The crazy thing is, even if she succeeds, she might never get credit for the accomplishment. With the increasing scrutiny of young sailors vying for record setting circumnavigation voyages, the record keeping organizations have stopped recognizing such records. Unless something changes, the “official” record will always belong to Mike Perham, who was seventeen when he completed his voyage a year ago.

Despite the formal acknowledgements, young sailors continue to make attempts to be the youngest ever to sail around the globe. Jessica Watson unofficially shattered Perham’s record in May. In turn her record was almost beaten by the ill fated Abby Sunderland, who would have completed her trip around the world at the ripe old age of 16 if she had not run into equipment problems and rough seas.

Abby Sunderland’s parents have come under a good deal of harsh criticism for allowing their 16 year old daughter to attempt to sail around the world by herself, something that was no doubt on the minds of Laura Dekker’s mother when she originally told her daughter that she wasn’t allowed to attempt the long journey. The Dutch courts agreed with mom that the then 13 year old Laura should not be allowed to go on such a dangerous journey.

So, Laura Dekker did precocious 13 year olds anywhere on the planet do when parents or the legal system tell them they can’t do something. She tried to do it anyway. The crazy thing is that she almost got away with it. She wasn’t caught until someone recognized her on the Dutch Island of St. Maarten. When this kid runs away, she really knows how to do it right. That’s over 4,000 miles from the Netherlands. We wonder if her parents kept the boat insurance up while they were looking for her.

So what difference does a year make? We don’t know, either. Apparently, though, it makes all the difference in the world both to young Ms. Dekker’s mother and the Dutch court system, both of who now approve of Dekker’s current bid to become the youngest person to solo circumnavigate the earth.

It’s good to know that the Dutch government approves. I wonder how the US government feels about such trips? I caught my 3 year old playing with a toy sailboat in the bathtub yesterday and have been thinking the kid just might have a shot at an unofficial, unrecognized record. At the very least, it’d be worth some publicity.

Photo via mikebaird

No insurance policy in the world is ever going to restore the value of the 1,000 houses and cabins built on Lake Delhi, of course. Even the ones that weren’t damaged have suffered the ignoble fate of being instantly transformed from lakefront property with a view to Mudville. And face it, who wants a piece of land on a mud flat?

Lake Delhi was formed when the dam was constructed over 80 years ago, and has been one of the area’s best recreation areas ever since. The dam hasn’t been used to produce electricity in a long time, but boaters and sportsmen have certainly enjoyed the lake.

Those with boat insurance can probably find another lake for their new boat, while those without it will likely do without for a while. At the very least, they’ll have to search through 9 miles of muddy hell to find their boats.

With any luck, the dam will be rebuilt. Federal programs may pay for as much as 75% of the rebuilding process, with the state of Iowa kicking in 10% and the local homeowners association and governing bodies kicking in the final 15%. What’s 15% on a dam cost nowadays, anyway? We’re not sure, but our guess would be somewhere around a hell of a lot. If the federal money is not granted (pending it being declared a disaster), it is unlikely the area will be able to afford to rebuild the dam. Even if they are, it will be quite some time before anyone pilots a boat on the new Lake Delhi.

This all goes to show you that anything can happen. It doesn’t pay to skimp on insurance coverages, be they home owner’s, boat insurance, or any other. After all, the last thing you want to worry about when you’re looking at a mudslide where the lake in your back yard used to be is whether or not you can fix or replace your boat.

Photo via mikecogh

Most kayaks are between nine and fourteen feet long. Ocean kayakers tend to favor the longer boats, as they offer more stability. Smaller kayaks are favored by river paddlers for their increased mobility and maneuverability.

Generally speaking, shark attacks on kayaks don’t end up with anyone getting seriously hurt. Make no mistake, that doesn’t make them any less scary. Even if you do carry boat insurance on your kayak, it’s probably the last thing on your mind when you know you have a shark in the water that’s potentially bigger than you and your kayak combined.

As most people know, sharks don’t eat kayaks. They just don’t taste very good. In general, sharks don’t even eat human beings. We just don’t have enough meat on our bones to make a worthwhile meal for the average shark which happens to be big enough to eat us. They much prefer seals.

Still, from thirty feet below the water, a surfboard or a kayak can look an awful lot like a seal, especially to a creature which arguably isn’t the brightest fish in the ocean to begin with. Generally, attacks on boats of any kind are by Great Whites. Most other sharks simply aren’t large enough to mess with something that big.

