sailing a butterfly sailboat

How Do You Sail a Butterfly?

Have you ever wondered how to sail a butterfly? Sailing a butterfly is an exhilarating experience that combines the beauty of sailing with the agility of a small boat. In this article, we will explore the step-by-step process of sailing a butterfly and provide some tips to help you make the most out of your sailing adventure.

Preparing for the Sail

Before setting sail, it is important to ensure that your butterfly is in good condition. Check the hull for any cracks or damage and make any necessary repairs. Additionally, inspect the mast, boom, and rigging to ensure they are secure and functioning properly.

Once your butterfly is ready, it’s time to gear up. Put on a life jacket and grab all essential equipment such as a tiller extension, sails, lines, and a paddle. It is always better to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Launching the Butterfly

The next step is to launch your butterfly into the water. Make sure you choose an appropriate location with enough space to maneuver. To launch, follow these steps:

• Attach the rudder by inserting it into its housing at the stern of the boat.
• Connect the tiller extension to the rudder’s control arm.
• Raise the sails by attaching them securely to their respective mast and boom.
• Lower your centerboard or daggerboard depending on your boat’s design.
• Carefully push your butterfly into the water while ensuring that it remains stable.

You are now ready to embark on your sailing adventure!

Sailing Techniques

Sailing a butterfly requires some basic knowledge of sailing techniques. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Trimming the Sails

Properly trimming the sails is crucial for efficient sailing. Use the sail controls to adjust the shape and tension of the sails in response to wind conditions. Experiment with different settings to find the optimal balance between speed and stability.

Steering a butterfly involves using the tiller extension to control the direction of the boat. Keep in mind that small adjustments can have a significant impact on your course, so it’s important to maintain focus and make subtle movements when needed.

Safety Tips

While sailing is a thrilling experience, safety should always be a top priority. Here are some essential safety tips:

• Always wear a life jacket while on the water.
• Stay aware of your surroundings and watch out for other boats or obstacles.
• Check weather conditions before heading out and be prepared for changes.
• If you’re new to sailing, consider taking lessons or sailing with an experienced sailor.
• Inform someone on land about your sailing plans and estimated return time.

Sailing a butterfly can be an incredible adventure that allows you to connect with nature and enjoy the thrill of being on the water. By following these steps, practicing good seamanship, and prioritizing safety, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of sailing a butterfly!

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• Sailboat Guide

Butterfly is a 12 ′ 2 ″ / 3.7 m monohull sailboat designed by John Barnett and built by Windward Boatworks and Barnett Boats starting in 1961.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Northern Lake Sailboats

Specializing in the butterfly, northern lake sailboats - home of the butterfly sailboat. parts old style small lake racing one design, welcome, and thank you for visiting.**notice**.

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You have come to the source for Butterfly sailboats, Butterfly sailboat parts and information. Why? Jim has over 40 years of close association with the boat, the class, and the builders - not to mention his 12 National titles! This is the place to begin - and end- your search for anything you want, or want to know, about the Butterfly.

Looking for Parts, Sails, Accessories? click here!

Designed over 40 years ago as a mini-scow ("scow" refers to the shape of the hull), it has, like the other, larger scows, withstood the test of time and is still one of the very best small 1 to 2-person boats available. More comfortable to sail, with fewer specialized parts and pieces, and easy to sail, have made it one of the great simple designs of all time.

With plenty of room for 2, its a great kids boat to learn on and to develope skills to advanced levels - or to just have fun on the lake. For adults, it is easy to get comfortable in - one of the major problems with most boat this size - thanks to the deeper and roomier cockpit so you don't have to sail with you knees under you jaw. Iit is easy enough to sail that learning takes place fast.

And if racing is the goal, this boat shares with the other bigger scows the tradition of women sailing equally with men, but adds on it by making it possible for kids to sail equally with adults - all because there are no gimmicks or gadgets or special skills beyond simply being able to sail well.

With close to 11,000 built, this boat has succeeded in the marketplace by being a success on the water.

Its the ideal, simple, one-person recreational racing boat, or two-kid youth play, learn, or race boat.

C ontact us for availability and current pricing.

You might want to check out our Gear-->Dollies page.

We also offer Jim's own tiller extension , the right length, and with the right swivel connector that doesn't flip the extension away from you if you happen to let go. It is $60, you can find it on the Butterfly-->Parts page, which lists the Butterfly parts we normally stock.

