South Beach, Miami

Florida Keys

Port Orange

Miami is one of those cities that is hard to describe in just a few words. The beauty of Miami certainly starts with its diversity and exclusive ambience. It seems like Miami was made on the eighth day when all the eccentrics from around the world were invited to make it a wonderfully weird paradise. Miami sits in another reality that starts at the Florida Everglades and extends through a wonderland of sand, sun, bright colors and brilliant creativity. Even with the humidity, mosquitoes and alligators, Miami is impossibly sexy, enormously romantic and downright irresistible.

Everglades, Florida

Florida, more civilized than it once was, is still seductively and unnervingly fluid. Miami continues to be washed with wave after wave of Latin immigrants, and the city vibrates with energy and culture and change. The Deep South of northern Florida lovingly tends its memories, even as old ways fade or are simply paved over. The phantasmagorical theme parks continue to weave their mechanical magic. And just off the coast, another hurricane is always brewing.

Walt Disney was right:
Florida is a place that captures the imagination. The landscape is exaggerated and invites exaggeration. Spanish explorers saw manatees and imagined they were mermaids; Ponce de León saw a crystal-clear spring and imagined it was a fountain of youth. Developers saw swamps and sold them as paradise, but if they are, there’s plenty of the devil in them. In its history, Florida has inspired as much madness and murder as it has fantasies of a magical kingdom where dreams really do come true.

So come for the beaches and Mickey Mouse, come for the people and the Everglades, come for the nightlife and the kayaking and the manatees and the gators. But make sure to come. Because Florida is always stranger than you imagine, and it never holds still.

found on lonelyplanet.com
found on visitflorida.com

The Melges 32® is one design racing at its best. Since 2005, it has successfully delivered bigger, better, more-simplified sailing that is fun and competitive. Complementing its sporty attitude, it possesses one of the most diverse regatta schedules that includes many prestigious venues supported by an organized and well-established class association.

Features a super sleek hull shape, clean deck layout and rig
Fun and easy to sail
Easily launched via hoist or ramp. When equipped with a gin pole, it can be rigged without the assistance of a crane to step the mast.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
LENGTH 31 ft 10 in 9.70 m
BEAM 9 ft 10 in 3.00 m
DRAFT 7 ft 2.13 m
WEIGHT 3,775 lbs 1,712.31 kg

SAIL AREA
MAIN 445 sq ft 41.3 m2
JIB (105%) 254 sq ft 23.6 m2
ASYMMETRICAL CODE 1A VMG 1,113 sq ft 103.4 m2
ASYMMETRICAL CODE 2A RUNNER 1,302 sq ft 121.0 m2
ASYMMETRICAL CODE 0, 100° REACHER 774 sq ft 71.9 m2

Excellent photography by Guido Trombetta
found on m32.com
found on seawayblog.blogspot.com

It’s been quite a ride for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” since it was first announced last September. First there was concern over whether star Johnny Depp would return following Dick Cook’s departure from Disney. Then a few story details emerged, a director was confirmed and new stars were confirmed while old ones stepped away.

Speaking to producer Jerry Bruckheimer at ShoWest in Las Vegas last week, MTV’s Larry Carroll learned a bit more about these new characters.
“We have a new villain, Blackbeard, who’s the nastiest pirate ever. That’s Ian McShane,” Bruckheimer said. McShane is perhaps most memorable for his role on HBO’s “Deadwood” as the sometimes-villainous/sometimes-benevolent but always self-serving bar/brothel owner Al Swearengen. “And a little romance between Captain Jack and the character Penelope plays,” the producer continued. “There’s a lot of humor, she brings a lot of humor to it. And the fact that she’s so feisty. She plays the daughter of Blackbeard.”

Bruckheimer confirmed that Depp, Cruz and McShane will all be sailing out for “Pirates 4″ in June, along with Captain Barbossa actor Geoffrey Rush. That’s not all however. Bruckheimer couldn’t say who yet, but it appears we’ll be seeing some other new characters joining in on the latest “Pirates” adventure as well.

“We’re looking for some new kids that’ll be in it. So we’re testing right now,” he said. Bruckheimer also cautioned fans not to worry over the coming changes; this is still “Pirates of the Caribbean” after all.

