Cruising Shot of the Week

The Clyde Cruising Club gathers in Loch Drambuie, Scotland on July 20th. Photo submitted by Carol Connor, S/V KEA.

Welcome to Cruising Compass! Bringing you your weekly fix of news, notes and tips for cruisers and sailors.

Lost an issue of the CC? Check out the Archives on the right side of the page. Looking for something? Try the Search box at the top of the page.

Dock Talk

Laura Dekker Starts Round the World Journey in the Atlantic During Hurricane Season



On August 21st, 14-year-old Dutch sailor Laura Dekker left Gibralter aboard Guppy and set off on her quest to be the youngest sailor to solo circumnavigate the world, a record recently set by then-16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson. Dekker begins her journey after intense scrutiny and a court battle in which it was debated whether the Dutch government could prevent her from setting sail due to her age, particularly after the fact that she had previously run away from home in an attempt to buy a boat and set sail on her own, a decision that did not exactly scream "responsible." Speaking of responsible, we at Cruising Compass are wondering why the first leg of this young sailor's journey is from Gibralter to the Canary Islands during peak hurricane season when the majority of Atlantic hurricanes form just south of the Canary Islands. As a general rule, this is not a good time for Atlantic crossing. We might also mention that Hurricane Danielle has currently formed in the Atlantic. We aren't saying that Dekker shouldn't be allowed to go, but the quality of her decisions is already questionable a mere three days into the trip. Unfortunately, the tracking feature on her web site is not yet working, and her updates have been as simple as "Freedom," but check out www.lauradekker.nl for the latest news and updates that are available throughout her journey. There is sure to be much more discussion on whether teens who aren't old enough to get their driver's licenses should be allowed to sail solo around the world, and we'll be keeping up with all the happenings of Dekker's attempt. Fair winds, Laura!

Speaking of teenagers trying to solo circumnavigate the world, whether you are for or against it, you'll probably get a good kick out of the "Gabby Wonderland" video on YouTube, a comical short on a young sailor's second attempt at circumnavigating the world after her Iridium phone fails her the first time she's lost at sea.

Close Competition at the Dennis Connor International Yacht Club Challenge

The 4th Dennis Connor International Yacht Club Challenge was held over the weekend at the Manhattan Sailing Club in New York Harbor. Thirteen teams of amateur club sailors from nine countries, including Ireland, France, and Switzerland, competed in six races on J/24 sailboats provided by the Manhattan Sailing Club. The Societe Nautique Rolloise of Switzerland took home the title of overall winner with the Southern Yacht Club of the United States came in second at only one point behind.

For complete race results, go to www.myc.org.

American is New J24 World Champion

Tim Healy (USA) has won the 2010 J24 World Championships, which took place in Malmo, Sweden from August 16-20, hosted by the Malmo Segel Sallskap. Strong offshore winds disturbed the sailors during the first two races. With numerous broaches and capsizes, many sailors broke equipment, causing them disappointing results. Matias Pereira (ARG) made the best of the first day, taking the first championship bullet, which he followed up with second in race two to secure the overnight lead ahead of Tim Healy (USA) and Stefan Karsunke (GER). The defending champion, Andrea Casale from Italy, finished the day in fourth place, followed by Ian Southworth from Great Britain. One of the most successful J24 sailors and champion of the class, Mauricio Santa Cruz from Brazil, struggled on the first day, ending up in 15th place.

For the complete story, go to www.sailing.org.

Van Liew Unveils His Eco 60 for the Velux 5 Oceans Start

Brad van Liew has moved one step closer to making it to the start line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS after wheeling his newly refitted Eco 60 out of the boatshed. The yacht, which Brad has named Le Pingouin, has spent the last few months being totally revamped in Charleston, South Carolina. But now the 60-foot ocean racing machine has been brought out of the darkness of the shed and into the light of the dockside, showing off her eye-catching new look. The next step for Brad will be to fit Le Pingouin with a canting keel before dropping the boat, which will take him 30,000 nautical miles around the world alone.

"I am excited to report that Le Pingouin has moved out of the shed," Brad said. "She is looking great and we are on our way to having the keel installed. Installing a canting keel into one of these boats is a very involved process. We've used hydraulic jacks to pump the keel up into the bottom of the boat. CMMC machine has made some beautiful new stainless steel parts for us and all of their machine work looks to be spot on. The crew at Detyens Shipyard has once again proved that they are real pros. After we get the keel affixed to the boat, we'll move on to putting the rig together and getting this baby in the water."

