Dover, England

The straits of Dover separate the European continent from the British islands at its smallest distance and it has been a major trade route since before the Iron Age. As a proof of the historic (nautical) importance of this city stands the big castle built by William the Conqueror in 1066. The Saxon Church next to it is even older, from the 7th century AD. The Church tower is the eldest part and is actually a 2000 year old roman “pharos” or light house, designated to guide the galleys across the straits from the French village of Wissant. Dover was an important port of Roman Britain from the time of its occupation in 54 BC. It became a Saxon stronghold in the 4th century AD. In the 11th century, after the Norman Conquest, Dover was enfranchised as one of the Cinque Ports (a quasi-independent group of five English Channel ports supplying naval defense). During World War I, Dover Harbor served as the base for the flotilla known as the Dover Patrol, which was responsible for keeping the straits open to shipping. In World War II, Dover was repeatedly subjected to German bombing raids and to shelling by German guns entrenched at Cap Gris-Nez, France. The town was extensively damaged and has since undergone much rebuilding. Overlooking the town from the eastern heights of the chalk cliffs is the large Dover Castle, which was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of earlier Roman and Saxon structures. It is a noteworthy example of medieval fortification and includes the nearly intact remains of a Roman lighthouse. In the town are ruins of the Maison Dieu (House of God) founded in the 13th century by the English statesman Hubert de Burgh as a hospice for pilgrims from all lands. Freight traffic is also important to the port of Dover, but this business faces increasing competition from the trains of the channel tunnel, which can move freight faster than boats can.

Le Havre, France

The city of Le Havre is located at the entrance to the River Seine and is a major transit port for ships and cargo bound for Paris. Crossing the river Seine into Normandy is the beautiful red “Pont de Normandie” or “Bridge of Normandy”. Le Havre is also used in the sense of "port". The city was first called Franciscopolis, in homage to King Francis I, who took the initiative to construct the city, in addition to Le Havre (or Le Hable) de Grâce, the latter term being derived from the chapel Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, which existed on the site before the city's founding. The cultural roots of the French go back to the Celtic Gauls, who were conquered by Julius Caesar in 51 B.C. Five years later, Clovis extended Frankish rule over much of Europe; and after Charlemagne's death in 814, France became one of the successor kingdoms. France developed into the strongest of the unified Continental monarchies (as opposed to Germany and Italy, which were unified later). The French Revolution (1789-1793) overthrew the monarchy, and established the First Republic. Napoleon ruled over the First Empire (1804-1815), and successive governments led to the existing Fifth Republic (1958-present). The population of France is 56 million. Urbanization occurred after World War II, and now cities are home to 75 percent of the people. Paris has 8.7 million; the other important centers (Lyon, Marseille, and Lille) have under 1.5 million. Growing areas are Lyon, Grenoble (in the Alps), and the southern coast (Toulouse, Montpellier, Nice). A modern city, with tall blocks of apartment houses and large, pleasant squares, Le Havre, unlike some French towns has changed radically since it was created in the 16th century by Francois I. In 1945, at the end of World War II, Le Havre laid in ruins; it had the unfortunate distinction of being the worst-damaged port, after having been the target of more than 170 bombings. After an amazing recovery, Le Havre is now one of France's major Atlantic ports, second largest after Marseille, and takes up half the Seine estuary, extending far further than the town. Today, the largest container ships and oil tankers afloat can now dock there easily. There is plenty to see in Le Havre and its surrounding areas. If you drive out to the Le Havre Lighthouse, you'll have a good view of the port, the "Flower Coast," and an estuary of the Seine. The Église St-Joseph, on the boulevard Francois, has a bell tower nearly 350 feet high and is the tallest building made of reinforced concrete in the country. From the top of the tower, visitors can enjoy a lovely view of Le Havre. The Musee des Beaux-Arts is one of the best designed art galleries in the country, with works by Boudin, Corot, Courbet, Monet and Dufy, a native of Le Havre.

Plymouth, England

Located 190 miles (310 kilometers) southwest of London, Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area built between the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar. Plymouth’s early history goes back to the Bronze Age when it was a trading post for the Roman Empire. In 1403 the Breton raiders burned the town down, which lead to a series of fortifications being built including four round towers. The remains of two of these towers can still be found at Mount Batten and Sutton Pool below the Royal Citadel. During the 17th century Plymouth gradually lost its prominence as a trading port and ended up opening its first dockyard in 1690 with additional docks being built between 1727 and 1793. With the growth of the dockyard the population grew by more then 900%, from 318 people in 1712 to 3000 people in 1733. During World War II the Germans bombed Plymouth in 59 raids known as the Plymouth Blitz. The city centre and over 3700 homes were destroyed, and over 1000 people perished. Charles Church was also hit and partially destroyed; it continues to stand as an official monument to the bombing. Today it is England’s 15th most populated city with over 250,000 people calling it home. The dockyard port of Plymouth lies at the mouth of River Tamar and River Plym, and embraces the commercial harbors of Millbay Docks, Cattewater and Sutton Harbor, together with HM Naval Base Devonport. The port is a major naval dockyard, a ferry port and an important port of call for cruise liners and cargo ships, including refined oil products.

Dunmore East (Waterford), Ireland

Although the Irish Free State is barely 70 years old (its constitution was ratified in 1937), the history of Ireland dates back almost 6,000 years. Much of the country still remains unexcavated and farmers digging in fields have been known to turn up valuable artifacts detailing ancient origins. The island of Ireland lies to the west of Great Britain, separated by the Irish Sea. No part of Ireland is more than 70 miles from any of its surrounding waters: the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea, and the St. George and North Channels. Known as the Crystal County, Waterford is located on the southeast side of Ireland. Possibly the most famous tourist attraction, established in 1783, is the Waterford Crystal Factory, which has gained worldwide recognition as a creator of crystal for connoisseurs. Waterford, the city, is rather small and compact, which allows for easy sightseeing on foot. Take a stroll along the quays or perhaps wander through the historic district around Reginald’s Tower, a landmark said to have been built in 1003 by a Viking governor named, of course, Reginald. The main seaport of Waterford is the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, and this is where the tenders will bring you ashore. Whether taking in the sights or sipping a beer in a cozy pub, visitors to this area are sure to enjoy the history and hospitality of Ireland. The harbor is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbors, and has the second highest figure for fish landings after Killybegs. Dunmore is noted for: The first Irish woman to qualify for a skipper's ticket in fishing, the first official woman crew member in an RNLI Lifeboat and the world record holder for the largest tuna caught on a rod. The long established fishing industry is under threat from governmental restrictions designed to protect stocks. A plan has been developed (2005) by Waterford County Council to expand the harbor to accommodate more recreational marine activities.

Law Of The Sea Treaty

The United Nations sponsored ‘Law of the Sea Treaty’ (1982): calls for limited, and controlled, mining of the seabed; establishes in general the twelve-mile limit for territorial waters; gives all nations’ ships the right of ‘innocent passage’ through crucial straits; and sets up the international antipollution regulations.

