Saturday, July 31, 2010

MEASURING IN 1977

ted and tenacious 
measuring the twelves 
       The 12 meters must meet the criteria set in the international 12 meter rule in order to sail officially in the class; which was the chosen class since 1958 until 1987 to compete for the America's Cup.  Bob Blumenstock was the official measurer for the New York Yacht Club and the America's Cup.
Preparation for measurement was always an involved process. The design process is the beginning. The 12 meter rule conceived in 1906 is a very sound rule. It allows changes and innovations, but if you take from one area, you must give up something in another area. Changes are therefore subtle.
But here we are at Bannister's Wharf, our syndicate headquarters, being measured. Still water is essential. The boats are built and assumed to be within the rule. There were things we able, within the rule, to make sure we "measured in." In our time, measuring in, while serious, was a far cry from the process today.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Laura Dekker gets a green light

Laura Dekker the Dutch girl who at 14 will leave August 10th to sail non-stop around the world single-handed. The Dutch Government had interceded to prevent this claiming she was too young to make this decision herself, have been thwarted by the courts. Read more here.
 Publicity for this event much like the reality shows that have taken over television, positive or negative is spreading the word, (as am I ).
   All of these events, touch each of us, as we all have opinions about the world and how it should be.
Look at the firestorm that has surrounded John Kerry's new yacht, it's cost and whether he should pay taxes, why he chose not to build it in New England. All questions we can ask ourselves and have no control over the outcome anyway.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

June 1977

   In May, it was still quite cold. Peter Lawson one day motored from Newport to Marblehead, with "Nanny" a Holmatro powerboat, an attractive stylized boat that was capable of only 8 knots at full speed.
This meant that the trip was much longer than we anticipated. It also meant that this boat could not keep up with the twelves. Sailing upwind exchanging sails was often a problem with "Nanny".
coageous and independence at bannister's wharf
dredging bannister's
independence in lift
ted hood, scott perry,teddy
 Preparation of Bannister's Wharf(where the Candy Store is located) which would be our base for the summer. included a lift which "Independence"would share with "Courageous". There was not enough water, so dredging was done in a very original way. If you click on the photo of the tugboat, you will see the crew, something I had never  paid attention to until this posting.
     Each of the crew had assigned responsibilities for boat maintenance, in addition to our jobs as crew. Official measuring the boats, and the June Trials, in the next post.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Team Racing


I have long been a proponent of Team Racing, particularly at the interscholastic and intercollegiate levels. It is a team sport, which involves more participation. I feel that the emphasis placed on the A & B skippers is gone too far and diminishes the sense of team.
   I still keep many fond memories of college sailing. We thought of it as competitive, but pales by today's standards. Still I liked what we did and the fun we had.
  In little less than a month I am looking forward to sailing a team racing event. Short courses, lots of starts, no ratings, teamwork on the boat as important as that of the team.
  
The Chicago Mackinac Race starts tomorrow, wind at the start diminishing over the next 24-30 hours and filling for the small boats; as it looks now. A great race.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

AMERICA'S CUP 1977

jim taylor measuring
The 1977 America's Cup began at the finish of the 1974 campaign. Ted Hood acquired "Courageous". She was the benchmark boat, a new design would have to be better than the last winner.  Jim Taylor was the designer for Ted Hood, and the one who discovered in measuring "Courageous" that the boat in fact did not measure as a twelve meter. She had sailed the 1974 series illegally. As one can imagine this revelation caused concern and the consequences could have been interesting. Put this in today's context and the law suit might still be ongoing. All the parties agreed that the outcome would have remained the same, and moved on.
    My involvement was a random encounter. I was in Marblehead looking at the new "Independence" and "Courageous" in the spring of 1977 or the fall of 1976, I actually do not recall now. Jeff Neuberth the Project Manager asked me who I was sailing with. I replied "no one" He said that he had been told I was sailing with "Enterprise". Now knowing I was available asked if I would join the new boat.
jeff neuberth tailing
    I began my four day commute to Marblehead from Newport. As with each of us who sailed in the America's Cup, how we got there and what we did is for each of us unique. Bernadette, my wife, and I were rehabbing a house in Newport. So in order to do both I was living on little sleep. Working night and day on the house, then driving to Marblehead and sailing long hours and working on the boat. What I remember about those early sailing sessions was how cold it was.
    Ted Hood chartered "Courageous" and was to be our trial horse. This assumed that the new design was a faster boat.
congressional cup at long beach
     In April we went to Long Beach for the Congressional Cup, which in those days was really the only match racing event outside the America's Cup. Ted Turner won. (I think that might be Dennis Connor on the dock in the photo at Long Beach Yacht Club.)
wsl on independence
   Back to Marblehead and more training and sail testing at the conclusion of the regatta. We had not faired well, not last, but not winners. The end of May was the date we would tow to Newport. We had a final "regatta" in Marblehead between "Courageous" and Independence" in which we were beaten handily by "Courageous" Reggie Pierce looked up from the grinder handles and said"This is going to be a long summer." We all had a collective sense that we did not have the faster boat.
jibing duel courageous and independence
Many of the photos including this last one, are thanks to Marshall Lawson who worked as shore support during the 1977 America's Cup summer.
   The next installment will deal with our arrival in Newport and the June trials.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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.’
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

