Thursday, February 28, 2019

RNLI in Action – 30 years ago

30 years ago, the volunteer crew of Portrush Lifeboat launched in dreadful conditions to reports of two Spanish trawlers in difficulty - This was when the famous Portrush picture was taken by photographer Ian Watson- Crew member Mark Mitchell tells the story:

On a February afternoon in 1989, when I was 21, we were asked to go to the aid of two Spanish trawlers floundering off Donegal. Nothing unusual - except for the weather. The wind speed indicator at the top of the mast was screaming at 113.5mph. I had done several call-outs but this was the most dangerous to date.

We sat at the harbour entrance for what seemed like a lifetime as we strapped in and prepared. We were all well-experienced seafarers, but we knew this one was going to be bad.

As one mountainous wave after another surged past the harbour mouth, the Coxswain saw his chance - he was looking for a trough we could get ourselves into - and slammed the throttles forward. Almost a thousand horsepower launched us into the maelstrom. I was terrified. But we weren't allowed to say so because we were men in a man's world. In those days we couldn't show our fear.

Image may contain: ocean, sky, water and outdoor

Seconds later, the *seventh wave caught us and we were now suddenly on our side, surfing down a wall of white water towards the trough.

In a lesser boat we would have been dead, but the legendary stability of the **Richard Evans Arun Class Lifeboat pulled us back to something resembling an even keel and we turned to face the next one.

Weego Unleashes Monstrous Power to the Marine Market with Revolutionary Crankenstein™

Light Enough to Lift with Just One Finger, Crankenstein is the Smartest, Safest and Most Compact Marine-Grade Portable Jump Starter in the World

Weego, innovators of portable jump starters announced today the launch of Crankenstein™ Jump Starting 12V/24V Power Pack - a powerful, new, combination 12- and 24-volt portable jump starting solution, designed for the marine market. Crankenstein revolutionizes jump starting with industry-first features built into a compact power pack that is just nine pounds – 80% lighter than comparable lead-acid jump starters. Powered by the most reliable lithium-iron phosphate batteries, Crankenstein is ruggedly built to be the smartest, safest, most powerful and most compact solution available.

“When you are out in the middle of the ocean, having reliable power is critical,” said Gerry Toscani, CEO of Weego. “Any time spent dealing with a dead battery while adrift or at anchor can mean the difference between a good day on the water and a bad one. Instead of stopping everything to try to get a tow over VHF or spotty cellular reception, you can reach for Crankenstein with literally one finger for the power you need. Along with pleasure boaters, it’s a real time-saver and workhorse for boat yards, fleet managers and service professionals too!”

Registration Open for Salty Dawg™ Spring Cruising Rally from the Virgin Islands to the US

The nonprofit Salty Dawg™ Sailing Association (SDSA) has opened registration for its Spring Rally from the Virgin Islands to the US. In addition, it has opened registration for three additional Salty Dawg rallies scheduled for 2019.

The Spring Rally will depart the Virgin Islands on May 4 from Crown Bay Marina, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, heading to Blue Water Yachting Center in Hampton, VA (or other ports on the U.S. east coast) or to Bermuda. Pre-departure activities begin on May 1.

“The Spring Rally is made up of a diverse group of sailors including North American cruisers returning after a season in the Caribbean, as well as European cruisers continuing their “Atlantic Circle” and looking forward to a summer on the Eastern Seaboard. As always, the Spring Rally is a great way to meet other cruisers, and to sail offshore in company," said Rick Palm, SDSA Director of Rally Management.

The Spring Rally will feature the hallmarks of all Salty Dawg rallies:

· Weather routing services, both pre-departure briefings and daily updates during the passage by Chris Parker of Marine Weather Center.

· Online tracking on the Salty Dawg “Follow the Fleet” web link hosted by OCENS.

· Shoreside coordination and communication by experienced Salty Dawg volunteers.

· A twice-daily SSB Net facilitating communication among the boats in the fleet.

· A cruise-in-company support system where veteran participants offer advice and counsel to others.

· The lowest possible entry fee with the greatest possible payback as a result of the support of over 40 sponsors and dozens of experienced cruisers who volunteer their time.

In addition, those leaving from Crown Bay Marina in St. Thomas, USVI will benefit from:

· Daily pre-departure weather briefings with group discussions.

· Departure Party and Happy Hour social events.

· Discounts on dockage and marine services.

For the first time we will be holding destination activities in Hampton, VA to celebrate successful completion of the passage. These will be fun for all, so plan to come to Hampton for a special Salty Dawg welcome. Check our website for updates.

