Category: 12 meter class

Valiant 1974

Valiant in the travel lift at Newport shipyard

This is a photograph I have searched for far and wide. I asked AP, the Newport Daily News, Providence Journal, New York Times. Each of them, if they responded at all, “no such photo”.
I was beginning to doubt my own memory. I asked during this past weekend and found the individual who had been on the deck when Valiant fell. But It was Peter Zendt who had the photo and kindly allowed me to scan it.  The strap broke on the lift, mercifully over the water. the backstay was not attached, this was normal procedure when lifting a boat. When she fell the mast must have really whipped about.
My memory has proved to be intact.

LAST DAY

Gary Jobson,halsey Herreshoff, Ted Turner, Tom Whidden, Bill Ficker, Ted hood

Gary Jobson, Harold Cudmore, Gordon Ingate, Pelle Petterson, Peter DeSavary, Syd Fisher, John Savage

Syd Fisher, John Savage, Bruno Trouble

Sunday Brunch, the end of the weekend and the event. The panel discussion despite the seeming formality was interesting as it was revealing. As with so many things in life one has to be willing to listen. For me the most interesting to speak was Pelle Petterson, who told how he arrived at the America’s Cup in a simple quiet way.
   But each of the panelists had something to say. I have sailed with or known each of them for many years and there is still always another piece of the puzzle revealed.
    A full to the brim weekend which I said is bittersweet as I was delighted to see everyone, and the simultaneous knowledge that for many reasons I will never see many of them ever again.  I know them not just in the context of the America’s Cup, but many, many other sailing events.
  

JEFF NEUBERTH WINS A ROLEX

jeff neuberth wins a rolex

re-visiting the america’s cup

peter bowker, ted turner, robbie doyle

starting line 

dennis connor

hans isbrandsen trimming the spinnaker

Today was a full day, starting with breakfast talks about the past, present and future of the America’s Cup. Followed by boat assignments for the “legends” race; after a general recall, “Freedom” with Dennis Connor won the next start and the race.
    The America’s Cup Hall of Fame took place in the evening inducting 6, five of which were from the “new” generation of America’s Cup sailors. While I am certain they were all deserving; I think the selection committee should have considered the weekend and chosen from the 12 meter era 1958-1987.
  tomorrow, Sunday is the last day of the event and another panel discussion is scheduled before we all go our separate ways; which is the reason this weekend took particular importance for me. I am not likely to see many of these people ever again.

THE TWELVE METER REUNION CLAMBAKE

COCKTAILS ON THE LAWN

DINNER UNDER THE TENT
JIM CALDWELL AND RICH DUMOULIN

If I had to choose a photo to define the reason for the weekend it would be the photo of Jim and Rich. This is the point of the weekend. If I have done my job well the picture tells the story.
    Quite beyond the fact of the weekend here are two shipmates with whom I would sail anywhere anytime. I have much to be happy about and this is one of them, to count them as friends and share memories with them.
   But there are so many, friends and memories. I choose not to sail this weekend for exactly this reason, it’s about the people

con findlay, paul fuchs, ted turner & elizabeth

12 METER ERA RE-UNION

GARY JOBSON, DAVID ELWELL,TED TURNER,BILL FICKER,STEVE VAN DYKE
PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE NEWPORT BOAT SHOW
GORDON INGATE

PETER WILSON,STEVE VAN DYKE, GORDON INGATE

UNDER THE TENT AT THE NYYC

The afternoon started with a panel discussion with Bill Ficker, Ted Turner, Steve Van Dyke,Gordon Ingate, David Elwell and Gary Jobson.
    Ted admitted he was drunk for the debrief after the 1977 America’s Cup and apologized to Bill Ficker who had moderated the event.
  Gordon Ingate stole the show with his shirt the read:”Daughters of America, Lock up Your Mothers” and his insistence that the foul between “Gretel II” and “Intrepid” which had been decided in Intrepid’s favor in 1970, was misguided justice and deserved to be reopened. Dev Barker who had been on the Jury in 1970, was in the crowd and stated that the Australians were good sailors but had never learned the racing rules. This discussion continued after the panel disbanded and may unravel the harmony between the United States and Australia.
   The evening continued under a tent, a good thing as the rain did come, with a vengeance.
I saw so many people that I had not seen in such a long time. Don’t misunderstand my words, but this weekend is really not about the sailing; at least not for me.

