HISTORICAL CONTEXT, the way we were

It is important to keep a perspective. This is the Newport during the 1960's.Newport was still as sleepy navy town. We do not often take the time to reflect on how things were. If you are like me; you are racing to finish what you started during the day. Never mind the simple interruptions.
    The Newport Bridge did not open until 1969. The photograph of the ferry with the bridge in the background I took from the transom of "Carina" on the way out to the start of the transatlantic race to Ireland.
    These are the men who worked on the 12 meters and every other ship that was hauled at Newport Shipyard.
     Newport still had a working waterfront, filled with fishing boats. As you look at the photos many more small insights will appear.

Skip Whyte on Coaching - part 2 | October 9, 2009 on Sailgroove

Skip Whyte on Coaching - part 2 | October 9, 2009 on Sailgroove

Posted using ShareThis

GENE AMBO

Gene Ambo was one of the early regulars sailing on "Charisma". The Charisma Crew held a reunion in Chicago two years ago. Gene was surely the life of the party.

Eugene Ambo,

A Remembrance of His Life, Age 82. He was known variously as Gene, Geno or Ambo and sometimes as “The Super Jap” and thirty years ago on May 29, 1980 he was one of the eleven persons who met at the offices of Kaufman and Ladd for the purpose, “To discuss the steps to establish a social Club to be named the Eastport Yacht Club.”

Gene Ambo was not from Eastport but then none of the founders of the EYC were from here.  He was born in California of Japanese parents and although they were industrious farmers, the family was interned by the Federal Government shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.   This did not deter the United States Government from drafting him into the army after the end of World War II.  Gene served in the Army Air Corp which brought him to Chicago.  After his discharge from the Army, he stayed around Chicago and got involved in photography and eventually had a successful graphics and advertising business.  There he got to racing sailboats on the Great Lakes and then on occasion on the East Coast and to Florida for the then popular SORC.  He developed into a respected navigator and all around racing hand mostly on boats from the Great Lakes.  When in his mid-40’s, Gene dropped out of the business world and got to managing ocean racing boats full time and this brought him often toAnnapolis and Eastport.  In the late 1970’s he settled here and among other things he established Presto Photo, the first one-hour film processing shop in this area.

Gene was very active in the formative years of the EYC and was the first Entertainment Committee Chairman.  The parties that he organized were large and consistent money makers in the early years of the club.  He had an unusually good, if reckless, command of the English language.  He came up with the name Spring Cotillion in place of the name BN Ball.  When we asked him why Cotillion, he suggested that we look it up and we did and found it to be “An elaborate dance marked by the giving of favors and the frequent changing of partners.” He continued to be active in ocean racing and was often the navigator for Jack King in MERRYTHOUGHT and she was a consistent winner.

But then other interests call and he dropped out of the EYC and then he moved back to Chicago where he lived with his wife Milenka.  Many of us were in contact with him by e-mail where he rather constantly entertained us.  Gene Ambo and his wife Milenka did visit Eastport of the 20^th and the 25^th Anniversary of the founding of the Eastport Yacht Club.  He was very pleased to have been a part of the creation of the YYC.

It is our understanding that Gene is to make one more trip to Eastport but in a somewhat more compact form and more quite manner then usual and there is to be a Celebration of his Life and a spreading of ashes.  We will keep those persons who are interested aware of the developments.

These observations were organized by Fred Hecklinger, Rob Ladd, Jeff Goldring and others of the original founders of the Eastport Yacht Club   

TRIM TABS AND BUSTLES 1967

Remember that 1958 saw the first 12 meters built since before world war II. Now the America's Cup is into it's fourth event since 1937.
    Tank testing has shown that the concept of a trim tab with a rudder much further aft would be a breakthrough. Other boats would add bustle, ie. additional displacement aft but S&S who carried out design modifications on " Columbia" could not reveal what they had done in the design for "Intrepid".
"Columbia" was capably steered by Bill Ficker, who kept her in the game until the end.
   "Intrepid" would loose only once during the entire summer. She could outmanoeuvre the competition with ease. As far as I could tell most of the starts I saw, she would "sandbag" and still get to the weather mark first.  It should be noted the Bus Mosbacher was helmsman and probably the finest of his generation.
       "Dame Pattie" designed by Warrick Hood, might have been a worthy challenger had the defender been more like "Constellation"

      With each defense came new ideas.  As new information was developed, the problem was how to interpret properly that new information.

ANOTHER SHIPMATE MEETS HIS MAKER

Mickey Spillane, longtime friend and shipmate was killed hang gliding in Brazil. We had sailed many miles together. I always enjoyed having Mickey aboard as he exuded calm. We last sailed together last summer in Newport for the six meter north american championships; we finished second. The group photo was aboard "Charisma" in 1973, we were part of the American Admiral's Cup team. Bill Ficker was helmsman.  Culminating in a second overall in the Fastnet race, second to a sistership from Brazil.

We celebrated Mickey's 30th wedding anniversary a few summers ago. He met his wife, Alice, when we were racing in Brazil.
 If you click on the link and scroll down to the video shot in Brazil at one of the spots for hang gliding.
We had been looking forward to seeing Mickey and Alice, who were due to return to Newport any day. I was already making plans for sailing with Mickey.

LOOKING FOR A BERMUDA RACE NAVIGATOR?

matt@gregorysports.com

Mobile: +1 415 407 3800

Would you like to win the Bermuda Race this year? Matt Gregory is available as navigator.

