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Monthly Archives: September 2009
In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day ….
Well it is that time of year again. In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day …. Somali-English dictionary Spare me the lame” arrgghs” and “shiver me timbers”. If you want to talk like a budhcad badeed (Somali for pirate) … Continue reading
Dutch flotilla makes its way north on Hudson River
Following up on our previous posts - Dutch Barges invade New York and The Dutch Barge Fleet has Arrived in New York. From the AP: Dutch flotilla makes its way north on Hudson River A flotilla of historic Dutch sailing ships is … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Dutch sailing ships, Half Moon, Henry Hudson
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Gold and Ivory Shipwreck on a Beach of Diamonds
The October 2009 National Geographic magazine has a fascinating story of a 16th century shipwreck on a beach in southern Namibia. In 1533 a Portuguese trading ship carrying a fortune in gold and ivory, bound for the famed spice ports of India, was swept ashore and wrecked … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Forbidden Zone, Namibia, Orange River, Portuguese trading ship
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SS Columbia’s Rebirth Fundraiser
SS Columbia, built in 1902, is the oldest surviving passenger steam vessel in the United States. The SS Columbia Project is dedicated to restoring and operating the classic passenger steamer. They are holding their first official fundraising event tommorrow featuring … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged M.V. Friendship, SS Columbia
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Australian adventurer & teenage circumnavigator to re-enact Capt. Bligh’s epic open boat voyage
Australian adventurer Don McIntyre and teenage circumnavigator Mike Perham to re-enact Capt William Bligh’s epic mutiny on the Bounty open boat voyage Australian adventurer and solo round the world sailor, Don McIntyre announced today that Mike Perham, the world’s youngest … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged 2010 Bounty Boat Expedition, Capt William Bligh, Don McIntyre, Mike Perham
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Amanda Ridgely Lake
Sad news regarding a a remarkable woman and sailor. Amanda Ridgely Lake Amanda Ridgely Lake died in her home in Fairhaven, MA on August 19. Ms. Lake was 44. Ms. Lake was only one of a handful of women to … Continue reading
SELI 1 Update: Lee Shores and Legal Disputes
Lee shores were long the bane of sailing ships. They are no better for motor vessels who lose their engines or drag their anchors. Table Bay where the SELI 1 grounded is just such a lee shore and has been a … Continue reading
The Schooner Elena – A Legend Returns
“Super yachts” rarely impress me. Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich’s megayacht, “Eclipse,” may be the largest private yacht now sailing but it is, to my eye at least, a bit boring. It may be over 550 feet long and cost a … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged 1928 Trans Atlantic King’s Cup, Nathaniel Herreshoff, Schooner Elena
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Panels on Solar Assisted Car Carrier Auriga Leader Perform Well
After four voyages the solar panels on the upper of the NYK car carrier Auriga Leader have performed better than was expected but have also demonstrated how far there is to go in harnessing solar power. The ship has generated 32,300 … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Auriga Leader, NYK car carrier, solar panels
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Spotted Dick Off the Menu
The Aubrey/Maturin series of novels by Patrick O’Brian introduced the world to, among other things, a range of obscure traditional British cuisine, which notably included suet puddings such as “Floating Island”, the unappetizing “Drowned Baby” and the perennial favorite “Spotted Dick”. This … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Aubrey/Maturin, Patrick O’Brian, Pudding Club, Spotted Dick
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Fireboat named for FDNY heroes killed on 9/11
From Marine Log: A fireboat launched September 11, 2009 at Eastern Shipbuilding, Panama City, Fla. is named the Three Forty Three in honor of the 343 New York City firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Eastern Shipbuilding, fireboat, Panama City, Three Forty Three
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The unseen tragedy behind Superferry 9
I’ve always been struck by the tragedy that those most in need of ferry service are often also most at risk. We have seen recent ferry accidents in the Philippines with the sinking of the Superferry 9 resulting in nine deaths, in … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged ferry, MV Princess of the Stars, Philippines, Superferry 9
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The Floating Chapels of the Seamen’s Church Institute
If you can’t get sailors to church, bring the church to the sailors. That was the strategy used in 1844 by the Protestant Church Missionary Society for Seamen, which was renamed the Seamen’s Church Institute. As they celebrate their 175th … Continue reading
A Bad Week for Bulk Carriers – Black Rose Sinks, Seli 1 Aground
Last week was a bad week for bulk carriers. The MV Black Rose, a bulk carrier with a crew of 27 which had loaded 23,847 tons of iron ore, sank near the port of Paradip on the east coast of … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged bulk carrier, Cape Town, India, MV Black Rose, Paradip, SELI 1, South Africa, Turkish bulk carrier
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