UK Halsey Offers New Online Racing Rules Quiz

Submitted by admin on Sat, 2008-03-29 23:12.

UK-Halsey Sailmakers has posted the 24th version of their online quiz on the rules of sailboat racing. The newest quiz involves a port/starboard situation after rounding a windward mark.

This series of animated, online quizzes has been praised as an easy way to learn the rules of sail boat racing.

sailing-racing-quiz-screenshotsailing-racing-quiz-screenshot

The online quizzes focus on common situations often encountered in real sailboat races. The quiz makes avoid obscure, hard to repeat, situations in favor of incidents that happen again and again on the race course.

The UK Halsey quizzes offer animation to help the user visualize the situation. Viewers watch the boats move; spinnakers go up and come down; sails luff and are trimmed as well as move from side to side as the boats go around the racing marks.


When a rule or rule book defined term is mentioned a hot link allows the text of the rule or definition to be brought up in a separate window as a reference. The answers are presented in the same format a protest committee would publish a decision: First the facts found are presented followed the rule or rules broken, followed by the decision of who was at fault.

All the quizzes are free, but to see them viewers must create a login with the UK-Halsey site; some contact information is required when creating a login.

UK-Halsey Sailmakers makes sails for sailboats and has over 50 locations around the world.


Whitehall Spirit Expedition 17 Offers Sailing As Well As Rowing

Submitted by admin on Sat, 2008-03-29 22:13.

The new Whitehall Spirit 17 Expedition model can be used as a classic small daysailor or for exercise using its sliding seat rowing dropin.

The classic Whitehall design rowing boats have long been known for their seaworthiness. They were used out under oar and sail to meet arriving ships in all seasons and conditions.


WhitehallSpirit17: Whitehall Spirit 17 Expedition DrawingWhitehallSpirit17: Whitehall Spirit 17 Expedition Drawing

The Whitehall Spirit 17 Expedition Model features a roller furling code-zero style light air jib, and a reefable main for higher winds. The Sitka spruce mast is sleeved to break into two parts for stowing on board.

Easily handled by one, there is the option of up to three rowers in a traditional rowing configuration, or one or two rowers in the slide seat configuration which features hinged bronze outriggers and 9'6"sculls.

On popular use for the Whitehall Spirit 17 Expedition is in RAID style regattas.

More information is available at http://www.whitehallrow.com

The video below includes shots of Whitehall 17 in action in a raid regatta in Finland.



Clearpoint Weather Offers Software Based Solution to Weather Analysis and Forecasting

Submitted by admin on Sat, 2008-03-29 20:44.

Clearpoint Weather software offers software based weather forecasting and analysis for both racing sailors and bluewater passagemakers.

Clearwater's subscription service pulls data from online and presents it on a Windows PC using Clearwater's proprietary software. Based on the level of subscription selected, the sailor subscriber gets data on weather information including Winds, Waves, Fronts, Satellite, Point Forecasts, Bulletins, Currents, Air Temperature, Sea Temperature, Clouds, Precipitation, Visibility, Sea Ice, Lightning, Tropical Storms, Chlorophyll, Bathymetry, Altimetry, Wind 1nm Resolution, Wind 5nm Resolution, and Wind 15nm Resolution.

A low bandwidth option allows sailors with limited access to download the information necessary in only 30 kilobytes.


ClearPoint High Definition Weather software can be downloaded at no charge from http://www.clearpointweather.com over any Internet connection and run on any laptop, tablet, or other Windows 2000 or later PC-based electronic/maritime display devices.

Clearpoint feeds real-time updates to the device via an online connection; all applications are integrated onto a single, user-friendly screen.

ClearPoint’s service works with almost any communications link, including satellite connections such as Iridium, Globalstar and Inmarsat.

A racing package is optimized for sailboat racers seeking an advantage by being better able to take advantage of weather fronts. A passagemaker version is aimed at sailboat cruisers looking to make a fast, safe passage.

