Another teen sailor to begin circumnavigation

The sails are set, the safety gear is in good condition and the sea trials have been made. All Abby Sunderland needs is a fair breeze.

The 16-year-old was slated to depart at 11:30 a.m. Saturday from the Del Rey Yacht Club in her hometown of Marina del Rey, Calif., aboard Wild Eyes, her Scott Jutson-designed Open 40, determined to follow her dream of sailing non-stop around the world unassisted.

She was to set off Jan. 18, but a series of cold fronts blowing from the south caused her to wait for a more opportune weather window.

Abby is taking a cue from her older brother, Zac, who completed his solo-circumnavigation at age 17 and 231 days last July after leaving June 14, 2008 from Marina del Rey, Calif. Zac only held the "title" of youngest solo circumnavigator for one month and 11 days before British teen Mike Perham - who set out Nov. 18, 2008 - completed his non-stop journey Aug. 27, 2009. Perham was 17 years, 164 days at the time he completed the journey - the current record.

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Cruising Club of America to present 2009 Far Horizons Award to Lin and Larry Pardey

The Cruising Club of America has selected Lin and Larry Pardey to receive its prestigious 2009 Far Horizons Award in recognition of their lifetime of cruising and voyaging. The award will be presented on March 5, 2010 by CCA Commodore Sheila McCurdy (Middletown, R.I.) during the club's annual Awards Dinner at the New York Yacht Club, in New York.

Lin and Larry Pardey were married on October 31, 1968 in Newport Beach, Calif., and on that same day they launched Seraffyn, a Lyle Hess designed cutter they built themselves. Seraffyn was 24 feet 7 inches LOA (length overall) with an 8-foot 11-inch beam, and the boat had no engine. They began their trip eastward through the Panama Canal and then crossed on to Europe. For 11 years they cruised the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas and then headed south through the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and on to Japan. From there, they traveled to Canada and south back to Newport Beach for a total circumnavigation of 47,000 miles.

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Coast Guard urges duck hunters to 'plan on not drowning'

BOSTON -- The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a safety advisory to migratory bird hunters on the inland and coastal waters of the Northeast.

Nationally, the Coast Guard has rescued nearly 20 hunters in the last month. Five hunters died because they fell overboard or their boat capsized.

"Here in the Northeast, we've had seven duck hunters capsize and fortunately all survived," said Al Johnson, recreational boating specialist for the First Coast Guard District, which has headquarters in Boston. "With various hunting seasons open through mid-February, we want hunters to know, if you're on the water, it is essential to be prepared. People don't plan on drowning, but you can easily plan on not drowning."

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Newport-based boat dominates regatta in Key West, Fla.

Associated Press / Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman

The deck of Bella Mente -- skippered by Hap Fauth, and home-ported in Newport, R.I. -- is jammed with crew members as they sail their IRC 1 boat to victory Thursday in the seventh race of the Key West regatta in Key West, Fla.

Bella Mente has won all but one of eight races in the regatta thus far, and has clinched the class' top trophy, even though two more races remain on Friday.

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