Cruising Shot of the Week

Thanks to all our readers who have shared their cruising photos with us. We salute you in our 200th issue!

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

Happy 200th Issue!

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

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-Your Cruising Editor, Nancy Birnbaum

Dock Talk

Leopard 38 Wins Asia Multihull Award

On the heels of several other big wins, the Leopard 38 has won the prestigious Asia Boating Award for Best Production Multihull at the 2010 Asian Boating Awards. Asia Pacific Boating and China Boating magazines presented the award during the Gold Coast Hong Kong Boat Show. The annual gala and awards ceremony acknowledges the year’s achievements in Asia’s expanding leisure maritime industry. Part of TUI Travel PLC’s very successful marine division, Leopard Catamarans boast over 800 vessels built and delivered to-date; making it the number one selling brand of catamaran in North America. With its recent expansion to China through joint venture Sino Eagle and Leopard, Robertson and Caine and Leopard have significantly increased production capability to satisfy the fast growing Asia Pacific demand for these cats. On both sides of the Pacific Ocean the Leopard 38, or Sunsail 384 as its branded in the worldwide Sunsail charter fleets, is winning a following among marine industry leaders and the boating community. Find your cat at www.tuimarinebrokerage.com/.

"One of a Kind" Murtic 52 – See it at the Cannes Boat & Yacht Show



The Murtic 52 RS is a new brand sailing yacht with a clear vision and trend setting solutions. She is ideal for those who appreciate luxury, high technology, speed, outstanding looks and breathtaking performance, all combined with functionality, comfort and sophisticated elegance and style. The yacht had its world premiere at the International Croatia Boat Show and Moscow International Boat & Yacht Show held this past April. Now you can see her at Cannes Boat & Yacht Show from September 8–13. Designed by the world’s best design team, Botin & Carkeek, combined with the luxury of a super yacht as envisioned by the architect and passionate sailor Marko Murtic –she is revolutionary; with her functional and minimalistic design, she delivers incredible performance while retaining the cool elegance of an ultramodern and personally customized cruising yacht. Photo courtesy of murticyachts.com. MORE: www.murticyachts.com/.



Louis Vuitton Trophy – La Maddalena with Paul Cayard

SailKarma.com offered this post from Paul Cayard after Team New Zealand once again took the top spot in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Sardinia, Italy.

"No wind this morning meant no Petit Final for Artemis. Race 5 was for all the marbles. Kiwis stayed in front all the way by the narrowest or margins. The Russians got a small tear in their gennaker on the final hoist. A few gybes ensued as the Russians tried to apply pressure to the Kiwi's. Then the Russian gennaker exploded and that was all she wrote. Team New Zealand remains the standard in the Louis Vuitton Trophy. They do have the teamwork element down. But some of the new teams are getting close to knocking them off and the trend line for these new teams is very steep indeed. Next Louis Vuitton event will be in Dubai in November. Following Dubai we will be in Hong Kong in January."

Read the whole story at www.sailkarma.com/. Photo: 'Semi-final Artemis (SWE) vs Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL. La Maddalena, Sardinia, June 4th 2010. Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena (22 May -6 June 2010)' Sander van der Borch / Artemis. www.artemisracing.com/.

West Marine to Offer Grants Beginning on World Oceans Day

Watsonville, Calif. (June 7, 2010) - In support of its ongoing efforts to improve and protect the marine environment, West Marine, Inc. is launching a Marine Conservation Grants program and donating $30,000 in grants with the 2010 Marine Conservation Grants program. Yesterdays' announcement, on "World Ocean's Day" began the formal application process. More: http://tinyurl.com/2499gbh.

Sailboat Brokerage Numbers Are up in May

Yacht brokerage sales volume in 2010 has been running ahead of 2009 all year, but as brokerages moved into the typically high-volume selling season of May, the difference between sales in the two years has diminished. According to YachtWorld.com member brokers who report their sales in the proprietary database SoldBoats.com, units were up 7 percent from 3,020 to 3,219, and total value of the sales increased 24 percent, from $264 million to $327 million. Year-to-date, the increases have been 22 percent and 39 percent, respectively. On a percentage basis, unit sales of sailboats showed a greater increase than powerboats when comparing May 2010 to May 2009. The time required to sell the average boat reported sold in May remained high - more than 300 days, for the second straight month. Both the power and sailboats sold during the month took an average of 314 days to sell. Read the entire report at tradeonlytoday.com.

