Stonington, Conn. – The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today the 2013-14 recipients of its college scholarship program, which supports the higher education goals of enlisted Coast Guard members’ children.

“We are pleased to announce that we had a record number of applicants this year and, more importantly, we proudly said ‘yes’ to every student who applied and met the qualifications,” said Anne Brengle, president, Coast Guard Foundation. “The Foundation’s commitment to education assistance has grown over the years, and is now one of our primary areas of support for Coast Guard members and their families.”

Over the last 20 years, the Coast Guard Foundation has helped family members of brave Coast Guard men and women achieve their dreams of higher education through its scholarship program. In total, the Foundation has given out more than $2.4 million and helped 249 Coast Guard children with their college costs.

For over 40 years, the Coast Guard Foundation has been committed to inspiring leadership, learning and a proud legacy of service to our nation by supporting the men of women of the United States Coast Guard. The Foundation provides higher education grants to enlisted members, reservists and their children, higher education financial support for families of Coast Guard members lost in the line of duty, financial relief to Coast Guard families who have lost possessions in natural disasters, and support for morale programs, including funding recreation, exercise and family-oriented facilities. For more information on the Coast Guard Foundation, its scholarship program and other support initiatives, or to learn how to support its work, please visit www.coastguardfoundation.org

Newport, R.I. – Newport Exhibition Group announced today that Sailing Heals is its Official Charitable Partner for the 43^rd Annual Newport International Boat Show. A non-profit organization, Sailing Heals is dedicated to providing patients and their caregivers with a delightful day of sailing and boating respite. As the show’s charitable partner, Sailing Heals will receive a portion of Sunday’s ticket sales, complimentary exhibit space at the event and the opportunity for its staff to educate and share information regarding their important mission.

“We are extremely grateful and honored to be the Newport International Boat Show’s charity of choice,” said Trisha Gallagher Boisvert, co-founder and executive director, Sailing Heals. “Newport’s status as the first boat show of the fall season as well as an incredibly important event for companies in the marine industry and the over 40,000 attendees, make the it a fantastic venue for us to raise awareness about Sailing Heals’ work. We truly value both their partnership and support.”

Sailing Heals provides individuals with cancer, their families and caregivers with memorable and therapeutic experiences on the water. Matching owners of beautiful powerboats and sailboats with patients, the organization partners with the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Rhode Island Women and Infants and other local medical organizations, as well as the New England circuit of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts and Nantucket Community Sailing, to name a few. Sailing Heals’ guests have found their days on the water to be profoundly enjoyable and important to the healing process.

“Sailing Heals is the perfect organization for boating and sailing enthusiasts to share their favorite pastime with individuals and families who could really benefit from some fun on the water,” said Tom Delotto, director of Newport Exhibition Group. “We are proud to partner with Sailing Heals to support their mission, as well as donate a portion of our show’s ticket proceeds to help fund their important work.”

Expected to draw tens of thousands to historic Newport, the Newport International Boat Show will take place September 12-15, 2013 on the Newport Waterfront along America’s Cup Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. One of the largest in-water boat shows in the country, the event will host nearly 750 exhibitors from around the world with an exceptional assortment of boats of every type and style from 15 to 85 feet, and a wide variety of accessories, equipment, electronics, gear and services for boaters. Online tickets are available through the Newport International Boat Show website. Tickets for Thursday, September 12^th, VIP Day, are $27 in advance and $30 on the day of the show. Admission for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, September 13^th, 14^th or 15^th is $15 in advance and $18 on show days. Children under 12 are admitted free any day when accompanied by an adult. On Friday only, visitors with a valid Military or Newport County Resident ID receive half price admission. For more information on the 43^rd Annual Newport International Boat Show and to purchase tickets, please visit www.newportboatshow.com. For more information on Sailing Heals, visit www.sailingheals.org.

What: 43^rd Annual Newport International Boat Show

When: September 12-15, 2013 Thursday, Sept. 12, Friday, Sept. 13 & Saturday, Sept. 14 – 10AM to 6PM Sunday, Sept. 15 – 10AM to 5PM

Where: Newport Yachting Center (4 Commercial Wharf) Oldport Marine, Bannister’s Wharf and Bowen’s Wharf (situated along America’s Cup Avenue) Newport, RI 02840

Admission:    VIP Day – September 12^th – Adults $27 in advance*/$30 day-of

September 13^th, 14^th or 15^th – Adults $15 in advance*/$18 day-of

*Includes online processing fee

Children under 12 FREE when accompanied by an adult.

Friday, September 13^th, Military personnel with valid ID and Newport County Residents with valid ID receive half-off admission.

Once you’ve jumped through all the hoops, you’re going to be glad you chose such a unique spit of land. There have been numerous efforts by the British to preserve the original plantations colonies… and they have. Diego Garcia was a coconut oil processing colony at the turn of the century and it has been preserved beautifully.

