June 18, 2010 - With the official start of summer just three days away, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Commissioner Mary Griffin today announced the completion of the ramp reconstruction project at Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich Port.

The $236,000 project, led by DFG's Office of Fishing and Boating Access, involved the complete reconstruction of the retaining walls and boat ramp, originally constructed in 1968. Improvements include changes to slope of the ramp, making it easier for boaters to launch and retrieve their boats. The agency also repaved the parking lot and improved the drainage system at the site in 2006. It is estimated that there were at least 2,400 ramp trips at the facility between Memorial Day and Labor Day last year.

"This is one of the most popular ramps on Cape Cod and provides easy access to Nantucket Sound and its great fishing for striped bass, bluefish, fluke, cod and other species," said Commissioner Griffin. "I would like to thank the town of Harwich for the great job that they do in managing this popular site, as well as the Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council and the anglers and boaters here today who support the access program."

The site lies on town property off of Route 28 at the town of Harwich Saquatucket Marina and is managed by the Harwich Harbormaster's office. Annual passes for access to the ramp can be purchased from the harbormaster for $100 or boaters can pay a daily fee of $10. The facility provides parking space for 63 vehicles with trailers.

"This is an incredibly important ramp to an entire variety of users on the Mid and Lower Cape and the northeast corner of Nantucket Sound," said Tom Leach, Harwich Harbormaster. "On the old ramp, the available depth at low tide at ramp bottom was always an issue for deeper draft boats, forcing them to run off the ramp end even beyond the safety of the tow stones. The angle of the new ramp is two degrees steeper making floating of any vessel faster and without complications the old reverse pitched ramp had. It's all good."

"This is a great asset for boaters and fishermen of Cape Cod. I would like to thank the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Fishing and Boating Access for their work in providing better access for boaters and fishermen here and around the Commonwealth," said Mike Moss, President of the Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council.

The DFG's Office of Fishing and Boating Access completed 18 fishing and boating access projects valued at just more than $1 million around the Commonwealth over the past year. DFG oversees public boat access sites, shore fishing areas and sport fishing piers open to the public at more than 275 locations throughout Massachusetts.

June 11, 2010 - Abby Sunderland, the 16 year old solo-circumnavigator, ran into trouble yesterday mid-way between South Africa and Australia in 30' seas.  She manually activated an EPIRB emergency beacon. This was taken as a hopeful sign that her boat was still afloat (the boat is also equipped with an EPIRB that activates automatically when the boat is under 15' of water).  An air search operation found her this morning. She seems to be ok but her boat has been dismasted.  A french fishing boat is on its way to help her and should arrive on the scene tomorrow. She's 2,000 miles from land. Here's more at her blog.

June 5, 2010 - Last March Katie Spotz, a 22 year old college student from Ohio had just completed rowing solo across the Atlantic from east to west. Jessica Watson, 16, was 1/2 way across the Indian Ocean headed for completion of her non-stop sail around the world in Sydney Australia. And Abby Sunderland, also 16, was two months into her solo-circumnavigation. Here's what's happened since:

Jessica Watson - After 210 days at sea Jessica Watson arrived to a hero's welcome in Sydney Australia on May 15th. As she entered Sydney Harbor her 34-foot sloop, Ella's Pink Lady, was surrounded by hundreds of racing yachts, tiny sea kayaks, dinghies, ferries, powerboats, water police vessels and one bright red tugboat that sprayed water over everyone. To the list of celebrated solo-circumnavigators, men such as Joshua Slocum, Sir Francis Chichester, Robin Lee Graham and Jesse Martin is now added the name of Jessica Watson, the youngest person to have ever sailed around the world alone. More...

Abby Sunderland - Back at sea, after a pit stop for repairs in Cape Town, South Africa, Abby Sunderland encountered rough seas as she now entered the Indian Ocean. Her goal is to finish her voyage at a younger age than Jessica Watson so she can claim the title of "youngest." More...

Roz Savage - Last Thursday  Roz Savage became the first woman to row solo across the Pacific. The 42-year-old British national rowed over 8,000 miles from San Francisco to Papua New Guinea. Her 250 day trip was broken into three legs: San Francisco to Hawaii; Hawaii to Kiribati; Kiribati to New Guinea.  More...

May 19, 2010 - Three Jacksonville residents survived three days at sea by clinging to a large Coleman cooler after their 20' motorboat capsized and sank.   32-year-old John Nevarez, 31-year-old Elias Nevarez and 28-year-old Rebecca Sullivan were found Tuesday by a private boat passing through the area. They suffered severe sunburn, jellyfish stings and fatigue. They were taken to a hospital for evaluations, but their conditions were not released. The three took off on Sunday morning for a deep sea fishing trip. Their boat, "Problem Child", overturned after it was unexpectedly hit by two waves and then sank. 

Officials said they possibly ran into stormy weather with winds gusting to 45 mph and 4' waves.  Prior to the rescue the Coast Guard had searched for for 68 hours over more than 11,000 square miles.  Capt. Andy Blomme, commander of the local Coast Guard base, said the survivors told him that a first wave swept over the boat's stern, killing the engine and all power. A second one hit moments later, flipping the boat and preventing those on board from getting their life jackets.

Here's the full story from Jacksonville.com