Please select your home edition
Edition
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline LEADERBOARD

Parallels and Opposites

by John Curnow on 27 Mar 2017
Sunrise at Port Stephens John Curnow
The parallels were obvious. You did not need the conjoined rulers out to run a plot between them, either. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Bluewater Cruising Association is holding its Women on Water seminar very soon. April 8, in fact. In the lead up, we have been able to meet some of the presenters, and review their skills, experiences and tales.

Then almost at the opposite ends of the earth to Canada, we have the Pantaenius sponsored Women Who Sail Australia gathering occurring this coming weekend (April 1 and 2) at Port Stephens. WWSA had 70 attendees for their gathering last time, which was the inaugural event. There are just under 100 booked in as of now, and about 135 on the books for the partners-included-dinner, so make contact with them now via FB if you are a last minute chance to be there! Port Stephens is quite the idyllic spot, and hopefully after a super-wet month, the sun will shine for them all.

And from all that another parallel was apparent. Connie Morahan, the Vancouver Island Fleet Co-ordinator, pretty much summed it all up for me. Morahan commented, “Still, many women who are preparing to go offshore feel they are running as fast as they can to catch up to their partners’ sailing skills and to become less dependent on their partners for technical know-how.”

Morahan then added, “The areas of greatest concern were docking, sail handling/reefing, engine maintenance/mechanical failures, anchoring, lack of sleep, and fears of medical mishaps.” I reckon another would have to be the MOB, when it is likely their partner is going to be bigger than they are. Almost as if on cue, I saw that the WOW seminar has a dedicated module on that…

So out of it all it would seem that parallel lines can, and indeed do meet when you are talking about women on water. The benefit is better, safer boating for all, and that is a very good thing!



Much sadder news for the beloved and World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, however. It was thought that bleaching last year was not going to have an ongoing effect, but it is quite devastating to learn that it is not only more widespread, but larger than thought.

Paul Aubin from Carefish (CAirns REcreational Fishing Industry StakeHolders) delivers a great piece about a really serious and disturbing truth. We lost 25% of the reef last year, alone! His paper is the end product following on from various recent internal and external discussions. Their goal is to increase public awareness, and I have seen the emails from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park praising Carefish for their efforts on the matter. You can read it Right Here



Now on top of all of that, part of the area is about to get walloped by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. She will bring a ‘strong storm surge, abnormally high tides and rough to phenomenal seas’, as the Bureau of Meteorology puts it, and continue on with cyclonic force well inland. High rainfall (200-400mm), and winds of 160-200 kilometres per hour are expected. Gusts could reach 280kph.

Are you out there plying the seas and got something to say? We’d love to hear from you via editor@sail-world.com Also, if you would like to receive our newsletter each week, then please go to the 'Newsletter' button at the top of the Sail-World home page and enter your details. Simple...

Noble Marine 2022 SW - FOOTERHyde Sails 2022 One Design FOOTERMarine Products Direct 2023 - Calypso FOOTER

Related Articles

DCA has a full programme of rallies for 2024
Dinghy cruising around rivers, lakes and estuaries, sometimes with an overnight stop The Dinghy Cruising Association has a full programme of rallies for 2024. There are dozens of get-togethers throughout the British Isles and also in France, The Netherlands, Scandinavia, The South and East Baltic and North America.
Posted today at 6:28 pm
PredictWind unveils the new PredictCurrent app
The world's most advanced tidal current app This specialized app grants access to incredibly detailed current data, offering an optimized interface for enhanced usability with a quick-view dashboard showing wind, current, waves and tide height all in one place.
Posted today at 3:08 pm
Mediterranean Sea outlook
Time spent cruising in the Med can often be limited If cruising to the Med is on your voyage plan for this summer, take a look at our collection of useful planning links to articles and resources on Noonsite and elsewhere on the web.
Posted today at 1:34 pm
Rescued smalltooth sawfish passes away
The distressed smalltooth sawfish that was rescued on April 5 passed away on May 2 The Mote Marine Laboratory family is heartbroken to report the sad news that the distressed smalltooth sawfish that was rescued on April 5 passed away on May 2.
Posted on 3 May
Be prepared for Orca season
How you can best-prepare for a passage around the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula Since the start of 2024 noonsite.com have been publishing guidelines in collaboration with the Cruising Association as to how you can best-prepare for a passage around the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula.
Posted on 3 May
Energy Observer makes Boston stopover
This stop marks the last leg of her Odyssey on the United States East Coast Energy Observer, the first autonomous and zero-emission hydrogen vessel, a pioneer in energy transition and ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals, is making her 89th stop in Boston.
Posted on 2 May
Caribbean Sea outlook
There are two types of sailors in the Caribbean After sailing more than 26,000 nautical miles around the world, 17 boats completed their World ARC in April and became circumnavigators when they crossed their outbound tracks in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
Posted on 2 May
Orca unveils Automatic Rerouting for Sail Routes
Captured the attention of the sailing community for its intuitive planning capabilities Norwegian marine tech startup, Orca, announces the launch of Automatic Rerouting for Sail Routes, a groundbreaking enhancement to its acclaimed Sail Routes feature.
Posted on 1 May
Henri-Lloyd New Arrival: Dri Fast Polo
Designed to perform for long days in the sun, on or off shore Created by Henri-Lloyd 30 years ago, the DRI FAST Polo has become an industry staple. Clean and smart, the DRI FAST Polo is an extremely comfortable, quick drying polo, with added UV protection.
Posted on 1 May
Lorient's first Outremer 45, Zoulpi
Outremer celebrates the build Grand Large Yachting and Outremer are proud to announce the launch of the first Outremer 45 built in Lorient, named "Zoulpi".
Posted on 1 May