The Armchair Sailor

Peter O'Leary grabs th lead at the Sail for Gold Regatta at Weymouth

2010-08-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

This is a news I've just read:

Thursday August 12 2010
Beijing Olympics veteran Peter O'Leary took the overall lead of the Star class at the Sail for Gold Regatta at Weymouth yesterday as perfect racing conditions returned to the venue for most of the day, writes James Hall.

Sailing with German Frithjof Kleen, who is standing in for David Burrows as crew, the Irish boat scored a third place followed by fifth and sixth places in the subsequent races.

Read the full story here.

Whale Hits & Smashes Yacht In South Africa

2010-07-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

This is a video of whale jumping on the yacht in South Africa. Funny thing is the couple on board is under investigation for harassing the whale by "coming to close to it."

Here's the picture of the whale breaching:

Whale attacking yachters from South Africa

Best Tips in Inspecting Your New Boat

2010-07-17T03:30:00.001-07:00

The observing or perhaps checking your own boat is an extremely important part of the purchasing process. Checking will help you to notice what you really are purchasing just before you make payment for any money.

You might want to make use of a surveyor to get this done, because they will execute an extremely comprehensive examination of the boat you are searching for. You may exist in the testing period if you'd prefer, because this provides you with the opportunity to instruction if you'd prefer.

Even though employing a surveyor is the easiest method to do an examination, it is possible to do it yourself in case you are knowledgeable and also comfortable enough. There are lots of areas of the boat to examine, that makes it almost difficult for novices.

In the event you examine it yourself, ensure you to take a look at the bottom of the hull, the particular interior, the actual control cables, electric system, pumps, and be positive that it is all totally in working condition. When the boat may be well-maintained, you should not have a very difficulty searching everything around.

The engine also needs to be looked into, because it is extremely essential to the particular boat. If you do not understand a great deal about boat engines or perhaps engines generally speaking, you ought to get yourself a technician to check over it in your case. You might want to try this in any case, since the engine could end up being really difficult to check.

When everything is about par, you're ready to have a try out. Before you decide to turn on the engine, verify to determine whether it's currently warm. When the engine provides problems beginning or perhaps smokes whenever cold, the vendor might have started the engine ahead of you turning up in order to disguise any kind of issues.

Pay attention to oil leakages too, looking at the bilges in the beginning and also end from the test drive. Whenever getting around, observe how the actual boat works. You must test out striking the waves coming from various perspectives, searching for any kind of roll or perhaps pitch.

Be sure you furthermore to check that most the instruments will work effectively, after that operate the engine for any time frame to determine when this gets too hot.

In case you are purchasing a sail boat, position the sails upwards and find out the way the boat works under wind pressure on its own. Additionally, ensure you verify the mast and also the way the boat rigs under load.

When the boat you've planned to purchase does not pass some of your tests, do not rule it at this time. If you're prepared to set each time and expense straight into producing things work, you should use any kind of issues as bargaining methods in an attempt and perhaps acquire a cheaper price on the boat.
Start building your dream boat today! Read our Plans4Boats Review to discover the hidden secrets behind the huge collection of Classic Boat Plans.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Skip_Talmage

America's Cup Revamped?

2010-07-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

Organizers of the America's Cup are doing four day trials in order to determine which boat is better for the race, mono-hull or multi-hull. Not only that, they are also trying to make the event more exciting by improving TV production, sailing boats shorthanded, and experimenting with all kinds of race course formats. Or, in the words of Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing Team:

“We are testing many different concepts. Would making the first leg downwind instead of upwind be better? Can you have exciting boat-on-boat action with multihulls? Are there alternative race course formats which might provide more overtaking opportunities?”

You can read the rest of the story here.

The Full Text of the Voyage of the Destroyer Is Up

2010-07-15T02:52:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note, I've uploaded the full text of The Voyage of the Destroyer. This little known book written by Joshua Slocum describes his adventures and mishaps he encountered while sailing the Destroyer from New York to Brasil. Enjoy!

5 Important Tips to Successfully Dock a Sailboat

2010-07-14T04:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the easy steps to follow when docking a sailboat to prevent damaging accidents and collision: approach the dock at a shallow angle, tie the fenders on the lifelines, never put any part of your body between the boat and the dock, step on the dock, and toss the dock lines to a helper.

Properly docking a sailboat is very important for any sailor. This is to avoid damages and accidents during the docking position. Although sailboat docking may be easy, it is still important to know the common, yet helpful, tips to properly dock a sailboat in an appropriate position.

Approach the dock at a shallow angle

The first step to sailboat docking is to approach the dock at a shallow angle while fully in control of the boat. The boat must be at a minimal level upon approaching the dock to avoid the sailboat from bumping the dock. In cases that the sailboat's docking speed is fast, never rely on the reverse gear.