“We’re gonna take a whole new direction, but Johnny’s gonna be back as Captain Jack. It’s a continuation of what you saw the last time, he’s searching for the Fountain of Youth.

found on moviesblog.mtv.com

The subject matter of Oskar Kihlborg’s photography often changes,
but his lens is always focused with the same intent.

Whether it was the shots he took 8,850 metres above the sea from the summit
of Mount Everest in 1990, or those from a deep sea wreckage 40 metres beneath
the ocean, or even the snaps taken while clinging to his yacht’s rail during 85 knot
gusts in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Oskar has always maintained, “Quality
is the most important thing.”

He constantly seeks better angles, sharper colours and different shadows in an
effort to make his pictures come to life and stir emotions in those perusing them.

It has been a learning process since he hopped on his bike in 1992, cycling from
Rome to Stockholm, flashing his camera at the sights he passed along the way.
He continued shooting onboard Nicorette during their successful assault on the
world transatlantic record in 1997, through to his roles as official photographer
for Victory Challenge in the America’s Cup, Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race
2001-02,the entire Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-06 and team photographer for
Ericsson Racing Team in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.

The freezing cold conditions of the Volvo Baltic Race during 2003 and 2004 didn’t
compare to those found on Everest, but his emphasis on quality was the same.

found on kihlborg.se

Japanese sea nettle:
Jellyfish, which have inhabited the world’s oceans in one form or another for over one billion years, come in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes and colors. One species commonly found in Japanese coastal waters in spring and summer is the Japanese sea nettle (Chrysaora melanaster). When full grown, this jelly can reach up to 1 meter (3 ft) in length with an umbrella measuring 20 centimeters (8 in) in diameter.

The Pacific sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens)
is one of the world’s largest jellyfish, with an umbrella that typically measures up to 50 centimeters wide and tentacles that stretch up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) in length. It has a moderate to severe sting that can cause welts to form.

The moon jelly (Aurelia aurita)
is probably the world’s most widely distributed jellyfish. It is quite commonly found along the shores of Japan. Although it is composed of more than 95% water, it has an amazing ability to quickly heal itself, even after severe injuries. The moon jelly typically grows to a length of 15 centimeters (6 in) from the top of the umbrella to tip of the tentacles, with a diameter of 30 centimeters.

Spotted jellyfish:
Though mainly found in the southern Pacific Ocean, the spotted jellyfish is active in Japanese waters from summer to autumn. When full grown, this jellyfish measures about 50 centimeters (1 ft 8 in) from top to bottom and 15 centimeters (6 in) wide.

found on pinktentacle.com

True oysters are members of the family Ostreidae. This family includes the edible oysters, which mainly belong to the genera Ostrea, Crassostrea, Ostreola and Saccostrea. Examples include the Belon oyster, Eastern oyster, Olympia oyster, Pacific oyster, Sydney rock oyster and the Wellfleet oyster.

Removing a pearl from an oyster.
Almost all shell-bearing molluscs can secrete pearls, yet most are not very valuable.
Pearl oysters are not closely related to true oysters, being members of a distinct family, the feathered oysters (Pteriidae). Both cultured pearls and natural pearls can be obtained from pearl oysters, though other molluscs, such as the freshwater mussels, also yield pearls of commercial value.
The largest pearl-bearing oyster is the marine Pinctada maxima, which is roughly the size of a dinner plate.

Not all individual oysters produce pearls naturally. In fact, in a harvest of three tons of oysters, only three to four oysters produce perfect pearls. Western Australia is currently the worlds largest cultivator of Pinctada maxima oysters.
In nature, pearl oysters produce natural pearls by covering a minute invading parasite with nacre, not by ingesting a grain of sand. Over the years, the irritating object is covered with enough layers of nacre to form what is known as a pearl. There are many different types, colours and shapes of pearl; these qualities depend on the natural pigment of the nacre, and the shape of the original irritant.

Pearl farmers can culture a pearl by placing a nucleus, usually a piece of polished mussel shell, inside the oyster. In three to six years, the oyster can produce a perfect pearl. These pearls are not as valuable as natural pearls, but look exactly the same. In fact, since the beginning of the 20th century, when several researchers discovered how to produce artificial pearls, the cultured pearl market has far outgrown the natural pearl market. Natural pearls have become increasingly scarce, and a necklace with only natural pearls can easily cost several hundred thousand US dollars.

