I started sailing with John Brown in 1962, on his Block Island 40 “Volta”. It was also the year of my first New York Yacht Club cruise. “Volta” won also everything during the cruise that year, what a way to start. I continued working on the boat as a summer job until 1967; after which I continued to commission and de-commission the boat for several more years.
Mr. Brown made a strong impression on me ,as I am certain was true of anyone who came in contact with him. I did not appreciate the mark he left until I was older. He was a kind, intelligent, generous, curious man. A genuine renaissance man. He lead me along with out leading, I am certain I am a better person as a result.
Mrs. Brown was no less a personality, full of strong opinions. I like to reminisce by saying that I somehow managed to stay in her good graces, despite being a teenager.
I stayed in regular contact with both Mr. And Mrs. Brown until their deaths,and smile to myself each time I think of them.
In 1972 Following the Mediterranean Championships in Sardinia, I returned to Newport, won the Shields national championships with Joe O’Hora and George Brazil, and practiced for the Windsurfing worlds, that would take place in San Diego. Following the Windsurfing I joined “Charisma” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio circuit” styled after Admiral’s cup, three boat teams. Our team comprised of “Safari”, belonging to Paul Adams, “Sorcery” belonging to Jim Baldwin, and “Charisma”
The whole event was almost surreal .We rendezvoused as a crew at JFK for your flight to Rio, 13 hours, in a plane that was one-half cattle. In the name of economy I packed as if I were sailing one of today’s boats; only sailing gear, additionnaly having been told that there were no events. The first evening was a very formal reception at the US embassy. The next night was dinner at her royal highness, the princess of Denmark. I think that sets the stage. I was only moderately embarrassed.
Ted Turner was the guest skipper. The photo of the sunset wastaken at the finish of the first day race. As you can see there is no wind,we managed to finish. This 20 mile race had no time limit; there were boats still struggling to the finish line the next day. We raced to Santos, south of Rio, as a middle distance race. Then the long distance race left from Santos past Rio, to Cabo Frio.
This is were things go interesting, It must have been the first morning; the humidity at 110%, hence all the hatches are open, and I am still stuck to my bunk. We had an Argentine cook, for this race, cooking up a storm, at breakfast. I could hear and feel the boat starting to accelerate, helped change from the half ounce chute, toe the three-quarter, and then to our heavy 1.5 ounce coated spinnaker. About to eat the feast that had been prepared, spreaders in the water. and water pouring in from everywhere. The boat comes up, and off we go, cleaning up the mess below, and once more, spreaders in the water. and water pouring in from every opening. We charge up on deck and wrestle the chute down. Breakfast in now only and unfinished thought. With the boat under control, I go below to help bail and clean up, I hear an unfamiliar noise, and start looking everywhere to identify it. Finally discovering that it was Jesse’s knees literally knocking together.
From there, Ted took the wheel, and we were all on the rail to the finish. with a double head rig.
There were many other wonderful anecdotes, between the culture and the characters who were sailing in this era.
Following our delivery across the ocean “Carina” was hauled out of the water at Camper & Nicholson’s yard in Gosport. it made sense because the first race, the Channel race started at Southend closeby. The team was comprised of “Yankee Girl”, “Bay Bea”, and “Carina” Bill Snaith, however was chosen to be the team captain, in Cowes without a boat.
We sailed reasonably, consistently , and the American team finished second in the series, behind the English team.
I should note that the crew was still included in the social events as evidenced by the invitation , It would be my second time to hear Uffa Fox sing sea shanties. The next day Uffa gave my friend Knight Coolidge and myself a full tour of his house and his work. we spent the better part of a day with him.There were no end of stories.
Steve Colgate sailed with us. My memory is that it blew hard every day.
In 1970 I sailed the intercollegiate championships in Madison, WI. In those days the team race championships were divided by district. We beat the West coast for the first time in many years; however in the individual championships they dominated.
I arrived the day following the conclusion of the series back in Newport the morning of the start of the Bermuda Race, which I sailed aboard “Carina” Dick Nye’s 48 foot McCurdy & Rhodes sloop. We won overall beating many bigger boats across the line.
Returning to Newport I needed a summer job. It was an America’s Cup summer. I found work on the shore crew for “Heritage” designed, built and skippered by Charlie Morgan, preparing the boat each morning before it left for racing and in the evening upon its return.
I raced the Stamford-Vineyard race on “Carina”. we did well and “Carina” won the NORT(northern ocean racing trophy) a cumulative scored prize.
