WindCheck Magazine March 2016

Sailing the Northeast

An Interview with John Rousmaniere On the Frostbite Trail Bareboating Basics

March 2016 • FREE

www.windcheckmagazine.com

editor's log Seizing Opportunity Sailing is indeed an abundant provider of great things. I recently had a reminder of this while competing in the inaugural Miami to Havana Race. As often happens in the early morning hours offshore, I reflected on how I’d gotten there. No matter what the conditions, it seems that toward the end of watch I seem to settle into a calm, contemplative mode (likely just exhaustion). As first light approached on a churning and active sea, with flying fish sputtering above the waves and the eerie Portuguese Man-o-War sailing along, I thought about my family. With two young sons, my wife and I have found ourselves awake for many sunrises, but they’re not like the ones at sea. I thought how excited and amazed my 3-year old would be at watching flying fish scatter frantically, then glide gracefully, having only seen them on his favorite TV shows Octonauts and Wild Kratts. Then I thought how lucky – and selfish must I be, to be out here with my friends. But then again, my boys will get to see this stuff in time. I am just experiencing it now and it’s been a while, so why not enjoy it? I also thought I should probably be steering better than I was…this was a race, after all.

I’d decided to take a year off from racing, as my wife and I welcomed our new son Grayden last October. But when I received a call to jump aboard F.K. Day’s innovative new Class40 Longbow, I simply couldn’t resist. It was one of those opportunities that pushes you to shelve your conservative plans, delay ongoing projects, and belay just about anything else in order to pack a bag and head to the airport.

My wife Holly is a huge supporter of my sailing, and she realized that an opportunity of this nature was not one to let pass by. With assurance that my duties as dad would be covered, a go-ahead was issued. From that moment forward, I couldn’t stop thinking about what lay ahead, but also about the people with whom I’d be sailing. And really, the majority of why I go racing is the people – not necessarily the competition itself. Through racing, I have met some of the most interesting, intelligent and engaging people of my life.

This trip would get me offshore (while it was -17 degrees here at home), sailing aboard an exciting boat, headed to a place I’d dreamt of visiting and doing so with some of the finest people I know. I met F.K. and his brothers Stan and Linc about eight years ago through my longtime friend Matt Baldwin, with whom I’ve logged thousands of miles of fun and successful racing. The Day brothers are seasoned sailors, and they’ve ventured out to experience all that can be discovered on a boat, but not necessarily the racing aspects of sailing. When they discovered that their previous boat didn’t have enough get-up-n-go to arrive in time for the rum party at the Chicago Mac finish, they found a reason to go faster. Their motivation was my opportunity. What I didn’t know was how much I would enjoy sailing with these guys, but more importantly, how we’d form friendships and build trust and respect for one another.

The Miami to Havana Race was like many I’ve done. We had our competitive ups and downs, and finished behind the competition – but at the end of the day, a group of friends, old and new, were together in a place we’d only heard about and we had a lot of fun getting there, too. Cuba is much the same as what you’ve likely seen in the movies, and it’s much, much more, but that’s for another article. For me, the journey taken and the people with whom I had the opportunity to venture out with are the important parts.

Each of the feature stories in this month’s issue illustrates the value of seizing opportunities, whether it’s joining a time share club, earning bareboat certification, signing on for a multi-day ocean race, or just spending an afternoon frostbiting. I am sure you’ll agree; sailing allows us to explore new places, meet or reconnect with great people, take time to think about the special things in life, test oneself and, even though still bleary-eyed, enjoy star-filled skies bound only by the horizons, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and if we’re lucky enough, savor a fine cigar in Cuba after a fun and successful passage. I hope you’ll get there soon.

See you on the water.

Sailing the Northeast Issue 151 Publisher Anne Hannan anne@windcheckmagazine.com Editor in Chief Christopher Gill chris@windcheckmagazine.com Senior Editor Chris Szepessy zep@windcheckmagazine.com Contributing Editor Joe Cooper coop@windcheckmagazine.com Graphic Design Kerstin Fairbend kerstin@windcheckmagazine.com Contributors Chip Adams, Charles Anderson, Julianna Barbieri, Sarah Barnaby, Captain Ed Cubanski, USCG, Ray Cullum, Tom Darling, Joy Dunigan, Jen Edney, Brandon Flack, Daniel Forster, Dave Foster, Betsy Frawley Haggerty, John K. Fulweiler, Fran Grenon, Richard C. Ilse, Christophe Jouany, Tom Lemaire, Howie McMichael, Frazer Nash, Priscilla Parker, PhotoBoat.com, Vin Pica, Barry Pickthall, Ricardo Pinto, Colin Rath, Jane Reilly, Doug Rigsbee, Amory Ross, John Rousmaniere, Michael Rudnick, John Schinto, Karin Stratton, Captain Paul Sullivan, Lincoln White Ad Sales Erica Pagnam erica@windcheckmagazine.com Distribution Man in Motion, Chris Metivier, Rare Sales, Jack Szepessy WindCheck is published ten times per year. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the members. WindCheck encourages reader feedback and welcomes editorial contributions in the form of stories, anecdotes, photographs, and technical expertise. Copies are available for free at 1,000+ locations (yacht clubs, marinas, marine retailers, restaurants, sailing events & transportation centers) in the Northeast. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute WindCheck should contact us at (203) 332-7639. While WindCheck is available free of charge, we will mail your copy each month for an annual mailing fee of $27.

Mail payment to: WindCheck Magazine P.O. Box 195, Stratford, CT 06615 Phone: (203) 332-7639 E-mail: contactus@windcheckmagazine.com On the web: windcheckmagazine.com WindCheck is printed on recycled paper.

Member of

Find us on Facebook 6 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 7

contents

Editor’s Log 6

Checking In 10

From the Log of Persevere 30

“My Backyard” 32

Book Review: Greenpeace Captain 36

Book Review: The Widow Wave 36

Calendar of Events 37

Tide Tables 42

Captain of the Port 44

Comic 45

Boating Barrister 46

MudRatz Score a Melges 24 47

Quantum Key West Race Week 50

Bermuda Race Lookback: 54 Great Rides in 2012

Coop’s Corner 56

Crew Connection 58

Enright Wows a Winter Crowd 59

Enright & Towill Launch 55 South 60

International 210 Nationals 61 in Newport

Front Row Seats for 62 The America's Cup

Sound Environment 64

Connecticut River Dinghy Race 65

Broker Tips 66

Brokerage 67

Classifieds 69

Advertisers Index 73

On Watch: Alison Lew 74

24 An Interview with John Rousmaniere

A recipient of the Cruising Club of America’s Richard S. Nye Trophy for meritorious service, US Sailing’s Timothea Larr Award for advancement of sailor education, Mystic Seaport’s W.P. Stephens Award for contributions to American yachting history, and New York Yacht Club’s Henry H. Anderson Award for volunteerism, John Rousmaniere is the author of several essential books about the sport, a pioneer of safety at sea seminars, and the Marketing Chair of the Newport Bermuda Race.

28 Bareboating Basics

If frigid winds ripping across local waterways have you pining for a week of sailing in tropical climes, a bareboat charter is a great way to go – if you’re sufficiently experienced. If you have never chartered a bareboat, Captain Paul Sullivan, an instructor with Black Rock Sailing School, offers great advice to get you up to speed.

34 City Island Yacht Club Offers a Popular Time-Share Sailing Program

From an experiment several seasons ago, the “club-boat” program at this friendly club is now four boats strong and has a growing number of enthusiastic participants. Betsy Frawley Haggerty has the story of this inclusive program.

48 New Fleet at Greenwich High School

After many seasons with a very used-up fleet, the dedicated members of the Greenwich High School Varsity Sailing Team have taken delivery of a dozen brand new Zim C420s. Cardinals co-captain Sarah Barnaby shares the story of some extremely stoked sailors.

52 On the Frostbite Trail

Although some debate the actual birthplace of cold weather dinghy racing, there’s no denying that several clubs on western Long Island Sound have frostbiting programs that are as competitive as they are fun. Tom Darling spent a day aboard the Scorpion to check out the action in Larchmont Yacht Club’s Interclub fleet.

The 50th running of the Newport Bermuda Race is but a few weeks away, and Paul Kanev’s Hinckley Sou’wester 51 Momentum (Newport, RI; pictured at the start in 2014) will be competing in the Cruiser division once again. © Spectrum Photo Fran Grenon

find us on facebook facebook.com/windcheckmagazine Scan to visit our website.

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 9

checking in.

Benjamin and Haeger are Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Steve Benjamin of Norwalk, CT and Annie Haeger of East Troy, WI are US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. These two sailors, at different stages of their sailing careers, amassed a year to remember.

Steve Benjamin was selected in recognition of a year that featured 10 wins, including © USSailing the Etchells North American Championship in Rye, NY. Benjamin skippered his team to victory in the 35-boat fleet, aboard Terrapin. Benjamin, along with crew George Peet, Luke Lawrence and Julian Sudofsky, won the championship by 15 points through eight races. Benjamin’s Etchells dominance went beyond the North Americans. He placed second out of 43 boats at the World Championship in Hong Kong. His teams won at the Piana Cup, Long Island Sound Championship and Coral Reef Cup, among others.

“This award goes to all the great sailors and crew I’ve had

the opportunity to race with this year,” said Benj. “I had some incredible team members to help me every step of the way, and perhaps the biggest supporter of them all is my wife, Heidi.” Steve & Heidi Benjamin’s Carkeek 40 SPOOKIE had a clean sweep of overall wins in every offshore race they entered in 2015, including Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Marblehead to Halifax, © Jen Edney/US Sailing Ida Lewis Distance Race, and the Team Sperry Vineyard Race. Benjamin started sailing at age 9 in the junior program at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Oyster Bay, NY. He earned College Sailor of the Year honors in 1978 as a member of the Yale University sailing team. In 1984, Benj and crew Chris Steinfeld won the Silver Medal in the 470 Class at the Summer Olympics.

Annie Haeger was chosen for an impressive list of results in the 470 Class. Haeger and crew Briana Provancha (San Diego, CA) made their mark by winning gold at the Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “Winning gold at the Olympic Test Event was a major confidence booster,” said Haeger, “and it reinforced that if we can earn US Olympic Team selection we have a chance to medal at the Games.” Haeger and Provancha experienced success in other high-caliber women’s 470 events, including the European Championship (3rd place) and the South American Championship (4th place).

“In winning this award, I’m not representing myself, but Team Haeger/Provancha as a whole,” said Haeger. “I am very blessed to have Briana in the front of my boat. I think she is the best crew in the United States.” Haeger started sailing at age 8 on Wisconsin’s Lake Beulah. Like Benjamin, she was a tremendously successful college sailor. She was named College Sailor of Year in 2011 and a three-time ICSA Women’s Singlehanded National Champion as a member of the Boston College sailing team.

Established in 1961 and sponsored by Rolex Watch, U.S.A. since 1980, the annual presentation of US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards is considered the sport’s ultimate recognition of an individual’s outstanding on-the-water achievements for the calendar year. The winners will be honored on Thursday, March 3 at a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, when they will each receive a specially engraved Rolex timepiece. ■

10 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

checking in.

Northeast Sailors Honored for Distinguished Service Several Northeast sailors and organizations are among those honored during the US Sailing Awards Dinner Presented by Rolex at the Hilton San Diego Resort in San Diego, CA in February. US Sailing recognized these esteemed award winners (and many others not listed here) for their extraordinary achievements in support of sailing.

Mary Savage of Larchmont, NY received the prestigious Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy for her outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing. A true pioneer for women in race management, Savage started her involvement in this area of the sport in the 1970s as a member and eventual chairman of the Larchmont Yacht Club Protest Committee. In 1979, she was one of the first women to become a US Sailing Judge.

In 1990, she was certified as an International Judge by ISAF. She continues to serve as both a National and an International Judge, and has officiated all types of events from youth and collegiate to regional, national, international and world championships.

Savage also served as the contact for sailors with the US Sailing Competitor Classification Committee. She was elected to lead the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, as Vice President in 1987 and President from 1988 to 1990. She chaired the US Sailing Race Administration Committee for several years and was also the first woman to serve as Vice President of US Sailing.

Rob Crafa of Throggs Neck, NY received the Marty Luray Award for his outstanding contributions to further public access sailing. During his tenure as the Waterfront Director at SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, Crafa has played an integral role in the development of one of the most comprehensive boating programs in the country. SUNY Maritime’s waterfront programs reach beyond the school and engage the local community through summer sailing programs, marine education, powerboat instruction and more.

Crafa is deeply involved with the development of US Powerboating. As one of the most active Powerboat Instructors and Instructor Trainers, he directly shapes the future of the powerboat program by training the next generation of American boaters. He played a key role in the founding of Hudson River Community Sailing, and received the organization’s Founder’s Award in 2015. A true leader and visionary, Crafa’s experience demonstrates his commitment to supporting both his community at home and the greater boating community in New York and the U.S.

Community Boating Center in Providence, RI received

the Captain Joe Prosser Award for excellence in sailing instruction. CBC embodies exactly what a sailing center should be.

Through the leadership of Executive Director John O’Flaherty, they offer the type of quality, affordable programming that any organization, public or private, should provide. CBC is a pioneer in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) through sailing programming. The relationship with US Sailing and CBC has grown, with much of the focus continuing to be on STEM. The US Sailing Reach Initiative was launched with O’ Flaherty’s help, and as Reach has grown, so has the national awareness of what CBC has accomplished. US Sailing recognized CBC as the first “Reach Center of Excellence” in 2015.

© US Sailing

Lauren Cotta of Newport, RI received the C.R.E.W. Award, which recognizes a US Sailing staff member or volunteer who consistently demonstrates the values consistent with US Sailing and regularly fosters a positive teamwork environment with staff and volunteers.

The following Community Sailing Award recipients were named prior to the US Sailing Awards Dinner: Outstanding Program Director Mark Zagol – New England Science and Sailing (Stonington, CT) Excellence in Instruction Rachel Bryer, Nate Coolidge, Haley Barber, Lee Dumaliang, Katie Dobbin – Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation (Jamestown, RI) Outstanding Community Sailing Center Hudson River Community Sailing (New York, NY) Outstanding Outreach and Inclusion Rocking the Boat (Bronx, NY) Volunteer of the Year Diane Brancazio – Community Boating, Inc. (Boston, MA) For a complete list of honorees, visit ussailing.org/ussailingawards2015. ■

12 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

checking in.

Tim Hyatt of TowBoatUS Mystic Honored for Saving Lives

keep his head above water while Hyatt lifted both men into his towboat. Hyatt, a paramedic, identified the early signs of heart distress in one survivor, and had both immediately transferred to the fire vessel for EMS care ashore. Both survived.

Visit boatus.com/towing to learn more. ■

Captains with TowBoatUS, the nation’s largest fleet of towboats for recreational boaters, spend a lot of time on the water. As they respond to boats with dead batteries, breakdowns or groundings – over 70,000 such requests for assistance annually – eventually they’re bound to run into real danger. In 2015, five TowBoatUS captains found deep trouble and acted without hesitation to save lives.

Jesse Fielding Joins Farr Yacht Sales

These captains were honored at a ceremony held at the annual BoatUS Towing Services conference in Jupiter, FL. Captain Tim Hyatt of TowBoatUS Mystic in Mystic, CT (at right in the photo) received a Meritorious Service Award for a rescue near a rocky outcropping on the Connecticut coast. Visible only at the lowest tides, “Hens and Chickens” has been the scene of many a tragic grounding.

On the afternoon of June 12, Captain Hyatt was at the helm of his towboat in Old Saybrook, CT when he heard a mayday call from a vessel that had just struck the rocks and was taking on water. Hyatt immediately got underway and was on scene just 10 minutes later, but there was no boat in sight. Another report on the VHF radio clarified that the stricken vessel was a short distance away off Water’s Edge Resort near Westbrook. The captain of the holed 45-foot motoryacht had gunned the engines in an attempt to run for shore to beach the vessel. Arriving on scene, Hyatt found only the yacht’s bow pulpit protruding from the water, with one lone survivor clinging to it.

As emergency responders arrived in a fireboat at the same time, they plucked the man from the pulpit while Hyatt continued to scan the area and found two more men in the water a short distance away. Hyatt carefully maneuvered over to them.

One survivor was wearing a lifejacket, and the other, an older man, was clinging to a seat cushion. With water temperatures in the upper 50s, both were pale, scared, and cold. As Hyatt prepared to recover the older man, the ailing man let go of the flotation too quickly and sunk below the surface.

The survivor wearing the lifejacket was able to grab him and

Farr Yacht Sales has added the division of Farr Yacht Sales Americas. The new office, located in Newport, RI, will be headed by Jesse Fielding. This office joins other FYS offices in Annapolis, MD and Cowes, UK to provide an integrated experience for clients around the world. FYS continues its reorganization into a territorial business model.

Fielding brings ten years of grand prix campaign experience to FYS, with success in one-design classes and offshore platforms around the world. He credits the Morning Light Project, which featured a Farr-designed TP52, with launching his sailing career.

“I’m excited to partner with the team at Farr and work with clients on an individual basis to achieve their goals,” said Fielding.

“We look forward to having Jesse’s fresh perspective on our team and launch FYS Americas with a renewed enthusiasm,” said Patrick Shaughnessy, President of Farr Yacht Design.

FYS Americas serves as an outlet for Farr Yacht Design’s new production yachts and for brokerage listings. This model will also provide support for owners of existing Farr-designed yachts.

It will build on a strong, well-respected reputation with owners, sailmakers, sailors and other brokerage firms.

Adding FYS Americas alongside FYS Europe will allow for additional product exposure across North and South America and the Caribbean. Owners and prospective owners of Farrdesigned sailboats benefit from a close working relationship with Farr Yacht Design, the largest racing sailboat design office in the world. Optimization services, boat histories, sailing performance data, construction methods and racing prospects can be made available to assist owners to make informed choices. FYS Americas is actively seeking brokers and agents to represent specific products in local areas. Fielding can be reached at Jesse@farryachtsales.com. ■

14 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 15

checking in.

Safety for Cruising Couples Seminar is May 21 The Cruising Club of America (CCA) is presenting a one-day Safety for Cruising Couples Seminar at Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT on Saturday, May 21. Designed for cruising couples and short-handed sailors on coastal waters on either sailor powerboats, the seminar was created to build the confidence of the less-experienced member of the duo in the event of an unexpected test of their skills.

The CCA seminar workbook, Safety for Cruising Couples, revised

and republished in 2015, incorporates the broad experience of CCA members as well as the new technology and techniques of safety and safety equipment developed since the first edition was published 15 years ago.

GET YOUR R&R DISCOVER CAPE BRETON ISLAND Visit BOATINGCAPEBRETON.COM

EXPLORE CANADA’S LARGEST IN-LAND SEA THE BRAS D’OR LAKE

Co-sponsored by the CCA, New York Yacht Club, Indian Harbor Yacht Club and The North American Station, the day-long event is structured with a morning classroom session covering the fundamentals of VHF radios, the basics of navigation, engine operation, medical situations, safety equipment, and man overboard recovery.

The afternoon session takes those topics a step further with on-thewater hands-on training, including chart plotter fundamentals, and a demonstration of how to use a Lifesling in an MOB situation.

The all-volunteer CCA, founded in 1922 by like-minded sailors committed to seamanlike offshore cruising and racing, is an international organization of more than 1,200 sailors who enthusiastically share their experiential knowledge to promote cruising and racing by amateur sailors. Tuition ($155 per couple or $85 per person) includes lunch and the course workbook. Register by April 30 by contacting Janet Garnier at jgarnier02@gmail.com or 508-367-3899. For more information, visit cruisingclub.org. ■

16 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

checking in.

11th Hour Returns as Presenting Sponsor for The Atlantic Cup

Manuka Sports Event Management in Newport, RI has announced 11th Hour Racing as the presenting sponsor for the 2016 Atlantic Cup. With the support of 11th Hour Racing, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation that establishes strategic partnerships with the sailing community to promote collaborative systemic change for the health of the marine environment, the Atlantic Cup is the most environmentally sustainable sailing race in the U.S.

The 5th edition of the Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing starts May 28 in Charleston, SC. At 1,008 nautical miles and the only race to sail around both Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod, the Atlantic Cup is the longest and toughest race in the U.S. Teams of two will race 648nm from Charleston to New York, NY. After a brief stopover in New York, teams will race a second leg of 360nm to Portland, ME where the event culminates with an inshore series June 10 & 11.

As with the previous editions, the Atlantic Cup will offer environmentally themed events to coincide with racing in each city, and a robust Kids Education program, combining offshore

windcheckmagazine.com

sailing and the marine environment. Race organizers will again calculate the Atlantic Cup’s carbon footprint and carbon-offset supplier, We Are Neutral, will offset it at the conclusion of the race.

In addition, Manuka has launched #AtCup1Thing, which is designed to engage fans and spectators to “do 1 thing” for the planet. Each month in the lead up to the race, the Atlantic Cup’s social channels will offer small steps ranging from food sourcing, energy use, plastics and more.

“The Atlantic Cup continues to set the standard for sustainable events in sailing, leading the way for other organizers and teams to follow suit,” said 11th Hour Racing Co-Founder Rob MacMillan. “The Class40 boats and the race itself are an excellent stage for innovation in practice and technology. The event pioneered major changes in the sport – such as mandating the use of non petro-fuels for power generation, prohibiting single-use plastic bottles, banning the use of toxic cleaning products, and more – and emphasizes community outreach and education. 11th Hour Racing is proud to have been involved with The Atlantic Cup since its inception, and looks forward to highlighting our partner’s commitment to support the health of our oceans.”

At press time, seven teams were registered for this year’s Atlantic Cup. For more information, visit AtlanticCup.org or the event’s twitter feed @TheAtlanticCup. ■

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 17

checking in.

Ocean Race North Starts May 6

Manuka Sports Event Management in Newport, RI, the creators of The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing, has confirmed their plans for the second edition of Ocean Race North, an offshore race running north from Charleston, SC to Newport that starts Friday, May 6. “We are excited to be running Ocean Race North again in 2016,” said Manuka Founder and Managing Partner Hugh Piggin. “Charleston to Newport is an extremely challenging offshore test, and we look forward to continuing to promote offshore racing in the United States.”

Competing in their first offshore race for the newly formed U.S. Patriot Sailing Association, a crew of nine including seven active or retired U.S. Military veterans finished the 2015 Ocean Race North in 3 days, 17 hours, 12 minutes and 43 seconds. © Priscilla Parker

Ocean Race North was created to bring boats north after the winter sailing season. The first edition of the race in 2015 went from Charleston to Annapolis to allow teams to compete in the Annapolis-Newport Race. This year’s edition will bring competitors to Newport in time to compete in the 50th running of the biennial Newport Bermuda Race. The 700-nautical mile course will be one of the most challenging offshore courses on the East Coast, taking competitors around Cape Hatteras through the Gulf Stream and up to Newport. The race is open to ORR, PHRF and IRC boats.

Yachts competing in both Fort Lauderdale to Charleston and Ocean Race North will be part of the East Coast Ocean Series, which is an overall point standings and trophy series. The first offshore race in the series is Fort Lauderdale to Charleston, which starts Friday, April 8. Teams will have the option of competing in Sperry Charleston Race Week (April 14 -17).

Ocean Race North will be the second leg of the series. To participate in the series a boat must race in both legs, although the same sailors do not need to be on board for both races. A final awards party and trophy presentation will be held in Newport. Signing up for the series is free and can be completed when signing up for the Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race. For more information, visit OceanRaceNorth.com. ■

US Sailing Relaunches International Women’s Keelboat Championship The International Women’s Keelboat Championship (IWKC) will return this year, with American Yacht Club in Rye, NY hosting the revitalized US Sailing Championship in J/70s on August 14 - 20. The IWKC is aimed at maximizing opportunities for women sailors to participate in high caliber regattas against top international sailors. With the goal of attracting more international teams, the championship, for the Bengt Julin Trophy, will rotate each year to venues within and outside the U.S.

Twenty-four teams will be selected through an application process. Half the teams selected will represent North American countries and half will represent countries from around the world. To ensure a fast, competitive racing format, additional changes have been made to speed up the action. The format consists of fleet racing with a “team racing” twist, featuring two flights of six boats each with teams rotating after every two races.

Each team will race an equal number of races against the others.

Races will be approximately 15 minutes in duration. Host clubs will ensure quick rotations and on-the-water judging, in addition to an improved viewing experience for spectators.

The International Women’s Keelboat Championship was inaugurated in 1985 through the efforts of US Sailing’s Women’s Championship Committee. The event became one of the premier women’s sailing event in the U.S. and worldwide.

The Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, RI. became host for the event and hosted the championship until 2001, before it moved around the country to different venues.

The trophy is named for Bengt Julin, an international judge and strong supporter of women’s sailing. An impressive list of former champions includes Betsy Alison, Sally Barkow, Cory Sertl, Anna Tunnicliffe, Jody Starck, and J.J. Fetter. For more information, visit ussailing.org/racing/championships/adult/ iwkc. ■

18 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

checking in.

