SS Varvassi – The Wreck off the Needles
Introduction
The SS Varvassi was a 3,874‑ton Greek merchant steamship that became infamous after running aground off the Needles Lighthouse, Isle of Wight, on 5 January 1947.
Discover
Golden Globe Race 2018
The Golden Globe Race 2018
In 5 days time 18 sailors will leave Les Sables-d’Olonne in western France to circumnavigate the globe. A journey of 30,000 nautical miles, they must travel alone, non-stop and without any outside assistance, that is to say without any modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation equipment. As if that wasn’t challenging enough they have to sail in a similar vessel to those that took part in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race some 50 years ago.
Lovesail on Instagram
Did you know that Lovesail is on Instagram (@_lovesail)? I know, I know, how many more social media accounts do we need to have these days? If you haven’t ventured onto Instagram yet then do, it really is one of the better ones (even if it is owned by Facebook!).
The Ship’s Compass
The Ship’s Compass
Navigation has always been a vital part of finding one’s way at sea. Long before modern instruments existed, early sailors relied on natural observation to guide their journeys.
The Health Benefits of Sailing
The Health Benefits of Sailing: Physical, Mental, and Social Wellbeing
Whether you are the captain leading a crew in a race, or simply spending a relaxed afternoon mooching around a lake in a dinghy, sailing offers very little opportunity to be a passive observer.
Sailing Cape Horn
Cape Horn is located on Isla Hornos and is widely regarded as the southernmost point of South America. The island sits at the southern tip of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and marks the northern boundary of the strait separating South America from Antarctica, known as the Drake Passage.
The Real Robinson Crusoe
Who Was the Real Robinson Crusoe?
The 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe traces the tumultuous voyages and ultimate survival of a man with an unshakable lust for the sea. Since its publication, the story has sparked ongoing debate about who may have inspired the book’s famous castaway.
So, who was the real Robinson Crusoe?
London Boat Show 2018
London Boat Show 2018
The new look London Boat Show 2018 starts tomorrow, Wednesday 10th January and runs for 5 days until Sunday 14th January 2018.
The Law of Salvage
The Law of Salvage
Many of us have heard about the law of salvage which is embedded into maritime law – but what does it mean and what considerations are there for sailors? The law of salvage allows that a person who recovers another person’s ship/cargo in peril or lost at sea is entitled to a reward commensurate with the value of the property saved.
Liberty Ships
What were Liberty Ships?
Liberty Ships were mass-produced cargo ships built during World War II to give the Allies much-needed merchant tonnage (the weight of the cargo of a merchant ship). Of the 2,710 Liberty Ships built during the war years 1941 to 1945, over 2,400 survived the conflict.