Daily Archives: May 2, 2017

EXCLUSIVE: Experts have used a space treasure map to make a remarkable discovery in the Caribbean -- a centuries-old anchor believed to be from one of Christopher Columbus ships.

Analysis of the anchor, which was found off the Turks and Caicos islands, reveals that it dates to between 1492 and 1550. The overall size of the anchor and its estimated weight of between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds indicates that it was a bower anchor from a 300-ton vessel, the typical size of a Columbus-era ship.

The discovery will be revealed in the next episode of the Discovery Channel docuseries "Cooper's Treasure," which airs at 10 p.m. ET Tuesday.That anchor is from Christopher Columbus, says historical shipwreck discovery specialist Darrell Miklos, who led the Caribbean expedition, in a clip from Tuesdays show. I am telling you, stick around, this is just the beginning of an amazing story.

NASA ASTRONAUT'S SPACE TREASURE MAP SPARKS HUNT FOR CARIBBEAN WRECKS

Miklos used a space treasure map created by his late friend, NASA Astronaut Gordon Cooper, to find a series of Caribbean shipwreck sites. Cooper, who died from Parkinsons disease in 2004, created the map following his Mercury 9 Faith 7 flight. At the time, he was possibly on a mission to identify Cold War nuclear threats.

Armed with Coopers detailed map and archival research, Miklos and a crew of experts identified five colonial period wreck sites. The team used a magnetometer to identify shipwreck areas and then dived down for a closer inspection using a metal detector.

The Turks and Caicos discovery is believed to be linked to Vicente Yanez Pinzon -- a Spanish sailor, who, along with his brother Martin Alonso Pinzon, was part of the Columbus expeditions.

VIKING DISCOVERY: EXPERTS USE TECH TO REVEAL SETTLEMENT BENEATH SAINT-KING'S CHURCH

Martin and Vicente were captains, respectively, of the Pinta and Nina on Columbus first voyage in 1492. Six years later, around the time of Columbus third voyage, Vicente Pinzon set off from Spain with four Caravels, or small sailing ships, including the Pinta, in what is known as one of the expeditions Minor Voyages.

In 1499 and 1500 Vicente Pinzon discovered Brazil and the Amazon River. In the spring of 1500 the captain met with Columbus in Haiti to discuss the Brazilian discovery before leading his four ships back to Spain. However, in July of that year Vicente Pinzons fleet was caught in a hurricane while anchored near the Turks and Caicos islands and two of his ships were wrecked. In 1502 Vicente Pinzon returned to the area in an attempt to salvage cargo from the two vessels.

In addition to the anchor, Miklos team found a trove of other artifacts at the shipwreck site, including three grappling hooks that date back to the Columbus era. The grappling hooks, or anchors, were used for salvaging treasure from sunken ships.

GLADIATOR GAMES: EXPERTS HARNESS TECH TO REVEAL ROMAN CITY'S SECRETS

Archaeologists also found broken pieces of pottery and an olive jar painted with indigo paint, which indicates Spanish origin. A pot from the Spanish island of Majorca was also found, which also dates the wreck to the period between 1492 and the early 1500s.

Additionally, several iron and bronze spikes, possibly the last remnants of the sunken ships, were found, as well as a broken section of anchor's ring was found. The broken anchor ring could indicate that the anchor came from a third ship in Pinzons fleet that was torn from its anchor during the hurricane.

The discoveries mark a major breakthrough for the expedition. It means that we now have one of the most valuable maps in history, explained a spokeswoman for the show, in an email sent to Fox News. The way that ships wreck is that they leave a trail so the anchor is pointing to more artifacts/treasure to be found.

Fox News Lindsay Carlton contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

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Experts discover 'Christopher Columbus' anchor at Caribbean shipwreck site - Fox News

In the Navys version of the popular TV show, Deadliest Catch, the coastal patrol vesselZephyrand its embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment have made a large haul of illicit drugs.

TheZephyr, along with the Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel of the Royal Netherlands Navy, pursued and boarded a small panga fishing boat in the Caribbean Sea on April 19. The crews found and confiscated750 kilograms of cocaine atotal street value of $22.5 million.

Zephyr is homeported in Mayport, Florida, and is currently deployed in the Caribbean in support of Operation Martillo, an ongoing joint service and multi-nation operation headed by the U.S. Southern Command and the Navys Mayport-based U.S. 4th Fleet.

Martillo, Spanish for "hammer," targets illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American coastline.

Fourteen countries are participating in the operation: Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. Chile has also contributed to the operation.