All Ages Welcome! The ONLY small boat suitable for two kids or for single-handing by adults.

Barnett Marines Sports Inc

Builder and Supplier of small-sailboat parts and accessories

Butterfly parts page The table below lists parts we normally build/stock and have available. We do stock virtually all of the necessary stainless steel screws, rivets, machine screws and nuts, contact us if you are unable to obtain these locally. If you have questions about something that you need that you do not see here, please contact us. Items without stock status or price are available, contact us for current price.

Since the Pandemic, everything is affected, including deliveries at all levels, which means we may suddenly run out of stock on some items and prices may suddenly change. Also note that due to rapidly rising costs, we are no longer able to offer at wholesale prices any sails. Please consult your local sailmaker, or contact us for suggested reliable sources.

Older Butterflys with serial number 8011 and below (including all older boats with the serial number on the builder plate inside the cockpit) use the Old Style (OS) rudder system.

There are none of the original drain plugs (black rubber with brass flip tab) left anywhere. A new drain plug assembly (#27) must be installed on older boats needing drain plugs. Sorry, our supplier does not sell the new drain plugs alone, they are only available as the complete assembly; if you need just a plug, you will still have to buy the complete assembly.

*** notes on SAILS and COVERS; The prices on both have gone up substantially over 2019-20, and we can no longer afford to offer them as wholesale items. We do have a good source for both, and we did go through a complete sail redesign process in early 2020, resulting in both a new sailcloth itself, and a subtle redesign of the shape. Both the new covers, and the new (white only for now) sails are available directly from Jim Young Sailing or Northern Lakes Sailboats .

©Barnett Marine Sports Inc 2021

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2021 Butterfly Sailboat (BLUE) - $5,999

2021 Butterfly Sailboat white hull, Blue deck. This boat is a great boat for all skill levels. If you grew up on a sunfish, laser, or similar boat; then you’re going to fall in love with the butterfly. This boat is great for a summer cottage, camp, or if you are a racer, racing.

Custom colored boats are available but must be specially ordered. The sky is the limit. Our builder is very skilled and has been in the industry for many years.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hull design: Scow sealed hull/deck with additional internal flotation

Length: 12′ 2″ to extensions of rub rail; 11’11” LOA exclusive of rub rail

Hull depth : 15″

Hull weight: 135 lbs.

Crew capacity: 600 lbs.

Sail area: 75 sq. ft.

Mast length: 18′ Mast breaks into 2-9′ sections for travel/storage

Nominal Draft: 26″

Designer: John Barnett

Year First Built: 1961

Builder: Windward Boat Works 600 lbs.

Ready About Sailing

32 Venice Avenue

Celoron, New York 14720

Phone: (716) 664-3883

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The Best Places to Learn How to Sail, From the Greek Islands to the Florida Keys

By Hannah Towey

Sailing is one of the best ways to explore some of the most beautiful, untouched coastal destinations around the globe. But from the outside, learning how to sail might seem like an intimidating—and expensive—pursuit.

However, learning to sail isn’t as difficult as it might seem. And contrary to what some may believe, “sailing is for everyone,” Zeke Quezada, the Director of Communications at the American Sailing Association (ASA) tells Condé Nast Traveler.

“It is important to understand that anyone can sail, and it is really easy to learn,” Quezada says. “Sailing is not just for the affluent; head into a community sailing club at your local marina, and you'll have options to get out on the water for little to no cost.”

While mastering the art of sailing takes consistent practice, hopeful captains looking for a crash-course to jumpstart their journey may consider a sailing vacation . These educational charters allow you to fully immerse yourself in the nautical lifestyle —and you can earn official certifications along the way. On these types of trips, “you have a qualified skipper on board who is offering instruction, as well as advice on how to become a safe and confident sailor,” Quezada explains. “The best part is that you can have your family onboard, and everyone is having a vacation while you check off the bucket list item of learning to sail.”

When planning your first sailing trip , look for trips and schools that offer credentialed schools and instructors; organizations such as ASA, US Sailing, and the Royal Yacht Association are internationally recognized. By following these certification tracks, you can become licensed to sail a charter without a captain on board, also known as a “bareboat charter.” Though not required in some places, a bareboat certification makes it much easier (and safer) to rent your own boat .

