Interesting

short films...
3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage… all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food into 3 beautiful and compelling short films.....
= a trip of a lifetime.

move, eat, learn

Rick Mereki : Director, producer, additional camera and editing
Tim White : DOP, producer, primary editing, sound
Andrew Lees : Actor, mover, groover
All Music composed and performed by Kelsey James

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.
EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.
LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Hurricane preparation advice

"Stealth" Boat Could Revolutionize Naval Warfare

The Ghost is designed to move very quickly and stealthily through water by generating a layer of gas around its underwater surfaces. Handout photo provided by Juliet Marine Systems Inc.

A stealth boat that moves through water at high speeds and with near invisibility could revolutionize the Navy's ability to carry out special operations on water.

The craft, called The Ghost, moves by generating a layer of gas around submerged surfaces, greatly reducing friction. It's unique design makes it ideal for special operations, according to DiscoveryNews. The ship can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour and has a shape designed to reduce its visibility to radar, similar to the Navy's "Sea Shadow" project of the 1980s.

Gregory Sancoff, president and chief executive officer of Juliet Marine, said the  U.S. government is interested and his company is working with a defense contractor to build a 150-foot model. The friction reducing gas technology, called supercavitation, works by generating a low-pressure zone around the ship's surface.

The Ghost keeps a low radar profile the same way stealth planes do, by making the radar waves bounce off of its surface.

Sancoff said The Ghost is ideal for missions close to coasts, such as getting special operations teams into and out of areas quickly. It could also be deployed against pirates and even used to attack on aircraft carriers and destroyers.

Eric Wertheim, analyst at the U.S. Naval Institute, told DiscoveryNews the boat's makers must show it can do what a submarine can't.

"This is a tough budget time to be introducing any technology that isn't being specifically called for by the Navy," he said. "You have to answer the question of what is the need not being met."

Seems to be all over, but the clean up

Hopefully this time tomorrow we look back on Irene and think; could've been worse, but what a mess. Luckily, it seems that she didn't pack the punch to the east coast (though it did hurt) that we were afraid it would do. No one can say we weren't prepared and absolutely no one can say we weren't warned... 24/7 for the last few days.

We heard from Tucker and our friends at Wild Tamarind—everyone is okay.
Wild Tamarind seems to have lost an east facing dock, but that and some damage to the vegetation is about all. We're sure Leonora, Artemio, and crew will have that repaired in no time.
Tuck has no damage at all (except to our Sat Dish) boat, dock, houses, everything good... as Preston would say. We may be heading back over with some supplies soon and to bring the net back up.

Boy did we get out of the islands and head to the right place or what? We almost took Istaboa back up to the Chesapeake again this year... That wouldn't have been a good move.
We almost stayed at Compass Cay. That would've been interesting. Maybe too interesting for our tastes.

Found some pics of the Abacos and it looks like they did okay... again, just a mess and loss of power, but nothing like we've seen in the past. e.g. Hugo, Wilma
Pics here http://www.local10.com/slideshow/weather/28974547/detail.html

Now we read that New York City has escaped major damage and the storm is subsiding.

Everything good?

Adios... Irene!

Istaboa


PS... Totally off the subject, but an interesting article out of my hometown... Grew up with the dancer... Bet he's not dancing now.

Hollywood directed defense, challenged old case against 'West Memphis Three'

Irene, the aftermath... Exumas, Nassau

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

More pics of Staniel at Marv Market's Smugmug page.

Update from Compass Cay

Tucker has called the Memphis office and told them that all was good. He said they had 130 MPH winds and that none of the boats, the marina, or the houses were damaged. Then his phone died.
Tried to call back, but got a busy signal.
Good news, very good news.

Staniel Cay's Watermakers Air office 8:00AM

This video was cut from Marv Market's weather site Still no active sessions on Compass Cay's internet monitor nor any word from Tucker.

Irene news from the Exumas

Heard from a good source that several of the Cays in the Pipe Creek area were okay, but still nothing about Compass Cay as of yet. We monitor the internet at Compass and as of right now it's still down; we're hoping because the weather is blocking the satellite dish.

No active routers and no active sessions = no net.

 
Good news that Staniel Cay Yacht Club is still standing and they are starting to clean up.
Found this youtube of 6:30 AM today in Nassau. At the time of shooting this video it was 2 hr before the eye's passing.




It's not looking good for Eleuthera or the Abacos

Cut from Chris Parker's WX Update

Exumas: Conditions in StanielCay & G'twn have increased in the past couple hours as squall bands arrived. Peak conditions may increase a bit more overnight (backing NE-N-NNW@50-80k sustained, with some higher gusts). Peak conditions should persist from now thru midnight in G'twn / mostly overnight in StanielCay. Thereafter...winds should begin to decrease as they back from NNW-W-SW, probably near 50k sustained (gusting 65k) for a few hours, before SW winds decrease further. G'twn should subside to SW 50k-or-less by Dawn / StanielCay SW-WSW@50k-or-less by late morning Thu25. Cat & Eluthera: Areas W of Irene's center (some of Eluthera but not any of Cat) should see backing NE-N-NNW@80-100k sustained, with some higher gusts until Irene's center passes (tomorrow morning for Eluthera)...then backing W-SW under 80k sustained, with higher gusts.

For us here in S Florida? A bit rainy and breezy, but okay. Maybe more wind later today and tonight, but not much.
The folks in North Carolina are bracing for a blow as Irene's taking aim at Cape Fear and on up the east coast.

That's all we know for now.

Adios,

Istaboa

Good news/Bad news

The good news, for Crew Istaboa anyway, is the storm seems to have turned east and away from Florida.

