Category Archives: High Seas

Youll have heard the joke, by this stage, or made it yourself.

Every Olympics, without fail. The one about how you become an expert at the oul synchronised diving/Taekwondo/canoe slalom after watching it for 20 minutes every four years.

Ryle Nugent himself said it, while actually commentating on the oul synchronised diving the other night. One of the Irish stars of these Olympics, the great man has been hot-footing it from triathlon to diving to football to rugby sevens doing commentary for the international TV feed and sounds like hes having a rare old time in the process.

In many ways, he is the patron saint of the temporary Olympic expert, the ideal to whom the rest of us bleary-eyed aficionados aspire. Have no doubt, after nodding off to the dressage on Tuesday night, I feel fully confident to hold forth in front of a global audience on the merits of a 12-year-old stallion mincing to Rihannas Shine Bright Like A Diamond.

The spirit of Ryle is alive in all of us right now. You meet people and they will talk openly about how much they enjoyed, say, the mens shortboard surfing final, how it was a dominant performance by Italo Ferreira, the Brazilian, world number one of course, but what a frustrating day on the waves for Kanoa Igarashi, who never really got going.

There is a glee in it. Listen to me, people say, giving out about the judging of the gymnastics floor routine, and I havent looked at a gymnastics floor routine since Olga Korbut was a lass!

It remains one of the great mysteries of life, why we take such intense interest in sports which otherwise burble along in relative obscurity outside the Games of the Olympiad.

There is the fact that it is the Olympics, with all that signifies. There is a certain amount of nationalism involved too, he says, while cursing Wang of Chinese Taipei who, as I write, is beating our brave Nhat Nguyen in the badminton. Damn you, Wang.

But its more than that. It takes people out of themselves. People like to feel different, just for a little while. Its like the old man at the beach in the sunny weather. He may be in his string vest and trousers rolled up to the knee, but in his head hes David Hasselhoff.

Basically, we have all gone on holiday to the Olympics.

And this year more than any other, the Olympics provide a sense of escape our actual holidays cannot. Without leaving the house, we can get that feeling of getting away from it all not even slurping 99s on the Wild Atlantic Way can provide.

Like any exotic holiday, attempting to speak the language is part of it. Watching the rowing one morning, my wife asked me how the Irish guys were getting on.

Third. But its the repechage, I replied.

The repechage? What am I like?

But suddenly theres no stopping me. Im talking about the stroke rate in the lightweight double sculls, not to be confused with the regular double sculls or, indeed, God forbid, the coxless pair.

Its like the way a halting request to a barman for dos cervezas, por favor yields the confidence to debate with the man the merits of the Real Madrid defence in perfect pidgin Spanish. A lack of self-consciousness takes hold. There is nobody to judge you here. Go for it.

You start to realise that the Olympic Games are 33 sports divided by a common tongue. Immersing yourself in each sports arcane terminology feels like wandering around the cathedrals of some pretty European city.

Turn on the Taekwondo and the commentator explains that fighters are penalised (even though the sport involves kicking your opponent in the head, there are rules) by the referee calling Gam-Jeom!. Pretty soon youre shouting Thats Gam-Jeom! like youre watching a Saturday evening gameshow hosted by Danny Dyer called Gam-Jeom!.

Judo players battle each other by trying to score an ippon, sometimes settling for a waza-ari. It cant always be ippon after ippon, a commentator muses during one tight battle, sometimes you have to grind it out with waza-ari. Aint that the truth, brother.

The words that the different sports use tell you about their history. The martial arts glossary speaks of ancient rites conducted in mystical dojos. Rowing and sailing are replete with nautical terms, coxswains, and tacking and rigging, that evoke Horatio Hornblower and derring-do on the high seas.

Surfing makes no attempt to hide its dudishness: Ferreiras stance is officially classified as Goofy and commentators are happy to commend good execution as gnarly or, indeed, radical.

Gymnastics venerates its competitors by naming moves after them, like reverse Yurchenko with a twist (these can also sound like how you might assassinate a disloyal Politburo member).