No matter which route you take, sailing is a lifelong skill that will open doors to a community of people passionate about getting out on the water and protecting the oceans. “Most importantly, you will learn how to sit back, turn off the phone, and feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face,” says Quezada. “You might start listening to Jimmy Buffet as well.”

Below, we’ve rounded up the best places around the world for learning how to sail—including destinations in North America , Europe , Asia , and Australia —plus, the sailing courses and trips to book in 2024.

The Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands are some of the best training grounds for novice sailors “because of their line-of-sight sailing, predictable wind, and sailor-friendly destinations,” Quezada says. “In the BVI, you can learn to sail and have a beach vacation simultaneously.”

If you’re looking to get your bareboat license, there are several ASA-certified sailing schools in the BVI and US Virgin Islands. Offshore Sailing School , one of the world's preeminent sailing institutions, offers fast track courses for all levels of sailing. Alternatively, charter a captained catamaran, one of the most popular ways to explore the Caribbean.

Florida Keys

Warm temperatures, calm turquoise waters, and consistent easterly winds make the Florida Keys one of the best places to learn to sail in the US. Stay at the Key Lime Sailing Club and cottages resort on Buttonwood Sound in Key Largo and take lessons at the American Sailing Academy , located onsite.

Alternatively, outdoor education organization Outward Bound, which offers program scholarships, is hosting a Florida Keys sailing excursion for adults in March/April 2025. Participants will live on a 30-foot open sailboat for slightly over a week learning beginner, intermediate, and advanced skills in chart and compass navigation, small boat seamanship, weather observation, and anchoring.

Greek Islands

With its calm, clear waters and warm Mediterranean climate, the Ionian sea offers ideal conditions for beginner sailors. Quezada recommends sailing down the western coast of Greece and the island of Corfu, where Fairwinds Sailing School offers “learn to sail” vacations from April to October. For a route closer to Athens, join a flotilla and hop between the Argo-Saronic Islands in the Aegean Sea, but be aware that the Meltemi winds, which are especially strong during July and August, can make for trickier sailing conditions in this region.

Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Sail through crystal clear waters between a whopping 971 uninhabited islands in the Sea of Cortez, located between the Baja peninsula and mainland Mexico. Nautilus Sailing offers liveaboard courses on catamaran and monohull ships for sailors looking to earn their ASA 101, 103, 104, and 114 certifications from January–June and October–December. The curriculum covers sailboat terminology, engine operation, docking procedures, sail trimming, navigation rules, anchoring, weather, and maritime safety, among other skills. Plus, expect to encounter some stunning marine life, including sea turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, and humpback whales.

Jamie Spain

Ashlea Halpern

Kaitlyn McInnis

Sarah James

New England

There’s no better way to experience a quintessential New England summer than by sailboat. The sailing season in the Northeast runs from April to October, with ASA and US Sailing accredited schools located in major metropolitans like New York City and Boston as well as coastal enclaves like Newport and Cape Cod .

For adults seeking a basic introduction to the sport, US Sailing offers “first sail” lessons in dozens of locations up and down the Eastern seaboard. Pull on a striped sweater, pack a bottle of rosé, and you’re good to go!

Croatia’s Adriatic Coast is home to a vibrant sailing community with picture-perfect weather conditions. Beginner sailors will appreciate the gentle winds of Dubrovnik, the Split Islands, and Kornati National Park , whose sheltered coves and bays supply calm and predictable winds. Enjoy incredible natural wonders only accessible by boat, like the famous Blue Cave.

Student sailors can earn beginner, intermediate, and advanced ASA certifications aboard 8-day learn to sail vacations in July, August, and September 2024. Hosted by American Sailing partner Sailing Virgins, the catamaran and monohull ships—each a minimum of 40 feet with 3-5 cabins—visit the Croatian islands of Brac, Korčula, Šćedro, Komiža, Vis, and Hvar.

Gulf of Thailand

The Gulf of Thailand offers lovely year-round sailing conditions, making it an accessible and exciting destination for both beginner and advanced sailors. Most sailing schools and marinas in Thailand are based in Pattaya. Island Spirit Sailing Schoo l offers an eleven-day “zero to hero” course that combines crew and skipper training, including land-based and overnight sea lessons.

Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Located in Northeast Australia, the Whitsunday Islands are a year-round sailing mecca and idyllic gateway to the Great Barrier Reef . Brisk southeast trade winds blow throughout the winter season, attracting sailors from across the country to annual sailing races hosted on Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach. For beginner sailors, Mainstay Sailing offers introductory courses certified by the internationally-recognized Royal Yacht Association out of the Coral Sea Marina.