SoundWaters and Young Mariners Merge SoundWaters and the Young Mariners Foundation are merging under the SoundWaters brand to enhance the educational opportunities for students in Stamford, CT and environs. “What emerges,” said a statement, “is a highly synergistic coalition of nonprofits with a focus on the underserved community, committed to enriching the quality of the educational experience for young people and the protection of Long Island Sound.”

Scott Mitchell and Tom O’Connell of Greenwich, the board chairmen of the two organizations, issued the statement with Dr. Leigh Shemitz, President of SoundWaters. The partnership intends to revitalize Boccuzzi Park over the next three years, converting the Young Mariners Foundation property into a robust ecological and economic zone, and upgrading and expanding the Harbor Center in the Waterside section of Stamford Harbor into a flourishing educational center and sailing facility for adults and students alike. The site also provides dockage for the 80-foot schooner SoundWaters, that serves as a floating laboratory for studying the biodiversity of the Sound.

Since SoundWaters was established 26 years ago, upwards of 250,000 students have learned sailing and studied the Sound’s ecosystem. Students explore the coastal field sites on the shore, beaches and salt marshes, examining the cycles of marine life, feeding adaptations, survival rates and the interconnectedness of the habitat.

The Young Mariners Foundation, which has provided after-school enrichment classes and summer sailing camping for more than 2,400 students over the past 18 years, will fold into SoundWaters as the Young Mariners Academy, continuing at Stamford Harbor and Greenwich Point in collaboration with the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club.

The coalition also allows for expanding the SoundWaters Academy called STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to 100 students headed for grade five this year in Stamford’s public schools, ultimately to be adapted and exported to other communities in Connecticut and across the U.S. The

Dr. Leigh Shemitz, center, President of SoundWaters, flanked by board chairmen Tom O’Connell, left, of the Young Mariners Foundation and Scott Mitchell of SoundWaters at the SoundWaters Coastal Education Center on Cove Island.

Harbor Center meanwhile would become an anchor for the Mill River Greenway and the stewardship of Stamford Harbor. For more information, visit soundwaters.org. ■

Brewer Yacht Yard Announces New East Coast Locations Brewer Yacht Yard Group recently acquired Green Harbor Marina, in Marshfield, MA and Onset Bay Marina in Buzzards Bay, MA. The new Brewer marinas join the company’s 24 other full service marina and boatyard locations along the East Coast from Maryland to Maine.

“We are thrilled to welcome these two fine properties as the newest Brewer facilities,” said Rives Potts, President of Brewer Yacht Yard Group. “Green Harbor Marina is a full service boatyard and popular home for many avid fishermen with a restaurant and sports bar on site. Onset Bay Marina is also a full service boatyard and marina and is a great transient destination for cruisers in Buzzards Bay due to its location at the western end of the Cape Cod Canal.”

Brewer Green Harbor Marina, located 30 minutes south of Boston and a quarter mile from the open ocean, is home to sport fishermen, luxury and commercial fishing vessels. The marina offers a well-stocked parts department, ship’s store, bait shop, fuel dock, restaurant onsite, close proximity to shops and grocery store, in addition to 180 slips, storage and full service options for vessels.

Brewer Onset Bay Marina offers 120 slips, moorings, outside rack storage, inside and outside land storage, paint and work bays, a fuel dock and more. Well protected from inclement weather and close to town and shore amenities, Brewer Onset Bay Marina provides transient and seasonal boaters a relaxing environment on Buzzards Bay. In addition to its multiple locations, Brewer offers special benefits to its customers including free overnight stays and fuel discounts. For more information, contact James Phyfe at 401-884-0544 or visit byy.com. ■

20 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

checking in.

Dutchmar Introduces the Zoom Jib Boom Dutchmar, a Norwalk, CT-based company specializing in innovative sail handling hardware, has launched the Zoom Jib Boom, which allows a 110% furling headsail to be self-tacking upwind, self-vanging off the wind, with the ability to be sailing in spinnaker mode in about a minute for easier and much faster sailing on all points of sail.

sails immediately separate into a butterfly configuration. The windward jib sheet is then eased, allowing the Zoom boom to project out on the windward side, much as a conventional spinnaker pole would, for maximum downwind sail area. Unlike a spinnaker, the sail is very controlled and does not tend to collapse. Simply pull in the leeward outhaul to return to upwind configuration, or release the other outhaul to roll the sail up.”

Engineering on the Zoom Jib Boom, which received a 2016 Pittman Innovation Award from Sail Magazine, is handled by David Pedrick Naval Architects. For more information, visit dutchmar.com. ■

NESS Seeks Young Artists for Annual Drawing Contest

© dutchmar.com

“Although we are best known for the Dutchman Mainsail Flaking System, Boom Brake and Track Systems, I have long worked on a better solution for the headsail,” said Dutchmar President Martin van Breems. “Self-tacking jibs are wonderful, but the required 92-95% headsail is often small for normal sailing conditions. All headsails are not great as soon as you crack off. The jib forms itself into a gutter, which is a very slow shape.

The Hoyt boom is a cool solution, but eliminates the anchor locker on most boats and still is restricted to a 95% headsail.

Finally, setting up an asymmetrical spinnaker for downwind sailing is never a quick, easy job, so they are rarely used by cruisers.”

“The Zoom system is much easier to use and offers better performance than any other self-tacking jib system,” van Breems continued. “Your yacht’s existing forestay is moved forward by about 12% of the distance from the forestay to the mast and attached to the forward end of the Zoom boom. The Zoom boom then is attached to the stem fitting, and a topping lift is added.

The Zoom boom can use the yacht’s existing jib sheets. A double 110% headsail is used, which wraps around the furling system.

For sailing close-hauled in self-tacking mode, the windward of the two sheets takes the load, and the leeward sheet will have a significant amount of slack. Upon tacking, the formerly slack leeward sheet takes the load. It is thus easy to set exactly the angle desired. Cracking off the sail holds its shape on any angle.”

“Downwind, the jib boom is pulled to the windward side using the windward jib sheet. An outboard sheet is attached to the leeward clew, then the leeward outhaul is released. The

New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) in Stonington, CT is looking for young artists to participate in a drawing contest for a calendar entitled “Long Island Sound and Its Watershed: What It Means to Me.”

The 2016 Long Island Sound drawing contest is open to all Connecticut students currently in grades K-6. Participating classes and schools are asked to select one drawing per eligible grade to submit for judging and mail them to NESS at 70 & 72 Water Street, PO Box 733, Stonington, CT 06378, no later than Friday, April 8. Individual children may submit a drawing on their own if their class or school is not participating.

A nationally recognized and award-winning non-profit ocean adventure organization, NESS provides students of all ages with year-round programming that includes marine science, sailing and adventure sports. NESS courses support teachers’ STEM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) curricula with a unique combination of on-the-water and in-theclassroom lessons intended to spark curiosity, enhance learning, and encourage students to step out of their comfort zones. For more information, visit nessf.org/schools/2016LIScalendar. ■

Shoreline Sailing Club Elects Officers for 2016 The Shoreline Sailing Club has elected officers for 2016. Pat Holinka is the new Commodore, Ann Bednarek is Vice Commodore, Karen Henry is Secretary, and Josie Malangone is Treasurer. Shoreline Sailing Club is for single people 35 and older. Its members, who hail from towns around Connecticut, share sailing/boating opportunities in Long Island Sound. Those new to the sport are welcome, along with experienced skippers and crew. Meetings are held twice a month, on the first and third Thursdays, 7:30 pm, at Westbrook Elks Lodge 1784, located at 142 Seaside Avenue in Westbrook, CT. For information, call Cherie Calabrese at 203-2840481 or Toni Andrews at 860-268-8747. ■

22 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

An Interview with John Rousmaniere The author of 30 books about history and sailing including The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, Fastnet, Force 10 and A Berth To Bermuda, writer, editor and historian John Rousmaniere (pronounced “room-an-ear”) is one of the creators of safety at sea seminars. We recently sat down with John to discuss his life in sailing, the Newport Bermuda Race, lessons learned from tragedies on the water, and being safe out there.

WindCheck: Where did you grow up?

John Rousmaniere: I was raised in Cincinnati, and I have six brothers and a sister. We moved east to my father’s boyhood home of Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island when I was 10. My father had sailed very successfully as a kid, so we started sailing as soon as we got there. I had a Blue Jay that I raced for four or five years, and we’d charter a boat and go cruising every summer.

WC: What attracted you to history, and the history of yachting?

JR: Rousmaniere is an old French name that means “redhead,” and my ancestor was a horse wrangler in General Rochambeau’s army that marched from Newport to Yorktown and won the American Revolution. He married a Newport woman and had a son who married an Easton, so I’m descended from the founders of Newport.

We had a lot of sailing books, so I just started absorbing information. My father knew lots of great sailors, including Olin and Rod Stephens. I met them when I was young, and that’s how I got into the history as well as the technical part. The New York Yacht Club had a junior regatta, and I won a race when I was 14. They had the prize ceremony in the Model Room. That was 1959, and our speaker was Briggs Cunningham, who’d just won the America’s Cup. I knew Briggs because we sailed Atlantics against him. As we sat in our little blazers in that spectacular space, Briggs said, “Boys and girls, it’s wonderful to win the America’s Cup, but I have to say that it’s terrible that we won by such big, 15- to 20-minute margins…the best thing that could happen to the America’s Cup would be for the Americans to lose it and the British to win it.” The Commodore almost fainted dead away, and I thought to myself, “This is really interesting!”

Briggs was a straight arrow kind of guy. I knew people who did auto racing with him, and they said that when everybody else was toasting the car with champagne after a victory he’d be the guy in back sweeping everything up. He inherited a lot of money but he was one of those people – like some of the Vanderbilts – who used their money very well. He donated the

John Rousmaniere at the helm of Brian Swiggett’s Hinckley Sou’wester 42 Zest during a return trip from Bermuda © Chip Adams

schooner Brilliant to Mystic Seaport, and he endowed their program.

In the summer of ‘61, I sailed on the 12 Metre Easterner on the New York Yacht Club Cruise.

Bus Mosbacher was the skipper. I was sailing singlehanded Finns but didn’t do very well because I was small, so I crewed a lot. When you’re a crew you can see a lot more, and I was learning everywhere I went. I studied History at Columbia, although at one stage I dropped out of college and ended up on a 77-foot Rhodes steel ketch, taking her from San Diego to Sicily with a bunch of really good New England sailors.

That was my first experience with heavy weather, and the first time we had ever set a storm trysail.

WC: Do you recall being offshore and wondering, ‘What am I doing here?’

JR: Sure! One year going down to Bermuda it was blowing hard and we were beating in the Stream. There was water all over the deck and a lot of it was coming below for reasons we didn’t understand. It turned out that there were scuppers in the winch grinder’s cockpit that were closed rather than open, so water was spilling out and going below. The bilge pump didn’t work so I had to go down rebuild it… I recall thinking, ‘Jeez, why am I not back home?’

WC: You’re giving a presentation on lessons learned from recent incidents at the upcoming Safety at Sea Seminar in Newport. Please recount those incidents and lessons.

JR: In 2011, there were accidents that came to everyone’s attention. In the first one, a 420 capsized off Annapolis and a girl drowned. Gary Jobson, who was then President of US Sailing, asked me to do an official review. The boat turtled and the girl was in a trapeze harness that somehow hooked onto the boat.

My emphasis was find what we should all learn about it – among other things, how yacht clubs and sailing programs can protect themselves against an accident like this. They need an Emergency Action Plan, which a lot of people don’t want to think about.

The next year, Timothea Larr, who is one of my oldest friends, and I did two days of capsize and rescue tests with kids in 420s – one day at Fort Schuyler and one at American Yacht

24 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

Club. There are ways to keep those boats from turtling, and a lot of clubs are dispensing with the trapeze. I haven’t been to a yacht club in the last four years where someone hasn’t mentioned that incident, and as painful as it was for everybody I think the lessons are a great thing.

In the summer of 2011, a boat capsized on Lake Michigan during the Chicago Mac Race and two people drowned. It was a very odd, low-displacement monohull – like a trimaran without the amas, and some good lessons about organization, safety and stability came out of that. The Chicago Yacht Club took their safety rules – which were poorly written at best – and simplified them in plain language. In the last four years, US Sailing’s safety rules have likewise been translated into plain language. If you lock a bunch of lawyers in a room you’ll end up with a legal document, but the person that has to understand a club’s safety rules is the 19-year-old assistant sailing instructor.

In the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race, a guy had to be taken off a boat because he was so seasick. He was diabetic and his blood sugar was going to hell, and our consulting doctor said, ‘Get him off the boat.’ There was an exercise to bring two boats back to try to recover him but it was blowing too hard, and he was taken off by a cruise ship. Among the issues is the obligation of a crew. That is, if you hear somebody’s in trouble you have to do something. That could be getting on the radio, standing by, or offering to take people off a boat. Very few people really prepare for seasickness. If you know you have a tendency towards motion sickness, you have to take medication. Some medications have bad side effects, so you’ve got to test them before you get on the boat. The second part of that lesson involves familiarity with satphones – they’re not cellphones and they’re very complicated.

WC: What are the lessons from the fateful 1979 Fastnet Race?

JR: The first is that anything can happen, because you’re going out into a hostile environment. Even if it’s not blowing hard, it’s not raining and you don’t have a big sea, you’ve got the sun and the rolling to contend with. There’s always something difficult about it, which is one of the reasons we do it. Then there’s the illusion of control. If you think you are in control of a situation you clearly are under some illusion, because you’re not. You may be in control of steering – or changing a sail – at the moment, but you’re always on the edge of control. You might feel confident that you’re on top of things, but in a minute something can happen. Someone could fall across the cockpit, which is a really dangerous thing even if they don’t go overboard, or come up hard on a safety harness tether. I have a double tether system and I always use the short tether so that my fall would be half the length.

The second thing is that boats keep improving and our safety gear keeps improving, in part, I think, because of Fastnet. Because of the survival factor, people were willing to make big decisions. The rating rule at that time was the IOR. The windcheckmagazine.com

organizing committee for the 1980 Bermuda Race didn’t trust those boats, so they eliminated IOR and moved to a whole new rating rule that the Cruising Club of America had developed.

It was soon after that when people started to think about crew overboard rescue, proper safety harnesses, and storm sails…the Fastnet Race did not require us to carry storm sails.

The third lesson was that the safety rules were not thought through as well as they should have been. With that, a lot of talented people shifted from speed to safety, and that’s where the safety at sea seminars started. The first public safety at sea seminar in this country was held at the Naval Academy in January of 1980. Admiral Robert McNitt and the guys from the Cruising Club put it on. I was writing Fastnet, Force 10, and I served on a committee. We had an “Aha” moment when a doctor talked about hypothermia. He went on about the symptoms and then sat down. Somebody asked, “How do we treat hypothermia when it happens on a boat?” He said, “Get ‘em ashore and into a warm bath.” Laughter filled the room, and we realized that we couldn’t count on others. John Bonds, who was a Navy Captain, Dick McCurdy and I created safety at sea seminars out of nothing. Within two or three years, we had seminars starting all over the country.

WC: Why should every sailor attend a safety at sea seminar?

JR: Because you’ll learn things that are beyond your own experience. You can read Fastnet, Force 10, but it’s not like hearing people talk about their experiences. When I’m moderating a

Bermuda Race

Safety at Sea Seminar US Sailing Certified, Sponsored by Cruising Club of America March 19-20, Marriott Hotel, Newport Coastal/Offshore topics include: heavy weather, seasickness, crew/boat preps, MOB rescue, marine weather, communications, damage control, new safety gear 10 Speakers include: Frank Bohlen, John Rousmaniere, Dr. Jeff Wisch, Larry Huntington, Ron Trossbach, Will Keene, Karen Prioleau Moderator Bruce Brown (National Boating Safety Authority) Options: ISAF Personal Survival/Hands-On, Medical Seminar, Bermuda Race Prep Seminar

Register: https://sas.cruisingclub.org/ Questions: safetyseminar@cruisingclub.org www.BermudaRace.com WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 25

seminar, we try to get someone who’s fallen into the water and had to be rescued. You really have to hear it from that guy’s point of view…in which the boat looks like Mt. Everest, he’s freezing, has water in his mouth, and is barely able to stay afloat.

A lot of people think it’s a regulation issue, but I think it’s an attitude issue.

WC: What practices could save the lives of coastal sailors, such as those lost on Mobile Bay last year?

JR: It can blow really hard on Long Island Sound, and because it’s tidal it can get really rough. You might be close to shore but you’ve got to get into that harbor, and getting into a place like Indian Harbor, Niantic, Fishers Island or New London when it’s blowing hard at night can be pretty scary stuff. It’s important to know that those conditions can happen, and to learn how to stop your boat by heaving to. Have two or three people on board who have some experience in heavy weather, and know how to shorten sail to slow the boat down. Often boats get into trouble because they’re just going too fast.

nothing predictable about it. Bermuda is extremely hospitable and a very nice place to spend time. It’s semi-tropical, the locals are wonderful people from all over the world, and there’s a real community among the race boats in the harbor.

Historically, the Bermuda Race has placed an emphasis on safe sailing and fair racing. From the first race in 1906, participating boats have always been rigorously inspected and every crew is evaluated. If a fellow comes in with a good boat but doesn’t have much experience, the committee will say, ‘You ought to get an experienced person as a watch captain.’ And it’s not a 650-mile trip – it’s a 1,300-mile trip because you’ve got to get the boat back.

There’s been a lot of concern over the return delivery, and our Safety at Sea Seminar is particularly dedicated to people on return crews, who are often a little less experienced. I’ve done nine Bermuda Races and 13 deliveries to or from Bermuda, and the worst weather I’ve seen – except once – was on the deliveries.

WC: What other types of sailing do you enjoy?

JR: Each one should know the other’s job. The old hierarchy of the woman in the galley and the man in the cockpit is fine… until the man breaks a finger. If she can’t steer a course that’s really an issue, so it’s important to know your alternatives. If you’re coming into a tricky harbor with the tide against you and all of a sudden it starts blowing like hell, do you really have to go into the harbor or are you prepared to heave to and wait for it to calm down? The Cruising Club offers seminars for cruising couples, and they are very valuable.

JR: I’ve been sailing for 60 years, and I’ve decided that the boats I want to sail from now on are older than I am. I was born in 1944, so any boat conceived before that – like a Bullseye or an Atlantic – is fair game. I race on an 8 Metre in Newport called Angelita and I race with the Graves on their Q Boat Nor’easter out of Indian Harbor. Those boats look great, and they tend to have big mainsails. That means that the helmsman handles the biggest sail, so you can have a pickup crew and do really well in a race. They’re medium performance, tactical boats that sail close together so everyone thinks they have a chance, whether they do or not. It’s important to feel that you’re in the game. My son Will has a nice little Stur-Dee Cat, and I enjoy sailing with him and my grandchildren.

WC: When did you do your first Newport Bermuda Race?

WC: Please tell us about your next book.

JR: My first Bermuda Race was in 1966 on a boat called Caper.

She’s a 56-foot Phil Rhodes-designed sloop, built in 1957, and she’s now sailing in Oyster Bay. I sailed on her three times last summer in the Oakcliff Classics Series. That Bermuda Race was an eye-opener. There we were on a 56-foot boat, and we woke up on the morning of the last day surrounded by Cal 40s. Everybody thought the Cal 40 was a California downwind boat and there was a fair amount of beating in that race. A Cal 40 won the race, and a whole new school of yacht design was coming along. Every time there’s a surprise, you have to learn from it.

JR: I divide my time between history books and technical books, and I’m beginning research on two Vanderbilts. Harold Vanderbilt won the America’s Cup three times and wrote the Racing Rules, and his brother Willy Vanderbilt introduced automobile racing into this country and later became an oceanographer.

WC: What safe practices should more cruising couples adopt?

WC: What makes Newport Bermuda a special race?

JR: Part of it is that it’s international – it starts in a very nice place and finishes in a really nice place. Part of it’s the adventure of going across the Gulf Stream, which is different every time.

You can go across the Stream one year and it’s flat, and you can go across another year and it’s 6- to 8-foot breaking seas. There’s

WC: What’s the best thing about sailing?

JR: There’s that sense of looking out on the horizon and the dream that where you’re going is limitless, even if you’re just going out for an afternoon sail. On Will’s catboat up in Annisquam, if the tide’s flooding we go in one direction and if it’s ebbing we go in another. I find the fascination of tacking along a shoreline against a foul tide as interesting as winning a sailboat race. There’s a sense of adventure, of going beyond horizons. No matter where you’re sailing or what kind of boat you’re on, every time you go out it’s a new thing. ■

26 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 27

Bareboating Basics

By Captain Paul Sullivan We all know and love the New England waters. From Massachusetts Bay to Narragansett Bay and Long Island Sound, thousands of sailors spend their summers exploring new anchorages, swimming, barbecuing and enjoying their time on the water with family and friends.

During this time as our short season draws to an end, and leaves fall off the trees here in New England, boatyards and marinas are busy hauling and storing the regional fleet, while around the same time charter companies in the tropics are gearing up for the start of the winter sailing season.

But charters happen during spring and summer months, too, so there is never a wrong time to know the process. If you’ve never bareboat chartered before, here are a few things to get you up to speed.

First, bareboat chartering is defined as renting a boat, power or sail, catamaran or mono-hull for a period of time – typically a week or two, where you are the skipper. The “bare” in “bareboat” means the boat is not provisioned or stocked in any way other than a boathook, some docklines, fenders, a chart (hopefully), and the trusty user manual.

Next, a charter boat company doesn’t rent to just anyone.

Typically, a resumé showing experience on similarly sized vessels, along with some type of bareboat charter certification from an accredited sailing school, is your ticket (more on that later).

Now, all that doesn’t mean when you show up they’re ready to toss you the keys. Here’s what the first day at the charter company goes like for most people.

Upon arrival you are greeted and shown to your boat. A briefer gives you the five cent tour of your new ride, pointing out where the light switches are, probably showing you all of the secret storage spots under salon seats and floor boards, then allows you time to settle in and unpack. Once you’re moved in, the same briefer gives you a more thorough tour of the boat The Baths at Virgin Gorda are not exactly a well-kept secret, but certainly worth a visit. © Doug Rigsbee

Charterers (l - r) Doug Rigsbee, Cindy Rigsbee, Candice Haight, Becky Haight and Brian Haight aboard their CYOA catamaran © Doug Rigsbee focusing on systems. Having experience on similar boats, you should be familiar with what you are seeing; it’s the briefers job to point out the so-called “isms” of that particular vessel. This is your time to ask questions! “Which raw-water strainers are we looking at here – main engine, generator, or air conditioner?

How does this generator start? Tell me a little bit about the boat’s battery charger and its inverter.” All of these questions show the charter company they have someone who is going to take care of their boat over the next week and bring it back to them in one piece, and it will save you an afternoon of reading the boat’s user manual when you should be out snorkeling with turtles, or worse, having to call the company while your cell phone is roaming!

After the boat tour, but before getting underway, you need to provision the boat. Many charter companies offer sample menus through their websites, as well as the option to have the boat provisioned with groceries before you arrive. This option sometimes limits what brands of foods you get and can be quite expensive. Many seasoned charterers will pack some of their own supplies from home to save on typically higher island prices.

From a handful of garbage bags to frozen filet mignons, chips, snacks and alcohol, cheeses and cereals – the size of your suitcase is the limit! Charter companies will point you in the direction of the local grocery store and usually arrange a ride for you as well. Don’t forget the bottled water! If your boat doesn’t have a desalinization plant or watermaker aboard as well as filtered taps, a quart to a gallon of drinking water per person, per day should be up there on your list…after the rum, of course.

Finally everything is stowed. You have your snorkels, masks and fins which the charter company provided, the kayak and stand up paddleboard you rented are tied down to the stanchions and lifelines, and if you don’t get underway in the next bit of time your wife, kids, friends or all of the above are going to mutiny. Once again the briefer comes aboard, and after a talk about the charts

28 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

The author (left) shares a sail trim tip with helmsman Brian Haight. © Doug Rigsbee and perhaps reviewing and making suggestions to your proposed itinerary (sometimes larger charter companies host “captains meetings” where you and other skippers congregate and a briefer shares local knowledge of the waters you are about to explore) you are helped off the dock and motor away from the base. If it’s your first sail with that particular company, they’re going to want you to demonstrate some basic skills – furling and unfurling the sails, tacking, gybing, etc. Once this is completed, the briefer takes a dinghy back to the dock and waves you goodbye.

Uh oh, what if you make a few mistakes, or perhaps forgot that tacking is into the wind? Not a worry necessarily. The charter company can provide you with a captain for an afternoon, a few days, or even the week if you are a little rusty.

