tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73999543766021725342024-12-18T19:21:41.609-08:00Oyster Yachting is a sailing community dedicated to blue-water cruising vessels, far-off cruising destinations and safe passages.Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-84773949534859461992012-02-09T16:07:00.001-08:002012-02-09T16:09:10.364-08:00

The three most important products to have on a sailboat...each has multiple uses.  There can never be enought of the one in the middle on-board.

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-8713077493034469402012-01-26T16:38:00.000-08:002012-02-19T15:35:22.430-08:00

As a lifelong sailor, and one who makes it a habit to attend as many boat shows on the West Coast as possible, I can impart a few words of wisdom of what to expect and how to get most out of your attendance. If you are a newbie or want to get into the boating lifestyle, then this review of the boat show scene will come in handy. And for those long-time sailors who love attending just

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-12945148900440625862011-09-29T10:32:00.000-07:002011-09-30T09:13:08.306-07:00

The Mexican government has recently released crime data from their drug wars database. It presumably covers all murders to have link to the drug cartels which total at least seven in number. The number of deaths rose sharply since 2006 until the end of 2010, by far the most violent year with 15,273 persons killed. The chart shown by clicking on the link below shows the distribution of where

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-76522513067904216722011-09-12T11:14:00.000-07:002011-09-12T11:26:25.254-07:00

The Whateverly Brothers performed live at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2011 on Sept. 1, 211.

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-32718581794819251212011-05-13T17:24:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:34:38.526-07:00

Genre: News Format: HD Video Length: 50:52 minutes Rating: G   During an exclusive event at the Strictly Sail Pacific (April 14-17, 2011) boat show in Oakland, California, Kyri McClellan, America’s Cup Organizing Committee; Mike Martin, Director of Rules Administration and Umpiring; Ian “Fresh” Burns, Team Coordinator with Oracle Racing; and Stephanie Martin, Chief Communications

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-81028463576455922432011-03-18T05:11:00.000-07:002011-03-18T06:55:25.177-07:00

  Cruisers go through a life-bending transformation as they move from land-based living to full-time cruising.   The metamorphosis begins with real and imagined anxieties, fears, dangers and unknowns.  The physical part of adjusting to cruising soon wanes, and cultural and lifestyle issues become front-and-center…sometimes to the point of questioning the reason(s) for being

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-1529714746163946232011-02-19T11:58:00.000-08:002011-03-18T06:17:14.369-07:00

An American couple, who have been cruising and doing an around the world voyage since 2002, have been attacked and captured by Somali pirates.  The 58-foot Laurie Davidson-designed racer/cruiser, s/v Quest was making its way to Oman under radio silence when the pirate attack occurred in the Arabian Sea.  The last reported location by their SPOT satellite signal is shown below.

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-27035861056882618482010-12-17T20:20:00.000-08:002010-12-17T20:28:39.231-08:00

Many sailors venture into tropical climates and, if they do so, they will most likely encounter the creepiest of sand creatures, the sand flea.    On my visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I became a victim, and the sand fleas had party on my ankles and lower legs.  Here are some tips on how to prevent the bites and what to do if you become a victim. What Are Sand Fleas: The

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-78579389721182521672010-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:002010-11-30T14:21:26.496-08:00

This review is mostly based on my travels to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz last year following the Baja Ha-Ha sail rally.  It is an untarnished view of the way I saw the places yacht havens … call the shots as I see them, no sacred cows. While the 170- vessel Baja Ha-Ha XVI fleet descended on Cabo San Lucas in November 2009 as part of an annual sailing pilgrimage to the cape, the Cabo Isle

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-18866687546236289192010-09-27T12:48:00.000-07:002010-09-27T12:48:53.581-07:00

The double-masted Schooner Zodiac suffered a dismasting  in light winds as she was returning to her homeport Bellingham, Wash. on September 25, 2010.  The historic vessel is regularly chartered during the summer and it was ironic that vessel is ending one of its best seasons sailing the Pacific Northwest islands.  The wooden main mast snapped about 15 feet above deck

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-91908558644397829272010-08-10T17:03:00.000-07:002010-09-23T11:09:27.079-07:00

  Adventure sailing is a great way to have an incredibly good time on the water to see new landfalls sometimes only accessible by boat to renew creativity and rejuvenate one's the joie de vivre to improve sailing skills in an open ocean cruising environment to connect with like minded others for friendship and networking Here are some adventure sailing charters of note

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-71004840539597614832010-06-22T10:06:00.000-07:002010-06-22T10:14:48.849-07:00

  Two entrepreneurs (Vlado Defranceski-Jevremovic and Manuel Maquedaand) I met at the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show recently are getting a new social networking site for sailors (with geo-tagging) off the ground.  The development group is located in Spain, Vlado (left) and Manuel (right) in San Francisco. Visit http://www.BlooSee.com/ if you want to try it out...their challenge

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-16280593684523184252010-03-26T06:19:00.000-07:002010-05-05T11:48:26.188-07:00

