The great ocean races of the world are: the Sydney-Hobart, the Bermuda Race, the Fastnet Race and the Middle Sea Race.
The Sydney-Hobart is underway with a most interesting fleet of yachts. click to go to the race web site and see who is where on the race course.
It is Christmas Day; cold and clear.
Dinner with warm hearts close by
Yet far from those we love most.
SUN OVER THE BRIDGE
The Newport Bridge which opened in the summer of 1969 and changed forever the personalities of the towns of Jamestown and Newport.
In as much that one can now drive to or from newport at any time one wishes. It changed the pedestrian life forever. In the days of the ferry, one could walk on the ferry in Jamestown and walk off in downtown Newport. A peaceful and quiet integration that is forever lost.
The photograph of the ferry with the bridge in the background; I took leaving Newport on the yacht “Carina” for the start of the 1969 trans-atlantic race to Ireland. I returned to the bridge being open, the ferry gone and Woodstock having changed the world.
The National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration like so many governmental agencies produces so much information that goes largely unseen. It is our loss as it makes our lives richer.
Twelve meters are elegant yachts. It is practically impossible to photograph them poorly. I had a long relationship with the 12 meter class; having lofted and built “Courageous” and having sailed on “American Eagle”, Weatherly, “Easterner” and “Intrepid” in the sixties and seventies.
They are still eight knots boats and after the last America”s Cup we will never be satisfied with anything that does not foil and sails at less than thirty knots.
BILTMORE
I always have a hard time choosing a favorite photograph. Each one has a special meaning and memories attached to it. I would enjoy hearing from any suggestions. A sort of contest, voting for your favorite.
I have been trying to justify one of these. I see almost limitless possibilities.
The beginning of winter is not yet officially here, but winter has made it’s appearance. While we did not have nearly the snow the rest of the Northeast had; we have been put on notice. More snow Tuesday, and then again on the weekend.
College sailing in my day was very competitive, but we had a lot of fun. I have the best memories of those years. Today’s college sailing is much more disciplined. I hope they are having as much fun and making memories.
I consider college sailing the best because it is many short races, one design, rotating boats. Your skills must be sharp.
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San Francisco is still in the red from hosting the 34th America’s Cup, which so far has cost taxpayers at least $5.5 million.
That’s according to draft financial figures from the regatta that the San Francisco Chronicle reviewed Monday.
However, that spending allowed the city to host an event that drew more than 700,000 people to the waterfront over roughly three months of sailing and generated at least $364 million in total economic impact, according to draft figures from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute.
That figure rises to more than $550 million if the long-planned construction of a new cruise ship terminal, which the regatta served as a catalyst to finally get built, is factored in, according to the Chronicle.
But even the higher number is well below the $902 million in economic benefit that was projected in March, a few months before the races were held, the newspaper reported. And it’s a far cry from the $1.4 billion economic boost that was originally predicted in 2010, when the races were billed as trailing only the Olympics and soccer’s World Cup in terms of economic impact.
The real costs and benefits of hosting the regatta — which the Chronicle called the most prestigious competition in competitive sailing and this year was the source of one of the most stunning comebacks in international sports — are expected to be in the spotlight as Mayor Ed Lee prepares to submit a preliminary proposal for hosting the next Cup by a Dec. 22 deadline.
The city spent $20.7 million to hold the event, according to the latest figures from Lee’s office. That number does not include more than $180 million in long-planned improvements around the waterfront that were finally completed in advance of the event. The most notable was the new cruise ship terminal at Pier 27, which is only partially finished.
Ongoing private fundraising, which was intended to help cover the city’s event costs and initially pegged at $32 million, has so far only reimbursed $8.65 million to taxpayers while also covering other obligations. If the net increase in city tax revenue of $6.6 million during the event is factored in, that still leaves taxpayers $5.5 million in the red.
