Captain of doomed migrant boat could face death penalty - South Florida - MiamiHerald.com

"A Haitian man charged with captaining an ill-fated migrant smuggling voyage from the Bahamas to South Florida learned Wednesday he could face the death penalty for his role in the voyage that left nine people dead.

Jimmy Metellus, 33, is charged with alien smuggling resulting in death."

Seattle’s community boating center weathers a storm of change�|�Three Sheets Northwest

It costs a dollar for a kid to sail here for a year,” said Collins, the executive director of Sail Sand Point, the nonprofit community boating center at Magnuson Park in Seattle. “Our mission is to get anyone who wants to sail sailing. Everyone’s welcome.

Boating Participation Rises: Estimated 70 Million Americans Expected to Hit the Water This Summer

"The recreational boating industry trade group, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), reports an estimated 70 million Americans went boating in 2008, a five percent increase over 2007. What's more, the industry expects this summer to be one of the busiest for boating as a result of lower gas prices and Americans wanting to vacation close to home and is sharing affordable ways for non-boaters to get their 'feet wet"

Old nautical terms have modern usage

"Another interesting paired term is 'by and large.' The idiom seems to have lost most of its meaning today, except as a mild qualifier for a judgment. The phrase survives in such constructions as 'by and large, I think she's the best candidate.' The phrase is synonymous with 'overall' or 'considering all the facts.'

In square-rigged sailing ships, to sail 'large' is to sail with the wind at the stern, to go the way the wind blows. When sailing large, a ship would put on as much sail as was safe under the circumstances and would typically try to maximize her speed. She could be sighted more easily by lookouts, friend and foe alike, because of the large mass of canvas she deployed.

In sailing 'by,' on the other hand, a ship was trying to go into the wind. The sails would be rigged fore and aft, that is, lengthwise. Some ships were better built to sail into the wind, and in naval combat in particular, it was a decisive tactical advantage. But all ships had to sail into the wind from time to time.

The expression 'by and large,' then, means 'under all circumstances.' Ship crews would eventually go everywhere, by and large"

News 8 Austin | 24 Hour Local News | LOCAL NEWS | Coast Guard says 'wear it' on the boat

"Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, and it's only one week away.

Texas ranks third nationally in boating deaths, and the U.S. Coast Guard is using the warm weather holiday to prepare people for the time they'll spend on and in the water."

Envisioning how Ventura Harbor will look in 20 years : Ventura : Ventura County Star

"Ideas include the introduction of water taxis and a pedestrian-bicycle ferry to Marina Park and the nearby Pierpont neighborhood. Trailheads linking outdoor enthusiasts and birders to nearby wetlands in the Santa Clara River mouth also were discussed at last month’s meetings with the public.

The harbor is separated from Highway 101 and greater Ventura by hundreds of acres of farm fields. While unlikely to be developed soon, those fields could be bisected with a two-lane, tree-lined road with adjacent bike lanes, the vision plan shows. The road would run parallel or near an existing bike path linking neighborhoods near Pacific View mall to Harbor Boulevard."

Fog and flub mar start of yacht race - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe

"Before heading out on their 2,250-nautical mile voyage to Galway, Ireland, the racers were to begin with a lap of Boston's Inner Harbor. But the race was delayed 20 minutes by a premature shot from the starting gun. The false start, coupled with the fog, put some of the racing boats on a near-collision course with the 700-foot tanker, which was being towed by two tugboats, said Petty Officer Luke Pinneo, a Coast Guard spokesman."

Newport Spring Boat Show - PBN.com - Providence Business News

"Newport Spring Boat Show…everything you need to launch the boating season. including a “Marine Consignment Tent” filled with used items from boaters and boat dealers alike with partial proceeds going to the Seamen’s Institute. Hundreds of previously-owned and new clearance models of powerboats, sailboats, multihulls, kayaks, inflatables and dinghies will be offered for sale by professional brokers, dealers, and private sellers"

From 'futtock' to 'rollocks': 10 strangest sailing terms - CNN.com

"Don't be concerned if you don't, as they are both relatively obscure terms used in sailing.

It is a sport littered with odd words and phrases and MainSail has put together a list of 10 of the weirdest below.

They are bound to raise a smile and will certainly make you more knowledgeable on the water -- who knows, you could even impress friends and colleagues with your mastery of obscure nautical terminology."

