Forespar's Point of View
Blogging About Life on the Water
Happy 4th of July!
“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” -William Faulkner
Happy 4th of July to everyone!
Spotted: Leonardo DiCaprio celebrating the World Cup on a £400m yacht
The man recently famed for portraying Wall Street “wolf” Jordan Belfort has been seen enjoying the FIFA World Cup on a £400m luxury yacht, complete with a “deck top Jacuzzi, a swimming pool, fitness hall, cinema and large conference room”, according to Channel 24 News. If you’re in Brazil, keep an eye out for Leo and the 5th largest yacht in the world!
What Floats Hollywood’s Boat?
Over the recent years, Hollywood has launched popular films featuring nautical thematic elements which have anchored a strong fan following. Movies such as Jaws, Cape Fear (both of them) The African Queen, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Titanic have all brought the ship to the big screen while fascinating viewers worldwide. Here are some little known facts you may not have known about these blockbusters:
In the final scene of Titanic, the characters were made to look frozen by covering themselves in a chemical powder that crystallizes when touching water.
The cast and crew of Jaws nicknamed it “Flaws” due to the many technical problems during the shoot. For example, the mechanical sharks kept breaking — and sinking.
In The African Queen, Humphrey Bogart insisted on using rubber leeches rather than real ones because the blood-sucking creatures made him nauseous, but director John Huston thought Bogart’s queasiness was perfect for the shot so he kept them nearby.
Want a Ride on the Prestige Lexington Yacht? Get in Line!
For products you can use on YOUR yacht, check out www.forespar.com!
New Products!
http://www.windcheckmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&Itemid=431
Removing Corrosion
Removing Corrosion
White vinegar will effectively dissolve salt in the workings of marine hardware fittings. The part needs to be fully immersed in the vinegar for at least 24 hours (or longer depending on how much salt built-up there is) then flushed with fresh water and re-lubed as prescribed by the manufacturer. The mild acid of the vinegar can breathe new life into rope clutches, zippers, cam cleats, end fitting pistons and and a host of other common deck equipment. For tiller extensions and long twist-lock poles you can dam off a section of a rain gutter and fill it with vinegar (unless you have a very big bucket and a lot of vinegar!) so the pole is fully immersed.
This is where the old saying “If it doesn’t work, piss on it” came from. The uric acid from urine would free up frozen blocks, hinges and other deck equipment on the old sailing and merchant ships.
It is also good to pour vinegar into your head system about every month or so to help keep calcium deposits from building up inside of hoses and fittings. Fill the head bowl and then pump only long enough to draw the vinegar into the hose lines then stop and let it sit a while.
Palm Beach Motor Yacht honored at Newport show
The PB50 from Palm Beach Motor Yachts in Australia captured honors as the Best New Powerboat at the Newport (R.I.) International Boat Show. The selections were made as part of the Show’s Newport For New Products program and recognize the best boats and the best product being introduced at the Show for the coming model year.
The PB 50 – chosen Best New Powerboat –was judged to have an “elegance of proportion and design” that is “sensational”. A big boat that delivers performance and fuel economy with its lightweight composite material construction, the judges were just as impressed with its excellent fit and finish.
For more information on winners visit Trade Only Today
Palm Beach Motor Yachts use Forespar Plumbing Products.
Visit the Palm Beach Motor Yachts Website
2010 Whidbey Island Race Week
The sun peeked out and brought wind to the 2010 Whidbey Island Race Week just as the Mark Whitman Band blew into town to entertain the 500+ sailors. After a day of drifters and a shortened race program on Monday, Tuesday provided much close racing and enough breeze to put the event back on schedule….a happy day! Mount Gay Rum and others sponsored the evening’s party featuring the Mark Whitman Band and free drinks…..now that’s a combination for tired sailors to sit back and enjoy!!
As Forespar NW representative–and a member of the band– it was just a huge pleasure to be able to entertain everyone and the band was very well-received. Mark Whitman is the gentleman sitting at the keyboards, and a true NW legend in blues and rock & roll. This year’s Washington Blues Society’s Best Male Blues Vocalist, Mark is also a winner of a lifetime achievement award and Best NW Blues Guitarist before a devastating stroke changed his life two years ago. That band has stuck with him through extensive therapy and helped him to begin mastery of another instrument at age 60, the keyboard. Playing with one hand, he’s just amazing and that fine blues voice has never changed. The band is experiencing a strong surge of popularity that was not even a glimmer on the horizon two years a go…..that goes to show you how tough some folks can be and Mark is our hero. If sailboat racing had been his life’s pursuit he’d have been one tenacious competitor!
The band was approached for more marine industry-related jobs, and hit a nice note with the attending sailors. Halfway through the night, on behalf of Forespar and the band, I talked about the new TruPlugs and gave several out to the sailors as gifts. The next two hours proved how inventive sailboat racers can be as we watched the TruPlugs used in many “non-standard” applications!!! The night ended with our best wishes to crowd for fair winds, tight racing, and room at the mark! An EXCELLENT time!!
Jeff Mason
Forespar NW Representative
Voyage of Traveler
Traveler has now completed a three-year circumnavigation.
Traveler Postcard From San Diego
June 30, 2010
We’re back in the United States of America! After a very rough Baja Bash clawing our way into the wind and waves, against the current and up the coast from Cabo San Lucas, Traveler is safely in the Guest Slip at the Southwestern Yacht Club, where we are very much enjoying our stay. The club was recently totally rebuilt and is gorgeous.
Last night Barbara and I took the dinghy across the San Diego Bay to Joe’s Crab Shack for dinner then walked over to Petco Field to see the Colorado Rockies play the San Diego Padres.
After a whole world full of amazing experiences in 61 foreign countries on six continents over the past 36 months, it felt strange NOT to be in a third-world county. San Diego is one of the world’s greatest cities.
I’m having mixed emotions about the voyage coming to an end. To be sure, I am more than a bit travel weary and ready to return to reality. On the other hand, I will greatly miss all of the exciting ports of call and days at sea.
Tonight, at about 11 pm, we will cast off the dock lines for the last time and depart San Diego and motor through the night to Catalina, arriving there Thursday morning, and staying at anchor at the Balboa Yacht Club’s station at White’s Cove for two nights, Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, July 3, we weigh anchor for the last time and cross the Catalina Channel, an easy 26 miles and the final leg of our 30,000+ mile, three-year, around the world voyage. We expect to arrive at the entrance to Newport Harbor at about 1:40 pm, where we will be joined by some friends in their boats as we cross our outbound track and complete the circumnavigation by docking at the Balboa Yacht Club for our Traveler Homecoming and Crew Reunion Party, beginning at 2pm.
Hope you can join us in the celebration.
Cheers,
Michael, Barbara and Brian
To read more of their adventure head to:
Voyage of Traveler
Catalina Yachts Rendezvous 2010
I found TruPlug at the Catalina Yachts Rendezvous at Two Harbors on Catalina Island last weekend!
I went over on the Catalina Express from San Pedro to Two Harbors on a cloudy morning. 0800 departure. Arrival at Two Harbors at 0915 was uneventful and the activites on shore for the Rendezvous were in full swing. Gerry Douglas was meeting with the various fleets and Sharon Day was working with registration and event planners to make the entire event a success.
Mr. and Mrs. Butler were there to oversee the entire event and everyone was having a great time. I presented a talk to consider Safety as a Mindset rather than a list of equipment. Author, Richard Drechsler was the Friday Night keynote speaker on his voyages to Alasaka and Mexico aboard his Catalina equipped with a Forespar Leisure Furl. His book, “Manning Up in Alaska” is a good read!