Cruising Shot of the Week

"A perfect day in La Quebrada, at Isla Espiritu Santo, in Baja California Sur." Sent in by Temo Coronel, 33ft Vortex.

Have a cool cruising shot to share? Send it to us at: comments@cruisingcompass.com.

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

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-Your Cruising Editor, Nancy Birnbaum

Dock Talk

Haiti Needs Your Sails and Donations

Haiti needs your used sails, especially large main sails. Even people who survived the quake and were healthy are now becoming sick from exposure to the elements. Tents, rice, cooking oil, beans, pasta, feminine hygiene products, water purfiers, water makers, medical supplies and more money to purchase these disaster relief supplies are the top items needed to help Haitian earthquake victims. Haul your used sails out of lazarettes, lockers, attics, garages and closets and make a tax-deductible donation to Haiti-life.org, a non-profit, 501c3, organization. Haiti-Life.org.

A special IRS tax relief provision was enacted on January 22nd enabling taxpayers to itemize deductions on their 2009 taxes. Only cash contributions made to these charities after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, are eligible. This includes contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card

Please deliver your sails to:

Shake a Leg Miami at 2620 South Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33133-5424- (305) 858-5550 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Identify them for shipment to Haiti by writing "HAITI" on them.

The Sea Flower, a privately chartered cargo ship, will set off from the Miami River with used sails from North Sails Fort Lauderdale loft, Second Wind Sails and Coconut Grove Sails and Canvas. Said Carla Shieffer of Coconut Grove Sails and Canvas: "I have been thinking about getting rid of some sails for a while. That's a good use. I'm happy to do that." For some of Mike Toppa's clients at the North Sails loft in Fort Lauderdale, news was enough to make the decision to donate rather than hold onto them for another season. From: sailingscuttlebutt.com. MORE: www.worldregattas.com/ViewInfo.php?ContentID=425.



NOAA Tests Free ‘BookletCharts’ with SoCal Boaters

They’re called “BookletCharts,” and they’re a free experimental service that’s being offered to recreational boaters by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey.

The NOAA online service provides an extensive catalog of downloadable (Adobe Acrobat) files of sections of NOAA nautical charts for the United States — including Southern California — that are printable on regular 8.5- by 11-inch paper.

Ed Martin, chief of the Office of Coast Survey’s Customer Affairs Branch, said the service is geared toward recreational boats that don’t have the space to lay out conventional chart books, or conventional charts and charting tools.

“If you don’t go out and buy a conventional navigational chart, or you’re not into the Raster navigational software programs or the Vector software charts, then you can use this for navigating by seaman’s eye,” Martin said.

“I think the most important thing to realize is it’s still experimental,” Martin said. He added that BookletCharts are being well received by boaters he has talked with at recent boat shows.

BookletCharts are available from the NOAA Office of Coast Survey’s Web site at www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov. From: www.thelog.com. Photo: Map Experiment – A new NOAA online service offers boaters free nautical charts printable on 8.5- by 11-inch paper.

NauticEd Hooks Safe Passage Sailing to Provide Exciting Sailing Adventures

NauticEd, the folks who bring you all those cool online sail training courses and even cooler games have just inked a deal with the San Francisco Bay based company, Safe Passage Sailing to provide NauticEd Students with some super exciting sailing adventure events. The first adventure will be to participate in the Heineken Regatta in St.Maarten in March 2010. Sailing Pro's Doogie Couvreux and Sally Barkow will be on board to serve as personal mentors throughout the regatta. Doogie will lead a team on a Farr 65 and Sally on a Farr 40.7. Both Skippers have extensive racing resumes and are capable of leading the teams across the finish line with honors. The event will begin with 2 training days where a professional skipper, tactician, 1st and 2nd mates will ensure that the team of NauticEd Students come together and are ready for the exciting 4 days of racing to follow. Only two boats will be entered, so register now if you're interested.

To be eligible and fair to your crewmates, crew on the either boat must have completed the NauticEd Skipper Course. MORE: www.nauticed.org/safepassagesailingheineken.