Swiss America’s Cup Team Says BMW Oracle Used a Spy in Europe - NYTimes.com

"Syndicates routinely use chase boats to examine other teams’ yachts and tactics during training. When BMW Oracle launched its new 90-foot trimaran last year in Anacortes, Wash., Ehman said there were Alinghi employees on site observing and analyzing the yacht. He added that Alinghi representatives were also present when the trimaran was based in San Diego.

But Latorre said Bonnaveau’s behavior was of a more invasive nature than usual in Villeneuve, the Lake Geneva town where Alinghi is building its new multihull yacht behind closed doors. Bonnaveau is suspected of violating Swiss privacy laws."

US Navy reveals warship of the future

"WASHINGTON - The US Navy has come out with America’s next generation of warship that is designed to tackle the modern threats of piracy and terrorism.
The Littoral Combat Ship is a new generation high-speed warship designed to carry out a range of operations

With a top speed of 50 knots (60 mph), the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), is a small, fast, manoeuvrable ship equipped to tackle almost any situation, reports The Telegraph."

SF Boating Examiner: Bay Area boatyards: the Napa Valley Marina

"This marina and boat yard has been owned and managed by the Giovannoni family since 1957. It is a full service marina, with rental boat slips, haul-out facilities for professional work and DIYers, a dry storage yard, a chandlery, and yacht sales. The dry storage yard is the largest in Northern California, presently accommodating more than 220 boats"

Volvo Ocean Race makes Boston stop | NECN

"Seventy sailors left Spain in September on a 37,000 nautical mile adventure around the world called the Volvo Ocean Race. They stopped in Boston for the race's only North American port of call.

Thousands gathered on Fan Pier in Boston on Saturday, welcoming the Volvo Ocean Race to the waters just outside Boston Harbor."

Sailing in Tonga - Neiafu, Tonga Travel Blog

"We flew to the Vava'u Islands on a tiny airplane, like a flying cigar tube. Lots of beeping noises from the cockpit which were a bit alarming until we got used to it. The views down on the reefs and islands were stunning.

We picked up our yacht Finvarra, an Oceanis 331, she's a bit older than we had expected and has a number of peculiar quirks which we have had to get used to, but she sails OK. The Vava'u islands are beautiful, lots of small islands surrounded by white sandy beaches, coral reefs and covered in palm trees. The water is turquoise blue, crystal clear and a lovely temperature for swimming. Sorry - no photos yet - we can't find a computer we can upload them on to."

Demand for boat slips in Marina del Rey is drying up - Los Angeles Times

"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of an empty slip.

Or in the case of Marina del Rey, more than 200 of them.

In good times, there was a two-year waiting list for spaces and small boaters complained that they were being pushed out by bigger boats. But as of February, Los Angeles County officials said, the number of boat slip vacancies at Marina del Rey had nearly doubled to 259, compared with 133 a year earlier.

Most of the 4,700 available slips are for pleasure boats under 35 feet long, say harbor officials and business owners."

Seventy One Percent of Earth - Marine Protection Video | Twilight Earth

"Governments started creating parks and wilderness reserves on land more than a century ago. It’s time to give our oceans the same attention. Less than 1 percent of the world’s ocean is protected, much of this protection in name only. Preserving special places in the ocean will provide a haven for ocean life as fish and other creatures reproduce and raise their young."

What's in a name? - NJ.com: Jersey Boating

"ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 4, 2009 - Boat names can reveal much about the personality, passion, or experiences of a boat owner. This year the BoatU.S. list of Top Ten List of Most Popular Boat Names is particularly revealing"

Architect-designed yacht attracts big waiting list

"Ocean Emerald, which launched last week in Italy and designed by the architect behind London's 'Gherkin', is part of a fleet of four identical boats.

The first eight buyers will be able to use the boat now, while the next eight will get their boat in November.

Members of the fractional scheme pay €1.85m for a one-eighth share of the boat, guaranteeing them 34 days on board. That includes 11 days in the Mediterranean in the summer, 11 days in the Caribbean in winter and two six-day cruises during the rest of the year. There is an annual service charge of €200,000."

Daily Sound — Divers plan to clean up harbor floor

"A team of divers will collect tons of lost and discarded junk from the floor of the Santa Barbara Harbor during “Operation Clean Sweep” this Saturday.

Now entering its fourth year, the annual cleanup will ensure boating safety and navigation through the harbor, waterfront officials said. Divers will work from 8 a.m. to noon from the commercial fishing docks."