Sailor Ted RIP

Senator Ted Kennedy passed away on Wednesday. A couple of years ago, I was sailing off the Kennedy compound up there in Cap Cod. I was with a friend on his 18 foot day boat when we came across Ted and his wife sailing their lovely little traditional dingy. The winds were very light and Ted sailed right along side us. He shouted, "Good morning, beautiful day isn’t it," and then he tacked away. There was just him and his wife enjoying the water with no security insight. I came away with lovely memories of that day. May Ted rest in piece.

Old farts, young sailors, and those all important records.

Light winds in the north Atlantic have delayed 17 year-old Mike Perham's bid to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. Now this is quite an achievement for Perham although he made many stops along the way on what was originally meant to be a nonstop circumnavigation. Perham had all sorts of problems, which had to be solved by his farther and a parade of technicians who seemed to turn up at every port. The lad also lost some credibility when he reportedly turned off his boat tracking device as he sailed through the Caribbean, because he was worried about pirates. Yes, it’s still a marvelous achievement by one so young but, if three teenage girls get there way the young Englishman will soon look like a pussy. The first is 16 year old Australian Jessica Watson. She plans to sail unaided and nonstop east about via the great Capes. Jessica will tackle the 22,000 mile voyage in a 34-foot production sloop and, according to her website; she’s leaving in mid September. Then there’s 15 year old Abigail Sunderland. She’s the sister of 17 year old Zac Sunderland. Zac recently sailed into Marina Del Ray in Los Angeles to become the youngest person to circumnavigate. Abigail says she wants to go one better than her brother and circumnavigate nonstop. Now her family is looking for a sponsor willing to dump 350,000 dollars into the pot to finance her adventure. Also throwing her hat into the ring is Dutch 13-year old Laura Dekker. Her parents say she is ready to sail nonstop around the world. However, civil servants in her home town say no way, and have refused to give her permission to be absent from school. It’s beginning to sound like reality TV isn’t it. The Sailing Anarchy website has taken up this story and reports that the ‘Unborn Sailor Association’ has announced their new effort to break the record. They say an unborn fetus named 'Baby Ernesto', will attempt to sail around the world nonstop and unassisted, to become the youngest sailor ever to do so. “They want young, we'll give 'em young,” says Sailing Anarchy. Given the fact that it’s hard to be younger than an unborn, we feel confident that this record will truly stand the test of time.
I support youngsters who want to sail nonstop around the world. But hey, do it right. If you say you are going nonstop, then make sure you prepare the boat properly on the understanding that once out there your parents are not going to get you out of the s**t. If you succeed, great, until some parent sanctions another record attempt by someone even younger who dies along the way and brings the efforts of all young sailors into disrepute.

Hurricanes. One near miss and now a monster is on the way

Hurricanes are the price we pay for all our Caribbean Sunshine, but sunshine is no consolation to anyone sitting in the path of an approaching cyclone. Experiencing such weather on land is bad enough. Facing the same while at anchor is worse. Going through a hurricane while at sea doesn’t event bear thinking about. Yet, when we experience a hurricane in St. Maarten, usually all three scenarios play out. I’ve been to a remembrance service for sailors who thought they could outrun a hurricane. When hurricane Luis devastated St. Maarten in 1995, people came out the other side knowing what they did right and what they did wrong. Some 1200 boats were sunk or tossed ashore during Luis; it was a sight to see. Most of the sailors who went through Luis have left the islands, and few people remember how it was. This has taken us back to 1995. Now I hear sailors talk about how they once anchored in 60 knots of wind and they aint scared of no storm! They’re the ones who leave their roller furling headsails attached, kick out two anchors on string, and parade around the bars with a rum bottle in one hand and their boat insurance policy in the other. God bless them. Here’s a few links that might help you track the storms: http://www.weathercarib.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane
http://www.crownweather.com/?page_id=29

Storms on horizon as St. Maarten Simpson Bay Bridge closes for repairs

With the tropics heating up and storms on the horizon, mariners should take note! Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation hereby announces that as of Monday, August 17 the Simpson Bay Bridge will be close to maritime traffic for a two-week period to facilitate additional repair work. Boat owners and captains therefore must decide whether they will leave their vessel in the lagoon or in the bay. The last bridge openings will be on Sunday, August 16 for inbound and outbound vessels.