New Life Raft and Survival Equipment Headquarters Open in RI

Life Raft and Survival Equipment, Incorporated (LRSE) has just launched a busy 2010 season from its new headquarters in Tiverton, RI. On January 4, 2010, the doors to their new home opened to expanded capabilities for service, sales, and training. The first of a number of International Sailing Federation (ISAF) personal survival course dates are set to begin in February. The new 25,000 square foot facility fills the need for additional space and flexibility to accommodate LRSE’s expanding services of life raft and inflatable boat and safety equipment maintenance, repair, sales, and rentals for recreational and commercial customers. LRSE has also dedicated space to facilitating seminars. Seminars for 2010 begin with the ISAF Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course Certificate and Safety-at-Sea Training. LRSE offers the first of these classes beginning February 20, 2010. (For a complete list of dates, go to www.lrse.com). These hands-on classes offer a unique opportunity to handle the safety equipment and perform the related techniques before the need arises.

Meet the Luckiest Sailor Alive

Dennis Clements, battling gale-force winds and 30-foot seas for four days, was tossed from his Cal 39, Gloria A Dios, about 250 miles east of Cape Hatteras, N.C.

"I couldn't see anything," says Clements, recounting the Jan. 2 incident. "These were big waves, man, and it was dark and the wind was blowing like 40 knots. I was just floating there, trying to conserve heat."

Responding to the 55-year-old sailor's EPIRB signal - which Clements later learned only went off because he had mistakenly placed the beacon backward in its bracket - the Coast Guard dropped two life rafts from an HC-130J Hercules aircraft. But Clements couldn't see the rafts and the aircraft was low on fuel and had to leave the scene.

Clements started to pray, then kicked off his boots and swam blindly in the darkness. In a stroke of luck, he bumped into one of the life rafts, which had capsized. "I was able to flip it over and somehow get in. . .Read the whole story and watch the video online at BWS.com.

Who Says You Can't Sail When It's Freezing Out?



Ice boating is not for everyone, but for those who are consumed with one of winter's oldest pastimes, the ice boating season is as important as a tip-up on a frozen lake or a small game hunt in the backwoods. Recently the 2010 Central Lakes Regional Ice Boating Championships were held at Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix, and many local ice boaters brought trophy hardware back home to Southeast Michigan. In the top division, the DN Class Gold Fleet, Matt Struble, a former Wixom resident who recently moved to San Diego, took first place. Struble, the defending World Champion, took two first-place and one second-place finish in the three Central Lakes Regional races. The next race is the World Championships to be held Feb. 6-13 in Poland. From: dailytribune.com. Photo: 'Griffin Sherry, 12, was among the competitors in the recent 2010 Central Lakes Regional Ice Boating Championships on Lake Charlevoix in the northern Lower Peninsula.'



Want to Play With the Rich and Famous Underwater? Check out the 'Necker Nymph'

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson has shared the plans for his latest toy -- an underwater 'plane' -- with the rest of the world. A $575,000 carbon-fiber winged prototype, called the Necker Nymph, has been developed that can submerge to depths of 130ft (40m).

Said Sir Richard: "It is very similar to an airplane flying in the sea. You can literally do a loop-the-loop."

Branson said the prototype is just the first step towards his greater ambition to take a Necker Nymph down to the dark depths of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific, which is 36,000ft (11,000m) deep. The Nymph will be moored on Sir Richard's private Caribbean island, Necker Island. Branson plans to lend the Necker Nymph - for $25,000 a week - to guests of Necker Island which costs roughly $88,000 for a week's stay. He said: "We hope to have submarines dotted throughout the world. A pressurized submarine is nearly completed. But the real challenge is to explore what's going on at the bottom of the oceans."

The Nymph, which is being built by Hawkes, has three bubble cockpits giving occupants wide-angle views. The Jetson-esque vessel is steered with a joystick, like some fighter jets. From: etravelblackboard.com

Tech Talk

New Electric Motor Sets Standard for Eco-Friendly Propulsion



Torqeedo's new Travel models offer a lot of power and range at a small size and weight. The Travel 503 is equivalent to 1.5 hp, while the 1003 is comparable to 3 hp. Both models possess more power than their predecessors, are tougher and are completely waterproof to IP67 standards. In addition, the 1003 offers a battery with 30% more capacity and an even higher level of efficiency than before. Unlike conventional systems, Torqeedo's lithium-manganese batteries enable a great amount of energy to be stored per pound of battery weight. At slow speed, the range of a Travel motor exceeds 12 nautical miles. A display located inside the tiller shows precise information about the remaining range, as well as current speed, power consumption and state of charge. Speed and range information is calculated with the help of the integrated GPS. If the remaining charge of the battery drops below 30% an acoustic warning is triggered. Both models can also be rigged for remote throttle.

