The Achille Lauro was originally named the Willem Ruy. The Dutch built passenger liner was a cruise ship based in Naples, Italy. Built between 1939 and 1947 as MS Willem Ruys for the Rotterdamsche Lloyd it is most remembered for the 1985 hijacking by four palestinians. One passenger was killed and thrown overboard. The Achille Lauro sank on December 2, 1994 due to fire while in the Indian Ocean off Somalia.
FROM THE POOP DECK
What ever boating related Topic Captain Py wants to talk about each Thursday. The Current Topic Is: On Board Living
Living onboard ship is definetley an adventure. At the same time you are consistently working to upkeep and maintain your Ship/Boat properly. You will find things that you will have to live without certain luxuries you may have previously been acustomed to and adjusting will be quite an experience and one you will always remember.
If you plan to live aboard or at least spend a significant amount of time aboard you need to think about three things:
What is your Intention for the Vessel?
How much Travel do you plan on doing with the Vessel?
How much Money you are willing to spend for this endevor?
There is alot of pre-purchase planning and decisions that need to be made inorder to live on board. If you are new to the world of boating it would be wise to get as much training and education as possible. Talk to some fellow boaters who have already or are currently living on board. Figure out your finances and estimate how much you have to budget for boat expenses each month and set an amount aside for unexpected expenses. Learn the basics of marine navigation also known as "the rules of the road", boat terminology, basic boat handling, care and maintenance of your boat, and read the owners manual. You can also go online and check out the forums and see what other people living on board have to say.
Manuka Sports Event Management is pleased to announce the second running of The Atlantic Cup will kick off May 12, 2012 from Charleston, South Carolina. The Atlantic Cup is a dedicated professional Class 40 race held annually in the U.S. with a focus on running an environmentally responsible event. Additionally, Manuka Sports is happy to announce 11th Hour Racing will return as the presenting sponsor for the next three years.
After the first running of what Manuka Sports called a �proof of concept� race in May 2011, positive feedback from competitors, sponsors and partners has allowed organizers to expand the Atlantic Cup for 2012. Charleston, one of the most historic sailing communities in the United States will be the starting point for the 2012 edition of the Atlantic Cup. The 2012 race will showcase the top Class 40 sailors in the U.S. as they race a 648 nautical mile off-shore leg double-handed from Charleston around the infamous, Cape Hatteras then north to New York City. Once in New York there will be a brief stopover before competitors start the coastal leg of the race. The coastal leg will take competitors along the same course as the 2011 race: 260 nautical miles, south out of New York to a turning mark off the New Jersey coast before heading north to Newport. Newport Shipyard will act as the race headquarters while the boats are in Newport. Winning the distance legs alone won�t be enough to be crowned Atlantic Cup Champion. Once in Newport, competitors will race a two-day, inshore series with a crew of six. The combined overall winner of both stages will be the Atlantic Cup Champion. The prize purse will be at least $30,000, making it again one of the largest purses for sailing in the United States.
Newport, RI will be the final stop of the 2011-2012 AC World Series, which promises to be a dramatic finish to the first season of the new AC45 professional circuit. Designed to expose millions more people to the sport of high-performance racing, the new professional circuit was created to bring the America�s Cup experience to top international venues.
In addition to being the first American host of the high-tech AC45 wing-sailed catamarans in 2012, Newport also has the honor of seeing the first AC World Series circuit champion crowned. The highlight of each AC World Series stop is the spectacular, winner-takes-all, fleet race on final Sunday, where teams put points on the board to take the overall title, the final race on July 1stin Newport could be the decision maker for the AC World Series championship.
The 2011 Sail For Hope is slated to be held on September 11, 2011. So many have played a big part in the original Sail For Pride in 2001, where we had over 180 boats of all shapes and sizes participate with ensigns proudly flying. Sail For Pride raised $110,000 for the Widows and Children�s Charities that were created to support the families of those lost in the attack on our country on September 11, 2001. After that first unbelievable year, we retired the name Sail For Pride and for the most part started concentrating on RI based Charities. Sail For Hope has since raised over $300,000 for RI and humanitarian based charities from 2002-2009.
