winds, Calm Seas,

BoaterB

Why Fish Jump

2007-05-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

By Dennis Dobson

"Why do fish jump?" one angler asks another. "Because they don't have fingers," the second angler replies. While this time-worn joke is just that, a joke, it is based, at least to some small degree, on actual observation. This is more than can be said for most, if not all, of the other theories I've heard over the years trying to explain this phenomenon. We'll get back to the observations that provide the genesis for this hackneyed joke in a bit. First, though, let's establish the boundaries of this discussion and debunk a few myths.

I am not talking about why fish jump once they are hooked. I think most of us agree that a chunk of sharp steel lodged unforgivably in the mouth and the resistance provided by a tight fishing line probably offer all of the reason necessary for a fish to jump and fight once it's hooked. From lots of experience over the years I know that getting impaled by a hook is not a pleasant way to spend your time. In actual fact, it isn't getting hooked that hurts so much, at least in my case. What hurts, and can lead to PTHD (Post-Traumatic Hook Disease) is the client yanking repeatedly as hard as they can on a fishing line attatched to a hook that's imbedded in my flesh while exclaiming, "Dennis, it's hung-up! I can't break it free! And my wife wonders why I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night shaking with cold sweats and muttering un-printable curses at people she has never met). There is, as I have been known to point out, a reason we in the guide business refer to it as 'Chuck and Duck'.

I am talking about why otherwise unmolested fish rocket out of the water, for no apparent reason, and then crash, splash or dash back beneath the surface. Often, only to jump again and yet again.

Every angler has probably seen this happen. Over the years on Oregon's north coast, where I live and guide, I have seen thousands of salmon, trout, steelhead and sturgeon jump out of the water for no obvious reason. While guiding in Alaska I have witnessed, in addition to all five Pacific salmon species, as Dolly Varden, pike, grayling and even whitefish do the same. At one time or another over a fishing career that now spans more than forty years I have watched virtually every species of gamefish on the planet do exactly the same thing. From bass to barracuda, from sailfish to sunfish, everywhere I go fish seem to be jumping. I am sure you have seen the same thing.

Here in salmon and steelhead country the two most often cited "scientific" reasons fish jump are either: 1) They are trying to loosen the eggs in their skeins prior to spawning or 2) They are trying to rid themselves of sea-lice. (All three of the local dominant sport fishing species - salmon, steelhead and sturgeon - are anadromous. That is, they are born in freshwater, migrate to the sea as juveniles, reach maturity in the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn. This accounts for terms such as "sea lice" although these small parasites are not limited to the ocean and are commonly found in freshwater rivers and lakes as well). Not only have these two common responses been promoted by otherwise reasonably bright people, many of whom actually work in the fishing industry in one capacity or another and should therefore know better, but they also assume facts not in evidence. Let me explain what I mean.

Based on the reasoning described above every fish that has ever jumped out of the water has to have been either a female preparing to spawn or a fish of either sex infested with parasites. I find it extremely difficult to believe that only female fish, caught in the throes of an ancient urge to procreate, or only fish of either sex, whether ocean-going or landlocked, suffering the inconsequential itch of a parasitic stowaway are prone to jump. Frankly, my credulity just doesn't stretch that far. From lamprey eels, often a foot or more in length, on both ocean-going salmon and landlocked lake trout to barnacles on whales and marlin - often numbering in the hundreds, even thousands - any number of fish species provide a free ride for parasites far more uncomfortable than water-borne "lice".

There is yet a third common explanation for the jumping behavior of many fish. Although based on frustration some anglers, taking the "because they don't have fingers" explanation a step further, will tell you each of those fish is simply jumping out, rolling over and flipping them the fin. While as an angler I agree there are few things quite as frustrating as casting endlessly, with few if any hook-ups, to show for the effort, to fish you know are there because you can see them jumping. I just don't take it personally.

There is also the AFL-CIO hypothesis. I have heard some anglers comment that some species of fish, particularly salmon and steelhead, must be union fish. The reason these 'affliated' fish jump, they reason, is to check the time by the angle of the sun on the horizon to see if their coffee break is over yet. While I must admit this theory, at least at first glance, has possibilities - after all, I at least have never caught a fish that was wearing a timepiece (although I did catch one once that had swallowed a pocketwatch) - upon further investigation I am afraid this otherwise engaging piece of logic simply doesn't hold up to the cold, hard, observable facts. Yes, I know that many fish travel in 'schools' but we have no scientific data indicating that telling time is a subject covered in these schools. Besides, ask yourself this: What about Daylight Saving Time? Huh? How would any fish know, regardless of how far they might have progressed in school, when to 'Jump Forward' or when to 'Fall Back'?

Having deflated the 'spawning female-only', 'parasite-encrusted' , 'no fingers' and 'union organized' explanations for why fish jump, let's return to simple observation for a hint or two concerning why so many species of fish, in so many varied environments, engage in this activity.