A Solar Powered OB?

To help power the motor in a more environmentally-friendly way, foldable 3' square, solar panels utilizing CIGS-technology are available. The absorbed sun energy is stored in the weatherproof and UV-resistant modules, so they still deliver electricity even when the sky is cloudy or dull. When the panels are combined with a Torqeedo Travel, users get one of the lightest and smallest solar-powered drives in the world, with a total weight of only 31 lbs. With the smallest carbon footprint of any propulsion motor, Torqeedo's electric outboards don't pollute the atmosphere with exhaust fumes or oil. Due to their eco-friendliness, these efficient power packs are ideal for use on gasoline engine-restricted waters. They're great for dinghies, tenders, and any other sailboat up to a weight of 1,653 lbs. for the 503 or 3,000 lbs. for the 1003. More: www.torqeedo.com.



TruPlug Debuts at Spring Shows

You saw it first in The Cruising Compass. Now, see the adaptable alternative to the hard wooden emergency plug for yourself ! Come see the modern solution for emergency boat leaks, TruPlug, at Strictly Sail Miami boat show or other boat show this Spring. From: www.Forespar.com.

Cool Things To Do

A Valentine's Gift From Windstar Cruises



Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations, offers a Sweetheart Package to guests who book with a deposit between February 1 and February 14, 2010, for a 2010 sailing. Windstar's Sweetheart Package includes in-room delivery of chocolate-dipped strawberries and a bottle of chilled Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label champagne. Guests also receive relaxing his and her 50-minute massages in WindSpa. Package value is $250. New 2010 bookings made and deposited between February 1 and February 14, 2010, are eligible for the Windstar Sweetheart Package. MORE: www.windstarcruises.com.

Key West Boat Show and Nautcal Market – Feb 27-28

Tall ships, fishing vessels, workboats and pleasure craft have plied Key West waters since merchants and seafarers first settled the island. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28, modern-day boating aficionados can continue that seafaring tradition at the Rotary Club of Key West’s eighth annual Boat Show and Nautical Market. The free family-friendly show takes place along the island city’s Truman Waterfront from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. At the quarter-mile-long nautical market, attendees will find a large selection of new and used boats from leading Florida Keys boat dealers as well as quality marine equipment, rods and reels, arts and crafts, and even nautical clothing. MORE: www.keywestboatshow.com.

Los Cabos to Host Record Breaking Sailing Event – Feb 27, 2010



The azure waters of the Sea of Cortez will become alive with excitement and activity this winter as Los Cabos welcomes the Desafio 2012. This very special event is part of the "Bicentennial Edition" of the Mexico Cup Regatta and the nationwide celebration in honor of Mexico's Bicentennial anniversary. Desafio 2012, a sailing challenge set to depart from the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, is one of two challenges taking place away from the main events in Riviera Nayarit.

On February 27th two Mexican athletes will set sail from Los Cabos on individual laser boars, a smaller 14-foot version of a sailboat, on a journey across the Sea of Cortes. Tania Elias Calles and Pablo Rabago Dorbecker, both previous Olympic Games competitors, will be sailing on a 48-hour non-stop voyage towards Bahia de Banderas. Both athletes will attempt to set new world records as no one has completed a voyage this long, more than 300 nautical miles, in a laser. With participation from Mexico's Ministry of Tourism, the Navy, the State of Nayarit, the Mexico Tourism Board, FONATUR and the Mexican Sailing Association, the "Bicentennial Edition" of the Mexico Cup Regatta will be an important event for the international nautical community. These organizations have contributed 1,500 national and international athletes and support personnel to help make this event a success. From: elitetraveler.com.

Seven Seas Cruising Association Gam in San Diego – March 7

SSCA will be holding a Southern California Gam on Sunday, March 7 in conjunction with the Chula Vista Swap Meet in San Diego. The Gam will feature seminars, camaraderie, education and fun! Registration is limited and available only online at www.ssca.org (click on SSCA Events).

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

AIS Prevents Collisions

For sailors who make coastal and offshore passages at night, the threat of being run down by a ship or a tug and barge has to be taken seriously. There are no statistics, but we would guess that the majority of boats lost at sea are in fact hit and runs by ships. To protect yourself from a close encounter with a ship, the best tool available is the new AIS transponders (Automatic Identification System) that are available for yachts.

