The El Estero Fire – the Greatest Nautical Disaster that Didn’t Happen

Bowsprite was kind enough to pass along this forgotten moment in history, which fits in well with recent posts.  Like the case of the Liberty ship SS Richard Montgomery, it involves a ship loaded with high explosives and like the apparent “Blind Date” hoax, … Continue reading

US Sailing – Yacht Aegean Sank After Hitting North Coronado Island in Newport to Ensenada Race

In the early morning hours of April 28th, the yacht Aegean disappeared and sank in the Newport to Ensenada Race.  Wreckage of the  sailboat and the bodies of the fours sailors who had been aboard were subsequently found nearby. After initial speculation that there … Continue reading

Struck by a Breaching Whale – Circumnavigator Max Young Rescued off Baja

Since 1985, Max Young has sailed his Perry 50, Reflections, around the world.  He survived storm, calm, tsunami and pirates off Indonesia.  His voyage came to an end early Wednesday morning off Baja in the Pacific, 40 miles west of La Playa, Mexico, when a … Continue reading

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival 2012 – A Music and Environmental Festival, 6/16 – 6/17

If you are anywhere near the the village of Croton-on-Hudson, NY (about 30 miles north of New York City), Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival 2012 promises to be a great weekend of music, storytelling and sailing. Over forty years ago, the folk singer, Pete … Continue reading

Diving Dock Dogs and a Tall Ship at the Sailing Seaway Clayton Festival

There have been lots of festivals this season with tall ships, but how many can boast dock diving dogs?  Last October, we posted about the new and growing sport of dock dogs, where dogs competing on how far they can jump into the water. … Continue reading

Mysterious Explosion – Yacht Blind Date Reported Sunk off New Jersey Coast, Possible Hoax

A very odd news report from this afternoon. At around 4:20 PM, a yacht identified as the Blind Date is reported to have exploded with 21 people aboard in the Atlantic, about 17.5 miles off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, according to NBC New York.  The people aboard are said to have … Continue reading

Happy Kamehameha Day ! – King Kamehameha, Isaac Davis, John Young and the Fair American

Happy Kamehameha Day!  In the state of Hawaii, June 11th is celebrated as Kamehameha Day, honoring  Kamehameha the Great, the king who unified the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1810.  The holiday was established in 1871 by King Kamehameha V, Kamehameha’s great grandson. … Continue reading

Baltimore’s “Star-Spangled Sailabration” Kicks Off War of 1812 Bicentennial Festivities

Starting this Wednesday, June 13th, Baltimore, MD will host its “Star-Spangled Sailabration,”  a week long festival with 18 tall ships and  22 naval vessels, marking the start of Maryland’s three year commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812.   In addition to the parade … Continue reading

Iowa Class Battleship News – USS Iowa Makes Final Journey, USS New Jersey Gets a Loan and USS Missouri Saves the World From Aliens

These are busy time for the World War II vintage Iowa Class battleships. The USS Iowa arrived yesterday in the Port of Los Angeles to tie up alongside her new permanent home, Berth 87, in San Pedro, California, where she will become … Continue reading

Remembering and Possibly Rediscovering Cook’s HMS Endeavour

The recent transit of Venus, the passing of the shadow of the planet Venus across the face of the sun, brought to mind the voyage of Captain Cook in HMS Endeavour in 1768-1771.  Now, archaeologists in Rhode Island believe they may have … Continue reading

British Solo Rowers Sarah Outen & Charlie Martell Rescued from Tropical Cyclone Marwar

Tropical cyclone Marwar ended attempts by two solo British rowers to row across the Pacific this week.  Sarah Outen, 27, was attempting to traverse the globe using only human power, by either rowing, kayaking or cycling.   She began her … Continue reading

Explosive-Laden Liberty Ship SS Richard Montgomery May Sink Thames Estuary Airport

The Liberty ship SS Richard Montgomery, with a cargo of high explosives, was wrecked off the Nore in the Thames Estuary in 1944.  Shortly after the wreck, an attempt was made to remove her cargo but the ship broke apart with … Continue reading

Killer Whales Only Deadly in Captivity – New Ruling Protects Trainers, Who Protects the Orcas?

A recent ruling by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, determined that orca trainers must either remain at a greater distance from the orcas, stand behind a physical barrier or use other devices to keep them safer during performances. This ruling … Continue reading