More than a little rusty? You’re in luck again. Many sailing schools spend their winters in the islands hoping that’s your case! Taking a bareboat charter certification class in the islands is a great way to hone your skills on a larger boat as well as gain local knowledge with a pro aboard. This way, you can experience firsthand what a true bareboat charter will go like. It’s a way for you to test the waters so to speak. Learn how to check into a foreign port’s customs and immigration, become confident with approaching moorings in the strong and consistent trade winds of the tropics, and get comfortable with setting the hook, thus avoiding those pesky mooring fees altogether.

How should you choose a sailing school, and what should you look for? First things first, they should be accredited either by the American Sailing Association (ASA), US Sailing, or the Royal Yachting Association. Those certifications carry weight internationally and give the charter company an idea of your level of skill. The islands are littered with sailing schools that offer “fast track to cruising” and “instant bareboater” programs… or schemes. Designed for those who have never sailed before, they attempt to cram three or four certifications into a one-week crash course. These “accelerated” courses do a major disservice to their students by producing graduates who know just enough to be dangerous on the water. Shame on them! Schools who choose to slow things down in order to teach their students properly and safely offer no more than two certifications within an eightwindcheckmagazine.com

day period. These combination courses should complement each other, reinforcing your knowledge and skills instead of overwhelming them.

Think you’re ready to ditch the cold and head south for a week in paradise? Peak charter season lasts right up to the end of spring. Many charter companies offer discounted rates then, too.

To find out more about bareboat chartering and to investigate different destinations, read travel blogs, talk to your local sailing schools, and look for articles in publications like WindCheck for photos and stories of great places to visit when you’re in the mood for sand and not snow!

Black Rock Sailing School is an ASA affiliated sailing school based in Boston, MA with other locations in Warwick RI and St. Thomas, USVI. Black Rock’s staff is comprised of career sailing instructors who teach year-round. The company’s Caribbean home is with CYOA Yacht Charters in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Located just ten minutes from the St. Thomas airport, CYOA has a fleet of extremely new and modern monohulls and catamarans. For instruction in New England or in the islands, aboard our boats or yours, and for charter rates as well as general information about chartering with our partner CYOA, visit blackrocksailingschool.com. We look forward to getting you out on the water! ■ Captain Paul Sullivan grew up sailing around Salem Sound in Massachusetts and has an extensive background in youth sailing instruction. He holds a USCG Master 100T license and is Black Rock Sailing School’s Charter and Club Manager. He was named “Outstanding Instructor 2014” by the American Sailing Association.

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 29

From the Log of Persevere: Into the Med

By Colin Rath Editor’s note: This is the eleventh installment in a series of dispatches from the Rath family (Colin & Pam, daughters Breana, Meriel and Nerina), who departed Stamford, CT in the fall of 2014 for a worldwide cruise aboard their Hanse 545 Persevere. You’ll find previous articles at windcheckmagazine.com.

Sailing up to Gibraltar, you begin to understand why the Spanish were never able to throw the Brits out. It’s a bloody big rock that has unparalleled height advantage for miles. The only chance you would have would be to starve them out with a blockade (which the Spanish almost did), but the British eventually changed that scenario with their overpowering navy.

The other initial observation is that it’s a tiny peninsula, cut off from Spain with the airport as its border at the base of the peninsula.

The border is only open when flights are not scheduled, and you actually drive across the runway to get into and out of Gibraltar. Sometimes you can wait for an hour to cross because of air traffic. This diminutive country has less than 40,000 citizens and everyone knows each other. Checking out in the local grocer takes hours because everyone is busy socializing. We visited in October, so the start of the holiday season only multiplied the camaraderie of the locals.

The supermarket had a bar across from check out that seemed to be the local tavern for many while their spouse shopped.

Gibraltar is distinctive also in the way they incorporated the historic fortifications into its urban landscape. The town is built within a solid rock fort, several meters thick. To get from any marina or shore, you only have access through the original gates for the fort, so there are only seven to ten access points to main street in town. It’s kind of fun also, they took a munitions dump and made a great social club for the town within the fortifications with ice skating rink, bowling alley, movie cinema and restaurant. The kids enjoyed it because we could see movies in English in the cinema. Spectre and Star Wars were both must-sees.

The actual Rock of Gibraltar is a national park. You can walk/climb up or take a tram to the top, and the place is crawling with monkeys. There are tunnel fortifications from the 1800s and World War II and a great natural cavern made into a concert hall within the rock – absolutely beautiful. The girls loved the monkeys crawling all over them and being playful.

The climbing provided much needed exercise for the crew. After seeing all the sights and learning the history, it was time to provision for departure.

The other good thing about Gibraltar is that it is outside the EU, which means there’s no Value Added Tax “VAT”(there’s a 23% VAT on everything in Europe). The main street is full of stores selling electronics, liquor and luxury items…ideal for Christmas shopping to begin. We have been abroad now for over a year and it was time to do dental and medical checkups with the crew. Here is where the real medical savings are. We had all three kids’ teeth cleaned with x-rays from a dentist that studied in Oxford, who also filled three cavities on two of the girls for 200 pounds.

All done. You can imagine what that would be back in the states. Our old dentist that I’ve been seeing since I was 10 and who has done my entire family for years charges $530 for cleaning and x-rays, and cavities ranged from $500 to $1,000 depending on what needed to be done. I usually ended up paying about $1,000 for three girls’ cleaning at the end of the billing

Top photo: The girls loved the monkeys on Gibraltar. © persevere60545.com Middle photo: The USA could take a lesson in affordable dental care from Gibraltar, says the author. © persevere60545.com Bottom photo: The Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe has to be seen to be believed. © persevere60545.com 30 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

paper chase between insurance and dentist and me, about three months later. This was clean, work done, cash, thank you. Which would you rather have? I know I have talked about this before, but medical insurance in Europe is not a major part of the family budget. Now, you can say the USA has the best medical service in the world, and I don’t disagree. I just think that for everyday simple preventive care and minor medical problems you need to take the insurance industry out of the equation. Anyway, I digress. We had clean teeth and clean bills of health. After provisioning and fueling up, we departed for Valencia, Spain.

We arrived in the Marina in Port de Valencia just in time for Halloween. The girls had finished up their first year home schooling and all got great grades and accreditation from the school to move forward to the next grade. Pam did a great job teaching, and we were happy with the hard work the girls put in. Increasingly, European countries are catching on to the commercialism of the holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter, and the girls wanted to do something for Halloween.

Valencia has a traditional zombie walk that caught our eye. They had makeup artists make over 600 zombies that meet at the main square in town and walk throughout the city as zombies.

People came in costume, groups of zombie Flamenco dancers and everyone got into character as they wandered around the city en masse. It was a lot of fun. The girls liked playing the games the event set up at the staging point while everyone got made up.

They won tickets that could be traded in for prizes. Good clean zombie fun. There was also a zombie race in the marina that night at midnight with bands at the finish. Not quite trick or treat, but Halloween fun nevertheless.

Valencia filled in the old riverbed of Turia that circles the city and made an amazing park, complete with a giant statue of Gulliver transformed into a children’s playground with slides and tunnels. A favorite with the twins. The City of Arts & Science, designed by Santiago Calatrava, who is also the designer of the new train station at Ground Zero in Manhattan, is next to the park.

The park is full of unbelievable buildings that defy gravity, like the Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe. This amazing building was the set of the future in Tomorrowland, the Disney movie with George Clooney. Forget the architecture being magnificent, the whole place is tiled. The white and blue on the domes are small individual tiles broken to achieve the complex curve. Imagine the artistry to do such a building and the time it took.

We enjoyed riding our bikes around old town and the open market where they sell fresh produce, fish and meat. There were small restaurants tucked away in the corner of the market where you could try local dishes. It was a lot of fun exploring with the family. After a few weeks there, we set sail for Barcelona to see firsthand the Gaudí architecture that we’d heard so much about. ■

Look for updates on Persevere’s journey in future issues of WindCheck, and track their progress on their Facebook page, “Persevere60545.” Colin’s book, It Is What It Is, can be purchased at any major bookstore or online at Amazon & Barnes & Noble, etc.

You’ll find pertinent links at ColinRath.com. windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 31

“My Backyard”

By Richard C. Ilse

As winter marches towards spring, I peer out my backyard window watching the steady stream of snowflakes cap the array of lobster pot buoys I have strung across a fence and hung from a small tree seemingly burdened by the weight of them all. These renegade buoys have been collected from the many gunkholes and beaches I have visited aboard my 19-foot O’Day Mariner that has been in my family since before man last walked on the moon.

“My backyard” – that’s an abstract term for a boater. My backyard stretches from the Hudson River to Block Island, encompassing all of Long Island Sound and beyond. Even though I do not live on the water, a piece of me does. In reality, like most people, I live several miles inland, but to any boater our backyards are almost infinite.

My vessel died at sea, water seepage, delamination and finally taking on too much water for the bilge pump to handle, it was time. I literally ran my boat to its death. A good way to go I thought, in its own element. The burial, not so much. I donated the boat to charity. Three guys from Ohio showed up two days late with the wrong kind of trailer. As half-wit, dim-wit and nit-wit pondered their quandary, I could not bear the thought of my cracked hull laying on the interstate. So, with the paperwork signed over I left them to their own devices. As I drove away with one eye on the road and a teary eye in the rearview mirror I thought that some sort of industrial strength chipper, for cremation, might have been a better way to go.

They say you do not appreciate things until they are gone. That is not the case here! I spent almost six hundred days on the water with this boat, including scores of overnights. My homeport was Milton Harbor in Rye, New York. There were trips around Manhattan, also to Montauk and even as far as Block Island. Every single run, before getting underway I would pause and look at the glistening bow under the sun and think that there are millions of people on land around me and only a few hundred of us underway at any given time. How special is that? Taking new people out was particularly pleasing because I would share again through their eyes the amazement of it all. On one of my last runs, my son Ryan brought a friend aboard. After an incred-

FOUR-SPEED WINCHES Three Times the Power Six Times the Speed CHANGE THE WAY YOU SAIL

305-890-6904 w w w. p o n t o s - a m e r i c a s . c o m

© Richard C. Ilse

ible day of sailing, swimming and sunshine I let him take the helm as we entered our harbor. He turned to me with the eyes the size of wonder and said, “I don’t ever want this day to end.” I said, “I know, I feel that way every time I am out here.”

So, with the love I have for the water and the daily appreciation I have for it, when that inevitable day came and I found myself off the water, I thought I would be better prepared for it. All things considered I was, for that day at least. It was the ensuing days that hit me like a rogue wave. What I failed to realize is how boating becomes so much a part of your life. It’s like I lost my best friend. It’s not just a hobby, it’s a culture and a way of life. It seeps into all facets of your world. Nautical terms just surface into everyday language. From "stow that away" to "hit the head," the mindset is inescapable. If, like most boaters, you are not lucky enough to live on the water, you will find the water in a boater’s home. Photos of and from your boat, nautical paintings, coffee mugs, welcome mats and how many issues of this and other magazines are in the head. Try Christmas – there were probably nautical presents sitting under those nautical Christmas tree ornaments.

Take it outside, there’s probably something of nautical heritage in your backyard and then there are the lobster pot buoys. Come on, what boater doesn’t have at least one, there like badges in your yard? Boating also brings your world outside more than most. Weather reports have more meaning and your own sense of the weather is heightened. Even in the Northeast, boating is a year-round thing, from putting her to bed in the fall to getting ready to launch in the spring. Then there are the mid-winter trips to the boatyard after snowstorms, to check things out. Once there, the snowballs thrown at the white shrink-wrap dissolve as much as your mind dissolves into thoughts of summer.

As for the upcoming summer, I have only two thoughts. First, “my backyard” is now measured in square feet, not miles. Second, the beckoning call of a sunrise glistening off my wake on a glass calm morning, or a sunset lighting up just the tops of the waves, says that life on the water should not be left astern of me! ■ Richard C. Ilse lives in Stamford, CT.

32 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

City Island Yacht Club Offers a Popular Time-Share Sailing Program

By Betsy Frawley Haggerty Want to go sailing, but don’t own a boat? No problem. Clubs where members share boats abound at yacht clubs, sailing schools, community sailing programs and fractional sailing businesses in greater New York and elsewhere. This is the story of one of them—the club-boat program at City Island Yacht Club (CIYC) on Eastchester Bay in the northeast Bronx.

The yacht club, which celebrates its 109th birthday this year, started its club-boat program seven or so years ago when a member donated a 23-foot sailboat he could no longer use, and the club leadership decided to try an experiment—let members share the boat.

That boat is long gone, but the club-boat program that it spawned is thriving. Three Catalina 25s and a J/24 make up the fleet, shared last year by 22 members. I was one of them, and there was never a day when there wasn’t a boat to sail. I sailed one club boat or another 18 times last summer, meaning I sailed more than the average boat owner, and many members sailed twice a week or more in Eastchester Bay and Western Long Island Sound during the 20-week sailing season.

Sarip, a Catalina 25 in the CIYC club-boat fleet, sailing in Long Island Sound near Hart Island © Betsy Frawley Haggerty

“I’m passionate about sailing, and I love this program,” said Branka Dragasevic, one of the twice-a-week sailors. Two years ago Branka, who had skippered dinghies and crewed on cruising and racing boats, was looking for a place where she could hone her skills and get out on the water more often. She and a friend spent their spring Saturdays visiting sailing programs and yacht clubs to find the right fit for them. “City Island Yacht Club came in first,” Branka said. “We could look at the boats in the boatyard, talk to members, and I was very impressed with the spring lecture series. I liked that members were committed to learning and everyone was very social.”

Although she was a seasoned crew, Branka had never skippered mid-size keelboats before, and she admits she had a lot to learn. “Skill acquisition is not easy as an adult,” she noted, “but everyone was supportive and available to help in any way.

It took me a while to get into the groove.” She qualified as a club-boat skipper last year and is able to take the boats out on her own with friends or other club-boat members aboard. “I feel competent now, but this is just the beginning. I am always learning,” she said.

Sailors should have some sailing experience before they join, with at least a basic keelboat class under their belts. They need to know basic maneuvers and sailing terms so they can work comfortably as crew with other sailors. To qualify to become a skipper—last year everyone qualified by the end of the season—they have to demonstrate that they know the rules of the road, points of sail and basic sail trim, and that they can handle the boat safely in up to 15 knots of wind. They must also show they can pick up a mooring under sail—a real test of sailing skill. While the boats all have outboard engines, CIYC wants to make sure members are fully capable of bringing the boat back safely under sail. Those who qualify first as crew but not as skippers, can learn from more experienced club members, take private lessons or go to a sailing school.

One of the best things about the club-boat program, members say, is the camaraderie they share with other club-boat members and with active, boat-owner members of CIYC. Many members, myself included, race and cruise with people they meet on the yacht club porch or working in the boatyard.

CIYC members are, for the most part, do-it-yourselfers who spend spring weekends

34 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

prepping their boats for sailing season, helping one another and making friends while they do so. Club-boat members get to participate in the boatyard fun. While the boats are owned by the yacht club, members are responsible for doing the maintenance work, prepping bottoms, waxing hulls and keeping the boats clean and in good repair throughout the season.

Happily, many members, like former boat owner Heinz Bronnimann who leads the maintenance program, are both highly skilled and generous with their time. “I don’t mind working on the boats, and teaching others how to do so,” Heinz said.

“It’s a co-op program, and you get to know people really well during the spring work parties. That’s how many of us became good friends.”

Membership in the club-boat program includes a CIYC social membership, which offers reciprocity at many other yacht clubs, and costs about $1,000 annually, a bargain for unlimited sailing and the ability to sail with your own guests at no extra charge. For more information or to apply for membership in the CIYC Club Boat Program, visit cityislandyc.com or email club boat liaison Branka Dragasevic at clubboat@cityislandyc.com.

On Saturday, April 9, beginning at noon, City Island Yacht Club will host the annual Greater New York Sailing Group Meet and Greet. Last year 90 sailors attended this event, where several sailing groups, including the CIYC Club Boat Program, describe their programs, and boat owners and would-be crew get to know one another and make arrangements for racing and cruising. The club’s restaurant and bar will be open. For more information, visit the cityislandyc.org or meetup.com/greater-new-york-sailing-group. ■ Betsy Frawley Haggerty, a freelance maritime journalist, is the former editor of Offshore Magazine, a member of City Island Yacht Club and a USCG-licensed captain and certified sailing instructor.

© Betsy Frawley Haggerty

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 35

book reviews.

Greenpeace Captain

The Widow Wave

My Adventures in Protecting the Future of Our Planet

A True Courtroom Drama of Tragedy at Sea

By Peter Willcox with Ronald. B. Weiss Published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press 336 pages hardcover $27.99

By Jay W. Jacobs Published by Quid Pro Books 278 pages paperback $17.99

As a captain with the environmental organization Greenpeace for more than three decades, Peter Willcox has had more daring adventures than most of us could expect in ten lifetimes. This South Norwalk, CT native, who began his career as second mate aboard the sloop Clearwater with Pete Seeger at age 20, is well known for his tireless devotion to saving our planet.

Co-written with his longtime friend Ron Weiss, Captain Willcox’s action-packed memoir begins with an explosion aboard the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, New Zealand in 1985. That bombing, which claimed the life of a crewmember, only strengthened his resolve. Subsequent Greenpeace actions saw Willcox and fellow activists confronting rainforest-burning slave owners in the Amazon, exposing international conspiracies involving diamond smuggling, gun trading and “blood lumber,” dodging dioxins and nuclear waste, and being held prisoner in Russia. In addition to bringing international attention to ongoing environmental destruction, his rewards include witnessing the elusive “green flash” in the Pacific and St. Elmo’s Fire in the Arctic.

A formidable presence in global environmental activism, Willcox has sailed over 400,000 miles in his quest to defend the planet and its inhabitants – both human and animal. He and his wife Maggy, whom he met aboard the Clearwater, reside on Islesboro Island in Maine, and he races on Linda & Andrew Weiss’ Sydney 43 Christopher Dragon out of Mamaroneck, NY.

Ronald B. Weiss is an accomplished yacht racer and bluewater sailor. A member of the New York Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club and the Cruising Club of America, he sails his Little Harbor 46 Rocinante out of Stamford, CT.

Greenpeace Captain will be released on April 19, and it’s available for pre-order at Amazon in hardcover, e-book and audiobook editions. Regular readers of this magazine know that we strongly encourage giving books to young people, and this exciting book is a superb way to inspire your favorite junior sailor to make a difference in something he or she cares about. ■

Maritime lawyer and author Jay Jacobs has written a nonfiction courtroom drama entitled The Widow Wave, about the worst recreational boating accident in the history of San Francisco, CA.

On the morning of March 9, 1984, five men left Sausalito aboard Francis Dowd’s 34-foot Chris Craft Aloha for a day of salmon fishing at Duxbury Reef, a popular spot off the coast of Marin County. Aboard the Aloha were Dowd (a senior executive at Raytheon), his 19-year-old son, his brother-in-law, a fellow Raytheon executive, and a business associate. Somewhere west of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Aloha vanished with all aboard.

Dowd’s body was recovered in San Francisco Bay a month later, but the Aloha and the others aboard were never found.

A lawsuit citing Dowd’s negligence was filed by the widow of one of the lost fishermen, and Jacobs, a young maritime attorney and former merchant seaman, was hired as defense counsel.

Believing that Dowd, an experienced boater who had served as petty officer first class in the U.S. Navy’s submarine service, could not have been negligent, Jacobs needed to convince a jury that the Aloha was doomed by circumstances beyond her captain’s control.

Jacobs believes the Aloha was sunk by a ‘coincident wave.’

These dangerous but largely unknown anomalies differ from deep ocean rogue waves. Coincident waves occur near to shore, on the lee side of islets and submerged bars, typical to all coastlines.

The story centers on the passion-driven courtroom battle, pitting widow against widow. As there were no survivors or eyewitnesses to whatever happened, the jury trial hinged on the testimony of both sides’ expert witnesses who intertwined the physics of wave formation, navigation, and meteorology with the all-too-human story of the fragility of life.

A member of the California bar for more than 35 years, Jay Jacobs lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife Marsha. The Widow Wave is also available in hardcover or e-book formats. To learn more, visit thewidowwave.com. ■

36 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

Calendar 2016 MARCH 3 Stars of the Smithsonian Lecture Series: Roger Connor - “By the Stars to Victory: Making Aerial Celestial Navigation Practical Between the World Wars” - In this Mystic Seaport presentation, the Curator of the National Air and Space Museum will discuss how tried-and-true techniques used by mariners played a central role in World War II. 1:30 and 7:30pm; $15 for museum members ($20 non-members); students are admitted free; The River Room at Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern, Mystic, CT; register at 860-572-5331; mysticseaport.org 3 12th Annual IYRS Winter Event - Sponsored by Betsy & Hunt Lawrence and Tiedemann Wealth Management, this fundraiser for the IYRS School of Technology & Trades includes a cocktail reception, dinner and a presentation on Iconic American Restorations by keynote speaker Dr. Robert McNeil. Cocktails at 6pm; seated dinner at 7:30; $250 per couple; $150 per person; IYRS alumni $100 per person. New York Yacht Club, New York, NY; to purchase tickets, visit iyrs.edu/winterevent, email events@iyrs.edu or call 401848-5777 ext. 231.

3 Shoreline Sailing Club meeting - If you’re an active single over 35, this club’s activities include sailing, fishing, kayaking, dances, dockside parties, golfing, skiing and more. Meetings are held the first & third Thursdays of each month (lite bites/cash bar available); 7:30pm; Westbrook Elks Lodge, Westbrook, CT; shorelinesailingclub.com

windcheckmagazine.com

3 Singles Under Sail meeting - SUS is a sailing club for adults who are also single. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at various locations in Fairfield County, CT; 203-847-3456; visit SinglesUnderSail.org for cruises, lectures and other special events.

4 Storm Trysail Foundation Seamanship & Sailing Legacy Awards Dinner - Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Gary Jobson, this event honors Charlie Enright and Mark Towill and the crew of Team Alvimedica in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, along with legendary racer and sailmaker Charles “Butch” Ulmer. 6:30pm; American Yacht Club, Rye, NY; stormtrysailfoundation.org 5 Introduction to Celestial Navigation - This is the first of two consecutive courses that will put the new student of celestial navigation on the path to proficiency in this time honored, defining skill of the competent sailor. 10am - 5pm; $150; Landfall Marine Training Center, Stamford, CT; 800-9412219; landfallnavigation.com/ schedulemtc.html 5 Maritime Aquarium Lighthouse Cruise - Venture out on the hybrid-electric research vessel Spirit of the Sound™ for an close-up look at five historic lighthouses on Long Island Sound: Peck Ledge, Greens Ledge, Sheffield Island, Penfield Reef, and Stratford Shoal. Maritime Aquarium educators will offer details, histories and anecdotes about the lighthouses, and also point out visiting winter waterfowl.

Binoculars will be provided. The vessel has a climate-controlled cabin, but the best view’s on deck so bring plenty of warm

clothes. Passengers must be over 42” tall. The 4.5-hour cruise departs at 10am. $70 fee includes a box lunch. Advance reservations are required. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT; 203-852-0700, ext. 2206; maritimeaquarium.org

© ctpost.com

5 About Boating Safety Completion of this 8-hour class, presented by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 24-3, satisfies the Connecticut licensing requirements for a Safe Boating Certificate and PWC Certificate. Family participation is encouraged. 8am; Flotilla 24-3 Training Center, Milford, CT; 860-663-5505; skperrone@ hotmail.com; cgaux.org *All students will need to get a State of CT Conservation ID number before taking the course.Visit ct.outdoorcentral.net/InternetSales/Sales to register for a free ID number.

6 North U. Boatspeed/Trim Seminar - Instructor Bill Gladstone will share tips to help you sail faster this season. 8:30am - 4:30pm; Newport Yacht Club, Newport, RI; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; fran@northu. northsails.com; northu.com 6 How to Run a Match Race Regatta - This seminar will provide race officers with a basic knowledge of the specific organization, tools, staffing and equipment requirements needed for all areas of running a match race. 8am - 5pm; $75 fee includes continental breakfast, coffee & modest lunch. Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY; Bill Simon: 516-802-0368;

bsimon@oakcliffsailing.org; oakcliffsailing.org 6 - 12 7th Annual Bacardi Miami Sailing Week presented

by EFG - One-design racing for Stars,Viper 640s, J/70s,VX Ones and A-Class catamarans; Miami, FL; miamisailingweek.com 7 and subsequent Monday & Wednesday evenings Sailing Skills & Seamanship course - Presented by US Coast Guard Auxiliary Norwalk Flotilla 72, this comprehensive course exceeds the minimum 8-hour requirement for the Connecticut Safe Boating/PWC certificate and covers many additional fundamentals of good seamanship. 7:15- 9:15pm; $75 fee includes textbook, exams and all additional elective lessons (offered in April & May).

