It's does the rounds every six months or so, but still makes me laugh.
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Thursday 18 June 2009
Geoff's boaty link of the day: Redefining Speed
This YouTube video starts with a windsurfer tanking along. You think "those guys go really fast", then something happens to redefine your perceptions:
Wednesday 17 June 2009
My kind of Ship: 'Devil's vegetable' banned from navy warship
'Devil's vegetable' banned from navy warship
Looks like one Royal Navy captain has made a truly sensible decision and has banned sporuts from his ship.
Looks like one Royal Navy captain has made a truly sensible decision and has banned sporuts from his ship.
Tuesday 16 June 2009
Only 48 hours to go
In two days time I'll be heading to Heathrow Terminal 5 for another long weekend in Sweden. We've chosed this weekend primarily because of the Volvo Ocean race events taking place in and around Stockholm. 
There is a large bay about 30 minutes sail from Bullandö Marina called Kanholms Fjärden. We had a pleasant day sail there last month.
I've not decided if we're going to attempt to find a good place to watch the racing as I suspect that every boat will be out trying to do the same and having only sailed there once, my local knowledge might be a little lacking.
There's also a race village in central Stockholm, so another option may be to motor sail into the city and let our guests (who are new to sailing and Sweden) have a wander around the city. I'm a firm believer that it aught to be illegal to go to Stockholm without seeing the Vasa. Not sure what the punishement would be, but everyone should see it.
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| From Sailing Sweden - May 2009 - Kanholms Fjärden |
I've not decided if we're going to attempt to find a good place to watch the racing as I suspect that every boat will be out trying to do the same and having only sailed there once, my local knowledge might be a little lacking.
There's also a race village in central Stockholm, so another option may be to motor sail into the city and let our guests (who are new to sailing and Sweden) have a wander around the city. I'm a firm believer that it aught to be illegal to go to Stockholm without seeing the Vasa. Not sure what the punishement would be, but everyone should see it.
 |
| From Stockholm (Sept08) |
Boaty Web Link of the Day- Antarctica Photo Journal
I'm trying something new.... Every day I'm going to link to something boaty that is my pick of the day. So here's my first "Geoff's Boaty Link of the Day":
Antarctica Photo Journal (1)
Incredible photo journal of a Newzealander's trip to Antartica in an aluminium yacht.
Antarctica Photo Journal (1)
Incredible photo journal of a Newzealander's trip to Antartica in an aluminium yacht.
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Royal Yacht Squadron - Possibly the world's most exclusive club?
I found this amusing article about joining the Royal Yacht Squadron. British flag ettiquette is quite an interesting subject as there are a plethora of different flags that may be flown depending on a variety of factors. The majority of private yachts fly the Red ensign:
A complex set of rules dictate which private yachts may fly the Blue Ensign. But only Royal Naval vessels and yachts owned by the 400 or so members of the Royal Yacht Squadron may fly the elite white ensign.
The three colours are a relic of a time when the Royal Navy was divided into three fleets (Red, White and Blue). A Post Captain, when promoted to admiral, would progress up the rankings of seniority. So he'd start out as an Rear Admiral of the Blue, progresses to White, then Red. Next he'd become a Vice Admiral of the Blue, White, then Red. Finally there was Admiral of the Blue and then White. Traditionally there was no Admiral of the Red as this was synonymous with Admiral of the Fleet. After Trafalgar (1805) Admiral of the Red was introduced to reward it's top Admirals, though it may have been a device to create more space at the bottom for deserving Captains.
When the Navy was going through a period of reduction after France had been defeated and as the war of 1812 was drawing to an end the practice of creating "Yellow Admirals" was common. This involved promoting them, but leaving them on the bench with no fleet assignment. There was no actual Yellow flag, it was more of a grim joke that their service hadn't been sufficiently good or politically connected to warrant a proper promotion. Patrick O'Brien's "The Yellow Admiral" explores this in detail by putting Aubrey in the frame for being yellowed.
This system fell into disuse when the age of sail came to an end. The Red Ensign was allocated to the merchant navy of Britain, the Royal Navy adopted the White Ensign, and the Blue Ensign was used by naval auxiliary vessels.
Generally speaking, today, the only way to fly one of the privelidged ensigns is to join a club or the armed forces. For all but the RYS this is either a blue or defaced blue ensign. As stated above the RYS members get to fly the white. It is interesting that there seems to be a vein of reverse snobbery where some people look down upon the people that chose to fly the white or blue for being pretentious. I personally feel that this is a quaint little part of British tradition that should be cherished and enjoyed lest it fade away completely.
Telegraph.co.uk - Could I endure decades of sucking up to join the Royal Yacht Squadron - God yes!
