the horse's mouth

Fish On Fridays. Tiburones Y Wahines.

Blacktip Reef Shark.
Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824), is a small shark measuring up to 1.8 m with a short, bluntly-rounded snout, oval eyes, and narrow-cusped teeth. There are 2 dorsal fins, no interdorsal ridge. Juveniles (<70 cm) are yellow-brown on the dorsal side, white on the ventral side; adults are brownish-gray on the dorsal side, white on the ventral side. All fins have conspicuous black or dark brown tips, and posterior dark edges on the pectoral fins and the upper lobe of the caudal fin. The prominent black tip of first dorsal fin contrasts with a light band below it; a conspicuous dark band on flanks, extending to the pelvic fins. Maximum weight: 24 kg; frequents depth ranges from shallows to 75 m.

Tiger Shark.
The tiger shark is second only to the white shark in number of reported attacks on humans. Its large size and voraciousness make it a formidable predator in the ocean. Tiger sharks can be curious and aggressive towards humans in the water and must be considered with a great deal of respect. Do you think the wahine playing cow girl above has all her screws in tight?

Can I get a kiss? Those sharks are scary!

Technorati Tags: fish on fridays, sharks, kiss me baby, wahines

Fish On Fridays. My Encounter With A Shark.

Puffy has me beat! Mind you, I am not upset that he has a bigger fish story. The last thing that I want to see is a lurking hulk trailing after me as he contemplates whether I would make a nice snack. Read Miguel's, "My Shark Encounter."

Technorati Tags: fish on fridays, fishing, sharks

Surfing Photo Of The Day.

In the tube.

Technorati Tags: surfing

Look In The Sky, It's A Giant Donut Hole! [Astro Pic]

Actually, its a dark molecular cloud also known as dark absorption nebulae. "What's that Joe?"
It huge mass of dust and molecular gas which when mixed (not stirred) creates a combination that zaps out all the visible light. Hence, you can't see stars hiding in the background. Our friend above is called Barnard 68 and it is located in the Ophiuchus constellation.

Technorati Tags: barnard 68, dark absorption nebulae, bok globule, the universe, astronomy

Wednesday Wipeout. "Let's Play Chicken Of The Sea!" [Video]

Look O'Docker, a video. Are you happy?
Can I have a cookie now?

Technorati Tags: oops, drunk again, there goes my papers, paging captain hazelton, playing chicken

Boat Of The Day.

If it walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. I don't care how many hours you spent building her, Dog, that's one ugly looking boat.

Warning: The viewing of some home built boats can cause your brain to eject out of the mouth. Please drink to ease the pain. I'll have a double barkeep!

Photo via Duckworks.

Technorati Tags: ugly boats, bad design, yikes!, double yikes!, triple yikes!, sailing?

Motorized Mayhem On Monday.

I wonder why our nautical cousins in their motorized vessels seem so oblivious to all other boaters? Are they oblivious or do they relish the havoc and mayhem they create for us with their wake?

Dylan Winter takes them on in his video "motorboatalists - the curse of the sailing classes?" Dylan, mate, they are the curse of paddlers, scullers and sailors alike. I don't know how many times I've had to turn my kayak, shell or sailboat into a wake to avoid the watery tumult created by these menaces to society.

For more of Dylan's opinions, or if you want follow his adventure around Britain, go to his channel on YouTube.

Links: Dylan's Channel | Dylan's DVD site

Technorati Tags: sailing, sailing video, curse those guys in their motorboats!, dylan winter, video

Fish On Fridays. Tea For The Tillerman....O Docker Can Have Some Too.

Would you like some crumpets with your tea?
I hope O Docker is not too disappointed that there is no video offered on this flight.

Technorati Tags: fish on fridays, fishing, wahines

Is It A Surfboard Or A Dr. Shoal's Insert?

It's a new surfboard design by Thomas Meyerhoffer.
The shape looks like an insert for a woman's high heel shoe.

Read more about the board at SFGate.com.

Links:
Thomas Meyerhoffer | Outside Article | Global Surf Industries | Videos

Technorati Tags: surfing, surfboards, surfboard design, design

Wave Of The Day.

Wave Rock, Hyden,Western Australia.
But dude, can I surf it?

Technorati Tags: wave rock, western australia, australia

Sailing Photo Of The Day. Paper Tiger Cat.

Peter Robbins sailing PT 888.

The Paper Tiger Catamaran is an exciting 4.3m (14ft) single-handed catamaran that provides competitive one-design racing for beginners through to champions. The class rules ensure tight control over the major dimensions of the boat which guarantees exceptional racing, yet they provide the freedom to experiment with gear and equipment for the boat.

Background from Wikipedia:
In 1967 when Ron Given was discussing with friends how he planned to design a father and son training catamaran which he proposed to build on a simple mould by sticking plywood together with fibreglass tape, his friends began to comment that he may as well use sticky paper. Eventually, the word 'paper' and also the description of 'paper boat' kept coming to mind during talks about the new boat. As a result, 'paper' soon became part of the name, followed by 'tiger' because the tiger is an active member of the cat family. By the end of 1967 five Paper Tigers were built and one made its debut at Cat Week during January 1968 at Brown's Bay, New Zealand. By the end of 1968 the New Zealand Paper Tiger Catamaran Owner's Association had been formed.

Class Information:

• The 14 foot, one design hulls can be professionally or amateur built from fibreglass with foam sandwich or marine ply with both methods providing a long competitive boat life.

• A minimum hull weight of 50kg ensures that the Tiger can be easily handled by teenagers, adults and veteran sailors.

• The Paper Tiger points high into the wind, has an exhilarating acceleration, runs well downwind and above all is deslightfully responsive. These attributres thrill the pleasure sailor and racing skippers.

