Song of a spindle

Song Of the Spindle from Drew Christie

brings to life the similarities between whales and humans

Evolution of a race - Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12

A brief history of the Volvo Ocean Race and the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74 to 2008-09 - to whet your appetite ahead of the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Featuring the stars such as Sir Peter Blake on Steinlager, Ken Read on PUMA

From TheTelegraph

Sailing’s elite will be pushed to the limits of endurance – and sometimes beyond – as they race 39,000 miles through four oceans in an eight-month round the world marathon.

More than just a yacht race, the Volvo Ocean Race sees the sport’s elite take on Mother Nature in a test of skill, bravery and survival.
The teams, each made up of 11 professional yachtsmen, will spend up to four weeks at a time living, sleeping, eating and racing on state-of-the-art 70ft boats as they take on the ‘Everest of sailing’.
These men will exist on as little as two hours sleep a day, face temperatures from -15°C to 40°C and tackle hunger and extreme fatigue.
For 24 hours a day, seven days a week they only have one goal: to make their yacht go faster.
Capable of speeds of more than 40mph, the Volvo Open 70 yachts the crews will race are the fastest monohull boats in the world.
They represent the cutting edge of design, construction and communications, taking influence from aerospace and military technology.

"If you are determined to be in the sailing game you have to do this Race" - Sir Peter Blake

The race began life in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race when nineteen yachts left Portsmouth with little idea of what they were getting themselves into.

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 Global Course (VirtualEyeTV)

Now they know – and still choose to go, in pursuit of glory in sailing’s toughest challenge.

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 competitors : teams guide

ABU DHABI
United Arab Emirates
Skipper : Ian Walker (UK), 1 participation to the VOR
Boat : Azzam
Architect : Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard : Persico, Bergamo, Italie

CAMPER
Spain/New Zealand
Skipper : Chris Nicholson (AUS), 3 participations to the VOR
Boat : Camper
Architects : Marcelino Botin & Emirates Team New Zealand Design Team
Shipyard Cookson Boats, Auckland, Nouvelle-Zélande

GROUPAMA SAILING TEAM
France
Skipper : Franck Cammas (FRA), first participation to the VOR
Boat : Groupama 4
Architect : Juan Yacht Design (Juan Kouyoumdjian)
Shipyard : Multiplast, Vannes, France

PUMA
United States
Skipper : Ken Read (USA), 2 participations to the VOR
Boat : Puma’s Mar Mostro
Architect : Juan Yacht Design (Juan Kouyoumdjian)
Shipyard : New England Boarworks, Rhode Island, USA

TEAM SANYA
China
Skipper : Mike Sanderson (NZL), 3 participations with a victoiry in 2005-06 with ABN AMRO ONE
Boat : Sanya (Ex-Telefonica Blue)
Architect : Farr Yacht Design
Shipyard : King Marine, Valencia, Espagne et refit chez Hamble Yachr Services, Hamble, UK

TEAM TELEFONICA
Spain
Skipper : Iker Martinez (ESP), 2 participations to the VOR
Boat : Telefonica
Architect : Juan Yacht Design (Juan Kouyoumdjian)
Shipyard : King Marine, Valencia, Espagne

Links :

• HuffingtonPost : Volvo Ocean Race brings prestige, profit to sailing
• TheTelegraph : Why the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 is more than just a yacht race for sailing's elite
• Wired : Round the World racers unveil new sailing speed tracker
• YouTube : Volvo Ocean channel
• SailWorld : Volvo Ocean Race launches free mobile app
• 3D race viewer

Brazil DHN update in the Marine GeoGarage

3333 Foz do Rio Apa

27 charts have been added (DHN update September,28)