In both science and philosophy there is a general rule known as "Occam's Razor". This rule states that an explanation for an unknown phenomena should first be attempted in terms of what is already known about it. Simply put, this means that when all else fails let what you already know about something lead you to an answer relating to something you don't yet have an answer for. Using Occam's Razor as a guideline we arrive at an answer regarding why fish jump that is simple, yet elegant, and deeply satisfying as well.

Have you ever watched from a deer stand or on a nature show as deer frolic? Have you ever seen chimpanzes chase each other just for the joy of it? Have you ever seen bear cubs tumble and rough house? Did you watch as your youngster, in that never-never land between toddler and teen, ran pell-mell at the speed of light playing with friends simply because it felt good? If you have, then you already know why fish jump.

I am convinced that Mother Nature sees to it that every organism above a certain point in the food chain is blessed with enough sense of self to enjoy being what they are. One universal expression of this joy is the exuberance of physical activity. The whole-body rush as adrenaline and endorphins flood the system. The invigorating flush of heat and motion. The stretch and play of supple muscles, the dynamic tension between skin and ligament, bone and tendon as we each discover our physical limits. The range of emotions your face undergoes as you fight a fish leads us to the same conclusion. First surprise, followed in short order by confusion, concentration, determination and finally pride and joy as you bring the fish to net, all point to the same reason.

Fish jump because they can. Because it feels good. It's that simple.

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Search Crews Find Body, Life Raft and Life Ring

2007-05-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, May 22, 2007 (USCG)- The Coast Guard is utilizing multiple search assets this morning in an attempt to find the fishing vessel Mary James, believed to be the source of a mayday call that was received Sunday evening. Since the search began, the Coast Guard has found one body, a life raft and a life ring, about 22 miles southeast of Manasquan Inlet, N.J.p>The body has not yet been identified. It is being picked up and transported ashore by a Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet rescue Search Crews Find Body, Life Raft and Life Ring.

All indications are that the body, as well as the mayday call and debris, originated from the fishing vessel Mary James, a 40-foot scallop boat which moors at the Red Lobster Shack in Manasquan, N.J. The crew of the Nautilus, sister ship to the Mary James, confirmed having spoken to the crew of the Mary James Sunday evening and that it utilizes a two-person crew.

Searching are Coast Guard rescue crews aboard an HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City, an HC-130 Hercules long-range surveillance aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., rescue boats from Station Manasquan Inlet and Station Barnegat Light, N.J., and the Cutter Finback, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat homeported in Cape May, N.J.

Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators received a mayday call on marine radio at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday. The Coast Guard immediately began issuing an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB) on marine radio for any vessels to keep a sharp lookout, assist if possible and report any sightings to the Coast Guard.

An Air Station Atlantic City rescue helicopter was diverted from a previous case to begin searching. A subsequent helicopter search at about 2:30 a.m. resulted in the location of a life raft with no one aboard. Another helicopter search resulted in the location of the life ring, with the vessel name of Mary James printed on it.

18th Cent Schooner Cutty-Sark Ablaze

2007-05-21T07:55:00.000-05:00

May 21, 2007 The Boating Channel) The Clyde-built Cutty Sark was built in 1869 on the River Clyde in Glasgow. The ship is one of the last sailing clippers to be built. She was preserved in dry dock at Greenwich in London, but was damaged in a fire on 21 May 2007 whilst undergoing extensive restoration. Like many ships of her era, she had a wrought iron frame structure covered by wooden planking. At the time of the fire, 50% of the planking from the ship was in storage for restoration. Of the 50% that remained on site, not a lot was damaged; "where I stand there is not a huge amount of damage to the planking that was left on", said Chris Livett, Chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises.

On 21 May 2007 the Cutty Sark caught fire and was reported by the BBC to be completely ablaze. The extent of any damage is not known but there is concern that it may have affected the framework of the ship. The fire was reported to the fire service at 4:46 a.m. British Summer Time (GMT+1) by members of the public. A representative of the fire brigade said at 7:09 a.m. that the fire was well under control and that damage was extensive but until the experts can make a full damage assessment survey, it is unknown just how much has been lost. The fire was declared by a journalist on site to have been out at 07:21 a.m., with most of the wooden structure in the centre having been lost.

In an interview with the chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust it was revealed that at least half of the "fabric" (timbers, etc) of the ship is not on the site as it is being dismantled for the preservation work, and that they are most worried about the iron framework around which the fabric is attached.

Aerial video footage at 7:22 a.m. shows extensive damage but seems to indicate that the ship has not been destroyed in its entirety. A fire officer present at the scene said in a BBC interview that when they arrived, there was 'A well developed fire throughout the ship'. The bow section looks to be "relatively unscathed" and the stern also appears to have survived without major damage. The fire seems to have been concentrated on the centre of the ship. One journalist commented that "you can see right through from one side to the other". However, no one currently on site knows just how much had already been removed for the preservation work.

The latest reports confirm that 50% of the ship was not on the site. Of the remaining material on site around 80% (now thought to be less) of that has at least been damaged.

The Chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises who has inspected the site said at around 8:35 a.m., "The decks are unsalvageable but all the planking had already been removed; however the damage is not as bad as originally expected."

