Friday, April 29, 2011

Video: World on Water

Yes, something besides a royal wedding was produced in the UK today. We've got a brand new edition of World on Water.


This week's edition, for Friday April 29, 2011, includes the following video coverage...
- 2011-12 VOR Telefonica Returns
- BRAD VAN LIEW WINS VELUX 5 OCEANS SPRINT FOUR
- 2011 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta
- 2011 Mike Horn Pangaea Expedition Vancouver
- "Fresh to Frightening" featuring the heart-stopping action of the 2011 UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship Event 1 Abu Dhabi
Visit our World on Water page to view the latest edition of the show - updated each Friday on the Daily Boater

Friday Sea Song for Alabama

This week's Sea Song is Jimmy Buffett - When the Coast Is Clear

Every Friday we post a nautical tune to kick off the weekend, even if you can't get out on the boat.

With all the tornado devastation across the south this week, primarily in Alabama, and with last week marking the one year anniversary of the Gulf Oil Disaster that affected all of the gulf coast states, including Alabama, we wanted to pick a song that would keep the Yellowhammer state in our thoughts - even while a certain wedding across the pond attempts to distract us.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

May Day Boat Shows

This weekend's boat shows are in Rio, Newport Beach, New Jersey, "old" Jersey, and many more places!

Bay Bridge Boat Show in MD. Photo courtesy United States Yacht Shows, Inc.

If you were looking for a fun place to travel this weekend, and wanted to include a boating event in your plans, you've got plenty of choices. Or perhaps you want to stay close to home... no problem - there's probably a boat show near you.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Other People’s Boats

NMMA Report: Boating is up, but boat sales are down. Will gas prices keep you out of the water?

USCG photo by Ensign Ryan Beck
Every year the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the recreational boating industry’s leading trade group, produces something it calls the Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract. Yesterday, the NMMA put out a summary of its findings from its latest report along with some predictions for the 2011 boating season.

We reviewed their announcement to see what was in there that affects YOU, the recreational boater, and to see if there were any surprises. Boat sales, fuel prices, and the number of boaters were all studied.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Boat Trim - Who Said You Don't Know Squat!

Why Does My Boat with 4’ Draft Run Aground in 5’ of Water?

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary


* Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Coast Guard.

When I teach seamanship classes, inevitably somebody raises their hand and asks about how “flat” the boat should be? I ask, “By ‘flat’, I am guessing that you mean relative to her waterline. But do you mean when she is sitting at the dock, going slowly forward but only at a ‘slow bell*’ or making all deliberate speed?” As their eyes glaze over, I know that we will have to take it by the numbers. This column is about that.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Gulf Oil Disaster One Year Later

A year after the worst oil disaster in America's history, are things getting back to normal?

USCG Photo: A Coast Guard air crew from Air Station New Orleans spots an oil sheen off the coast of Elmer's Island, near Grand Isle, in the Gulf of Mexico, March 20, 2011.
Last week marked the one year anniversary of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which, among other things, put the Gulf's fishing and boating industries in a tailspin. But is our country's biggest environmental catastrophe being quickly forgotten? Or, were the efforts good enough and the damage minimized enough to prove it was really not as big a deal as many claimed - "200 million gallons of oil? No problem!"

Saturday, April 23, 2011

You Caught It, You Cook It: Hogfish

This month's recipe from yacht chef Victoria Allman is Chili Lime Marinated Hogfish

Photo courtesy of Victoria Allman

This recipe was sent to us by yacht chef and author Victoria Allman, a regular contributor to our You Caught It, You Cook It column.

Why not take a break from the ordinary and try hog instead of ham this Easter Sunday - or any day. Hogfish that is! The next time you're looking for a new seafood dish, try this unexpectedly delicious treat. And if you like this recipe, consider Victoria's latest book, SEAsoned: A Chef’s Journey With Her Captain, when you're shopping for Mother's Day (which is coming up quickly by the way.)

If you've never tried hogfish before, even Wikipedia raves about the tropical treat, stating, "The meat is considered to be high quality with a soft, white, firm consistency. The meat is considered one of the finest eating due to its shellfish diet." Intrigued? Keep reading for the full recipe.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Earth Day for Boaters

This Earth Day, please take a moment and think about the bodies of water that make boating possible...

Taking out the trash. Photo courtesy Project Kaisei 2 © Ocean Conservancy

What does green boating mean to you? We're not suggesting you trade in your powerboat for a sailboat or a solar powered electric boat, but we would like to encourage you to keeping our waters clean and boatable for your family and future generations. One way you can start to boat in a more green-friendly manner is by following some of the safe boating practices outlined by the Ocean Conservancy's Good Mate program.

According to the Ocean Conservancy, there are five general ways boaters can protect our oceans and waterways, and conveniently enough, each of the five tips starts with a letter that ends up spelling the word "BOATS".

World on Water - Week 16

The latest edition of World on Water was released today.


