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Cruising Shot of the Week

"Let's Rock The Boat"



Sent in by Cornelis de Maijer, Flaka Cruising Europe

"Here is one of our favorite photos made by one of our guests along the west coast of Turkey during a trip on a traditional wooden sailing gulet named Kaptan Yarkin."

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

Dock Talk

Jessica Watson(15) youngest to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the World

Jessica Watson is setting out to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the World.

Inspired in her turn by Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the world and by Jesse Martin, the youngest person to do so, Jessica Watson has set her sights on shattering Jesse’s record.

When asked why, Jessica replied, " I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be, I love the challenge of making my own decisions and overcoming all the problems thrown at you, I love sailing and everything gets real simple."

In the process, Jessica hopes to inspire young sailors, adventurers and everyone with a dream in their heart.

Jessica is sailing on a Sparkman and Stephens 34, a classic design from the famous Sparkman/Stephens, it is known firstly for its seaworthiness, toughness and track record. It is a boat capable of consistent speeds and one that Jessica can easily handle. She plans to depart from Brisbane in early November. Before then she has a lot of sea-trials and solo sea time on her yacht to do. Photo courtesy of www.youngestround.com. MORE: www.youngestround.com.

EPIRB and PLB Owners Urged to Re-Check Registration Codes

Cobham Life Support, ACR Products, the world’s leader in safety and survival technologies, is urging all EPIRB and PLB owners to double check their 15-character identification code registration.

According to a recent Marine Board of Investigation inquiry, which is looking into the sinking of the scallop boat Lady Mary on March 24th, there was a discrepancy in the EPIRB’s identification number, marked on a decal

that the boat’s owner had received from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after he registered the EPIRB.

In the case of the Lady Mary, the emergency signal initially received by authorities was regarded as unregistered which may have led to delays in response time while emergency center controllers waited for additional satellite passes to fix a location. Had the controllers been able to pull the Lady Mary’s registration data, they could have contacted emergency contacts to confirm the status of the boat and its general location prior to a satellite fix.

“Because this situation came to light, we are urging all beacon owners to compare their 15-character identification code printed on the beacon with the registration sticker they receive from NOAA just to ensure they both match,” said Chris Wahler, Marketing Manager for Cobham Life Support, ACR Products. “If there is a discrepancy, we urge the owner to contact NOAA immediately to correct the information.”

All US beacons must be registered with NOAA following purchase. Registration, including the beacon’s unique 15-character identification code, often is made online at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov.

Despite the requirement to register all EPIRBs and PLBs, some reports show that up to 40 percent of EPIRB activations are from unregistered beacons, a possible deadly mistake when minutes can make the difference between life and death.

Strictly Sail Oakland – Parrothead's Report



The Parrothead just got back from the Strictly Sail Pacific / Power Boat Expo in Oakland. "We had four gorgeous blue-sky days," writes Jim and Lucia, "looking at sail boats, power boats and attending a lot of interesting and different seminars, not to mention visiting nearly all of the exhibitor’s booths (almost 300)! During the show the power boat folks did look somewhat lonely but it was quite crowded on the sailboat docks. The sailboats on show were mostly for local and coastal cruising which seemed to be what most of the attendees were looking for. The new boats on display were the Island Packet Estero and the Catalina 445, along with a number of small sport sailboats. All of the vessels were generating a good amount of interest and attention.





The new products we saw included the Ronstan Air Arch Boom Tent (right), new blocks from Harken and Ronstan, an emergency shroud kit from Colligo (left), Icom’s automatic AIS system, a Side-Power Thruster and a Betsea PFD. I’ve put all of these on my Christmas list! We bought some new PFD’s, did some serious self steering shopping and got detailed information on a new auto-pilot, just to mention a few of the items on our list."

Sent in by Jim and Lucia Stellick. Photo: S/V Parrothead.

