America's Cup 1980

1980 brings ever increasing interest in the America's Cup. Ian Howlett, who has had an abiding interest in the meter rule since he was young, designs "Lionheart"; named after a contest in England. He had explored the rule extensively and came up with the bendy mast. This added unrated sail area.
    "France III" has her best showing ever, making to the Defender finals, losing to" Australia."
      "Clipper" designed by David Pedrick for Russell Long, probably needed more time to get the boat going fast. "Freedom" the last Successful Sparkman&Stephens 12 meter, again with small incremental changes, sailed by Dennis Connor. Dennis, with this challenge brought the America's Cup to a new level. He logged more hours of sailing in more conditions than anyone had previously done, leaving no part of the 12 meter rule unexplored. Truly a well prepared defense. "Freedom" almost unbeatable in the trials; becoming the defender against "Australia" designed by Ben Lexan and Johan Valentijn  winning 4 to 1 in the races themselves.
      A new benchmark was set, and the course to where the America's Cup is today was launched.
    My involvement in the America's Cup finished in 1979 after Gerry Driscoll could not raise money to bring "Intrepid" back again. I was fully involved in Lirakis Safety Harness, and in fact stopped sailing altogether in 1980 until 2001, for the America's Cup Jubilee.

AMERICA'S CUP 1978-1979

   The 1977 America's Cup was done and dusted. Already plans for the 1980 cup were underway.  Baron Bic built "France III", designed by Johan Valentin. (who would co-design "Australia" with Ben Lexan for 1980)
     Bic also owned "Intrepid", which was being used as a trial horse against "France III." In the summer of 1978 "Intrepid" had a host of skippers: Bill Ficker, Lowell North, Gerry Driscoll. "France III"also had a series of tryouts for skipper, including Bruno Trouble.
  Gerry Driscoll arrived at an agreement with Baron Bic, who agreed to lease "Intrepid" to Gerry for the 1980 America's Cup if he could find financing for the program.
    1979, I was crew boss, downwind helmsman, and tactician. I was also responsible for maintenance of the boat; the actual work being carried out by the French shore crew.
   In over 100 starts, we lost one. Gerry owned the starting line, and was the most consistent helmsman I ever sailed with, every tack was the same, which meant the crew could always have the same timing.
     Many good stories came from this season, but no money was found for Intrepid's comeback.

  

12 meter racing before 1958

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=1079

 Leading up to the 12 meter era reunion, this should amuse those who sailed competitively on 12 meters

FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH

Friday the thirteenth, in America considered a bad luck day; however in France is a day when everyone buys a lottery ticket.
  This macabre image evokes  thoughts of Francois Villion's poem"The Ballad of the Hanged Man".

video of the 2010 Bermuda Race

It is not news to most of you who sail, that a few minutes after the start of the race, the clew of our mainsail tore. We reefed and sewed for about 40 hours. (the race lasted for 78 hours) We finished second in our class.

VJ DAY in Rhode Island

Today is VJ Day in Rhode Island (victory over Japan) Rhode Island is the last state in the union to celebrate such a holiday. I must assume that this is one of the more politically incorrect holidays to still exist.
    I have the hope that the real reason for observing this holiday is exactly that observing a holiday. I believe that today the beaches in Rhode Island are free and packed.

Enterprise 1977

The new Sparkman&Stephens 12 meter, arriving in Newport with Lowell North as skipper, and a great crew.( any of the crews on each boat were capable of defending the cup)  Lowell, while exceedingly talented, could not stop tinkering which led to his being replaced as skipper.
   Enterprise arrived in Newport with a very short "J" measurement, in order to achieve a more vertical forestay. In sharp contrast, on "Independence" had our headstay as far forward as could be. While the science might have predicted a more vertical headstay as good, there was simply no substitute for the additional sail area.
    In the last photo "Enterprise is using a mylar genoa. The use of mylar was revolutionary in 1977. We followed shortly thereafter with one of our own, which the crew dubbed the garbage bag.
    "Enterprise" was probably a faster boat than she demonstrated that summer, she was however the first boat excused from the trials.
  Once again the color photos here are credited to Marshall Lawson