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Enjoy Your Memorial Day Weekend!

-Your Cruising Editor - Nancy Birnbaum

Cruising Shot of the Week

"This photo is of our 1977 Tayana 37, Miramar, in the Gulf of Mexico during a three day sail from Sarasota to Key West, FL in March. I dropped into the dinghy while out of sight of land to catch this great sunset. It was an amazing three days, flat calm waters combined with 10-15 knot winds." Sent in by Jeremy Andrews.

You can view more of Jeremy's great photos as well as his informative Blog http://jibnotes.com/. Good perspective from a "Newbie's" point of view.

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

Dock Talk

Another record time for Groupama 3

And that makes five! Franck Cammas and his crew have bagged the first record of their 2009 campaign and the fifth since the 105-foot trimaran saw the light of day in June 2006.

Setting out from Marseilles on Friday May 15th at 0719 hours UT in a bid to beat the time set by Bruno Peyron in 2004 between Marseilles and Carthage, Groupama 3 crossed the finish line situated abeam of the Ras Quartajamah lighthouse on Cap Carthage, this Saturday May 16th at 00h 27’ 23’’ (UT). After 17 hours 08 minutes and 23 seconds and in contact with Sylvain Mondon from Meteo France, the crew of the maxi trimaran managed to get the very best out of the wind on offer and can now be satisfied with the work they’ve accomplished. (Course time subject to approval from the WSSRC).

A year and a half after their capsize during the Jules Verne Trophy attempt, Franck and his men have snatched a fifth reference time, improving on the previous record of 17 hours 56 minutes and 33 seconds, by 48 minutes and 10 seconds.

Groupama 3 covered the 458 miles separating Marseilles from Carthage at an average speed of 26.72 knots, compared with an average of 25.53 knots for Orange II. Photo courtesy of BYMSailing. MORE: www.bymnews.com.

Ruling Ends America’s Cup Suit, and Sets Race for February

The winding legal dispute that has engulfed the America’s Cup for the last two years ended this past week when a judge ruled that BMW Oracle Racing can challenge Alinghi, the Swiss defending champion, in February.

BMW Oracle, the United States-based syndicate bankrolled by the software billionaire Larry Ellison and racing for the Golden Gate Yacht Club, initiated the back-and-forth court proceedings in 2007. Alinghi had just won the Cup in Valencia, Spain, and, exercising its prerogative as champion to set the terms for the next race, agreed to accept the Spanish syndicate Club Nautico Espanol de Vela as the challenger of record.

But BMW Oracle objected to the rules for the next Cup and to the Spanish team’s legitimacy as challenger, and sued Alinghi, beginning a two year fight complete with complex allegations and appeals. Last month, BMW Oracle won the right to be the challenger of record, and the race’s particulars were finally clarified Thursday by Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. MORE: www.nytimes.com.

Class40 granted provisional ISAF status



Class40 is delighted to announce that it has become a provisional ISAF class following ISAF’s Mid-Year meeting. This decision means that Class40 can hold its first World Championship this summer, from the 18th – 21st August, in Hamble, England. The Class hopes to become an ISAF Recognized Class in November at ISAF’s Annual Conference. Following the rapid international growth of Class40, this recognition by ISAF is excellent news: Class40 is officially taking its place on the international stage.

The Class now has 86 boats, and 51% of Class40 members so far in 2009 are non-French, up from 46% in 2008. The Class40 race calendar is becoming ever more international, and so international growth in membership is only likely to continue in 2010, 2011 and beyond. Learn more at www.class40.com

World's Largest Yacht Charter Company Announces Support of Local Sailing Star

Sunsail Sailing Vacations today announced a sponsorship agreement with US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member and local Clearwater sailor Zach Railey. Zach won a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and plans to qualify for the 2012 event in Great Britain.

Born in St. Petersburg, Zach Railey grew up sailing from the Clearwater Yacht Club and qualified for his first World Championship at the age of 10. Last year, Railey shot to fame winning a silver medal in the highly competitive Finn class at the Games in China. He was also named the US SAILING 2008 Sportsman of the Year. Zach will launch his campaign for 2012 with a full schedule of international events planned throughout 2009 and Sunsail's sponsorship and fundraising support is expected to raise in excess of $40,000 in the first year towards Zach's campaign costs.

