Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Making Waves in Power




http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/

Monday, July 27, 2009

Petraeus Visits Sailors, Awards Maersk Rescuers

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, addresses sailors aboard USS Bainbridge while the ship was in port in Manama, Bahrain, July 27, 2009. Petraeus thanked sailors for their hard work while deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet as well as their role in the successful rescue of Richard Phillips, the Maersk Alabama captain held captive by Somali pirates for five days in April. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer
Special to American Forces Press Service
MANAMA, Bahrain, July 27, 2009 – The head of U.S. Central Command visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge while in port here today to thank sailors for their work while deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet, as well as for their role in the rescue of Richard Phillips, the Maersk Alabama cargo ship captain held captive by Somali pirates.
Click on Headline for rest of story from U.S. Department Of Defense / Defense Link News Article

Friday, July 24, 2009

USNS Comfort Returning to Norfolk

Photo from: http://www.southcom.mil/AppsSC/files/Blogs/633643397507318677.jpg

USNS Comfort ( T-AH-20 ) departed Norfolk, Va. April 1, beginning a four-month deployment to Antigua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Panama. Each visit lasted about 10-12 days.
USNS Comfort wrapped up operations in Nicaragua July 14, completing the seventh and final mission of the Continuing Promise deployment.
USNS Comfort is one of two Military Sealift Command hospital ships that can rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice. The ship is uniquely capable of providing health services support as an element of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and has been configured to provide a range of services at sea and ashore. The ship provided support in New York City following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and in the Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Crew Leaves USNS Comfort Changed by Mission
By Fred W. Baker III

American Forces Press Service

CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua, July 24, 2009 – It’s just after 9 a.m. in this hot, humid town, and Navy Capt. Colleen Gallagher already looks tired. She is in the throes of running a medical site manned by health care providers from the Navy hospital ship, the USNS Comfort.

Click on the following link for the full story >


See also:






Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Lifeboat to Visit Norfolk


Sailors tow the Maersk Alabama lifeboat where Capt. Richard Phillips was held captive for five days by Somali pirates in April. (SPC 2nd Class Jon Rasmussen U.S. Navy)


A lifeboat that made international headlines in a high-profile pirate attack will be on exhibit at Nauticus this fall.


http://www.nationalgeographic.com/whydah/main.html

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race


2009 Letter from the Board of Directors

Dear Captains,

The Board of Directors for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race met earlier this year and reached several decisions that impact the fleet participating in the 2009 race. We want to share these decisions with you to help you plan for this year's race.

For 19 years, the race has successfully balanced its mission of preserving maritime heritage and educating present and future generations of children on the importance of sustaining the health of the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, the event has expanded to reach so many that in recent years the expenses have increased while the revenue stream, which is used to finance the race and the mission, has remained relatively flat. In 2008, the race attracted a record fleet of schooners and a record number of people to our activities, which naturally increased expenses. Examples of expenses which increased or were first-time expenses in 2008 were the cost of the awards ceremony in Portsmouth (doubled in cost) and the rental of dock space in Portsmouth (never before required to dock the fleet). Unfortunately, our 2008 revenue mirrored our 2007 revenue. We project, based on early interest for 2009, that these (and additional) increased expenses will be part of the race's requirements again this year.

To meet these requirements and maintain the credibility and financial stability of the race, the board reached the following decisions: 1. The entry fee for all schooners will be $1.50 per foot of "sparred length" with no maximum. For example, a schooner with a LOA of 50 feet will pay $75.00 to enter the race. We recognize that this represents an increase of $.50 per foot and we regret having to take this step. However, it is the first increase in the 20-year history of the race. 2. We will continue to provide two long-sleeve race shirts free to each vessel entering the race. Additional shirts for 2009 will each cost $20.00. This will also be the shirt price for yacht club members, volunteers and sponsors for 2009. Our apologies for this increase, but production costs dictate this price structure.
2008 represented a leap forward in regard to participation in the race. With a total of 57 entries and 47 schooners docked in Fells Point and Portsmouth last year, we envision a strong and viable event for years to come. Your support and participation is very much appreciated.
One additional potential impact for you is dockage. For years we have "capped" the LOA total to an arbitrary 3,000 linear feet of schooners based on available dock space in our host cities. For the past several years we have been able to accommodate more than that. In 2008 we had more than 4,400 feet of schooners entered in the race and docked more than 3,500 feet of schooners (since some enter, but don't sail or require dockage). This year we will continue to dock participating schooners at no additional cost to the participants as we can. However, if we have another year of extraordinary growth, schooners that register late (i.e., after the deadline for entry) may find themselves "on their own hook" for private marina accommodations or swinging at anchor. Unfortunately, there are practical limits to what we can work with in the sites where we operate. The message for you is to please register as timely as you can this year so we can execute the most effective plan. We're asking you to please "hang in there" with us on this issue as we work through the details.

