Wine Dark Sea

It's always something - forgetting that master switch that drained the battery just when the dying wind and the ebbing current of the Rio Plata drive you back as you relax for a moment with an unlucky glass of wine as you arrive after a taxing voyage down from Brazil to the reassuring, familiar waters that are the eastern border of Argentina and Uruguay.

Check out the details at Issuma

Masters sailing at the Opera House

The Sydney Opera House, that is where an Agence France press photographer caught the similarity between the sails and the scoops of the famous icon of Sydney (the other being the steel arch bridge that is a near twin of the Hell Gate RR bridge in New York).

Blue Fin Tuna - an endangered species?

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will support placing the Blue Fin Tuna on the International Trade Endangered Species list.

I love tuna - as a food. My favorite - after peanut butter. In tuna salad, tuna steaks (rare/medium rare), in Italian tuna salad with capers, garlic, onions, oil & vinegar. It's a great food.

I remember the thrill of my Dad and Frank Sheridan returning with a bunch of blue fins landed from fighting chairs with Penn Reels on the black 40' Egg Harbor, which the two Navy vets piloted for the aging mafioso Terry Zappi, and his next door neighbor the Don - Carlo Gambino.

But the huge, primordial herds of these kings of the sea (savage beasts that they are) have been devastated by modern fishing methods. An 82% decline in the western Atlantic herds (which breed in the Gulf of Mexico) and 72% decline in the eastern Atlantic herds (which breed in the Mediterranean) have been reported.

NOAA reports that the western herds have stabilized but not the eastern. The U.S. says it will support placement of all herds on the International Endangered species list. The impression one gets is that "if only the guys on the other side were as good as us it could be managed). Maybe. But overall we can say that the announcement is a step forward, which could preserve a significant food supply - particularly in a time when climate change will challenge the viability of many species.

Issuma: Anchor breaks loose in Force 7 near gale

Issuma is underway, having left Brazil for an expected 1 week off-shore journey south. Richard describes HERE, in his typically accurate, matter of fact way, how the newly adapted anchor broke loose as the winds unexpectedly built, and how the sharp edges of the steel shank shredded the lines he used to secure the beast.

Force 7, a "near gale" on the Beaufort scale is average winds 28-33 kts. But gusts can be expected to exceed the average by 20%. So 28-33 gusting to 40 KNOTS is the picture. Add 1/7 to get maximum gusts of 45 mph.

The sea state in Force 7 conditions is

"Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind", and on land whole trees sway in the wind".

Wave height and period is a function of depth, wind, and current. Shallow coastal seas have swift currents, producing large, steep waves, close together - particularly if wind opposes tide.

That's the reason for time...

That’s the reason for time. So that not everything happens all at once.

Garrison Keilor

October 10, 2009

Back River - October

To see the whole slide show click HERE

James at full gallop on James Meadow

From Back River to James Meadow - October afternoon

What's missing at our Memorial Day Parades and 2d Amendment Rallies

Women Militia

Heritage Cup Regatta 2009 - Hempstead Harbor

Dave Seroy and I went to the Heritage Cup Regatta. Tried to stay out of trouble as we followed the fleet of classic boats: Herreshoff S Boats, a P Class yawl, and others at the third annual event in the Woooden Boat Racing Series.

We cast off from City Island at 8:53 and were off the Hempstead Harbor Club dock at 10:23.

I feel like a salmon home to spawn - because that little cove at the mouth of the creek in Sea Cliff is where I first sailed. My father bought an 18' Cape Cod style centerboard sailboat. I remember my sister Kathryn as an infant in a car bed under the cuddy - the youngest of four, me, the oldest nine. And I remember the feeling of relief when I sailed with my father on Lou Peretti's Friendship sloop. That is what led us 40 years later to rent in Friendship, Maine - and now to own a home there on the Back River.

The race was under leaden skies and several showers - but we all got in before the big 4 - 5 PM tropical downpour. We headed home about 17:30 and tied up at our home mooring at 19:20.

Thanks to Mike Emmert and Golden Eye for organizing this year's event. Same time, next year, we hope.

Images: schooner approaching Hempstead Harbor,
an S boat and Friendship sloop Mara E passing port to port pre-start, Hempstead Harbor Club under approaching storm, Dave Seroy, my crew on North River 2, after the rain.

NY Harbor Pilots - a day at the office

Sacha Botbol runs this - the Pilot Launch Wanderer to pick up and discharge New York harbor pilots. Some days the office is rougher than others. This is what Beaufort scale Force 10 looks like off the shores of Long Island. For video of similar conditions on the Gulf of Maine posted by the Penobscot Bay pilots click HERE

A nice day:

Pilot No. 1: