Francois Joyon and IDEC are 220 mile ahead of the record with 51 miles to go. So chances are good that he will break the record, becoming the holder of 4 records: singledhanded transatlantic, route de la decouverte, 24 hours singlehanded (662 miles), singlehanded around the world.
Final day of the NYYC spring regatta, another glorious day.
This weekend is underway; the NYYC Annual Regatta, yesterday was what is becoming a fixture, the round the island race (around conanicut island) plenty of wind and the tide running hard. Today I am almost certain we will sail outside, heading to R2 at the entrance of Narragansett Bay. The weather forecast was spot on as events unraveled as predicted. Today, if the forecast is as predicted we may well start with an answering pennant, signaling a delay; as we wait for the wind to settle.
Francois Joyon and IDEC are now only 31 miles behind Thomas Coville and SOBEDO.
Today is the Round the Island race the unofficial official beginning of the NYYC Spring regatta. The weather is improving. Three days of intense sailing.
Francois Joyon aboard “IDEC” is 140 miles behind the record set by Thomas Coville, but the weather system looks promising. The kind of sailing Joyon is doing makes a statement like the one I made about intense sound a bit silly.
Francois Joyon and IDEC after a second day of sailing are 82 miles behind the phantom Thomas Coville and SOBEDO despite reeling off 600 mile days. There is still plenty of time to make up the difference; particularly when you look at what Thomas Coville encountered in his final approach to the Lizard. The System the IDEC is riding seems quite stable.
Francois Joyon set sail on his trimaran “IDEC” yesterday from New York yesterday in an attempt to break the single-handed transatlantic record; presently held by Thomas Coville and Sobedo. He is, as I write 46 miles behind Thomas Coville’s pace. The record stands at 5 days, 19 hours 47 minutes, 20 seconds set in july 2008.
 |
| ‘Francis Joyon, IDEC’ © V. Curutchet / DPPI / IDEC Click Here to view large photo |
Francis Joyon initiated his attempt to smash the outright solo sailing record this morning at 09:15:20 hrs UTC (11:15:20hrs CET). In order to beat the current record of 5 days, 19 hours, 30 minutes and 40 seconds held since July 2008 by Thomas Coville on his trimaran Sodebo, Joyon and his maxi-trimaran IDEC will have to cross the latitude of The Lizard by 0445hrs UTC (0645hrs CET) on Monday 17th June.
The final 24 hours in New York were very stressful for the Breton sailor from Locmariaquer, as everything was a bit of a rush. He had to find a RIB to help him out of Gateway Marina, finish stowing supplies aboard, work on the final weather details… and once again, as we have come to expect, Francis Joyon in his usual style, took care of everything himself, while benefiting whenever possible from any kind offers of help from other seafarers on the pontoons. Once out of the bay off New York, the ‘big red bird’, IDEC was free to fly in the open waters of the Atlantic.
The SW’ly wind was blowing as forecast off Ambrose Light, and in spite of a heavy swell, Francis Joyon was able to speed off from the outset at record pace with the speedo stuck above 23 knots. ‘The swell was hitting us as we left Ambrose Light,’ Francis Joyon explained at lunchtime today. He was happy to be alone again at sea and relieved to have made it out of the Hudson and away from the shoreline without hitch, in spite of a few anxious moments. His final hours in the Big Apple were rather rushed.
 |
|
Francis Joyon, IDEC passing the Statue of Liberty – © V. Curutchet – DPPI – IDEC Click Here to view large photo
|
‘I didn’t have time to take care of all the supplies. I asked a guy on the pontoon to help me. He was Russian; he gave me some food from home. So it looks like it’s going to be Russian food this week…’
It was during the night that Francis got his boat away alone and removed the propeller, in order to head for the precise location, where we used to see the famous Ambrose Light. One last look around, the autopilot was switched on and the genoa trimmed… and Francis Joyon told the official from the World Speed Sailing Record Council, who was in New York, to start the clock for the big red trimaran. At 09:15:20 UTC (1115hrs CET), IDEC was off on her latest battle with the Atlantic.
