Now that I have a go pro and another waterproof video camera. I am always impressed with the video that others are able to shoot and edit. The emphasis being on edit. I am still struggling with this aspect; but enjoying video more every day.
Category: admiral’s cup
FASTNET RACE NEXT
I have sailed 5 Fastnet races, each of which was unique. This race is wonderful because there are so many obstacles many in the form of tide gates such as Portland Bill.
LOOKING BACK AT OCEAN RACING
The Admiral’s Cup, started in 1957 lasting until the 90’s, always one of my favorite events; which in my era included the Fastnet Race.
Recently, the Storm Trysail Club honored Ted Turner and the crew of “Tenacious”; winners of the infamous 1979 Fastnet Race.
These events along with the SORC epitomized ocean racing during a certain period of time that remains under recognized.
Carina and the NYYC Cup 1969
This is a story that was brought back to memory by the thought that Ted Turner has chartered “American Eagle” for the 12 meter re-union in a few days.
In 1969 racing on “Carina” in Cowes (Carina was part of the American Admiral’s Cup Team) We were racing a non-Admiral’s Cup race the Nab tower race. We did very well; not first, but well placed. We were ahead of “American Eagle” most of the course.
The following morning motoring out to the start of a race that did count for the team, a launch from the Royal yacht Squadron came along side with a message for Dick Nye. It was an invitation to the Castle to receive the New York Yacht Club Cup, awarded to the first NYYC boat to finish. Now, we had done well, however another NYYC boat had finished ahead of us. Dick hastily penned a note indicating such and handed it ti the launch.
We had to prepare for our race and anyone who has ever sailed a Cowes week knows it is chaotic with so many boats milling about on or near the starting line. The launch comes along side again with the message “you will attend” Here I must explain that Dick Nye and “Carina” were not only legend in English waters but adored. They simply preferred to award the trophy to Dick and not to the other skipper. Dick went and was awarded the trophy.
 |
| American Eagle behind Carina |
 |
| Crusade at the Nab |
 |
| Royal Yacht Squadron |
12 meter racing before 1958
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=1079
Leading up to the 12 meter era reunion, this should amuse those who sailed competitively on 12 meters
random events in the world.
Whoever thought a whale would breech and land on a sailboat. I have had a number of close encounters with whales. Never anything like this.
Encountering turbulence on an airplane, this must have been really unexpected.
How does an event where dinghys capsize due to wind make national news?
The RNLI is one of the best and most efficient rescue services anywhere.
The real story of the hour is how DUE PROCESS was not accounted for in the story of Shirley Sherrod losing her job. This is one of the most essential elements of our system of government, innocent until proven guilty.
Date: 19/07/2010
Author: Tamsin Thomas, Divisional Media Relations Manager
Volunteer lifeboat crews from Sennen Cove and St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, were launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Sunday 18 July) following reports that a yachtswoman had fallen overboard 50 miles north west of Land’s End. Just before the lifeboats arrive on scene, the extremely fortunate sailor was found by another yacht and airlifted to hospital.
The racing yacht Buccaneer was returning from Cork Week Regatta in Ireland when the woman went overboard in fresh south westerly winds and a moderate sea. Another yacht, Jaguar Logic, relayed a message to Falmouth coastguards and the two lifeboats were launched, along with the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.
The RNLI crews on Sennen Cove Tamar class all weather lifeboat and the St Mary’s Severn class all weather lifeboat headed for the scene at top speed. But just 12 or so miles from the scene, news came that the woman, who had been in the water for two hours, had been found alive and was being winched onboard the helicopter. She was then flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro, Cornwall.
The Sennen Cove lifeboat crew onboard City of London III, arrived home at 5am in the morning after an 80 mile round trip, while the crew onboard the St Mary’s relief lifeboat Beth Sells, were back in the islands at around the same time.
Terry George, RNLI Coxswain at Sennen Cove, says the woman was extremely fortunate:
‘The yachtswoman was very lucky to survive several hours in the water and in the pitch dark. Fortunately there were other yachts in the area that responded immediately and search and rescue assets were launched very quickly too. It happened a long way out but this is why the RNLI position fast response all weather lifeboats like our Tamar, at key places around the coast.’
BELMAR, N.J. – July 19, 2010 — A sudden storm capsized boats being used in a youth sailing class on the shallow Shark River on Monday, shaking up the novice sailors inside but seriously injuring no one.
The 36 students, ranging in age from 7 to 16, were all wearing life jackets. The only injury was to a volunteer instructor who suffered minor scrapes on his knee and foot.