Click here for more information or to sign up for the Salty Dawg Spring Rally.

https://www.boatus.com/pressroom/previewImg/hiRes/1470.jpg

What to do with old marine flares? Maine may have figured out an answer to the problem (photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Safe Disposal of Expired Marine Flares Act., Hearing set for Monday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m.

Maine state representative Joyce “Jay” McCreight, Maine House District 51, has introduced an act that would establish and promote a system of safe disposal for expired marine flares, potentially solving an age-old disposal issue for the Pine Tree State’s 100,000-plus registered recreational boat owners. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) applauds the introduction of the LD 430, the Safe Disposal of Expired Marine Flares Act, and supports its passage.

A hearing to discuss the bill is slated for Monday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. in the Public Safety Committee Room at the Maine State House in Augusta. BoatUS urges recreational boaters to attend in support of the bill.

Due to the mandated 42-month expiration date from date of manufacture, most boaters need to replace their boat’s emergency flares after three seasons of boating. However, without a system to safely accept and dispose of outdated flares, they continue to present a safety and storage hazard for boat owners. In normal operation, flares can burn as high as 2,900 F, and they commonly contain perchlorates that are a groundwater contaminant and health hazard.

“If passed, the act would make Maine a national leader on an issue that has vexed boaters, government, and environmental advocates for decades,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “It solves the huge dilemma of how to safely dispose of these hazardous materials. We applaud Rep. McCreight for this smart solution and urge the Maine Legislature to move it forward to final passage.”

Coast Guard, partner agencies oversee removal of sailboat from Connecticut River

Pollution responders from Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection oversaw the removal of a 53-foot sailboat that sank in the Connecticut River near Old Lyme, Connecticut Feb. 20, 2019.

A commercial salvage company used float bags and dewatering pumps to re-float the sailboat.

During the salvage operation, no fuel was released into the Connecticut River. The sailboat was removed from the water for further examination.

The sailboat originally sank Jan. 27, 2019. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation.

Coast Guard advances scholarship program in Southern California

Coast Guard and California State University Long Beach officials signed a memorandum of understanding for a Coast Guard scholarship program to recruit highly motivated students who demonstrate academic and leadership abilities in Long Beach Friday.

The Coast Guard Pacific Area Command implemented the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, which allows Rear Adm. Nathan A. Moore, Coast Guard Pacific Area deputy commander, to award CSPI scholarships to applicants from their Minority Servicing Institution partner school.

If accepted, students participate in a minimum of 16 hours a month of Coast Guard activities. This includes wearing the Coast Guard uniform on campus once a week and during their four weekly hours of Coast Guard duties while receiving exposure to Coast Guard missions and units.

"The Coast Guard is excited to begin this partnership with Cal State Long Beach," said Moore. "The CSPI program gives young men and women a chance to serve their country while earning their college degree, which is beneficial for the Coast Guard, the university and the community."

The 3rd edition of the best-selling book on boat anchoring, Happy Hooking – the Art of Anchoring has been released

White Seahorse Publishing is pleased to announce the third, expanded edition of the best-selling book on boat anchoring, “Happy Hooking – the Art of Anchoring”. Receiving consistent five-star reviews from verified purchasers on Amazon, the authors and licensed captains, Alex & Daria Blackwell, reworked and updated much of their book. This latest edition includes new gear, new reviews, many new illustrations and much more.

“Anchoring is a subject very close to our hearts,” says Capt. Alex Blackwell. “Not only does confidence in anchoring have important safety implications but sitting in the cockpit on a lovely evening anchored in a spectacularly beautiful location watching the sun set rates up there with the most enjoyable things one can possibly do. We’re always happy to help people achieve that dream.”

When asked why they wrote the book in the first place, Daria explained, “We were asked by members of a prominent yacht club what we did at night while out cruising. When we told them we anchored out, they promptly asked us to do a talk for their membership. In due course, that progressed to speaking in front of a packed auditorium at a major boat show. When members of the audience approached asking to buy our book, we felt compelled to write it.”

Asked to explain why they felt the need to bring out a new edition of their already popular and widely acclaimed book, Alex continues, “Even in a field as mundane (or ‘engaging’) as boat anchoring, there are always improvements, new field tests and new manufacturers. We are always on the lookout for the next big thing. We feel it is our responsibility to ensure these innovations are brought to light and to keep the discussion about safety alive.”

Independent reviews on Amazon:

Happy Hooking is the best book on anchoring techniques and equipment I have found to date - full of practical advice and enjoyable to read as well. Right up to date with all the latest gear.

Anchoring bible - A must to all sailors.

