Contact

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Clipper Round the World Race: Sailing the South Atlantic

Image
Traversing the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean constitutes the second leg of the great Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, as competitors depart from South America. They now must find a way to blitz the rolling swells of the South Atlantic on their way to the Southern Ocean. Spinnakers are the most appropriate sails for this crossing, as participants face the Trade Winds and surf down the front of the swells. If done correctly, the boats can run at speeds well above 20 knots. However, yacht crew members must be fully aware that the race is more of a marathon than a sprint; taking great care of their kit is a must as any false turn can rip apart the sail and leave them lagging as they stitch for hours. Massive South Atlantic storms are common, too. Participants have to be alert of incoming weather reports as they follow the route that turns the boats east toward Africa. This navigation of the Southern Cross is nonetheless most welcome: a breathtaking, nature-communing segme...
Read more

How ordinary citizens can help in the war against terrorism

Image
According to counter-terrorism consultant James Feldkamp, one of the misconceptions people have about the war against terror is that it is a battle that only trained soldiers and law enforcement can fight. While there’s some truth to this, Feldkamp explains that ordinary citizens can do their part without having to join the military or law enforcement agencies. Image source: en.wikipedia.org Image source: youtube.com Take, for example, the FBI. The bureau itself has admitted in the past that it needs help from civilians who are willing to do their part in putting terrorists behind bars. And while their abilities are limited, ordinary citizens can still be very useful against terrorists. In this day and age, simple awareness and vigilance can go a long way. With the technology at everyone’s fingertips, taking and sending photographs, alerting the authorities, and doing research can be done at the drop of a hat from almost anywhere. That being said, James Feldkamp...
Read more

Strengthening littoral combat ships for the future

Image
Counterterrorism and global security expert James Feldkamp has cited the strengthening of littoral combat ships (LCSs) as one of the cornerstones of U.S. naval success in the next few years. He believes that with the proper research and purchasing, as well as efficient shipbuilding, the United States may be able to create more capable sea vessels at a lower cost. Image source: Wikipedia.com Image source: businessinsider.sg For starters, James mentions the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) as a good fit for any LCS. The guidance system of this 900-pound anti-ship projectile has been developed to give it an over-the-horizon capability with a range of 115 nautical miles. The guidance system is state-of-the-art with GPS inertial and terrain reference systems that are more advanced than the U.S.’s own GM-84 Harpoon. Equipped with the NSM, LCSs attacks would be much harder to prevent, as evidenced in war games. In the simulation, smaller ships were targets and enemie...
Read more