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Spain's Telefonica Blue first to arrive



Spain's Telefonica Blue was the first to arrive at the scoring gate at the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha in the sixth stage of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world, organizers said yesterday.

The team arrived at the gate at 1958 GMT on Thursday, ahead of Sweden's Ericsson 4 which leads the overall classification. Telefonica Blue picked up four points for its efforts. "We are all happy to have beaten Ericsson 4. Let’s see if we can keep going like this until the finish, which is still a long way away," said Telefonica Blue's Dutch skipper Bouwe Bekking. Despite the win the Spanish yacht remains in third place in the overall classification but its distance from Ericsson 4 and second place Puma of the USA has now been slightly reduced.

Telefonica Blue was yesterday morning heading northeast, aided by moderate winds, towards Boston, the final stop of the sixth stage of the Volvo Ocean Race where it is expected to arrive at the end of the month.

Ericsson 4 trailed the Spanish yacht by about 40 nautical miles. The seven yachts taking part in the sixth stage of the race left Rio de Janeiro for Boston, a distance of 4,900 nautical miles. The Volvo Ocean Race, which began in Alicante, Spain in October, is to conclude in St Petersburg, Russia, in June after nine months negotiating 10 stages over 37,000 nautical miles. Photo: Telefonica Blue Volvo Ocean Race 2008/2009. From www.macaudailytimesnews.com. Learn more at www.volvooceanrace.org

Kids and Teens Learn to Sail Free

In its newest offering, Offshore Sailing School has created a program for families to invest in their futures with memorable, very affordable family learning vacations. Up to six family members can sail for the price of two in Florida or the New York metro area, representing a savings of up to 60%. When two adults pay tuition (or one adult and one sibling, 16 or older), additional children (ages 7-17 for a maximum total of six aboard) can learn absolutely free.

"Families that learn together enjoy a special camaraderie and trust," explained Doris Colgate, President and CEO of Offshore Sailing School. "When sailing is the subject of that learning experience, grandparents and parents bond with the younger generation in a way unlike any other," she said. MORE: Call 800-221-4326, or visit www.offshoresailing.com.

Outward Bound Hurricane Island 30s at National Sailing Hall of Fame

The new Outward Bound Hurricane Island 30s will be at the National Sailing Hall of Fame beginning April 19 through May 3 for a program that includes sailing for youth leaders, teachers, Outward Bound Alumni and community partners. The new Hurricane Island 30 is a rugged, fiberglass, sharpie-rigged open boat in the form of a contemporary gig or Whitehall style suitable for rowing and sailing in varied coastal sea and weather conditions. Outward Bound, founded in 1941 by educator Kurt Hahn, is a non-profit educational organization that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through challenging learning expeditions that focus on character development, leadership and service. Outward Bound serves 70,000 students annually and has a nationwide community of more than 1 million people. MORE: www.outwardbound.org.

Biggest Sales Event in 20 Years - Lagoon and Gemini Catamarans



The Catamaran Company and Performance Cruising have teamed up to host The Lagoon and Gemini Spring Sales Event. If you're in the market for a Lagoon or Gemini catamaran we suggest you focus your full buying attention on these two simultaneous events being offered in Fort Lauderdale and Annapolis, May 2-3, 2009. Your only obstacle is time, demo sail availability (Annapolis only) and deciding which of these two great locations to attend. MORE: http://tinyurl.com/cjudyz.

Southwest Florida Yachts Needs Chartering Yachts

Southwest Florida Yachts, enjoying another strong chartering year, needs more yachts for chartering.

"In spite of the iffy economy, our chartering business is good and we actually need more boats," said Barb Hansen, owner/manager of the firm, which charters vessels from 28 to 43 feet in length

Hansen said she is putting out the word to yacht owners and want-to-be yacht owners to look into the very real advantages of putting their vessels, power or sail, into charter service.

Yacht owners and those who wish to consider chartering as a way to help purchase a vessel and help maintain its value may contact Hansen at 1-800-262-7939 or, via email, barb@swfyachts.com.

