August 2006
The Girls of Summer The last day of Summer (at least in our book) needs to be celebrated appropriately. These girls are from the Northwest and are courtesy of Sean Trew. 08/31/06 |
Hangover The other day I was talking to a friend I hadn't seen in a long time who used to crew for me back in the day when we were sailing the IOR Farr 40 Freefall. He said he'll never forget one of my biggest lines of BS. "Which one?" I wanted to know, after all, there there were a few. He explained: "We were going upwind in some race and you had the boat going pretty well, but you then announced that you had a wicked hangover, but that you sailed better with one. Do you remember your explanation, my friend asked? You said that because you were hungover and were wounded, you could only concentrate on one thing, and the two telltales on the headsail were about all you could handle. So you said that's all you focused on, and you claimed that that made you a better helmsman. A hangover made you better? What a load of crap!" It pretty much was BS, but it sounded good at the time! 08/31/06 |
| New
Feature The Money Shot Okay, we know how much y'all like the good photos that we show here, and we're going to have even more fun with it, Those of you who might have some great shots, send them in and each week, we'll feature the best one. That will be the Money Shot of the week, and will earn you if not actual money, SA swag. The better the shot, the better the gear! Want to play? |
"Dude...?" Timing is, if not everything, certainly very important in photography. Sean Trew illustrates that perfectly in this shot at the Optimist Pacific Coast Championships. Nice! 08/29/08 |
Lot O'
Dinghies On
Friday, August 18 2006 the world's largest local one-design
fleet celebrated its 75th Anniversary at its home -
Seaview, on the Isle of Wight. Exactly 175 of the locally
built 'Sea View One-Design' (SVOD) dinghies hoisted
their multi-coloured sails for a mass-start fleet race
in the morning and an historic 'sail past' hundreds
of spectators lining the Seaview Waterfront.Class Captain William Edwards explained the unique characteristics of a class built by the same family and only raced in one village: ‘The boats are traditional wooden boats made of spruce and oak and elm. They are clinker-built which means that they are planks laid over the top of other planks on a frame. They have spruce masts which are 18ft tall, the boats are 12ft long, they are very difficult to sail because they are sharp in the bow and any chop, they take water over the leeward bow. Read on. Photo by Sally Collison. 08/30/06 |
"Where
Is Everybody?" They are all behind you, dude! This is the 2006 Solitaire du Figaro winner Nicolas Troussel (FRA) on Financo. Well done, and a great shot from Thierry Martinez. 08/29/06 |
Dopey Is
there anybody who didn't think this was
anything other than dopey? We laughed at this when we came
across it a few months back and we laugh at it now. There are
a few supporters, one of which derided us for not being bright
enough to see the anarchistic aspect to this. There is anarchy
and then there is asininity. Whatever...08/29/06 |
Sideways The TP 52 Bigamist on their way to a respectable 8th at the Trofeo Atenas regatta, part of the Breitling Medcup. Great photography from Rich Page. 08/28/06 |
Flying
Shark The skiffs sweetly skipping the seas in San Francisco. Whatever, this is a sweet shot sent by Seth Larkin. 08/24/06 |
Sad
Injun Is this the fate of the once proud Cheyenne? The record setting Cat sits, looking very neglegted in San Diego. Thanks to anarchist Frank Morris for the shot. 08/23/06 |
Less is Moore
Looking closely you can see the transom is cut out of this Moore 24 (Morgan Larson's Bruzer)I We asked, when did the Moore 24 class start allowing this?
The answer: "not sure when they allowed that. Probably did it to wash the beer off the floor. " The Gorge was pretty easy on them this weekend. It is rippin' now. That's what we call the third day after two days of no wind around here....Monday. Forum discussion here. Thanks
to Anarchist 08/22/06 |
Five-Oh-Frisco! The 505 boys and girls have swarmed to Ess Eff for their North American Championships at the moderately stuffy St. Francis Yacht Club. Great shots from Erik Simonson. 08/18/06 |
Eath to
Mars.... Earthrace, the biodiesel powered wave piercing trimaran that is meant to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat, and using only renewable fuels has arrived on the West Coast. The project is an 18-month tour stopping at 60 cities around the world, promoting fuels like biodiesel, and raising awareness about sustainable use of resources. We talked to the boys today, and will be doing an Innerview with them and certainly get a peek at the boat when it gets to San Diego. Thanks to the Ocean Film Boat for the shot, you can see more photos at their site. 08/18/06 |
Deliverance 08/17/06 |
Ed's
World I
believe the first editorial written here at SA some five
years ago(can it really be?) was titled PHRF
Sucks, and I feel basically the same today as I did then.
