September 11, 2009 - As President Obama was returning from a 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon today, the US Coast Guard was conducting a "routine training exercise" on the Potomac river. CNN and other news outlets mistakenly reported that an unidentified craft was being fired on by the Coast Guard because of an intercepted radio message from an open training frequency - someone heard the words "bang, bang." At a news conference Coast Guard Vice Admiral John Currier said, "This was a routine, low profile, normal training exercise... The radio intercept generated intense media coverage and interest, justifiably so, but I think what happened was we saw this spiral out" of control. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "Best I can tell, there was reporting based on listening to a police scanner that was not verified. Then it was on television and now we've raced back to find out it was a training exercise," he said. "So it appears a lot of this could have been avoided." Here's the full story from Reuters.
Boating
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Another Transatlantic Rower Coming to Cape Cod
August 31, 2009 - Next month Wave Vidmar will make his third attempt to cross the Atlantic from Cape Cod to England alone in a rowboat. Earlier this summer Charlie Girard made his second attempt to row alone to France. There are differences between the two men. Girard was immature and knew nothing of the ocean. Vidmar has deep experience. He's been sailing for 35 years and set a world record by swimming for 3 hours and 14 minutes in the Arctic Ocean near the north pole. His website claims that his boat is virtually indestructible, unsinkable and self righting. Given that he will be leaving at the height of hurricane season those are good qualities. But questions remain. Why is he leaving in fall with the likelihood of extreme weather? Why not wait until next spring? That's what he did for his last attempt. Here's his website.
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August 28, 2009 - Yesterday morning England's Mike Perham sailed his 50-foot racing yacht into British waters and displaced California's Zac Sunderland to become the youngest person to have circled the planet alone in a sailboat. Sunderland can still claim to be the first person to have sailed around the world alone under the age of 18. The two teenage sailors circled the world in different directions and met each other by chance in South Africa last December. Now even younger sailors are planning solo circumnavigations. 13 year old Laura Dekker of the Netherlands wants to do it but a Dutch court has stopped her, at least temporarily, claiming shared custody with her parents. Australian Jessica Watson, 16, is planning a non-stop voyage in a 34-foot vessel named Pink Lady starting next month. And 15 year old Abby Sunderland, Zac Sunderland's sister, plans to set out on a non-stop round the world sail in November.
Mike Perham Claims "Youngest Circumnavigator" Title
August 28, 2009 - Yesterday morning England's Mike Perham sailed his 50-foot racing yacht into British waters and displaced California's Zac Sunderland to become the youngest person to have circled the planet alone in a sailboat. Sunderland can still claim to be the first person to have sailed around the world alone under the age of 18. The two teenage sailors circled the world in different directions and met each other by chance in South Africa last December. Now even younger sailors are planning solo circumnavigations. 13 year old Laura Dekker of the Netherlands wants to do it but a Dutch court has stopped her, at least temporarily, claiming shared custody with her parents. Australian Jessica Watson, 16, is planning a non-stop voyage in a 34-foot vessel named Pink Lady starting next month. And 15 year old Abby Sunderland, Zac Sunderland's sister, plans to set out on a non-stop round the world sail in November.
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August 6, 2009 - Yesterday morning around 10:30 am the 118' tall ship Unicorn became stuck on rocks 400 yards off Nonamesset Island near Woods Hole. The Coast Guard arrived on the scene and freed the vessel with two tugboats. The Unicorn is now safely at anchor in Vineyard Haven. 16 people were on board at the time of the grounding, nine teenage women and seven adults. The cause of the grounding is unknown at this time. The area is well known for powerful and fast tidal currents. Built in 1947 the Unicorn's hull is comprised of steel from German submarines that were scrapped after World War II.
118' tall ship freed from rocks near Woods Hole
August 6, 2009 - Yesterday morning around 10:30 am the 118' tall ship Unicorn became stuck on rocks 400 yards off Nonamesset Island near Woods Hole. The Coast Guard arrived on the scene and freed the vessel with two tugboats. The Unicorn is now safely at anchor in Vineyard Haven. 16 people were on board at the time of the grounding, nine teenage women and seven adults. The cause of the grounding is unknown at this time. The area is well known for powerful and fast tidal currents. Built in 1947 the Unicorn's hull is comprised of steel from German submarines that were scrapped after World War II.
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Zac Sunderland Completes Solo Circumnavigation
July 17, 2009 - 17 year old Zac Sunderland sailed into Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles yesterday to complete the first solo sail around the world by a person under 18 years old. He started the voyage last year on June 14th on an Islander 36 that he bought for $6000. On his journey he encountered pirates, storms and the good will of people from around the world. One thing that struck him was the generosity and warmth of villagers who live simple lives. Sunderland accomplished the voyage without official sponsorship. He did have assistance from his father, a shipwright, who took six months off work to meet Zac at various points in his voyage and help with repairs. Here's more on the story from Pete Thomas of the LA Times.
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