BP Declines Deep-Sea Expertise of Cameron & Co

Hollywood king James Cameron, who knows a thing or two about the ocean depths, is backtracking since calling the engineers trying to clean up BP's oil spill "morons." Hollywood director, James Cameron referred to BP execs as "morons" following their polite rejection of his offer to help solve the problem of stemming the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Over the last few weeks I've watched as we all have with growing sort of horror and heartache watching what's happening in the Gulf and thinking, those morons don't know what they're doing," the acclaimed director of "Avatar," "Titanic and "The Abyss" groused after his offer to help plug the Gulf of Mexico leak was spurned.

But in an interview with Larry King, Cameron, who has used submarines and undersea robots extensively in his blockbuster movies as well as two documentaries about the Titanic, said he was wrong. "The other shoe dropping on the story was, then I got into it and I talked to petroleum engineers and we started this study group ... They're not morons," Cameron said. Cameron told The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital conference he offered to lend his expertise in undersea filming to the oil giant, but was turned down. Cameron, who is considered an expert in undersea filming, told the conference he believed he could help BP stop the flow of oil, considering his experience with directing robots at great depths. 'I know really, really, really smart people that work typically at depths much greater than what that well is at,' he said.

Cameron acknowledged his experience did not extend to deep-sea drilling but said experts he knew were adept at operating underwater vehicles and electronic fiber-optic systems, NBC Miami reported.

'Most importantly, they know the engineering that it requires to get something done at that depth,' he said.

The disaster is entering its 44th day, with few signs of a final solution. Since the oil began gushing, it has leaked an estimated 50 million gallons, more than four times the amount of oil released by the 1989 Exxon Valdez wreck. Cameron said he is skeptical of BP's numbers, which the company says are backed up by live footage of the spewing undersea well."If you're not monitoring it independently, you're asking the perpetrator to give you the video of the crime scene," Cameron said. From: nbclosangeles.com.

Celebrate Summer "Sailstice" (on the Solstice) – Sail with Offshore Sailing School and Help Cure Cancer - Monday, June 21

Summer is all about laid-back fun in the sun – time to get out on the water and learn what sailing is all about! Join us for a two-hour sail to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This is a fun learning experience; you'll be steering and crewing, your boat propelled only by clean, natural wind power. Your entire $25 per-person donation goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Sign up for a two-hour sail on the Solstice with Offshore Sailing School now! Pick your time and use a handy "book now" form. The event takes place Monday, June 21 at three locations: Liberty Landing Marina, NJ, Chelsea Piers, NYC or Ft. Myers Beach, FL. Available Times : 10 am to noon, 1-3 pm, 3:30-5:30 pm, 6-8 pm. Please pick the time you wish to sail when you register. Registrations must be received no later than 5 p.m. on June 18. Advance reservations are required. After you have reserved your sailing time with Offshore Sailing School register for great prizes at SummerSailstice.com. Register here: www.offshoresailing.com/payments/summer-sailstice.aspx. Call 888-454-7015 weekdays 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. or email Janet@offshoresailing.com.

Come On Down, the Water's Just Fine!

Barb Hansen from Southwest Florida Yachts and Florida Sailing and Cruising School wants to be sure everyone knows. . .

"It seems that we are once again surrounded by bad news and a lot of misinformation on a daily basis! However, we want you all to know one thing: THERE IS NO OIL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA! Our cruising area and beaches are just as beautiful as ever. Come and join us soon and see for yourself!

There is a lot of talk these days about the oil hitting the Gulf “Loop Current.” The Loop Current is more than 200 miles from Southwest Florida! Even if the oil got into that current, the chances are better that it would be taken away from our shores than they are of having the oil head to our beaches.

The Florida tourism bureau puts out updates every day on this event. Here is what one of their recent updates said:

“At this time, there has been no impact to Florida's 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline, 1,197 miles of coastline and 663 miles of beaches.”

“It's unlikely at this point that oil from the spill will affect Lee County or southwest Florida, said John Wilson, the county's director of public safety.” We still have some sail and power yachts available for the upcoming Holiday weekends!