Travel broadens the mind and you feel you are learning something. Every so often you will chance upon the more familiar sports, like tennis, football, or golf. This is awkward. Its like going down to breakfast on the first morning in some far-flung destination to find a family in Kilkenny jerseys sitting opposite. People who watch the normal sports in the Olympics are like people who eat roast beef dinners in Mediterranean resorts. Time and a place, please.

Like any holiday fling, that it is fleeting only makes it sweeter. We know it wont last forever; it cant. We will wake up some morning soon and Hazel Irvine wont be gently prodding us toward some Rhythmic Gymnastics highlights.

We will be back to the humdrum, arguing about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the Dubs having too much money. The twinkly-eyed boxing analysis of Eric Donovan will be a memory; Roy Keane looms like a bearded cloud. On transfer deadline day will we remember the breezy confidence of Mona McSharry? Charlotte Dujardin and her Extended Trots?

It could be that the Olympics are a way of taking a holiday from sport, by watching sport. Relax. Live a little. Enjoy it, because tomorrow, its the big one. Womens trampoline final day.

Whats that, youre an expert in it? Course you are.

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Tommy Martin: We have all gone on holiday to the Olympics - Irish Examiner

Never let it be said that an inanimate objectsay a glass of cognac, for examplecant play a major role in a play. Well, it does just that and more in Tom Stoppards Rough Crossing, one of the mid-season offerings from American Players Theatre in Spring Green. And while the cognac never upstages any of the six hilarious characters in the two-act musical comedy, it does more than most objects to link narrative elements, provide character development and bring unexpected but always well-timed laughs to the proceedings.

Adapted from Ferenc Molnrs The Play at the Castle and directed by frequent APT contributor William Brown, the narrative chronicles a voyage on the S.S. Italian Castle by playwrights Turai (James Ridge) and Gal (Jamal James), who find themselves treading water while trying to finish the play they promised New York producers weeks earlier. Of course, it needs an ending, Turai says. And a middle, and perhaps a new beginning, Gal adds. Clearly, the scribes are going down for the third time.

Traveling with them are the plays two stars Ivor (Marcus Truschinski) and Natasha (Kelsey Brennan), former lovers having a hard time getting over the former part. Also along is young Adam (Josh Krause), the plays brilliant composer marred by a startling speech impediment. He is engaged to Natasha but apparently unaware of her past relationship with Ivor. It is up to Turai and Gal to steer the trio away from inevitable disaster and on to artistic and emotional success. The course of true love never runs smoothly, they say, and neither, it seems, does producing a play.

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Enter Dvornichek (David Daniel), a ships steward so inexperienced, so confused and so seemingly bereft of logical thought that he provides an endless round of punchlines, double entendres and intellectual pratfalls. (Enter the first of dozens of cognac references.) But in every fool is found a kernel of wisdom, and in Dvornicheks case, the kernel blossoms into full understanding by the end of the voyage.

And in and amongst all that we find one of the funniest, wittiest and most satisfying APT comedies to come along in some time, all managed by director Browns deft hand and well-defined touch.

The performances are all spot-on, with each filling a critical niche in Stoppards sendup of 1930s Hollywood musicals. Truschinskis foppish cad Ivor withers in the face with Brennans ingnue-turned-determined-diva Natasha, while Krauses betrayal as the wide-eyed innocent Adam gives Ridges curmudgeonly Turai and James Gal, a bon vivant who always seems to be eating, reason to take more than just an intellectual interest in their project.

But, as you might have guessed, Daniel as Dvornichek is the lynchpin of some of the conflict, much of the comedy and the ultimate resolution to the story. A master of both drama and comedy, the veteran actor has rarely shined brighter in a role.

Scott Adam Davis inventive set designs and Andrew Hansens original music give this musical comedy unexpected verve, spark and sass, making Rough Crossing stand out as possibly the highlight of APTs 2021 season. Given where the world has been going lately, its been some time since I genuinely laughed. Apparently, I was saving it all up for this particular production.

Rough Crossing runs through August 7 at American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Rd., Spring Green. For tickets and info, visit americanplayers.org.

