Australian and World Cruising News
French Navy saves New Zealand family with six children
by
Des Ryan,
4:17 AM Fri GMT
While French footballers may not be so popular in New Zealand after a French rugby player in New Zealand was recently found to be lying about his injuries, the French Navy has redeemed their nation with the New Zealand sailing fraternity after they came to the rescue of an Auckland family on a dismasted yacht.
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'Done Ireland, off to Scotland!' - it's Hilary
by
Nancy Knudsen, ,
9:28 PM Thu GMT
'Done Ireland, off to Scotland, talk to you when I get there.' It sounds like an SMS to one's parents, but there's such a difference - Hilary is a quadriplegic sailor, and she's sailing solo!
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$4.39 million to kick start NSW's new single rescue organisation
by
Lisa Mylchreest, ,
9:01 PM Thu GMT
The days of there being three volunteer rescue organisations sharing the New South Wales coastline came to an end this week when Marine Rescue NSW was officially launched, and on Saturday July 4 there will be an operational meeting for Commanders and members about the new organisation, to be held at the Mint in Macquarie Street in Sydney.
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Bright and brilliant, Sun Marine delivers the detailing
by
Jeni Bone,
2:32 AM Thu GMT
The Sun Marine range was developed from experience gathered from over 25 years in the industry, created by Omikron, a company synonymous with the auto industry whose products are revered by people passionate about their precious possessions.
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Jobs, jobs, jobs abound
by
Watercrew,
1:27 AM Thu GMT
There are plenty of positions vacant, says the team at Watercrew - you just have to know where to look!
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ARC Rally closes six months early - Escaping recession?
by
Peta Stuar-Hunt/Sail-World Cruising, ,
8:29 PM Wed GMT
Is the economic doom and gloom so great in one's home country that it's best just to go sailing? Things have never been better for the organisers of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), who have a full list of 225 boats registered for the transatlantic rally almost five months before the 2009 start date.
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Bavaria Cruiser 32 - Preliminary Data Released
by
Jamie Millar, Church Point ,
10:36 AM Wed GMT
More information has been released on the exciting new Bavaria Cruiser 32, designed by Farr Yacht Design and BMW Designworks USA.
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Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service granted $16650 by CYCA SOLAS Trusts
by
Jennifer Crooks, Darling Point ,
6:46 AM Tue GMT
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (Hunter Region) is the latest recipient of a donation from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Safety of Life at Sea Trusts (SOLAS). A cheque for $16,650 was donated to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (Hunter Region) for the purchase of nine new water rescue harnesses.
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Profile of an adventure sailor - Natasza Caban
by
Nancy Knudsen,
10:52 PM Mon GMT
She is beautiful, very beautiful. On first sight you could think she is a cover-girl for a fashion magazine, a slick high-heeled business chick from New York or a party girl in the fast set in London. The even features, the long lustrous hair, the slim perfect figure could make her any of these - But no, she is doing none of it - instead she is sailing round the world, solo.
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AIS Watchmate - simply for sailors
by
Blackwattle Studios,
10:13 PM Mon GMT
A collision with a ship at sea is one of the cruising sailor's worst nightmares.
While AIS technology has revolutionised one's ability to locate and identify most vessels that could be of danger, the interpretation of the technology into a simple solution, JUST FOR SAILORS, was left, by default, to two off-shore sailors Jeff Robbins and Deirdre Schleigh
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Shed a tear for Line 7
by
NBR/Sail-World Cruising,
9:42 PM Mon GMT
If you have spent many a warm day or night thanks to Line 7 wet weather gear, you may want to shed a tear today. The future of the Line 7 Brand of wet weather gear and other clothes for sailors is now in doubt as the company went into receivership yesterday.
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New Product of the week: Weather-proof marine fan
by
BW Media, ,
10:15 PM Sun GMT
We all know that water and electronics don't mix, especially salt water and electronics. So the new weatherproof fan designed by well-known marine fan manufacturer Caframo is welcome news.
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Teen circumnavigator update - Zac, Mike and Jessica
by
Nancy Knudsen, ,
9:23 PM Sun GMT
Zac Sunderland, in his final coastal sail to his home port, was sent scurrying into Puerto Vallarta with a cracked bulkhead and away from a tropical storm that was promising to end up as a hurricane. With the help of his father Zac's boat Intrepid is repaired and on his way again.
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Ancient Balangay sailing vessel sets out on four year saga
by
Mindanao Examiner/Sail-World Cruising,
7:07 AM Sun GMT
A replica of an ancient Philippines boat called a balangay, has finally been launched in Pasay City in Manila after many months of effort by a group of adventurers intent on showing the world the old mariner skills of the people of the Philippines.
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Win $5000 worth of Marina Berthing at any d’Albora location!
by
Natasha Jacobs,
1:12 AM Sun GMT
Don’t miss out on your chance to win $5000 worth of berthing at any of our seven d’Albora Marinas located on prime waterways throughout Sydney, Port Stephens and Melbourne. Akuna Bay, Sydney, Cabarita Point, Sydney, The Spit, Mosman, Sydney, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Pier 35, Melbourne, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney and Victoria Harbour Docklands, Melbourne
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Skipper relives fatal yacht voyage
by
WA Today/Sail-World Cruising,
6:25 AM Sat GMT
The skipper of the yacht Excalibur that capsized after its keel snapped off says it was the most terrifying experience of his life, and that he had prepared himself to die.