"As passionate sailors ourselves, Sunsail is committed to raising the profile of sailing. Our goal is to enable more people to participate in the sport, whether racing, learning to sail, or relaxing on a sailing vacation," added Lex Raas, President and CEO. From: Cloud Computing Journal/ http://au.sys-con.com/.

Summer Sailing Program Offers More Than Boating Lessons

As kids toss their books into the back of their closets to be ignored for the duration of summer, parents are invited to enroll their children in Huntington Harbor Yacht Club’s Summer Sailing Program — a safe, fun-filled way to spend the summer. Classes are offered in a range of skill sets. Children ages 6-7 can get their first taste of sailing in the Turtles group, where they will learn sailing basics and water safety under the close supervision of a trained instructor. Parents can find out more about the Huntington Harbor YC Summer Sailing Program during Parents Night, June 4 at the club. The program is open to yacht club members and non-members alike. Classes begin June 23 at the yacht club.

For more information or to register for the program, call (562) 592-2186. Huntington Harbor Yacht Club is located at 3821 Warner Ave. in Huntington Beach, CA. www.hhyc.org/.

Speaking of summer... Optimism Grows For Boaters

Memorial Day Weekend—one of the most popular U.S. boating weekends of the year – is this weekend and the recreational boating industry trade group, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), reports there were an estimated 70 million Americans that went boating this time last year, a five percent increase over 2007, despite the recession and higher gas prices.

What’s more, DiscoverBoating.com, the boating industry’s online boating resource, has reported the results from a summer boating habits survey conducted in May of 25,000 members of the nation’s largest boat owners group, BoatU.S. The survey reveals that when compared to the 2008 boating season, 52 percent of respondents do not expect to change the way they use their boat this summer and an additional 39 percent predict they will actually go boating more if gas prices continue to remain lower than 2008. MORE: www.nmma.org/news/news.asp?id=17668&sid=3.

Find Memorial Day Boating Events for your area under the Cool Things To Do section below.

New Multimedia Coastal Nav Course Online Now

NauticEd has launched a new Coastal Navigation Course complete with short snappy multimedia videos to explain how to use navigational tools, plot positions and gain fixes.

The comprehensive course covers

• The Charts and how to use navigation tools
• True north and magnetic north - and variation and deviation
• Determining your position using various techniques such as dead reckoning, running fixes, triangulation
• What to do with your GPS position to get you to your destination
• Set and drift from wind, tides and current
• How to simply determine your heading based on Set and Drift

Additionally, there is a bonus section on how to set up a fun GPS Treasure Hunt in a park or on a sun baked island. MORE: www.nauticed.org.

Tech Talk

Navionics Launches Mobile 2.0 for iPhone

"Chart your summer fun for as little as $4.99"

This summer Navionics will be hitting the water with the newest version of their Mobile App created specifically for iPhone users. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an expert mariner already familiar with Navionics Charts, or a novice navigator, you can unleash the fun of Navionics Mobile Charts starting at the ridiculously low price of $4.99.

Now, for those of you of a more practical nature – they haven’t forgotten about you. You can plan your next on-the-water excursion anytime or anywhere because the charts reside permanently on the iPhone. You can place digital markers as proof of where you caught all those fish, or you can show your friends exactly where you’ve sailed, I guess that might be categorized as fun, but you get the idea– literally – and so will your friends.

For a limited time this summer, experts and novices alike can purchase their most popular charts for a fraction of the regular cost. You're just a couple of taps away from visiting your favorite ports or secret fishing spots - you can plan a route, set waypoints, check tides and currents, and search for Marinas. That’s a lot of fun for $4.99!

Go on the iTunes App Store to download your region. If you don’t see your region listed at the sale price, check back soon… for updates at the App Store daily. MORE: www.navionics.com/Mobile.asp.