The area also hosts some of the best fishing in the world. “Tuna, wahoo, snapper, ‘sweet lips’, marlin, barracuda are all the catch of the day”. The area is also home to the  legendary “Turtle Cove” a safe haven given to the turtle population in the Chagos Archipelago region. Those who have been to the island say that snorkeling and diving are a must and “The sharks swim past you and ignore you completely… if you get offended by that you probably shouldn’t get in the water.” The sailing is good, the air is clean and the rentals are cheap. There are a few night clubs around the island- but there seems to be no pictures of what those places look like have surfaced (hint hint: What happens in Diego Garcia really STAYS in Diego Garcia)

History suggests that the island took its name from the Spanish navigator Diego García de Moguer, who discovered the island in the 1500s. Garcia was the explorer who sailed to the Río de la Plata in 1526, and possibly with Hernando de Soto’s voyage (First europeans to have cross the mississippi river). Diego Garcia and the rest of the Chagos islands were uninhabited until the late 18th century. In the late 1700s (1778 to be exact) the French Governor of Mauritius (island off of Madagascar) granted Monsieur Dupuit de la Faye (some French guy) the island of Diego Garcia, and there is evidence of temporary French visits to collect coconuts and fish. Several Frenchmen living in “a dozen huts” abandoned Diego Garcia when the British East India Company attempted to establish a settlement there in April 1786.

The supplies given to the 275 settlers were overwhelmed by 250 survivors of the wreck of the British East Indian Ship ATLAS in May 1786, and the colony failed in October. Following the departure of the British, the French colony of Mauritius began marooning lepers on Diego Garcia (how nice of them) and in 1793 the French established a coconut plantation using slaves which also exported cordage made from coconut fiber, and sea cucumbers, known as a delicacy in the orient. In December 1966, the United States and the UK came to an agreement that permitted the United States to use the BIOT for defense purposes for 50 years (through December 2016), followed by a 20-year optional extension (to 2036) to which both parties must agree by December 2014.

Today the place is simply the home of British and US Navy Forces, with beautiful beaches, a historic plantation, a turtle reserve, and a history that the land was one of the tallest mountains a few millions years ago. What’s not to love?

More Pics of Diego Garcia:

 
Have pictures of Diego Garcia? Send them in! Tabitha@cruisingoutpost.com

Know another “unknown” gem of the ocean? Comment below!

There’s a particular feeling as night begins to fall in Abaco, where the lighthouse is still hand-wound and fueled by kerosene.  Ships bathe under spinning beams of light.  After dinner ashore, I walk across a narrow piece of land to view the Atlantic on the other side.  Shallow reefs break ocean waves into tranquil Bahamian waters, where knee-deep beaches stretch far into the horizon.  We lose track of time and as the tides fall once again, the passage out becomes impassable.  We find ourselves lost to the charm of the sea.

Scenes include Treasure Cay, Hope Town, Little Harbour, Marsh Harbour, Man-o-War Cay, Great Guana Cay, and White Town with stops by Fowl Cay, Tahiti Beach, and Sandy Cay

Share your easy going, crusin’ pics right here.

Scenes include Tortola Island, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Sandy Cay, Cooper Island, Trellis Bay, Anegada, the Bitter End Yacht Club, Foxy’s Taboo, the Indians, the Baths, snorkeling the caves at Norman Island, and diving the RMS Rhone shipwreck.

The BVI are a unique place, almost like an “island city of sailors.”  At night, it’s quite a moment being surrounded by a dozen other boats in what resembles a neighborhood at sea.

The Marine Conservation Grants are a component of West Marine’s BlueFuture^™ initiative to help create a sustainable future for our planet. The focus of this year’s awards is on projects that enhance marine habitat, engage anglers in data collection and educate anglers about barotrauma. The thirteen recipients are based in Massachusetts, Florida, Washington, Louisiana, California, British Columbia, Canada and Hawaii.

2013 West Marine Conservation Grants:

1.     Gloucester, Massachusetts – Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries will use the grant to educate the public, captains and crews of charter boats about barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when bottom fish suffer from the sudden pressure change when they are brought to the surface. These fish often have bulging eyeballs and swim-bladders protruding from their mouths.  When released due to size, the fish are unable to swim and die.  However, with one of numerous barotrauma devices, the fish can be lowered to the appropriate depth, their bodies recompress and they can swim away. Funds will be used to measure the effectiveness of commercially available recompression release devices that return fish to a depth where they may “recompress.”

2.     Kingston, Massachusetts – The Jones River Watershed Association was established to protect, enhance, and restore the natural resources of the watershed and its extended ecosystem. The grant will be used to outfit their new boat “Blue Future” which will improve their ability to collect data on species in the bays and estuary. Learn more at http://jonesriver.org/

3.     Sanford, Florida – The Snook & Gamefish Foundation’s Angler Action Program is committed to education, conservation and research to assure game fish for tomorrow. The grant will be used to enhance the iAngler mobile application which allows Florida anglers to contribute to state level fishery management. For additional information visit www.snookfoundation.org.

