Friday, August 05, 2005
Have A Wetass Weekend...
I've always thought that Carlo Borlenghi is one of the best sailing shooters out there. But, shooting in black and white, he outdid himself at the recent Opti Worlds. You can see the full stunning set here, thanks to Scuttlebutt...
Pain And Suffering...
Some days it just doesn't go as well as other days. Whether you are sailing (click here for a little slide show, courtesy of Sailing Anarchy), or just trying to climb a rock wall (click here, and prepare to cringe). Glub. Glub. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch...
"Hey, at least the water makes for a soft landing..."
(Photo via Sailing Anarchy)
"Hey, at least the water makes for a soft landing..."
(Photo via Sailing Anarchy)
Sometimes You Are The Hunter...
...and sometimes you are the hunted. The LA Times has a chilling story about an Alaskan grizzly bear that stalks a couple on a rafting expedition, and their guide, Robert. The chase starts at a destroyed camp where it seems that bear has already been doing a little eating. And then the bear gets interested in them:
Jennifer walked the raft into the river and held it there just in case. The bear crested a small dune 40 yards away and started to charge toward them.
For a moment, Robert paused. Alone, he would have dealt with the bear then and there, but Jennifer and Kalin clearly wanted to avoid a confrontation.
Let's get the hell out of here! he yelled.
They jumped into the raft, and their momentum helped launch the cumbersome inflatable into the balky current. They pulled hard at the water. The river was 40 yards across and braided with bars of sand and gravel. At one point the raft started to scrape bottom, forcing them to jump out, calf-deep, and push, paddles in hand, bear spray in mouth, push and push, until they were floating free again. Back aboard, Jennifer glanced over her shoulder.
The grizzly was running along the riverbank, closing fast. Then he was running beside them.
The bear's coming down the bank, Robert yelled.
Let Kalin and me take care of the boat, Jennifer said, and you get ready to shoot.
OK. Just don't get between me and the bear. They knew they first had the revolver, then the bear spray. That was their defense, the game plan. But beyond that, nothing.
What happens? Do you think I would tell you that here? Read the story. It's a good one...
"Hmm. I wonder how many people I can eat in one day..."
(Photo: Joel Sartore / National Geographic / Getty Images)
Jennifer walked the raft into the river and held it there just in case. The bear crested a small dune 40 yards away and started to charge toward them.
For a moment, Robert paused. Alone, he would have dealt with the bear then and there, but Jennifer and Kalin clearly wanted to avoid a confrontation.
Let's get the hell out of here! he yelled.
They jumped into the raft, and their momentum helped launch the cumbersome inflatable into the balky current. They pulled hard at the water. The river was 40 yards across and braided with bars of sand and gravel. At one point the raft started to scrape bottom, forcing them to jump out, calf-deep, and push, paddles in hand, bear spray in mouth, push and push, until they were floating free again. Back aboard, Jennifer glanced over her shoulder.
The grizzly was running along the riverbank, closing fast. Then he was running beside them.
The bear's coming down the bank, Robert yelled.
Let Kalin and me take care of the boat, Jennifer said, and you get ready to shoot.
OK. Just don't get between me and the bear. They knew they first had the revolver, then the bear spray. That was their defense, the game plan. But beyond that, nothing.
What happens? Do you think I would tell you that here? Read the story. It's a good one...
"Hmm. I wonder how many people I can eat in one day..."
(Photo: Joel Sartore / National Geographic / Getty Images)
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Chicago Mackinac Race Media Extravaganza...
I guess I'm on a media roll today (see below). Anyhow, the Chi-Mac is a great race, and thanks to Chicago's CBS TV, and the wizardry of the internet, you can watch a series of cool reports (and sailors are always bitching that sailing gets no coverage...):
So, without further ado, click here to watch Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.
Well, you can't do any better than that? Oh, wait, yes you can. Here's a video report from CBS's on-the-water team, as they rescue some sailors in a turtled tri (classic media question: "Were you scared?" Classic Wetass answer: "Sh*t, yes!").
Had enough? No (man, you need to get a life)? Well go here for a race preview, and here for yet another! Phew, I'm all Chi-Mac'd out. I almost feel like sitting back and smoking a cigarette...
Mac Attack: "That's it. Keep the bow down, Larry, and you'll be first to hit the big shift off the Sears Tower..."
So, without further ado, click here to watch Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.
Well, you can't do any better than that? Oh, wait, yes you can. Here's a video report from CBS's on-the-water team, as they rescue some sailors in a turtled tri (classic media question: "Were you scared?" Classic Wetass answer: "Sh*t, yes!").
Had enough? No (man, you need to get a life)? Well go here for a race preview, and here for yet another! Phew, I'm all Chi-Mac'd out. I almost feel like sitting back and smoking a cigarette...
Mac Attack: "That's it. Keep the bow down, Larry, and you'll be first to hit the big shift off the Sears Tower..."
Dave Shaw Media Extravaganza...
Okay, okay. By now you have probably overdosed on Dave Shaw posts (the Outside article is here). So this will be the last one, providing handy-dandy links to various media.
