NMFS Delays Circle Hook Rule Until 2008

The National Marine Fisheries announced this week that the planned 2007 circle-hook requirement for all U.S. tournament-participating big-game anglers using dead bait has been put off until 2008. The ruling was handed down just as the 2007 big-game tournament season was getting underway. Circle hooks in dead baits have been shown to decrease the mortality of released fish as the hook is designed to catch in the corner of the fish's mouth. More traditional J-hooks have higher incidents of gut hooking and death after release. The delay in implementation came after many anglers wanted to know what effect the rule would have on lure-bait combinations rigs and larger blue-marlin-type hook baits. Whether these questions are answered by 2008 or not, the rule will go into full effect in January.

Solar-Powered Boat Arrives In The Big Apple

The sun21 slipped into New York City’s North Cove Marina emitting no discernable sound except the hollers and cheers from an enthusiastic crew who had sailed her across the pond in a 52-day, 3,500-NM trip. As reported here in an earlier post, the Sun21 is the first motorized vessel to cross the Atlantic under solar power exclusively. The photo below shows her eight 2'x5' photovoltaic panels on her roof that power her twin 8-kW Lemco lightweight, low-voltage D.C. motors. A 3,600-pound bank of batteries stores the power, so on days when there is less sun (or hardly any at all), the boat can still go along at approximately 3 knots.

It turns out that this project, spearheaded by Swiss shipbuilder Mark Wüst (who along with David Senn, Michel Thonney, Beat von Scarpatetti, and Martin Vosseler made the transatlantic voyage) is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to clean energy emerging from Switzerland. The Swiss meet 57 percent of their energy needs via hydropower, with wind, solar, and organic waste recycling delivering results in cities across the country.

With fuel prices predicted to approach $4.00/gallon at your local on-road gas station, how much do you think gasoline and diesel will be at your fuel dock this season? Is solar power feasible in private vessels? Tell us what you think here.

Racing at Bitter End: It ain't over 'til the cooler's empty!

PMY's annual sales and edit meeting was held last week at the Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. This is the second year in a row that we have been welcomed with open arms at the renowned sailing destination, regardless of our penchant for diesel. Who says blow boaters and stink potters can't get along?

BEYC sailing instructors even tried to convert us with a five-minute crash course in sailing followed by a regatta onboard the resort's fleet. Chaos ensued of course, but considering there were no collisions or MOBs, it was deemed a success.

The winning team included (from left to right) ad sales rep David Parkinson, senior editor Ken Kreisler, ad sales rep Joe Illes, and video & creative manager John Turner. They may have won the regatta, but they never do seem to let that cooler run empty at the BEYC—so I guess the race is still on!

Your Boat Tips Wanted. Prizes Offered!

The smiling man you see above is Capt. Joe Barbara with his new Edson PowerKnob. Barbara was photographed by his wife at the helm of his 38-foot Ronin Sportfish just off Manalapan, Florida. He was the winner of Power & Motoryacht's monthly Tip of the Month Contest last February for recommending the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as “the best small detail a boater needs to keep aboard.”

Want a chance to win this great product? Post your best tips here and send them to jeffrey.moser@primedia.com today.

President Sarkozy Goes Yachting

Remember the old TV commercials after the Olympics and other big sporting events where an unseen interviewer would ask the star atheletes, "Now that you've won, where are you gonna go?" to which the response was always, "I'm going to Disney World!" Well, with all due respect to the Mouse House, these superstars may want to rethink their vacation destination by borrowing a page from the newly elected French president. Nicolas Sarkozy flew to Malta this week to cruise aboard the charter yacht Paloma, a classic canoe-stern beauty. The 198-footer, one of the world's largest private yachts, was built in 1965 and extensively refitted in 2003 and 2004. Wonder if he and his family will put the karaoke system or waterskis to good use?