Subscription packages range from $55 for six months for the stripped down basic edition to $1195 for a year of the premium edition. Each subscription package offers a ten day trial during which the user can cancel at no charge.

There is also a $9.95 per day daily rate option for the premium edition.



UK-Halsey

Submitted by admin on Wed, 2007-05-09 19:17.

Doyle

Submitted by admin on Wed, 2007-05-09 19:16.

Strictly Sail Miami Set For February 15 to 19

Submitted by raycampbell on Tue, 2007-02-06 22:16.

Strictly Sail Miami 2007: Strictly Sail Miami 2007 Launches February 15Strictly Sail Miami 2007: Strictly Sail Miami 2007 Launches February 15Strictly Sail Miami launches its 22d show in South Florida Feb. 15-19, 2007, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center and Miamarina at Bayside.

The annual celebration of the boating lifestyle brings together, along with the associated Miami International Boat Show, more than 2,200 exhibitors showcasing the latest and greatest in powerboats, sailboats, engines, personal watercraft and marine accessories before an audience of more than 145,000 national and international visitors. In addition to the various exhibits, the show offers boating enthusiast and novices the opportunity to test drive watercraft, participate in interactive seminars and access to a wealth of resources that enhance time spent out on the water.

“The Miami show is truly the world’s greatest because it offers something for everyone,” said Cathy Johnston, vice president of Southern Shows for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), which produces the show. “Exhibitors use the Miami show to introduce new products for the upcoming season, while consumers find a one-stop source for all of their boating needs as well as a venue for getting the best deals on every product imaginable.”

Added Kevin Murphy, show manager for Strictly Sail Miami, “The Miami show sets the barometer for new boat sales in the U.S. Moreover, it marks the busiest weekend in South Florida and brings tremendous economic benefits to the state, including $817.8 million in gross sales and wages.”


Winter in the Canary Islands

Submitted by raycampbell on Mon, 2007-01-08 15:33.

Los Gigantes in TenerifeLos Gigantes in Tenerife
With the wind whistling outside, it's pleasant to think about relaxing in the marina under the shadow of the Los Gigantes cliffs on Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.


Fourteen Year Old Nears End of Record Setting Solo Transatlantic Crossing

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2007-01-08 14:15.

January 8, 2007 - Fourteen year old Michael Perham is near achieving his dream of becoming the youngest ever person to sail single-handed across the Atlantic.

Perham, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, is due to reach Antigua this week, capping a 3,500 mile solo voyage.

Perham has been more than six weeks at see in his 28 foot boat, Cheeky Monkey.

He has overcome obstacles including unexpected hurricane force winds, giant waves and shark-infested waters.

'Michael says that he just can't wait to get on dry land,' spokesman Kizzi Nkwocha said.

Barnes was reported to being eager to play some video games, eat a big steak, and sleep in a dry bed once he hits land.

Perham left Gilbraltar on November 18, and is set to reach Nelson's Dockyard on the Caribbean island of Antigua on Wednesday afternoon.

Then fifteen-year-old Sebastian Clover from the Isle of Wight set the previous record for youngest solo transatlantic crossing when he sailed from the Canary Islands to Antigua in January 2003.


Los Gigantes in Tenerife

Submitted by raycampbell on Mon, 2007-01-08 13:17.
Los Gigantes in Tenerife

Please Help Us Get Sailorville Ready For Launch

Submitted by raycampbell on Mon, 2007-01-08 12:04.

We are in the final laps of getting our new content and Web 2.0 community for sailors ready to launch. Much has been done, but much remains to be done.

We need your help. Please set up an account, and try out the features. Once you give it a spin, please give us some feedback - what's missing that needs to be here? What's here that just gets in the way? What is here but needs to be improved or changed to meet your needs?

We also plan to do a new layout and design for the actual launch. At present, the site is running on a barebones layout that just allows us to test functionality. Before we move out of Alpha and into Beta, we will reskin the site with a whole new look and feel.


read more | raycampbell's blog