‘The weather opportunity isn’t brilliant, but we will have to make do with that…’ Sounding light-hearted, once the decision had been taken in close collaboration with Jean-Yves Bernot, his accomplice on many a maritime adventure, Francis Joyon only wanted to look ahead to the next few hours. ‘I know that I should be getting some good conditions for the first two-thirds of the course, and according to the latest weather models there is some doubt about the finish, if we follow the route taken by the low-pressure area,’ explained Francis.
‘The route won’t exactly be the Great Circle route, as I shall be sailing a little further south. But on the other hand that means I shall be avoiding the worst fogs around the Great Banks…’ Fog, which has already engulfed IDEC in her first few miles of racing, forcing Francis Joyon to keep a close eye on the radar and over the bow of the boat.
 |
|
IDEC sets sail from NYC – © V. Curutchet – DPPI – IDEC Click Here to view large photo
|
‘I have just sailed between two whales.That was nice. They left me enough room to get through without having to manoeuvre…’ A 30-knot SW’ly wind is forecast ahead of the maxi-trimaran IDEC, with seas that are going to become increasingly tricky; Francis Joyon is facing a mammoth task and that is without taking into account the lack of sleep after a tiring voyage and a more or less sleepless night in New York. ‘It’s when I’m at sea that I get my rest,’ Francis reassured us…
Artemis Racing, the Swedish sailing syndicate that suffered a fatal accident during training in May for the America’s Cup, released a scathing statement Monday regarding recently published comments from one its chief competitors, Emirates Team New Zealand.
Artemis characterized the comments as “out of line and unsportsmanlike.”
“In response to comments by Emirates Team New Zealand’s Managing Director Grant Dalton in a June 8, 2013 article in the New Zealand Herald, we would like to set the record straight,” the statement read. “Dalton’s proposals to change the (Louis Vuitton Cup) race would certainly not help Artemis Racing, as suggested, but make it even harder for us to compete.”
Dalton’s plan would start direct elimination July 19, rather than Aug. 6, and alter the format to eliminate the semifinals.
Late last week, Artemis announced that it would not be ready for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the round-robin event that decides the competitor for Oracle Racing’s defense of the America’s Cup in September. The LV Cup was scheduled to start July 7. Instead, New Zealand and Italian syndicate Luna Rossa will start without their Swedish counterparts.
Artemis announced plans to join the racing in August, allowing time to rebuild its damaged boat and still make a run at the finals. Race organizers agreed to the new plan.
Dalton took exception with the race organizers’ accommodation.
“So the whole thing is now geared to the needs of the weakest common denominator,” Dalton was quoted in the article. “I wonder what would happen if the Rugby World Cup had to stop and reorganize itself in an unsatisfactory way because Namibia had a few injuries. How would that go down?”
Dalton wasn’t done, saying: “We haven’t lost sight of the tragedy and we have said we are in favor of the safety recommendations, but Artemis can get away with this because there are not enough teams in the America’s Cup. If there were five teams, they’d be goners; they wouldn’t be here. But because there aren’t enough, the regatta will have to meet their needs. … ”
Artemis racing found Dalton’s tone objectionable, prompting Monday’s statement.
“Dalton’s proposals benefit no team but his own, and his public insults are out of line and unsportsmanlike,” the statement read. “Artemis Racing’s May 9 accident set us back immensely – on a human level and a campaign level. As competitors, though, we may be down, but we are not out.
“Our passion for the America’s Cup remains strong. We are committed again to competing. Anyone who knows our sailors knows that our team will not shy away from a tough challenge. We are doing our best to recover and our target is to be ready for racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup’s semifinals on Aug. 6, if not earlier. In the meantime, the race schedule should remain unchanged and the derogatory analogies should be left on the dock.”
Emirates New Zealand released its response late Monday, stating: “The joint proposal put forth by Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand of starting the Louis Vuitton Cup later in July was done so in the hope of enhancing the event with a full muster of boats from the beginning, and therefore, placing more importance on the racing from the first race, something for which fans and sponsors are craving right now.
“Normally the challenger series of an America’s Cup is run on terms that meet the wishes of the majority of challengers,” Dalton said in the statement. “This is not the case here with Artemis rejecting the proposal and wanting to continue running an event schedule in which, by under their own admission, they will not compete in the early stages.
