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Sailing Twitter Feed

2014-06-07T13:43:00.000-04:00

Tweets from https://twitter.com/CrowdJohn/lists/sailing

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Global fish stocks endangered (video)

2014-03-17T16:48:00.003-04:00

Fish stocks: Live chart -
Global fish stocks endangered (video above)
Published on Feb 26, 2014
Net losses
The world's fish are in danger—as is everyone who depends on them.

Governing the oceans: The tragedy of the high seas | The Economist: "....Two of the biggest—acidification and pollution—emanate from the land. Much of the damage is done within the 200-mile limit. But institutional reform for the high seas could cut overfishing and, crucially, change attitudes. The high seas are so vast and distant that people behave as though they cannot be protected or do not need protection. Neither is true. Humanity has harmed the high seas, but it can reverse that damage. Unless it does so, there will be trouble brewing beneath the waves." (read more at link above)

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Rio sailing venue called a 'sewer'

2014-01-08T16:44:00.003-05:00

Somebody better cleanup Rio! --

Rio sailing venue 'a sewer': Briton - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk: "...Rio's Olympic organising committee has promised the pollution will be cleaned up when the Olympics open and the government has pledged to reduce 80% of the pollution flowing into the bay. But the sailors doubt the problem can be fixed after festering for decades, and many worry about their health. Environmentalists say measures being taken are a "stopgap" likely to mask the problem, not cure it. Over the last several weeks nearly 70% of Rio's waste goes untreated into surrounding waters, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press news agency. Famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema are dirty and untreated sewage pours into a lagoon bordering the Olympic Park, the heart of the games. Norregaard said that while sailing the last few days he saw entire trees floating in the bay, doors, chunks of timber with nails protruding, swollen mattresses and endless plastic bags. Another sailor talked about a horse carcass in the 148-square-mile bay, which opens into the Atlantic just above Rio's famed Copacabana beach. The Dane said the floating debris made racing unfair and dangerous. The other issue is the health risk with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the water..."

And this is where they are holding the Olympics' sailing events?

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Exploring the Ocean (video)

2013-11-11T19:26:00.002-05:00

Exploring the Ocean - Video - NYTimes.com: "Underwater drones are changing the way scientists study the sea."

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Thrill of victory video, America's Cup 2013

2013-10-17T19:04:00.003-04:00

The thrill of victory - 2013 America's Cup in San Francisco - ORACLE TEAM USA celebrate winning the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco.

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America's Cup, Oracle Team USA, Unbelievable!

2013-09-25T00:05:00.003-04:00

No matter what happens Wednesday (September 25), this year's America's Cup has been one for the record books -- we may never see anything like these AC72 boats, or the unbelievable comeback by Oracle Team USA, ever again in our lifetimes. If you're like me, the only thing you will be watching Wednesday 4:15 ET (US), is the final America's Cup race from San Francisco either on TV or Live Virtual Eye and audio online at americascup.virtualeye.tv. More info, including TV sources worldwide, at americascup.com. Race Replays at: http://www.youtube.com/user/AmericasCup/videos

After Comeback for the Ages, a Last Dash for America’s Cup - NYTimes.com: "A week ago, the defender of the trophy, Oracle Team USA, bankrolled by the American billionaire Larry Ellison, trailed by eight races to one and was just one defeat from losing the most prestigious prize in yachting to the challenger, Emirates Team New Zealand. But by winning seven races in succession, including two on Tuesday, Oracle has tied the series at 8-8. Winds permitting, the rivals from different hemispheres will contest one final race Wednesday, winner take all."

May the best team win!

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Team USA calls time out in the America's Cup

2013-09-11T09:07:00.000-04:00

As I predicted, the Kiwis are running away with the America's Cup. Watching the race yesterday, it was painfully obvious that besides the tacking error of the American team, the Oracle Team USA boat is slower upwind than Emirates Team New Zealand. I doubt if sufficient changes can be made to turn it around for Larry Ellison's team, however, they should be able to be competitive. Team NZ only needs 5 more wins to win the Cup whereas Team USA needs 10 wins. Odds would favor the Kiwis winning at least every other race from hereon out. Racing continues Thursday. Coverage at johnthecrowd.com and americascup.org.

Oracle calls time out in America's Cup after Kiwi trouncing | Reuters: "Larry Ellison's American team appeared shell-shocked and asked for the time out just before the start of race two, under a rule giving the teams the right to delay one race in the 17-race series for the world's oldest sporting trophy. The so-called postponement card is generally reserved for boat breakdowns. "We feel like we need to regroup," skipper Jimmy Spithill said at a post-race press conference. "It's obvious we've got to make some changes." Oracle faces an uphill battle, having started the regatta with a two-race penalty and without its first-choice wing-sail trimmer, Dirk de Ridder. An international jury punished the team for illegally modifying its smaller, 45-foot practice catamarans in a preliminary regatta. . . ."

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America's Cup, Oracle Team USA or Emirates Team New Zealand, who will win?

2013-09-07T04:10:00.001-04:00

America's Cup, Oracle Team USA: Nail-Biting, the America's Cup Is Not - WSJ.com: "When the America's Cup finals start Saturday, defending champion Oracle Team USA will begin the first-to-nine-wins series with negative-two victories. That is its punishment for illegally adding weights to boats in less-prestigious races more than a year ago. But if history holds its course, the penalty might not even matter: The vast majority of finals have been sweeps. . . ."

As the article referenced above points out, most America's Cup events end up a sweep by the winner, as the "fastest boat" almost always wins (unlike the Olympics where everyone sails the same boat), which puts a premium on boat design and as a result, many innovations have come from America's Cup races. This year, the AC72s are awesome, and a bit terrifying to sail--some say even dangerous--having taken the life of Olympic sailor Bart Simpson in a tragic accident on San Francisco Bay this past spring. We may never see these boats sailed again in an America's Cup. But competitive sailing catamarans, foiling (airborne on foils), in races on bays or close to shore where spectators have a ring-side seat, are probably here to stay. The AC45s (used in the lead-up World Series races last year) appear to be a safer and less expensive alternative for future America's Cup races.

So who looks to take it all away and emerge victorious? We will all probably have a pretty good idea after the initial races Saturday and Sunday, but having watched both teams, I would favor the Kiwis (Emirates Team New Zealand) to take back to Auckland the Auld Mug.

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Eleuthera

2013-08-17T04:44:00.001-04:00

This video is about the island of Eleuthera and Harbour Island - discovering the Out Islands of the REAL Bahamas - The Out Islands is not a place for everyone, so if you are looking for touristy resorts, crowded beaches, casinos and cruise stops, or marine life behind aquarium glass, don't come to the Out Islands. More importantly, our hosts found themselves. These tranquil islands of the Bahamas also allows you to RECONNECT to yourself and your loved ones. http://www.myoutislands.com.

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