Category Archives: High Seas

If youre the sort who makes a beeline to the all-you-can-eat buffet the moment you board a cruise ship, then MSC Cruise Lines seven-night Caribbean excursion out of Miami next month is definitely not for you.

But if youd like to return home and slip into those slacks that were a tad too tight when you left, a week aboard the luxury liner might be just the ticket.

Its a wellness cruise, a partnership between Geneva-based MSC and Weight Watchers International just the latest in a growing list of theme trips that cruise lines are offering to reach out to new customers.

Fitness travel has been booming, and it's transferring over to cruising, says Darlene Carenza, director of marketing for the travel agency CruConCruiseOutlet. The cruise lines are working hard to overcome the stigma of lack of activity.

LOST DIAMOND RING FOUND ON CARNIVAL CRUISE, REUNITED WITH OWNER MONTHS LATER

MSCs cruises have focused on health and wellness for some time, Rick Sasso, chairman of MSC North America, tells Fox News. We've had a category called wellness, and within that we have special services for those who want to indulge in a wellness experience.

Citing a popular vegan-holistic cruise, Sasso said the days of gluttony at sea are over for many travelers. The Weight Watchers venture is about changing with the times and targeting a more affluent demographic, he said.

Jeri Donovan, owner ofWell Traveled, a wellness travel agency, said shes seen an uptick in fitness and wellness travel since she started her business in 2012.

People want yoga classes, Pilates, fitness, healthy cuisine, a spa with an array of treatments and the whole focus is mind, body and soul, she said.

I just booked six millennial-aged women on a bachelorette trip. They wanted a holistic weekend. I gave them five choices.

COAST GUARD SEARCHING FOR GEORGIA MAN WHO FELL OFF CRUISE SHIP IN THE BAHAMAS

River cruises, many of which cater to American vacationers, used to be all about shopping and visiting museums, but theyve recently introduced go active excursions in Europe and Asia and on the Nile in Egypt, Donovan said.

Guests can go kayaking in France and hiking or bicycling on the Rhine, and they can take guided bike tours through Budapest. Its a reflection of our times, she said. People are trying to take control of their health.

Royal Caribbean, which currently offers a variety of fitness options that include rock wall climbing, fly wheel classes, surfing, ice-skating and roller-skating, has been the trendsetter in fitness, Carenza said, adding that Celebrity Cruises has homed in on the holistic wellness experience.

And if weight loss is the goal, theres a bevy of vacation opportunities, Donovan said. TheRanch at Malibuoffers a seven-day exercise vacation for customers who want to lose 3 to 6 percent of their body fat. It includes four hour hikes, fitness classes and a clean menu for $7,200 per person.

And then there are theBiggest Losers resorts, which average around $2,500 per person for a week.

TRAGEDY AT SEA: CRUISE SHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR COUPLE'S DEATH, REPORT FINDS

Mostly I get more people looking for fitness and well-being rather than just to lose weight, Donovan said.

Weight Watchers has been working since 2015 to branch out from its longtime weight-loss model into a program that centers on health and wellness lifestyles.

Ive always been a fan of the cruise industry, and when we looked at Weight Watchers customers and cruise customers, theyre a very similar group, said Ryan Nathan, Weight Watchers vice president of products, licensing and e-commerce. We gravitated to the cruise to expand what were doing and find new ways to extend it.

But the Weight Watchers cruise isnt all about watching your weight.

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Weight Watchers is about living life to the fullest and enjoying life and everything in moderation, Nathan said. We say dont deprive yourself, but have a small portion and count and track what youre having for the day and the week.

Within our member base, the response was so enthusiastic. Its a great environment to practice every day in a safe way with other members, and have a sense of community.

The cabin blocs for the Weight Watchers cruise have sold out, and at a higher cost an average of $945 per person than MSC would normally charge. It's cheaper than some of the wellness spas frequented by celebrities like Hugh Jackmanbut is just a few hundred dollars over what you'd pay for standard accommodations on a Norwegian or Carnival cruise to the Caribbean for the same length of time.