Our founder, Captain Lane Briggs, is undoubtedly smiling down on the continued success of the race as we work through these issues. All of us know that Lane's vision made this the premiere annual schooner event in the United States. For our 20th year, let's work together to keep the vision and dreams alive as we move forward.

Feel free to give any member of the Executive Committee (Al Roper, Nan Nawrocki, Dave Junkins or George Treiber) a call or send us an email (mailto:race@schoonerrace.org?subject=2009) if you have any thoughts or comments on these issues.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Board of Directors

Shrimper & Sailboat Collide

The sailboat Domarolo and the shrimping boat Tina Rae collided near the Diamond Shoals approximately 12 nautical miles east of Hatteras at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscgd5publicaffairs/ for pics

http://www.uscg.mil/D5/sectNorthCarolina/StaHatterasInlet.asp

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Walter Cronkite 1916 - 2009

Click on post title for CBS News article.

Photo of the S/V Wyntje used by permission. Thanks, David ! http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbsweeney/176739939/


CBS has scheduled a prime-time special, “That’s the Way it Was: Remembering Walter Cronkite,” for 7 p.m. Sunday.

Walter Cronkite's Yacht Donation Helps Troubled Teens Sail To Success

History and Highlights:

Walter Cronkite, (repeatedly voted the most trusted man in America), gave hope and his yacht to some teens who have not always been trusted. Kids from the Norfolk Marine Institute and the Tidewater Environmental Program helped bring the boat down from Annapolis and enjoyed a day of cleaning and sailing aboard Mr. Cronkite's beloved custom built yacht.
http://www.philanthropynow.com/pn/cronkite.htm

WALTER CRONKITE'S WYNTJE VISITS OBY FOR A PAINT JOB

In December of 2006, Walter Cronkite's 64 ft Hinckley Sailing Yacht, Wyntje, was re-launched from Oxford Boatyard. Cronkite's vessel recieved a first-class hull paint job and rigging replacement. Walter visited the boatyard briefly to check on progress and also met with OBY employees.

Walter Cronkite was the only journalist to be voted among the top ten "most influential decision makers in America" in surveys conducted by U.S. News and World Report and also was named the "most influential person" in broadcasting. And, in a nationwide viewer opinion survey conducted as recently as 1995, more than a decade after leaving the CBS anchor desk, he again was voted "Most Trusted Man in Television News."
http://www.oxfordboatyard.com/projects_wyntje.html


Vineyard recalls his love of sailing, life on the island

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/19/vineyard_recalls_cronkites_love_of_sailing_life_on_the_island/

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Festevents Parade of Sail

I have posted the photos I made during the Parade of Sail / Harborfest '09 in my Flickr Photostream / Events / Sets / Parade of Sail. I shot all the images in the RAW format, thinking they would be better and easier to edit (?) and had to convert them to Jpeg for posting. Descriptions may be added later.

Thanks to Captain J.C. Waters and the crew of the
Spirit of Independence
for letting me tag along for this unforgettable experience.

Click on the link above or copy and paste in your browser:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldetownephotos/sets/72157620979662958/

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy Independence Day



Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men
who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants,
nine were farmers and large plantation owners;
men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if
they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to
pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family
was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him,
and poverty was his reward.Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed,
and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.
Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many
people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out that patriotism
is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer,
picnics, and baseball games.

Have a Great Holiday
From a Patriot