Chooch- What a sad set of news this is.

We are watching what happens each day, as there are also reports the entire east coast could eventually be affected as well.

Let's hope they can cap it soon and begin a full clean up.

I cannot even imagine having the sailing season shut down.

BP execs should be drawn and quartered. Failing that, they should be serving life in prison for second degree murder (don't forget the 11 who died) and crimes against the planet. This all happened because they were trying to save themselves the $1 million per day that the operation was costing them. Now, they've sprayed nearly 1 milliopn gallons of corexit (manufactured by a subsidiary of BP). A lot of the damage will never be seen from the shore as a result.

John, I could not agree with you more. This is beyond belief really. We will suffer the consequences as a nation for years ecologically and or course financially. I have been wondering if anyone in our association can enlighten us on the effects of oil that is sucked in to the raw water intake. I would think there would be damage to the pump or other internal parts.

I don't blame BP for this. We all share the blame, every individual one of us. With our endless demand for more and more energy, they are just fulfilling what we ask of them. And unless we start to get serious about conservation and finding realistic energy alternatives, this situation will happen again and again and again, especially as they start drilling in riskier places. And with projects like Canada's oil sands, an environmental disaster in the making.

Next time you crank that AC down a notch, think about it. Next time you buy a new vehicle, think about it. Next time you use your new vehicle, think about it. Conservation has to start somewhere and that somewhere is with us who consume energy.

When environmental awareness was a sexy topic in the last few years, everyone talked about it. But no one, not one person that we know, has actually been willing to change their lifestyle to conserve. No one. We are all part of the problem, and we are all part of the solution.

Getting off soapbox now.

I agree that we all need to be more environmentally aware, but this falls into a different category. The "Deepwater Horizon" had run about 3 weeks beyond schedule at a cost to BP of $1 million per day. They were cutting corner after corner. They knew that the blow-out preventer was defective in several ways, including knowing that a key seal in it had been destroyed. They violated normal procedure by removing the drilling "mud" before setting the seal. They had a warning that gas was entering the well but insisted on continuing the process. Then there is the other side: I don't remember the figure, but they spent millions lobbying in DC. One result of this is that the US does not require two blow-out preventers on such wells as do several other nations.

Of course, we need to move away from fossil fuels, but don't you think that the entire oil industry is involved in discouraging this?

John, what you're describing is a failure of government to adequately police what petroleum companies do. In our country business rules, no ifs ands or buts. There isn't a level of government in our country that doesn't bow down to business.

As for oil companies discouraging alternative energy, yes they do that, they want to sell more of their product without question. BP does sell solar panels, likely a token gesture to act as if they care. BP, from what I read, seems to be very good at spinning a concept while getting on with the business of pumping oil. I'm no fan of BP, or any petroleum company, or any big business for that matter.

But we as individuals still can make choices when we engage in activities that consume energy. If we choose to consume less, we are doing our part to conserve. We all engage in an activity that uses the wind as the main motive power instead of a couple of huge engines licking up 40 gallons an hour. So we've already taken that first step, we just need to start doing it in all the other areas of our lives.

Which is why I am looking at solar and wind power for the boat. I don't want to politicize this forum, it's too valuable to get mired in that. But hopefully we all can agree on the need to conserve resources.

First, Chooch, I really feel bad for you as well as all those who are suffering from this disaster. It's so easy for us on the Left Coast to think it's "way over there", but this could have just as easily happened off Santa Barbara. I hope something happens to allow you and your beautiful Tara to get to sea. As far as our greedy lust for energy, I thought I'd list just a few things that are made from oil. This whole well intentioned notion that we can live without oil is a bit naive, I'm afraid. However, I think that government has to get out of bed with the oil companies and actually enforce the rules which might prevent tragedies like this.

A FEW THINGS MADE FROM OIL

Gasoline for cars

Diesel for cars, trucks and ships to deliver food & goods

Aviation fuel for planes

Credit cards

Aspirin

Plastic bags

Hair brushes

Anti-freeze

Motorcycle Helmets

Carpets

Telephones

Brake fluid

Boats

Glue

Toilet Seats

Shampoo

Household paint

Detergent

Bowls

Fertilizer

Explosives

Car tires

Artificial turf

Football boots

Lipstick

Weed killer

Parachutes

Umbrellas

Food wrappers

Shower curtains

Waterproof coats

Artificial limbs

Roads

Bubble wrap

Drinks bottles

Toothbrushes

Life jackets

Fishing line

Tennis rackets

Roller blades

Eye glasses

Lunch boxes

Flower pots

Toys

Car seats

Insulation

Nail polish

Hair spray

Medicines

Insect repellent

Golf balls

Chooch, your local FL sailing situation is going to suck for a couple years, it seems. I wonder if there is a way to "make lemonade" out of the lemons.