The Divina will have four ports of call where passengers can hike, snorkel, dive and just get physical. A second Weight Watchers cruise is in the works for Nov. 11.

Rebekah Sager is a writer and editor for FoxNews.com. She can be reached at rebekah.sager@foxnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebekah_sager.

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A healthier high seas vacation? Weight Watchers launches wellness cruise - Fox News

Walt Disney Pictures has released a new TV spotforPirates of the Caribbean:Dead Men Tell No Talesfeaturing young Jack Sparrow and more. Check out the Pirates 5 TV spot below!

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devils Triangle bent on killing every pirate at seanotably Jack. Jacks only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales also stars Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as the sea-witch Shansa, David Wenham as Scarfield, Stephen Graham as Scrum, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.

Directed byNorwegian filmmakersEspen Sandberg and Joachim Rnning (Kon-Tiki),Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Taleswill debut in theaters onMay 26, 2017.

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Pirates 5 TV Spot Sets Out on the High Seas - ComingSoon.net

Sierra Star

High Seas Drama Sierra Star The Chawanakee Academy's Drama Club will present Blackboot's Lost Loot, the story of Captain Blackboot and his crew doing what pirates do best - hunting for something that doesn't belong to them - lost booty (treasure). However, the greedy buccaneers ...

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High Seas Drama - Sierra Star

Banning transshipment at-seathe transfer of fish and supplies from one vessel to another in open watersis necessary to diminish illegal fishing, a team of researchers has concluded after an analysis of existing maritime regulations.

This practice often occurs on the high seas and beyond the reach of any nations jurisdiction, allowing ships fishing illegally to evade most monitoring and enforcement measures, offload their cargo, and resume fishing without returning to port, explains Jennifer Jacquet, an assistant professor in New York Universitys Department of Environmental Studies and one of the papers co-authors. Its one way that illegal fish are laundered into the seafood market.

More significantly, transshipment at-sea can facilitate trafficking and exploitation of workers who are trapped and abused on fishing vessels because there is simply no authority present to protect those being exploited, adds Chris Ewell, an NYU undergraduate at the time of the study and the papers lead author.

The paper, which appears in the journal Marine Policy, may be downloaded here.

In their study, the researchers focused on the regulation of transshipment, which the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines as the act of transferring the catch from one fishing vessel to either another fishing vessel or to a vessel used solely for the carriage of cargo.

Specifically, they examined transshipment at-sea regulations across 17 Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)multi-national entities responsible for regulating fisheries on the high seasto create a scorecard on the permissibility of this practice around the globe.

The researchers note that transshipment at-sea regulations have become increasingly strict in most RFMOs since the late 1990s. However, in 2015, the year of study, only five RFMOs had mandated even a partial ban and only one RFMO, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization (SEAFO), has mandated a total ban on transshipment at-sea.

A total ban on transshipment at-sea on the high seas would support the ability of oversight and enforcement agencies to detect and prevent illegal fishing and also likely reduce human trafficking and forced labor on the high seas, the studys authors recommend.

The studys other authors included Mikaela Ediger, a fellow at NYU School of Laws Institute for International Justice and Law, Dana Miller, currently a marine scientist at Oceana and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia at the time of the study, and John Hocevar, oceans campaign director at Greenpeace USA.

The research was supported, in part, by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts, as well as by an undergraduate research grant from NYU.

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Banning Transshipment at-Sea Necessary to Curb Illegal Fishing, Researchers Conclude - NYU News (press release)

AHMEDABAD: On May 20, if everything goes according to schedule, Gujarat will take a giant step towards realizing one of the most ambitious projects the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro Ro) ferry service conceptualized decades ago. The construction of Ro-Ro terminals at Ghogha and Dahej on either side of Gulf of Khambhat is expected to be completed on this day.