12 meter era re-union, first night

dinner in the 12 meter yacht club, candy store

max awarding trophies 30 years late

The re-union does not start until tomorrow. Thanks to Ted Turner, some of us who had sailed with him on 12 meters and other boats started early telling the stories that only those of us who were there could confirm or deny.
   Tomorrow night 400 are expected. can’t wait to see everyone.

UNBOLTING THE CUP

intrepid & courageous both two time defenders

unbolting the cup marble house september 1983

Tomorrow is the start of the twelve meter north american championship followed by the 12 meter era re-union.
   We sailed with 11 crew, today the boats are sailed with 17.  I do not remember being overtaxed. The normal rush turning corners.
  I look forward to seeing those I sailed with and against.

Joe Cooper, wishing him good health and good luck

I will l be leaving Hood at the end of October.  Most folks that hear this more or less want to know what might motivate the Crazy Aussie Sailor to branch out….?
What else is out there that could grab all the passion he has for boats and sailing….?
One word
Health (mine and others)
It is a long story but the short version is that I will be partners in a wellness and nutrition club in Middletown.
The products we use in our Club are excellent- It is very high quality nutrition. Short version is basically a nutrition shake as the core product with many other supporting products in the lineup. Net result is excellent nutrition, weight loss, maintenance or gain, as needed.
I have found the products to be excellent when on the road, pressed for time, too knackered to do anything about dinner after a long drive back from somewhere and orders of magnitude preferable to any fast food and most slow food too for that matter.
In terms of easy good nutrition for sailors, on the NEST race I used the shakes in 2 thermos jugs plus the hydrating drinks; I had them in the cockpit tail bags I would just slurp away on them during the 18 hours of the race and in addition to some bars they have too and after NO sleep, I felt great. Tired but just fine, no sugar rush (Snickers or Oreos) headache or coffee jitters or coffee mouth as is normal after an all-nighter…
I have been using the products for 18 months and signed up to be a distributor about a year ago and finely really committed to changing gigs about 6 weeks ago.
In this time I have lost about 15 lbs, about 4 inches of waist (so I am now down to a svelte 240 (yester day went under 240 for the first time in living memory…) from pushing a lumbering 260
I will be operating out of the Club on west main rd., opposite the Hess station/Staples. We are called “The Daily Shake” and we are on the east side of WMR, (you drive past us every time you go to NEB/Hinckley) in the small strip with the China Star Chinese, the Bike Shop, and the ever revolving Verizon shop. Until the end of October I will be here from 0800-1000, then after wards more, regular day time hours 3-4 days a week, particulars to come.
I invite you to come and visit us and see what is going on both in terms of really excellent nutrition in general and especially for sailing..


    I have know Joe Cooper for a long time now. I seldom see him, but I know if he believes in this product it must be good.

America’s Cup 1986-87 & Hurricane Earl


The Australians returned home with the America’s Cup as heros. The entire country was excited. It was a new game; the parameters of the necessary boats were now different. Heavy air boats were now necessary, very different than those that had been sailed in Newport for so many years. Dennis Connor created an unprecedented organization, five boats each an improvement on the previous. Dennis is rewarded with redemption; returning the Cup to the United States.
I had no more involvement with the cup than any other citizen. Deeply involved in building Lirakis Safety Harness,along with three children,  hardly having time to put my head up.
The twelve meter re-union will be held at Harbour Court September 16-19
It is Labor Day weekend. Hurricane Earl is a memory. What happened to Earl anyway? For one week I had updates from so many sources indicating that Newport was in the target zone. We had hardly any rain and more wind the day after the storm.

The Stamford-Vineyard race will not leave Long Island Sound, being a shortened course.