Cruising Shot of the Week

Waiting for Spring

"It’s always difficult to wait for spring, but for some reason, this photo has turned out to be one of my favorites when it comes up on my screen saver. We sail on Lake Huron, out of Maitland Marina in Goderich, Ontario." Sent in by Wally MacKinnon, S/V Ananda (36 Nauticat Ketch).

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

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

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

-Your Cruising Editor, Nancy Birnbaum

Docktalk

New Florida Boating Education Law Started January 1st

Effective Friday, January 1, Florida boat operators born on or after January 1, 1988 must complete and pass an approved boating safety education course to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. The new law changes the age threshold for Florida boater education requirements; in 2010 it is to be based on whether or not boaters were born on or after January 1, 1988.

Boaters in this age group must have in their possession photographic identification (i.e. driver’s license) and a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The card is valid for life.

The following operators are exempt. . .Read the entire article at BWS.com.

Two Earthquakes Cause Small Tsunami in the Solomon Islands

Two strong earthquakes have hit near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific triggering a small local tsunami with some reports of damage, police said. The magnitude 7.2 and 6.5 quakes struck close together around 2148 GMT and occurred around 55 miles south-southeast of the small island of Gizo, the US Geological Survey and Pacific Tsunami Warning Centers said.

"There are no reports of casualties, but we have unconfirmed reports of property damage caused by possible tsunami waves on Tetepare island," Gizo police constable Macarthur Pania said. The quakes occurred at depths of about 20.5 miles.

"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated," said the Hawaii-based tsunami centre in an emailed bulletin. "It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter."

The warning center said there was no wider tsunami threat to Pacific coastlines.

"It's a big earthquake but it's probably not going to cause a large regional tsunami," Geoscience Australia seismologist Clive Collins said. On September 29 last year, a devastating tsunami swept along coasts in the Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga, killing 186 people and wiping out entire villages. From: www.telegraph.co.uk.

World’s Favorite Yachting Bar Announced

The crew at Wight Vodka teamed up with the owners of Scuttlebutt to run (just perhaps) one of the most important contests this decade has ever seen! We asked the yachting fraternity to vote for their favorite bar the world over, and with thousands of votes cast and the final tally verified, we’re pleased to announce that Wight Vodka’s 2009 ‘First in Class’ Prize is awarded to the Peter Cafe Sport, located at 38 degrees 35N, 28 degrees 42W on the mythical ‘Blue Island’ of Faial.

‘The Peter’ won due to the faithful voting of the thousands of yachters who have experienced the warm hospitality, great food and excellent cocktails there. Yachtsman Bill Stone wrote a rather passionate description of the Café Sport when he cast his vote:

“To a sailor, the ‘best sailor’s bar’ is quite obvious – she has no peer in the Atlantic, or, it can be argued, any place else on earth. It has history and tradition, it is not easy to get to, and once within its walls there is a rare camaraderie that permeates this hallowed berth. The memory of a seat is a sirens song to passaging itself, imbuing memories impossible to forget. This is Peter Cafe Sport. Those fortunate enough to have laughed with their mates at Pete’s carry with them their own Shangri-La.”

The Cafe Sport won hands down and will receive a trophy and bottle of Wight to celebrate their win! Honorable mentions must also go to the top ten including the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, IYAC in Newport, RI, Maddie’s Sail Loft in Marblehead, MA, the Candy Store in Newport, RI, Le Select in St. Barts, the Bitter End in the BVI, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Foxy’s and the Willy T in the BVI. So many great places!” MORE: www.wightvodka.com/scuttle_091231.html.

2010 Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race Next Week!

The Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race starts January 13th, and with 55 boats signed up, the event has its biggest numbers in 15 years. Entries will be accepted through January 8th. During the race, live updates and real time race tracking will be posted on the event website. MORE: http://www.keywestrace.org/.

Best Job in the World? Only in Theory

This time last year the hottest sailing news was going viral. The headline read: "Wanted- one 'island caretaker', must be able to swim and willing to move to Hamilton in Australia's tropical Whitsundays. Flexible hours. Pay - $150,000 for six months." From the response the website received (almost 200,000 visited the site in the first 24 hours and over 34,000 applications were processed), it sounded too good to be true. Here's the report courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk.

"...for Ben Southall, who won the "Best Job in the World" contest last year to get his posting on picturesque Hamilton Island, the postcards home have not inspired quite as much jealousy as expected.



The 34-year-old former charity worker, from Petersfield, Hants, beat 34,000 other competitors for the job, which also came with a 2.5 million (British Pounds) beachside mansion boasting magnificent ocean views.