This means that transporters and travellers could simply reach Ghogha port, drive their vehicles inside a Ro-Ro ferry and reach Dahej within 90 minutes flat for the onward journey after a few months. Touted to be game changer for transportation of goods and passengers between Saurashtra and south Gujarat, the ferry service will cut the distance between the two regions by helping avoid the circuitous 360 km road journey to just 31 km by sea.

However, the financial viability for the ferry operator would strongly depend on how many transporters and passengers opt to use this sea route to the conventional highways.

Though conceptualized several years ago by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), the serious work on Ro-Ro ferry service began only in 2011 when Essar Projects Ltd was awarded the contract to build the two terminals, which required specialized engineering skills due to its complex design. "It's an engineering marvel...a new mode of transportation and a novelty for someone to experience," said Ajay Bhadoo, vice-chairman and CEO, GMB.

Over the years, the cost of building the terminals escalated to Rs 615 crore from Rs 300 crore a decade ago. But this was not the only rough weather the project faced. After several failed attempts, GMB managed to select a ferry service operator through competitive bidding.

A little known Surat-based Detox Group's firm Saurashtra Enviro Projects Ltd, which has tied up with

Seattle, US-based Black Ball Transportation Inc, was selected as the ferry operator.

Two more terminals planned in kutch, one in south gujarat

With the Ro-Ro service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar and Dahej in Bharuch on the verge of completion, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is exploring the possibility of similar services at three more locations in the state. "Once we are done with Ghogha-Dahej project, we are planning two more terminals in the Gulf of Kutch and one in south Gujarat. This will cover the entire Gujarat coast," said Ajay Bhadoo, CEO, GMB.

Mumbai-based consultancy firm i-Maritime has already conducted a feasibility study of locations in Gulf of Kutch.

These projects will be at greenfield locations. "However, for simple passenger ferry services, we can look at the existing ports. For example, in the northern side of Gulf of Kutch, we are looking at a fresh location. But on the southern side, we have the existing Rozi Port near Jamnagar. In south Gujarat, we have Hazira port," he added. "We are essentially targeting linkages of south Gujarat and Saurashtra because there is tremendous demand for transportation, both in terms of passengers as well as goods between the two regions," he said.

last-mile connectivity vital to project's success

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From highways to high seas | Ahmedabad News - Times of India - Times of India

Its 17 degrees as a small crowd gathers around a bar made of ice less than a nautical mile from Port Canaveral. Wrapped in borrowed parkas, theyre enjoying Polaris cocktails, a tart blend of citron vodka, Inniskillin Icewine and lemon-lime soda, served in ice cones that chill the lips with each refreshing sip.

Their visit to the Svedka Ice Bar before setting sail contrasts frigidly with the sun and sand that await these passengers in the Caribbean Islands. Poking out from the wintery cavern, vacationers hit the sundeck and wave good-bye to land as the Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic sails south.

Atlantic Sailings

This past November, Port Canaveral widened its channel by 100 feet, which may not sound like much, but it was enough to usher in the next larger class of cruise ships, starting with the Epic. This 1,081-foot vessel began sailing from the Atlantic port to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica) in November 2016. On April 1, Epic departs for a summer season in Europe before returning to Port Canaveral on November 18 to resume seven-night Caribbean sailings.

For the cruise crowd hungry for top-notch entertainment, Epic is the ideal ship. Its onboard shows, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, a colorful costume spectacle with Las Vegas dazzle, and Cirque Dreams and Dinner, a small-scale Cirque du Soleil-inspired performance with aerial acrobatics and gymnastic feats, promise passengers an exciting night at the theater.

The ship is also serious about happy hours, making sure youre never far from your next cocktail with 20 onboard bars and lounges. Youll find one dedicated to sake, another one specializing in whiskey, and then theres the hipsters favorite: Bliss Ultra Lounge for those who want to dance or bowl yes, it has its own bowling alley.

