February 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21. U. S. N N Continued from Page 9.


and control, including beyond the interna- tional dateline which previously divided operational areas of responsibility for 3rd and 7th Fleets. Third Fleet operating forward off ers additional options to the Pacifi c Fleet commander by leveraging the capabilities of 3rd and 7th Fleets. This operational concept allows both numbered fl eets to complement one another and provide the foundation of stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacifi c region. “Our forward presence contributes to


freedom of navigation and lawful use of the sea, as well as furthers operational training and enabling the exchange of culture, skills, and tactical knowledge,” said Rear Adm. James W. Kilby, commander, CSG 1. The Carl Vinson CSG will report to U.S.


3rd Fleet, headquartered in San Diego, while deployed in the western Pacifi c as part of the U.S. Pacifi c Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of 3rd Fleet into the region. Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson


(CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, and embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 1 deployed from San Diego, Jan. 5 with Ti- conderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). The Carl Vinson CSG deployed with


approximately 7,500 Sailors and will focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. The strike group assets will conduct bilateral exercises in the Indo-Asia-Pacifi c region to include anti-submarine warfare, maneuvering drills, gunnery exercises, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) subject matter expert


Continued from Page 20.


are within 800 nm of Cape Horn, but that still seems very far away.” 15 January (Day 71): There was a mas-


sive storm at Cape Horn and those getting ready to round were not going to have an easy time of it. One of the biggest problems will be the seas that funnel through Drake Passage. Their other was wind speeds over 35 knots. There were four sailors right in the middle of this storm, those in positions 11 to 14: Fabrice Amedeo (NEWREST-MAT- MUT), Arnaud Boissières (LA MIE CÂLINE), Alan Roura (LA FABRIQUE) and Rich Wilson (GREAT AMERICAN IV). Rich said, “We rocketed through the night in a manner that is not at all my style. Yet there seemed an opening to get to Cape Horn if we went very fast and the wind gave us the chance, so we did. It was shocking and noisy and bouncy and noisy and big seas and the boat ricocheting and noisy and fast, fast, fast. And yet, when all was said and done, our little boat icon on the position reports showed 14.9 knots. So for the leaders of this race, who routinely would have little boat icons showing 19 knots, or 21 knots, what must that be like on board other than petrifying. It’s the one aspect of this I do not understand: how can those sailors tolerate that stress? When we do a tack gybe, the fi rst part is to roll up the fractional gennaker. This is a long, hard, grind on the pedestal winch at high speed, or as fast as you can muster. For me, my asthma becomes prob- lematic, not that I have an asthma attack or an anaphylactic episode, but just the fatigue of breathing at a level of 70-80%, when I clearly need 100%. These boats are monsters to manoeuvre singlehanded. Maybe if the storm delays a little bit it will be better. But hope has little role at sea. We await the next weather report forecast and will continue


exchanges.


Future USS Sioux City to be Commis- sioned in Annapolis, Maryland


From Secretary of the Navy Public Aff airs


WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus today announced that the city of Annapolis, Maryland, will serve as the commissioning site for the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11). Sioux City, a Freedom variant of the


LCS class, was named to honor the patri- otic, hard-working citizens of Sioux City and the state of Iowa for their support of, and contributions to, the military. Sioux City was termed an All-American City by the National Civic League because of the balance it struck between community and industry.


No date has been set for the ceremony,


but the ship is expected to be commissioned later this year. Mary Winnefeld, spouse of retired


Adm. James “Sandy” Winnefeld, serves as the ship’s sponsor. Sponsoring the Sioux City is a continuation of Winnefeld’s com- mitment to public service. She has volun- teered for multiple organizations, many of which support military families, including the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and the Cohen Veterans Network. Littoral combat ships are fast, agile, focused-mission platforms designed for suc- cessful operations in near-shore and open- ocean environments. They are designed to defeat threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft. Sioux City will be outfi tted with recon-


making our plans.” As for the leaders Le Cléac’h picked


up better wind and was now just 1300 miles from the fi nish. However, Thomson was back just 95 miles. 16 January (Day 72): The fi rst of the


four near Cape Horn in a severe low was Fabrice Amedeo. He was followed round by Arnaud Boissières four hours later. Wilson has 150 more miles to reach the Horn. The gap between Le Cléac’h and Thom-


son was still shrinking and now was just 71 miles. Both were also in great conditions and Thomson logged 527.7 miles in the last 24 hours nearly breaking the record. Later came the announcement that Thomson had broken the 24 hour distance record with a distance of 536.8 miles with an average speed of 22.4 knots. The previous record was 534.48 held by Gabart in the last Vendee Globe and before that Thomson held the record with a distance of 468.72 miles. During the same period Le Cléac’h had sailed 515 miles. Both will be sailing northwest to avoid an anti-cyclone. 17 January (Day 73): Today the