It has already been stated that the ship can be restored, the damage being less than originally thought. Up to 50% of the original material is currently being stored offsite during restoration.

It has also been officially stated that once restored the ship will still be the original Cutty Sark and not in anyway a re-creation. It has been shown in courts throughout the world with other types of vehicle (mainly automobiles) that if a greater part of the original frame is used then the vehicle is not in any way shape or form a re-creation) In this instance due to the fact that 50% of the ship was not involved in the fire, and of the remaining half that was on site, the bow was predominatly undamaged, the stern appears fairly intact, and the rest whilst damaged should at least in part be repairable. As such the ship will still have a majority of the original parts and will still be the "Cutty Sark" and not in part or whole a re-creation whatsoever.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown but is being treated as "suspicious" by the authorities. Wikinews has news related to: Cutty Sark ablaze, fire treated as 'suspicious'

Certain eye witnesses reported seeing a silver car near the scene, at early hours in the morning. CCTV footage is currently being examined by the police

America’s Cup: Big Loses for American and Spanish Teams in LV Semi Finals

2007-05-20T07:22:00.000-05:00

Americans Down 3-1 against Italians; Kiwis in Control Over Spanish

VALENCIA, Spain, May 18, 2007 (The Boating Channel) – Prospects for an American team in this year’s America’s Cup are looking bleak, as BMW Oracle loses it’s third match to Luna Rossa, the Italian team that wasn’t supposed to defeat them. Today’s Semi Finals loss was the second in a row for Larry Ellison’s team, representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco – and the third in a best of nine series.

Emirates Team New Zealand, meanwhile, maintained their control over the Spanish Desafío Español, winning their third match today and giving them a 3-1 lead over the hometown team. The two teams that win the Semi Finals will meet in a head-to-head best-of-nine series in the final round, and the winner of the Finals goes on to challenge Team Alinghi in the America’s Cup.

After losing the first race on Monday to the Italians, BMW Oracle Racing clawed back nearly one minute over the course of the race on Tuesday to overhaul Luna Rossa Challenge and avoid dropping behind in the series 2 - 0. By making a pass on the final run, the Americans tied it up going into Wednesday’s race. But Luna Rossa turned it around on Wednesday, and today they scored a solid advantage, needing only two more wins to take the Semi Finals.

Emirates Team New Zealand looked good from the first race, and after Tuesday they had a 2-0 lead over Desafío Español. On Wednesday the Spanish team came back fighting and scored their first victory over the Kiwis. But the glory was short-lived, and today Emirates Team New Zealand came in 42 seconds ahead, securing a 3-1 lead going into tomorrow’s races.

Race 4, Match 1- Luna Rossa Challenge beat BMW ORACLE R

Chris Dickson succeeded in avoiding James Spithill’s attempt at aggression in the pre-start, and BMW ORACLE Racing rolled off the start line at pace, to the right of the equally quick Luna Rossa. When USA 98 tacked away, the Italians followed them out to the right, with a slight edge on the Americans.

After a long sail out to the right side of the course, Dickson eventually tacked, a move which initiated a long and tiring tacking duel all the way to the starboard layline. From there the Italians led around the windward mark with a 13 second advantage. Unlike previous races where USA 98 had shown a clear downwind advantage, the Italians kept their rivals at bay and led by 12 seconds at the leeward gate.

However, after a tightly fought match up to this point, Luna Rossa allowed BMW ORACLE to break away unchallenged to the left, Torben Grael keeping faith in the right. By the time Dickson tacked back, the separation between the boats was 2700 meters across the race course. Everything would now come down to who found the better wind. For a time it looked like USA 98 had the advantage to the left but when the boats finally reconvened in the middle of the course, Italy had jumped ahead to a five-boat-length lead.

It was a 29-second delta round the final mark and despite a protracted gibing duel down the last leg BMW ORACLE could only close the gap to 23 seconds by the finish. It was an emphatic victory for Luna Rossa.

Race 4, Match 2 – Emirates Team New Zealand beat Desafí

Karol Jablonski has looked very dangerous in the pre-start, but today Dean Barker gibed inside Desafío Español to seize the right-hand side of the start box. However, rather than starting on the right, Barker got a hook on the green boat, by slipping his bow under the Spanish transom, forcing Jablonski to tack away towards the Race Committee boat. The Spanish started downspeed while the Kiwis accelerated off the left-hand end of the line.

The New Zealanders sailed a typically tight match against Spain, taking small chunks out of their opposition in a tacking duel up the first beat and leading by 25 seconds at the first mark. They were never seriously challenged after that, and Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish 42 seconds ahead.

Coast Guard Issues Alert for Wayward Whales

2007-05-19T07:23:00.001-05:00

RIO VISTA, CA, May 17, 2007 (The Boating Channel) The Coast Guard has issued a safety marine information bulletin over channel 16, advising all mariners that the Coast Guard will be enforcing a 100-yard safety zone around the whales.

Audio Text of Message:

Securite 3: Hello all stations this is United States Coast Guard Sector San Francisco

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Securite 3: This is United States Coast Guard Sector San Francisco out.