Some Of The Organizations Helped By Sail For Hope Include:
The United Way
The Seamen's Church Institute
The RI Community Food Bank
Public High School Sailing Teams
Public High School Sailing Teams
The Jamie Boeckel Fund for Safety at Sea
American Red Cross RI Family Services Fund
US Olympic and Paralympic Trials for Sailing
The RI Firefighter Widow and Children�s Fund
he American Red Cross Fund for Hurricane Katrina Relief
The Newport Harbor Master�s Emergency Equipment Fund
The NY Firefighters Widows and Children's Fund among others
FEATURED ARTICLES
OUT AND ABOUT
Traveling the Intracoastal Waterwayy can be a fascinating trip and a Great way to see Florida.
Built by the Army Corp of Engineers the ICW begins with a 715 mile passage from Norfolk, Virginia; to the Florida state line and runs aproximately another 380 miles along the entire eastern coastline of Florida.
Boaters pass through a varitey of boating conditions. There is an abundance of interesting history, marinas, stunning waterfront homes, and dock and dine restaurants. Those with travelers with tall masts shouldn't have a problem, in that all but two bridges have a 65-foot clearance and those two are around 64 1/2 feet (twin highway bridges at Mile 720.9) and 56 feet (Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge at Mile 1087.2).
The ICW enters Florida from Georgia around Mile 715. The northern section of Florida's ICW tends to be much quieter with stretches of marshes and wide rivers. Interesting cities like Jacksonville and historic St. Augustine make this section one of the ICW's most enjoyable places to see.
The first point of interest in Florida is Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach. This resort area and the marinas are often crowded but are well worth a stop even in the off-season. To the south, boats enter the wide St. Johns River at Mile 739.5. The bustling downtown area of Jacksonville is 16 miles upstream for those who have time to explore it. Otherwise the ICW cuts across the often heavily-trafficked river and enters a 23.8-mile land-cut starting at Pablo Creek.
The next stop is the St. Augustine Municipal Marina at Mile 778.3. Among the many higlights to see is the restored part of the downtown area and the Catillo de San Marcos.
At aproximately mile 830 in Daytona Beach proper there are several marinas to dock and explore the downtown area. At one time a popular spring fling for college studetns Daytona Beach has become a year round resort for families and boaters.
Moving southward at about mile 845 is New Smyrna Beach which marks the beginning of central Florida proper and the Indian River. At the upper end the Indian River is about four miles across and narrows to about 1 1/2 miles in width at the end of its 120-mile length.
This section includes the only unattended opening bridge on the entire ICW (Mile 876.7), which closes automatically when a train approaches. There is an eight minute warning to approaching boats. Boaters will also get glimpses of the towering vehicle-assembly building at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Along the way boaters can see the famed citrus groves that made the Indian River famous. Other great stops include Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, and Jupiter with the Palm Beaches marking the start of southern Florida.
As one town or city flows into the next exercise caution as there are restricted brdges and slower cruising speeds to contend with.
Moving further south along the ICW are the elegant Palm Beaches, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale.
At the end of the ICW is the Miami River which runs through the middle of downtown Miami. The departure point for Key Biscayne is at Mile 1095 and marks the end of the Intercoastal Waterway
Suggestions:
Traveling 24 hours a day requires setting up a watch schedule so that someone is always awake. However the narrow ICW forces you to pay close attention to navigation and to steer constantly instead of relying on the autopilot as most sailors do offshore. Unless you are indeed a experienced sailor, you can�t or should not try to navigate the twists and turns of the ICW at night. It would be wise to tie up at a marina each night.
Bridges are another concern. Although few in number the lift bridges with their restricted schedules for opening determine your schedule. You may have to wait awhile for the next opening.
The biggest problem in navigating the ICW is the depth. When the waterway was constructed, it was intended to be used by commercial barge traffic. The mandated depth was set at 13 feet. But fewer and fewer barge operators use the waterway and the Army Corps of Engineers has neglected maintenance over the years. While the official depth is still set at 13 feet beaware that the depth in areas may be much lower than 13 feet and care should be taken to avoid running aground. Some sailboat captains choose not to have their sails up.
For power boats the danger is bending or breaking a propeller. Again go slow and take care.
The Albemarle Sound in North Carolina can get very rough strong winds at times. Take care in dealing witht he waves, rolls and heaves.