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APT's 'Rough Crossing' Means Hilarity on the High Seas - Shepherd Express

A rendering shows the new mooring system that Young Brothers plans to install on Lanai to help make deliveries in poor weather. Photos courtesy of Young Brothers

The Maui News

Dangerous ocean conditions delayed a shipment of goods to Lanai on July 8, though Young Brothers was able to complete a recovery sail to the Port of Kaumalapau within 24 hours.

Gate hours were also extended until 3:30 p.m. July 8 to allow customers to pick up their cargo, according to a spokesperson for the company.

High seas and strong winds have hindered the companys deliveries to Lanai on occasion. In May, local markets and restaurants ran out of some products or closed early after inclement weather delayed the regularly scheduled barge as well as the recovery barge to make up for the lost trip.

Young Brothers said it expects to have a new mooring system installed at Kaumalapau Harbor by the fall that will allow the shipping company to safely deliver and pick up cargo in rough weather.

Young Brothers conducts a recovery sail to Lanai after running into dangerous ocean conditions on July 8.

The new mooring system relies on the technology of ShoreTension, which uses the ships energy to put the right tension on the mooring lines to offset the hazards posed by ocean swells, high winds, passing ships and other potentially unsafe situations.

When the tension in the line exceeds a preset limit, the system moves out, dampens the motion of the vessel and by doing this stores the energy of the ships movement, according to ShoreTension. When the peak loads are over, the ShoreTension heaves in the line with the energy previously stored to bring back the vessel to its initial position.

Young Brothers said the pilot project would be the first of its kind in the nation and that there will be minimal to no impacts on Young Brothers operations at the Kaumalapau Port during the project.

The company is spending the summer months upgrading existing infrastructure and preparing to install the new system.

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Young Brothers makes recovery sailing to Lanai last week - Maui News

The shipping industry is struggling with high seas: shipping companies are faced with the challenge of efficiently combining environmental protection and economic efficiency.

To bring the two together, marine contractor Van Oord has now chosen to install Orcan Energys efficiency PACKs, an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) on two of its new hybrid water injection dredgers, the Maas and Mersey.

In the design of the latest dredgers, built by the Dutch shipyard Kooiman Marine Group, special attention was paid to energy efficiency.

Among other things, both dredgers were each equipped with a module from Orcan Energy. The maritime energy efficiency solution potentially lowers the overall fuel consumption of the ships by 4 to 5 percent depending on the engine power and the amount of waste heat available.

During a year of intensive and frequent deployment of the vessel, the CO2 emissions can be reduced by close to 200 tons per ship. The company thereby achieves a considerable improvement of the vessels life-cycle assessment.

For Van Oord, the Maas and Mersey represent the new generation of hybrid water injection vessels. This new vessel type is versatile and has water injection dredging, mass flowing and power jetting systems. Thanks to the manoeuvrability and limited draught, the vessels are used for maintenance dredging in shallow harbours.

The efficiency PACKs utilize the waste heat of the engine jacket cooling water and exhaust gases by extracting the heat. A heat exchanger transfers this to the ORC circuit.

There, the refrigerant a non-toxic, non-flammable hydrocarbon evaporates and is fed as superheated vapor to the expansion machine. Here, the high-pressure refrigerant is expanded, driving the expansion machine.

This rotational energy is then used to drive a generator that produces electricity, which in turn results in fuel savings.

See the article here:

Orcan efficiency PACKs installed for the first time on two dredgers - Dredging Today

The experienced Portuguese kitesurfer adapted a multi-hull boat that is able to sail the rough sea using a towing kite propulsion system.

Lufinha hopes to leave Portugal and arrive in the Caribbean three to four weeks later, depending on the weather and ocean conditions.

The solo mission is estimated to be around 3,620 nautical miles (6,700 kilometers), and it's his boldest project ever.

The boat pulled only by the force of a kite also features solar panels and a hydro generator, meaning that no fossil fuel will be used during the crossing.

Francisco Lufinha plans to cross the Atlantic without a support boat powered only by wind energy.

The kiteboat is the result of three years of research and development.

The kitesurfer and his team had to combine the characteristics of a light and fast trimaran with the benefits and advantages of a nearly standard kite.