Passengers have a wide range of cabins from which to choose, including 128 studio staterooms catering to solo cruisers, a growing segment of the industry. The studios are economic, not just in terms of value, but also space. Although much bigger than a room in a Japanese capsule hotel, theyre somewhat similar in that the bed occupies the bulk of the floor plan. This isnt the sort of room where youd host a cocktail soiree, but thankfully, buying into this category comes with access to the Studio Lounge, where the ships entertainment team gets the party started with nightly meet-ups opportunities to find like-minded companions for upcoming shore excursions, or leave a note on the whiteboard to make other plans.

Then theres the Haven by Norwegian, a ship-within-a-ship complex. Book here and youll enjoy special butler and concierge services, priority embarkation and disembarkation, and even a private pool, sundeck and restaurant.

Gulf Sailings

From Port Tampa Bay, the biggest news is the introduction of Cuba as a port of call. Both Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line began sailing to the once-off-the-radar island, with overnight visits to Havana.

Royal Caribbean introduced four- and five-night sailings to Cubas capital this April on the Empress of the Seas one of the more intimate ships in the fleet, catering to just 1,602 passengers.

Curious travelers can explore the islands Spanish colonial architecture on a shore excursion, or book a food-centric tour to sample Cuban dishes that blend Spanish, African, Caribbean and Native American Taino influences. The local music and up-and-coming art scenes are well worth experiencing for those interested in learning more about the culture.

Onboard the Empress, Cuban flavors abound throughout the ship, starting with the warm aroma of none other than Cuban coffee. At Caf Royal passengers indulge in cups of caf con leche and cortaditos Cuban espresso shots topped with steamed milk. Restaurant menus feature Latin-themed foods representative of the island flavors.

For passengers who want to spend more time in Havana, a cruise on Carnivals Paradise offers a day and an overnight in the capital. With 12 sailings, each four- or five-night cruises, starting June 29, you can easily make a summer visit to the country.

With extra time in port, the adventurous can explore the bars of Old Havana; sip daiquiris at El Floridita, a former haunt of American writer Ernest Hemingway; and soak up the ambiance and live music at the always-lively Caf Paris. On weekends, a visit to the Vedado neighborhood, a quick cab ride from Old Havana, turns up the Fbrica de Arte Cubano. This high-energy industrial space serves as an art gallery, bar and dance hall for tourists and locals alike.

The 855-foot Paradise is known for attracting the younger generation as well as the kid-at-heart in every guest with its 115-foot-long waterslide and Seuss at Sea entertainment (Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, and Dine with the Cat in the Hat and other Dr. Seuss characters). Chefs cater to pint-sized cruisers with cartoon-worthy dishes and candy-colored pancakes.

As family cruising becomes more attractive, so has the creation of adults-only spaces. The Paradise has Serenity, a retreat where hammocks, loungers and a separate bar are designed specifically for grown-ups in search of total relaxation and quietude.

Next year Carnival will bring the Miracle to Port Tampa Bay. Seven-night Caribbean sailings start in January 2018. The 963-foot ship offers the Seuss-themed events and the adults-only areas, plus fun venues like the Cherry on Top candy store, stocked floor to ceiling with sweet treats, and pampering palaces like the Cloud 9 Spa, with aroma steam baths and a thalassotherapy pool as well as treatments from massages and facials to even acupuncture.

Future Plans

The popularity of cruise vacations and the mega-ship designs have resulted in increased numbers of passengers traveling through the terminals. Ports continue to expand and update their facilities to accommodate the traffic. So its no surprise that Port Canaveral is still in the throes of deepening their channel to allow even larger ships to travel in and out of the Central Florida port. And speculation abounds that more major cruise lines, from Celebrity Cruises to Princess Cruises, will be lining up for the next available berth.

Ready to Book Your Cruise?

