Cruising Gear
Seaplane-convertible trimaran sailing yacht
A sailing yacht that can transform into a plane thanks to its four
mobile masts. The sails are retracted and the four masts are lowered to
become wings.
This model was manufactured at the Aerocoché plant in the water sports facilities of Salles sur Cérou, in the Tarn french departement.
It was designed for the princes Aziz, Dawood & Hashim, corporate executives of the "Masqat Airways" air transport company, and allows them to enjoy sailing along the Omani coastline with its 600-km range in the plane version.
Post to TwitterAn-Tiki raft crossing Atlantic with Stroud man onboard
(BBC) A 61-year-old solicitor from Stroud has joined a
team led by an octogenarian captain attempting to cross the Atlantic
Ocean on a raft made of pipes. John Russell is one of only four people onboard the An-Tiki vessel built from lengths of water and gas pipes. His
captain is former BBC Tomorrow's World presenter Anthony Smith, 84, who
formed the crew after placing an advert in the Daily Telegraph
newspaper. READ MOREFrom Rhode Island to Rotterdam, these apps will help all sailors
(ProJo) Ahoy there, mateys! Have you checked out the fleet of iPhone apps to help you navigate, race, cruise or just play armchair sailing games? Most are modestly priced if not free. A few require more of a financial commitment, but we’re still talking $10 to $50. READ MORE
Important Information for those in the market for a new VHF
Many of the older technology DSC VHF radios will no longer be valid after March 2011. Here's what to look for when shopping for recreational VHF radios. Read More In short, older SC101 Digital Selective Calling receivers which do not have the dedicated DSC channel 70 will no longer be valid for sale. New radios should have the updated CLASS D Digital Selective Calling technology which includes the Digital Selective Calling channel 70 and have the ability to over-ride the automated switching to channel 16 when DSC broadcast is heard so that critical bridge-to-bridge and Vessel Traffic Services type calls are not put in jeopardy.
Annapolis sailboat show sees larger crowds
(soundings) Perfect weather for five consecutive days, more than 600 exhibitors
and an estimated turnout of 50,000 underscored the positive mood at the
41st annual United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Md. READ MORE
West Marine to open flagship store in R.I.
(tradeonly) West Marine signed a long-term lease on a new flagship store location in Middletown, R.I., the company announced. The new store will be 23,000 square feet, which is almost 300
percent larger than the current 8,000-square-foot West Marine store in
the area. With a full service rigging shop on site, the Newport
flagship West Marine will be able to supply any form of running or
standing rigging as well as installation. READ MOREPublic comment sought on new NSW lifejacket laws
(powerboat-world)
Ports
and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi today called for public comment on
proposals that would see the most sweeping reforms to lifejacket rules
in more than 30 years.New Hydraulic Pumps Are Fast and Efficient
(harken) Harken has added a third speed to its new line of hydraulic pumps,
taking the two-speed technology used by today’s Grand Prix racers to
the next level. By adding a third speed, oil quickly and efficiently
pushes through the system, reducing pumping time and allowing the user
to conserve energy. At preset points, the pump automatically shifts to
the next speed. Shift points can be adjusted to suit crew strength and
sailing style. Pumps were thoroughly cycle-tested in the Harken lab
before being put through their paces on champion Grand Prix racers
around the world. READ MORESafety lesson: Make sure you're seen
(soundings) Alan Ryden, a commercial fisherman who survived 10 hours in the water, says a strobe light saved his life. Recreational angler Robert Clark says a lack of signaling equipment almost cost him his life after his boat capsized. READ MORESailing Around the World On Solar Power
(wired) Eschewing earth, wind and fire, an intrepid sailor plans to circumnavigate the world in a 60 foot solar-powered boat. Backed by the Peoples Projects Foundation,
Anthony Howarth is building the Solar Circumnavigator to raise
awareness about environmental issues and give the world a “solar power
wake-up call.” According to Howarth, the boat will have “no internal
combustion engines, no sails, no wind generators and no fuels of any
kind onboard,” a restriction that includes cooking fuel. READ MORE