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No joke pete davidson’s big bucks party boat plan still afloat: report.

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Saturday Night Live buds Pete Davidson and Colin Jost are working with a high-powered architect to keep afloat their dream of transforming a decommissioned Staten Island ferry into an entertainment destination, according to a report.

Just when it seems the nearly 60-year-old John F. Kennedy ferry, which the pair bought two years ago for more than $280,000, was going to be left to rot, Curbed reported Davidson and Jost have hired Ron Castellano to help rehabilitate the vessel.

“It’s going to have a lot of things. I think right now, we have six bars and two venues, operated separately or combined. We have outdoor event space, we have two restaurants”— in addition to 24 hotel rooms, said Castellano, who developed the Garfield at 142 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights and the Nine Orchard Hotel, which occupies a former bank off Canal Street.

The big bucks venture for a floating nightclub appeared to have turned into an unfunny eyesore with pieces falling off it just last month, The Post reported.

The JFK Ferry is listed on the website for Castellano’s firm, Studio Castellano, as a project he’s working on for “JFK Partners.”

There is no mention of Davidson or Jost.

The project has a budget of $34 million and a floor plan of 65,000 square feet, according to the website.

The venue’s aesthetics will harken back to 1965, when the vessel was built, Castellano told Curbed.

The architect shared he, Davidson, Jost, and their partner, comedy club owner Paul Italia, regularly meet to discuss the ferry.

“They [Davidson and Jost] have input. They see everything,” said Castellano.

A brief video shown on the website last month revealed his renderings for each floor: a top deck furnished with patio tables set with umbrellas, another floor with two rows of hotel rooms that open onto sundecks, and a lower level with two clubs, the outlet reported.

The plan is for the boat to go between Miami and New York City, Castellano said.

Castellano, Davidson and Jost did not immediately return messages Saturday.

When the ship  was auctioned off  in Jan. 2022, it was listed in “poor condition” because of mechanical issues, but the hull was in good shape.

The ferry used to commute up to 5,200 passengers daily before it was taken off duty in 2021.   

Davidson, 30,  warned last year  on Seth Meyers’ “Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers” podcast the overhaul of the boat could take about five years.

He said the plan is to completely gut the inside, which had bench style-seating.

The outside is intended to remain as true to its current form as possible, “The King of Staten Island” actor also said.

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Dozens of Rohingya rescued from hull of capsized boat off Indonesia

Dozens of Rohingya were rescued Thursday after spending the night on the overturned hull of a capsized boat off the Indonesian coast, according to media reports, as an international charity expressed alarm about the numbers of unaccompanied Rohingya minors making the perilous voyage.

The refugees, part of Myanmar’s persecuted Muslim minority, were part of the increasing numbers fleeing — for the most part, from overcrowded camps in Bangladesh — to seek a new life elsewhere in the region.

A search-and-rescue ship set off from Banda Aceh in northern Indonesia on Wednesday evening, hours after the wooden boat capsized, and rescued 59 men, women and children around midday Thursday, according to the Associated Press . Ten other people were rescued by fishing boats, it added.

It is unclear how many people were originally on board the vessel, though six of the survivors rescued by fishermen estimated the number to be between 60 and 100.

Almost 4,500 Rohingya embarked on dangerous journeys by sea last year in hopes of reaching other countries in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency’s figures from January. Of them, 569 were reported dead or missing, the highest number since 2014.

In 2017, Myanmar’s military launched a deadly crackdown on the long-persecuted and stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, killing about 10,000 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee into neighboring Bangladesh, in what the U.N. human rights chief at the time described as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

But for many Rohingya, the crisis is far from over.

According to the U.N. refugee agency figures , almost 1 million Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh — more than half of them children. In the camps, violence has increased as Rohingya militant groups have turned on each other, The Washington Post reported last year.

About 600,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, “where they continue to suffer severe rights restrictions and the threat of further violence,” Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said last year. In February, Human Rights Watch warned that renewed fighting in Rakhine had caused civilian casualties and forced 100,000 people — many of them already displaced — to flee their homes.

On Thursday, Save the Children reported a “worrying increase” in the number of unaccompanied Rohingya children arriving in Indonesia. The organization analyzed figures from the U.N. refugee agency and found that about 250 unaccompanied children arrived in Indonesia in the last three months of 2023 — an increase of 78 percent compared with the rest of the year.

