December 2012 – stephenlirakis.com

PHOTOGRAPHIC REVIEW

I start out knowing which photographs are my favorites. It doesn’t take long filing through my images that I have collected many more than I intended. It is a little like choosing a favorite child. I love them all. I would love some feedback if you have preferences.

2012 provided many opportunities. To see more click: HERE

I tried unsuccessfully yesterday, to make this post, and again this morning. Finally with the help of my internet provider, whatever was preventing me from uploading was resolved.

VENDEE GLOBE

Two of the world’s best sailors are sailing on equally fast designs utilizing similar meteorological data and routing software. Neither one has made a slip up and both boats have proven to be well built and thoroughly prepared. We are all witnesses to history here as the bar is being collectively raised. 80 days is under attack and the Vendée is no longer a marathon race. It is now a sprint around the world, non-stop, throwing down 500 mile days at will. Less than 20 years ago, a fully-crewed 86-foot maxi-catamaran (Commodore Explorer, skippered by Bruno Peyron) became the first to eclipse the mythical 80-day mark. And now a pair of singlehanded monohulls may go as fast or faster than Bruno and Co. Simply fascinating

WILD OATS BREAKS THE COURSE RECORD

Wild Oats has finished the Sydney to Hobart race in record time. Click: Here to see the details

SANTA HAS COME AND GONE

WREATHS AND LIGHTS

It is Christmas Eve and much of the world is pausing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but the essence of the season is giving thanks for what we have. Good friends, our family, good fortune, which is measured in many ways. The Wreath has come to symbolize all of these things through time, perhaps even more strongly than the christmas tree.

It is a season for children. I remember the anticipation I had as a child, then that of my own children and look forward to that same joy in my grandchildren.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

When the children were young we used to drive to see the christmas lights some of which were year round efforts. These are from Los Angeles where I still have trouble reconciling the christmas season. Somehow I imagine christmas, particularly a white christmas among the trees being a New England tradition. Silly as this might be, even when I know better, somehow I still hold that thought in my mind.

12 21 12

The shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice, also the first day of winter; according to many it should have been the end of the world as we know it.

We celebrated last night with friends, not because we were worried about the end of the world but then one could say we were hedging our bets.

FACE PLANT

Oracle racing is feverishly working to complete two boats to get back out on the water. The Vendee Globe sailors have reached the halfway point. They have under 12,000 miles to sail to the finish. Blazing speeds with 2 miles separating the two lead boats halfway through the race.
Jan Gougeon has died. One of the bright spots in sailing for years, certainly in my lifetime.

IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

I have a large archive of photographs that covers a wide range of subjects.click:HERE If you have not decided what to get for christmas consider contacting me. All the best for the holidays.