Read more

Coast Guard Foundation Provides Over $600,000 to Families Affected by the Government Shutdown

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Pendant, a 65-foot Small Harbor Tug based out of Boston, transits Boston Harbor on their way to the Weymouth Fore River to conduct ice breaking operations, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. The crew breaks ice around fuel terminals to ensure ships carrying home heating oil can safely maneuver and access the terminals. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Barresi)

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that it has distributed over $600,000 to families impacted by the partial government shutdown that ended January 25. Coast Guard families across the country – from Alaska to Florida, Hawaii and Massachusetts – have received due to an outpouring of generosity from individual and corporate supporters.

The total collected included a single $100,000 donation from Walmart which helped in the Coast Guard Foundation’s outreach to Coast Guard members across the country.

The shipwreck that changed the Coast Guard forever

Story and artwork by Petty Officer 2nd Class Corinne Zilnicki

When the clock tolled 12 a.m. on Feb. 12, 1983, the 605-foot cargo ship Marine Electric trekked northward 30 miles off Virginia's Eastern Shore, plowing slowly through the gale-force winds and waves stirred up by a winter storm.

An able-bodied seaman relieved the watch and peered forward, noticing for the first time that the ship's bow seemed to be riding unusually low in the water. Dense curls of green ocean rushed over the bow, some of them arching 10 feet over the deck before crashing back down. The crew had been battling 25-foot waves for hours, but until now, the bow had bucked and dipped as normal.

Now it seemed only to dip.

Over the next two hours, the waves intruded with increasing vigor. The entire foredeck was swallowed in 6 feet of water. The main deck was completely awash.

At 2:30 a.m., the ship's master, Phillip Corl, summoned his chief mate, Robert Cusick, to the bridge and shared his fears: the bow was settling, they were taking on too much water, and the crew was in real trouble.

Coast Guard rescues 3 off Torrey Pines from capsized catamaran

The Coast Guard rescued two adults and a child whose boat capsized off the coast of San Diego, Sunday. At approximately 2:30 p.m., a person aboard the 30-foot sailing vessel, Divided Soul, called mayday on VHF-FM marine band channel 16, the international hailing and distress frequency, that was picked up by watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center. The Divided Soul's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was triggered and provided search-and-rescue coordinators with the exact location of the vessel 10 miles west of Torrey Pines.

Watchstanders dispatched a Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, a Station San Diego 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew and the Fast Response Cutter Robert Ward to assist.

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey helicopter crew from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was operating in the area and was able to locate the overturned boat. The Osprey crew stayed on scene until the crew of the Robert Ward arrived.

Swarm helps pinpoint new magnetic north for smartphones

Magnetic north on the move

Since it was first measured in 1831, we have known that the magnetic north is constantly on the move. However, its tendency to slowly roam has stepped up a pace recently – so much so that the World Magnetic Model has had to be updated urgently with the pole’s new location, vital for navigation on smartphones, for example. ESA’s magnetic field Swarm mission has been key for this update.

The World Magnetic Model, the basis for many navigation systems used by ships, Google maps and smartphones, relies on the accurate knowledge of Earth’s magnetic field. Since magnetic north never stands still, the model has to be revised periodically – but a surge in pace has meant that an update was needed ahead of schedule.

Driven largely by the churning of fluid in Earth’s core, which generates the magnetic field, the magnetic north pole has always drifted, and geological evidence shows that every few hundred thousand years or so it even flips, so that north becomes south.

Around 50 years ago, the pole was ambling along at around 15 km a year, but now it is sprinting ahead at around 55 km a year. In 2017, it crossed the international date line, leaving the Canadian Arctic and heading towards Siberia.

Space compasses

read more

RYA Welcomes Recent Government Announcement Recognising Importance of Character-Building Activities

Education Secretary, Damian Hinds recently announced his vision to help children build character and resilience. Speaking at the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership conference on 07 February, Mr Hinds spoke of the importance of character-building activities in helping young people succeed in life and even improve academic outcomes.

The Department for Education (DfE) has pledged to work with schools and external organizations, including membership bodies, to enable children from all backgrounds to access activities to develop confidence and underpin success in education and work. For many years we have known that sport and physical activity have a beneficial effect on our physical health and wellbeing. However, work done by the RYA and Professor Bill Lucas, Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning and Professor of Learning at the University of Winchester demonstrates a number of important additional benefits. The landmark project combined academic findings on the role character has to play in shaping young people’s life chances, with the life skills that can be developed through sailing. With Prof. Lucas concluding that sailing nurtures six key strengths; creativity, confidence, teamwork, communication, determination, and independence.