Sales Tax Cap for Yachts in Florida Proposed

The Florida legislature is considering a new bill that would put a cap on the sales tax charged for yachts and airplanes in an effort to stem the flow of sales going to other states and countries. MORE: Soundings Trade Only.

Tech Talk

Fugawi X-Traverse Now Available for iNavX iPhone App

Fugawi announced today that its popular Fugawi X-Traverse online map collection for use with iNavX marine software for the Apple iPhone now supports award-winning Navionics marine and outdoor charts. Adding to iNavX’s support of raster maps including NOAA RNC, Swedish Marine Charts, and TRAK Maps, users now have subscription-based, fingertip access to world-wide Navionics Gold+ international marine, HotMaps Premium North American fishing and European Discovery outdoor charts from www.X-Traverse.com. Offering enthusiasts renowned marine and outdoor cartography, the map additions feature the unparalleled clarity and detail that are the hallmark of all Navionics digital charts.

Navionics charts are downloaded directly into iNavX software through the iPhone’s internet connection (Edge, 3G or WiFi) and saved locally on the phone for use when outside of cell phone or WiFi internet coverage. With an enabled X-Traverse.com account and a subscription to one or more Navionics regions, iNavX users may view their location on Navionics charts using the iPhone’s integral Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, seamlessly pan and zoom the charts, query objects, plot and navigate waypoints and receive and view GRIB file weather data. Users may also transfer waypoints and saved routes to PC- or Mac-based navigation software such as Fugawi Marine ENC or MacENC. iNavX will also plot AIS vessel traffic when connected by WiFi to a suitable AIS receiver or NMEA data stream.

Apple iPhone 3G users may purchase the iNavX marine navigation App directly from the Apple iTunes App store for $49.99. MORE: www.fugawi.com or www.x-traverse.com. Complete information on iNavX may be found at www.inavx.net.

Look for a review of iNavX and other cool iPhone Apps for sailors in Blue Water Sailing – Coming Soon!

Garmin Gives Us What We Want – Dual GPSMAP for Land or Sea



Garmin Ltd, the global leader in satellite navigation, launches the GPSMAP 620 – an ultra portable and rugged touchscreen navigator which accepts optional street, topographic and marine charts.

“Blending the best aspects of our popular portable marine units with the intuitive user interface of our automotive flagship line of nuvi navigators, the GPSMAP 620 is the perfect tool in the boat and on the road,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.

Portable and powerful, the GPSMAP 620 series features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and boasts an intuitive, waterproof (IPX7) super-bright 5.2” WVGA touchscreen display (800 x 480 pixels) that reacts as users tap or drag through intuitive menus and options.

With optional BlueChart g2 Vision technology, the GPSMAP 620 provides a true 3-D “mariner’s eye view,” for a navigation perspective above the waterline, and a “fish eye view” for an underwater 3D bathymetric contour perspective. Mariners will also benefit from the auto guidance technology the g2 Vision data card enables that suggests the best navigational route.

In addition, photo references give detail aerial views of points of interest (POI) such as ports, marinas, waterways and landmarks. It's not cheap, but it's very cool! More: www.garmin.com.

Cool Things To Do

The Beach Goes Pops in St. Petersburg, FL – April 24-25

2009 represents The Beach Goes Pops 19th exciting year. This event is the result of the combined efforts of The City of St. Pete Beach, the Pass-A-Grille Community and Vina Del Mar Island Associations, local businesses and 150 plus volunteers to produce FREE CONCERTS on beautiful and historic Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Pete Beach, FL.

Friday, April 24th, starting at 5:30 pm and continuing till 10:30 pm. On Saturday, April 25th, music starts at 4:00 pm with Beach Goes Pops Orchestra starting at 7:30 pm and continuing till 10:00 pm.