Morse Code

The United States and Canada did not adopt the International Morse Code for sending telegraphy messages when other countries did in the 1850s; instead, they continued to use the original Morse Code system. International Morse Code consists of combinations of dots and dashes representing the letters of the alphabet and numerals. The duration of one dash equals that of three dots. Today, International Morse Code is no longer used commercially or by the military, because radiotelegraphy has been replaced by digital communications via satellite.

Liverpool, England

In 1207, King John granted the hamlet of Liverpool the privileges of a free borough. It remained an insignificant port town until the late 17th century, when the nearby port of Chester declined as a result of the silting of the Dee River. The growth of manufacturing in surrounding areas and the increase of trade with America and the West Indies caused Liverpool to thrive. Expansion of the harbor was necessary, and in 1715 the first wet dock in Britain was constructed here. By the end of the 18th century the city had become a rich metropolis thriving on the slave trade and privateering. In 1830 a railroad was constructed between Liverpool and Manchester, and by the 1860s the city was the hub of an extensive rail network. During this period its population grew rapidly as numerous immigrants, chiefly from Ireland, settled here. Liverpool became the foremost British port for American trade and passenger service in the 19th century. Liverpool still remains Britain's second most important seaport, after London, for traffic other than petroleum. Imports include grain and other foodstuffs, wood, nonferrous metals, and textile fibers. Liverpool is also a passenger port for travel to Ireland. Manufactures include pharmaceuticals, electric equipment, rubber products, refined sugar and flour. Motor-vehicle manufacturing and oil refining are also located on the periphery of the metropolitan area. Liverpool is connected to the Wirral Peninsula across the river by two motor-vehicle tunnels and a railroad tunnel. Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. In 2004, Liverpool's waterfront was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting the city's importance in the development of the world's trading system and dock technology. The docks are central to Liverpool's history, with the best-known being Albert Dock: the first enclosed, non-combustible dock warehouse system in the world and is built in cast iron, brick and stone.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Consisting of mainly low plateaus and rolling hills, Northern Ireland is situated in the northeast part of the island of Ireland and is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, more commonly referred to as the United Kingdom or Great Britain. Northern Ireland is the smallest of the countries of the United Kingdom, and also contains the largest freshwater lake (Lough Neagh) in the UK. Also referred to as Ulster, Northern Ireland actually only contains six of the original nine counties that comprised this historical kingdom. Ulster holds a special importance in the mythological history of Ireland because the rulers and their champions played a prominent role in the rich Irish sagas of the middle Ages. More recently, the Government of Ireland Act was adopted in 1920, thereby creating North and South Ireland. Still today, political and religious conflicts continue, based on differences between Catholics and Protestants, Unionists and Nationalists. Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and found its most noted development occurring during the industrial revolution when the area emerged as a linen manufacturing region. Strengthened later by Belfast’s development into a shipbuilding and engineering city, residents can boast that their city was the building site of the famed Titanic. The reopening of the Grand Opera House in 1980 signposted Belfast’s emergence as a city of culture with special emphasis on music, as noted in the symphonies and orchestras found there. From the navigator In the morning, after picking up the pilot, we sail up the Belfast Lough (Bay) before reaching our dock. Belfast is a busy port, most known in the maritime world because the Titanic was build here, at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, as well as some of the past Holland America Line ships like the flagships Rotterdam IV (1908) and Statendam II (1914) and Statendam III (1929).

The ss Rotterdam Story

ss. Rotterdam I: Built by Henderson, Coulborn & Co in Renfrew. (1,694 Brt, 81.8 meter long). In service from September 7, 1872 until she ran ashore on the coast of the island Schouwen on September 26, 1883 during her 65th voyage from New York to Rotterdam. The wreck was sold on October 29, 1883. ss. Rotterdam II: Built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast as s.s. British Empire (3,329 Brt, 122.3 meter long) in 1878. In 1886 purchased from The British Shipowners and renamed into s.s. Rotterdam. She was the first cruise ship of the Company and sold to an Italian demolisher in 1899. ss. Rotterdam III: Built in 1897 by Harland & Wolff in Belfast (8,187 Brt and 147.06 meter long). In 1906, sold to Det.Forenede Dampskipselskab in Copenhagen. ss. Rotterdam IV: (24,148 Brt, 203.52 meter long) Built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast in 1908; the largest ship of the Dutch Merchant fleet. During the winters she sailed a Mediterranean cruise-program visiting Palestine & Egypt. After 32 years she was sold to a demolisher in 1940. ss. Rotterdam V: Built by the Rotterdam Drydock Company, 38,645 Brt, 228.12 meter long. She sailed for 38 years (1959 - 1997) as the flagship of the Holland America Line. On September 30, 1997 she was sold to Premier Cruises. She is being restored and will find her final dock in Rotterdam in March 2008 as convention center. ms. Rotterdam VI: The new flagship (62,000 Brt, 237 meter long) was built by the Fincantieri Shipyard in Venice. She made her maiden voyage in November 1997. On December 9, 1997 she was officially named by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet.

From The Navigator

The Atlantic Ocean we now sail in is the second greatest Ocean in the world (after the Pacific Ocean). The Pacific Ocean is 64 million square miles (103 square kilometers) and the Atlantic Ocean is 31.8 million square miles (51 square kilometers). Due to the theory of continental drift it is believed that the Atlantic Ocean is widening an inch every year while the Pacific Ocean is shrinking. The Atlantic Ocean takes its name either from the lost kingdom of Atlantis or, more probably, from the Atlas Mountains in Northwest Africa, which the ancients believed overlooked the entire ocean.

St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

St. John’s is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador and the province’s largest city. Situated on the Avalon Peninsula, it is the easternmost city of North America and one of the oldest inhabited ports on the continent. Norseman Bjarni Herjolfasson sighted Newfoundland in 986 AD, making him the first European to sight the New World. Bristol sea captain John Cabot rediscovered and named Newfoundland in 1497. St. John’s has been the site of several significant events, including Marconi’s first reception of radio signals across the Atlantic in 1901 at Cabot Tower on Signal Hill above the harbor, and the 1919 departure of Alcock and Brown on the first successful transatlantic flight. St. John’s harbor is situated on the northeast side of Avalon Peninsula, within a well-sheltered inlet. It is the principal port for the Province of Newfoundland, a center of important sea fisheries used by the vessels of many nations, and the primary service center for offshore oil activity in Newfoundland.

St Pierre & Miquelon, France

The tiny island of St-Pierre et Miquelon comprises a speck of French territory located in the middle of Atlantic Canada. St-Pierre was first settled by the French fishing fleet in the 1500s, and for some reason, the British never bothered claiming these islands during their colonial conquest of North America. The town of St-Pierre is the host to the seat of colonial government and maintains its truly French heritage. The architecture and the people exhibit the true flavor of France. A focal point of the town is the Hotel Robert which was constructed in the 1920s and was “home away from home” to Al Capone during the prohibition years. Saint-Pierre is the more populated of the two communes (municipalities) making up Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Until 1945, there existed a third commune in Saint Pierre and Miquelon: L'Île-aux-Marins. The commune of L'Île-aux-Marins was annexed by the commune of Saint-Pierre in 1945.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s capital sits by one of the world’s most extensive natural harbors, midway along Nova Scotia’s south Atlantic shore. It was also the assembly and departure point for the Trans-Atlantic convoys during both world wars. With a population of 350,000, Halifax is the largest Canadian city east of Montreal. Modern buildings nestle among Nova Scotian heritage, interspersed with numerous parks. The port is the busiest on Canada’s east coast, partially because it’s a year-round harbor as ice forces most others to close in winter. Over 16 million tons of cargo is handled from more than 2,400 vessels. Major industries are manufacturing, oil refining and food processing. Canada’s largest naval base is here as well. Halifax was founded in 1749 as a British stronghold counterbalancing the French fort at Louisbourg on Nova Scotia’s far eastern tip. The historic waterfront district is a short and pleasant walk from the ship; and the famous star-shaped Citadel, although a more aggressive uphill climb, is also nearby. The cruise ship terminal hosts a number of shopping booths boasting an array of “Haligonian” craftsmanship.

