Author: ws lirakis

a sailor who carries a camera

AMERICA’S CUP 1978-1979

   The 1977 America’s Cup was done and dusted. Already plans for the 1980 cup were underway.  Baron Bic built “France III”, designed by Johan Valentin. (who would co-design “Australia” with Ben Lexan for 1980)
     Bic also owned “Intrepid”, which was being used as a trial horse against “France III.” In the summer of 1978 “Intrepid” had a host of skippers: Bill Ficker, Lowell North, Gerry Driscoll. “France III”also had a series of tryouts for skipper, including Bruno Trouble.
  Gerry Driscoll arrived at an agreement with Baron Bic, who agreed to lease “Intrepid” to Gerry for the 1980 America’s Cup if he could find financing for the program.
    1979, I was crew boss, downwind helmsman, and tactician. I was also responsible for maintenance of the boat; the actual work being carried out by the French shore crew.
   In over 100 starts, we lost one. Gerry owned the starting line, and was the most consistent helmsman I ever sailed with, every tack was the same, which meant the crew could always have the same timing.
     Many good stories came from this season, but no money was found for Intrepid’s comeback.

  

VJ DAY in Rhode Island

Today is VJ Day in Rhode Island (victory over Japan) Rhode Island is the last state in the union to celebrate such a holiday. I must assume that this is one of the more politically incorrect holidays to still exist.
    I have the hope that the real reason for observing this holiday is exactly that observing a holiday. I believe that today the beaches in Rhode Island are free and packed.

Enterprise 1977

The new Sparkman&Stephens 12 meter, arriving in Newport with Lowell North as skipper, and a great crew.( any of the crews on each boat were capable of defending the cup)  Lowell, while exceedingly talented, could not stop tinkering which led to his being replaced as skipper.
Enterprise arrived in Newport with a very short “J” measurement, in order to achieve a more vertical forestay. In sharp contrast, on “Independence” had our headstay as far forward as could be. While the science might have predicted a more vertical headstay as good, there was simply no substitute for the additional sail area.
In the last photo “Enterprise is using a mylar genoa. The use of mylar was revolutionary in 1977. We followed shortly thereafter with one of our own, which the crew dubbed the garbage bag.
“Enterprise” was probably a faster boat than she demonstrated that summer, she was however the first boat excused from the trials.
Once again the color photos here are credited to Marshall Lawson

MEASURING IN 1977

ted and tenacious
measuring the twelves
The 12 meters must meet the criteria set in the international 12 meter rule in order to sail officially in the class; which was the chosen class since 1958 until 1987 to compete for the America’s Cup.  Bob Blumenstock was the official measurer for the New York Yacht Club and the America’s Cup.
Preparation for measurement was always an involved process. The design process is the beginning. The 12 meter rule conceived in 1906 is a very sound rule. It allows changes and innovations, but if you take from one area, you must give up something in another area. Changes are therefore subtle.
But here we are at Bannister’s Wharf, our syndicate headquarters, being measured. Still water is essential. The boats are built and assumed to be within the rule. There were things we able, within the rule, to make sure we “measured in.” In our time, measuring in, while serious, was a far cry from the process today.

Laura Dekker gets a green light

Laura Dekker the Dutch girl who at 14 will leave August 10th to sail non-stop around the world single-handed. The Dutch Government had interceded to prevent this claiming she was too young to make this decision herself, have been thwarted by the courts. Read more here.
 Publicity for this event much like the reality shows that have taken over television, positive or negative is spreading the word, (as am I ).
   All of these events, touch each of us, as we all have opinions about the world and how it should be.
Look at the firestorm that has surrounded John Kerry’s new yacht, it’s cost and whether he should pay taxes, why he chose not to build it in New England. All questions we can ask ourselves and have no control over the outcome anyway.

June 1977

   In May, it was still quite cold. Peter Lawson one day motored from Newport to Marblehead, with “Nanny” a Holmatro powerboat, an attractive stylized boat that was capable of only 8 knots at full speed.
This meant that the trip was much longer than we anticipated. It also meant that this boat could not keep up with the twelves. Sailing upwind exchanging sails was often a problem with “Nanny”.

coageous and independence at bannister’s wharf
dredging bannister’s
independence in lift
ted hood, scott perry,teddy

 Preparation of Bannister’s Wharf(where the Candy Store is located) which would be our base for the summer. included a lift which “Independence”would share with “Courageous”. There was not enough water, so dredging was done in a very original way. If you click on the photo of the tugboat, you will see the crew, something I had never  paid attention to until this posting.
     Each of the crew had assigned responsibilities for boat maintenance, in addition to our jobs as crew. Official measuring the boats, and the June Trials, in the next post.

Team Racing

I have long been a proponent of Team Racing, particularly at the interscholastic and intercollegiate levels. It is a team sport, which involves more participation. I feel that the emphasis placed on the A & B skippers is gone too far and diminishes the sense of team.

   I still keep many fond memories of college sailing. We thought of it as competitive, but pales by today’s standards. Still I liked what we did and the fun we had.

  In little less than a month I am looking forward to sailing a team racing event. Short courses, lots of starts, no ratings, teamwork on the boat as important as that of the team.
  
The Chicago Mackinac Race starts tomorrow, wind at the start diminishing over the next 24-30 hours and filling for the small boats; as it looks now. A great race.