America’s Cup: Luna Rossa and Emirates TNZ Score in First Races of Louis Vuitton Semi-Finals

2007-05-18T04:10:00.000-05:00

BARCELONA, Spain, May 14, 2007 (The Boating Channel) - The Louis Vuitton Cup has been whittled down from eleven teams to just four. Emirates Team New Zealand, BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa and Desafío Español 2007 emerged from the Round Robins at the top of the leaderboard, and they are now paired up for the Semi Finals match portion of the event. Today they engaged in their first battles after a short four-day rest.

Following a few weeks of ragged scheduling dictated by fickle weather, the Round Robins finally closed last week with Team New Zealand in first place. BMW Oracle had been leading the Round Robin series from the start, but some false steps at the end cost them the top spot – and the right to select their opponent in the semi-finals. The second place ranking may prove costly for the Americans, who must sail the semi-finals against a strong Luna Rossa.

Emirates Team Zealand logically chose Desafio Espanol 2007 as its Semi Final opponent. The Spanish team has never beaten the Kiwis in seven tries during the pre-match events over the past three years. Today was no exception.

BMW Oracle’s history with Luna Rossa gave the Americans some reason for optimism. They have won six matches against the Italians, five of them in the last six races during the 2006 and 2007 events. But today’s race put them down by one in the best of nine series.

The Finals series will be a head-to-head competition between the two winners of the Semi-Finals. The victor in the Finals wins the right to take on Team Allinghi for the America’s Cup.

Racing will continue on Tuesday.

Match 1: Luna Rossa Challenge beat BMW ORACLE Racing

In the pre-start it looked as though Luna Rossa might be able to close BMW ORACLE Racing out above the Race Committee boat, but Chris Dickson and his afterguard had factored in some current sweeping across the start line. The American boat slotted in nicely next to the boat with Luna Rossa just to the left.

After sailing locked together for many minutes, which seemed very sensible with the wildly shifting offshore breeze, the Italians and Americans broke away to opposite sides of the course. Luna Rossa tactician Torben Grael found the better breeze to the left and the Italians rounded 52 seconds ahead.

Around the top mark, USA 98 picked up a beautiful puff of breeze and surged down the right-hand side of the course. The Italians meanwhile had already gybed off to the centre of the course and were wallowing by comparison. Dickson recouped a 400 metre deficit to put Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill under pressure at the leeward gate, Dickson initiating an aggressive luffing match.

Spithill did just enough to claim the left-hand gate mark while the Americans peeled away to the right, just 7 seconds back. Again both boats gambled with their respective sides of the course and again the Italians’ faith in the left paid off as they leapt to another 400-metre lead.

This time the Italians did a better job of shadowing the Americans down the final run, and even when the breeze shifted nearly 180-degrees just before the finish, Luna Rossa capitalized on the changeable conditions and stretched the winning margin to 2:19 minutes at the finish.

Match 2: Emirates Team New Zealand beat Desafío Español

If the Italians and Americans were playing their match fast and loose, Emirates Team New Zealand took no such chances. Dean Barker won the right-hand end of the start and it wasn’t long before the Kiwis had established a small lead over Desafío Español 2007. After winning the lead from the right, Barker dragged the match to the left-hand layline and led Karol Jablonski to the first mark by 1:03.

However, with the Kiwis sailing very defensively they yielded some of that lead to round the left-hand leeward mark by just 41 seconds. The Spanish brought the match even closer up the final windward leg, rounding 30 seconds behind at the final turning mark.

As new breeze filled in across the course, and the teams were forced to douse spinnakers in favor of jibs for some close reaching to the finish, the Kiwis extended away to win by 43 seconds at the finish.

Coast Guard Issues Alert for Wayward Whales

2007-05-17T18:07:00.000-05:00

Audio Text of Message:

Securite 3: Hello all stations this is United States Coast Guard Sector San Francisco

break

Securite 3: The Coast Guard has received a report of two humpback whales 10 miles south of West Sacramento. All vessels in the area are requested to transit the area with caution and be advised there is a 100-yard safety zone around each of the whales

break

Securite 3: This is United States Coast Guard Sector San Francisco out.

USNS Shasta Rescues Five After Fire Strikes Cargo Ship

2007-05-17T09:24:00.000-05:00

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2007 - Navy News Service

(By Edward Baxter, Sealift Logistics Command Far East Public Affairs)

Civil service mariners aboard Military Sealift Command ammunition ship USNS Shasta T-AE 33 rescued all crew members aboard a disabled commercial cargo ship May 12 in the Western Pacific near Saipan.

Just after sunset, Shasta received a request from the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet Battle Watch Center to assist the ill-fated MV Haurosi, which reported a major engine room fire.

Traveling at full-speed, Shasta made the 90-mile voyage to Haurosi’s location in just over four hours, using the transit time to prepare the flight deck for helicopter operations and ready Shasta’s towing and firefighting equipment.

“As we approached, we could see the crew on deck waving flashlights,” said Capt. R.J. Bellfi, Shasta’s civil service master. After refueling a U.S. Navy HH-60 helicopter from Guam that was already on-scene, Shasta’s crew dispatched a boarding team to Haurosi in the ship’s rigid-hull, inflatable boat.