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| From Sailing Sweden - May 2009 - Sail to Sandhamn |
A complex set of rules dictate which private yachts may fly the Blue Ensign. But only Royal Naval vessels and yachts owned by the 400 or so members of the Royal Yacht Squadron may fly the elite white ensign.
The three colours are a relic of a time when the Royal Navy was divided into three fleets (Red, White and Blue). A Post Captain, when promoted to admiral, would progress up the rankings of seniority. So he'd start out as an Rear Admiral of the Blue, progresses to White, then Red. Next he'd become a Vice Admiral of the Blue, White, then Red. Finally there was Admiral of the Blue and then White. Traditionally there was no Admiral of the Red as this was synonymous with Admiral of the Fleet. After Trafalgar (1805) Admiral of the Red was introduced to reward it's top Admirals, though it may have been a device to create more space at the bottom for deserving Captains.
When the Navy was going through a period of reduction after France had been defeated and as the war of 1812 was drawing to an end the practice of creating "Yellow Admirals" was common. This involved promoting them, but leaving them on the bench with no fleet assignment. There was no actual Yellow flag, it was more of a grim joke that their service hadn't been sufficiently good or politically connected to warrant a proper promotion. Patrick O'Brien's "The Yellow Admiral" explores this in detail by putting Aubrey in the frame for being yellowed.
This system fell into disuse when the age of sail came to an end. The Red Ensign was allocated to the merchant navy of Britain, the Royal Navy adopted the White Ensign, and the Blue Ensign was used by naval auxiliary vessels.
Generally speaking, today, the only way to fly one of the privelidged ensigns is to join a club or the armed forces. For all but the RYS this is either a blue or defaced blue ensign. As stated above the RYS members get to fly the white. It is interesting that there seems to be a vein of reverse snobbery where some people look down upon the people that chose to fly the white or blue for being pretentious. I personally feel that this is a quaint little part of British tradition that should be cherished and enjoyed lest it fade away completely.
Telegraph.co.uk - Could I endure decades of sucking up to join the Royal Yacht Squadron - God yes!
A sad tale of a Sweden Yachts purchase gone wrong
I found this link in the Sweden Yachts 36 facebook group.
To clarify: The bit in the yellow is not my story, just a reprint of someone else's experience found on the web.
The comments also include the following:
Clearly this is no kind of evidence, just the words of someone that has lost a lot of money. How very sad if it is as he states and is caused by corruption rather than honest financial difficulties.
What is equally sad is that if all of this is true, then we are unlikely to see any phoenix rising from the ashes... There will be no more Sweden Yachts ever again.
Sweden Yachts Corrupt Bancruptcy
To clarify: The bit in the yellow is not my story, just a reprint of someone else's experience found on the web.
| Sweden Yachts corrupt bankruptcy (Dit schrijven we even in het Engels opdat de internationale blog gemeenschap zou kunnen meelezen.) Two years ago we ordered a new Sweden yachts 40 at the Hiswa in Ijmuiden. We paid 60% up front. It would be delivered 1 April. Last year September we visited the yard. There was not even the beginning of a boat. Sweden Yachts told us the hull was on its way. Which afterwards we discovered, was a lie. 23 March Sweden Yachts went bankrupt. No boat and money gone. No sign of owner Sven Enoch, alltough we were told he filled the fuel tank of his villa that morning and paid with Sweden Yachts money. A Norwegian entrepreneur was willing to take over the company and we would still have a boat. But Sven Enoch had cut up the company in a way there is nothing left to buy. The lie about the hull didn’t help either. It is a very sad thing for all Swedish Yacht builders. If Swedish law allows this to happen, Najad, Malo and Rassy can follow mr. Enoch’s example. Don’t say it won’t happen. Two years ago Sweden Yachts was the most perfect brand in yacht history. In the meanwhile we have bought a Sweden Yachts 42, nearly new, from Mr. Gunter Gielen and his wife Ann. It is such a beautiful boat. We thank them for keeping it so well, we can still go on with our plans. They made us very happy. We know it broke their heart to sell the ship. Anyway, someone somewhere should stop Sven Enoch from making more plans to put money of dreamers like us in his pocket without delivering a boat. Not just for us, but for all the hard working Swedes who put their heart into these wonderful yachts. |
The comments also include the following:
| Two years ago I order a Sweden yachts 42 and now I’m in the same situation: no boat and money gone ! What is really annoying is that at least since August 2008 they knew very well the boatyard was going worse and worse and that they would not be able to meet their commitments . In spite of that Mr. Sven Enoch and his sales staff didn’t tell anything to customers. Well done !! |
Clearly this is no kind of evidence, just the words of someone that has lost a lot of money. How very sad if it is as he states and is caused by corruption rather than honest financial difficulties.
What is equally sad is that if all of this is true, then we are unlikely to see any phoenix rising from the ashes... There will be no more Sweden Yachts ever again.
Sweden Yachts Corrupt Bancruptcy
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