Weather in the Northeast

Emerging from a winter that I personally found hard, despite the fact I have lived through worse. Winter ended with what seemed to be endless rain, here in the northeast. Anyone who has followed the news has seen the damage  too much rain can reek. Like the flowers, we turn our faces to the sun anxious to absorb her glorious rays.
    The rivers in Rhode Island, attracted early industry as they provided power and transportation proved to be the undoing of so many people living near them.
   Spring seems to be about three weeks “early”in stark contrast to last year when we seemed to abruptly have gone  from winter the summer, leaving spring out of the equation. I am already wondering if this mild spring will lead to warmer water leading into the fall and therefore  the possibility of a hurricane. We have dodged this manifestation of nature in recent history, only adding to the potential probability.

196 Entries for the 2010 Bermuda Race

196 entries is a healthy number any time, for a race like the Bermuda Race. 635 nm in distance at a magnetic course of 162  degrees. The start is June 18th, therefore the weather will be what the weather will be.  Add to that the Gulf Stream as a race course feature. It is not always possible to take full advantage of both.  The Gulf Stream is like a barrier or fence in the Ocean that you have to climb over to get where you are going.
  Kitchen Shoals is your landfall/turning mark, before finishing off St. David’s light

Estrella Damm & W Hotels are off

The Two W 60’s have set off from New York heading to Barcelona The 500 mb forecast shows promise.  these boats are quick enough to keep up with the system at least for a while. It is always an advantage to be able to choose your departure time; never-the-less I envy Peter Becker and Stan Schreyer.

     These two boats will have to cross the Gulf Stream, again unlike the Bermuda Race participants it works in their favor.


America’s Cup 1958

It is important to put 1958 in historical context. This was the first challenge for the America’s Cup since 1937; when it was raced for in “J” class yachts, around 130 feet in length. Life was different, a depression, a world war, taxes were higher than today, for the wealthy.

     Olin Stephens had designed “Vim” for Harold Vanderbilt in 1939 (sail # 15) “Columbia” (sail # 16) built in 1958 both at Nevins’ yard in City Island. “Vim” pressed “Columbia” and made the selection committee’s job a hard one.

EARTHQUAKE

several hours ago, an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.2 occurred in Mexico effecting southern California. An independent quake of 4.0 was registered in northern California. We have children in each area, and all are safe, not having noticed the quakes.

POURING LEAD

I intended to make orderly posts starting in 1958 finishing in 1987, the 12 meter era.  I knew I had pictures of this event, I did not remember exactly what, and certainly had not found them until yesterday. 
This may qualify as one of the more foolish things I have done in my life.  I have written about having lofted and built “Courageous”. we literally did it all; we built everything. 
The boat was well underway; it is the early spring of 1974, We started early in the morning, everything was prepared. We started heating and loading 50,000 pounds of lead in the cauldron we had crudely built. After all it was a one time use. As you can see from the photos this lasted all day and well into the night. Keeping the lead flowing and the slew free and running proved to be a challenge. If you notice how we are dressed, it may be a clue to how foolhardy this was. The hot lead was spattering everywhere.
We are pouring the lead into a cement mould also weighing nearly 50,000 pounds; which we had let cure for a period of time. With all this molten lead pouring into the mold the steam coming out of the cement was impressive. The heat was coming right through the soles of my shoes. 
Obviously we succeeded. “Courageous” became the last two time defender of the America’s Cup