Robin Souder, owner of the Orlando-based Cruise Experts International, has been booking sailings for the past 20 years. She offers her advice on not only how to plan for a cruise, but also on how to get the most for your money.

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THE HIGH SEAS AWAIT - Orlando Sentinel

News update. First off, in case you were not aware, developer Cornfox & Bros is working onOceanhorn 2. But in creating the sequel to their critically acclaimed title of 2015, they laid the groundwork for porting the latter to Nintendo Switch. Since announcing the port a few months ago, theyve reached a cornerstone where they can now provide our first look atOceanhorn:Monster of the Uncharted Season handheld Nintendo Switch.

On top of being a notable tale, this game looks beautiful. Of course, publisher FGD gameswanted to showcase some of the graphics.And its the remastered PC version that was also released for PS4 and Xbox One. Furthermore, just like those releases, the Nintendo Switch version will run at 60FPS, handheld (720p) and docked (1080p). Hence, wherever you are, you get to experience a smooth-running adventure.

Oceanhorns debut on the Nintendo Switch is part of a developer trend to port many great games to the new console. That being the case, expect to find more gems to reach Switch as time goes by. As a result of more ports, we may see fewer games slip under the radar. A great thing for the gaming industry, especially since now players can take those games wherever they please.

Comment down below and let us know if youre excited forOceanhorn on Nintendo Switch. Will you pick it up? Then remember to check back for more news and updates as they come our way. Happy gaming.

Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas combines captivating storytelling, breathtaking 3D visuals and exciting gameplay into one epic action-adventure experience. In the game you explore the islands of Uncharted Seas, a world filled with many dangers, puzzles and secrets

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High-Seas Adventure Game, Oceanhorn, Gets Nintendo Switch Preview - COGconnected (press release)

In this day and age of what seems to be almost daily bad news, it comes as a great relief to be able to bring an uplifting story about a group of good people.

A small band of sailors, based at Ocean Marina Yacht Club near Pattaya, got together recently and organized a day out for the children of the Camillus Foundation of Thailand. These are orphans and most of them carry the added burden of being infected with HIV. By giving their time, energy and resources, this small group of sailors provided a day out to remember for 50 children and their ten carers. It was also a day out to remember for the organizers because these children were so happy, well behaved and appreciative of the days fun.

Credit must also go to the staff and management at Ocean Marina Yacht Club who backed up the organizers with enormous help and assistance, both on and off the water, and a big thanks goes to them.

The weather was very kind and provided a nice calm day with good shade from the normally merciless sun. And so a small flotilla set off from the marina in yachts ranging from multi-million dollar catamarans to small racing yachts so that the children could witness the wide variety of craft based here that provide fun for their owners.

There was just enough wind to blow the flotilla slowly to anchor just off Bang Saray. This is when the real fun started with the children jumping into the small dinghies and canoes supplied by Ocean Marina. Paddling around on a nice flat sea gave them a chance to let off steam and judging by the shouts of excitement, this is when they could all enjoy the water. Swimming was also on the agenda and included some screaming while jumping off the high deck of the biggest boat. If the noise level was any indication of the fun being had it was very high indeed!

The relative quiet that followed was an indication that lunch had arrived and appetites were high. Then it was time to head back to the marina. Luckily the wind had picked up enough for the small racing yachts to give the children their first taste of what racing is all about, and judging by their reaction and screams they all seemed to enjoy it.

And so it was back to terra firma but the fun had not stopped. The children politely lined up to receive their t-shirts, emblazoned with a sailing yacht, as a memento of the day. Then it was group photo time followed by some heart tugging thank you speeches from a whole range of children of all ages, down to a two year old that simply stole everyones heart. Luckily the mood was lightened with the arrival of some delicious ice cream, generously sponsored by a local company that is always at the front of the queue when it comes to offering help on such occasions.

It is a great credit to the foundation that cares for these children that they were all well dressed, well behaved and polite but still retained that essential of all children full of life and mischievousness.