Sultana Begum, Save the Children’s Asia regional head of humanitarian policy, said in a telephone interview Thursday that deteriorating conditions inside the refugee camps in Bangladesh have forced many to consider the dangerous journeys.

Rohingya living in the camps have little freedom of movement, lack access to formal education and face increased hunger and malnutrition following cuts to food rations, she said, while violence and insecurity are also growing.

“People are really desperate. They’ve resorted to marrying off girls in high numbers [and] sending out boys to work,” Begum said. “Getting on the boats is really a last resort for them in order to try and get to somewhere where they think they may have a better life.”

Although Indonesia is not a signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention, it has so far allowed the boats to land. But most countries in the region do not accept Rohingya as refugees, and some have pushed boats back, she added.

Butterfly Sails Color Options

4 SAIL COLOR OPTIONS

White Blue Chip Fiesta Rainbow

COLOR CHART FOR CUSTOM SAILS

These are the cloth colors which are available for sails. Custom color sails maybe purchased for your Butterfly for an additional fee above the cost of our stock sail price. Your sails may have up to three different colors as well.

Telephone: 608.575.8033 W5302 Bend Road, Princeton, Wi 54968

[email protected]

Watch NASA unfurl basketball-court-sized solar sail for deep space propulsion (video)

"We've met our goal and demonstrated that we're ready to be flown."

NASA has reached a significant technological milestone with progress on an experimental form of spacecraft propulsion which utilizes solar radiation.

The space agency successfully deployed one of four identical quadrants of a huge solar sail at Redwire Space's facility in Longmont, Colorado on Jan. 30. The demonstration was a big step towards some day using the technology in space and, farther in the future, utilizing the concept for deep space transportation.

"This was a major last step on the ground before it's ready to be proposed for space missions," NASA technologist Les Johnson said in a statement . "What's next is for scientists to propose the use of solar sails in their missions. We've met our goal and demonstrated that we're ready to be flown."

Related: Solar-sailing probes may soon get their moment in the sun

In the same way a sailboat uses the wind to propel itself, the solar sail harnesses and reflects sunlight to generate propulsion. Particles of light, known as photons, have no mass, yet when they bounce off of a reflective surface such as the foil-like material of a solar sail, they impart some of their momentum onto it. In the vacuum of space, and with enough photons, a large amount of energy can be transferred to a solar sail over time. 

When used within a solar system in which solar radiation is abundant, a solar sail can continue absorbing this momentum to accelerate as long as light reflects off of it. This means craft propelled by solar sails can reach very high speeds, much faster than a chemical rocket — at least in theory. 

The major advantages of solar sails are that they do not require fuel and are very light. This makes the technology suitable for low-mass missions in novel orbits. These include orbits for studying space weather and its effects on the Earth, or for advanced studies of the north and south poles of the sun, according to NASA.

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The sail will measure 17,780 square feet (1652 sq. meters) when fully deployed. It is made of a polymer material coated with aluminum with a thickness of 2.5 microns, or less than the width of a human hair.

Solar sails have gathered momentum in recent years. The first solar sail to successfully fly was the Japanese Space Exploration Agency's Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun ( IKAROS ) spacecraft in 2010. Later missions have included NASA's NanoSail-D and the Planetary Society's Lightsail 1 and Lightsail 2 missions.

The tech could soon be propelling low-cost, long-duration space missions and even help accelerate missions beyond the solar system . NASA's Johnson added that lasers could even be used to accelerate the solar sails to high speeds.

"In the future, we might place big lasers in space that shine their beams on the sails as they depart the solar system, accelerating them to higher and higher speeds, until eventually they are going fast enough to reach another star in a reasonable amount of time," Johnson said in the statement.

—  What Is a Solar Sail?

 — Researchers unlock the keys to designing an interstellar sail

— LightSail 2 spacecraft ends its solar-sailing mission in a blaze of glory

NASA's Science Mission Directorate funded Redwire's solar sail technology to reach a new technology readiness level, or TRL 6, which means it's ready for proposals to be flown on space missions. The 1-9 TRL scale represents the stage of development of a technology, with TRL 9 meaning the system has proven through successful mission operations and is considered fully mature and operational.

