That didn't take long. Just a couple weeks ago, Olympics officials and sailing enthusiasts were panicking about an algal attack off the coast of Qingdao.
But thanks to 20,000 "volunteers," the Yellow Sea is all cleaned up--at least so says the country's state-run media outlet. Officials also say that three sea barriers designed to hold back any further algal outbreaks have been set up around the waters designated for competition.
When last we left Jaunted editor Paul Brady, he had finished the first two days of his basic keelboat sailing lessons at the Manhattan Sailing School. How was Day Three?
It was a serious drag to wake up before 8 am on a Sunday. But I managed to pull myself out of bed, tired from tugging on lines the day before, to meet up with my instructor and fellow students to set out for another day on the water.
The early weather report didn't look good, but like true mariners we rigged our boat anyway. Soon after, we were out on the Hudson again, practicing our tacking and jibing in winds so light we were probably only making a couple of knots.
After years of talking about it, making excuses and generally being a baby about the whole thing, Jaunted editor Paul Brady finally signed up for sailing lessons. He took Basic Keelboat Sailing 101 at the Manhattan Sailing School.
The first time I got in a sailboat, I managed to flip the thing over. Granted, it was a Sunfish--and could handle being capsized--but the experience didn't exactly make me eager to get back at the helm.
Still, I can hardly spend my time traveling along the Eastern Seaboard and through the Caribbean avoiding sail boats. It'd be like going to Bourbon Street and ordering a virgin margarita. So since I didn't grow up near water and I don't have a crusty old sea-going uncle to show me the ropes, I did the next best thing: I signed up for a class with an American Sailing Association instructor in Manhattan.
Sound the alarms! The Chinese city of Qingdao has come under algal attack--and the Olympics could be at risk! More than 30 percent of the waters designated for sailing contests off the coast of the city are inundated with thick enteromorpha prolifera. But the Chinese authorities have a way with getting people to "volunteer," and a reported 20,000 citizens have pitched in to clean up the Yellow Sea.
Agricultural run off is often the culprit when it comes to algal blooms, but Chinese officials told the state news agency that isn't the case this time. And they may not be lying! Blooms fueled by nitrates from fertilizers are usually red, and the stuff on the shores of Qingdao is bright green.
As the clean-up continues, the local Olympics Sailing Committee is planning a 30-mile-long fence to help keep the bloom at bay. The group says everything should be sorted by July 15; the games start on August 8.
Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.
The villages along the Mekong River from Cambodia's Phnom Penh to Vietnam's Chau Doc contain unspoiled culture, authentic food and kind, welcoming people willing to take in travelers. We remembered the film "Apocalypse Now," where a boat ride up the Mekong is a trip to the depths of hell. On the contrary: Often times it quite literally felt like heaven on earth.
A German family was recently kidnapped aboard their yacht near Yemen by pirates who took them to the quasi-official Republic of Somaliland. A local man who described himself as an elder to the BBC told reporters that a mother, father and child had been captured and taken hostage in the mountains. The elder said he was doing his best to negotiate with the pirates.
Piracy is a major problem in the waterways surrounding the Horn of Africa, but it's usually freighters that come under attack. As for Somaliland, it's one of several disputed territories in Somalia. The area is plagued by lawlessness and has become a popular haven for pirates. Maybe soon it'll be the setting for the Hollywood blockbuster "Black Yacht Down."
We've already told you about kayaking in the Hudson, but what about those of us who'd like to explore Manhattan's waters at a faster pace? Add yachting to the list of unexpected activities you can try without leaving New York.
Manhattan Sailing School operates a fleet of boats based out of North Cove, a mini-marina set in Battery Park behind the World Financial Center. Basic sailing classes start at $590, or if you're already a serious skipper, you can become a member of the affiliated Manhattan Sailing Club and sail out on one of their 30 boats whenever you're in the mood. While it's a bargain compared to owning your own boat in NYC, membership will set you back a pretty penny at $1,190 a year.
If you're looking for a less strenuous way to hit the water, the club also has the Hudson's best kept secret: the harbor clubhouse, a floating barge docked just off Ellis Island. Think summertime drinks outdoors with stunning downtown views--and not a tourist in sight. The clubhouse is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and access is via a motor boat from North Cove; round-trip tickets are $10.
There is no better way to visit Capri than by boat. So when Jaunted was handed a boat rental brochure that read, "Capri Boat: You Drive It. Lowest Prices and No Stress," we thought it was too good to be true.
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