By law, all commercial ships over 300 tons must carry a class A AIS aboard that will broadcast and receive data about their own ship and all of the ships around them. Using line-of-sight VHF, class A AIS has reduced ship collisions dramatically.

The newer class B transponders are designed for smaller ships and yachts. The AIS broadcasts your boats' name, position, heading, speed and destination. And, it receives the same data from ships and yachts within VHF range. The data you receive will be displayed on your chartplotter or you can install a dedicated AIS display that will keep track of everything around you without cluttering the chartplotter’s screen.

This year, if you add one new system to your nav table, the Boat Rat highly recommends that you install a class B AIS trnsponder. For a good overview, checkout the description on Wikipedia or log on to www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/AIS/default.htm. To buy an AIS, Milltech Marine has good pricing. Log on to www.milltechmarine.com.

Cruising Community

Coast Guard Responds to Disabled Sailboat West of Florida Keys

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ocracoke responded Saturday to the 37-foot Canadian-flagged sailboat Emanuel with seven people aboard that became disabled after one of their masts was damaged Friday.

The Coast Guard Command Center in Miami received the initial call Friday at 2 p.m. from a member of the Maritime Mobility Service Network, a network of amateur radio operators, who stated he received a radio call from the crew of the Emanuel. The crew reported that the Emanuel's mast was damaged 285 miles west of Key West and they were heading to the Dry Tortugas National Park, Dry Tortugas, Fla., under auxiliary power.

Salvor Recovers Two Empty Containers, Continues Search for Others off Miami, FL

A private salvor hired by Seaboard Marine recovered two containers Friday that fell overboard from the vessel Seaboard Intrepid 30 miles south of Key West, Fla., Monday. The containers were recovered off Miami Beach, Fla., and towed into the Port of Miami Friday afternoon by P&L Towing, the company hired by Seaboard Marine. Once in the port, the containers were removed from the water. The Coast Guard confirmed one container sank Friday in approximately 250 feet of water five miles off Miami Beach. Seaboard Marine and the Coast Guard will continue to search for any remaining adrift containers through the weekend and will continue to issue Broadcast Notice to Mariners of the containers' last known position. All mariners transiting through the area should keep a sharp lookout and report all container sightings to the Coast Guard at 305-535-4472.

New Weather and Routing Forum on Noonsite.com

Noonsite.com - the global information website for cruising sailors - today launched a unique service for cruisers wanting global weather and routing advice. The new noonsite.com 'weather and routing forum' has developed from 10 years of experience assisting cruisers with their varied queries regarding routes around the world. Noonsite.com editor Sue Richards commented, "We are delighted to have this new service for our readers. The noonsite.com routing pages, although a huge help to cruisers wanting advice, are no longer enough for the detailed questions we receive, so the forum will enable answers and information to be shared more easily, and for cruisers around the world to contribute from their own experiences and knowledge." She continued "The new forums are shared with our parent site - www.worldcruising.com - so that all noonsite.com users can benefit from the shared experiences of the ARC and other rallies." The main forums, all reached via www.noonsite.com are: 'Weather and Routing', 'Crewing Opportunities', and 'The Cockpit Locker'.

Newly Updated Hudson River Guide – Free e-Publication

The latest edition of The Hudson River Guide by Lawrence Zeitlin is downloadable free from Scribd (www.scribd.com). The 2010 edition will be available in a couple of months. Just search for publications on Scribed.

Our Readers Write

"Hello: In issue # 151 there was a Boat Rat called "Preventing Engine Flooding". I was wondering if their was any way a drawing of this setup could be possible, I understand most of what is said but the latter part was a little confusing, a drawing would be most helpful. Any input would be appreciated; I have gone thru two incidents of water back flowing into engine due to a malfunction of the duck bill valve in the vented loop. Again, thanks." Sent in by 'CaptnRon'.

BWS Publisher and Circumnavigator George Day answers:

"There are a few ways to bypass the anti-siphon loop that builders usually install on the raw water plumbing of the engine. The idea is to remove the cap on the loop and plumb it to a small hose that runs directly overboard above the waterline. As the water pump sucks water into the engine through the loop, a small fraction of the water flows through the small hose and overboard. This small amount of water is no loss, plus you can hear or see the flow so you know the water pump is working. How you plumb the outboard end of this small hose will depend upon your boat's systems. If the anti-siphon loop is near the cockpit scuppers, you can use that route. Or you could use a sink outflow. The neatest way to make this connection is to fabricate a stainless steel tube with a nipple on it that can be hose clamped in the scupper line above the waterline. Attach the small hose to the nipple with a hose clamp. When the engine is running, you will hear the trickle of cooling water in the scupper. When the engine is not running, the small hose will provide free air flow that prevents water from building a siphon head inside the loop."