Once on board Haurosi, Cargo Officer Robert Foor assessed the damage to the ship and condition of the crew. The fire was fully extinguished, but Haurosi was adrift without propulsion or power. Luckily, the ship’s crew fared much better.

“They were a bit exhausted, but appeared to be in good shape,” Foor said. Haurosi and its crew were five days into a voyage from Pusan to the Solomon Islands when the fire occurred.

Shasta set up temporary lighting to monitor the ship throughout the night. The following morning, in rain showers and gusty winds, Shasta attached a tow line to Haurosi and set course for Saipan, the nearest port.

“We had a lot of rigging to accomplish to get the towing bridle aboard and in place,” said Boatswain's Mate Ronald Hanses, one of the key players in the boarding team. “Without mechanical power, it was a tough job pulling a towing rig from one ship to another. It helps to have that knack for improvising.”

All five Haurosi crew members were transferred to Shasta and received general medical services, a hot meal, clean clothing and a place to sleep. Shasta’s crew passed the hat and collected $800 for Haurosi’s crew, all citizens of the Solomon islands.

Shasta safely delivered Haurosi and its crew to Saipan. “We were well-equipped and had the seamanship experience to provide assistance for this rescue,” said Bellfi. “There is a support network out there, always on watch, and we are part of it.”

The 564-foot, 20,000-ton Shasta is one of MSC’s five ammunition ships and is one of 39 ships in the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force program that provide logistics support to U.S. Navy warships operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The ship has a crew of 134 civil service mariners employed by MSC as well as two military personnel.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.

Empress of the North Runs Aground in Alaskan Strait

2007-05-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

JUNEAU, Alaska, May 14, 2007 (The Boating Channel)

The 360-foot paddelwheel cruise ship Empress of the North ran aground 49 miles west of Juneau near Hanus Reef in Lynn Canal, Alaska this morning at about 2a.m. local Alaska time.

According to Petty Officer Christopher D. McLaughlin at the Coast Guard base in Kodiak, the ship was listing 6 degrees and was taking on water.

Coast Guard and other good samaritan vessels, including some fishing boats and other cruise ships in the area, coordinated efforts to evacuate the 281 passengers on board. No injuries have been reported. The evacuated passengers have been taken to Juno.

The weather on scene is calm. The Coast Guard is working with other state and federal agencies to ensure the safety of everyone on board and to mitigate any potential environmental damage. The vessel is owned an operated by Majestic America Line of Seattle, Washington.

The Empress of the North contacted the Coast Guard via VHF radio on Channel 16 reporting they were aground with 281 passengers on board.

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak launched a C-130 crew and a pre-deployed HH-60 helicopter crew from Cordova, Alaska to the scene.

The Coast Guard is still investigating the cause of the grounding.

Velux 5 Oceans: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Places Third in Leg 3

2007-05-05T08:06:00.000-05:00

Ahoy America! BoatingChannel.com: Velux 5 Oceans: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Places Third in Leg 3

Velux 5 Oceans: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Places Third in Leg 3

2007-05-05T07:20:00.000-05:00

BILBAO, Spain, May 4, 2007 (The Boating Channel) – Nearly 40 years after Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to sail non-stop around the world in the 1968-69 Sunday Times Golden Globe, the 68-year old made history again today as he finished a second solo circumnavigation and completed the Velux 5 Oceans race, one of sailing’s greatest challenges. Sir Robin is now the oldest person to have completed this classic race and his natural ability, determination and perseverance has seen him outdo some of the world’s best skippers and leave him fighting for an overall podium position in the final rankings.

Knox-Johnston has succeeded in the face of constant adversity. Only 165 people have ever successfully sailed solo around the world. Sir Robin was already part of this extraordinary group of sportsmen but has again proved himself. Indeed, he is the pioneer of solo sailing and gave inspiration to a passion that still surrounds races such as the Velux 5 Oceans.

Speaking from the marina in Gexto, where he was met by his brother, friends, supporters, sponsors and shore crew, he commented, “I am very pleased to be back in Bilbao. It was a fantastic welcome. People on the water, the pontoons, everywhere. Bilbao has always been great since the start! For this leg we got the boat together and I had very few problems. At the beginning I decided to sacrifice 30 hours going north as I didn’t believe in the southern course Unai (Basurko, still sailing to Bilbao on his Open 60 Pakea) was taking. But now he has better wind than I had with a nice westerly bringing him back home. I would like to tell him; Unai you are my best friend when you are onshore but God I hate you at sea!”

“Technologies have been my main issue in the Velux 5 Oceans,” Knox-Johnston continued. “I would have preferred to do the race the way it was in 1969. The problem is now we are absolutely dependent on weather programs and I unfortunately didn’t have enough time at the beginning of this project to learn everything. I wish one normal and easy manual would exist for it. This time was easier than 30 years ago; but it is always easier when you know it can be done, which was not the case 40 years ago. Nothing will compare to the first voyage."