Flotilla 72 Training Center, Calf Pasture Beach, East Norwalk, CT; register at Flotilla72PE@ gmail.com or 203-853-4615; more info at “Boating Courses” at Flotilla72.org 9 Lessons From Olympic Sailing - This Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound presentation features a lecture

by US Sailing Team Sperry Coach David Dellenbaugh. 7:30 pm; $25 YRALIS members ($40 non-members); Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Port Washington, NY; yralis.org 9 Maritime Author Series with Roger C. Taylor - In this Mystic Seaport presentation, the author of L. Francis Herreshoff:Yacht Designer will discuss the life and work of the most remarkable yacht designer of his time. Light refreshments will be served, and one person will win a copy of the book. 6 - 8pm; $15 for Museum members ($20 nonmembers); Collections Research Center Library, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT; call 860-572-5331 to register; mysticseaport.org 10 The Navigators: Pathfinders of the Pacific - In this WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 37

MARCH Continued

Mystic Seaport Adventure Series presentation, anthropologist Sanford Low will show portions of his documentary film about sailor Mau Pialiug, who - guided Hokule’a, a replica of an ancient Polynesian voyaging canoe, from Hawaii to Tahiti across 2,400 miles of open ocean without charts or instruments.1:30 and 7:30pm; $15 for museum members ($20 non-members); students are admitted free; The River Room at Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern, Mystic, CT; register at 860-572-5331; mysticseaport.org

© voices.nationalgeographic.com 11 - 13 54th Annual Meeting of the Catboat Association, Inc. - Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, Groton, CT; John Greene: John.greene@catboats.org; catboats.org 12 North U. Boatspeed/Trim Seminar - Instructor Bill Gladstone will share tips to help you sail faster this season. 8:30am - 4:30pm; Stamford Yacht Club, Stamford, CT; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; fran@northu. northsails.com; northu.com 12 US Sailing One-Day Race Management Seminar This seminar, led by Steven Purdy, provides the training and test for certification as a club race officer. Topics include RC objectives & responsibilities, writing sailing instructions, RC jobs & equipment, setting the course, starting system, starting penalties, before the start, during

the race, finishing, and scoring.

8am - 4pm; $35 fee includes lunch. Niantic Bay Yacht Club, Niantic, CT; nbyc.org; register at raceadmin.ussailing.org 12 US Sailing One-Day Race Management Seminar This seminar, led by Ronald Hopkins, provides the training and test for certification as a club race officer. Topics include RC objectives & responsibilities, writing sailing instructions, RC jobs & equipment, setting the course, starting system, starting penalties, before the start, during the race, finishing, and scoring. 8am - 5pm; $75 fee includes lunch. New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court, Newport, RI; register at raceadmin. ussailing.org 12 Marine Diesel Basics Taught by highly experienced diesel technicians, this course will help you become more familiar with your boat’s auxiliary powerplant. 9am - 4pm; $150; Landfall Marine Training Center, Stamford, CT; 800-941-2219; landfallnavigation.com/schedulemtc.html 12 59th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Céad Mile Fáilte!

11am; Newport, RI; newportirish.com 13 Dave Perry 2016 Match Racing Test Rules Onshore Clinic - Give your team a leg up on World Sailing’s changes to the rules (primarily rules 17 and 18) as Dave discusses the wording of the rules and the not-so-obvious

© oakcliffsailing.org

implications. 1 - 5pm; $30 ($25 for Oakcliff supporters); Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY; Bill Simon: 516-802-0368; bsimon@oakcliffsailing.org; oakcliffsailing.org 13 North U. Boatspeed/ Trim Seminar - Instructor Todd Berman will share tips to help you sail faster this season.

8:30am - 4:30pm; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; fran@northu. northsails.com; northu.com 13, 19 & 20 Seal Spotting & Birding Cruise - Journey out onto Long Island Sound aboard the hybrid-electric research vessel Spirit of the Sound™ in hopes of seeing some of the seals that winter just off our shores.

Maritime Aquarium educators will point out these federally protected marine mammals and talk about their natural histories, and help identify such winter waterfowl as buffleheads, mergansers and long-tailed ducks. Passengers must be over 42” tall. Departure times vary according to the tides; $24.95 ($19.95 for Aquarium members); Bring binoculars and dress very warmly! Space is limited; advance reservations are strongly recommended. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT; 203852-0700, ext. 2206; maritimeaquarium.org 16 Lessons From Olympic Sailing - This Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound presentation features a lecture

by US Sailing Team Sperry Coach David Dellenbaugh. A tour of the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture begins at 6 pm and the lecture follows at 7:30. $25 YRALIS members ($40 nonmembers); Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, Glen Cove, NY; yralis.org 18 - 20 29th Annual Maine Boatbuilders Show - This gathering of the finest fiberglass and wooden custom boat build-

38 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

ers on the East Coast features everything from small rowing boats, kayaks and canoes to powerboats and sailboats of every size. Portland Company Marine Complex, Portland, ME; portlandcompany.com/ BoatShow 19 North U. Boatspeed/ Trim Seminar - Instructor Todd Berman will share tips to help you sail faster this season.

8:30am - 4:30pm; Metedeconk River Yacht Club, Brick, NJ; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; fran@northu.northsails.com; northu.com 19 & 20 Bermuda Race Safety at Sea Seminar - Sponsored by the Cruising Club of America, this US Sailing certified event covers heavy weather, seasickness, crew/boat prep, MOB rescue, communications, damage control, new safety gear and more. Options include ISAF Personal Survival/Hands-on, Medical and Bermuda Race prep seminars. Marriott Hotel, Newport, RI; register at sas.cruisingclub. org; bermudarace.com 23 The Gulf Stream: A Navigator’s Perspective - Led by instructor W. Frank Bohlen, this three-hour course includes a discussion of the navigational challenges of the Stream and Florida currents, hands-on exercises and selected readahead materials. 6 - 9pm; $100; Landfall Marine Training Center, Stamford, CT; 800-941-2219; landfallnavigation.com/schedulemtc.html 23 Lessons From Olympic Sailing - This Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound presentation features a lecture

by US Sailing Team Sperry Coach David Dellenbaugh. 7:30 pm; $25 YRALIS members ($40 nonmembers); Riverside Yacht Club, Riverside, CT; yralis.org 23 - 27 St. Thomas International Regatta - The “Crown Jewel” windcheckmagazine.com

of Caribbean racing, this event is hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club. St. Thomas, USVI; stthomasinternationalregatta.com 26 & 27 Admiral Moore Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted by SUNY Maritime and sailed in 420s and FJs. Throggs Neck, NY; collegesailing.org 26 & 27 Friis Trophy - This collegiate regatta is hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and sailed in FJs and Z420s. New London, CT; collegesailing.org 26 & 27 Duplin Women’s Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted by Tufts and sailed in Larks. Medford, MA; collegesailing.org 28 - 4/3 45th BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival - This event includes a distance race from Tortola to Virgin Gorda followed by three days of fun at the Bitter End Yacht Club;

windcheckmagazine.com

bvispringregatta.org 31 Lessons From Olympic Sailing - This Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound presentation features a lecture

by US Sailing Team Sperry Coach David Dellenbaugh. 7:30 pm; $25 YRALIS members ($40 non-members); Larchmont Yacht Club, Larchmont, NY; yralis.org 31 - 4/3 20th Annual Defender Warehouse Sale - Save on over 50,000 products for sail & powerboats, learn about the latest technologies at informative seminars, speak with factory experts representing nearly 300 brands, and enter hourly prize drawings and a Grand Prize drawing. Defender, Waterford, CT; defender.com

APRIL 2 11th Annual IYRS Marine & Composites Industry Career Day - Hosted by IYRS

School of Technology & Trades and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, this one-day event will draw marine and composites industry experts and employers from all over the U.S. Career seekers will have an opportunity to meet with boatbuilders, boatyards and composite manufacturers; learn about the skills needed to work in the marine and composites industries; gather information on how to gain in-demand skills; learn about career prospects; and attend informative seminars.

9am - 1pm; free; Newport, RI; register at iyrs.edu/employersand-industry/iyrs-career-day/ 2&3 US Sailing Advanced Race Management Seminar Led by Tom Duggan and Peter ‘Luigi’ Reggio, this two-day course provides the training and objective test for regional and national race officer candidates.

8am -5pm both days; $125 fee includes continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Oakcliff Sailing, Oyster Bay, NY; register at raceadmin.ussailing.org

2&3 Lynne Marchiando Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted by MIT and sailed in FJs and Fireflies. Boston, MA; collegesailing.org 2&3 Dellenbaugh Women’s Trophy - This collegiate regatta is hosted by Brown and sailed in Z420s. Providence, RI; collegesailingorg 4-8 Flying Scot Midwinters St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL; fssa.com 5 and subsequent Tuesday evenings Seamanship - This 8-session U.S. Sail & Power Squadron course is the ideal next course after qualifying for your CT Boating Certificate or having taken the Piloting course. It is geared towards making your time on the water safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

Many topics from the Coastal Boating Competence Course are covered in more depth,

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 39

APRIL Continued

and new topics are introduced.

Seamanship will make your time on the water safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable! This is information that everybody who boats should master, whether you’re typically the captain or crew. Norwalk, CT. For location and times, contact Peter Adler: padler@pipeline.com 8 8th Annual Buzzards Dinner - If you’ve done 10 or more Vineyard Races (as skipper or crew), you are cordially invited! As always, this will be a not-to-be-missed event and a huge flock of new Buzzards will be initiated. Cocktails at 1800; dinner at 1900; Stamford Yacht Club, Stamford, CT; RSVP at buzzard@stamfordyc.com.

8 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race - This race is the first leg of the East Coast Ocean Series. lyc.org

9 & 10 Emily Wick Trophy - This collegiate regatta is hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and sailed in FJs and Z420s. New London, CT; collegesailing.org 11 - 16 Les Voiles de Saint Barth 7th Edition - With a goal of “competition on the water and conviviality on the shore,” this regatta attracts sailors from around the world. St Barth, FWI; lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com © Christophe Jouany

13 Maritime Author Series with Steven Berry - In this

Mystic Seaport presentation, the author of A Path in the Mighty Waters: Shipboard Life and the Atlantic Crossing to the New World, will discuss James Oglethorpe’s Georgia Expedition, which set sail from London, England in 1735. Light refreshments will be served, and one person will win a copy of the book. 6 - 8pm; $15 for Museum members ($20 nonmembers); Collections Research Center Library, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT; call 860-572-5331 to register; mysticseaport.org 14 - 17 21st Annual Sperry Charleston Race Week This great regatta turns 21 this year, and that means it’s all legal now – three days of racing in 18 classes, four nights of beach parties, daily free race debriefs and seminars, and plenty of Southern hospitality. Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Mt. Pleasant, SC; charlestonraceweek.com 16 Hands-On Safety at Sea Seminar - Moderated by Storm Trysail Club Past Com-

40 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

modore Rich du Moulin, this US Sailing certified event includes on-the-water sessions for man overboard recovery, pool sessions featuring liferaft and PFD use, fire fighting, use of distress flares and more. This seminar meets the Safety at Sea requirements for the 2016 Newport to Bermuda Race, and attendance at this seminar along with successful completion of a test that will be given will bring full ISAF certification for those who wish to achieve it. 8am - 5pm; SUNY Maritime College, Throggs Neck, NY; stormtrysailfoundation.org

© stormtrysailfoundation.org

16 & 17 Thompson Trophy - This

windcheckmagazine.com

collegiate regatta is hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and sailed in FJs and Z420s. New London, CT; collegesailing.org 16 & 17 President’s Trophy Women’s - This collegiate regatta is hosted by Boston University and sailed in FJs. Boston, MA; collegesailing.org 19 - 21 Sailing The Collegiate Dinghies - This 3-day clinic is for youth sailors who wish to learn collegiate sailing techniques and practice like one of the country’s top college sailing teams. Crimson Sailing Academy, Cambridge, MA; crimsonsailingacademy.com 20 JSA Event Management Seminar - 7 - 9pm; Larchmont Yacht Club, Larchmont, NY; Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound; jsalis.org 23 Advanced Celestial Navigation - This is the second

of two consecutive courses that will put the new student of celestial navigation on the path to proficiency in this time honored, defining skill of the competent sailor. 10am - 5pm; $150; Landfall Marine Training Center, Stamford, CT; 800-9412219; landfallnav.com/mtc 23 & 24 and 30/5/1 37th Annual AYC Spring Series Regatta - One-Design, IRC & PHRF; American Yacht Club, Rye, NY; yachtscoring.com; americanyc.org 24 Peter Milnes Memorial Regatta - Hosted by Laser Fleet 413 and Sail Newport, this event honors the man who founded Fleet 413 in 1988. Newport, RI; newportlaserfleet.org 29 19th Annual New York Harbor Sailing Foundation Sailors Ball - All sailors and sailing enthusiasts in the New York City area are invited to attend this black tie gala, which celebrates the start of the

new sailing season. This event raises money for Operation Optimist, the largest junior sailing program in New York Harbor.

In addition to an open bar, light hors d’oeurvres and dancing in many theme rooms, Tucker Thompson, the TV and Public Host of the 35th America’s Cup, will discuss the past, present and future of the oldest international sporting trophy (which will be on display!), in advance of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event in New York (May 6-8). 9pm - 1am at a private club at 60 Pine Street in lower Manhattan; Regular Ball tickets are $95 on or before April 26 ($120 at the door if available); Special VIP tickets which include a “12 Meter Dinner from 7 - 9pm are $250; New York, NY; nyharborsailing.com/ sailors-ball

sporting trophy, in advance of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event in New York City (May 6-8). The Auld Mug itself will be on display as well.

American Yacht Club, Rye, NY; americanyc.org; americascup. com 30 & 5/1 Hartford Power Squadron 3rd Annual Marine Swap Meet & Cookout - Searching for treasure? Stop by and find what you’ve been looking for at a great bargain. Not buying? Sign up for a space and free yourself of no-longer-needed treasures.

Grab a burger on the banks of the beautiful Connecticut River.

10am - 4pm; Portland Riverside Marina, Portland, CT; Tim Tyler: 860-561-0669; timtyler@hartford.powersquadron.org; hartford.powersquadron.org

30 Tucker Thompson America’s Cup Presentation - The TV and Public Host of the 35th America’s Cup will discuss the past, present and future of the oldest international

Add your event to our print and online calendar by emailing to contactus@windcheckmagazine.com

by the 7th of the month.

Service Made Simple

CONNECTING BOAT OWNERS AND SERVICE PROFESSIONALS GET ON BOARD SERVICE MADE SIMPLE

AND BEST OF ALL

IT’S FREE WITH 1GB OF CLOUD STORAGE

> Simplify Your Life & Spend More Time on the Water > Easy-to-Use Task Sharing for Repairs & Maintenance > Extensive Network of Ready Service Pros & Marinas > Automated Service Reminders & Service History Records > Anywhere, Anytime Access, 24/7 > Quick Answers When Needed > Thousands of Service Recommendations at Your Fingertips

UP FOR YOUR FREE ACCOUNT TODAY AT: > SIGN WWW.BIT.LY/MYTASKITFREE twitter.com/mytaskitapp linkedin.com/company/mytaskit facebook.com/mytaskitapp

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

MYTASKIT .COM

March 2016 41

March 2016

These tide tables are predictions and are to be used as a reference only. The times of high and low are approximations and are affected, in part by onshore and offshore winds, full and new moons as well as changes in currents. Always use caution when entering or leaving any harbor and navigate in areas that are well marked. WindCheck assumes no liability due to the use of these tables.

Source: noaa.gov

The Battery, NY Port Washington, NY 3/1 12:56 AM 3/1 7:39 AM 3/1 1:18 PM 3/1 7:33 PM 3/2 1:41 AM 3/2 8:47 AM 3/2 2:10 PM 3/2 8:53 PM 3/3 2:36 AM 3/3 9:46 AM 3/3 3:13 PM 3/3 9:54 PM 3/4 3:41 AM 3/4 10:39 AM 3/4 4:21 PM 3/4 10:49 PM 3/5 4:46 AM 3/5 11:29 AM 3/5 5:21 PM 3/5 11:42 PM 3/6 5:43 AM 3/6 12:18 PM 3/6 6:11 PM 3/7 12:33 AM 3/7 6:33 AM 3/7 1:06 PM 3/7 6:58 PM 3/8 1:25 AM 3/8 7:19 AM 3/8 1:53 PM 3/8 7:43 PM 3/9 2:15 AM 3/9 8:06 AM 3/9 2:40 PM 3/9 8:29 PM 3/10 3:04 AM 3/10 8:55 AM 3/10 3:25 PM 3/10 9:19 PM 3/11 3:54 AM 3/11 9:48 AM 3/11 4:12 PM 3/11 10:12 PM 3/12 4:45 AM 3/12 10:45 AM 3/12 5:00 PM 3/12 11:09 PM 3/13 6:40 AM 3/13 12:44 PM 3/13 6:53 PM 3/14 1:07 AM 3/14 7:42 AM 3/14 1:43 PM 3/14 7:54 PM 3/15 2:06 AM 3/15 8:49 AM 3/15 2:44 PM 3/15 9:02 PM 3/16 3:07 AM 3/16 9:55 AM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/16 3:47 PM 3/16 10:07 PM 3/17 4:13 AM 3/17 10:56 AM 3/17 4:52 PM 3/17 11:08 PM 3/18 5:19 AM 3/18 11:50 AM 3/18 5:54 PM 3/19 12:02 AM 3/19 6:19 AM 3/19 12:40 PM 3/19 6:49 PM 3/20 12:53 AM 3/20 7:10 AM 3/20 1:27 PM 3/20 7:35 PM 3/21 1:40 AM 3/21 7:54 AM 3/21 2:10 PM 3/21 8:17 PM 3/22 2:25 AM 3/22 8:33 AM 3/22 2:51 PM 3/22 8:55 PM 3/23 3:07 AM 3/23 9:11 AM 3/23 3:30 PM 3/23 9:32 PM 3/24 3:48 AM 3/24 9:47 AM 3/24 4:06 PM 3/24 10:08 PM 3/25 4:26 AM 3/25 10:24 AM 3/25 4:40 PM 3/25 10:42 PM 3/26 5:03 AM 3/26 11:01 AM 3/26 5:11 PM 3/26 11:16 PM 3/27 5:39 AM 3/27 11:39 AM 3/27 5:39 PM 3/27 11:49 PM 3/28 6:14 AM 3/28 12:17 PM 3/28 6:03 PM 3/29 12:23 AM 3/29 6:54 AM 3/29 12:58 PM 3/29 6:33 PM 3/30 1:04 AM 3/30 7:49 AM 3/30 1:43 PM 3/30 7:23 PM 3/31 1:53 AM 3/31 9:02 AM 3/31 2:35 PM 3/31 9:05 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16 3/16

3:47 AM 10:19 AM 4:16 PM 10:31 PM 4:41 AM 11:18 AM 5:13 PM 11:29 PM 5:38 AM 12:31 PM 6:16 PM 12:36 AM 6:42 AM 2:08 PM 7:32 PM 1:58 AM 7:53 AM 2:59 PM 8:42 PM 3:01 AM 8:55 AM 3:39 PM 9:29 PM 3:49 AM 9:44 AM 4:18 PM 10:12 PM 4:34 AM 10:31 AM 4:58 PM 10:56 PM 5:21 AM 11:19 AM 5:40 PM 11:42 PM 6:08 AM 12:06 PM 6:24 PM 12:28 AM 6:55 AM 12:54 PM 7:10 PM 1:16 AM 7:45 AM 1:44 PM 7:58 PM 3:06 AM 9:41 AM 3:38 PM 9:55 PM 4:04 AM 10:50 AM 4:45 PM 11:07 PM 5:15 AM 12:09 PM 6:07 PM 12:33 AM 6:37 AM 1:23 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

Bridgeport, CT 7:26 PM 1:50 AM 7:56 AM 2:30 PM 8:38 PM 2:56 AM 9:04 AM 3:30 PM 9:39 PM 3:54 AM 10:02 AM 4:23 PM 10:31 PM 4:46 AM 10:52 AM 5:11 PM 11:17 PM 5:34 AM 11:38 AM 5:56 PM 11:59 PM 6:17 AM 12:19 PM 6:37 PM 12:36 AM 6:57 AM 12:54 PM 7:12 PM 1:05 AM 7:31 AM 1:19 PM 7:36 PM 1:16 AM 7:52 AM 1:29 PM 7:41 PM 1:31 AM 8:01 AM 1:50 PM 8:01 PM 2:01 AM 8:27 AM 2:24 PM 8:35 PM 2:39 AM 9:03 AM 3:04 PM 9:15 PM 3:23 AM 9:47 AM 3:51 PM 10:02 PM 4:11 AM 10:39 AM 4:43 PM 10:56 PM 5:05 AM 11:36 AM 5:39 PM 11:56 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/1 4:04 AM 3/1 10:32 AM 3/1 4:40 PM 3/1 10:46 PM 3/2 4:59 AM 3/2 11:30 AM 3/2 5:38 PM 3/2 11:46 PM 3/3 5:58 AM 3/3 12:29 PM 3/3 6:37 PM 3/4 12:46 AM 3/4 6:57 AM 3/4 1:26 PM 3/4 7:34 PM 3/5 1:43 AM 3/5 7:54 AM 3/5 2:20 PM 3/5 8:27 PM 3/6 2:38 AM 3/6 8:47 AM 3/6 3:11 PM 3/6 9:17 PM 3/7 3:29 AM 3/7 9:38 AM 3/7 3:59 PM 3/7 10:04 PM 3/8 4:19 AM 3/8 10:27 AM 3/8 4:46 PM 3/8 10:51 PM 3/9 5:09 AM 3/9 11:15 AM 3/9 5:32 PM 3/9 11:38 PM 3/10 5:58 AM 3/10 12:04 PM 3/10 6:19 PM 3/11 12:26 AM 3/11 6:49 AM 3/11 12:54 PM 3/11 7:08 PM 3/12 1:15 AM 3/12 7:41 AM 3/12 1:46 PM 3/12 7:59 PM 3/13 3:07 AM 3/13 9:37 AM 3/13 3:41 PM 3/13 9:54 PM 3/14 4:03 AM 3/14 10:36 AM 3/14 4:40 PM 3/14 10:53 PM 3/15 5:04 AM 3/15 11:39 AM 3/15 5:43 PM 3/15 11:57 PM 3/16 6:09 AM 3/16 12:44 PM

42 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/16 6:49 PM 3/17 1:04 AM 3/17 7:15 AM 3/17 1:48 PM 3/17 7:53 PM 3/18 2:08 AM 3/18 8:19 AM 3/18 2:48 PM 3/18 8:52 PM 3/19 3:08 AM 3/19 9:17 AM 3/19 3:41 PM 3/19 9:45 PM 3/20 4:00 AM 3/20 10:08 AM 3/20 4:27 PM 3/20 10:31 PM 3/21 4:47 AM 3/21 10:53 AM 3/21 5:09 PM 3/21 11:13 PM 3/22 5:29 AM 3/22 11:34 AM 3/22 5:47 PM 3/22 11:52 PM 3/23 6:08 AM 3/23 12:13 PM 3/23 6:22 PM 3/24 12:28 AM 3/24 6:45 AM 3/24 12:51 PM 3/24 6:57 PM 3/25 1:04 AM 3/25 7:21 AM 3/25 1:28 PM 3/25 7:32 PM 3/26 1:40 AM 3/26 7:58 AM 3/26 2:05 PM 3/26 8:08 PM 3/27 2:16 AM 3/27 8:36 AM 3/27 2:44 PM 3/27 8:46 PM 3/28 2:54 AM 3/28 9:17 AM 3/28 3:26 PM 3/28 9:28 PM 3/29 3:36 AM 3/29 10:03 AM 3/29 4:12 PM 3/29 10:16 PM 3/30 4:24 AM 3/30 10:54 AM 3/30 5:03 PM 3/30 11:10 PM 3/31 5:18 AM 3/31 11:50 AM 3/31 6:00 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

windcheckmagazine.com

March 2016

These tide tables are predictions and are to be used as a reference only. The times of high and low are approximations and are affected, in part by onshore and offshore winds, full and new moons as well as changes in currents. Always use caution when entering or leaving any harbor and navigate in areas that are well marked. WindCheck assumes no liability due to the use of these tables.