Fishing from the wild
Oysters are harvested by simply gathering them from their beds. In very shallow waters they can be gathered by hand or with small rakes. In somewhat deeper water, long-handled rakes or oyster tongs are used to reach the beds. Patent tongs can be lowered on a line to reach beds that are too deep to reach directly. In all cases the task is the same: the oysterman scrapes oysters into a pile, and then scoops them up with the rake or tongs.
In some areas a scallop dredge is used. This is a toothed bar attached to a chain bag. The dredge is towed through an oyster bed by a boat, picking up the oysters in its path. While dredges collect oysters more quickly, they heavily damage the beds, and their use is highly restricted. Until 1965 Maryland limited dredging to sailboats, and even since that date motor boats can be used only on certain days of the week. These regulations prompted the development of specialized sailboats (the bugeye and later the skipjack) for dredging.

Oysters can also be collected by divers.
In any case, when the oysters are collected, they are sorted to eliminate dead animals, bycatch (unwanted catch), and debris. Then they are taken to market where they are either canned or sold live.

found on life.com
found on wikipedia.org

Chloe Moretz (Hit Girl from Kick-Ass) stars as Abby, a mysterious 12-year old girl, who moves next door to Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Road). Owen is a social outcast who is viciously bullied at school and in his loneliness, forms a profound bond with his new neighbor. Owen can’t help noticing that Abby is like no one he has ever met before. As a string of grisly murders occupy the town, Owen has to confront the reality that this seemingly innocent girl is really a savage vampire.

found on apple.com/trailers

Forget Paris and New York. These days, Spain is the must-visit destination for any serious food tourist and San Sebastián, or Donostia as the Basque locals call it, is arguably its culinary epicentre. This gracious seaside city of about 200,000 people has been a fashionable holiday destination for Europeans since the 19th century. Today, its immediate neighbourhood has more Michelin stars per head than anywhere else on the planet. It also has a rich history of gastronomic societies and a bar culture that encourages invention and respects tradition.

If you only have a day or two, there’s plenty to do right in the centre of town, but plan to be here towards the end of the week when everywhere is open. If you can stay longer, you’ll also have time to try some of the world’s hottest dining spots in the hills beyond the city, and classic seafood restaurants in nearby coastal villages.
Just Go There!!

found on sansebastianspain.info

Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses the wind to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). The terms kiteboarding and kitesurfing are interchangeable, with the USA and other countries referring to the sport as kiteboarding and the UK and a few other countries referring to the sport as kitesurfing. There are a number of different styles of kiteboarding, including freestyle (most common and utilises standard kite and board) or wake-style (flatter water using board with bindings) and wave-riding which is focused on big waves using a board designed for wave riding.

A kitesurfer or kiteboarder uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across the water. In 2006, the number of kitesurfers has been estimated at around 150,000 to 210,000, with 114,465 inflatable kites sold that same year. Kitesurfing has become more popular than windsurfing as a watersport because it is easier to learn the basics and because it is much easier to transport the necessary equipment

found on digitalfoto.nu

Is that a Riva calling you… Sure is.

It’s a stunning Riva Super Aquarama. And not only can you hear it start up and run every time some one calls you.

But you can hear it start up at your dock if you want. The Riva Ringtone is free. The Riva Super Aquarama.. well, that might cost you a tad more. You can bid on it in Florida on January 28-31 2010.

found on woodyboats.blogspot.com

I was surprised when Tim Flanagan went all Glen Beck on underwater lights last week. It hadn’t occurred to me that “no boat owner with an ounce of sense” would drill a hole below his or her waterline just to “make the water glow pretty colors”.  In fact, senseless me has long considered going for the dramatic effect above (compliments DeepSea Power & Light) on Li’l Gizmo, which has become fairly reasonable and easy thanks to gear likeOceanLED’s Amphibians. You’ll note that they are surface mounted, and hence only need a cable hole through the hull (they also purportedly run cool enough to use on deck). But, heck, I’d  consider putting bigger holes in big Gizmo’s transom if the LED and thermoplastic casing technologies reach the right cost/performance point, which is where they seem headed.  Any underwater fitting deserves especially carefull installation, but I don’t think fixed underwater lights compare, danger-wise, to true thru-hulls which involve a forever hole protected only by an often open valve and a hose.  Has anyone heard of an underwater light causing a sinking?  And while I won’t argue that anyone really needs underwater lights, they sure can be beautiful…

found on panbo.com