Tie the fenders onto the lifelines

Double check that you tie the fenders onto the lifelines. Also, secure the bow dock line forward onto the anchor cleat. Before getting too close to the dock, attach the stern line at an aft cleat. This serves as your support.

Never put any part of your body between the boat and the dock

Putting any part of your body in the middle of the boat and the dock is not advisable. The boat will move easily because it is on water. Putting any part of your body will only cause accidents and injuries to you.

Step on the dock

Stepping onto the dock is advised over leaping on it. When you leap, there will be a tendency for you to exert force that will cause the boat to move. Simply stepping applies minimal force compared to leaping. Stepping is also safer and provides a more stable balance. For you to be able to step well, it is important to step when the sailboat is really close to the dock so you can step onto it steadily.

Toss the dock lines to a helper

Tossing the deck lines to a helper is a great help. Do not forget to tie the rope onto the cleat yourself before tossing it. Often times a helper does not tie the rope as tightly as you want it to be. So make sure you tie it yourself for security.

You must also remember to always watch out for the level of the tide. Always provide enough rope allowance and docking distance. This is to ensure that your boat will remain on the appropriate position even during the changes of tide levels. Always pay attention to every little detail when practicing your docking skills and upon leaving the dock. Mastering these docking skills will prevent you from having embarrassing crashes.
More sailing tips and information on how to buy great sails can be found at UK Halsey.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Strasser

Watson Expedition Yachts

2010-07-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

There are things in this world that you either love or hate and the Watson Expedition yachts are just that. Built for serious blue water cruising, they have it all - the luxurious interior and accommodations and the real seaworthiness. What makes them different from the rest of todays yachts in their class is that day look like they are built to cross the oceans. Or in the words of K.C. Barnaby, one of the leading naval architects, whose philosophy the builders of Watson Expedition yachts follow:

"The general appearance of a ship should be indicative of her main function. If a yacht is intended for ocean cruising, the lines should convey an impression of rugged seaworthiness and not of fragile grace or of rapidity of motion. The reverse is true of an up-river vessel which will obviously never have to face heavy weather and which should always look light and neat. On such a type sturdiness will appear to be clumsiness."

Watson 48 built by Pacific Motoryachts Ltd & T.C. Watsons & Sons Ltd.

Watson Expedition yachts come in four sizes:

Watson 48 (cruise range: 3950 nautical miles @ 8.0 knots)
Watson 54 (cruise range: 3450 nautical miles @ 8.0 knots)
Watson 72 (cruise range: 7050 nautical miles @ 9.8 knots)
Watson 79 (cruise range: 6065 nautical miles @ 10.0 knots)

The Northern Light

2010-07-12T03:43:00.000-07:00

The Northern Light was one of the finest sailing ships of the 19th century. Just read what Captain Joshua Slocum had to say about it:

My best command was that of the magnificent ship Northern Light, of which I was part-owner. I had a right to be proud of her, for at that time--in the eighties--she was the finest American sailing-vessel afloat.

Captain Joshua Slocum

The Northern Light

BTW, this is the last post in the Joshua Slocum ship series. You can read about other ships here:

Hope you enjoyed this series of post about Captain Joshua Slocum Ships.

The Aquidneck

2010-07-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Aquidneck was a trim and tidy craft of 326 tons' register, hailing from Baltimore, the port noted for clippers, and being herself high famed above them all for swift sailing, she had won admiration on many seas.

Captain Joshua Slocum

The Aquidneck was a 140 foot 3 masted barque owned by Captain Joshua Slocum. He shipwrecked her on his way to Montevideo in 1887. He sold the wreckage and built the Liberdade in order to get his family back to United States.

Captain Joshua Slocum abuot the Aquidneck:

Afterward I owned and sailed the Aquidneck, a little bark which of all man's handiwork seemed to me the nearest to perfection of beauty, and which in speed, when the wind blew, asked no favors of steamers. I had been nearly twenty years a shipmaster when I quit her deck on the coast of Brazil, where she was wrecked.

The Destroyer

2010-07-10T03:30:00.000-07:00

To sail the Destroyer from New York to Brazil in the northern winter months was not promising of great ease or comfort--but what of that! I, for one, undertook the contract of the novel adventure myself, with its boding hardships and risks which soon were met face to face.

Captain Joshua Slocum

The Destroyer

Captain Joshua Slocum was hired as "navigator in command" to bring the Destroyer to Brazil. He was never paid for his work, but he had described this adventure in his book: The Voyage of the Destroyer from New York to Brazil (amazon affiliate link).

