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| Bailey on watch |
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The Museum is very proud that Bailey Boat Cat, a seal-point Siamese living aboard S/V Nocturne just outside of Rome, serves as our Ambassador at Sea! Bailey is an author, explorer and philosopher whose musings can be found in his recent book, Bailey Boat Cat: Adventures of a Feline Afloat. Bailey cruises the Mediterranean with co-skippers Louise and James and new crew members, April, Blue and Annabelle. These latter trainees are border collies and a chihuahua!
During the past year, Bailey and his shipmates have been staying near Milan, sailing under power on Lake Maggiore. They will soon return to Nocturne!
Bailey blogs about his sailing adventures and friends, including many nautical challenges that he and his humans face. In 2014, he wrote his first book and developed a regular correspondence with the Museum. His model performance as a maritime pet led us to appoint him as our Ambassador at Sea, with the blessings of his humans, of course!
Bailey's dispatches are recapped in a following section. He's been an exemplary emissary!
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| April on deck |
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Bailey's dispatches from the sea range over a wide subject matter. We have included our favorites here:
The Environment:
Bailey often comments on the refuse encountered while underway. Pollution and safety are issues that not all boaters take as seriously as S/V Nocturne's crew do! In one case, their propeller was tangled in plastic bags and rope, causing a stalled voyage and some repairs.
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| Propeller hazard |
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| Container dumped in the Mediterranean |
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| Barney (Greece) Marina Mascot |
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Seafaring Companions:
While on anchor or in port, Bailey has met many other seafaring pets from around the world, and to keep him company on the boat, he has new pup April, and two Russian hamsters.
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| Zoe (USA) meets Bailey |
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| Delphi (Norway) and Bailey |
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| Bailey on Watch I |
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Piloting and Standing Watch:
Bailey takes his skipper duties seriously, and while he yields the wheel to his crewmates, he maintains constant vigilance from all angles.
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| Bailey at the Rail |
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| Musing about the next trip |
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Navigation:
Bailey loves course charting, too!
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Wildlife at Sea:
Bailey loves meeting new species, whether land or sea-based. Here are some of his favorites.
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| Bailey fishing |
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| Watching the Ducks |
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| Dolphins often accompany Nocturne |
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| Marina Turtles |
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Safety:
Bailey and his co-skippers often encounter dangerous or risky behaviors and conditions on shore or at sea. He is a strong advocate of safe boating practices and proper boat and dock upkeep!
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| Huge yacht grounded while trying to negotiate a narrow marina passage |
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| Cracked pontoons |
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| Keeping your distance is crucial to safety! |
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| Watching the weather |
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| Impawtant documents! |
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Sea Travel Necessities:
A valid passport and current veterinary records are required at new ports of call. Practical philosophy also helps make voyages pleasant, safe and memorable!
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| Words to live by while afloat! |
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| Sea Gull/aka "dinghy devil" |
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Favorite reasons why I sail:
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| Finally underway! |
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| Peaceful anchorage |
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To learn more about Bailey Boat Cat, visit his website baileyboatcat.com, or reach him on Facebook or Twitter @BaileyBoatCat
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