Now here is a handy tool that we all wish was available when it was compulsory to study Morse Code as part of the Yacht Skipper syllabus.

The new(ish) 'computational' search engine Wolfram Alpha presents answers to questions that you pose and one of the questions I asked was to translate "ABYC 50th Anniversary" into Morse Code and the result is as you see below:

Have a look at other WolframAlpha queries and results that I asked when WolframAlpha was launched.

The time has come said the captains to the crew to sell the boat from under you.

After 9 years of great sailing young Gavin Stephens and Russel Morgan, co-owners of Ladd 27, Cooking have decided to put Cooking on the market.

Direct any enquiries to Russel - pabtrad[at]iafrica.com.

Inventory of the Sailing Vessel Cooking as at 16 July 2009:

Designer: Rob Ladd
Design: Ladd 27
Year of Construction: 1990

Overall Length: 8.2m; LWL 7.4m
Beam: 2.9m
Draft: 1.6m
Displacement: 2580kg

Registration No: 005

Hull: Solid Fibreglass
Deck: Plywood / GRP sandwich
Hull Number: 5

Tankage:
Water: Flexible tank - 25l
Petrol: 10l plastic cannister

Sea-cocks: N/A below water line, 1 for sink, 1 for manual bilge pump

Rudder: Fibreglass with S/S shaft, S/S sleeve, steel tiller and aluminium tiller extension

Mast: Aluminium, double spreader with Windex, Nav lights, VHF Antenna.

Standing rigging: Forestay 8mm, Caps, 8mm, Intermediates: 6mm, Lowers 8mm, backstay Spectra + multiple purchase

Running Rigging: 1 main halyard, wire/rope; 1 jib halyard, wire/rope; 1 jib halyard, rope, 1x main topping lift, rope; 2 spinnaker halyards, rope; 1 spinnaker pole topping lift; 1 spinnaker pole downhaul; 2 jib-sheets; 2 spinnaker sheets; mainsheet with blocks; main traveller with ropes; adjustable jib sheet cars with ropes;

Deck hardware: 2 Jib tracks with blocks and cars, jib turning blocks, jammers for all halyards and sheets; spinnaker barberhaulers and blocks; 3 mooring cleats; guardrails and stanchions.

Winches: 2 x cockpit (selftailing), 2 coach roof, 2 winch handles

Boom: Aluminium with three reef lines, outhaul block system, kicker

Spinnaker Pole: Aluminium with cast aluminium end fittings

Sails:
1 x Spectra mainsail with battens used only for racing (good condition)
1 x #1 Genoa (good condition)
1 x #2 Genoa (poor condition)
2 x #3 Genoas (both poor condition)
1 x Storm jib.
1 x 1.5oz Spinnaker (poor condition)
1 x 0.75oz Spinnaker (poor condition)

Electronics:
VHF radio: Uniden
Log: New in box, to be fitted on next haul out.

Battery Charger.

Mooring Lines: 3 bow lines, 2 stern lines, 2 spring lines, 4 fenders

Batteries: 1x 12v RV

Anchors: 1 x Danforth 15lb

Chain: 5m x 10mm

Rode: 50m x 3/8 nylon

Motor: Yamaha 5hp Outboard - running order.

Compass: Companionway mounted helming compass with deviation table

Safety Equipment: All required for Cat E

Documentation: COF is out of date. SAS Registration papers

Ship Station Licence: Call Sign - PEYS 78

Trailer: Not registered. Frame - Steel with torsion bar suspension. Inertia braking system. Tyres - Continental tyres with steel rims

Extras: Floorboards. Spare backstay (original). Insurance paid up to end March 2010

The following is from www.MyPE.co.za:

Oil Companies, who utilise the tank farms at Port Elizabeth harbour, have agreed to take further emergency measures in addition to that already in place to contain the oil contamination at the Port Elizabeth harbour's Dom Pedro jetty.

Shell South Africa, which acts as housekeeper of the tank farms on behalf of the oil industry at Port Elizabeth harbour today confirmed that it has received a report on the contamination and that the oil companies have agreed to take additional emergency measures recommended in the report.

The report followed an extensive investigation conducted by independent engineering company, SRK Consulting.