GPS could go south as satellites fail, says report



A report just out by the Government Accountability Office(GAO) has revealed significant issues with the future of the GPS world wide system, currently provided free. The report, released at the end of April, is entitled 'Significant Challenges in Sustaining and Upgrading Widely Used Capabilities'.

The GAO was asked to do the study because of the crucial role that GPS plays in national security, apart from the key tool in commercial applications, from Apple's iPhone to all forms of transport. While the Air Force is in the process of modernizing the system, including the acquisition of GPS satellites and the associated ground control systems, the report casts doubt on their ability to carry out this process in a way that will maintain full efficiency.

The report, which is very lengthy, goes on to describe how the likely efficiency of the system will drop significantly in the coming years before suitable satellite modernization has taken place. But its warnings are clear and dire — if the Air Force can’t buy and put up new satellites in time, “some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected.” From: www.bizjournals.com.

Read the entire report online at Blue Water Sailing.

Fantasea Eyes – Breakthrough Technology



Attention all underwater photographers: Fantasea has just introduced their new Fantasea Eyes U/W Optics Line of quality products.



Fantasea Eyes offer universal compatibility with almost all compact housings on the market, including Fantasea, Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Sea and Sea, Ikelite and more, allowing all underwater photographers to enhance and improve their images at affordable prices. Photo courtesy of Fantasea.com. MORE: www.fantasea.com/.

Cool Things To Do

Memorial Day Weekend Boating Events

Key West, FL: MarineMax Memorial Day Rendezvous - May 23 - 27, 2009

Join all MarineMax stores on the West Coast of Florida at the Galleon in Key West for our Memorial Day Rendezvous. With a BBQ and fireworks plus much more planned there is no better way to enjoy this holiday. Call Melissa for more details, 239-262-1000.

Sarasota, FL: Sarasota Sailing Squadron Memorial Day Round Lido Regatta - May 25 12:00p

Leesville, SC: Let's Go Sailing Memorial Day Weekend - May 25 9:30a

At Lanier Sailing Academy-Lake Murray, Leesville, SC. Enjoy a two-hour skippered fun sail with Lanier Sailing Academy. Saturday, May 23, Sunday May 24, and Monday May 25. Boats will leave the dock at 9:30, 12:00, 2:30, and 5:00. $25 per person, maximum 4 (6 if all from the same family). For more information or to reserve space call 803 317 9070

Chesapeake Bay: 2009 Memorial Day Raft-Up! – May 23-25

Starting in Reed Creek off the Chester River with a Raft Up, then sail to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore to Inner Harbor East Marina for BBQ dinner and other festivities. www.pentagonsailing.org/bay.htm.

San Francisco Bay Area: Memorial Day Cruise to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay - May 22nd - May 25th

Join this popular annual jaunt to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay for Memorial Day weekend! A fantastic way to enjoy the California Coast! Head south "flotilla style" with a group of 20 - 25 boats from Club Nautique as well as gaggle of salty crew from Cruising Yachts. www.clubnautique.net/sailing/school/clinics/memorial-day-cruise09.html.

Boston: FREE sailboat rides for all! – May 24

Saturday, May 24, the Boston Sailing Center will offer free sailboat rides along Boston's historic waterfront during a special public open house celebration and reception. The event will take place from 1pm to 5pm at the Boston Sailing Center's docks on Lewis Wharf in downtown Boston.

First-time sailors of all ages as well as more experienced skippers are invited to join the fun. 'Round-the-harbor sailing trips will be conducted by Center members and staff aboard boats ranging in length from 23 to 40 feet. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Teaching staff will be available to answer questions about the Center's learn to sail programs and about specific aspects of sailing in local waters. www.bostonsailingcenter.com.

Michigan: SCS Memorial Day Parade – May 24 On Jefferson between 9 and 11 mile.

Caribbean Events



May 20 - 24: Round Guadeloupe Race. A mix of more than 50 yachts – sleek Swans, sport catamarans, racing monohulls and bareboats – compete in this race around the archipelago of Guadeloupe. More than a race, this sailing event combines sport with festivities that enable sailors to discover and enjoy the customs, folklore and traditional music of this French West Indies island. Email: organization@triskellcup.com; Web: www.triskellcup.com.