• 21060 DO ARQUIPELAGO DOS ABROLHOS AO CABO FRIO
• 3307 DA ISLA POYBÍ A ISLA URUGUAYTÁ
• 3317 DA ISLA DEL LOCO AO PASO SIETE PUNTAS
• 3318 DO PASO SIETE PUNTAS AO PASO MILAGRO
• 3320 DA ISLA SALADILLO AO PASO ROMERO-CUÉ
• 3332 PUERTO VALLEMI
• 3333 FOZ DO RIO APA
• 3334 DO PORTO SASTRE À CANCHA ESTRELA
• 3381 DA ILHA VERDE À ILHA PARAGUAI MIRIM
• 3382 DO RIO PARAGUAI MIRIM À ILHA BAGUARI
• 3383 DO PASSO BAGUARI À VOLTA DA SUCURI
• 3384 DA VOLTA DA SUCURI AO PASSO COQUEIRO
• 3385 DA ILHA DO COQUEIRO À ILHA SANTA FÉ
• 3386 DA ILHA SANTA FÉ AO CORREGO DO MATTA CACHORRO
• 3389 JUSANTE DA ILHA PIUVA AO PASSO PIUVA SUPERIOR
• 3394 DA FOZ DO RIO CUIABÁ AO REFÚGIO DAS TRÊS BOCAS
• 3395 DO CORIXO DO MOQUÉM À BAÍA DO ACURIZAL
• 3396 DA ILHA DO ACURIZAL À BOCA DA FIGUEIRA
• 3397 DO ESTIRÃO DO CARANDÁ GRANDE À VOLTA DO ARGOLÃO
• 3398 DA VOLTA DO ARGOLÃO À VOLTA CANAFRISTA
• 3436 DO PASSO SIMÃO NUNES INFERIOR AO FURADO DO JATOBÁ
• 3437 DO FURADO DO TUIUIU AO ESTIRÃO DO ALEGRE
• 3438 DO PASSO DO ALEGRE AO PASSO PASSAGEM VELHA
• 3439 DO PASSO PASSAGEM VELHA AO PASSO RETIRO VELHO
• 3440 DA SANTA CRUZ À VOLTA PIUVAL
• 3441 DO RIACHO PIUVAL À BOCA DO CAIÇARA
• 3442 DO POSTO AGRÍCOLA ACÁCERES

Today 265 charts (310 including sub-charts) from DHN are displayed in the Marine GeoGarage

NZ Linz update in the Marine GeoGarage

NZ5322 Auckland Harbour East

2 charts have been updated in the Marine GeoGarage (Linz July update published 29 August, 2011) :

• NZ5322 : Auckland Harbour East
  
• NZ5413 : Approaches to Tauranga
  

Today NZ Linz charts (178 charts / 340 including sub-charts) are displayed in the Marine GeoGarage.

Note : LINZ produces official nautical charts to aid safe navigation in New Zealand waters and certain areas of Antarctica and the South-West Pacific.

Using charts safely involves keeping them up-to-date using Notices to Mariners

UK & misc. update in the Marine GeoGarage

Today 960 charts (x including sub-charts) are available in the 'UK & misc.' chart layer

regrouping charts for different countries :

1. UK
2. Argentina
3. Belgium
4. Netherlands
5. Croatia
6. Oman
7. Portugal
8. Spain
9. Iceland
10. South Africa
11. Malta

660 charts for UK

9 charts for Argentina :

• 226 International Chart Series, Antarctica - South Shetlands Islands, Deception Island.
  
• 227 Church Point to Cape Longing including James Ross Island
• 2505 Approaches to the Falkland Islands
• 2517 North-Western Approaches to the Falkland Islands
• 2519 South-Western Approaches to the Falkland Islands
• 3213 Plans in Graham Land
  
• 3560 Gerlache Strait Northern Part
• 3566 Gerlache Strait Southern Part
• 4207 Falkland Islands to Cabo Corrientes and Northeast Georgia Rise

27 charts for Belgium & Nederlands :

