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Armchair Sailor has been extremely busy thus far, catering in the beginning of June to the participants in the Centennial Newport to Bermuda race and, throughout the summer, to Newport's busy fleet of charter, racing and private vessels. Newport Harbor on a sunny summer day tests the navigation skills of the best sailors as boats travel under full sail through the busy mooring field and anchorage. 12 Meter racing boats, most of which are currently used for private charters, classic schooners, and modern high-tech sailboats make up the fleet. With steady wind and deep water, Newport is a sailor's dream.

The 264 participants in the Newport to Bermuda Race left the mouth of Narragansett Bay on June 16, sails full and crew happy, but on reaching the Gulf Stream the racers were faced with a sailor's worst nightmare: no wind. Read the article "Becalmed in the Bermuda Race" for more details.

On June 21, the Crew at Bluewater Books & Charts, our Fort Lauderdale store, received some disturbing news: a malaria outbreak in the Southern Bahamas had been reported by the Centers for Disease Control. Great Exuma, at the outermost tip of the Exuma Islands Chain, had seen 16 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne illness (see Malaria Scare in George Town for details). This is of particular concern to our customers, as George Town, the main settlement on Great Exuma, is one of the top cruising destinations in the Bahamas. Please pass this important information on to anybody you know who has been in the Bahamas recently or who plans on going, and we'll do the same.

Tropical Storm Alberto was the first of the year. Luckily, it did little damage when it made landfall on Florida's West Coast and Panhandle. At our Fort Lauderdale store, we are displaying a Hurricane Tracking Chart which is updated each time the National Hurricane Center issues an update. We are also keeping tracking charts, barometers and barographs, lamps and flashlights in stock. For some practical tips that we learned from out first Annual Hurricane Expo, please see the article "Event Blows the Audience Away."

We're having a flag sale at both stores from July 1 through the 4th, so see our events page for more details. Basically, if you bring us your old flag we will see that it is disposed of properly and we will give you 20% off on a brand new American Flag. Remember that American Flags are also always tax free, so this is a great deal!

Here are some new and notable items: Dave Kresge's long awaited Vantage Point Guide to South Florida, which is a combined chart book and cruising guide and retails for $39.95, arrived today. Nobeltec is also about to introduce World Folio 30, so call the Electronic Chart Department for more details!

Also, we have just been notified that the State of Florida has declared a "Back to School" sales tax holiday from July 22 through July 30th. This means that all books that have an ISBN and retail for under $50.00 will be tax free! This gives you a good reason to stock up on your books for the fall and winter season. Some popular cruising guides for under $50.00 include the Waterway Guide, Skipper Bob's publications, and Managing the Waterway.

Enjoy spending the summer with your friends and family, and let us know how we can help you stay safe and happy on the water! Happy Independence Day.

John Mann

In this issue...

Becalmed in the Bermuda Race
Sailors in one of the world's most prestigious races find themselves wondering what happened to the wind. The passage from Newport to Bermuda seems much longer when you're becalmed.

Event Blows the Audience Away
Bluewater's first Annual Hurricane Expo was a hit. If you missed it, read here for some important tips we learned from our panel of incredible speakers.

Novelist starts Bluewater Writers' Group
Mystery writer Christine Kling (Surface Tension, Cross Current, Bitter End) is working with Bluewater to start a writers' workshop. The group will meet once a month, and is open and free to qualified people in the South Florida area who are writing fiction about boats and the waterfront.

Gone to the Fishes
No matter what type of boater you are, there will come a day when you need to identify a fish. This article will tell you which fish book is the best choice for your needs.

Malaria Scare in George Town
George Town, Bahamas, is one of the world's most popular cruising destinations. One June 16, the Centers for Disease Control issued a warning about recent malaria cases in the area. Read here for more!

Welcome to the Sea Legs Lounge
No, this isn't a new hot spot on the South Florida bar scene, and you won't find any salty dogs or flirty mermaids at Bluewater's new Sea Legs Lounge. What you will find is a whole lot of good books.