Labor Day Weekend Classic Yachts





I have foregone the Stamford-Vineyard Race, the 238 mile classic which I have sailed so often. Circumstances require I be near home this weekend. I am going to sail instead the Classic Yacht regatta here in Newport aboard “Siren” the NY 32 belonging to Peter Cassidy. The NY 32 designed in 1935 by Olin Stephens, replaced the NY 30 designed and built by Herreshoff.

The NY 32 is a nice sailing sea kindly boat. It will never sail as fast as modern boats, but it’s motion at sea is much more comfortable. This entire weekend is really about “Eye Candy” for those sensitive to the aesthetics of long overhangs and gentle sweeping curves of the sheer lines

of these marvels

TEAM RACING

Team racing is something I have always enjoyed. In secondary school most of our sailing was team racing. In college, we did less, but it was still part of the program. Our college team stayed together for a short time after graduation, but soon the requirements of life broke up the team.

I did not team race again until 2003. It re-awakened in me many fond memories. Of course the rules had changed substantially, so I was faced with a new challenge, one I embraced with pleasure.
I have not team raced as much as I would like, but the New York Yacht Club owns a fleet of Sonars making it accessible.It is so much fun. It is not about going fast, it is about being smart.

Swan 42 "Mustang"


September 2007 found me joining Gary Jobson on his new Swan 42 “Mustang” for the Stamford-Vineyard Race. The first time we had ever sailed together on the same boat; having competed against each other in college and on twelve meters for the America’s Cup.

A few weeks later I was again aboard “Mustang” for the first ever Swan 42 North American Championships in Newport, hosted by the New York Yacht Club. Gary had assembled a fine crew, each bringing some strength to the group. The racing was keen and close. Gary did an outstanding job steering the boat. All the starts were great. We ended the series in second place.

Christmas in LA

Christmas in Los Angeles is a concept that seems to embody everything we, from the East, imagine about California. Everything we are not, and If it not in our image, it cannot be right.

In the East we carry the burden of our history. In New England for example the heritage of the Puritans weighs heavily. We feel guilty if we are having too much fun, we scorn those who do not conform, perhaps not by putting them in the stocks in the town square, but rather with a social slight. Somehow we are right and they are wrong.
I have discovered the difference refreshing and not as great as we might like to think. I have found a place that is every bit as culturally rich as the East; but not in the same way. As it is still new to me I am still intrigued.


12 meters

If you have read my blog, you have found entries about past America’s cup programs when the 12 meters were still the boats being raced. The Julibee in 2001 breathed new life into the class. Many older boats being restored and raced.It is because these boats were built to Lloyd’s scantlings that they survived at all.

While a twelve meter is a heavy slow boat by today’s standards, they are thrilling to sail for other reasons, and are about as elegant and graceful as a boat can be.
In Newport there are at least 15 twelve meters. and more than twenty on the East Coast. A regatta can attract enough boat to make a sight, at the same time provide a venue where we “oldtimers” can still look useful and active.Of course it is always an opportunity for old shipmates to re-unite.
An association for north america was formed and a regatta schedule created including an annual championship, and a world championship; all of which I have participated in, winning a few.


35th wedding anniversary

Tomorrow is my thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, this is a sailing blog, but life is made up of everyday, not just a series of unconnected events. Naturally they are easier to write about, they are anecdotal.

My wife does not like sailing or boats. Consequently it has developed parts of me that could or would never have seen the light of day.  I am a more complete person as a result.
Make no mistake, I love sailing, but the love of my life is my wife.

Amazon

“Amazon” a 72 foot yawl designed by S&S, sistership to George Coumantaros’ “Bacararat”. Her shape gives her age away.

In 1978 I had agreed to skipper “Amazon” in the Bermuda Race and lined up a strong crew. However, as you can see from the next photograph, our plans were cut short. The photo was taken near Montauk Point where “Amazon” on her delivery to Newport turned a little too soon and unexpectedly found land. She was salvaged and continued her life. We did not sail the Bermuda Race. I sailed the race on George Coumantaros’ newer boat “Boomerang”

Trevor Ravenscroft "The Spear of Destiny"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Lance – 71k

The link is for those of you who might like to know more. This is a story of threads that crisscross our lives. While we were living in City Island where I was working at Minneford’s Yacht Yard. Bernadette, my wife would see a particular woman in the street, but never approached her. A year later, we were living in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, my wife saw the same woman in the street again. This time the coincidence was too much to pass up. It was Shirley, Trevor’s wife.
Trevor’s Book “The Spear of Destiny” had been well received and Shirley had always wanted a boat. They bought a trimaran and sailed to America, spending the winter in City Island, returning to England the following spring.
We became fast friends and spent many evenings listening and discussing Trevor’s opinions and almost everything else. Tevor’s life leading up to his career as an author was one worthy of a book.