New York City, New York

New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the largest city in the United States by population and one of the world’s major global cities. Located in the state of New York, the city has a population of 8.2 million within an area of 321 square miles (830 square kilometers), making it the most densely populated city in North America. With a population of over 22.1 million, the New York Metropolitan Area is one of the largest urban areas in the world. New York City is an international center for business, finance, fashion, medicine, entertainment, media and culture, with an extraordinary array of museums, art galleries, performance venues, media outlets, international corporations, and financial markets. The city is also home to the United Nations and too many of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. Popularly known as the “Big Apple,” and the “City That Never Sleeps,” it attracts people from all over the globe who come for its economic opportunity, culture and fast-paced cosmopolitan lifestyle. The city’s geography is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor. This position helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. The city’s land has been altered considerably by human intervention, with substantial land reclamation along the waterfronts since Dutch colonial times. Reclamation is most notable in Lower Manhattan with modern developments like Battery Park City. Much of the natural variations in topography have been evened out, particularly in Manhattan.

Dutch Rule in New York

Hudson discovered that the vast area between French Canada and British Virginia was unfortified and unclaimed and that the Native Americans who lived at the mouth of the Hudson River would happily trade furs for European goods. Excited by the commercial prospects of Manhattan Island, which was in the midst of a vast harbor that was ice-free in all seasons, Dutch merchants promptly dispatched other expeditions to the vicinity. The Dutch East India Company established the first permanent European settlement in what is now New York City in 1624. Although most of the Dutch settlers established themselves in the northern Hudson Valley, near the future site of Albany, about eight or ten Protestants from Belgium, who had taken refuge with the Dutch to escape religious persecution, settled on Governors Island in New York harbor. In 1625 the tiny community moved to the southern tip of Manhattan Island. A year later, according to legend, Dutch colonial governor Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan from the Canarsees for 60 guilders (approximately $24) in trinkets and goods. The city of New Amsterdam, as it was soon called, operated as part of the colony administered by the Dutch West India Company.

Ships’ Tonnage

“Tonnage” is the measure of a ship’s volume or capacity, described in cubic feet. Gross registered tonnage ( grt ) is the measure of total internal volume of a ship, in units of one hundred cubic feet, excluding machinery spaces, bridge and navigation spaces, and other minor spaces essential to the operation of the ship. This measure is applied only to merchant vessels. Net registered tonnage ( nrt ) is tonnage frequently shown on merchant ship registration papers. It represents the internal volume available for cargo and for passengers. Set at one hundred cubic feet per ton, it is used by port and canal authorities as a basis for tolls and charges.

Atlantic Ocean History

• In 1858, the first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid by Cyrus Field. • In 1919, the American NC-4 became the first airplane to cross the Atlantic (though it made a couple landings on islands along the way). • Later in 1919, a British airplane piloted by Alcock and Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland. • In 1921, the British were the first to cross the North Atlantic in an airship. • In 1922, the Portuguese were the first to cross the South Atlantic in an airship. • The first transatlantic telephone call was made on January 7, 1927. • In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight in an airplane (between New York City and Paris). • After rowing for 81 days and 2,962 miles, on December 3, 1999, Tori Murden became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat alone when she reached Guadeloupe from the Canary Islands.

The Climate of the Atlantic Ocean

The climate of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent land areas is influenced by the temperatures of the surface waters and water currents as well as the winds blowing across the waters. Because of the ocean’s great capacity for retaining heat, maritime climates are more moderate and have fewer tendencies toward extreme seasonal variations than inland climates. Precipitation can be approximated from coastal weather data and air temperature from the water temperatures. The oceans are the major source of the atmospheric moisture that is obtained through evaporation. Climatic zones vary with latitude; the warmest climatic zones stretch across the Atlantic north of the equator. The coldest zones are in the high latitudes, with the coldest regions corresponding to the areas covered by sea ice. Ocean currents contribute to climatic control by transporting warm and cold waters to other regions. Adjacent land areas are affected by the winds that are cooled or warmed when blowing over these currents. The Gulf Stream and its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, for example, warms the atmosphere of the British Isles and north-western Europe, and the cold water currents contribute to heavy fog off the coast of eastern Canada (the Grand Banks area) and the north-western coast of Africa. In general, winds tend to transport moisture and warm or cool air over land areas.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale is a city in southeastern Florida and seat of Broward County. The city is located where the New River enters the Atlantic Ocean. Fort Lauderdale is a major yachting center and a beach and fishing resort. Called the Venice of America, the city has an extensive network of inlets and canals that, with the New River, provides more than 165 miles (266 kilometers) of navigable waterways. These waterways include a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway that passes through the city. The city’s nearby artificial harbor, Port Everglades, has the deepest water of any port on the United States Atlantic coast south of Norfolk, Virginia. Fort Lauderdale’s beaches draw visitors from around the world, and tourism is a leading contributor to the economy. South Beach has a promenade of wide walkways for enjoyment of the city’s climate. The city is served by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Florida, sometimes called the Peninsula State, consists of a large low-lying peninsula and, in the northwest, a strip of land known as the panhandle. It is a region of low, rolling hills, vast swamps and marshes, numerous lakes, and extensive forests. Superimposed on this varied pattern of physical features are the farmlands, urban areas, transportation routes, and other cultural features that have transformed Florida from largely a wilderness area into one of the fastest-growing states in the Union. Early Inhabitants of Florida There were an estimated 350,000 Native Americans in what is now Florida when Europeans first arrived early in the 16th century. They belonged to three major nations, the Calusa along the southwestern coast, the Timucua in the northern half of the peninsula, and the Apalachee where the peninsula joins the panhandle. Peoples dominated by the Calusa lived along the southeastern coast. All were settled agricultural peoples, as skilled with the hoe as they were with canoes or with bows and arrows. They lived in villages, where they cultivated corn, beans, and other crops. Noted warriors, they fiercely resisted early attempts to bring them under submission, but coexisted peacefully with the Spaniards for most of the first 198 years of Spanish occupation. Diseases introduced by the European explorers drastically reduced the populations of these Native Americans. They had no resistance to pathogens such as measles, smallpox, and typhoid fever that Europeans normally survived. The Native Americans also lost ground because of slaving raids by English forces from South Carolina and Georgia. By mid-18th century these nations no longer existed. The modern Native Americans of Florida are the Seminole, originally Creek from the Georgia-Alabama border, who entered Florida in the period 1716 to 1767. Today they have five reservations in the state.