Specifications:
The basic specifications for the Paper Tiger Catamaran are set out below. For more detailed information, please refer to the Class Rules.

• Length Overall  4.26 m [14 ft]

• Beam (width)  2.13 m [7 ft]

• Sail Area  9.29 m2 [100 sq ft]

• Mast Length 6.78 m [22 ft 3 in]

• Weight (unrigged) 50 kg [110 lb]

• Weight Rigged 73 kg [160 lb]

Do you want one? Buy the plans and build one.

Links:
Paper Tiger Catamaran International Association | Paper Tiger New Zealand | Australian Paper Tiger Catamaran Association | NSW Paper Tiger | Victorian Paper Tiger | SA Paper Tiger |

Technorati Tags: paper tiger catamaran, cat sailing, catamaran sailing, sailing, sailing photo of the day

Old School. Alaia Board Promo Video.

Wegener Surfboards: Alaias from Nathan Oldfield on Vimeo.

Do you want one? If you do visit:
tomwegenersurfboards.com or wegenersurfboards.com

Technorati Tags: surfing, alaia board, tom wegener, jon wegener

Fish On Friday. Late On Friday. Charlot, "Voici La Vahiné (Wahiné)."

Regarde, un gros poisson......whale shark....et une vahiné.

Technorati Tags: fish on fridays, vahines, wahines, underwater

Friday Flyover. [Video]

Technorati Tags: flying fish, friday flyover

Yes Virginia, There Is A Sport Called Kite Sailing.

Maui Kite Sailing 3
Uploaded by Danman1978.

Read Ben Hilke's article, from SailNet, "The World of Kite Sailing."
Really, I thought that it was called Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding?
Kiteboarding is a generic term.

Kitesurfing is done in the surf on waves. 

Kite Sailing is sailing across a body of water....up wind, downwind and reaching.

Kayakers Kite Sail also!

Read Tom Holtey's article, "Go Sail a Kite," over at TopKayaker.net.

Para Miguelito:

sail

Noun

1. a sheet of canvas or other fabric, spread on rigging to catch the wind and move a ship over water

2. a voyage on such a ship: a relaxing sail across the lake

3. a ship or ships with sails: to travel by sail

4. one of the revolving arms of a windmill

5. set sail to begin a voyage by water

6. under sail

a. under way

b. with sail hoisted

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

sail

noun 1. sheet, canvas

Collins Essential Thesaurus 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2005, 2006

Noun

1.sail - a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

2. sail - an ocean trip taken for pleasure cruise

3. sail - any structure that resembles a sail

2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

sail

n sail [seil]

1 a sheet of strong cloth spread to catch the wind, by which a ship is driven forward.

2 a journey in a ship a sail in his yacht; a week's sail to the island.

3 an arm of a windmill.

Kernerman English Learner’s Dictionary © 1986-2008 K Dictionaries Ltd and partners.

sail 

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English segl; akin to Old High German segal sail

Date: before 12th century

1 a (1): an extent of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a ship through water (2): the sails of a ship bplural usually sail : a ship equipped with sails

2: an extent of fabric used in propelling a wind-driven vehicle (as an iceboat)

3: something that resembles a sail ; especially : a streamlined conning tower on a submarine

4: a passage by a sailing craft : cruise

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Technorati Tags: kite sailing, kitesurfing, kiteboarding, kayak kite sailing

The View From The Bridge Part II. [Heavy Seas Videos]

 

The USS Kitty "The Shitty Kitty" Hawk takes on big waves.

 

The Ocean Prima experiencing heavy weather and rough seas en route to Norway from the Orkney Islands. Wave height=10-20m and 70 knot winds. 

Via Mr. Boat.

The View From The Bridge.

Thank you Andre for the pictures.

Technorati Tags: life at sea, maritme, ships

On The Bay Today.

Hooray, the sun is back!



The kite sailors were out in full force.



And some other guys showed up.
Who are they and what are those strange sailing contraptions they ride?

Technorati Tags: windsurfing, kite sailing, kite boarding

Wave Of The Day.

Baja Califronia. (The lower part of Califrornia, the Mexican version.)
Warm water, cold beer, nice waves and beautiful wahines. What more can you ask from life? They even have fishing.
I've got to do a Baja trip!

Technorati Tags: wave of the day, surfing

Waltzing Matilda. Where Would You Go, If You Were Going To Australia?

I have a question for my Australian readers.
Where would you go, if you were going to Oz? (If you've been there, you can answer too.)

1. Sydney. (Kayaking and SUP the harbour.)
   
2. Melbourne. (My Australian tenant who is from Sydney said, "Why on Earth would you go to Melbourne? It's like Cleveland! Because the Sabre is from there and I can buy a sail!)
   
3. Tasmania.
4. The Great Barrier Reef. a. Heron Island. (Luxury....my wife's choice) b. The Whitsundays.(sailing baby, sailing...my choice) c. Port Douglas.
5. Ningaloo Marine Park. (Western Oz alternative to the Great Barrier.)
   
6. Perth. (Why not.)
   
7. Lord Howe Island. (World Heritage site, you can surf, snorkel and dive there)
   
8. Noosa Head. (All praise Tom Wegener!!!!! Fraser Island is just up the coast. Then a little further is Heron.)
   

Mind you, I have been to Oz 4 times...... It was many moons ago, My Dad dragged the clan down under to scope out the territory. He toyed with the idea of emigrating. Please, please don't mention Alice Springs or Ayers Rock. Been there, done that.  Once was enough.

My wife and I are going in September. We will be on the ground for 14.5 days. I'm thinking 3 stops. What do you think?

Technorati Tags: australia, travel question