This week's edition, released Friday April 22, 2011, includes video coverage of the following...
- 2011-12 VOR ETNZ CAMPER Launch
- 2011 Extreme Sailing Series Qingdao
- 2011 Transat Benodet Martinique
- 2011 Fleet Racing Tour 470 Spring Cup
- "Fresh to Frightening" featuring heart-stopping action with spinnakers up in big winds in the Audi MedCup Cagliari Italy. Everybody down the back of the boat and hang on!
Visit our World on Water page to view the latest edition of the show - updated each Friday on the Daily Boater

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Getting Found at Sea

Help Is Coming – How Hard Will You Be to Find?

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary


USCG photo taken a year ago yesterday by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis of the Northern Belle rescue in the Gulf of Alaska.
When I teach seamanship classes, I eventually get around to the fact that the sea is a dangerous and hostile place – but, if prepared, you can increase your odds dramatically if you view yourself as an astronaut on a far away planet. Help is on the way. It will take time to get to you. What have you done to stay alive while the rescue team is heading for you? This column is about those steps.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Brad Wins Leg Four!

American Brad Van Liew wins 4th of 5 legs in round the world race as he arrives at his home port

By Sean McQuilken
Special to the Daily Boater

Brad Van Liew triumphantly arrives in Charleston Tuesday. Photo: Ainhoa Sanchez/w-w-i.com

At 1658 local time (4:58pm) American Brad Van Liew finished leg 4 (5700 miles) of the Velux 5 Oceans in first place after a little over 23 days at sea. This is Brad's fourth leg win in a row; he has also won 3 out of 4 speed gates (timed runs between designated points).

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Relax! The Top Boat Names Are Out

Top boat names show that boaters are seeking serenity, and they want it NOW!

Photo © Boat Name Gear
This morning we released the most popular boat names of 2011 on FirstBoat.com. A trend seems to have emerged from this year’s list that demonstrates how boaters enjoy their time on the water. Boat names like Serenity, Happy Ours, Family Time and Just Chillin dominated this year’s top ten. Does this tell you that boating really provides people with a way to relax and make the most of their time with family and friends? Is your boat name on the list?

Monday, April 18, 2011

Boats and Taxes

Donating your boat can help improve your tax situation.

Selling a boat isn't easy - even at a boat show. Donating may be your best bet!

Even though we had a few extra days to do our taxes this year, millions of Americans have waited until the last minute and are doing their taxes today.

As you go through all your deductions, think back to the last boat you sold. Did you have any trouble selling your boat due to the economy, or did it cost you a lot of money to maintain while it wasn't selling? Did the time and costs of selling a used boat give you a headache? Everything from paying for a classified ad, taking phone calls, showing the boat, price haggling, arranging delivery, etc., can be quite, um, taxing.

Friday, April 15, 2011

World on Water - Week 15

The latest edition of World on Water was released today.

This week's World on Water, released April 15, 2011, includes video coverage of the following...
- 2011 Les Voiles de St. Barth
- 2011 SODEBO Round the World Record Attempt
- 2011 Transat Benodet Martinique
- 2011 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía MAPFRE
- "Fresh to Frightening" - 60 seconds of exhilarating heart in mouth sailing action
Visit our World on Water page to view the latest edition of the show - updated each Friday on the Daily Boater.

I Follow Sea Songs

We're jumping into the year 2011 for this week's Sea Song

A Sea Song to Sail To. Photo © Nautical Sites Media
Each week we post a nautical tune to help get your weekend off to a great start, even if you can't get out on the boat.

Every once in a while, we divert from our normal sea song choices of 1970s yacht rock and Jimmy Buffett ballads, and today is one of those days. We are today posting a new club dance song that a facebook friend shared on their wall earlier this week. Although it may be a bit more modern than our usual picks, this song mentions rivers, seas and oceans, so it meets our criteria for a "Sea Song of the Week". And it helps that we haven't been able to get it out of our heads since we heard it. Now it's your turn to have this song stuck in your head, and we hope it helps you go boating in your mind.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Southeast and Southwest Boat Shows This Weekend

Sail or power, this is a good weekend to find a boat show around the US and around the world

This weekend is packed with boat shows. Photo © Nautical Sites Media

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, and you like boats, you are in luck. There are boat shows on both coasts of the US, several points in between, and all over Florida, where it's Jimmy Buffett Day this Saturday. There are also boat shows in Europe and Asia.

Now for more specifics.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Women Around The World

It’s a remarkable week for women and sailing around the world...

Photo April 13, 2011 Barcelona World Race ©
Record-breaking sixth place team finishes the Barcelona World Race and would-be 16-year-old solo circumnavigator Abby Sunderland releases her book.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Making Waves

Guest contributor Vincent Pica takes another look at waves... this time he goes behind the scenes.

The 48-foot fishing vessel Sea Hunter is hidden in the trough of a 15 - 18 foot
wave in the Gulf of Alaska. Official Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast
Guard Cutter Hickory.