The Liberdade

2010-07-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Her model I got from my recollections of Cape Ann dories and from a photo of a very elegant Japanese sampan which I had before me on the spot, so, as it might be expected, when finished she resembled both types of vessel in some degree. Her rig was the Chinese sampan style, which is, I consider, the most convenient boat rig in the whole world.

Captain Joshua Slocum

The Liberdade

After the shipwreck of the Aquidneck, Captain Joshua Slocum found himself alongside with his family in Brazil unable to find a transport to his home in Washington, DC. He sold the wreckage and decided to build a small boat with sole purpose of bringing his family back home.

About the name of the boat:

My builders baulked at nothing, and on the 13th day of May, the day on which the slaves of Brazil were set free, our craft was launched, and was named Liberdade (Liberty).

Captain Joshua Slocum

The crew of the Liberdade: Captain Joshua Slocum, Hettie, Garfield, and Victor

In 1890 he published a book Voyage of the Liberdade(amazon affiliate link)

describing this adventure.

The Spray

2010-07-08T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Spray's dimensions were, when finished, thirty-six feet nine inches long, over all, fourteen feet two inches wide, and four feet two inches deep in the hold, her tonnage being nine tons net and twelve and seventy-one hundredths tons gross.

Captain Joshua Slocum

The Spray

The Spray is by far the best known of all Captain Joshua Slocum's ships. In this boat he undertook his famous voyage, the very first single-handed circumnavigation.

The Spray was an old fishing boat that he rebuilt in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. He spent thirteen months of labor and $553.62 for materials. She was a sloop-rigged 36'9" boat.

The Spray Boston

This adventure is best described in Captain Joshua Slocum's book Sailing Alone Around the World (amazon affiliate link) first published in 1899. You can learn more about Joshua Slocum by reading these posts:

Joshua Slocum Books

2010-07-06T11:55:00.000-07:00

This is a quick update to a recent post about Captain Joshua Slocum. I found an audio version of his book Sailing Alone Around World at librivox.org which you can download and listen for free. Here's the link:

Sailing Alone Around World (Audio Version)

You can also download mp3 version directly from this link(zip file, 226.8 MB). Enjoy.

The North Sea Sailing

2010-07-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some video clips of sailing conditions in the North Sea. Well, to be precise, here are some clips of bad weather sailing conditions in the North Sea.

1. Stril Tender in 60 - 70 knots and 15 m (50 ft) waves:

2. Aries Lord in heavy sea:

3. MV Libertas Dubrovnik in heavy seas near Scotland:

Do you feel like sailing today?

Public Lecture by Sir Robin Knox Johnston

2010-07-01T02:24:00.000-07:00

I've just found this video of public lecture given by Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the first man to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.

You can read more about Sir Robin Knox Johnston here, and if have time you should definitely read an interview at Yacht Pals here. As a matter of fact at Yacht Pals you can find quite a lot of excellent articles about him.

Here's a brief video about the actual race in which he accomplished his heroic deed.

Sir Robin also wrote some excellent books (Amazon.com affiliate link).

Captain Joshua Slocum

2010-06-30T05:25:00.000-07:00

Joshua Slocum was born in Mount Hanley (Annapolis County, Nova Scotia), on February 20, 1844 as the fifth of eleven children of John Slocum and Sarah Jane (Southern) Slocum.

He disappeared on November 14, 1909, while aboard his boat - the Spray, and was legally declared dead in 1924.

Captain Joshua Slocum was a writer, seaman, and above all famous adventurer. He is the best known for his epic voyage, the very first single-handed circumnavigation. You can read about this adventure in his book Sailing Alone Around the World.

Beside his book Sailing Alone Around the World, in which he described his circumnavigation, Joshua Slocum's other books: The Voyage of the Liberdade and The Voyage of the Destroyer have as a theme his sea adventures, too.

The crew of the Liberdade: Captain Joshua Slocum, Hettie, Garfield, and Victor

His books are by now in the public domain (in the US) and you can get the electronic versions from Project Gutenberg for free from here:

Or if you prefer you can buy them from Amazon.com here (affiliate links):

Why the armchair sailor?

2010-06-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Since I was a kid I had a dream of owning and sailing a boat. I'm not a kid anymore, but I still don't own (and sail) my boat. For the last couple of years I've been learning about ship design, naval architecture, navigation, and sailing in general.

I've learned a lot, but I have a long way to go. This blog's purpose is to document my progress (or the lack of it). Also, I would like to meet more experienced sailors, naval architects, yachtsmen, and lovers of the sea in order to "pick their brains."

My dream is to sail a world cruising yacht. My reality is that today I have no money to buy or build one. So, while I'm learning and earning you'll be reading about it.

One of these days I'll build that boat and sail away ...