In their findings, the consultancy confirmed that there were no leaks from either the infrastructure at the tank farm being used by the oil industry or from a disused bunker line previously suspected to be the source of the contamination.

While the source of the contamination has yet to be determined, the consultancy has now recommended extending an underground retention wall, to assist in permanently containing oil from dispersing into the harbour. It will also make recovery of the product considerably easier.

The report also recommends some longer-term remediation activities, which are currently being discussed with the authorities.

Several measures are already in place at the harbour to contain the oil contamination and recover it from the surface water. These include the deployment of a deep-sea boom, and a number of secondary booms, to contain oil from dispersing into the harbour, as well as a series of absorbent booms, which contain materials that absorb oil from the water.

Remediation at the site has also commenced with the use of pumps, which recover the oil for safe storage on site.

While SRK Consulting have identified the location of the contamination plume under the Dom Pedro jetty, laboratory tests are underway to determine its age.

"The contamination is of great concern to Shell and the oil companies, irrespective of who is responsible. We are working closely with both the ports and environmental authorities to address the immediate issue, while ensuring comprehensive remediation of the site in the longer-term," said a company spokesperson.

Eds Notes: The above is a verbatim press release from Shell and I would like to make a few comments:

The problem of oil leaking into the Port Elizabeth Harbour Water from the Tank Farm is a long standing one. As a member of the Algoa Bay Yacht Club I have been privy to the reams of correspondence back and forth between the Yacht Club, Shell and Portnet. As with all such things the wheels have turned far too slowly and each of the potentially affected parties has spent considerable time posturing and trying to ensure that the blame is laid at someone else's door.

In an ideal world, Shell or Portnet or the company that constructed the Dom Pedro Jetty would stand up, accept the blame and take immediate steps to remedy the situation. It seems that in this day and age a 'man's word' is just a collection of warmish air emanating from a cold fish and NOT what it used to be, what a shame.

I am sure that no-one gives a rats whatsit about how old the contamination plume is. Can you imagine the outcry the world over if an oil tanker ran aground and contaminated thousands of marine animals and a bunch of consultants ran around not cleaning the mess up until they had established the age of the oil tanker or just where the crude oil had come from so that they could lay the blame as close to the source as possible?

Damaging the 'slowly being repaired' reputation of the harbour authorities even more is their steadfast refusal to exercise their legal power and stop all oil storage on the site until the source of the leak is found and stopped. Surely the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has the legal obligation towards it's citizens to actually serve Portnet with a cease, desist and clean up order on behalf of all the citizens of this Metro? Don't even think it, I know you are thinking; "Sure, nothing has happened to the slumlords violating Port Elizabeth's Historical Buildings so what chance does the Metro have in forcing Portnet from continuing to violate our health, environment, pockets and views?" Have faith - something will happen if we encourage it to.

I can only say that it was a blessing in disguise when Portnet scuppered, at the source, Port Elizabeth's bid to host the 2011 Volvo Ocean Race in Port Elizabeth - the potential embarrassment to the city from the Manganese Ore and Tank Farms being viewed by millions of television and internet followers would probably have sent Volvo packing back to a city that really doesn't appreciate them, never to return.

Related Links: Spend Millions, Watch it get Covered in Oil
Related Images: Oil Spill.

Team: Kerry Bonnage, Wayne Watkins, Daryl Garner, Jason Schaefer and Delyn Price
Support: Shiel and Brenon

Tuesday: We all met at ABYC at 14:00 and left for Durban. Big thanks to John Price for lending us his Chrysler Voyager and trailer. After a nice easy drive we arrived at Point Yacht club at 01:30 am. "Camp City" was already full of tents but the waterfront site was still open. By 03:00 4 tents were erected, a shot of well deserved ob's and off to bed.

Wednesday: Everyone up early and off to do the shopping. Shiel cooked breakfast for everyone. Off to see our charted L26 "Sail Africa". "Sail Africa" is Durban's Youth Sailing Development Program set up by Craig Miller which owns three L26's. We had the better of the three but still nowhere near the condition of our "AON Challenger". We set the boat up as best we could and took delivery of our new Lipton sails. The tune up race showed that we where off the pace and lacked height so a lot of on the water tuning was . We cut the race short and headed back to port. The rest of the afternoon was spent tuning rigs, servicing winches and changing systems.