• 99 Entrances to Rivers in Guyana and Suriname
• 110 Westkapelle to Stellendam and Maasvlakte
• 112 Terschellinger Gronden to Harlingen
• 120 Westerschelde - Vlissingen to Baalhoek and Gent - Terneuzen Canal
• 122 Approaches to Europoort and Hoek van Holland
• 124 Noordzeekanaal including Ijmuiden, Zaandam and Amsterdam
• 125 North Sea Netherlands - Approaches to Scheveningen and Ijmuiden
• 126 North Sea, Netherlands, Approaches to Den Helder
• 128 Westerschelde, Valkenisse to Wintam
• 207 Hoek Van Holland to Vlaardingen
• 208 Rotterdam, Nieuwe Maas and Oude Maas
• 209 Krimpen a/d Lek to Moerdijk
• 266 North Sea Offshore Charts Sheet 11
• 572 Essequibo River to Corentyn River
• 702 Nederlandse Antillen, Aruba and Curacao
• 1187 Outer Silver Pit
• 1408 North Sea, Harwich and Rotterdam to Cromer and Terschelling.
• 1412 Caribbean Sea - Nederlandse Antillen, Ports in Aruba and Curacao
• 1414 Bonaire
• 1503 Outer Dowsing to Smiths Knoll including Indefatigable Banks.
• 1504 Cromer to Orford Ness
• 1546 Zeegat van Texel and Den Helder Roads
• 1630 West Hinder and Outer Gabbard to Vlissingen and Scheveningen
• 1631 DW Routes to Ijmuiden and Texel
• 1632 DW Routes and Friesland Junction to Vlieland
• 1874 North Sea, Westerschelde, Oostende to Westkapelle
• 2047 Approaches to Anguilla

14 charts for Croatia :

• 201 Rt Kamenjak to Novigrad
• 202 Kvarner, Kvarneric and Velebitski Kanal
• 269 Ploce and Split with Adjacent Harbours, Channels and Anchorages
• 515 Zadar to Luka Mali Losinj
• 683 Bar, Dubrovnik and Approaches and Peljeski Kanal
• 1574 Otok Glavat to Ploce and Makarska
• 1580 Otocic Veliki Skolj to Otocic Glavat
• 1582 Approaches to Bar and Boka Kotorska
• 1996 Ports in Rijecki Zaljev
• 2711 Rogoznica to Zadar
• 2712 Otok Susac to Split
• 2719 Rt Marlera to Senj including Approaches to Rijeka
• 2773 Sibenik, Pasmanski Kanal, Luka Telascica, Sedmovrace, Rijeka Krka
• 2774 Otok Vis to Sibenik

6 charts for Oman :

• 2851 Masirah to the Strait of Hormuz
• 2854 Northern approaches to Masirah
• 3171 Southern Approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
• 3409 Plans in Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates
• 3511 Wudam and Approaches
• 3518 Ports and Anchorages on the North East Coast of Oman

123 charts for Spain & Portugal :

• 73 Puerto de Huelva and Approaches
• 83 Ports on the South Coast of Portugal
• 85 Spain - south west coast, Rio Guadalquivir
• 86 Bahia de Cadiz
• 87 Cabo Finisterre to the Strait of Gibraltar
• 88 Cadiz
• 89 Cabo de Sao Vicente to Faro
• 91 Cabo de Sao Vicente to the Strait of Gibraltar
• 93 Cabo de Santa Maria to Cabo Trafalgar
• 142 Strait of Gibraltar
• 144 Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar
• 307 Angola, Cabeca da Cobra to Cabo Ledo
• 308 Angola, Cabo Ledo to Lobito
• 309 Lobito to Ponta Grossa
• 312 Luanda to Baia dos Tigres
• 366 Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
• 369 Plans in the Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
• 469 Alicante
• 473 Approaches to Alicante
• 518 Spain East Coast, Approaches to Valencia
• 562 Mediterranean Sea, Spain - East Coast Valencia NEW
  
