Month: November 2012

THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND AN ALLEY OF TREES

I don’t think it is possible to take a bad photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge. I never saw an alley of trees that I didn’t like. I have quite literally hundreds of thousands of images spanning more than 50 years, of almost any subject you can think of. Those that pre-date digital cameras, I have been scanning and saving to a hard drive(s). Each photograph is connected to a memory or a feeling or thought. The photo is a tag if you like to find that memory. My goal is to express the most complete thought in a single image. Naturally there are moments when video is better, but I am committed to the effort of capturing the whole in a single image. Click: HERE to go to my photography website.

“SON OF SANDY”

I am not complaining, frankly we did not have much trouble. We lost power for a time but National Grid went right to work and I am back online. There was not the storm surge that existed with Sandy; but maybe more wind and for longer. Because this storm was classified as a nor’easter the approach by public safety and everyone else was markedly different. More relaxed, was my impression.

Fir those in New York and New Jersey this was an insult to an already grave injury. The recovery for those areas will take years.

WATER TAXI

Sandy is over, a nor’easter (son of Sandy) is here, the day after the Election. The Storms punctuate the end of the forbidden season as far as insurance companies are concerned. The Hurricane season is almost over.moving. This is the season for moving boats south for the winter.

These boats are regular visitors to Newport now. My first experience was for the America’s Cup Jubilee. When 15 12 meters along with many other yachts shipped to Cowes from Newport.

It is probably less expensive to move your yacht this way. No wear and tear, no fuel, no crew, no hours on the engines.

STEVE MOORE

I have posted before about Steve Moore, aka “Wonder Boy”. When I was in school at St. George’s, Steve was unbeatable.  I saw him infrequently after that. And then perhaps three years ago I was invited to sail on “Laura-Ann” by Rich DuMoulin. Arriving in Block Island I discovered that the crew was made up of many old acquaintances; Steve being one of them. Someone had pasted “AARP” on the transom. This was a case of old dogs teaching new tricks.

I am saddened to hear of Steve’s passing.

EIGHT BELLS
Stephen W. Moore died in a hospice on October 22nd, 2012 – 4 days after his
66th birthday.  In his junior days, Steve was the outstanding junior sailor
on Long Island Sound, winning the Clinton M. Bell Trophy three times, with
crew Peter Rugg. Thereafter, as Long Island Sound sailors know so well, he
became a top notch helmsman and navigator on boats large and small, from
his IC dinghy to many an ocean racing boat. During his sailmaking career,
Steve worked for Hard Sails, North Sails and UK.

Through the 35 years of our Carter 39 Blaze and then our Express 37 Lora
Ann, Steve was our tactician.  Always grumbling at anyone within earshot,
Steve pushed us all hard.  He had a great sense of humor and an uncanny
ability to write humorous songs (“du Moulin the Long Island Pervert ”
probably the most famous) and New Years Frostbite Regatta Awards (for
skulling, capsizing, getting stuck in the mud, ramming your old man, etc).

Ten years ago Steve had triple bypass the same year he was diagnosed with
diabetes.  That spring he could only get around with a two-wheeled
“walker.”  We invited Steve to join our house at Block Island Race Week
with the understanding he would stay ashore for festivities but not sail.

As we prepared to depart Payne’s Dock for the first race, Steve came
“rolling” down Payne’s, sat on the edge of the dock and slid aboard.  He
hung the walker over the stern pulpit and proceeded to wrap himself around
the backstay daring anyone to put him ashore.  He resumed his tactician
role and led Lora Ann to a class win at Race Week, with the walker hanging
over the stern.  Some bright competitor placed a “Team AARP” sticker on the
transom where it still resides.

In December there will be a service at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club for Steve.

SUNDAY VISIT TO THE FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM

Nature rewarded the North East with a splendid warm sunny day today. Many leaves still on the trees despite recent events.The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT,has long been one of my favorite places. Considered the home of American Impressionism on the north bank of the Lieutenant River. We have watched it over the last 40 years evolve in a thoughtful way. Never abandoning it’s being. Henry Ward Ranger, Childe Hassam, William Chadwick, Willard Metcalf, Henry Rankin Poore, Will Howe Foote, and others were the clan that was the Old Lyme School.

The Dining room, as you can see from the photo, is covered with paintings, The group would critique each other. having contests in which the painters had to produce a painting in one hour and then be judged by their peers.The winner would paint a panel in the dining room. There remains a hearty warm charm today, I believe. If you are driving on route 95 it is not to be missed.

A GREAT SYNOPSIS OF HURRICANE SANDY

A great review of the weather forecasting and results from Dr. Jeff Masters, click : HERE. He compares the various models used in predicting the track of the storm.  The results show me that it should come as no surprise that the French are so good at distance sailing. Anyone who was aboard “Tempest” for the 2005 transatlantic race will remember the remarkable precision of the weather routing from Pierre, sitting behind his computer in France.

In Newport, we were certainly spared the worst.

Unless you are without power the chaos in New York and New Jersey are hard to miss. New England was so fortunate.