He said: “I’m struck by how much of a child’s life in school, can be focused on exams and how much more needs to focus on the other things that help them to do really well in life, including resilience and learning to work with others. If you do those things better, exam results get better and people who have these attributes get on better in life. They are much happier and adaptable to embrace challenges.”

https://www.boatus.com/pressroom/previewImg/hiRes/1466.jpg

Women get hands-on sail reefing experience at the NWSA Women’s Sailing Conference.

NWSA Women’s Sailing Conference Slated for June 1

Beginning and experienced woman sailors can jump-start their sailing lives by heading to the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) 18^th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference slated for Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The event, which features hands-on land- and water-based workshops and seminars, offers women a fantastic opportunity to learn or hone sailing skills, network with other women sailors from all over the United States, and gain the confidence necessary to become a valuable crew member or knowledgeable skipper.

“Women of all sailing abilities are encouraged to attend,” said event Chair Joan Thayer. “By sharing experiences, women leave with improved skills and knowledge that contribute to better days on the water. There is something of interest for everyone in the 20 different workshops.”

Financial support from major supporters, including Black Rock Sailing School and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), enable NWSA to meet the educational needs of women sailors and continue to provide one of the top women’s sailing conferences in the nation. On the water, women can take the helm for the first time or improve their sail trim and boat-handling skills in a Sonar 23-foot keelboat. “Learning on these one-design boats is easier to understand than on big boats. It’s an instant reaction to your action,” added Thayer.

New workshops this year include Experiencing Your Ability to Swim, Wearing Foul Weather Gear, Suddenly Alone, How to Use the VHF for Clear Communications, What You Need to Know to Campaign Your Boat, Avoiding Mayhems and Missteps, What Do You REALLY Need in Your Medical Kit for First Aid?, and Boating Skills Virtual Trainer. Repeat conference workshops include Anchoring, Diesel Engine Maintenance, Hands-On Flare and Fire Extinguisher Demonstrations, Racing Basics, Sailing 101 and 102, Knots, How to Read a Navigational Chart, Plot Your Course, and Basic to Advanced On-the-Water Sailing. NWSA is proud to offer educational opportunities from some of the country’s most experienced and exceptional sailing women, including American Boat and Yacht Council Master Marine Tech Beth Burlingame.

Port Facility Security Assessments & Port Security Assessments 01/07/2019 - 30/06/2024

Marine Notice No. 03 of 2019

Notice to Port Authorities, Port Security Officers and Port Facility Security Officers, Recognised Security Organisations (Ports)

The Department wishes to inform Port Authorities, Port Security Officers and Port Facility Security Officers of the procedure and arrangements in place for the completion and review of security assessments required for the period 2019 -2024 as per the requirements of Directive 65/2005/EC and Regulation 725/04/EC (ISPS).

Port Security Assessment

A new Port Security Assessment (PSA) template has been developed pursuant to the European Communities (Port Security) Regulations 2007 (transposing Directive 2005/65/EC). See PSA template. The port authority or the entity responsible for the port will organise the PSA to be carried out by a Recognised Security Organisation (Ports). A single PSA document must be completed for each port and is to be submitted by the Port Authority / Company to the SafeSeasIreland (SSI) portal. (This is to be submitted in SSI using the page corresponding to the “Main Facility” in each port).

Port Facility Security Assessment

A new Port Facility Security Assessment (PFSA) template has been developed pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 (ISPS). See PFSA template. This is to be completed for every port facility. The port facility security officer will organise the PFSA to be carried out by a Recognised Security Organisation (Ports). This template also includes the waterside assessment of the port facility area. The PFSO should liaise with the Port Security Office / Harbour Master, to ensure as far as possible, that the waterside assessment for the facility is complementary to the waterside assessment for the wider port area contained in the PSA. The completed PFSA is to be submitted by the Port Authority / Company to the SafeSeasIreland (SSI) portal.

Coast Guard Academy named a Best Value College

The Academy was recently included in the Princeton Review's "The Best Value Colleges: 200 Schools with Exceptional Return On Investment for Your Tuition Investment” publication which recommends institutions considered the nation's best for academics, affordability, and career prospects.

According to the publication the colleges were selected based on a return on investment rating score that includes institutional data from 658 institutions, student surveys, and alumni surveys covering starting and mid-career salaries as well as career social impact.

The publication states, “With a student body of about 1,000, it’s easy to see why graduates of the Coast Guard Academy form such a lifelong dedication to the school and each other.”

A student survey quotes a cadet saying, “I will have a guaranteed job once I graduate. And I am now part of the military family that takes care of its own.”

Coastal Sailing and Boating