Captured Yacht Decoy for Somalian Pirates? YachtPals.com 06 Sep Captured Yacht Decoy for Somalian Pirates? Somalia - YachtPals just received a warning from Andrew Mwangura of the Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP) in Kenya to ALL VESSELS NEAR THE HORN OF AFRICA.  The Amel Super Maramu Carre D'as IV, captured by Somalian Pirates a week ago, may be under use as a decoy vessel attacking other ships.  The SAP warns that the vessel likely is or will be used to signal ships at sea as being under distress, while hiding a speedboat from view of any ships responding to the rescue.  Mwangura says that a small attack vessel of the type that can hide behind the Carre D'as IV "usually carries read more

Boat on the California Delta - Photo Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 06 Sep Boat on the California Delta - Photo

Somalia Pirates - French Hostages Phone Home YachtPals.com 06 Sep Somalia Pirates - French Hostages Phone Home Somalia - Jean-Yves Delanne, a french citizen being kept hostage by pirates in Somalia, has spoken with his daughter Alizée Delanne in Tahiti via satellite phone, telling her "Nous allons bien" - "We are well".  Alizée Delanne first learned of the trouble with her parents, who were sailing a yacht near the Gulf of Aden, when she received a call that the EPIRB (a safety device) had been triggered on the boat.  The Tahiti resident tried frantically to reach her parents via satellite telephone, to no avail.  When she finally got through to her father to ask why the ale read more

Sailing the New BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull YachtPals.com 04 Sep Sailing the New BMW Oracle America's Cup Multihull Anacortes, USA - BMW Oracle Racing’s new 90 foot multihull sailboat hoisted sail for the first time this week in Anacortes, Washington.  “This boat is incredibly challenging,” said skipper Russell Coutts.  Coutts and the BMW Oracle crew have been working with the crew from Groupama's famous multihulls, including YachtPals own Franck Cammas.  The mega-team is combining its talents to test the newest America's Cup hopeful out on the waters of Rosario Strait, amongst the San Juan Island read more

Sailing Photo of the Week - Hamilton Island Race Week YachtPals.com 04 Sep Sailing Photo of the Week - Hamilton Island Race Week Queensland, Australia - This well timed photo was taken at Hamilton Island Race Week in Australia. Some of the best joys of sailing are enjoying the nature and wildlife around you, even if you are speeding by on a sleek sailboat in a yacht race.     read more

JUNK in Hawaii - Photo Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 04 Sep JUNK in Hawaii - Photo

Pirates Kidnap French Yacht Crew YachtPals.com 03 Sep Pirates Kidnap French Yacht Crew Somalia - A sailing yacht was seized by pirates yesterday in the Gulf of Aden. The Venezuelan-flagged Carre D'as is reported to have been attacked at sea, captured, and the boat and hostages taken to Somalia. The only reported hostages so far are two French nationals, whose names have not been released. Clearly in Somalia, yachts are now fair game for pirates.   read more

Port of Friday Harbor YachtPals.com - Online Cruising Guides The Port of Friday Harbor Marina is located in the center of the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington State. The 500 slip marina provides access to the Town of Friday Harbor, where one can find complete services for boaters. There is space available for 150 visiting boats ranging in size from dinghys to 150 foot yachts. Southern breakwaters are reserved for vessels over 45 feet in length.   read more

Roz Savage Completes Pacific Row YachtPals.com 02 Sep Roz Savage Completes Pacific Row Honolulu, US - In spite of the adversity, or should we say adversities, Roz Savage has rowed the Eastern Pacific from San Francisco to Hawaii. 99 days, 2900 miles, and many, many pulls on the oars after leaving the Golden Gate, Roz crossed her chosen line at around 0900 local time yesterday. While this row is an amazing achievement, Roz is only part way to her goal. This is just the first leg of her much longer trip to read more

Sailor in the Spotlight Interview - Marcus Eriksen of JUNK YachtPals.com 01 Sep Sailor in the Spotlight Interview - Marcus Eriksen of JUNK As a US Marine serving in the first Gulf War, Marcus Eriksen stood in the middle of the burning oil fields, covered with soot and burnt crude, and was struck with the senselessness of it all. From that point, he decided that something needed to be done to bring attention to the ongoing issues of environmental destruction. He realized that if he could make saving the environment an adventure, if he could make it cool, then the much needed press coverage would follow. He reinvented himself - leaving behind the life of a Marine Commando to become a commando warrior on a different front. read more