Helpful Guides And Information:
One of the best cruising guides to the ICW is The Intracoastal Waterway, Norfolk to Miami: A Cockpit Cruising Handbook, by Jan and Bill Moeller (published by International Marine, 800/262-4729).
Another option is he Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook: Norfolk to Miami. Edited by John and Leslie Kettlewell and also published by International Marine, this book has reproductions of all the NOAA charts, as well as other helpful charts and information.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes strip charts for the entire ICW, but most boaters find them difficult to use in the cockpit.
Discover North Carolina�s rich maritime history and coastal heritage at anyone or all three North Carolina Maritime Museums.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort and the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport each offer unique exhibits and programs designed for all ages. See relics pulled from the deep, build a boat, follow Civil War battles fought along the coast, cast a line and learn about the state�s seafood industry, sail or paddle along waterways, and retrace Blackbeard�s voyages and ultimate demise. North Carolina Maritime Museums offer many Educational Programs, Summer Science Programs, Junior Sailing School, Field Trips and Outreach Programs.
Visiting a Lighthouses can offer a living history to visitors about the life of a lighthouse keeper, his family and a glimpse history. It protects and guides all those on the water and stands out on the edge of land or in the water serving as a monument of protection. Staying until after dusk to see an active lighthouse's beam on at night can add tons of enjoyment to your vist.
Not all lighthouses are open to the public and Yes there are some for sale and others in need of repair. Below is a list of things to consider prior to visiting any lighthouse.
Is the lighthouse open to the public?
Can you climb the tower?
Can you enter the Building(s)?
Can you touch the Outside?
Is the view from the distance and or close up?
If you are traveling with children; where is the nearest restroom facilities and food sources?
Militarymarina has a list of lighthouses to visit and a list of lighthouses with overnight accommodations. As situtations may change it would be wise to contact the lighthouse and place of accomodations prior to visiting.
Next week origins of lighthouse names.
LIGHTHOUSE FACT OF THE WEEK
One of the Seven ancient Wonders of the World was the first known lighthouse built by the Pharos of Alexandria, Egypt. It was completed about 280 B.C. and stood more than 350 feet tall until an earthquake destroyed it in the 1300s and was believed to be powered by a large bonfire.
Click here if you are interested in learning more about Lighthouses.
What is a tiller pilot and why would you want one?
Simply put a tiller pilot is an automatic steering system designed for boats whose rudder movement is controlled by a handheld tiller. It consists of two electronically connected parts; an electrically-operated hydraulic ram and a central control unit. One end is attached to the side of the cockpit, the other is attached to the tiller. When the hydraulic ram is extended or retracted the tiller pilot moves the tiller from side to side to maintain a programed course.
Basic tiller pilots maintain a pre-set heading while higher specification systems can be used with a GPS which alway steering to a pre-determined point. The smaller tiller pilot systems are completely self-contained, with the electronics and compass housed inside of the hydraulic ram.
The more expensive the model, the more extra features that are available. Some of the more expensive tiller pilots have an auto-tacking system which automatically turns the vessel at predetermined angles. Many modern tiller pilots can be integrated with other navigation systems.
Although tiller pilots are generally found on smaller sailing boats or those with a minimal number of crew; they have the advantage of freeing up a crew member.
Advanced Tiller Pilot for sailing vessels up to 6,600 lbs(3,000 kg)Invented by Autohelm in 1973, tiller pilots have consistently been the worlds most popular pilot ever since, setting the standard for performance, reliability and ease of use. Advanced features are standard. AutoTack lets you handle the sheets, while the pilot tacks the boat and AutoSeastate intelligently keeps the boat on course while conserving power. Whether used as a stand-alone pilot or with a SeaTalk/NMEA GPS, the clear backlit LCD and 6-button keypad make these pilots safe and easy to use.
DOC N DINE
Join Captain Py each Thursday begining in April as we highlight a different DOC N DINE Boat Friendly Restaurant.
Militarymarina.com has a list of many fine restaurants that can be found along the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River at: Boat Friendly Restaurants
If you have a favorite restaurant that is not listed here, or if you are a restaurant owner and would like to be listed; send an email to: captainpy@verizon.net Please be sure to put boat friendly restaurants in the subject line and we will be happy to list it for you.
