September 2026
Stephen D. (Doc) Regan
SMALL BOATS
Several years ago, I attempted to build a very small take-apart boat that could fit in my trunk. As previously mentioned, I never took an Industrial Arts class because my School Counselor decided I would be flying craft to Mars or something. Being brilliant, I never read the instructions and ultimately used many sheets of plywood and the boat leaked like a kitchen colander.
CHURCH MOUSE SKIFF is a wonderful little boat like the one I had in mind. At 7’7”, she uses the Nutshell Pram rigging. She has a lovely 4’ beam, and with the Center Board up she can float in 6” of water. Her weight is a mere 65 pounds, so she is wonderful for kids learning to sail and old duffers learning to build.
GLEN L 19 is a larger craft pushing 19’3” (16’3” at the waterline) with a beam of 7’9” and, with the Center Board up, can float in 20”. She displaces 410 pounds, has a cabin headroom of 3’7”, and can have 165 square feet of sail (including the jib).
GRAY FLEET
Ego, what an ego. President Trump’s key policy to create a “Golden Fleet” centered around 15 TRUMP-Classbattleships to “address a fundamental requirement in modern naval warfare: the need to generate sufficient combat mass to culminate battle…(providing) decisive, high-volume fires and survivable command and control.”
Many years ago, a discussion among the best and brightest of the Navy, debated the reuse of the IOWA-Class battleships as a Weapons Ship that pulled the rear 16” turrets and most of their 5” guns to be replaced by a stunning number of missile tubes of sundry size and capability. The Pro argument maintained that the ships were incredibly weather-tolerant, had unparalleled survivability, and the hulls were already in existence, thus eliminating design and development while saving huge levels of cost.
The Con argument posited that the hulls were old, the electronic and electric units were worn to the point of a required total rewiring, and the ships themselves required a massive crew. The further pointed out that small ships, such as destroyers and frigates, could also carry enormous missile weaponry with all the bells and buzzers at a minimal cost. They also reminded the Navy that the loss of one battleship would be catastrophic, while the loss of even a few destroyers would not be a significant injury to the fleet or the projected battle.
Obviously, the battleships became museum pieces. The President wants big, big ships bearing his name. Of course, the idea is strongly supported by CNO Admiral Caudle, until after the next election.
President Trump, in a bid to improve the U.S. shipbuilding industry and increase the American Navy, has proposed a $65.8 billion shipbuilding budget to “provide a clear vision for how those funds could be used to meaningfully increase its fleet size, which is only one ship larger in 2026 than it was in 2003, despite America’s shipbuilding budget having nearly doubled over the past two decades.” Those who questioned elements of the plan were promptly fired. Examples include the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations. Ironically, Acting SecNav, Hung Cao, states that the issue was “weakened by inconsistent demand and misaligned priorities.” Frankly, he is correct. Every President since George Washington has had their own passel of experts and their own idea of what the Navy should look like.
Cao noted that shipbuilding calls or a new acquisition strategy on supplier accountability. He would like more reliance on Portfolio Acquisitions Vessel Construction Executives and Manager to oversee end-to-end procurement and construction. Secondly, he desires a balanced fleet of high-end ships, such as carriers and submarines, and low-end and inexpensive uncrewed ships and vessels. Third, like his President, he sees a necessary modernization of existing shipyards that cultivate foreign investment.
By now everyone is aware that the carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72 ) has been at sea for over 250 days without seeing land. Morale on ship is at a nadir to the point that at least one sailor attempted suicide by jumping overboard (he was rescued and transferred). The stress on families has been drastic. The LINCOLN has been working the Middle East covering Trump’s War. It is being relieved by the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73). ) The running joke is that the LINCOLN has not seen land for four score and seven years.
Their pals on the USS BENHAM (DDG-65) have suffered as well. The destroyer had electrical issues that ruin their generator leaving the ship without electricity for four days aning that they was no cooking, no working toilets, no water, and no air conditioning. Most of the crew was eventually airlifted to other facilities on 30 July ; but the ship was not repaired until 8 August 20206.
The Royal Navy is frustrated over a significant increase in Russian naval activities in the North Atlantic. Surface ships and submarines have carried out a plethora of live-ammunition drills including large gunnery practicing and even electronically targeting private yachts.
MERCHANT FLEET
Marinetraffic.com supposedly shows the position of every single boat, ship, tug, and yacht in the world that has its AIS signal on. It is fascinating to see where ships are and where they are going. A friend posted that her family was on an Alaskan cruise. I immediately responded that she was about 20 miles off the coast of Alaska and would be in port within the hour. She was shocked that I knew exactly where her ship was located.
The location of every vessel with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) is helpful for Coast Guards, ships’ owners, passengers, and Law Enforcement; unfortunately, of the 200,000 ships at sea (or inland waterways), many are sending false signals or “spoofing” which may be sending incorrect positions or identifying themselves as another ship.
The current incidents of spoofing has risen to over 400 incidents daily and lasting for 3 days, according to SEAPOWER. The North Pacific Ocean is the most common occasion of incorrect information (read that “China”) and the Indian Ocean ranks second. Russian-flagged ships are the worst offenders.
The U.S. is carefully monitoring South Korea’s attempt to purchase the Australian ship builder Austal. The Asian country already owns 19% of Austal and wants to buy controlling interest. The company builds significant components of U.S. warships and Merchant Fleet.
The reasons for spoofing to camouflage their current positions trying to avoid scrutiny by officials or seeking to cover illegal activities. Sometimes spoofing is used to avoid being identified as a ship avoiding safety inspections.
