Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates known on Earth.   One female shark has been radio-carbon dated at around 400 years old.   These sharks grow at a rate of 1cm each year to reach reproductive maturity at about age 150.   The former vertebrate record-holder was a bowhead whale estimated to be around 200 years old (but still the oldest recorded mammal).   The female shark was likely born in the 17th century.  

More details can be found online at www.bbc.com/news/ & https://youtu.be/hz2HBk5sKlc

Christmas Quiz

A very Merry Christmas to all our members!

Test your knowledge over the holiday period by seeking answers to the following questions:-

Movies & Books

• Who starred in the Christmas movie ‘Jingle All the Way’?
  
• Who stole all things of Christmas from ‘the Who’s’?
  
• Who starred in the movie ‘White Christmas’?
  
• What was Scrooge’s first name in the novel ‘A Christmas Carol’?
  
• Who wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’?
  
• How many ghosts are there in ‘A Christmas Carol’?
  
• Name the animated Christmas movie starring Tom Hanks.
  

Foods

• What milk-based Christmas beverage comes in both alcoholic & non-alcoholic versions?
  
• Stollen is the traditional fruit cake of which country?
  
• What name is given to small sausages wrapped in bacon, a staple at a British Christmas dinner?
  
• Father Christmas' red & white costume was allegedly introduced by which drinks manufacturer?
  
• In which direction should you stir mincemeat for good luck; clockwise or anti-clockwise?
  
• What would you stick into an onion, when making a traditional bread sauce?
  
• A swede is a cross between which two vegetables?
  

For answers, and a complete list of 121 questions, click here.

A Little Local History

Tom Cunliffe, guest speaker at GCCC clubhouse in January this year, is shown around a WWII Defence Launch, based in Haslar Marina, and hears about it’s unique and remarkable history.

https://youtu.be/gsOSu5esexs

The aircraft carrier, which arrived at Portsmouth last month, will be joined by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on December 10 for a commissioning ceremony.

The ceremony, lasting around 35 minutes, will include an inspection of the ship’s Royal Guard, a service by the Fleet Chaplain, music from the Band of the Royal Marines, cutting of the commissioning cake and a hoisting of the White Ensign to officially designate the ship as a part of the Royal Navy’s operational fleet.

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/

https://youtu.be/X5HU7FvVN6Y

Autonomous Vessels 

Saildrone ‘SD 1021’, the first autonomous vessel crossing the Atlantic Ocean in both directions, has completed the voyage of 3,402 nM in a record 68 days.

These unmanned surface vessels (USVs), powered entirely by wind & solar energy, can perform in the harshest ocean conditions whilst collecting data from both above and below the sea’s surface - including air & surface temperature, wind speed & direction, wave height & period, atmospheric pressure, radiation, dissolved oxygen, salinity and acidity levels.   ‘SD 1021’ also has an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) for both current strength & direction.

www.maritime-executive.com

PS.  With Argofloats and Saildrones as ‘Satellites of the Sea’, it’s no wonder foiling craft travelling at 40kts through the water risk catastrophic collision with ‘unknown objects’!!  (see Alex Thompson’s disaster at https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/blog/2019/11/08/alex-thomson-and-neal-mcdonald-arrive-safely-to-the-cape-verde-islands-onboard-hugo-boss/

The Big Squeeze

Last month,16th October, 929 passengers held their breath as their 22m-wide Fred Olsen cruise liner became the largest boat to pass through the narrow 25m-wide Corinth Canal and claim a world record!

Dividing Pelopónnisos from mainland Greece, the Corinth Canal has connected the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf since 1893.  A birdseye view of the cruise transit can be found at:- https://youtu.be/oPkrmTELao8

Suspicious Behaviour

The tragic loss of life concerning a refrigerated trailer is a timely reminder of Project Kraken about tackling maritime border crime around the UK’s mainland coastline.   Unusual or suspicious activity should be reported either online (anonymously, if preferred) or by calling the police on 101 (999 in an emergency).    

Suspicious activity could include:-

1. Boats arriving at unusual times or to isolated locations.
2. People taking an interest in port security or buildings.
3. Nervous crew who show a lack of maritime protocols.
4. People making attempts to signal or guide boats offshore.
5. People making a large cash payment for maritime equipment.
6. People being somewhere they shouldn’t be.
7. Boats showing signs of unusual modification or minor damage.

https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime

Age of Sail

The passing of an era for some, the price of progress for others.
Take a romantic look at this video and wipe the tears from your eyes!

https://youtu.be/TH3HOcRayC8

Southampton VTS

Notice to Mariners (No.14 of 2019) reminds skippers that:-

a) Vessels over 220m LOA transiting between Hook Buoy and Prince Consort Buoy (known as ‘The Precautionary Area’) are entitled to a ‘clear channel’ with unimpeded passage ahead.

b) All vessels over 150m LOA navigating within the area are entitled to a Moving Prohibited Zone (MPZ) extending 1000 metres ahead of the bow and 100 metres either side.

c) Vessels more than 180m LOA shall not pass each other between Hook Buoy and West Bramble Buoy.

d) To indicate the presence of an MPZ vessels over 150m LOA shall display a black cylinder by day and, by night, 3 all-round red lights in a vertical line.

e) Whenever possible a Patrol Launch (VHF Channel 12; Call Sign ‘’SP’’), showing an all-round blue light, will precede all vessels over 150m LOA within the Precautionary Area.

f) Absence of a patrol launch does not invalidate a vessel’s MPZ.

More details, including the effects of flood & ebb tides, can be found at http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/NTMs/2019%20No%2014%20-%20Port%20of%20Southampton%20-%20Precautionary%20Area%20(Thorn%20Channel).pdf

Following on from the club’s recent workshop on safety equipment, more information about the RYA SafeTrx system, replacing the old CG66 service, can be found in the ‘All At Sea’ article via link https://issuu.com/all-at-sea/docs/all_at_sea_september_2019 at page 50.

Also on the RYA website http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/safe-boating/keep-in-touch/Pages/safetrx.aspx#0