Final Day of Racing Classic Yacht Parade

Sunday Morning started with a Parade of Classic Yachts both power and sail. Once again "Elenora" steals the limelight; even from Elvis. She conjures images of times gone by, Edwardian elegance at its best.

A little humor and a little tragedy; as a second Mizzen mast in as many days comes down due to contact between boats.

we raced around Conanicut Island in sunshine, blue skies and a shifty northwest breeze.

Classic Yacht Regatta Day One

Sailing aboard "Siren" a NY 32 designed by Olin Stephens; day one.  9:30 am skippers meeting, Ted Hood, Halsey Herreshoff, Gary Jobson, and a few others. The hope of wind expressed by all of the forecasts; out onto the water to wait. And wait we did, until 2:45; racing was abandoned for the day. The wait was an opportunity to look at the wonderful boats assembled for this regatta. "Elenora" the replica of the great Herreshoff schooner. "Ticonderoga", and many other wonderful yachts lovingly restored.

Tomorrow, a sunny day with a brisk NW wind is forecast, providing this front moves through. We will race around Conanicut Island.

Ashore the exhibit at the Museum of Yachting was open; not to be missed. 

Labor Day Weekend Classic Yachts

I have foregone the Stamford-Vineyard Race, the 238 mile classic which I have sailed so often. Circumstances require I be near home this weekend. I am going to sail instead the Classic Yacht regatta here in Newport aboard "Siren" the NY 32 belonging to Peter Cassidy. The NY 32 designed in 1935 by Olin Stephens, replaced the NY 30 designed and built by Herreshoff.

The NY 32 is a nice sailing sea kindly boat. It will never sail as fast as modern boats, but it's motion at sea is much more comfortable. This entire weekend is really about "Eye Candy" for those sensitive to the aesthetics of long overhangs and gentle sweeping curves of the sheer lines 

of these marvels

TEAM RACING

Team racing is something I have always enjoyed. In secondary school most of our sailing was team racing. In college, we did less, but it was still part of the program. Our college team stayed together for a short time after graduation, but soon the requirements of life broke up the team.

I did not team race again until 2003. It re-awakened in me many fond memories. Of course the rules had changed substantially, so I was faced with a new challenge, one I embraced with pleasure.

I have not team raced as much as I would like, but the New York Yacht Club owns a fleet of Sonars making it accessible.It is so much fun. It is not about going fast, it is about being smart.

Swan 42 "Mustang"

September 2007 found me joining Gary Jobson on his new Swan 42 "Mustang" for the Stamford-Vineyard Race. The first time we had ever sailed together on the same boat; having competed against each other in college and on twelve meters for the America's Cup.

A few weeks later I was again aboard "Mustang" for the first ever Swan 42 North American Championships in Newport, hosted by the New York Yacht Club. Gary had assembled a fine crew, each bringing some strength to the group. The racing was keen and close. Gary did an outstanding job steering the boat. All the starts were great. We ended the series in second place.

Love Machine

SORC 1977 I sailed on "Love Machine" a 44 foot Doug Peterson design belonging to Dick Hokin. Skippered by Tom Whidden. I was a helsman and watch captain for the distance races. The photo, was taken either in the Ocean Triangle or Miami-Naussau race.

Christmas in LA

Christmas in Los Angeles is a concept that seems to embody everything we, from the East, imagine about California. Everything we are not, and If it not in our image, it cannot be right.

In the East we carry the burden of our history. In New England for example the heritage of the Puritans weighs heavily. We feel guilty if we are having too much fun, we scorn those who do not conform, perhaps not by putting them in the stocks in the town square, but rather with a social slight. Somehow we are right and they are wrong.

I have discovered the difference refreshing and not as great as we might like to think. I have found a place that is every bit as culturally rich as the East; but not in the same way. As it is still new to me I am still intrigued.

12 meters

If you have read my blog, you have found entries about past America's cup programs when the 12 meters were still the boats being raced. The Julibee in 2001 breathed new life into the class. Many older boats being restored and raced.It is because these boats were built to Lloyd's scantlings that they survived at all.

While a twelve meter is a heavy slow boat by today's standards, they are thrilling to sail for other reasons, and are about as elegant and graceful as a boat can be.

In Newport there are at least 15 twelve meters. and more than twenty on the East Coast. A regatta can attract enough boat to make a sight, at the same time provide a venue where we "oldtimers" can still look useful and active.Of course it is always an opportunity for old shipmates to re-unite.

An association for north america was formed and a regatta schedule created including an annual championship, and a world championship; all of which I have participated in, winning a few.

