1983 America's Cup, when the right thing happened

going to the finish

rounding the first leeward mark

liberty

australia II

before the start

the morning after

Marble House

the CUP in 1983

1983, a date in America's Cup history that will forever be remembered. The unthinkable happened. the New York Yacht Club and the United States lost a cup that they had held since 1851 (having won it as an upstart nation)
   For me, the right thing happened for all the wrong reasons. As hard as it was to see then, the America's Cup had outgrown the New York Yacht Club. This forced change breathed new life into the competition. People can think that it was the cause of the problems we have seen since, I do not believe this to be true. It would have happened anyway. It is the world we live in. Change always comes difficultly.
   Newport, oddly was routing for the underdog, Australia,. This was spiting your face by cutting off your nose. Tourism in Newport was closely tied to the America's Cup.
   Another thought, "Liberty" led the seventh and final race for five of the six legs. sailing brilliantly against a clearly strong rival. "Liberty" was not a slow boat, just not a faster boat. The Australian boat was using Ian Howlett's bendy mast, giving them "free" sail area. The wing keel was probably more a psychological weapon than an effective design improvement. It was long from being understood. It did make a stiffer boat allowing a lower lead package.
  Curiously, the C-class may be facing the same sort of challenge to change, For so long being the step-sister, they may now find themselves in the center of significant changes, namely the America's Cup in multihulls.

   Where is "LIberty" today??

C-class August 27 2010

harbour court 8 27 10

"Invictus" airbus team

match race, "canaan" "orion"

tug of war

A morning northerly and sunshine greeted everyone. It seemed to reflect the spirits ashore. The top two boats were paired in match racing, "Canaan" is so fast, even if Glen Ashby and James Spithill won the start they were hard pressed to keep control.
    A little to windward of the start two tugs gave meaning to the words "tug of war" as they pulled against one another with force; to what end was unclear.

guy gurney, bob fisher, dan nerney, b. hovey

     It seems more and more likely that the next America's Cup will be sailed in 72 foot  catamarans, in Valencia, Spain.

   This likely means that the C-class will become the test and training platform for the next contest. It will change the C-class forever despite what those involved think.  Too many people involved in the America's Cup have come to this event, designers, engineers, sailors, heads of syndicates. 

C-class Catamarans are in Newport

wings in the mule barn

duncan measuring

It is raining, the rigs are in the mule barn at Ft. Adams being measured by none other than Duncan MacLean.
  Racing starts tomorrow, weather permitting. Unfortunately the forecast may not be what anyone hoped for; that's sailboat racing. It does not diminish the excitement of having these boats assembled in one place.
  Paul Larsen and Helena Darvilia are here with "Invictus" the Airbus entry. Steve Clark with his new boat and old rig having had teething problems with the new one. Steve Killing's design, the defender, is here. The French have chartered "Patient Lady IV".

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.

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.

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.

Estrella Damm & W Hotels are off

The Two W 60's have set off from New York heading to Barcelona The 500 mb forecast shows promise.  these boats are quick enough to keep up with the system at least for a while. It is always an advantage to be able to choose your departure time; never-the-less I envy Peter Becker and Stan Schreyer.

     These two boats will have to cross the Gulf Stream, again unlike the Bermuda Race participants it works in their favor.

America's Cup 1958

It is important to put 1958 in historical context. This was the first challenge for the America's Cup since 1937; when it was raced for in "J" class yachts, around 130 feet in length. Life was different, a depression, a world war, taxes were higher than today, for the wealthy.

     Olin Stephens had designed "Vim" for Harold Vanderbilt in 1939 (sail # 15) "Columbia" (sail # 16) built in 1958 both at Nevins' yard in City Island. "Vim" pressed "Columbia" and made the selection committee's job a hard one.

EASTER AT THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB

Easter Sunday, a glorious day in New England. The boxwood smelled strongly and the daffodils shined bright yellow at Harbour Court. Re-united for lunch after a long winter, with friends.

The 12 meter era of the America's cup is announced

Go to the New York Yacht Club site or click on the link to read about the reunion. I would very much like to hear from anyone who sailed and may have stories and/or photos they might be willing to share.

The 12 meter era of the America's cup

In September of this year there will be a re-union of the 12 meter crews from the years 1958-1987 . Columbia (US 16 through USA US 61)

26 years ago in 12 meter history

The New York Yacht Club lost the America's Cup 26 years ago this September. Change is always troubling for anyone. I have always regarded this event as: the right thing happened for all the wrong reasons.

Change is inevitable, we all know, but all resist nonetheless. This was one of those occasions. It breathed new life into the Cup life.