Source: noaa.gov

Fishers Island, NY 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

2:38 AM 9:08 AM 3:07 PM 9:15 PM 3:39 AM 10:04 AM 4:08 PM 10:12 PM 4:39 AM 10:59 AM 5:01 PM 11:08 PM 5:30 AM 11:51 AM 5:49 PM 12:01 AM 6:17 AM 12:42 PM 6:36 PM 12:55 AM 7:04 AM 1:32 PM 7:23 PM 1:48 AM 7:50 AM 2:19 PM 8:09 PM 2:38 AM 8:35 AM 3:04 PM 8:56 PM 3:26 AM 9:21 AM 3:49 PM 9:43 PM 4:16 AM 10:08 AM 4:37 PM 10:33 PM 5:10 AM 10:59 AM 5:28 PM 11:28 PM 6:08 AM 11:54 AM 6:23 PM 12:25 AM 8:06 AM 1:49 PM 8:20 PM 2:22 AM 9:06 AM 2:45 PM 9:18 PM 3:22 AM 10:07 AM 3:47 PM 10:22 PM 4:31 AM 11:10 AM

windcheckmagazine.com

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

Woods Hole, MA 3/16 3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

4:56 PM 11:27 PM 5:39 AM 12:10 PM 6:00 PM 12:29 AM 6:37 AM 1:05 PM 6:53 PM 1:27 AM 7:26 AM 1:57 PM 7:40 PM 2:22 AM 8:12 AM 2:44 PM 8:25 PM 3:08 AM 8:54 AM 3:25 PM 9:08 PM 3:49 AM 9:34 AM 4:02 PM 9:48 PM 4:25 AM 10:14 AM 4:37 PM 10:28 PM 5:01 AM 10:54 AM 5:13 PM 11:08 PM 5:40 AM 11:37 AM 5:50 PM 11:51 PM 6:21 AM 12:22 PM 6:31 PM 12:36 AM 7:07 AM 1:09 PM 7:15 PM 1:22 AM 7:53 AM 1:54 PM 8:00 PM 2:08 AM 8:41 AM 2:40 PM 8:47 PM 2:56 AM 9:31 AM 3:30 PM 9:40 PM 3:52 AM 10:26 AM 4:29 PM 10:40 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

1:17 AM 8:25 AM 1:32 PM 4:27 PM 6:02 PM 8:06 PM 2:11 AM 9:25 AM 2:27 PM 5:18 PM 6:43 PM 9:02 PM 3:10 AM 10:19 AM 3:25 PM 9:56 PM 4:08 AM 11:10 AM 4:22 PM 10:51 PM 5:00 AM 12:00 PM 5:14 PM 11:48 PM 5:49 AM 12:50 PM 6:03 PM 12:47 AM 6:35 AM 1:38 PM 6:52 PM 1:46 AM 7:22 AM 2:25 PM 7:40 PM 2:43 AM 8:09 AM 3:12 PM 8:29 PM 3:40 AM 8:58 AM 3:59 PM 9:21 PM 4:39 AM 9:48 AM 4:49 PM 10:14 PM 5:42 AM 10:40 AM 5:45 PM 11:08 PM 7:51 AM 12:33 PM 7:49 PM 1:04 AM 9:02 AM 1:27 PM 9:04 PM 2:03 AM 10:10 AM 2:23 PM 10:19 PM 3:03 AM 11:14 AM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/16 3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

3:21 PM 11:29 PM 4:06 AM 12:14 PM 4:21 PM 12:34 AM 5:07 AM 1:10 PM 5:18 PM 1:32 AM 6:01 AM 2:00 PM 6:11 PM 2:24 AM 6:48 AM 2:45 PM 6:59 PM 3:07 AM 7:31 AM 3:22 PM 7:44 PM 3:42 AM 8:13 AM 3:48 PM 8:28 PM 4:02 AM 8:54 AM 3:47 PM 9:11 PM 4:03 AM 9:36 AM 4:00 PM 9:54 PM 4:33 AM 10:18 AM 4:31 PM 10:38 PM 5:14 AM 11:00 AM 5:09 PM 11:21 PM 6:01 AM 11:43 AM 5:51 PM 12:05 AM 6:55 AM 12:27 PM 6:40 PM 12:49 AM 7:55 AM 1:11 PM 4:17 PM 5:53 PM 7:37 PM 1:36 AM 8:57 AM 1:59 PM 5:00 PM 6:41 PM 8:38 PM 2:28 AM 9:55 AM 2:53 PM 5:50 PM

Newport, RI H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

12:24 AM 6:03 AM 12:46 PM 6:06 PM 1:13 AM 7:14 AM 1:38 PM 7:11 PM 2:08 AM 8:35 AM 2:38 PM 8:23 PM 3:12 AM 9:41 AM 3:43 PM 9:30 PM 4:17 AM 10:31 AM 4:44 PM 10:28 PM 5:14 AM 11:15 AM 5:38 PM 11:20 PM 6:05 AM 11:57 AM 6:28 PM 12:11 AM 6:54 AM 12:40 PM 7:17 PM 1:02 AM 7:42 AM 1:24 PM 8:06 PM 1:53 AM 8:31 AM 2:07 PM 8:55 PM 2:42 AM 9:21 AM 2:50 PM 9:46 PM 3:31 AM 10:14 AM 3:33 PM 10:41 PM 5:21 AM 12:09 PM 5:19 PM 12:38 AM 6:23 AM 1:07 PM 6:11 PM 1:37 AM 8:26 AM 2:07 PM 7:15 PM 2:39 AM 9:56 AM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/16 3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

WindCheck Magazine

3:08 PM 8:50 PM 3:45 AM 10:58 AM 4:13 PM 10:39 PM 4:53 AM 11:48 AM 5:17 PM 11:32 PM 5:54 AM 12:26 PM 6:13 PM 12:08 AM 6:44 AM 12:54 PM 7:01 PM 12:40 AM 7:28 AM 1:15 PM 7:44 PM 1:14 AM 8:07 AM 1:39 PM 8:24 PM 1:51 AM 8:44 AM 2:08 PM 9:00 PM 2:30 AM 9:19 AM 2:41 PM 9:35 PM 3:08 AM 9:53 AM 3:14 PM 10:09 PM 3:46 AM 10:27 AM 3:48 PM 10:44 PM 4:22 AM 11:04 AM 4:22 PM 11:20 PM 4:58 AM 11:44 AM 4:57 PM 12:01 AM 5:36 AM 12:28 PM 5:37 PM 12:47 AM 6:22 AM 1:17 PM 6:25 PM 1:38 AM 7:22 AM 2:10 PM 7:29 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

March 2016 43

from the captain of the port “Get Me In This Thing…”

Joining the US Coast Guard Auxiliary

By Vincent Pica Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR) United States Coast Guard Auxiliary In the days that followed September 11, 2001, those words kept running through my head… What could I do that would be something more concrete that writing a check to the Red Cross?

While many Americans turned to volunteerism in order to put their hearts, hands and minds at work, I was faced with two realities – at nearly 48, I wasn’t exactly what the Army Recruiter at Times Square in New York had as #1 on his list of potential (or wanted) candidates and, secondly, it was apparent that the terrorists were seriously dedicated to wiping out as many Americans as possible. The unthinkable – suddenly – became thinkable.

“Terrorists are coming here to kill my wife and kids” kept running through my mind.

I suppose I could have fallen into a mental “Maginot Line” at that point – board up the windows, form caches of water, medicines and food and just keep peering over the ramparts – and hope they never came…

A friend in the US Military advised me to “Do something you love…many school-age children wanted to be firefighters or police officers when they were kids…go volunteer to help them…” So, I thought about it – beyond family, nation and our God above, what do I love? The sea spread out before my mind’s eye…

So, I turned to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, an integral part of the United States Coast Guard Forces. I submit that it is among the most effective ways to “get in this thing…”

If you live, work or “summer” “Out East” on Long Island, please read on.

Over two hundred years ago, Richard “Light Horse” Harry Lee, one of George Washington’s commanders and ironically the father of Robert E. Lee, coined the immortal saying about George Washington himself – “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” The key about an Auxiliarist is that they are neither for war nor for peace but are all about being for America. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is a creature of the Congress itself.

Congress established the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1939 to assist the U.S. Coast Guard active-duty corps in promoting boating safety. It boasts more than 32,000 members from all walks of life who receive special training so that they may be a functional – and functioning – part of U.S. Coast Guard Forces.

Today, the USCG Auxiliary plays a larger role with greater responsibilities than at any other time in history. Auxiliarists are at the helm of marine safety and security patrols, serving as foreign language interpreters, educating the public on recreational boating safety, and supporting many other vital operational and administrative missions. In 2013, USCG Auxiliarists up and down the East Coast donated over 2.3 million hours in service to our country – from cooks in galleys to search and rescue.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, like any large organization, has an organization – there is a national level, a district level, a divisional level and, ultimately, the flotilla level. The flotilla is where the rubber meets the road or, better put, where the hull meets the waves.

All members join the Auxiliary by joining a local flotilla and that is where the real work gets done – everything from Crew Augmentation on USCG sea-going vessels to helping out in the mess hall at a duty station. And there couldn’t be a better time to join, as USCG Auxiliary is in the midst of a concerted recruitment campaign!

Do you need a boat to join? Absolutely not! We’ll train you to become a certified crewmember. However, if you have one and want to get it certified as an “Operational Facility,” you one day could find yourself leading a patrol as coxswain on the deck of your own vessel with a crew under your responsibility.

Do you need to know how to swim to join? Again, no!

There are many jobs within the USCG Auxiliary that are wholly land-based – public education, public affairs, radio watch standing at a USCG Coast Guard station or helping out as a mechanic at the motor pool. You don’t even have to like the water. You just have to want “get in this thing” and do something for your nation.

It has been said that this will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

Be brave. Get in this thing.

If you are interested in being part of the USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux@aol.com or go direct to the D1SR Human Resources department, who are in charge of new members matters, at d1south.org/StaffPages/DSO-HR.php and we will help you “get in this thing.” ■ Captain Ed Cubanski is the Captain of the Port and Sector Commander for US Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. Captain Cubanski is responsible for all active-duty, reservist and auxiliary Coast Guard personnel within the Sector. As Commodore of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary First District, Southern Region, Vin Pica works closely with Captain Cubanski and his staff to promote boating safety in the waters between Connecticut, Long Island and 200 nautical miles offshore. Sector Long Island Sound Command Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 203-468-4401.

44 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 45

The Boating Barrister Slouching Toward the Sea: Defamation and the Admiralty Law We live in a world of bromides where the syrupy platitude is printed in white, block letters across some Internet image. You know the sort: “Follow your passion,” “Without a goal there’s no way to score,” “Living the dream,” “Life is good” and on and on. Maybe Captain Haddock’s phrase “billions of blue blistering boiled and barbecued barnacles” sums up my feelings about this nonsense in the kind of PG language my daughter would approve.

Sailing doesn’t let you get away with whispering affirmations to yourself; most times you’ve got to get out of the cockpit, work your way forward and get that sail down. And so I say deep six the syrupy sharing and let’s raise up authenticity.

Enough with the sundry stickers, from surfing to sport fishing. I get it. Your four wheels and lifted chassis, roof rack toys and cluster of beach pass stickers confirm your affinity with all things coastal. Cool, but why the share? To me, the guy commuting in his beat-up whip with a couple of cans of anti-fouling paint on the passenger seat and a trunk spilling over with boat prep materials is authentic. Whoa, get back here you helmsman of suburban chariots! Your black and white stickers with “MV” or the initials of some other locale are equally maddening. Are you planning to commune with other Martha’s Vineyard lovers at the next rest stop or perhaps you think the locals will treat you as one because of the sticker? And those “26.2” and “13.1” decals? Isn’t the personal satisfaction of having completed a triathlon enough, or are these cryptic communications testament to a life of well-intended accomplishments you’re still working toward? Who cares? You don’t need to share this stuff. And lest the big box marine retailers feel left out, let me offer the observation that equipping, wearing or supplying yourself or your vessel with obnoxiously over-branded products isn’t authentic or cool. Try your local marine consignment shop, local chandlery, Amazon, eBay or Craigslist because none of these outlets will make you into a walking billboard.

There’s nothing unkind intended here and it’s all my personal opinion. Perhaps the curmudgeonry of my elder years is blooming early, but it raises an interesting maritime legal question. What if we were in the galley and I was slinging some real insults of the defamatory kind to a gathered crowd with made-up facts and my most sincere look. Can a defamation claim arise under the admiralty law? That is, if you’re at sea and someone damages your reputation in some fashion is that actionable back at your homeport in a federal court under its admiralty jurisdiction?

It depends. A party seeking to invoke a court’s admiralty and maritime jurisdiction for what legal scholars like me (tongue firmly in cheek) refer to as a “tort” (as opposed to a breach of contract action) must satisfy conditions of both locality and connection with a maritime activity. The locality aspect requires that the wrongful act occurred on a navigable body of water or that the injury on land arose by way of a vessel on navigable waters. Thereafter, the “connection” test devolves into two considerations basi-

cally being whether the general features of the wrongful act have a potential disruptive impact on maritime commerce and does the general nature of the wrongful act have a substantial relationship to a traditional maritime activity.

There was a case where someone took some allegedly defamatory photos of a person aboard a boat and then purportedly distributed these photos when he got back to shore. The court undertook an analysis to determine whether the fellow’s defamation claim would float on the admiralty raft using the very elements we’ve highlighted. The court didn’t have to drift too far into the facts to determine it lacked admiralty jurisdiction. While it recognized state laws differ on the issue, it treated the defamation claim as arising at the time of publication which, in this case, occurred when the pictures were shown to third parties back on dry land. Thus, the claimant couldn’t establish the locality element of the test because the wrongful act (showing the pictures) didn’t occur on navigable waters. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a defamation claim arise under the maritime law, and there are cases where admiralty jurisdiction is found to exist because the publication (i.e., the wrongful act) occurred at sea.

Who cares, right? Well, you might want to establish the existence of admiralty jurisdiction to gain access to the federal court instead of the court in the small town where the defendant has deep roots. Maybe you want to take advantage of the unique processes and procedures of the admiralty court. The point is that these jurisdictional type questions can have a real influence on the outcome of a claim.

My personal opinions are probably me just lathering at the harness to get sailing again, so pay no mind and go on sharing if it makes you feel good. But if you pass a curmudgeon in a weighted down sedan smirking, know it’s me and my boat gear. Each to his own, as the better ones say.

This article is provided for your general information, is not legal opinion and should not be relied upon. Always seek legal counsel to understand your rights and remedies.

Underway and making way. ■

46 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

John K. Fulweiler, Esq. is a licensed captain and a Proctor-In-Admiralty.

His legal practice is devoted to maritime law and he represents individuals and marine businesses throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. He does not represent insurance companies. He may be reached anytime at 1-800-383-MAYDAY (6293), or, at his Newport, Rhode Island desk at 401-667-0977 or john@saltwaterlaw.com. windcheckmagazine.com

Melges 24 Donated to MudRatz MudRatz, a youth sailing team in Southeastern Connecticut founded “to complement the local sailing programs offered by the yacht clubs of the region by enabling enthusiastic sailors to practice in the spring and fall as well as travel as a team to regattas around the country,” is the lucky recipient of a donated Melges 24.

“The reputation of the Melges 24 precedes itself,” said MudRatz President Brandon Flack. “Best known for its very competitive disposition and easy-to-sail personality, this modern sportboat maintains its status as a leader in high-performance, one-design yachting. With hundreds sailing around the world, it continues a tradition as a platform for America’s Cup, Olympic medalists, and Volvo Ocean Race sailors. Simply put, the Melges 24 builds better sailors.”

“Starting this May, look for MudRatz ‘Sportboat Saturday’ practices, followed by the team joining the Donzo Wednesday Night Series with the Mystic River Mudheads,” Flack continued.

“This all leads up to our first year goal of sending a youth team to the 2016 Melges 24 Worlds in Miami this November, where we are already registered in the 100+ boat event!”

“Bridging the gap between junior and adult sailing is one of

windcheckmagazine.com

the most challenging aspects of our sport today,” said Flack. “Enthusiastic kids often find themselves as young adults who drop out of sailing due to limited time and large financial constraints.

Having a Melges 24 will allow our youths to see firsthand what the next level of racing is all about. This awesome platform will open up some huge doors for them into a world they might not

© 2015 JOY/USMCA

have known even existed! If you are interested in sailing with us, contributing to our group of volunteers, or making a tax-deductible donation, log onto mudratz.org.” ■

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 47

New Fleet at Greenwich High School

By Sarah Barnaby As newspaper columnist George Matthew Adams once said, “Sailing a boat calls for quick action, a blending of feeling with the wind and water as well as with the very heart and soul of the boat itself. Sailing teaches alertness and courage, and gives in return a joyousness and peace that but few sports afford.”

High school sailing, with nearly 500 programs nationwide, is the fastest growing segment of the sport.

Governed by the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA), high school sailing is divided into seven districts, much like college sailing. As with college sailing it’s a co-ed sport, with most racing in doublehanded dinghies.

A ‘grassroots’ program, the ISSA receives support from US Sailing as well as the active participation of many volunteers and benefactors who see this opportunity for young sailors as a natural partner to junior and youth sailing, as well as excellent preparation for the large number of scholastic sailors who go on to college sailing and beyond.

The ISSA has its roots in the preparatory schools in the Northeast. The Mallory Trophy, the oldest trophy in high school sailing, was donated by Clifford D. Mallory in 1930 when he was Commodore of Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT, which hosted the first high school national championship in Atlantic Class sloops. Today, the ISSA is a national organization with teams at public and private schools.

The Greenwich High School Varsity Sailing team strikes a pose with the truck that delivered their new fleet of Zim C420s. © John Schinto

Many hands make light work as everyone pitches in to unload the new fleet. © John Schinto

In the past few years, school sailing has developed rapidly, and it continues to do so. Few schools have boats, however, so high school sailing is very grateful for the support it receives from colleges and universities, community sailing programs and yacht clubs throughout the country. Community Boating in Boston, MA, for example, hosts 19 Boston-area high schools.

The sport of sailing, although infinitely valuable, is undoubtedly expensive. So much so, in fact, that most public high schools lack the means to support such a costly endeavor.

However, Greenwich High School has been a proud supporter of its competitive and accomplished Varsity Sailing Team. Unfortunately, support of the financial variety has not always been as extensive as necessary because of a limited budget. For years, this resulted in a set of overused and out-of-shape 420s, hindering the potential of a team of 25 dedicated sailors. Today, I am pleased to announce, this is no longer the case.

On February 1, the Greenwich Varsity Sailing Team received a shipment of 12 brand new Zim C420s from Zim Sailing in Warren, RI. This was made possible by the donations from parents of current and past team members. However, this assistance extended far beyond financial donation. Patrice Anibal led the effort for new boats while two of her daughters were on the team, and upon the family’s last year David Ornstein, who coached the team in 1990 and whose son Pierce is a sophomore, took over to finally get it done. Needless to say, this would not have been possible without their efforts and all the

48 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

It won’t be long before the Cardinals are practicing and racing in Greenwich Harbor. © John Schinto

other parents who assisted in the project. Sam Jones, coach of the Cardinals Varsity Sailing Team, was most inspired by these incredible efforts. He said, “I am extremely pleased that so many people were able to work together to make Greenwich Harbor a premier venue for high school sailing.”

Greenwich Harbor has indeed become a premier venue for high school sailing, with two other local teams participating in the upgrade to new boats. With Brunswick and Greenwich Academy each getting six new boats, 24 brand new Zim C420s will be occupying Greenwich Harbor this spring. According to

windcheckmagazine.com

Bob Adam, Zim Sailing’s Vice President of Sales, this combined order is the largest high school order of boats ever.

The feeling of accomplishment is felt by all of the sailors, coaches, and parents who had been fighting for years to see this happen. Harrison Popp, Greenwich High School senior and team captain, said “This is really big for our team, coming off a 14-3 season for NESSA rankings, these boats will help us polish and fine tune our skills.”

Accomplished and always looking to improve, the team is ecstatic to know that the new boats will serve as a way to grow as a team. We’ve definitely done well in the past, but we also have a lot of potential on this team. These boats are a great way to enhance the experience of everyone and hopefully improve performance as a result.

After years of waiting, a public school lacking in necessary funds for the princely endeavor that is high school sailing finally has the opportunity to sail in 12 brand new Zim C420s. The donations and efforts of parents, coaches, and other teams have finally granted this opportunity to a team infinitely grateful to finally have the experience of new and high quality boats. With the combined fleet, we look forward to Greenwich Harbor hosting many of national and district events. Maybe the Mallory will even come home once again! ■ Sarah Barnaby is a senior at Greenwich High School and one of the Cardinals’ Varsity Sailing Team captains.

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 49

Quantum Key West Race Week Tradition Continues

In January, Quantum Key West Race Week 2016 got off to a lively start with strong winds welcoming 133 boats in 12 classes. Despite a couple of howling days where racing was cancelled for all or some classes, most got in 9-10 races.

Quantum Key West Race Week continued thanks to the Storm Trysail Club, 140 volunteers and the support of Quantum Sail Design Group.

Many sponsors joined in to continue this world class annual regatta. Premiere Racing, based in Marblehead, MA, built and ran Key West Race Week for over 20 years.

The Storm Trysail Club is well known for running Block Island Race Week, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. Among numerous other events, Storm Trysail Club also organizes the Lauderdale-to-Key West Race. “Key West Race Week is a terrific bookend to the club’s long standing Block Island Race Week,” Storm Trysail Club Commodore Lee Reichart said. “We believed we are able to utilize our experience at Block Island to ensure that Key West remains the most prominent winter bigboat event in North America.”

One of the most dominant Race Week champions was Christopher Dragon capturing IRC 2 by 13 points. Christopher Dragon, a Sydney 43 owned by Andrew and Linda Weiss of Mamaroneck, NY, finished second in Race 1 and then proceeded to reel off eight straight wins. Legendary sailmaker Butch Ulmer served as tactician and Larry Fox as navigator for Weiss, who has

Defiant, a New York 40 owned by John Streicker of New York City, won all three-distance races in the Performance Cruising class, a new feature at this year’s event. © PhotoBoat.com

known both men since he was 14 years old and crewing on his father’s boat.

Bella Mente, which clinched victory in the Maxi 72 class on Thursday, was selected as Quantum Boat of the Week. Hap Fauth (Minneapolis, MN) steered his big blue boat to first place in six of nine races.

Peter Wagner (Atherton, CA) and the Skeleton Key crew made a successful debut at Quantum Key West, winning the J/111 class in dominant fashion.

Well received this year was awarding the 2016 Boat of the Day Skeleton Key, which does most of its racing on and Week to both Professional and Corinthian crews.

San Francisco Bay, reveled in the big breeze All were gifted Chelsea Clocks. while notching seven bullets and a pair of secBoats of the Week (Professional & Corinthian) onds.

Bella Mente – Maxi 72 – Hap Fauth (Minneapolis, MN) Unusual for Race Week, high winds and Marnatura – J/70 – Luis Bugallo (Vigo, ESP) sea state caused abandonments. “We have a lot of smaller boats in this regatta so we decided 2016 Boat of the Day Winners not to send them out. We debated about Monday - City of Key West Day - Skeleton Key - J/111 - Peter Wagner (Atherton, Division 1, but believed it would be tough for CA) & Marnatura - J/70 - Luis Bugallo (Vigo, ESP) Tuesday - Lewmar Day - No them as well,” said Race Committee ChairRacing Wednesday - Mount Gay Rum Day - Black Seal - Melges 24 - Richard man Dick Neville. “At the end of the day, we Thompson (London, UK) & Tramp - Melges 24 - Thomas Ritter (Bloomfield Hills, were concerned about gear breakage across the MI) Thursday - Industry Partner Boat of the Day - Bella Mente - Maxi 72 - Hap board. It would have been tough on the race Fauth (Minneapolis, MN) & Parti Girl - Melges 24 - Jens Wathne (Loddefjord, committee as well. We also polled sailors, and NOR) Friday - Quantum Sails of the Day - Calvi Network- J/70 - Carlo Alberini the consensus was that it would be best not to (Pesaro, ITA) & Marnatura - J/70 - Luis Bugallo (Vigo, ESP) send the boats out.” “If they had told us to race, Sailing World Youth Trophy we could have gone out there and tried not to Eagle’s Eye - Fareast 28R - Matt Wake (West Yarmouth, MA) break anything,” said Iris Vogel, who hails from New Rochelle, NY. “If you go out there and Outstanding Contribution to the Sport - Doug DeVos (Ada, MI) don’t suffer damage then it was a good decision.

50 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

If you go out and break the boat and your regatta is over, then it was a bad decision.”

Fiftyfour J/70s entered the regatta.

Carlo Alberini (Pesaro, Italy) and the crew of Calvi Network led from start to finish to win for the second straight year. “I Mike Bruno (Armonk, NY) and Wings team led the come back J/88 class. © PhotoBoat.com every year to Key West because the regatta is so good – always great wind and excellent race management,” said Alberini, who previously raced a Farr 40 and Melges 32. Peter Duncan (Rye, NY) and the Relative Obscurity team were runner-up in the J/70 class, just four points ahead of Tim Healy (Newport, RI) and the Helly Hansen crew.

One new idea this year was to initiate the ORC rating system versus PHRF. Managed by the Offshore Racing Congress, the ORC rating system is used in 40 countries with over 9000 certificates issued yearly. “The ORC system has shown tremendous success overseas in the last several years, with measurements and ratings for many of the same boat types we have here in the U.S.,” said Neville.

“ORC was well received. It is the only reasonably priced alternative with an international pedigree.”

Defiant, a New York 40 owned by John Streicker of New York City, won all three-distance races in the Performance Cruising class, a new feature this year. This class and the multihulls started and finished near the harbor, with courses set around government buoys. Joseph Mele, also of New York City, steered his Swan 44 Triple Lindy to line honors in two straight races, but the Defiant team won all three races on corrected time.

