Polynesian Voyaging Canoes Arrive in San Francisco through the Golden Gate

Posted on by August 3, 2011

Photo: Jennifer Villamin

In June, we posted about Polynesian voyaging canoes of the “Te Mana o Te Moana” (Spirit of the Sea) expedition arriving in Hilo, Hawaii after sailing from New Zealand by way of the Marquesas and Tahiti.    Yesterday, six of the vaka, traditional voyaging canoes, from several island nations sailed into San Francisco through the Golden Gate. Plans are shaping up for a a celebration of greeting to be held on Treasure Island this weekend.   Thanks to Bonnie for pointing out their arrival.

 

Ranzo, the YouTube Chanteyman

Posted on by July 24, 2011

On his YouTube channel, Hulton Clint identifies himself as “Ranzo, the YouTube Chanteyman.”  Something over  three years ago he began an ambitious You Tube undertaking : The “Shanties From the Seven Seas” project where he sings the chanteys from Stan Hugill’s classic book of the same name and records them as You Tube videos.  He describes the project as:

A quasi-systematic project of recording examples of the sea chanteys (shanties) in Stan Hugill’s book of the same title. The text compendium contains “over 400 shanties,” and Hugill was one of the last living working chanteymen aboard merchant sailing vessels, who was largely responsible for keeping alive the know-how of chantey-singing after the days off sail had ended.

It has often been said that a chantey was worth ten hands on a rope. I say that nowadays a chantey is worth 1000 songs in an iPod.
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Start of Clipper Round-the-World Race

Posted on by August 2, 2011

The yachts leaving Southampton accompanied by HMS Illustrious. Credit BBC News

10 identical yachts have set sail from Southampton, England to compete in the 40,000-mile (64,500km) Clipper round-the-world race. Many of the crews volunteered as sailing novices, although all have since undertaken a comprehensive four stage training program before setting out on the year long journey. After calling at mainland Europe, the race continues across the Atlantic to South America, before heading for South Africa and on to Australasia. Singapore is the next stop, followed by China, then across the Pacific to California. Passing through the Panama Canal, the yachts will then call at New York, before making for Canada, and finally crossing to Europe once more.

The organisers, headed by renown yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, are currently seeking crews for the next race, scheduled to start in 2013.

More details

and you can follow the race progress at the official website:

The Great Schooner Race 2011 – Photography by Doug Mills

Posted on by July 15, 2011

Beautiful photography by Doug Mills of the The Great Schooner Race of 2011 in Penobscot Bay.  It looks like they had a day of light air so the race may have been a touch on the slow side. Nevertheless the schooners are beautiful.

The Great Schooner Race 2011

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Maine Lobster Festival & “Lobster-Palooza” August 3-7th

Posted on by August 1, 2011

The Maine Lobster Festival being held in Rockland from August 3rd to the 7th is described as “Five Days of Feasting and Fun on the Fabulous Coast of Maine!”  “The festival promises “ the world’s greatest lobster cooker, 20,000 pounds of lobster, a sea goddess coronation, a big parade, top notch entertainment, an international crate race, fine art, talented crafts people and vendors, US Navy ship tours, cooking contests, marine tent and MORE?!”  Wow.

There certainly seems to be a lot scheduled.  New York may have its Mermaid Parade but Rockland has its Maine Lobster Festival Big Parade including the newly crowned Sea Goddess, all of the Sea Princesses and their Naval escorts, and King Neptune and his Court. Match that Coney Island! The theme for the 2011 parade is “Lobster-Palooza.” I am not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds like fun.

Launching the Schooner Ardelle – Essex Side Launch

Posted on by May 6, 2012

The pinky schooner Ardelle was launched recently from the historic Burnham Boatbuilding yard in Essex, MA.  They used the traditional “Essex side-launch” technique, which, to my uninitiated eye, looks very odd.  Nevertheless, it obviously is effective.

The Ardelle’s debut

Thanks to Tom Russell at the Traditional Sail Professionals for pointing out the launching.

San Salvador, 16th Century Replica, Under Construction by the Maritime Museum of San Diego

Posted on by July 24, 2011

At a time when many maritime museums in the United States are struggling to just maintain their ships and indeed several are attempting to get rid of them, the Maritime Museum of San Diego is building a new historic replica, the San Salvador, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo‘s flagship.  In the 16th century, Cabrillo was the first European to navigate the coast of California.  The replica San Salvador will be full-sized, fully functional, and historically accurate. The ship is being constructed at Spanish Landing in San Diego, California. Visitors are invited to watch the construction. Once finished the San Salvador will remain on exhibit as part of the Museum’s fleet of historic and replica ships and will travel along the California coast as an ambassador for San Diego.