It Was My Last Circumnavigation

“It was my last circumnavigation, I won’t do it again, which is sad.," Knox-Johnston announced. "In four years time I will be too old to do it. The Velux 5 Oceans has already been frustrating so I guess in four years time I wouldn’t be competitive enough and it would be too frustrating for me. It is a tough race; firstly you must get round but also get round quickly.”

Smiling broadly and reaching to open his Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston crossed the leg 3 finish line in Bilbao at 11:22:03 local time (10:22 BST, 09:22 UTC). Just seconds after crossing the line Sir Robin marked his incredible achievement by enjoying a dram of the fine single malt before ceremonially splashing it on the bow in the customary ‘wetting the boat’ celebratory tradition.

As Saga Insurance crossed the line, the legendary skipper was greeted with the cheers of the Basque people. The third leg from Norfolk, Virginia (USA) took the Open 60 16 days, 17 hours and 2 minutes. Sir Robin finished three and a half days behind the winner Bernard Stamm and claims third place in the leg. In the overall rankings, Knox-Johnston is fighting for a podium finish (third) with local Basque hero Unai Basurko. The Bilbao skipper is 100 miles behind Knox-Johnston in this leg but holds a 42-hour lead over the British sailor and therefore looks likely to arrive in Bilbao and snatch third place. Having completed the race in 159 days, 12 hours and 42 minutes, Sir Robin has knocked 153 days off his time in the Sunday Times Golden Globe.

Knox-Johnston’s story in the Velux 5 Oceans has been characterized by passion, commitment and huge interest from the general public around the world. Already hailed for his ground-breaking achievement in 1969, he has again captured the imagination of adventurers around the world with his second solo circumnavigation. Sailing an old generation of the Open 60 racing yacht and taking ownership of the boat only months before the start, he was already at a disadvantage against leading sailors such as Mike Golding, Alex Thomson and Bernard Stamm.

Unprepared and inexperienced in the Open 60 class, he bravely set off from Bilbao last October and sailed straight into hurricane conditions in the atrocious storm off Cape Finisterre. He very nearly made it through before SAGA Insurance was knocked on its side and he damaged his mast track, forcing him to land for repairs. However, he re-joined the race and slowly understood how to get speed from his craft. As Alex Thomson and Mike Golding retired with damaged yachts, Sir Robin kept his boat in one piece and arrived in Fremantle (Western Australia) to take third place and a podium finish.

Technology has been a problem for Sir Robin since day one. Having sailed around the world with nothing but a sextant and the stars for navigation and a VHF radio for communication, the modern day technology was a constant struggle and regularly failed. He sailed through the most isolated parts of the Southern Ocean with no weather information and still kept pace with his younger adversaries. When he first made history, his autopilot was constructed out of metal bars and he drank water that he collected in a bucket on his boom. The Velux 5 Oceans experience was very different.

Velux 5 Oceans Race: Bernard Stamm Arrives As Overall Champion

2007-05-04T04:36:00.000-05:00

BILBAO, Spain, May 1, 2007 (The Boating Channel) – In an exciting finish, half of the Velux 5 Ocean racers crossed the line in the final leg of the Velux 5 Oceans race within less than one hour of each other yesterday afternoon. Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm, who has totally dominated this race almost from the start, 29,000 miles ago, completed the 3,200-mile run across the North Atlantic at 17:13:25 local time, April 30, 2007. Standing on the starboard side of his Open 60, Cheminees Poujoulat, Stamm let the autopilot guide the yacht while he waved to his family waiting aboard the committee boat.

With this victory, Stamm garnered Line Honors for Leg 3 of the Velux 5 Oceans, as well as having secured the First Place crown overall in this edition of the race.

A fleet of press and spectator boats waited in wind and rain for Stamm to complete the course. And as they greeted the triumphant skipper, they could see off in the distance the sail of Spirit of Yukoh making its way toward them.

Just 43 minutes and 20 seconds later, at 17:56:45, Kojiro Shiraishi brought his Open 60 across the finish line. During the eleven days it took both skippers to cross the Atlantic, from Norfolk, Virginia, to Bilbao, where the race first began, Shiraishi was rarely more than 100 miles behind Stamm. And they both came in days ahead of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston aboard Saga Insurance and Unai Basurko aboard Pakea.

Shiraishi was welcomed by a watery salute from local fire fighting tugs, and hundreds of race fans set off flares from around the lighthouse at the end of the Puerto Deportivo breakwater while the Japanese skipper negotiated a route through the hundreds of spectator boats that gathered to watch the spectacular arrival of two of sailing’s most outstanding skippers.

During the entire circumnavigation of Velux 5 Oceans race, Bernard Stamm spent a total of 103 days, 22 hours and 10 minutes at sea, holding a cummulative 14 day lead over Shiraishi, who completed the course after 118 days, 1 hour and 42 minutes at sea.

The tension in these final days of the event is now between the two yachts still out at sea. Knox-Johnston is almost three hundred miles ahead of Basurko and is just about 425 miles from the finish line. But Basurko took third place in the second leg, and to capture the third podium position overall Sir Robin must arrive a good 48 hours ahead of the Basque skipper. Both are currently sailing in very harsh seas, and both are being handicapped by compromised electronics. There are predictions for a southwesterly Force 8 Gale with rain and thunder, which could change everything.