I don't like PHRF, because it is populated by and run mostly
by boobs, and I've managed to avoid all of the PHRF bullshit
for years. Well guess what? Look who is right back in the
mix! Yep, me as I understand PHRF So Cal has issued ratings
for the Flying Tiger 10M, of which you all know (all too
well at this point, I'm sure) that my partners and I are
getting one, hull 11. The initial ratings of 54/48/42 seem
about right, but
who the hell knows? PHRF allegedly thinks the IRC rating
will be somewhere between 1.070 and 1.075 and they had input
from a few well known naval architects from the Southern
California area. I hope one wasn't Bruce Nelson - can you
hear it? "Tempesta's getting one? I'd give it 06/00/-12." |
What A
Great Sport! So we were torn - which picture to use for the 2006 US Windsurfing Nationals. On the one hand, we really liked the above shot, for all the obvious reasons, but... |
What A
Great Sport! ...this shot made a lot of sense, again for all the obvious reasons. So since we couldn't decide on the best photo, we now want you to vote for your choice. Have fun. Oh yeah, here is the race dope: The regatta was hosted by the Maui Windsurfing Association, August 5-12 at Kanaha State Beach Park, in Maui. Over 70 windsurfers from 8 countries competed in 20-30 knot tradewinds and bath warm water for 5 straight days in slalom, long distance and course racing disciplines. The men's overall was won by Matt Pritchard of Maui, the Formula class by Steve Bodner of San Francisco, CA and the Olympic class by Phillip Muller of Hutchinson Island, Fl. Photos and results here and the race report here. 08/16/06 |
| Sailing
Injury Study Results...Revealed Brown University Researchers, in conjunction with the Injury Prevention Center in Providence, RI have been conducting a large scale survey-based study of sailing-related injuries. Much of the information currently available regarding sailing injuries and sailing safety is anecdotal, and not evidence based. The purpose of this survey is to collect a large database of sailing injuries and their causes, so objective safety recommendations can be made available to the sailing public. The preliminary (unconfirmed) results of the first 1,000 surveys can be viewed here. Data collection is still underway, and the good scientists in Providence are seeking more completed surveys to gather yet more data. If you have had a sailing related injury or illness in the last 12 months and are interested in helping the cause please click on this link to complete the 5-10 minute survey (you must be at least 18 years old). Thank you. 08/16/06 |
Master and Servant Some
of these guys at the Laser Master Nationals are old enough
to be your parents, but that didn't keep the 43 boat fleet
from enjoying/enduring 12 to 18 knot breezes with some 25's
in the puffs. Chop was vicious. Capsizes were the norm, including
one that was fully suspended above the bay when a mast head
got stuck in the relatively shallow mud. One wag called it
a Laser at its most stable. One crash boat damn near sank.
The Race Committee presented 18 medals to boats that dragged
their mastheads through the mud.
New
for this event, racers could shift down to the Radial rig.
Local guy Tracy Usher was the overall winner, but then the
Masters have more |
First In The Open 60 Artemis, first to finish in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, in just over 7 days. Looks like the Cookson 50 Chieftain is on pace to win IRC. Thanks to Sally Collison Photography for this magnificent shot! 08/15/06 |
How
They Roll The TP 52's give us their version of regatta transport. Here, they are being loaded on a ship on their way to the next event in Athens Greece. A pretty nice way to go, eh? A Nico Martinez photo. 08/14/06 |
Nightmare This is Andy Abel's Mini from the Minitransat pre race, Les Sables Les Acores. As we understand it, he was overly tired (due to some problems), went to sleep for a short nap and the wind changed. He did not wake up and the boat was beached. They got it afloat again, albeit with major bow and stern damage. Bummer. 08/14/06 |
| Money
Shot Look Out  The classic and obviously pristine 12 Meter Courageous at rest in Newport, yet somehow looking very ready to go. Click on the photo and check out the bow look out. Thanks to mstrsail for the nice photo.. 08/11/06 |
| New An Enigma Wrapped in a...Container  Here
is a look at the new Enigma 34 designed by Mark
Mills and built by Enigma
Yachts in Istanbul. This day sailor is designed in
part to fit inside a 40ft container without canting.
