In my new novel, The Shantyman, the clipper ship Alhambra nearly collides with a massive ice island. From Chapter Nine: In the forenoon watch came the cry, “Ice, dead ahead.” It was my watch below, but I jumped up with the rest … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
What should a ghost ship be made of? Why not water, wind and light? That is precisely what the designers at the Romanian Art collective Visual Skin used to create the Flying Dutchman, a glowing ghost ship anchored in front … Continue reading
Given the recent discussion about where a derelict might drift in the Atlantic, here is an interesting news item from the Pacific. Four years after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami which hit Japan and washed an estimated 5 … Continue reading
The hospital ship USNS Comfort recently deployed on a five month mission to Central and South America and the Caribbean. The ship will call on eleven nations in support of Continuing Promise 2015. The ship sailed with a new captain, the third, … Continue reading
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority of Washington State, owns and operates two tall ships, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain. In the past five years they have introduced over 42,000 school children to tall ship sailing and program up and down the entire … Continue reading
One of the more interesting questions about Louis Jordan’s ordeal is “why didn’t he drift farther north on the Gulf Stream?” Jordan was dismasted in his Alberg 35 sailboat, named Angel, somewhere off the North Carolina coast in January and … Continue reading
A fire broke out today on the 23 year old Russian Oscar class K-266 Orel nuclear submarine in a drydock in the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk on the White Sea. Reportedly, a welding torch set insulation on fire. The shipyard has … Continue reading
These days just about anything with a mast or two is called a “tall ship.” Some are and many are not. One ship that definitely qualifies is Rhode Island’s Oliver Hazard Perry. A dedicated team of riggers has just about … Continue reading
This would be funny, if it weren’t sad. Last week the German container ship, Houston Express, picked up Louis Jordan, who had been drifting off Cape Hatteras for a reported 66 days in his dis-masted Alberg 35 sailboat, Angel. The … Continue reading
In 1780, the French frigate, l’Hermione carried the Marquis de Lafayette to America with the news of French support for the American revolution. In the next month or so, the newly completed replica frigate l’Hermione will recreate that historic voyage. … Continue reading
In case you missed the lunar eclipse early this morning, visible from 2AM to 6:30AM Pacific time, here is the four hour eclipse in one minute,courtesy of the Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory. Thanks to Phil Leon for passing it along. … Continue reading
Reading about sailing in the media is often like reading a mystery story. The question is not, however, “who done it?” but “what really happened?” The reports of Louis Jordan who was found adrift in his disabled sailboat off Cape … Continue reading
On Monday, the US Coast Guard rescued nine crew members from the schooner, Liana’s Ransom, off the coast of Maine, after the schooner suffered engine failure and her sails became fouled. There are now reports that the schooner also lost … Continue reading
Dalniy Vostok, a Russian freezer trawler, has sunk in the Sea of Okhotsk off the Kamchatka peninsula. Of the 132 people aboard, 56 are reported to have died, while 13 remain missing. Sixty-three people were rescued. The trawler sank quickly at around 06:30 local … Continue reading
On April 1, often referred to as April Fool’s Day, it seems fitting to recount the voyage of Hugo Vihlen in his micro-yacht April Fool. In 1966, Hugo Vihlen sailed from Casablanca to Florida, aboard his 5’11” sailboat. In 84 … Continue reading
A short video providing a glimpse of life aboard TeeKay’s Aframax tanker European Spirit. Life at Sea | European Spirit … Continue reading
From May 20 — May 26 an estimated 1,500 Navy sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will visit New York City in celebration of Fleet Week New York. Which ships will participate and what events are planned for them have not yet been announced. … Continue reading
Last week we posted that the Working Harbor Committee is sponsoring the showing of a wonderful documentary on the MV Liemba, an ex-German warship, a minor movie star, and also, at one hundred years old, the world’s oldest passenger ferry in service. The documentary … Continue reading
Surf photographer Ray Collins recently released a series of amazing photographs of ocean waves. Below is a short video of of the photographs and how he captured the amazing shots. … Continue reading
Here is a reminder just how difficult it is to fund, build, operate and maintain historic or replica ships. Those who do so successfully, deserve more credit than they receive. The Irish Examiner recently described how the replica “famine ship” Jeanie Johnson has … Continue reading