Got Milk? (Monday Morning Mishap)

So there you are, cruising along and you hit a reef. Things then start to tumble into the sea. (like big containers)

Half and half?

The next thing you know, you've got bags of powdered milk on the beach.

A cargo ship grounded off the New Zealand coast since October has split into two pieces after being lashed by pounding seas, spilling sea containers and debris and sparking fears a fresh oil spill could wash ashore, maritime officials said on Sunday.

The wreck of the Greek-owned Rena was described as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster even before the rear section of the ship, lashed by pounding seas, broke away overnight. The ship previously spilled heavy fuel oil that fouled pristine North Island beaches and killed up to 20,000 seabirds, and despite salvage efforts nearly 400 tons of oil remain onboard.

Sources: Telegraph | Globe and Mail | The Australian | SF Gate

Starfish Saturday.

"If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some starfish in your hair."

Super Samedi.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb3vNTolWkE]

A 200 milles de l'arrivée à Ouessant, c'est par une navigation en mer d'Irlande, avec un vent soutenu d'une trentaine de nœuds soufflant d'Ouest Sud Ouest que Loïck Peyron et les hommes du Maxi Banque Populaire V apportent actuellement la touche finale à leur Trophée Jules Verne. Dans quelques heures, au cœur de la nuit prochaine, les quatorze marins devraient devenir les nouveaux détenteurs du temps de référence autour du monde en équipage*, à la condition d'éviter les derniers écueils qui se dresseront sur leur route. 45 jours et une dizaine d'heures après avoir quitté Brest, l'équipage de la Banque de la Voile s'apprête à y revenir et du même coup, à entrer dans la grande histoire du livre des records.

Merci a Mark Denzer pour la lien.

Have A Great Weekend!

Try and make it out onto or into the water this weekend.

Can You Say Wow?

PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read.
Via Esteban Alejandro Garcia Rguez

photo: Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing

Surf Shot Of The Day.

Over and under.

Fish On Fridays.

Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The names "starfish" and "sea star" essentially refer to members of the class Asteroidea. However, common usage frequently finds "starfish" and "sea star" also applied to ophiuroids which are correctly referred to as "brittle stars" or "basket stars".

There are about 1,800 living species of starfish that occur in all the world's oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian as well as in the Arctic and the Southern Ocean (i.e., Antarctic) regions. Starfish occur across a broad depth range from the intertidal to abyssal depths (>6000 m).

Starfish are among the most familiar of marine animals and possess a number of widely known traits, such as regeneration and feeding on mussels. Starfish possess a wide diversity of body forms and feeding methods. The extent that Asteroidea can regenerate varies with individual species. Broadly speaking, starfish are opportunistic feeders, with several species having specialized feeding behavior, including suspension feeding and specialized predation on specific prey.

The Asteroidea occupy several important roles throughout ecology and biology. Sea stars, such as the Ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) have become widely known as the example of the keystone species concept in ecology. The tropical Crown of Thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) are voracious predators of coral throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Other starfish, such as members of the Asterinidae, are frequently used in developmental biology.

Read more at Wikipedia.

Fish On Fridays. (Mr. Big Teeth)

Who is the new guy in the lineup?
You can call me Mr. Teeth! Anyone care for a bite to eat?

New Year's Goal.

More time on and in the water with minimal equipment. I remember when I was happy with just a pair of fins.

What Is It, Joe?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C14ZwnsPw8M]

It seems that our man in Hawaii, Mark Denzer, wasn't happy being the circumnavigator of Oahu. He's gotten into the inventing business and come up with a contraption that should bring joy to old Laser sailors worldwide. The only question I have for him is, "where's the cup holder?"

Happy New Year + 5 Days!

Thank you for the upgrade, AT&T!
You know that new router that you sent me, it has celebratory flashing red indicator lights. Let me tell you how thrilled I was waiting on the phone for 2 hours for someone to tell me, "Yeah, you're router is defective."  I also want to thank you for sending out a technician who also said, "Yeah, you're router is defective." Then he added to my joy by telling me, "Your phone line needs to be rewired in order to have the upgrade. Did I mention that this service call is $100 an hour?" Ka-ching! Can you say Xfinity?

I really wish the Luddites in San Francisco hadn't blocked Google from giving us free Wi-Fi.

Thanks to an unsecured network from a nieghbor's house and a spot in my kitchen, I have snuck back onto the web.

Weekday Wahine. "Kelia Moniz At The Roxy Wahine Classic 2011."

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSJPZ_DQooo]

Will you ever get bored of barrel distorted GoPro videos? I won't as long as they feature wahines. But guys, basta on the endless photos and videos pointed at you from the nose (bow, mast) of your surfboard, windsurfer or boat. Turn the camera around and show me your point of view. That makes for far more interesting shots, unless you're Kelia Moniz.

Jellies.

I'm getting a little artsy fartsy here.
A transformed old photo that I took of the jellies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Wednesday Wipeout. "Goodnight, Turn Off The Lights."

Elvis has left the building!

Monday Maritime Mishap.

Rescuers from Dumaguete in the Philippines hold on to a rope as they form a human chain to rescue 32 passengers and crew of the M/V Ever Transport III, which sank after running aground off barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City. (photo by Melissa Alexandra B. Pal)

Mermaid Monday.

Ah, memories of summer.

Maps On Monday.

I wonder what this is a map of?

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Have a great holiday!

Launch The Sleigh!

Somewhere in the Eastern Pacific.

Have A Great Weekend!

Hopefully you'll be able to make it to the ocean this weekend with your cool new water toys. If you don't stop by tommorow, have yourself a wonderful wet Christmas!