Voyaging
Teen Girl Sailor Close to Breaking World Solo Sailing Record
(ABC) Dutch teen Laura Dekker is trying to break Watson’s record of being the youngest person to sail around the world solo. After a legal battle with the Dutch government — which initially objected to the teen making the trip — Dekker set off from Gibraltar in August 2010, when she was 14. READ MORE
Post to TwitterEgypt foils attempt to smuggle coral reefs
Egypt’s navy on Sunday thwarted an attempt to smuggle 43 pieces of
coral reefs on board a British yacht while it was crossing the Suez
Canal.
The naval forces had received information about a British boat bound for Turkey, which carried six British and two Turkish sailors, along with a huge load of coral reefs from Egypt’s Red Sea.
The boat was immediately driven to Port Said’s seaport. Environmental and customs authorities were informed of the incident.
Man sails around world with school atlas
(SBS) Paddy Macklin was feared missing after being hit with bad weather during the trip.
However, according to BBC News, the 52-year-old wanted to "recapture the spirit of true amateur sailing."
"He didn't want anybody to call help for him, he wanted to do it in the
true tradition of going to sea and being prepared to drown like a a
gentleman," said Steve Ransley, a friend of Mr Macklin.
Mr Macklin started the journey in December 2009. READ MORE AND WATCH VIDEORescued sailors tell of drama
(IOL news) Massive waves and gale-force winds battered the Spirit of Izivunguvungu, breaking the mast in three. In the turmoil that followed, the
mast went over and a piece pierced the hull. As icy water started
seeping into the yacht, the four crew members aboard the vessel kept
trying to empty it. “I spoke to the guys every day and
told them we’re not going to die,” the yacht’s skipper, Kader Williams,
30, of Strandfontein, said on Wednesaday shortly after he and his crew
had arrived in Cape Town. READ MORE
Yacht disappears off the Atlantic
The City of Cape Town-sponsored development yacht, the Spirit of Izivunguvungu, sailed in the Heineken Cape to Rio yacht race.
The race ended early last month.
Amver ship racing to rescue sailors in Atlantic
(Newser) The US Coast Guard is searching the Atlantic Ocean 1,582 miles east of
San Juan, Puerto Rico for four people aboard the French flagged sailing
vessel Recidive. Coast Guard watchstanders received notification
of a broadcast from a personal locator beacon assigned to the vessel at
1:45 p.m. Saturday. READ MOREAntarctica: Raft found, still no Berserk
(Explorers Web) Berserk’s life raft has been
found, but still no sign of the three people aboard the Norwegian
sailing yacht. The raft was pretty beat up. Sea Shepherd has searched
the whole area and are convinced that there are no survivors. The
skipper and one of the crew are racing towards the coast in two ATV's. READ MOREGrave fears for missing yacht Berserk in Antarctica – EPIRB stops
(Sail World) Grave fears are now held for the crew of
three – Norwegians and possibly one British sailor - on expedition
yacht Berserk, skippered by Norwegian professional sailor Jarle
Andhoey, who has been skippering the 14metre 25 ton steel yacht for
many years. New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre New
Zealand (RCCNZ) said it picked up a signal from a distress beacon on
the Norwegian-registered yacht about 17 nautical miles north of Scott
Base at 5pm local time on the 22nd February. READ MORESailing in the face of criticism earns Jessica youth honour
(Brisbane Times) She was a girl who believed in and achieved her dream despite
criticism and multiple hiccups, and now Jessica Watson's inspiring solo
sail around the world has seen her named Young Australian of the Year
2011. The 17-year-old from Buderim, on Queensland's
Sunshine Coast, was hailed a national hero when she arrived into Sydney
Harbour in May last year, having become the youngest person to sail
non-stop and unassisted around the world. READ MORE
Rhode Island tall ship group receives $250K pledge
(Boston.com) A Rhode Island
nonprofit focused on nautical education has received a $250,000 pledge
from the family and friends of a Navy lieutenant who died during World
War II. Saturday is the 66th anniversary of the death of Lt. Charles John
Weschler, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Purple
Heart for his actions during combat in the Philippines. He died in 1945
as a prisoner of war. READ MORE