From The Navigator

Before we reach Northeast and Northwest Providence Channel we sail via the Atlantic route north of the southeast portion of the Bahamas Islands, passing San Salvador Island, Cat Island and Eleuthera. Sailing westward through Northwest Providence Channel, staying south of Grand Bahama Island, we head straight to Fort Lauderdale. Before reaching the Straits of Florida, we sail north of Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and south of Great Inagua. Approaching Cuba on the northeast we transit the Old Bahama Channel, the channel between Cuba and The Great Bahama Bank. After sailing on a northerly course through Santaren Channel, we approach Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale, Florida from the south.

The Caribbean

The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America. Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. These islands, called the West Indies, generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea. These islands are called the West Indies because when Christopher Columbus landed here in 1492 he believed that he had reached the Indies in Asia.

Does the ship’s wheel actually steer the ship?

The wheel of a ship adjusts the angle of the rudder, changing the direction of the boat or ship. It is also called the helm, together with the rest of the steering mechanism. On older ships, the helmsman would steer using a tiller (a long stick) fixed directly to the rudder, or a whipstaff (a vertical stick acting on the tiller). Early wheels were operated to correspond to the motion of the tiller, with a clockwise motion, turning the rudder and the ship to the left. Now the control direction of the wheel is reversed making it more consistent with the action of a motor vehicle's steering wheel.

Gustavia, St. Barts

Officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy, St. Barthelemy is an overseas collectivity of France, also known as Saint Barth in French, or St. Barts in English. The collectivity is one of the four territories among the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean that comprise the French West Indies, and is the only one to have been a Swedish colony. One of the most chic, civilized and least known parts of France, it is known as a perfect playground, with its tiny harbor, red - roofed bungalows dotting the hillsides, a beautiful shoreline with some of the most beautiful coves, many of them culminating in perfect strands of beach. When Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the island in 1493, he named it after his brother, Bartholomeo. Settlers came in 1659 and began their living growing crops such as tobacco and indigo. But the islands main income came from smugglers and pirates, en route from South America to the Bahamas, who took advantage of the islands strategic location and well-protected harbor to repair their ships and stock up on provisions. In 1784, St. Barts was taken over by Sweden. The King of France had simply swapped the island for trading rights in the Baltic without even consulting the people of St. Barts. In 1878, King Oscar II put sovereignty to a referendum and St. Barts was handed back to France. The tourist industry has steadily grown in the last 30 years, but St. Barts has still maintained an exclusive and luxurious style. This gem of an island continues to draw an ever-widening circle of fans.

From The Navigator

We will arrive at the anchorage of St. Barts from the east after having turned the ship from the south around ”Les Gros Islets” or big islands, before the coast of St. Barts. The island of St Barts is located some 1242 miles (2000km) from Miami and has a typical Caribbean climate. St. Bart's weather is warm throughout the year. The high temperatures vary just slightly between the summer and winter months, and the humidity levels on St. Barts are lower than nearby islands. Winter mornings and late evenings are somewhat cooler.

Happy Mother’s Day

The Mother's Day holiday we celebrate in modern times was created by Anna Jarvis as a day for each family to honor their mother. The holiday is celebrated on various days in many countries around the world. This relatively “new” holiday, created at the start of the 20th century and is separate from the early pagan and Christian traditions honoring mothers, or with the 16th century celebration of Mothering Sunday, which is also known as Mother's Day in the UK. In 1912, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and created the Mother's Day International Association. She was specific about the location of the apostrophe; as the original intent of the holiday was for each family to honor their own individual mother, and not just mothers in general. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson used the same spelling in the law making the holiday official. Mother's Day continues to be one of the most commercially successful holidays, especially in the U.S. For example, the National Restaurant Association says that Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the U.S. It is estimated that Americans will spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53 billion on pampering gifts—like spa treatments, and $68 million on greeting cards. Last year, Mother's Day generated about 7.8% of the U.S. jewelry industry's annual revenue with custom gifts like mother's rings.

The Windward Islands

On our crossing to St Barts we will sail in the Caribbean Sea passing several islands. From the windward island of Barbados to the leeward island of St Barts, the Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the West Indies blow east to west. Before we reach St. Barts we pass between two Dutch Antilles namely, Saba and St Eustatius. Saba, the smallest of the Dutch Antilles at only 5 square miles (8 square kilometers), will be on our port side and St Eustatius on the starboard.

Why are teak decks so valued on ships?

Teak wood is easily worked and contains natural oils that make it suitable for use in all types of weather conditions. It is extremely durable, even when not treated with oil or varnish. The wood cut from old teak trees grown slowly in natural forests is more durable and harder than teak from young trees grown in plantations. Teak is also very resistant to termite attacks, not usually a problem on ships. Much of the world's teak is exported by Indonesia and Myanmar.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown, in southwestern Barbados, is the capital of the island, on Carlisle Bay, in the West Indies. It is the country’s chief port and commercial center, with exports of sugar, clothing, and electrical parts and imports of machinery and transportation equipment. Sugar refining, rum production and tourism are also significant industries. National Heroes Square, with its statue of the British admiral Lord Nelson, is a major landmark. Points of interest include the historic ship repair yard, Careenage, an 18th century Anglican cathedral, and Garrison Savannah, a former parade ground where international cricket matches and other sport events are held. The English founded Bridgetown in 1628. As the capital of the British dependency of Barbados, it became the capital of independent Barbados in 1966. Barbados is generally flat along the coast and hilly in the interior. Coral deposits forms the surface of the island, which has no natural deepwater harbors and is surrounded by coral reefs. A 590-acre marine reserve was established in 1980 to protect the coastline and reefs of Barbados. The culture of Barbados evolved after more than three centuries of English rule, with a folk culture of African origin. The music and dances of Barbados reflect more purely the African heritage. Barbados gained full internal self-government in 1961, and is a member of the United Nations and of the Organization of American States.

The Careenage

Bridgetown has a small canal in the center of the city, named the Careenage, a.k.a. "Constitution River". The smaller Constitution River, feeding into the west coast, lies about a half kilometer south of the large harbor. The Careenage is just large enough for pleasure craft or fishing boats and has two main bridges near the city center which span the shallow Careenage.

From The Navigator

We enter Carlisle Bay from the east and pick up the local pilot about a mile outside the breakwater. The harbor port acts as one of the major shipping and transshipment hubs from international locations for the entire Eastern Caribbean. Recently the Bridgetown Port was dredged to allow safe access and berthing for the new league of "super cruise ships". The dredging project was completed in 2002 and the city can now host many of the largest cruise ships in the world.

What is ballast?

Originally, ballast was any heavy material, such as sand, gravel, stone, etc., carried by a vessel to ensure stability and avoid capsizing. When a vessel discharges its cargo, it needs to take on ballast to stabilize her when sailing. In the past, one of the hazards of improperly stored ballast was the threat of it shifting in heavy weather, causing many a vessel to founder. Ballast tanks are compartments within a boat or ship that holds water and can be filled or emptied in order to adjust the amount of ballast force. The basic concept of the ballast tank can be seen in many forms of aquatic life, such as the blowfish, and has been used many times by humans to serve a variety of purposes. In 1849, Abraham Lincoln, then an Illinois attorney, patented a ballast-tank system to enable cargo vessels to pass over shoals in North American rivers.

