Sailing Maryland

High Water, Low Water

2010-03-29T08:24:00.001-04:00

Last night, the south wind was like a giant cork in the bottom of the Chessie. Water nearly over the docks at Magothy Marina. Tonight, wind is forecast to blow hard from the north, so we might see the opposite extreme!

Take a look at the latest forecast

Sailboat for sale

2010-03-21T19:24:00.003-04:00

Here's a great deal for someone looking for a gunkholer/cruiser for the bay. Our friend, The Crazy Albanian (and expert boat refurbisher) has just finished her off. He's asking $5500. The sails are practically brand new and she sails like a dream!

More here:

Sailboat for Sale

2010-03-18T16:16:00.004-04:00

We are seeing first signs of spring. Bubblers have been pulled from Magothy Marina.

Race committee chatter for Magothy River Sailing Association is up. First Race April 21.

And best of all, the spring tour of Annapolis yacht brokers.

It is a good deal. May 8-9 Park near any hub, they drive you around. No charge

Charge controller?

2010-03-08T14:06:00.002-05:00

Are you looking at solar power for your boat? Consider your charge controller carefully, there are two types. Here is a PWM vs MPPT charge controller comparison

2010-03-08T13:58:00.004-05:00

A news reporter once asked Mr. Atkisson about the fear factor during some of his more harrowing moments at sea. He said that, as a recovering alcoholic, "I am at pains . . . to, as we say it, 'stay in the now' -- i.e., don't dwell on the past or obsess on the future. . . . Nothing keeps one in the moment like single-handing a small boat across a big ocean. Hard to explain, but when you are that deeply set into the moment, you just cannot fear the future."

John Atkisson; After law career, he sailed across Atlantic

one more quote ...

2010-02-04T10:25:00.001-05:00

from Alinghi's Grant Simmer:

"The next Cup cycle, could be in multihulls if we were successful and had a challenger that wanted to race in multihulls, it would be something we'd consider. But I think it's more likely that the next Cup will be held in monohulls."

America's Cup Sails Into Uncharted Waters

2010-02-02T09:55:00.004-05:00

Here's a feature I did for NPR on the America's Cup:

America's Cup Sails Into (and Over) Uncharted Seas: NPR

A few more interesting comments from Coutts and Simmer that didn't make it into the story:

RUSSELL COUTTS (BMW/ORACLE SKIPPER):
"I'm a purist myself and was brought up sailing the more conventional monohulls. Having said that, I think this multihull competition could be exciting for a much broader range of people because of the technology interests and also the 'wow' factor of these boats."

"Having said that, though, we've got to draw the line somewhere and putting engines on the boat is a step too far. There are many sports – Formula 1 motoracing, for example – had the opportunity to have a lot of their systems computerized rather than relying on the driver's intuition and skill. And they chose not to do that because they recognized that the fans wanted to see the skill of the drivers and I think the same applies and certainly sailing could learn lessons from that."

"Where the grinders on board are tremendous athletes in their own rite – many of them are Olympic Gold medalists and world champions and so forth – they are tremendous athletes and it's a real shame to lose that aspect of the racing."

GRANT SIMMER (ALINGHI DESIGN TEAM COORDINATOR:
"In different parts of the course or in different weather conditions, there'll be substantial performance differences between the boats. It may be that when we're beating into the wind, one boat is a lot faster but then when we come downwind, the other boat's faster."

"The boats are so different that we have to expect there will be big differences on the course but it's quite difficult to predict the net result."

Does he worry about a catastrophic failure on the race course?
"Yeah, very much so."

"We do that because we obviously don't want to damage our boat but also, almost any failure of the main platform of the boat could be incredibly dangerous for the crew."

About BMW/Oracles hard wing:
"We're quite comfortable with the sail plan we've got, with the wing mast and the soft sails. There's certain restrictions of racing with the wing and there's certain advantages. So, we're going to balance that out."

"I think we have the ability to carry a wider range of headsails than they do. Mainsail alone, their wing is more efficient than just our mainsail. But, you need to look at the forces in the overall sail plan and not just the wing."

We're back ...

