The Sailing Rig
This Yacht is sloop rigged, and can be easily single-handed. The sail area is somewhat conservative for inland waters, but excellent for off-shore. Though the boat doesn’t point exceptionally high, it handles beautifully off the wind, is well balanced, and heels at a comfortable angle even in heavy winds.

Despite it’s popularity, the Vega does have a few issues:
• Random Reversing: The prop is located aft of the rudder, making backing up a bit of a challenge. Many owners have found creative ways to compensate for this quirky flaw.
• Deck Compression below the mast: The Vega’s mast is stepped on the cabin roof, and supported by a beam below deck. Some Vegas have experience sagging of the support beam. Several owners have beefed up the bulkhead and support beam over the years, eliminating the problem, but potential buyers should check the support carefully.
• Weakness of the Rudder Post:The rudder is attached to the aft end of the keel rather than a skeg–normally this is a very solid way to support a rudder, but some Vegas have had problems with the rudder post. Again, this problem has often been corrected by previous owners. To test the rudder, hold the tiller still, and try to move the rudder. If it flexes, it probably needs to be rebuilt.

Initially deployed to the Pacific, where it operated from Pearl Harbor, the Torsk accomplished two patrols off Japan during early and mid-1945, operating with three other U.S. Navy submarines. By this time in the war, there were few targets left to attack, and although the submarines contacted two small Japanese ships, they did not sink them.
It was while patrolling in the Sea of Japan on Aug. 12, 1945 that the Torsk saw her first war action, firing two torpedoes at a small freighter but failing to sink the ship. The next day, the Torsk finally sank her first vessel, a small cargo ship named the Kaiho Maru.
And on Aug. 14, 1945, she sank two more small coastal defense ships, making the Torsk the last combat vessel to fire torpedoes and sink ships in World War II. The order to cease fire was issued to all U.S. forces on Aug. 15, 1945.
After World War II ended, the U.S.S. Torsk returned to the United States and was assigned as a submarine training ship at the U.S. Navy’s Submarine School in New London, Conn. There, she made dives several times each day as she trained enlisted men and officers for submarine duty.
In late 1955, the Torsk was modified to allow her to participate in testing of the Regulus missile, a radio-controlled pilotless aircraft that could carry either nuclear or conventional armament. The submarine didn’t carry the missile; instead, she carried radio equipment to control the missile, and was positioned along its flight path so that she could control the missile while it was in the area.
The Torsk also played a role in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, during which she participated in the blockade off Cuba and sent boarding parties to inspect Soviet merchant ships. She was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for her work in the crisis.
The submarine was decommissioned in 1968, and moved to Baltimore to serve as a museum and memorial in 1972.
Today, the U.S.S. Torsk is berthed in the Baltimore Inner Harbor, surrounded by Baltimore hotels, shops, restaurants and other attractions, including the historic Coast Guard Cutter Taney, historic Chesapeake Lightship, also a part of Historic Ships in Baltimore.
Visitors to the Torsk can look in on the torpedo rooms, the navigation station, crew mess and berthing areas, and the engine room, and can get a feel for the very cramped quarters in which 80 men spent weeks at a time. When a former submarine crew member is onboard to answer questions, visitors can hear first-hand what it was like to serve on a vessel like the Torsk.
Historic Ships executive director Christopher Rowsom said in an email interview that the Torsk Volunteer Association is on board every Saturday morning working on maintenance and restoration projects, and members are happy to answer questions.

A waterproof marine GPS system can also be used in your automobile. Although these units are more expensive than a handheld, it can save a lot of hassles when deciding on a GPS system. The pre-installed auto-routing basemap will guide you on your way on major interstates and highways. An optional automotive kit that includes City Navigator® detailed maps, an automotive mount, and a data card to help you easily navigate on land. This kit, once loaded will provide voice-prompted turn-by-turn guidance to millions of addresses and points of interest. Maybe you are looking for a hotel restaurant, gas station or the nearest marine. No problem. You will find it.

A waterproof marine GPS system can combine a color chart-plotter and automobile navigation system that is perfect for wet or dry applications. Use it on your boat and then transfer it to your car. Now that was easy. When you are out on the water the sun can be strong so these navigators come with a TFT display that is easily read in bright sunlight. For extra-precise navigation a Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) that is normally found in aircraft, is included on some models. You will quickly be advised if you have gone off your chosen course, and will be guided back on track. You can also track external NMEA sources for water characteristics like temperature, speed, and depth.