Port of Spain, Trinidad

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean we come into Paria Bay on the arrival to Port of Spain. After this bay we enter a 4 mile channel called Grier Channel. At the end of the channel, the Kings Wharf awaits us for docking.

Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, is the country's third largest municipality and is located on the Gulf of Paria, on the northwest coast of the island of Trinidad. The city serves as retail and administrative center as well as a financial services center and is home to two of the largest banks in the Caribbean. As one of the major shipping hubs of the Caribbean, it exports agricultural products and asphalt along with bauxite from the Guianas and iron ore from Venezuela. Although settled by the Spanish in the late 1500s, the area was of interest to several other nations. French naval commander Comte D'Estrées visited in 1680, and in 1797, Trinidad was invaded by the Brits under General Sir Ralph Abercrombie. With military resources too inadequate to defend the colony, Governor Chacón capitulated and negotiated generous terms with Abercrombie: Port of Spain would remain the capital; the new British colonial government renamed most of the streets after British royalty or military figures, but allowed Chacón Street to retain its name, in tribute to the former governor. Port of Spain continued to grow in size and importance during the 19th and early 20th centuries and from 1958 to 1962, it was the temporary capital of the short-lived West Indies Federation which dissolved after the withdrawal of Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago elected for independence in 1962 and in 1976 severed its links with the British monarchy and became a republic within the Commonwealth, though it retained the British Privy Council as its final Court of Appeal. Petroleum, petrochemicals and natural gas continue to be the mainstay of the economy with tourism providing a substantial amount of help. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most prosperous and stable democratic nations in the Caribbean.

Where does the word “cruise” have its origins?

It comes from the Dutch word kruisen and is influenced by the French word croisiere, to cruise, to journey; ultimately traced to the Latin crux, cross, with the meaning related to the varying directions taken by the component parts of the cross. Originally, “to cruise” was a distinct task. A vessel would be detached from the main fleet to cruise independently in search of the enemy, reporting back if a strange vessel or flag was spotted. Such a scouting vessel was called a “cruizer” and was usually a fast frigate.

