Author: ws lirakis

a sailor who carries a camera

PANORAMAS

This is really a test. I have been working on panoramas recently. Each photo is a very large file(a half million megabits) and I never even considered trying to post them to my blog. These photos are considerably reduced. You should be able to click on them and have them enlarge.
     Each photograph is comprised of a dozen or more photos that are recomposed (stitched) to make a single wide photo.

HALF A CORONET?

I have been visiting “Coronet” periodically to watch her progress. The winter progress seemed much like the winter itself, long and drawn out without much progress. What is evident is the careful planning, the keel and stem are rebated and ready. No small feat, remember everything in this project is really big.
   Here are photos side by side from 10 days ago and today.

1974 MARINER, INTREPID

Every syndicate that vies to defend the America’s Cup invests all it’s hopes and desires in their boat. The manifestation of everything leading up to an America’s Cup summer. “Mariner” was no different. Every sailor also wants an edge, generally that is translated into an extra margin of boat speed. Every boat has a good crew; but without a good boat under them, there is little anyone can do. “Mariner” was in trouble in that department from her first day sailing.  No matter how many times “Mariner” was in a controlling position, she could not hold it.
“Intrepid” rebuilt by Gerry Driscoll from San Diego, coming back for another try. Since she was built of wood and therefore at least 3,000 pounds heavier than her aluminum rivals,and woefully short on budget, no one expected her to be a legitimate contender.
“Interpid” had been largely abandoned, Gerry Driscoll rebuilt her essentially to her original lines, a bigger rudder, A low profile crew, focused on sailing. Having sailed with Gerry(I will write about this later) he owned the starting line. This is an example of a crew out sailing the other boats, The selection committee continued racing between “Courageous” and “Intrepid” until practically until the start of the America’s Cup itself. I believe the Selection Committee was under pressure to select the new boat, the racing sharpened both boats. I also believe “Courageous” was a faster boat, just not as well sailed.

WORLD METROLOGY DAY

Today is world metrology day, celebrating the standardization of measure. How important is that? I will add here that when lofting “Courageous” S&S chose to give us the offsets in centimeters. They felt it would produce a more accurate set of lines. Remember this is 1973, It was not obvious where we would get tape measures in centimeters; we had to special order them. To further complicate things I seem to recall that  the keel design was delivered to us in tenths of an inch. We had to order yet another set of tapes.

1974 america’s cup the beginning

Here is where the 12 meter story becomes more personal for me. 1972 Bermuda race, Transatlantic race to Spain, delivery to Sardinia aboard “Charisma”. November I sailed the first Windsurfer Championships in Mission Bay San Diego, a week later back on “Charisma” in Rio de Janeiro for the first Rio Circuit, upon return I picked up and moved to City Island and started work at Minneford’s for Chuck Sadler.