2010-02-01T08:21:00.001-05:00

Sailing Maryland went on walkabout for a few months, but we're back and will begin posting regularly.

Stay tuned ...

This should be interesting ...

2009-11-11T07:24:00.000-05:00

Race is on ... in Valencia!

2009-11-10T12:15:00.003-05:00

From Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club Spokesman:

New York, NY -- November 10, 2009 - We're very pleased to see that Société Nautique de Geneve/Alinghi have finally agreed with us that Valencia in February is the correct venue to hold the 33rd America's Cup. Presumably SNG will now drop their appeal of the Court's decision that Ras Al Khaimah is an illegal venue.

BMW tri gets a hard wing sail ...

2009-11-10T10:39:00.002-05:00

We're tempted to say something along the lines of "stranger than fiction" but in fact, maybe it's just a return to the 1988 AC, when Dennis Connor's Stars & Stripes sported a hard sail. The hard wing has been rumored for months too. Alinghi's cat will sprout one soon.

BMW Oracle

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

2009-11-10T07:29:00.003-05:00

The Feds will step in to assist in cleaning up the Chesapeake. It's worth noting that farm and urban runoff are by far the two leading causes of pollution in our estuary, but it seems like boaters get most of the blame:

More here

BMW Oracle Tri Loses the Stick ...

2009-11-04T08:29:00.004-05:00

These super tall racing rigs are apparently proving difficult to manage:

BMW Oracle Racing News

More here

and here

Enough already ...

2009-11-03T14:20:00.004-05:00

The legal tacking duel continues over the venue for the 33rd America's Cup. After a victory in court last week for BMW Oracle to have the race in Valencia, Spain, Alinghi is once again appealing.

The latest press release:

GOLDEN GATE YACHT CLUB
#1 Yacht Road, San Francisco, California USA 94123
Statement

Tom Ehman, Golden Gate Yacht Club Spokesperson

San Diego, CA, November 3, 2009 – Along with sailing fans and followers around the world, we are disappointed that the defender- Société Nautique de Geneve/Alinghi – has sought to de-rail the America’s Cup once again.

In light of Justice Kornreich’s clear ruling last week, this appeal is unwarranted and without merit.

On Friday Justice Kornreich decided that, in accordance with the Deed of Gift, a February match for the America’s Cup can not be held in the Northern Hemisphere other than in Valencia, a venue previously agreed by both the Defender and Challenger.

The Spanish host of the 2007 America’s Cup Match remains the best choice for everyone. Its facilities and infrastructure are proven and ready. Both teams maintain their permanent bases in the Port America’s Cup. The City is ready to welcome the America’s Cup back.

Following her order on the venue last Friday, Golden Gate Yacht Club confirms Bryan Willis (GBR) as its nominee for the three man panel requested by Justice Kornreich to assist her determine the outstanding sailing and measurement issues over the 33rd America’s Cup match.

GGYC was the first to put forward a name to the New York Supreme Court. SNG, responded with Graham McKenzie (NZL) and the two of them mutually agreed the third member of the panel, David Tillett (AUS).

All three men are former members of America’s Cup juries, as required by Justice Kornreich. Bryan Willis and Graham McKenzie are now in New York.

Bryan Willis is one of the most respected jurors in the sailing world. He has chaired International Juries at the Olympics, the Volvo Ocean Race and at the last three America’s Cups. He has also sat on the International Sailing Federation’s Racing Rules Committee for more than 30 years, chairing both it and the ISAF Racing Race Officials Committee.

We look forward to this resolution process moving forward in the coming days.

Nautical word of the day ...

2009-11-03T08:16:00.001-05:00

HAND OVER FIST. The phrase originated at sea in reference to the ease and speed with which experienced sailors climbed rigging. By the late 19th century the phrase was being used metaphorically.

Over 50'/Under $50,000

2009-10-29T10:31:00.009-04:00

Fancy a bit of DIY? From the looks of this 55' Bruce Roberts-in-progress, nothing more than the efforts of a rank amateur are required to finish her off in the spirit of the original project.