Fakta Unik Di Dunia

1. Dari seluruh kata dalam bahasa Inggris, kata 'set' punya definisi paling banyak. 2. Rata-rata tiap orang ketawa 10 kali sehari. 3. Mata burung Onta lebih besar dari otaknya. 4. "French Kiss" kalo di Perancis namanya "English Kiss". 5. "Almost" adalah kata terpanjang dalam bahasa Inggris yang disusun mengikuti urutan alfabet. 6. "Rhythm" adalah kata terpanjang dalam bahasa Inggris yang tidak mengandung huruf vokal. 7. Horatio Nelson, salah seorang Admiral (Jenderal Angkatan Laut) legendaris di Inggris seumur hidupnya tidak pernah menemukan cara untuk menyembuhkan mabuk laut yang dideritanya. 8. Tahun 1386, seekor babi dihukum gantung di depan publik di Perancis karena membunuh anak kecil. 9. Kecoak bisa hidup selama beberapa minggu tanpa kepala. 10. Queue adalah satu-satunya kata dalam bahasa Inggris yang dapat dibaca dengan cara yang sama ketika empat huruf terakhir dihilangkan. 11. Kumbang itu rasanya kaya apel, tawon kaya pine nuts (sejenis kacang), kalo cacing kaya daging babi goreng. 12. Di setiap benua pasti ada kota bernama "Rome". 13. Jantung berdetak lebih dari 100.000 kali per hari. 14. Kerangka Jeremy Bentham selalu hadir di setiap pertemuan penting di University of London. 15. Tulang paha manusia lebih kuat daripada dinding semen.. 16. Kita tidak bisa bunuh diri dengan cara menahan napas. 17. Orang bertangan kanan rata-rata hidup 9 tahun lebih lama dari yang kidal. 18. Seperempat tulang di tubuh ada di kaki. 19. Kuku jari tangan tumbuh 4 kali lebih cepat dari kuku jari kaki. 20. Debu di rumah kita paling banyak terbentuk dari sel kulit mati. 21. Tulang iga bergerak sekitar 5 juta kali setahun, seiring nafas. 22. Gajah satu-satunya mamalia yang tidak bisa lompat. 23. Diperkirakan taun 2080 penduduk dunia bakal mencapai 15 miliar jiwa. 24. Mata cewek berkedip 2 kali lebih banyak dari cowok. 25. Adolf Hitler adalah seorang vegetarian dan cuman punya satu testis. 26. Madu adalah satu-satunya makanan yang ga bisa basi. 27. Bulan yang dimulai dengan hari Minggu bakalan selalu punya "Friday the 13th." 28. Coca-Cola tanpa pewarna, aslinya hijau. 29. Rata-rata jantung landak berdetak 300 kali per menit. 30. Lebih banyak orang terbunuh tiap tahun karena sengatan lebah daripada digigit ular. 31. Sebatang isi pensil (pensil kayu) bisa dipake menulis sepanjang 35mil atau menulis 50.000 kata. 32. Alergi terhadap makanan/minuman yang paling banyak diderita orang adalah alergi terhadap susu sapi. 33. Sidik lidah tiap orang tidak ada yang sama. 34. Transfusi darah pertama dilakukan tahun 1667, ketika Jean-Baptiste mentransfusikan darah sebanyak 2 pint (sekitar 1 liter) dari domba keorang.. 35. 6 bahasa resmi PBB: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. 36. Bumi atau "Earth" adalah satu-satunya planet di tata surya yang diberi nama bukan dari nama dewa. 37. Sendawa atau bersin di gereja di Nebraska, USA, adalah melanggar hukum. 38. Kita dilahirkan dengan 300 tulang, tapi ketika dewasa tinggal 206. 39. Beberapa cacing bakal makan dirinya sendiri jika kelaparan. 40. Lumba lumba tidur dengan satu mata terbuka. 41. Tidak mungkin manusia bisa bersin dengan mata terbuka. 42. Potongan permen karet di dunia tertua umurnya 9.000 tahun. 43. Rekor penerbangan terlama seekor ayam adalah 13 detik. 44. Queen Elizabeth I menyatakan bahwa dia adalah teladan kebersihan. Dia mandi 1 kali tiap 3 bulan. Baik membutuhkan atau tidak. 45. Slug punya 4 hidung. 46. Burung hantu adalah satu-satunya burung yang bisa lihat warna biru. 47. Charles Osborne mengalami cegukan selama 69 tahun! 48. Jerapah bisa ngorek kuping sendiri dengan lidahnya yang panjangnya 21 inci. 49. Onta punya 3 kelopak mata untuk melindungi matanya dari pasir gurun. 50. Posisi mata keledai memungkinkannya melihat keempat kakinya setiapsaat. 51. Sebelum Masehi bahasa inggrisnya adalah B.C (Before Christ). Setelah Masehi adalah A.D (Anno Domini) 52. Ikan hiu kehilangan gigi lebih dari 6000 buah setiap tahun, dan gigi barunya tumbuh dalam waktu 24 jam 53. Julius Caesar tewas dengan 23 tikaman 54. Nama mobil Nissan berasal dari bahasa jepang Ni : 2 dan San : 3. Nissan : 23 55. Jerapah dan tikus bisa bertahan hidup lebih lama tanpa air dari pada unta 56. Perut memproduksi lapisan lendir setiap dua minggu agar perut tidak mencerna organnya sendiri. 57. 98% dari perkosaan dan pembunuhan dilakukan oleh keluarga dekat atau teman korban. 58. Semut dapat mengangkat beban 50 kali tubuhnya 59. Deklarasi Kemerdekaan Amerika ditulis diatas kertas marijuana 60. Titik diatas huruf i disebut 'title' 61. Sebutir kismis yang dijatuhkan kedalam gelas berisi sampanye segar akan bergerak naik turun dalam gelas 62. Benjamin Franklin anak bungsu dari orang tua bungsu keturunan ke 5 dalam keluarga bungsu. 63. Triskaidekaphobia adalah ketakutan pada 13. Paraskevidekatriaphobia adalah ketekukan pada hari jumat tanggal 13 (bisa terjadi antara 1-3 kali setahun). di Italia, 17 adalah angka sial. di Jepang angka sial adalah 4 64. Lidah jerapah panjangnya sekitar 50 cm 65. Mulut menghasilkan 1 liter ludah setiap hari 66. Kita bernafas kira-kira 23.000 kali setiap hari 67. Kata ZIP (kode pos) adalah kepanjangan dari 'Zoning Improvement Plan'. 68. Coca-Cola mengandung Coca (yang merupakan zat aktif pada kokain) dari tahun 1885 sampai 1903. 69. Rata-rata kita bicara 5000 kata tiap hari (walaupun 80% nya kita bicara pada diri sendiri) 70. Seandainya kuota air dalam tubuh kita berkurang 1%, kita langsung merasa haus 71. 4 simbol raja pada kartu remi melambangkan 4 raja yang terkenal di jaman masing-masing: Sekop = David / Raja Daud, Keriting = Alexander the Great / Iskandar Agung, Hati = Charlemagne / Raja Prancis, Wajik = Julius Caesar 72. Seumur hidup kita meminum air sebanyak kurang lebih 75.000 liter 73. Setiap orang, termasuk kembar identik, sidik jari dan tekstur lidahnya tidak ada yang sama. 74. Titik merah pada 7-Up logo berasal dari penemunya yang bermata merah. Dia seorang albino. 75. Pria kehilangan 40 helai rambut tiap hari. wanita 70 helai. 76. Tanda 'save' pada Microsoft Office programs menunjukan gambar floppy disk dengan shutter terbalik 77. Albert Einstein dan Charles Darwin, keduanya menikah dengan sepupu pertama mereka (Elsa Löwenthal dan Emma Wedgewood). 78. Unta punya 3 kelopak mata. 79. Sehelai rambut di kepala kita mempunyai masa tumbuh 2 sampai 6 tahun sebelum diganti dengan rambut baru 80. Seseorang masih akan sadar selama 8 detik setelah dipenggal 81. Otot yang bekerja paling cepat ditubuh kita adalah otot dikelopak mata yang membuat kita berkedip. kita bisa berkedip 5 kali dalam sedetik 82. Coklat dapat membunuh anjing, karena langsung mempengaruhi jantung dan susunan syarafnya 83. Tanpa dicampur ludah di dalam mulut, kita tidak akan merasakan rasa makanan 84. Kuku jari tangan tumbuh 4 kali lebih cepat daripada kuku kaki 85. 13% orang di dunia adalah kidal 86. Hampir semua lipstik mengandung sisik ikan 87. Bayi yang baru lahir berat kepalanya 1/4 dari berat tubuhnya 88. Kita sebenarnya melihat dengan otak. mata hanya berupa kamera yang mengirim data ke otak. 1/4 bagian dari otak digunakan untuk mengatur kerja mata 89. Kalajengking bisa dibunuh dengan menyiramnya dengan cuka, mereka akan murka dan menyengat dirinya sendiri 90. Tahun 1830an saus tomat biasa dijual sebagai obat. 91. Tiga monyet bijak punya nama: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru (Hear no evil), and Mazaru (Speak no evil). 92. India mempunyai Undang-undang hak untuk sapi 93. Jika bersin terlalu keras dapat meretakkan tulang iga. JIka mencoba menahan bersin, bisa mengalami pecah pembuluh nadi di kepala dan leher trus mati, jika memaksa mata terbuka saat bersin, bola mata bisa meloncat keluar. 94. Nama negara Filipina berasal dari nama Raja Phillip 95. Saudi Arabia berasal dari nama Raja Saud 96. Anak-anak mempunyai 20 gigi awal. Orang dewasa punya 32 97. Karena langkanya logam, piala Oscars yang dibagikan pada perang dunia ke II terbuat dari kayu 98. Setiap Siklus 11 tahun, kutub magnet pada matahari bertukar tempat. Siklus ini makan "Solarmax". 99. Ada 318,979,564, 000 kemungkinan kombinasi pembukaan pertama pada catur. 100. Ada lebih dari 300 bakteri pembentuk karang gigi 101. Macan adalah anggota terbesar dalam keluarga kucing 102. Nomer "172" dapat ditemukan pada uang kertas 5 dollar amerika, pada gambar semak-semak dibawah Lincoln Memorial. 103. Pohon kelapa membunuh 150 orang tiap tahun. Lebih banyak daripada hiu 104. Pada poster film 'Pretty Woman' Julia Robets terlalu pendek untuk bisa sejajar dengan Richard Gere. Maka digunakan model Shelley Michelle sebagai tubuh Julia. 105. Daerah kutub kehilangan matahari selama 186 hari dalam setahun 106. Kode Telephone Internasional untuk Antartica adalah 672. 107. Bom pertama sekutu dijatuhkan di Berlin pada perang dunia ke II. Membunuh satu-satunya gajah di Kebun Binatang Berlin. 108. Rata-rata hujan jatuh dengan kecepatan 7 mil per jam 109. Butuh 10 tahun bagi Leonardo Da Vinci untuk melukis Mona Lisa.Lukisan itu tidak ditandai dan di beri tanggal. Leonardo dan Mona mempunya susunan tulang yang persis sama dan menurut sinar X, ada 3 versi lukisan dibawah lukisan itu. 110. Nama dari kembar gemini adalah Castor dan Pullox 111. Gerakan Bruce Lee sangat cepat sehingga mereka harus melambatkan film agar kita bisa melihat semua gerakannya. 112. Satu kilo dari berat badan kita mengandung 7000 kalori 113. Darah sama kental dengan air laut 114. Air laut di samudra Atlantik lebih asin dari pada di samudra Pasifik 115. Topeng tokoh Michael Myers di film horor 'Helloween' sebenernya topeng tokoh Captain Kirk (Star Trek) yang di cat putih, karena kurang dana 116. Nama asli butterfly (kupu-kupu) adalah flutterby. 117. Bayi lahir setiap 7 detik 118. Satu dari 14 wanita Amerika berambut pirang asli. Prianya hanya satu dari 17 119. The Olympic adalah saudara dari kapal Titanic, dan melayani dengan selamat selama 25 tahun. 120. Saat Titanic karam, 2228 orang ada di dalamnya. Hanya 706 yang selamat 121. Di Amerika, seseorang didiagnosa menderita AIDS tiap 10 menit. Di Afrika, seseorang meninggal karena AIDS tiap 10 menit 122. Sampai usia 6 bulan, bayi bisa menelan dan bernapas secara bersamaan. Orang dewasa tidak bisa 123. Alasan kenapa diiklan jam kebanyakan jarum menunjuk pukul 10.10, karena jam seperti sedang tersenyum 124. Tiap tahun bulan menjauh 3.82 cm dari bumi 125. Saat kita bertahan hidup dan tidak ada bahan makanan, sabuk kulit dan sepatu keds adalah makanan terbaik untuk dimakan karena mengandung cukup gizi untuk hidup sementara. 126. Dalam satu tetes air mengandung 50 juta bakteri 127. Dengan menaikan kaki pelan2 dan berbaring tenang dengan punggung lurus, kita tidak akan tenggelam di pasir hisap. 128. Satu dari 10 orang hidup di suatu pulau 129. Memakan seledri membuang kalori lebih banyak dari pada kalori yang terkandung dalam seledri itu sendiri 130. Lobster dapat hidup selama 100 tahun 131. Permen karet tidak dijual di Disney Land 132. Mangunyah permen karet saat mengupas bawang mencegah kita menangis 133. Rahang kucing gak bisa bergerak kekiri dan kanan 134. Nama Artic (kutub utara) berarti beruang dalam bahasa Yunani (Arktos), dan memang beruang kutub hanya ada di kutub utara 135. Jika kira berdiri di dasar sumur, kita bisa melihat bintang walaupun di siang hari 136. Suara yang kita dengar dari dalam kerang bukan suara ombak laut, tapi suara aliran darah dalam kepala kita. 137. Orang lbh banyak yang menderita ketakutan pada ruang terbuka (kenophobia) daripada ketakukan pada ruang tertutup (claustrophobia) . 138. Tehnik mengaduk terbaik bukan dengan gerakan memutar, tapi dengan gerakan huruf W 139. Adegan band yang terus bermain musik saat Titanic tenggelam adalah kisah nyata 140. Buku Guinness Book of Records memegang rekor sebagai buku yang paling banyak dicuri dari perpustakaan 141. 35% dari orang yang ikut kontak jodoh lewat internet, sudah menikah 142. Coca Cola dulu berwarna hijau 143. Secara fisik, babi tidak bisa melihat ke langit 144. Semua beruang kutub kidal 145. Kelelawar selalu belok kiri jika terbang keluar gua 146. Jim Henson pertama kali memakai kata "Muppet". Kombinasi dari "marionette" dan "puppet." 147. Gajah satu-satunya hewan yang tidak bisa meloncat 148. The Michelin man (figur berbaju dan bertopi putih diiklan Michelin) bernama Mr. Bib. nama aslinya Bibendum pada iklan pertama tahun 1896. 149. Kita tidak bisa menjilat siku kita sendiri 150. Kata "lethologica" menggambarkan saat dimana kita tidak bisa mengingat apa yang kita inginkan.

