Saturday, June 18, 2016

Solitaire du Figaro form guide

The most recent champions of La Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro, three-time winners Jérémie Beyou and Yann Elies, are absent this year both competing in the Vendée Globe in Novembe

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Friday, June 17, 2016

Cowes-bound

In just 48 hours time, Alan Roberts on Alan Roberts Racing and Nick Cherry racing Redshift will lead the British charge to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, on Leg 1 of the 2016 Solitai

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5 Easy Ways to Win Your Next Regatta by Your Marine Ice Makers Specialists


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Your Marine Ice Makers Experts Make Winning That Much Easier



Raritan Engineering Company your marine ice makers professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding 5 easy ways to win your next regatta.















Your marine ice makers analysts know that in big fleets like Key West Race Week, it can seem impossible to get to the top. These six steps will help you climb the ladder.






1. You Don't Have to Win the Start



Let's face it, your ice maker for boat analysts know that the start is the hardest part of any sailboat race. It is easy to mess up, and if you do it is an almost sure fired way to have a bad race. If you go big and decide that you have to win the pin or the boat, recognize that in a crowded scenario usually only one boat is going to come out with a great start.



The rest of the pack will be slow and struggle for the first couple of minutes. Better to start a little away from the fray, say 1/4 or 1/3 of the way from an end with space and room to leeward especially early in the regatta. A good start is one that allows you to go straight for 3-4 minutes without being forced to tack.



2. Don't Make the Big Mistake



Key West is, for most of the classes, a no âthrowoutâ series. You can't make the big mistake and win. Your small boat refrigerator specialists know that the big mistake is usually a foul, so no matter how easy you think the cross on port is, or how much room you are sure you have to tack in front on the layline, don't do it if it is close.




Your Marine Ice Makers Discuss How to Separate Yourself From the Rest of the Pack



You can find more information as well as get assistance on marine toilet and on 5 easy ways to win your next regatta at Raritan Engineering.



3. If You Are Not Sure About Which Way to Go Stay With the Fleet



Your marine toilet experts know that hopefully you get out to the race course an hour early, sail extensively upwind and down to get compass numbers and develop a feel for what the wind is doing. You should have a plan of attack for the first beat. However, you don't have to go all in, particularly early in the regatta.



4. There Will Be One Raceâ¦



That makes or breaks your regatta. It will not be the one where you get the perfect start, hit the first shift, and win by a mile. No, it will be the one where you make the big mistake. Your ice makers for sailboats experts understand that the trick is to remember, when you are rounding the first mark in last place, that if you struggle back to a mid fleet or better finish, that will be the difference for the series. 



5. If You Want to Win a Big Regatta⦠Go to lots of them!



A final thought for you as you go in search of your first big podium finish. The famous sailors you see consistently mentioned in the media go to a lot of regattas. Your odds go way up. 



So don't forget these helpful tips on how to win your next regatta. 1) You don't have to win the start;  2) don't make the big mistake;  and 3) If you want to win a big regatta, you have to go to as many as possible.



Raritan Engineering has more information on marine ice makers, marine toilet, macerating toilet, and on 5 easy ways to win your next regatta.








via 6 Steps to Winning Regattas


Thursday, June 16, 2016

Offshore foiling catamaran

DNA has introduced its new F4 – an exciting full carbon 46ft foiling catamaran, designed and built to push the boundaries of distance one design racing offshore.

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Boat Parts Online Analysts Know the Best Ways to Prep and Store Your Boat During Hurricane Season



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Your Boat Parts Online Experts Help You Avoid the Dangers of Hurricanes



Stainless Marine your boat parts online specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the best ways to prep and store your boat during hurricane season.



I've been in the path of more hurricanes than I recall the names of. A few come to mind: Bob, Georges, Floyd, Isabella, Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Wilma and Irene. These tips came from those experiences.




Stay Afloat



Not long ago, floating docks weren't safe to use in hurricanes. Now, storm-engineered floating dock systems survive Category 4 hurricanes, but that doesn't necessarily make them safe. 



Hurricane Storage



Hurricane-rated dry storage facilities and many boat yards offer annual contracts to store boats during every named storm that threatens, often garnering insurance breaks for the boat owner.



On a Trailer



Capt. Will Beck, owner of Sea Tow Palm Beach, says, âI can readily find an empty warehouse big enough for my eight trailerable boats.â



Capt. Chris Shaffner, who owns TowBoatU.S. Palm Beach, keeps his trailered boats outside. âGet the boat as close as you can to a strong building – anything to break the wind,â he says. Avoid trees, power poles and also construction sites that create flying debris. 



