How do you spell FUN? Team racing in Sonars. The level of competition has ratcheted up over the seasons, making it very physically and mentally demanding. Consequently it really emphasizes the team in all aspects of sailing the boat around the course. Leaves you looking for more.
Month: May 2009
VIEW FROM MY HOTEL
After the Jubilee in Cowes the boats made their way to Sardinia. I met up with “Columbia” in Porto Cervo. These photos are the view from my hotel room. I will add that I was in Sardinia for 9/11. Feeling rather helpless. Cell phones were useless as most communication to the US was intentionally shut off.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW
My mother-in-law, I am a loss for words to adequately express the depth and breadth of my love for her and the love she shined on me. I was accepted unconditionally the day I married her daughter, as if I were her own flesh and blood.
A woman of exceptional charm and grace and intelligence, who defended me even if she felt I was wrong, even when it involved her own daughter and would only tell me later that I ought to apologize. Every conversation I ever had with her is a memory I cherish.
BLOCK ISLAND RACE 2009
With “Snow Lion” not racing this season, Rich DuMoulin invited me to sail aboard “Laura-Ann” his Express 37. One of the smallest boats I have ever sailed. . A very pleasant boat to sail, with tiller steering. The 2009 Block Island Race re-united me with Rich and Chris Reyling with whom I last sailed aboard “Charisma” during the 1972 trans-atlantic race to Spain.
The race started earlier than usual in a SW breeze. We got to the Race at About 10:30pm, the wind died, and we were sucked through backwards, a first. 1BI at 5:30 am; back through the Sluce in an easterly breeze, which held to the finish, for us about 5:30 pm saturday.
We were 1st in class and 2nd overall, losing to the new Titan 2.
DAN CIANCI
Dan Cianci was lost overboard off the coast of New Jersey in November 2004. “Snow Lion” had been donated to the Naval Academy. A crew came to Greenwich, Ct. to pick up the boat and take it to Annapolis. In the early morning hours off New Jersey, Dan went overboard and they were not able to get back to him.
Just writing the story tightens my chest. Dan had been on my watch for the 2003 trans-atlantic race, the fastnet race, 2004 Bermuda race, and all the shorter races in between. We had earned each others trust and friendship.
HITTING WHALES
The Volvo boats are racing from Boston to Galway, Ireland. Ericsson 3 hit a whale. I have raced across the Atlantic 7 times never at the speeds of these boats. I have hit whales twice in those crossings.
In 1971 we had been sailing in thick fog for several days, I will remind you that navigation then was a sun sight, star sight and /or dead reckoning. As we had not seen anything for a while, we were relying on dr which put us more or less 20 miles south of Sable Island. There is a current which sets you north towards the island. It is a graveyard of ships. There are more than 100 wrecks there.
I was in my bunk when we hit the whale. We were running under spinnaker and it was night. I was panicked that we were going aground on the island. We hit him twice, once with the forefoot of the boat and a second time with the keel. Scrambling up the companionway just in time to see the whale pop up astern, losing him in the fog very quickly.
The next encounter was in 2005 aboard “Tempest” the 80 foot S&S design. At dusk this time. I was steering under spinnaker at about 15 knots. Suddenly, it was as if we had hit a sandbar. I hardly had time to look over my shoulder to see him, as conditions were a little squirrelly.
Finally I had a near miss in the 2004 Bermuda race. It was early morning. We were sailing into a hot rising sun. Jack, who was trimming the spinnaker said oh look there’s a whale. I had no idea where it was. When I did see it. I had to decide which end to go around. We were sailing at 10-11 knots with the spinnaker up. I chose to head up going around his head; as the shadow of the spinnaker passed over him it seemed to startle him and he lurched forward, I gasped, he dove straight down and it was over before anyone else noticed.
Pierre Sicouri
Pierre Sicouri died early this morning. Far to young. A vital, gentle, determined, charming man.
We first sailed together during the 1975 Fastnet Race aboard “Guia”, belonging to Georgio Falk.
Pierre sailed the single handed trans-atlantic race using “Guia”. in 1980 he sailed a multihull, winning class in both attempts.
Dogs and their owners
Along with photographing everything else, dogs and their owners is another subject that never ceases to amuse.
found photos
The 2005 trans-atlantic race from New york to Cowes, England,aboard “Tempest” the 80 foot S&S ketch provided an opportunity to sail on the ocean and to photograph nature and each other during the 15 day passage. I have written previously about the race. I only just found the photographs sent to me by Christian Jensen, who was also part of the crew.
We are probably sailing along at 17 knots in a 120,000 pound boat; dragging a lot of water. The porpoises loved our wake.
CAIN AND ABEL
This is a copy of a sermon given at the Chapel at St. George’s School in 1964. Obviously it made a strong impression on me as I have kept this copy all these years. The story of two brothers is found throughout literature. Romulus and Remus, another example. The bible is a marvelous piece of literature regardless of your religious beliefs.
The exceptional ability to explain the complexities of the human condition has always been what separates great literature from good .
