ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22 2019 TED TURNER PRESENTED THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB WITH A FULL RIGGED MODEL OF “TENACIOUS” THE 61 FOOT S&S DESIGN IN WHICH TED WON THE FAMOUS 1979 FASTNET RACE.
TED AT 80 YEARS OLD IS SUFFERING FROM LEWY BODY DEMENTIA. EACH OF THESE REUNIONS ARE SPECIAL AS WE ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER WITH THOSE WITH WHOM WE SHARED SPECIAL MOMENTS.
After a delay the race started, in reverse, the light wind plagued all and the race was shortened to meet the time limit finishing at beavertail. A fine day on the water.
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.
We sailed outside 2.5 miles from “R2” bearing 120 degrees. the wind moved from 206 to 265; from nothing to 12 knots although it was mostly 7 knots. Full of holes and in the words of Commanders’ weather “A tough forecast” which in the end meant only one race was completed.
The New York Yacht Club is the creator and host of the international cup. going into it’s final day tomorrow. 1o races have been sailed and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club is hold ing first place. The NYYC team is in second, with the Annapolis Yacht Club in third.
Today the racing was outside, on Rhode Island Sound, in a very shifty northwest breeze. The pressure was as variable as the direction.
We start on wednesday. My gear is loaded, I have been packed for longer than I care to admit. Snow Lion went back in the water today. Bottom faired and carefully wet sanded. I few details left which we will accomplish tomorrow; fuel, food, people.
We had a weather briefing this afternoon before the Perini Navi reception at Harbor Court. We have hope. A most pleasant evening overlooking Newport Harbor. If you look at the tracker, the first group is struggling with light air , headed in almost every point of the compass at some time.
The round the island race was sailed in reverse, that is starting to the north. The results are here. We made two mistakes, almost recovering between beavertail and the finish. It was a light and shifty day. the wind moved through the entire compass and varied in strength between 3 and 12 knots.
Tomorrow we are likely to sail outside, on windward leeward courses.
If you have visited my site in the last few days; you will notice that I have changed the look of the site.
Starting on friday, “Snow Lion” will participate in the New York Yacht Club Annual Spring Regatta. A frantic weekend of sailing that signals the beginning of the summer season for the NYYC. Friday’s race is around Conanicut Island (Jamestown) which features tides and wind changes; always a fun race. Saturday and Sunday are windward leeward courses likely off newport, wind allowing.
This is very different sailing to that of the transatlantic race. We will have plenty of time to shift gears before our June 29th start.
Saturday’s racing for us was outside, while the Classics sailed north of Gould Island. We had 8-12 knots from the WSW. windward-leeward courses. Occasionally exciting as we were on the same course with the much bigger, much faster boats, Above is an example, RAN is overtaking us going at least 15 knots, we are sailing 8.5 knots. Gauging crossings with boats that accelerate so quickly is almost impossible. Great sailing, the fleets leave no room for error.
Below our race committee, thanks for a great day on the water. Of course the dinner Saturday night under the tent at Harbour Court, is the social event of the weekend.