Avoid Open Anchorages



âHurricane holesâ that we used to snug boats into now have waterfront homes with boats, and anchoring in open water doesn't work. âNo matter how good your ground tackle is, someone else's will fail,â Beck says.



Run



âFor the time you spend blocking a trailer, tying it down, removing the canvas and then putting everything back later, just get in the truck and move the boat away from the forecast track cone,â Shaffner says. 



Where to keep your boat



A secure marina may not be the most hospitable location during a hurricane. There are several important considerations. Does the dockmaster have an established hurricane plan in place? If not, will you be required to evacuate? 



Your boat parts online professionals know that if you plan to keep your boat in a marina, you'll need to consider your boat and slip design as well as the harbormaster's configuration. 



Go to http://www.stainlessmarine.com/product-category/crossover-stat-housing-kits/ and see how you can find more information as well as get assistance on boat parts online and on how to prep and store your boat during hurricane season at Stainless Marine.



Assess the condition of the marina docks. Are cleats firmly attached? Are the pilings solid? Can the physical condition of the docks, piers, pilings and cleats withstand the tremendous forces involved in hurricane conditions? 



The key to your docking plan should be long lines – the longer the better – to accommodate the predicted storm surge. A good rule of thumb: Storm lines should be at least as long as the boat itself. 



Your efforts should prevent your boat from moving laterally and at the same time allow it to rise and fall during storm surge. Storm surge may raise your boat completely above adjacent pilings. 



Canals, rivers and waterways are usually better alternatives to marinas, although many of the same problems exist. And each requires a different approach. In canals, try to secure your boat in the center, tying the boat to both sides using the spiderweb technique. 



In a blow, the boat is forced to lift the chain. As the wind subsides, the chain settles back down, re-centering the boat. This arrangement also allows for significant amounts of storm surge while keeping the boat centered, because all chain assemblies must be lifted simultaneously.



Hurricane holes also offer an alternative to crowded marinas. In an ideal hurricane hole sturdy, tall trees and root lattices tend to protect the boat from high winds, in addition to providing excellent terminal points for dock lines and anchors.



Considerable testing of the holding power of anchors in all types of bottoms has been conducted by West Marine, BOAT/U.S., numerous anchor manufacturers and Cruising World (April '96). Most effective were the fluke-type anchors such as Bruce, CQR and Danforth, which bury themselves under load. Mushroom and dead-weight anchors drag with relatively little effort. 



In all mooring and anchoring arrangements, remember to increase scope to allow for storm surge – 10:1 if possible. Use heavy, oversized chain and oversized line in an approximate 50/50 ratio for the bow line. If you are using all-chain rode, use a sturdy snubber approximately 1/10 the length of the rode.



Test the holding ground. Anchor pull tests show that the best holding grounds are hard sand, soft sand, clay, mud, shells and soft mud, roughly in that order. Note that burying-type anchors in an ideal bottom may be impossible to retrieve after a storm.



Boats stored ashore should be well above the anticipated storm surge levels, which is sometimes difficult because most marinas and yards are at or near existing water levels. 



How to secure your boat



No matter where you've decided to keep your boat – in a marina, at a dock, in a canal, hurricane hole or on a mooring, there are several additional points to consider: chafe, cleats and chocks, and windage.



Wind force, and the damage it causes, increases exponentially. A doubling of wind speed increases the force on your boat four times. 



Nylon line is well known for its ability to stretch under loads. Under severe loading, however, friction from stretching increases the internal temperature of the line to the point of meltdown. Heat from increased chafe accelerates the wearing process. Normal chafing gear is totally inadequate under hurricane conditions. 



Secure the chafe protectors to the docking lines. Canvas protectors can be sewn or tied to the line in a similar fashion.
Lines should also be larger in diameter to resist chafe and excessive stretching. 



Beef up your dock cleats by adding backing plates if your boat doesn't already have them – unbacked cleats may pull out of the deck under heavy loads. Use stainless steel plates. Make sure you use the largest size screws that will fit through the mounting holes in the cleats. 



Reducing windage



Remove everything to reduce wind resistance: Biminis, antennas, deck-stowed anchors, sails, running rigging, booms, life rings, dinghies and so on. Besides reducing windage, you eliminate the probability of these items being damaged or blown away.



Remove furling headsails. Even when furled, they offer a sizable amount of wind resistance and additional load on the headstay. 



Preventing water damage



Rain during a hurricane flies in every direction including up. Remove all cowl ventilators and replace with closure plates or tape off the vents using duct tape. Make sure Dorade box and cockpit drains are clear of debris. 



