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Happy Earth Day!

Cruising Shot of the Week

Submitted by Aleksandr Shcherbakov – of Sashen’ka on their Beneteau 350 in Ventura, CA.

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

Dock Talk

Sailors/Racers Pre-Season Refresher Course

Competing is more fun when we are prepared, and with the season kicking into high gear, here are some quick exercises to best prepare yourself (Courtesy of www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/):

* Sit on a bench with large metal fixtures cutting into your legs, stare straight up into the sun for two hours. For a more robust workout: invite four friends to come over and yell at you the whole time.

* Go out and get very drunk, sleep four hours, then stand on a rocking chair for six hours.

* Go to your bank and withdraw as much cash as you can – then set it on fire.

* Sit in front of a commercial fan and have someone throw large buckets of salt water on you.

* Pour cold water in your lap and give yourself a wedgie, now alternate between sitting and running around bent over.

* Tie ropes between two trees and sit on a hard barstool tipping yourself into the ropes and balance - push your body against them as hard as you can for six consecutive hours - don't stop for pain or bruising until the pins and needles in your feet make it impossible for you to walk.

Time to start preparing for the 2010 World ARC Rally

World ARC, the flagship event in the global portfolio of World Cruising Club (WCC) rallies, has announced that the entry list has opened for a second edition, the 2010 World ARC Rally. Billed as an adventure of a lifetime, World ARC 2010 will leave the Caribbean in January 2010, cruising across the World's great oceans on a circumnavigation of the globe, returning to the Caribbean 14 months later. Time to start getting your boat ready! More info: www.worldcruising.com/worldarc.



Mascalzone Latino wins Farr 40 in Miami

Vincenzo Onorato and his Mascalzone Latino are the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 World Champions, achieving a first in the sailing world - three back-to-back victories in this ultra-competitive one design class. This evening in addition to the World Cup, Onorato was presented with a commemorative Rolex timepiece at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Awards party.

"As I told my crew before the start, it is quite impossible to do," said Onorato of winning again. "But we did it, thank God. It was a tough week." What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is that Onorato had not one, but two substitutes for regular tactician Adrian Stead in Morgan Larson and John Kostecki. (Photos by ROLEX/Daniel Forster)

What do Vikings and Popsicle Sticks have in Common?



First we brought you the paper hat boat (Issue # 79), now we present the first life-size popsicle-stick boat!

A Viking ship made from ice-cream sticks set sail for England from the Netherlands last week. The 50-foot (15-meter) long ship, named after the Norse god Thor, is made from 15 million recycled ice-cream sticks glued together by U.S.-born stuntman Robert McDonald, his son and more than 5,000 children.

'If you can dream it you can do it ... I want to teach children that anything is possible,' McDonald said.

Badly injured as a child in a gas explosion that killed the rest of his family, he plans to reach London and visit children in hospitals. His cargo; a hold filled with cuddly toys that he plans to donate to the kids he visits.

He and his crew hope to cross the Atlantic along the ancient Viking route to North America via Iceland and Greenland. Watch a video about this unusual voyage on Reuters.com.

Great Shots!

Our Friends over at SailingScuttlebutt.com have some amazing photos of both the newly unveiled Puma Volvo 70 Goetz Custom Boat with it's extreme graphics and lovely shots of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta over in the West Indies. Go look!

Cool Things To Do

Sail free in Boston!

If you are in the Boston area, head down to the harbor this weekend, April 26 – 27 from 1-5 pm, for Boston Sailing Center’s Open House. They are offering free sailboat rides and refreshments on Boston Harbor and 10% off memberships and sailing lessons. Check it out at www.bostonsailingcenter.com.

Ladies Sail for a Cure



It doesn’t get any better than this! This past Saturday was the 4th Ladies Sail for a Cure onboard the spacious Wild Hearts, a 50’ charter cat from eBoatCharters.com. It was a prefect day to sail and about 20 women helped to raise money, sails and awareness to help find a cure for breast cancer. 100% of the net proceeds from the event goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.



Organized by Serena Ann Hoermann, this special event brought together a varied group of donors: eBoatCharters.com, who donated their great catamaran and crew (including the talented Capt. Terry at the helm!); The Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation, who donated re-usable hemp wine bags and key chains; www.southFloridaDines.com, $20 in SFDines Dollars good at over 100 local restaurants; Leemari by Christina Gray, who donated one of her designer dresses as a raffle item; and the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa, who sent their talented Director of Event Planning, David Wilson to share his vast knowledge of wines and a wine tasting, plus many more. Big thanks to all the Ladies who participated and to all the other donors.

