Thursday, August 29, 2019

Shark Tank Boating Tragedy

Late night boat crash involving Kevin O'Leary leaves two dead in Ontario


As a big fan of the show Shark Tank, the news of this boating tragedy definitely grabbed my attention.


I am sure executives at ABC are freaking out about the fact that one of their stars was involved in a tragic boating accident, and that publications are including the name of their show while discussing the deaths. They probably wish this whole thing would go away.

But two lives were lost as a result of a boating collision last weekend, and Kevin O'Leary was on the other boat. O'Leary claims he was not at the helm when his boat collided with another vessel on Lake Joseph north of Toronto.

After several days and continuing talk of the story on the web and TMZ, the Toronto Sun published a story showing conflicting stories about the boat crash.  According to the article, a relative of one of the victims claims the O'Leary boat fled the scene of the accident; they also were questioning whether or when O'leary's wife (who O'Leary claimed was operating the boat at the time) was given a breathalizer test.

Apparently, the family of the victims are also not happy about O'Leary's public relations campaign to get ahead of the story, which included the following statement:
“Late Saturday night I was a passenger in a boat that had a tragic collision with another craft that had no navigation lights on and then fled the scene of the accident. I am fully cooperating with authorities.”

You can read the full story at the Toronto Sun (link), or check out #KevinOLeary on twitter for the latest reactions to the tragedy.




Friday, August 23, 2019

Win a Caribbean Charter Vacation from the Annapolis Boat Show

If you are a boating enthusiast on the east coast, there's a pretty good chance you're thinking about attending the United States Powerboat Show in Annapolis coming up in October.

And if you're planning to attend anyway, why not purchase your tickets online in advance of the show and take a shot at winning a five night Caribbean charter vacation in the beautiful British Virgin Islands?

It looks like you simply buy your ticket to the Annapolis boat show online as you normally would, and you'll be automatically entered to win. The sign-up page is simply the United States Powerboat Show ticket purchase page, and it looks like the prize is from MarineMax, so to be honest this looks legit and worth your time to get a ticket and enter for a chance to win.

Here are the details from the boat show's email and website:

Buy a ticket to the United States Powerboat Show and be entered to win automatically!

2019 Grand Prize Sponsored by MarineMax Vacations.

Win an exotic six day and five night Caribbean charter vacation onboard a luxury MarineMax 362 Power Catamaran in the beautiful British Virgin Islands!


2019 Second Prize sponsored by POP Paddleboards

The runner up will receive a POP Paddleboard Royal Hawaiian valued at $799. This prize includes a 3 piece adjustable paddle, dual action and reversible hand pump, universal single fin, leash, and backpack with wheels. The board inflates to 15 psi, weighs only 24 pounds and will support a rider weighing up to 300 pounds. Both beginners and experts love this board! Brought to you by POP Paddleboards and my Sports Craze, Grasonville, MD.


Click here to buy the tickets.


For the record, the Daily Boater is not receiving anything for posting this. We sincerely just received the email offer today and thought it was a good opportunity worth sharing. Good luck!

Thursday, August 22, 2019

USCG: Search Supended for Missing Florida Boaters

Coast Guard suspends search for two missing boaters

The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday for two missing boaters who did not return from a trip near Port Canaveral. 

Missing are Brian McCluney and Justin Walker.

After searching more than 146,368 square miles, an area equivalent to the size of Montana for over 281 hours, officials were unable to locate the boaters who were reported overdue Friday evening. 

“Our Coast Guard men and women worked tirelessly alongside federal, state, and local partner agencies as well as countless volunteers searching for Brian and Justin,” said Capt. Mark Vlaun, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. “Despite those efforts, we have been unable to locate any signs of the vessel or the missing boaters. Suspending a search is never an easy decision, and a lot of factors are considered and calculated before we make that decision. We have been in regular contact with the family members throughout our search and extend our heartfelt condolences for what we know is a very difficult time for them.” 

Involved in the search were:
The Coast Guard will continue to have a presence in the area, but active searches concluded today at sunset.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center watchstanders at 904-714-7558. 

Monday, August 19, 2019

Two Boaters Missing Off Florida

Search continues off Port Canaveral and along local beaches for two missing firefighters...

The Coast Guard along with partner agencies were continuing to search for two overdue boaters late Sunday evening after not returning from a fishing trip near Port Canaveral, Florida.


missing florida boaters

The boaters, Brian McCluney and Justin Walker, were last seen departing the 300 Christopher Columbus boat ramp Friday (8/16) in a 24-foot center console heading toward "8A" reef. 

Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral watchstanders were notified by a family member of the boaters not returning as expected Friday evening. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center watchstanders launched assets including a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Station Canaveral, an HC-130 Hercules search plane from Air Station Clearwater and the Coast Guard Cutter Ridley, an 87-foot Patrol Boat to conduct searches.  

Others searching are the Navy and Brevard County Sheriffs Office.

The above photo released by the Coast Guard is a picture of the boat when it was being launched Friday.  News outlets have stated the boat is a Robalo

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center at 904-714-7558

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Journey for the Future - Greta Thunberg Sets Sail


More than 3,000 miles, not a single drop of gasoline: That is the plan.

Greta Thunberg Team Malizia

Yesterday afternoon Team Malizia, skippered by Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Herrmann, left Plymouth (UK) and set sail for New York City. On board the high-tech racing yacht Malizia II is 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. In order to avoid the extremely high carbon emissions from air travel, she chose to make the two-week transatlantic journey via sailboat to attend the upcoming UN climate summits in New York and Chile.

Millions around the globe will follow Team Malizia on their journey west – with their hearts and via social media.

Sailing across the Atlantic in August, against the prevailing winds, is an adventure. But the trip is also a powerful symbol: The team will demonstrate that it is indeed possible to switch to climate neutral mobility. The challenge might still be substantial, but the technology exists and is maturing every year.

“Convincing governments and international institutions to enforce laws that will protect mankind and biodiversity is of the utmost importance for the future of humanity”, says Pierre Casiraghi, founder of Team Malizia and co-skipper. “Team Malizia and I are proud to take Greta across the Atlantic in this challenging mode of transport. Unfortunately, sailing is still the only way to do so without fossil fuel emissions. Hopefully this will change in the near future.”

As estimated by the non-profit Atmosfair, a round trip between the UK to New York by plane contributes approximately 3.4 metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere, per passenger – according to Eurostat that’s almost 50% of the average yearly carbon footprint per person in the EU (7.2 tons). While avoiding air travel is a powerful way to reduce carbon emissions, marine combustion engines also emit high levels of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and particulates. Driving a boat powered by a single 80-horsepower outboard for one hour emits pollution equivalent to more than 350 automobiles driving at highway speed for the same amount of time.

Team Malizia is deeply involved in the fight against climate change and this is reflected by their technological set-up: The high-tech foiling sailboat Malizia II is equipped with solar panels and underwater turbines to generate electricity during the journey (the onboard engine will only be used in emergencies).

Electric boating company Torqeedo provided support vessels to help Team Malizia leave the dock and travel safely out of the harbour without using the small onboard engine. Torqeedo-powered electric boats assist Team Malizia with docking, towing, passenger transport and general harbor support that would typically be provided by combustion-powered boats.

Each day, up to 2,500 planes fly across the Atlantic. Of course, not every one of the tens of thousands of airline passengers can sail across the ocean instead. But, the zero-emission transatlantic crossing could help to change our perspective on when air travel really is necessary, and which options are technologically feasible.

Updates about the journey west are available on Team Malizia’s website (team-malizia.com/news), Boris Herrmann Racing (borisherrmannracing.com) and on Greta’s Instagram channel (@gretathunberg).

Photo and content courtesy of #Torqeedo


Sunday, August 11, 2019

Sailing Hall Of Fame

National Sailing Hall of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees


Today we got the names of the 10 people who will make up the 2019 National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) class of inductees:


2019 National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductees

Capt. John Bonds: A passionate sailor whose leadership in establishing safety protocols has had a global impact on offshore sailing;

Thomas F. Day: Founder, in 1906, of The Newport Bermuda Race; 

Robbie Doyle: sailmaker and founder of Doyle Sails;

Buddy Friedrichs: Olympic Gold Medalist;

Allison Jolly: the sport’s first-ever Women’s Olympic Gold Medalist;

Donald McKay: clipper ship builder;

Everett A. Pearson: the grandfather of fiberglass production;

Doug Peterson: pioneering yacht designer;

Herbert Lawrence Stone: magazine editor and publisher;

Arthur Knapp, Jr.: author and world champion sailor (recognized with the NSHOF Lifetime Achievement Award.)

