Boat Racing Boat racing has an appeal that is unlike any other type of racing. On the water, even a relatively slow speed can make you feel like you are streaking along. The fastest racing boats, the unlimited hydroplanes (the ones that produce the large roostertails), use aircraft turbine engines and reach speeds close to 200 mph (330 kph). At any speed, however, boat racing is exciting, and when you are not watching or taking part in a race, what better way to pass the time than to read about boat racing on the Net. Web:
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Boatbuilding The Bible relates how God gave instructions to Noah on how to build an ark (see Genesis 6:14-16). However, the instructions were rudimentary at best: the ark should be 330 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. It should have a door, a window, three levels with a number of rooms, and should be lined with pitch. Finally, it should be made out of gopher wood. (Go figure.) So, suppose you were given such vague instructions. How would you figure out how to build the ark? You'd do the same thing that Noah did when no one was looking. You'd use the Net to look up as many boatbuilding resources as you could find, and then pretend you knew what you were doing. Web: Usenet:
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Boating Magazines The first rule of boating is "Everything costs more than you anticipate". The second rule is "Use the Net". These online boating magazines will fill in your spare time nicely. They cover a large range of boating topics, including news, articles and event info, so do take a moment to visit them all. Whatever your predilection -- racing, cruising, sailing, buying or selling -- you'll find a lot to keep you busy for those slack times when you aren't on the water. Web:
Boating Mnemonics When I was in medical school, there were lots of great mnemonics used to remember body parts in anatomy, symptoms of diseases and the properties of drugs. When you are learning to sail, there are also lots of things to remember and the mnemonics really help. This site gives you a list of clever tricks to help commit boating terms and rules to memory: mast light combinations, stern lights, buoyage, sound signals and right-of-way rules. Learn how your life can be saved by knowing that Timid Virgins Make Dull Company at Weddings. Web:
Boating Quiz Are you ready to captain your own sailing vessel? Find out how you score on this boating quiz. Afterward, you can take a break and head for the open seas, or at least to the bathtub with your little plastic battleships. Web:
Boating Rules Quick. Take a few minutes and go over the rules by which all good sailors abide. Along with the "Rules of the Road" (the International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea), you will also find information about signals, lights, navigation marks, equipment and flags. (Next time you go mine sweeping, check with these sites first to make sure your boat has the correct pattern of running lights.) Web:
Boating Safety The words "safety" and "boating" go hand in hand. Just like you wouldn't go into a storm after getting your hair done, you wouldn't want to go charging off on a sailing adventure without first getting some safety tips from the Net. These boating safety sites will help you with boating regulations, the weather, personal watercraft safety and more. Don't leave shore without them. Web:
Boating Talk and General Discussion When I was a kid at camp, I earned my Master Canoeist award. To this day, I can still recall all the esoteric canoeing strokes I had to be able to demonstrate, equally well on both sides. Truly, moving on water invokes deep feelings in all of us. If you care about things that float, join the Usenet boating discussion groups. The live-aboard mailing list is for the discussion of living onboard a boat. Usenet:
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Crew and Boat Finders Are you a boat looking for a crew? Are you a crew looking for a boat? Here are boatless crews and crewless boats looking for the perfect match. If you are itching to set sail, but you just don't have everything you need, try these sites. You might find just what you are looking for. Web:
Dragon Boat Racing Dragon boat racing is a popular event in China. It is a Chinese tradition dating back more than 2,000 years. The boat races are said to have originated from a belief that they would bring agricultural prosperity. There is another, more romantic, legend that says dragon boat racing is related to the story of Ch'u Yuan, a Chinese patriot, who was exiled. Because of his expatriation, he was filled with despair and threw himself into the Mi Lo river. The legend says the people of the country were so distraught over the suicide of Ch'u Yuan that they got into their boats and raced up and down the river beating drums, splashing oars and making a general ruckus in order to scare away evil spirits and water dragons from the body of Ch'u Yuan. Today, this story creates a great excuse for people to get into brightly colored boats, which are decorated like dragons, and race up and down the river yelling, making noise and having a good time. Seems like as good an excuse as any to me. Use the Net to learn more about this fun Chinese celebration. Web:
GORP: Great Outdoor Recreation Pages Having this site on your bookmark list means you will never run out of interesting and entertaining resources relating to rafting, canoeing and kayaking. There are links to information on trips, gear, books and magazines, safety, events, reviews of locations, health, food and organizations. Web:
Inland Waterways An inland waterway is any navigable river, lake or canal on which it is possible to travel by boat. In the United States, most of the canals that once existed are now closed. Still, the U.S. is a large country and, overall, the American canal system is still the largest in the world. When you add in all the rivers and lakes that connect into these canals, you have a huge number of navigable inland waterways, stretching over 25,000 miles (40,000 km). Other countries also have similar resources. For example, in the U.K., there are well over 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of existing canals over which you can travel. If you haven't been on an inland waterway lately, why not take a few days and try a quiet, relaxing boat trip. (Hint: Take this book with you so you won't be bored.) Web:
Kayaking and Canoeing When I was an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo in Canada, I spent a little time with the Whitewater Canoe Club. However, I never got close to the action: my participation was limited to paddling a kayak around the swimming pool. Later, after I moved to California, I went kayaking in the ocean, and I found it a lot more fun than the pool in Waterloo. Now I have a friend, Hal, who lives a block from the ocean and has two kayaks. Anytime I want, I can go over to his house and go kayaking with him. Somewhere in here is a lesson about life (which I'm sure I could figure out, if I didn't have a deadline to meet). Web:
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Marine Signal Flags Ships at sea use signal flags to spell out short messages or to communicate speeds and course changes. This page shows alphabetic flags, answering pennants, numeric pennants, substitute pennants, and the semaphore flag-waving system. Web:
Navigation When you are out to sea and lost or confused, send mail to this mailing list for the discussion of non-electronic navigation, with primary topics such as celestial navigation, coastal piloting, dead reckoning, charts, currents and weather at sea. For important navigation resources, see the Web sites. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can find your way home. Web:
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Personal Watercraft If you are not up to sailing your own large boat, start smaller with a personal watercraft. These sites include links to manufacturers, part suppliers, magazines, clubs, and much more, relating to owning, using and maintaining personal watercraft. You have to supply your own pirate flag. Web:
Rowing Whether you prefer rowing gently down a stream, sculling by yourself in the early morning, or pulling frantically on your oar during a hard-fought bump race, rec.sport.rowing is one Usenet discussion group you should read. To help you find the information you need, I have also included some Web sites, one of which contains the rowing FAQ (frequently asked question list). Web:
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Sailing I remember the days when, as a young sprout at summer camp, I learned how to sail, and I loved to take a boat out and cruise around the lake. Well, time marches on, and as we get older, we tend to be more landbound. Even if you sail as often as you can, you still have to spend most of your time ashore. So if you miss the open seas (or the open lakes), drop anchor on the Net, where there are a lot of sailing resources waiting for you. Web:
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Seaports and Harbors Before you set out on that long-distance trip, check with the Net about the ports you will be visiting. Many port authorities have Web sites, so you can use the Net to find out, in advance, what facilities are available. Here are some resources that will help you find Web sites for ports around the world. Web:
Yachting Whether you use your yacht for pleasure or racing, you'll be glad to know about these resources. You'll find a lot of help to navigate through the world of boating: articles, tips, charter information, news, and event info. And when it's time to buy or sell, a few clicks of the mouse is all it will take you to find what you want, set the right price or comparison shop. Web:
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