The temperatures in Australia have been hotter than ever recorded in history. Wildfires are raging, filling the air of several cities, including Sydney, with acrid smoke. Drought is choking a significant portion of the country. As bad as things are … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
The five 100′ long maxi yachts dominated the 75th sailing of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, each finishing the 630 nautical mile race within the same two-hour window. Commanche took line honors finishing the race in 1 day, 18 … Continue reading
When Category 4 Hurricane Harvey devastated coastal Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, the US Coast Guard was there to assist in the rescue. Harvey was the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States and is tied as … Continue reading
Yahoo recently reported that a group of divers happened upon a gruesome sight in the Cayman Islands — hundreds of decomposing sharks and other sea creatures tangled up in a floating “ghost net.” Dominick Martin-Mayes, a 27-year-old fisherman and diving … Continue reading
Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate the holiday. Here is a short video of the rigging crew of Matt Otto, Nick Canzellarini and Alex Peacock at Mystic Seaport Museum installing one of the many mast-top Christmas trees atop the … Continue reading
Like so many coastal cities, Stockholm has grown larger and its harbor smaller over time as landfill and buildings have replaced waterways and docks. The Local reports that over the past year, work has been going on in the Kungsträdgården … Continue reading
We recently posted about the 105th anniversary of the Battle of the Falklands and the discovery of the wreckage of the German armored cruiser, SMS Scharnhorst, which was sunk in the battle. In researching these posts there was one bit of historical … Continue reading
USNI News recently quoted Adm. Tony Radakin, the First Sea Lord and U.K. Chief of Naval Staff suggesting that the U.K. Royal Navy intends the HMS Queen Elizabeth its largest, most advanced warship ever built, to be considered interchangeable with … Continue reading
The Galveston Historical Foundation has announced its yearly daysails on the 1877 Barque Elissa. The day sails will be on April 3rd, 4th, and 5th. From the announcement: Join us for a one of a kind outdoor adventure aboard the … Continue reading
This morning while maneuvering to come into the dock at Cozumel, Mexico, the cruise ship Carnival Glory, collided with the docked cruise ship, Carnival Legend, and narrowly averted hitting the Royal Caribbean Lines Oasis of the Seas, which was also … Continue reading
The new America’s Cup AC75 monohulls flying across the water on foils look like other-worldly beasts to a traditionalist’s eye. How does one sail those things? Very carefully, apparently. The other day, Emirates Team New Zealand was testing their boat, … Continue reading
At NASSCO in San Diego, they have begun cutting steel for a new Navy oiler, T-AO-206, to be named the USNS Harvey Milk. When completed it will be the second of the John Lewis class of underway replenishment oilers, operated … Continue reading
If our post yesterday about the North Pacific Blob sounded like something from 1950s sci-fi, then our post today – Invasion of the Penis Fish – must sound like 1960s porn. In fact, thousands of worms looking considerably like penises … Continue reading
In the 1958 sci-fi/horror film, the Blob is a gooey mass from outer space which eventually grows the size of a small building while devouring everyone it encounters. The Blob cannot stand cold and is finally stopped by being airlifted … Continue reading
International yacht racing is incredibly expensive. That is unquestionably true of the America’s Cup races. Recently, the Financial Times spoke to British sailing champion Ben Ainslie about his concerns that the race is too expensive to remain viable. The cost … Continue reading
Australian researchers using a genetic ‘clock’ to predict animals’ lifespans have determined that bowhead whales may live for an average of 268 years. They came to this conclusion from studying 42 genes and a chemical process they undergo called methylation … Continue reading
Perhaps we have been too hard on the USS Gerald R. Ford. Sure her weapons elevators don’t work and for tactical purposes the most expensive warship ever built may be little more than a $13 billion berthing barge. Nevertheless, at … Continue reading
Many years ago, I had the good fortune to sail with a volunteer crew of Patrick O’Brian aficionados from New York to Bermuda on the replica frigate HMS Rose. Despite being rather short on wind, it was a memorable voyage. … Continue reading
In May of 2020, the barque Picton Castle will embark on another epic voyage, this time to the South Pacific. Trainees may sign aboard for the year-long voyage or for any of the four legs of the trip. The Picton … Continue reading
The most up to date information we have now is that there were 47 people on New Zealand’s White Island when the volcano billed as “one of the world’s most active volcano” erupted. There are now six confirmed dead, five … Continue reading