June 2025
COMMENTARY
The wind seemed strong, the mast was finally up, the rigging was correct after multiple corrections, and it was time for the first sail of the season with good ol’ GENNY SEA, the West Wight Potter 15 that has been my primary instructor in experiential learning to sail. From the dry slip to the water was uneventful; but, trying to get the boat into Lake McBride proved a bit of a hassle until an elderly fisherman assisted me in hold a line while I backed up. I raised the sails and the wind immediately heeled to the point of taking on water. I doused the jib while slipping and sliding all around the deck while I was still tied to the dock. My Guardian Angel told me it was too windy for me, and I got back on the dock and backed the trailer to retrieve my beloved sailboat. Unfortunately, the little Minn-Kota 55 could not back the boat up enough to load it nor could it counter the wind to go forward.
Again, the elderly fisherman attempted to assist me until I waded into the slimy waters and manhandled the boat to get her bow at the correct angle. The fisherman and I both were wheezing and bent over attempting to breath. After a half hour of resting, telling a few tales, and befriending each other, I was able to drive back to the dry slip and, after another rest, was able to cover the boat.
The point of this story is my realization that at the cusp of 78-years-old, am I getting too old for this stuff? Is it time to swallow the anchor? The sailing part is easy; it is the rigging and preparation that tries to ensure cardiac arrest. I don’t want to quit. I love sailing. This getting old is not for the fainthearted.
Well, we will see what the next month brings. I love my boat as much as I love my one-eyed deaf pug (Shady Saydi, the One-eyed Lady). Who knows?
GREY FLEET
The DOD is frustrated enough to warrant an investigation on the massive failures of the military during Joint Logistics Over-the Shore Exercises from 2014-2024 because of inoperable equipment and unit readiness to meet minimum standards or expectations. One of the major issues is the inability of the Navy and Army to coordinate, organize, train, or operate to a common joint standard.
Other reasons for the chronic lack of success are:
- Specific Army and Navy equipment, including watercraft, piers, causeways, and command and control systems were not operable that resulted in significant damage.
- USTRANSCOM did not fully exercise its authority as the JDDC in assisting joint mission standards.
- Inoperability of equipment because of inability to identify broken equipment.
- The GCC and Military Service components failed to fully consider mission-specific requirements such as beach conditions, average sea states, and other factors.
The President ordered the military to halt all bombing or firing upon Houthi strongholds that have fired rockets at both U.S. civilian and military ships near Yemen because he believes that these terrorists really do not want to fight against the United States. The Houthi spokesperson said that they will continue to attack any Israeli infrastructure. Leaders in Yemen also stated that they were skeptical Mr. Trump’s statements. Meanwhile, two Navy carrier groups continue to sail in the region.
A FA/-18F Super Hornet went overboard of the USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN-75) when the arresting wire failed or the hook attachment on the plane did not work properly during a night landing. The pilot and aviation officer ejected as the plane slammed into the ocean, and luckily, were rescued.
The Chinese recently launched a missile and space support ship. The full nature of this ship is unknown as is the primary mission; however, it has aroused interest in the 5-sided building of martial wisdom.
CHINESE MISSILE AND SPACE SUPPORT SHIP
Since this is being written around Memorial Day, it seems appropriate to remember those who perished on the seas. During my duty contract, Commander Lloyd Bucher, former CO of the USS PUEBLO (AGER-2) was assigned to the same post as me. The Navy placed him behind a desk awaiting his retirement. The story of the PUEBLO is well known and hotly discussed. The ship t was posing as a nautical research ship but was a spy ship full of Cryptological Technicians listening in on the Chinese and North Koreans when the North Koreans surrounded the ship, fired several shots into the Navy ship, killing one and wounding several others. Because of the disguise, the PUEBLO was virtually unarmed and fighting back seemed suicidal, so Bucher surrendered. The only US Naval ship lost without firing a shot in our history.
The Navy and its boss on this assignment, the National Security Agency, went ballistic. Years of codebreaking disappeared in minutes, highly classified codes were lost, and secretive equipment went directly to Moscow. After a year of torture, the captive crew was released; however, the Navy refused to designate them as Prisoners of War (POW’s) and the crew was denied the POW medal and appropriate benefits. Bucher was found guilty and run out of the service, only to be pardoned by the President.
Whenever I saw a fellow Cryptologic Technicians (called Communication Techs in those days) with a Purple Heart you knew they had been on the PUEBLO or on the LIBERTY that the Israeli military tried to sink. To those CTs and all fellow members of the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association, thank you for your service.
USS PUEBLO (AGER-2) still in North Korea.
Former Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Robert Burke, was convicted of one count of bribery for using his position to force subordinates to purchase inferior material regardless of product poor reviews, in attempt to guarantee post-retirement employment with a corporation. His sentencing will be in August.
After a multitude of Navy flag officers ended their careers in disgrace during the Fat Leonard Scandal, this criminal action is totally irrational. Evidently, greed displaces honor in the 250-year-old Navy.
WHINING
Several years ago, Messing About in Boats published an article perhaps called “Things That P$^&@ Me Off”, came to mind as Spring came and boat preparation became a requisite mission. To those mentioned in the piece, I would add:
- Finding bolts or screws on the deck without seeing where they belong,
- Removing 4 bolts but only three seem too available when needed,
- Bolts without nuts,
- Finding holes in your sails after you clean them,
- Re-staining, varnishing, and polishing your tiller only to find it attracts bird do-do.