Alas, his posting has just come to an end - and perhaps none too soon. As Mr. Southall now admits, being a tourist ambassador for paradise has not been plain sailing. In fact, there has been very little time for sailing at all - or sunbathing, or simply relaxing and enjoying those fine ocean views. Instead, he found himself working seven days a week and up to 19 hours a day, slave to a grueling schedule of promotional events . . . Read the entire story online at BWS.com.

New Simple Sun Protection – Vizini

Protecting your peepers is very important for boaters, but if you are like me, wearing hats may not be your style. Now there is a new line of simple sun protectors for both men and women that are sure to be a hit on deck. Fashion meets function with this one-of-a-kind and totally strapless visor! Vizini slips onto sunglasses with its simple loop design and is the perfect item to compliment your swimsuit this season. MORE: www.vizini.com.

What Does Cruising Cost?

Find out what cruising experts Lin and Larry Pardey know about this most important aspect of the cruising lifestyle. Read their informative article in the February issue of Blue Water Sailing Magazine. Available NOW!

Tech Talk

KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband Service Officially Approved by U.S. Government

Middletown, RI – KVH Industries, Inc today announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted permanent “Earth Station onboard – Vessel” or ESV license authority for KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadbandsm satellite communications service. This authority officially approves the spread spectrum mini-VSAT Broadband service and 24-inch diameter TracPhone® V7 antenna as meeting the FCC’s new regulations for broadband maritime services. Prior to receiving this permanent license, the KVH mini-VSAT Broadband service has operated in U.S. waters under an FCC Special Temporary Authority (STA) since September 2007, while also supporting mariners worldwide. This is the latest milestone in the KVH and ViaSat Inc joint effort to provide affordable mobile broadband connectivity around the globe. Together, KVH and ViaSat are currently using seven secure earth stations around the globe, along with seven of the world's most powerful communications satellites, to offer voice service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners, as well as network coverage for ViaSat’s Yondersm aeronautical mobile broadband service. To take a video tour of the product, visit http://www.kvh.com/v7/.

New Vantage Vue and Weatherlink IP Software Offers Mariners Personal WX Website



The new Vantage Vue weather station from Davis Instruments features Davis' legendary reliability, accuracy and ruggedness and is more affordable and easier to install than ever. It provides real-time, local weather monitoring with alarms, graphs and loads of weather details. Vantage Vue works with Davis' WeatherLinkIP software to create a personal weather website for the unit and connects it to a global network of Davis weather stations. It's perfect for people who want to monitor weather conditions at their home, lake house, marina, yacht club or dock. Built for the harsh marine environment, the rugged Vantage Vue outdoor sensor suite records wind speed as low as 2 mph and as high as 180 mph. Solar-powered, it features a stored energy backup. Electrical components are sealed for protection against the elements. A compact, integrated design ensures a straightforward installation. MORE: www.davisnet.com.

Cool Things To Do

Healthy Cruising Seminars

Just as we devote time and attention to the maintenance of our vessels, we must also give as much, if not more care to the health of our bodies. Join Kim Hess, author of Yoga Onboard in a session of cockpit yoga and an exploration of the various options we have available to maintain and possibly enhance our health as we cruise. This will be an interactive discussion so bring your questions and more importantly your ideas to share with others. Seminar dates: Boot Key Harbor, Marathon,FL - Saturdays - 2 p.m. - January 9, February 27, April 3, and May 1, 2010. From Tropic Yoga.

Be sure to pick up a copy of February's Blue Water Sailing Magazine and read Devi Sharp's "Keeping Your Body Ship Shape." Available NOW!



2010 Winter Regatta Preview

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Antigua Yacht Club’s Round the Island Race - January 23-24

The new format will have the action starting earlier and racers will complete the circuit on Saturday, starting and finishing off Falmouth Harbour. A Saturday night party precedes short course racing on Sunday with lunch and prize giving to follow. MORE: www.antiguayachtclub.com.



Grenada Sailing Festival - January 29-February 2, 2010

Presented by Port Louis and Camper / Nicholsons Marinas. New this year will be two weekends of sailing rather than one. Four days of international yacht racing off the island’s southern coast will kick off on the 29th, where sailors will find longer courses, new deep-water marks, and one day of racing dedicated to an Ocean Race and an extended South Coast Ocean Triangle. MORE: www.grenadasailingfestival.com.



Voile de St Barth – April 6-11, 2010

The local council in Saint Barthelemy, the Tourist board and the Saint Barth Yacht Club are setting up a new sailing event in the Caribbean April 6-11, 2010, which will be open to Classic and modern yachts, Super Yachts, Racing-Cruisers, as well as Racing Multihulls. Using the know-how that is recognized with such varied races as the Transat AG2R, the Route du Rose and the St-Barth Bucket Regatta, Saint Barth is organizing a week of racing in the best spirit of the sport with the finest yachts that can be found in this part of the world. MORE: http://tinyurl.com/y9s2e2q.