May 22 – 23: 35th Annual Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta, Jost Van Dyke, WEYC



May 22 – 24: Vela Cup Race, Puerto Rico. This 2nd annual regatta is held out of the Yacht Club Palmas del Mar, on Puerto Rico’s eastern coast, over the U.S. Memorial Day Weekend holiday. Classes include: Hobie 16, Jib & Main, Racing, Cruising, IC-24, J-24 and J-80. Tel: 787-960-3902, 787-790-1515; Web: www.puertoricovelacup.com.

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May 22 – 24: St. Lucia to Martinique Race (to be confirmed). SLYC

May 23 – 30: Curacao Dive Festival. www.curacaodive.com.

8th Women's Sailing Conference by The National Women’s Sailing Association-Sat, June 6, 2009



This NWSA day-long Saturday conference for women is designed to introduce them to and/or enhance their skills in recreational sailing through seminars on water and on land. Participate in workshops, such as hands-on charting, knots, and diesel engine troubleshooting. Choose the seminar that deals with suddenly being alone on the boat. Get on the water with an introduction to sailing or racing, learn boat systems, how to reef, flake and fold sails. The day also includes a continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, raffles and special guest speaker. Limited to 150 participants. Fees: $115 NWSA Members, $150 non-NWSA Members. Time: 8:30am - 8:30pm. Location: Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, MA, Phone: 781/631-2084. Email: joan_thayer@comcast.net. www.womensailing.org.

A summer vacation "Bail Out" for charters and for liveaboard students

Southwest Florida Yachts announced summer "stimulus" programs for sail and power yacht charters and for students attending liveaboard courses by Florida Sailing and Cruising School.

Manager Barb Hansen said for the first time in company history it is offering one extra day of cruising, free, with a two-day charter. Plus, charters of three days or longer continue to receive two free days of cruising until Dec. 15. This is part of the company's silver anniversary celebration which continues into 2010. After Dec. 15 and until May 1, 2010 cruisers will receive one free day of cruising for charters of three days or longer.

"We want to help cruisers have a much-needed getaway in paradise, cruising the scenic corridor past beautiful barrier islands like Sanibel, Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa," said Hansen. Southwest Florida has been ranked among the top ten yacht sailing and cruising areas in the world. The barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva have scored as the best islands to visit for their ambiance, beaches, friendliness, restaurants and scenery.

Hansen announced that FSandCS introduced a new two-day Introduction to Boating course for two people or more for only $795 per student. Students will learn boating basics from a U. S. Coast Guard-certified captain on an Albin 28 Express Cruiser while living aboard for two nights and two days. MORE: www.flsailandcruiseschool.com.

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

Top Five Reasons Why Boats Sink in the Springtime

Launching a boat in the spring for a new boating season is normally a happy occasion, but some owners get a rude surprise instead -- a sinking.

There were sinkings from air conditioning fittings, gate valves, transducers, mounting bolts, and mufflers. Boats went to the bottom as a result of a leaking speedometer impeller. It is certainly possible that more than one fitting had been leaking.

#1 Hose clamps: Winterizing an engine in the fall often requires the removal of coolant hoses. Come springtime, boaters are in a rush and the hoses aren't reattached and clamped properly. Adding to this, cramped engine boxes mean that the hoses and the clamps holding them sometimes can't be visually inspected easily. In the spring you'll need to ensure all of the hose clamps are securely tightened in place.

#2 Hoses: During the winter as the water inside them freezes, some hoses can lift off their attached seacock (valve). However, with spring's warmer temperatures the water now returns to a liquid, and if the seacock was left open last fall, water can pour into the bilge. Double clamping with marine-rated stainless hose clamps, inspecting hose attachment locations, or keeping seacocks closed can all save you from a spring sinking.

