Lobster, Crawfish & Wine – Three Harbor Food Festivals this Weekend

Posted on by August 7, 2010

This is the season for waterfront and harbor festivals.   Here are three that promise good food along with music and the sea air.

In Washington state, the first Gig Harbor Wine & Food Festival starts at noon today at the future site of the Harbor History Museum.   The festival features tasting tent with more than 35 wineries, local restaurants and food businesses and is sponsored by the Harbor History Museum and the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association.

About a thousand miles down the Pacific Cost, as part of the summer-long Long Beach Sea Festival, the 17th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival starts today, promising lots of crawfish and Zydeco music.  A taste of Louisiana on the West Coast.

Down East on the East Coast, in Rockland Maine the 63rd Annual Maine Lobster Festival is in fill swing.  It started on Wednesday and continues through Sunday.

The Sapphire Princess and the Already Dead Whales

Posted on by August 7, 2010

An update to our previous post – the Sapphire Princess cruise ship, which was found to have impaled a female humpback whale on her bulbous bow last week, probably did not kill the whale.  A necropsy finished this week suggests that the whale was already dead.  This is the second dead whale impaled by the Sapphire Princess in two years.  Almost exactly a year ago, the Sapphire Princess arrived in Vancouver with 70′ fin whale impaled on its bow.  A subsequent necropsy determined that the fin whale had also probably been dead when struck by the cruise ship.

Confirmation – Tanker M. Star Hit by Terrorist Bomb

Posted on by August 6, 2010

Inspectors have identified traces of  homemade explosives on the hull of the MOL tanker M. Star, confirming that it was the target of a terrorist attack.    The ship  was struck by an explosion just after midnight on July 28, as the vessel was traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.   A group with ties to Al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Japanese oil tanker hit by terrorist bomb, say inspectors
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Shackleton’s 101-Year-Old Whisky – Aged in Ice

Posted on by August 6, 2010

We recently posted about the world’s oldest champagne found on the Baltic seabed.  While not as old, yet equally historic, a case of Shackleton’s Whisky has recently gone on display at the the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island.
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Nina and Pinta Replicas Visiting Hudson, Wisconsin

Posted on by August 5, 2010

Nina & Pinta

Replicas of two of Christopher Columbus’ ships, the Nina and Pinta, will be visiting Hudson, Wisconsin. The ships will be open to visitors at the Hudson Docks from Friday, Aug. 6, through Monday, Aug. 16.

Columbus Ship Replicas Come To Wisconsin

The “Nina” was built without power tools. Archaeology magazine calls it “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” The “Pinta” was recently built to accompany the “Nina.”
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Songs of Many Waters on the Deck of the Tanker Mary Whalen

Posted on by August 5, 2010

Sounds like a great evening for those in the New York area.  Thanks to Al Cuenin for the heads up.

From oceans to puddles, songs of the seas, lakes, canals, and the ships and sailors who sail them. A singalong evening aboard an historic tanker, the Mary Whalen. Bring voices, instruments, and ears. Bring the kids. Bring a picnic. This will be a grand evening for the whole family.

When:  Sunday 8 August, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. TankerTime aboard the Mary Whalen starts at 5:00 p.m.
Where: see www.portsidenewyork.org
Who: Singers and musicians from the Folk Music Society of New York
How much: Free

2010 Salem Maritime Festival Aug. 6-7

Posted on by August 5, 2010

The Salem Maritime Festival starts this Friday.  The tall ship Friendship of Salem will be joined in port by Schooner Thomas E. Lannon and Schooner Fame of Salem.   The Friendship is a replica of an 1797 East Indiaman.    The Thomas E. Lannon is based on the design of a fishing schooner while the Fame is a replica of the successful privateer from the War of 1812.  In addition to these vessels, the master gun team of USS Constitution will conduct full gun exercises with a replica 1812-era 5,600-pound cast iron long gun.   There will also be live demonstrations of  boat-building, coopering, rope making, cargo loading, sail-setting, and other traditional crafts.