John Williams Boat Company to Launch “Survivor,” A Stanley 36

2007-04-28T16:49:00.000-05:00

Excitement is building at the John Williams Boat Company in Hall Quary, Maine. On Wednesday, May 2nd, at 11:30 AM, John “Jock” Williams and his “crew” will be launching Survivor, a Stanley 36 lobster boat. The Stanley 36 is the Flagship of the company created in the 1970’s, when Founder and CEO Jock Williams decided to leave the comforts of his job at Hinckley and start out on his own.

The day following the launching ceremony at the Hall Quary boatyard, the vessel and crew will head south to the boat’s new home on Long Island Sound. SURVIVOR is a true downeast lobster boat with a traditional pilothouse, open sides and back. A pretty boat with classic proportions, the Stanly 36 features teak cabin sides and pilothouse, complementing the black hull.

Boasting modern outfitting, such as the Mastervolt Mastervision Modular Electrical System, including a generator and air conditioning, the boat nonetheless sports traditional hardware and interior finishing. With a nod to Herreshoff styling, the interior is white with mahogany trim. The forward cabin sole is of teak and holly. Stainless steel and corian countertops provide a luxurious fell.

Survivor has a beautiful custom butterfly hatch, custom hardware and meticulously designed furniture, including a pilothouse table, settee, helm chair and stern seat. The handsomely finished cabin offers a full 6’3” of head room.

The galley is to port and the enclosed head, with shower, is to starboard. Next forward are port and starboard settees, and outboard drawers and hanging locker. In the bow there is a large comfortable V-berth with generous storage below. Additional sleeping accommodations are available either through fold-down pilot berths forward or with a pullout double in the pilothouse.

The diesel engine is YANMAR 440 with an Evolution Drive propulsion system capable of a cruising speed of 18 knots, topping at 22 knots. She carries 300 gallons of fuel in two tanks. There is also tankage for 100 gallons of water. The pilothouse, which has an impressive 6’7” of headroom, is fitted with a conveniently placed steering station, seat, and storage compartment. The three-panel windshield plus two-side windows provide excellent visibility, and the stamoid side and stern curtains provide an enclosure that can be easily lowered during periods of inclement weather.

Survivor was commissioned by an owner who tasked his brother with carefully researching boats from as many as twelve builders. From that list three were chosen for more intensive inspection. After visiting each yard, they chose Williams. “We were able to show them JAVA, a 1997 Stanley 36,” explained John Williams. “She matched their cruising and boating requirements and they just loved the lines of the boat.”

According to Williams, the Stanley 36 offers the best of both worlds: a rugged hull that gives a stable, sea kindly ride even in choppy conditions, and beautifully crafted accommodations that provide civilized cruising comforts.

For more information about the line of Stanley’s, contact John Williams Boat Company (207-244-7854, email Info@jwboatco.com or visit them on the web at www.jwboatco.com).

Record Cocaine Offload in Alameda

2007-04-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, CA, April 23, 2007 (USCG)

The Coast Guard will offload more than 40,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $500 million from cutter Sherman here today seized by the crew in three busts near Central America in February and March.

The offload will include approximately 38,000 pounds of cocaine seized in the largest cocaine bust in maritime history.

The Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessel Don Juan K was approached in the Pacific Ocean Feb. 19 off the coast of Mexico while allegedly offloading cocaine into "go-fast" (cigarette-style boat) boats. The fishing vessel's crew apparently set fire to Don Juan K in an attempt to destroy the evidence and flee in the go-fasts. Sherman's crew stopped the go-fasts and recovered about 900 pounds of cocaine as Don Juan K sank. The 14 crew members are being processed for further legal action.

The 330-foot Panamanian-flagged motor vessel Gatun was interdicted in the Pacific Ocean Mar. 18 off the coast of Panama while heading north toward the United States. Sherman's crew stopped and boarded the vessel and found 765 bales of cocaine weighing approximately 38,000 pounds in two shipping containers. Gatun was escorted back to Panama and its 14 crew members processed for further legal action.

Sherman's crew stopped and boarded a small stateless go-fast in the Pacific Ocean Mar. 25 off the coast of Panama following a short chase, in which, the go-fast attempted to flee at a high rate of speed. Approximately 2000 pounds of cocaine was found aboard the go-fast and its four crew members were processed for further legal action.

The Coast Guard works in close coordination with Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S. Attorney's office, Panama Express South, DEA, FBI, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, as well as the Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security on counter drug operations in the Pacific Ocean near Central and South America. These drug smuggling routes are some of the most active, yielding roughly 70% of the cocaine seized annually by the Coast Guard.

Source: www.BoatingChannel.com

We're Being Boarded by the Coast Guard - Now What!