#3 Spring rains: Combine heavy rains with leaking ports, deck hatches, fittings, chain plates and even scuppers clogged by leaves from last fall and you have a recipe for a sinking. Just 100 gallons of water weighs over 800 pounds so a boat with a low freeboard only needs to sink a few inches before cockpit scuppers (drains intended to remove water) submerge and water starts to enter the boat.

Larger boats with cracked or improperly caulked fittings that are located just above the waterline can also inadvertently let water in when they become submerged. Ensure that rain rolls off the boat and not into it.

#4 Sea strainer: For inboard/outboard and inboard powered boats, always inspect the strainer for cracks or other damage. If it wasn't properly winterized, the intake sea strainer could have frozen over the winter, cracking or bending the inspection bowl. And if the seacock was left open the boat will sink as soon as ice in the strainer thaws or the boat is put in the water.

Boats have also sunk when the seacock was closed over winter and then opened in the springtime, but the owner failed to notice water trickling into the bilge from a freeze damaged bowl.

#5 Stuffing Box: On powerboats or sailboats with inboard power, if the stuffing box's packing material that seals the prop shaft is not tight, a steady drip could eventually swamp a boat if it's ignored. Remember, the stuffing box should only leak when the prop shaft is turning. Stuffing boxes need to be inspected routinely, regardless of the season. In 50% of dockside sinkings, water found its way into the bilge through leaks at underwater fittings. The majority of the leaks are at stuffing boxes, followed by outdrive or shift bellows, failed hoses or hose clamps, sea strainers, and drain plugs.

Prevention: At least twice a season, inspect any fittings above or below the waterline that could be letting water into the boat. All too often, skippers rely on bilge pumps to bail them out when they can’t visit their boats. The pump fails and the boat sinks. If you can’t visit your boat regularly, consider using a buddy system with other boat owners to watch each other’s boats. Another alternative is to ask your marina manager to keep an eye on the boat. Many marinas offer routine inspections, but usually at an extra cost.

Courtesy of BoatUS Foundation: www.boatus.com/foundation/guide/boat_7.html .

Website of the Week

www.sailgroove.org/

Sailgroove, created by Chris Love, is here to serve and promote the sport of sailing. "I intend for it to educate, excite and entertain you, the sailor. In return, I ask only that you contribute what you can to the community and help me in my efforts to make our sport as fun and exciting as it can be. I'll never ask for your money, only for your help in driving what I hope will be a tremendous positive force in the great sport of Sailing."

Sailgroove offers videos of Sailing events and races across the US and World with interviews of coaches and sailors across the nation and make them available for you to watch. Right now featuring "Spring 2009 College Sailing Season" and the "Volvo Ocean Race Comes to Boston." The Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA [High School Sailing]) and the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA [College Sailing]) will be holding their national championships one after the other, in and around San Francisco, CA, and Sailgroove will be there to cover them all:

• May 23-24 ISSA Team Racing Nationals
• May 25-27 ICSA Women's Nationals
• May 29-31 ICSA Team Race Nationals
• Jun 1-3 ICSA Coed Nationals

Cruising Community

Grenada Port of Entry Changes

Effective immediately, the Port Authority, at the direction of the Ministry of Health, has designated ONLY the Grenada Yacht Club in St. Georges and Hillsborough, Carriacou, as ports of entry for yachts entering Grenada for the foreseeable future. This change is put in place in an effort to prevent individuals with symptoms of Influenza H1 N1 (swine flu) from entering Grenada and passing on the disease.

At the present time, there are NO REPORTED CASES of swine flu in Grenada.

Currently, passengers disembarking at Point Salines International Airport and the cruise ship facility at the Esplanade Mall are required to complete a health card which is reviewed by public health professionals prior to those passengers being allowed to leave the airport or cruise ship facility, Yachts clearing in, at this point, are NOT required to complete a similar health card, but that may change in the near future.

Questions should be directed to the Ministry of Health, phone 473-440-3485/4935/3177, fax 473-440-4127, or e-mail: min-healthgrenada@spiceisle.com.