Okay, here we go:
Want to see a good chunk of Shaw's head-cam video, and hear Shaw's diving buddy, Don Shirley, talk you through it? Click here to watch South Africa's ETV segment...
Want to see a South Africa TV report setting up the recovery dive and describing Bushman's Hole? Click here...
Want to listen to me ramble away on NPR's "Talk Of The Nation"? Go here (side note: we did in fact have a great pre-interview discussion about whether I could say "Wetass" on the radio. To NPR's credit, the answer was "yes, once" and to make sure I said "Wetass Chronicles," because one of the producers had gone to wetass.com and had her computer assaulted by pornographic popups. In the end, the name of this blog never came up, saving NPR yet another assault from the right-leaning suits that are keeping a close eye on their programming)...
Want to see more of what Shaw's family had to say? Go here to read the transcript of a program that aired in Australia. I hadn't seen this before and it really has some good insight into the story...
Want to peruse Dave Shaw's website, which has lots of pictures and dive reports? Go here...
Can't find a way to watch the July 15 Nightline program online, so that's it. We will no longer be all-Dave Shaw-all-the-time. R.I.P. Dave...
Okay, here we go:
Want to see a good chunk of Shaw's head-cam video, and hear Shaw's diving buddy, Don Shirley, talk you through it? Click here to watch South Africa's ETV segment...
Want to see a South Africa TV report setting up the recovery dive and describing Bushman's Hole? Click here...
Want to listen to me ramble away on NPR's "Talk Of The Nation"? Go here (side note: we did in fact have a great pre-interview discussion about whether I could say "Wetass" on the radio. To NPR's credit, the answer was "yes, once" and to make sure I said "Wetass Chronicles," because one of the producers had gone to wetass.com and had her computer assaulted by pornographic popups. In the end, the name of this blog never came up, saving NPR yet another assault from the right-leaning suits that are keeping a close eye on their programming)...
Want to see more of what Shaw's family had to say? Go here to read the transcript of a program that aired in Australia. I hadn't seen this before and it really has some good insight into the story...
Want to peruse Dave Shaw's website, which has lots of pictures and dive reports? Go here...
Can't find a way to watch the July 15 Nightline program online, so that's it. We will no longer be all-Dave Shaw-all-the-time. R.I.P. Dave...
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Waterskiing With A Twist...
The water's a little chillier, but you can't deny the added suspense. Watch here. So, so close...
"Heh-heh. Once again snowboards are the way to go..."
"Heh-heh. Once again snowboards are the way to go..."
Kickass Kayaking...
For kayaker Rush Sturges, simply running his kayak over a waterfall just isn't enough. No, no, no. Sturges decided to throw in a little front flip on the way down, and stuck it, becoming the first kayaker ever to land this stunt. And you can watch the whole thing over on Men's Journal. Sturges's next move is obvious. A backflip...
"C'mon guys. If Rush can do it, we can too...Can't we?"
"C'mon guys. If Rush can do it, we can too...Can't we?"
News To Nap To...
Barring any breaking news, I will be speaking about Dave Shaw on NPR's "Talk Of The Nation" today. You can listen live here. My bit will be in the second half of the show, between 2:30 and 3:00 pm EST. Do you think I can say "Wetass" on the radio?
"Of course you can say "wetass," you wimp..."
"Of course you can say "wetass," you wimp..."
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
One Way The Navy Is Spending Your Money...
One reason it's hard to cut military budgets is that the services often come up with some pretty cool gear. Here's the latest boat show candidate from the U.S. Navy, the "Sea Fighter" (Uh, guys? Don't you think you could come up with a name that is slightly more creative?) It's a 262-foot aluminum catamaran patrol boat that allegedly will do 50-knots. Not sure what else it will do, because it looks like a car ferry. But I'm sure there is something interesting inside. Picture slide show here. Video here (Of course there is an annoying ad. This is America, after all)...
Old AC Boats Never Die, They Just....
Ever wonder where an ex-America's Cupper is? Well, Scuttlebutt Europe (which has an excellent nose for cool websites) has unearthed an excellent feature on the America's Cup website. Called--okay, no points for originality here--Where Are They Now?, you can follow the fate and destiny of a variety of iconic AC boats, starting with America herself. Each profile includes a detailed fact sheet. Here's the skinny on America, for example:
Since her launching, May 3rd 1851 until July 27th 1901 - 51 races, 12 wins.
1851, September 1st: sold to Lord John de Blaquière, England.
1856: sold to Viscount Templeton, RYS. Renamed Camilla.
1858: sold to Henry Sotheby Pitcher, England.
1860: sold as Camilla to Henry E. Decie, Royal Western YC.
1860 (Autumn): cruise of West Indies.
1861: arrived Savannah, Georgia, USA. Then returned to Europe.
1861 (December): sold at Jacksonville, Florida, to Confederate States Navy by Decie.
1862: found by Federal Navy, then involved in the civil war.
1870: refitted to sail the first America's Cup challenge.
1870-1873: shoolship at United States Naval Academy
1873: sold to General Benjamin F. Butler
1893: Paul Butler (son of General), owner
1897: Butler Ames, owner.
