The octopus is an amazing creature, the most intelligent and agile of all invertebrates. A look at new research on how they keep track of their eight arms. Smart Arms Control the Potential Chaos of Octopus Movement … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
Yesterday we posted an interview by George Jepson from the May/June issue of the McBooks Press newsletter “Quarterdeck.” Here is Jepson’s review of my latest novel “The Shantyman” from the same issue. The Shantyman by Rick Spilman George Anderson, retired from a … Continue reading
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the launching of HMS Victory, here is a rolling broadside, fired by none other than HMS Victory. The ship is beginning a £50million restoration project in an attempt to preserve Nelson’s flagship for future generations. For … Continue reading
Iran is reporting that it has released the container ship Maersk Tigris. The ship had been seized on April 28th as it transited the Strait of Hormuz. Neither Maersk Line, which is the ship’s charterer, nor Rickmers Shipmanagement, which manages the … Continue reading
I am very pleased to have been interviewed by George Jepson in the May/June issue of the McBooks Press‘ newsletter “Quarterdeck.” If you haven’t run across “Quarterdeck” you should take a look. (A subscription is free.) This issue includes my … Continue reading
Does Iran have any conceivable case for seizing the Maersk Tigris? The short answer is “no.” The slightly longer answer might be “absolutely not” or “under no circumstances.” Iran is claiming a decade old cargo dispute as the basis for … Continue reading
Sailors stand on the flight deck of the HMS Lancaster, known as the “Queen’s Frigate,” in a special congratulatory message to Prince George, passing on the news that he now has a sister. … Continue reading
A week ago, tragedy struck at the Dauphin Island Regatta on Mobile Bay, when a powerful squall packing winds of almost 70 knots struck the assembled fleet. Six sailors were lost. The bodies of five sailors have been found. The … Continue reading
On April 20th, the 105′ trimaran Lending Club 2 sailed from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda in an amazing 23 hours, 9 minutes and 52 seconds, beating the previous record by a 15 hours. Lending Club 2 sailed the 635-nautical mile passage at an average … Continue reading
Once again, May 2nd is International Scurvy Awareness Day! The festivities appear to be sponsored by a group calling itself Lime Strong. I am not sure whether this is an individual or a marketing arm for lime growers. Nevertheless, there … Continue reading
I am very excited about Linda Collison‘s new book, Water Ghosts. Coming soon from Old Salt Press. A teenaged boy on a summer adventure sailing aboard a traditional Chinese junk, believes the ship to be controlled by ghosts from the … Continue reading
At first, it sounded like a tragic story with a very predictable moral. A 46 year old male kayaker capsized, while not wearing a lifejacket, and was believed to have drowned. His 36 year old female paddling partner, who was wearing … Continue reading
Sailing School Vessel (SSV) Oliver Hazard Perry will be docking at her new permanent berth this Saturday at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI. She is the first ocean-going full-rigged ship built in America in over a century. She will … Continue reading
Yesterday, we posted about the Maersk Tigris, a 5470-TEU container ship, which was detained by boats from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Here is what we know so far. 1. Is the Maersk Tigris a “U.S. cargo ship?” No. Initially, Saudi owned Al-Arabiya and several … Continue reading
The Marshall Island flagged container ship Maersk Tigris sailing from the Saudi port of Jeddah, bound for the United Arab Emirates port of Jebel Ali, was intercepted by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz. As reported by Bloomberg, the ship was … Continue reading