I HATE SHOES

Today I went sailing on Weatherly , as I have for half the summer, but it was no ordinary Monday on Narragansett Bay. We had a pretty standard charter and sailed back to the dock but, fifty years ago, to the day, Weatherly was sailed into Newport harbor as the 18th defender of the America's Cup. To commemorate this feat, as well as give recognition to a very historic vessel, Weatherly has been placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. There's more info here:  http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/09/defender-of-ame.html Tomorrow we leave for New York for some charters and a regatta. Photos to follow!

12 meter legend Intrepid  went out for a sail trial of their new carbon main yesterday. It marks the first 12 meter in history to use one. Manufactured by Doyle sails, it will go back to the loft for adjustments before making its racing debut this weekend for the 12 Metre North American Championship.

I am a firm believer in a higher power at work in the universe. Like of a flow of energy, akin to a current in a channel or a trade wind, you can either go with it or try to beat against it. And when you're going with that flow, the universe responds in kind. Back in July I posted  about a couple, Scott and Kitty, who made their way around the world in an Allied Seawind called Bebinka . It took them 4 years and they took a lot of pictures. Recently, they posted them all to the web , complete with captions, which I read in its entirety before purchasing Soveraine .  I returned from my cousins wedding in New York last Monday night and was up early that next Tuesday, determined to get my engine running. I went out and bought a new fuel tank and the materials to install it and got back to the boat at about 11 am. I was below when I heard a knock on the hull and someone say, "Allied Seawind! You in there?" I popped up to see an older man in his dinghy who told me that ...

I've decided to spend the winter in Newport. We're just not ready to make the trip yet. I've only had her out sailing twice and I need to get more time with her before I spend my limited resources on a 1,500 mile trip to Florida. Not to mention, when I got to Florida I'd be broke and back in a state with limited employment opportunities. I got the engine started a few days ago, after a new fuel tank, filters, lines, a rebuilt water pump, cleaning the heat exchanger, changing the oil, etc, but the gearbox is stuck in forward. According to people in the know I've talked to the discs are warped and it needs to be rebuilt. The bowsprit and bobstay still need to be replaced as well. Again, she's not ready and I'm not either. I'm going to spend the winter here, save money and get Soveraine exactly the way I want her. I had considered taking the boat to New York; I found a slip for $300 per month right across from lower Manhattan in Jersey City. However, my n...

I spent the past two weekends racing Weatherly  in Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. It was really my first introduction to racing at that level, and what an introduction it was. We had a lot of wind in the Vineyard and managed to break two halyards and sheared a 1/2" diameter steel bolt that was holding the boom vang to the mast. I was in the bow, which was tough, wet work, with multiple headsail changes, flying and packing the spinnaker and a ton of coordination between it all. Upshots were that I learned a ton, attended some pretty high-brow dinners and parties and had a raucous time getting to know my fellow sailors on the other 12 meters. Here are some photos, in the first one, I'm the one on Weatherly (US 17, the one leading) hanging over the side in the red jacket. In the second, again in the red jacket tending some winches. There are a ton more pictures on the website, check them out!

After I managed to get Soveraine  to Newport, I needed to find a job for the remainder of the season. I applied to be a launch driver for the New York Yacht Club at Harbor Court (which you have to say with your teeth clenched to get the full effect), but the pay was lousy, I wouldn't be sailing and not allowed to accept tips! A friend who worked on another 12 meter told me a spot had just opened up on Weatherly , whos claim to fame is winning the 1962 America's Cup. I sent in my resume and within two days was sailing with them and offered a full time position for the remainder of the season. Somehow, I always manage to land on my feet. Either through tenacity, a positive attitude, sheer dumb luck, or most likely a combination of the three, it works out. Weatherly  was designed by Phillip Rhodes, who also designed the Rhodes 19 which was the boat I learned to sail on in Boston Harbor. It was the only 12 meter to win the America's Cup designed by him (the rest by Sparkman a...

I've gotten myself into some hairy situations with my past dinghies. From breaking free at sea, breaking free at anchor, sinking/resurrection, theft, rowing in 20 knots of breeze with a 5 knot crosscurrent, etc. I have a new one to add to the list today: a clan of three of Newport's finest. I left the local pub Benjamin's at about midnight this past Monday. It was a short walk to the Ann Street dinghy dock a quarter of a mile away and, unbeknownst to me at the time, I was being followed. When I arrived at my humble chariot, I pumped out the water, pumped up the port side tube that never stays inflated, hopped in and pushed away from the dock to start the engine. Within seconds, three bright beams of light illuminated me, in front of a stern voice instructing me to return to the dock. I didn't panic though, that's exactly what they want you to do. They're looking for a reason to throw the book at you, the trick is to never give them the opportunity. I obliged, ...