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At SA, we don't have many heroes in this sport, but one man who we have always admired for his resolute determination in his singlehanded adventures has been Webb Chiles. Here he offers a little commentary on this story: Thunderstorms have been rolling through here since yesterday afternoon. Last night one of them caught three men in a small sailboat out on Lake Michigan. The boat capsized. The men went into 40ºF/4.5ºC water. That’s a death sentence. And would have been except for the exceptional actions of the wife of one of the men. I heard about this on the morning news and found a few more details online. No names have been given. The woman telephoned her husband to warn him that severe weather was approaching. Frankly thunderstorms had been forecast and he should have known anyway. I would not have gone sailing late yesterday. When subsequent calls went unanswered, she drove to the marina--one of those in the city of Chicago--got a power boat and rounded up two other people to go with her and went out to search. In approaching darkness, she located the capsized boat and the three men in murky freezing water a half mile offshore. She and her helpers pulled them out--not an easy task--and took them ashore, where the woman called 911. It is estimated that the men were in the water at least thirty minutes. One man refused treatment. Another was hospitalized in at least fair condition. The woman’s husband, aged 62, was suffering from severe hypothermia and hospitalized in serious condition. I think this is one of those things where the more experience you have around boats and the water, the more impressed you are by this woman. I know I am. (Btw, we'll have a feature on Webb's newest project next week...

So you maybe needed to have been driving down the road and either a) followed this thing from where it came from, or b) followed to where it was going to know the answer, but maybe not? Thanks to desert dingo for the shot....

From one of our most dedicated and loyal advertisers, Euro Marine Trading. Euro Marine Trading welcomes Ken Luczynski to the team! Euro Marine Trading, Inc., located in Newport, Rhode Island is very pleased to welcome Ken Luczynski as the newest member of our sales team. Ken joins Euro Marine Trading with 10+ years of experience in the sailing industry beginning from his early days in sail making with UK Sailmakers to his most recent Class 40 work. He was also formerly a top 10 U.S. ranked Finn sailor who competed in the finals of the U.S. Finn Olympic trials. Ken is the co-skipper for the Class 40 Toothface on which he and teammate Mike Dreese are currently competing in the Atlantic Cup. Following the Atlantic Cup, Ken and Mike will be competing in their second Bermuda 1-2 together. His involvement in the Class 40s has given him ample time for hands on experience with many of our brands such as Antal, Karver, and nke Marine Electronics which are commonly found on these boats. Ken will primarily focus on developing new business while also servicing existing accounts for Antal, Karver, and Reckmann which are Euro Marine’s primary hardware lines. Euro Marine Trading has been the trusted source for performance European marine equipment in North America for over 25 years. Please visit our website find out more about our products and services.  ...

The ongoing skiff/foiler science fair project that is Anarchist Thomas Jundt’s “Mirabaud LX” finally grows the wing that Tom’s been lusting after since BMW/Oracle unveiled theirs.  Jundt’swing is a bit agricultural at this early stage, but if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that there is more to come.  Photo from the excellent Juerg Kaufmann with a full gallery here, and find an iPhone video of the first wing sail here....

Mascalzone Latino has just pulled out of the America's Cup. Dear Friends and Supporters, It is with profound sadness that I announce the retirement of the Mascalzone Latino America's Cup. Since the beginning of our investiture as Challenger of Record, I worked on the project to host the Cup in our country. Larry really loves Italy and was enthusiastic about the idea. The Cup in Italy was the largest worldwide promotion for our beautiful coastline. There were meetings at the highest level that seemed to believe the dream, then things went differently. Challenger of Record as we worked with humility alongside Oracle Racing and I am satisfied with the outcome: a new pair, spectacular, with boats, catamarans, which will launch on the international scene a new generation of sailors. By Russell we discussed at length on the most difficult challenges that the next Cup will face: a depressed economy and the international scene so great difficulties in finding sponsors. This is the only true, real enemy of the next Cup. Thus was born the idea of ​​class AC45, a concrete way to bring several teams to the event cost at least in the delicate phase of the start-up. As for us, I must thank the two sponsors of Italians who have placed their trust. We are unable to reach a budget that allows us to be competitive. In our sports men in blazers have now surpassed those in waxed paper, I remain a man in a waxed and when I go into the sea I want to win. A challenge lost cause I do not care, I would be lying to sponsors, our fans and also to myself. I thank the friends of the Nautical Club of Rome. I am sure that together we will have exciting new adventures. The Sailing Mascalzone Latino, however, does not end...

Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström's boat budget just got a lot bigger.  The owner of the hot 72 footer and the newTP52 “Ran just cashed out of his most successful venture to date with the sale of Skype to Microsoft for a cool 8.5 Billion USD.  The slick part is that this is now the second time Zennstrom’s selling Skype – he sold it to eBay a few years back for 2.1 Billion, bought it back, and now is cashing out again.  Not bad Mr. Z – and thanks for a great service that sailors all over the world depend on to send porn links to all their friends!  Will Microsoft screw up yet another great service?  Tell us what you think here....

Oh that's a no brainer, right? Or is it? You tell us....

We’re pretty sure 2011 will see the first Melges 24 World Championship Notice Board that reminds people to leave their unlicensed guns in the car. While On-The-Water Anarchy will be busy with the Velux 5 Oceans Race re-start in Charleston, we’ll be bringing you plenty of action from Corpus Christi, courtesy of some of our many friends racing Worlds and the GoPros aboard with our friends on Air Force One.  Here’s a fun little ‘trailer’ for Worlds – edited and shot by a ten-year old future SCOTW.  Go here for the full lineup at Worlds and stay tuned for some more news (including whether Chip and Greg at CCYC can get the live streaming thing happening before racing begins).  ...

The Sloop Tavern Yacht Club has a 30+ year of getting like-minded drinkers sailors together to make racing better without regard for politics or egos, and they’re doing it again – this time, with a Puget Sound version of San Francisco’s super-successful Three Bridge Fiasco this weekend.  Here’s the scoop from ‘Ballard Sailor’ – check the thread for more info and go sign up! Introducing, everyone, the "Three Buoy Fiasco". Commodore Tim Morgenroth has orchestrated his enthusiastic board at STYC into re-inventing the Three Bridge Fiasco into a PNW format that will be fun, challenging and unique - but most importantly encourage participation from other yacht clubs from both the East and West sides of Puget Sound. Through the help and guidance of Commodore Pat Mitchell, of Port Madison Yacht Club, and with the enthusiastic permission of the Singlehanded Sailing Society of San Francisco Bay, the "Fiasco" is coming North to Puget Sound. So what the heck will this Fiasco be you ask? Let me tell you . . . A "Fiasco" style race incorporates multiple marks that can be rounded in any direction in any order (and you can start and finish in any direction as well). Marks may be in areas where anchoring is needed to wait for a puff or where you simply abandon your attempt at a mark and come back later (one might even have a barge attached). This will be a pursuit style race with the slower rated boats starting first which helps in clearing the starting area for boats of different design and ability. The starting area will be off the North end of the Shilshole Bay marina at the "N" mark (the Tug boat buoy). Racers will be allowed to start in either direction. The course marks will be West Point Buoy, Halvorsen's Tug...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3TlLCm7V8g&feature=player_embedded We missed it by a day, but that’s probably appropriate, considering… So join us to wish Bob Marley’s ghost a happy birthday (yesterday).  Last week we told you why every real sailor should throw their Buffet music over the side – for those same reasons and more, Bob Marley deserves a puff for the memories. He may not have been a sailboat racer or a long distance cruiser, but his words have probably accompanied more sailors for more hours than any other musician.  Sailing Anarchy hereby salutes the Iron Lion of Zion, with thanks to Tranquilo for the heads up.  Comment here.  ...