Lufinha will test the prototype boat off the Portuguese coast and in high seas with more demanding conditions.

The kitesurfer expects to kick off his adventure in November 2021.

"During the crossing, I will test my limits like never before," revealed the Portuguese sailor.

"I will need to control the kite in the air for days and overcome the accumulated tiredness of sleeping only 20 minutes at a time."

"I will also have to make my own drinking water through a desalinator and feed myself with dehydrated meals, all this while I try to stick to the right route and navigate through the winds and tides until I see land again."

Lufinha partnered with a German specialist to develop a system that allows the boat to control the kite using technology.

"In the first phase, it's electronic. I have a joystick instead of pulling my arms. This system, which we are still testing, takes the kite in the air to make some circles on its own so I can sleep on the go," added Lufinha.

"This is all powered by 700-watt solar panels and a hydro generator, a propeller that generates energy with my speed."

The athlete will be in communication with the Portuguese Navy in case of an emergency.

"In the event of an accident, which can always happen, such as hitting an obstacle or a sunken container - we have to predict these scenarios - I have a series of safety equipment that I can activate, so that nearby vessels know where I am," underlined Francisco.

The Portuguese adventurer has been pushing the limits of kiteboarding for nearly a decade.

In 2013, Lufinha set a new Guinness World Record for the longest kiteboarding journey after sailing for 307.5 nautical miles (569 kilometers) along the Portuguese coastline.

One year later, he rode his kite for 12 hours between the Savage Islands (Ilhas Selvagens) and Funchal in Madeira, Portugal, for a total of 303 kilometers (163 nautical miles).

In 2015, the Portuguese could not complete a 1,000-kilometer (539 nautical miles) kite cross between Lisbon and Madeira but sailed 874 kilometers (472 nautical miles) and improved his previous record.

Finally, in 2017 Francisco Lufinha and German kiteboarder Anke Brandt completed an intercalated kite cross between the Azores and mainland Portugal.

Continue reading here:

Francisco Lufinha will cross the Atlantic solo on a kiteboat - SurferToday

Last month, two of South Korea's largest shipbuilders unveiled designs and concept models for the country's future aircraft carrier, known as CVX.

Both designs feature two islands similar to the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and will carry 24 to 28 F-35B stealth fighters. South Korea hopes to have its first CVX in service by 2033.

Though it will be considerably smaller than US aircraft carriers, the CVX will be an important step toward South Korea's goal of building a blue-water navy able to project power around the world.

The new carrier is also the latest example of how the South Korean military is preparing for a potential conflict with its nuclear-armed northern neighbor.

The growth and modernization of the Republic of Korea Navy, or ROKN, is one of the great naval success stories.

What started 70 years ago as a small coastal force of patrol boats has become a large, first-rate navy that is mostly domestically designed and built and already has some ability to operate on the high seas.

It includes some 100 surface warships, 10 amphibious ships, 18 submarines, and 60 aircraft. Many of its surface vessels have vertical launch systems and advanced electronic suites that put them on par with the best warships in the world.

South Korea's three Sejong the Great-class destroyers are each armed with 128 missiles, more than US Arleigh Burke-class and Japanese Atago-class destroyers, which each have 96 missiles. Its six Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers feature stealth technology and have deployed as far as the Arabian Sea.

Its two Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships can carry over 700 Marines, 13 armored vehicles, and about a dozen helicopters. The second Dokdo-class vessel was commissioned in June.

In addition to operating in its home waters, South Korea's navy participates in exercises around the world and even has a dedicated anti-piracy unit, known as the Cheonghae Unit, in the Indian Ocean that has rescued Korean crew members from hijacked vessels.

South Korea is also a shipbuilding powerhouse, which will support its continued naval modernization.

Its navy already has plans to further upgrade its destroyers, is building a new class of frigates, and has launched the first two boats of the new Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine, which may soon get domestically made submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Defense, North Korea's navy, officially known as the Korean People's Navy, or KPN, has 430 surface combatants (mostly patrol vessels), 70 submarines, and 250 amphibious vessels.

Despite its size, North Korea's fleet is under-gunned and largely antiquated.