With a beam of just 7.56 feet and a retractable keel
and rudder, it can also be trailered easily. We've always
liked Mills' designs, and this boat promises to be a
moderately priced and quick OD. Enigma has just signed
up with SA as an advertiser, so for sure you'll be seeing
more on these pages.08/11/06 |
Bumping
Uglies Wow,
they still actually race these things? What remains
of an active IMS fleet is racing in the IMS
Offshore World Championships on Luebeck Bay in
Neustadt/Holstein on the Baltic Sea. Sure the boats
are there, so they might as well race them, but now
more than ever, especially with the advent of things
like the GP
42, do they look stupid. Heavy, tippy and ugly
will soon go the way of the dodo bird...08/11/06 |
Rock It All the young dudes (and dudettes) at the Sabot Nationals. Thanks to SA advertiser GTS Photos for the fun shot. 08/10/06 |
| Community Feelin' It While my yacht club commodore is busy writing letters to other yacht clubs apologizing for some imagined sin I have committed, here is a commodore who gets it. Thanks, my brother. I’m the Commodore of King Harbor Yacht Club this year and I wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the coverage on the sailors from King Harbor Yacht Club. “Local Knowledge - So Cal Action” all the sailors on Steven Natvig’s, Scott Decurtis’s, and Deion Beuckman’s teams are King Harbor Yacht Club members. They all have come up through the JR. sailing/racing program or are still in it. Scott Decurtis, Alex Jacobs, Mike Delanty and Steven Natvig are instructors in the program. Teaching the next bunch of kids how to sail and compete. The Head instructor and Race Team coach is Brian Angel, who you have covered lately in his match racing endeavors. Brian was the brain child of the King Harbor Match Racing event, and in the first year we considered it a great success. I hope this is the start of a long running event. We are all proud of their success and the young sailors really appreciate the coverage, support and recognition for their hard work. Thanks again. SA is the best sailing sight I have seen. Keep up the good work. 08/10/06 |
No Love You'll get no love coming in on port at the starboard tack layline in any fleet, and we can't imagine that Warpath got much here at the Copa del Rey TP 52 Class. Thanks to Amory Ross for the nice photograph. 08/09/06 |
| Money
Shot That's The Spirit!  Hi, Thought the readers might appreciate this photo from the recent UK Halsey sponsored Women & Wind regatta at Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Great regatta! Alex Fox UK Halsey Sailmakers Northwest |
Black
& White The cool looking Nacira 60 Solune on the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race. Thanks again to Rick Tomlinson for the great shot. 08/08/06 |
"Look
Ma, No Hands!" Life on a Figaro (Pietro D'ali', Nanni Diesel), tuning the rig off Cherbourg. Note touch screen to starboard of the companionway....got a cable, you can move it around; see if it survives the leg...! Four or five boats are using them this season. Props to James Robinson Taylor for the great shot. Speaking of Figaros, the 37th (!) edition of the La Solitaire got under way today, the first leg of which is 590 miles. 08/07/06 |
Men In Black The boys on the TP 52 Anonimo having a little fun at the last day of the Copa del Rey, part of the MedCup. A respectable 13th place for these guys in a regatta won by Patches (Siemens) owned by Eamon Conneely and skippered by Ian Walker, while Mean Machine leads overall with Warpath second. MM skipper Peter de Ridder promises to get us a report when he has a minute to breathe. Thanks to Max Ranchi for the fun shot! 08/07/06 |
| Hero A guy and his story that we can all get behind is Nick Scandone. We've covered at least part of his sailing career here at SA including an Innerview. Nick just competed in the International 2.4mR World Championships, and while the regatta ended poorly for Nick (18th overall), you can read his blog for the story. 08/07/06 |
Pink A beautiful TP 52 shot by Max Ranchi at the Med Cup. Speaking of Pink, have you seen her Dear Mr. President video? (And yes, this is non sailing) It is a pretty moving live performance, but for you Bush lovers, don't bother and don't bother bitching about "non sailing" items here - just simply don't click on the link, and simply move along. 08/05/06 |
| Money
Shot Down Under  This is a shot of a friend who, during a V15 beer can race at the BEYC in the BVI, fouled the windward mark anchor line with his centerboard and for some reason jumped overboard head first to free the line rather than kicking up the centerboard. It’s probably because he’s French. Thanks! Ed Kenny Laser
and 470 |
| Alex
MeVay Update New - Well, Alex MeVay finally surfaced. Evidently his computer died - hey Alex, how about making a 5 Euro investment in a phone card, or an hour at an internet cafe? . . . He's returning to the US Aug 12th., and we'll get an update then. s
impressive as Alex's feat is as told in yesterday's
article, it is a concern that t there has not been
a word from Alex since he set foot on land after
36 days at sea - almost two weeks now. His parents
haven't heard from him either. Everyone's mildly
concerned but assume all is well with him..... |
| Money
Shot Kid on Keel in Kiel  We are getting a bunch of great shots from you readers for our new Money Shot feature. Remember, if we post your shot you get some SA swag! Send 'em in. Here is this week's winner: Here is my son Henrik on the bulb of IACC GER 52 in Kiel. Regards, Alexander |
| Channel
Island Shark Attacks Human This video is amazingly graphic, and caution is suggested at work. There is no accounting for the behavior of sharks and what they'll attack. In this case, the shark seems almost happy. Unbelievable. 08/03/06 |
Nice
Ass And the girl isn't bad either. This is the new YSA-10 looking wicked in Germany. Check out more great shots, and thanks very much to sealens | emotion pictures. 08/02/06 |
"Dude, Where's My Boat?" Here's the huge Laser 89 boat SB3 fleet at Cowes. Let's just hope you remember which one is yours! Thanks to Rick Tomlinson for this shot, here is what the fleet looks like in action. We'd say VW is getting some bang for their buck. Yesterday we said we liked shots showing speed, check out this shot from Rick of ABN AMRO ONE hauling ass. They are dominating IRC 0. 08/02/06 |
On
It We like photos that give an idea of speed, and this one surely does that. This is the TP52 Panthera owned by Benny Kelly(currently third in IRC Class O) and shot nicely by Rick Tomlinson. 08/01/06 |
Work It
Girl A young thing hikes hard at the CFJ Nationals at NHYC. 54 boats completed 10 races with William Peterson & Ryann Hall winning overall. This and a whole bunch more shots at GTSphotos. 08/01/06 |