Monday, October 21, 2013

Navy's largest destroyer to be launched in Bath, Maine // Stars & Stripes

The Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, in its cradle at Bath, Maine
BIW - Bath Iron Works - on the Kennebec River is Maine's largest private employer.  They seem to discriminate in favor of guys with pick-up trucks, on the evidence of their big, full parking lot.
The yard's giant cranes tower above the river, making a spectacular view from the high bridge.  The Zumwalt - a new high-tech destroyer was built there.  Launch is imminent.  - GWC
Navy's largest destroyer is going into the water in Maine - Stars & Stripes:
by David Sharp// Associated Press

"BATH, Maine — After embarrassing troubles with its latest class of surface warships, the Navy is hoping for a winner from a new destroyer that's ready to go into the water.

So far, construction of the first-in-class Zumwalt, the largest U.S. Navy destroyer ever built, is on time and on budget, something that's a rarity in new defense programs, officials said. And the Navy believes the ship's big gun, stealthy silhouette and advance features will make it a formidable package.

The christening of the ship bearing the name of the late Adm. Elmo "Bud" Zumwalt was canceled a week ago because of the federal government shutdown. Without fanfare, the big ship will be moved to dry dock and floated in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the public christening ceremony featuring Zumwalt's two daughters will be rescheduled for the spring."

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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Hunter's Moon Tides

The east Friendship "Back" River, Muscongus Bay, Maine.  (click pix to expand and or slideshow)
Heron Bend

Back River 1 hour after high tide
Friendship River meadow

 舵手

Hard Rock Island



Thursday, October 17, 2013

Two tone lobster from Owls Head

Solo Robert Redford Stars in Intense High Seas Drama, ‘All is Lost’ | gCaptain ⚓ Maritime & Offshore News

Solo Robert Redford Stars in Intense High Seas Drama, ‘All is Lost’ | gCaptain ⚓ Maritime & Offshore News:
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Mars Curiosity Rover back online

Mars Curiosity Rover back online. Good to know but not much new up there.  Waiting for spring, I guess.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm back on Twitter & even closer to Mars' Mount Sharp.

Monday, October 14, 2013

David Ortiz

David Ortiz - Clutch Hitter?
Not particularly - just consistently great.



Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sailing in the Santa Barbara Channel with Nancy and Peter

Peter has lived in Silicon Valley, California since 1967.  Still a Yankees fan.
I have lived in New York almost my entire life.  Still not a Yankee fan.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

WHAT CHANGED ON ORACLE? | stephenlirakis.com

Oracle wins
WHAT CHANGED ON ORACLE? | stephenlirakis.com:
by Matthew Sheehan
 "Having remained in San Francisco for a few days after the end of the event, I got to speak to a number of people about what was really going on. It didn’t take long for the real picture of what was behind the speed improvements to emerge.

Oracle’s jump in performance half way through the America’s Cup is still the subject of hot debate, particularly among the New Zealand press who are convinced that the black cat had some special device that allowed them to foil more effectively. Was the ‘Herbie’, as it became nicknamed, legal? Would Team New Zealand take legal action?"

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Marsh sketchbook - Pescadotes

I came to appreciate salt marshes only late in life.  Joe Warren gets it now. Check him out at Pescadotes

Coast Guard crews rescue overboard lobsterman


Coast Guard crews rescue overboard lobsterman:
Coast Guard crews from across the Northeast worked together to rescue a commercial lobsterman who fell overboard off Long Island, N.Y., Wednesday.

John Aldridge, a crewmember of the 44-foot lobster vessel Anna Mary was last seen aboard the boat during his watch relief at 9 p.m., Tuesday, while the vessel was underway off Montauk, N.Y.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a report of the missing fisherman from the crew of the Anna Mary at approximately 6:30 a.m., Wednesday. Rescue crews from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York coordinated to develop and conduct a search pattern that covered more than 780 square miles (more than half the size of the state of Rhode Island).

Crews established the search area based on the assumption Aldridge has fallen overboard without a lifejacket sometime after 9 p.m., Tuesday, but before 4:30 a.m., Wednesday. Eight hours after the initial report, an Air Station Cape Cod MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter located Aldridge 36 nautical miles south of Montauk, N.Y. The air crew deployed a rescue swimmer who hoisted Aldridge to safety.  

"This ending had a lot of people shaking hands and smiling," said Lt. Joe Klinker, First Coast Guard District public affairs officer. "Reports of persons in the water often mean a difficult search is ahead. To hear the call that he was found and rescued makes it a proud day for those Coast Guard crews."
Aldridge told the helicopter crew he used his rubber boots as flotation devices throughout the ordeal.



- See more at: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1863314/Coast-Guard-crews-rescue-overboard-lobsterman#sthash.SJOPaH1J.dpuf


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