The next Ladies Sail for a Cure event is on May 10th from North Palm Beach Marina. More info: www.eboatcharters.com/ladies/index.htm. (Photo courtesy of Dave, Sail For A Cure)

New Course Especially for Women Make Perfect Girlfriend Escapes!



Offshore Sailing School’s CEO, Doris Colgate, started women’s programs in 1990 to attract more women to sailing and empower women to take charge of their lives through sailing. Now thousands of women have gravitated to the variety of activities her efforts spawned, from focused seminars at all-sail boat shows to exciting hands-on learning vacations.

Women’s Escape Weeks in 2008 include several different on-water retreats – three in sailing and one for operating power boats. These days, says Colgate, it’s all about finding an activity that allows women to be in command of their lives. “That’s what makes these escapes so special; getting out on the water, with confidence to take the helm comfortably,” she explains with a knowing smile. “My life is 24/7 running a company. Sailing rejuvenates me,” says Colgate who was tapped to write SAILING: A Woman’s Guide, published by Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill in 1999. A copy of this informative book is sent to all women enrolled in Offshore’s Sailing Escapes.

Fast Track to Cruising is the school’s most popular program. These exclusive vacations start with a three or four-day Learn to Sail course aboard award-winning Colgate 26s, followed immediately by a Bareboat Cruising Preparation or Live Aboard Cruising course on impressive 44’-49’ sailing yachts. The Fast Track to Cruising Women’s Escapes are at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, Florida, May 1-9 and in the British Virgin Islands, June 18-29 and October 15-26. No more than four women are taught on a boat at a time, each by an accomplished Offshore Sailing School woman instructor. For the complete list of courses, call 800-221-4326 or visit www.offshoresailing.com. (Photo courtesy www.offshoresailing.com)

2008 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Ocean Yacht Race rescheduled for 2009

Although the race was set to start on April 23rd, it has been postponed and will be rescheduled for 2009 at a time that is consistent with Charleston Race Week and the Charleston to Bermuda Race. This event marks the rebirth of a race that originated in 1968 and ran for 10 years. The race traditionally starts just outside of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and finishes just outside of Charleston Harbor. More info: www.fortlauderdalecharlestonrace.org.

The Med-Red Rally



The 4th annual Med-Red Rally is set to start on May 10th from Herzeliya Marina, Tel Aviv, Israel and ending in Marmaris, Turkey (if you continue on with the Med Fun Turkey Rally!) on June 19th.

Over 50 boats have registered from all over the world. Festivities begin with a celebration of Israel’s 60th Independence Day at the Herzeliya Marina. Tour both Israel and Egypt and enjoy all that this historically significant part of the world has to offer along with excellent sailing! BWS will be there to cover this fun rally. More info: www.med-red-rally.com/. (photo courtesy www.med-red-rally.com)

Best of Both Worlds – Sail and Stay in the BVI’s



Looking for a Caribbean getaway, that offers something for everyone? You can now book a single package that combines five nights aboard your very own crewed yacht, followed by a five more nights in a 2 or 3 bedroom island-style waterfront luxury home in Nanny Cay Village. Completed in 2008, each brand new home has central AC and its very own private dock, ideal for renting a RIB or Boston whaler. These new Stay & Sail packages are aimed at creating the perfect vacation to suit both sailors and non-sailors alike.

Cruise through the beautiful BVI and explore a myriad of beaches and coves. On return to Nanny Cay Marina, check into a state of the art waterfront home and explore all that the island has to offer. Really “relax “at home” with a wide range of shore-side facilities, including swimming pool, beach, tennis court, beauty salon, boutiques, gym and much more.

Ten night package rates, based on double occupancy, start from US$5,295 – US$9,595 depending on number of guests and time of year. For a group of 6 this could mean as little as US$1316 per person! All yachts come with their own skipper to help guide guests through the islands. All rates include tax and service charges, skipper fees, fuel & water and permits. Provisioning is not included.

Horizon Yacht Charters has an extensive fleet of yachts – catamarans and monohulls - throughout the Caribbean with bases in Antigua & St Martin, Grenada and in the British Virgin Islands. For details on all the Horizon Yacht Charters bases in the Caribbean visit www.horizonyachtcharters.com or e-mail: info@horizonyachtcharters.com. (Photo courtesy of horizonyachtcharters.com).



Palma 25th International Boat Show 2008

The new and improved Palma International Boat Show will get started next week with some 12 makers of fine new sailing yachts on display from Beneteau, Contest, Solaris, Bavaria, Jeanneau and the 9.5 meter Latitude Tofinon. And, of course, many fine power and luxury yachts will be available to tour.

Where: Palma Old Port (Moll Vell/Muelle Viejo ) – Palma de Mallorca, Spain. When: April 26th to May 4th, 2008. Daily from 10.00 to 20.00 hours. More info: www.PalmaBoatShow.com.

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

Caring for your sails

When we sold SAGA, our 1964 Alberg 35, she was just over 40 years old. So were her sails. Amazing as that might sound, we were fortunate to have bought her from her original owner and he had invested in some great sails from Schattauer Sails in Seattle, WA. After you’ve spent big boat bucks for those great sails, you’ll need to learn the secret to getting the most life out of them. It’s all about protection. One hard and fast rule aboard SAGA - as soon as the anchor was down the sail cover went on.

Follow these tips and get more life out of your sails.

Look for hidden “Gotchas”

* Place boots or tubes over turnbuckles, both to prevent chafe and to keep grease and oil off sails.

* Be sure the lifelines are clean and free of meat hooks. Install rollers or padded boots on spreader tips.

* Be sure wire halyards have no meat hooks or open wire on the shackles which might chafe or snag the sails.

* Position guards to close off any “V’s” in the rigging that may catch the sails when they are being hoisted or lowered.

Protect to insure longevity

* Dry out your sails before leaving them on the boat for any period of time. One way of doing this is to simply spread the sails around the main cabin and forepeak so that the air can circulate and dry them between outings.

* Avoid the practice of drying sails by hoisting them to flog in the breeze.

* Minimize exposure to direct sunlight when drying your sails. Make a habit of getting the sailcovers on right after the anchor is down!

* Don't use your sails in excessive wind.

* Don't luff or flog your sails unnecessarily.

* Shorten sail as soon as conditions demand it. Don't luff your mainsail when a reef is needed. Don't carry a jib that is overburdening the boat — change down to a smaller jib.

* Don't allow running backstays or unused halyards to slap against the sails. Be sure running backstays have all their cotter pins and sharp edges taped or covered in leather.

* Don't over hoist sails. A vertical wrinkle along the luff while sailing is a good indication that too much tension has been applied.

* The same thing applies to the main outhaul. Tighten the outhaul only enough to eliminate vertical wrinkles in the sail.

* Don't over-tighten leech cords. Tighten them just enough to remove the leech flutter, and note that as the sail is trimmed harder, the leech cord should be eased.

* It is critical that headsail sheet fairleads be located in the proper fore and aft position in order to avoid straining either the leech or the foot of the sail.

* Before furling or flaking the main, ease the outhaul so that the foot of the sail is not under tension — there is no need to stretch it out. If you have a roller furling jib, ease the halyard at the end of the day to prevent the luff from stretching out of shape.

* After sailing, be sure to cover the mainsail if it is left on the boom. Similarly, if you have a roller furling headsail, make sure it is rolled up with the UV cover on the outside of the roll.

Cruising Community

Weather or Not



Hurricane experts at Colorado State University predict an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, with 15 named storms and eight hurricanes – four of them major. This is an increase from predictions made in December, when scientists Phillip Klotzbach and William Gray predicted 13 named storms and seven hurricanes, with three of them major. The probability of a major hurricane making landfall on the U.S. East Coast is 45 percent, according to researchers, with a 44 percent chance of such a storm hitting the Gulf Coast. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. More info: Soundings. (Photo courtesy of www.noaa.gov.

Rock ‘n Roll Raft-up

Capt. Ferdy and Jutta Sant onboard Pipedream, their 40' Endevour, would like to share some cool video of last weeks “Folks on Boats at the Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival” in Georgetown, Bahamas. Jutta is the petite percussionist on the port bow!

Go to: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OhZFg-GRAYg&feature=related.

U.N. Resolution Plans to Deal With Pirates

The United States and France are drafting a U.N. resolution that would allow countries to chase and arrest pirates off Somalia's coast, responding to a wave of attacks including this week's hijacking of a Spanish tuna boat, U.N. diplomats said Monday.

France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said the resolution would authorize foreign governments pursue pirate vessels into territorial waters, make arrests, and prosecute suspects.

"We want to do it fast, but it could take one or two weeks because it has to be by consensus — it's not confrontational," he told the Associated Press.

The push by key U.N. Security Council nations to tackle the issue follows an alarming increase in piracy by well-armed bandits, prompting international demands for better protection of the world's shipping lanes.

"The issue of piracy is an important issue, and within that framework we're focusing in particular on the threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told The Associated Press.

According to a report from the International Maritime Bureau, piracy is on the rise, with seafarers suffering 49 attacks between January and March — up 20 percent from the period last year. Pirates boarded 36 vessels and hijacked one, the report said. Seven crew members were taken hostage, six were kidnapped, three were killed and one went missing. Most of the attackers were heavily armed with guns or knives, the report said.

