Category: george moffett

MY LIFE IN BOATS

I assembled this a few years ago because even I forget some of the boats and events I sailed. Still fond memories; and still making more.

BAND OF BROTHERS

I am about to start my 9th transatlantic race on 7 different boats. I have sailed with a number of people as a result; and have warm memories of each race, each boat, and each and every person.

It is a fraternity that one can only join by competing.

I had news a few days ago that another of that fraternity had died. Peter Van Dyke passed away. A loss to our group.

PETER VAN DYKE, '72 TRANSATLANTIC RACE
PETER VAN DYKE, ’72 TRANSATLANTIC RACE

RICH DUMOULIN '72 TRANSATLANTIC RACE
RICH DUMOULIN ’72 TRANSATLANTIC RACE

HARRY MORGAN, JACK CUMMISKEY
HARRY MORGAN, JACK CUMMISKEY

LARRY HUNTINGTON AND CREW
LARRY HUNTINGTON AND CREW

ROBIN KNOX-JOHNSON AND DAVID AISHER
ROBIN KNOX-JOHNSON AND DAVID AISHER

TRANSALANTIC TROPHIIES
TRANSALANTIC TROPHIIES

PARTY TENT
PARTY TENT

THE RACE
THE RACE

COLLEGE AND AMERICA'S CUP
COLLEGE AND AMERICA’S CUP

SAILING THROUGH LIFE

This is in response to those who asked:”Who are you?” It is a least a dimension.Boats have always been a part of my life. Naturally interwoven with the story of Newport.

WEATHER AT SEA

TRANSATLANTIC 1975
TRANSATLANTIC 1975

TRANSATLANTIC 2003
TRANSATLANTIC 2003

TRANSATLANTIC 2011
TRANSATLANTIC 2011

TRANSATLANTIC 2005
TRANSATLANTIC 2005

FASTNET RACE 2003 FASTNET ON THE BOW
FASTNET RACE 2003 FASTNET ON THE BOW

1973 FASTNET, ROCK ON THE BOW
1973 FASTNET, ROCK ON THE BOW

1973 RUNNING IN THE SOLENT
1973 RUNNING IN THE SOLENT

REACHING IN THE SOLENT 1969
REACHING IN THE SOLENT 1969

TRANSATLANTIC 1968
TRANSATLANTIC 1968

BERMUDA RACE 1966
BERMUDA RACE 1966

BLOCK ISLAND RACE 2009
BLOCK ISLAND RACE 2009

Guinevereous Liraki



The British Museum of Natural History gave each yacht entered in the 1968 trans-atlantic race a log book asking each crew to record sightings of mammals including where,when, and under what conditions the sightings occurred. There were many sightings, I had forgotten until now, I described the porpoise in the photo, Geroge Moffett, the owner of the boat turned the log in at the end of the race. About a year later he wrote to me that the porpoise had been identified as a unique species within the family of Phocoenidae and that the Museum had attributed it the name “Guinevereous Liraki”

I have no substantiation of the story as I have long ago lost the letter.

First Trans-Atlantic race

In 1968 I sailed the Bermuda race and then the trans-atlantic race from Bermuda to Travemunde, West Germany aboard George Moffett’s 48 foot sloop”Guinevere”. A wonderful boat designed by Alan Gurney, probably most famous for “Windward Passage”

When I start to write one of these entries it is more about what to exclude, as there is for me, simply too many threads,each significant in it’s own way.
It would be no surprise to anyone that the personalities play an important role in any of these tales. the boats are usually a reflection of their owners. The events selected certainly play a role.
Geroge Moffett was no exception, an exceptional sailor, one of the most natural helmsman I have ever seen. An ever curious mind.
I had sailed the 1966 Bermuda race on “Guinevere” unable to sail the trans-atlantic race that year as I had a job waiting at home.
we placed in the top of our class each time in the Bermuda Race. In the Trans-atlantic race we won our class and finished second overall. Our German hosts gave out fabulous prizes.
This was a long race,taking just over 22 days. The track took us north of Scotland across the North Sea through the Skagerrak down the Baltic, through the Danish Archipelago, finishing at Fehmarn lightship making sure we did not wander into East German water.
the photo of a rock is Rockall a few hundred miles west of Scotland.
We had a contest during the course of the race as to who was the fastest helmsman, I won, as I did in 2005