"What isn't totally antiquated is not in large numbers and is still not all that modern or capable," Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation think tank, told Insider.

"This is not a navy which is going to come crashing out of their bases and do a major stand against the ROKN and US navies, unless they anticipate losing most of that capability very quickly," he added.

In the past, North Korea's navy was more of a match for South Korea's navy, as demonstrated by a number of deadly naval provocations around the Korean Peninsula.

But South Korea's continued modernization has made it a much more powerful force. Those advances, and the North Korean navy's relative decline, mean Seoul would likely win a conventional fight.

"The ROKN really one-on-one is going to be just dominant, and the KPN can't play the game that way," Bennett said. "They've got to look for asymmetric approaches to using [their ships] effectively."

North Korea has tried to build more advanced ships, like missile-laden surface effect vessels with possible stealth features, but the real threat comes from its submarines.

"Even though the KPN is antiquated in many ways, some of the submarines that they've made to operate in the shallow waters are potentially fairly potent," Bennett said.

In 2010, a North Korean submarine sank a South Korean corvette in the Yellow Sea just south of the countries' de facto maritime boundary, killing 46 sailors. The KPN has used the same type of submarines to insert agents into South Korea.

The KPN is also acquiring subs capable of firing nuclear-armed ballistic missiles. The KPN operates at least one submarine supposedly capable of firing one or two such missiles, and another class that's under construction will potentially be able to fire three.

Both countries' navies would play an important role should war break out.

For the KPN, the first goal will be to try and insert as many agents and commandos into South Korea as possible before any fighting starts. North Korea's navy as a whole will try to take on South Korea's fleet wherever and, more importantly, however possible.

Because of South Korea's naval superiority, the KPN will have to rely on either stealth or numbers. Its submarines may be able to operate effectively in the Yellow Sea, where shallow waters make finding submarines hard, as the 2010 attack demonstrated. (Shallow waters also limit what operations subs can do.)

East of the peninsula, the Sea of Japan is deeper and North Korea's options are limited. Its ships will likely only have success if they operate in groups and swarm isolated vessels.

North Korean subs will also likely attempt to cut off South Korea's imports.

South Korea relies almost entirely on imported fuel, and while some reinforcements can be transported by air, large numbers of troops and heavy equipment have to come by sea.

"North Korea has got to anticipate sending its navy either into shallow waters where it's difficult to detect or they've got to send them out in groups and see how well the groups potentially survive," Bennett said.

South Korea's navy, meanwhile, will focus on protecting its sea lanes, destroying North Korean warships from afar, defending its northwest islands from a possible invasion, and supporting ground operations.

An aircraft carrier will be vital for that last role.

North Korea's nuclear arsenal believed to be between 67 and 116 warheads poses a major threat to South Korean airfields, so a mobile aircraft carrier could make a massive difference.

A carrier can only operate a limited number of planes and only for so long, but a protracted conflict would likely draw in South Korean allies, namely the US and UK, with navies that can strike deep inside North Korea.

Those partners are helping South Korea develop its carrier capabilities. South Korean sailors and naval airmen have already operated alongside US carriers, andBritish and Italian firms are assisting South Korea with the CVX.

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How a war between North and South Korea could quickly become a naval showdown - Business Insider

Rachell Valkyrae Hofstetter has chosen to help out new Twitch streamer error8D after his dedication to honing his skills reminded her of Corpse Husband.

When it comes to uplifting others, YouTube star and 100 Thieves Co-Owner, Valkyrae, is a master. Her openness about her previous mental health issues and streamer struggles have inspired countless fans all across the globe.

It turns out, though, that theres a new streamer in town that Rae wants to bring to our attention. Error8D is incredibly new to Twitch, but for having only three streams under his belt hes picked up 13.6k followers since Rae mentioned him on-stream.

Theres one reason that the YouTube star is so determined to promote his success, however, and thats because he reminds her of Corpse Husband.

When discussing error8D, Rae explains that one of the reasons shes been so impressed by the GTA RP streamer is his unrelenting dedication to streaming.

I messaged him last night and I said heres a list of things you need to do: make a Twitter, make some Twitch panels, and set up alerts, and this dude did all three of these things. He listened to me.