This "solid glass with foam core" beauty (which is it? solid glass or foam core?) sports an interior that could have been metaphor in a Conrad novel. Clearly, it started out (two decades ago?) as an attempt to make a professional job of it. Then the mad desire to just finish that became a slapdash race to the bottom of the scrap wood pile.

The horror.

Latest Round In Court Goes to BMW Oracle ...

2009-10-28T07:59:00.004-04:00

The New York Supreme Court officially ordered AC officials to redeploy the yellow "follow me" flag after it ruled that Alinghi's choice of Ras al-Khaimah for the challenge venue was off.

Justice Shirley Kornreich decided that the choice could be in the Southern Hemisphere or in Valencia, where it was last held in 2007.

See here

Abby Bought a Boat

2009-10-28T07:49:00.004-04:00

As controversy continues to swirl around Jessica Watson, the Aussie sailor who is heading east on her circumnavigation in an effort to be the youngest, pinkest solo sailor to do it, Abby Sunderland (little sis to solo sailor Zach Sunderland) has finally got a boat to have a go at it herself.

Best Bay Boats - Catalina 27

2009-10-26T11:30:00.004-04:00

By their sheer numbers -- there have been more than 6,500 built in a production run since 1971 -- and their versatility alone, we could not pass on the Catalina 27 as a "Best Bay Boat".

In addition, they are cheap, fast and roomy. In short, C27s are the perfect boat for racing or cruising on the Chessie. John Kretschmer describes them as "simple but successful ... stylish but definitely affordable boats with semi-modern hull shapes and high-volume interiors."

More here: C27s on the Chesapeake

Nautical word of the day ...

2009-10-19T07:46:00.001-04:00

FIRST RATE. Originally a term referring to the largest class of naval sailing vessels, especially those that carried 74-120 guns.

Course from hell

2009-10-19T07:40:00.005-04:00

This was the course laid out for a recent Magothy River Sailing Association race. We assume the shotgun was needed for RC self-defense!

Schooners!

2009-10-15T07:57:00.006-04:00

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race from Baltimore to Portsmouth starts today!

more on Shockwave V disaster: before and after ...

2009-10-13T10:06:00.005-04:00

Great Boat Show weekend!

2009-10-13T08:31:00.012-04:00

Toured some yachts we could never afford, splurged on some gear, saw Bob Bitchin shilling for his advertisers (am I the only one who thinks that's the only real point to his videos?). Oh well, at least we got the gear.

(photos to come)

Couple news items:

-- If you were able to get aboard that lovely Hinckley at the show, you might be interested in this story over the weekend in the NY Times that points to troubled waters for the company.

-- Australian yachtsman Andrew Short, a Sydney-Hobart and Volvo veteran is killed along with his navigator, Sally Gordon, after washing up on the rocks off Flinders island in the Bass Strait. That's Short above in happier times. Sad news indeed.

Nautical word of the day ...

2009-10-08T08:08:00.001-04:00

TAKEN ABACK. In nautical jargon, to be taken aback is to suddenly have the wind shift, either through bad steerage or sudden weather change, so that it is coming over the bow and giving the ship sternway, 1754. To be taken aback can dismast a ship.

For those hard to reach shots ...

2009-10-07T09:39:00.003-04:00

Boat Show fever ...

2009-10-07T07:27:00.006-04:00

Despite our annoyance at having to pay for the privilege of being pitched already criminally overpriced marine products, we here at Sailing Maryland admit to a bit of giddiness ahead of this weekend's Annapolis Boat Show. Maybe this year we'll finally out tack the Hinckley Yachts bouncer and get inside of one of those beauties.

As usual, though, the best part of the show is the "free" seminars put on by Cruising World in the ballroom of the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel, including several by Jimmy Cornell.

Sibling Rivalry

2009-10-06T10:39:00.009-04:00

Zach Sunderland, the 17-year-old who recently completed a solo circumnavigation now has a little sister in his wake. Abby Sunderland, however, plans to upstage her brother by doing it non-stop. She'll be leaving next month, just a few weeks after her sweet 16.

Her glam shots aren't quite as polished as Aussie rival Jessica Watson. Watson leaves from Sydney in a few days. Presumably, Abby plans a West Coast departure, same as her brother.