In the five years since its 2012 launch, Martillo has supported the seizure of 693 metric tons of cocaine, $25 million in bulk cash, 581 vessels and aircraft and the arrest of 1,863 detainees, according to the U.S. Southern Command.

Read more from the original source:

Navy PC Zephyr and Coast Guard make $22.5M bust in Caribbean - NavyTimes.com

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is more than a nod to the Caribbean. The property, opened in July 2016 at Universal/Loews hotels at Universal Orlando Resort, is a stylish, tropical, modern escape worth visiting, even if you never plan to use the parks.

An enormous sculptural chandelier of woven spheres presents itself as everything from beach balls to buoys to a "festival of floating lanterns" (as it was described by my 7-year-old) when seen at night. You'd describe it differently as seen at different times throughout the day and night.

The lobby is a long rectangle with a soaring, beamed ceiling covered in woven fabric that connects multiple experiences. There's plenty of seating in smart arrangements for conversation, chilling out or working; USB and power outlets are cleverly and conveniently placed throughout: on the edges of tables, in lamp bases, etc.

This property flows out over multiple tiered levels; that's unusual for Orlando, which is flat, flat, flat. In fact, the lobby is on the fourth floor.

Windows to one side overlook the free-form pool (the largest of all the Universal hotel pools) off level 3. The pool features a water slide and a zero-entry "sandbar" across the middle, making it easier to access amenities such as the bar or the sand-covered dining area with its umbrella-shaded tables and a central fire pit. Windows at the far end of the lobby overlook the lagoon, which connects four of Universal's five hotels via water taxi. Views of taxis constantly coming and going (it's an eight- to 10-minute ride to the center of City Walk) add to an energetic vibe.

The decor throughout is a neutral canvas with bright pops of emerald, turquoise, fuchsia, lime and tangerine; the overall look is a mix-and-match of furnishings that are both modern and British colonial and that seamlessly work together. A long, horizontal mural behind the front desk is a realistic image of what you might see if you woke up aboard a boat in the British Virgin Islands: shimmering turquoise water and lush island shores. At the center of the lobby is the grand winding staircase inside of a replica of a stone sugar mill reminiscent of those found in the West Indies with a massive, wrought-iron chandelier. It is stunning.

Off the lobby is the outstanding Strong Water Tavern and also a grab-and-go market called the New Dutch Trading Co., where you can build your own meal from "hot pots" of Caribbean dishes or select the food and snacks (including beer and wine) to take back to your room in lieu of a prestocked minibar. On the ground level is Amatista, a three-meal-a-day dining room with an exhibition kitchen and indoor and outdoor dining that overlooks the lagoon and the water taxi depot.

I'd return to Sapphire Falls just to dine at the Strong Water Tavern, which is far more than a typical lobby bar. Open at 4 p.m. every day, Strong Water seems to be popular with guests returning from the parks. Fortunate enough to have been hosted for a meal, I'll tell you why.

The Caribbean dishes are served tapas-style, perfect for sharing and for pairing with exquisite cocktails that show as much care as any plate sent out from the kitchen by Columbian chef Carlos Castano. His food will have you ordering "just one more" dish; don't miss the papa rellena, a potato ball filled with a spicy beef filling and a jalapeno-pineapple jam, then fried and served with chipotle mustard.

The place takes its name from a term used for rum back in seafaring days, and that spirit plays a central role: the bar stocks up to 75 different labels from which a flight can be composed by an on-duty rum captain. Your flight will tell an unforgettable story of rum; mine included one that is aged in shark cages offshore of Grand Cayman Island and another that receives its final aging in sherry barrels in Jimez, Portugal. The last of my flight was a spice-blended concoction by my own rum captain, Casey, that had been aged on site.

Strong Water's grog is made from a 350-year-old seafarers' recipe (think pirates) and is a version of rum punch you've never had, strong on the citrus and spice, short on the sweet.

But the cocktail I've been craving ever since is the milk punch, a refreshing blend of black tea, spiced rum, lemon peel and clarified milk that after a three-day process emerges as though it was a clear lemonade. Served in individual milk bottles along with a glass containing a single cube of ice carved from a slab behind the bar, the milk punch is the most surprising and refreshing cocktail I've ever had.

Sapphire Falls' guestrooms are serene and stylish, again with a mix of textures and fabrics designed around a palette of blues. It's hard to believe this hotel isn't in the Premier (top-tier) category.

The Sapphire Suite includes a foyer with a work desk and a half-bath. The shared living and dining room is spacious and comfortable with neutral-colored decor and splashes of color via throw cushions and artwork. A matte-finished, gold starburst chandelier over the driftwood-colored dining table helps define the dining area as its own space.