“Chubasco” a 68 foot S&S yawl from the west coast. We left the dock for the delivery to Ft. Lauderdale,FL the middle of November. The wind never stopped blowing the whole trip. We had 50 knots out of the north for 8 days. wet and wild. Burke Mooney at the helm in the photo.
I returned to Newport. In December I flew to Charleston, SC to jion “Loon” a 45 foot yawl belonging to Gifford Pinchot to help sail it to St. Thomas,VI. He raced actively in the 1950’s and wrote a number of books on the subject. I arrived back to the news that by birthdate had been assigned a lottery number for the draft that would in all likelihood that would never be drawn.
In July of 1980 I was invited to sail the Chicago-Mackinac race aboard “Immigrant” a 47 foot Ed Dubois design, weighing 17,000 pounds; belonging to Bill McAteer. A very progressive and interesting boat to sail. My first experience sailing a boat with a short keel, requiring keen concentration to sail upwind. The wind did not free up until the end of the race building to 40 knots for the finish. We had a lively run in.
I raced the 1978 and 1980 Bermuda Races on George Courmantarous’ “Boomerang” originally designed and built by Bob Derecktor, substantially modified by Scott Kaufmann. I also sailed several SORC on the boat. We were a mini-maxi at 66 feet. caught between the two size breaks. Sailing the boat to it’s optimum, we had brillant moments. George went on to have a long line of boats by the same name. Jeff Neuberth playing a big role in the organizing of those campaigns.
My only other Annapolis-Newport Race was in 1981 on “Boomerang”. We finished close on the heels of “Flyer” and ended up second in our class.
As I have inferred I shortly withdrew from all competitive sailing to concentrate on Lirakis Safety Harness.
In 1971 we cruised “Carina” to England for the Admiral’s Cup and Fastnet Race. we sailed from Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, Ct. to Harwichport, on Cape Cod; where David Steere the owner of “Yankee Girl” had a summer house, compound might be a better description. A big party the night of our arrival and we left across the ocean along with “Yankee Girl”, “American Eagle” owned by Ted Turner, and “Carina” belonging to Dick Nye.
We sailed the more northerly route, closer to the great circle, crossing in fourteen days , which would have likely won a race had we been competing .
A few days into the crossing, still on the Grand Banks, but not having had a sun sight in a few days, we only had a dead reckoning position. we calculated that we were perhaps 20 miles south of Sable Island, more or less. That night, I was off watch, we hit a whale that had been sleeping on the surface. I ran on deck, in a panic, thinking we had hit the island, just in time to see the whale pop to the surface behind us.
In 1977-1978 I teamed up with my college sailing friend Henry Bossett, to campaign a Tornado for the Olympics. I had sailed not only in college with Henry , but E Scows as well, still my favorite monohull.
By the spring of 1978 we were ranked number one in the United States; probably the lightest team sailing a Tornado, which meant we had no room for error.Henry built the sails which were clearly fast and tailored to our needs.
The sailing was thrilling, the competition great, but if you have read this blog , I was juggling a many balls at once.; something had to give, I reluctantly gave notice to Henry. I keep fond memories and can only wonder what the future might have held for us.
This was my fifth Fastnet Race,(My first was in 1969) I have a fondness for this race; the challenges of the tide gates, the weather, the changes and obstacles.The fireworks the night before, the charm and bustle of Cowes, contribute to this feeling.
We actually led out of the Solent, past Hurst castle, only to anchor at Portland Bill for dinner. The photo of us passing Fastnet Rock continues to be one of my favorite memories. I am at the helm, Dan Cianci on the rail,furthest forward, was lost at sea a year later, only adding to the significance of this photo.
The final photo shows us at Bishop Rock, we missed the tide by a minute or two, in a dying breeze, allowing the boats behind to sail up to us.( also showing just how far ahead we had been.)
We still finished 11th boat for boat, however not achieving silver.
the 2004 Bermuda Race was my first Bermuda Race since 1980. re-united with the core crew of “Snow Lion” from the 2003 trans-atlantic race and fastnet race.
220 miles the first 24 hours. The Stars were so bright the next night you could see them through the sails; it was so bright out a flashlight was not necessary.
I started sailing with John Brown in 1962, on his Block Island 40 “Volta”. It was also the year of my first New York Yacht Club cruise. “Volta” won also everything during the cruise that year, what a way to start. I continued working on the boat as a summer job until 1967; after which I continued to commission and de-commission the boat for several more years.
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