Due to a high number of water related deaths in June, the Coast Guard urges boaters and beachgoers to be safe and prepared for the holiday weekend.
Even though the average number of boating related deaths has dropped both nationally and regionally trends show that numbers rise during the summer months.
In the past week, a 55-year-old male fell overboard while crabbing in Maryland’s Bush River; a 25-year-old male was ejected from a 23-foot boat in Barnegat Bay, N.J.; a 14-year-old male went into Virginia’s Rappahannock River while walking along a sandbar; a 14-year-old girl was trapped under a capsized vessel in Annapolis, Md.; a 19-year-old male fell while inner-tubing off Carolina Beach, N.C.; a 45-year-old male was trapped under a capsized vessel in Turkey Point, Md.; and a 27-year-old male drowned while trying to jump from a boat to a pier in Chesapeake City, Md.
“There is a certain element of risk when you go boating, and there are inherent dangers to swimming in tidal waters,” said Dennis Sens, Coast Guard 5th District recreational boating safety specialist. “As more people consider heading to the water, they should also consider how to be safe on it.” Continue reading →
With the summer cruising season in full swing, cities from Maryland to Florida are considering or are in the process of implementing restrictions on anchoring, both for transient and local boats. In many cases, these restrictions are in response to problems directly caused by derelict boats in the harbors. However, most will affect cruisers as well as locals. Here’s a rundown of the various proposals under consideration and in the implementation process, plus links you can click for additional information:
Annapolis, MD
Annapolis officials, faced with a petition from Mears Marina asking that they restrict anchoring in the area adjacent to the marina on Back Creek, will hold a hearing June 28 to gather public input on the proposal. The proposed restrictions would affect only a small portion of Back Creek. However, Annapolis Harbormaster J.P. “Flip” Walters tells Waterway Guide that if a no-anchoring zone is approved off Mears Marina, other marina owners on Back Creek are likely to ask for similar restrictions near their own facilities. Continue reading →
Over the last 2 months, several reports have been received from yachts in the Southern Windwards who have been burgled whilst ashore for dinner.
The Caribbean Safety & Security Net reports that there has been speculation that, in certain anchorages, someone watches from shore to see which boats are vacated during the dinner hour and those boats are then targeted.
This is not a new phenomenon but four in one month is a record (as reported to the Caribbean Safety & Security Net in May). Yachts visiting those anchorages where this seems to be a frequent occurrence should consider leaving someone on board or leaving lights and/or a radio/CD player running, or anchoring farther from shore. It goes without saying that conversations about going out to dinner (or leaving the boat for any reason) should not take place on the VHF radio.
Anchorages include:
Bequia: Princes Margaret Beach
Mayreau: Salt-Whistle Bay
St Vincent: Wallilabou Bay
St Vincent: Blue Lagoon
St Vincent: Young Island
Courtesy of www.noonsite.com.
Bernie Madoff’s yacht, which he named, Bull, is being auctioned off at the annual GAIM hedge fund conference held this week. The Financial Times says it’s going for $4.3 million, a discount compared to what it’s worth ($8.6 million, according to an article in October 2010), because of the karma. The boat was custom built to Madoff’s specifications in 2007 and it comes with monogrammed towels and duvets with Bernie and Ruth’s initials. Too weird? Wyles Hardy, the seller, has a solution for that: change the name! “If the owner wants anonymity a simple name change is all that is required,” says the brochure. The boat was put on the market in August 2009, but then some legal issues took it off. It’s been back on the market since October 2010.
Courtesy of www.businessinsider.com.
Cruising sailors are being advised to stay away from Minerva Reef, one of their favorite stopping places in the Pacific, between the islands of the South Pacific and New Zealand. The Reef consists of two atolls, one of which is an almost perfect circle. It boasts pristine waters and safe anchorage, and has an amazingly colorful history.
Now it’s in the news again, and all because of the escape of a high profile Fijian politician who took refuge in Tonga. The Fijians, recognizing that Minerva Reef is a sore point with Tonga, who claims ownership of the remote reef, placed one of their warships in the lagoon of the remote atoll, much to the anger of the Tongans. This week two Tongan navy patrol boats returned from the atolls claiming that they had chased away a Fijian Navy warship they found in the lagoon. Continue reading →
Sunsail is offering discounts on their Reef Weeks between June 1 and February 10, 2012. Depending on the week you book, save 15-25% off your charter of 36′ to 48′ monohulls in the Caribbean. Whether you’re looking for a summer getaway or planning a vacation in the New Year, now is the time to book and save. For more information, go to www.sunsail.com.
Good news for Bermuda lovers. Now you can stay longer. In the House of Assembly on Friday, May 27th, Bermuda’s Minister of National Security, Wayne Perinchief, said that the Cabinet had approved a revised policy for visiting yachts. Starting today, June 1st, visiting yachts and their crews will be granted a maximum 90 day stay on arrival in Bermuda. Visitors will need to provide proof of citizenship and the means to repatriate themselves by air; proof of health insurance and a declaration not to seek or take up employment in Bermuda. Continue reading →
This unfortunate story is a good reminder that it’s important to have more than one emergency communication device on board. A pair of longtime sailing buddies were enjoying their third straight day at sea on May 10th, but they were on a course to disaster. Heinz Fragner of Austria and Manfred Jabbusch of Germany were bringing their friend’s 45-foot sailboat, Eva, from the United States to Greece.
Continue reading →
Having an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) sure does seem like a good idea when you need it! The Coast Guard rescued four boaters 14 miles off the coast of Cumberland Island, GA on Saturday, after a 25-foot sport boat they were aboard capsized. The Coast Guard received a mayday call over VHF channel 16, followed by an EPIRB notification after the boaters’ 25-foot Hydro Sport capsized. They were all wearing life jackets. The EPIRB was considered to be instrumental in the timely and successful rescue of the boaters. Continue reading →
Can travel make us better people? Can it make the world a better place? Is it possible to make a positive contribution to a community just by having traveled there? The folks at Trazzler.com believe that smart travel can accomplish all of this—and more—and they want to put this idea to the test (and send two Trazzlers on a one-of-a-kind eco-adventure). This is your chance to share meaningful travel experiences that do good and go deeper. Continue reading →
Abby’s adventure seems to be on every news station including the Weather Channel and now she’s added fuel to the fire by posting that she will try again. Most of the negative press seems to be focused on why the heck she was out there in the first place. After being rescued Abby rejected criticism about her age and dismissed suggestions that she should not have tried to cross the Indian Ocean in winter. Continue reading →
The weather prognosticators are predicting an active Atlantic Hurricane Season and with a low pressure system having already formed off of the African Continent and is 500 miles east of the Lesser Antilles as of last night. So once again the US Coast Guard has strongly urged the maritime community and boating public to monitor the progress of each and every tropical storm and hurricane and take early action to protect themselves and their vessels. Continue reading →
