KWBaker

And it will pack a V8, of course.

SantaColor 100 ISO color film is new stock from Finnish film company Santa 1000 based on a brand of 35mm roll that is used in aerial surveillance photography. The film is being offered in a crowdfunding campaign.

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Ron Risman captured beautiful timelapse scenes around Moab, Utah, -- including the less visited, yet just as picturesque locations -- to demonstrate the diversity of the area found outside of the wildly popular Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

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Looking to hide some sandwiches and 85 cans of beer from a bear?

Eleuthera: The Friendly Island

For insiders, Eleuthera is one of the most desirable destinations in the Bahamas. For some skippers, though, mentioning the name evokes a “where?” Part of the problem may be in the pronunciation. It’s not e-loot-ra. It’s uh-looo-ther-uh. 

However you pronounce it, Eleuthera is delightful. It’s 110 miles long, but barely a mile wide in a few places. With its companion, Harbour Island, it has great marinas and is around 50 miles from Nassau and less than 200 nautical miles from Florida.  

Let’s start with Harbour Island, known to locals as “Briland.” Dunmore Town is the oldest and most charming settlement in the Bahamas, and you’ll get your fill of quaint cottages with white picket fences. Don’t be surprised if everyone—young, old, and in-between—greet you with “How you today?” or “Good mornin’.” This should be called the friendly island.

 Dunmore Town is home to two great marinas, one at Romora Bay Resort and the other at Valentines Resort. Romora Bay can handle yachts up to 190 feet on floating docks and has free high-speed Wi-Fi, 24-hour security, a new reverse osmosis (RO) water system, an on-site concierge for provisioning, plus a pool and restaurants. Valentines can accommodate yachts up to 200 feet with fresh RO water, nighttime security, free Wi-Fi, 110/220v power up to 100 amps, fuel service, showers, and laundry.  

If you tucked into a marina, do not plan to eat aboard. My first stop is always Ma Ruby’s on Colebrooke Street for juicy cheeseburgers with a Kalik (or two).

Start your morning off right at Arthur’s Bakery on Crown Street with a lobster omelet, then stock up on jalapeño cheese bread (for grilled cheese sandwiches!), and grab a key lime pie for dessert later.  

For upscale dining, start at The Landing, an 1800s hotel on Bay Street, and indulge in its stone crab stack or coconut chicken curry. Another good choice is the Rock House, also on Bay Street, for linguine alla vongole (pasta, clams, mussels, garlic sauce) or the bisque of lobsters just hours from the sea bottom when in season. 

Rent an electric golf cart to cruise Dunmore and use it for a short hop to Pink Sands Resort on the other side of the island, where award-winning chef Dean Max offers up crispy blackened fish tacos and spicy coconut conch chowder for lunch. Then enjoy the extraordinary pink sands on the lovely beach.

Keep Going 

Back in Dunmore Town, stop at the Princess Street Gallery for a great souvenir: beautiful art from local artists. Fortified by food, there are a lot of sights to see on Eleuthera, so catch a ferry or move your boat.  

Davis Harbour Marina at the Cotton Bay Club on South Eleuthera offers the chance to chase bonefish with a fly rod in the morning and then big game fish offshore in the afternoon. The marina has 24 slips with nightly security, fuel, 30-50 amp power, RO water, provisioning, an on-site concierge, plus ice, laundry, and shower facilities. 

Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina handles yachts up to 200 feet with a deep 12-foot entry and protective jetties to eliminate any wave action. Tucked between Exuma and Rock Sounds on South Eleuthera, it offers 48 slips with power up to 100 amp, water, and provisions.

Rent a car or jeep to drive the length of Eleuthera for exploring—you won’t regret it. At the northern tip is Preacher’s Cave, where early settlers took shelter after they were shipwrecked in 1648, and later turned it into a church where you can still see the hand-carved altar. The petroglyphs by Lucayan Indians are obviously from much farther back. 

The Glass Window Bridge is where you cross from North Eleuthera to the south island and, not so long ago, it did look like a window offering a view of the Atlantic Ocean in one direction and the Caribbean in the other. It’s been eroded, but it’s still pretty spectacular.

After the Glass Window, don’t worry about food because the newly reopened The Cove Eleuthera on the Caribbean side is a no-brainer. Chef Aadam Coetzee (who trained with Gordon Ramsay) presides over its Freedom Restaurant and Sushi Bar, which produces veggies from its own garden just yards away (with its own gardener!). Do NOT miss the Seafood Futomaru Noodle Alfredo where shrimp, clams, and mahi-mahi meet pasta in creamy alfredo sauce. 

