Back in 2010, we posted that “When and If“, a 1939 Alden schooner built for General George Patton, was for sale, as a result of the then current owner’s divorce. The 63’5” schooner was named “When and If” because Patton … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
The clipper ship City of Adelaide is supposed to be transported by heavy-lift ship back to Australia in the near future. Scottish taxpayers have already chipped in $1.2 million. The City of Adelaide Trust, however, has been unable to book … Continue reading
In wholly unrelated news, one day after the people of Pittsburgh held a party on the Allegheny River to celebrate the arrival of the Rubber Duck (as well as to kick-off the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts), see our recent … Continue reading
We recently posted about a serious molasses spill in Honolulu harbor which has killed 26,000 fish and may have longer term consequences for the harbor ecology. Rick Austin was kind enough to forward an article about a far larger and … Continue reading
A new review from Historic Naval Fiction: Alaric Bond‘s new novel, Turn A Blind Eye, moves away from his ‘Fighting Sail’ series and the Royal Navy to the world of smuggling on the South Coast of England. It follows Commander Griffin … Continue reading
Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s inflatable sculpture, “Spreading Joy Around the World,” universally known simply as “Rubber Duck” has arrived in Pittsburgh after spending the spring and summer on Hong Kong. Pittsburgh will be the 14th city on the Rubber Duck’s … Continue reading
The oldest surviving clipper clipper ship, City of Adelaide, was towed on its barge to Chatham where she will be fumigated. In mid-October, the 1864 built composite clipper ship will be moved to Greenwich, near the just slightly younger composite … Continue reading
What is worse than an oil spill? A molasses spill, apparently. There are ways to clean up after an oil spill, whereas no one knows how clean up spilled molasses. Earlier this month, a Matson pipeline spilled 1,400 tons (233,000 … Continue reading
The comeback by Oracle Team USA has been nothing short of amazing. Oracle appeared to be facing certain defeat, with only one more win needed by Emirates Team New Zealand to clinch the Cup. Nevertheless, Oracle came back with eight … Continue reading
Oracle Team USA has come screaming back from what appeared to be an impossible deficit, winning the last 7 races. In total races, they have now won 10 to the Kiwi’s 8. Only the two race penalty assessed for past … Continue reading
For thirty years, Greenpeace has used “non-violent direct action” in their environmental protests. In recent years, Greenpeace activists have boarded drilling platforms to disrupt operations. In most cases, the protesters involved were arrested, made to pay fines for trespass and were … Continue reading
If you take a cruise on a ship owned by Carnival, you may want to bring along a flashlight. The newest Princess Cruises ship, the Royal Princess, suffered a power outage while sailing between Mykonos and Naples. Power was reported to … Continue reading
After looking like they were in an impossibly deep hole, Oracle Team USA has come charging back. Only last Wednesday, Emirates Team New Zealand was on the verge of winning the America’s Cup. They had won 8 of the 9 … Continue reading
On July 24th, the Dutch sail-training brig Astrid sank after running aground on rocks on the Irish coast on the western mouth of Oysterhaven, near Cork. On September 13th, the ship was lifted off the rocks using a 937-tonne floating … Continue reading
Scientists have found the record of a whale’s life in, of all places, its ear. The carcass of a blue whale, which died after being struck by a ship, has yielded a 10″ slab of ear wax which researchers have … Continue reading