Slocum Meets Google Earth

2009-10-06T08:05:00.004-04:00

Here's a fascinating resource we found recently that traces Joshua Slocum's historic voyage on Google Earth. Waypoints are marked and text from the classic tale are attached. Great way to waste a few hours on the Web.

Here you go: Voyage of Spray download

Sighted on the Magothy ...

2009-10-06T07:11:00.005-04:00

New solo challenge? Just say (goat) "cheese"!

2009-10-05T14:27:00.004-04:00

A first in yachting: Cruisersforum

Wave forms ...

2009-10-05T08:58:00.006-04:00

NOAA Samoan Tsunami animation

Weekend Weather

2009-10-02T13:45:00.003-04:00

A little blowy, but otherwise not bad -- assuming it doesn't rain on Saturday:

NOAA Hourly

NWS Annapolis-Baltimore

NOAA Marine Forecast

Nautical word of the day

2009-10-02T09:35:00.000-04:00

SLUSH FUND: In nautical jargon, slush is the fat and grease from boiling meat. Slush would be sold when in port and the money would be distributed among the crew. Nautical use of slush fund dates to 1839.

Grounded Hawk

2009-10-02T08:19:00.001-04:00

Hawk, the 47' custom-built aluminum fractional sloop owned by the sailor/author Starzingers (Following Seas, Blue Horizons, The Voyager's Handbook) is on the hard at Cypress Creek on the Magothy for a thorough overhaul.

Beth will be appearing for a seminar at the Annapolis Boat Show.

Best Bay Boats - Tartan 37

2009-10-01T09:59:00.006-04:00

There's a saying that goes something like this: "I know only two sailors who haven't run aground. One never left the pier and the other was a spectacular liar." On the Chesapeake, even the liar grudgingly owns up.

No doubt a shallow draft is a big plus here and that puts a bullet next to the Tartan 37 centerboard version (4'2" with the board up) on our list of Best Bay Boats.

The Tartan's interior build quality is excellent -- in fact, on a par with many of the Asian built yachts.

The balsa-cored decks and hull keep down the displacement. We've seen one local Tartan 37 hulled below the waterline and it wasn't pretty. On the other hand, we know of at least a few that have done circumnavigations.

Overall, T37s seem like sturdy little cruisers and great Chessie gunkholers.

Some 450 boats were built from 1976-1988.

There's a pretty good range on the pricing, but the median gets in around our $50K "affordability" benchmark. We admit that at 37' LOA, she comes in a bit over our original size parameter. But, hey, for this boat we're willing to bend the rules a little.

More info:

Tartan Sailing Association

Chesapeake Bay Tartan Sailing Club

Jack Hornor's Boat U.S. Review.

Damning report on 'youngest circumnavigator'

2009-09-30T12:30:00.018-04:00

You may have heard of Aussie Jessica Watson, the 16-year-old girl who is planning to go around alone in a pretty pink S&S 34.

But before the thing even started, she collided with a Chinese freighter off Australia's Gold Coast on Sept. 9.

Just bad luck? Maybe not, say inspectors from Maritime Safety Queensland. They cite her sloppy log keeping and speculate that she dozed off just prior to the collision.

Still, that's not stopping her attempt to one-up Zach Sunderland, the American lad who set the 'youngest' record recently. Also, Sir Richard lends his support, saying "she's not a baby anymore."

Cruiser's first-hand account of Samoan tsunami ...

2009-09-30T08:07:00.004-04:00

This is from the Cruiser Log forum. A fascinating narrative from someone who's there: http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13641

View from the flip side

2009-09-29T12:14:00.002-04:00

here's some tres cool video of the Melges 32 Worlds shot from ... underwater:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfYSEUThviQ&feature=player_embedded

Courtesy of one of our favorite blogs, Sailing Anarchy. Even if you're not as obsessive about boats as we are, the "Sailor Chick of the Week" feature is highly recommended.

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/

Over 50'/Under $50,000

2009-09-29T10:28:00.009-04:00

Remember the "tiny Stonehenge" scene from This is Spinal Tap?

