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Monthly Archives: December 2011
Videorays – the Submarine Drones of New York Harbor
New York harbor was the sight of the first use of a submersible in combat. On September 6, 1776, Eza Lee in command of the Turtle, a one man submersible designed by David Bushnell, attempted and failed to sink Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship HMS Eagle. Today, modern … Continue reading
Maxi Banque Populaire V Screaming Past Cape Leeuwin in Quest for Jules Verne Trophy
Last February the crew of the 130′ long by 120′ wide maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V was forced to give up their attempt to the win the Jules Verne trophy for the fastest circumnavigation by sail when the trimaran struck an “unidentified floating object” while … Continue reading
Posted in Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Australia, Banque Populaire V, Cape Leeuwin, Cape of Good Hope, Groupama 3, maxi-trimaran
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HMS OCEAN – All I Want For Christmas
HMS Ocean, a Royal Navy amphibious assault ship, had planned for a seven week deployment but was diverted to Libya and ended up being away for 225 days with 176 at sea. When they received word that they would be back in … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged All I Want For Christmas, HMS OCEAN, Mariah Carey
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Of Waves and Whales – Whaling and the Tsunami
Within hours of the tsunami that struck northern Japan last March, the internet was abuzz with the somewhat bizarre suggestion that the earthquake and wave which followed might be some sort of cosmic retribution for Japanese whaling. Regardless of what one thinks of that suggestion, … Continue reading
Commander Etta Jones Found Guilty of Cruelty and Other Charges
Last April, Commander Etta Jones was relieved of duty as captain of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce. The Ponce‘s executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Kurt Boenisch, was also relieved. A Navy report examining allegations made against Commander Jones substantiated … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Commander Etta Jones, relieved of duty, USS Ponce
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Land and Sea – Nova Scotia Schooners On-Line Now
Last Sunday we posted about the CBC program,Land and Sea, which was broadcasting a half hour documentary on traditional schooners in Nova Scotia. It is now available to watch on-line. The documentary tells the story of four different schooner owners … Continue reading
Volunteers Allowed Back to Work at the South Street Seaport Museum
Several years ago I took a sail on the AJ Meerwald in New York harbor. While on the sail I saw the schooner Pioneer, owned and operated by the South Street Seaport Museum, also sailing in the harbor. Despite having … Continue reading
Pearl Harbor, 70 Years Ago Today – Isoroku Yamamoto, An Insufficiently Reluctant Enemy
We seem to need to put a face to our enemies. On the cover of Time Magazine of December 22, 1941, the face of the enemy was Admiral Yamamoto, labeled as “Japan’s Aggressor.” The image of the admiral is a … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Admiral Yamamoto, Isoroku Yamamoto, Pearl Harbor
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Pearl Harbor, 70 Years Ago Today – Disbanding the Survivors Association
It was inevitable. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will observe the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941. It will be the Association’s last observance. The group has too few remaining members to carry on and will disband on … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
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Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – “The World’s Roughest Rowing Race”
Seventeen teams from around the world have set off rowing from Spain’s San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canary Islands in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in what is billed as the “World’s Roughest Rowing Race.” The teams will … Continue reading
Laura Dekker & the Volvo Ocean Racers
I was struck by the juxtaposition. Laura Dekker, the Dutch 16 year old who is sailing around the world alone, arrived in Cape Town at roughly the same times as the mega-racers of the Volvo Ocean Race. Well, she arrived … Continue reading
US Navy Training Mine Washes Up on Miami Beach
Perhaps Miami Beach is feeling a certain solidarity with Koblentz, Germany. Today an M57 US Navy training mine washed up on Miami Beach. Fortunately the mine was inert and did not contain explosive. Yesterday, bomb disposal experts successfully defused two … Continue reading
Update: Bombs on the Rhine – Koblentz Bombs Successfully Defused, Residents Return
We have previously posted about how the European drought has lowered the Rhine River so that World War II munitions long buried in the riverbank have become exposed. Over the weekend, forty five thousand people, roughly half of the population of the city … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged bombs, evacuation, Germany, Koblentz, Rhine
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Christmas Tree Ship Arrives at Navy Dock in Chicago
On Friday, the “Christmas Tree Ship” arrived again on the Chicago docks, bringing Christmas trees to needy families. The arrival of the ship has become a Chicago holiday tradition, honoring of the memory of Capt Herman Schuenemann and his three … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Alder, Chicago, Christmas Tree Ship, Rouse Simmons, US Coast Guard Cutter
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The First Christmas Tree Ship – Captain Herman Schuenemann & the Schooner Rouse Simmons
Today the Christmas Ship is Chicago’s largest all volunteer charitable support program for inner city youth and their families at Christmas time. At the turn of the twentieth century the “Christmas Tree Ship” was a family business. In the mid 1880s, August and … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Captain Herman Schuenemann, Christmas Tree Ship, Rouse Simmons, schooner
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