1917: sold to company headed by Charles H. W. Foster, NYYC.
1921: owned through America Restoration Fund - thanks to E. Jared Bliss - by Naval Academy. America berthed at Annapolis.
1942, March 29: during record Palm Sunday snowstorm, shed over America's hull collapsed.
1945: remnants of America and collapsed shed removed by clamshell crane and burned...
The list includes boats like Columbia, Ranger, and the first winning Kiwi Black Magic. It's not comprehensive (maybe they'll add more). But what's there is very cool...
Regal Ranger: "I was broken up in 1941. Can you believe it...?"
Since her launching, May 3rd 1851 until July 27th 1901 - 51 races, 12 wins.
1851, September 1st: sold to Lord John de Blaquière, England.
1856: sold to Viscount Templeton, RYS. Renamed Camilla.
1858: sold to Henry Sotheby Pitcher, England.
1860: sold as Camilla to Henry E. Decie, Royal Western YC.
1860 (Autumn): cruise of West Indies.
1861: arrived Savannah, Georgia, USA. Then returned to Europe.
1861 (December): sold at Jacksonville, Florida, to Confederate States Navy by Decie.
1862: found by Federal Navy, then involved in the civil war.
1870: refitted to sail the first America's Cup challenge.
1870-1873: shoolship at United States Naval Academy
1873: sold to General Benjamin F. Butler
1893: Paul Butler (son of General), owner
1897: Butler Ames, owner.
1917: sold to company headed by Charles H. W. Foster, NYYC.
1921: owned through America Restoration Fund - thanks to E. Jared Bliss - by Naval Academy. America berthed at Annapolis.
1942, March 29: during record Palm Sunday snowstorm, shed over America's hull collapsed.
1945: remnants of America and collapsed shed removed by clamshell crane and burned...
The list includes boats like Columbia, Ranger, and the first winning Kiwi Black Magic. It's not comprehensive (maybe they'll add more). But what's there is very cool...
Regal Ranger: "I was broken up in 1941. Can you believe it...?"
Va-Va-Va-Volvo Extreme 40...
I'm not sure why Volvo is developing this boat, and whether it will pay off for them in the end. I mean, isn't one of the world's most exciting ocean races enough? But I'm no marketing whiz, and the boat itself is pretty cool--they claim 40 feet of cat that will do 40 knots. The first one was launched yesterday, and hit 22 knots. Click here to visit the Volvo Extreme 40 site (where's the video, Volvo suits?), and make up your own mind about this pocket rocket...
Monday, August 01, 2005
It Doesn't Get Any Bigger Than Skandia Cowes Week...
Mother of God, this regatta is huge. As in there are more than 1000 boats duking it out on the narrow confines of the Solent. Here's what some of them looked like, courtesy of the Zelig-like James Boyd of the always excellent Daily Sail (subscribe, all you remaining freeloading cheapskates!). The regatta runs all week, and then the biggest, fastest boats there will go head-to-head in the famed Fastnet Race. It's real, and it's spectacular...
Annals Of Adventure: Cento Miglia...
That's Italian for One Hundred Miles, and it is the name of a sprint race around the famed Lake Garda (the 2004 winner averaged 20 knots). But it really translates as "shredded sails and upside down boats." At least that's how I would translate it after looking at the video Alden Bugly (sailing's Garrison Keilor) found of the race. You can watch it here. And you can subscribe to Bugly's execellent weekly newsletter here. "Cento Miglia." Maybe it should also be called "Mille Dollare"...
Crazy Cento Miglia: "Mamma Mia! It's blowing hard enough to flatten Sophia Loren's chest..."
Crazy Cento Miglia: "Mamma Mia! It's blowing hard enough to flatten Sophia Loren's chest..."
Wetass Employment: Whale Rescue Diver...
South Africa is looking for a few good divers, who are happy to cut whales free from entangling ropes and gear. Faint of heart need not apply. Here's how one diver, who freed a humpback whale, describing what's involved:
"I got hold of the ropes and pulled myself along to about four metres behind the tail and started to cut the ropes. I think he knew I was there because after I cut the first rope, he suddenly increased speed.
My biggest worry was becoming entangled myself and going down with the whale. It was going quite fast, so I had to cling to the ropes as I cut them.
"There is some rope left high up on its tail, but to get that off you would have to get on to the whale and I would not risk that."
Nice work. Outdoors. In the water. And you'll feel good when you get home (if you get home)...
"Finally! I sure hope these guys know what they are doing..."
"I got hold of the ropes and pulled myself along to about four metres behind the tail and started to cut the ropes. I think he knew I was there because after I cut the first rope, he suddenly increased speed.
My biggest worry was becoming entangled myself and going down with the whale. It was going quite fast, so I had to cling to the ropes as I cut them.
"There is some rope left high up on its tail, but to get that off you would have to get on to the whale and I would not risk that."
Nice work. Outdoors. In the water. And you'll feel good when you get home (if you get home)...
"Finally! I sure hope these guys know what they are doing..."
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