Month: October 2012

BRITT CHANCE 1940-2012

Our paths crossed many times over the years. The obvious omission here is the disastrous design of the 12 meter “Mariner”. The second aluminum 12 meter ever built. I was working at Minneford’s lofting and building “Courageous”. A group of us drove in the evenings to Stevens Institute to take a course instructed by Peter Desaix. Peter was responsible for the analysis of the results of towing models in the tank. He would start each class rubbing his hands with glee stating that Britt had achieved a breakthrough. It turned out to be a huge mistake; on the part of an error of interpretation of the tank results. This almost finished Britt Chance’s career. Looking back, not his fault. The data led him down the wrong path.

“Resolute Salmon” winning the one ton world championship in 1976 held in Marseille, France. In my mind resurrected Britt’s career.


EIGHT BELLS – BRITTON CHANCE, JR.
Britton Chance Jr., lead designer for the successful 1987 and 1988 Stars &
Stripes America’s Cup campaigns, died October 12 at the age of 72 years.

Britt Chance grew up around boats – both sail and power – became seriously

interested in yacht design at 15, trained in the sciences at the University

of Rochester, worked at the towing tank at Stevens Institute, studied
mathematics at Columbia University, worked for Ray Hunt and Ted Hood, and
went on his own with Chance & Company in 1962.

Britt has a diverse design portfolio which ranges from racing shells to
dinghies to multihulls, fast cruisers and offshore racers to power boats,
including the high-tech Flarecraft, as well as Meter and America’s Cup
boats. Indeed, Chance is closely identified with Cup design; Britt was a
lead designer in both the ’87 & ’88 Stars & Stripes campaigns, played a
leading role in the formulation of the IACC Class, and, in the ’92 Defense,
led the joint PACT/Boeing appendage research project for all US Syndicates.

An active rower and sailor, with extensive dinghy, IOR, IMS and 5.5 & 12
Meter experience, Britt was alternate helmsman in the Olympics for the 5.5
Meter and Dragon Classes. He has crewed, or skippered, in major events
including the America’s Cup Trials, One Ton Cup, Admiral’s Cup, 5.5 Meter
Worlds, and offshore in the Bermuda, Fastnet, Middle Sea, and SORC Races.
For a change of pace, he rows competitively.

The Barnegat Bay Sailing Hall of Fame inducted Britt on October 6, 2012 as
one of eight inductees who have distinguished themselves in the sport.

HERRESHOFF MUSEUM DAY

The Herreshoff Museum is a gem. Many say it cannot stand alone and should merge with IYRS or Mystic. I have no idea what is best. What I do know is that the collection merits protecting for future generations. The breadth of experience is staggering. Dinghys, small centerboard boats, finn keels, telescoping masts, wishbone booms, roller furling, powerboats, steam engines, sewing machines, America’s Cup defenders, catamarans. I look forward to visiting again soon.

Amaryllis, the catamaran patented by Nathaniel Herreshoff  in 1877, has attracted new attention since the America’s Cup will be sailed in catamarans.

 

WE KNEW IT WAS COMING! A DEFENDER SERIES

This has always been the plan, since Ben Ainslie was signed to team Oracle.

America’s Cup “Defender’s Series” Revealed

October 13, 2012

By 

America’s Cup Principal Race Officer John Craig confirmed Friday that Jimmy Spithill and Ben Ainslie will have to battle it out to see who skippers the defense of the 34th America’s Cup.

Craig said the Defender’s Series will run in tandem with the Louis Vuitton Cup, scheduled for July 4 through September 1, 2013.

 

Copyright © ORACLE TEAM USA

While it’s been clear from the beginning that Larry Ellison brought Ainslie on board to hold Spithill’s feet to the fire, having a formal Defender’s Series will put two more AC72s on the Bay racing – something to augment what looks like a three-way race for the Challenger’s spot.

Fans will get to root for Ben or Jimmy, T-shirts will be sold, carbon fiber refrigerator magnets will blossom from a thousand doors, and commerce will rule the waves. Like other major leaque sports, it’s all about running more contests, and depending on how Team Oracle wants to set it up, there could be quite a bit of AC72 face time ahead next year.

COLORS AND REFLECTIONS OF THE BERKSHIRES

The colors of Fall must be one of the compensations of impending winter, the ever shortening days. The myth of Persephone, like all the myths is an ambiguous story of sadness and joy.

There are some very practical events that must occur to have brilliant colors. Plenty of rain mixed with sun in the summer in order to have rich leaves. A brisk cooling to kill the chlorophyll, then cool dry weather thereafter.

The rain was pouring down all day followed by strong wind, which blew most of the leaves off the trees.Not the best leaf peeping season. but a pleasure non-the-less.

RANGE OF WEATHER

The rain moved through during the night. The wind took most of the leaves from the trees. Cool, crisp fall air greeted us in the morning. I thought a photograph from the top of Mount Greylock of the fall colors would be nice. No sooner did we start up the mountain than the weather started to change. Light rain with a rainbow, the fog, or low clouds depending on your definition closed off the view. But most surprising of all was the snowstorm at the top. So much for making plans. Once back on the lowlands, the sun filled the day.

The stories of Naumkeag, The Mount, Walker Brook, will follow.

 

UNEARTHED

If there is any way you can find the time try to see the very small but remarkable exhibit called UNEARTHED at the Clark Institute in Williamstown Ma. This is short notice because the exhibit closes on the 21st of October.

This is a museum that has a wonderful collection. Most of which is not available to be seen for the next few years as the museum is undergoing a major refurbishing.

The John Singer Sargent hung for so many years in the entrance.

THEY’RE NOT POOR, THEY JUST DON’T HAVE MONEY


Here is the story of a humble, intelligent, articulate, man. My favorite movie written and directed by Michael Powell “I Know Where I’m Going” contains the line : “They’re not poor, They just don’t have money”. When I first saw the movie, it was a revelation for me that someone else had the same thought. Over the years I have met a few more like minded people, some very much like to Rodriguez. But their story was never quite so complete, nor publicized.

This has been one of the recurring themes in my photography as well; the dignity of man. We make it hard for a poor man to have dignity. If I photograph Ted Turner, Russell Coutts, or a famous actor or actress, it can immediately generate interest. But the story of the everyday man leading an everyday life does not. The is no glamour; I will freely admit. The story of Herbert Vogel fits here as well.