Courtesy of www.velux5oceans.com.

Tech Talk

Google Earth Recreates Boat Races



For boaters, swimmers and anyone else racing on the water, there hasn't been an accurate way to replay what happened without specialized devices and software. Now, the track from any GPS device that can connect to a computer can be played back over Google Earth's rich water, terrain and structure detail. For free.

Peter Birch, product manager for Google Earth, is a regular race crew member aboard a modestly sized but immodestly named Catalina 30 sailboat called Huge. "This track technology is something we've been working on a long time" at Google, says Birch. Launched June 14th, Birch jumped on bringing Google Earth tracking to the sailing community.

During the recent demo race, Birch on Huge and crew on four other Catalina 30s recorded their tracks using standard GPS devices. After the finish, it took Birch less than a minute to connect each GPS to his laptop and copy a file - called a GPX file - holding the precise path each boat sailed. With all the GPX files in a single folder, Birch simply opened them in Google Earth and typed in the boat name for each. That's enough to replay the race as if floating in a balloon over the course.

More advanced users can get fancy. The demo featured boat icons and buoys from Google's 3D Warehouse, start and finish lines, and a smooth recorded flyover using Google Earth's touring capability guided by a 3-D mouse device from Logitech. The tracks, icons and tour can be saved and shared as a Google Earth KMZ file. With GPS devices available as waterproof watches, the capability can be used for swimming, rowing, triathlons, even cruises and training. Altitude tracking works for hiking, biking, and even flying.

For the complete story, go to www.sfgate.com.

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

The Ever-Useful Hand Bearing Compass

If you don’t have a hand bearing compass handy to the cockpit, you are missing out on one of the most useful and low tech tools available to a navigator. Here are three simple ways that a hand bearing compass will help you. We prefer the hockey puck style, but pistol grip compasses work, too.

First, you can avoid collisions with other vessels by knowing the relative bearings between you and the vessel. Take a series of bearings on the approaching ship and note the differences in degrees to your own compass course. If the difference between the two compass readings is decreasing, the ship will pass ahead of you; if it is increasing, it will pass astern of you; and if it remains constant, you are on a collision course and need to take evasive action.

Second, you can use the hand bearing compass as a back up to the boat’s main compass and the digital or flux gate compasses attached to the autopilot and or chartplotter and GPS. Stand on the stern away from magnetic interference and sight down the boat’s centerline as your mate steers the boat slowly through a circle while noting the compass bearings on the boat’s compasses. If you haven’t had your compasses swung or the flux gate compasses adjusted recently, you might be amazed at the discrepancies you find. The hand bearing compass is likely to be the most accurate.

Finally, you can fix your position on the water by taking line of sight bearings on two or three known objects ashore such as headlands, lighthouses, radio masts or water towers. One bearing gives you a line of position, two give you a fairly precise position fix and three give you a “cocked hat” fix, which really pins down your position. This assumes you have a chart, a ruler or plotting tool and a pencil.

Cool Things to Do

Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport, RI



The Museum of Yachting will host the 31st Annual Classic Yacht Regatta, sponsored by Panerai and presented by Land Rover, September 3-5. This perennial event will once again turn the waters off Newport into a panorama of majestic classic yachts, but for the first time the regatta will be part of a three-event regional series. Launched this summer, the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge was formed under the leadership and sponsorship of Panerai and includes the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (August 7-8, Marblehead, MA), the Opera House Cup (August 15, Nantucket, MA), and the Classic Yacht Regatta, which will be the final event of the series. The Classic Yacht Regatta includes racing on Saturday, September 4th, and Sunday, September 5th, run by organizing authority Sail Newport. The event’s traditional Classic Yacht Parade will take place on Sunday morning and once again give viewers a bird’s-eye view of this fleet of modern classics, vintage yachts and traditional one-designs.

For more info, go to www.moy.org.

Upcoming Online Classes at Seven Seas U



Whether you're a novice boater or a seasoned pro, it's always good to take some courses to refine your skills, but it's not always easy to find the right ones in your area? Seven Seas U has several upcoming online classes for cruisers of all skill levels.

Tuesday, Aug. 31: Marine Refrigeration with Bob Williams

Tuesday, Sept. 7: AC & DC Desalination (Watermakers) with Bob Williams

Wednesday, Aug. 18: Outfitting for Blue Water Cruising with Pam Wall

Mondays, Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Sept. 20: Island Hopping to the Caribbean - Florida to the Virgin Islands for the Novice with Captain Dave LaVigne

For more information and to register for classes, go to www.sevenseasu.com.

