Nautical Nightmares

Nautical Nightmares at Mystic Seaport Begin October 15

The area’s premier Halloween event is a dramatic experience that explores ghost tales, legends and unsolved mysteries of days gone by.  This year’s production, “The Mark of Four,” tells the tale of cutthroats, a cursed ring, dark secrets and a haunted woman. Visitors will be guided by costumed 19th-century roleplayers through the Museum’s darkened village in search of clues to the mystery of Annie Geary and the Gang of Four – all while remaining cautious of a curse that may be lurking around any corner.

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Fly a keel bulb

Saturday at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol Cam Lewis, Brian Hancock, J.P. Mouligne, Eric Goetz,  Vlad Murnikov and other team members were on hand to present their plans and answer questions about this really cool project.

What’s so special and radical about this boat? How about a canting keel that swings 70 degrees and will fly above the water like the windward hull of a multihull. And a hydrofoil to leeward that keeps it all in balance. The other unique feature of this design is it’s a wave piercing monohull!

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Around Conanicut

The 2010 edition of Sail For Hope is Saturday October 2, and is sure be another epic sail around Conanicut Island.

Many of you played a big part in the original Sail For Pride in 2001, where over 180 boats of all shapes and sizes participate with ensigns proudly flying. Sail For Pride raised $110,000 for the Widows and Children’s Charities that were created to support the families of those lost in the attack on our country on September 11, 2001.

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The Spanish Are Coming! – 10 boats!

(Newport, RI)- The 2010 J/80 World Championships, hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club and Sail Newport, promises to be one of the most competitive J/80 events to date.  66+ boats from nine countries are currently registered including boats from Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and USA. Seven past World Champions are participating.

Outside of a strong US contingent, the Spanish J/80 Class is showing up in force with ten sailing teams.

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Replacements

Zim Sailing based in Warren, Road Island shipped 3 of 18 boats to the University of New Hampshire this week.  Last spring the UNH sailing facility with all of its boats and docks burned to the ground.  This included its fleet of 18 Flying Juniors used for their intercollegiate sailing team and recreational programs in the summer.

Zim was founded in 2008 and are class approved manufacturers of the Optimist, Club 420 and FJ.

WORLDS – Lucy Macgregor (GBR) Wins

Lucy Macgregor (GBR) Wins ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship

Newport, RI, September 25 – The finals of the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship played out better than anyone could have scripted. Macgregor defeated two-time world champion Leroy then faced the American team led by Sally Barkow, also a two-time world champion. Barkow led the British team 2-1 by consistently gaining the advantage to the right side of the course as the lead changed almost each leg.

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Two is better than one

Did you know that we have the three best webcams in Rhode Island?

Check out this image from Webcam #3 taken Saturday. Have a look anytime.

North Light to shine again

blockislandtimes.com – 9/25/10 – The North Light Commission hopes to hold a relighting ceremony at the lighthouse on October 23. While the renovation of the light itself has been completed for some time, the relighting of the tower has been slowed by Coast Guard procedure.

In order for the relighting to take place, the Coast Guard must extinguish the temporary light currently in service, which requires a four-week advertisement period. If after the four-week period, which ends September 28, mariners have not objected, then the Coast Guard can proceed with extinguishing its temporary light.

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New fishing rules – tautog & blk sea bass

blockislandtimes.com – A New 10-fish per boat possession limit, regardless of the number of anglers or spearfishers aboard, effective immediately, continuing through December 15.

A decrease in the daily possession limit from eight fish per person to six fish per person, beginning October 16 and running through December 15. (The daily possession limit remains at three fish per person through October 15.)

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New Training Program for Recreational Boaters

Confident Captain/Ocean Pros will offer classroom based and hands-on boater training year round with their new program for recreational boaters, AT THE HELM.

AT THE HELM encompasses classroom training in the winter months with hands-on training in the summer months to provide world-class learning experience for recreational boaters. Described as innovative, engaging, and fun, the new AT THE HELM program keeps recreational boaters involved all year-round and helps them to become better, more confident boaters.  Confident Captain/Ocean Pros is recognized as the leader in innovative training for professional mariners in the Northeast.

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Scrimshaw competition in Wickford

blockislandtimes.com – Mystic Scrimshanders will host the 9th Annual Scrimshanders International Scrimshaw Competition, the only event of its kind in the country, on Saturday, September 25. The exhibition will be open for public viewing from September 26 through October 8 at Mystic Scrimshanders, 14 Main Street, in Wickford.

The competition and exhibition will feature the works of more than 20 top scrimshaw artists from around the country.

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Women’s Match Racing World Championship

20 teams representing 14 nations

The world’s most talented women match racers will descend upon Newport, Rhode Island this week and the New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court Clubhouse for their world championship. And though the discipline of match racing is relatively new in women’s sailing, only selected as an Olympic sport in late 2008, this group that is loaded with Olympic medalists and world champions is already bringing action-packed, top level racing to each event.

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Ken Read and Jerry Kirby Join Rhode Island’s Tall Ship Advisory Board

NEWPORT, R.I. (Sept. 16, 2010) – Representing a vote of confidence from the sailing world, Ken Read and Jerry Kirby (both of Newport, R.I.) have joined the Board of Advisors for Rhode Island’s education at sea tall ship SSV Oliver Hazard Perry.  Read and Kirby, considered two of the world’s most accomplished American sailors, believe in the significant impact the school ship will have on generations of young people as it continues to build over the next few years and then sails as a 207-foot three-masted, square rigger–the largest, privately owned, active tall ship in America.

“The Oliver Hazard Perry project is quite simply something that Rhode Island desperately needs,” said Read, who has sailed in two Volvo Ocean Races (steering Team Puma to second in the 2008/2009 event) and is a veteran of three America’s Cups, twice a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year (1985, 1995) and has over 40 World, North American and National Championships to his credit in a variety of classes, including the J/24 and Etchells 22.  “It is a living, breathing education program focused on the oceans of the world. I will work to bring some experience to the project based on my years of sailing and working in the marine industry.”

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Reunion

America’s Cup 12 Metre Era Reunion Presented by Rolex

On the left, Paul Callahan of Sail To Prevail who skippered Easterner and Ted Turner who was at the helm of American Eagle. More from The New York Times

Tournament postponed

Given the current sea conditions and the forecast The Seamen’s Church has decided to postpone the IYAC Scramble fishing tournament to next Saturday, Sept. 25th.