ted and tenacious |
measuring the twelves |
ted and tenacious |
measuring the twelves |
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.
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.
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.
jim taylor measuring |
The 1977 America’s Cup began at the finish of the 1974 campaign. Ted Hood acquired “Courageous”. She was the benchmark boat, a new design would have to be better than the last winner. Jim Taylor was the designer for Ted Hood, and the one who discovered in measuring “Courageous” that the boat in fact did not measure as a twelve meter. She had sailed the 1974 series illegally. As one can imagine this revelation caused concern and the consequences could have been interesting. Put this in today’s context and the law suit might still be ongoing. All the parties agreed that the outcome would have remained the same, and moved on.
My involvement was a random encounter. I was in Marblehead looking at the new “Independence” and “Courageous” in the spring of 1977 or the fall of 1976, I actually do not recall now. Jeff Neuberth the Project Manager asked me who I was sailing with. I replied “no one” He said that he had been told I was sailing with “Enterprise”. Now knowing I was available asked if I would join the new boat.
jeff neuberth tailing |
I began my four day commute to Marblehead from Newport. As with each of us who sailed in the America’s Cup, how we got there and what we did is for each of us unique. Bernadette, my wife, and I were rehabbing a house in Newport. So in order to do both I was living on little sleep. Working night and day on the house, then driving to Marblehead and sailing long hours and working on the boat. What I remember about those early sailing sessions was how cold it was.
Ted Hood chartered “Courageous” and was to be our trial horse. This assumed that the new design was a faster boat.
congressional cup at long beach |
In April we went to Long Beach for the Congressional Cup, which in those days was really the only match racing event outside the America’s Cup. Ted Turner won. (I think that might be Dennis Connor on the dock in the photo at Long Beach Yacht Club.)
wsl on independence |
Back to Marblehead and more training and sail testing at the conclusion of the regatta. We had not faired well, not last, but not winners. The end of May was the date we would tow to Newport. We had a final “regatta” in Marblehead between “Courageous” and Independence” in which we were beaten handily by “Courageous” Reggie Pierce looked up from the grinder handles and said”This is going to be a long summer.” We all had a collective sense that we did not have the faster boat.
jibing duel courageous and independence |
Many of the photos including this last one, are thanks to Marshall Lawson who worked as shore support during the 1977 America’s Cup summer.
The next installment will deal with our arrival in Newport and the June trials.
whale tale This one is almost hard to believe, and in fact it sort of is… We had been taking some pictures and had just decided to head back when a Southern Right whale, between 11 – 14 m long, breached about 100 meters away from us. It then suddenly breached about 10 meters from us and then – right on us! We were sailing so had no engine and we could not even take any action. Scary!” Read on and see the resultant picture. Thanks to the Portfolio Travel Blog. Jump in the discusion. 07/20/10 |
It is no longer new news that San Francisco is the only city being considered for hosting the America’s Cup in 2013 or 2014. A study conducted by Bay Area Council Economic Institute and Beacon Economics and published today in the San Francisco Chronicle states that hosting the Cup would generate $1.9 billion in economic activity, and have long term residual benefits. Read the full report http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0719/
Newport, despite being a sentimental favorite, could never really have been in the same league with San Francisco.
pigeon point |
big sur |
pacific coast highway near malibu |
I have written about Los Angeles and other events, but not reported on how I got from one place to the other. We decided to drive route one, along the coast. I had never done it and of course since I was a teenager I have seen images of Big Sur that captured my imagination. We planned two days, which was barely enough as I wanted to stop to photograph every few minutes.
We also stopped at a number of towns and cities along the way. As with people, first impressions can be misleading and puzzling. I did not like Carmel particularly, I did like Santa Barbara. Both place are indeed very pretty, but somehow a little too clean. I am not sure how one can criticize a town for being clean. My hometown of Newport I find not clean enough. Perhaps I am just difficult to please. I could find myself living in Santa Barbara, which is full of architectural gems.
Our older son, Stefan, lives in Los Angeles and has a sound studio. Besides visiting him, the purpose of my visit was to lend a hand helping in any way I could during our short trip there. He is in the process of expanding the studio. He and his wife have also just to a new apartment. Bernadette, my wife painted and I sanded, upholstered and whatever else needed to be done.
I just cannot emphasize enough the pleasure downtown Los Angeles gives me. An architectural treasure trove. The first photos are of the “Cicada Club” in the 1928 Oviatt building. The glass work was done by Lalique, as good as I have ever seen. The last photo is that of the door on Rene Lalique’s house in Paris.
Broadway is grander than its counterpart in New York with wonderful facades. I walked the street again while in LA to marvel at the buildings.
The Port Huron to Mackinac Island race starts soon. I have never sailed this race. I have sailed 6 or 7 Chicago-Mackinac races, the last in 2007 on “Sue” with a great group of people. The Chicago-Mackinac will start later in the month.
For those of us used to sailing in salt water the first wave is a shock as it is fresh water.
Above is a trophy for the overall winner of the Chicago-Mackinac “Intrepid” in 1921. I have this for sale along with many other nautical items.