Friday, April 29, 2011

Amped Wireless' UA600EX adapter quadruples your laptop's WiFi range when you're on a boat


from Engadget by Dana Wollman

For every gadget you can use on land, there has to be one you can use at sea, right? Just in time for yachting season, Amped Wireless released the weatherproof UA600EX High Power Wireless-N 600mW Pro USB Adapter, which promises to extend your notebook's WiFi range in areas where there are no hotspots to be mooched. That sounds ideal for boating, but thanks to some flexible mounting options and one heavy-duty 26.5-foot cable, it should also come in handy everywhere from offices to RVs. The single-band UA600EX runs on the 2.4GHz spectrum, and although the company stops short of saying just how many feet of leeway you can expect, it does claim to quadruple your computer's range -- whatever that happens to be. If you have a hankering to watch Deadliest Catch on your next fishing trip, you can nab one of these bad boys at the source link for a cool $110.

Continue reading Amped Wireless' UA600EX adapter quadruples your laptop's WiFi range when you're on a boat.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Whitey McDonald - Master of the sea - in a very close call


Whilst in the Bahamas this winter, this monster made a sudden lunge for me, but alas, and to his eternal dismay, I was too quick with my trusty spear and dispatched the beast micro-seconds before he sunk his giant fangs into my throat ! And in another very close call I almost ran out of rum one day.






In other news - "Billy Bob" entertaining the crowd with saws at the Abaco Inn in Hopetown.

LOWISA's 6th annual Arctic Glacier Youth Ya Gotta Regatta

For 2011 we’ve reinvented the Arctic Glacier Youth Ya Gotta Regatta!! It was meant to be fun. Then it got serious. Seriously fun and for 2011 - this is one Sic Youth Regatta. It’s been described as one part sailing, one part motocross, and one part snowboarding; it’s unorthodox, "Un-Regatta" format is designed to emphasize fun, over results.

The format is fast paced, and it does not totally follow the stuffy Rules of Racing. No need to do the foul purging 360; dip your mast in the water instead! In our “Un-Regatta” that’ll purge your foul. Instead of the traditional start line we’ve got a Grand Prix hot dock start. And there’s no finish line either. Rather, you’ll have to ring the finishers’ bell on the dock. But not so fast, because at both the start and finish, you’ll have to speed walk to and from your boats. Why, because the PRO says so!!

We’ve done away with the round-the-cans racing format for the Arctic Glacier Youth Ya Gotta Regatta. Instead, it’s a pursuit style race which will start at Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club and finish at Kenora’s Harbourfront Thistle Pavilion. The starts are timed so that the slowest boats or fleets will start first and the fastest boats and fleets, last. It’s timed so that the majority of the participants will arrive at the Harbourfront at approximately 1:00 PM – just in time for FREE lunch and FREE Pepsi product beverages. Did we mention that this is a FREE regatta, thanks to our title sponsor Arctic Glacier Inc. – there’s no entry fee. It’s a dinghy event open to all youth who are under the age of 18 as at July 29th, 2011.

Some of the participants will be seasoned sailors, while others are novices and although there will be excellent racing, removing the win-at-all-costs atmosphere will make it fun for parents, team leaders, and kids alike. Did we mention too, that on-the-water coaching for the novices and the mid-sailors is not only welcome, it’s encouraged. For some kids, the freestyle will be the most memorable part of the on the water events. (Freestyle tricks will allow participants to deduct up to a maximum of 10 minutes from their on-the-water time). For others it will be the pursuit style course or maybe just the camaraderie at a new venue, and the relaxed atmosphere.
But that’s not all, AND THIS PART IS TOP SECRET AND NEED TO KNOW STUFF, so keep it in your sail bags.

Special Harbourfront Event:

Confirmation will be made at the Skippers’ Meeting. The FLASHMOB is anticipated for 2:00 PM, July 29th, in the area of the Thistle Pavilion, water side.

FLASHMOB - a tribute to Michael Jackson’s contributions to dance and music –preformed to his hit single, Beat It. See what it’s all about and learn the moves from You Tube videos like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je1KOcBYGjM. (Keep in mind that the FlashMob videos that are showcased are from megapolitans like Stockholm. Kenora is world class in every way, but there is a considerable population difference and the “mob” will be considerably less.)

REMEMBER: It’s extremely important that information relating to this FLASHMOB is held closely. Once you’ve viewed the YouTube link above, it will become clear that spontaneity and surprise are tantamount to its success. For maximum effect, information and details about the FLASHMOB should not be shared, but when sharing is necessary, information should be disseminated strictly, on a need to know basis.

There should be lots of other kids there and media coverage, too. Let’s make history together. What a blast it will be!!

Further Information: For further information please contact: saillowisa@gmail.com

2011 Calendar of Events

May 21 Saturday, Ice Breaker Social with Highway 59, Kid’s Crafts Saturday Afternoon, hosted by Jen and Dee Hall

June 10 Friday, Beer & Wings
June 17 Friday, Northern Harbour 1st Day of Summer Party, hosted by Hall Family
June 18 Saturday Summer Solstice Race to 22 ft Bay

July 1 Friday, Canada Day Cruise to Sanderson’s Beach
July 1-5 Friday-Tuesday, Warroad Race
July 15 Friday, Fish Fry
July 16 Saturday, Queen Island Pursuit Race, Kid’s Queen Island Treasure hunt
July 22-29 Friday – Friday, Cruise Week

Jul 31-Aug 6 Sunday – Satturday, LOWISA 46
Aug 19 Friday, Dark & Stormy Night
Aug 20 Saturday, Witch Bay Pursuit Race

Sept 3 Saturday, Safety Race
Sept 3 Saturday, Frock Night - Theme: Royal Wedding

Nov 10 Thursday, Fall Lift & Awards

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Highway 59 booked to play at Ice Breaker Social May 21st


Dave Christianson will once again be playing with Highway 59 at the Ice Breaker Social this year, Saturday May 21st.

Highway 59 is a 5-piece rock and classic rock cover band, playing a wide range of song favourites from both yesterday and today - but mostly yesterday. Based out of Winnipeg MB, we deliver a collection of classics that keep audiences dancing and longing from the nostalgia of music from better days while avoiding the tunes that have been beaten to death for the past two decades.

FOR SALE Sorcerer C&C 34


Sorcerer is a lovingly maintained C&C 34 built and launched in 1981. The current owners bought her in 2005 and have continued in the last owner’s footsteps of maintaining her in tip top shape. She is currently up for sale by owner with an asking price of $49,000 Cdn.

Interested parties please contact Stewart at 204-781-4601 or by e-mail stewart.anderson@manulifesecurities.ca .

July has 5 weekends this year


This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This is the first time in 823 years we have had 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays in the same month.

5 weekends (Saturday & Suanday only) happen between 5-10 years. The next years we will have 5 weekends in July are 2011, 2016, 2022, & 2033.

Sort of an extra weekend of summer...