I think that if I were in your situation I would consider relocating the boat temporarily. Possibilities for a new base for Tara for a couple years might include: St Thomas, USVI; or if a bit closer was desired, perhaps Ft Myers, or somewhere along the ICW in SE Florida so that you'd have an easy jumping off pad for the Bahamas.

You'd have to commute to the boat, but for a couple years you would have a new cruising area to enjoy.

You know, that's an idea Larry. Chooch, you could even temporarly relocate your boat to North Carolina. There are plenty of great sailing waters up here and we are presently organizing a new fleet (Fleet 11). Believe me, you would be welcome my friend.

I have to admit and agree with all that has been stated about the oil spill that I like to characterize as the Oil Disater, because that's exactly what it is, [B]a disaster[/B]. We, as Americans want it both ways don't we? We consume so much, and yet we want to keep the price of oil down. I once heard that this great nation of ours uses something like 30% of the world's energy. But then I have to ask the rhetorical question Where have most significant inventions originated?? And what does our industrial economy run on? Think of the multitude of inventions that Americans have been credited for inventing. You know, little ones like airplanes, autos, television, electronics of all sorts, plastics, just to mention a few. Certainly NOT the Middle East! Oh sorry, I was getting carried away there, and no I am[I] not [/I]a left wing professor. Can you tell? ;)

of this topic since we were warned about getting into "politics", but I can't. Anyway, in a way it is about more than politics; it's about life.

Prof Druhot comments that although the US uses some 30% of energy worldwide, so many inventions have also come from here. In my mind, that is irrelevant. The simple fact is that what we are doing is unsustainable. It's just as simple as that. It's unsustainable from the point of view of oil reserves, for one thing. Every year the world uses more oil than new oil is discovered. That is part of the reason for the Gulf disaster - they are having to go further off shore, into ever deeper waters, to find oil. Now they are developing oil sands, starting in Canada. Aside from the fact that this is massively inefficient, it is even more polluting of water resources - an ever scarcer commodity worldwide.

Then there is the issue of global warming. Even the most selfish and self centered ocean sailor should be concerned about one aspect of this: The oceans have absorbed huge amounts of CO2 and as a result have become increasingly acidic. This is killing off coral reefs as well as microscopic shell fish - the base of the food chain.

Sometimes I think of our (US) culture as being like a spoiled 6 year old who knows what he or she wants, and refuses to think of anything else, including the problems and long term consequences. "I want what I want when I want it!" Nothing else exists except our immediate desires.

I'm not a left wing college professor either. I'm just a retired construction worker who is worried about the world my grandchildren will inherit. My wife is German. There, in the 1950s and '60s, millions of teen agers turned on their parents and demanded to know what they were doing when Hitler was gassing the millions of Jews and others. I think the coming generations will be asking us older ones a similar question. They will not accept the answer "I didn't know," because we DO know, or should. I want to be able to give my grandkids an answer I can be proud of.

This event will obviously open our eyes regarding the oil industry, it is a tragic event the impact I feel will be seen to worsen as we learn more about the amount of oil released. I also feel the impact of the chemicals used to try and disperse the spill causing the oil to remain subsurface in the water will create a new generation of problems.

Our lifestyle has driven the demand for this product, we may share some of the burden but, I hope the oil industry who has made outragous annual profits over the last few decades is not able to slip free of their responsibilties of clean up.

This is a serious issue but sharing a bit of humor may ease the pain for the minute. Have a look at the British News Spoof on the subject.
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSujCHfvTb0[/url]

[quote=John Reimann;5617]of this topic since we were warned about getting into "politics", but I can't. Anyway, in a way it is about more than politics; it's about life.

Prof Druhot comments that although the US uses some 30% of energy worldwide, so many inventions have also come from here. In my mind, that is irrelevant. The simple fact is that what we are doing is unsustainable. It's just as simple as that. It's unsustainable from the point of view of oil reserves, for one thing. Every year the world uses more oil than new oil is discovered. That is part of the reason for the Gulf disaster - they are having to go further off shore, into ever deeper waters, to find oil. Now they are developing oil sands, starting in Canada. Aside from the fact that this is massively inefficient, it is even more polluting of water resources - an ever scarcer commodity worldwide.