Cooking while out on the water can be an adventure in itself with some very interesting challenges.The galley in a boat is generally smaller in comparison to the kitchen you are acustomed to using at home. With proper planning, organization and preparation things can go much more smoothly. The best cooking done in a galley is quick with a minimal amount of preparation time and clean up.
With a small amount of prior planning and preparation you can save yourself time and trouble when preparing meals in your galley kitchen. Many items can be prepared ahead of time on land before you set sail and placed in a container or Ziploc Storage bags to be used later on. When planning your menu don�t rely on catching fish etc to eat. Consider that a bonus meal to replace one of your non perishable meals. Since you can only bring so much fuel onboard, planning your meals ahead of time can help estimate your fuel needs before embarking.
Storage space in a galley especially on a sailboat is going to be limited. You can minimize space requirements by bringing only what you need rather than every thing in the kitchen. Any items in food containers that can break or leak should be resealed and placed into a non breakable and reseal able container. Heavy items such as canned goods and pots are best stored as low as possible. Some basic cooking items may include 1 skillet, 1 pot or saucepan, cups, plates, bowls, and silverware. Whether or not an ice box is present you should consider packing a cooler for drinks and any food overflow. The cooler can make a nice chair to sit on or table as well. There are a lot of storage accessories available at boating stores. Pockets can be used for organizing can be attached to the wall for storing additional items such as silverware, spices and tools such as bottle or can opens. Hanging nets can also hold fresh produce. Another idea is to attach lids of jars to the underside of a cupboard the jar can be screwed on or off of storage and access. This also keeps jars from shifting while on the water.
We invite you to come back and visit Galley Wench where each week begining in APRIL she shares Recipes and Cooking tips to fellow boaters.
SUMMER ACTIVITES FOR FUTURE CAPTAINS AND FIRST MATES
Children have a wealth of summer activities available to them in comparison to what was available years ago. There is a large variety of summer camps in which to choose from. Computer camps, dance camps, martial arts camps, acting camps, cooking camps, modeling camps, probably anything you can think of camps. So how about a Boating Camp this summer?
Whether it is Sailing, Jet Skiing, Kayaking or Cruising; although not difficult to learn it does demand discipline and alertness just like any other sport or activity.
Children participating in a Boating Camp can learn to appreciate and respect the forces of nature and see how things really work. They will learn to rely on common sense and draw upon newly learned and past skills. A Boating Camp can help develop emotional, physical and social growth while at the same time having fun while learning.
Prior to registering your child for any summer camp program find out what training and certifications the instructors have. What is the student to teacher ratio? Does the Boating Camp offer a Certified Boating Safety Course which may be required in some states? Organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron offer courses which may cover many aspects of Boating Safety, Boat Handling, and Navigational Skills for recreational boaters and boaters of all ages. Ask about the Camp�s curriculum and safety precautions. Visit the facility with your child to see if the camp is a good fit for everyone.
MILITARY BOATING NEWS
Dragon Boat Races
April 14th, 2012 11:00 AM Oyster Bar, Pensacola Florida
Watch teams participate in the ancient and international sport of dragon boat racing on the Intracoastal Waterway. The races will be held at the Perdido Key Oyster Bar and Marina at noon. Vendors, arts and crafts, and kids� activities begin at 11 a.m. There will also be a live remote with Sunny 105.7 on-site during the race.
A traditional dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft made from teak wood in various designs and sizes. It is one of a family of Traditional Paddled Long Boats found throughout the Pacific Islands and Asia.
The history of dragon boat racing reaches as far back as the olympic games of ancient Greece and has become an international sport. Dragon boat races are traditionally held as part of the annual Duanwu Festival or Duen Ng observance in China. 19th century European observers of the racing ritual, not understanding the significance of Duanwu, referred to the spectacle as a "dragon boat festival". The word dragonboat translates in Chinese as longzhou, and duanwu translates in English as meridian in reference to the summer solstice. During competition the dragon boats are beautifully decorated with Chinese dragon heads and tails
If you have military boating event you would like to see listed please send an email to: captainpy@verizon.net and besure to put Military Boating News in the subject line.
LOOKING FOR A GOOD DEAL
Whether you are looking for a great deal on purchasing a boat, home or vehicle, check out.