Take advantage of SWFYachts “3-Day Charter Getaway” and plan a long weekend afloat! The islands of Sanibel & Captiva await you! Contact Florida Sailing and Cruising School. 239.656.1339. Visit them online: www.flsailandcruiseschool.com.

Ondeck Atlantic Challenge Arrives in Portsmouth



Ondeck Skipper Pete Whitelaw and crew Mark Barton, Rory Johnson and Roger Johnson became known as ‘The Rum Runners’ as they stepped off their 65ft yacht Spirit of Minerva at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth in the early hours of Saturday morning, completing the 3,500 nautical mile Atlantic Challenge from the Caribbean via The Azores. As well as Spirit of Minerva, three other Ondeck Farr 65 yachts completed the Atlantic Challenge. Each yacht sailed with a skipper and professional crew as well as those paying for the experience. 11 of the crew used the race as a qualifying passage to complete their Ocean Yachtmaster Certificate, but most of the competitors have never experienced an ocean passage before. The Ondeck Atlantic Challenge is a 3,500 nm race sailing from the Caribbean to the UK via the Azores. Photo courtesy of Ondeck.com. MORE: www.ondeck.co.uk.

Big Boat Show Discounts for All Sailors Down Under

Online ticket sales for the 50th Annual Melbourne Boat Show is up and running with big discounts and the chance to win great prizes to celebrate the Show’s 50th year. The Boating Industry Association Victoria (BIA) is offering a $2 discount on all adult and concession tickets bought online, plus a half-price children’s ticket and a special $25 two-day pas available only online. To celebrate the 50th Show, 1-5 July 2010, the BIA is offering online ticket buyers '50 prizes for 50 years' including everything from sunglasses, fishing rods and lifejackets to a Hobie kayak. To buy tickets online visit www.melbourneboatshow.com.au and follow the ticketing links. From: MarineBusiness-World.com.

Tech Talk

MaxSea Releases Time Zero PC Nav Version 1.9

MaxSea has released version 1.9 of their incredible Time Zero PC navigation product. This general user release has full support for ActiveCaptain keeping all of the data offline with full synchronization. Here's what Jeffrey Siegel, creator of ActiveCaptain had to say about MaxSea,

"We've been using MaxSea Time Zero since January. It is a totally amazing product providing unbelievable zooming and panning, unlike anything you've ever seen in a navigation product. It has an impressive array of features integrating everything you need. This software does everything. Here's what we think. If you're thinking about using your PC for planning and navigation or as a backup, get MaxSea Time Zero. Try it.

See everything it can do. We know you'll love it but if you don't, return it within 30 days for a full refund. We provide it for the guaranteed lowest price you'll find anywhere. If you find it for less within 30 days of purchase, we'll refund the difference. The product is delivered by download - there's nothing to ship and no shipping charges."

Here's the link: www.activecaptain.com/store/prodMSTZ.php.

New “Sea Squirts” Swim-Assist Vests & Life Jackets Fun & Functional



Sea Squirts is a uniquely designed swimming product that creatively combines unsurpassed safety, comfort and fun all in one. Sea Squirts are life jackets and swim assist vests created by Opa Cove to look like different types of fish and mammals in the sea. The Sea Squirts design includes a first-of-its-kind flexible fin on the back of each vest. That patent-pending technology of the FUN fin is not only entertaining for kids as they splash and swim, it is strong enough to be grabbed, while also holding the vest neck, to pluck a little one out of the water in an emergency situation. MORE: www.opacove.com.

Cool Things To Do

Sailing Cuba – Tonight in Ft. Lauderdale and Provincetown

An evening with Canadian sailor Wally Moran who will share his experience sailing from the Bahamas to Cuba via the Jumentos at 5:30 tonight (Thursday, June 10) at Bluewater Books & Charts in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact Bluewater at +1-954-763-6533 for details or visit 1811 Cordova Road in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 33316.

Or, in Provincetown, Mass -Marine journalist and Cuba expert Peter Swanson will speak on this topic during CubaCon 2010, a Cuban art and culture conference scheduled for June 10-13. He has developed a Web site, www.cubacruising.net, devoted to the prospect of cruising Cuba once the U.S. travel ban is lifted. Conference details at http://cubacon.com/. From: The-Triton.com.