• 580 Al Hoceima, Melilla and Port Nador with Approaches
• 690 Cabo Delgado to Mikindani Bay
• 886 Estrecho de la Bocayna and Approaches to Arrecife
• 1094 Rias de Ferrol, Ares, Betanzos and La Coruna
• 1096 Ribadeo
• 1110 La Coruna and Approaches
• 1111 Punta de la Estaca de Bares to Cabo Finisterre
• 1113 Harbours on the North-West Coast of Spain
• 1117 Puerto de Ferrol
• 1118 Ria de Ferrol
• 1122 Ports on the North Coast of Spain
• 1133 Ports on the Western Part of the North Coast of Spain
• 1142 Ria de Aviles
• 1145 Spain - North Coast, Santander
• 1150 Ports on the North Coast of Spain
• 1153 Approaches to Gijon
• 1154 Spain, north coast, Gijon
• 1157 Pasaia (Pasajes) and Approaches
• 1172 Puertos de Bermeo and Mundaka
• 1173 Spain - North Coast, Bilbao
• 1174 Approaches to Bilbao
• 1180 Barcelona
• 1189 Approaches to Cartagena
• 1193 Spain - east coast, Tarragona
• 1194 Cartagena
• 1196 Approaches to Barcelona
• 1197 Plans on the West Coast of Africa
• 1215 Plans on the Coast of Angola
• 1216 Baia dos Tigres
• 1290 Cabo de San Lorenzo to Cabo Ortegal
• 1291 Santona to Gijon
• 1448 Gibraltar Bay
• 1453 Gandia
• 1455 Algeciras
• 1460 Sagunto
• 1514 Spain - East Coast, Castellon
• 1515 Ports on the East Coast of Spain
• 1589 Almeria
• 1595 Ilhas do Principe, de Sao Tome and Isla Pagalu
• 1684 Ilha da Madeira, Manchico and Canical
• 1685 Nisis Venetico to Nisos Spetsai including the Channels between Akra Maleas and Kriti
• 1689 Ports in the Arquipelago da Madeira
• 1701 Cabo de San Antonio to Vilanova I la Geltru including Islas de Ibiza and Formentera
• 1703 Mallorca and Menorca
• 1704 Punta de la Bana to Islas Medas
• 1724 Canal do Geba and Bissau
• 1726 Approaches to Canal do Geba and Rio Cacheu
• 1727 Bolama and Approaches
• 1730 Spain - West Coast, Ria de Vigo
• 1731 Vigo
• 1732 Spain - West Coast, Ria de Pontevedra
• 1733 Spain - West Coast, Marin and Pontevedra
• 1734 Approaches to Ria de Arousa
• 1740 Livingston Island, Bond Point to Brunow Bay including Juan Carlos 1 Base and Half Moon Island
• 1755 Plans in Ria de Arousa
• 1756 Ria de Muros
• 1762 Vilagarcia de Arosa
• 1764 Ria de Arousa
• 1831 Arquipelago da Madeira
• 1847 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 1850 Approaches to Malaga
• 1851 Malaga
• 1854 Motril and Adra
• 1856 Approaches to Puerto de La Luz (Las Palmas)
• 1858 Approaches to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de San Sebastian de la Gomera, Santa Cruz de la Palma and Approaches
• 1869 Gran Canaria to Hierro
• 1870 Lanzarote to Gran Canaria
• 1895 Ilha de Sao Miguel
• 1950 Arquipelago dos Acores
• 1956 Arquipelago dos Acores Central Group
• 1957 Harbours in the Arquipelago Dos Acores (Central Group)
• 1959 Flores,Corvo and Santa Maria with Banco Das Formigas
• 2742 Cueta
• 2761 Menorca
• 2762 Menorca, Mahon
• 2831 Punta Salinas to Cabo de Formentor including Canal de Menorca
• 2832 Punta Salinas to Punta Beca including Isla de Cabrera
• 2834 Ibiza and Formentera
• 2932 Cabo de Sao Sebastiao to Beira
• 2934 Africa - east coast, Mozambique, Beira to Rio Zambeze
• 2935 Quelimane to Ilha Epidendron
• 3034 Approaches to Palma
• 3035 Palma
• 3220 Entrance to Rio Tejo including Baia de Cascais
• 3221 Lisboa, Paco de Arcos to Terreiro do Trigo
• 3222 Lisboa, Alcantara to Canal do Montijo
• 3224 Approaches to Sines
• 3227 Aveiro and Approaches
  