Thursday: Race day 1 Race one Wind 0-5 W-NW :Another good breakfast by Shiel and lunch packs prepared as well. Early to the boat to clean and prepare for the very light conditions. On the course by 10:00 ( racing started daily at 11:00) to get our readings and sail trim ready for the prevailing conditions. Nothing, not a breath anywhere on the course. After 4 hours of bobbing, swimming and the usual no wind antics a hint of breeze filled in.

Got a good start toward the pin but got stuck in the train. We tacked as soon as we could but ended up 7th at the top mark. Passed two boats downwind but that's where we stayed (Shortened race due to wind). Very tricky sailing in very light airs. Top speed for the day was 3.5 down wind and only managed 2.8 up wind. Again low on height but good speed relative to top 5 of fleet.

Friday: Race Day 2 Race two and three Wind 0-8 W-SW. Another excellent breakfast by Shiel and Brennon. Early to the boat again with some rig changes and on the course by 10:00. Very tricky conditions. We knew the big shift was coming but did not know when. Went offshore looking for the shift but it did not come, rounded in 9th . Got two back on the run with some great teamwork then back onto the beat. Again went out looking for the shift and found it. Picked up 4 places at the top mark right behind the leaders. Tried twice to get around the mark to no avail the third time we just sailed around and over the mark. With no wind and lots of current it was a nightmare. We did our penalty turns put up the bag and sailed to the finish. Word of warning..... watch the outgoing tide of the harbour it increases the current by 50 %.

We ended third.

Race 3: The wind dropped off again. We crawled round the course changing places on every tack. Clearly no-one knew where to go, the fleet was spread out all over the course. Speeds of two knots were a mission. Found lots of holes finished 7th. Rig settings were not right..

Saturday: Race day 3: Race four Wind 0-5 W . Played with the rig again and got onto the course early. Very light breeze, played the bobbing game again until 14:00. We got a very good start in clean air with good boat speed but were forced to tack by MSC who were sailing a lot higher than us. Rounded in fourth after a fantastic beat, duelling with Cheetah and MSC to the top mark.

Held off several attacks from the rear whilst attacking MSC. Finished fourth.

Sunday: Race Day 4 Race five and six Wind 15-25 SW- S. The breeze was up this was going to be our day. Early on the course again. Put up our new no 2 for the first time.

Made some adjustment and the race started on time. With much better height and good speed we were jostling between 2nd and 3rd all the way to the top mark being covered by Fusion (Andrew Heathcote had to beat us in both races today to claim 4th overall) all the way. Rounded in 3rd and down to the bottom mark we went. Andrew pushed us off the course allowing two boats under us. After a few choice words we both gybed for the mark. We split tacks with them and beat them to the top mark but could not catch the other two. We finished 5th.

Race 6: Great start on the committee boat and tacked immediately. Under stood the lay line by a boat length up to the top mark. Craig Millar (PYC Lipton Team) just got through us on port. His eyes could not believe that one of his sailing school boats was right behind his "Rolls Royce" Rounding in second we had a great game of attack and defend on the run. At the bottom mark we where forced to give water to a cruising boat rounding the same mark. This let MSC in and a lot higher than we where. We sailed under and then over this 40 footer to the lay line trying to catch up to MSC. Rounded the top mark in 3rd about 5 boat lengths behind MSC. Fantastic hoist, hard work and a textbook gybe got us with in a boat length at the finish (3 seconds).

We finished 3rd. Fusion (Andrew Heathcoat) lost their main halyard during the last race..... JUSTICE.

In all a great regatta, fantastic team building scenario, great big fleet experience and a good confidence builder to take to WP L26 provincials and then Lipton. We have some wrinkles to iron out but we are definitely on the right path. My thanks to my team , Wayne, Delyn and Jason. Darryl for helping us out and being a great rail motivator. Sheil and Brenon for supporting us both on land and on the water.

To the members of ABYC you missed another great regatta, well hosted by PYC, you can't beat Durban this time of year. Lets see at least one other entry from ABYC next year.

Thanks to all.

Kerry Bonnage.