Join BWS at the Grand Opening of West Marine's Flagship Store in Newport on Saturday, June 12th -10AM to 4PM



Come on out for the grand opening of West Marine's new 23,000 square foot flagship store, located at 379 West Main Road in Middletown, RI, Thursday, June 10th through Sunday, June 13th. The new store will be West Marine’s largest store in New England and will have more sail hardware, anchor, docking, electrical, plumbing and maintenance products than any West Marine store in the country.

The grand opening kicks off at 8am June 10th. That night, there will be a “Cruising For A Cause” charity event from 6-9pm. The event will include a steel band, food, beverages, goodie bags and a power boat docking challenge with remote controlled boats in addition to other fun activities. Admission is just $10 and all admission proceeds benefit local junior sailing programs as well as other boating non-profit organizations. There will also be prize drawings, vendor demonstrations, free hot dogs and beverages, a Harken winch grinder competition, and a mini boat show. Plus, the first 100 customers each day get a free T-shirt.

Show up on Saturday, June 12 between 10AM and 4PM and visit the Blue Water Sailing table! The first 100 people who come by to say hi will get a free print or digital subscription to the magazine! MORE info online now at BWS.com.

Newport Bermuda Race: June 18-June 25

The 2010 Newport Bermuda Race starts Friday, June 18. This classic ocean race is a 630-mile thrash across the Gulf Stream to the Onion Patch. With 196 entries, the 47th Newport Bermuda Race fleet is on track to be the third largest in the race’s history. The race has a wide range of boats. Niklas Zennstrom’s Ran in her first year won the 2009 Fastnet Race and also took Class 1 in the Sydney-Hobart, while St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy winner in 2006 and 2008, Sinn Fein, owned by Peter Rebovich, is a victory away from matching one of sailing’s most hallowed records – three straight Bermuda Race wins. MORE: www.bermudarace.com.

Indian River Nautical Flea Market & Seafood Fest - July 24-25 – Vero Beach, FL

Check out the giant antique boat show and competition. Find new, used, close out, liquidation, boats, fishing rods, reels, lures and lines, antique collectibles and maps, teak furniture, tournament gear, nautical art, crafts and jewelry, marine artifacts, boating apparel, taxidermy and fish reproductions, diving equipment, marine accessories parts and floating docks. Indian River Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32967-5519.



20th Annual SSCA Downeast Gam to Be Held August 7



The 20th annual SSCA Downeast Gam will be held on Saturday, Aug. 7 starting at 11AM at Dick and Kathy de Grasse's cottage on Islesboro, Maine. There will be a dinghy raft-up around 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6 in Broad Cove. There is no admission fee for the Downeast Gam. The lunch Saturday is a potluck. Ice, grill, tables, name tags and such will be provided. Commemorative SSCA Maine Gam T shirts will be sold. Diesel, gas and fresh water are available nearby. Bring books to swap and stuff to sell or give away. Gilkey Harbor and Broad Cove are all-weather harbors on the east side of Islesboro Island with plenty of room, good holding and very few lobster pot buoys to get tangled up in. SSCA members and non-members are invited. Remember to mark your calendar and make your plans to be here before or after your travels further downeast or to Canada. Plan to spend a few days. If all goes according to plan we'll monitor VHF Channel 68 a few days before the Gam. SSCA Commodores Dick and Kathy de Grasse s/y Endeavour MORE: www.ssca.org.

Boat Rat's Tip of the Week

Rafting up at Anchor

Cruising in the company of other boats is always fun, particularly when children are small and find buddies to play with. Most skippers prefer to anchor separately so they can arrange their scope and tackle to meet the needs of their own boat, but for evening parties or to lie alongside another boat through the night, you have to learn how to raft up safely. The largest boat with the heaviest anchor and tackle should be the mother ship and get itself well hooked to the bottom before the smaller boat or boats come along side. Make sure to let out plenty of scope and anticipate possible wind changes during the night.

Once the mother ship is well hooked, bring the rafting boat alongside. Both boats should deploy as many fenders as possible to prevent hull scratches. The one real hazard for rafted boats is a large motorboat wake that causes the hulls to roll and can cause the rigs to get tangled. Adjust the rafting boat’s position so its mast is not in line with the mother ship’s mast. To make the raft secure, use bow and stern lines and then cross fore and aft spring lines.

