Rio’s water, Manly Ferry collision, slush waves—World Cruising news

by David Schmidt, Sail-World Cruising Editor on 13 Mar 2015 While Olympic sailing has little to do with the cruising lifestyle, it’s fair to say that both Olympic heroes and bluewater cruisers all enjoy sailing on clean water in beautiful places. Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay certainly checks the box for being pretty, but clean it is not. For several years, the sailing community has been documenting the high levels of raw effluence that is pumped daily into the water, not to mention the garbage, the dead dogs and the floating furniture, but this week’s report of myriad dead twaite shad fish is troublesome, especially as officials have yet to find the cause of the die-off.

According to reports, this die-off took place some 12 miles from the Olympic sailing venue for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and-coincidentally-it transpired as inspectors from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were on hand to investigate the city’s progress ahead of next year’s big event.

Anyone who follows Olympic sailing will remember Rio’s promises to reduce pollution and sewage in the Bay by 80 percent prior to the Games-a goal that the IOC still seems to think is possible, despite evidence that appears to contradict this desired reality. 'We are still aiming for this goal,' said Christophe Dubi, the IOC’s executive director of the Olympic Games. 'We cannot judge until the finish line. We are like athletes in that we are pushing toward the finish line and we should respect that every effort is being made.'

Inside, get the full report on the dirty Olympic waters, and stay tuned to this environmental issue in the months to come. And should you be considering a cruise to these waters, you would be wise to coach the crew that swimming isn’t a good option.

Moving on to happier topics, be sure to check out Neil and Ley’s great report from their seven day cruise from Sri Lanka to Malaysia aboard their yacht, 'Crystal Blues'.

'Last night the winds finally lifted a little and moved more to the north,' wrote Neil and Ley in their report. 'So ‘Crystal Blues’ finally had 'a bone in her teeth', with the apparent wind at 75 degrees to starboard, 9 knots true, and we were skating along in the dark at 6 to 7 knots, flying the mainsail, genoa and staysail.' Get their full report, inside.

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Also inside, Sail-World received a video of a distressed yacht colliding with the Manly Ferry near Sydney Heads in Sydney Harbor, Australia. The yacht’s sails are luffing badly as she approaches the ferry, and the crew does not appear to register the oncoming calamity, despite the fact that the ferry’s captain blares the ship’s horn. Inside, check out the dramatic video footage, and-if you have any information on the cause of this accident-please drop us an email.

Also Australia-related, the Fremantle Sailing Club has confirmed that May 16 will be the official start date for the 2015 Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally. According to reports, inside, the event is starting to gather some critical mass in the form of strong entrants, including a former Sydney to Hobart Race veteran and other season bluewater sailors. In total, 32 boats are currently registered for this event hat has been described as a cracking good offshore adventure, even if it represents a major time (and financial) commitment for the skippers and crews involved.

'It’s a tactically demanding race due to the range of weather experienced in a race of this length and the tidal influence as you get closer to Bali, but being on the water is good and the finish is great because the pressure is off,” said Michael Giles, the skipper of the Sydney 47 “Endorfin”. “Even better if we do well.”

Get the full preview report from the 2015 Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally, inside this issue.

And from New Zealand, word has emerged of a French national who has become the first cruiser to be fined by New Zealand Biosecurity authorities for deliberately trying to smuggle in illegal foodstuffs. Ms. Sylvia Berthe Barre, 61, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court last week and pleaded guilty to trying to conceal six jars of meat pate (hidden in a cupboard), two limes (tucked inside of a scarf in a drawer), one bunch of green bananas (hidden in the emergency bag), as well as two Spanish hams and one New Caledonian ham and one piece of dried venison (also hidden in the emergency bag). Ms. Barre was fined $3,000 (NZ), and was given a pointed education about what illegal food could do to the New Zealand economy and agricultural system.

Meanwhile, on the antipodean side of the planet, sailors living on Nantucket Island have been enduring a brutal winter of heavy snowfall, stiff winter storms and deep-freezer-like temperatures. Inside this issue, be sure to check out Jonathan Nimerfroh’s amazing image gallery of 'slush waves', and be glad that this sight isn’t available in your local harbour!

Also inside, get the latest news about Greece’s cruising tax, learn about the dangers of exhaust fumes, join in the public consultation about Marine Conservation Zones in UK waters, and get the download from OceansWatch on their upcoming expedition to the Solomon Islands.

May the four winds blow you safely home,