• 3228 Approaches to Figueira da Foz
• 3257 Viana do Castelo and Approaches
• 3258 Approaches to Leixoes and Barra do Rio Douro
• 3259 Approaches to Setubal
• 3260 Carraca to Ilha do Cavalo
• 3448 Plans in Angola
• 3578 Eastern Approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar
• 3633 Islas Sisargas to Montedor
• 3634 Montedor to Cabo Mondego
• 3635 Cabo Mondego to Cabo Espichel
• 3636 Cabo Espichel to Cabo de Sao Vicente
• 3764 Cabo Torinana to Punta Carreiro
• 4114 Arquipelago dos Acores to Flemish Cap
• 4115 Arquipelago dos Acores to the Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
• Ilha de Madeira, Ponta Gorda de Sao Lourenco including the Port of Funchal

13 charts for Iceland :

• 2733 Dyrholaey to Snaefellsjokull
• 2734 Approaches to Reykjavik
• 2735 Iceland - South West Coast, Reykjavik
• 2897 Iceland
• 2898 Vestfirdir
• 2899 Iceland, Noth Coast, Horn to Rauoinupur
• 2900 Iceland, North East Coast, Rauoinupur to Glettinganes
• 2901 Iceland, East Coast, Glettinganes to Stokksnes
• 2902 Stokksnes to Dyrholaey
• 2955 Iceland, North Coast, Akureyri
• 2956 Iceland, North Coast, Eyjafjordur
• 2937 Hlada to Glettinganes
• 2938 Reydarfjordur

47 charts for South Africa :

• 578 Cape Columbine to Cape Seal
• 632 Hollandsbird Island to Cape Columbine
• 643 Durban Harbour
• 1236 Saldanha Bay
• 1769 Islands and Anchorages in the South Atlantic Ocean
• 1806 Baia dos Tigres to Conception Bay
• 1846 Table Bay Docks and Approaches
• 1922 RSA - Simon's Bay
• 2078 Port Nolloth to Island Point
• 2086 East London to Port S Johns
• 2087 Port St John's to Durban
• 2088 Durban to Cape Vidal
• 2095 Cape St Blaize to Port S. John's
• 3793 Shixini Point to Port S Johns
• 3794 Port S Johns to Port Shepstone
• 3795 Port Shepstone to Cooper Light
• 3797 Green Point to Tongaat Bluff
• 3859 Cape Cross to Conception Bay
• 3860 Mutzel Bay to Spencer Bay
• 3861 Namibia, Approaches to Luderitz
• 3869 Hottentot Point to Chamais Bay
  
• 3870 Chamais Bay to Port Nolloth
• 4132 Kunene River to Sand Table Hill
• 4133 Sand Table Hill to Cape Cross
• 4136 Harbours on the West Coasts of Namibia and South Africa
• 4141 Island Point to Cape Deseada
• 4142 Saldanha Bay Harbour
• 4145 Approaches to Saldanha Bay
• 4146 Cape Columbine to Table Bay
• 4148 Approaches to Table Bay
• 4150 Republic of South Africa, South West Coast, Table Bay to Valsbaai
• 4151 Cape Deseada to Table Bay
• 4152 Republic of South Africa, South West Coast, Table Bay to Cape Agulhas
• 4153 Republic of South Africa, South Coast, Cape Agulhas to Cape St. Blaize
• 4154 Mossel Bay
• 4155 Cape St Blaize to Cape St Francis
• 4156 South Africa, Cape St Francis to Great Fish Point
• 4157 South Africa, Approaches to Port Elizabeth
• 4158 Republic of South Africa - South Coast, Plans in Algoa Bay.
• 4159 Great Fish Point to Mbashe Point
• 4160 Ngqura Harbour
• 4162 Approaches to East London
• 4170 Approaches to Durban
• 4172 Tugela River to Ponta do Ouro
• 4173 Approaches to Richards Bay
• 4174 Richards Bay Harbour
• 4205 Agulhas Plateau to Discovery Seamounts

5 charts for Malta :