35th wedding anniversary

Tomorrow is my thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, this is a sailing blog, but life is made up of everyday, not just a series of unconnected events. Naturally they are easier to write about, they are anecdotal.

 My wife does not like sailing or boats. Consequently it has developed parts of me that could or would never have seen the light of day.  I am a more complete person as a result. 

Make no mistake, I love sailing, but the love of my life is my wife.

Magic

Over the weekend I sailed on "Magic" a Santa Cruz 52 belonging to Ken Laudon my first experience on Bill Lee's forward thinking idea. The race was hosted by City Island Yacht Club, who, given the weather forecast, wisely chose to shorten the race.

Amazon

"Amazon" a 72 foot yawl designed by S&S, sistership to George Coumantaros' "Bacararat". Her shape gives her age away.

In 1978 I had agreed to skipper "Amazon" in the Bermuda Race and lined up a strong crew. However, as you can see from the next photograph, our plans were cut short. The photo was taken near Montauk Point where "Amazon" on her delivery to Newport turned a little too soon and unexpectedly found land. She was salvaged and continued her life. We did not sail the Bermuda Race. I sailed the race on George Coumantaros' newer boat "Boomerang"

Trevor Ravenscroft "The Spear of Destiny"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Lance - 71k

The link is for those of you who might like to know more. This is a story of threads that crisscross our lives. While we were living in City Island where I was working at Minneford's Yacht Yard. Bernadette, my wife would see a particular woman in the street, but never approached her. A year later, we were living in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, my wife saw the same woman in the street again. This time the coincidence was too much to pass up. It was Shirley, Trevor's wife.

Trevor's Book "The Spear of Destiny" had been well received and Shirley had always wanted a boat. They bought a trimaran and sailed to America, spending the winter in City Island, returning to England the following spring.

We became fast friends and spent many evenings listening and discussing Trevor's opinions and almost everything else. Tevor's life leading up to his career as an author was one worthy of a book.

John Nicholas Brown

I started sailing with John Brown in 1962, on his Block Island 40 "Volta". It was also the year of my first New York Yacht Club cruise. "Volta" won also everything during the cruise that year, what a way to start. I continued working on the boat as a summer job until 1967; after which I continued to commission and de-commission the boat for several more years.

Mr. Brown made a strong impression on me ,as I am certain was true of anyone who came in contact with him. I did not appreciate the mark he left until I was older. He was a kind, intelligent, generous, curious man. A genuine renaissance man. He lead me along with out leading, I am certain I am a better person as a result.

Mrs. Brown was no less a personality, full of strong opinions. I like to reminisce by saying that I somehow managed to stay in her good graces, despite being a teenager.

I stayed in regular contact with both Mr. And Mrs. Brown until their deaths,and smile to myself each time I think of them.

RIO 1972

In 1972 Following the Mediterranean Championships in Sardinia, I returned to Newport, won the Shields national championships with Joe O'Hora and George Brazil, and practiced for the Windsurfing worlds, that would take place in San Diego. Following the Windsurfing I joined "Charisma" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio circuit" styled after Admiral's cup, three boat teams. Our team comprised of "Safari", belonging to Paul Adams, "Sorcery" belonging to Jim Baldwin, and "Charisma"

The whole event was almost surreal .We rendezvoused as a crew at JFK for your flight to Rio, 13 hours, in a plane that was one-half cattle. In the name of economy I packed as if I were sailing one of today's boats; only sailing gear, additionnaly having been told that there were no events. The first evening was a very formal reception at the US embassy. The next night was dinner at her royal highness, the princess of Denmark. I think that sets the stage. I was only moderately embarrassed.

Ted Turner was the guest skipper. The photo of the sunset wastaken at the finish of the first day race. As you can see there is no wind,we managed to finish. This 20 mile race had no time limit; there were boats still struggling to the finish line the next day. We raced to Santos, south of Rio, as a middle distance race. Then the long distance race left from Santos past Rio, to Cabo Frio.

This is were things go interesting, It must have been the first morning; the humidity at 110%, hence all the hatches are open, and I am still stuck to my bunk. We had an Argentine cook, for this race, cooking up a storm, at breakfast. I could hear and feel the boat starting to accelerate, helped change from the half ounce chute, toe the three-quarter, and then to our heavy 1.5 ounce coated spinnaker. About to eat the feast that had been prepared, spreaders in the water. and water pouring in from everywhere. The boat comes up, and off we go, cleaning up the mess below, and once more, spreaders in the water. and water pouring in from every opening. We charge up on deck and wrestle the chute down. Breakfast in now only and unfinished thought. With the boat under control, I go below to help bail and clean up, I hear an unfamiliar noise, and start looking everywhere to identify it. Finally discovering that it was Jesse's knees literally knocking together.