The south end of the island offers Ocean Hole at Rock Sound, where you can jump into a blue hole surrounded by cliffs in mid-island. It’s said to be more than 600 feet deep and, once in, there are steps and ladders to get out. Divers love the change from ocean dives.

No matter how you pronounce Eleuthera, it’s well worth adding to your list of must-visits.

Getting There

A word about getting to Eleuthera. You’ll want to pass between Eleuthera and Spanish Wells through what is known (for good reason) as The Devil’s Backbone. It’s a shallow and jagged reef that has ripped out the bottom of many ships and more than a few yachts, so stop at Spanish Wells and pick up a pilot.  

A real character, A1 Brod Shad, has retired, but for a good replacement (if you like stories along with your piloting), try Bruno the Nauti Boy Pilot. Or you can hail (via VHF Channels 11 or 16) for Lil Woody, Hexton Pinder, or Bradley Newbold.  

-by Chris Caswell

The post Eleuthera: The Friendly Island appeared first on Southern Boating.

1823 points, 121 comments.

LISBON, Portugal — Love beer? Then you’ll definitely enjoy this study out of Portugal. Scientists there conclude that having a bottle of beer each with dinner each night may actually improve gut health! Researchers at NOVA University in Lisbon report that beer boosts healthy bacteria that fend off diseases and infections. The benefits come from…

The post Toast to this: A daily glass of beer could make your gut healthier appeared first on Study Finds.

I’d hang out with this little dude. Crated by Cheryl Cochran.

Eating crawdaddies, crawfish, and crayfish (same thing) at a backyard crawfish boil is less about savoring the little lobster-looking seasonal gem and more about party endurance and launching an all-day friendship marathon.

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Those of us drinking-age adults who choose to partake do so in different ways. Whether you’re a drinker who prefers the symphonic flavor depth of wine, a no-nonsense type who likes the two-fisted fire of straight spirits, or an enormous craft beer dork who writes for The Takeout dot com, we all have different stories.

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When I’ve got a hankering for a cold, crisp, crushable beer, lagers and pilsners are at the top of the list. My favorite ones are generally light-bodied, perfect for a day on the river and/or lying prone on my patio after operating a lawn mower. But what’s the difference between these two brews? Take a sip, and you’ll…

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Inflation is hitting everyone hard. Grocery prices are skyrocketing, and after spending all that money at the supermarket it’s a real slap in the face that you then have to put together a meal from scratch. Sometimes buying in bulk can save you a buck or two, but if you live alone with limited cabinet space that’s not…

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Secret sauces keep the world spinning. I love the mystery of not quite comprehending what’s in a particular sauce or condiment, simply knowing it’s good and leaving it at that. But have you ever heard of Mississippi’s pride and joy, comeback sauce? If you haven’t, well, consider this your wake-up call.

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When I walked into Zara’s grocery on a weekend in June, the first thing that greeted me was a big plastic boat. It was filled bright red cooked crawfish. If I wasn’t in the mood to suck heads and pull tails, another container of Gulf shrimp sat underneath, ready to be carried to the checkout.

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New Beach Bar for the BEYC

Grab yourself a beer on tap, red or white wine by the glass, or a craft cocktail like the Bitter End 2.0 (gin, peach schnapps, ruby grapefruit juice, soda, and dark rum) while shooting the breeze about sailing at the Bitter End Yacht Club’s (BEYC) newest beach bar, Reef Sampler. 

Reef Sampler, a 34-foot hull purchased in the 1960s from fiberglass lobster boat pioneer Webber’s Cove Boatyard in Maine, and fully outfitted at Essex Boat Works in Connecticut, lived a long life as the BEYC’s marine workhorse. In the mid-1970s, she hauled boatloads of construction materials as the nautical outpost expanded.

She wasn’t all work and no play. Reef Sampler ferried staff and guests alike to Anegada for diving in Horseshoe Reef, fishing at the North Drop, and picnicking at then-uninhabited Necker Island. In 2017, she was tied to the BEYC’s strongest mooring when Hurricane Irma struck. But, when the sun came out, she was gone—lost at sea.

A year later, Reef Sampler was found when the UK Hydrographic Office conducted its first BVI survey since 1926. The BVI’s Sunchaser Scuba team refloated her, and she waited for her next incarnation. 

“After the hurricane, Mother Nature brought us an expansive beach adjacent to the marina which did not exist before. Reef Sampler now sits right on Marina Beach, a short walk to The Quarterdeck Marina and up a set of stairs to the Village Plaza,” says Kerri Quinn Jaffe, BEYC’s chief marketing officer. “Our cocktail program is a mainstay after a day on the water. Signature drinks served at the Reef Sampler are Dark ‘n’ Stormies and Painkillers (of course), and some of the newer favorites are the Mezcal Rosemary Negroni and the Bitter End 2.0.”

