Russian Superyacht in Fiji Leaves for US Amid Legal Wrangling
A Russian-owned superyacht docked in Fiji departed for the United States on Tuesday after a court in the Pacific island nation ordered its removal, saying it was a waste of money to maintain amid legal wrangling over its seizure.The U.S. Justice Department's Taskforce KleptoCapture has focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets of Russian oligarchs in a bid to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.The 106-meter (350-foot) Amadea arrived in Fiji on April 13 after an 18-day voyage from Mexico. It was seized by Fiji authorities after the country's High Court granted a U.S.
British Golden Globe Yachtswoman Rescued by Cargo Ship
British solo round-the-world yachtswoman Susie Goodall was rescued by a cargo ship on Friday after her boat capsized and lost its mast during a violent storm in the southern Pacific Ocean.The 29-year-old, the youngest entrant in the Golden Globe race, had waited two days for the Hong Kong-registered Tian Fu to arrive after sending a distress signal from 2,000 nautical miles west of Cape Horn.The signal was picked up by Falmouth Coastguard in southwest England, with the alert passed on to race control and the Chilean maritime search and rescue authorities."ON THE SHIP!!!," she said on her Twitter feed after the rescue.Race organisers had earlier reporte
Ferry Hits Yachts in Heavy Fog off Isle of Wight
A ferry collided with at least two yachts and then ran aground in heavy fog off the Isle of Wight in southern England on Sunday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.The Coastguard said a member of the public had called emergency services after hearing cries of help from Cowes Harbour, but after an extensive search by rescue teams it said no one was in the water or missing.Red Funnel, the operator of the Red Falcon Ferry, which had 56 people on board, said it had been refloated. "All passengers and vehicles have been safely discharged," it said on Twitter.(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by John Stonestreet)
Indian Sailor Rescued from Yacht Stranded off Australia
An Indian sailor injured in a solo round-the-world race has been rescued, the Indian Navy said on Monday, after Australian authorities said a French ship was nearing his storm-damaged yacht off Australia's west coast.The sailor, Abhilash Tomy, called for emergency assistance on Saturday after the yacht was badly damaged in a storm about 3,500 km (2,175 miles) west of Australia, leaving him with severe back injuries."Tomy rescued safely," the Indian Navy said on Twitter, without giving further details.Earlier…
iKommunicate Brings the 'Internet of Things' to Boats
iKommunicate from Digital Yacht is a radical new gateway designed to get traditional marine electronics connected to the next generation of interfacing and the internet of things. It was developed via a successful Kickstarter crowd funded project back in early 2016 and is now available as a consumer product. NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 interfacing have been utilised for many years and are now the defacto interconnect standard for all major brands of electronics. They are super reliable but relatively old fashioned in that they are slow and also complex for application developers to work with - like a dial up modem in a broadband age.
ARC Fleet Improves Communication Facilities
Press release - The ARC and ARC+ fleets, totalling almost 300 yachts, are preparing to set sail this month with the compact, innovative YB3 boat tracking and satellite communication system on board. Having provided YB3 to the ARC for boat tracking duties since 2009, YB Tracking is extending its support for the 2015 edition by enabling low-cost email and SMS messaging functionality on YB3 for the entire fleet. In addition it is providing free Facebook posts and sending of Tweets.
Inmarsat Chosen for Chicago Yacht Race
Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications services, will serve as the official broadband provider for the 107th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Fans of the race will be able to follow the teams in real-time as a small group of on-board commentators will upload high-resolution pictures and video to Facebook and Twitter via Inmarsat’s mobile satellite communications network throughout the race. Building on the success of the Volvo Ocean Race, made possible by Inmarsat’s reliable satellite connectivity…
Online at Sea: Cruise Company Debuts Social Media Flat Fee
The advent of broadband at sea continues to expand, as German cruis brand AIDA introduces a flat-fee for social media networks onboard its ships. AIDA Cruises is introducing an Internet flat fee for social media networks on board its ships. For 4 euros per day, or 19 euros per week, passengers will be able to share their experiences on board with friends in popular social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or WhatsApp. “The use of mobile devices is continuously growing.
Newport International Boat Show Highlights
Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today activities and amenities for those planning to attend its 44th boat show season, the Newport International Boat Show provides visitors from around the world a venue to see the latest boats and product offerings from hundreds of manufacturers and dealers, including dozens debuting for the first time in the United States. Set along historic Newport Harbor in the heart of downtown Newport, the show also offers a wealth of education and fun activities for boating enthusiasts of all ages and experience.
NOAA Mobile App Provides Free Nautical Charts
As recreational boaters gear up for a summer of fun on coastal waters and the Great Lakes, NOAA is testing MyNOAACharts, a new mobile application that allows users to download NOAA nautical charts and editions of the U.S. Coast Pilot. The app, which is only designed for Android tablets for the testing period, will be released today. MyNOAACharts, which can be used on land and on the water, has GPS built-in capabilities that allow users find their positions on a NOAA nautical chart. They can zoom in any specific location with a touch of the finger, or zoom out for the big picture to plan their day of sailing.
Walmart to Stock Super Rope Clinch
Just Right Products' Super Rope Cinch knot-tying device to be distributed by Walmart: owners attribute product success to social media, press releases. The device can be used to secure a boat to the dock, fenders to a boat, towing arrangements for water-skiers and wake-boarders, and almost anywhere else a knot needs to be tied. Using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, along with a website, blog and several online press releases, the Super Rope Cinch gained traction and popularity, which eventually led to major hardware and boating distribution channels, and now, Walmart.
