Author: ws lirakis
a sailor who carries a camera
SNOW and “J” BOATS
1937 TROPHY 
- Hanuman
What more can one say? This winter has not been kind to anyone living on the east coast.
Last night at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport it was announced that the “J” class will sail a regatta here in the summer. Elegant, heavy and powerful.
DATES FOR THE AMERICA’S CUP
The dates for the America’s Cup have been published. Get ready San Francisco.
Louis Vuitton : July 13-September 1, 2013
America’s Cup finals: September 7-22, 2013
34th America’s Cup dates confirmed
But San Francisco Host Venue Agreement provides more detail
Tuesday January 25th 2011, Author: James Boyd, Location: United States
The dates for the 34th America’s Cup in 2013 and for the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series were confirmed today by Regatta Director Iain Murray.
The Louis Vuitton Cup will run from 13 July until 1 September 2013
The America’s Cup match will run from 7-22 September 2013
However the timetable laid out in the Host Venue Agreement provides a little more detail:
The Louis Vuitton Cup round robin – 13 July-4 August 2013 (including eight laydays)
Louis Vuitton Cup quarter finals (best of three) – 8-11 August 2013 (0 laydays)
Louis Vuitton Cup semi finals (best of five) – 16-19 August 2013 (0 laydays)
Louis Vuitton Cup challenger finals (best of seven) – 23 August-1 September (3 laydays)
The America’s Cup Match itself will be a best of nine affair with one race per day of one hour duration. Potential race days are 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20-22 September 2013.
USA 17 HEADED FOR SAN FRANCISC0
USA 17 heads for San Francisco
Oracle Racing’s monster tri due to arrive on 1 March
Tuesday January 25th 2011, Author: James Boyd, Location: Spain
USA 17 has only ever competed twice, but she sailed the races of her life to dominate the Swiss defender, Alinghi, off Valencia, Spain, last year to win the 33rd America’s Cup.
The extraordinary carbon-fibre trimaran is currently being loaded onto the freighter M.V. Star Isfjord this week for the delivery trip to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. The freighter carrying both USA 17 and her 223ft tall wingsail is scheduled to leave Valencia on 29 or 30th January for the 7,900-nautical-mile passage to San Francisco. Her ETA, dependent upon on-time loading, sea conditions en-route and transit time in the Panama Canal, is 1 March.
The trimaran’s arrival will mark the first time that USA 17 visits the city that Oracle Racing calls home. She was launched in Anacortes, WA, in August 2008, and after initial testing there moved to San Diego, CA, for a further period of training before being moved to Valencia for the 33rd Cup Match last February.
Measuring more than 100 feet long and 90 feet wide and powered by a 20-storey tall wingsail, USA 17 is the fastest yacht to ever win the America’s Cup. It has been in storage in Valencia since winning the Cup on 14 February, 2010.
With the Oracle Racing team fully focused on laying the groundwork for its 34th America’s Cup campaign in 2013, the provisional plan is to continue to keep USA 17 in storage after unloading. An announcement about the vessel’s sailing plans will be made later this year.
“The handful of us privileged to sail on USA 17 would love to sail her again in an instant. I dare say all those who never had this chance would like to as well,” said Oracle Racing skipper James Spithill. “But the stark reality is that every aspect of the boat, every component, was built right to the limit so that for every hour’s sailing USA 17 required 20 hours of painstaking and rigorous maintenance. For the time being the team’s focus will be on the America’s Cup ahead.”
MUSINGS FROM JOE COOPER
JOE COOPER has started a blog, here is a excerpt, Joe is a valuable resource for sailors.
SIX METER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HELSINKI 2011
For those of you who would like to follow Brian Thompson aboard Banque Populaire V in their attempt to break the record non-stop around the world, click HERE.
The SIX METER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP will be in HELSINKI in 2011. Here is how to get your boat there. This promises to be a wonderful event. The Six meter clan are are a terrific group. Join them on the Facebook Group.
291 MILES AHEAD
Banque Populaire V is 291 miles ahead after 24 hours! Brian Thompson is the only non Gall aboard In order to beat the record around the world they must finish by march 11, 19:55:37
AC 45 CATS
These 45 foot carbon fiber catamarans were launched from conception to on the water was only 4 months.
BANQUE POPULAIRE V sets off tomorrow
BANQUE POPULAIRE V sets off tomorrow on an attempt to break the record around the world of 50 days. Brian Thompson the only non french speaking crew member.
CORONET UPDATE
“Coronet” as many of you know is being restored at IYRS, (really by Bob McNeil). A multi year project. For anyone who loves building wooden boats this is such an interesting project.
It is winter, and “Coronet” is on the Newport waterfront, but in fact the building in which “Coronet” is housed, was rather warm; wood stove, a dog and wood shavings. What more could a shipwright ask for?