Because you always have to be prepared, the rafted boat or boats should have their own anchors ready to deploy and should have checked out where they will go to anchor alone if the wind picks up or the raft becomes uncomfortable or dangerous.

Photo: 'Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Clubs' Annual Raft Up' / HISC-GYBlimp,2009.

Cruising Community

Standing Room Only? 25th Edition of the ARC is Fully Subscribed!

Interest in the 25th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has been "astonishing" says World Cruising Club communications director Jeremy Wyatt. The popular transatlantic cruising rally reached its maximum entry in March, almost three months ahead of previous years. Commenting on the popularity of the 25th ARC, Jeremy said: "In its 25 year history, the ARC has become the 'must-do' event on the cruising calendar, however interest in the ARC 2010 has been truly astonishing and we have also filled our reserve list."

Are you interested in joining ARC 2011? This annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 14 and 21 days. Entries for the 2011 rally will open in October. So to make sure you are first in the queue, register you interest now via the ARC website: www.worldcruising.com.



Brit Mayor to Set Sail on Sea Challenge

The outgoing Mayor of Whitchurch in the UK is taking to the seas in a sailing race in support of his nephew, who battled a rare childhood cancer. Councilor Vince Bradbury, who works as a project manager for the Ministry of Defence, picked up some top tips from sailing legend Dame Ellen MacArthur and Olympic sailing gold medallist Ben Ainslie at a training event to prepare for the JP Morgan Asset Management ‘Round the Island Race.’ The 48-year-old will join a crew on board The Ellen MacArthur Trust’s charity challenge boat to sail 50 nautical miles around the Isle of Wight, helping raise money for the trust. Around 16,000 sailors on 1,700 boats are set to take part in the 79th race on June 19, organised by the Island Sailing Club. Photo courtesy of Ellen MacArthur Challenge. MORE: http://original.justgiving.com/challengeellenmcarthurtrust2010.

Malta's Grand Harbour Marina Exploring Expansion



The Grand Harbour Marina, which operates the marina at Vittoriosa, believes there are other opportunities in Malta worth exploring, according to general manager Ben Stuart.

“We would like to expand the marina operation, and we believe there are a couple of other sites that could be useful to the yachting industry. We are also looking to expand overseas and together with Campers and Nicholson, which owns 70 percent of Grand Harbour Marina,” he tells The Times Business in an interview. From: Corporate Identities.

Cruising Green

Celebrating Our Oceans: World Ocean Day

"We are celebrating World Ocean Day, a date designated by the United Nations to recognize our relationship with the ocean through so many different ways. The official day was June 8, and around the world, through the World Ocean Network, The Ocean Project, and many other associations with ocean interests, events occurred to highlight the value of ocean resources. There was maritime festivals and beach clean-ups, school projects and environmental presentations the world over – in Africa and Asia, Europe and the Americas. What was once a bright idea is now an international event that for one brief moment focuses some part of ephemeral world interest on the ocean and its benefit for all mankind. By Peter Neill is Director of the World Ocean Observatory (www.thew2o.net), an internet-based place of exchange for ocean information and educational service.

In the wake of the Gulf oil spill that is threatening coastal Louisiana, conservation organizations from local to national are coordinating volunteers to assist in recovery efforts as needs arise. The Nature Conservancy and other great organizations with a history of on-the-ground conservation work in Louisiana — including the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, National Audubon Society, and National Wildlife Federation — are combining to implement an effective volunteer response and make a real difference in the Gulf oil spill recovery efforts. MORE: www.nature.org/.

Spread the word about the international celebration of World Oceans Day to help elevate public awareness and begin to change perceptions. Take pictures–both of beauty and destruction. Go snorkeling or sailing to refocus on the stunning, intricate ecosystems you’re responsible for. Thousands of organizations are participating in World Oceans Day celebrations; here’s a list of events around the country you can check out. Then use this international holiday to clean your sailboat with sea-friendly products. Sailors for the Sea compiled this excellent list of effective homemade green cleaning products to try on your boat. Photo courtesy of American Sailing Association.