This passion reminds her of one specific person: Corpse Husband. Yknow who he reminds me of? Corpse, because Corpse listened to me when I told him advice. These people are listening to my advice.

She then confesses: I feel like I need to become an agent, I feel like when Im older I could become an agent and help creators become creators. I feel like I can see when someone has it.

(Topic begins at 14:26)

As Rae continues on her GTA RP journey with error8D by her side, itll be interesting to see how he continues to grow. If its anything like herself and Corpse, hell be a household name for streamer fans everywhere.

With the amigops reuniting to take to the high seas of Dread Hunger, we might get to see Raes new favorite streamer make an appearance if there are any further collab streams. Until then, though, well catch him causing chaos alongside Rae.

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Valkyrae wants to help Twitch streamer that reminds her of Corpse Husband - Dexerto

The deep sea is full of mysterious things. Weve barely scratched the proverbial surface, and its more than likely that there are many undiscovered creatures swimming around down there. The Schmidt Ocean Institute, an organization focused on advancing oceanographic research using new and innovative technologies, freely shares anything it learns from its voyages. It has a research vessel called Falkor, thats available to the international science community at no cost.

The Ocean holds wonders and promises we havent even imagined, much less discovered, said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Ocean Institute. Expeditions like these teach us why we need to increase our efforts to restore and better understand marine ecosystems everywhere because the great chain of life that begins in the ocean is critical for human health and wellbeing.

The scientists there have been exploring the Phoenix Islands Archipelago, also known as Rawaki. Its a group of eight atolls and two submerged coral reefs. They lie just north of Samoa in the central Pacific Ocean, and what theyve been finding there is, frankly, mind-blowing.

It has been very inspiring to help document the biodiversity of unexplored seamounts on the high seas and in U.S. waters, said the expedition Chief Scientist Dr. Randi Rotjan of Boston University. Were at the beginning of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, so now is the time to think about conservation broadly across all oceanscapes, and the maps, footage, and data we have collected will hopefully help to inform policy and management in decision making around new high seas protected areas.

The expedition, which took place over 34 days, found a variety of interesting animals, but one stands out: on one dive in particular, the team spotted an extremely rare, clear animal known as a glass octopus. The octopus was spotted at 651 meters (2132 feet) at a seamount in theWinslow reef complex on Tokelau Ridge in Phoenix Islands Archipelago. Theyre not a huge creature, reaching 18 inches from tip of the mantle to the tips of the tentacles. Its one of the least studiedcephalopods in the world.

Before now, there was almost no footage of the glass octopus, so the crystal-clear new video is a boon to researchers. Before this expedition, there has been limited live footage of the glass octopus, the team wrote, forcing scientists to learn about the animal by studying specimens found in the gut contents of predators.

See more about the expedition here.

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Rare 'Glass Octopus' Caught on Camera by Stunned Researchers - TheInertia.com

After the crazy year that was 2020, the world is finally beginning to heal. This healing is reflected in many of the newest releases, where hope is a key theme. Weve learned this past year that human life is fragile, but hope makes us strong, and many of the best books this year have reflected that. For our mid year list, we collected all our favorite YAwith a few Adult and Middle Grade thrown inpublished between January 1 and June 30 of this year and voted to create this ranked list of the 10 best books of 2021.

In his latest release, Green creates a new kind of memoir. Each chapter is a review of a different human phenomenon, where he combines an interesting history lesson with personal stories. His insight reaches new heights as he explores what it really means to be human, especially in our bizarre pandemic world. This book made me both laugh and cry and I expect many rereads in years to come. Abby Petree

This impressive middle grade debut about a young Black girl competing in a magical school is an instant modern classicperfect for readers looking for magical reads with gutsy, kind characters to follow. Amaris tenacity to become a junior agent in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs in order to help find her missing, star Agent brother creates a fast paced read, full of action, twists, and moments of wonder. I cant wait to follow Amari throughout the series. Brianna Robinson