5 Definisi Tugas Guru

1. Teacher is who responsible for the future of human race Karena human race saat ini sedang hadapi krisis global yang diciptakan oleh orang-orang pintar hasil pendidikan beberapa dekade belakangan ini dan sedang terjebak di Lumpur Hidup / swamp, di mana kalau kita pakai Olymphian Energy maka kita akan semakin cepat tenggelam 2. Teacher is a rescuer of human creativity Karena dari hasil riset Tony menyatakan: bayi memiliki 95% lebih kreatifitas, tingkat sekolah dasar tinggal 75%, tingkat sekolah menengah pertama tinggal 50%, tingkat sekolah menengah atas tinggal 25% dan ketika universitas atau lulus tinggal 10%. Oleh karena itu Tony mengajak para guru yang hadir untuk mempelajari Mind Map agar bisa meningkatkan kreavitas. Dicontohkan Ferdi penggubah lagu opera, Davinci sang jenius nomor 1, Thomas Edison semakin tua mereka semakin banyak menghasilkan karya yang semakin baik! 3. Teacher is a person who has the privilege helping his student mine the gold mind Menurut survey Tony yang lain penggunaan otak manusia dalam Memory, Learning dan Creativity < 1%!! Bayangkan anda mengatakan pada boss anda bahwa otak manusia ibarat tambang emas yang baru terutilitasi di bawah 1% sehingga ada kesempatan untuk menggali dan mengekspolarasi 99% lagi. 4. Teacher is a person who launches the student to its own exploration to their infinite universe Ia mencontohkan gambar di atas, kemampuan otak menjadi tak terbatas bila bisa menggabungkan kedua belahan otak secara SYNERGY! Tentunya dengan Peta Pikiran / Mind Map 5. Teacher is a shepherd of daydreamers and who works with students to make their dream comes true Tony mengajak para guru untuk melihat 40 anak di kelasnya bukanlah sekumpulan anak-anak yang nakal dan tidak betah di kelas karena bosan dengan pelajaran kita, tetapi memandang mereka adalah 40 jenius (You teach 40 jeniuses!) calon penemu hal-hal yang ajaib di masa depan.

Devil’s Island, French Guiana

This morning we expect to arrive at the pilot station of Devil's Island or Ile du Diable which is a part of les Iles du Salut. This island group is only 6 nautical miles from the mainland. We will proceed to our anchorage situated south of Ile Royale to drop anchor. The coast of Guiana embraces Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and small parts of Venezuela and Brazil. The region consists almost entirely of the Guiana Highlands, a rugged upland area covered by dense tropical rainforests. The area was first explored in 1499–1500 by the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci.

Devil’s Island has a dark and intriguing history. The smallest and northernmost of the three Îles du Salut, Devil’s Island is located off the coast of French Guiana and was part of the notorious French penal colony until 1952. Opened by Emperor Napoleon III's government in 1852, the prison became one of the most infamous prisons in history. The inmates ran the gamut from political prisoners to thieves and murderers. The harsh conditions and rampant spread of diseases on the island guaranteed that more than 80,000 prisoners were never seen again. The remote location, rocky coastline and treacherous waters made escape virtually impossible. A number of female convicts were sent to French Guiana, with the intent that they should marry the freed male inmates working on the island. In 1938 France stopped sending prisoners to Devil's Island, and in 1952 the prison closed forever. Papillion, a best-selling book by ex-Devil's Island convict Henri Charrière tells of his numerous alleged escape attempts. It was made into a popular movie starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. The prison ruins on the island are a fascinating but grim reminder of this beautiful island’s dark past. The cemetery, which includes the gravestones of children, reminds us that this grim past didn’t only affect adults on the island.