Principal Race Officer Bruce Bingman created courses in the range of 20 miles.

And the winner of the Multihull class, like the performance cruisers, also won with straight bullets. Tom Reese’s Corsair 28R Flight Simulator windcheckmagazine.com

from Youngstown, NY bested the much larger (and more luxurious) Gunboat 60 Arethusa, owned by Wendy and Phil Lotz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).

In several classes, the top boats battled ‘til the event’s final leg.

No finish was closer though than in the TP52 class, where Doug DeVos (Ada, MI) and Quantum Racing crew just nipped Heidi & Steve Benjamin’s (Norwalk, CT) Spookie by a half point. “Steve and the entire Spookie team are terrific, just outstanding sailors.

It was neck-and-neck the whole way…Fortunately, we were able to eke out a few seconds here and there on the race course,” said DeVos, who was presented with a special award for his contributions to the sport of sailing at the final prize giving ceremony.

The week prior, Benjamin was named 2015 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and won the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race. That’s a good week!

Mike Bruno (Armonk, NY) and the Wings team led at the end of each day’s racing en route to topping the J/88 class. “This is one of the world’s great regattas so I’m pretty excited,” Bruno said. “We had real good boat speed and I think the key was we were real consistent.” Giving Wings a good challenge were Iris Vogel and the Deviation team and Jeff Johnstone / Tod Patton’s Blondie 2 (Newport, RI) in the eight-boat class.

The C&C 30 class is blossoming nicely. Walt Thirion (Annapolis, MD) and Themis edged Dan Cheresh and his Extreme2 (Holland, MI) in the 11-boat fleet.

Storm Trysail Club outdid themselves again by providing a quality Key West experience that racers and sponsors have come to expect. “We are still debriefing every aspect of the event to determine what worked well and what we can do better,” said Event Chairman John Fisher. “Announcements about 2017 should be coming within sixty days.”

For results and videos, visit keywestraceweek.com ■ Event Media Contributed to this report.

Peter Duncan (Rye, NY) and the Relative Obscurity team finished second in the J/70 fleet. © PhotoBoat.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 51

On the Frostbite Trail

By Tom Darling The last time I went frostbiting, my now college freshman son was about to be born. Sailing in the Larchmont Yacht Club Frostbiting Fleet since 1984 in my woodie Interclub Dinghy, #7, built (based on the transom plate) in 1939, I had 12 absorbing and challenging years in the middle to the top of the second division or “B Fleet.” In 1992, I won the Little Scorpion Trophy, given for most improvement, and I should have stopped then. I trudged on for four more seasons. My plan was to go back when my kids were out of school, but I thought it was time to review the options for today’s Long Island Sound winter sailing.

Since that time, the variety of frostbiting choices, boats and locations, has grown steadily. From my home in Manhattan, there are frostbiting programs extending out 70 miles along the north shore of Long Island Sound from Larchmont, NY to Milford, CT. I decided to go back and sample a selection of those winter sailing options. These fleets and their respective classes include Larchmont (ICs); Mamaroneck (Dyer 9s – “Dhows”); American (Cook 11s); Indian Harbor (Dyer 9s); Riverside (Dyer 10s); Norwalk (Dyer 9s); Pequot (Dyer 9s); and Milford (Dyer 9s).

The origins of frostbiting are hotly debated. Larchmont Yacht Club claims to have invented this form of winter “extreme sailing” with its newly Olin Stephens-designed Interclub dinghy.

The folklore is frostbiting started in 1932 as a bar bet at Larchmont YC on New Years Day, 1932. According to Gregory Jones’ history The American Sailboat, the race actually came off at the

Mark roundings offer plenty of excitement. © Howie McMichael

Knickerbocker YC, across the Sound on Long Island’s Manhasset Bay. The original year for Larchmont’s fleet racing, according to documents attributed to the LYC fleet historian, was 1936 and 11 boats sailed that season. Larchmont starts its season on the heels of the offshore racing schedule, which ends in October.

Larchmont YC’s Winter Sailing Chair Nick Langone (red jacket) oversees the action from the upper deck of the Scorpion. © Howie McMichael

Before Halloween, the IC fleet is on the water.

I’ve always considered Larchmont’s setup the Rolls Royce of programs. Boats are kept in a covered pavilion – aptly called the Pandemonium – and carried down to the floats to launch by a team of hired boat carriers. The Race Committee platform, the grey-clapboarded Scorpion, is like no other RC vessel known to racers; the current model sports an upper deck where Nick Langone, head of Winter Sailing, runs his races. The Scorpion is comfortably equipped with a stove, and well provisioned with snacks and beverages. With racing conducted inside the reach of the Larchmont breakwater, sailors are well protected from easterlies and the frequent northerlies.

There was no need to fire up the iron pot-bellied stove on the December Sunday that I went out on the Scorpion, with record temperatures in the 60s with 8-10 knots from 60 degrees.

“Is there any better way to spend an afternoon?” was Nick’s comment on the day. Sailors on 29 boats, including an array of white fiberglass models and just half a handful of woodies, enjoyed seven races in near ideal conditions.

The new look of Larchmont’s starting and finishing shack is a rooftop deck from which Nick directs traffic. Start signals are done with Istart, a shoebox-sized bundle of electronics topped with a silver horn. Dial in the starting program and it’s off to the races.

The new look in the fleet features plenty of female skippers and a new selection of junior sailors honing their skills on one of the most competitive starting lines in America. The fleet is divided into A, B and C divisions, with additional scoring for Master and Women skippers. The early competition pitted Peter Ferrarone in #74 and Ward Young in #27, battling with veteran Andy Kaplan with his 30-year-old #75, local Viper ace Peter Bauer in #702 and perpetual competitor Paul Jean Patin in an ancient O’Day-built craft, #17. I counted more than a dozen family crews, father-child the most common pairing.

52 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

Getting off the line with almost 30 boats jostling along a relatively long starting line is the key to getting into a sailable lane.

Early on, boats were splitting to the corners, with the right hand boats playing a slight south flowing current. With four or five minutes for a weather leg, followed by a seven- to eight-minute

opening of Mamaroneck Harbor.

Howie McMichael said the Mamaroneck Frostbite Association was started by a trio including his father, Bus Mosbacher of 1962 America’s Cup fame, and Warner Wilcox, who sailed into his 90s. Today, according to Beaudin, who has dominated the A group during his five years, there are over 50 members. One Skippers Peter Bauer (#702) and Ward Young (#27) demonstrate the unique feature is the fleet’s maintaining of a dozen charter boats fast way to sail an IC downwind. © Howie McMichael to encourage prospects to get out and give it a try. The RC usually runs eight races a day. Over 20 weeks, that’s an awesome number of potential races, and the competition is friendly.

The venue for most of the years has been the opening of Mamaroneck Harbor, with Hen Island to the south and Mamaroneck Yacht and Tennis Club with its Stanford White clubhouse to the north. With the exception of diverting to New Rochelle one season after Sandy took down Beach Point YC, the racecourse, as at Larchmont, has been a constant, with its mix of local winds, currents and water conditions.

The big difference at MFA is that it involves solo sailing in the Dyer 9 – 100 pounds of sturdy, old-style laid up fiberglass, built for generations at the Anchorage in Warren, RI. The Dyer 9, known to many as the Dyer Dhow and a tenrun and a three-minute der for legions of cruising sailors, is beat back to the Scorpion, slightly modified with an aluminum committing to a lane and mast replacing the original twoavoiding excess tacking are piece spruce mast. There are regular crucial. and high wind sails, allowing these

Downwind, the midget racers to go in winds over 15 new high-tech innovaknots. As Beaudin said, the practical tion is a notched wooden wind limit is how far aft one can sit paddle for the crew to downwind and keep the boat from keep the boom out with nosediving. the skipper on the rail

I was geared up for the creating weather heel to Dyer, having bought new gloves reduce wetted surface. The and sorted out my frostbite clothing finishes were frenetic, with Drysuits are mandatory for a good reason. © Howie McMichael layering. I was to go to a briefing at Nick Langone’s daughter 11 am before the 12 pm dock date Pier Witek and Cynthia Parthemos, a Larchmont Race Committee veteran, writing down to learn the handling secrets of this miniscule dinghy. I had been told by a fellow sailor, who stands well over six feet tall, “Stick the finish calls. They didn’t miss a boat in seven races. your feet out the side, and get on your knees downwind. I antici I was treated to a leeward mark view of the action aboard Howie McMichael’s Puff. Howie is an accomplished photographer, pated and brought construction worker’s knee protection. Alas, I woke up that Sunday with 30-knot easterlies driving rain at my and the LYC Winter Sailing website has plenty of fantastic shots living room window. Racing was cancelled for the day, as much for all to enjoy. We finished the day with only one boat in the wafor rain as for wind; frostbiters need visibility. Maybe next time. ter, an embarrassed top echelon Viper sailor who somehow turned My apologies to all the programs I wasn’t able to visit, espeupside down early in the run of race 5. By the time of the final race, a crew race for eight eager competitors, the sun was truly low cially Riverside YC in Riverside, CT, alleged to have the region’s largest fleet in its parking lot – more than 40 Dyer 10s. Maybe in the west. We hopped off the Scorpion into a launch for the ride next year. ■ in, with the feeling of a good day’s race committee work.

It was two weeks into January when I attempted to complete Tom Darling races IODs in the Western Long Island Sound and another segment of my tour, with the Mamaroneck Frostbite Association. Paul Beaudin, the head of Doyle’s loft on City Island Nantucket fleets and crews on a classic wooden Alerion sloop in and a top J/105 skipper, had offered to get me into an extra boat. Nantucket Harbor.

Boats sit on the Beach Point YC docks on the west side of the windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 53

Looking Back on the Bermuda Race: Great Rides in 2012 John Rousmaniere reports on the breezy 2012 Newport Bermuda Race, the fastest ever.

“An out of body experience.” That’s how Newport, RI-based offshore veteran Larry Glenn described the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race. His family boat Runaway, in the seven-entry J/44 Class in the St. David’s Lighthouse Division, finished with an elapsed time of 76 hours. That was only five hours slower than the elapsed-time record set in Glenn’s first race, back in 1956, by the 73-foot yawl Bolero. “Can you imagine a 44-footer finishing near Bolero’s record?”

Glenn asked rhetorically. “This was a very, very unusual race in fast, cool, dry northerly air, and it was a great ride.”

His was one of the race’s many great rides. George David’s 90-foot fixed-keel Rambler averaged 16 knots and finished after 39 hours of exhilarating reaching. Her time sliced 14 hours off the previous official race record set by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket in another reaching race, in 2002, and also nine hours off the unofficial course record established in 2004 by the 86-foot cantRambler broke the course record by 14 hours. © Daniel Forster/PPL

keeler Morning Glory. “These were perfect conditions,” David said after the finish of his Gibbs Hill Division entry. “The most exciting moment was when we hit 26 knots. I’m so pleased with our performance. We have reduced the record by 25 percent, not bad for a boat that is now 10 years old.”

J/44s Runaway and Stampede leap away from the Newport starting line. © Barry Pickthall/PPL

Scott King, in the 74-foot Team Tiburon in the Gibbs Hill Division, reported that the boat felt slow when the speed dropped to 11 knots. “I’ve been in boats where 11 knots was not even part of the plan. Just before we entered the Stream we saw a long streak of phosphorescence, as though a full moon was out.

Dolphins were torpedoing through all this, right in front of us.”

One of seven boats to break the elapsed time record, Team Tiburon sailed under the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy banner.

King recorded the race’s thrills in an exciting video posted at the top of the homepage of the race website, BermudaRace.com.

Following the fast start on June 15, Rives Potts’ 48-footer Carina (2010 St. David’s Lighthouse Division winner and also the 1970 race’s winner) joined the 160-boat parade to the favored waypoint marking the entrance to the Gulf Stream.

Carina came to the race directly from a year-long circumnavigation of the globe, during which she had raced across the Atlantic and in the Fastnet and Sydney-Hobart races. Her hard-driving crew made five sail changes in the first few hours. Navigator Lexi Gahagan explained, “It’s always good to have boats around you, otherwise you go into cruise mode.”

While Rambler, Team Tiburon, and a few other big boats carried the brisk northerly all the way to the finish, the midsize and smaller fleets were overtaken by light, shifty winds that turned their race into a tactical battle. Carina played it right and won the St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy again, despite a time penalty because one of her professional crew briefly steered (only amateurs may steer in the St. David’s Division).

While nobody expressed regret about the wind, there were a few complaints about the quantities of water on deck and the

54 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

noise below that made sleep difficult. None of this bothered crews in the wooden boats. A sailor on Dorade, which first raced to the Onion Patch in 1930 under Olin and Rod Stephens, provided the race’s best punchline when, asked if the going was wet, replied, “There was water everywhere, and those vents really work!!” A grey-haired, obviously well-rested sailor in the other Sparkman & Stephens woodie, Black Watch, was heard to muse, “I’d forgotten how quiet it is down below in a wooden boat in a messy sea.”

Carina’s crew celebrates at race end. © Charles Anderson

The Right Thing to Do During this sensational sprint, the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race produced examples of exemplary seamanship and inspiring concern by sailors for their fellow mariners. The Swan 46 Flying Lady (with a crew of doctors) and the three-master Spirit of Bermuda, (a replica of a traditional Bermuda working vessel sailing in the Spirit of Tradition Division) were directed by the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre to turn back and go the aid of a competitor with a dangerously seasick sailor. When conditions proved too rough to put medical supplies and personnel on board, the sailor was picked up by a cruise ship. The three boats finished the race and their crews were awarded special Seamanship Awards.

Many post-race return deliveries to North America were discomforted and disrupted by a cold front sweeping across the Gulf Stream. In the rough seas and strong winds, one boat was abandoned and other boats suffered rigging problems. All were reminded that the delivery home can be at least as demanding as the race itself.

The next Bermuda Race—the 50th since it was founded in 1906—starts on June 17. Stay in touch with the race website, BermudaRace.com. ■

Sailor-writer John Rousmaniere’s books include The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, Fastnet, Force 10, and a history of the Bermuda Race, A Berth to Bermuda. He has sailed in nine Bermuda Races and done 13 deliveries. windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 55

Corner

Coop’s Sail(ing) to Bermuda

By Joe Cooper

If you are sailing in the Newport Bermuda Race this year, even as crew, there is a lot going on. A very important part of all the activity is figuring out the sails. There are three required sails and an assumed fourth one, the mainsail.

The three required sails are a storm jib, a storm trysail and what is called a heavy weather jib. These are very specifically defined in the safety equipment section of bermudarace.com. The mainsail has only one requirement and that is: 3.33.1 Reefing: A yacht shall have mainsail reefs capable of reducing the area of the sail by an amount appropriate for the weather conditions possible on the race course. Except for these four, the field is open as to what sails you can have and how many of them, up to a total inventory of 19 for sloops and a few more for ketches/yawls.

A sailing boat needs to operate in winds from about 3-4 knots to about 45-50 knots and from 30 degrees apparent to 180 degrees, dead downwind. To sail within these two parameters, a minimum headsail inventory you would need to perform as well as your goals dictate would be four, possibly five. This includes two ‘full-sized’ (for your rating) headsails, a 100% jib, possibly a smaller jib. Depending on your boat and a few other variables, an inside staysail probably meets the heavy weather jib definition.

Furler or Foil There is one critical question to be considered with respect to headsails: Are the headsails to be set on a roller furler, using it as a roller furler, or to be set on a foil not otherwise used for furling sails.

All discussion here regarding headsails is applicable to both classes of headstays but the use of a roller furler system invites all manner of questions. These include the mechanics and the techniques for changing sails, the personnel, the speed reductions and change in boat handling characteristics since it is now going slow and bare headed. For some boats, the installation of a Solent Stay is a viable solution to this question. This is a stay set parallel to the headstay and as close to that stay as possible

to which other sails might more easily and safely be set. There is quite a lot of information on this arrangement on my website, joecoopersailing.com.

Spinnakers I think three would be the minimum, and for most boats perfectly adequate.

Biggest Kite First is what I think of as a VMG kite. This is the biggest kite you can have to be set when you want to try to, or can, sail the boat’s best VMG. It will likely be as big in the girths and of a ‘full’ shape determined by your sailmaker. Whether it is a symmetrical or asymmetrical sail depends again on the boat. Next is a reaching kite.

Reacher This sail is smaller in area than the VMG kite and is used when either the apparent wind angle or apparent wind speed is too high for the VMG kite. This sail is smaller in girths, flatter and more robustly built. The third spinnaker most people are talking about today is the ubiquitous Code Zero.

Code Zero This sail needs to be measured as a spinnaker, at least in classes using a handicapping formula. You can measure it as a headsail but it has a disproportionately big hit on your rating. It is, in reality, used as a “cheater” headsail, a spinnaker’s rating in a headsail’s bag, as it were.

A Code Zero is pretty specific in its design requirements.

It should be not too big and very flat relative to the shapes of a “normal” spinnaker. This is so you can get close to the wind in less than 10 knots of true wind speed. It should also be robustly built. Depending again on a box of variables, it will set on a free-flying roller although it need not. An advantage of such a sail is it can be used in more wind at wider wind angles and so can fill the gap between the reacher and the headsail, so in this case you get a twofer. Speaking of headsails, three is enough, four is better and a fifth is a sail that can get a lot of use in a Bermuda Race.

Another Reacher This is a sail, sometimes known as a Jib Top(sail) that is light-ish in construction, fuller than a light number one, higher clewed (clew height has to do with twist when the sheets are eased… another column). It is used when the regular big headsails are eased but not really doing the job and the spinnakers are too big or the angle too tight. Such sails can be a really good fit over the Bermuda Race course. This sail does have a pretty narrow range, but historically such sails have given good results when used in their conditions.

Headsails Light One Otherwise, the first of the two biggest headsails will want to work in 2-5 knots up to around 11-13 knots true, depending on the boat. The light one should be full in shape, and if it is to be

56 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

a dedicated offshore sail it can be fuller than a light number one used for day racing on windward-leeward courses in flat water.

As with all sails, this one can be used in higher wind speeds but only at wider apparent wind angles.

ing the sail this way gives a better sheeting angle when reaching.

There needs to be a place to sheet the sail when so rigged, so it’s important to make sure your sailmaker and the yard or riggers are all on the same page with this idea.

Heavy One

By William Granruth and Alex Pugliese, Osprey Imaging The next headsail on the ‘increasing wind speed’ list is a “heavy” number one.footage (Many has boats may havesporting three ‘size one’anheadsails Game-time long given teams edge when with narrower wind ranges.)

A heavy one will be flatter preparing for contests and improving technique. Sailingthan is a the light but the samecan shaping rulestheapply if it isbya which dedicated sportone, in which drones redefine methods crews offshore headsail.

It need not be exactly the biggest LP permitadvance skills and boat performance. Defined as any remote ted either. Itaircraft, will naturally more robustlyaccessible built, canonly double controlled drones be were previously to on wider and windier reaching angles and on the right boat can be military and scientific organizations. Concerns over safety and used poled out pilots in really weather downwind. inexperienced arehard fueling a debate over the introduction

Required Sails

A New Perspective to Advance Sailing

of drones into national airspace. Regardless of recent controversy Number Three surrounding these small battery powered aircraft, their cameras This is generally a sail that fits in the fore-triangle and the precise can provide transformational perspectives to the sailing world.

LP is less critical unless there is a rating issue to be addressed.

Experienced pilots operate drones within close range of sailboats Again, in more wind we need flatter sails and almost always toat speeds up to 30 knots while capturing a previously impossible day, threes have three or four battens. One detail that not many viewpoint. sailmakers or owners consider today is that such a sail can have Drones add significant value in racing applications, a reef in it – assuming it goes up and down in a foil and is not providing an intimate and revealing view for sailors. Teams can getting rolled up around a furler. Reefs in headsails are installed analyze starts, crew positioning and reaction, mark roundings, in the same way as in mainsails. And because the reef clew needs sail trim, tacking and boat handling from an angle that shows to be high (in order to sheet when reefed), a second advantage crew, sail, and boat position. The elevated vantage points are of this reef is you can leave the sail full hoist at the luff and sheet near-range, which is optimal to observe both fine detail of to the reef clew and so raise the bulk of the bottom of the sail crew operations, while removed enough to observe the course off the deck—or the breaking waves more particularly. Sheetand other boats. Reviewing high definition video recorded by

At some point it will be too windy for a double-reefed mainsail and even a reefed three. This is the time for the Heavy Weather Jib (HWJ). Design and engineering-wise, from a sailmaker’s perspective these sails are small, flat and heavily constructed jibs.

But they must meet the rules for HWJs though which are: 3.33.3 Osprey Imaging’s newest drone is an 8-rotor model.

Heavy Weather Jib: A yacht shall carry a heavy weather jib (or heavy © ospreyimaging.com weather sail in a yacht with no forestay) of area not greater than drone, allows crews to see their actions precipitate within the 13.5% height of the fore-triangle squared. A line item in the HWJ larger context of a race. Hull speed, wind direction, and GPS definition formally required that seems to have disappeared is the coordinates can be overlaid onto video, enabling precise analysis “alternative methods” of securing the sail to the stay. of all racing parameters. Video is shot up to 100 frames per

Today’s headfoils are made from plastic and spinnakers second — if additional detail is required, up to 6,000 still images much less likely to be set on poles, but at sea if something can can be extracted from one minute of video. fail – and this is everything – there must be a Plan B. In the case Sailing is a classic sport, which drones elegantly display with of the HWJ, having your sailmaker install grommets up the luff intimate photography or cinematographic quality video. Owners so the sail can be secured to the foil (by short lengths of line can showcase their yacht with wholesome images, seizing premade for thewithout purposedisrupting and stored in theunlike emergency tool kit, epic moments a race, helicopters. right?) is a very good idea.

You can also leave the lines in the sail Sailmakers and riggers are able to observe sail configurations permanently. from an aerial perspective, and identify necessary modifications.

Brokers Here’s Cooper Tip:aBack-up cananother use drones to film revealinggrommets perspectiveareofsomething to think forofallsettings. headsails.

Apart from the drones fact the listed yachts inabout a range Yacht clubs utilize headfoil will not get un-busted when the breeze abates to document events for record, awards, distribution, andand having a way to set headsails is generally a good idea in an ocean promotion.

Floating Dock Mooring Space Available in 2016 Milford Harbor, Milford, CT • Docks Secured with Helix Anchors & Seaflex Lines • Walk to Restaurants, Shops & Train Station • Dinghy Launch Area/Space Available • Boats up to 42’ • $25 per ft. for the Season • Free Pump-out Service

City of Milford Harbor Management Commission Milford Lisman Landing 203-874-1610 milfordlanding@ci.milford.ct.us windcheckmagazine.com 58 January/February 2015 WindCheck Magazine

WindCheck Magazine March 2016 57 windcheckmagazine.com

race, there is another utility made available by such grommets in the luff. During the headsail changing process, sails so equipped can have a length of light line woven back and forth, Dutchman-like, through these grommets. The bottom end is made off with a figure-eight knot so the line does not pass through the grommets. All of this does a couple things. It helps keep the luff of the sail forward in the flaking process. It offers a way to tie off the bulk of the forward end of the sail. This gives the crew at that end of the procedure a bit more freedom to wrestle the sail back into its turtle. If push comes to shove, a sail can be tied off to the boat at the forward end and it’s perfectly possible for one man or woman to get a headsail into a turtle by his or herself.

Just ask anyone who did the sewer on a 12 Metre, back in the day. Finally, when changing back to this sail as the wind diminishes, the upper end of this line can be temporarily tied off until the sail is really ready to get hoisted. This makes it a bit harder for the (forward end of the) sail to go over the side.

Storm Sails Sail offshore long enough and you will meet conditions that will require all your seamanship skills and those of your crew, and small sails. The requirements for storm sails are:

3.33.2 Storm Trysail: A yacht shall carry a storm trysail, with the yacht’s sail number displayed on both sides, that can be set independently of the main boom, has an area less than 17.5% of “E” x “P”, and which is capable of being attached to the mast. Storm sails manufactured after 1/1/2014 must be constructed from a highly visible material.

3.33.4 Storm Jib: A yacht shall carry a storm jib not exceed-

ing 5% of the yacht’s “I” dimension squared, and equipped with an alternative means of attachment to the headstay in the event of a failure of the head foil. Storm sails manufactured after 1/1/2014 must be constructed from a highly visible material.

The decision to set a trysail or not (and how to lower and stow it, don’t forget) is largely driven by the size and type of boat and by extension the skills of the owners and crew. The age, physical dexterity, strength, skill, sailing ability, seamanship and experience are all factors in sail handling in these conditions.

And the last two are not always the same as sailing skill. One magazine article cannot address the many variables in methods for using and lowering a trysail, let alone the variables on the course. I strongly recommend practicing as often as you can with all the crew and especially in crappy, windy weather doing all the evolutions and especially reefing and headsail changes.

Of all the world’s great ocean races, Newport Bermuda holds the record for the least fatalities: one, as a consequence of a fire aboard. The organizers try really hard to keep this record in place and so should you. Planning and preparation are the hallmarks of sound seamanship. Practice is the glue that binds the first two together. ■ Australian born, Joe ‘Coop’ Cooper stayed in the US after the 1980 America’s Cup where he was the boat captain and sailed as Grinder/ Sewer-man on Australia. His whole career has focused on sailing, especially the short-handed aspects of it. He lives in Middletown, RI where he coaches, consults and writes on his blog, joecoopersailing. com, when not paying attention to his wife, teenage son, dog, two cats and several, mainly small, boats.

Looking for crew this Season?

Looking for a boat to sail on?

“Looking for crew for Cedar Point One Design, J109 North Americans in Newport, and Wed night beer can racing…”

Check in to the WindCheck Crew Connection and go sailing!

© PhotoBoat.com

www.windcheckmagazine.com/crew_connect "Looking to add to the crew in 2016 season.

Experience on the fore deck or trimming headsails or main would be good. Enthusiasm is a must..." © Jane Reilly

"Beneteau 36.7 looking for crew interested in a serious racing program.

Less experienced people welcome, will train quick learners… We like to race with 10 people and need some lighter crew, females especially encouraged…."

"We race Thursday eves at 6 PM and various weekend day races. Experienced sailors and novices alike are welcomed to join our team….Physical fitness and a good pair of 'sea legs' are all that is required."

58 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

Enright Wows a Winter Crowd at Noroton YC

By Michael Rudnick Noroton Yacht Club in Darien, CT, coming off an amazing month of having a member honored as Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, another winning the ISAF Youth Worlds, and a third named to the 2016 US Sailing Team Sperry, was thrilled to have another world-class sailor visit for a wonderful evening presentation – a look inside the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 with Team Alvimedica skipper Charlie Enright.

The audience of about 150 people ranged from age 9 to 90, and included legends such as yacht designer, Sailing Hall of Famer and Noroton YC member Bruce Kirby, as well as sailors from virtually all the surrounding towns and yacht clubs, and members of the Darien Power Squadron, Women-on-Water, the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound, and the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound. They all came out on a chilly weeknight to get the inside scoop on the VOR from the youngest – and only American – skipper in the most recent edition of this classic event.

Charlie opened his presentation with an adrenaline-rushing video that brought the Southern Ocean to life, and talked passionately about everything from leading the fleet around Cape Horn to the dramatic events as they helped when Team Vestas Wind ran aground on the Cargados Carajos Shoals in the Indian Ocean.

As interesting as it was to hear about Charlie’s stories about the race, his recounting of how the whole Alvimedica project came together was equally engaging. Charlie talked about taking a year off from Brown University (where he was a 4-time AllAmerican) to participate in the filming of Roy Disney’s movie Morning Light. It was then that he met Mark Towill, who was still in high school. They became friends, and Charlie convinced Mark to apply to Brown (a long way for a kid from Hawaii), and then they went on to do many projects together before setting their sights on the VOR.

From those early beginnings, Charlie walked the crowd through the meeting he and Mark had with the CEO of medi-

windcheckmagazine.com

© Michael Rudnick

cal company Alvimedica at which they struck the promotional deal that set the team on its path. Charlie talked about budgets and logistics, about filling out the team with what was then the youngest (and most inexperienced) boat in the race. Charlie shared stories about the scariest part of the race (nighttime gybes in 50 knots), the most exhilarating (leading the fleet around Cape Horn), and the most hair-raising (the split second finishes after thousands of miles of racing). He spoke about donating money the team raised from the “jumper” at the start of a leg to a pediatric cardiology center in Africa, how he learned to balance sailing with all their landside responsibilities, and for he and Mark, the business of running a program the likes of which they had never done before.

Charlie also took questions for nearly an hour from a very engaged audience on topics that ranged from from how the sails were made to the intricacies of the onboard computer systems, pre-race safety training, freeze-dried food, and even his favorite piece of gear. When someone asked how old he was when he started sailing, Charlie replied that he was 5. “My parents figured an Opti was the best babysitter they could imagine,” he said, “and they were right!”

It was an enjoyable night to forget about all the snow outside and dream of warm nights and windy days ahead, while wishing Charlie and Mark good luck for the next running of the Volvo Ocean Race. ■ Michael Rudnick is the President of the LISOT (Long Island Sound Youth Sailing Team) Foundation.

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 59

Enright and Towill Launch 55 South

The co-founders of Team Alvimedica, the youngest team in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, Charlie Enright and Mark Towill have announced their new team, 55 South, as the next chapter in their goal of competing in the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts next year.

The team’s name derives from Team Alvimedica’s achievement in the Volvo Ocean Race. Cape Horn, at Latitude 55 degrees South, is the southernmost point in any around the world yacht race, and on March 30, 2015 Team Alvimedica was the first team to round that iconic landmark. Recognizing the amount of work it took to get the team around the Horn, Enright and Towill committed to returning to the Volvo Ocean Race and thus formed 55 South.

11th Hour Racing, a Newport, RI-based sustainability organization, has signed on as the team’s title sponsor for 2016. The newly formed team will compete this year as 55 South - 11th Hour Racing with a mission of setting an example for a more responsible relationship with energy and water resources in the sport of sailing. Enright, a native of Bristol, RI, and Towill, who hails from Kaneohe, HI, will emphasize environmental sustainability throughout racing and speaking engagements.

During their last campaign, Enright and Towill became acutely aware of the significant amount of marine debris they saw around the globe. Together with 2016 title sponsor 11th Hour Racing, 55 South will use their racing as a platform to promote environmental sustainability amongst sailors, clubs and events, and across the marine industry.

“After the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, both Mark I were proud of many of our accomplishments, but recognized there are improvements to be made and unfinished business to be settled,” said Skipper Enright. “It’s going to be a tough road back to the start-line filled with training, racing and fundraising. We named the team 55 South to provide us with a daily reminder of Cape Horn, how epic it is and what it takes to get there. Getting there requires the support of our partners and sponsors, and I am excited to have 11th Hour Racing as our title sponsor for 2016.

As firsthand witnesses of our planet’s marine debris epidemic, we feel like we can bring value to an already amazing organization by spreading awareness and helping to source solutions. It was great to start a working relationship with 11th Hour during the Ocean Summit at the [Volvo Ocean Race] Newport Stopover, and Mark

and I are excited to continue the relationship into the future. ”

“Both Charlie and I are excited to be back on the water racing with our own team again,” said Team Principal Towill. “I’m also extremely happy to be working with 11th Hour Racing to help raise the awareness for ocean health. We are looking forward to promoting sustainability solutions at the events we race in and to the wider sailing community. And of course, I’m always looking towards our ultimate goal of returning to 55 South.”

11th Hour Racing co-founder Rob MacMillan stated, “The goal of 11th Hour Racing’s sponsorship of 55 South is to show that a top level racing team can be successful while incorporating

55 South co-founders Charlie Enright (left) and Mark Towill are shown speeding through the latitude that inspired their new team’s name. © Amory Ross/Team Alvimedica

ocean stewardship and environmental responsibility. When we met Mark and Charlie, we saw a young, eager duo that expressed genuine concern for ocean health. We recognize that the Volvo Ocean Race is the premier crewed race around the world and we’re happy to be supporting 55 South as they work towards returning to the start line.”

The 2016 race campaign for 55 South-11th Hour Racing is currently scheduled to include the M32 Bermuda Series along with speaking engagements promoting ocean health and environmental sustainability. Enright and Towill are currently seeking a title sponsor for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. For more information, visit 55South.us. ■ Julianna Barbieri at Manuka Sports Event Management contributed to this report.

60 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

210 Nationals Coming to Newport, Rhode Island The International 210 Class will be holding its National Championship at Newport Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island August 3 - 7.

Designed by the gifted and always unconventional C. Raymond Hunt, the doubleended 210 is 29’-10” long and has a beam of 5’-10” and sails with a crew of three. Hunt is known among design enthusiasts for creating the International 110, Concordia yawls, the Boston Whaler, and Moppie, the deep-vee hull that paved the way for Bertram yachts.

The International 210 has fleets in Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland and Rhode Island.

New Class President Tom Lemaire is excited about the exposure Newport will give to the class. Along with other class stalwarts, Lemaire has worked behind the scenes to start new boat production with Whitecap Composites out of Peabody, MA. Competition in the 210 Class is keen, and at the top of the fleet Wiley Wakeman and Mark DeShong are often battling for glory. But with a Nationals in Newport, anything could happen.

“We have a lot of great sailors, and when you host in Newport, you never know who is going to hop into a boat and show us a thing or two,” said Lemaire. Such was the case when Newport rock star Anthony Kotoun hopped into an

International 110 at the Nationals in Newport in 2002 and dominated. Kotoun’s crew at the regatta, Oakley Jones, will be competing in the Nationals in Newport and hopes to see a record breaking turnout. The practice race is August 3 and the series runs August 4 - 7. Lemaire has a few sponsorship opportunities available, as well as information on new boat construction.

He can be reached at tom@210nationals.com. ■

at Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA 01945 All day event: 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM Workshops on-water and on land include: Take the helm,crew overboard, race committee primer and basic race course strategies, knots, sail repair, putting together a woman’s boat for Marion to Bermuda Race, how to personalize your boat, rules of the road, diesel engine maintenance, suddenly singlehanded, and more.

Annual fundraising takes place for the Women’s Sailing Foundation.

A wide variety of raffle and silent auction items.

Included in the day are continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, one raffle ticket, presentation of Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award, and evening speaker - Donna Lange, solo circumnavigator (among other things) Registration and other information will be on website in the spring:

www.womensailing.org Contact: joan_thayer@comcast.net

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 61

Front Row Seat for the 35th America’s Cup The Marion Bermuda Race May Be Your Ticket

By Ray Cullum Being a sailor and a self-described racing sailor, I wondered, “Who wouldn’t want a front row seat to the America’s Cup?” The America’s Cup Event Authority had several options for the venue for the 35th AC in 2017, and they selected the beautiful island of Bermuda. So, one might ask, “Why Bermuda?” Well, the racing will take place on the Great Sound, a terrific enclosed body of water that offers flat seas and consistent wind…perfect for foiling multihulls. Bermuda is well

Last year’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event in Bermuda was an exciting preview of the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, and participants in the Marion Bermuda Race will have prime seating for all of the action. © ACEA 2015/Photo Ricardo Pinto

62 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

known for its hospitality…wonderful restaurants, beautiful hotels and extensive use of their greatest resource, the water. Plus, they have a very engaged population that do all in their power to make you feel welcome while you are on their island.

So, how do you get to have that front row seat? Well, you can fly there – it’s only an hour and a half flight. You could book a cruise ship…fun, but doesn’t lend itself to the full island experience. The best way for we sailors is to sail there, and what better way to do that than with 60 or 70 of your closest friends as part of the Marion Bermuda Race.

In 1977, the Beverly Yacht Club, Blue Water Sailing Club and the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club hosted the first Marion Bermuda Race and have been the sponsoring clubs ever since. Next year is the 40th anniversary of this biennial race, and nothing could be a better anniversary celebration than to offer an opportunity to see the finals of the America’s Cup. So, how does the Marion Bermuda Race Committee plan to make the 40th anniversary race the most outstanding one ever?

First, the organizers have made the unprecedented move of changing the start date of the race. The date has been moved up a week, to June 9, 2017, to give participants an opportunity to see the America’s Cup Finals, which start the weekend following the fleet’s arrival in Bermuda. You will be able to view all of the Finals, which take place only on the weekends. Not only will you be able to enjoy the America’s Cup; there will be other racing every day in the preceding week including the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, J Boat racing, and a superyacht regatta. If

that’s not enough, we will have tours of the America’s Cup compound, a spectator boat for all of the racing, talks at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club given by America’s Cup sailors, and a plethora of events during the week specifically for Marion Bermuda Race participants and their families.

Two of the biggest questions you might have are, “Where will I stay during this very busy time on the island, and where will I keep my boat? The Marion Bermuda Race Committee has met with the 2017 America’s Cup Committee and they have agreed to support a reservation system for accommodations for Marion Bermuda Race participants. This will come on-line in the fall of 2016. The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club will extend their offer of dockage and mooring space for the week after the race, allowing race participants to stay during the Cup Finals. There are also additional moorings being made available by the island’s Department of Marine and Harbor Services.

Being in Bermuda for the 35th America’s Cup is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Getting there with the Marion Bermuda Race just doesn’t get any better.

To learn more, visit marionbermuda.com. ■ Ray Cullum is the Public Relations/Media Director of the Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race.

Already looking forward to next season? We are too!

Call today to reserve your slip for 2016 – 401 683 4000

NEBoatworks.com

Full Service Marina

New England Boatworks 1 Lagoon Rd, Portsmouth, RI 401 683 4000

Refit ❖ Repair ❖ Paint ❖ Build Heads ❖ Showers ❖ Restaurant Fuel ❖ Pool ❖ Ship’s Store

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 63

sound environment.

Eat Green for the Big Blue

By Karin Stratton, Seafood Watch Partnership Program Manager Oceans are critical to planetary health and human survival.

Though we depend on our seas for food, climate regulation and recreation, they are threatened by human activity. In particular, some fishing and fish farming practices worldwide are damaging these resources – depleting fish populations, destroying habitats and polluting the water.

Seafood is one of the leading sources of the world’s protein consumed by humans, with 200 billion pounds of fish and shellfish coming out of the ocean each year. Many of the world’s major fisheries are in severe decline and without intervention, global fish stocks will be depleted within a generation. Aquaculture or fish farms can help relieve this pressure – and just in the past year, more than half of all seafood was farmed – but this activity has its own environmental impacts.

It’s not too late to restore global fisheries. Ocean life is resilient and, with proper management, can recover – sometimes quite quickly. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California seeks to inspire conservation of the ocean and its resources, as well as inspire action to create a future with healthy oceans. It created Seafood Watch® as a practical way to establish market incentives for fishing and aquaculture industries to reduce their environmental impact. These actions will increase the long-term availability of seafood and help protect ocean resources.

The backbone of the Seafood Watch program starts with behind-the-scenes work to use credible, scientific research to create sound recommendations on environmentally responsible seafood options. Those recommendations are, in turn, used by consumers, chefs and major seafood buyers to inform their purchasing decisions.

The process for developing and publicizing the research behind the recommendations also highlights areas where improvement in fishing and aquaculture methods can lead to more sustainable practices. That information is being used by many fisheries managers, aquaculture producers and certification bodies to adopt more ocean-friendly approaches and hopefully create more sustainable seafood in the future.

Seafood Watch scientists research government reports, scientific journal articles and white papers. They also contact fishery and fish farm experts. After a thorough review of all the available data, the scientists apply publicly available Seafood Watch sustainability criteria to develop an in-depth Seafood Watch Report. All of our reports are reviewed by a panel of experts from academia, government and the seafood industry.

The final reports are available at seafoodwatch.org. All Seafood Watch recommendations are based on these reports.

Through various outreach channels, this research is made relevant and accessible to both consumer and business decision makers. The Seafood Watch consumer guide and mobile ap-

plications reach millions of individuals. Seafood Watch staff provide even more detailed evaluation and support for business partners that range from individual restaurants to major retailers and food service companies.

As the science changes, and new information becomes available, the Seafood Watch science team updates the printed consumer guides twice a year. Both the smartphone app and website are updated monthly.

Seafood Watch communicates and expands the reach of our science-based recommendations through strategic messengers who are trusted, influential sources of information for consumers. These strategic messengers include our Conservation Partners, including zoos, aquariums, science museums and other organizations, like Sailors for the Sea, who are helping to build awareness about ocean-friendly seafood choices. Conservation Partners, nicknamed “COPs,” actively engage their audiences through social media, public programs, special events, community outreach, food service practices, and by using Seafood Watch criteria in purchasing feed for their living collections.

COPs are located throughout North America and, most recently, in Europe and Asia. Simply put, although Seafood Watch can’t be everywhere all of the time, COPs are.

After 16 years, we know that the combined effort of consumers, chefs and businesses is making a difference in how seafood is caught and farmed. Today, the purchasing decisions at more than 100,000 business locations across North America are informed by Seafood Watch science. International eco-certification bodies are strengthening their standards to meet Seafood Watch criteria. And we’re working with colleagues in Asia and South America to help them develop homegrown sustainable seafood programs.

Sustainable seafood has grown from a small consumerfocused conservation campaign into a global movement. It is no longer just a conservation campaign in the hands of scientists.

Consumers have become the catalyst for a growing global movement. If you haven’t already joined, you can start today by using a Seafood Watch consumer guide or the mobile app while shopping or dining out.

But take it one step further. The Seafood Watch guide is a great prompt for starting conversations with restaurant staff, seafood sellers and friends. Your interest in where your seafood comes from plays a critical role in elevating the importance of sustainable seafood, and influencing suppliers to shift their purchasing in a more sustainable direction.

Visit seafoodwatch.org to learn more. ■ This Sailors for the Sea Ocean Watch Essay is reprinted with permission. For more information, visit sailorsforthesea.org.

64 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

The 6th Annual Connecticut River Dinghy Race is May 21 Dinghy and catamaran sailors of all types are cordially invited to compete in the 6th Annual Connecticut River Dinghy Distance Race on Saturday, May 21. Known to many as “the island of misfit toys regatta,” this popular event is open to any boat with a Portsmouth Yardstick rating and it’s estimated that at least 25 different one-design classes have participated since its inception.

Conceived as an adventurous alternative to traditional windward-leeward courses by Dan Rennie of Hamburg Cove, CT, a design engineer at Navtec Rigging Solutions and an active Laser sailor, the Connecticut River Dinghy Distance Race has grown steadily since the first one in 2011. There’s always a strong turnout of Lasers, Force 5s and Sunfish, although it’s not unusual to see a truly diverse array of boats being rigged on the lawn at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, CT – everything from Nutshell Prams, Flying Scots, Scorpions, Larks, Buccaneers, Cape Cod Geminis, JY15s, MC Scows, Melges 17s 470s, Contenders, 5O5s and International Canoes to cats including Hobie 16s, 17s and Miracle 20s, Nacra 5.7s, and even a Tornado.

The course of approximately 10 miles takes racers from Eagle Landing State Park downstream to Calves Island just north of the Baldwin Bridge in Old Saybrook, and back

upstream to a finish line south of Brockway Island outside of Hamburg Cove. The party and awards ceremony will follow at Pettipaug Yacht Club in Essex. Competitors meet and launch their boats at Eagle Landing in the morning, bring their trailers and cars to Pettipaug Yacht Club and get shuttled back up to their boats. The start time is noon, just south of the Goodspeed Bridge.

This is a winner-take-all race, with the top three overall finishers claiming trophies in single-handed, crewed, and multihull Rigging up at Eagle Landing State Park © Jane Reilly

Dan Rennie leads the fleet past Gillette Castle. © Jane Reilly

Last year’s winner Dave Clark in the International Canoe that he designed and built © Jane Reilly windcheckmagazine.com

divisions. If more than five boats in a class register, they’ll compete in their own one-design class and individual trophies as well. Past years have seen a wide range of participants (48 boats in 2015), from novices to Olympians and America’s Cup vets, along with collegiate racers and families enjoying a day sail.

The focus of this event is having a good time, whether you’re an active racer or the owner of a “vintage” one-design mellowing in the garage. If you’re in the latter category, dust that baby off, check the sails and join the fun. The Notice of Race, previous years’ results and photos can be found on the race’s Facebook page. For more information, contact Rennie at danrenniect@gmail.com. ■ WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 65

broker tips.

Safety is Foremost

By Lincoln White Editor’s note: Although this month’s topic isn’t about buying or selling a boat, the author offers very useful information whether you’re planning the delivery of a boat you’ve just bought or commissioning one you’ve had for years.

The difference between a good experience while boating and a very bad experience can all come from an annual pre-season vessel inspection. Finding what looks like a small issue in the spring could likely avoid a catastrophe. I recently saw Sailing World’s post on the Farr 40 that had a lower lifeline failure, which gave me the idea to share a few thoughts on safety that I’ve learned over years of boating, witnessing accidents as well as being first on scene after some catastrophic events around the water.

A pre-season inspection is a great idea, but what is even more important with a stem-to-stern inspection is having an experienced set of eyes on the project. It never hurts to have a professional (your boatyard or marina service manager, a marine surveyor or a reputable marine service professional) give you their take. Avoid mid-season breakdown by getting a thorough inspection of your yacht. Participating in the inspection is also a great way to get to know your boat, especially the mechanical systems. Observing alongside a professional as he or she inspects your boat gives you a prime time to ask questions as well as build a priority list of needs: spare parts, necessary tools and/or safety equipment. Hopefully this gives you some ideas. You can never be too safe. Just like a pilot has a preflight checklist, you should have yours, as well as concise emergency procedures.

It’s always great to brief your crew when they come aboard, and don’t be shy about telling someone what to bring and/or wear. It’s your boat and you’re in command. You have the ability to make or break your guests’ experience. Make sure your crew wears comfortable, non-marking shoes. I don’t recommend allowing anyone to wear high heels. When your guests arrive, it’s important to walk through the boat with them. Show them any obstacles they could trip on or bump their head on. This is also a great time to explain the safety equipment and where it’s located.

Be sure to require that children wear a PFD and that anyone who is not a swimmer at least have one with them at all times.

It’s great to have the square Type IV throwable cushions, not only for comfort to sit on but in case anyone ever goes over the side – one could save a life.

in bad weather. Have a good simple radar link and know your weather window.

Sometimes even the best equipment can fail. Therefore, it always pays off to have backups. When it comes to getting home when your instruments or electrical system have failed, you always have your phone. One of the greatest apps I have ever seen is the Navionics navigation app. While it was a little pricy at $9.99, it has paid for itself hundreds of times over. If you are bringing your phone on the water, be sure it’s protected. There’s nothing better than knowing that your phone is protected in a waterproof case during a bad storm. Your phone can save a life or lives one day, so don’t risk it being damaged.

Assign responsibilities for your crew. Utilize your crew to their capabilities. If your guests are there to relax that’s great, but they should always know to keep their eyes open and speak up if they see anything in question. When leaving the dock and returning, it’s especially important to allow the skipper every opportunity to focus. Always remind passengers to never get in between two boats or between the boat and a dock. The boat will always win. Keep hands and feet in. Lower unnecessary chatter and help the skipper to dock by not getting in his or her way or blocking visibility.

Most boating accidents happen within three miles of shore.

Therefore, remember it’s important to remind your crew to keep a sharp lookout. On a sailboat, a crewmember should always be assigned the leeward lookout so that he or she can watch what’s happening in the area the skipper can’t see.

Boating is about having fun, but as in any sport it’s crucial to be prepared in order to have a good time. The great thing about our sport is that there are so many professionals and experts willing to share their knowledge and experience. The resources are endless, and with today’s technology great information is a click away. ■

A few tips for getting underway Have a float plan. Communicate with someone your intended area of boating, who you’re with, and when you will be back. Have a few good looks at the weather. It’s so easy with technology today to watch the weather and avoid being caught 66 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

Lincoln White is a member of the brokerage team at McMichael Yacht Brokers’ Essex, CT office. Before joining McMichael, he was both the Waterfront Director and Sailing Director at Larchmont Yacht Club. He lives in Madison, CT, with his wife Kristy and their three children and is currently active in the J/70 Class. White can be reached at Lincolnw@mcmyacht.com.

windcheckmagazine.com

B

R

O

K

E

R

A

G

E

1982 $14,500 1971 $15,500 30' US Marine Sloop, diesel, radar 1984 $79,000 30' Pearson 1973 $8,900 1978 $17,500 1998 $195,000 30' Albin Ballad 1987 $19,900 1973 $22,500 29' J/29 Masthead, OB 1985 $25,600 1968 $14,900 28' Tartan 1987 $45,000 27' Pearson - New Honda Outboard 1985 $11,500 1995 $79,500 27' Tartan, diesel 1961 $4,990 1983 $23,500 27' O'Day 1987 $500 1978 $19,900 26' Pearson 1970 $999 2007 $139,900 26' Sea Ray Sundeck 2008 $43,900 2006 $129,900 25' Chris Craft Seahawk 256, New power 1988 $9,900 2008 $115,900 25' Kirby w/Triad trailer 1979 $9,500 1988 $13,000 24’ Grady White 246 Explorer, trailer 1995 $24,900 2003 $139,000 24’ Seaway, 115 Mercury, trailer 2012 $45,500 2001 $59,900 22' Aquasport Osprey, T top 1999 $9,900 1985 $15,900 22' Key West CC 225 T Top, Loaded 2012 $39,500 1999 $14,500 18' Boston Whaler Dauntless, trailer 2013 $46,100 164 ROGERS AVENUE, MILFORD, CT 06460 203-301-2222 Visit www.yachtworld.com/portmilford for more information and photos.