Reef Sampler’s eats include bar bites like conch fritters, North Sound Fish Dippers with sriracha mayonnaise, and crispy coconut chips with sea salt. beyc.com

-by Carol Bareuther

The post Bitter End Yacht Club adds a new Beach Bar appeared first on Southern Boating.

Sea Tow® Shares Top Ten Tips to Consider Before Leaving the Dock

Boating Industry Sees a Record Number of Boat Sales and Boaters on the Water

Southold, NY – May 17, 2022 – The boating industry has seen a record number of new and existing boaters on the water. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the leading trade association representing North American recreational boat, marine engine and accessory manufacturers, 2022 is expected to be another strong year for new boat sales, which are projected to surpass 2021 totals by as much as three percent.

Sea Tow anticipates another busy summer on the water in 2022. In an effort to ensure that a great day on the water is experienced by the boating community it serves, Sea Tow shares its top ten tips boaters should consider before heading out on the water.

1. Have a checklist. Before leaving the dock, have a pre-departure checklist to review all critical systems (i.e.: engine check, battery levels, fuel levels, etc.).
2. Don’t solely rely on the fuel gauge. Boaters should keep a fuel log so they know how much fuel their boat uses, when they last filled up, how many hours the boat has run, and how much fuel is left.
3. Follow the rule of thirds. Be sure to have enough fuel to allow for: 1/3 of fuel to head to the destination, 1/3 of fuel to head back to the dock and 1/3 of fuel “just in case.”
4. Check the charts. Review the intended voyage plan and be aware of sandbars, shallow areas, channel and buoy locations, etc. so the boat doesn’t run aground, and there are no surprises.
5. Carry extra lines and fenders. Both are needed when rafting up with friends or when tying up at a waterfront restaurant.
6. Safety first. Boaters should inform passengers of their boat safety rules such as where life jackets are located and that they must remain seated while the boat is underway. This helps to avoid distracting the captain during the voyage.
7. Keep two anchors aboard. You never know when one might get away, so always have a spare and make sure it’s the appropriate size for the boat and where the hook will be dropped.
8. When in doubt, slow down or stop. Trying to figure things out while underway can often lead to hitting something or running aground.
9. Be courteous. Boaters should always watch their wake and wave when fellow boaters pass by. It’s one big community on the water, so be a good neighbor and be friendly!
10. Always have a backup plan. It’s often said “when the unexpected happens” because no one ever plans on needing help on the water. Having an on-water assistance membership with Sea Tow is guaranteed peace-of-mind that if anything happens out on the water, someone is standing by to come help.

“At Sea Tow, we are big advocates of getting out on the water and having fun, and we want boaters – new and salty – to do so confidently,” said Sea Tow President, Kristen Frohnhoefer.

“Our captains are your resource on and off your boat, on and off the water. They know the local waters and can help with navigation assistance, tides and weather, anchorages and even mishap prevention tips. No one plans for something to go wrong on the water so it’s important to take the proper steps before you push off,” she continued.

With a Sea Tow membership, boaters pay one annual rate and receive the most comprehensive member benefits available in the market. Sea Tow has boats on the water to service with 24/7 dispatch. Sea Tow offers its members free boat towing in their home area, unlimited dock-to-dock towing on all boats, alternatives to towing such as battery jumps and fuel delivery, and nationwide offshore coverage, along with additional paid on-water services such as boat salvage and recovery, vessel for hire, and environmental response.

Sea Tow, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, has been on the forefront of on-water assistance since 1983, with more than 500+ ports nationwide including the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The member-driven, franchise-based concept, coined by Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer, was established in Southold, NY, when the United States Coast Guard ceased response to non-emergency assistance calls. Today in addition to on-water assistance, the franchise network handles salvage and recovery missions, and responds to natural disasters, environmental hazards and oil spill cleanups.

The post Sea Tow® Shares Top Ten Tips to Consider Before Leaving the Dock appeared first on Southern Boating.

Making the Crossing

Be Prepared before you sail to the Bahamas.

Traveling to the Bahamas by boat may seem intimidating with weather, fuel prices, and COVID restrictions, so take the extra steps to prepare before you point the bow east. They’ll be well worth it when you arrive at Customs and Immigration.

Three-day Window 

You and your crew need to present negative COVID-19 tests three days prior to your arrival in the Bahamas regardless of your vaccination status. You must also apply for a Bahamian health visa, which can be done online at travel.gov.bs. Make sure everyone aboard has a printed copy of their health visa and negative COVID test along with their passport before the boat leaves the dock. Keep in mind, the Bahamian government constantly updates its travel regulations, so double check that website for the latest protocols before you sail.

