Month: September 2011

SEAWORTHINESS

This is another one of those subjects on which I spend way to much time pondering. As far as a racing boat seaworthiness and seamanship are tied. There is more than one boat I have refused to sail on either because of the boat or it’s crew. A well found boat can compensate for a less competent crew and vise  versa.

Should the Fastnet race have in recent years the number of withdrawals we have seen? The Middle Sea race? The Stamford-Vineyard race?

Here the question being asked is specifically about seaworthiness. Regardless of my opinion the horse has escaped the barn, as the saying goes. I will add that I have sailed some very sea kindly boats in recent years; far better than many years ago.

PRACTICALITIES OF SEAWORTHINESSWhen mistral conditions cancelled the first day of racing this week at theMaxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, Italy, a cry of ‘What The F#@K’ camefrom the sidelines. Was this another instance of offshore race boats beingunsuitable to go offshore? Hugh Welbourn, Principal at Hugh Welbourn Designin Southampton, United Kingdom, joins the conversation:———————————————————————-Pitiful indeed to be cancelling because of 25 knots, when I can wellremember frequently starting and racing in Sardinia in full Mistralconditions and having some of the best racing and fun days ever. One ofthose days was the first of many occasions racing with Bruce (NavalArchitect Bruce Nelson) in fact, and rolling the good old IOR boatsdownhill in seriously interesting conditions around the many rocks offPorto Cervo!
But how have we got to this stage?
You have to lay some of the blame on currently having rules and raceorganisers that on the whole take no interest in the actual practicalitiesof seaworthiness. That’s something that is totally separate from basicissues of stability and structures which have mostly been dealt with, butis more along the lines of ensuring that it is possible to work the boatboth above and below decks in severe conditions if necessary.
Ever increasing pressure on short course racing results has created superefficient sail handling and deck layouts for sure, but ‘conveniently’brushed under the table are such basic seaworthiness points of no deckpenetrations that allow water below, or indeed as with current TP52’s thenthe sheer mass of string running all through the internals of the boat. Andwatertight integrity? Got to be joking!
Of course the TP52’s and some others in current guise would run a mile fromdoing any real offshore event and even deliveries between events are causefor looking for benign weather windows.
But yachts of this ilk shouldn’t be sailing in events such as Sardiniawhere challenging conditions are so often encountered and also should be somuch of the fun.
Yes, the modern boats are harder on the crew, the motions are more violent,but sanitising the racing because some of the boats can’t deal with theconditions is plain crazy.
So surely its time that the rules and race organisers recognise that thisstate of affairs must not be allowed to continue – racing boat numbers areshrinking everywhere and part of the issue is for sure that they arebecoming less and less suitable for the general mix of offshore/inshoreracing.
Killing off the races in such great waters as Sardinia just because some ofthe fleet can’t deal with it?
Pitiful.

THE POWER OF MAKING

An exhibit at the Victoria And Albert Museum in London.  This is a subject I have thought about almost everyday since I was quite young. So I am very pleased that someone has finally recognized it’s value. Potentially a most provocative exhibit.

We seem to be more sensitive to the word designing rather than  craftsmanship,making or building. For some one word presumes the other, which is not necessarily the case. (presumption can be a dangerous thought in any case)

My assumption is that almost everything we do can be improved.
The Porter GalleryRoom 48Admission free
The V&A and Crafts Council celebrate the role of making in our lives by presenting an eclectic selection of over 100 exquisitely crafted objects, ranging from a life-size crochet bear to a ceramic eye patch, a fine metal flute to dry stone walling. Power of Making is a cabinet of curiosities showing works by both amateurs and leading makers from around the world to present a snapshot of making in our time.
The exhibition showcases works made using a diverse range of skills and explores how materials can be used in imaginative and spectacular ways, whether for medical innovation, entertainment, social networking or artistic endeavour.
Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, express ideas and shape our world. What and how we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be.
For many people, making is critical for survival. For others, it is a chosen vocation: a way of thinking, inventing and innovating. And for some it is simply a delight to be able to shape a material and say ‘I made that’. The power of making is that it fulfills each of these human needs and desires.
Those whose craft and ingenuity reach the very highest levels can create amazing things. But making is something everyone can do. The knowledge of how to make – both everyday objects and highly-skilled creations – is one of humanity’s most precious resources.

THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AGAIN

The Golden Gate bridge is one of those places that never looks the same from one moment to the next. It is no wonder that the number one business in San Francisco is tourism. The bridge also showcases the micro climate that is San Francisco. It was built to connect San Francisco to the Redwood Empire, what I might today refer to as the 101 corridor.

The America’s Cup will be sailed under the bridge a year from now.

ELK

I am constantly astonished by the coast in California. I am from the East and still carry many preconceived ideas about so many things. These photos were taken on the same road, all within a few hours of each other. The opportunity to be amused and awed in such a short space of time. Elk is tiny town on the California coast with the most beautiful views. I had never heard of Elk, now I will never forget it.

MISSION SOLANO

21 missions were created in what would become California by the mexican church. Mission Solano was the last and furthest north, in Sonoma.

I reported on the mission San Miguel the 16th mission established. These missions were really multi-purposed, religious, to convert the indians to catholicism, and to show a Mexican presence in both a political and military way on land claimed by Mexico.

These Missions are testament to a complex history between the United States and Mexico. While not associated with the Missions; the name Vallejo, figures prominently in this history, A general, a diplomat, a businessman. His name appears all over California today. I was completely surprised by how “American” his house; in fact how “New England.”