That's what we thought of when we saw this 55" [sic] "Sampson Sea Breeze" for sale:

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/14438

Not much to say, except that the hull material apparently couldn't be quantified -- it's listed simply as "other". We're guessing it's another cement boat, but we could be wrong about that.

Another thing that strikes us: What appears at first glance to be an ill-placed and heavily raked mast is actually a tree growing along the bank behind the boat. Clever.

Oh, and just because we can't resist, here's that scene from Spinal Tap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlf5ucFanpY

White Lightening!

2009-09-26T15:39:00.010-04:00

Here's the first state-side look at the hot new Beneteau 40 First, a Farr-designed thoroughbred unleashed on the sailing world earlier this year. We saw her at Annapolis Yacht Sales on Saturday.

Although the folks at Beneteau call her a cruiser adaptable for racing, it seems the other way around to us.

Didn't bother to look for the price tag. What is it they say: "If you have to ask ..."

More photos from Sailing World:

http://www.sailingworld.com/photogallery.jsp?ID=1000024184

And ... a mini-review at Cruising World:

http://www.cruisingworld.com/boats-and-gear/boat-reviews-and-previews/beneteau-first-40-a-mini-review-1000076406.html

Weekend weather sucks ...

2009-09-25T10:04:00.001-04:00

enough said.

See for yourself:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=0&w4=sky&w5=pop&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=0&Submit=Submit&FcstType=graphical&textField1=39.08190&textField2=-76.57250&site=all&unit=0&dd=0&bw=0

http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=anz532

Elf ... a yachting phoenix.

2009-09-25T09:37:00.012-04:00

We're a bit late in pointing this out, but our friend Rick Carrion (at top, standing), a retired school teacher who has worked tirelessly for many years to restore this racing classic, was featured in the August issue of Wooden Boat.

Last year, we were privileged to sail aboard Elf, a splendid gaff-rigged cutter, designed by George Lawley & Sons and built in 1888 in Boston. The photos were taken at the time.

Rick's odyssey with the boat began in 1971 when he bought the nearly sinking Marconi yawl as a liveaboard during his college days. It was years later that he uncovered the documentation number and discovered the boat's pedigree and the nature of its original rig. Billionaire Peter Kellogg has been among the benefactors on the 17-year, half-million dollar, restoration project.

You can read more here at the Classic Yacht Restoration Guild's site: http://www.cyrg.org/elf.htm and in the Wooden Boat piece.

Best Bay Boats - Pearson 30

2009-09-24T08:55:00.010-04:00

This week's entry is the venerable Pearson 30. She's a versatile cruiser/racer that has a reputation for being quick on the race circuit as well as safe and comfortable for gunkholing around the Chessie.

The early P30s sported the once-ubiquitous Atomic 4 gasoline engine, but for those who prefer diesel, many -- if not most -- have been repowered. One really nice thing is that her fin keel is encapsulated, so she'll take a grounding. And, there are no keel bolts to worry about.

About 1,000 were made in the 1971-1981 production run, so there are plenty of them kicking around.

Overall, not as pretty as the Alberg 30 we featured last week, but faster. The P30 is a solid, if unglamorous, performer. Median price seems to be about $12,000.

Here's more info from the Pearson Sailing Association of the Chesapeake Bay: http://cbpsa.org/links.asp

Good Race!

2009-09-24T07:20:00.003-04:00

Perfect weather for last night's race. About 7 kts. from the south. Options sailed a respectable race -- no huge mistakes, but ended up near the bottom of the pack on corrected time.

Nautical word of the day ...

2009-09-23T09:53:00.001-04:00

CUT AND RUN: to leave hurriedly, 1704. Originally, a nautical term meaning to make sail by cutting the cable instead of weighing anchor. The metaphorical usage dates to at least 1861.

Wednesday Race Wx

2009-09-22T11:15:00.001-04:00

Looking at 5 kts. or so out of the SE at the start on a rising tide, backing to the S and increasing to about 10 kts. for the finish. Overcast skies, with a slight chance of rain.

Our favorite Weather Forecasting sites listed below.

