New project to focus on ocean phytoplankton New project to focus on ocean phytoplanktonResearchers are working to improve data quality collected by satellites over 500 miles above oceanResearchers from NOAA Fisheries and colleagues at the University of Rhode Island, NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, and WHOI will look into the ocean to help improve the quality of data collected by satellites.by NOAA Fisheries Posted 16 Nov 17:10 UTC Coast Guard rescues ailing man Coast Guard rescues ailing manFar off the North Carolina coastA ham radio operator in Florida helped the Coast Guard rescue a man far off the North Carolina coast on Saturday.by Carl Prine Posted 16 Nov 16:45 UTC 2018 ARC - An eclectic fleet gathers 2018 ARC - An eclectic fleet gathersThe docks are filling up rapidly here in Las PalmasThe docks are filling up rapidly here in Las Palmas and although there's been a few showers throughout the day, the sun managed to shine through and there's a buzz around the place as crews from around the world are busy reunitingby World Cruising Club Posted 16 Nov 16:38 UTC 2018 ARC Caribbean 1500 / ARC Bahamas update 2018 ARC Caribbean 1500 / ARC Bahamas updateFive boats made the decision to divert to BermudaThere has been a mixture of emotions since the start of the 2018 ARC Caribbean 1500 and ARC Bahamas. Nervousness, happiness, excitement, and stress, were all present at the Skipper's Briefing in Portsmouth, VA.by World Cruising Club Posted 16 Nov 15:03 UTC Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns to Boston Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns to BostonThe crew return to ashore after an 80-day patrolDuring the deployment in the Eastern Pacific, Spencer's crew interdicted a smuggling vessel with 4,497 pounds of cocaine on board, an estimated street value of $65 million.by Coast Guard First District Northeast Posted 16 Nov 12:27 UTC First World ARC vessel to arrive at Richards Bay First World ARC vessel to arrive at Richards BayInfluencer arrives at 3:30am on Sunday 11th NovemberThe first World ARC vessel to arrive at Richards Bay was Influencer, arriving at approximately 3:30am on Sunday the 11th of November to complete their first ocean crossing with the World ARC 2018 fleet.by World Cruising Club Posted 16 Nov 06:49 UTC The first ARC+ St. Vincent sets sail The first ARC+ St. Vincent sets sailThe second wave of boats in the 2018 Atlantic Rally for CruisersThe inaugural edition of ARC+ St. Vincent set sail today from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria marking the second wave of boats in the 2018 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers to begin their Atlantic adventure.by World Cruising Club Posted 16 Nov 01:53 UTC Sailing in the Age of Gizmos: Part 1 Sailing in the Age of Gizmos: Part 1From the basic position repeater to elaborate satellite up-link systemAs many of us have discovered, or are about to discover, communicating from offshore has come a long way since the days of Bernard Moitessier's slingshooting his 16mm film canisters onto decks of passing freighters!by Jean Baillargeon, Bluewater Cruising Association Posted 15 Nov 14:32 UTC Swan 65: Cruising and racing versatility Swan 65: Cruising and racing versatilityWorldwide preview of the performance-cruiser Swan 65The Swan 65 project is a modern performance cruising yacht perfectly conceived for safe, comfortable cruising with family and friends, but equally capable of being specified as a top-level racer.by Virginia De Carlo Posted 15 Nov 12:27 UTC RRC Report from Ireland RRC Report from IrelandAlex Blackwell, Regional Rear Commodore for Ireland, hosts an island-wide event in the westWith the sailing season well and truly over here in the west of Ireland, there has been little activity on that front, bar the exciting news that the Ilen restoration project has been brought to a successful conclusion.by Alex Blackwell Posted 15 Nov 12:18 UTC They'd all been there They'd all been thereApart from the indigenous populations, Europeans had wandered through the placeNow apart from the indigenous populations, all the Europeans had wandered through the place at various times. Some had taken hold of various portions of the grander area, and then ultimately been booted out like say the Japanese,by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-WorldCruising.com Posted 14 Nov 23:30 UTC Christmas with a difference Christmas with a differenceSet your sights on a more adventurous December in the CaribbeanSet your sights on a more adventurous December in the Caribbean. Hire a friendly skipper to be your guide in the BVI, or revel in Antigua's steel drum parties. Start planning with our guide to the most common Caribbean myths.by Sunsail Posted 14 Nov 17:00 UTC Robin Clegg on microplastics and the VOR Robin Clegg on microplastics and the VORAn interview with Robin Clegg about microplastics and the Volvo Ocean Race's Sustainability ProgramI checked in with Robin Clegg, who handles sustainability communications for the Volvo Ocean Race, via email, to find out more about microplastics, the VOR's Sustainability Program, and the results that this forward-leaning program delivered.by David Schmidt Posted 14 Nov 16:00 UTC RRC report from Northwestern North America RRC report from Northwestern North AmericaIan Grant, Regional Rear Commodore Vancouver and W Coast USA reports on the British Columbia Rally.Rain, rain and more rain seemed to be the order of so many days on this rally coupled with low clouds, mist and light winds. There were a few days of the usual September sunshine, notably in the days we were moored in Victoria's picturesque Inner Harbourby Ian Grant Posted 14 Nov 15:52 UTC DAME Awards special mention for Scanstrut DAME Awards special mention for ScanstrutWe speak to Grant Fox about Scanstrut's new productsAt the METS 2018 marine trade fair we spoke to Grant Fox, Marketing Manager at Scanstrut, who were nominated at this year's show for a DAME award, and received a special mention in the design category for their wireless charging products. by Mark Jardine Posted 14 Nov 12:00 UTC Exploring the Algarve and Southwest Coast of Spain Exploring the Algarve and Southwest Coast of SpainTourist mecca for EuropeansWe landed in the Algarve region in Portugal after our first crossing of the North Atlantic. The Algarve is the southern portion of Portugal, it is a tourist mecca for Europeans, in particular the Irish and the English.by Ann Lange Posted 14 Nov 09:48 UTC Cutter Rig versus Solent Rig part 1 Cutter Rig versus Solent Rig part 1Bluewater Cruising analysis from upffront.comHere at Upffront, we are aware that many people are searching for the perfect bluewater cruising set up. Two popular options for off-shore cruising are the cutter rig and the solent rig, both sporting their own pros and cons.by Kerri Robson, Upffront Posted 14 Nov 09:00 UTC SV Red Roo: Lisbon to Faro SV Red Roo: Lisbon to FaroThe plan being to get quickly down and around the Portuguese coast and back into SpainHaving offloaded Maree back in Figueira da Foz to fly back to the UK for the "Shengen Shuffle" and dropped William in Lisbon it was solo time on Red Roo.by SV Red Roo Posted 14 Nov 08:54 UTC Island goes missing off Hokkaido Island goes missing off HokkaidoHokkaido seems to have disappearedThe Japan Coast Guard has launched a search for something that would not ordinarily be hard to find: an island.by The Maritime Executive Posted 14 Nov 01:58 UTC Doors open for 33rd ARC check-in Doors open for 33rd ARC check-inTime for the check-in desksAfter a successful start and a good send-off for the ARC+ fleet who are making steady progress to Mindelo, Cape Verdes, it was time for the check-in desks to open for those taking part in the 33rd edition of the ARC starting on Sunday 25th November.by World Cruising Club Posted 13 Nov 14:09 UTC