2007-04-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

By Vincent Pica, Flotilla Commander, 18-06 ISR USCG Aux

[Editor's Note: Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonders where my boat is...Okay, okay, that's corny, I know. But, this is the time of year when we boaters in the North are gearing up for the new boating season -- cleaning, polishing, and, oh yes, making sure our boats can pass a Coast Guard Inspection. Right? Here's what you can expect if you're stopped by your local Coast Guard, and some tips and resources to help you pass inspection.]

(WESTHAMPTON, NY)- If you've ever seen the reflection of the blue-rotating hailing light in the reflection of your windshield, you've felt the quickening in certain parts of your body "Jeez, what did I do wrong?" The United States Coast Guard can and will board you at their discretion. They need no search warrant, no provocation, no reason other than "Good Morning, sir. My name is Officer Jones with the US Coast Guard - the Coast Guard is here to day to ensure you are in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations."

What Happens First

First, you will be impressed by their youthfulness and their polite and professional demeanor. These are highly trained Federal officers. And the very first question that they will ask you, before they even step off their vessel onto yours, is, (without reaching or touching them), "Do you have any weapons on board?"

Subtly but powerfully, the tone is set. "I am polite. I am professional. I mean business." Let's assume (and hope) that the answer to that question is "no" since I would need a lot more space than this column if the answer is "yes."

What Happens Next

The inspection that follows is driven largely by the size of the vessel with a few standard exceptions. Your actual registration needs to be aboard and current. The HIN number, like your cars VIN number, needs to be the same on your registration and on your boat (low on the starboard side of the transom.) If they don't match, someone has a lot of explaining to do. The registration numbers must be of proper size (at least 3), of contrasting color to your hull and be the most forward of any numbering or lettering on the boat.

What Happens Then?

If you have a MSD (Marine Sanitation Device, a.k.a. a head or toilet), regardless of the size of your vessel, it must conform to regulations. All the bays and creeks are No Discharge Zones so, if there is an over-board through-hull from the MSD holding tank, it must be in the locked/closed position and the key must under the control of the skipper. It can be seized closed or, lastly, the handle can be removed and it must be in the closed position. The rest is largely going to be driven by the size of your vessel:

How many personal flotation devices (life jackets)- at least one for everybody aboard, be in good working order and readily available.

Fire Extinguishers boat size dependent but all must be in working order

Flares boat size dependent but all must good to go, i.e., unexpired!

And so on and so forth

How to Avoid All This

Well, there are three outcomes from here. First and best, you will get a Report of Boarding and it is marked, No violations. You are good to go for the season. Secondly, your Report of Boarding is marked Written Warning about some violation that has not risen to the level of Notice of Violation. One caveat. If the boarding officer returns to the station and finds that you already have been given a warning for the same issue, your notice becomes a Violation. That is also the third outcome that could happen right at the boat a Notice of Violation is issued.

There are two general outcomes from here. If the boarding officer believes that the nature of the violation is inherently unsafe, you will be directed to follow the Coast Guard back to the dock. They are not going to allow you to keep fishing with some aspect of your boat that can lead to serious injury or death to you, your crew or other boaters. Secondly, it can take on the aspect of a driving violation. The notice is mailed to the Coast Guard hearing office in Portsmouth, VA. There, the boarding report will be reviewed by a case officer where fines, further letters of violations, etc will be issued. You will be notified by mail and you will have time (15 days) to file an appeal.

Well, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts free (your favorite price) vessel exams all season long and they are not enforcement events. If your boat fails virtually the same inspection that would be conducted by the regulars, you get a report that details the deficiency and the inspector's cell phone number. He or she will tell you what you need to do. When you have this addressed, call me. I will come down and re-run the inspection. This results in a USCGAux sticker of compliance being affixed to your windshield.

Did I mention the price Free. http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/

Other Safety Resources:

BTW, if you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at USCGAUX2006@aol.com or go direct to MaryJo Cruickshank, who is in charge of new members matters, at FSO-PS@emcg.us and we will help you get in this thing.

Source: BoatingChannel.com

Mississippi River Reopened to Vessel Traffic

2007-04-19T16:02:00.000-05:00

ST. LOUIS, MO, April 17, 2007 (US Coast Guard)

As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the Upper Mississippi River from mile marker 130 to 145 to vessel traffic.

The river was closed to vessel traffic after the Marquette Transportation Lines towing vessel John Paul Eckstein, pushing 25 grain barges, suffered mechanical problems and struck an unused dock, causing the tow to break up and 1 barge to sink.

The Coast Guard worked with U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and local maritime industry representatives to determine the most efficient and safe plan to allow the transit of delayed vessels through the previously closed portion of river.

Prior to the reopening, 21 vessels were delayed as a result of the river closure.

Multi-beam sonar aboard the Army Corp survey vessel Boyer was able to detect the sunken barge on the river bottom near river mile 142.3, approximately 1.5 miles south of the initial accident.

Sonar was also utilized to confirm the navigation channel was safe for vessel traffic. Army Corp Motor Vessel Pathfinder marked the sunken barge with bouys to ensure safe transit through the area.

The Coast Guard, Army Corp of Engineers, and local industry representatives will continue to work together to ensure the safe passage of all delayed vessels until the back log is eliminated.

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard