Month: May 2014
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF SPEED
The America’s Cup showcased foiling under sail; something no one can ever unsee. Foiling is the new standard. Swing keels are also a standard in the search to reduce wetted surface.
It is hard to imagine that “Charisma” was once the standard for speed under sail. Construction with aluminum lent itself to very strong boats that could be easily altered. “Charisma” was perhaps the penultimate IOR boat.
For ease of altering a boat nothing can beat aluminum. Carbon fiber is however in a class by itself for strength to weight ratio; making today’s yachts lighter and stronger than ever.
HURRICANE SEASON
In its 2014 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a near-normal or below-normal season.
The main driver of this year’s outlook is the anticipated development of El Niño this summer. El Niño causes stronger wind shear, which reduces the number and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes. El Niño can also strengthen the trade winds and increase the atmospheric stability across the tropical Atlantic, making it more difficult for cloud systems coming off of Africa to intensify into tropical storms.
The outlook calls for a 50 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10 percent chance of an above-normal season. For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA predicts a 70 percent likelihood of 8 to 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 3 to 6 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 2 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).
These numbers are near or below the seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, based on the average from 1981 to 2010. The Atlantic hurricane region includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
“Thanks to the environmental intelligence from NOAA’s network of earth observations, our scientists and meteorologists can provide life-saving products like our new storm surge threat map and our hurricane forecasts,” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “And even though we expect El Niño to suppress the number of storms this season, it’s important to remember it takes only one land falling storm to cause a disaster.”
Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, said the Atlantic – which has seen above-normal seasons in 12 of the last 20 years – has been in an era of high activity for hurricanes since 1995. However, this high-activity pattern is expected to be offset in 2014 by the impacts of El Niño, and by cooler Atlantic Ocean temperatures than we’ve seen in recent years. – NOAA, read on
National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 25-31. NOAA offers hurricane preparedness tips, along with video and audio public service announcements in both English and Spanish, featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA Administrator atwww.hurricanes.gov/prepare
DRAGON DAMMAGE
Looking at this video I certainly believe I have sailed exactly where “Dragon” struck the rocks many times. I guess I was just lucky.
CURE FOR CANCER?
I found this among family papers I was sorting. Ruben Adams, son of Ephraim and Sarah adams ws cured of a cancer, may 1811, following the recipe. He was my great, great, great, great uncle.
“BATTLE OF THE BOATS” AC 72
BECA sponsored the presentations throughout New Zealand given by Neil Wilkinson and Andy Kensington.
BUILDING A FAIRLIE 55
from loft to launch the story of building a boat.
HAS THE AMERICA’S CUP LOST IT’S WAY?
Sail-World.com News
Gladwell’s Line: Has the America’s Cup lost its way?
7:57 AM Sun 18 May 2014
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| ‘How hard is it really for the America’s Cup to go back to San Francisco?’ Carlo Borlenghi/Luna Rossa© Click Here to view large photo |
The America’s Cup has taken another curious turn, with the news out late in the week that the America’s Cup Event Authority had approached Bermuda to stage the 35th America’s Cup.
That would move the regatta out of USA, and arguably be sailed in Britain, as the tiny island is a British Overseas Territory.
The Bermuda bid is clearly aimed at the commercialization of the America’s Cup, with scant regard for the dictates of the Deed of Gift.
With the Defenders attempting to take over the conduct of the Challenger Selection Series (formerly the Louis Vuitton Cup), and run the series of supporting regattas, one wonders where the next strange turn will come.
Certainly there does not seem to be any hurry to get a Protocol or Venue named for the event, already eight months have passed. The Protocol for the 34th America’s Cup was announced seven months after the conclusion of the 33rd Match – and that came off the back of a two and a half year Court case and the accompanying acrimony, which all but destroyed the event.
The Class rule for the new AC62 is in circulation. That is a good move. The new rule would seem to be a collaborative effort between the teams from the AC72 era, with the experiences being shared between two top design teams – who both got some things right and others wrong.
Without the Protocol, and more particularly without the Venue, the potential Challengers have no story to tell sponsors.
Both items should have been much easier after the success of the 34th America’s Cup.
The Protocol had been worked over and changed regularly. It was a living document, and while some may be uncomfortable with that approach, it is consistent with other sports which deal with issues on the fly and quickly effect change. Development of the new Class Rule has already been covered.
The Venue should have been a no-brainer off the back of the success of San Francisco. For sure there are local issues with authorities etc, but in its simplest form the America’s Cup is just a yacht race. There were no indications from the Port that a permit would not be approved after the last event. And a coming ready or not approach is often a better way to deal with bureaucracy, than seeking permission.
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Current Challenger of Record principal Bob Oatley (left) with America’s Cup winner, Ernesto Bertarelli and wife Kristy, 2013 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week – Belinda Rolland © Click Here to view large photo
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After all, bureaucrats come and go, but the America’s Cup has been around for three centuries.
But even so a deal was on the table from San Francisco within the deadline set by GGYC.
Probably the most disconcerting issue is that going back to when the America’s Cup was held in Auckland, the San Francisco based teams were the most vociferous as to how the Cup should be run and managed.
Ernesto Bertarelli may have rubbed people up the wrong way in 2007, but he was able to create an event that had preliminary regattas, while the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup regattas produced a healthy surplus for the teams.
Off the back of the 2007 regatta in Valencia, he was properly taken to task for trying to acquire all Challenger rights, through the use of a sham Challenger of Record, and it was San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club, which became the champion of the challengers.
Many assumed after that legal era concluded that the Cup would be on track for some glorious years, with Golden Gate YC practicing what they had preached.
Bertarelli was portrayed as the villain of that America’s Cup saga, but it takes two to tango.
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2012 Argo Group Gold Cup the 7th stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour sailed out of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club – © Talbot Wilson – Argo Group Gold Cup?nid=122244 Click Here to view large photo
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Having taken the stance they had with the Swiss, Golden Gate YC had the responsibility to get the America’s Cup show to a level where it should be. For sure, people were forgiving that the process would initially take some time, and cut Golden Gate some slack in the lead up to 2013.
Generally Golden Gate lived up to expectations, getting the formula right, particularly with taking the event to the general public and enthusing a new, bigger group of fans.
An offer of four wharves for the teams was made within the December 31, 2013 deadline required by the Defenders and event organisers. Other space outside that are is available. The Defenders reaction was to kick a more extensive venue search projected at the time to take 11 more months. For what gain?
What is happening now, with six good teams lined up to challenge, but having to mark time, is inexcusable.
The delay over the venue announcement would seem to have no sound basis, save for local politics within San Francisco.
While Golden Gate play around trying to get a good formula better, they are burning off potential teams and sponsors. By the time the Defenders are ready to party, many of the Challengers will have expired.
The latest development in the search for an event venue is both perplexing and deeply concerning.
by Richard Gladwell Sail-World.com/nz
ALUMNI WEEKEND AT ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL
WORKING WATERFRONT, NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND
What do I do with the archive of photos I have accumulated over half a century? I jumped in with both feet and produced a book titled “WORKING WATERFRONT”. These are images of Newport’s waterfront, which has long since disappeared from the landscape; along with those who worked there.
Each photo has a story connected to it for me. Anecdotes unconnected other than by the waterfront that I remember in these photographs.