Sardinia Tax Abolished

On Wednesday, 6 May, the local regional government of Sardinia approved Article 2 of the Financial Regional Act. The approval of this act effectively cancels the law known as the ³luxury tax² in Sardinia. This tax was felt throughout the tourism industry and had a negative effect on the local tourism economy.

Il Consorzio Rete dei Porti Sardegna (The Consortium of Sardinian Touristic Ports) is pleased about the cancellation. In the past three years there has been a decline of approximately 50 per cent in the number of yachts present in Sardinian ports.

The law, which has now been cancelled, stipulated that yachts berthed in any port in Sardinia had to pay up to 15,000 euros for their sojourn. This tax had a visibly negative result on Sardinia¹s image as a premier vacation destination worldwide.

This announcement was made at the MYBA Charter Show 2009 in Genoa. From Noonsite.com.



Watch Zac's Panama Canal Transit Video

From Zac Sunderland's Blog:

"What a morning! I woke up, sat for a quiet few moments before the boys called with the news that they would soon be in the Miraflores Locks! I got to the computer but there was no Internet connection! Not good.

It wasn't long before we were online and on the web cams at the Centennial Bridge and Miraflores Locks. The web cam handlers must have known that Zac was coming because at one point the camera zoomed straight in to the cockpit of Intrepid! (see photo)

The banner on the bow is a sign that Laurence made for our anniversary - which is today. It is hard to describe the emotion of seeing them pass through the last locks, knowing how far Zac has come and having a love poster as well! It has been an incredible day for sure. Marianne."

Photo: Screen shot of Intrepid passing through the Miraflores Locks

Watch the time-lapse video of the Miraflores transit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioEhEnm4eSI.

Ua Havai'I – Marquesan for "It is Heaven!"

Our cruising friends Phillip and Leslie (S/V Carina) wrote to say that upon their arrival at Hiva Oa, they checked in with the gendarmerie in Atuona few minutes late "and began in earnest to pull our ships' papers and our Ecuadorian zarpe from our backpack. A pleasant young gendarme (policeman) gave us a form (ignored our zarpe, our papers, and our (French) crew list) and asked for a bond - a refundable payment of roughly $1,000 each, made to the government to ensure repatriation if necessary. We showed him our letters from Latitude 38 and Haut-Commissariat de la Republique en Polynesie Francaise, saying essentially that we were the honored guests (with the Pacific Puddle Jump) of Monsieur Michel Alcon, the Director of the Yacht Club de Tahiti and viola, we were welcomed to French Polynesia with a warm smile and more importantly, without having to post the bond. (Thank you so much Andy and Michel!)." Sometimes it pays to Rally!



Congratulations to ANTONINA, Handicap Winner of the 2009 Atlantic Cup

The Atlantic Cup is the companion rally to November's Caribbean 1500 and offers the opportunity for returning cruisers to enjoy the camaraderie, competition, and adventure of an 850-mile rally. The rally left Nanny Cay on May 3.

When asked about his decision to base his rallies out of Nanny Cay, Atlantic Cup and Caribbean 1500 organizer Steve Black commented: "We are extremely happy to be here with the Atlantic Cup Rally. An awful lot of our participants have visited Nanny Cay during the course of the winter and enjoyed it so much and we are happy to have our event hosted here.

"One of the great additions to Nanny Cay has been the beach. It always was one of the most hospitable marinas in the Caribbean, especially with the pool, but it is now great to also enjoy the beach that the team here have worked so hard to improve. It's another element of the marina that very few other marinas have. The wonderful service and hard working team here at Nanny Cay have made it very easy for participants that are under a lot of stress getting ready for the long passage. They've needed a lot of repairs and equipment adjusted. Rigs tuned and that sort of thing and the fact that Nanny Cay have a lot of skilled tradesmen makes it all much easier."

The Cruising Rally Association returns to Nanny Cay later this year with the Caribbean 1500, slated to start November 2, 2009. The 2009 Caribbean 1500 Rally will be the 20th annual running of this event making it the largest and longest-running offshore cruising event in the Americas. Steve Black, president and founder of the Cruising Rally Association, anticipates a record entry of returning ralliers for the anniversary activities.