Hurricane updates make me smile.

The weather gurus at Colorado state university have again looked into their crystal ball and rattled the chicken bones and come up with a new prediction for the hurricane season. Not bad now that were half way through it. The scientists, in their wisdom, have downgraded the forecast and now say we can expect ten tropical storms, four of which will become hurricanes. Of those four, they say two will reach major status, that’s category three or more. I shouldn’t knock the prediction because even if they’re only half right it’s better than their December prediction which said we could expect 14 tropical storms and seven hurricanes. The last time I poked fun at the hurricane forecasters I got into trouble, and some one called to say I didn’t take hurricanes seriously enough. Having ridden out hurricane Louis while at anchor and experienced many hurricanes since, believe me I take them very seriously in deed.

America's Cup likened to rabid dog

Let's stick our head into the circus tent of the America’s cup and see what the clowns are up to. The Society Nautique de Geneve, who represents America’s Cup Defender Alinghy, now says the competition will be held in the United Arab Emirates. Of course, rival team BMW Oracle have said have said screw you, or words to that effect, and it looks like the whole thing will now go back to the courts where has been for the last two years. Can you imaging how much money the lawyers are making from all this. Last week I received a tweet from on of our listeners who said the America's cup should just be put down like the rabid dog it has become. What do you think of the America’s Cup? I’ve posted this item on the blog for your comments. Is the America’s Cup beyond hope? Let me know and I'll read out your comments on the show.

Fastnet 2009

Three hundred boats are expected to start the Fastnet Race on Sunday. This is the 30th anniversary of the disastrous race of 1979 when 15 sailors lost their lives in a severe storm. A service will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Cowes on the Isle of Wight in remembrance of those who lost their lives. While we remember those who died, we should also remember the brave people of the rescue services, in the air and at sea, who put their own lives at risk by going out into the storm. The rescue services are often forgotten in the media hype.

Island Water World new E-commerce Super Store

Island Water World - You Click We Ship. (Not a bad logo and I wish I’d thought of it!) With the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association spreading woe over outrageous bridge and mooring fees, it’s nice to see someone with a smile on their face. In an exclusive interview with OceanMedia, Sean Kennelly, Managing Director of Island Water World Caribbean Chandlers based in St. Maarten, was happy indeed as he described how his company’s E-commerce Marine Superstore went live at the weekend. Having navigated through the new site, I think it’s fair to say that in today’s point and click world, it will change the way sailors shop for parts and accessories in the Caribbean. At last something to smile about! To hear the interview, tune in to YachtBlast at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

What the f**k was that (or trimaran to port)!

What an amazing feat! Pascal Bidegorry and Banque Populaire V and Frank Cammas and Groupama 3 scream across the Atlantic in a race against each other and the clock. At stake is Cammas’s record from the Ambrose Light off New York to Lizard Point off England’s south coast. Cammas broke his own record, but Bidegorry set a new record by covering the 2900 mile course in a knee-trembling 3 days 15 hours 25 minutes and 48 second. Yes you read that right, an Atlantic crossing in less than 88 hours. Not only did B P 5 set a new Atlantic time, she also covered amazing 907 miles in 24-hours. Now spare a thought for the old freighter watch keeper on the bridge. His ship is steaming at 22 knots to the west when ahead, on the horizon, a sail pops up. Knowing that small sailboats usually truck along at around 5 knots, he goes to the back of the bridge to pour himself a cup of coffee. Cream and sugar and what the f**K was that? A closing speed of 62 knots is what. Watch keepers beware!

St. Maarten Bridge Closures

We approach the height of the hurricane season with news that the two bridges into St. Maarten's the Simpson Bay lagoon will be closed for maritime traffic some time in the next couple of months. The Simpson Bay Bridge will close for two weeks in mid August and the French bridge will close in September for repairs. If you are cruising the northern Antilles then keep an eye on the weather. Turning up at the entrance to the Simpson Bay Lagoon seeking shelter only to find your bridge of choice is closed for repairs could spoil your day. Mariners should also note that the Dutch Side Bridge will not open once the wind reaches a certain strength, again leaving you nowhere to go. It's happened before with terrible consequences.