Piracy!

 Not limited to the far and Middle-East?

Over recent years many yachts have disappeared in the Caribbean sea and off the coast of C-and S-America and it is believed that they were hijacked for various reason, kidnapping, used to smuggle drugs or just theft with the crews being murdered and dumped overboard! 

With this comes the use of drones on both sides of the criminal world more and the respective authorities in the region, since they are more pliable and cheaper to use to see what is lurking about more so at Night and are also capable of targeting?

The United States claims it wants to end the drug trade coming into the southern states, but it may also be to start another war this time with Venezuela with F-35 Jets being deployed in Puerto-Rico

HMS Sentinel Plus.

Patrolling the English/French Channel.

We have a problem that has mushroomed and will continue to exist wither we Brexit or not, that of smuggling people from France to the southern-England. The English Channel is one of the busiest in the world, with one ship every eleven miles apart east to west and mostly Ferries every five miles north to south, this does not include fishing boats, yachts and other military vessels.

One only has to go to Marine traffic to see the complexities and congestion of this sea!  Meanwhile the French navy has dedicated 30-40 ships to patrol their waters and the British Royal Navy 3-4 of the HMS Sentinel type cutters.

We have not heard much in relation to France intercepting these migrant smuggling boats? But it has mostly been the general public on this side of the Channel who see these flimsy craft sinking, if not the smugglers themselves.

Serious cut backs in the armed forces have over the last few years been pointed out by the U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama, as having a potential on N.A.T.O. deployment capability of lack.

These boats are fast and very manoeuvrable at sea and they are effective in use as Customs Cutters, the problem of just twelve for the U.K.'s waters is a serious lack and by the time more vessels are built and commissioned we may be swamped, as Nigel Farage is pointing out to the E.U. open borders policy?

Sail Ships. Part-One.

Knowing the basics.

Living by the sea one see's loads of yachts and boats, including the odd sail ship. Over the years I have missed quite a few of them either in Swansea Bay, and the Bristol Channel and many other parts of the UK and Ireland.

There are a few films on classic yachts and some of them may be original trawlers, since the trawler started life in this part of the world anyway. Sail ship deign is strange enough still improving, but it was in the early 19th Century, that the Clipper came to its fore. Ships like the 'Cutty Sark, which has now been restored and is at Greenwich in London by the River Thames.

She was built in Dumbarton Scotland in 1869, weighing 921 tons and was 212 feet long. Her hey day was in carrying tea from China to the Port of London in 100 days and at a speed of about average 16 knots. 

The basic sail layout of these ships had developed from one main sail and a few smaller one to the three-four mast tall riggers. Ships like the Cutty Sark ended their days in the wool industry from Australia and the introduction of steam power and the opening of the Suez canal in Egypt.

Yachts.

Liesure and Sport.

The yacht is perhaps one of the greatest sailing vessel ever devised, because in the design for speed new hulls have been developed. As a sport, it is one of the greatest for skill and team work as people battle the elements and mastery of the seas. (or rather respect of the seas).

Not all yachting is at sea, some prefer lakes and rivers or inlets and many find pleasure in relaxing and enjoying a hobby or pass time with their boats.

Racing yachting is today big bussiness around the world, with the Americas cup and Cowes week on the isle of Wight.