News Updates

Pirates Claim They've Seized British Yacht. Two things struck me about this story in today's Guardian: the couple is not considered wealthy by Western standards so ransom demands may be difficult to meet, and it seems the pirates are expanding both their reach and the types of vessels they're targeting.

Avoiding Northwest Winter Woes. Boat owners in all temperate regions will appreciate these winterization tips, from the bloggers at Three Sheets Northwest. This link is from the Seattle PostGlobe.

Flogging and Mutiny in the 21st Century: Proudly Waving the Stars And Stripes. This blog entry, sent to me by Capt. Intheweeds, paints a chilling picture of what it's really like out there for many of the world's mariners.