SailQuest 2009 – Connecticut – May 2-3

Following the success of the inaugural 2008 event, the SailQuest boat show will return for 2009, running over the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd and will be hosted this year by Hellier Yacht Sales in New London, CT, a location with easy access from the New London Amtrak or the Long Island Ferry terminals.

The SailQuest format is a new approach to boat shows. A full range of major manufacturer boats will be on display, both on land and in the water, but SailQuest allows for a more personal and informative experience without the over-crowding and pressure typical of other boat shows and with knowledgeable brokers and manufacturer representatives present.

Boats will be available for demonstration sails throughout the event, and boat show pricing and special incentives will be offered.

At the end of the show on Sunday, May 3rd, there will be an appreciation cocktail party for attendees followed by an auction of selected boats with starting bids below cost price. MORE: www.MySailQuest.com.

First Annual Space Coast Boating Week Kick-Off Event – WaterFest 2009 - May 9

Billed as the "Central Florida’s Largest On-the-Water Boating Gathering," the BoatBrevard.com WaterFest on May 9, 2009 will be a record-breaking event as boaters of all sorts from all over Central Florida will gather to celebrate the local boating lifestyle and kick-off the Brevard Marine Advisory Council’s First Annual Space Coast Boating Week and Waterfest.

The BoatBrevard.com WaterFest on May 9th will be held at Ski Island near Port Canaveral. It is expected to draw boating enthusiasts from all around Central Florida; including, but not limited to Brevard, Orange , Osceola, Seminole, Polk, Lake, Marion , and Sumter Counties.

Don't miss out on one of the most anticipated on-water boating gatherings of this summer. For complete details, visit www.BoatBrevard.com and RSVP online.

For more information about the event, interviews, questions, or other concerns about the site, please contact John Kavaliauskas at (321) 591-2613.

The Morgan Invasion Hits St. Pete's

The Morgan Invasion is a Rendezvous of boats built or designed by Charlie Morgan. The host of this year's event is the St. Petersburg Yacht Club at Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club, Pass-A-Grille Florida, 33706. For more information including deadlines for entry fees for the race contact the SPYC at GloriaDavis@tampabay.rr.com or go to www.morgan38.org/.

New York Yacht Club 155th Annual Regatta - June 12-14

When it comes to maintaining tradition in the sport of sailing, the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) has it down to a science. From its well-documented ties to the America’s Cup to its history-laden clubhouses – one in Manhattan and the other overlooking Newport Harbor – there is a constant and consistent approach to maintaining vital elements of the world’s sailing culture. This spring, from June 12-14, the New York Yacht Club 155th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex will deliver the next chapter of the longest-running regatta in America. NYYC first ran the event in 1845, one year after its inception.

The Annual Regatta starts with the Around-the-Island Race on Friday, June 12, followed by the traditional two-day series of racing on June 13-14. You will see many of the yachts that participated in last year's race alongside boats that have just finished the biennial Annapolis to Newport Race.

The Annual Regatta is part of US-IRC Gulf Stream Series for IRC yachts and also acts as the first leg of the 2009 NYYC Classic Yacht Series.



Louisiades Yacht Rally - Early Bird Entries By May 1

The Louisiades Yacht Rally will be held again in 2009. After a very successful inaugural Rally last year both the yachties and locals are getting ready for this years event.

The rally departs Cairns in September, taking around 4-5 days to make the crossing to these remote islands at the tail of New Guinea.

The Rally is supported by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club. Early bird entries close 1 May. Yachts muster at Yorkeys by September 6 and depart 12 September, yachts return to Australia mid October to mid November. Power and sail boats are welcome!

MORE: Louisiadesrally@EcoSustainAbility.com, or visit www.louisiadesrally.com.

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

Mast Steps for Cruisers

Going aloft is one of those chores that crop up in every cruise when you have to get up the mast for a variety of reasons. Mast steps can make the job much easier. There are several types of mast steps, some that fold away and some that are fixed loops of aluminum.