Inspect Your Boat

Before any long-range trip, you should rest assured knowing all major components of your boat are functioning. For a first-time boat owner, this can be a very stressful situation because the open ocean coupled with the Gulf Stream current can and will exploit any faults your boat may have and, possibly, your skills. Don’t forget, once you get far enough offshore, there’s no cell service, therefore, it’s imperative to travel with a VHF radio and a satellite communication device in the event of an emergency.

If everything on board checks out well, it’s time to prepare the boat for the crossing. The key is to pack light—only bring what you need to prevent weighing down the boat. Excess weight will negatively affect handling and decrease performance. Strategically plan what to bring because not all supplies are readily accessible in the Bahamas. Your fuel tank should be filled to the brim, especially when island hopping, because fuel isn’t available on every island.

Ideal Conditions

The difficult nature of planning a trip to the Bahamas months in advance is there’s no guarantee of fair weather. Calm seas and clear skies are ideal, but you know how weather can change instantly. 

Less-than-perfect conditions happen, and how you handle it comes from experience. A breeze below 10 knots is considered great conditions, especially if the sea state is mild, such as swells two to three feet or less. However, that’s not always the case, so if you feel you and the boat can handle a strong breeze and resulting chop, then the wind direction comes into play.

Between Florida and the Bahamas lies the Gulf Stream current, which flows in a northerly direction. The ideal wind direction then is a southerly because it’s blowing in the same direction as the current. On the flip side, if the wind and current are opposing, the sea state is steep and choppy, and the faster the wind, the rougher the waves. Believe me, it won’t be fun.

Despite what the weather forecast says, always be on the lookout for storms. Thunderstorms pose some serious risks through lightning and gusts of wind that can drastically increase wave heights. It’s a good idea to have a device on board to track storms, such as radar or even a weather app. Knowing how to read the cloud formations is also an advantage. Safety is of prime importance. 

Boat Trim is Key

Today, we’re seeing center consoles longer than 60 feet, but that doesn’t change the safety factor. Room aboard, maybe, but a comfortable ride is accomplished with the use of trim tabs. As you drop your trim tabs, hydrodynamics will force the bow down to slice through the waves rather than slamming and riding over the top. However, there’s a trade-off. By using trim tabs, you will reduce fuel efficiency and run the risk of taking waves over the bow. The key is to fine-tune the trim to reach the boat’s optimal performance.

Wave Your Flag

Once you enter Bahamian waters, you must fly a yellow quarantine flag which signifies that you’re entering the territory and you’ve yet to check in. Part of the prep work was to chart your crossing to make the most convenient port of entry. Only the captain is allowed off the boat to present the paperwork to Customs and Immigration; the crew has to stay on board. If not completed online, you’ll need to bring the paperwork back to the boat for the crew to fill out. 

Once the paperwork, passports, health visas, and negative COVID tests are accepted, the captain will purchase a cruising permit, which can also be bought online before your arrival. After checking in, switch your yellow quarantine flag to a Bahamas courtesy flag. Then you and your crew can explore the islands from the aft deck or on shore. With plenty to see and do, you might want to make time for both. 

-by Clay Cowart

The post Crossing to the Bahamas appeared first on Southern Boating.

The team at AllTrails gave us a hike for every state, each a perfect ramble for a beautiful day

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Insights from a man who is in waaaaay better shape than you are

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Imagine this in your best foodie dreams: Barbecue Hall of Famer Steven Raichlen , the star of Project Fire, and the author of The Brisket Chronicles, drops by your house and offers to smoke your Father’s Day feast for your family and friends. Like Mother, you can finally sleep in on your day, the responsibility of lighting and tending a fire all night long lifted from your shoulders.

It can happen!

Steven has partnered with a terrific company—Crowd Cow—that shares his belief in high-quality, sustainable food (meat, and seafood), smoked to perfection.

These amazing smoked meats, all under the Planet Barbecue line, could be on your table in time for Father’s Day:

Fully Cooked Texas Style Brisket, Fully Cooked Southern Style St Louis Ribs, Double Smoked Brisket Sausage, Dry Aged BBQ Burgers, and Dry Aged Inside Out Burgers.

Steven’s favorite recipes. It’s like dining at his table. What a privilege!

What are your Father’s Day Meal Plans? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or Instagram!

The post A Father’s Day Feast for the Record Books appeared first on Barbecuebible.com.

Whether you have $15 to spend or $150,000, there’s a watch here to accompany you on life’s adventures.