Month: June 2010

Bermuda Race start 3 days away

The Bermuda Race is only 600 miles, 4 days should be an ample window for me on a 50 foot boat. Somehow there are always so many loose ends to tie up before the start. The weather at the moment looks like a nice close reach start, running out of wind at the Gulf  Stream.
   I chose to pre clear customs, which may mean I am, if someone chose to look at paperwork, in Bermuda right now. It took awhile as I was not the only one with that idea. All of Belle Mente’s crew were in front of me, including Tom Mclaughlin.
  Once accomplished, I wanted to stop at Team One for last minute errands, I stopped by the Sparkman & Stephens office, which is now home to two of the designers. On the way I noticed an aircraft carrier under the Newport Bridge. I did a double take at that. It seems the Forrestal is being moved south and will become a museum in another port.
   I am still hoping to hear from former 12 meter sailors who would be willing to share photos and stories of  their experiences.
  
    

Larry turns 75, final day of the spring regatta

The day started with a birthday celebration for Larry huntington’s 75th birthday, before leaving the dock for the final day of racing.  Motoring out to the rendezvous position, welcomed by a shifting breeze which would tease us for the better part of the day. Finally settling near North, we sailed one race and had no time for more. On the way in the fog cleared and the wind strengthened. Such is life. Great weekend, Bermuda race Friday.

NYYC SPRING REGATTA ON SNOW LION

Saturday’s racing for us was outside, while the Classics sailed north of Gould Island.  We had 8-12 knots from the WSW. windward-leeward courses. Occasionally exciting as we were on the same course with the much bigger, much faster boats, Above is an example, RAN is overtaking us going at least 15 knots, we are sailing 8.5 knots. Gauging crossings with boats that accelerate so quickly is almost impossible. Great sailing, the fleets leave no room for error.
Below our race committee, thanks for a great day on the water. Of course the dinner Saturday night under the tent at Harbour Court, is the social event of the weekend.

Round the Island Race

 
Milling about smartly, was how the day began. The race committee was able to start us after a brief delay, waiting for the wind to fill. Some how the round the island race pleases me; There are some tides and wind to play, along with obstacles.
We were able to keep the boat going at or near her polars, so we may have done well; I really have no idea.
The buoy racing the next two days I find less interesting in handicap racing. Level racing is another story. The sun came out as we hit the dock after racing was done for the day.

NEW YORK YACHT CLUB SPRING REGATTA 2010

Today is the round the island race, followed by the NYYC spring regatta saturday and sunday. The start of the Bermuda race is one week away. All the boats are in Newport, This event has become a huge meet and greet.
     Abby Sunderland has been rescued from the Indian Ocean after having been dismasted, the details of which will filter out with time. While I would not have ever sent one of my children off on this adventure, I do not have a strong opinion about whether her family acted in her best interests. To follow Abby’s blog click HERE.

Courageous 1974

The memories are still vivid thanks to the photographs. When we received the plans from S&S by courier,(this is a story itself) The courier arrived at the yard not knowing where to go, fell on me and asked if I would sign for the package, which I did. I always wondered what might have happened if the plans had been delivered somewhere else. It was the drawings for what would be “Courageous”.
We had been preparing the loft and the space where she would be lofted and built, all in the same building.  When we started lofting, we could not make the transitional areas, near the rudder post, fair. When we broke the battens, it worked. As you can see from the filler in front of the rudder, there was no way we were going to wrap the aluminum that tightly. Two different shapes fit together at the rudder post. The centerline of the rudder post was also the end of the waterline.
This would be the first aluminum 12 meter ever built, It was a big transition at the time. Looking back for someone who had not lived through that era, they certainly would scoff; given what is now capable with carbon. I also felt that it was the first time I saw efforts to make the boats user friendly, big turning blocks. The twin steering wheels with trim tab wheel and lock were the next step from “Intrepid’s” trim tab and steering.
“Courageous” would sport a “c” stay, “Mariner” a twinstay, and “Intrepid” hanks. There was still so much room for improvement.

I have already mentioned

12 meter era reunion

I will keep the thought alive. I should very much like to see all of those who walked the same path as I did. With extra pleasure in seeing all those who when before me. The text is from Jerome Brooks, written in 1958 shortly before the start of the first 12 meter defense of the America’s Cup.

An addendum, “Leopard of London” while not yet finished lost the window to eclipse the record set by “Mari Cha” . The weather was not as co-operative as they had hoped.