Trazzler.com Teams Up With Seacology to Launch Contest for the Benefit of Island Preservation

Can travel make us better people? Can it make the world a better place? Is it possible to make a positive contribution to a community just by having traveled there? The folks at Trazzler.com believe that smart travel can accomplish all of this—and more—and they want to put this idea to the test (and send two Trazzlers on a one-of-a-kind eco-adventure). The CC knows just how much cruisers love to write about their voyages and how many are doing great humanitarian projects far and wide. This is your chance to share meaningful travel experiences that do good and go deeper.

The international non-profit environmental group Seacology is bringing the power of the written word to its preservation efforts by teaming with the online travel site to create travel opportunities for the benefit of island biodiversity and culture. The NEW Trazzler Travel Smart Contest will see two winning Trazzler.com contributors jet off on expeditions to experience first-hand the good work done by Seacology around the world. Like the organization’s renowned island preservation efforts, the contest is win-win for all involved.

Smart travel is active.  It is often committed to economic or environmental sustainability. The Trazzler Travel Smart Contest will reward contributors who share meaningful travel experiences that do good and go deeper. Winners will be selected by a jury that consists of Megan Cytron, Trazzler’s Executive Editor, Adam Rugel, Trazzler’s Founder and Seacology’s Executive Director Duane Silverstein.  Winners receive an ecotourism dream trip (valued at $7,500 each) to the South Pacific island of Tonga aboard the NAI’A, one of the world’s top dive and snorkel boats.

How to Win:

Read the Trazzler writing guide. Our travel-writing philosophy is different from anything else out there, so be sure to study up. We've also included examples of smart travel trips on Trazzler for inspiration. Enter now! The end date of the contest depends on how fast the community can help us reach a goal of 25,000,000 miles. Visit the Miles Page to follow the community's progress and help them reach the goal. Get at least 5 people to save your trips.

Trazzle away and invite your friends, family, and anyone who loves travel to do the same. The sooner the Trazzler community reaches 25 million miles, the sooner the prizes can be awarded.

Winners will be announced on the contest page, the Trazzler blog, and on Twitter. MORE: link|http://www.trazzler.com/contests/smarttravel|http://www.trazzler.com/contests/smarttravel]

Website of the Week

www.cleverpig.org/index.php



A Clever Newsletter for Aspiring Sailors

The Southport Sailing Foundation launched the CleverPig.org website in 2008 to help young American sailors take the next step in their sailing careers. Now they are reaching out to supporters and the sailing community with a free monthly online newsletter called Clever Pig Update. The newsletter’s debut issue, dated April 2010, is packed with valuable information and provides sailors with free advice and inspiration for their sailing campaigns. Some of the highlights of Clever Pig Update include interviews with successful teams; links to all the major sailing events including monthly deadlines, grant announcements and application deadlines; profiles of coaches; a look at some of the best websites created by CleverPig.org users; and fun monthly contests. Sailors can sign up for Clever Pig Update by signing on the website and following the link “Get Our Free Newsletter”. From: Media Pro International.

For The Hungry Crew...

Try this great, refreshing “milkshake” that is simple to make. You will find these available just about everywhere in the Dominican Republic. Since it requires a fair amount of ice, you’ll probably only be able to make it while in port somewhere (unless you are on one of those fortunate yachts with an ice maker!). Feel free to add whatever fruit is available—strawberries, papayas, mangos, bananas and pineapples are all good choices. You can substitute sweetened condensed milk for the evaporated milk and sugar.

Batidas

• 2 C cubed fruit
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1/4 C evaporated milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Fill up the blender with about 2 cups of ice (smaller pieces are better) and blend for a minute or so to make the milkshakes thick and smooth.

Mindbender

Environmental Catastrophe

Is it conceivable that the oil that has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico could end up in all the world's oceans? If so, how could it get there?

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.

• As many of us struggle with whether or not to cruise places where piracy is an ongoing issue, CC readers chimed in on the top precautions they would take in order to stay safe to answer last week's Mindbender question. Some suggested avoiding dangerous places all together, while others still endorse the carrying of firearms. Congrats to our winner, known simply as "cruiser". Here are their tips:
  
  1. Be aware of your surroundings--surprise is not a good thing. Be aware of all vessels approaching your vessel and warn them to stay away.
  
  2. Travel in groups.
  
  3. Do not broadcast your departure time or destinations to dock personnel or to public nets.
  
  4. Always lift and lock your dinghy and motor when not in use.
  
  5. Keep a good listening watch on VHF