youngest (Alan Roura ) and the oldest (Rich Wilson) skippers in the race rounded Cape Horn. Time is running out for Thomson as


he is still 69 miles back of race leader Le Cléac’h with just 500 miles to go. Thomson may also have a problem with his steering as he fi nds it has more play than it should. Another issue is the anti-cyclone blocking a direct route to the fi nish and thus the two leaders are sailing further north to skirt the weather issue. 18 January (Day 74): The distance


between fi rst and second is now just 40 miles and without a miracle the win belongs to Le Cléac’h, who lost the last Vendee Globe by three hours. Thomson also revealed that he has an issue with wind instruments, which


fi gurable payloads, called mission packages, which can be changed out quickly as combat needs demand. These mission packages are supported by special detachments that will deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors in support of mine, undersea and surface warfare missions. Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis.


built Sioux City, which is 378 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 57 feet, displaces approximately 3,000 tons, and will operate at speeds in excess of 40 knots.


Acting SECNAV, Other Navy Leaders Announced Following Presidential Inau- guration


From Navy Offi ce of Information


WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Honorable Sean J. Stackley assumed the responsibili- ties of acting secretary of the Navy Jan. 20 at noon.


Stackley, who served as the assistant


secretary of the Navy (Research, Develop- ment and Acquisition) for more than eight years, will carry out the day-to-day responsi- bilities of the secretary of the Navy until the incoming Trump administration nominates, and Congress confi rms, a replacement for Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. The Honorable Thomas W. Hicks,


deputy undersecretary of the Navy (Man- agement), will also perform the duties of under secretary of the Navy until a replace- ment for the Honorable Janine Davidson is nominated and confi rmed. The Honorable Allison F. Stiller will


perform the duties of assistant secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). She previously served as principal civilian deputy assistant secretary


Le Cleach Wins Vendee Globe


means the auto-pilots are not working cor- rectly. This means that Thomson has been steering the boat for two days without sleep. His attention was not on the fi nish but getting these instruments back up and running. 19 January (Day 75): Today will be the


day for Le Cléac’h as he neared the fi nish line with Thomson back 87 miles. At 1537 UTC is dream and all the hard work paid off as he crossed the fi nish with a record break- ing time of 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds. The previous record set by Gabart was 78 days, 2 hours, 16 minutes in the last Vendee Globe. His average speed for the 27,455 miles was 15.43 knots and hit speeds over 30 knots. His best run was 524.11 miles. 20 January (Day 76): Thomson cross-


es the fi nish line at 0737 UTC with a time of 74 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds, just shy of 16 hours behind Le Cléac’h. He covered 27,636 miles with an average speed of 15.39 knots. Thomson’s record for the Vendee Globe is retired from both the 2004-05 and 2008-09 races; and third in the last running. What is more impressive is that he lost his port foil two weeks into the race and that meant he lost speed. It is amazing that he was even in this year’s race when HUGO BOSS was dis- masted off of Spain while competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre double-handed race across the Atlantic. Both he and his partner, Guillermo Altadill were air lifted off and the boat was salvaged and towed to Spain. She was badly damaged, but his crew did the amazing and had her ready for the start of the Vendee Globe on 6 November. Thomson has also hinted he will be back for the next Vendee Globe. Beyou looks to be the next fi nisher, but


he has been sailing without weather infor- mation.


Jean-Pierre Dick is not having a good


run up the South Atlantic Ocean and has dropped from fourth to sixth. He has taken a more westerly route, but could still regain the lost positions. 21 January (Day 77): Sixteen racers


are still out there and 14 are back in the Atlantic Ocean heading for the fi nish. Beyou was now just 300 miles from the


fi nish. The next three, Jean-Pierre Dick, Jean Le Cam and Yann Eliès, are within 80 miles of each other. 22 January (Day 78): Beyou was still


head for the fi nish albeit very slowly.He is 250 miles northeast of the Azores and his boat speed has been as slow as a knot an hour. He should be fi nished 23 January. The three behind should be fi nishing mid-week.


of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). The Honorable Scott W. Lutterloh will


serve as acting assistant secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Aff airs). He previously served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Aff airs). The Honorable Joseph B. Marshall will


serve as the acting assistant secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptrol- ler). He previously served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Fi- nancial Management & Comptroller). The Honorable Steven R. Iselin will


serve as acting assistant secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environ- ment). He previously served as principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (En- ergy, Installations and Environment). The Honorable Anne M. Brennan will


serve as acting general counsel of the Navy. She previously served as the principal dep- uty general counsel, Offi ce of the General Counsel.


WANTED


MARITIME BOOKS, MAGAZINES, DOCUMENTS POSTCARDS and


PHOTOGRAPHS International


Maritime Library P.O. Box 710


Winterport, Maine 04496 (207) 223-8846


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31