FOR SALE

These historically significant boats are a joy to sail, elegant and powerful yet responsive.

BACK TO MY ROOTS

Sunday,during the winter in New England is frostbite day. This past Sunday I had the opportunity to race dinghys against several of my old college teammates, Skip Whyte and Bob Hicks. It occurred to me during the day that I had not sailed a dinghy since 1972. Great fun, I exhibited rust. I really like the format of short races, as in college sailing.

shooting in Cody

A few years ago I was invited to be part of the Windigo shooting team competing in Cody, Wyoming. The team was comprised of some very notable shooters, including the Olympic shooting coach.

Cody was founded by Buffalo Bill and the principle hotel the Irma is named after his daughter. It is a voyage into another world. Guns and Rodeo.

The competition was spread over 4 days and numerous events. Silhouette shooting standing, against time; Trap from the 27 yard line; Wobble Skeet; and Sporting Clays. Ultimately won by the home team, however not without memorable moments.

There was a tie in the Wobble Skeet event, which meant a shoot off. One of our team was up first. Standing in the center, for doubles, he put the gun behind his back and called for the targets, crushing them. If that didn't psyche out the competition, He did win that event overall.

After the formal event was completed there was a prize money competition which pitched me against my good friend Jimmy Gubelmann. We tied again and again. Finally as the sun was setting it was decided by the judges that Jimmy would shoot and I had to break a piece or Jimmy would be declared the winner. Jimmy called for the target and waited as long as he could before shooting it; leaving me no time. It was a hail mary shot. One of the only times I beat Jimmy shooting; but one of the most satisfying.

TRANS-ATLANTIC 2003 & 2005

For those of you who never saw my slide talk comparing the 2003 and 2005 trans-atlantic races.

Queen Elizabeth II 1975

October 1975, I had returned to Newport after our year on the Isle of Wight, to close on our first house, that became another adventure. Bernadette and I had never taken a honeymoon; sailing and work had interfered. We had been booked on the France, however a strike prevented her sailing and eventually led to her being scrapped. Bernadette was returning from her family in France along with everything had had living in England aboard the QE II. Unbeknownst to her I booked on the QE II, only I was boarding in Southampton, while Bernadette was boarding in Cherbourg, along with our two dogs who had spent the year in France as England had such strict laws governing animals.

She was truly surprised. We had the good fortune to have been placed at a table with an Australian couple returning home after a career in the foreign service.

I had a letter of introduction to the Captain; Mortimer Heihr from a mutual friend who had taught navigation together. Hence we were included in many on the events that would normally be reserved for first class passengers. I met the navigator, who had just concluded the first Whitbread round the world race. Otherwise life aboard was not that interesting.

About a day out of New York we encountered Hurricane Gladys, We lost the forward cargo doors . We had to turn and run before the storm, which made us three days late into New York. During the storm all the swimming pools were emptied (free surface) and all food service ceased. We brought the dogs to our cabin. I have photographs somewhere of the waves. I was the only person wandering around. I watched all the movies.

There is a silver lining to every incident in life,Bernadette had been trying without success to become pregnant. Isabelle, our first child was conceived on this voyage.