Of course, Mako sharks have been known to attack boats occasionally as well. As the world’s fastest shark, and one which attacks from behind, you’re in a bad situation if a Mako takes undue interest in your kayak. He can swim 50 miles per hour, and you’re definitely not going to be able to out paddle him.

Unlike the Mako, Great Whites are ambush predators. They generally strike from 30 feet or more below the surface, in a burst of speed so intense they have been known to completely leave the water while attacking. Fortunately, Great Whites are also finicky eaters and usually won’t return for a second bite if they didn’t like the first one. So, if you have a Great White following you, as intense as it can be, you probably don’t need to worry. At least until he dives, that is.

If you find yourself the unlikely and unlucky victim of a shark attack while kayaking, try to hold on to your paddle. It can be used to jab the shark on the snout, which is the best way to discourage it from seeing if the kayaker tastes any better than his boat.

Photo via Ray Devlin

One South African couple recently got a bit of a closer look at a 40 ton whale than they had bargained for. The couple, sailing the 33 foot steel sailboat the Intrepid first spotted the whale about 100 meters in the distance. When the whale dove, they assumed they had seen the last of it, but it resurfaced close to the boat, slapping its tail in a form of communication common amongst large whales.

Had it ended there, it would no doubt have been the boating experience of a lifetime. Unfortunately, it didn’t. We’re sure the whale probably intended no malice, but whales, like any other wild animal, can be unpredictable, especially during mating season.

Whales are supposed to be pretty intelligent, so we’ll assume the whale didn’t mistake the Intrepid for a pretty, fashionable girl whale. We’ll never know what the whale was thinking. We do know what it did, though.

Leaping almost completely out of the water (a pretty damned impressive feat at 40 tons in and of itself), the whale, whom the boaters describe as being “as long as our boat,” flopped itself onto the deck, tearing the mast down completely and making a general mess of things before managing to wiggle its way back into the water.

Luckily, no one was seriously hurt during the encounter. Had the boat been made out of fiberglass or wood, it probably would be at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean right now. Fortunately, the steel hull withstood the shock. The couple, both experienced boaters, were able to use the sailboat’s engine to get back to shore. The two boaters were given the scare of their lives, but managed to walk away from it unhurt.

The most remarkable thing about the whole encounter? Someone managed to get pictures of it. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. The boat insurance agent adjuster will have no trouble at all verifying exactly how that boat was damaged.

Photo via mikebaird

The criticism has come in many forms, from those who know a bit about sailing that Abby should not have been sailing through the Indian Ocean when it is winter there, and heavy storms are prevalent to the more generic “how in the world could anyone let their sixteen year old daughter…”

Would we allow our teenaged children to take on such a dangerous voyage? Who knows. Most of us have enough trouble just getting our teenagers to have enough ambition to take on Algebra. And yet, the fact is that just about every one of us allows our children to get into dangerous situations every day. The average teenager behind the wheel of a car has had far less experience with his vehicle and poses a much greater risk to himself and to others than Abby ever did in Wild Eyes.

Abby Sunderland is a very seasoned sailor for her age. Her older brother had already sailed around the world. Funny, no one was hollering about how irresponsible the Sunderlands were then. It’s only when plans go awry that bandwagon jumpers seem to rise up to wag fingers at those who dare to believe their kids are capable of accomplishing greatness.

We wouldn’t worry about Abby. She knew what she was doing, had a vessel that was well equipped for the voyage, and when things did go wrong, knew what to do and handled herself admirably. All of the clamor aside, we can’t imagine any parent who wouldn’t be proud of their kid for the way she handled herself in a very difficult situation.

Of course, many have pointed out that the international rescue effort was frightfully expensive. But let’s keep in mind that the costs would have been the same for a sailor of any age. That, and nobody objects when public resources are used to pull teens out of the wreckage of a totaled car.

OK, there are some extra zeroes involved. We get that. But the fact remains, Abbie had an opportunity to attempt something that only a handful of people have done successfully, and she gave it a shot. We wonder if more of us encouraged our children to take risks like that what kind of a world we could create in the next generation. We don’t know, either, but I suspect getting kids excited about taking chances like that is better than having them on the streets exposed to drugs, gangs, and who knows what else.  So, give the Sunderlands a break. And if your kid ever attempts to sail around the world, make sure the boat insurance is paid up.

