A VOR Photo Essay

Part | 1 | 2 | 3 |

The pictures really tell the story, although Bouwe was so honest and forthright during our interview later that I want to thank him and his entire team from Sailing Anarchy, the 4-knot shitbox sailors, and me.  It was an amazingly full 12 hours we spent in Baltimore, and everyone I met reinforced the fact that the difference between these sailors and their rides and Joe Sixpack on his Wobegong 26 are not as great as you might think.  It’s reassuring to know this, especially at a time when big-name racing is trying hard to personalize the stars and their challenges.  It will be easy for me to follow this team and this race, and to know that they are totally grateful to all of the people who spend their time watching them sail.

On the way out of town we stopped at Hooter’s, where both ABN teams were having a little party with only 50 sailors.  The girls were just fine, and some of the boys from ABN2 shared their crazier female-related exploits during the race, but that’s a story for another day.

Mr Clean.
05/07/06

ABN2 heads out to practice hours before their sister ship

ABN2 looks more ready for battle than the Navy ship

When you gotta go, you gotta go:  Beavis heads up ABN2’s 103 feet of carbon phallus

Stacking sails is an instinct by now, completely ingrained in Movistar.  They stack impulsively.  There were a few school kids on the dock and they stacked them up too!

Mmmmmmmmm………..hydraulic vang!

The daggerboard is sanded with 1200 grit at the end of every leg.  8 hours of work, and that’s just one foil.  Imagine how much work the hull takes

Well, I know she likes bald guys. Should I be worried?  Heading out for practice.

Here we go, now get that thing UP!

You can do it!

Come on boys, just a little more (yeah, right)

Jibs UP, and newly re-cut.  The main purpose of today’s practice was to check the shape of the new sails.

Checking shapes on the new LT-1

The clew on the Code 0 comes back past the helm

All the magic of a canting keel comes down to this:  world class sailor bends over to push a button

MOB locator works with transponders on the crew’s gear

Regular old circuit panels and some not-so-regular stuff

Forepeak and bulkheads

10 guys for months and month, and this is the head.  All of it. At least it cants- note the track on the bulkhead

Testing it out - that sushi went right through me

Looks powerful…but it’s not strong enough…

Just like a 4-knot shitbox, but with prettier colors.

You’re a pretty little runner, arent cha? Good runner, now STAY!

First of all, it’s a really strange place for a company slogan. Second, the fragrances on the men sailing this boat should probably NEVER be re-created.

This guy really is too cool for his own good:Here Bouwe does his thing.

Every time the mainsail goes up, one of the best bowguys in the world, Kiwi Mike Joubert, goes up with it. Just like the old days when sails only went up with a fore-topman in the rigging.

Is it still going up? Christ, you guys need powered winches.

C’mon you big bastard, put your back into it!

Eight minutes later….

Acres and acres of sail

Can you tell I was glad to be out of the office?

Ready to gybe

Color-coded watch bill

EVERYBODY does galley duty Note the bottom line

Foulie hooks

Pretty much the only way to get around down here is to dive for it

Passing a 4-knot shitbox on the way in

And a not-quite 4-knot shitbox passing us

Main cars a bit sticky? Mike gives ‘em a boot to get the sail down.