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Monthly Archives: March 2011
Harold ‘Dynamite’ Payson – Boatbuilder, Writer, Father of “Instant Boats”
Harold ‘Dynamite’ Payson died suddenly of an an aneurysm at his home in Maine on March 23rd. He was 82. His message was simple. As expressed in his books and on his webpage,” Harold H. Payson … known to associates, friends, and his … Continue reading
The Marvelous Mind of an Octopus, yes, an Octopus
This is an amazing presentation from a website called “everybody loves cephalopods.” (I know that I do, usually lightly fried.) I have to admit that after watching this excerpt from a 30 minute presentation by Maggie Koerth-Baker that I am indeed fascinated by octopus … Continue reading
Like a Robin in Springtime, Shipping Returns to the Great Lakes
The wonderful thing about the US Great Lakes is that being fresh water, the ships on the lakes don’t rust like they do in the saltier oceans. Of course being fresh water, the lakes do freeze close enough to solid … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Great Lakes, Lake Superior, Soo Locks, St. Clair River, St. Lawrence Seaway, Welland Canal
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Today in Submarine History – the Short, Sorry Saga of the USS Lancefish
On March 24th, 1945 the USS Lancetfish was decommissioned after less than thousand hours in service. She never put to sea under her own power and never had a crew. Delivered from the Cramp Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia, she was towed to … Continue reading
Earth Hour Twilight Cruise on the Tall Ship Southern Swan
Earth Hour is “a global event organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as World Wildlife Fund) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Australia, Earth Hour, Sydney, Tall Ship Southern Swan, Twilight Cruise
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New Zealand Model Fleets to do Battle
This Sunday a grand of fleet of miniature ships will sail the lake at East Tamaki, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. The event is being hosted by Task Force 48, a group of radio-controlled model ship enthusiasts. Model boats battle The 1:48 scale … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Auckland, New Zealand, radio-controlled model ships, Task Force 48
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Shipping Out, the Story of America’s Seafaring Women
For those in New York there is a special program, Women At Sea: Screening, Conversation, Reception, next Wednesday, March 30th, at the Community Church of New York, 40 East 35th Street, New York, NY at 6:00 PM. The program features a … Continue reading
No. 18 Kyotoku-maru – the Ghost Ship of Kesennuma
“The newest landmark in the tsunami-stricken city of Kesennuma.” Ghost ship haunts tsunami-hit Japanese city The newest landmark in the tsunami-stricken city of Kesennuma is a massive fishing trawler that was swept up at sea and came to rest on … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged fishing trawler, Kesennuma, No. 18 Kyotoku-maru, tsunami
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Sinking of the Yongala – March 23rd, 1911
Today is the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the passenger ship SS Yongala in a cyclone off Australia with the loss of 122 lives. Yongala Centenary Expedition CAIRNS tourism pioneer Charles Woodward is today heading for the shipwreck … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Australia, passenger ship, sinking, SS Yongala
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Tallship Soren Larsen – New Zealand March 2011
The calendar says that Spring is here on the banks of the Hudson River, but it is nevertheless snowing outside. On mornings like this it is good to be reminded of warm seas and white sails. The good folks on the Soren Larsen … Continue reading
“Super Moon” Blamed for Five Groundings
We posted a few days ago about Saturday’s “Super Full Moon” the first time in almost twenty years that full moon coincided with perigee, the passing of the moon’s orbit closest to the earth. Now the “Super Moon” is being … Continue reading
Update: Bulker Olivia Still Leaking Oil, Threatening Bird Life on Nightingale Island
Last Wednesday the bulk carrier MV Olivia ran aground on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cuhna archipelago in the South Atlantic. See our previous post. By Friday, she had broken up in heavy seas with 1,500 tonnes of heavy fuel … Continue reading
Return of Seals to New York Harbor and the Unexpected Migration of Harp Seals
When I first came to New York thirty five years ago, the closest thing to wildlife in the waters of the harbor were what we referred to as “Hudson River trout” – condoms that had been flushed through the New York … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged harbor seals, harp seals, new york harbor, seals
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Lecture on Modern Piracy at the New Bedford Whaling Museum
A very interesting presentation at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Tuesday evening for those in the area. Commander Andrew J. Norris, USCG, will examine modern piracy in the next Sailors’ Series lecture on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cook … Continue reading
On this day in History – the Birth of the Dutch East India Company
On March 20th, 1602 the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, the VOC, or in English, the United Dutch East India Company was established as a chartered company. It would dominate European trade with Asia for almost 200 years. Dutch East India Company