Please send your addition to this list in the comment section below and it will be added in a future edition of BEYOND THE HORIZON.
ALLISIONS AND COLLISIONS
CMA CGM ERMITAGE allided with the quay in Hamburg, Germany when it was forced to make a drastic turn to avoid a wayward yacht.
Peruvian Navy’s UCAYOLI (CF-14) collided with an oil barge EL MANATI. The Navy ship’s hull was punctured and she sank in 30’ of water. 30 crew members were safe but 2 were killed and 1 was missing.
Self-propelled barges, CARISMA and CARISMA II struck a pair of VIKING passenger ship that were anchored in port.
CONSCIENCE, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship was set afire by Israeli military in the Med. The Coalition is a grassroots group trying to provide humane supplies to the Gaza strip. A Malta spokesperson said the ship was hit by Israeli drones and immediately became enflamed. The crew refused to leave the ship. FFC claims it was carrying medical supplies and food; however, Israeli officials claimed it was supplying Hamas.
BRP MIGUEL MALVOV was scheduled to be sunk as an artificial reef but she sprung a leak an sank near Luzon, PI.
CAPTAIN RALEIGH, a 68’ fishing boat, also spring a leak, capsized, and subsequently sank. Three crew were rescued but one is missing.
WHITE FLEET
Too much alcohol and no issue with driving home led to a good old fashioned fist fight on board the MSC VIRTUOSA leaving one man dead and another arrested on murder charges, a second man was also arrested for manslaughter. The victim was 60-year-old, James Messham, and the 57-year-old unnamed man who was taken into custody but released upon posting bail on the Isle of Wight.
The Captain of Silver Sea’s SILVER RAY was slapped on the wrist with a $1,100 fine for sailing too close to the Faraglioni Rocks, a protected environmental habitat. These legendary towering rock formations are allegedly home to mermaids whose beauty and lovely singing lure sailors to their deaths. Evidently, the skipper was so attracted to these spirits that he darn near rammed his cruise ship into the rocks.
Just saying.
The wrangling over tariffs between Mexico and the U.S. caused the former to establish a $5 visiting fee, or maybe a $42 visiting fee, or $21 visiting fee depending on which day you listen to the news from the White House or the Mexican Government. This will all change within a day or two within each and every week unless our Southern Neighbors proffer Cuban cigars and a new cigarette boat to the President.
Oceania Cruises outlined the 2025-26 sailing schedule in full anticipation of a 30% rise in passengers throughout the industry. According to the Cruise Industry News the schedule is quoted:
“Indian Ocean Opus”: 24 days from Cape Town to Singapore aboard the Oceania Sirena, departing December 2. Destinations include Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Réunion Island and Mozambique.
“South Pacific Archipelagos”: 19 days from Sydney to Papeete aboard the Oceania Riviera, departing December 10. Destinations include Sydney, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti.
“Outrigger’s Route to Bali”: 24 days from Papeete to Bali aboard the Oceania Regatta, departing December 17. Destinations include French Polynesia, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Australia’s Top End and the Indonesian archipelago.
“Yachting Treasures”: 10 days from Miami to Miami aboard the Oceania Insignia, departing December 19. Destinations include San Juan, Basseterre, St. John’s, Philipsburg and Charlotte Amalie.
“Antarctic Triumph”: 20 days from Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires aboard the Oceania Marina, departing December 21. Destinations include Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Chilean fjords, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia and Buenos Aires.
“Holiday Havens”: 14 days from Miami to Miami aboard the Oceania Allura, departing December 21. The Oceania Allura embarks on her inaugural holiday voyage from Miami and visits Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent, Dominica, Antigua and St. Maarten. ( https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2025/05/oceania-unveils-2025-26-and-2026-27-festive-voyages/)
A couple wanted to sail around the world in their catamaran with 2 crew and three dogs suffered horrific damage and dismasting in the middle of the Pacific. The distraught owner thought he saw a ship and fired a flare. This was seen on the CARNIVAL SPLENDOR and quickly came to their rescue. The cruise captain said that this was no easy task trying to maneuver a huge ship alongside a small sailboat without crushing it. With deft skill and a little luck, the cruise ship successfully saved everyone and the dogs that instantly became the biggest hits on board.
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INLAND WATERWAYS
Does anyone know what is going happening? Confusion seems to be the modus operandi within government. The Department of the Army eliminated, under orders, the Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) in March. Now, the orders are to reconstitute the Board with all new members which will take about 4-6 months so the Board won’t be meeting this year. The IWUB provides advisory assistance to the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Administration made deep cuts in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HTMF) that the CEO of American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) decried as incompatible with Mr. Trump’s goals to revitalize the nation’s maritime industry. If this seems confusing, Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, claimed support for Mr. Trump’s budget but added that it was early in the budget debate.
The President nominated Bent Sadler as head of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) but on May 6, 2025, abruptly withdrew that nomination and named Stephen Carmel to the position. Of course, the White House had no comment.
Carmel is suited for the job as he was president of U.S. Maritime Management LLC. He graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and holds a Master’s degree in Economics and an MBA from Old Dominion University.
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