Racing!
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Up and Around: the sky ride in Manchester
Up and Around: the sky ride in Manchester
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The world's first sail-in cinema at Cowes Week 2011:
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Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week – News
Since 1826, Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events. …
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South Beach
Taken at Royal Palm Hotel Miami Beach
Barnes & Noble Nook STR
Just picked up a Nook STR at B&N Georgetown DC. I already had a B&N account so it registered straight away in the store. Later, back in the hotel, I tried to buy a book and, not surprisingly, it asked for my cc registered address, adding “it must be an address in the US.”
So I added my UK address, it accepted it, and allowed me to continue and purchase the book, which appeared a moment later on the Nook.
The system may have looked at the IP address and and allowed the purchase because I’m in the States. I’ll try it again when I’m home.
Anyway, this may encourage other non-US residents to buy the Nook STR on their next visit to the States.
Google Plus
Google Plus looks interesting. I tried FaceBook a while ago but didn’t like it. Google Plus might be a big improvement.
G+ is still in beta, so I need to snag an invite to give it a try. I thought I’d got one yesterday but the email never arrived. Just have to be patient, I suppose…
Round The Island 2011
I’m so proud of my team.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oXItwWi4Jw
After waking up in Swanwick Marina at 0350 we motored across to the start line at Cowes for our 0640 start. Conditions were pretty tough. We experienced Force 7 most of the day and we sailed with two reefs in the main until the last couple of hours. There was a massive swell at the back of the island – some commentators put it at 20 feet – which made the broad reach a real surfing experience.
Our tactics were “Stay out of trouble” which broadly succeeded! If in doubt, we chickened out.
We raced a Bénéteau Oceanis 43 in the ISC Class 4 Race. 180 boats entered this class but only 132 completed the race. Our time was 9 hours and 36 minutes, placing us 118th on handicap in our class and 25th in our sub-class.
All in all, over 1900 boats entered the race but only 1302 finished. The radio was alive all day with Mayday and Pan calls all day. We saw four boats dismasted and at least two multihull boats capsized. There were two man-overboard incidents. We witnessed four boats aground on Ryde Sands – we only avoided it by 100 yards or so.
Thank you Karen, Jonathan, Subhrendu, Simon C, Simon P, Tony, Robin, Claire and Esmy for helping to make the weekend safe and enjoyable. And thank you to Universal Yachting for letting us borrow their yacht, and of course thanks to the Island Sailing Club for organising it all.
Links: Slideshow from the Official Photographer Videos on YouTube Official Website Emergencies Galore Sailors rescued in rough conditions
(Next year’s race is 30 June!)
97%!
Windguru
I’ve just discovered Windguru. It’s a weather forecast website aimed at sailors of all types.
There are highly detailed forecasts for many areas, and best of all, the basic service is free!
[iframe_loader src=”http://www.windguru.cz/int/distr_iframe.php?u=496443&s=275791&c=30cead9ea3″]
Conan O’Brien Delivers Dartmouth’s Commencement Address
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELC_e2QBQMk&feature=share
OK, this is low.
iPad 2: Protecting the back
Everybody loves Apple’s Smart Cover for the iPad 2. But it doesn’t protect the back of the iPad at all.
Several companies have released “smart” back covers, such the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy, the Hypershield, the Smart Cover Enhancer and the Simplism Smart Back Cover. However these back covers aren’t cheap and, as far as I know, aren’t available in the UK yet so you have to add on international postage. Bah!
But now there is a huge choice of cheap back covers on Amazon UK. I wanted a clear cover to show off the iPad’s Apple logo, so I chose the LuvMac Clear Solid Gel Back Cover.
Less than £10 including delivery and it does the job well without adding much bulk or weight to the iPad. Recommended.