For more information on the Cruising Rally Association, visit www.carib1500.com.

Off the Cruising Forums This Week

S/V Elusive lost at sea all onboard safe and well. This information was gathered via the Pacific Seafarers net last night. 14:300 03:15 zulu. The Mexican Amigo Net reported that Sailing Vessel Elusive was abandoned 300 miles North of NZ. Scarlett O'Hara was able to assist in taking them off.

"S/V Elusive, 3 days out of NZ and sailing to Fiji, sank. The vessel was taking on water fast. Nearby was S/V Scarlet O'Hara, who was able to assist. All on board the Elusive are safe and well. Sadly the vessel sank within one hour. At the time there were three vessels en route to assist, and over six ham radio operators coordinating the emergency with the vessels and NZ maritime services. Yes, it always helps to sail in the company of other vessels. Onboard were Steve, Wendy and their son Allan, who just joined them in Opua." Posted by Paul on the Pacific Puddle Jumpers Yahoo Group.

Our Readers Respond

In response to our coverage of Northwest Passage Attempt In A Small Boat: "You were off on the open boat crossing of the Arctic crossing. In 1988, a Hobie 18 sailed the northwest passage. You can see this in The National Geographic. I did the design changes to take the ice pounding. J Barnett." Thanks for the correction!

Cruising Green

Harnessing the power of the waves

An Australian company has managed to harness the power of the waves, generating record amounts of power and opening up avenues of clean, green energy that are attracting interest from around the world. MORE: www.powerboat-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=56673.

Nation’s Largest Solar Boat Competition - A Three-Day Race Event

The Solar Cup brings nearly 600 High School students on 33 teams to Lake Skinner for three days of qualifying, Racing.

The Southland students showcased seven months of work during three days of solar-powered boat qualifying and racing at Lake Skinner in southwest Riverside County’s Temecula Valley this past week, May 15-17.

The seventh annual Solar Cup competition, sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and its member agencies, features student teams who build and equip boats that are powered by direct and stored solar energy. After Friday’s inspections and qualifying with solar-powered endurance and sprint races, the prototype boats did their thing. Sunlight is the only power source that can be used for propulsion. From BusinessWire.com. MORE: http://tinyurl.com/pm6td9.

For the Hungry Crew...

Hot and Spicy Tofu

Boxed Tofu stores easily onboard and this tofu is VERY spicy! If you like milder dishes, decrease the amount of pepper flakes or omit them altogether.

• 3 Tbsp peanut oil
• 1 lb firm tofu, cubed
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green chile pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 / 3 cup hot water
• 3 Tbsp white vinegar
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tsp cornstarch
• 1 Tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1. Heat peanut oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Toss the tofu into the oil, and cook until browned on all sides. Once browned, toss in onion, bell pepper, chile pepper, and garlic; cook until just tender, about 5 minutes

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the hot water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Pour over tofu and vegetables, toss to coat, and simmer 3 to 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens slightly.

Mindbender

Is it a Sea-Anchor or a Drogue?

What is the difference between a sea-anchor and a drogue?

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.

• "The stopping distance of a ship will depend on factors such as ship speeds, the displacement and shape of the hull, and horsepower ratio. The following stopping distances, as a rough guide, are assumed to be sufficient to bring the ship to a complete halt. For ships in ballast, 3-5 times the ships length is required. For a loaded ship...7-8 times the ships length is required. "
  
  Yes that's correct Patrick, Even with engines put into full reverse, a big tanker needs several miles to stop. Generally speaking, the distance a ship travels before coming to a stop in an emergency (called crash-stop distance) depends on the vessel's displacement and speed, the power of its engine, and the time it takes to put the engine into reverse. Here are a few typical crash-stop distances:
  
  Car Ferry 0.3 miles
  
  Liner 0.5 miles
  
  Cargo-ship 1.5 miles
  
  Supertanker 5 miles
  
  Congratulations to Patrick D. of Gainesville, FL. From: "Do Dolphins Ever Sleep?" by Pierre-Yves and Sally Bely.

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