Nigeria ranked as the No. 1 trouble spot. India and the Gulf of Aden tied for second, with each reporting five incidents. Nearly two dozen piracy incidents were recorded off the coast of Somalia since January 2007, according to Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Program.

To stay safe, the London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recommends staying at least 75 miles off the coast of Somalia and maintain vigilance elsewhere. Check out the IMB’s updated weekly piracy report here www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

Website of the Week

www.freerice.com



FreeRice.com, the brainchild of 50-year-old U.S. computer programmer John Breen, was launched on Oct. 7, 2007 and has since produced over 28 Billion grains of rice for the United Nations' World Food Program. It's fun to play too; for each word you get right (you choose the best definition), they donate 20 grains of rice. The more you play (and win!), they more rice they donate. Freerice.com was featured on CBS's Sunday Morning show. Now, Go play!

Green Cruising

Join the OceansWatch Yacht Team!



OceansWatch, the newly formed Trust connecting sailors and divers with marine conservation and humanitarian projects, needs crew for two yachts this coming season in the Pacific region.

The yachts will be heading out from New Zealand into the Pacific next month to undertake a variety of marine conservation projects and humanitarian aid work in Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Magic Roundabout, a Sweden 34, will leave at the beginning of May for Vanuatu where the team will be assisting the Fisheries Department with various projects, as well as conducting Reef Check surveys. After Vanuatu, Magic Roundabout will head for Papua New Guinea where the crew will be working with the PNG Institute for Sustainable Marine Resources on marine conservation issues and also helping the people of Karkar Island. The Skipper for this trip is OceansWatch-founder Chris Bone.

Amadis, a 12m cutter owned by OceansWatch Trustee, Lily Kozmian-Leward, will sail from New Zealand towards the end of May to the Kingdom of Tonga where she will be working with the local Fisheries Department as well as undertaking Reef Check surveys and working on whale identification. Lily is an experienced Marine Biologist who originally sailed from England in 2005 conducting coral reef conservation and monitoring surveys en route. She is looking for crew members, who can sail and dive, to join Amadis for a minimum of a month. More Info: chris@oceanswatch.org or Skype – skipperchrisbone.

Wind Farm Coming to Rhode Island

Rhode Island will seek bids from private developers to build and operate an offshore wind farm designed to generate 1.3-million megawatt-hours per year just south of Block Island, under a plan announced this afternoon by Gov. Donald L. Carcieri. Such a project would require an estimated 105 wind turbines, making it about the size of the proposed Cape Wind project off Cape Cod. More info: http://propercourse.blogspot.com/2008/04/dear-gov.html.

The Clean Boating Act gets support of 17 U.S. Senators

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has announced a bipartisan, geographically diverse group of 17 U.S. Senators has co-sponsored The Clean Boating Act of 2008. The legislation, first introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), ensures recreational boaters and anglers will not need a federal permit to operate their boats, and restores a longstanding, commonsense regulation that excludes recreational boaters and anglers from the federal and state permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act designed for land-based industrial facilities and ocean-going commercial ships. More Info:www.boatblue.org/news.aspx?id=17278.

Happy Earth Day!

For the Hungry Crew...

You can never have enough Appetizer recipes onboard, right? Here’s a way you can use those tins of smoked oysters that have been around for a while.

Smoked Oyster Spread

by Harriet and Richard Eisen, S/V Perseverance

• 1 can smoked oysters*, drained
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 4 oz. chopped black olives
• 1 / 4 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Direction:

1. Mash the oysters well and combine with the remaining ingredients.

2. Refrigerate

3. To serve, let it come to room temperature. Serve with your choice of crackers and/or vegetables.

*HINT: Reserve one whole oyster before mashing. Although this spread is delicious, it’s not pretty! To spruce it up, form it into a ball/loaf shape on a serving plate and cover it with a very thin layer of sour cream. Place the reserved oyster on top (so your guests will know what it is!).

From the new Seven Seas Potluck Favorites Cookbook, published by the SSCA. Order yours at the Ships Store: www.ssca.org

Mindbender

How to Med Moor

It’s that time of the year when fellow cruisers are returning to the Med. For the newbies, it may be the first time that you have to Med moor your boat at a quay. Here’s the situation: You’re approaching a lovely little European village where you see one open slot for mooring against the town quay. The slot is wide enough for your boat but there is a 10-knot cross breeze that is going to make for a challenging tie-up. How do you go about getting the anchor down and the boat snugged into its slot without colliding with other boats or getting caught sideways?

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

• “The French, Portuguese, Spanish, Algonquin, and Ontario are all variations of the Bowline Knot.” Congrats to Ken Glidden of Boston, MA.