Full service marina • Seasonal and transient slips • Brokerage • Rack storage • Walking distance to town and train

42' Chris Craft Commanche 42' Nelson Marek 41' X Yacht 412 40' Islander Ketch 38' Chris Craft Commander 37' Farr, Carbon Mast 35' Freedom 35’ J/35 34' Cal MKIII 34' Sea Ray Sundancer 34' Sea Ray Sundancer 33' Formula 330 SS 32' Wellcraft St. Tropez 31' Tiara Open LE, Hardtop 31' Catalina 310 31' Silverton 30' S2 9.1

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 67

B

R

O

K

E

R

A

G

E

631-421-3400 Family Owned & Operated Yacht Sales, Service, Storage, Slips & Moorings Since 1975 SELECT SAILBOAT LISTINGS

22’ 1963 30' 1984 30' 1983 30' 1985 31' 1987 32' 1995 33’ 2000 34’ 2002 34' 1987 34' 1978 36' 1981 36' 2007 37.5' 1994 38' 2000 40' 2004 41' 1988 41’ 2008 42’ 1993 44' 2006 46' 2009 49' 2007 57' 1982 24' 26' 30' 31' 35' 41'

Pearson Ensign S2 9.2 CC Sabre 30 Catalina 30 (2 Available) Pearson 31 Catalina 320 Beneteau 331 Catalina 34 Sabre 34 Sabre 34 S2 11.0 Jeanneau 36i Hunter Legend Beneteau 381 Catalina 400 MKII C&C 41 Tartan 4100 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey Beneteau First 44.7 Beneteau 46 Hunter 49 Nautor Swan 57

$ 1,200 19,900 24,900 CALL 29,900 55,000 69,000 69,000 55,000 12,000 15,000 117,000 55,000 92,000 188,000 59,000 335,000 109,000 215,000 244,000 215,000 345,000

SELECT POWERBOAT LISTINGS 1992 Grady White 24 Explorer 1 15,500 1990 SeaRay 260 12,500 2001 Grady White 300 Marlin 49,900 1998 Tiara 31 Open 85,000 2003 Tiara 35 Open 139,900 1961 Hatteras - A Classic!

29,000

Call us today and let us put our years of experience to work for you!

We are always looking for new listings.

Call 631-421-3400 or e-mail info@willismarine.com

68 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine 68 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com windcheckmagazine.com

classifieds.

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL

22’ Etchells 1998 - Pacesetter # 1086, 2 sets Doyle sails, open sail card, North full boat cover, 3 spin poles, forward ring frame, Tack Tick compass, double axle trailer w/ sail box, new axles 2005, new brakes, bearings 2014 $14,000. 860-227-6135

23’ Com-Pac 23/3 1988 - Good condition, lightly used, nicely rigged. 130% genoa, Harken roller furling. 2000 8hp Johnson w/ alternator, very low hours. $6900. Trailer available separately. Galvanized frame in excellent condition, new keel rollers. Needs some additional work, can provide parts and labor as part of purchase. More info/photos contact: ctmellorbldr@aol.com

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 29’ C&C 1976 – Excellent Club Racer / Family Cruiser. Many upgrades including: raymarine ST60+ wind, speed, depth, autopilot & Garmin GPS at binnacle. New DC breaker panel, wiring, upgraded standing rigging & recovered cushions. 9 sails including spinnaker. Very well maintained. $9,500.

203-887-1119 donegan.jim@gmail.com

35’ Freedom 1995 - Excellent condition, clean and well equipped. New sails, nice canvas, Yanmar diesel with low hours.

Interior is Bristol. Raytheon instruments, radar, GPS & autopilot. 4’6” shoal draft, Newer custom canvas winter cover. $79,500 Call Bruce at 203-314-7584

33’ J/100 2005 - Sleek 33’ sailboat for racing & weekend cruising. Sailing World’s 2005 “Boat of the Year.” Extensive sail inventory and canvas winter cover by Miller Marine.

Factory options: teak toe rails, deluxe interior teak trim package & self-tacking Hoyt boom. 2005 model commissioned in 2006.

Meticulously maintained by McMichael Yacht Yard. Flag blue Awlgrip, tan decks, teak toe rails. Carbon rig, Tack Tick instruments, GPS, VHF and much more. John Fallon, McMichael Yacht Brokers: 914-714-2682 / johnf@mcmyacht.com.

36’ Tripp 1991 - Looking for a good racing machine? Smoke is your boat. Meticulous racing bottom and fresh sails. The deck plan is all racing, three spreader rig, carbon pole and more. Electronics include 4 Ockam Matrix displays! PHRF 72. Asks 45k Prestige Yacht Sales 203-353-0373

25’ Kirby 1979 - Fractional rig, Triad Trailer, 4HP Yamaha 4 stroke, new main, new 155% Genoa, new #3, new spin, Hall Vang, cushions, head, tactic compass $9,500. 203-301-2222

Sistership

27’ Santa Cruz 1977 - Is a complete package – newly painted, large sail inventory, Honda 4-Stroke, yard trailer. Tiller steering, deck mounted mast sloop. Harken furler, sail covers, tiller cover, and instrumentation. $9500 Call for details 631-987-9989

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL

33’ Cal 1987 - A true performance cruising version of this Raymond Hunt design. Harken traveler ‘02, ‘03 bottom stripped/epoxy coated. ‘04 rudder replaced and adjustable genoa leads installed. Rigged for Spinnaker ’07. Keel bolts ‘08. Teak and Holly ply sole ‘13. Graphite Genoa ‘13 has only one light season on it. Asks 36k Prestige Yacht Sales 203-353-0373

Place your classified ad by sending your listing to WindCheck, P.O. Box 195 Stratford, CT 06615

36’ Nelson Marek 1983 - Morgan Yachts 36-5. Solid 2014 Survey. Major upgrades since: Sparcraft GP (longer) boom, Gebo portlight windows, Universal M25’s transmission, oil pan, starter, glow plugs replaced.

Silva compasses, Selden bowsprit (plus carbon pole: “S”/”A” spinnakers). Superb North sails: new 3Di main, Dyneema genoa, Dyneema Code Zero, A2 spinnaker, G-series gennaker, S2, more. Updates exceed asking price! tiller autopilot, TackTicks, 8 single berths, nice condition Sunbrella cushions. Enviable race record past 2 seasons. $36,900. 203 843 5570.

find us on facebook

contactus@windcheckmagazine.com

or call 203-332-7639

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 69

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 36’ Celebrity Yachts D36 2005 - Quintessential daysailor. Plenty of headroom, rare in a boat like this. Rigged for single-handed sailing, fiberglass hull, teak decks, and cherry interior. Has to be seen to appreciate its value. Priced well below similar vessels.

Asks125k Prestige Yacht Sales 203-353-0373

38’ Shannon 1981 - Rare find, never South, only 900 hours on the Perkins 40hp, new epoxy bottom, stunning interior. On the hard under custom canvas cover in Norwalk.

Asks 85k Prestige Yacht Sales 203-353-0373

42’ X-Yacht X-412 1998 - Excellent condition and well maintained luxury Cruiser/ Racer. Elegant interior with 2 Heads, 3 cabins, AC, Fridge, Inverter, Charger, Raymarine instruments, GPS, radar, autopilot, & Tacktick.

Powerful Yanmar diesel and saildrive. 3 spreader rig, pro furl furler and tuff luff, cruising & racing sails including North 3Dls. Much more...$195,000 She is ready to be raced and cruised seriously. Located in Milford, CT Call Bruce at Port Milford 203-314-7584

42’ Island Packet 420 2000 - Exceptionally equipped for live-aboard or extended cruising. Updated annually. A partial list of equipment - Solar Panels, Air Conditioning, Espar Heat, Bow Thruster, Life Raft, AIS, Full Inclosure, Bright Work in good condition. $268,000 - Wickford, RI. 401-575-8326 -www.latitudeyacht.com

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 44’ Beneteau First 44.7 2006 - Great performance cruiser, North 3DL Sails, Asym. Spin., Raymarine electronics, full canvas, winter cover. Mint. $215,000 Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

46’ Beneteau 46 2009 - Loaded & immaculate two cabin boat. Generator, A/C, Elec. Winches, Bow thruster. Full canvas & electronics. Asking $244,000. Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

46’ Baltic 46 – MERRYTHOUGHT Finnish quality throughout in this well found and very able racer-cruiser. Close-winded, fast and comfortable with full teak interior, good electronics and large sail inventory. Single hand cruise or full crew race this exceptional design. Sell or trade. sailmyles@aol.com 860-823-7952

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 57’ Swan 1982 044 - Extremely well maintained & updated. Engine, generator, decks, hull Awlgripped, bottom redone. No expense spared. She shows much newer than her age. Asking $345,000. Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

BOOKS/SEMINARS

CLUBS/ASSOCIATIONS SINGLES UNDER SAIL, Inc. (SUS) 29 years of Camaraderie & Cruising on the LI Sound and beyond!

49’ Hunter 2007 - Very well equipped.

Gen, A/C, bow thruster, cutter rig, davits.

One Owner boat. Asking $215,000 with storage Included. Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

Sail/Power - Skippers/Crew: $90/year Twilight, weekday, weekend, weeklong on-water & shoreside events.

Crew available for skippers SinglesUnderSail.org Call or leave vm at 203-847-3456

You Can Still Read Back Issues at windcheckmagazine.com 70 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

CREW

HELP WANTED

Offshore Passage Opportunities Your Offshore Sailing Network. Sail for free on OPB’s. Learn by doing. Gain Quality Sea time towards your lifetime goals. Sail on different boats with different skippers to learn what works and what does not.

Want to be a paid skipper? Build sea time and network with pro skippers. We are the crew network for the ARC, Caribbean 1500, NARC, World ARC Rally, Salty Dawg Rally, Newport/ Bermuda Race and delivery skippers worldwide.

Helping Sailors Sail Offshore Since 1993.

Learn more and join online at www.sailopo.com or call-1800-4-PASSAGe (1-800-472-7724) Keep the Dream Alive for the cost of a good winch handle.

EQUIPMENT dwyermast.com

• Masts • Hardware • Booms • Rigging Dwyer Aluminum Mast Co.

203-484-0419

Shennecossett Yacht Club Groton, CT. Sailing Instructor needed. Program has 3 levels of instruction: Beginners, Intermediate, and Race.

80+ sailors sailing in Club 420s, Flying Juniors and Optis. Must have US Sailing Instructors level 1, CPR First aid and CT. boating license.

Please email resume to wgaynor1@gmail.com MARINE POSITIONS AVAILABLE M Yacht Services, Annapolis, a large, full service marine company, is hiring additional highly experienced crew in the following fields: marine systems (mechanical & electrical), carpentry, sailboat rigging, fiberglass/gelcoat/painting. We offer excellent wages and benefits. Applicants must have in-depth knowledge of their trade. Must have a clean driving record. Email resumes to admin@myachtservices.net Pumpout Boat Operators - Soundkeeper Inc., an environmental non-profit, seeks operators for pumpout boats that service Fairfield and Westchester County Counties on the Sound.

Must be comfortable operating a 23 foot boat in close quarters, provide excellent customer service, and have interest in environmental conservation. Send resumes to info@soundkeeper.org Broker Wanted - Hellier Yacht Sales, New London, CT is looking for a motivated, Independent Yacht Sales Professional. Boating knowledge, computer skills and a business or sales background helpful. Send inquiries to: info@hellieryachts.com Launch Operators - Black Rock Yacht Club seeks individuals for seasonal position to operate and maintain yacht club launches and other watercraft PT/FT. USCG. Launch Operator license or higher is required. Pre-employment and random drug testing is required. Other duties include building and grounds maintenance. Mechanical, carpentry, fiberglass, and painting skills are preferred. Applicants should be friendly and helpful as there is heavy interaction with yacht club members and the general boating public. EOE M/F Call Capt Billings at 203-335-0587 Ext 11

find us on facebook windcheckmagazine.com

Launch Operators - Housatonic Boat Club in Stratford, CT has 2016 seasonal steward/ launch operator positions available. Applicants must have a USCG launch operator’s license: OUPV min, Ltd Mater preferred.

Other duties call for general maintenance of our club facilities. Contact anne@ windcheckmagazine.com for further info/ application.

HELP WANTED Launch Operators - Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT is looking for launch operators for the 2016 boating season. Must be 18 years of age, must have a USCG Launch License, able to pass a drug test and background check. Must have boating knowledge and must be personable. Please contact Dustin at dbruce@indianharboryc.com Assistant Manager of Community Sailing at Mystic Seaport - Full-time position responsible for the planning and implementation of the Community Sailing program. Responsibilities include teaching classes for youth and adults in the spring, summer, and fall; communicating with parents; hosting several regattas; hiring and mentoring seasonal sailing instructors; refining and growing the program; and winter maintenance and marketing of the program. For an application or information visit www.mysticseaport.org/employment or call Human Resources, 860-572-5346.

Marina Administrative Assistant - Building and Land Technology is looking for a Marina Administrative Assistant to work with our Marina Manager in Stamford! You will assist in the day-to-day running of the waterfront, including customer service and management of seasonal marina staff. Please visit www.bltoffice. com for details!

Junior Sailing Instructor - Housatonic Boat Club (Stratford, CT) is a small-sized program with about 30 sailors with a family feel and laid back environment. We have 2 levels of sailing, beginning sailors start sailing in Cape Cod Mercury’s. More advanced sailors sail/ race JY15s and C420s. Must be 16 years or older and have a US Sailing Level 1 Certificate, U.S. Powerboat Safe Handling Certification and current First Aid & CPR. Please email your resume to HBCJuniorSailing@gmail.com

MARINE SERVICES Atlantic Yacht Delivery Sail/Power. East Coast, Maine to Florida.

USCG Licensed Master Mariner.

Navy veteran. 45 years’ experience.

Insured. Non-smoker, non-drinker.

Good with a wrench.

Captain Bernie Weiss 203.969.5936 www.AtlanticYachtDelivery.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 71

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

Voyage

Preparation Services

Never Miss an Issue!

Offshore Race or Cruise Planning & Logistics Lee Reichart Mystic, Connecticut mysticvoyageprep@gmail.com

(614) 209-7579 SAILS

Fill out this form, include a check for $27 and we will send a copy every month for a year!

Name

STORAGE TRAILER STORAGE SAFE, SECURE AND DRY IN S TA M F O R D Your boat and trailer in one affordable location Call Today for Availability

203-644-1554

Address

City

State/Zip

Phone/email

Call us at 203-332-7639 if you would like to pay by MasterCard or Visa.

Place your classified ad by sending your listing to WindCheck, P.O. Box 195 Stratford, CT 06615 contactus@windcheckmagazine.com

or call 203-332-7639

Send to: WindCheck P.O. Box 195 Stratford, CT 06615 We will keep your information confidential!

Own a boat? yes __ no __ Size ____ Thank You for your support!

72 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

advertiser's index.

Aeroyacht Multihull 631-246-6448 aeroyacht.com ............................... 17

Maine Boatbuilders Show 207-774-1067 .............................................. 41 boatshow.portlandcompany.com

Blue Water Sailing School 800-255-1840 bwss.com .............................. 29 Massachusetts Maritime Academy 508-830-5006 maritime.edu ............ 47 Boat Talent boattalent.com .................................................................... 62 Boating Cape Breton boatingcapebreton.com ....................................... 16

McMichael Yacht Brokers mcmichaelyachtbrokers.com ..................... 2, 68 Mamaroneck, NY 914-381-5900 Essex, CT 860-767-0125 Newport, RI 401-619-5813

Brewer Yacht Yards byy.com .................................................................. 75 Milford Landing 203-874-1610 ............................................................ 57 C Sprit 718-885-2255 doyleplochsails.com ........................................... 20 Miller Marine Canvas 203-878-9291 millermarinecanvas.com .............. 40 Cedar Point Yacht Club 203-226-7411 cedarpointyc.org ...................... 45 MyTaskit mytaskit.com ......................................................................... 41 Cruising Club of America/Bermuda Race Safety at Sea Seminar............. 25 sas.cruisingclub.org

National Women’s Sailing Association womensailing.org ....................... 61

CT Spring Boat Show 203-332-7639 ctspringboatshow.com ................ 21

Nautical School 800-992-9951 nauticalschool.com ............................... 59

Custom Marine Canvas 800-528-9262 custommarinecanvas.com ......... 35

New England Boatworks 401-683-4000 neboatworks.com ................... 63

Defender Industries 800-628-8225 defender.com ................................... 7

North Sails northsails.com .................................................................... 19 Milford, CT 203-877-7621 Huntington, NY 631-421-7245

Destino Yachts 860-395-9682 destinoyachts.com .................................. 59 North U. 800-347-2457 northu.com..................................................... 49 Doyle Sails doylesails.com ..................................................................... 13 Bronx NY 800-237-4453 Huntington Station, NY 631-673-5055 East Greenwich, RI 800-238-0107 South Dartmouth, MA 508-992-6322 Salem, MA 978-740-5950

Pettit Paint pettpaint.com/bestprotection ............................................. 4-5 Pontos Americas 305-890-6904 pontos-americas.com ........................... 32

Fairclough Sailmakers 203-787-2322 fairclough.com ............................ 57

Port Milford 203-301-2222 yachtworld.com/portmilford ............... 39, 67

Fairhaven Shipyard 508-999-1600 fairhavenshipyard.com .................... 31 Hartford Power Squadron hartfordpowersquadron.org .......................... 40

Prestige Yacht Sales, prestigeyachtsales.net........................................ 11, 67 Norwalk, CT 203-353-0373 Essex, CT 860-767-0528 Mystic, CT 860-245-5551

Hellier Yacht Sales 860-442-1154 hellieryachts.com .............................. 10

Sparcraft America 704-597-1052 sparcraft-us.com ................................ 55

Intensity Sails 401-738-8000 intensitysails.com .................................... 45

Sperry Charleston Race Week charlestonraceweek.com ......................... 33

Interlux 800-468-7589 yachtpaint.com ................................................... 9

Storm Trysail Foundation Safety-at-Sea Seminar ................................... 27 stormtrysailfoundation.org

Joe Cooper Sailing 401-965-6006 joecoopersailing.com ........................ 62 Swan 42 Class Association swan42.org .................................................... 3 Kiwi Inflatables 800-784-6478 optistuff.com ........................................ 47 Landfall 800-941-2219 landfallnav.com ................................................ 76

TGM Anchor Point Marina 203-363-0733 ........................................... 23 tgmanchorpointmarina.com Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400 willismarine.com ................... 15, 68

windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2016 73

on watch.

Alison Lew As a former Chair and current Treasurer of the Junior Sailing program at Pequot Yacht Club in Southport, CT, Alison Lew is an active volunteer with one of the strongest youth sailing programs in the country.

“I grew up outside of Boston in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and always loved being on the water,” says Alison, who lives in Southport. “My dad always had powerboats, and we’d go to Lake Winnipesaukee in the summers. My first time on a sailboat was at summer camp on Cape Cod, and when I was in high school there was a program called Community Sailing on the Charles River. I took the MTA into the city for lessons, but that was it until I was an adult.”

“My friend Nancy Corbett was running Pequot’s Ideal 18 program. Nancy is a great sailor, and she asked if I was interested in being part of the program. Pequot has a Special Activity Membership in which you can try the club for two seasons to see if it’s a good fit, and I signed up. The club had an amazing instructor named Henry Lane, and for me he was life changing.

Henry was a phenomenal teacher. He taught everything from boat maintenance to boat handling and the physics of sailing, and made something that always felt very abstract easy to understand. What I really liked about the Ideal 18 program was that classes were on weekday mornings, so it tended to be mostly women. As a newcomer it was a very comfortable environment, and there was a lot of support from the other women, many of whom are now very involved in racing. I decided that I loved the club, and applied for full membership.”

“I started helping with registration for the Junior Program, and enrolled my older daughter, Sarah, who was 9. She sailed for five years, and then decided it wasn’t the right sport for her.

My 16-year-old son Hobi started in an Opti when he was 9.

This will be his third summer racing 420s with Julia Reynolds, and they’ve won the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound’s Clinton Bell Trophy and Thomas Fowler Trophy for two years in a row. They’re a great team! My youngest, Annie, started when she was 8. She’s now 13, and races in events around the Sound.”

“Unlike a lot of clubs on the Sound, Pequot does not have a Sailing Director, so there’s a direct chain of command between the Junior Program Chair and the instructors. That creates a culture of trust and gives instructors an opportunity to lead. We have nine instructors each season, and last year we had a big boat instructor. Some members kindly loan their big boats to the juniors, and they go out on weeknights with a coach on each boat. They also race against other clubs in the Dorade, Beach Point Overnight, and Black Rock Yacht Club’s Junior Big Boat Regatta.”

“Another great thing about Pequot is the Junior Yacht Club.

The flag officers – Junior Commodore, Junior Vice Commodore, Junior Secretary and Junior Treasurer – are elected at the end of the summer by their peers. They take part in Senior Commissioning, and they organize and run Junior Commissioning the night before. They serve as role models during the summer, and organize the awards dinner. You don’t have to be a member for your child to sail here. Roughly half the children that sailed here last year were not junior members, although it’s often a path to membership. Parents see what a great club it is, and we’ve gotten a lot of members through the junior program.”

“We’ve always had an Emergency Action Plan, and at the beginning of each season we do a safety drill on the water with first responders. The instructors have tool kits with cable cutters on their boats, we do a swim check for every sailor and we discuss safety frequently – PFDs are always on, even on the dock.

On the first day of class, Opti sailors are towed out for capsizing drills so that they discover that it’s not scary and learn how to handle it.”

“We host two junior regattas every year. The Opti Rumble is the first race of the season in this area, and sometimes it’s the first regatta for some children who have decided to start racing.

We run a very safe regatta, and we try to make it fun and educational. Last year we had open protest hearings, with all sailors invited to go and listen. It’s a way for young sailors to learn that the protest experience is not about winning – it’s about good sportsmanship.”

“Pequot has a Junior Mentor program, which is open to sailors 14 and up. That group typically sails in the afternoon, so they come in the morning to help the younger sailors rig, and if a child is scared they’ll go out in a Opti with them. They’ll go out on the water and help the coaches, and if it’s a no wind day they’ll help teach skills on land. It’s a great way for kids to learn leadership, they become better sailors, and as a group they become close friends.”

“The juniors produce their own newsletter, the Junior Pilot.

When I was Chair we were looking for ways to get our junior flag officers more involved, so we let them take charge of the Junior Pilot. They come up with ideas for articles, and they do the writing and editing. It became their Pilot, and it’s more interesting for young sailors to read articles written by their peers.”

“At Pequot it’s a love of the sport that brings everyone together, and being an active volunteer gives you a much stronger tie to the club. I’m lucky to have expanded my horizons by volunteering, and being part of this program is a huge part of my life. As a parent, what junior sailing has done for my children makes my heart explode with joy. If you volunteer for something, you never know where it’s going to take you.” ■

74 March 2016 WindCheck Magazine

windcheckmagazine.com

“

Our Marina is Brewer!

We spend our summers aboard our sailboat.

Brewer feels like our home away from home.

We love it here! - Todd & Kendra

”

“At the start, our boat was a project boat. It needed so much work and we knew Brewer could handle it all.

They have worked well with us, even while in California – over 3,000 miles away, and it’s been great. We knew it wasn’t the least expensive marina, but the value has been terrific. We love the facilities, the staff, and everything they do for us to make us feel at home. After the first season, my wife said “We’re not leaving!”

With the Brewer Preferred Member Card, slip, mooring & storage customers receive free overnight stays at other Brewer yards, fuel discounts and additional savings.

Brewer is more than just great marinas!

Join our family and discover the Brewer difference!

Visit Brewer Yacht Sales 4th Annual In-Water Boat Show April 30th & May 1st at Brewer Pilots Point Marina in Westbrook, CT | breweryacht.com | 860-399-6213 Also, visit the Connecticut Spring Boat Show May 13th - 15th at Brewer Essex Island Marina in Essex, CT | ctspringboatshow.com | 203-332-7639 Connecticut Branford Deep River Essex Essex Island Mystic Old Saybrook Stamford Stratford Westbrook

(203) 488-8329 (860) 526-5560 (860) 767-0001 (860) 767-2483 (860) 536-2293 (860) 388-3260 (203) 359-4500 (203) 377-4477 (860) 399-7906

Maine South Freeport (207) 865-3181 Maryland Oxford (410) 226-5101 Massachusetts Green Harbor (781) 837-1181 N. Falmouth (508) 564-6327 Onset Bay (508) 295-0338 Plymouth (508) 746-4500 Salem (978) 740-9890

*

*

Visit your nearest Brewer yard, or visit byy.com

* Welcome the newest marinas to the Brewer family!

New York Glen Cove Greenport Mamaroneck Port Washington Stirling Harbor

(516) 671-5563 (631) 477-9594 (914) 698-0295 (516) 883-7800 (631) 477-0828

Rhode Island Barrington Greenwich Bay Portsmouth Warwick Wickford

(401) 246-1600 (401) 884-1810 (401) 683-3551 (401) 884-0544 (401) 884-7014