4.     Miami, Florida – Coastal Angler Science Team (CAST) is a collaboration between anglers and researchers who are dedicated to recreational fisheries. The grant will support CAST Angler Rewards & Incentive Program to assist researchers and anglers in collecting data. Read more about CAST at www.cast.fiu.edu.

5.     Jacksonville, Florida – TISRI is a non-profit organization focusing on the creation and promotion of artificial reefs. TISIRI stands for “Think It, Sink It, Reef It.” The funds will be used to clean up trash and fishing line on existing reefs in the Jacksonville area. To learn more go to www.tisiri.org.

6.     Bellingham, Washington – CCA (Coastal Conservation Association) North Sound is a group of recreational anglers that advocate for salmon, steelhead, and other Northwest fish. The grant will fund a cooperative project with Washington’s Department of Fish & Wildlife to plant salmon carcasses for nutrient enrichment purposes in the Nooksack basin streams that are devoid of natural spawner carcasses. The project works to improve the habitat and resources for developing salmon and steelhead smolts. Data will be collected and monitored through spawner surveys and results tracked over subsequent years. For more information on this organization visit www.ccawashington.org.

7.      Covington, Louisiana – Recreational Fisheries Research Institute’s (RFRI) mission is to manage fisheries, habitats and coastal restoration projects in Louisiana. The grant will support the Marine Sport Fish Tagging Program which is a cooperative effort with RFRI, CCA Louisiana and Louisiana State University. Through this program, anglers work to enhance fish populations with an angler driven tag and recapture collection program. For more information visit http://lafishrodeo.wordpress.com/tagging-programs/.

8.      National Marine Sanctuary “Classic” in California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan and Hawaii, produced by The Sportfishing Conservancy. Based in Long Beach, California, the Sportfishing Conservancy is on a mission to empower anglers to fulfill and celebrate their commitment to both their sport and real world conservation. The funds will support a summer-long National Marine Sanctuary “Classic” which is a photographic/fishing contest in all marine sanctuaries. The Classic highlights the fact that more than 95% of the National Marine Sanctuaries’ pristine waters are open to and encourage recreational fishing. To get involved visit www.sportfishingconservancy.org.

9.     Central Coast, California – Coastside Fishing Club is a community of recreational fishermen who are active, conservation-minded volunteers sharing the common goal of improving California’s fishery. The grant will fund a Rockfish Barotrauma Awareness Program which educates recreational anglers on the ease, utility and survival rates for recompression of rockfish suffering from barotrauma. For more information on the club, check out www.coastsidefishingclub.com/.

10.  Petaluma, California – Golden Gate Salmon Association is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fishermen, businesses, tribes, environmentalists, families and communities that rely on salmon.  GGSA has a board comprised of representatives of this diverse community, which reaches from Oregon to the Central Coast, through the Bay-Delta region and up a dozen rivers in the Central Valley. The funds will support 24 scientific research projects, all aimed at providing more and better spawning and rearing habitat, as well as more salmon-friendly water releases.  You can find more information about GGSA at www.goldengatesalmonassociation.com.

11.  Brentwood Bay, British Columbia – Sea Change is a non-profit organization that works towards the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems in British Columbia. The funds will support eelgrass restoration along the coast. You can read more about Sea Change at www.seachangelife.net.

12.  Honolulu, Hawaii – Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 to help organize and keep Pacific Island fishermen engaged and informed on the management and conservation of fishery resources in the Pacific. The grant will support the Oio and Ulua/Papio tagging project which engages fishermen in cooperative research and conservation. Find more information about PIFG at www.fishtoday.org

13.  Concord, California – Water4Fish Inc. is an advocacy organization which solicits public support for better California water management policies for the protection and enhancement of fish. Water4Fish periodically summarizes the data by legislator for use in educating the legislator about his or her constituents and their support of fisheries. For more information please visit www.water4fish.org.

Marine Conservation Grants are awarded through a formal application process in which interested organizations must submit their proposal directly to West Marine. All applications are reviewed by the Marine Conservation Action Team.

Since 1994, West Marine has donated nearly $5,000,000 to organizations that support youth boating, boating safety and the marine environment. For more information about the Marine Conservation Grants program, please visit www.westmarine.com.

About West Marine

West Marine, Inc. is the largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories, with nearly 300 company-operated stores located in 38 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and five franchised stores located in Turkey. Founded in 1968 by a sailor, West Marine has grown to become a leading omni-channel retailer for boats and boaters – from power cruisers and sailors to anglers and paddle sports enthusiasts. West Marine also offers gear, apparel and footwear for anyone who enjoys recreational time on or around the water. The company’s Port Supply division is one of the largest wholesale distributors of marine equipment serving boat manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel operators and government agencies. For more information on West Marine, Inc., and its products and store locations, visit westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING (1-800-262-8464). West Marine’s stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol WMAR.