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Monthly Archives: December 2011
New Year a Day Early in Samoa and Tokelau
New Year’s Day came a day early this year to Samoa and the Tokelau atolls in the South Pacific, while Friday, December 30th, disappeared entirely. After being east of the International Date Line for almost 120 years, Samoa and the Tokelau atolls decided to move west, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged International Date Line, Samoa, Tokelau atolls
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To Avoid Pirates, Volvo Ocean Fleet Traveling by Ship from Undisclosed Port
On the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, half the fleet traveled to Cape Town on the deck of cargo ships following rigging or hull failures. Now in the second leg of the race, the entire fleet was loaded … Continue reading
The Perfect Wreck by Steven E. Maffeo – a review by Linda Collison
Linda Collison, author of Surgeon’s Mate and Star-Crossed, recently reviewed Steven E. Maffeo‘s new book The Perfect Wreck – Old Ironsides and HMS Java: A Story of 1812 in her blog Sea of Words. I enjoy reading Linda’s reviews almost as much … Continue reading
New Masts for the Schooner Virginia
In 2009, the non profit foundation that owns the schooner Virginia, the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, ran out of cash. Burdened with $1.6 million of debt, they were forced to lay up the schooner. Now, the outlook for the schooner … Continue reading
America’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Ships of 2011
Joe Follansbee at the Fyddeye Guides has compiled a list of America’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Ships of 2011 to help raise awareness of the risk that these historic treasures may not be around much longer if something isn’t done. One might … Continue reading
Posted in Lore of the Sea
Tagged Fyddeye Guides, Joe Follansbee, Most Endangered Historic Ships
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Update: Repairs Underway to Russian Fishing Vessel Sparta with Help from Korean Icebreaker Araon
The Russian fishing vessel Sparta, which was holed by ice below the waterline in the Ross Sea off Antarctica on December 16th and has been trapped in the ice for over ten days, is now undergoing temporary repairs. On Monday, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Antarctica, Araon, Korean icebreaker, Ross Sea, Russian fishing vessel, Sparta
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A Short Sea Voyage for the not yet Tall Ship, Oliver Hazard Perry
More progress in the completion of Rhode Island’s tall ship, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry. The not yet tall ship was recently launched at Sims Metal Management in Providence and towed to Senesco Marine in North Kingstown to continue construction, including … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Rhode Island, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry
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The Long Strange Voyage of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Johnny Vasco da Gama
In 2008, a young Kemp’s ridley sea turtle washed up, stranded, in the Netherlands. Kemp’s ridleys are the smallest and rarest of all sea turtles and are a critically endangered species. The Kemp’s ridley turtles typically live in the warm waters of the Gulf … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Johnny Vasco da Gama, Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
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Washington Crossing the Delaware and the Durham Boats
On Christmas Day in 1776, George Washington led what was left of his army across the Delaware River in the middle of a blizzard to attack a Hessian outpost in Trenton, NJ. In one bold stroke, he turned almost certain … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Emanuel Leutze, George Washington, Mort Künstler, Trenton, Washington Crossing the Delaware
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Sparta Rescue in Ross Sea Delayed by Sister Ship
The plan was for the South Korean icebreaker Araon accompanied by the fishing vessel Chiyo Maru No 3 to break through the ice to reach the stricken Russian fishing vessel Sparta today on Christmas Day. The Sparta was holed below … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Araon, Chiyo Maru No. 3, South Korean icebreaker, Sparta
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Scuba Santa Swimming with Sharks – A New Holiday Tradition?
Scuba Santa swimming with sharks may be a relatively new Christmas tradition but it is remarkably widespread. From the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky; to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston; to … Continue reading
The Lobsterman’s Christmas
Christmas Morning in the lobster capital of the world. The wonderful photography of Doug Mills of Shoot Maine Studios. THE LOBSTERMAN’S CHRISTMAS
Posted in Lore of the Sea
Tagged Doug Mills, Lobsterman's Christmas, photography, Shoot Maine Studios
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Santa in the Sand – World’s Largest Sand Sculpture Santa Claus
I love walking the beach in the wintertime, though I would be surprised to come across a 100 foot long Santa Claus. In 2008, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik and his team created a sand sculpture of Santa Claus at Puri beach … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged India, Puri beach, sand sculpture, Santa Claus, Sudarshan Patnaik
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Update: Christmas Day Rescue for Russian Fishing Vessel Sparta?
The South Korean icebreaker Araon and the fishing vessel Chiyo Maru No 3 may reach the stricken Russian fishing vessel Sparta on Christmas Day. The Sparta is a 157 feet long fishing vessel with a crew of 32 aboard which … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Antarctica, Araon, Chiyo Maru No. 3, fishing vessel, Ross Sea, South Korean icebreaker, Sparta
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Maxi Banque Populaire V Rounds Cape Horn in Race for the Jules Verne Trophy
The maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V has now rounded all three of the major capes; Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and now Cape Horn; in its quest to set the record for the fastest non-stop sail around the world. This … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Banque Populaire V, Cape Horn, Jules Verne trophy
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Lobster Trap Christmas Trees – Christmas Tradition & Friendly Competition
Lobster traps, also known as lobster pots, are ubiquitous around the coastal towns of New England. Around this time of year, Christmas trees built from stacked lobster pots rise in many towns along the coast. With fishermen being fishermen, a friendly competition between the … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Beals, Gloucester, Jonesport, lobster pots, Lobster traps, Maine, Rockland
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The Halcyon Days – Not So Peaceful This Year
According to an ancient sailors’ legend, we are in the middle of the Halcyon days – seven days of calm on either side of the winter solstice. The legend says that the halycon bird lays its eggs on the winter … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
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Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – “The World’s Roughest Rowing Race” Living Up to Its Name
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge which bills itself as “The World’s Roughest Rowing Race” is living up to its name. As we posted previously, seventeen boats set off December 4th to row across the Atlantic from Spain’s San Sebastian de la Gomera … Continue reading