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary


When we first put together the column on waves (Wave Theory – and Practice), I noted that we’d get back to waves and talk about different kinds of waves - tsunamis, deep, shallow, non-wind, etc – and the effect they have on mariners. This column completes that promise.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Weekend Wrecks and Rescues

Spring is in the air, and so are reports of capsizes and other incidents. Sharing these stories gives us an excuse to bring attention to boating safety. Some of these weekend news items wouldn't have made the news if some of the parties involved had taken boating education courses or had been wearing proper life jackets. Some episodes appear to have been unavoidable, but are still good reminders that anything can happen on a boat.

U.S. Coast Guard photo from a training exercise in Chatham, MA
Today's stories involve a kitesurfer, a tug boat, a couple of divers and some families, and stretch across our country and across two oceans.

Saturday, April 09, 2011

A Sea Song for Hurricane Season Predictions

This Week's Sea Song of the Week is all about Buffett

Each week we post a nautical tune to help get your weekend off to a great start, even if you can't get out on the boat. And while we're still months away from hurricane season, it was announced this week that a team at Colorado State University is forecasting a very active hurricane season. In light of that prediction, and since it was also announced this week that April 16, 2011, will be "Jimmy Buffett Day" in Florida, we had to go with a Jimmy Buffett tune for our Sea Song of the Week. So we did.

Today's Sea Song of the Week is -

Friday, April 08, 2011

World on Water - Week 14

The latest edition of World on Water was released today.


This week's World on Water includes video coverage of the following...
The 2011 Star South American Championship in Mar del Plata, Argentina,
The 2011 SAP 505 World Championship at Hamilton Island, Australia.
The finish line crossing of the round the world Barcelona World Race
The 42nd ISAF 2011 Trofeo S.A.R. Princess Sofía Regatta in Palma, Mallorca
A Pictorial of Classic Americas Cup races from 1956 to 1987.
Visit our World on Water page to view the latest edition of the show - updated each Friday on the Daily Boater.

This Weekend's ABC Boat Shows

The calendar is filled with boat shows this weekend from A to Z... or at least to T

Nothing like a boat show in spring. Photo © Nautical Sites Media

Got plans this weekend? There's no better time to enjoy a boat show than the springtime, when it's still too cold to boat in many parts of the world, but not for long! This weekend's events will get you primed for the upcoming boat season.

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Ocean Virgins

Richard Branson's new space-sub will take explorers deeper than any submarine has gone before

Virgin Oceanic will explore the deepest parts of the world's oceans. 

Sir Richard Branson is known for running Virgin Group - an empire of hundreds of companies, many of which you have heard of, including Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Megastores and Virgin Records. This week in Newport Beach, California, the British billionaire announced a plan to explore the deepest parts of the world's oceans with the launch of a new venture called Virgin Oceanic.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

The Hottest Wakeboard Boat Innovations of 2011

TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine announces the best wakeboard boat innovations of 2011.

The May issue of TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine takes a look at the best wakeboard boat innovations of 2011. The review is online now, so we thought we would check it out to see if any of the advancements in the latest wakeboard boats are things you'd like to see on your boat.

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

How Small a Wave Can Capsize My Boat!?

Guest contributor Vincent Pica looks at how real wave conditions that can affect your boat, even in familiar waters.

* Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Coast Guard.

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary


We’ve covered many seamanship topics here over the past several years. Topics such as what to do if you’re sinking (Six Things To Do When Your Boat Is Sinking), how to handle heavy seas (Surviving a Storm at Sea) and what to do if you’ve run her aground (When Your Boat Runs Aground) have been among the literally hundreds of topics we’ve covered. One topic we haven’t covered is the general topic of capsizing. There is a tremendous amount of data on “righting moments”, centers of buoyancy and gravity, thanks to the US Navy and the US Coast Guard, amongst many institutions who literally live and die by these metrics. We’ve also seen a couple of columns here about wind and waves, which are the agents of capsizing (Wave Theory – and Practice.) But there has been very little direct data on what that translates into in terms of my 25’ boat and 8’ seas at the Inlet. This column is about that.

Monday, April 04, 2011

French Team Takes Round the World Race

First Place in the Barcelona World Race decided this morning

Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peyron celebrate on the Virbac-Paprec 3. Barcelona World Race ©

Shot on a Boat

Weekend boating incidents include a shooting on a sailboat in Florida

Family fun could turn deadly when boating safety isn't taken seriously.  Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Coast Guard

This morning’s boating headlines from across the country were mostly grim, with capsizes, collisions and a shooting. As always, we share these stories in an effort to encourage boating safety.

Friday, April 01, 2011

Sea Song of Joy

Blind Faith featured in our Sea Song of the Week

Each week we post a nautical tune to help get your weekend off to a great start, even if you can't get out on the boat - even when it's snowing out. And although the first day of April brought an April Fool's dumping of snow to our neighborhood, we still have faith that boating season is nearly upon us. If it's still not warm enough to boat yet in your neck of the woods, you can still enjoy today's Sea Song of the Week on your way to a boat show, or while getting your boat ready for its first launch.

We reached back 40 years for this hit song from a supergroup which consisted of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ric Grech and Ginger Baker.

This week's Sea Song of the Week is..