Inventors who just keep innovating
by Nancy Knudsen, Editor on 15 Jul 2010
The ubiquitous RIB - invented by students SW
Just when you think that they had invented everything that ever could be invented for making sailing easier, safer, faster or more comfortable, along come some new inventions.
Our Product of the Week is a combined block and tackle, excellent for certain applications. Not only is it elegant in design, but cutting out one more connection that can come apart when under stress must be considered a bonus for any yacht.
Another article talks about how ultrasonic antifouling has just become more viable with the introduction of digitisation. Then there are the students who have won a NASA competition by designing a flying catamaran for rescues, and ultrasonic antifouling has just become more viable with digitisation. Ignore student inventers at your peril, as, in another story, we remind readers that it was students who first came up with the idea of the ubiquitous RIB.
Boat shows are in the news, with Adelaide Boat Show opening today (Thursday) and the Sydney Boat show coming soon. Some great new boats featured this week - to consider purchasing, or may be just gloat over...get some ideas...
It is a Fijian seaman - who saved the lives of two yachties by diving overboard from his container ship and bringing them aboard after their yacht sank – who has won the prestigious International Maritime Organisation's 2010 Exceptional bravery award. It's an awe-inspiring story, and both rescued and rescuers tell their versions.
Lots of other news too - the Fifth Aegean Rally is about to set off, and one sailor tells his tale of sailing the pirate zone this year through the Gulf of Aden.
They weren't pirates, just common thugs, but the thieves who bashed heroic paraplegic solo sailor and film maker Mike Harker are still on the loose in St Maartin in the Caribbean. You may have seen Mike as an inspirational speaker at the last Sydney International Boat Show. It leaves St Maartin as not a good place to anchor your boat any time soon...
Sweet, and safe, sailing!
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