Tall Ships Chicago

Enjoy six days celebrating Chicago’s rich maritime heritage during Pepsi Tall Ships Chicago 2010 at Navy Pier, August 24-29. Opening day festivities kick off on Lake Michigan with a Tall Ships Parade of Sail, with the magnificent Chicago skyline as a backdrop. Nearly 20 tall ships from around the world, including the Netherlands and Germany, will participate in this unparalleled spectacle.

The long-awaited return of Tall Ships Chicago is an opportunity to sail away on historic, classic and magnificent sailing vessels from around the globe. This maritime event includes plenty of fun-filled activities and education opportunities so be sure to make a day of it, and return again and again with friends and family.

For more information, go to www.navypier.com.

Cruising Community

Hurricane Danielle

Hurricane Danielle is churning in the Atlantic Ocean. It appears that the storm will avoid landfall and be staying out at sea, but if you're heading out anywhere in the Atlantic, be sure to check out Danielle's latest location and track as well as that of Tropical Storm Frank, which has formed right behind it at www.noaa.gov.

New Marina Plans in Newfoundland

Plans to build a recreational marina in a bid to boost economic development have been announced by the town of Channel-Port aux Basques in Newfoundland, Canada. The objective is to use the town's strategic location as a gateway to the region to attract more visitors and provide new opportunities for local businesses through the marina. The idea of building a marina has been a long-held one in the town and part-funding for the project has been forthcoming from the provincial government. It is proposed that the marina will have at least 15 berths serving local yachtsmen and visitors and offering them a safe place to berth. The marina will comprise three pontoon docks branching off from the town's government wharf.

"As the Gateway to Newfoundland and Labrador, Channel-Port aux Basques annually hosts a multitude of recreational boaters from the eastern seaboard of North America, as well as boaters from the Great Lakes," Brian Button, mayor of Channel-Port aux Basques, told a local news service. "Investments in dedicated marina infrastructure for the community will provide a positive first impression of the provincial recreational boating industry, which will impact other marinas throughout the province. "This project will also stimulate growth of the downtown business community and provide further employment opportunities for residents."

Courtesy of www.ibinews.com.

"Law of the Coast" Called Off in Spain

It’s taken 12 months of frustrating campaigning but there is light at the end of the tunnel for thousands of berth owners in Spain where the authorities have finally called-off plans to impose the dreaded ‘Ley de Costas.’ Earlier this year, Genus Marine became aware of an onerous new development in the Spanish legal system. Ley de Costas (Spain’s long-ignored "Law of the Coast") was devised by the Spanish authorities in 1988 to restrict new marina berth leases to 30 years. However, for the last 12 months, the Spanish authorities have been applying the law retroactively to all berths, even those built and purchased prior to the law’s introduction.

The practice has had a catastrophic affect on berth sales in Spain. “We were expecting a 30% drop-off in sales due to the financial downturn, but the market has actually flat-lined in the last 12 months,” explains John Brewster, Director of Genus Marine & Leisure. “Every berth sale would fall through at the Notary stage when the property deeds were returned from Seville with the lease expiration date incorrectly adjusted to 2018, thirty years from the law’s inception date.” Genus watched sales fall through in Estepona, Duquesa and Sotogrande, as the Junta in Seville tried to impose the original 30-year lease limit on any berth being sold throughout Andalucia. For berth owners in Sotogrande, this meant that 39 years would be slashed off their original 2057 leases. The future was even worse in Puerto Banus where owners were facing a loss of 51 years of ownership. The uncertainty decimated berth values overnight.

“We’ve been fighting for clarity for over 12 months now,” explains Brewster. “Initially, we had a job convincing some people that there was even a problem. The real breakthrough came following a press release by our PR company Sharp Communication, in early June. The boating media really picked-up the story and the resulting publicity has lead to a surge in pressure from the boating community against the Spanish authorities. Once people were made aware of the problem, opposition has been legion, and I would like to thank all those who have taken time to contact their MPs, MEPs and local port authorities to apply pressure to the notoriously slow Spanish legal system.”

The result is a huge relief for owners. “In a combination of saving face and seeing sense the central authorities have now recognised that the law was wrongly applied and have assured the legal system and the port authorities that original berth lease dates will be honoured. This will help restore confidence in the market and help to get it off the floor,” concluded Brewster.