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

Get Your Boat to Self Steer Under Sail

In the days of coastal shipping under sail, the old schooners or gaff headed cutters were often sailed by a “man a boy and a dog.” How did this small crew handle the 50 to 70 foot cargo ships that were laden with lumber, coal, granite, grain and other commodities that were hard to ship overland? The trick that made this possible was the ability of the skipper to get the vessel to steer itself under sail for long periods at a time. Those boats had long straight keels and sail plans with low centers of gravity; plus, they had numerous sails to trim so the boat could be balanced with many fore and aft adjustments, including square sails for down-wind running.

On modern fin-keel, spade-rudder designs that most of us sail, the trick of getting a boat to steer itself can be a little more complex because the hulls have lower built-in directional stability and the sail plan usually consist of only two fore and aft sails that are normally flown on one side of the boat or the other thereby creating a natural imbalance.

Down wind, you can get a modern sloop to sail straight by running dead downwind wing 'n wing – that’s with the mainsail on one side and the genoa poled out on the other. The boat will steer before the wind for hours this way as long as the helm is balanced and neutral. You can adjust the balance by reefing or unreefing the sails as necessary.

Up wind, modern boats can be made to steer themselves for many minutes if you can get the sails completely balanced so the helm is neutral. You do this with sail trim by adjusting the sheets, the cars on the genoa leads, the traveler and the mail outhaul. Once the sail plan is balanced, the boat will slip along without rounding up or falling off and will maintain a constant angler to the wind.

Balance the rig, trim the sails carefully and you will find your boat will go where you want it to all by itself.

Cruising Community

Outfitting Your Boat for Cruising – Part IV: Dinghy and Outboard

This month, we continue our Fitting Out For World Cruising Series of interviews with West Marine Outfitter – Pam Wall. So far we've covered the basics: Rigging, Ground Tackle and Comfort and Safety Below Decks. This week, our series continues with your Dinghy and Outboard.

CC: Why is it so important to choose the right dinghy?

Pam Wall: Your tender is your car. It is the way you get to and from your home to the places where you can't take your home. So it's got to be comfortable, safe, have good cargo carrying capacity and it's got to stow somewhere on your boat for crossings. You cannot rely ever on towing it. So to be practical about it, it's got to be a good boat that tows but it's also got to be the right size to stow either on deck or on davits. You have to keep in mind that a lot of boats have big inflatables on davits have blocked their view aft from the cockpit. This is potentially very dangerous…Read the Interview online at BWS.com.

Our Readers Write

"Thanks for the info on the ecotank (CC#176). It is always great to see resources that encourage pump-out by making it easy. The mooring fee in the City of Key West mooring field has included a mobile weekly pump-out service, at your mooring, for years; and you do not need to be "home" when they come by. Let's hope more marinas and mooring fields adopt the practice." –Bonnie P.

"Thank you for your dedication and hard work. I look forward to a new year and the information and entertainment that Cruising Compass delivers." –Glenn "Sudz" Sutherland.

Cruising Rally Association Honors 10,000-Mile Veterans



Twenty-four sailors who have completed over 10,000 miles in Cruising Rally Association offshore rallies were recognized as “Ocean Masters” in a recent ceremony in Hampton VA. The most senior of the honored veterans is St. Thomas, USVI, resident Davis Murray, the only person who has sailed in all 20 Caribbean 1500 rallies since its inception in 1990. Qualifiers come from all parts of the U.S. and Canada. They are male and female, young and old, boat owners, skippers, spouses, partners, and volunteer crew. “We value the support and dedication of our veterans.” said Steve Black, Founder and President of the Cruising Rally Association. “They are truly ‘Ocean Masters’ and bring a wealth of experience to each of our events. Our veteran skippers have introduced hundreds of new crew members to the joys of ocean travel. Our veteran crew members have helped many new skippers successfully complete their first bluewater passage.”

Ocean Sailing Seminars, presented by the staff of the Cruising Rally Association, are scheduled for March 13-14 in Newport RI and March 20-21 in Annapolis MD. Each seminar is an intensive, highly practical two-day workshop designed to make offshore passages safer, more comfortable, and more fun.

The Cruising Rally Association, founded by veteran solo sailor and sailing event organizer Steve Black, is widely supported by a number of leading companies. These include Davenport and Company, Nanny Cay Resort and Marina, LLC, West Marine, Blue Water Sailing Magazine, Switlik, OCENS, ICOM, and World Cruising Club.

For more information on future rallies and seminars, visit www.carib1500.com. Read All at Sea's new profile of Steve Black.



Spectacular Awards Ceremony Ends ARC 2009

The curtain fell on the 24th ARC last night at a lavish awards ceremony held at Gaiety Nightclub in Gros Islet, close to where the fleet have been arriving at IGY Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia. Hundreds of participants had remained or returned to St. Lucia for the prizegiving ceremony, which started as crews gathered in the gardens of the venue to enjoy a rum punch to the sounds of a local steel band. With so many prizes to present the awards ceremony is in two parts, many of the fun prizes being awarded in Part One.