NOAA Hourly Weather Forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=0&w4=sky&w5=pop&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=0&Submit=Submit&FcstType=graphical&textField1=39.01&textField2=-76.5&site=all&unit=0&dd=0&bw=0

Sail Flow http://www.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=174&regionProductID=30&day=0&timeoffset=28&selected_model_id=

Pro Tides: http://www.protides.com/maryland/74/

Over 50'/Under $50,000

2009-09-22T07:19:00.003-04:00

Continuing our (tongue-in-cheek) series of the market for used, big and cheap ...

Nothing telegraphs "Danger, Will Robertson!" quite like the words "owner built" and "ferro cement". If any part of the hull or deck is covered in blue plastic tarp, well then, that's just icing on the topsides.

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/7986

Among other things, this 56' behemoth would sleep the forenoon watch on the USS Nimitz. She's ostensibly a ketch, though the sails are "plus", whatever that means. The head apparently comes with its own holding tank (how 1960s!).

Ad says the hull has no leaks. At first glance, we felt the not sinking thing was a definite selling point. In fact, everything sounded swell until we got to the part of the blurb that advised "in need of repairs and TLC."

Awl, shucks. A project boat.

Our guess is this beauty is way beyond TLC.

Starboard!

2009-09-21T07:31:00.001-04:00

Here's a photo (from Spinsheet's Dan Phelps) of this weekend's Bartlett Cup held near St. Michael's, MD. The event marks the sesquicentennial of log canoe racing on the Chesapeake.

Log canoes, based on dugouts, are (or were) unique to the Chesapeake. They were forerunners of the famous skipjack and bugeye designs used for oystering and crabbing. Later, log canoes were used as a means of getting catches quickly to market.

The key feature of the log canoe was the extreme instability that required rail meat to sit far out on a series of planks.

Nice video here too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPFjZlWnGBs

Morning on Broad Creek ...

2009-09-20T20:47:00.001-04:00

Cool Kite ...

2009-09-18T14:15:00.001-04:00

This one belongs to our friend "Ardi the Albanian" Muca. Photo courtesy of Adrian Flynn.

Weekend Wx

2009-09-18T08:40:00.001-04:00

Sunny, yes, but how much wind? NOAA's Marine Forecast has an SCA, with winds gusting to 25 kts. on Saturday. Sunday looks like a light air day:

http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=anz532

http://www.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=174&regionProductID=30&day=0&timeoffset=25&selected_model_id=

... but other forecasts are calling for more moderate conditions:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=lwx&FcstType=text&site=LWX&map.x=301&map.y=95

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=21146&hourly=1&yday=261&weekday=Saturday

Nautical word of the day

2009-09-17T09:41:00.001-04:00

GROGGY: Befuddled, tired, weak, as if from a fight or drink, 1832. Older use, from 1770, means intoxicated.

Grog is a mixture of rum and water once served to sailors in the Royal Navy. The name comes from the nickname of Admiral Edward “Old Grog” Vernon who in 1740 first ordered the mixture to be served to sailors in the place of neat spirit. Vernon’s nickname is from the grogram coat he often wore. Grogram is a mixture of silk, mohair, and wool which has waterproof qualities.

Race Redux

2009-09-17T07:27:00.001-04:00

In the second race of the Magothy fall series, what started out as a windy day ended in 25 kts., overcast and the back of the pack finishing with running lights on.

Twice around the buoys may have been a bit much. Several boats retired, appparently unwilling to risk spinnakers on the final downwind leg.

Still waiting on the results. Maybe a protest lodged by Rocket Science is holding things up.

Best Bay Boats - Alberg 30

2009-09-16T10:25:00.004-04:00

A new feature here on Sailing Maryland. We're taking nominations -- so here are the parameters: 25-35' LOA, with decent, used examples at less than $50,000.

Meantime, we're going to start with one of our favorites: the spunky little Alberg 30, the 60s/70s-era plastic fantastic from Canada, designed by the legendary Carl Alberg.

She's got circumnavigations to her credit but also seems to do respectably well on the various PHRF circuits -- not bad for a greying, modified full-keeler.

On the Chesapeake, there's the added benefit of an enthusiastic class association (http://www.alberg30.org/Assoc/) offering, among other things, a number of A30 one-design races throughout the year.