Courtesy of www.noonsite.com.

Bay of Kotor Naval Base Now Home to Luxury Marina



Formerly the home of an Austro-Hungarian Naval Base, the Bay of Kotor was hidden from the world by mountains on all sides and a no-fly zone overhead. The chairman and founder of Barrick Gold, Peter Munk, rediscovered the former naval base while on a helicopter trip and immediately realized the potential of building a luxury yachting marina there. Munk recruited Jacob Rothschild and other high-profile investors and began construction on Porto Montenegro.

“Yachts are getting bigger and bigger and people are complaining that they can’t find proper berths for them,” said Munk. “That’s no problem in Tivat. It used to cater to warships.”

Currently the marina boasts 183 berths for yachts up to 330 feet, a residential building, a restaurant, and a boutique. The marina has been outfitted with all the amenities necessary to refuel, repair and refurbish visiting yachts. When completed Porto Montenegro will have 630 berths, 130 of which are outfitted for superyachts (larger then 78 feet). Munk’s vision for the future of Porto Montenegro includes retail stores, a farmer’s market, an international school, a hotel, cafés, a casino and a sports complex.

Courtesy of www.yachtingmagazine.com.

Cruising Green

San Francisco Needs Environmental Exemption From State to Host 34th Cup

San Francisco officials are moving quickly to acquire an exemption to state environmental law in time for a deadline to submit a proposal on hosting the next America's Cup, The Chronicle has learned. "Without this legislative action, it is likely that San Francisco will not be selected and the regatta will be held overseas," said a recent memo from Mayor Gavin Newsom's office that was used to brief environmentalists on the proposal, which would cover shoreside facilities for yachts, gear and support services.

Some environmental groups, while appreciative that city officials sought their input, warn that an exemption would open the floodgates for wealthy interests to circumvent state-required environmental review. "We're not going to sit by idly and let that happen," said Tina Andolina, legislative director for the Planning and Conservation League, an environmental lobbying group. But Andolina said she is optimistic a legislative compromise can be struck that incorporates environmentalists' concerns.

"The devil is in the details," she said, "but there's a world of difference between asking for a flat-out exemption and when the community feels it's going to be included." City officials say they are doing just that, providing information to environmental groups and seeking their support in securing sailing's premier race. "We are pursuing a number of parallel courses," said Michael Cohen, head of the mayor's economic development office, "but we want to keep all the options open."

For the complete story, go to www.sfgate.com.

Website of the Week

Predict Wind



www.predictwind.com

Looking for a current wind prediction for your trip or race? Predict Wind offers free wind forecasts for marine activities including cruising, racing, power boating, kayaking, kite surfing, fishing and more. Forecasts are available in maps, graphs, text and GRIB formats. Four versions of the forecasting technology are available, ranging from a free version to a professional version for the everyday user. The website claims, "Seven years of extensive and comparative testing during Americas Cup yacht racing has proven the model to be the most reliable and accurate for wind prediction."

For the Hungry Crew

Corn, Black Bean and Tomato Salad



4 ears corn

1 can black beans

1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Salt to taste

This time of year is great for both fresh local corn and tomatoes, and this year in particular, the corn has been absolutely delicious. This salad is a tasty side dish for fish, poultry and red meat. To prepare, add all four ears of corn to boiling water and cook for 3-5 minutes or until done. Remove from pot and let cool. Once cooled, cut the corn off the cob, breaking up any large chunks of kernels and put into a medium sized bowl. Drain and rinse black beans and add to bowl. Add tomatoes, and mix all together. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and add salt to taste. Stir and serve. Serves 6 to 8 people.

Mindbender

As Laura Dekker ventures around the world, we know there will be much debate over whether someone her age should be allowed to do so. But we want to hear your thoughts on her decision to cross the Atlantic during peak hurricane season.

Send your comments to comments@cruisingcompass.com, and next week we'll feature some of them. You may even see your response selected for the November issue of BWS's Cruising Network page!

Last week's Mindbender: Where is the "yacht club" at the end of the world? While a lot of you thought it was the Bitter End Yacht Club and some of you came closer, only one of you had the right answer, which was the Club Naval de Yates Miclavi in Puerto Williams, Chile. It is the southernmost yacht club in the world. Congratulations to Kate Bird who is this week's winner and will receive a BWS hat!

Thanks to this week's sponsors: ACR Electronics, Gobius, ChartsnTides, Alexseal, and Blue Water Sailing.