A big thank you goes to the organizers and everyone who contributed to a wonderful day!

Note: For more information on the Camillian Center, visit website: http://www.hiv-aids-kids.org.

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Orphans turn sailors for fun day on the high seas - Pattaya Mail

Rick Holmes Opinions/Mass. Political Editor @HolmesAndCo

BATH, Maine - The orders of the day called for dress blues, so the crew of the USS Thomas Hudner marched in their sharpest uniforms into the biting wind and slushy snow of an April storm. It was a special occasion, the christening of the nations newest destroyer, and the men and women of the U.S. Navy dont mind getting wet.

Ship christenings have traditions that are well-practiced here in Bath, where they have been launching ships into the Kennebec River for 400 years. A Navy Band played. Dignitaries spoke, including all four members of Maines Congressional delegation. The wife of the ships namesake smashed a bottle of champagne on the bow of the 509-foot craft.

The honoree, Capt. Thomas Hudner, was on hand, a rarity when it comes to ship christenings. In 1951, when his friend and wingman, Jesse Brown, was shot down in Korea during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, he crash-landed his own plane in a vain effort to rescue him. President Harry Truman awarded Hudner the Congressional Medal of Honor for "displaying conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life."

There was no talk of jobs, money or politics as Hudner and his ship were honored that blustery morning. But the presence of Maines two senators and two Congress members was a reminder. Each was introduced with reference to the committee assignments most relevant to keeping the Navys ships being built by Bath Iron Works.

The 5,900 jobs at BIW skilled manufacturing jobs with good union pay and benefits are critical to the economy of Mid-Coast Maine. Every Maine politician, whether its the liberal Democrat from the states southern House district, the Republican from the northern district who based his remarks on America First, or the states moderate senators, Republican Susan Collins and Independent Angus King, makes preserving those jobs a top priority.

Defense contracting is big business, and General Dynamics, owner of BIW, is one of the biggest in the world. Theres an intense competition between BIW and the Huntington-Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to build Arleigh-Burke class destroyers like the Hudner. Its the job of the Maine Congressional delegation, along with an army of General Dynamics lobbyists, to keep those contracts coming here.

None of the speakers mentioned the cost of the USS Hudner, but its your money, so you should know: $663 million.

The Hudner, which will be officially commissioned next year after more testing, is the 66th out of a planned 75 Arleigh-Burke destroyers. And thats just one part of the American fleet, which is far and away the largest Navy in the world. The U.S. has more destroyers than the next five countries combined. The advantage in aircraft carriers, the most powerful sea-going vessels, is even greater. No other country has more than one. The U.S. has 10.

Our large fleet is getting ever larger. We have about 272 vessels today, which was due to grow to 305 ships under Obama administration plans. President Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to build a 350-ship Navy.

Thats just part of Trumps proposed $603 billion defense budget. Hes calling for a $54 billion increase in military spending, paid for by huge cuts in non-military domestic programs.

And theres the rub. To budget is to choose. The USS Hudner costs more to build than the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($445 million) and the National Endowment for the Arts ($145 million) combined two of 19 programs zeroed out in Trumps budget with their own political constituencies. Theres a large debate to come about the choices we make.

But the story of Capt. Hudners heroism in Korea is a reminder that national security isnt just about dollars and cents. Hudner disobeyed an order to stay in the air. He destroyed an expensive piece of military equipment in a futile effort to save a buddy. For that he received not a reprimand, but the nations highest military honor.

Even that decision may have involved some politics. Jesse Brown, the pilot Hudner tried to save, was black, the nations first African-American naval aviator, and Truman had taken intense criticism for his decision to integrate the armed forces.

Their friendship was spotlighted at the time, and again at the ship christening ceremony, sending a message about inclusion.