Photo via RiRi Trautmann

BP does have a hotline set up for those boaters who are uninsured, but how is that right? Those of us who keep our boat insurance paid up shouldn’t have to put in claims on our policies for damages that were clearly caused by the oil spill. Now, we have no desire to kick a company while it’s down, but in this instance, it’s very clear who should be picking up the tab, and it shouldn’t be our insurance companies or (worse) us.

You might ask what difference it makes as long as the damage to our boats is fixed. Well, for starters, there are deductibles to be paid on insurance claims. We don’t know about you, but shelling out $500 or $1000 or more for damage we didn’t cause just doesn’t set right with us. Especially when it’s crystal clear who did cause the damage.

But it’s more than just the deductibles. In the end, the deductibles are like the little tar balls floating around in the Gulf, just a small part of the real problem. Here’s the thing. If our insurance companies have to pay out for damage claims to boats on the Gulf Coast, that means they’ll have to pay out a lot of claims. To the tune of millions of dollars.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not crying for the insurance companies. They accept the premium payments realizing there’s some risk that they will have to pay out for damages. But when something this big that potentially affects this many boats all at once hits, the costs can be staggering for insurance companies.

Insurance companies are no different than any other kind of company. At the end of the day, it’s about taking in more than you pay out. That’s what any company needs to do to keep itself in the black. And you can rest assured insurance companies will keep themselves in the black. Unfortunately, one of the ways they may have to do that is by raising premiums. On boat owners. I wonder, while BP is handing out checks, if they’ll consider covering the difference.

Photo via DVIDSHUB

Of course, the most important thing, for her parents and boating enthusiasts in general, is that she is safe and sound back on terra firma. Circumnavigating the globe is no small feat, especially for a young person. Had she completed the journey, Abby would have been the youngest person in history (at age 16) to circumnavigate the globe by herself.

Sailing around the world isn’t exactly a new thing. It has represented a kind of Holy Grail of sailing since the time that sailors figured out that the world was round. Of course, back then, having boat insurance was likely the least of your worries. With no satellite radio to call for help, you were pretty much on your own once you were out of port. While Abby didn’t quite make it this time around, here are a few notable sailors who did:

1. Juan Sebastián Elcano. Most people aren’t familiar with this name, but he was actually the man in charge of the first expedition to successfully sail around the world, finishing in 1522. What? You thought it was Ferdinand Magellan? Well, that’s partly true. It was Magellan’s voyage, and his idea, but the good Captain died enroute, during a battle with natives in the Phillipines. Elcano led the 18 survivors back to port.

1. Jessica Watson. While there has been much hype about young Abby Sunderland’s attempt to break the record, it has almost been forgotten that another 16 year old, Jessica, recently set the world record for solo circumnavigating the globe.

1. Francis Joyon, a Frenchman, who holds the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation, completing the voyage in 57 days.

1. Joshua Slocum of Nova Scotia, who was the first person to sail around the world by himself, finishing the journey in 1898. He didn’t fare so well in later voyages, and was lost at sea in the Caribbean in 1908.

1. Bernard Moitessier, who took things up a notch in 1968-69 when he sailed around the world without stopping.

1. Harry Heckel, who became the oldest circumnavigator. He did take a few stops, but at 89 years old, who can blame him?

Photo via Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL

2009 was an especially rough year in the boating world. Many manufacturers halted production, and tons of retailers went out of business. According to one industry journal, as many as half of retail boat dealers may have disappeared over the past few years.

Still, there may be good news. There are many folks that are optimistic that the rebound that’s taken place in 2010 in the auto industry may spread. There are already signs that the motor home industry is coming back, signaling that consumers are more willing to spend money on recreation than they have been in the past few years.

Take, for example, Wilson Marine in Brighton, Michigan. Its owner claims that boat sales are up by about 20 to 30 percent this year over this time last year.

Of course, some of this news is regional. Boat dealers in the Gulf states, which have been so focused in recent weeks on the BP oil spill, probably aren’t seeing the same kinds of positive results.

One trend worth noting is that more and more consumers are moving toward all-purpose crafts. Ski boats and cruisers aren’t selling all that well, but pontoon boats are moving very well. Pontoon boats serve not only as floating party barges, but as portable craft for swimming, fishing or just enjoying a trip down a river.

