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Monthly Archives: February 2010
Sixty Miles per Hour under Sail – the Mighty (and Tiny) DN Iceboat
As truly awe inspiring as the huge and high tech America’s Cup boats are, we shouldn’t forget that iceboats are the real speed demons on the water (even if it is frozen.) Will at the Tugster blog has some great photos … Continue reading
Project Azorian – The CIA’s Declassified History of the Glomar Explorer
Over thirty years ago when I was in college studying naval architecture, a classmate of mine got a summer job working as a naval architect for Sun Shipyard helping to design some part of the new deep sea mining ship, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged CIA, Global Marine, Glomar Explorer, Howard Hughes, Project Azorian, Sun Shipyard
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Logs Books, Global Warming and the Internet
Last October, we wrote about how researchers are using eighteenth century Royal Navy ship logs to study climate change. (See Logbooks may yield climate bounty.) Now, through the wonder of the internet, many of these log books are on-line. The … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged British Atmospheric Data Centre, climate change, Royal Navy, ship logs
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BMW Oracle win America’s Cup opener
The BMW Oracle team easily won the first America’s Cup race in Valencia, Spain, winning by fifteen minutes over the defender Alinghi. BMW Oracle win America’s Cup opener
Last Two Surviving “Spitfires of the Seas” Saved
Last Operational World War II Motor Boats Saved For The Nation Two of the last remaining fully operational high-speed World War II motor boats have been saved for the nation today by Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, with the help … Continue reading
22 knots of boat speed in 2 knots of wind?
The physics here is fascinating. How is it possible that the America’s Cup challenger ”USA” can sail at 22 knots in only two knots of wind? Chuck Lantz of the Enquirer, explains how it is done. America’s Cup boatspeed – Making something out … Continue reading
The Sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff, 65 Years Ago – the Greatest Maritime Disaster in History
Many ships carrying civilians were sunk during World War II by both sides. If current estimates are correct, the torpedoing of the M/V Wilhelm Gustloff resulted in the largest loss of life from the sinking of one vessel in maritime … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged 65th anniversary of the sinking, M/V Wilhelm Gustloff
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Breaking up the City of Adelaide Could Bankrupt Scottish Museum
The Scottish Maritime Museum is in dire financial straits. The City of Adelaide, the oldest (just barely) surviving composite clipper ship in the world, has been rotting on a slipway at Irvine, near Glasgow, for almost a decade because the museum lacked the funds to … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Australia, City of Adelaide, composite clipper ship, Scottish Maritime Museum
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Royal Navy Rum – issued daily to sailors 1655 to 1970
Thanks to David Hayes for passing this along. There is something slightly frightening about sailors on a nuclear submarine receiving daily rum rations. Royal Navy Rum – issued daily to sailors 1655 to 1970 Alcohol and the Royal Navy often seem … Continue reading
“Amfibus” could replace Clyde ferry service
This September, we posted about the popular and nearly ubiquitous “duck tours” using refurbished World War II DUKW amphibious trucks, or vehicles inspired by them, to take tourists on tours in cities and resorts around the world. (See From DUKWs … Continue reading
Innovations in America’s Cup Sailing
The New York Times Science section has a fascinating slide show discussing the scientific innovations behind the two sailboats competing in the America’s Cup. The science is intriguing but the photos are simply breathtaking. Innovations in America’s Cup Sailing
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
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Maine group in running for decommissioned JFK
A follow-up to our previous post - Free Aircraft Carrier – ex USS John F Kennedy. Maine group in running for decommissioned JFK A nonprofit group in Maine says it’s still in the running to bring the decommissioned carrier John F. Kennedy … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged decommissioned carrier, Portland Harbor, USS John F Kennedy
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Abby Sunderland Restarts her Round the World Attempt
Abby Sunderland is putting into Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, interrupting her round the world attempt, because of a power problem aboard her yacht, Wild Eyes. The yacht’s solar panels and wind generators were not providing enough power and the yacht … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Abby Sunderland, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Wild Eyes
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Skipjack: The Story of America’s Last Sailing Oystermen by Christopher White – A Review
A review by Steven Toby, written for the Maritime History Listserv, included here with his kind permission. Sounds like a fascinating book. Skipjack: The Story of America’s Last Sailing Oystermen by Christopher White is an excellent book on the last commercial fishing craft … Continue reading
Posted in Newbooks, Reviews, Seastories
Tagged Christopher White, Sailing Oystermen, Skipjack
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Building Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s Ship
In January we posted about the Jewel of Muscat a replica of a 9th-century sailing ship modelled on a famous Tang Treasure ship. Recently Nova broadcast a documentary on far older ships from the region, Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s ships, dating from 1479 BCE. … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged female pharoah, Jewel of Muscat, Pharaoh Hatshepsut
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