Daily Archives: February 23, 2017

Science Daily

Study targets warm water rings that fuel hurricane intensification in the Caribbean Sea Science Daily In a study conducted in the region two years prior to when Matthew's trekked across the Caribbean Sea, the research team in the Upper Ocean Dynamics Laboratory at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science ... and more »

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Study targets warm water rings that fuel hurricane intensification in the Caribbean Sea - Science Daily

CAYMAN ISLANDS (Feb. 23, 2017)World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines is partnering with a leading Caribbean hospital and charity to bring free cardiac care to children from his homeland.

Pacquiao, who together with his wife founded the Emmanuel and Jinkees Heart Foundation, has sealed a partnership with Have a Heart Cayman Islands and tertiary care hospital Health City Cayman Islands. The details of the collaboration were disclosed during a recent visit to Grand Cayman, where he toured the hospital.

Emmanuel and Jinkees Heart Foundation in the Philippines is a non-governmental organization that assists the community with medical care as well as educational, shelter and relief needs, and the mandate of Have a Heart Cayman Islands is to partner with local and international organizations to subsidize and provide lifesaving heart surgeries to needy children from the Caribbean and around the world.

Pacquiao, the current reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, was noticeably captivated by the beauty of the Cayman Islands and the warmth of its people. He announced that the first two children requiring heart surgery will travel from Cebu, Philippines, to Health City Cayman Islands this year. And more will follow, he assures.

Pacquiao, who is a senator in the Philippines, said, I may be a world class champion in the ring, but with all the help and kind support of Have a Heart Cayman Islands, hand in hand, we will all be champions of these childrens hearts.

The award-winning champion was also impressed with the commitment of the medical staff at Health City. He commented, I met the doctors, and I am so happy and rejoiced after they explained to me what they did. They spend so much time here at the hospital and hardly go home as they help people from all over the world. I am so happy to be part of this movement.

It is an honor to partner with a living legend to bring life to many future legends across the world, said Harry Chandi, chairman of Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Partnerships like these are not only a blessing to children, but they keep us motivated to raise resources that help deliver world-class medical care to people who need it the most.

Dr. Chandy Abraham, CEO and head of Medical Services at Health City, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to deepen Health Citys partnership with Have a Heart Cayman Islands and to begin a new relationship with a champion athlete. We are in the business of giving hope to childrenhope for long and healthy lives. Through this alliance, we can do more to support our mission of high quality, affordable care for all.

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Manny Pacquiao partners with Caribbean hospital - Amsterdam News

(February 22, 2017) While the multihull race record was not broken this year, Phaedo3 and Maserati had an incredible 600 mile high-speed duel. Lloyd Thornburgs MOD70, Phaedo3 finished the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 21 hrs 20 mins 46 secs AST, taking Multihull Line Honors.

Phaedo3 held on to win the battle of the trimarans, just 12 minutes ahead of Giovanni Soldinis Italian MOD70, Maserati. The high-speed battle saw the lead change hands at least four times during the race. The winning crew is Lloyd Thornburg (Skipper), Brian Thompson (Co-skipper), Paul Allen, Peter Cumming, Michel Desjoyeaux, Robert Greenhalgh, Damian Foxall and Miles Seddon.

The experimental semi-foiling Maserati showed incredible speed on a reach and it took a momentous effort from Phaedo3s well-established team to hold off the challenge. There was high drama at Guadeloupe with vicious squalls and heroics from Maseratis crew diving into the water to free the boat from a fish trap.

Once back on the dock in Antigua, Lloyd Thornburg, skipper of the American boat Phaedo3, summed up the race, Maserati gave us a heck of a run and it was really tough to stay ahead of a foiling boat. They kept coming at us with more pressure and they definitely have more speed at certain angles. The run down to Redonda was a real nail-biter and we knew that after that, the beat home would be in our favor and to cross the line ahead was just awesome.

