CARINA

This weekend at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club will be a reunion of as many "Carina" crew as can be rounded up to recount their memories of sailing on perhaps the most famous boat in ocean racing.

I joined the crew of "Carina" in 1969 quite by chance. I was meant to sail on a different boat for the Trans-Atlantic race that year to Ireland. Plans changed and I was recommended to speak to Dick Nye about the possibility of finding a berth on another boat. He suggested I come for lunch to meet and discuss possibilities.

I had been in an automobile accident during the winter and had broken my leg. The cast was still on as I hitchhiked to New York City from the University Of Rhode Island in the snow for lunch.

I never imagined that Richard would call asking me to join "Carina" and the life-long friends that event would create.

COWES WEEK FASTNET RACE 2009

The Fastnet Race which starts today,is probably my favorite race, a tactical race, never really offshore. Cowes week is always fun, a far cry from my early days.

I must say I would like to be there.

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.

Fastnet 2003

This was my fifth Fastnet Race,(My first was in 1969) I have a fondness for this race; the challenges of the tide gates, the weather, the changes and obstacles.The fireworks the night before, the charm and bustle of Cowes, contribute to this feeling.

We actually led out of the Solent, past Hurst castle, only to anchor at Portland Bill for dinner. The photo of us passing Fastnet Rock continues to be one of my favorite memories. I am at the helm, Dan Cianci on the rail,furthest forward, was lost at sea a year later, only adding to the significance of this photo.

The final photo shows us at Bishop Rock, we missed the tide by a minute or two, in a dying breeze, allowing the boats behind to sail up to us.( also showing just how far ahead we had been.)

We still finished 11th boat for boat, however not achieving silver.

1973 continued

I eluded to the breath of events for 1973, My wedding was one whose date was a established after consulting the sailing schedule. With Admiral's Cup and the Fastnet behind me I could concentrate on my future wife. We were married in Aste, a small village in the Pyrenees mountains, which separate France from Spain.

Never has there been such a wonderful event at least as far as I am concerned. Not only was I welcomed into my wife's family, It was the best party I ever attended. Since then I have come to know this region of France, and it has become part of me.

Although it is not near the sea, I brought the first windsurfer to France, sailing it in the lakes in the Mountains. At the time I was reviled by the fishermen, today the fishermen are gone and there is a fleet of windsurfers.

Fall 1975

Following Cowes Week aboard "Gitana VI" I raced the Fastnet with "Guia" belonging to Georgio Falk. "Guia" had been built for the previous Admiral's Cup as "Ginko" a 44 foot Bob Miller/Ben Lexan design. A light fast boat, having scored well in 1973 and had won an inshore race in 1975. Again, a mixed crew of talented Italians and French, and again English was the language on Deck, except when faced with a crisis.

It was the ride back from Fastnet Rock, where this occurred, the Wind freshened, to 30 plus knots. We were scudding along at 15-17 knots; A spinnaker change was necessary, I opted to steer staying out of the language barrier problem. From here our fate took a turn for the worse; as I watched the competition shrink on the horizon ahead. Both spinnakers were wrapped around the headstay and required cutting away.

I returned to the United States, to sail the One Ton Worlds, in Newport, with Ted Turner on "Vamp" a Peterson design. A hard series, we faired well, however, being beaten by Lowell North in "Pied Piper" also a Peterson design, so Ted bought Lowell's boat. which we sailed in the 1976 One Ton World's. a story for another installment.