Then there is the issue of global warming. Even the most selfish and self centered ocean sailor should be concerned about one aspect of this: The oceans have absorbed huge amounts of CO2 and as a result have become increasingly acidic. This is killing off coral reefs as well as microscopic shell fish - the base of the food chain.

Sometimes I think of our (US) culture as being like a spoiled 6 year old who knows what he or she wants, and refuses to think of anything else, including the problems and long term consequences. "I want what I want when I want it!" Nothing else exists except our immediate desires.

I'm not a left wing college professor either. I'm just a retired construction worker who is worried about the world my grandchildren will inherit. My wife is German. There, in the 1950s and '60s, millions of teen agers turned on their parents and demanded to know what they were doing when Hitler was gassing the millions of Jews and others. I think the coming generations will be asking us older ones a similar question. They will not accept the answer "I didn't know," because we DO know, or should. I want to be able to give my grandkids an answer I can be proud of.[/quote]

Couldn't agree more John. It's not just the US, we're no better up here. I fully agree the oil sands project is a disaster in the making.

I used to think we in Canada had an excuse to use a lot of energy because of our climate being so cold for half the year, but I recently read a breakdown of what our energy use is that came from the federal energy department and heating is not the biggie, not even close. It's Import/Export. Trade. Buying and selling stuff and moving it around.

Your comments on what we leave behind are right on, it's what make me think about my personal footprint on the planet. Funny thing is I have no horse in that race, being childless. But I just don't feel I have the right to use the world in such a way that it leaves it a worse place when I step off.

In the past 15 years we have cut our personal energy use by 30% using a variety of fairly simple means. It hasn't affected our lifestyle at all. We just think about what we're doing and are guided by our conscience. The only thing we suck at is our boat is too far from our house, but our little 4 cylinder hatchback stuffed full with 2 people 1 big dog 1 fat cat and our supplies is pretty frugal on fuel. Likely a move closer to the boat is in our future though.

There are some positives that could come out of this. Governments can smarten up, people can make simple changes, the search for alternatives can get stepped up. Your country didn't put a man on the moon by saying "we can't do that", it did it by saying "we can do that". That still works.

Relating to our relentless use of petroleum based energy, I did come across something interesting. It seems that Saudi Arabia is going gangbusters with solar power. They use it to run their desalination plants and someone I spoke with who was just there said that the fields of solar panels in some places stretch across the desert as far as the eye can see. Since they're sitting on an ocean of oil, I just found it interesting. Maybe they know something about the amount of oil left that we don't.

Mike

Today, while eating lunch I saw a story on CNN that belongs on this forum topic.

The story was done by a reporter invited to visit and interview Wayne Gronlund who is the manager of Coast Guard Marine Safety Lab in New London, Connecticut.

Read what he said in the interview:

"We've done a number of tarballs from Florida, Key West, Miami and so forth, none of which so far have matched the Deepwater Horizon," Gronlund said. "The tarballs that have been found on the beach in Florida are fuel oil."

Fuel oil -- that means the oil that comes from ships, not crude oil from a broken deep sea oil well.

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/10/csi.gulf.oil.spill/index.html?eref=rss_...

So we have ships dumping fuel oil in the gulf, washing up on Florida beaches just to blame.....the government, BP, who else? why?

Chooch,
Sorry to hear that the oil has made it that far and your season cut short. Last year we had fewer trips on the boat than ever due to some other commitments but were planning on making a run from Texas to Pensacola for the airshow this year, dive the O and to enjoy the area. It's our favorite vacation spot and we like to return to see old friends from my time there in the Navy. NAS was my last duty station before retirement so it holds a special place in our hearts. Ivan was bad enough for the area to get through, I just hope the recovery period and damage from this disaster is less than predicted.

Chooch,

Just wanted to add my condolences for your plight. I sure hope we don't have to join you in isolation.

Best of luck!

This from that radical, anti-business newspaper - the Wall St. Journal:
[url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870432430457530680020115834...

I cant expess the sorrow of this ecological disaster. Our Spanki is in my driveway for at least a year for a total refit so we can move to the Chesapeak when she's done,,, if the East Coast isn't effected and I think it's possible.
I'm sorry for all of us and feel greed and excess are of course the culprit to this problem whether it's BP or us. We must align ourselves toward Green.
Saiboats, sails, lines and much of sailing are petrolium products. I don't think anyone wants to lose Oil or its wonderful byproducts but surely we can all conserve and reduce our consumption! If every US citizen could conserve 10%....;)