Cooking up some beans in a pressure cooker aboard Catamaran Viva proved not such a good idea. 

The pressure cooker exploded and not only sprayed the boat with beans, it managed to destroy windows on both sides of the boat. It took out three windows of 8mm thick acrylic cracking them completely. 

Bob was extremely lucky not to be severely scalded in the explosion, but the mess has proven an exemplary lesson on what you can and can not cook in a pressure cooker.  Apparently, new pressure cookers warn not to cook beans this way.  They can block the air vent. 

Bob has spent days having the beans cleaned off absolutely everything in the cabin and he has to also sort out the repair of the windows that were broken in the explosion.  So take it easy with those pressure cookers and check what you can and can't cook.  

Below are photos of what happened to the pressure cooker!

The Cruise Ship - Star Princess - that sailed past three distressed Panamanian fishermen in International waters will be investigated by the country of register, Bermuda.

According to the Antigua Observer, the investigation of the incident has already been opened.  Princess Cruises has responded that there has been a breakdown in communication between Bridge and passengers and that the Captain is devastated that he has been accused of knowingly turning his back on people in distress.

It will be interesting to see if reponsibility is pursued vigorously.  Will the log book be requested?  What are the consequences of this action if he or the line are found guilty?  Who investiagates and prosecutes if maritime law is violated?  What are the consequences for the Cruise line and the Captain?

All this adds some interesting issues for someone booking an international cruise.  One case of a cruise ship registered in Liberia:  passenger was raped and Liberian law on rape applied!  Wow!

The young Panamanian fishermen aboard a drifting panga called Fifty Cent could have been saved if the cruise ship captain on Star Princess had recognised their plight.  Bird watchers aboard the cruise ship - equipped with powerful binnoculars - spotted the stricken panga with the young crew aboard and alive - waving desperately for help.  The sighting and obvious distress was reported to the crew and the Bridge was notified.

The Captain decided not to investigate the panga.  He recorded in his log that he spoke to the fishermen by radio and changed course to avoid the nets.  This has been proven to be false.  The boat had no radio.  Any true sea-farer would have recognised that a small panga 150 miles off shore was likely to be in trouble and recognised the need to investigate.

The fact that yet another Cruise Ship Captain is in the hot seat for his judgement, raises the question of training and whether it is adequate.  There is a pressing need for the merchant fleet to have officers and crew who understand the elements and the realities of life at sea.  

Sail Training is a way to improve the training of the merchant navy by giving them a great understanding of the sea the winds, currents and the vessels that venture out on these waters.
For more on this story, check :  http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20120413184536993#comments 

It was smoother sailing in Naples on the second day of racing.  Winds were blowing at 8 to 12 knots and the water was flat.  Team NZ are in the lead , but although Captain Dean Barker considered his boys were 'slick in all the maneuvres' and the 'boat speed felt good', Team Coach Rod Davis says the crew has more work to do to get more speed out of their AC45 catamaran.

"We still are not 100 percent satisfied with our upwind speed, so there is a big push to improve on that front. We know where we want to go, so now we need to make it happen," Davis said. "All and all, a good solid day; not perfect but solid."

Note: The new AC72 is bigger & faster than the AC 45, so when the Cup racing starts it should be an impressive show.

Unusual call for help from the anchorage of Las Brisas.  African bees swarmed a catamaran in the anchorage homing in on the wind vane!  It is thought that the hum of the vane attracted them.  Apparently the vane was knocking them down but they just kept buzzing the vane.  Bee bodies were flying and no doubt that did nothing to improve the mood of these dangerous creatures.

Startled owners sought help against the deadly multitude.  Normally in Panama, one calls the Bomberos - Fire Brigade - for assistance.  As the boat was anchored off shore, that added a challenge.  How to get the Bomberos on site!

Our advice:  Try the Bomberos, but if that proves too difficult - just sit it out.

When African bees move in a swarm they are looking for a place to nest - like a tree hollow.  There was a strong chance that the bees would eventually move of their own volition. 

The solution:  Somehow the owners were able to obtain a spray of soap and water and disposed of them themselves.  Sounds dangerous.  We wait for more details!