Perhaps we should consider April fools day as a national holiday. It has no religious or political implications; no group affiliation, universally accepted, blind to race, creed, nationality.
Over the years I have read or seen some very creative stories created for April fools’ day. My favorite continues to be the one the BBC broadcast more than 30 years ago now. The Lock Ness monster had been found dead. The British Museum of Natural History decided to bring it to London in a refrigerated truck for study. The Scots were literally up in arms that a national treasure such as “Nessy” would be taken out of Scotland, particularly by the English. Armed and angry Scotsmen manned a barricade at the border between Scotland and England to prevent the “national treasure” from being looted by the heathens from the south. This story continued throughout the day, with regular updates of the truck’s progress, and Scotch reaction.
Farmer’s Market
It is important to live a healthy life, and to do that one must eat well. The farmer’s market is a good way to accomplish that… and be amused at the same time.
16 INCHES OF RAIN
Route 95 in Warwick is closed. Colony ford along the highway is under 10 feet of water. This is a new record for rainfall for the month of March. Not exactly the kind of record anyone was hoping for. Some people in Cranston may never be able to move back into their houses.
SIX METER FOR SAIL
“MADCAP” IS FOR SALE.
“Madcap” a classic 1924 six meter designed by Frederick Hoyt lovingly restored at IYRS. She finished second in her class in the North American Championships in 2009 in Newport, Rhode Island; and third in the World championships in her division a week later.
Measurement certificate, ready to go. lying Newport, Rhode Island. Call Tom Rowe at NYM Yachts 401-683-1616
six meter class meeting
Saturday, March 27, 2010 Toby Rodes arranged a meeting to discuss the events during the upcoming summer. The day started in Bristol at Lars Gluck’s shop where Totem and Flapper are undergoing refits and finishing, which will surely make already fast boats faster.
Lunch at the Moorings restaurant, then a meeting at the Seaman’s Church Institute to finalize plans for the upcoming sailing season. In attendance were naval architect David Pedrick, Tony Widmann ,who has strongly supported the class by donating a trophy, Tom Fair, owner of “Madcap”; Toby Rodes owner of “Alana”, Peter Muir, Brion Reiff, Molly Savard, owner of “Cherokee”, Bill Doyle, Jens Lange, Andrew Burton,
12 meters and the America’s cup
The longevity of the 12 meter class is owed in no small part to  Lloyd’s scantling rules. They were strict and the boats were indeed inspected for compliance. These boats were overbuilt certainly by today’s standards and the result is that they are still here today.
In fact while I was building “Courageous” at Minneford’s Yacht yard one of my jobs was to co ordinate with Lloyds, as we were building the first ever aluminum 12 meter.
CORONET
Coronet , began as a vision of Elizabeth Meyer, who should be credited with the restoration of the “J” boat Shamrock and Endeavour as well the institution which is undertaking the restoration. Looking at the hulk, it takes real vision to see the light at the end of the tunnel.It took years to get to this point.
If you are a shipwright, this project is already a dream come true; interesting work, that is liable to last awhile
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TJ Perrotti drew the lines based on offsets taken from a model. Apparently he faired both the outside and inside of the frames, which will save a great deal of time on the long run.
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new york to barcelona
peter becker and stan scheryer have left Baltimore for New York in preparation for the record attempt (actually one of the two boats will set the record) between New York and Barcelona, sailing IMOCA 60’s
very exciting
Virginie heriot
Virginie Heriot, heroine of french sailing on board her eight meter, in which she won a gold medal in the Olympics; the first woman to do so.
She is also very stylish, many of us would call this “being french”. The photo on the right is my wife, taken in 1975 on board “Quatrofolio” (Shamrock”) the “J” boat looking very much like Virginie Heriot.
Sceptre, K 17 the British challenge 1958
Sceptre, sail number k 17, was the Royal Yacht Squadron’s challenger, built in Scotland, designed by David Boyd. launched in April 0f 1958.
Despite her results against Columbia, the American defender, she demonstrated many clever ideas. As is often the case, good ideas are overlooked, regardless of how good they might be, if the end result is not a winning outcome.
Another example the comes to mind is “Independence” designed in 1901 by B.B. Crowninshield for Thomas W. Lawson. The story is complicated, the point here is that she had many very innovative ideas that were clearly not lost on Nat Herreshoff, as his next design for a defender incorporated these ideas.
Columbia, was better sailed and had better sails
These photographs os “Sceptre” I took in 1975, somewhere along the south coast of England.