Color is amped up a bit in the bedroom with a beach feel achieved through the white shiplap headboard finished with teal upholstery for a touch of luxury. I loved the tangerine-and-white palm-print throw pillow. The oversize bathroom has a large walk-in shower and a separate toilet area as well as a standard bathtub/shower that is exactly what you want for plopping your kid in the bath.

My family and I were hosted for one night at Sapphire Falls and did not visit the park. Between riding the water taxi with a 7-year-old, dining at Strong Water Tavern, enjoying the pool in the morning and lounging with a first-run movie rental in our spacious Sapphire Suite, this is now our preferred go-to staycation hotel in our hometown of Orlando.

Sapphire Falls Resort is in the Loews/Universal midlevel Preferred category, which means great value if you want new, upscale digs and don't mind foregoing the Universal Express benefit, which lets guests skip the lines at regular attractions, afforded only to guests who stay in Premier hotels. (Note: You still get early admission to the parks, a perk for all hotel guests at Universal Orlando Resort.)

Originally posted here:

Caribbean elegance at Universal Orlando hotel - Travel Weekly

PHOTO: Participants in the Saint Lucia leg of the Flow Manchester United Ultimate Football Experience

Press Release:-MIAMI, FL, May 2, 2017 Hundreds of young footballers from around the region had the time of their lives as they were put to the test for a chance to be selected in the Ultimate Football Experience, a competition designed and executed by Flow and Manchester United with the support of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

Participants between the ages of 13 and 16 gathered on football fields across Flows 15 Caribbean markets for the preliminary rounds of the Flow Ultimate Football Experience. 30 lucky winners, two from each market qualified to go to Trinidad and Tobago to compete in the final two-day event on May 6 and 7, with the opportunity to win the ultimate prize of a trip to Old Trafford, Manchester to see a Manchester United Premier League fixture.

With the chance to potentially win the trip of a lifetime fuelling their competitive fires, each young footballer participated in a series of drills such as ball control, short passing and dribbling, as they tried to set themselves apart from the pack.

But it wasnt just about the grand prize or rubbing shoulders with Manchester United Club Ambassador Dwight Yorke and legend, Quinton Fortune, for as one of Saint Lucias winners, 13-year-old Jeremiah Justins remarks suggest, many youngsters found a sense of pride and motivation simply in the chance to represent their wider community.

I am very proud to win this for myself, my family, and my community, Jeremiah said. I think we just came in here and gave it our best, and we are both really excited to have made it to the regional finals. I just want to say thank you to Flow, and I hope I make the best out of it in Trinidad.

Additionally, the participating local coaches were impressed by the Flow Ultimate Football Experience, especially the mechanics of the skills competition itself, which were developed by coaches at the Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS). They also thanked Flow for the companys investment in up-and-coming Caribbean athletes.

The Flow Ultimate Football Experience was wonderful, said Jerry Alexis, who coaches both winners in Grenada. I felt elated to be part of the event. The kids were excited to partake in the different skills that were included. This was a great gesture by Flow to organise and such a great opportunity for our young footballers. I am hoping that there will be more like these happening in the future.

Giving young athletes a greater shot at success and bringing the region closer to their favourite sport is exactly what Flow and Man Utd are trying to achieve with the Flow Ultimate Football Experience. It is in fact just one of several other initiatives organized by the two partners, a recent one being the FA Cup Caribbean Tour, which gave football fans up-close and unprecedented access to footballs most coveted trophy.

Garry Sinclair, Flows President, Caribbean, reiterated Flows commitment to providing new and exciting opportunities for athletes of all ages to further enrich sport across the region.

While there is an exciting grand prize for the eventual winners of the Flow Ultimate Football Experience, its the lasting impact this event will have on our sporting community which makes us most proud, said Sinclair. Were glad the events in all our markets have been executed so smoothly and it gives me personal satisfaction hearing all of the positive feedback from participants, knowing what this initiative has meant for their communities. We want to congratulate the winners, but also want to let these youngsters know that were proud of them and to keep working hard to achieve your dreams and know that Flow is here to support you every step along the way.

(13-year-old Jeremiah Justin from Gros Islet, one of the Flow Manchester United Ultimate Football Experience winners)

(Djal Augustin of Anse La Raye impressed in the Flow Manchester United Football Experience)

Saint Lucia will be represented in Trinidad and Tobago by Jeremiah Justin of Gros Islet, and Djal Augustin of Anse La Raye.

(Winners, Jeremiah and Djal with Flow Saint Lucia Acting Marketing Manager, Terry Finisterre)

Original post:

Flow Ultimate Football Experience Leaves Lasting Impact on Young Caribbean Footballers - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)