Fable was my favorite read of 2020. Now, its sequel Namesake has sailed into my heart in 2021. Set mere moments after the ending of the first installment, this story contains even more of the gorgeous descriptions of the sea and its gems, the backwater coastal cities, the rugged ships, and the handsome helmsman West. Dive into this novel to learn more about Fables backstory, her true identity, and to see if she completes her goal of being free to sail the high seas with her lover West. Meagan Stanley

Somebodys Daughter is a heartbreaking memoir, full of hope, love, and resilience. Ashleys story of surviving sexual assault and growing up with her father in prison was hard to read, for myriad reasons, but as she told her story and her truth, I felt her strength, her love for her family, and her courage in finding the words to share this part of her life with the world. Listening to the book was a revelationAshley narrates it herself and Im so grateful, as a child of a recently incarcerated father, it exists. Brianna Robinson

Real life couple Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are known for their compulsively readable rom-coms and this latest book is their best yet. Based lightly on the couples high school experience, Whats Not to Love tells the story of high school rivals Allison and Ethan as they vy for valedictorian and accidentally fall in love in the process. This enemies-to-lovers story is full of high school drama, perfect banter, and a love story that fully deserves an A+. Bri Lockhart

This book is a quiet story. The plot isnt as fast paced or contains as high of stakes as many books on this list. But, its portrayal of grief and guilt being overcome in the heart of a young adult makes this novel so moving. In a time of unprecedented chaos, Amelia Unabridged wraps you in the warmth of a cozy library, where tiny whales fly through the bookshelves. It provides both an honest look at tragedy and hope, making all who have struggled with loss not only feel seen, but comforted as well. I cannot recommend this novel enough. Meagan Stanley

Casey McQuistons sophomore novelOne Last Stopis a gorgeous rendition of the public transit meet-cute, but with a sci-fi twist. McQuiston manages to weave a beautiful and cohesive story that fits so much into it: a sci-fi mystery, diversity in LGBTQIA+ communities, pancakes, drag queen shows, New York City, and a blossoming love that transcends time (literally!). If you are searching for an overwhelmingly sweet, funny, and adventurous tale of romance and found family this summer, McQuistonsOne Last Stopis a wonderful remedy to that and a novel that should definitely make your TBR list! Giselle Lopez

Utterly delightful, charming and full of life, Talia Hibberts Brown Sisters series concludes with the youngest Brown sister, Eves story.With her usual wit, hilarity, and swoon-worthy romance, Talia has crafted a wonderful (and bittersweet!) ending to the series. Eve is a bubbly young woman with a penchant for helping people and accidentally leaving a trail of chaos in her wake. That chaos upends small village bed and breakfast owner, Jacob Waynes life, who abhors chaos and lives on a healthy diet of structure and routine. The two, as is expected from a romance novel, fall in love. Its sweet, empowering, and leaves you desperate for more from these characters. Brianna Robinson

Inspired by Greek mythology, Lore is another ambitious, heartbreaking fantasy novel by Alexandra Bracken. Lore Perseous, an orphan who fled her old life, finds herself dragged back in with the start of the Agon, a competition where Greek gods are forced to walk the Earth as humans while descendents of ancient bloodlines hunt them for the chance to seize their divine power. Lores near-500 page run packs an impressive punch, bringing readers on an emotional, action-packed rollercoaster of a journey that manages to cleverly wrap itself up in one booka rarity among YA fantasys many trilogies and duologies. Bri Lockhart

Some might say Peter Pan stories are done to death, and they may have a point. Aiden Thomas, however, takes it and makes it completely his own. This contemporary retelling explores PTSD and how trauma can reshape a family. It stars Wendy, recast as a realistic teenage girl, and Peter, who isnt a sinister villain like other modern interpretations, but a sweet, sunny boy. I appreciated both where Thomas stayed faithful to the original and the creative deviations he made. I believe it is the new standard for what a dark, creative retelling should be. Abby Petree

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Best Books of 2021 so far - The Young Folks

The Indian Navy and the IAF, lately announced exercises with a US Navy Carrier group transiting through the Indian Ocean. To a better recall, in which Indian Naval Ships (INS) Kochi and Teg along with P8i and MiG 29K aircrafts, were seen participating with US Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan during its transit through Indian Ocean Region (Arabian Sea) on 23 and 24 Jun 2021. The IAF too participated with Jaguar and Su-30 fighter aircraft of their maritime squadrons.