After thanking the seventeen net controllers for their help in running the SSB Radio Net during the crossing, the younger ARC crews were recognized. Best Family Performance on corrected time went to the Chapdelaine family from France on MiniMaxi. Lani Waldbrenner (Linocat, Germany) was next on stage as the youngest participant – at just 18 months! Maintaining the tradition of the importance of the family boats in the ARC, the stage then turned into a mass of children as all were invited up to receive prizes. Photo courtesy of www.worldcruising.com. Click to read MORE.

Cruising Green

Pictures Reveal Antarctic Marine Life in Area of Rapid Climate Change



New photographs of ice fish, octopus, sea pigs, giant sea spiders, rare rays and beautiful basket stars that live in Antarctica’s continental shelf seas are revealed this week by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

As part of an international study on sea surface to seabed biodiversity a research team from across Europe, USA, Australia and South Africa onboard the BAS Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross sampled a bizarre collection of marine creatures from the Bellingshausen Sea, West Antarctica – one of the fastest warming seas in the world. Research cruise leader Dr. David Barnes of British Antarctic Survey said,

“Few people realize just how rich in biodiversity the Southern Ocean is – even a single trawl can reveal a fascinating array of weird and wonderful creatures as would be seen on a coral reef. These animals are potentially very good indicators of environmental change as many occur in the shallows, which are changing fast, but also in deeper water which will warm much less quickly. We can now begin to get a better understanding of how the ecosystem will adapt to change. Photo: Octopus (probably Pareledone sp.). - Octopus seemed to be particularly common in the study area and were found in most trawls. They seem to have undergone a major recent radiation centered in Antarctica. From: www.antarctica.ac.uk. Read the entire story online at BWS.com.



Anti-Whaling Activists Accuse Japan Fleet of Attack

Anti-whaling activists have accused a Japanese vessel of ramming their high-tech speed boat during a confrontation in the Southern Ocean. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's boat had its bow sheared off and was taking on water Wednesday after it was struck by a Japanese whaling ship in the frigid waters of Antarctica, the group said. The boat's six crew members were safely transferred to another of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's vessels, the newly commissioned Bob Barker. The boat is named for the American game show host who donated $5 million to buy it. The clash was the most serious in the past several years, during which the Sea Shepherd has sent vessels into far-southern waters to try to harass the Japanese fleet into ceasing its annual whale hunt. The activists said their boat, the Ady Gil - a high-tech speed boat that resembles the Earthrace (previously featured in the Cruising Compass) - was hit by the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru near Commonwealth Bay. Photo courtesy of www.tdn.com. Read the entire story and watch the just released video online now.

Website of the Week

http://www.wriwx.com/yachts.html



Has your trip ever been delayed due to bad weather? Even worse: you have been delayed because of a less than perfect Internet forecast, only to find out later you missed the best conditions possible! That is why you need a professionally trained WRI meteorologist to provide a clear and accurate forecast, so you may make the correct decision. For over 40 years, Weather Routing has established a reputation as an accurate and reliable forecasting center. WRI is number one in the world for yacht forecast services. Captains around the globe choose Weather Routing Inc. for their WX Routing Service.

For the Hungry Crew...

Seared Cod with Provencal Ratatouille

From SEA FARE: A Chef's Journey Across the Ocean, by Victoria Allman.

• 6-6 oz fillets of cod
• sea salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil + 1/3 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 red onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 zucchini
• 1 yellow crookneck squash
• 1/2 eggplant
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• Sea salt and pepper
• Arugula leaves

Directions:

Dice all the vegetables into a small one-inch dice. Saute the onions and the garlic in olive oil for 2 minutes over medium heat until they are soft. Add the peppers and saute for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini, squash, and eggplant. Saute another 5 minutes. Season with the sea salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes, red wine vinegar, thyme and bay leaves Combine the rest and stew for 20 minutes over low heat. Season with more vinegar, salt and pepper if necessary.

Pre-heat oven to 400.

Season the cod with sea salt and pepper. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over high heat. Add olive oil to the pan and sear the cod, presentation-side down for 3 minutes until a golden crust occurs. Remove the cod to a baking dish, presentation-side up and repeat with the rest of the cod. Bake for 5 more minutes or until cod is at desired doneness.

Pool the ratatouille on a plate and top with arugula salad and fish.

Mindbender

Distressing Signal

Why is "mayday" used as a distress signal? What does "SOS" stand for?

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.

We'll have to run the pre-Christmas Mindbender again to give more folks a chance at answering the brightwork question. Stay tuned!