The project is led by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Prime contractor Redwire developed the deployment mechanisms and booms, with subcontractor NeXolve of Huntsville providing the sail membrane. Marshall developed the algorithms for controlling and navigating with the sail when it flies in space.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Andrew is a freelance space journalist with a focus on reporting on China's rapidly growing space sector. He began writing for Space.com in 2019 and writes for SpaceNews, IEEE Spectrum, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, New Scientist and others. Andrew first caught the space bug when, as a youngster, he saw Voyager images of other worlds in our solar system for the first time. Away from space, Andrew enjoys trail running in the forests of Finland. You can follow him on Twitter  @AJ_FI .

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• Cisventure Astronot I can't wait for a spacecraft to pull an Opportunity, and operate long after its initial mission. Let's just hope it doesn't also pull an OSIRIS-APEX, and rename itself every time it gets a new objective. Reply
• Atlan0001 Probably not, but I wonder if the UFO disks we keep seeing pictures of house titanic (for the size of the disks) unfolding and folding cosmic energy sails to power drives of constant acceleration/decelerations in the space of the universe? Even balloon-shaped surface sails ("surround-sound" and then superconduct energy, so to speak) if not strictly sun facing energy sails? Whatever? Reply
• iMaxPlanck Increasing speed of space travel, okay, but "reach another star in a reasonable amount of time"? Like hundreds or thousands of years reasonable? Reply

iMaxPlanck said: Increasing speed of space travel, okay, but "reach another star in a reasonable amount of time"? Like hundreds or thousands of years reasonable?

Atlan0001 said: ...cosmic energy sails to power drives of constant acceleration/decelerations in the space of the universe?

• Classical Motion I hate to be so contrary but I don't think a solar sail will work. Yes they can put one up there and measure some momentum and gain some acceleration. But the power source for this device decreases at an inverse square rate with distance. Not practical for any outward travel. Imagine the size of the sail needed at Neptune to have the same momentum we would get here. Light is not a free ride. It fades too quickly. I was under the impression that cosmic rays were more or less omni-directional. Or at least what net direction it had would be sparse. Much less than the stated number. And from what I've heard what directional flux there is temporary. The net cosmic flux could be like the wind. One would need to detect the cosmic flow currents for navigation. The solar wind might work if we could harvest it's momentum. The depictions of it show a net stream of it that might be tacked. This flux also has some dispersion to it, but unlike light, this flux is accelerating. The flux is sparse at Neptune but has much higher velocity. With an efficient harvesting method or converter or collector...this would help counter the inverse square loss for a more practical form of solar travel. But it's in the future. For future tech. Understanding why the solar wind accelerates for so long might really help space travel. It's so anti-gravity. Reply
• billslugg Yes, solar sails are possible but there are lots of problems. In order to get a good enough push from the Sun, one must start very close to it. And, yes, galacitc cosmic rays are omnidirectional, they would need to be absorbed, converted into another form of energy, aimed out the back. Solar cosmic rays come from one direction, but why use them when you have sunlight? Reply

billslugg said: Yes, solar sails are possible but there are lots of problems. In order to get a good enough push from the Sun, one must start very close to it. And, yes, galacitc cosmic rays are omnidirectional, they would need to be absorbed, converted into another form of energy, aimed out the back. Solar cosmic rays come from one direction, but why use them when you have sunlight?

• billslugg Well, first off, solar cosmic rays produce a power output about 10^-10 that of sunlight, and the intensity falls off by the inverse square just like sunlight does. However, at some point far from the Sun, sunlight power would fall below that of interstellar cosmic rays. I don't know how far that might be. Reply
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Dozens of Rohingya Muslim refugees rescued in Indonesia after night on capsized boat

An Indonesian search and rescue ship on Thursday located a capsized wooden boat that had been carrying dozens of Rohingya Muslim refugees and began pulling survivors who had been standing on its hull to safety.

An AP photographer aboard the rescue ship said 10 people had been taken aboard local fishing boats, and the Indonesian craft was saving another 59.

Men, women and children, weak and soaked from the night’s rain, wept as the rescue operation got underway, and people were taken aboard a rubber dinghy to the rescue boat.

It was unclear how many refugees were aboard the small craft when it capsized off Indonesia’s northernmost coast on Wednesday, with six survivors initially rescued by local fishermen estimated between 60 and 100 people.

It was unclear whether all managed to cling to the capsized craft overnight or whether some had drowned.

Indonesia’s search and rescue team only left Banda Aceh city in the evening on Wednesday, many hours after the boat capsized.

