IT'S CATAMARANS AND WING SAILS

    As rumored the next America's Cup will be contended in 72 foot catamarans with solid sails, in 2013. the where will be announced in december.  I would think that it is likely that the venue will be in Europe, Valencia already has the infrastructure, purpose built. If San Francisco does not grab the opportunity to re vitalize the waterfront and attract the Cup it will be a shame.

Carina and the NYYC Cup 1969

  This is a story that was brought back to memory by the thought that Ted Turner has chartered "American Eagle" for the 12 meter re-union in a few days.
  In 1969 racing on "Carina" in Cowes (Carina was part of the American Admiral's Cup Team) We were racing a non-Admiral's Cup race the Nab tower race. We did very well; not first, but well placed. We were ahead of "American Eagle" most of the course.
  The following morning motoring out to the start of a race that did count for the team, a launch from the Royal yacht Squadron came along side with a message for Dick Nye.  It was an invitation to the Castle to receive the New York Yacht Club Cup, awarded to the first NYYC boat to finish.  Now, we had done well, however another NYYC boat had finished ahead of us. Dick hastily penned a note indicating such and handed it ti the launch.
    We had to prepare for our race and anyone who has ever sailed a Cowes week knows it is chaotic with so many boats milling about on or near the starting line. The launch comes along side again with the message "you will attend"  Here I must explain that Dick Nye and "Carina" were not only legend in English waters but adored.   They simply preferred to award the trophy to Dick and not to the other skipper. Dick went and was awarded the trophy.

American Eagle behind Carina

Crusade at the Nab

Royal Yacht Squadron

looking to September 16

Looking back, when we were young

Johan and Gerry Driscoll

Courageous 1974

French crew

Independence 1977

Liberty 1983 7th race

Magic, smallest 12

Mariner 1974

Valiant 1974

Courageous & Independence 1977 wsl on rope

More "Little America's Cup

  This is a clip put together by Sailing Anarchy. They manage to do such a good job.

 I will add that I had a conversation with Bob Fisher, while he was here watching the "C-class cats, that leads me to believe that the words "Little America"s Cup were first used in the sixties. This would, I believe make it a legitimate phrase.

America's Cup 1986-87 & Hurricane Earl

   The Australians returned home with the America's Cup as heros. The entire country was excited. It was a new game; the parameters of the necessary boats were now different. Heavy air boats were now necessary, very different than those that had been sailed in Newport for so many years. Dennis Connor created an unprecedented organization, five boats each an improvement on the previous. Dennis is rewarded with redemption; returning the Cup to the United States.
  I had no more involvement with the cup than any other citizen. Deeply involved in building Lirakis Safety Harness,along with three children,  hardly having time to put my head up.
  The twelve meter re-union will be held at Harbour Court September 16-19
       It is Labor Day weekend. Hurricane Earl is a memory. What happened to Earl anyway? For one week I had updates from so many sources indicating that Newport was in the target zone. We had hardly any rain and more wind the day after the storm.

The Stamford-Vineyard race will not leave Long Island Sound, being a shortened course.

Hurricane Earl, waiting for the other shoe to drop

Earl is coming, The Stamford-Vineyard race start has been postponed until Saturday morning. A prudent decision, however how many opportunities does one have to sail in challenging conditions.  That said let's hope Earl keeps his distance.


Another slightly random remark. I like Sailing Anarchy. They do an outstanding job of covering the sport of sailing. They amuse me as well. I do have a criticism however, The gratuitous use of foul language; for me totally unnecessary and mildly offensive. It is unfortunate that this has managed to get them into trouble (they are being sued by Dan Meyers)  I do not see that there is an upside for either party.

TRACKING EARL

TRACKING EARL
Hurricane Earl, the second major hurricane of 2010, began to menace the
eastern United States Tuesday, stirring up seas and promising a soggy and
potentially dangerous Labor Day weekend. To help affected U.S. residents
follow Earl’s progress is Sailing Weather Service (SWS), which recently
helped Ericsson 4 win the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race and BMW Oracle Racing win
the 33rd America’s Cup.

“We've opened a public page for folks to track Earl using data that is
normally available only to US Sailing Members,” said SWS Chief Meteorologist
Chris Bedford. “There are 1-hour time step images of our proprietary model
forecast along the U.S. east coast for the next 3-5 days. Some zoomed model
graphics are available over the Chesapeake and New England. Our plan is to
keep this open until Earl (and maybe Fiona) have passed. With a little luck
we won't need it again, but to be honest, I'm not too optimistic about
that!”

The 2010 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean began on June 1, 2010, and
will end on November 30, 2010. The Sailing Weather Service Model Data can be
viewed here: http://www.sailwx.com/HURRICANE/

  The America's cup update  It is looking more and more like the next America's Cup will be in 72 foot catamarans, in Valencia.