Clean, well-maintained Alberg 30s run $15-$20K.

My Old Man and the Sea

2009-09-15T11:05:00.004-04:00

Someone pointed this out to me a few weeks ago. Whatever you thought about William F. Buckley the irascible conservative, it's hard not to like Bill Buckley the irascible sailor. A nicely written ode from his son:

http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/q=ZGMxYjAzMTFlNDBjZTU2ZjMxY2JiYWI4NzkzMDA2MDE =q=ZGMxYjAzMTFlNDBjZTU2ZjMxY2JiYWI4NzkzMDA2MDE=

Race Wx

2009-09-15T07:51:00.001-04:00

Wednesday in both rivers will be 10 kts. out of the ENE with a better than even chance of rain.

Nautical word of the day ...

2009-09-14T14:20:00.001-04:00

BY AND LARGE: Current meaning "in all cases" or "in any case."

From the nautical: by meaning into the wind and large meaning with the wind: as in, "By and Large the ship handled very well."

Over 50'/Under $50,000

2009-09-14T07:28:00.004-04:00

A good friend of mine, Larry Ricci, once quipped that broken dreams could be easily indexed on the Internet. "Just go to yachtworld.com, select over 50 feet and under $50,000," he said.

In honor of Larry's insight, we are creating an occasional feature on Sailing Maryland that utilizes his extraordinary methodology.

First up is this 55' wooden schooner, custom-built in 1950. She's lying (slowly rotting?) somewhere in Ft. Lauderdale and could be yours for the incredible sum of ... you guessed it, $50,000!

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1950/Custom-Built-Schooner-2043105/Ft.-Lauderdale/FL/United-States

The fact that the only photos of her underway look like hand-tinted daguerreotypes or that she would require a crew of 12 from a Patrick O'Brian novel, should not put us off. She is "An ocean vessel wanting to ply the caribbean or the south pacific islands, with you in charge," the write-up assures us.

"As the anchor drifts to the bottom in the crystal clear water the sounds of island drum music and singing floats across the water," the blurb continues. "... Before departing your sailing vessel to go ashore, your sailing mate comes up from below in an island srong [sic] with a rum punch."

"You feel lucky, knowing that you may have purchased one of the last large sailing vessel capable of this type of comfortable crusing," it concludes.

Sighted on the Magothy ...

2009-09-12T12:05:00.001-04:00

Victory is a 44-foot pilothouse cutter -- a one-off Ted Brewer-commissioned design. According to the current owners, she was built over a two-decade period in the backyard of an Everett, Wa., doctor.

Fiasco on the Potomac

2009-09-11T12:56:00.004-04:00

On the 8th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the ever-vigilant Coast Guard aggressively challenges a suspicious vessel, firing 10 (count 'em 10!) "warning" shots at the boat to move it out of restricted waters.

Except, that's not what happened.

Apparently some over-eager cub reporter was scanning the VHF and overheard an impromptu "exercise" the Coasties were conducting. The speed with which the erroneous report fell into CNN's news vacuum and subsequently spat out its satellite uplink could probably be measured in microseconds.

The exercise (along with some realistic sounding radio chatter) was, according to the Coast Guard, transmitted on a training frequency.

OK, so maybe it was not a good idea to conduct such training on 9/11, but my question is this: why didn't someone have the good sense to realize that Channel 16 -- not Channel 81 (or whatever) -- would have been used to hail another vessel? That would have at least given them a few seconds pause and could have averted a very embarrassing situation.

Nautical word of the day

2009-09-11T09:08:00.001-04:00

MAYDAY: The distress call for voice radio, for vessels and people in serious trouble at sea. The term was made official by an international telecommunications conference in 1948, and is an anglicizing of the French "m'aidez," (help me).

Weekend Wx

2009-09-11T08:02:00.001-04:00

Despite the gale warning currently in effect, it looks like the weekend could be decent sailing weather.