Use duct tape and precut plywood panels to cover exposed instruments. Examine all hatches, ports, coaming compartments and sea lockers for leaks. Use duct tape to seal them off. Make sure that all papers (magazines, books, catalogs) are high enough in the boat to prevent them from getting wet if the cabin is flooded.



What to bring aboard



The list of items to be taken aboard include everything you've assembled beforehand to prepare your boat. Many times, the extra âhurricane onlyâ items will be stored ashore – a well-organized list ensures nothing is missed when the hurricane package is taken aboard: extra lines, chafing gear, fenders, anchors, swivels, shackles, duct tape, bung plugs – all the items identified during your planning session.



Make sure your batteries are fully charged. If needed, take additional batteries aboard to boost available capacity.
Moving your boat before a storm



If you plan on moving a trailerable boat out of the hurricane area, get out early. Many communities prohibit cars with trailers on the road after issuing a hurricane watch. Before the season arrives, inspect your trailer for defects and fix them.



During your test run, make a diagram of how your mooring/docking lines will be arranged. Note any additional equipment you'll need to secure your boat and add it to the list.



Finally, leave early! Waiting to take action until a storm's imminent arrival is inviting disaster. A hurricane warning is issued when sustained winds exceeding 64 knots are expected within 24 hours. Hurricane-proofing your house or evacuating the area will take precedence over boat safety. 



After you've secured your boat, double-check everything. Turn off all electrical power except the bilge pumps. Test bilge pump switches and pump intakes for debris.



Don't stay on your boat! Fifty percent of all hurricane-related deaths occur from boat owners trying to secure their boats in deteriorating conditions. Develop a well-thought-out hurricane plan, be prepared to implement it in the shortest possible time and, when completed, leave the boat to its own survival.



But the best efforts to predict the path or the intensity of a storm at a given moment still escapes even the best scientists and the most advanced computers.



So don't forget these helpful pointers on how to prep and store your boat during hurricane season. 1) You could consider storm-engineered floating dock systems;  2) avoid open anchorages;  and 3) develop a well-thought-out hurricane plan, be prepared to implement it in the shortest possible time and, when completed, leave the boat to its own survival.



Click here and see how Stainless Marine has more information on boat parts online and on how to prep and store your boat during hurricane season.




via How to Secure Your Boat for a Hurricane



via How to Prepare Your Boat for a Storm


Macerator Pump Experts Help Train Your Young Ones About Boat Safety







Your Macerator Pump Analysts Make Teaching Easy on You and Your Kids 



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Raritan Engineering Company your macerator pump professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to train your kids about boat safety.



Your macerator pump specialists know that for new boaters, new challenges mean new skills that everyone on the boat must learn. Make it easy on your kids and yourself with a little finesse and these handy online resources.











No matter how you slice it, trying to teach your kids about boating navigation rules or proper life jacket use has the potential to become a protest session. 



1. Set The Example. Kids learn best by following the leader, so be a good leader. You'll never convince them to wear a life jacket if they feel it's a case of âdo as I say, not as I do. 



And really, life jackets aren't so bad to wear anymore. When I was a kid, there would be six of those cheapie orange horse-collar style vests on the boat. They never fit right, and when you went in the water, they rode up around your neck, which prevented you from drowning but made you feel like you were being strangled in the process. 



2. Enlist Older Kids as Allies. Keeping kids inside the boat is a common problem. It's way more fun to hang your arm over the side and play with the wake splashing up alongside. And while that may be safe enough in open water, it's risky business in the marina. 



Clue in older kids to your concern and ask them to help keep the little ones safe. Kids generally like to be helpful, and they especially like to feel trusted by parents or other adults, so when they ask what they can do, just say, âLittle Ben thinks he can do everything you can do, so if you don't keep your arm in the boat, neither will he.â



Go to http://raritaneng.com/raritan-product-line/waste-treatment/macerator-pump/ and see how you can find more information as well as get assistance on macerator pump and on how to train your kids about boat safety at Raritan Engineering.



3. Establish Common-Sense Safety Procedures. Many parents have an irrational fear of the prop, but what they should have is a rational fear of not keeping everyone aware of its potential for danger. Even at rest, a boat propeller can cut a foot or leg severely. Just keep away from it. Today, most boats designed for recreational skiing and swimming have a swim platform over the sterndrive and prop.



Even adults do dumb things. I once watched as a boat came into the marina with a woman sitting on the platform, dragging her legs in the water. The force of the water kept her legs high above the prop and she was enjoying a relaxing foot message.



When swimmers are in the water, the keys should be out of the ignition. I keep my keys in a cup holder near the transom, which forces me to check for prop clearance when we head out to sea. 