WATERWAYS JOURNAL printed an editorial about the Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) that allows foreign sailors to come ashore in the U.S. without an escort. This tamper-proof card has an expiration date and a photo produced under the guidance of the Coast Guard and Homeland Security who never speak to each other. For many years card readers were virtually nonexistent so the identification became merely flashcard with a photo, should anyone request seeing one. The FBI supposedly was assigned the task of vetting people requesting a TWIC; however, most agents (according to the JOURNAL) had no idea what to do or even what a TWIC was.
Over 2 million people have such cards but the TSA has little experience with them and does not communicate with the Coast Guard or Homeland Security often. Worse, it seems that a list of cancelled or expired cards is available; therefore, God-only-knows how many non-qualified persons entered the U.S.
The editorial suggests that this inter-agency debacle be quelled by DHS, Coast Guard, FBI, and TSA working together and communicating. In Washington, DC?? ICE, it seems, would rather use a stun gun or electric gloves on pregnant Mexican women than deal with this gaping hole in our illegal entry protection.
In another editorial in that august journal, the subject of “why nothing works: who killed progress” is framed as a view of Robert Moses, the man who virtually took over New York via the Parks and Recreation Department where he appointed people to do his bidding as he became the behind-the-scene most powerful man in the city who dictated his will over mayors and elected officials. Nevertheless, Moses was noted for being able to get major projects completed quickly and efficiently.
Of course, politicians reacted jealously to this dictatorial maneuvering by passing a plethora of rules, regulations, mandates, directives, policies, guidelines, and decrees to halt such activities. Back to business as usual, the bureaucracies of Washington have created a virtual Frankenstein’s monster that cannot get much done on time and at cost. The headline of the editorial was, “Searching for a Robert Moses?”.
INLAND WATERWAYS
The current administration issued a stop work order to the team working on the Brandon Road Inter-basin Project, a series of interlocking devices and barriers aimed to keep Asian Carp from the Great Lakes, for no known reason. The $1.5 billion costs were to be split between Illinois and the Federal government. The J.F. Brennan Company was not informed of the stoppage by the Corps of Engineers but was told by the workers who were forced to stop their endeavors.
An enraged Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called on President Trump to rescind the order. He stated that the project puts at risk $52 billion in the local economy and the jobs of 1.5 million workers. A bipartisan group led by Republican Bill Huizenga and Democrat Debbie Dingell, who led the committee overseeing the project, wrote the President that “the project has been thoroughly reviewed by Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners. Its funding has been authorized by Congress, and the non-federal sponsors have met all applicable cost-share obligations and secured the necessary property for construction.”
ENVIRONMENT
Severely drought-stricken Puerto Rico is rationing water with most of the island experiencing the driest summer on record. 180,000 people have no water at all. The National Weather Service predicts that the region will probably continue to be extremely dry as El Nino continues to create weather patterns.
Stranded boats on the Danube
The same organization noted that El Nino will be stronger in the autumn forcing weather to be 5.4 degrees above normal. This climate pattern triggers enormous alterations to normalcy across the globe. Arid Europe is afire with forests ablaze in France and Spain. England had an unusual forest fire virtually unheard of in history. The summer brought triple digit temperatures to the continent. Arizona had more days over 110 degrees in their experience.
Scientists, studying the incredible sturgeon, stated that females can live up to 427 years while their male counterparts live a meager 270 years. Admittedly, this data is somewhat speculative because Great Lakes ichthyologists were not tagging the fish in 1600. Extrapolating sturgeon’ ages growth patterns of 1,200 fish over 44 years provide a mathematical formula; however, fish growth tends to slow over decades. Sturgeon have been around since the Lower Jurassic Age 200 million years ago.
Of course, in the middle of this global warming, NOAA has dialed back on reporting of Arctic warming (evidently, the way to deal with bad news is not to deal with it). 2025 was the warmest recorded in the Arctic. The melting ice in Alaska has released iron to the point that some rivers are running red and seriously damaging drinking water quality and harming wildlife. Where is Sarah Palin when we need her? Oh, that’s right, she is posing for bikini photos.
ALLISIONS AND COLLISIONS
KMP MUTIARA SENTOSA 2, an Indonesian-flagged ferry sank, 5 were killed and 4 missing, but over 200 were rescued.
FAIZE NOORE OLIYA, a cargo ship, was destroyed by Houthi rebels but the crew was rescued by Yemen Coast Guard.
MERA QUEEN became royalty of the sea when she was destroyed by Russian air attack near Odessa compliments of the ongoing war with Ukraine.
MBUYA NEHANDA, a ferry on Lake Kariba, sank taking 94 with her. 77 managed to survive.
SL SUAL, a Filipino tugboat, was holed in the South China Sea and grounded. Nevertheless, during salvage she managed to capsize and sink.
OCEAN WINNER proved contrary to her name. This Panamanian cargo ship capsized and sank in the Bay of Bengal and only 2 of the 24-crew lived.
ALPHA CRUZ 00 also failed to be the alpha vessel of the ocean sea as this Russian fishing ship nicely capsized and sank in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Ocean Winner
Greyhounds of the Pacific: U.S. Destroyers in the War Against Japan
Andrew Faltum
Naval Institute Press: Annapolis, MD
2026
The Destroyers finally received some recognition in literature of World War II in the Pacific. If a battleship, carrier, or cruiser was sunk, a bushel of books was written about them; but if six destroyers were sunk, it would be mentioned in a footnote, or possible a line in the article. Faltum, a retired Reserve Commander, directs his entire focus on the little guys of the fleet, discussing each of the destroyers and their actions. What a story he weaves.
USS FLETCHER (DD-445)
Named for Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, Medal of Honor, Mexico
NOT Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, Medal of Honor, Mexico
Jack Fletcher was Friday’s nephew
(see IN BITTER TEMPEST: the biography of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, Iowa State University Press. Written by Dr. Stephen D. Regan
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