six meter world championships day four

The wind is still in the north east 14-20 knots. Yesterday we nearly tore the gooseneck off the mast. This morning the solution was underway, a bronze strap drilled and tapped around the mast.

Two more races today, the wind still in the northeast and blowing 14-18 knots. Thankfully we didn’t break anything today.
If we had an MVP award it would go to George Cochran and Jonathan Hough, we would not have made it to the starting line without their efforts.

six meter world championships day three

Yesterday we broke our spinnaker pole and worked the vang attachment too hard. Having solved those problems. Today we still had a lot of wind although not as much as yesterday, we were working the gooseneck hard and the chocks at the mast partners came loose.This allowed the mast to twist against the gooseneck making the problem worse. Had it not been for the seizing of spectra we might not have finished the day’s racing.

We had two races and after several general recalls we finally started under a black flag.
We are currently in third place in our division. Wishing for lighter air, as the boat was designed for Long Island Sound.

6 meter north american championship final day

Sunday, brought a pressure driven NNE wind 12-18 knots. In the words of the English it was “snakes and ladders” Despite the wind strength of the wind it was very shifty and puffy.

I the final race of the day we set up for a leeward start which looked favored, and in the final 10 seconds it was clear we would not be able to cross the line on starboard, we tacked and wove our way across the fleet on port. This took us to the right side of the course, while our plan had been to play the left.
Bill Green, brought “Nancy” from England. Bill is from San Francisco but has lived and worked for the last 40 years in England. We first met during the 1968 Trans-atlantic race to Travemunde.
In our division, classic yachts, “Totem” showed good speed and very strong tactics.
Today is the annual meeting for the Six Meter class and tomorrow the World Championship starts.


DAY ONE 6 METER NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

After the skipper’s meeting we set out for halfway rock rendezvous with the race committee. I am skippering “Madcap” with Jay Sharkey , Jonathan Hough, and Bill Hartnett as crew. After a postponement waiting for the southerly to fill, which never happened, we started in a light northerly. We nailed the start, a general recall. I never imagined that the other boats would let me in again. Nailed the second start, and rounded the first windward mark in third place, beating many modern boats. This is where or problems started. we were four and a crew of five can make all the difference. We will try to have a fifth for tomorrow and for the world’s, which start on tuesday.


SIX METER NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Tomorrow is the first of two days of racing for the North American Six meter championship; followed next week by the six meter world championship, here in Newport.

Boats are preparing and some still arriving. Sleipnir II arrived a few days ago and both masts were broken turning into the shipyard. Fortunately one is nearly repaired already. The Man in the Photo with Sleipnir is the grandson of Rassmussen of Abeking & Rassmussen
If you want to feel a fair bottom, go see Fokus 3, a blog is available recounting their trip from Seattle.


LUTHER BURBANK

I am related to Luther Burbank by my maternal grandfather. I never paid much attention to this until being in Santa Rosa, I discovered his house and Farm in nearby Sebastipol.

Revisiting his story, the contributions he made to society are remarkable. The care taken in the preservation of his legacy by the State of California and Santa Rosa are wonderful.