• 36 Marsaxlokk
• 177 Valletta Harbours
• 211 Plans in the Maltese Islands
• 2537 Ghawdex (Gozo), Kemmuna (Comino) and the Northern Part of Malta
• 2538 Malta


60 international charts from NGA



• 3 Chagos Archipelago
• 82 Outer Approaches to Port Sudan
• 100 Raas Caseyr to Suqutra
• 255 Eastern Approaches to Jamaica
• 256 Western Approaches to Jamaica
• 260 Pedro Bank to the South Coast of Jamaica
• 333 Offshore Installations in the Gulf of Suez
• 334 North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda
• 386 Yadua Island to Yaqaga Island
• 390 Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island, Approaches to Freeport
• 398 Grand Bahama Island, Freeport Roads, Freeport Harbour
• 457 Portland Bight
• 462 The Cayman Islands
• 486 Jamaica and the Pedro Bank
• 501 South East Approaches to Trinidad
• 700 Maiana to Marakei
• 766 Ellice Islands
• 868 Eastern and Western Approaches to The Narrows including Murray's Anchorage
• 920 Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia
• 928 Sulu Archipelago
• 959 Colson Point to Belize City including Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Islands
• 1043 Saint Lucia to Grenada and Barbados
• 1225 Gulf of Campeche
• 1450 Turks and Caicos Islands, Turks Island Passage and Mouchoir Passage
• 1638 Plans in Northern Vanuatu
• 2006 West Indies, Virgin Islands, Anegada to Saint Thomas
• 2009 Sheet 2 From 23 deg 40 min North Latitude to Old Bahama Channel
• 2065 Northern Antigua
• 2133 Approaches to Suez Bay (Bahr el Qulzum)
• 2373 Bahr el Qulzum (Suez Bay) to Ras Sheratib
• 2374 Ra's Sharatib to Juzur Ashrafi
• 2441 Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg to Jazireh-ye Forur
• 2658 Outer Approaches to Mina` al Jeddah (Jiddah)
• 2837 Strait of Hormuz to Qatar
• 2847 Qatar to Shatt al `Arab
• 2858 Gulf of Oman to Shatt al `Arab NEW
  
• 2887 Dubai (Dubayy) and Jazireh-Ye Qeshm to Jazirat Halul
  
• 2888 Jask to Dubayy and Jazireh-ye Qeshm
• 2889 Dubayy to Jabal Az Zannah and Jazirat Das
• 3043 Red Sea, Ports on the coast of Egypt.
• 3172 Strait of Hormuz
• 3174 Western Approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
• 3175 Jazirat al Hamra' to Dubai (Dubayy) and Jazireh-ye Sirri
• 3179 UAE and Qatar, Jazirat Das to Ar Ru' Ays
• 3310 Africa - east coast, Mafia Island to Pemba Island
• 3361 Wasin Island to Malindi
• 3432 Saltpond to Tema
• 3493 Red Sea - Sudan, Bashayer Oil Terminals and Approaches NEW
  
• 3519 Southern Approaches to Masirah
• 3520 Khawr Kalba and Dawhat Diba to Gahha Shoal
• 3522 Approaches to Masqat and Mina' al Fahl
• 3530 Approaches to Berbera
• 3785 Mina' Raysut to Al Masirah
• 3907 Bahama Islands and Hispaniola, Passages between Mayaguana Island and Turks and Caicos Islands.
• 3908 Passages between Turks and Caicos Islands and Dominican Republic
• 3910 Little Bahama Bank including North West Providence Channel
• 3912 Bahamas, North East Providence Channel and Tongue of the Ocean
• 3913 Bahamas, Crooked Island Passage and Exuma Sound
• 3914 Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas, Caicos Passage and Mayaguana Passage
• 3951 Sir Bani Yas to Khawr al `Udayd




Don't forget to visit the UKHO Notices to Mariners : NTM for 2011



So today, for a cost of 9.9 € / month ('Premium Charts' subscription), you can have access to 3658 updated charts coming from 7 international Hydrographic Services.