New York Harbor Weekend – Racing Tug Boats and Red Tide

Posted on by September 7, 2010

Photo: Will Van Dorp

It was a beautiful and busy weekend in New York harbor.  On Sunday, I missed the 18th Annual Running of the Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition but Will over at the Tugster blog has some great photos.   For the real tug fans, the big, annual Waterford Tugboat Roundup starts this Thursday, September 9th and carries on through Sunday, the 12th.  Waterford is about 160 miles north of New York City at the junction of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers.

And by the way, anyone struck with “tug life envy” should definitely read Bowsprite’s recent post, “how to simulate the tugboat feeling.”
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Energy from Waves in Oregon and Maine

Posted on by September 5, 2010

Two projects are underway in Maine and Oregon to produce energy from ocean waves.   Ocean Renewable Power Company, in Maine, is using horizontal turbines to capture the energy of ebbing and flooding tides.  Initial tests have met or exceeded their targets and the company hopes to install a commercial version of the the test turbines now in place and be hooked in to the Bangor Hydro Electric Company grid as soon as 2011.

Maine offshore energy project exceeds expectations
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The Search for the Bonhomme Richard

Posted on by September 5, 2010

The Ocean Technology Foundation has been searching for John Paul Jones’  famous flagship, the Bonhomme Richard for the last five years.  They now believe that they are closing in on the wreck. On this year’s expedition both the US and French Navies are joining in to help.   The US Navy’s oceanographic survey ship USNS HENSON (T-AGS 63) with oceanographers from the Naval Oceanographic Office and state-of-the-art underwater survey technology will join the hunt as will a French Navy mine hunting ship.

Undersea Search Is On for Famous Revolutionary War Ship

Baltic Shipwreck with “World’s Oldest Champagne” and now the “World’s Oldest Beer”

Posted on by May 14, 2021

In July, we posted about a Baltic shipwreck on which divers found 30 bottles of champagne thought to pre-date the French Revolution. (see Baltic Bubbly – ‘World’s oldest champagne’)   On subsequent dives, smaller bottles have been recovered which apparently contain beer.  Let’s hope they keep exploring. Who knows what they may find next.

Åland salvage the world’s oldest beer
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Top 5 Hurricane Vulnerable & Overdue Cities

Posted on by September 4, 2010

Hurricane Earl, or rather tropical storm Earl, spun its way past New York, far enough out to sea so we  had neither wind nor rain to mark his passing.   Having missed this hurricane,  here is an interesting article on Weather.com that lists the top five most vulnerable and overdue  cities for a very significant hurricane impact.   They are:

Top 5 Hurricane Vulnerable & Overdue Cities

  1. Miami, FL
  2. New York, NY
  3. Tampa, FL
  4. Savannah, GA
  5. Atlantic City, NJ

Living here on the banks of the Hudson River, the number 2 on the list did catch my eye.

Newport, RI Labor Day Festivities Rearranged Slightly by Earl

Posted on by September 4, 2010

After Earl, some R.I. weekend events adjust schedules

To give participants in the Museum of Yachting’s 31st annual Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport time to get their boats back in the water in the wake of the storm, races scheduled for Saturday afternoon have been canceled. Continue reading →

Earl Delays Opening of Camden Festival; Some Events Cancelled at Gloucester

Posted on by September 3, 2010

Hurricane Earl appears not to be likely to make landfall on the US East Coast but the expected winds and seas have rearranged some schedules. The Camden Windjammer Festival originally scheduled to start today has been postponed to 4PM on Saturday.   The Gloucester Schooner Festival has cancelled several outdoor activities but otherwise is on course, for now.

Happy Merchant Navy Day!

Posted on by September 3, 2010

Badge of the British Merchant Navy

Happy Merchant Navy Day!   In Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand today, September 3rd, is celebrated as Merchant Navy Day – an official day of remembrance of the sacrifices made by merchant mariners in war-time.  In World War I and World War II, over 45, 000 British merchant mariners lost their lives.   The observance began in Great Britain in 2000, in Canada in 2001, and in Australia in 2008.   This years is New Zealand’s first official observance of Merchant Navy Day.    In the United Sates, May 22nd has been celebrated as National Maritime Day since 1933.

Mariner Energy Oil Platform Explodes in the Gulf of Mexico

Posted on by September 2, 2010

An oil platform operated by Mariner Energy exploded today near Vermilion Bay in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. One worker was reported injured. No one was killed and no significant oil spill resulted.   Mariner Energy has been involved at least 13 offshore accidents since 2006 in Gulf of Mexico waters — including a blowout and four fires.

Oil platform explodes off La. coast; crew rescued

Mariner involved in 13 Gulf accidents since ’06, seven with violations

One Day Before Explosion, Mariner Energy Employees Rallied Against  Offshore Oil Drilling Moratorium

Festival Sails into San Diego Bay Today

Posted on by September 2, 2010

The 2010 Port of San Diego Festival of Sail kicks off today with a parade of tall ships on San Diego Bay at 11 a.m.   The festival runs runs through September 6th  and features more than 20 tall ships and other vessels from around the world, including the Californian, a replica of the original America’s Cup racing yacht America, the gaff topsail schooner Bill of Rights, the Kaisei, a brigantine from Antigua. For a more complete list of participating ships click here.  It sounds like a great festival, and unlike the East Coast, the weather is forecast to be beautiful.

