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“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” — Vincent Van Gogh It was kind of early for a swim, but later that day I’d be on a plane back to the loathsome winter of the Northeast. I knew I’d regret it if I missed a chance to float in the warm turquoise of the Caribbean, so I roused myself, shaking off my natural laziness, stoked to its peak by the sun’s hypnotic whisper to just relax. Why, oh why didn’t I listen? Minutes later, as I faced the beach to yell encouragement to my family — come on in, the water is fine — I took a step and felt severe pain. I…
On Christmas Eve 1973, having sailed from St. Croix to Cruz Bay and then to Jost Van Dyke in a 26-foot Bristol sloop, my wife, Kathy, and I were at Foxy’s having a fun chat with the man himself [“Foxy’s Caribbean,” February]. Christmas is my birthday, and we were disappointed that he would be closed the next day. Foxy said, “I will make you a lobster dinner.” The next day, we had Great Harbour to ourselves, and at 4 o’clock we were down below toasting my birthday with the boat specialty, Tang and rum (an acquired taste). We didn’t really think Foxy would remember his offer. There was a knock on the hull, and we went topside to find Foxy in a rowboat with a lobster dinner for us to…
TO THE FINISH LINE Playful dolphins escorted Comanche on the approach to Tasmania, where the 100-foot maxi yacht took line honors in the annual Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December. This was the first time in 17 years that an American yacht was first across the finish line of Australia’s biggest offshore race. Skippered by Ken Read, Comanche made the 630-nautical-mile sprint in 2 days, 8 hours, 58 minutes, 30 seconds. Almost a third of the fleet retired in the first 48 hours because of the punishing conditions. With more flare at the bow, increased freeboard and a deeper cockpit, the new Boston Whaler 280 Outrage better fulfills its mission as an offshore center console, says sales and marketing vice president Jeff Vaughn. “Our goal was to create a boat…
Test your knowledge with these Coast Guard license exam prep questions from the National Captain’s Institute captains.com 1. INTERNATIONAL RULES: When should three short blasts be given? A. when about to back down a vessel B. when beginning to shift into reverse C. when engines are in reverse D. when making full speed astern only 2. At night on international waters, a barge being towed astern must display: A. red and green side lights only B. a white stern light only C. side lights and a stern light D. one all-around white light only 3. “PA” on a chart means: A. power cable above B. passage/pass C. pavilion D. approximate position 4. A buoy with red and green horizontal stripes normally used to mark the junction between two channels can…
With the Arctic ice pack shrinking, NOAA archaeologists were able to explore the waters off Alaska’s North Slope and locate two of 33 whaling ships crushed and lost in the ice nearly 145 years ago. Starting last August, archaeologists aboard Ukpik, a 50-foot Prudhoe Bay-based research vessel, scoured a 30-mile stretch of nearshore waters in the Chukchi Sea off Wainwright, Alaska. In September, they found the two wooden hulls in 15 feet of water. Warmer weather and a later onset of pack ice near the shore of the North Slope “extended the window when we could safely navigate those waters,” says Brad Barr, a NOAA archaeologist and project co-director. The team surveyed the bottom out to about three miles, but conditions often were so bad — 30-knot winds and 9-foot…
Vale Robert Oatley started out as a man of modest means and built a business empire on coffee beans, wine and luxury resorts, but many will remember him as a yachtsman and a sailor. Oatley died Jan. 10 from a lung infection. He was 87. “Bob mentored many sailors and supported them throughout their careers, and many people owe him a debt of gratitude. He was a Foundation Member of the Australian Sailing Team Patrons’ Program, and we are extremely grateful for his contribution and support over many years,” Matt Allen, president of Yachting Australia, says in a statement. “He replicated his business success in sailing by putting good people around him, which proved a winning formula.” Oatley’s love affair with sailing started in his early teenage years on Australia’s…