Monday, July 19, 2010

America's Cup Finances


It is no longer new news that San Francisco is the only city being considered for hosting the America's Cup  in 2013 or 2014. A study conducted by Bay Area Council Economic Institute and Beacon Economics and published today in the San Francisco Chronicle states that hosting the Cup would generate $1.9 billion in economic activity, and have long term residual benefits. Read the full report http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0719/
    Newport, despite being a sentimental favorite, could never really have been in the same league with San Francisco.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Petaluma to Los Angeles

pigeon point
big sur
pacific coast highway near malibu

I have written about Los Angeles and other events, but not reported on how I got from one place to the other.  We decided to drive route one, along the coast. I had never done it and of course since I was a teenager I have seen images of Big Sur that captured my imagination. We planned two days, which was barely enough as I wanted to stop to photograph every few minutes.
  We also stopped at a number of towns and cities along the way. As with people, first impressions can be misleading and puzzling. I did not like Carmel particularly, I did like Santa Barbara. Both place are indeed very pretty, but somehow a little too clean. I am not sure how one can criticize a town for being clean. My hometown of Newport I find not clean enough. Perhaps I am just difficult to please. I could find myself living in Santa Barbara, which is full of architectural gems.
    Our older son, Stefan, lives in Los Angeles and has a sound studio. Besides visiting him, the purpose of my visit was to lend a hand helping in any way I could during our short trip there. He is in the process of expanding the studio. He and his wife have also just to a new apartment. Bernadette, my wife painted and I sanded, upholstered and whatever else needed to be done.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES


I just cannot emphasize enough the pleasure downtown Los Angeles gives me. An architectural treasure trove. The first photos are of the "Cicada Club" in the 1928 Oviatt building. The glass work was done by Lalique, as good as I have ever seen. The last photo is that of the door on Rene Lalique's house in Paris.
   Broadway is grander than its counterpart in New York with wonderful facades. I walked the street again while in LA to marvel at the buildings.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

THE MACS


The Port Huron to Mackinac Island race starts soon. I have never sailed this race. I have sailed 6 or 7 Chicago-Mackinac races, the last in 2007 on "Sue" with a great group of people. The Chicago-Mackinac will start later in the month.
   For those of us used to sailing in salt water the first wave is a shock as it is fresh water.
  Above is a trophy for the overall winner of the Chicago-Mackinac "Intrepid" in 1921.  I have this for sale along with many other nautical items.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

NORTON SIMON MUSEUM


On Sunday afternoon we went to the Norton simon Museum in Pasadena. This is perhaps my favorite Museum in the United States. Not only because of the collection, but the space is so pleasant and easy. The Garden is peaceful and pleasant, and despite its public nature offers a kind of solace and quiet. It would be easy to argue that merits of so many other museums, and I probably would not disagree with anything anyone said in defense of these institutions. But I could just sit in the Norton Simon.
  In New York I often joked that I wanted to live at the Frick; another such wonderful and agreeable space.
 A final remark, I read that Abby Sunderland's father made some strange statements on the Today Show concerning the Bermuda Race, Statements that were quickly rectified by John Rousmaniere. Remarks such as those he made only re-enforce the idea that he acted foolishly and selfishly.

Monday, July 12, 2010

LOS ANGELES


Julia Morgan, architect of San Simeon, the Herald Examiner and other projects for William Hurst as well as other important commissions.  No discussion of Los Angeles is complete without including her.
  Los Angeles is so rich with architectural gems,and preservation of these buildings has been quite good here.
  People watching in Los Angeles has endless possibilities, even in Whole Foods, while shopping for groceries.
  My primary purpose here is to help my children. I have been sawing, painting, sewing, hammering, drilling. But I always carry my camera.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

DENNIS HOPPER OPENING AT THE MOCA GEFFEN



Last night we went to the opening of the Dennis Hopper exhibit at the MOCA Geffen center. Click here to see who else was there. I could easily make it a social diary moment. This had been arranged by our daughter-in-law. I was delighted to go and had a great time. I probably would not had made the effort myself, but glad I did. The event was a cross between an art exhibit and a rave.(there are a DJ playing techno music) The building lends itself perfectly to something like this. (the weather doesn't hurt)
  Dennis Hopper's photographs were the most interesting part of the show for me. Much more than his art, as the photographs were a sort of narrative of his life. How he saw, what he saw, what image he chose to capture.
  It was an LA moment for sure. We had driven from north of San Francisco to LA along route 1. I had long wanted to do this. I stopped every other minute to take pictures. This event was a sharp contrast to the images of the California coast.
   I had been concerned that I would be told not to take photographs, but the I phones were everywhere and  in the end I expect it is LA/Hollywood where taking or posing for photographs practically a way of life.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

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.