The members of the class of 2019 join 71 previously recognized individuals as the National Sailing Hall of Fame continues to fulfill its mission by drawing attention and recognition to Americans who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing.

“We are proud to recognize and celebrate these Inductees and their extraordinary contributions to the sport we love,” said Gus Carlson, President of the NSHOF. “Their accomplishments set them apart, and their stories will inspire sailors for generations to come. Their commitment to excellence embodies the spirt and substance of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.”

After sailors from all corners of the country nominated their choice for induction, a selection committee – made up of representatives from US Sailing, the sailing media, the sailing industry, community sailing, a maritime museum, a previous inductee, and the NSHOF Board – reviewed a wide range of nominations. (Nominations are accepted year-round at nominate.nshof.org, with March 30 as the deadline for nominating someone for the current year.)

Inductees are American citizens, 55 years of age or older, who have made significant impact on the growth and development of the sport in the U.S. in the categories of Sailing, Technical/Design and Contributor (coach, administrator, sailing media). Nominations of non-citizens were also considered if they influenced the sport in the U.S., and posthumous nominations were also accepted, with a mandate (as of 2019) that three Inductees be deceased for 60 years or more as part of an effort to specifically recognize the forefathers of American sailing who helped shape the sport we know today.

The Lifetime Achievement Award inducts an American citizen, 55 years of age or older, who has had consistent involvement in sailing for a majority of his or her life and had success in the sport while also becoming successful and achieving noteworthy stature in a non-sailing career.

The undertaking to recognize Americans who have made outstanding contributions to the sport is central to the mission of the NSHOF which was formed in 2005 in Annapolis, Maryland. Earlier this year, the organization purchased the historic Armory on the waterfront in Newport, R.I. In a building that once served as the press center for the America’s Cup, a home to honor the heroes of American sailing will be created; preserving the sport’s past while engaging the next generation in its future. Interactive educational exhibits will provide real-world applications of STEM concepts that come alive through sailing; and visitors of all ages, non-sailors and sailors alike, will experience the magic that happens when wind and water meet.

The 2019 class will be formally celebrated on Saturday, November 9, 2019, with an Induction Ceremony hosted at Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, Wash. The Induction Weekend has also become notable as a reunion of sailing’s Who’s Who as previous inductees join the celebrations to welcome their peers into the Hall of Fame. 



Friday, August 02, 2019

Boat Tips to Reduce Plastic Waste and Pollution When Boating


3 Simple Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste and Pollution When Boating 
From the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water


plastic waste from boating

Each year, an estimated 18 billion pounds of plastic is dumped into our oceans from coastal regions. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of pollution, there will be more plastics than fish, by weight, in the ocean by 2050. To help reverse this trend, here are three tips from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to help boaters reduce plastic waste and pollution while on the water.

  1. Pack for the boat trip: Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic, less than 5mm in size, that are the result of larger plastic products partially decomposing from sunlight, heat and wave action. While we haven’t seen the full effects on humans consuming fish and other marine species contaminated with microplastics, studies show that ingested microplastics can seriously damage marine organisms. One of the simplest ways to reduce plastics aboard your boat is to fill up and carry aboard (or stash in a cooler) an insulated container that can hold enough cold water for the day instead of buying individual bottles. Invest in a set of non-breakable plates, cutlery, and food and drink containers to limit single-use plastics aboard. These efforts won’t break the bank, don’t take a lot of extra effort, and can pay big dividends for boaters and the environment in the long-term.
     
  2. Get your crew involved: Before heading out, provide your crew with a pre-departure briefing and remind them not to put anything overboard. Boats are notoriously windy places, and popular, crowded summer anchorages are particularly prone to wind-driven pollution. When underway, secure possessions as well as any trash below deck or in a storage container. If anything is lost overboard, or if you come across plastic pollution such as a deflated birthday balloon, and conditions permit, it may be a good opportunity — and good practice — for the captain and crew to safely conduct a man-overboard drill to retrieve the item.
     
  3. Recycle: If your family gets you a fishfinder, a pair of shiny, new boat fenders, or a new boat doodad for your birthday or other event, thank them profusely but unwrap the gift at home and recycle the gift’s packaging if possible. If your marina or boat club doesn’t have a recycling program for plastics and other recyclables, ask about starting one. Ensure all your boating guests know where recyclables go. When fishing, do your best to retrieve fishing line snags, and when respooling, recycle the old line instead of throwing it in the trash.

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