Another noticeable change from the past is that boat financing seems to be increasing in popularity. There are marine lenders offering 10 year terms, and interest rates comparable to car loan rates.

Whether the buying trend continues remains to be seen. For those of us who enjoy our water sports, more interest means more choices in the marketplace, so it can really only be seen as a good thing.

Photo via Joãomagagnin

Here are some of the fastest sailboats on the market today:

• L’Hydroptère. L’Hydroptère is a big ol hydrofoil tri. The top speed that this sailboat can achieve is upwards of 47 knots. This ride will hold it’s own in the mile stretch with speeds approaching 42 knots. That is right up there with what wind surfers can achieve. Sure, it is not the 200 knots that a speedboat can do, but this won’t cost you a small mortgage to fill up at the pump.
• Groupama 3. The Groupama 3, by Frank Cammas, holds two records. The first record is the fastest 24-hour record. The Groupama 3 managed a staggering 794 nautical miles in a mere 24-hour period. The average speed for this trip was 33.08 knots. The second record is making the trek from Ambrose Light to Lizard Point. The Groupama 3 managed this trip in 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes. The Groupama 3 has attempted an around the world trip as well. A cracked pontoon put this trip to an end. Groupama 3 will see some strength training and try this trip yet again.
• Mari-Cha IV. Monohulls have a bit to prove as well. Robert Miller took the Mari-Cha IV on a cross Atlantic trip. This feat took all of 6 days 17 hours 52 minutes. The Mari-Cha IV was able to do this because of its construction. The Mari-Cha IV is mainly composed of carbon fiber. This brings this 140-foot boat to a staggering weight of only 55 tons.
• Orange II. So, you want around the world records? How about a record for not having to stop during your trip around the world? The Orange II was able to pull off just this record. The Orange II went around the world in 50 days and never had to stop for fuel. Bet there were no kids on this trip asking if they were there yet.
• IDEC. While the Orange II was able to go around the world with a crew, the IDEC did this with one man. Francis Joyon piloted the IDEC around the world in a matter of 57 days. Think about that for just a moment. Not only did he get around the world on a sailboat in 57 days, but he also did it with nobody to yell at.

The next time you think of speed on the water, keep these wind powered rides in mind. You will most likely need some special boat insurance when you attempt to break the 57-day around the world record. You may also want a teddy bear to talk to while you are on the water.

Photo via clementpetit2

Fewer boats being sold

People have become weary of making bigger purchases. With high unemployment, a shaky stock market, people are more cautious now than they ever were before. Purchasing a luxury items, like a boat, are one of the first things people cut.

Potential boat buyers face new obstacles as well. Lending institutions are not as willing to lend out money to new boat buyers. Even if a buyer is a prime candidate, the hassle of getting lending is turning people off.

The hardest boats hit are yachts. Not only has the economy down turn pushed potential buyers away. However, a 10% luxury tax that now rides on these floating marvels is like slapping a purchaser twice in the face.

More docking spaces are available

Another area hit by the downturn is port. Some ports used to see upwards of ten to twelve new boats a year. Now increasingly docking slips remain empty. The biggest people to skip out on docking their boat are the middle class.

The working class consisted of people driving boats in the 20 – 30 foot range. You may also know these folks as the day-trippers. This class consisted of the families who came out to spend a day on the water, or the folks coming out to do a bit of fishing. This group has dried up substantially and docking slips are a key indicator of this decline.

New boat registrations have declined

One of the easiest places to see the downturn comes in boater registrations. December of 2009 saw 171,185 boater registrations. This number is down from the 174,207 boater registrations from 2008.

Layoffs hit boat manufacturers as well

Like many industries hit hard, the boating industry has had to do its share of cutbacks as well. Boat sales are on the decline. This cuts out on company profits. Companies do what they do best and lay people off. The U.S is currently in this sad state.

There is good news though. With the slow economic recovery, more boats will start seeing the light of sales. As manufactures see more sales, they will ramp up production again. More production will bring in more jobs. This is a win for everyone.

Therefore, what can you do to help this down turn? Keep your boat insurance renewed. Keep your boat registered and tagged. Support your local boating stores if you can. Better yet, introduce new people into the boating sport. The economy is slowly picking up. The more people who are excited to get into boating the better the industry will recover.

Photo via donjd2