The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.

TOM'S ADVENTURE Mark Chew TOM'S ADVENTURE Mark Chew

Notes from Pago Pago- American Samoa

Apparently, American Samoa has more big pickup trucks per capita than anywhere else in the world - I don’t doubt it. The trucks and the law enforcement are the only obvious signs of colonisation, but reach in your pocket and you’ll find those green banknotes that say ‘In God We Trust’.

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RACING Sal Balharrie RACING Sal Balharrie

This Way Up

“If you’d told me a month ago that we’d place fourth overall at the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta racing FAIR WINDS I’d have said you were dreaming. Perhaps I still am.”

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OBITUARY Mark Chew OBITUARY Mark Chew

Eight Bells-Sir James Hardy.

Despite two Olympics and becoming a world champion, his ultimate ambition remained victory in the America's Cup. After three failed attempts, Sir James finally tasted success in 1983 as back-up skipper for Australia II.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

Readers Write #2

“You have no idea what it feels like to screech across the bay at 20+ knots with water rushing over the gunnels into the cockpit.. and EVERYONE just beaming… sucking in the rush… “

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

a soft, malleable, and ductile metal

The copper performed very well, both in protecting the hull from worm invasion and in preventing weed growth for, when in contact with water, the copper produced a poisonous film, composed mainly of Copper Oxychloride that deterred these marine organisms.

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AWARDS Mark Chew AWARDS Mark Chew

sitting on a hillside watching clouds

Every day of the 9 day journey we would receive simple, factual, unemotional advice via Sat Phone text messaging, about what to expect from the wind and waves, when to change course to improve our comfort, and how to safely speed our passage

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ADVENTURE Mark Chew ADVENTURE Mark Chew

Niche Publishing 73 years on.

Waves crashed onto the little craft and her crew while they manned the pumps. The helmsman was lashed to the wheel, while other members of the crew blistered their hands as they man the pumps for hours on end.

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HISTORY Mark Chew HISTORY Mark Chew

Tom Tit

After some sixteen journeys a Sergeant Major on the jetty told them not to come back anymore because the Germans were on the pier. Ron and Alan told him they'd keep coming while he was still on the pier.

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HISTORY Mark Chew HISTORY Mark Chew

Through Samurai Eyes - Part Two

It was very, very important to both the authorities in London and those in the colonies that those who participated in this event were held to account. Somebody was going to swing for the piracy of the CYPRUS and they would swing in spectacular fashion.

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ENVIRONMENT Mark Chew ENVIRONMENT Mark Chew

New Ways to Use Trees

“It’s quite simple for me,” says French designer Thomas Tison, “Modernity does not neglect where we all come from – on the contrary it makes the best of it. In a way a boat is a heritage, so to ignore wood would be to ignore the essence of yacht design and building.”

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TALL SHIPS Mark Chew TALL SHIPS Mark Chew

Listing to starboard

We regret to inform you that an accident has occurred during the maintenance period in Cape Town, resulting in Bark EUROPA partly falling over while attempting to be placed back into the water from the drydocks

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ENVIRONMENT Mark Chew ENVIRONMENT Mark Chew

20% Less Fuel?

Their research showed that the Seawing would have a pulling power of up to 100 tons meaning it can contribute to propulsion for a ship of over 200,000 tons and over 1,000 feet in length. They project fuel savings on average of 20 percent by deploying the kite sail.

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FLOTSAM Mark Chew FLOTSAM Mark Chew

You know about Dunkirk of course

Next morning CONIDAW joined the armada of little ships rescuing the remaining French and British soldiers off the Dunkirk beaches. Her shallow draft allowed her to go close inshore to take the starving, frightened and exhausted men out to waiting ferries in deeper water.

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