From there, Ted took the wheel, and we were all on the rail to the finish. with a double head rig.

There were many other wonderful anecdotes, between the culture and the characters who were sailing in this era.

Admiral's Cup 1971

Following our delivery across the ocean "Carina" was hauled out of the water at Camper & Nicholson's yard in Gosport. it made sense because the first race, the Channel race started at Southend closeby. The team was comprised of "Yankee Girl", "Bay Bea", and "Carina" Bill Snaith, however was chosen to be the team captain, in Cowes without a boat.

We sailed reasonably, consistently , and the American team finished second in the series, behind the English team.

I should note that the crew was still included in the social events as evidenced by the invitation , It would be my second time to hear Uffa Fox sing sea shanties. The next day Uffa gave my friend Knight Coolidge and myself a full tour of his house and his work. we spent the better part of a day with him.There were no end of stories.

Steve Colgate sailed with us. My memory is that it blew hard every day.

more 1970

In 1970 I sailed the intercollegiate championships in Madison, WI. In those days the team race championships were divided by district. We beat the West coast for the first time in many years; however in the individual championships they dominated.

I arrived the day following the conclusion of the series back in Newport the morning of the start of the Bermuda Race, which I sailed aboard "Carina" Dick Nye's 48 foot McCurdy & Rhodes sloop. We won overall beating many bigger boats across the line.

Returning to Newport I needed a summer job. It was an America's Cup summer. I found work on the shore crew for "Heritage" designed, built and skippered by Charlie Morgan, preparing the boat each morning before it left for racing and in the evening upon its return.

I raced the Stamford-Vineyard race on "Carina". we did well and "Carina" won the NORT(northern ocean racing trophy) a cumulative scored prize.

"Chubasco" a 68 foot S&S yawl from the west coast. We left the dock for the delivery to Ft. Lauderdale,FL the middle of November. The wind never stopped blowing the whole trip. We had 50 knots out of the north for 8 days. wet and wild. Burke Mooney at the helm in the photo.

I returned to Newport. In December I flew to Charleston, SC to jion "Loon" a 45 foot yawl belonging to Gifford Pinchot to help sail it to St. Thomas,VI. He raced actively in the 1950's and wrote a number of books on the subject. I arrived back to the news that by birthdate had been assigned a lottery number for the draft that would in all likelihood that would never be drawn.

Chicago-Mackinac 1980

In July of 1980 I was invited to sail the Chicago-Mackinac race aboard "Immigrant" a 47 foot Ed Dubois design, weighing 17,000 pounds; belonging to Bill McAteer. A very progressive and interesting boat to sail. My first experience sailing a boat with a short keel, requiring keen concentration to sail upwind. The wind did not free up until the end of the race building to 40 knots for the finish. We had a lively run in.

Boomerang

I raced the 1978 and 1980 Bermuda Races on George Courmantarous' "Boomerang" originally designed and built by Bob Derecktor, substantially modified by Scott Kaufmann. I also sailed several SORC on the boat. We were a mini-maxi at 66 feet. caught between the two size breaks. Sailing the boat to it's optimum, we had brillant moments. George went on to have a long line of boats by the same name. Jeff Neuberth playing a big role in the organizing of those campaigns.

My only other Annapolis-Newport Race was in 1981 on "Boomerang". We finished close on the heels of "Flyer" and ended up second in our class.

As I have inferred I shortly withdrew from all competitive sailing to concentrate on Lirakis Safety Harness.

1971 trans-atlantic

In 1971 we cruised "Carina" to England for the Admiral's Cup and Fastnet Race. we sailed from Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, Ct. to Harwichport, on Cape Cod; where David Steere the owner of "Yankee Girl" had a summer house, compound might be a better description. A big party the night of our arrival and we left across the ocean along with "Yankee Girl", "American Eagle" owned by Ted Turner, and "Carina" belonging to Dick Nye.

We sailed the more northerly route, closer to the great circle, crossing in fourteen days , which would have likely won a race had we been competing .

A few days into the crossing, still on the Grand Banks, but not having had a sun sight in a few days, we only had a dead reckoning position. we calculated that we were perhaps 20 miles south of Sable Island, more or less. That night, I was off watch, we hit a whale that had been sleeping on the surface. I ran on deck, in a panic, thinking we had hit the island, just in time to see the whale pop to the surface behind us.