Every year, I get reminded how insane a race this is and after this race, our navigator Miles Seddon said to me that we have turned the insanity up again this year. You never get used to this race hanging on reaching at 36 knots, it is just incredible. All of our team had to dig so deep and we love Antigua and had an amazing reception.

This years RORC Caribbean 600 proved to be a MOD70 match race around the 600 mile course for Giovanni Soldinis MOD70, Maserati (ITA) and Lloyd Thornburgs Phaedo3 (USA)

Brian Thompson, Co-Skipper of Phaedo3, commented on the unusual wind direction that had been predicted before the start, We had a lot more wind speed for the race, which was a surprise. Off Guadeloupe we had huge rainsqualls that are really quite dangerous in a MOD70 and we had 30 knots of wind from nowhere and shifting 50 degrees in seconds, with Maserati pushing us all the way. The big gennaker stayed up and we had to put in a few big bear-away maneuvers to avoid capsize.

With the strange wind direction, we had to really think on our feet. It was an amazing race with Maserati though, and we got away several times, but they always caught us up. Right near the start they went blasting past us flying through the air, hooting and hollering and waving at us. That is what they had come for and they have learnt a lot about foiling a MOD.

Lloyd Thornburgs MOD70 Phaedo3

Maserati skipper, Giovanni Soldini was full of praise for both his Maserati team and their rivals Phaedo3. The Italian MOD70 has an experimental foil enabling them to literally fly when the boat is on starboard, but not when they are on port, enabling them to give Phaedo3 a really close fight.

Phaedo are a very, very good team. They have known the boat for many years, whereas we are just beginning to get to know ours. We really flew a few times and we were able to play with Phaedo and I am really pleased with my crew, as they were fantastic. At the start of the last leg, we were just a minute behind. We have learnt a lot by racing with Phaedo and so we are improving our performance. Our dream was to make a MOD70 fly and in a couple of months we will have foils on both sides and life will be much more simple, Soldini said.

Maseratis race was not without incident. When we were past La Desirade we caught a buoy on the rudder but we didnt realize until near Barbuda, explains Soldini. Carlos Hernadez heroically jumped into the water when it was blowing 20 knots and the boat would not stop, so he had to swim very fast!

Looking good for Monohull Line Honors: George Davids Rambler 88

George Davids American Maxi Rambler 88 is expected to take Monohull Line Honors for the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 at midday today local time (1600 UTC). At dawn on Day Three of the RORC Caribbean 600, Hap Fauths Bella Mente was winning the battle of the Maxi72s approaching Barbuda. Bella Mente holds a two mile lead from 2016 RORC Caribbean Trophy holder, George Sakellaris Proteus, and is estimated to be top of the leader board overall under IRC.

Simon & Nancy De Pietro racing C.n.b. Briand 76, Lilla are approaching Guadeloupe and are estimated to be leading IRC One by a slender margin from Theodore Kane, Jrs Swan 66 Bounty. Three yachts are in a close battle for victory in IRC Two. Dominic Hurndalls Grand Soleil 43, Jua Kali has taken the normal route on the downwind leg to Guadeloupe.

However, Ross Applebeys Scarlet Oyster and Ed Fishwicks Redshift on El Ocaso passed Montserrat to port. After IRC time correction, there are just seconds separating the three yachts after 330 miles of racing. In IRC Three, Jonty Layfields Swan 48 Sleeper X is enjoying a comfortable lead after IRC time correction and by 22 miles on the water from Andy Schell & Mia Karlssons swan 48, Isbjorn. Peter Hobbs Sigma 38, Sam is approaching the halfway stage in the race and is estimated to be in third in class.

A close battle is raging in the Class40 Division as the three leaders approach the wind shadow of Guadeloupe with barely a mile separating them. Catherine Pourres Erendil is just ahead of Peter Hardings Phor-ty and both team have chosen to take a line close into Guadeloupe. Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merrons Campagne de France has chosen to go offshore by approximately 8 miles.

