Current News
Liverpudlian Sails 4 Cancer
"I’m not some ‘nutter’ with a death-wish," claims Liverpool resident Tom McNally in defense of his planned double-Atlantic crossing in his 3′ 10" homebuilt boat Big C. "After 25 years of small boat ocean cruising I think I’ve heard it all. More »
Settlement in Clear Lake Civil Case
Does everyone recall that the Lake County District Attorney has steadfastly refused to file any criminal charges against Lake County Deputy Sheriff Russell Perdock in the death of Lynn Thornton? This despite the fact that on the evening of April 29, 2006, Perdock slammed his powerboat into the stern of the sailboat Thornton was on at between 40 and 55 mph on pitch black Clear Lake. More »
Trash Talk
It would be funny if it wasn’t real. Most animals who get tangled in trash aren’t lucky enough to be found while they’re still alive.
© 2008 NOAA/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Brenda Becker
Tomorrow is the third Saturday in September, which means it’s International Coastal Cleanup Day. More »
Piracy Doesn’t Always Pay
While more than 150 people and 15 ships are being held hostage by Somalian pirates, two French yachties are now free. Jean-Yves and Bernadette Delanne were delivering the 50-ft Carre d’As from Australia to France when they were attacked by pirates on September 2. More »
Lowell Leaves Little Damage; Ike Thrashes Texas
We’ve rarely seen a storm take a more radical turn over open water. Luckily it did not build substantially before striking land.
© NOAA graphic
Tropical Storm Lowell had been traveling northwest along a gentle arc last week, when it suddenly made a radical right turn and marched directly toward the southern end of the Baja Peninsula. More »
Eight Bells – Olin Stephens
The man considered by many to be the best known and most successful yacht designer of the 20th century died over the weekend. Olin Stephens passed away in his hometown of Hanover, New Hampshire, on Saturday. More »
Falcon in Honolulu, Heading for the Bay
The mighty Maltese Falcon moored next to the Aloha Tower during a stop in Honolulu on her way to San Francisco.
© 2008 Laurie Kilantang
"I read with interest your story last month about Tom Perkins’ 289-ft Maltese Falcon coming to San Francisco, and hoped to see her on a trip there at the end of the month," writes Mark Hazlett of Honolulu. More »
Blessed Be Missing Off Australia
Australian officials report that up to 21 planes are searching the coast off Queensland, Australia, for the Morgan Out-Island 41 Blessed Be. The yacht had been purchased in Tahiti earlier this year by Aussie Bruce Glasson of New South Wales, who was joined by another friend in his 60s for the trip to Oz. More »
20% Off Everything in Australia
With the transpacific cruising fleet about to head to New Zealand and Australia to avoid tropical cyclone season, there’s good news. The Australian dollar has fallen 19% in eight weeks against the U.S. More »
Terry Bingham Memorial
Readers — As reported in the August 29 edition of ‘Lectronic, cruiser Terry Bingham passed away from complications due to pancreatitis in a Bolivian hospital.
On Saturday, good friends Holly Serdy and Rob Lemmon hosted a "Celebration of Terry Bingham’s Life" that was attended by more than 60 people. More »
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