I had trouble fitting “Mirabella V” in the frame. That is” Leopard of London” which is 100 feet long on the outside of “Mirabella” The dark mast through the rigging of “Mirabella” is “Speedboat” also 100 feet long. Both of the 100 foot boat have power assisted winches and canting keels, which means that the engine must be running pretty much all the time in order to sail the boat. They sail with 18-25 people as they are all needed to make sail changes or any other big changes, like a jibe.
Both “Speedboat” and “Leopard” are in Newport waiting for a weather window to make an attempt on the monohull transatlantic record. Because they have power assisted winches they can never own the outright record held by “Maria Cha” set in 2003
“Speedboat” is also entered in the Bermuda Race starting June 18th, where I am certain they would like to set a course record as well.
“Mirabella V” is, I believe ,still the largest sloop in the world. Despite to fact that everything is done by a computer and power, I have trouble conceiving of managing anything aboard her. Just the sheer size of the gear and the loads generated are mind boggling. The photo of people standing next to the headstay turnbuckle should be proof enough. This photo is courtesy of Bill Coleman.
I am thrilled to see these boats and glad of their existence I am anxious to get back to the thread of the 12 meters and the America’s Cup.
TUNING
Many of the Bermuda Race crew drove from New York for our first day of sailing on saturday. The boat hit the water on Friday, we did some speed runs to adjust the instruments, and look at a new North 3Di mainsail delivered by Jack Orr.
It was even more fun as “Flash Glove” and “Aera” were also out sailing. Flat water and wind from 5 to 17 knots made it a perfect day. Even the rain held off.
Mission accomplished and everyone is back home for Mother’s Day.
May 6th was quite a day
http://www.livestream.com/34thac
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/how_liebermans_citizen-strippi.html
High-Speed Trading Glitch Costs Investors Billions
more 1958 america’s cup
Since the 12 meter era reunion was announced. I have been asking anyone who has photos and stories if they might be willing to share them. Here are some photographs taken by Beken of Cowes in 1958 of “Sceptre”; courtesy of my good friend Anna Templeton-Cotill.
My particular favorite is the crew photo which includes the syndicate and if you look carefully, the mascot, Archibald Baldwin Warren (the dog)
Another subject of note for me is the sails.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT, the way we were
It is important to keep a perspective. This is the Newport during the 1960’s.Newport was still as sleepy navy town. We do not often take the time to reflect on how things were. If you are like me; you are racing to finish what you started during the day. Never mind the simple interruptions.
The Newport Bridge did not open until 1969. The photograph of the ferry with the bridge in the background I took from the transom of “Carina” on the way out to the start of the transatlantic race to Ireland.
These are the men who worked on the 12 meters and every other ship that was hauled at Newport Shipyard.
Newport still had a working waterfront, filled with fishing boats. As you look at the photos many more small insights will appear.
Skip Whyte on Coaching – part 2 | October 9, 2009 on Sailgroove
GENE AMBO
Gene Ambo was one of the early regulars sailing on “Charisma”. The Charisma Crew held a reunion in Chicago two years ago. Gene was surely the life of the party.
TRIM TABS AND BUSTLES 1967
Remember that 1958 saw the first 12 meters built since before world war II. Now the America’s Cup is into it’s fourth event since 1937.
Tank testing has shown that the concept of a trim tab with a rudder much further aft would be a breakthrough. Other boats would add bustle, ie. additional displacement aft but S&S who carried out design modifications on ” Columbia” could not reveal what they had done in the design for “Intrepid”.
“Columbia” was capably steered by Bill Ficker, who kept her in the game until the end.
“Intrepid” would loose only once during the entire summer. She could outmanoeuvre the competition with ease. As far as I could tell most of the starts I saw, she would “sandbag” and still get to the weather mark first. It should be noted the Bus Mosbacher was helmsman and probably the finest of his generation.
“Dame Pattie” designed by Warrick Hood, might have been a worthy challenger had the defender been more like “Constellation”
With each defense came new ideas. As new information was developed, the problem was how to interpret properly that new information.
ANOTHER SHIPMATE MEETS HIS MAKER
Mickey Spillane, longtime friend and shipmate was killed hang gliding in Brazil. We had sailed many miles together. I always enjoyed having Mickey aboard as he exuded calm. We last sailed together last summer in Newport for the six meter north american championships; we finished second. The group photo was aboard “Charisma” in 1973, we were part of the American Admiral’s Cup team. Bill Ficker was helmsman. Culminating in a second overall in the Fastnet race, second to a sistership from Brazil.
We celebrated Mickey’s 30th wedding anniversary a few summers ago. He met his wife, Alice, when we were racing in Brazil.
If you click on the link and scroll down to the video shot in Brazil at one of the spots for hang gliding.
We had been looking forward to seeing Mickey and Alice, who were due to return to Newport any day. I was already making plans for sailing with Mickey.
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