In the battle of the schooners, the 182ft Adela, skippered by Greg Perkins is rounding Iles des Saintes with 220 miles to go. The 162ft schooner Eleonora, skippered by Brendan McCoy is 44 miles behind Adela on the water.

Event details Tracker Notice of Race Entry list

Background: The 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday February 20, 2017. The 600nm course circumnavigates 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heads north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barths.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club

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RORC Caribbean 600: Phaedo3 Takes Multihull Line Honors - Scuttlebutt Sailing News

Feb. 23, 2017, 9:50 a.m.

Rihanna is on fire.

On Wednesday, the international superstar achieved a status earned only bythe Beatles and Madonna landing 30 songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

That same day, she also was named Humanitarian of the Year by Harvard University, shedding light on a lesser-known side of her stardom.

Rihanna has charitably built a state-of- the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, S. Allen Counter, the Harvard Foundations director, said in a statement.

Bursting onto the scene with 2005s Pon de Replay,the 29-year-old singerhas gone on tosell 60 million albums and more than 200 million digital tracks throughout her career. Known for her catchy pop anthems, edgy style and sass, the Barbadianalso is involved with philanthropy.

In addition to promoting health, Rihannais also passionate about education initiatives.She created the Clara and Lionel Foundation Scholarship Program , which supports students attending college in the U.S. from Caribbean countries. The musician also supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, which gives girls in developing countries access to education.

Joining the ranks of previous recipients such as actor James Earl Jones, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and gender rights advocate MalalaYousafzai,Rihanna will accept the Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award in aFeb. 28 ceremony on Harvards campus.

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Today in Entertainment: Rihanna named Harvard Humanitarian of the Year; Sinad O'Connor apologizes to Arsenio ... - Los Angeles Times

Carnival is about over-the-top, shed-your-inhibitions fun. Like Mardi Gras, its traditionally a last chance for excess before the solemn season of Lent for Catholics.

The annual bash is practically synonymous with Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. But its also a big deal in the Caribbean, which, despite popular belief, isnt one homogeneous destination. Each Caribbean island has its own history, cuisine, culture and its own take on Carnival.

On some islands, the event is tied to Catholic traditions. On others, it commemorates slave emancipation or the harvest.

Celebrations on Curaao and Trinidad are held this time of year, but you can still catch the festivities on St. Lucia and Barbados, held in summer. One thing they all have in common: the chance to party like a local.

The pounding beat of African tumba music fills the air at a Carnival thats lively but not as risqu as the bashes on other islands. This is a Carnival youd be comfortable taking the kids to.

The parades, taking place today and Tuesday, are a big deal. Sixty marching groups stream down the streets of Willemstad, a capital city so picture-perfect youll think youve landed on the movie set for a quaint Caribbean island.

Two good spots to enjoy the festivities are the Carnival Dome near the beginning of the parade route and the Carnival Tribune, near the end. Both have seating, music, food and drink.

Curaao prides itself on making sure everyone can enjoy the party. Considered one of the Caribbeans most gay-friendly destinations, it has hotels catering to gay tourists and an annual gay pride parade. Our melting pot history has led to a progressive live and let live philosophy that has long welcomed the LGBT community, says Andre Rojer of the Curaao Tourist Board.

Pictured: Performers pose during festivities in Curaao.

WHERE TO STAY Sitting on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kura Hulanda Village (kurahulanda.com) features 18th- and 19th-century buildings restored to their original splendor. Cobblestone paths meander through lush gardens filled with art and inviting pools. An on-site museum details how Curaao was once the epicenter of the slave trade in the Caribbean. Rates start at $180 a night during Carnival.

INSIDER TIP When its time to eat, head to the food stalls of Plasa Bieu, also known as the Old Market. Sample the popular goat stew or traditional tutu, a dish of ground-up beans with sugar and other goodies.