2010 Salem Maritime Festival Aug. 6-7

What Happened to the VLCC M. Star? Al Qaeda Group Claims Attack, Doubts Persist

Posted on by August 4, 2010

Over the last week, there have been no shortage of theories and often contradictory claims about what caused the damage to the hull and deck house of the MOL tanker M. Star while transiting the Straits of Hormuz.   The initial suggestion by a port official in the United Arab Emirates that the ship was hit by a freak wave has been largely discounted.    Likewise the claim by an Iranian marine authority that the explosion was do “tank overheating”, does not appear consistent with the damage to the ship.  Other theories have included a collision, possibly with a submarine, a grenade and sea mine.  Recently there has been speculation that the damage was caused by a waterborne improvised explosive device.

Recently, Abdullah Azzam Brigades, a group associated with Al Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for an attack on  the ship.   Some analysts have expressed skepticism as the group has made questionable claims in the past.   The investigation continues.

U.S. Coast Guard Celebrates 220th Birthday

Posted on by August 4, 2010

Happy birthday to the United States Coast Guard!   Two hundred and twenty years ago today, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, created the Revenue-Marine, later renamed the Revenue Cutter Service.  For nine years, until the re-establishment of the United States Navy in 1798, the Revenue Cutter Service was the only naval force of the young republic.  The  U.S. Coast Guard was established in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service was merged with the United States Life-Saving Service.    The joining of the two organizations established the Coast Guard’s dual role of life saving and law enforcement.

U.S. Coast Guard to celebrate 220th birthday

I see that today is also the birthday of President Obama, who is 171 years younger than the US Coast Guard.  Our best birthday wishes to both.

A.J. Meerwald In Cape May, NJ

Posted on by August 3, 2010

The lovely schooner A.J. Meerwald will be sailing out of Cape May, one of the loveliest towns in New Jersey, through early September.   From the folks at Bayshore Discovery Project:

Utsch’s Marina in Cape May will be the port-of-call for New Jersey’s Tall Ship, the authentically restored 1928 oyster schooner A.J. Meerwald, from August 3 through Sept. 5, 2010. The Meerwald offers unique sailing experiences for visitors young, old and in-between. Join a pirate crew, sample some salty oysters, trawl for marine life, send the kids off for a day-camp on the high seas, or take an evening cruise after a day on the beach.
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Laura Dekker to Sail Tommorrow – First Portugal and then the World

Posted on by August 3, 2010

Just over a week after a Dutch court gave 14 year old Laura Dekker permission to attempt to sail around the world alone, the teenager is setting sail.   She will be sailing first from the Netherlands to Portugal with her father as crew.   Her solo round the world attempt will start from Portugal at a date yet to be announced.   One of the objections to her attempted round the world sail was that it will interfere with her schooling.   Perhaps to assuage these concerns, Ms. Dekker has posted a photo of the school books she will be taking with her on her voyage on her blog.

Youngest solo round-the-world sailing set to begin

Duluth Tall Ships Festival a Hit – Attracts Over 200,000

Posted on by August 3, 2010

HMS Bounty

The Duluth Tall Ship’s Festival which runs through today, has been a major success, attracting over 200,000 visitors.  One of the biggest “stars” of the event was the HMS Bounty. The wait to get on the Bounty averaged between two and four hours on Friday.

Not all the action was taking place on the Bounty however.  Two of the 200,000 visitors were Erin Somers and RJ Johnson, who were married on the Pride of Baltimore II.

Tall Ships: 200,000 Visitors

Ship that’s been in major movies is a hit at Tall Ships festival in Duluth

Happy Shark Week!

Posted on by August 3, 2010

It is that time of year again. For twenty three of its twenty five years, the Discovery Channel, an American cable television channel,  has celebrated this week as “Shark Week” with programming about sharks meant to thrill, terrify and no doubt, even inform its viewers.  In the summer season,  when viewership usually falls, “Shark Week” is consistently among the most popular programming on cable television.  Despite its popularity it has not been without its share of controversy.  Time Magazine recently published a history of “Shark Week:”

A Brief History of Shark Week
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