Blue Book of Boats

Building on the success of previous SailBot Regattas, SailBot 2011, the North American competition for robotic sailboats was held at the United States Naval Academy from June 13-16, 2011 in Annapolis, MD.

The winning entry goes to the US Naval Academy, with second place to UBC’s Thunderbird, and third place to RMC. See a youtube video of the UBC’s entry boat below:

SailBot is an international competition for autonomously controlled sailboats. Aimed primarily at undergraduate student teams, the goal is to give engineering students a practical application of the topics they have learned, while also providing a fun way to learn project management in a multidisciplinary environment. A successful SailBot balances the needs of naval architecture, mechanical engineering, systems and electrical engineering, as well as project management.

The competition was open to the 2 meter SailBot Class and an Open Class (boats up to 4 meters in length). It consisted of five events to test various aspects of the design, construction and control logic. There is no entry fee to participate.

The 2011 participants included student teams from the United States Naval Academy (host school), Memorial University of Newfoundland, Queen’s University, and the University of British Columbia.

While many celebrities go mega yachting, a few hard-bodied celebrities are taking up SUP – which stands for Stand Up Paddle Surfing. Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he’e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and reemerged as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of students, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them – such as incoming swell. To begin with, this started with using a one-bladed paddle, whilst standing on a normal length surfboard.

The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands. In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards, and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing”, another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing, originates.

The sport benefits athletes with a strong ‘core’ workout. SUP’ing is popular at warm coastal climates and resorts, and is gaining in popularity as celebrities are sampling the sport, and cross-over athletes are training with SUP. SUPs have been spotted around the globe, anywhere where there is easy access to safe waters, as well as in the surfing lineups of the world.

The first “modern” surfer to bring Stand Up Paddle Surfing out of Hawaii and onto mainland USA was Vietnam veteran, Rick Thomas. In 2000, Rick – on a 11ft Muñoz board, and with a Leleo Kinimaka paddle – introduced California to the new sport.

Surfers have converted because of the versatility of the new sport. Stand up paddle boarding offers surfers the ability to catch more waves in a set, as well as offering a better view of incoming sets.

Famous celebrities who paddle surfs for sports include Jennifer Anishton, Michelle Williams, Kate Hudson, Rihanna, Matt Damon, Pierce Brosnan to name a few.

New custom SUP board prices range from US$600 to US$1500, and most use glass-reinforced plastic construction using epoxy resin that is compatible with the expanded polystyrene foam used in the core. The boards are generally longer than 9 feet (3 m), and up to 12 feet (4 m) or more in length, with features such as padded decks and concave hulls; they generally have one or three surfboard-style fins in the stern for tracking.

As of October 3, 2008, the US Coast Guard now classifies SUPs as vessels and as a result SUP riders are obliged to wear a personal flotation device when paddling in certain areas. Whether this will affect the continued take up of stand up paddling in the USA remains to be seen. The Canadian Coast Guard has implemented similar rules, however SUPer’s are only required to have a PFD with them, they don’t have to wear them.

Article source: Wikipedia

A stern shower is becoming an important charter boat feature not just for the tropical destinations but also for the Pacific Northwest. In the summer time, water temperature especially around the Desolation Sound area can go up to as high as 28 degrees celsius which makes for very comfortable swimming.

Desolation Sound has the advantage of warm waters in the summer, and being able to wash off the salt water off your body before going inside the boat has its plusses.

If you have guests on the boat, the stern shower avoids line ups to the shower room.

The above photo can make a good advertisement for having a stern shower on your boat. Look carefully, because the man and lady featured on the photo are the future King and Queen of England. Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The next time Prince William visits Vancouver, he ought to try out Desolation Sound, because Vancouverites are so polite, they will definitely give the couple some privacy.

A Tale of Two Seas – which one would you rather be in?

Ah! Now that the Vic Maui 2010 race is over,  the boys are talking about redemption and perseverance, as if another Vic Maui race at 2012.  Wake up Guys!

Desolation Sound, one of the most beautiful places on earth is just at our backyard. You don’t have to go far. Paradise is here!

Ah, these private and secluded warm pools at Tenedos Bay are so refreshing on a hot summer day. Perfect little spot for bathing. This could easily compete with any warm tropical place. Surprisingly, not many people know about this spot.