In general, these exercises are called PASSEX or Passage Exercises are routinely conducted by the Navy as an endeavor to build interoperability and enhance levels of joint operations with friendly and like-minded navies of friendly nations.

These exercises typically involve a rendezvous between participating forces at sea and a 24-72 hour long sail together with various drills that range from basic communication exercises to more complex operations such as boarding operations, cross-deck helicopter landings and sometimes even weapon firing drills.

Indian Navys lone aircraft carrier, Vikramaditya, currently undergoing a major refit and, therefore, was not available to participate in this PASSEX and, hence with only the IAF participating, as per the sources; required the exercise to be geographically shifted closer to the coast to involve Jaguar and Su 30 aircraft relevantly.

While this PASSEX concluded attaining its objectives pertinently, it was another stark reminder to the limitations posed by the lack of naval airpower at sea due to the absence of our valiant carrier INS Vikramaditya. Her absence was felt immensely.

While this is a luxury that can be afforded in peacetime exercises such as this, it would surely not be possible in combat to any adverse situation or hours of concern in actuality. Regular exercises have been conducted by the Navy and Air Force to practice scenarios of the future Air Battle at sea. However, the battle at sea would be fought far away from any coast and would test the limitations in reach and poise of shore-based fighters.

In the present era, the Air Battle at sea would be fought in a dense EW environment, with networking and sound identification of friend or foe being the major criteria for the nations success. Furthermore, combat air power would need to be available round the clock, here and now and any delays in application of air power would leave forces vulnerable.

The geographical expanse of this battle would also need combat air power to be spread across a large swath of the sea. Fighters would need to prowl the air for long periods of time and there is no more sure way of achieving this than the aircraft carriers, like our INS Vikramaditya.

Shore-based fighters would find it an enormous task to meet the spread, here and now and speed of application that would be needed for success.

The application of combat air power at sea would also require a nuanced understanding of the unique environment at sea and the challenges it poses. With the impending creation of Theatre Commands and foremost the Maritime Theatre Command (MTC), these exercises would have thrown up lessons already identified in the past of the need for shore-based fighters to operate under the Navy or in this case the MTC, to be able to apply scarce resources, effectively in time and space, to achieve best results.

The recent PASSEX with the USN also brings to fore the severe limitations of the Navy that currently operates only with one aircraft carrier. With the second one a year away and the third yet to get nod, the Navy would continue to operate under these limitations for some coming years. However, that does not entail any dip to our Indian Navys proven mettle over the years. It is better perceived as a challenge and not a lack.

It would be difficult for the Air Force to fill these gaps especially when an air battle rages over land and more so when the battle at sea is fought on the high seas. Peacetime exercises such as these PASSEX, may at times create a wrong and ill-informed sentiment that combat air power at sea could be filled in by shore-based fighters.

In fact, these are peacetime exercises theatrically enacted and undertaken close to the coast with strict timelines and planned engagements. An easy proposition for shore-based air power to meet.

However, the Air battle at Sea would require naval combat air power, currently the Mig-29Ks flying off the Navys Carriers, and smaller elements of the IAFs shore-based fighters to operate together, when possible, geographically, under a unified commander to ensure synergistic application and exploitation.

The upcoming Theatre Commands would look at this aspect and the drive for integration must be focused on the eventual application of combat power. If one were to go by the recent spate of articles on the IAFs concerns on the loss of air power when spread thin, it would be right to believe that while this may hold good to a small extent for air power over land launched and recovered from fixed airfields, the same is not true of a geographically expansive and indefinable battle space at sea.

The Maritime Theatre would need air power to be spread across the battlespace in both time and geography. One can only hope that the thinking in ministry and the eventual shape and organization of the MTC meets the needs of todays battle at sea. Shano Varuna !

(The author is a Delhi-based, DCC qualified, defence beat writer and independent contributor to print and online publications)

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The saga of valiant air battle at Sea, and no impediments should be there to miss her - The Statesman