“Obviously, it was assumed that 10 weeks after the Artemis tragedy, that having previously taken delivery of their second AC72, they would be ready to race. This is not the case.”
The back-and-forth between the two teams was the latest wrinkle for an event that has had tragedy and controversy in recent months. In addition to the death of Artemis sailor Andrew “Bart” Simpson, who drowned during a training run May 9, the event has become shrouded with financial concerns.
Three competitors, down from an estimated dozen two years ago, remain to challenge for the Cup held by Oracle. That has resulted in lower estimates of the race’s economic benefits, and fundraising has slowed, meaning the city could be on the hook for significant expenses.
America’s Cup officials said Monday they are refunding grandstand tickets for races through the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals because of the uncertainty of when challenger Artemis Racing will be ready to compete following the deadly capsize of its first boat last month.
Depending on when Artemis returns, there could be only five days of racing between July 7 and Aug. 1.
America’s Cup CEO Stephen Barclay said it’s the right thing to do to refund the tickets and take down the grandstands until Artemis returns.
Once the racing is over, no one will remember most of the details. Meanwhile is is a bit clumsy and fragile organization.
Louis W. Amoruso Jr., whose marine expertise and humor endeared him to generations of local fishermen, recreational boaters and competitive racers from around the world, died unexpectedly Wednesday, June 5, 2013. He was the husband of Carolyn Jessey Amoruso.
In 1959, the late J.T. O’Connell opened a hardware and paint store on Thames Street and sent Louie there to manage it. He had worked for O’Connell’s electrical department after being honorably discharged from the Army after the Korean War. A loyal and hardworking employee, Lou remained at work during Hurricane Carol in 1954, when water — and boats — from Newport Harbor washed against the top of the store’s door.
The hardware store was transformed into J.T.’s Ship Chandlery. The store became a landmark and its manager became a legend. In addition to supplying an international fleet of America’s Cup challengers and defenders with needed supplies, advice and equipment, Lou introduced many foreign yachtsmen to American, more specifically Newport, cuisine, culture and traditions. He was a longtime guide, promoter and good will ambassador for the City-by-the-Sea.
Lou was born in Newport on March 29, 1929, the only child of Louis W. and Alexia Gauthier Amoruso. He grew up at 472 Thames St., steps away from Newport Harbor and blocks south of the ship chandlery he later managed for 50 years. His grandparents had a grocery store and tailor shop next door to the family homestead; the buildings now house stores and restaurants.
He spent countless hours on the water, fishing and swimming. He joined the Army after graduating from Rogers High School and resumed his relationship with the sea when he returned to Newport. Lou belonged to the Newport Saltwater Fishing Club, which raised funds for the children of Meeting Street School and took them on annual fishing excursions. He served on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Striper Tournament and wrote a weekly fishing column for The Newport Daily News for many years.
Lou appeared in a Polaroid ad published in “Look” magazine and was featured in Kate Whitney Lucey’s “Born Newporters.” He was a member of the Newport Lodge of Elks and a former member of the Knights of Columbus. During his career at J.T.’s, Louie made many friends and fans associated with the Newport-Bermuda Race and became a so-called “agent” for the Bermuda Trade Council.
But for all his fame and success, Lou was first and foremost a devoted family man. He and Carol raised their family in their home on Eadie Street in Newport, where they lived for 50 years before the two moved to Middletown several years ago.
In addition to his wife of 60 years, Lou leaves his son and daughter-in-law, Louis and Holly Amoruso. He was the father of Kim Louise Amoruso McCarthy, who predeceased him in 2000, and the father-in-law of Edward “Ned” McCarthy.
He also leaves his grandchildren, Gina Marie, Alison Elizabeth, Kristen Koh Eun and John Nathan; his step-grandchildren, Alexander, Dominic and Francisco Amaral; his great-grandchildren, Nieema Louise, Lorena May, Arion Louis, Colby Louise, Daniel Avery, Olivia Elizabeth and Avery Elizabeth.
Calling hours will be held Sunday from 3-6 p.m. at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St., Newport. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 9 a.m. at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Lou’s name may be made to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd., Newport, RI 02840, or the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI 02907.
