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Kayak Sail Rig Reviews

It's odd that the modern canoe/kayak phenom is so divorced from sailing - especially since the original 19th century devotees of the sport were so into it. That seems to be changing. "Wind: the alternative energy source for the self-propelled" - Sea Kayaker Magazine review 13 sails in the April 2005 issue. Sea Kayaker Magazine

Six-Man Outrigger to Sail Pacific Rim

Six sailors from Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Tahiti hope to revive the sailing legacy of the Austronesian people by making a grueling 16-month journey around the Pacific rim in an outrigger canoe. The journey is scheduled to begin this May and conclude in August 2006. "We're calling this adventure a journey of Pacific Renaissance, as Austronesian people already had a great sailing culture several thousands of years ago," said Chen Chin-kuo. Taiwan News

Nature’s Crisis

Dave Foreman : In December of 1776, the American Revolution was in its darkest hour. In response, Tom Paine wrote his first "Crisis" paper: "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." We need Tom Paine conservationists in our dark hour. Let us not apologize for loving wild Nature, for caring about other species, for speaking the truth. Reach out to others. Make deals when they are good deals. But let us not be frightened and browbeaten into appeasement. Counterpunch

Rustic Schooner Launched

The Nigel Irens designed "Rustic Schooner" catamaran was launched from Constellation Yachts in January 2005. I really like this boat - it proves that modern multihulls don't all need to be hi-tech spaceships. "Sequoya" is a 64' LOA x 28' beam day charter cat built from plywood - and it's one of the few big cats that will actually improve the view of the harbor in which it's anchored. Check out the photo gallery at Constellation Yachts.

The Warning of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

NYT : Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed; by Jared Diamond; Viking, 576 pp., $29.95

"Easter's isolation makes it the clearest example of a society that destroyed itself by overexploiting its own resources.... The parallels between [the island] and the whole modern world are chillingly obvious. Thanks to globalization, international trade, jet planes, and the Internet, all countries on earth today share resources and affect each other, just as did Easter's dozen clans. [The island] was as isolated in the Pacific Ocean as the earth is today in space. When the Easter Islanders got into difficulties, there was nowhere to which they could flee, nor to which they could turn for help; nor shall we modern Earthlings have recourse elsewhere if our troubles increase.... [The] collapse of Easter Island society [is] a metaphor, a worst-case scenario, for what may lie ahead of us in our own future." NYT Review of Books

New Everglades Challenge Record

The 2005 Watertribe Everglades Challenge has finished with a new course record of 3 Days, 3 Hours, 9 Minutes - by Robert Williams and Scott Smith [aka sirbobsalot and beerslayer] sailing a Norseboat in Class 4 [small sailboats]. Class 1 [expedition kayaks & canoes]: Warren Richey in 3 Days, 13 Hours, 23 Minutes. Class 3 [sailing kayaks & canoes]: Steve Isaac in 4 Days, 4 Hours, 3 Minutes. Class 2 not yet finished. Congratulations to all!

The Everglades Challenge is a 300 mile expedition style adventure race for paddle, oar and wind powered small boats from Fort Desoto, Florida to Key Largo. Watertribe

Surfing With Hemp

From OceanGreen Surfboards: The aim of OceanGreen is to produce custom surfboards that are 100% bio-derived, that is, made entirely from natural materials. Most surfers feel compromised by having to use equipment that is ecologically damaging in what should be a natural environment. OG give surfers the choice of showing respect for their environment as they interact with it.

OG aims to replace each of the surfboard's 3 base materials with an environmentally friendly alternative which has equal or better qualities for the job. Using Hemp cloth instead of fibreglass, we have started the process. Combined with polystyrene foam and epoxy resin, this produces boards which are lighter, stronger and greener. OG are continually sourcing new products to replace the foam and resin whilst developing new methods to use older, sounder natural products.

Green Boatbuilding - Hemp

From TreeHugger: We have profiled so many products made from hemp, thought it might be useful to provide a little background as to what makes it so significant. If hemp has a downside, its the mythology and hype that has attached itself to the name. It is hugely versatile but the claims that it can save the world, all on its own, are rather misleading. Eco Tip: Hemp

The New Age of Sail

NewScientist.com news service: The coming of steam sent the world's great sailing fleets into decline. The internal combustion engine finally finished them off. So it would be a strange twist of fate if the age of sail was resurrected by what amounts to a child's toy. Newscientist.com Page 3 of 3 pages « First  <  1 2 3