INFO curacaocarnival.info

Pictured: The colorful Dutch houses at the Sint Annabaai in Willemstad, Curaao.

Trinidad is the mecca for Carnival in the Caribbean. The riotous, multicultural spectacle starts with the pre-dawn Jouvert (daybreak in French Creole) on Carnival Monday, Feb. 27, when people throw paint on one another. It culminates with Parade of the Bands, where several thousand scantily clad costumed revelers dance to pulsating soca.

Birthplace of the steel pan, Trinidad is an oil-rich country whose ports have long been flooded with empty oil drums. Resourceful locals turned them into instruments. Panorama, the worlds largest steel pan competition, is held over several days in January and February leading up to the big final competition in Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain. Many of the preliminary competitions are held in Port of Spains pan yards, where tourists are welcome to hear steel pan bands practice throughout the year.

Tour companies such as Banwari Experience (banwaricaribbean.com) will help you play mas with a Carnival band, which means you don a costume and march in the parade. They also can set you up to be part of ftes, Carnival-themed parties held all over the island that include your food and drink.

WHERE TO STAY Downtown Port of Spains traffic is at its worst during Carnival, so consider the Hilton Trinidad (hiltoncaribbean.com/destinations/trinidad.html), within walking distance of Queens Park Savannah, where many events are held. Carnival rates begin at $500 a night.

INSIDER TIP If someone asks if you want a wine, theyre not wondering if youd like a chardonnay. Theyre asking if you want to wind as in wind your hips or gyrate, presumably in tandem with the person asking.

INFO ncctt.org/new

Pictured: The Junior Queen of the Carnival competition is part of the festivities in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

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Known for its towering Piton mountains, breathtaking beaches and a world-class jazz festival, St. Lucia used to hold its Carnival before Lent. The country changed the festival date in 1999 to eliminate competition with Carnival titan Trinidad and Tobago and to attract more tourists to its lush playground in the summer.

St. Lucian Carnival is a more intimate affair that remains on the smaller side, with roughly eight bands participating in the festivities. It culminates in the three-mile-long Parade of the Bands through the capital city of Castries.

WHERE TO STAY Main events are on the north end of the island. The oceanfront St. Jamess Club Morgan Bay (morganbayresort.com) is a good choice in that area. Rates start at $291 a night for two people, including all food and drink.

INSIDER TIP Youll hear the locals talk about liming. Simply put, to lime is to party or to hang out. It refers to the art of doing nothing while sharing food, drink and laughter with friends. And no matter what season you visit, the fishing village of Gros Islet hosts a lively street party on Friday nights, full of barbecue, drinks and dancing.

INFO stlucia.org/events/carnival

Pictured:Carnival performers dance inCastries, Saint Lucia.

Barbados could give Trinidad a run for the title of top party island just dont call Barbados event Carnival. Its Crop Over, pictured, and its so important to this former British colony that its a national holiday. As the name suggests, Crop Over celebrates the end of the harvest, on an island that was once among the worlds largest sugar producers.

Soca music competitions, the coronation of the Crop Over king and queen, parties, boat rides and parades nearly two months of nonstop festivities lead up to the main event, Kadooment Day, the first Monday in August, when revelers parade through the streets in barely-there bikinis loaded with sequins and feathered finery. You might even see pop star Rihanna, who often returns to her native island for the festivities.

WHERE TO STAY Many events take place in the bustling capital, Bridgetown. To be in the heart of the party, try the beachfront Hilton Barbados. The concierge will assist with tickets to events and ftes (hiltonbarbadosresort.com). Rates start at $199.

INSIDER TIP Bring a bathing suit along on Kadooment Day. After parading and partying in the streets of Bridgetown, revelers head to the outskirts for a swim at Brandons Beach.

INFO visitbarbados.org/things-to-do

Pictured: Seafront at St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados.

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Caribbean islands offer Carnival travel choices: St. Lucia, Barbados and more - Newsday