Cinco De Mayo Celebration

The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Battle was significant because, while outnumbered almost two to one, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army that had known no defeat for almost 50 years. This battle would be the last time that an army from another continent invaded the Americas. While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. However, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. That takes place on September 16 and is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

Atlantic Ocean Formation

The Atlantic Ocean began to form during the Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago, when a rift opened up in the super-continent known as Gondwanaland, resulting in the separation of South America and Africa. The separation continues today at the rate of several centimeters a year along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

The South Equatorial Current

Approaching the Brazilian coast we will be influenced by the South Equatorial Current. This current flows westward and divides at a point varying seasonally between 6° south and 11° south to form the south west flowing Brazil Current and the north west flowing Guiana Current. These currents may frequently set on shore, particularly off Recife and Rio de

Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu

The capital city of Vanuatu, Port Vila is the country’s largest city. Located on the south coast of the island of Efate, the area occupied by Port Vila has been inhabited for thousands of years. The first Europeans, from Spain, arrived in 1606 and in the 19th century French settlers established the municipality of Franceville. Franceville declared independence in 1889 and became the first self-governing nation to practice universal suffrage without distinction of sex or race. The population at the time was about 500 natives and less than 50 whites, so it was ironic that only the latter were permitted to hold office. France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the country and in 1906 agreed to jointly managing the archipelago. An independence movement was established in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was created in 1980. During World War II, Port Vila was an American and Australian airbase. Although Vanuatu has a parliamentary democracy headed by a President, there are also highly-placed people at village level including village Chiefs. Traditional culture remains strong here. Pigs, particularly those with rounded tusks, are considered a symbol of wealth throughout Vanuatu. In fact, a tusk is part of the national flag. Young men still undergo ceremonies to initiate them into manhood, including circumcision. Village clubhouses are popular places for men to meet and drink kava. Male and female-only sections are still common in most villages. Fish, taro, yams, papaya, pineapples, mangoes, plantains and coconuts are plentiful and scarcity of food is rarely ever an issue. Most food is cooked using hot stones, boiling or steaming. Fried food is not common at all. Vanuatuns boast about their healthy environment as there are almost no poisonous insects or reptiles on land or in the water around the island.

After leaving Luganville the ship passes between the islands of Ambrym and Epi on the port side and Malakula on the starboard side. The island of Ambryn has 2 airports which is quite unusual for an island that is only 25 square miles. The airports are located on the east and west side of the island. Ambrym is well known for its volcanic activities with 2 active volcanic cones in a 39 square mile caldera. This caldera contains several craters between the barren ash plains. On approaching Port Vila we will be entering the “Mele Bay”, where we will embark the local Pilot who will guide us through Port Vila Bay and Pontoon Bay before docking alongside the main wharf.

Luganville, Republic of Vanuatu

Luganville, the second largest city in the Republic of Vanuatu, is located on the island of Espiritu Santo and is one of Vanuatu's busiest ports. The main street contains the port at one end, markets and municipal buildings at the other with tourist shops and all-in-one stores in between. The population of Luganville represents mostly indigenous Ni-Vanuatu, but there is also a small population of Chinese and European descendants. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, Allied forces used the island as a military supply and support base, naval harbor, and airfield. James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific and the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific are loosely inspired by this isolated island nation. When first visiting, tourists usually remark on the extra wide lanes of the main street running through Luganville. The American base commander there insisted that 4 trucks could be driven along the road side by side. The presence of the Allies on the island inadvertently contributed to the island's diving tourism. The United States dumped most of their equipment and refuse at what is now known as 'Million Dollar Point', an underwater area now a popular dive spot, as is the wreck of the SS President Coolidge, a converted luxury liner that hit a mine during the war. While approximately 40,000 United States military personnel were stationed in Luganville during World War II, it is estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 military personnel took R & R on the island. Military-constructed Quonset huts still dot the area around town as a reminder of this part of Luganville’s history.

A busy port, Luganville is a transshipment point for copra and cacao. Segond Channel, the body of water off the coast of Luganville behind Aore Island, provides the town with an excellent sheltered harbor.

The Cummerbund

The cummerbund was first adopted by British military officers in colonial India and later spread to civilian use. The name comes from the Persian for waist restraint (kamar meaning “waist” and band meaning “to close"”) and was borrowed into English from the Hindi word meaning “loinband” in 1616. The word is also quite commonly misspelled and mispronounced as “cumberbun.” Cummerbunds were traditionally worn with pleats facing up in order to hold ticket stubs and similar items. These days however such a fact is purely academic as cummerbunds are now a mere decoration to a gentleman's black tie attire.

The Kentucky Derby

In 1872, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. traveled to England, visiting the famous Epsom Derby and then went to Paris, to visit the French Jockey Club, home of the Grand Prix de Paris, the greatest race in France. Returning to Kentucky, Clark organized the Louisville Jockey Club to build a quality racing facility just outside of the city. It would soon become known as Churchill Downs, named for relatives, John and Henry Churchill, who provided the land for the racetrack. The Kentucky Derby was first run at 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the same as the Epsom Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. In 1896, the distance was changed to its current 1.25 miles (2 km). On May 17, 1875, a field of 15 three-year-old horses ran the first Derby in front of 10,000 spectators. By 1902 the Kentucky Derby had become the preeminent thoroughbred horse race in America. A number of traditions play a large role in the festivities; the most popular is the Mint Julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and sugar syrup that is the traditional beverage of the race. Women wear elaborate hats and as the horses are paraded before the grandstands; the University of Louisville marching band plays Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home." The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because of the lush blanket of 554 red roses awarded to the winner each year.

Sextant Measurement

A sextant is an instrument generally used to measure the altitude of a celestial object above the horizon. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight. The angle, and the time when it was measured, can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical or aeronautical chart. A common use of the sextant is to sight the sun at noon to find one's latitude. Held horizontally, the sextant can be used to measure the angle between any two objects, such as between two lighthouses, which will, similarly, allow for calculation of a line of position on a chart.

Southern Atlantic Ocean

Being on the vast Southern Atlantic Ocean, the navigating officers primarily use the Global Positioning System, GPS for their position fixes. This is due to the fact that there are no fixed landmarks visible to take bearings from. Maybe you have noticed in magazines or from fellow passengers that very accurate GPS units, of only the size of a handheld telephone are available nowadays. The GPS devices in use today are accurate up to 65 feet (20 meters). If the GPS should fail, celestial navigation is the only backup. Therefore, all the navigating officers are skilled in using the sextant to obtain a position, like they did in the “old days”.

Jolly Roger

The Jolly Roger was the much feared pirate flag from days gone by. The skull with the crossed thigh bones beneath it struck terror into the hearts of merchant seamen who encountered it. There is no evidence that this particular flag ever existed. The generally recognized pirate flag was usually a plain black flag, or a black flag adorned with a variety of skulls, bones or other morbid symbols. The famous pirate Blackbeard hoisted a flag adorned with a horned devil-skeleton with an hourglass in one hand (to advise his victims that time was running out) and a spear in the other. The origin of the name “Jolly Roger” is obscure, but most often related to a rather ribald English expression.

Picture was taken at V & A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa, April 22, 2009.

( behind is the Jolly Roger Sailing Ship )