Belmar Mayor Ken Pringle said the wind knocked over 25 to 30 of the small sailboats being used in a learn-to-sail program run by the Belmar Recreation Department.
“It was a little scary while it was going on, but we determined pretty quickly everyone was accounted for and OK,” he said.
Police, fire and rescue groups from around the area responded and took the children back to shore. A dozen lifeguards left a beach about a mile away to help with the water rescues.
The Shark River is a generally shallow waterway that collects tidal sediment washed in from the ocean. Some scientists say it’s more like a tidal basin or a bay, particularly the part where the students were boating.
The students, who were enrolled in a two-week class, were sailing in three groups: one closest to the shore in very shallow water, and two others farther out.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
|
whale tale  This one is almost hard to believe, and in fact it sort of is… We had been taking some pictures and had just decided to head back when a Southern Right whale, between 11 – 14 m long, breached about 100 meters away from us. It then suddenly breached about 10 meters from us and then – right on us! We were sailing so had no engine and we could not even take any action. Scary!” Read on and see the resultant picture. Thanks to the Portfolio Travel Blog. Jump in the discusion. 07/20/10 |
America’s Cup 1975
1975 was an active year for me. After the America’s Cup we moved to Cowes, on the Isle of Wight where I worked at Souter’s building boats. I continued to sail, skippering the prototype of the Swan 41, named “GunFleet of Hamble” in the Admiral’s Cup Trials. Then the Transatlantic race from Newport to Cowes on “Weald” a Swan 48. Cowes week on “Gitana VI” a new S&S 66′ for Baron Rothschild. The Fastnet on “Guia” a Bob Miller 44′ formerly known as “Gingko”
 |
| duke of york |
 |
| Guia leaving the the fastnet |
 |
| gunfleet of hamble |
 |
| gitana vi |
 |
| wsl and my mother in law at the hamble |
During Cowes week where most everyone was there. I was invited to a meeting with Bob Miller, Johan Valentine, Alan Bond, Warren Jones, and a few others. Ironically, Bob Miller had taken the apartment over the Duke of York where Bernadette and I had lived for more than a year. This meeting was a proposal for me to go to Australia to build the next challenger for the America’s Cup. Naturally lots of questions and answers. The final moment was when Alan Bond asked if I would bring the lines of “Courageous” which I had built. When I answered “NO” the meeting was over.
America’s Cup 1964
With each new challenge the design race increased. “Constellation” the newest Sparkman&Stephens design was only second best entering the August trails. “American Eagle” the Bill Luders design and build, was up 21 and zero, appearing unbeatable and in the difficult position of not having lost a race; not knowing what if anything to change.
Eric Ridder stepped aside as skipper of “Connie”being replaced by Bob Bavier. Along with a few other changes and she went on to be selected to defend. Leaving Bill Cox the skipper of “American Eagle” stunned.
The American trials were the highlight of the summer, the English challenger “Sovereign” was hopelessly outclassed.
Olin Stephens, I believed, liked to make small incremental changes, As the season of 1967 would show; “Constellation” exhibited some of the genes that would become “Intrepid”.
The energy and enthusiasm ratcheted up with each challenge. The world was emerging from World War II, coupled with that was the easing of Taxes on the rich. America was truly on top of the world; and feeling that way.
There are more stories connected with the summer of 1964 and this challenge deserves more time.
Sceptre, K 17 the British challenge 1958
Sceptre, sail number k 17, was the Royal Yacht Squadron’s challenger, built in Scotland, designed by David Boyd. launched in April 0f 1958.
Despite her results against Columbia, the American defender, she demonstrated many clever ideas. As is often the case, good ideas are overlooked, regardless of how good they might be, if the end result is not a winning outcome.
Another example the comes to mind is “Independence” designed in 1901 by B.B. Crowninshield for Thomas W. Lawson. The story is complicated, the point here is that she had many very innovative ideas that were clearly not lost on Nat Herreshoff, as his next design for a defender incorporated these ideas.
Columbia, was better sailed and had better sails
These photographs os “Sceptre” I took in 1975, somewhere along the south coast of England.
August 28,1851 Cowes, Isle of Wight
The photo is the Yacht America, taken in Newport, RI sometime before world war II. She was probably on her way to the Naval Academy in Annapolis where she met her end. The photo was taken by a friend of the family from a rowboat.
The newspaper article is from September 20, 1851 recounting the race between the “America” and “Titania”