"I enjoyed your article "Outfitting Your Boat for Cruising – Part IV: Dinghy and Outboard" in the CC (Issue #178 and BWS.com on dinghy types. Which 10' Hypalon RIB would you recommend? We just purchased an older IP 38 and the 1993 Zodiac is shot. We plan to sail the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Also, if you were buying a used one how old would it be and likely still be reliable -- 5 yrs?" Bill Robertson

Pam Wall responds: "Hello Bill. I highly recommend the Caribe Lite 10. This is the tender I personally have. It is Hypalon, light weight, with large 17 inch pontoons that offer a dry ride and it is perfect when complemented with a 15 hp/ 4 stroke outboard. I would never buy a used inflatable tender. It is like buying used standing rigging wire. You just do not know what you are getting and you have no warranty. Thank you for reading The Cruising Compass and getting in touch with me."

Look for Part V of our interview with Pam in a future issue of the Cruising Compass. You can also find every interview of Fitting Out for Cruising on the BWS website.

Cruising Green

NOAA Unveils Plan To Clean Up Waters Off Hawaii

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and several partners in Hawaii, announced a comprehensive long-term plan to assess and remove plastics, derelict fishing gear and other human sources of marine debris from coastal waters and coral reefs along the island chain. The plan, a first of its kind in the nation, will be instrumental in protecting the state's coastal communities and marine life from the thousands of pounds of marine debris that wash ashore each year. From: tradeonlytoday.com. MORE: http://tinyurl.com/ydy2x6v.

Superyacht Assist in Fight Against Global Warming

There are some ecologically minded superyacht owners plying the world's oceans that have collected more than 300 million meteorologic, climatologic and oceanographic measurements. It's an enormous amount of information that represents six percent of the world's weather data, according to American federal agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It's data that the global scientific community would otherwise not have at their disposal, and all because a group of superyacht owners have agreed to host the SeaKeeper data collection systems on their boats.

Specialized equipment known as the SeaKeeper 1000, installed aboard more than 30 superyachts, is constantly in the process of collecting measurements on ocean oxygen levels and pH balance, barometric pressure, wind speed, and much more. Each day, these units collects 14,400 measurements each.

The International SeaKeepers Society traces its roots to 1997, when two Los Angeles-based businessmen interested in installing scientific data-collecting equipment aboard yachts approached Jim Gilbert, then the editor of premiere U.S. yachting publication, ShowBoats magazine. They did so because they concluded that superyachts often venture where research vessels don't.

SeaKeeper 1000's measurement of the pH balance of the oceans has helped scientists in the world's northern climates who recently discovered that the shells of mussels and clams in their waters are thinning.

Other scientists are seeing changes in the ocean's pH balance just a few meters below the surface -- changes that they didn't expect to see for another 100 years, quickened because of carbon being absorbed by sea life. From: superyachtworld.com.

Website of the Week

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFlmzpAb6AQ&feature=related

This has got to be the most exciting footage of Extreme 40 Catamaran Racing online! Watch with caution and remember to breathe! Photo: telegraph.co.uk.

For The Hungry Crew...

No-bake bumpy peanut butter nuggets

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate, thawed

Directions

Combine peanut butter, milk powder, and coconut in a large mixing bowl. Stir in oats, ground cinnamon, wheat germ, and apple juice concentrate until thoroughly combined.

Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls. Chill thoroughly before serving; store remaining nuggets in the refrigerator. Makes 30. From: allrecipes.com.

Mindbender

A Bruce by Any Other Name. . .

How did the Bruce anchor get its name?

Send your answers to comments@cruisingcompass.com. A winner—who will receive a Blue Water Sailing hat—will be selected at random from all of the correct answers.

• Congrats to Larry Zeitlin for his tip on "How to improvise a sea anchor":
  
  "I actually jury rigged a sea anchor for my Westerly motorsailer when caught in the fringes of a hurricane. I simply took a small jib, fastened a line to each corner and tied the lines to my anchor rode with the 25 lb. anchor still attached and heaved it over the bow. The jib filled out into a makeshift parachute and the anchor kept if below water. I'm still here so it must have worked."