The First Earth Day

The First Earth Day, April 22, 1970. I had a girlfriend attending Radcliffe, so I spend more time in Cambridge than I might have otherwise done. These are photos at that event, at Soldier's Field. The presence of the Hare Krishna, for me put into question the legitimacy of the day. I never argued the concept of higher consciousness, I could just never take them seriously.

BILL SHAY HAS DIED

Bill Shay, long time crew of "Carina" died last night. I sailed with bill twice across the atlantic, winning class and second overall in 1969. Winning the Admiral's cup in 1969. In 1970 again we sailed together on "Carina" winning the Bermuda Race.
     I will miss knowing he was there. A fine shipmate, leaving behind warm memories.

more 1964

The color photos are courtesy of Dick Enersen, crew of "Constellation" in 1964. Each photo is a story in itself. Dick looking very young indeed under the Connie shed sign. The final photo of Eric Ritter the helmsman, who stepped aside in the interest of the boat, greeting Harry Morgan, head of the selection committee bringing the good news that "Constellation" has been selected to defend.
   The black and white photo I believe was taken on a day when most of the other 12 meters lost their masts.
     I would like to hear from more of the crews out there. Thankyou Dick.

12 days 6 hours 3 minutes 48 seconds

Estrella Damm crossed the finish line in Barcelona, having left New York City 12 days 6 hours 3 minutes 48 seconds ago. W Hotels finished 12 days 15 hours 23 minutes 50 seconds, approximately 9 hours later. The most difficult part is this race was once both boats entered the Mediterranean.

Another look at the 1964 summer

Looking back from today's perspective makes the gear and sails in particular look primitive. I is hard to imagine that the 12 meters of the era were the cutting edge of sailing.  Look at the boom vang in the earlier post. The mainsheet winch, practically the smallest winch on the boat for the largest sail; and four parts. Just think what that must have been like at the leeward mark.
    Hanks were still used on headsails. I believe an argument could be mounted defending hanks, tactically, look at the photo of the bow of "Constellation", Buddy Bombard is standing in the forward hatch, a jib would be stopped and hoisted through this hatch; sheets attached, at a leeward mark, a boat could carry the spinnaker right to the mark, breaking out the genoa at the last possible moment.
     Wooden boats built to lloyd's scantlings. Designers and builders did what they could to save weight. I would not be until 1974 when aluminum would be allowed and 1986 when the first fiberglass 12 meters came into being.
    Weather, was not much beyond the farmer's almanac. Statics accumulated over time were the only analysis available.
    Ash blocks with bronze bearings were still common. Lines were still large and heavy. Change came slowly

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.

The Pillars of Hercules

The Pillars of Hercules, created by Hercules when completing his tenth labor, to capture the oxen of Geryon. For the curious read the 10 labours of Hercules,
      Since I was very young I have enjoyed the Greek mythology; sailing through the straits of Gibraltar, was a sort of dream come true. Not unlike the W boats which are encountering diminishing wind as they enter the Mediterranean, we arrived with 25 knots at our back, sliding smoothly at 5 in the morning, and the wind died with the rising sun.

Never underestimate LUCK

The W60 on which Peter Becker is sailing was hit by a errant wave. It is just one of those things. Look forward, there will be another weather window to fix the damaged rudder. Press on.  Just think how the people at Goldman Sachs are feeling today.

TRANSATLANTIC 2011

        The Transatlantic race  has been announced starting from Newport in June, 2011 finishing in Cowes, IOW, England. I expect the plan is to encourage boats to later sail Cowes week and the Fastnet race. For those who would then like to continue sailing, get the boats to the Mediterranean, for the Middle Sea Race in October.
  I have already heard from several people who intend to compete. Those who love to go to sea. There is quite a difference between a 3-4 day Bermuda race ( 24-36 hours for the really big boats including the Volvo 70) and a 14-18 day transatlantic race.
    
      For those who just want to have fun I had attached the file below. This is real LA. what more is there to say.

Estralla Damm sails 450 miles in 24 hours

The W 60's still have their collective foot on the accelerator. However I believe they are a little further north than they might wish to be. As the saying goes: "what goes up, must come down". Depending on the weather, they might have boxed themselves into a corner. They need the wind to back so they can jibe. If it heads, they can work down, but they would much rather be freed up than on the wind. Equally, they will be sailing extra distance, which is fine if they can keep up this pace.

Weather in the Northeast

Emerging from a winter that I personally found hard, despite the fact I have lived through worse. Winter ended with what seemed to be endless rain, here in the northeast. Anyone who has followed the news has seen the damage  too much rain can reek. Like the flowers, we turn our faces to the sun anxious to absorb her glorious rays.
    The rivers in Rhode Island, attracted early industry as they provided power and transportation proved to be the undoing of so many people living near them.
   Spring seems to be about three weeks "early"in stark contrast to last year when we seemed to abruptly have gone  from winter the summer, leaving spring out of the equation. I am already wondering if this mild spring will lead to warmer water leading into the fall and therefore  the possibility of a hurricane. We have dodged this manifestation of nature in recent history, only adding to the potential probability.

196 Entries for the 2010 Bermuda Race

196 entries is a healthy number any time, for a race like the Bermuda Race. 635 nm in distance at a magnetic course of 162  degrees. The start is June 18th, therefore the weather will be what the weather will be.  Add to that the Gulf Stream as a race course feature. It is not always possible to take full advantage of both.  The Gulf Stream is like a barrier or fence in the Ocean that you have to climb over to get where you are going.
  Kitchen Shoals is your landfall/turning mark, before finishing off St. David's light