The most basic way to use mast steps is at the base of the mast where a step or two will make it easier for you to attach the main halyard to the mainsail and to reef the sail. And near the top of the mast it is useful to put mast steps on both sides of the mast about four or five feet from the top so you have something firm to stand on after you have been hoisted all the way up there in the bosun's chair.



A good use for mast steps is for climbing to the first spreaders when you are trying to eye-ball navigate your way through uncharted coral waters. Getting a bird's eye view of the reefs, channel and sand bars makes a huge difference.



Lastly some sailors, particularly singlehanders, like to install mast steps all the way up the mast so they can climb to the top instead of riding up in a chair. That many steps adds a lot of weight and will have a minor effect on the boat's stability. But they can be very useful.

Our choice is always to use the aluminum folding steps manufactured by ABI. These have a wide step with a outboard lip to prevent your foot from slipping. When they fold away they are nearly flush against the mast and have small nylon insulators that keep the steps from vibrating in strong winds. Check them out at Defender Industries at www.defender.com.

Website of the Week

www.summersailstice.com/

9th Annual Summer Sailstice Holiday Launches June 20, 21

In the face of a tough economy, Summer Sailstice announced June 20-21 for this year's annual sailing holiday on the summer solstice weekend and expects record participation as people sail away their cares and show support for ocean conservation.

"This year people want to unplug and get away from it all," said Sailstice founder John Arndt at the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show taking place in Oakland, California, this week. "We expect record participation in Sailstice 2009. The holiday's parties, imaginative events, and environmental goals emphasize the relaxing and accessible nature of sailing. School's out, and nothing's better than grabbing cool drinks, a picnic lunch, and enjoying the water with friends and family on the longest day of the year. Sailstice helps everyone focus on simple, low-cost ways to enjoy sailing compared to other summer pastimes."

Summer Sailstice 2009 will be celebrated on the June 20-21 weekend by over 12,000 sailors worldwide, with hundreds more potential sailors or friends and family participating in a related event. Sailors have registered to participate from all 50 states and 20 countries.

Founded as a way to unite the diverse and dispersed community of sailors locally and globally, Summer Sailstice is structured so any sailor can participate regardless of what or where they sail. Sailors register on the Summer Sailstice website to tell others about their weekend sailing plans, find or create events in their local areas, and become eligible to win one of over 300 sailing prizes including a one-week Moorings charter in the BVI. Just sign up and go sailing!

Cruising Community

Vieques Yacht Club Opens for Spanish VI Cruisers



Vieques Yacht Club, located in Esperanza, Vieques, Spanish Virgin Islands has just opened. They currently have moorings available for $10 /night which includes WiFi Internet, ice, hot showers and laundry facilities. Stuart Hankin, the Commodore, can be reached on VHF Channel 16 or (787) 565-4141. The Spanish Virgin Islands are still relatively undeveloped and many think they represent what the Caribbean was 30 years ago. On your way down island I would highly recommend spending some time exploring the many beautiful anchorages and dive spots. The beaches are beautiful, empty and pristine. Photo: Nancy Birnbaum, 2008. From: Sailmonster.com. Posted by SVChoices.

Read “Unspoiled anchorages and laid-back landfalls. The Spanish VI’s” in the October 2008 issue of Blue Water Sailing Magazine.

Support Our Troops – Take a Veterans Family Sailing

Sailmonster.com will be launching a program to thank veterans and their families for the service to country by encouraging their members and the entire sailing community to take members of the military and or their family out for a day of sailing. The date will be released soon but will most likely be a weekend close to the 4th of July. This will be the first of what will become an annual event to thank all of those who have sacrificed and dedicated service to their country. Stay tuned for details!

