Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:31:41 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://cruising.sailing.org.za/images/logo.gif http://cruising.sailing.org.za/ enquiries@inetimagery.co.za http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article46.phtml He's 74 years of age, he's sailed 265,000 nautical miles, he's circumnavigated the globe solo seven times, he's completed three BOC Challenges. He's been awarded the Blue Water Medal and inducted into the Newport Rhode Island Single Handed Hall of Fame. He's already in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest sailor to circumnavigate the world. Starting life afflicted with TB, he has overcome amazing challenges in his long life. You'd think he could rest on his glory now. Japan's Minoru Saito is going to circumnavigate again, solo again, for the eighth time, and this time it'll be the 'wrong way' round. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:31:41 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article45.phtml By Nancy Knudsen, SAil-World Cruising Editor Out there on the world's oceans, thousands of cruising sailors are enjoying life on the 'seventh continent', unconcerned by the vagaries of the world's economy, stock market crashes or bounces or interminable conversations about 'what happens next'. They are the lucky ones. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:11:09 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article44.phtml Last month, the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre in Malaysia issued a red alert to ships "to be extra vigilant" while sailing through the Gulf of Aden following increased hijackings. The bureau specifically mentioned the Eastern and Northeastern coasts in Somali as the "high risk areas for attacks and hijacking," and advised vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia to keep "as far away as possible from the Somali coast". Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:49:08 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article43.phtml An ill-fitting life jacket (or maybe lacking a crutch strap) and the weight of wet weather gear may have been the ultimate cause of the death of a sailor who lost his life when their yacht Time to Burn lost its keel off the coast of New Zealand. Warren Clark told Marty Sharp of the Dominion Post that they both had trouble staying afloat after the incident because of the weight of their wet weather gear. `I wanted to give up too. I kept on going because we were together.' But after doing all he could to save his mate's life in the incident, Clark could only watch as he floated away, face down. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:48:09 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article42.phtml PORTS & SHIPS took a keen interest in the Borobodur Ship Expedition of 2003/04, particularly when the ship – a replica of an 800 AD Indonesian sailing ship called at South African ports and harbours while recreating the course of a journey from Indonesia to Ghana in West Africa. Now we bring you news of another new adventure, a recreation of the world’s first recorded epic journey by sea – undertaken by the Phoenicians who sailed round Africa over 2,500 years ago. Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:01:07 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article41.phtml On April 4, 2008, the luxury French yacht Le Ponant was crossing the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and Somalia when a swarm of speed boats surrounded the 32-cabin, three-masted vessel. A band of Somali pirates stormed the yacht, hijacking the vessel and taking all 30 of its crew members hostage. A week of intense negotiations followed, ending with the release of the hostages to French military officials on April 11 in exchange for an undisclosed ransom. Shortly after the exchange, a team of French commandos tracked the pirates to a remote location in the Puntland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia. The commandos overtook them on an open stretch of desert road, attacking from helicopters and capturing six of them. Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:59:08 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article40.phtml Russ George is the founder and current President of Planktos Science, a privately held San Francisco-based eco-restoration and ocean eco-technology company, whose mission is the restoration of damaged habitats. Here he offers a lucid and alarming account of the real problem for the survival of the world's oceans as we know them, and, literally blowing in the wind, an approach to a solution: “I have read some of the many news reports on the ocean acidification and reef crisis that are presently extant. I beg to differ with the position that reducing our global carbon footprint will help save our ocean bathing beauties, the reefs. It's not that I don't fully support reducing our carbon footprint, I am rather more concerned about the role of the present deadly dose of anthropogenic CO2 already in the air on its way to our surface ocean waters. Those hundreds of billions of tonnes of anthropogenic CO2, the bulk of which we've prescribed and put en route in the past 75 years, are slowly dissolving into the surface ocean. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:29:39 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article39.phtml Maloy, Norway: More vessels in The Tall Ships' Races finished overnight and arrived in Maloy to a warm welcome with their national anthems played and flags raised. The small fishing town of Maloy is about to be doubled in size with the arrival of the fleet and everyone is involved in some way or other. Two cruise ships have been brought in to cater for the numbers of people expected, as the one hotel with its 48 rooms would not be able to cope! Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:27:51 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article38.phtml In every ocean there are gyres, ocean vortices caused by the rotation of the earth. The North Pacific Gyre contains the world's worst example of pollution. Here there is a vast floating soup of plastic bags and other goods which has collected over many years because the circular current and lack of wind drives floating debris into its centre. In addition to this swirling vortex of trash - twice the size of Texas - the UN Environment Program estimates that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic litter in every square mile of ocean. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:33:37 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article37.phtml More than 150 yachts are in a marine 'traffic jam' on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal, awaiting transit to the Pacific Ocean. Many have been told it will be 'weeks' - in one case two months - before they will be able to get through. This delay could put them in danger of meeting the cyclone (hurricane) season in the South Pacific. Manager of vessel transit operations for the Panama Canal, Abraham Saied, told YM that the peak time for canal transits is between February and April, but for reasons still being analysed the commercial traffic this year is much heavier than usual. Tue, 06 May 2008 19:24:40 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article36.phtml Ahoy again after a short break, we always have lots to report about the news heard on our ssb radio net run at 7am and 5pm every day. Norman on the catamaran regal told us he discovered a very nice island paradise just 40nm north of Bazaruto he went there on a explorative break to Batholomeu diaz at 21.16 s and 35.06 e a lagoon and estuary idyllic beautiful area with only 8 residents out of season. The resort Rioazul at www.rioazullodge.com welcomed them and is a friendly getaway spot with rewarding fishing and diving and no red tape. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:15:16 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article35.phtml World ARC, the new circumnavigation rally organised and managed by the UK-based cruising rally experts at World Cruising Club (WCC), set off from Rodney Bay, St.Lucia on Wednesday 23 January with a group of enthusiastic sailors beginning a 15-month cruising adventure of a lifetime. Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:32:51 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article34.phtml NINJA Mobile, a leading developer and publisher of innovative mobile applications, and Tidelines announced the release of Mobile Tides, a new mobile application that offers user-friendly tide information for over 4,500 locations world wide. Powered by NINJA Mobile’s content distribution platform, Mobile Tides displays up to 30 one day graphed tide images, downloaded, and stored for quick access on a mobile phone. A default tide location can be chosen for the user’s local coastline. When traveling, destination tides can be substituted and carried on the phone with no need for network coverage anywhere worldwide. -- Complete announcement Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:34:08 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article33.phtml Cruising World and Sailing World magazines have nominated the Morris 45 for their 14th Annual Boat of the Year contest. In 2007, Morris’ M42 Won Best Special Purpose Cruiser; In 2006, the Morris 42 Won Best Domestic Boat of the Year. In prior years, Morris has been nominated five times and won three times: In 1999, Morris 34 - Overall Winner & Best Midsize Cruiser; In 1995, Morris 40 - Overall Winner & Full Size Winner; In 1994, the Morris 44 took home the Bristol Award. Results to be announced in January issues. -- http://www.morrisyachts.com/news Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:01:22 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article32.phtml Wednesday, July 26, Honolulu, Hawaii -- Four people who abandoned a damaged sailboat north of the Big Island yesterday were expected to arrive in Honolulu sometime today. The crew of the 40-foot Mureadrittas XL abandoned the vessel at about 9 a.m. yesterday after it apparently collided with whales. The Mureadrittas was about 450 miles north of the Big Island at the time. Wed, 02 Aug 2006 18:01:19 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article31.phtml The Schengen Monster is trapping unwary cruising yachties who wish to cross the Mediterranean over the European summer. She is as invisible as the Loch Ness Monster, but unlike Nessie, who largely keeps to her own company, Schengen creeps up on unsuspecting Yachties just when they are having a sundowner and thinking how lucky they are to have escaped the rat race and bureaucracy at home. And what an ugly expensive monster she is! Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:30:13 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article30.phtml New free software is available that helps sailors determine optimal tacking routes. SailTimer is a simple software program available as a free download that allows route planning before the trip begins. -- http://www.TheCruisingDVDs.com Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:16:04 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article29.phtml by Mail & Guardian/Cruising Editor The growing aggressiveness of pirates in several corners of the world has finally brought more action that will assist the long range cruising sailor. Last month the Prime Minister of Somalia signed an agreement with the US Navy to patrol Somali Territorial waters, and now a major conference will target other African waters, especially the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea. Wed, 31 May 2006 16:28:43 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article28.phtml Trogir, Croatia! We arrived this morning and have now completed 7915 nautical miles to get here. On Friday night, before our departure from Brindisi on Saturday morning, all three of us visited a restaurant at the marina and treated ourselves to a genuine Italian pizza. Wow, it is nothing like what we have in South Africa or ones I have had in the USA. The base was ultra thin with minimal topping. But the topping was so flavourful that it was absolutely delicious and something to try back home. It was a good ending to our unexpected but fascinating visit to that small section of Italy. Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:02:29 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article27.phtml "13" Is supposed to be an unlucky number - lets hope that Newsletter 13 brings us some luck with the wind! It was great chatting to the Adventure Radio Club ZS1ARC, aka the Alcoholics Radio Club, the other evening on 14235 kHz. Thanks guys for coming up on frequency and I must let those in the dark know that the rhombic antenna, which covers a few acres, was performing well with the 100 watt output of the transceiver - imagine what the signal would have been with an linear!Thanks also to the South African Hams who have made regular contacts with me on 20 metres. Unfortunately, it is now very difficult to hear you as there are so many European stations that obliterate the frequency each evening. Telling them that I am busy with Cape Town or South African station only appears to have absolutely no effect - they just continue calling over the weaker signals. Thu, 13 Apr 2006 03:40:13 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article26.phtml Whilst motor-sailing to Gibraltar I have been contemplating the old days of sail and now know why, as a youngster, I used to see a lot of sailing boats in bottles. The explanation has been purring away, gobbling up our diesel for the last three days. Diesel engines! Yup, they are the reason for the model ships in bottles. You see, in the old days of square riggers, the ships could only sail with the wind and if the wind changed direction to forward of the beam, you were a bit buggered. What you did was drop sail and wait for the wind to go back in your favour. And what did all the sailors do? They sat on deck making little models of their ship and drinking rum. Then some bright spark in a drunken stupor came up with the bright idea of putting the ship into the empty rum bottle and started a whole industry which, in modern times, has disappeared because of the invention of the diesel engine! Amazing what a person thinks of when you have little to do! Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:30:38 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article25.phtml I start this newsletter on a sad note - Dominik learnt of the death of his Grandfather last night and is quite devastated. Our sympathies and thoughts go to him and his family. I have offered to stop off in Gibraltar and sign Dominik off as a crew member if he wishes to return home and will know his decision in the next day or two. Well folks, we are definitely in the north Atlantic - it is cold, the seas are huge and rough and the wind has been blowing up to 40+ knots as a low pressure system has passed north of us. It has been a bumpy few days but we are weathering it well. During the night we had waves breaking over the boat, giving it a good wash and getting rid of most of the brown muck left on the boat from the desserts when we were heading north prior to the Cape Verde Islands. Now we need some rain to wash all the salt crystals off the boat. We can never win! Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:58:19 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article24.phtml Well, we are at sea again after our short visit to Hell, which some Portuguese fellow named Praia many years ago. Let me first explain to those people who have not looked on a map, exactly where Hell is. On the west bulge of Africa there is a country called Senegal, of which Dakar is the capital and also the most western tip of Africa. Go west from there, only 350 nautical miles and you will find the island of Santiago with Praia on the southern tip. It is one of the Cape Verde Islands and was a Portuguese colony but now an independent state. When we arrived on Wednesday afternoon the first impression was of a neat and clean town, an observation made from the anchorage in the bay next to the commercial port. Then you start observing small tell-tail signs, using binoculars, letting you know that your first impression was not quite correct. On the hills surrounding the town are hundreds, maybe thousands, of really basic houses that look in a bad state of repair. Then you look down the hills, below the rows of houses, and see the garbage disposal system - just chuck your garbage down the hill! Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:28:34 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article23.phtml Tim and Adrienne Lacey were the Saldanaha Bay Yacht Club managers until leaving RSA to return to Canada on their yacht Galago. we keep up with their trip home via email. The following is a letter from both Tim and Adrienne on their expieriences in St Helena. First Up Tim's Comments “The harbour master wants to talk to you on the radio” the chap in the little ferry boat said, then toottled off for his next fare. Wow! These St. Helenans were up and about early. Via VHF, a jetty side rendezvous was arranged in the next 45 minutes, so we rushed about, gathering ourselves together, and at the appointed time were collected, then duly deposited onto historical St. Helena dock. Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:09:00 +0200 http://cruising.sailing.org.za/Article22.phtml We definitely need to stop off at the Cape Verde Islands as we have been doing so much motoring due to a lack of wind that our fuel is now critically low. Somehow we will have to find a little breeze to take us north to Mindelo where we will have to discover a way to obtain about 500 litres more fuel. We have been told by the office in Cape Town that one of the other boats on delivery to Turkey is about 200 miles from us and is also running low on fuel - maybe we will meet at Mindelo. Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:02:15 +0200