Your family automatically obeys the rules of safety in the car, and they should do the same in the boat, too. Even though it's a different environment with many new pleasures and a few reasonable risks, these are easy enough to mitigate when a few clear rules are understood. 



So don't forget these helpful reminders on how to train your kids about boat safety. 1) Be sure to set the example;  2) enlist your older children as allies;  and 3) establish common-sense safety procedures.



Click here and see how Raritan Engineering has more information on macerator pump and on how to train your kids about boat safety.



via Teaching Kids the Basics of Safe Boating






Monday, June 13, 2016

Artemis Racing strikes back

Perfect winds, cooler temperatures and a record breaking crowd of over 200,000 Americaâs Cup fans lining Chicagoâs Navy Pier, combined to make Super Sunday, the final day of the Louis V

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Don't click 'like' on Facebook again until you read this


Facebook has changed the way people do a lot of things online. For example, you probably notice yourself reflexively clicking 'like' on anything your friends post on Facebook, even if it's just to acknowledge you saw it. Scammers are taking advantage of that reflex for a dangerous scam called âlike-farming.â



What is like-farming?



Like-farming is when scammers post an attention-grabbing story on Facebook for the express purpose of cultivating likes and shares. Based on the way Facebook works, the more likes and shares a post has, the more likely it is to show up in people's News Feeds.



This gives the scammer more eyeballs for posts that trick people out of information or send them to malicious downloads. The big question, of course, is why Facebook doesn't stop these posts before they get too big. And that's where the real scam comes in.



How the scam works



Scammers have found a simple way to fly under the radar during the early phases of their operation. The story they originally post to Facebook has nothing dangerous about it. It's just a regular story that anyone might post. That was the warning from one local Better Business Bureau last year.



Only after the post gets a certain number of likes and shares does the scammer edit it and add something malicious. They might start promoting products or sell the page information in attempt to get credit card data. In fact, if you go back through your history of liked posts, you might find that some of them have changed to something you wouldn't have liked in a million years. By the way, if you're not sure how to review your likes, click here for the step-by-step instructions.



So, what kinds of stories do scammers start with to trick people into liking and sharing?










Posts that should give you pause



One popular type of story is the emotional one. You've definitely seen the posts showing rescue animals and asking you to like if you think they're cute. Or maybe it's a medical story where you're asked to like that the person was cured or to let them know they're still beautiful after surgery.



There are also the posts that ask for a like to show that you're against something the government is doing, or that you disagree with something terrible happening in the world. Or maybe it's the ones that say âIf I get X number of likes, then something amazing will happen for meâ or âI was challenged to get X number of likes.â



Basically, any post that asks you to like it for emotional reasons, unless you know the person who created the original post, is quite probably a like-farm post. Of course, emotional posts aren't the only types of post you need to watch for.



Other types of scam posts to avoid



There are a lot of scams on Facebook and most of them can be used for like-farming. A popular one, for example, is a post that asks you to like or share so you can win something cool. These pop up most often when Apple launches a new iPhone or iPad.



You might have seen recently during the huge Powerball frenzy people posting on Facebook saying anyone who likes their post will get a share of their winnings. How real do you think those were?



Just on Thursday, police in Australia warned Facebook users of a like farming scam that attempted to lure customers of Qantas Airlines.










What about brain-teaser posts, such as the ones that have you like or share if you can read the words backwards or solve a tricky math problem? Yep, those are often like-farm posts, too.



It isn't just posts either; it can also be pages. A scammer might set up a page for âI love puppiesâ or what appears to be a worthy company or organization. It puts up enough content to get a lot of likes, then switches the content to spam and scams. Once you've liked the page, everything new the scammers put up goes on your News Feed and, in some cases, your friends' feeds as well.



How to avoid like-farming



Your best bet to avoid like-farming is to be very judicious about what you like and share on Facebook. Don't just reflexively click âlikeâ on everything. Take a look at where the post is coming from. If it's from someone you don't recognize, it could be a friend of a friend or it could be a complete stranger. It would be good to find out.



Notice the content and whether it promises anything for liking or sharing. If it does, it's a good clue that it's a scam of some kind. The same goes if you feel pushed or pressured into clicking like or share. Click here for 5 Facebook scams that continue to spread like wildfire.



Don't forget that, in the end, minimizing your likes is more than just a good security measure. It also reduces the clutter in your friends' news feeds, and their clutter in yours, so you can all spend more time seeing the really important posts. That's a win-win for everyone.



Via: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2016/03/04/dont-click-like-facebook-again-until-you-read/81264440/