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Monthly Archives: December 2011
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
The Long Voyage of Laura Dekker – Reaching the End or Starting Again ?
Laura Dekker, the 16 year old solo sailor, is on the last leg of her voyage around the world. She is bound not for Europe but back to Sint Maarten in the Caribbean, from which she sailed on January 5, 2011. … Continue reading
Mariners Respond to 9/11- a PortSide NewYork Exhibit
Last September, PortSide New York mounted a multi-media exhibit on the historic buoy tender, Lilac, about the extraordinary and little-known maritime role played in the recovery from the attacks of 9/11, from the evacuation to refuse removal and rebuilding. A video … Continue reading
Dr. Edith Widder – Using Bioluminescence to Fight Pollution
A fascinating glimpse in today’s New York Times at the work of Dr. Edith Widder who is using bioluminescence to measure the level of pollution in coastal sediments. Illuminating the Perils of Pollution, Nature’s Way Seu browser não suporta iframes.
More Volvo Ocean Race Boat Failures – Team Sanya Sails for Madagascar
The Volvo Ocean Race is a big money around the world race, with corporate or state sponsored teams, racing with professional crews on Open 70 sailboats. With that much money, expertise and hardware, what could go wrong? Quite a lot … Continue reading
Stricken Fishing Vessel Sparta Not Fit for Antarctic Ice
The Russian fishing vessel Sparta is afloat, though just barely after being holed by ice at the edge of the Ross ice shelf in Antarctica. Why was an non-ice strengthened fishing boat fishing in such treacherous waters in the first place? That is the question being raised by the Vyacheslav Martyanov, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Antarctica, icebreaker, Sparta, Vyacheslav Martyanov
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Timelapse of the Building of the Lugger Grayhound
Perhaps if I worked as fast as the folks in this video, I might get something done. Thanks to Alaric Bond for passing along the link to the building of the lugger Grayhound. In March of 2010, we posted about … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Chris Rees, Grayhound, Lugger, Spirit of Mystery
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More than 200 Missing as Asylum Seeker’s Ship Sinks Off Indonesia
On December 15th last year a boat loaded with asylum seekers wrecked on Australia’s Christmas Island, killing 48 or more than half of the passengers aboard. On Saturday, a boat bound for Christmas Island sank off Indonesia roughly 50 miles off … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Asylum Seekers, Christmas Island, Indonesia
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Russian Oil Rig, Kolskaya, Capsizes off Sakhalin – 4 Dead & 49 Missing
The Russian jack-up drilling rig, Kolskaya, capsized while under tow in a storm in the Sea of Okhotsk, 200 KM off Sakhalin Island at 12.45 local time (0145 GMT) Sunday. Of the 67 crew on board, 14 were rescued, four are reported to have … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Gazprom, Kolskaya, Russian jack-up drilling rig, Sakhalin Island, Sea of Okhotsk
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Update: Sparta’s Condition Precarious with Help Days Away
On Friday we posted about the Russian fishing vessel, Sparta, which was in danger of sinking off the Ross Ice shelf in Antarctica. The ship with a crew of 32 had been holed five feet below the water line and … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Antarctica, Ross Ice shelf, Russian fishing vessel, Sparta
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Japan Take Sea Shepherds to Court over Violence
Japan’s whaling authorities are suing the Sea Shepherds in US courts to attempt to stop the violence directed by the organization against the annual Japanese whale hunt. The Sea Shepherds claim that the annual hunt is illegal, but prefer what they … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Japan, lawsuit, Paul Watson, Sea Shepherds
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