San Salvador Replica Ship Under Construction on San Diego Bay 

Nautical Writers on Writing and the Age of Sail – Linda Collison Interviews Margaret Muir

Posted on by July 24, 2011

Margaret Muir

I am a big fan of both Margaret Muir and Linda Collison.  Both are marvelous writers – skilled story tellers whose writing about the Age of Sail has both an immediacy and an understated authenticity that draws the reader into their books.  (Perhaps not surprisingly, both have sailed as crew on square rigged ships.) If you are not familiar with Muir or Collison check out our review of Muir’s Floating Gold and Collison’s Surgeon’s Mate  and Star Crossed.    

Linda Collison

Linda Collison recently talked with Margaret Muir about sailing, writing, Tasmania and goats.  Reposted from Linda’s blog, Sea of Words, with permission.

A conversation with novelist and Tasmanian historian, Margaret Muir

Throughout our writing lives we’re inspired by other authors. I’ve recently had the pleasure of discovering Tasmanian novelist and historian, Margaret Muir. 
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The American Sail Training Association is Now Tall Ships America

Posted on by July 17, 2011

The American Sail Training Association is “rebranding.”   They will now be known as Tall Ships America.  Everything else will stay about the same.   I have to admit, Tall Ships America does have a nice ring to it while ASTA sounded a bit too much like an insurance company.

TALL SHIPS AMERICA: The New Face of ASTA

We are proud to announce to our members, supporters and friends that we have adopted a new public identity: Tall Ships America. Our mission is unchanged, and just as we have done since 1973, Tall Ships America will encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public and support education under sail. 
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Historic Ship Festival on Pier 25, Hudson River Park

Posted on by July 17, 2011

Tug Pegasus

The North River Historic Ship Society is hosting a four day Historic Ship Festival on July 28-31 to celebrate the  the opening of the first historic ship pier in Hudson River Park in Tribeca, New York.

Festival at Pier 25 Features Free Ship Tours, River Trips, and more at Hudson River Park
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Disabled Veterans Compete in VA Summer Sports Clinic on San Diego Bay

Posted on by July 13, 2011

Congratulations are due to the Port of San Diego on several counts.  Their video “Disabled Veterans Compete in VA Summer Sports Clinic on San Diego Bay” has won a Telly Award, competing against 11,000 other applicants.   A second congratulation is order for the program the video documents. For the second year in a row the National Veterans Affairs Summer Sports Clinic has been hosted by the Port of San Diego. A truly inspiring event.  The next National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic will also be held in San Diego from September 18th – 23rd.

Disabled Veterans Compete in VA Summer Sports Clinic on San Diego Bay

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Thanks to Urban M for pointing out the news on the Linked-In Traditional Sail Professionals group.

Update: Plea Bargain in Delaware Duck Boat/Barge Collision

Posted on by July 22, 2011

Last July, a barge pushed by the tug Caribbean Sea struck a disabled tourist “duck boat” at anchor in the Delaware River.   Two tourists drowned in the collision.  A report by the National Transportation Safety Board said the tug’s mate Matthew Devlin was on his mobile phone and laptop trying to deal with a serious family medical emergency a the time of the casualty.   The mate has now agreed to plead guilty to a charge of “maritime manslaughter” and to the permanent revocation of his Coast Guard licence.

First mate’s mobile, laptop use results in ‘maritime manslaughter’ charge 

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In Blistering Heat Wave, Sewage Plant Fire Keeps New Yorkers Away from the Water

Posted on by July 22, 2011

Photo: Monika Graff for The New York Times

The timing could not have been worse. In the midst of a blistering heat wave in New York City, what has been described as a “catastrophic fire” at the North River Waste Water Treatment plant yesterday allowed millions of gallons of untreated sewage to be discharged from Manhattan into the Hudson and Harlem Rivers.  Officials are warning New Yorkers and New Jersey residents on the harbor against swimming, fishing or launching boats in the Hudson and at four city beaches on Staten Island and in Brooklyn.

After Blaze, Sewage Floods City Rivers
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