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Skyros - The Northern Sporades, Aegean Sea
by
Amanda Church and Mark Farrell,
11:40 PM Fri GMT
Amanda Church and Mark Farrell continue with their tales of sailing northwards along the coast of Turkey on their yacht Balvenie, a 47foot fractional-rigged centre-cockpit sloop
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Economic benefits of whale watching underlined in new report
by
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Art, Madeira, Portugal ,
7:45 AM Fri GMT
Environment Minister Peter Garrett today joined the International Fund for Animal Welfare to release the report Whale Watching Worldwide at the International Whaling Commission annual meeting in Portugal.
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New native title off North Queensland won't affect cruising sailors
by
Nancy Knudsen, ,
9:39 PM Thu GMT
Sailors access to sail areas of the Coral Sea included in this week's native title consent determination will not be affected. Leisure activities such as sailing will continue as before.
More than 197,000 hectares of the Coral Sea and surrounding islands have been recognised in an historic native title consent determination.
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World's first totally green superyacht
by
Nancy Knudsen,
8:55 PM Thu GMT
When I see a luxury motor yacht these days, I can't get past wondering how many litres of fuel it uses for an afternoon picnic. However, here's a 58 metre, $33 million superyacht that is, to put it gently, quite quite different.
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The new Sun Fast 3200 from Jeanneau at Sydney International Boat Show.
by
Mainsheet Media, Sydney ,
8:47 PM Thu GMT
The new Sun Fast 3200 has been winning both races and plaudits in Europe. Now for the first time it will be on show in Australia at Sydney International Boatshow.
Conceived by award winning designer Daniel Andrieu, the Sun Fast 3200 is a whole new concept in production cruiser-racers that are offshore capable.
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One-armed Japanese Sailor found safe after two months
by
BW Media, ,
8:10 PM Thu GMT
Akio Yonago, the one-armed Japanese sailor on Emu II arrived safe and well in Thailand after being reported as missing almost two months ago.
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Calling all photographers: Sydney Boat Show chance for exposure
by
BIA NSW,
11:39 PM Wed GMT
The Sydney International Boat Show, for the first time this year, is offering budding snappers the chance to display their best marine images alongside two of Australia’s leading marine photographers, Andrea Francolini and Christophe Launay, as well have their photographs published in Digital Photography & Design Magazine.
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Gear Bans can help save reefs
by
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies,
3:45 AM Wed GMT
Banning or restricting the use of certain types of fishing gear could help the world’s coral reefs and their fish populations survive the onslaughts of climate change.
Around the world corals have been dying at alarming rates, due to unusually warm water events resulting from global warming.
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Stack and store kayaks at d'Albora Marinas The Spit
by
d'Albora Marinas, ,
1:44 AM Wed GMT
Kayakers will soon be able to get out more often and make the most of their time on the water, with all the convenience of being able to store your boats, securely and adjacent to one of the most picturesque and protected locations on the northside.
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'E-passports' for yacht safety - is Emirates leading the world?
by
Haneen Dajani, The National/Sail-World Cruising, ,
9:34 PM Tue GMT
Abu Dhabi's new and revolutionary boating regulations that require all yachts to carry an E-passport has run into trouble with local yacht-owners because of the battery-power the new system uses.
Boat owners will be fined if they do not fit electronic trackers used to help coastguards find them in an emergency, security officials said yesterday.
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Melbourne Boat Show - coming soon with great prizes
by
BW Media,
9:11 PM Tue GMT
If you are to be anywhere near Melbourne between 2nd and 6th July, it will be worth turning up at the Melbourne International Boat Show, even if it's just for the prizes you can win.
The show takes place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), which stretches for half a kilometre along the banks of the Yarra River in the very heart of Melbourne.
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Mystery yacht found floating without crew
by
Globe and Mail/Sail-World,
10:26 AM Tue GMT
There was just a light breeze by the time the Belgian yacht Genesis spotted the white-hulled sailboat adrift in the middle of the Atlantic.
The drifting boat, a French vessel named L'Actuel, was upright, the mainsail still on the mast. The headsail was torn and partly furled. Lines trailed in the water.
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Pirates report seven yacht crew released
by
Alertnet/Sail-World Cruising, ,
12:09 AM Tue GMT
Reports are rife from several sources in Africa that the seven crew of the yacht Indian Ocean Explorer, kidnapped at the end of March this year, have been freed and are on their way home.
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Buying a new outboard - warranties and maintenance
by
Martin Peters/Sail-World Cruising,
10:46 PM Mon GMT
Having your outboard break down just when you're in the middle of a cruising adventure is likely to spoil your day, if not your whole holiday.
So when the time comes to buy a new outboard for your dinghy, you certainly want to have some assurance that it is going to work as the manufacturer promised..... but you have some responsibilities too..
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Tough - but someone has to do it! - Seawind Whitsunday Rally
by
Brent Vaughan, NSW ,
3:48 AM Mon GMT
The third annual Seawind Whitsunday Rally set sail from Shute Harbour last Saturday June 20 for a week of racing and partying around the Whitsunday Islands onboard 14 Seawind catamarans.
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Folding Bikes - Don't leave home without one...
by
Nancy Knudsen,
11:01 PM Sun GMT
When the two of us embarked from Sydney on a sailing adventure which was eventually to take us round the world, we had spent so much on new equipment and preparation of the boat itself that we thought we couldn't afford folding bikes. This, if nothing else, showed how little we knew about long-range cruising.
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Quad sailor Hilary Lister - North along the Irish coast
by
Sail-World Cruising, ,
8:52 PM Sun GMT
Hilary Lister is aiming to be the 1st disabled sailor to sail solo around Britain. She started in 2008, but mechanical delays caused a delay over winter. She has begun again this year, sailing from Plymouth on the 21st May 2009. Hilary is currently sailing northward along the Irish coast reaching Howth on 21st June.
Here is her account of the testing sail across the Irish Sea to Arklow
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