Festival sails into San Diego Bay

Hurricane Earl vs Labor Day Weekend – Will the Schooners Sail?

Posted on by September 2, 2010

Two major maritime festivals on the US East coast, scheduled for the Labor Day weekend, appear to be generally in the path of Hurricane Earl.    The organizers of the  Twenty-Sixth Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival and schooner race and the Camden Windjammer Festival, both of which are scheduled for September 3 -6, will be watching the Earl’s path closely.  So far the Downtown Gloucester Block Party has been cancelled and a note on the website reads:  If weather conditions require changes be made to this weekend’s festivities, information will be posted on this website.

The folks in Camden are keeping an eye to weather as well. The Bangor Daily News reports:
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Moby Dick with Dragons? This Can’t Be Good

Posted on by August 31, 2010

This can’t be good unless it is so bad that it is good. A new movie is coming out whose high concept pitch had to be, “It is Moby Dick but with dragons, instead of whales.”  The trailer is below and the plot summary from IMDB is after the jump.  Notice that whaleship Rachel in the book has morphed into Ahab’s beautiful daughter and love interest for Ishmael.  Danny Glover plays Ahab and while the lovely newcomer Sofia Pernas plays Rachel.
Age of the Dragons

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British and French to Share Carriers?

Posted on by September 1, 2010

Timeshare Carriers"

What would Lord Nelson have thought of this?  There were various news reports out recently that the British and the French may share aircraft carriers.

UK, France closer to carrier sharing deal

Britain and France are moving closer to a deal to share aircraft carriers, a British newspaper reported Tuesday — a move that could save the one-time rivals money in an age of austerity. The possibility of pooling carriers has been suggested before, but The Times of London claimed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron were due to outline the proposal during a planned November summit.
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The Asian Carp Invasion – Kayaker Hit by Flying Carp

Posted on by September 1, 2010

Last week, a paddler in a kayak race on the Missouri River was hit on the side of his face by a 20-30 pound jumping carp, almost causing him to capsize. Fortunately he was not seriously injured but had to retire from the race due to a significant headache.

Asian big head and silver carp were first brought to the southern United States back in the 1970s to clean catfish farms, and they have made their way north through the Mississippi River basin spreading to the Missouri River and the Wabash Rivers,  also invading Canadian waters, particularly the Great Lakes.  Not only are they a threat to native fish, but have proven to be dangerous to recreational boater.  Silver carp, in particular, are notorious for jumping when excited.

Flying carp hits racing kayaker in the head
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Mir-2 mini-sub Finds Czar’s Gold Treasure on Baikal Lake bed ?

Posted on by August 31, 2010

Intriguing, if it turns out to be true.

Czar’s gold treasure found on Baikal Lake bed

The legendary gold treasure of Russia’s last Czar could have been found by Mir-2 mini submarine on the bed of the world’s deepest fresh water lake Baikal in Siberia, according to reports.
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Diaries tell forgotten story of Nelson’s nurse

Posted on by July 7, 2011

An intriguing article from the Independent.  Elizabeth Wynne was Lord Nelson’s nurse following the loss of his arm.  She left 40 volumes of diaries and was a witness to several key events of the 18th century.   She married one of Nelson’s “band of brothers”, Admiral Thomas Fremantle.  Nevertheless her diaries and the story of her life were almost lost to history.  For the first time, a definitive biography of “Betsey” Wynne is being written.

Diaries tell forgotten story of Nelson’s nurse
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“Making Waves”, Not Quite the Mary Celeste

Posted on by August 31, 2010

Sea Ray Sundancer 48

Last week the yacht, Making Waves, a 48 foot Sea Ray Sundancer, with its engine running and the autopilot engaged, came ashore on Redding Beach, FL, on the Gulf of Mexico, with no one aboard.  The boat is estimated to be worth around a million dollars.   Not quite the Mary Celeste but mysterious all the same.

Beached yacht removed, but owner has yet to claim it
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On this Day in History: John Glover’s Web-footed Marbleheaders Saved the Revolution

Posted on by August 30, 2010

John Glover

On August 29th, 1776, George Washington faced certain defeat.  Howe had been able to flank the Americans in Brooklyn, turning the Battle of Long Island into a rout. Washington was left with the remnants of his army on Brooklyn Heights, with the East River at his back and otherwise surrounded by the victorious British army.  Only a north-easterly wind kept the British fleet from sailing up the East River and attacking the American forces from behind.  The northeaster brought heavy rain.  In the evening, the rain abated, replaced by a heavy fog.

Washington called on the 14th Continental Regiment commanded by John Glover to evacuate the army across the East River.  Glover’s regiment was largely made up of fisherman and sailors and was called the “amphibious regiment” or simply the “web-footed Marbleheaders”.  Over night in the rain and the fog,  John Glover’s Marblehead Regiment saved Washington’s Army and the American revolution.
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