Saturday: overcast with a slight chance of rain, with 5-7 kts. out of the NNW on the Magothy and Severn:

MAGOTHY SATURDAY:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=48&FcstType=graphical&textField1=39.08190&textField2=-76.57250&site=all&unit=0&dd=0&bw=0&BackDay.x=56&BackDay.y=14

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=21146&hourly=1&yday=254&weekday=Saturday

SEVERN SATURDAY:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=48&FcstType=graphical&textField1=38.59&textField2=-76.30&site=all&unit=0&dd=0&bw=0&BackDay.x=56&BackDay.y=14

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=21401&hourly=1&yday=254&weekday=Saturday

Sunday: is looking similar wind-wise, but the chance of rain tapers off.

Recession is over, if you want it (a boat, that is ...)

2009-09-10T10:14:00.002-04:00

In December 2007, I did a story for NPR about how the boating industry was a bellwether for the economy. At the time, things were looking pretty grim:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17620887

Well, a few months later, economists finally got around to telling us, yes, in fact, we were in the midst of a Great Recession. So, when exactly did it "officially" start?: Dec. 2007.

So, here's the good news: I recently chatted with the yacht broker featured in that story, Mr. Dave Van den Arend of Crusader Yachts in Annapolis. Now, he says, he can't keep up with demand. He's selling boats "like hotcakes."

If the marine industry is a bellwether on the way up as well as the way down, maybe this thing really is almost over.

Maybe.

Wednesday night at the races ...

2009-09-10T08:03:00.000-04:00

The first race of the Magothy River Sailing Association's fall series started out with a bang, literally.

A collision between a couple of non-spins rounding the windward mark caused much sound, but little fury, as neither was damaged enough to retire. We think the Pearson 30 Merlin had rights, but it was hard to tell from our (uh hum, distant ...) perspective.

The weather was just about on target, too, with give or take a bit on 12kts and a fine mist of rain by the finish.

Meanwhile, far back in the pack, was our C&C 27 Options (Larry Ricci, skipper). Our star-crossed campaign continues, thanks in part to a botched sail change at the top mark by yours truly:

http://www.magothysailing.com/racing/2009/2009_wed_s6r1.html

In future, I hope to carry some sort of report on the high-society races at that other river to the south.

Remembering Walter Cronkite, Sailor

2009-09-09T11:50:00.000-04:00

CBS commentator Andy Rooney recently remembered an outing (on the Chesapeake?) with colleague Walter Cronkite aboard the late anchor's 64-foot Hinckley ketch, Wyntje.

Rooney describes the pair in the cockpit watching a man ashore yelling and gesticulating. Cronkite waved back. A few moments later, the yacht's keel touched bottom.

Rooney: Didn't you hear that man yelling 'shallow water'?
Cronkite: Oh, I thought he was saying 'hello, Walter'.

Nautical Word Of The Day

2009-09-09T10:12:00.001-04:00

BAMBOOZLE: From the 17th century, it described the Spanish custom of hoisting false flags to deceive (bamboozle) enemies. Works equally well in 21st-century politics.

This is what 50+ kts. looks like under sail:

2009-09-09T07:58:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ-gdqo35os

Wednesday Race Wx

2009-09-08T14:27:00.000-04:00

September is here and looks like we can leave behind the August "painted ship ..." light-air races. Wind and rain in the forecast:

ANNAPOLIS fleets are looking at NNE at 15-20 kts. with rain likely:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=0&Submit=Submit&FcstType=graphical&textField1=38.59&textField2=-76.30&site=all&unit=0

MAGOTHY RIVER folks should get a steady 13 kts. out of the NE:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w7=thunder&w8=rain&AheadHour=0&Submit=Submit&FcstType=graphical&textField1=39.08190&textField2=-76.57250&site=all&unit=0

French cat l'Hydroptere breaks speed record

2009-09-08T14:15:00.000-04:00

... a blistering 51.36 kts. over 500 meters and 48.72 kts. over one nautical mile!

http://www.hydroptere.com/_en/

NOAA forecasts

2009-09-08T13:13:00.000-04:00

What was up with this weekend's Chesapeake Bay forecast? Last I checked (on Friday), it all looked good through the holiday. Instead, it started blowing stink Sunday afternoon. A lot of boats (power and sail) caught out that had to be helped into slips in the 25kts. of gust.