The Exumas look like they will be spared the total force of the storm, though it still is too early to tell.
The bad news is for the eastern Bahamas. e.g. Eleuthera, Long Island, the Abacos
They look to be in line for quite a blow.
Think good thoughts... pray... meditate... curse... what ever works for you, let's hope Irene goes east and out to sea.

Here we go again

Yep... another blow.
Wish we were back at Compass. Much better protection from all sides.

Making plans... Crossing fingers and toes.

Happy Birthday, Mason

Almost forgot...

Home away from home... away from home.

Reentry:
Stuart and Sunset Bay.

So this morning, rested and nursing a few bumps, scrapes, and bruises, we're all enjoying the comforts and conveniences of being back in the USA.
Mel had pizza delivered last night, Radar got to see his buddies, Clyde and Bob, and I had the idea of driving our truck up the street to a grocery store for milk... then a liquor store for whatever I wanted. (not just Rum or Kalik)
Oh, the comforts of home.

Over the last few months, we've intentionally stayed away from TV news and all that goes with that. Our internet surfing has been no deeper into current events than the hyped up headlines of the news sites that made us cringe and look for something more entertaining and enlightening, such as Skype, tech stuff, and boat stuff. Stuff that actually had an affect on our lifestyle.
Yes, for three months we've had the luxury of living a wonderfully carefree existence. Of course we did a little work, but we did it island style. (When in the island, do as the islanders; as if you have a choice. If you haven't, everyone who dreams of doing business in the islands should read Don't stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk....)

And now... we're back.
We flip on the TV to catch up on what's happening and BAM!
The whole world is collapsing. Not just the USA, now the whole world is on the brink of financial destruction, the Arab Spring has been extended into summer, London is burning; in America, The Tea Party types are lost somewhere down the rabbit hole,  and with all this going on, our President has the audacity to go on vacation at about the same time other American families do. (Hope he and his family have a nice time, we've always wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard. Heard it's beautiful) About the only positive thing we've heard is the authorities finally let those three young fellows go free in my hometown of West Memphis, Arkansas. It's a crime they lost their youth. It's more of a crime the investigation into who did this stopped when it did. (Props to those who never gave up.)
Added on 8-28-11... Article from Memphis Commercial Appeal http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/28/hollywood-directed-defense-of-three/


But we look outside and it all looks just as when we left. We don't get it. So we turn off the news, eat our hot delivered pizza, take pleasure in the fact that the boat is notta rockin, relax, and watch a mindless, but mildly humorous, sitcom on TV.
Ignorance IS bliss.

On leaving the Exumas and Compass Cay:
The rest on page 2.

Back in the USA

Stuart is home again...
Lots of different weather and few foul-ups, but tired after the 2 day run.
More later.

Big night on Compass Cay

 To be added to the "Shots over the Bow" collection

Compass Cay's first Junkanoo

As posted earlier, Josh threw a great wedding party for his brother Zack and new sister in law, Gergana. He really pulled out all the stops.
It all started the night before with a steak and lobster dinner on the deck next to the marina. The next day brought the wedding on Crescent Beach followed by the Junkanoo Band from Blackpoint escorting the  bride and groom back across the island Junkanoo Parade style to the marina and the wedding party.

Zack and Gergana

It was a very fun night... Thanks Josh, you did good.

More on page 2.

Just a few pics

Last night was a big one... got lots of pics to process then post. Our friend Josh threw an incredible party to celebrate his brother's wedding. What a night!
In the meantime, a few pics that came out well.
These are the barrel houses on Wild Tamarind. We have finally completed the WiFi project here and it's worked out really well. We've managed to lite up the whole island with internet without disturbing any of it's natural beauty.

And the infamous Vinnie... sans ears.
Scarey at first, but now he's our bud.

More barrel house photos on page 2.

Lobster Season

Apologies for not posting in a while, we've been busy with the wifi project on Wild Tamarind Cay and when not being gear heads, there has been some good fishing and eating going on.
With the threat of TS Emily passing, the marina has been filling up again. During this mid summer season the marina becomes even more international. French, Argentina, German, and Korean folks have come over from Miami to enjoy the great weather we have. English speaking folks are now the minority here.
Most folks think an island in the tropics would be incredibly hot this time of year, but to the contrary, It's very nice. Yes, the sun is hot, but if you stand in the shade, the breeze will keep you very comfortable. Avg. temp... 85.
And its Lobster season!

Jamal Rolle  aka The Lobster King

(notice the sharks in the water)

Jamal, Tucker's son and heir apparent to Compass Cay, has been diving for lobster since he was a child. This time of year is the big payoff for these guys. Lobster brings a good price in Nassau and Jamal knows where to find them.
He's always kind enough to share a few with us. Some we eat fresh and some we will freeze to take back home.
Jamal's not the only one that's been diving for these critter's since childhood. Check out these girls.

The girls are the daughters of our friend Josh and they've grown up doing this every summer for 12 years. They too are quite good at bringing back the bugs, but not only Crawfish.... Check out page 2.

What wind?

Happily, we can report that T.S. Emily has blown herself away and is now just a surface trough down around the Turks and Caicos.
Again, much ado about not much... but it did get us back to Istaboa and we're very happy about that.
Rather be safe than sorry.
Had a nice dinner in Ft Lauderdale and a smooth flight back to the islands. No complaints.

Into the wind

At this moment we are at about 30,000 feet on our way to Fort Lauderdale, hoping to get on a little plane tomorrow that will take us to the Exumas and Compass. The weather seems to be deteriorating, but who knows. That's what I thought last year when I flew into Earl and that ended up just being a party and a hangover, not a blow. Hope for the same with Emily. Don't like our position though. Turn east, baby, turn east!!

Anyway... If Watermakers flies tomorrow we will be back home to take care of whatever this all brings.

Adios,

Istaboa

ps... Thanks Diet Coke for giving us complementary Wifi on our Delta flight.