They initially had difficulty locating the boat in the choppy waters off the coast.

It finally found the boat and the survivors about midday on Thursday.

Amiruddin, a tribal fishing community leader in Aceh Barat district, said those rescued indicated that the boat was sailing east when it started leaking.

Then, strong currents pushed it toward the west of Aceh. The six said others were still trying to survive on the capsized craft.

About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh to escape the brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces in their homeland of Myanmar .

Thousands have been trying to flee overcrowded camps in Bangladesh to neighboring countries, with Indonesia seeing a spike in refugee numbers since November, which prompted it to call on the international community for help.

Rohingya arriving in Aceh face some hostility from some fellow Muslims.

Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention outlining their legal protections, and so is not obligated to accept them. However, they have so far provided temporary shelter to refugees in distress.

Last year, nearly 4,500 Rohingya — two-thirds of them women and children — fled their homeland of Myanmar and the refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh by boat, the United Nations refugee agency reported.

Of those, 569 died or went missing while crossing the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, the highest death toll since 2014.

Returning safely to Myanmar is virtually impossible because the military that attacked them overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021.

No country has offered them any large-scale resettlement opportunities.

The Associated Press

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Weeping, weak and soaked, dozens of Rohingya refugees rescued after night on hull of capsized boat

M EULABOH, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian search and rescue ship on Thursday located a capsized wooden boat that had been carrying dozens of Rohingya Muslim refugees, and began pulling survivors who had been standing on its hull to safety.

An AP photographer aboard the rescue ship said 10 people had been taken aboard local fishing boats and another 59 were being saved by the Indonesian craft.

Men, women and children, weak and soaked from the night’s rain, wept as the rescue operation got underway and people were taken aboard a rubber dinghy to the rescue boat.

There were contradictory reports about whether anyone had died in the accident, with survivors saying many who had been aboard when the boat departed from Bangladesh were still unaccounted for, but authorities insisted everyone had been rescued.

“We have examined all 69 Rohingya that we rescued and from our examination, there was no information from them about any deaths," Fathur, a rescue officer who gave only one name, told reporters. "We managed to evacuate all 69 people and no one stated that anyone had died.”

With the addition of six Rohingya who were rescued by private fishing boats that were at the scene well before authorities launched the official rescue mission, a total of 75 people from the boat were saved.

But Samira, a 17-year-old who was among the refugees from the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh who had been traveling to Malaysia, said there had been 146 people on board, raising the prospect that 71 could still be missing at sea.

She said the boat began foundering three days ago and then capsized on Wednesday, adding that her nephew was among those unaccounted for.

“All of us are very sad," she said. “We are very hungry and weak.”

When fishing vessels reached the scene on Wednesday, desperate refugees clamored aboard one of the boats, overloading it and causing it to also capsize. It was not immediately clear what happened to the crew on board.

After being informed about the refugees in need of help by the fishermen Wednesday morning, an official search and rescue team set off from Banda Aceh city on Wednesday evening. They didn't reach the area of the accident until early in the morning and could not initially locate the capsized boat.

When they came upon it midday Thursday, they found the refugees on its hull, desperate for help.

They rescued 42 men, 18 women and nine children and took some to a temporary shelter in the Aceh Besar district and others to a local hospital for treatment.

Amiruddin, a tribal fishing community leader in Aceh Barat district, said those rescued indicated that the boat was sailing east when it started leaking and then strong currents pushed it toward the west of Aceh.

About 740,000 Rohingya fled earlier to Bangladesh to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces in their homeland of Myanmar.

Thousands have been trying to flee overcrowded camps in Bangladesh to neighboring countries, with Indonesia seeing a spike in refugee numbers since November which prompted it to call on the international community for help. Rohingya arriving in Aceh face some hostility from some fellow Muslims.

Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention outlining their legal protections, and so is not obligated to accept them. However, they have so far provided temporary shelter to refugees in distress.

Last year, nearly 4,500 Rohingya — two-thirds of them women and children — fled their homeland of Myanmar and the refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh by boat, the United Nations refugee agency reported. Of those, 569 died or went missing while crossing the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, the highest death toll since 2014.

Returning safely to Myanmar is virtually impossible because the military that attacked them overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021 . No country has offered them any large-scale resettlement opportunities.

Tarigan reported from Jakarta. AP journalist David Rising contributed to this story from Bangkok.