I will be heading to the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show in Oakland, California (April 15-18). Will be screening the final cut of my first sailing documentary project, "Gales, Whales and the Baja Ha-Ha" (Waterfront Hotel, Portside auditorium, April 15 2:00PM, April 18 10:30AM). The show shifts to an improved four-day format and the majority of the booth exhibitors will be housed in a 30,000

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-43398667687552003342010-03-18T21:16:00.000-07:002010-03-18T21:24:27.917-07:00

Both of these videos put a smile on my face. In the first video, a vessel in distress is calling the German Coast Guard. The rookie the in training does not quite understand the skipper's pronouciation of "sinking." In the second, the captain of the navy ship ends up with egg on his face afer demanding that the "Lighthouse" change course. What can be

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-81984925004469266242010-03-18T19:02:00.000-07:002010-03-18T20:47:42.005-07:00

  The unexpected happens sometimes during a cruise. The sailor is far from shore and his sailboat begins to take on water. In most cases, it is not because of a catastrophic incident, such as, collision with a hard object. The odds are that the water ingress is due to a split hose, a broken thru-hull fitting, or a leaking shaft log. Immediate action is necessary to locate the source of

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-26078737576998031262010-03-16T07:59:00.000-07:002010-03-16T10:34:04.525-07:00

   This pictorial shows how the components of the rescue system interact with each other. COSPAS: Cosmicheskaya Systyema Polska Aariynyich Sudov (Russian) SARSAT: Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking Founded in 1982 by USA, Canada, Russia, and France.  Currently 38 nations are participating. The system only receives 406 MHz signals. The COSPAS-SARSAT system is

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-22155547035269626722010-03-15T13:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T21:07:00.549-07:00

Due to lack of space, bring items on board with forethought. If the item you bring on board has at least two uses, it is even better. For example, this rubber strap wrench has multiple uses: opening jar lids remove oil/fuel filters open raw water filters, lids drinking water filter removal twist pipes, other This handy-dandy rubber strap fits around objects of any shape to loosen, tighten or

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-4039366610181644202010-03-15T09:42:00.000-07:002010-12-24T11:20:55.031-08:00

   The official Baja Ha-Ha sailing regatta website is here. You can find everything at the link to get prepared, find crew, register and to know the milestone dates. A few of the key links are below. Mexican Marinas First Timer's Guide to Mexico Everything You Wanted to Know About the Baja Ha-Ha But Were Afraid to Ask A somewhat dated article scanned from Latitude 38 called "

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-48341389689642488172010-03-15T03:57:00.000-07:002011-03-18T12:41:32.832-07:00

  Sailing publications in print and with an online presence.  48th North  All at Sea  Blue Water Sailing  Boating Life  Boating Magazine  Catamaran Sailor  Cruising World  DIY Boat Owner  Good Old Boat  Latitude 38  Latitudes & Attitudes  Living Aboard  Northwest Yachting  Nor'Westing  Ocean Navigator  

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-80913644137719528202010-03-15T00:32:00.000-07:002010-03-18T21:31:38.071-07:00

George Krakie of Marina El Cid (Mazatlan, Mexico) put together a very handy 2009 Mazatlan Cruiser’s Guide for the cruising community visiting the region. It covers everything from places to visit, to services provided in the city, a complete city bus guide, local knowledge, and several pages of an English-to-Spanish translation guidance. A donation of 30 pesos (plus mailing cost) is requested to

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-63419813602119534592010-03-12T21:18:00.000-08:002010-03-12T21:19:41.064-08:00

   I have a strong preference for conventional rigs (slap-reefing) with a good slide system, triple reefing setup, and lazy jacks or the Dutchman system for ease of dropping sails. This is a relatively simple, time-tested system that requires a bit more work for the crew but it has its advantages: better sail shape (performance), full-batten capability, less weight aloft, and

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-69712778309558705792010-03-12T20:56:00.000-08:002010-03-12T20:59:06.821-08:00

   To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea ... cruising, it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-35373549770961316702010-03-12T20:44:00.000-08:002010-03-12T20:44:17.257-08:00

   Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. by Mark Twain, Author   

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-18583201859792136752010-03-12T20:40:00.000-08:002010-03-12T21:05:01.414-08:00

   There were two twin brothers named Joe and John. Joe was an old salt and was the owner of a dilapidated old boat. It came to pass that John's lovely wife died the same day that Joe's boat sank in San Francisco Bay. A few days later a kindly old lady met Joe on the street and mistaking him for John said, "I am sorry for your great loss. You must feel terrible." "Ohhh, Hell NO

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7399954376602172534.post-89887445751924351852010-03-12T20:36:00.000-08:002010-03-12T20:37:54.553-08:00

   My soul is full of longing For the secret of the sea And the heart of the great ocean Sends a thrilling pulse through me by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Poet   

Steve Sziromhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15630567399748559933noreply@blogger.com0