Why arre Blue Whales still endangered?

Buzzle citing. In 1931 about 30,000 were killed. Today there are only less than 15000 alive.

Interesting factoid for the day.
Marine mammal enthusiasts getting a show from blue whales: "Blue whales need about 1.5 million calories a day to satisfy their energy requirements. To maintain their weight, they lunge at dense concentrations of krill, taking in as much as 15,000 gallons of food and water in a single mouthful."
"We spotted our first blue whale in 2004," said Dan Salas, captain of Harbor Breeze Cruises' 65-foot vessel, Christopher. "Now, it's crazy how many blue whales are out there. One day last week, we had 30 blues circling our boat."

How many yachts or luxury boats are sold each year in the US?

2003 stats
Lengthin feet Number of Vessels
40 to < 45     38,102
45 to < 50     17,363
50 to < 55     9,191
55 to < 60     4,584
60 to < 65    3,147
65 to < 70     1,817
70 to < 75     1,486
Total
40 to < 75     75,690

Better Bait -- Fishing Lures withstand over 90 lbs of force.

Mechanical Engineers Reinforce Flimsy Fishing Lures: "12-thousand tons of those plastic lures end up in lakes and waterways every year. But now, polymer scientists and one savvy fisherman may have the solution.

Fishing lures. For competitive fishermen like Drew and Derek Frederixon are as much a part of the sport as the rod and reel. But they're hardly indestructible. Drew goes through dozens of bags of lures in a single day. And it all adds up. In fact, more than 12-thousand tons of plastic lures wind up at the bottom of lakes and waterways every year, creating environmental and health hazards."

Cruising Beautiful British Columbia

The Waggoner Cruising Guide, Annual Guide to Northwest Boating from Weatherly Press: "These destinations could contain a lifetime of cruising, and they’re still south of Cape Caution. North of Cape Caution, the boats are fewer and the destinations are wilder: Smith and Boswell inlets, at the back of Smith Sound; the head of Rivers Inlet; Draney Inlet, branching off Rivers Inlet; the Hakai area, including the remarkable Goose Group; and the maze of channels, inlets, coves and tidal lagoons bordering Queen Charlotte Sound between Hakai Passage and Seaforth Channel."

Bucket list! - Sailing to the Galapagos

Sailing the Galapagos Islands in style: "With its Giant Tortoises, fearless Sea Lions, colorful crabs and endless other vivid and unusual species, the Galapagos Islands maintain an almost mythical status among the world's must-see natural wonders."

Sail - Wikipedia

Sail Aerodynamics : "Sails propel the boat in one of two ways. When the boat is going in the direction of the wind (i.e. downwind - see Points of sail), the sails may be set merely to trap the air as it flows by. Sails acting in this way are aerodynamically stalled. In stronger winds, turbulence created behind stalled sails can lead to aerodynamic instability, which in turn can manifest as increased downwind rolling of the boat. Spinnakers and square-rigged sails are often trimmed so that their upper edges become leading edges and they operate as airfoils again, but with airflow directed more or less vertically downwards. This mode of trim also provides the boat with some actual lift and may reduce both wetted area and the risk of 'digging in' to waves."

Boating on the L.A. River?

Boating on the L.A. River | Los Angeles Times: "It is a rambunctious urban patch of rumbling water, serene greenery and occasional homeless encampments, framed by slanting concrete walls rising to electrical power-line towers, set to an endless soundtrack of freeway traffic. Paddling on the murky water, the kayakers surprised hundreds of shorebirds and waterfowl. Huge carp darted past like bronze torpedoes."

Plastiki crosses Pacific

Boat made of plastic bottles crosses Pacific - World news - World environment - msnbc.com: "The Plastiki, kept afloat by 12,500 plastic bottles, completes her 8,000-nautical mile voyage from San Francisco as she passes the Sydney Opera House on Monday. Bottles stacked in rows make up the hull, and they are held together with organic glue made from cashew husks and sugarcane. Recycled aluminium irrigation pipe was used for the mast."

The liveaboard life...

Great article on the pros and cons: "If you want to know what it's like to live on a boat, put everything you own into your living room, close all the doors and try to live in a space that small."

14 year old Laura Dekker sails to the start of her solo voyage with dad.

Sail-World.com : Dutch teen solo sailor, 14, begins her voyage: "'Laura Dekker steers her boat, with her father, Dick Dekker, at left, as they depart the harbour of Den Osse (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)'"