A KNOCK ON THE DOOR

In the summer of 1979, I believe, my wife opened the door to find a frenchman, Gerard d’Aboville. Parked in the street, on a trailer, was his unfinished boat. He had just retrieved the boat from the docks of New York. His first stop was our house as my wife’s family were friends of his family and we were the only contact he had in America.

He explained who he was and was welcomed into the house. My wife,Bernadette, to whom this story really belongs, not yet realizing there was a boat in front of the house, asked why he had come to Newport. Gerard explained that he intended to cross the Atlantic. My wife stated she was not impressed, as the number of people who had or were about to cross the atlantic, that had passed our threshold was not so unusual. Gerard then explained that he intended to row and the boat was outside.
At this point, Bernadette was ready to show Gerard the door, expressing that he must be completely crazy.
We found Gerard, who was being joined by his three brothers to help finish and prepare the boat for the voyage, a place to complete the boat “Captaine Cooke”. Gerard set off from Cape Cod in September of that year and successfully completed his crossing.
A few years later, Gerard crossed the Pacific.



LOUIS HAZARD

You do not see characters like this any more. Each generation sees a change in our cultural physiognomy. Just look back at films over the decades, if you need further proof. It was a chance encounter, I had my camera with me, I asked louie if I might take his photograph. He responded ” Let me stand next to my machine”

The name Hazard is an old and historied one in Rhode Island. Oliver Hazard Perry might be related to Louie, since I am related to Oliver Hazard Perry, through the Hazard family, Louie and I could be related.
Photographs become central to our memories. a visual diary, if you like. I am pleased to have these photos to look back on, and foolishly mourn the photos I did not take, and are only in my memory.

WATER SPOUT

I took the photo of the waterspout off the coast of Corsica in September 2001. I had gone to Porto Cervo to race on Columbia the twelve meter. we rarely got off the dock as one Mistral after another kept us ashore.

This was during 9/11. which delayed racing further, not that anyone was focused on sailing with such an event.
We were to be in Monaco for another regatta. The weather continued to delay our departure. Finally, it was leave or miss the regatta. The weather had abated a little. Valiant left before us, reporting big seas in the Straits of Bonifacio; losing her mast shortly thereafter.
We left, cautiously, once in the lee of Corsica, we felt somewhat relived. I took this photo of the water spout from the deck of Columbia; and very pleased to have taken it. Many years ago, while racing on Charisma off Palma di Majorca we started a race amidst more than twenty spouts all around us. It was a spectacular sight. I was never able to take a photograph then, I was otherwise occupied, and had been waiting for another opportunity.

BACK TO MY ROOTS

Sunday,during the winter in New England is frostbite day. This past Sunday I had the opportunity to race dinghys against several of my old college teammates, Skip Whyte and Bob Hicks. It occurred to me during the day that I had not sailed a dinghy since 1972. Great fun, I exhibited rust. I really like the format of short races, as in college sailing.

shooting in Cody

A few years ago I was invited to be part of the Windigo shooting team competing in Cody, Wyoming. The team was comprised of some very notable shooters, including the Olympic shooting coach.

Cody was founded by Buffalo Bill and the principle hotel the Irma is named after his daughter. It is a voyage into another world. Guns and Rodeo.
The competition was spread over 4 days and numerous events. Silhouette shooting standing, against time; Trap from the 27 yard line; Wobble Skeet; and Sporting Clays. Ultimately won by the home team, however not without memorable moments.
There was a tie in the Wobble Skeet event, which meant a shoot off. One of our team was up first. Standing in the center, for doubles, he put the gun behind his back and called for the targets, crushing them. If that didn’t psyche out the competition, He did win that event overall.
After the formal event was completed there was a prize money competition which pitched me against my good friend Jimmy Gubelmann. We tied again and again. Finally as the sun was setting it was decided by the judges that Jimmy would shoot and I had to break a piece or Jimmy would be declared the winner. Jimmy called for the target and waited as long as he could before shooting it; leaving me no time. It was a hail mary shot. One of the only times I beat Jimmy shooting; but one of the most satisfying.