The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.
Human Exploration of the Deep Sea
Only in June 2020 did the number of people visiting Challenger Deep exceed the number of people who’ve walked on the Moon.
Greenpeace calls out SailGP for greenwashing
SailGP persisted and a series of rules were agreed (the Marine Mammal Protection Plan) that would allow the race but protect the dolphins. The most important rule was that racing must stop if dolphins were sighted in or near the racing area.
A Stork, a Fisherman and Their Unlikely Bond Enchant Turkey
So began an unlikely tale of man and bird that has captivated Turkey as the passing years — and a deft social media campaign by a local nature photographer — have spread the pair’s story as a modern-day fable of cross-species friendship.
“Not my Problem” is not a solution
This short documentary features more wooden boats than you would see in a year, here in Australia, but that’s not what its about.
Whales and (good news) Tales
There is a growing awareness that focusing on tragedy and despair in our daily news cycle is not only an empirically unbalanced representation of the truth, but it is also harmful to the prospects of solving the problems we do actually face by creating despondency and a sense of zero agency.
‘Once it’s gone, it’s gone’: the last coracle fishers
But like his fellow netsmen, Len Walters remains gloomy about what the future holds. “If you take away the right to fish, you’ll no longer have people making coracles,” he says. “And it’s such an amazing way to fish. All feel. No engines, no noises, just the skill of two boys in a coracle. And it’s sad because once it’s gone, it’s gone. It’ll never come back.”
The return of cargo-carrying sail ships
People don't see the "true ecological price" of container ships. "The price of people falling ill due to the climate change, for instance. That's never paid for."
What’s Stopping Us?
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has announced an El Niño event is "likely in the coming weeks", but has again held off declaring that it is underway, despite having satisfied its own criteria.
Very Precious Plastic
All these hands coming together to realise a vision, a common purpose, aspiring for a better world- this is what success looks like. This is what hope looks like. Not passive hope, but hope from action.
The Weather Guru
I’ve worked with the best sailors in the world. Pretty much all of them have an absolute feeling and instinct about the wind and the nature of the wind they’re sailing in. But if you scratch the surface, they know bugger-all. And if you could put a bit of science into it, they could learn a lot more.
New Ways to Use Trees
“It’s quite simple for me,” says French designer Thomas Tison, “Modernity does not neglect where we all come from – on the contrary it makes the best of it. In a way a boat is a heritage, so to ignore wood would be to ignore the essence of yacht design and building.”
20% Less Fuel?
Their research showed that the Seawing would have a pulling power of up to 100 tons meaning it can contribute to propulsion for a ship of over 200,000 tons and over 1,000 feet in length. They project fuel savings on average of 20 percent by deploying the kite sail.
“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul”
In essence, we’re just a conceited, naked ape. In our minds we’re some sort of “divine legend” We can walk around the earth deciding who will live and who will die and what will be destroyed and what will be saved.
My activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet
The power of the film comes, not from any particular radicalism that Lamya shows in her work … but by showing the counterpoint of her “normal” life in Paris with the horrors of environmental vandalism around the world.
The Green Nimby’s dilemma
On the 19th December Energy Minister Chris Bowen to declare Gippsland as Australia's first offshore wind zone. Mr Bowen also confirmed new parameters to a zone previously proposed in the consultation period.
“Society is defined by what it refuses to destroy.”
There are an estimated six million boats in the EU alone, 95% of which are made of GRP. Every year, around 1-2% (60,000-120,000) of these boats reach the end of their useful life. Of these, only 2,000 are recycled, while 6,000-9,000 are abandoned.
‘It’s a little bit of utopia’
Olivier Barreau and his twin brother, Jacques, are part of a small but growing number of entrepreneurs who are grappling with the problem of how to transport goods across the globe at a scale that makes economic sense, without further damaging the planet.
Bass Strait Seal Mania
After rounding Cape Howe onto the southern coast, Bass discovered a big bay he named “Western Port” because of its position relative to Port Jackson. Bass reported the southern coast and islands were teeming with seals and predicted a colonial sealing industry.
“Why I love Tasmania”
A speech by Ian Johnston from the City of Hobart’s Speakers’ Corner Series acknowledges why Tasmania is so special and suggests what needs to be done to keep it so.
Tsumanis in Sydney Harbour
This day was different. There was a current tsunami warning
as a result of the enormous volcanic explosion and eruption in Tonga.
People were advised to keep clear of the shoreline and be aware that
there could be strong currents and unexpected eddies.
SWS IS A SURPRISING SUCCESS STORY
BUT TO CONTINUE, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Your donation will help us to publish your weekly source of
woodenboat inspiration and grow this unique community.