My father was a Navy man. Like the members of the future crew of the USS Hudner who marched proudly through the snow in Bath, he helped supervise the construction of the aircraft carrier that would carry him to war in the Pacific. We should all be proud of the ships Americans build, and of the men and women who sail into danger on them.

But we cannot forget that theres politics and money behind every line of the federal budget.

Rick Holmes can be reached at rick@rickholmes.net. You can follow his journey at http://www.rickholmes.net. Like him on Facebook at Holmes & Co, on follow him on Twitter @HolmesAndCo.

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Master of the high seas: Pomp, patriotism and politics as Navy's ... - Wicked Local Quincy

Tyler and Kristy Hawkins, former Mesa County residents, pose on their new home, a 37-foot boat in North Carolina. The couple will set sail for the U.S. Virgin Islands in the fall with their children, Sofie, 3, and C.J., who is almost 1 year old, along with their dog, Riot. They will chronicle their adventure in a blog.

By Erin McIntyre Sunday, April 9, 2017

Tyler and Kristy Hawkins know that life is too short, and thats one of the reasons theyve sold everything, left their home in western Colorado and embarked on an adventure with their kids. But this isnt just a trip, its a new lifestyle theyre happy to share with anyone who wants to live vicariously.

The 27-year-old Plateau Valley High School graduate and his wife, a 25-year-old Fruita Monument High School graduate, call themselves the Windswept Gypsies, and are documenting their adventures on their blog, windsweptgypsies.com.

The Hawkinses started downsizing their possessions last year with the goal of living on a 37-foot sailboat with their two children. And for the past month, theyve been getting their sea legs on board the Night Music, currently docked in the Northwest Creek Marina just outside New Bern, North Carolina.

It has been quite the adjustment, moving from a 1,500-square-foot house with two small children in a landlocked state to living on a boat with their dog, Riot.

For the couple, the decision came after tragedies and the realization that they wanted to have a different lifestyle, and they didnt want to be the kind of people who spend their best years in the rat race to take a few weeks off here and there to spend time with their kids.

Their new lifestyle allows for a lower cost of living than the house and vehicles they were maintaining in western Colorado, and theyre embarking on this incredible adventure together, with their daughter Sofie, 3, and son C.J., who is nearly 1 year old. They hope to experience a more sustainable lifestyle that focuses on quality, not quantity.

Living on a boat has been a longtime dream for Tyler, and hes wanted to do it since he was in high school. The decision to make it happen was prompted by recent losses of family members. Tylers dad, Wes, was killed in a sudden, massive landslide less than three years ago near Collbran, with two others, and Kristys dad and brother have died in the past two years.

Lifes too short to not go and do something like this, Tyler said. We figured we could either continue down the path we were going and wonder if we were truly happy or make it happen.

Last year, the couple was in the process of trying to buy some property near Molina, which didnt pan out. Tyler was working long hours as an electrician and missed being with his kids.

They sat down to dinner one night and were discussing the problem, and Kristy said, Why dont we just move onto a boat?

And Tyler thought, Thats why I married you.

So far, they dont regret their transition one bit, although living with less in a smaller space has been an adjustment. Theres no hot water heater, no washing machine for clothes, no dishwasher. Theyre setting up a wringer for laundry, and C.J. is wearing cloth diapers, so thats on the list of things to learn how to do. Theres no TV and Kristy has to keep a hawk eye on the kids for fear they will fall overboard, as C.J. is learning to walk on the boat.

Their plan is to stay at the marina until fall, after hurricane season passes, when theyve worked out the details of living on the boat full-time. Then theyll head to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the destination of their first trip together only two weeks after they met years ago, and the place they fell in love.

So far, the couple has detailed their experiences getting to the marina and starting life on board on their blog, and plan on sharing their adventure with anyone who wants to know more about their lifestyle, including the nitty-gritty details, and is fascinated about life aboard with kids.

Were going to be pretty open-book, he said.

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Young family moves from high desert to life on the high seas - Grand Junction Daily Sentinel