Cruising Green

Cleaner and Greener –West Marine and Pure Oceans Offer New Product Line

West Marine is proud to introduce our new Pure Oceans product line, a selection of boat care products specifically formulated to be kinder to the environment while delivering equal performance to less environmentally-friendly formulas. This new line includes soaps, cleaners, and surface care products that are less toxic, less environmentally persistent, and less bio-accumulative than more harmful, conventional formulations. Be good to your boat, and be good to the environment with West Marine’s new Pure Oceans Boat Care Products. Visit http://www.westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING to locate a store near you.

BoatUS Foundation Honors Green Boating

In conjunction with Earth Day celebration yesterday, April 22, the BoatUS Foundation kicks-off plans to honor those who have made a significant contribution towards improving waterway health and educating boaters on how to minimize their environmental impact. Any group, organization, company, marina or individual who has worked hard to make a difference is eligible for the 2009 BoatUS Foundation Environmental Leadership Award. The recipient also receives $1,000 to help continue their environmental efforts. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2009. MORE: www.boatus.com/news/PR_Full.asp?ID=379.



Around the World in a Solar Boat

A seafaring band of scientists, engineers and yachtsmen with an obsession for Jules Verne and clean energy are building what they call the largest solar boat in the world, a $13 million catamaran they hope will take them around the world next year.

Construction is well underway on the 98-foot-long vessel, which will feature 5,059 square feet of photovoltaic cells. The project is being funded by Rivendell Holding AG, a Swiss firm that invests in renewable energy, simply to prove it can be done and the shipping industry can reduce its dependence on fossil fuel.

The team plans to circumnavigate the globe at the equator in 120 days at an average speed of 10 knots. Should they succeed, Planet Solar will set a maritime milestone. Solar electric ferries are increasingly common and a solar electric catamaran called Sun 21 crossed the Atlantic in 29 days. But so far no one's made it around the world in a solar electric boat and the project still has a long way to go - approximately 24,901.55 miles - but work on the solar cat's hulls is almost complete.

Planet Solar is being built at the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel, Germany. The vessel, which is shaped something like an arrowhead, will be 98 feet long and 50 feet wide. That climbs to 114 feet and 82 feet when the solar panels are fully unfurled. MORE: Blog.wired.com –Solar Boat. Renderings: Planet Solar.

For the Hungry Crew...

Earth, Sea and Fire Salmon – An Earth Day Winner!

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 (8 ounce) salmon fillets
• 4 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 2 large red onions, sliced into rings
• 1 jarred roasted red pepper, drained and cut into strips
• 8 ounces portobello mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish generously with olive oil.

2. Arrange potato slices in a layer on the bottom of the baking dish. Season with a little salt and pepper. Place a layer of onions over the potatoes, then a layer of roasted peppers, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper as desired. Place salmon fillets over the vegetables in the dish, and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Place whole mushrooms over the fillets, and drizzle them with sesame oil.

3. Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Fish should flake easily with a fork, and potatoes should be tender. Serves 8. From: http://allrecipes.com.

Mindbender

A world cruising plan

You are planning a two-and-a-half year cruise westward around the world via Panama and the Cape of Good Hope. You know you have to cross the oceans at the right time of the year. When should you plan to transit the Panama Canal, round the top of Australia and then round the Cape to meet the best sailing seasons in the Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic oceans? And why?

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.

From the Best of Cruising Compass Mindbenders.

• Congrats to David Griggs of Honolulu, HI, (CAL 2-30 Hei Jo Shin) for his solution to last weeks "Zinc Into Spring" Mindbender.
  
  "The cause is galvanic corrosion. The solution would be to replace the zincs and then bond your under water metals or isolate them. Dissimilar metals need to share a sacrificial anode or the least noble will give up material."
  
  Galvanic corrosion is a ‘leak’ to ground, which could be a fault in the boat's wiring or a problem with the shore power. Connect an ammeter (amps, not volts) between a battery cable and the post (disconnect the cable).
  
  If there is a reading, then you must hunt down the cause. There is most likely bad wiring or a piece of equipment with a leak to ground. If the problem is shore power, then install a galvanic isolator between the shore side ground and the boat to solve the problem.