“Lightin’ ” was perhaps the last one tonner from Sparkman & Stephens, was complete, “Namis” a Gary Mull design, was well underway. I started lofting “Sorcery” a 56 foot sloop from S&S with Jay Selden, who coincidently had been at St. George’s with me. During this time Phil Rhodes, now retired, but had boats in his blood, started coming by and bringing me “homework” which he would correct the following visit. It is now 1973. We as a group are taking design courses at Long Island University. 
I sail the Annapolis Newport race on “Lightin” with Ted Turner and most of the crew who had been with him for some time and would be aboard “Courageous” in 1977; but we are not there yet.
I get married after the Admiral’s Cup on “Charisma”, we finish second to “Saga” the sistership of ” Charisma” in the Fastnet Race; it is August of 1973.  We all feel that Minneford’s will get to build the next S&S twelve meter, and it will be the first aluminum twelve meter ever.
We are again taking a course as a group, this time at Stevens Institute, a tank testing course, taught be Peter DeSaix.  He is excited about the results from Brit Chance’s design. Remember the as yet to be named “Courageous” is being towed at Stevens as well.
Brit Chance might never have continued on the path he started, had not the results encouraged him. Hindsight would show that the data had been mis-read/mis-interpreted. I will note the “Mariner” was being built at  Derecktor’s in Mamaroneck and I am pretty certain certain from each yard had seen what the other was building when the designs were on the loft floor.
The Fall Series in Annapolis,”Charisma”, skippered by Bill Ficker, would serve as the tryout platform for potential crew for the 12 meter we are building. We are not sailing on “Charisma” we are all pushed over to “Yankee Girl” the sistership to “Charisma”. We beat them for the series.
We built a mock up of a preliminary deck layout which we could heel, for Bill and his crew, who came to try it. An oil crisis would derail this Syndicate, who to their credit, felt that they could not in good conscience go forward with a 12 meter when the rest of the people in the United States were waiting in line for gasoline. This decision was based on the fact that the budget for fuel for the 4 months of tender for the boat was $50,000.00
Olin Stephens asks us to continue building and he will find a new syndicate. There would be no second-in-row for Bill Ficker.
This is the first aluminum twelve meter ever. LLoyd’s of London has been the guardian of the twelve meter rule and the scantlings or material standards for nearly 100 years. In addition to lofting “Courageous” my job was to co-ordinate with the representative from LLoyd’s as to our proposed ideas for building. He came once a week and would return with a yea or nay.
One day before we finished the lofting, Olin brought a guest, the man who had lofted “Constellation” and “Intrepid”;now elderly and could not see well, but he put his hands on the lines and gave them his blessing.

the challengers, 1970 America’s Cup

1970 was the first time there were multiple challengers, Baron Bic paved the way for what would become the norm in America’s Cup racing; a challenger elimination series. He also introduced the America’s Cup to  the French, and trained a crew many of whom would go on to long careers in the America’s Cup.  Bic, who had been enormously successful in business, considered that there would be no reason he could not apply the same principles that brought him success in business would equally apply in sailing. It would prove to be his achilles heel.
The Australians returned with the new thinking of Alan Payne, a soft spoken, polite and kind man, who in my estimation was never fully appreciated for his abilities. “Gretel II” was likely the fastest boat in 1970, additionally full of progressive ideas.  “Gretel II” probably suffered from the same steering difficulties as did “Interpid”; note the small rudder behind increasing bustle.
Sailmaking and the crew training were the critical differences between the Americans and the rest of the world still. We had an intense elimination series, which really sharpened everyone’s skills and pointed out weaknesses, which in cases could be corrected. ( Constellation in 1964 is a prime example)
This proved to be the closest America’s Cup yet and probably gave a small fright to the America’s Cup selection committee.

500 mb and the Gulf Stream

Today was the last day of class with Lee Chesneau, we discussed the 500 mb charts in weather. We had a guest speaker, Frank Bohlen who has spent most of his life studying the Gulf Stream. It is such a large feature and contains so much energy, it has a very real impact on weather.

  We only scratched the surface on these subjects, but it points us in the right direction to learn more

I have been stopping each time I return to newport crossing the bridge to check on the progress of the Ospreys that are nesting near the marsh. splendid creatures. I cannot wait to see the offspring.

500 mb tomorrow

  Lee is teaching us weather, at the Mystic Seaport. Tomorrow we will deal with the 500 mb level. I have been waiting for this for a long time. I just finished my assigned reading. It does not matter is terms of the material I am learning, however Lee is teaching Heavy weather avoidance, whereas my intention is to use what I learn to help set up for speed, much like the boats trying to set records do.
  We were also treated to a show at the Planetarium.

PERSONAL DAY

Friday evening was my 45th class re-union. I attended St. George’s School. Suddenly I wonder where the time went. It is the second re-union I have ever attended and I never really took the time to look back. Amazingly I was able to recognize everyone and recall their names. I had a very nice time listening to the life story of those I was able to speak with. As you all know everyone has a story.
     This evening was made possible by Jim Gubelmann, classmate, shipmate, friend. who with his wife hosted a dinner for us at his house. I call Jimmy “The glue that binds” He always finds a way to bring people together.
   The re-union continues this weekend, however, this was my only event, I am shortly off to attend Lee Chesneau’s weather course. I have been waiting for several years for him to give this course in my area.