Little Dude, Big Dreams

Chris / SPORTSCAR

01/31/07

There really wasn't squat to see on the sailing side beyond the same tired French and J-esq production boats, and precious little to see new/exciting on the powerboat side. Did meet Eddie Jourdan of F1 fame on a whacking big 37m Sunseeker, so that was kind of cool.

Whatever sailing energy that was evidenced at the Southamption Boat Show was completely missing here. To be fair, the show is at the wrong place and at the wrong time for the sailing crowd. I'd
suggest that the sailing market boycott London and expend their efforts further at Southampton 2007.

I'm not an advocate for either show beyond being an exhibitor at both targeted at powerboats, so I don't have a dog in this (sailing) fight.

I am however passionate for the development of sailing and hope that the marketing gurus see that it might be better to concentrate $$$ at shows where you can make an impact. Spreading too thin and in marginal shows is a waste of marketing dollars.

I wish the London Boat show well and based on reports of powerboat sales, they've exceeded expectations. From the sailing side, January on the Thames is just not the working for me. - Anarchist Dave.

01/24/07

When my friends Mike, Matt, Chris and I thought about what we should do over our upcoming spring break, our choice was not the usual college hotspots but a 300 mile distance race in the Crocodile and Manatee inhabited waters off Florida's west coast. Here is some info about our team and this awesome race.

The Everglades Challenge is an extreme 300 mile unsupported adventure race that starts in Fort Desoto Florida, takes competitors down the west coast through the Everglades and finishes in Key Largo. The race is managed by a group called the Watertribe which puts on a couple of different races in the US including one that circumnavigates Florida and previously one on Lake Michigan. Why don't more people do races like this?!? Read on.

01/24/07

Today is the first day of the US Sailing Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. This event is the largest gathering of Olympic class sailors in the USA and has over 850 athletes attending this year.

Unfortunately at the last minute I (Andy) was not able to make it to this event. As you may already know I sail on a team that is trying to win the America’s Cup - Luna Rossa Challenge. For the last two years the team has given me the time needed to compete in the Star. Now with only tree months left before the beginning of the Louis Vuitton Cup, I need to be here in Valencia helping my team win the Cup. Luckily Brad and I were able to get Vince Brun to step in again as a guest skipper on our boat for this regatta. Vince is a very talented sailor and has won the Star World Championship along with many other events.

I’m sure Brad and Vince will have a great regatta. The forecast looks good for the whole week. I wish I could have made it, but I am glad Brad is there to compete and absorb all he can from a great sailor like Vince.

Brad will be writing daily reports from the regatta starting this afternoon. I can’t wait to hear about the competition. (Our own Dawg is partipating this week and we'll get reports from him as well - Ed)

Andy Horton
HortonNichol 2008

01/22/07

A Lesson

A couple of days ago, we told you how the geniuses at SW, for no real reason seemingly other than some particularly lame brand of politics, told the O 30 class "no" to having their own start at the Annapolis NOOD. Below is a good lesson on how you treat a class that should never been dissed in the first place. Good times, SW.

Viewing the Sailing Anarchy site today, I noticed that the folks at Sailing World Annapolis NOOD turned down the Olson 30 Class. We are interested in giving your class a start. Do you think your group would be interested? If so please contact me - it is not too late. We are planning on 12 classes but would add one more for your class would care to participate. We just require 8 boats for a start. I know that you raced with a rating of 108 last year at Screwpile which I believe is the same as the Olson 29. Maybe possible to put 29's and 30's together.

Thank you for your time,

Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge

01/18/07

5x40

01/17/07

New

MVOR?
The M would stand for mini, you can probably figure out the rest. Juan Kouyoumdian and Roy Heiner developed the Team Heiner 38 with the goal of sharing the experiences of the Volvo Ocean 70 by creating the opportunity for sailors to experience sailing canting keelboats at an affordable price.The boat is to be built by Schaap Shipcare, Lelystad, Netherlands. In a market crowded with a lot of similar looking and performing boats in this size range, this one at least takes a fairly unique approach.

01/17/07

Big Deal?

Let's make sure we've got this right: A guy named Ken Barnes takes marginal boat on dubious record attempt, gets caught in big storm, has to be rescued, and scuttles the boat in the process. The mainstream and sailing press make a Big Deal out of it, and we're all supposed to awed by the dramatic rescue of the seagoing adventurer?

Uh, I don't think so.

We of course weren't there, and no doubt it was brutal, but what we have read leads us to believe that this is a guy who seemingly was not prepared for what he ultimately encountered. As bad as his predicament was, he didn't seem to absolutely require being rescued, nor scuttling the boat, particularly if this was his lifelong dream. You don't scuttle everything because all of a sudden you decide that you can't hack it. Not a real ocean sailor. No, he took a beating, was ill equipped to get up off the mat, and instead threw in the towel. And we're supposed to think..what? That he's some sort of hero, or that shows how rough the big bad ocean is, or that he's lucky?

No, it shows us that basically anybody can get their ass in a wringer out there and that you better god damn well have it very together for instances just like this. And if not, then don't bother. So we added it all up, and our reaction is not one of wow, what a story, ours is more like wow, what an embarrassment.

01/09/07

SA Feature

The Return of the Wet Ass!

Like many of you, we were bummed out when we heard that Tim Zimmerman decided to pull the plug on the Wet Ass Chronicles website. We've been in touch with Tim to have him contribute here at SA, and he has agreed to do so. Starting shortly, Tim will contribute a weekly Wet Ass feature here at SA. It may not be the total Wet Ass, but at least you'll get a splash.

01/08/07

Wash has been a friend of mine for 20 years, and a regular and insightful contributor here in the SA forums - who can forget his awesome Key West live play by play reporting? More than that, Steve was a dedicated and loving father who brought his sons into the world of sailing in a way that most of us can only dream. Take a look at their blog - you'll get a feel for the love. It is not often that I feel another's pain, but I do here and am quite saddened by their loss. Life can be so swiftly and unfairly cruel.

It is in situations like this that our community, without fail, always shines so bright. Please take a moment to pass along your condolences to the Washburns.