We hope that everyone is having a most merry Christmas. Here is a poem by C. Fox Smith adapted for song by Charlie Ipcar. As we posted last June, Cecily Fox Smith was a Victorian poet best remembered for her poems about … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
In the end of November, the Team Vestas Wind, racing in the Volvo Ocean Race, ran aground on a reef in the remote Cargados Carajos archipelago about 430 km to the northeast of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. There were no injuries and the crew … Continue reading
Recently, History.com featured an article titled “Found: San Francisco’s Deadliest Shipwreck.” They reported that the wreck of the 345-foot Pacific Mail Line passenger steamer SS City of Rio de Janeiro had been found by NOAA researchers using high-definition sonar in 287 feet … Continue reading
For roughly the last ten years, UK Sailmakers of Mandelieu, France has been developing Uni-Titanium sails, in which thin sheets of uni-directional carbon films are laminated into the sail. They are now partnering with the Solar Cloth Company of the UK to develop … Continue reading
NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day: Today the solstice occurs at 23:03 Universal Time, the Sun reaching its southernmost declination in planet Earth’s sky. Of course, the December solstice marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and summer … Continue reading
On this the first day of Winter, as the darkness closes in around us, it seems appropriate to take a few minutes to escape, virtually at least, to shores where it is the first day of Summer. Here is a short … Continue reading
On July 30, 1942, Herbert Claudius in command of the patrol boat PC 566 was escorting passenger ship passenger ship Robert E. Lee in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The German U-boat U-166 … Continue reading
Joel Abrahamsson, from Gothenburg, Sweden, recently caught a 15′ long 1,247 pound Greenland shark while fishing from a kayak near the island of Andoria, in Norway. The catch sets a new world record for a fish caught with a rod and reel from … Continue reading
Last May, we posted about concerns over high concentrations of sewage and garbage in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay, where 2016 Olympic sailing competitions are slated to be held. Now scientists at a Rio de Janeiro research institute have found what they call … Continue reading
The SS United States Conservancy issued a press release signed by Susan Gibbs on Monday announcing: Exciting Redevelopment Milestone Achieved We are very pleased to confirm that we have now entered into a preliminary agreement in support of the redevelopment of … Continue reading
Back in 2010, we posted that some members of NATO were uncomfortable with a French contract to build two, with an option for two more, Mistral-class amphibious assault ships for Russia. The first ship, the Vladivostok, was supposed to be delivered … Continue reading
Joan Druett has a wonderful new book out — Eleanor’s Odyssey. Now available in paperback and soon as an ebook. Eleanor’s Odyssey: Journal of the Captain’s Wife on the East Indiaman Friendship, 1799-1801 by Joan Druett It was 1799, and … Continue reading
As far as I am concerned the Baltimore clippers under sail are among the most beautiful traditional sailing ships on the face of the watery planet. As we slip into winter here is lovely video by Pierre Henkart of the Pride of Baltimore II … Continue reading
Another case of “I read it on the internet so it must be true.” The Internet spoof site, World News Daily Report posted “Mysterious Remains of A Whale Found in a Field in Utah” in which it claims dairy farmer, … Continue reading
We recently posted about the retired oyster dredging schooners A.J. Meerwald and the Ada C. Lore. Here is a wonderful short video featuring an interview with Arthur “Daddy Art” Daniels, a 93 year old skipjack captain, who is still dredging oysters … Continue reading
This morning we posted that the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry organization is looking for Licensed Mates. They are also looking for a qualified Engineer. Engineer Job Description: OHPRI is seeking an Engineer for SSV Oliver Hazard Perry to join the … Continue reading
The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry organization is looking for Licensed Mates. The 200-foot square-rigged tall ship Oliver Hazard Perry is Rhode Island’s official Sailing Education Vessel, the largest of its kind to have been built in this country in the last … Continue reading
A week ago at about 2AM, at least 50 feet of the breakwater in Eastport, Maine collapsed into the inner harbor. Pat Donahue, a local fisherman and caretaker of the 1923 schooner Ada C. Lore, suffered minor injuries when the breakwater collapsed. The … Continue reading
Here is yet another case of the media taking a wildly inaccurate sets of claims about ships at face value. The news media has been touting a new study by the environmental group Friends of the Earth. The title of the … Continue reading
Tall Ships Philadelphia – Camden is being held on June 25-28, 2015 on the Delaware River. Normally I wouldn’t post about an event so far in the future, but the tickets for the event have now gone on sale. So … Continue reading