Monthly Archives: July 2012

The Water Wing, aka l’Hydroptere

Photo © Kimball Livingston When we slowed to 22 knots, it felt like sailing into molasses. That is the addiction of speed. And I appreciate it, Jimmy Spithill, that you once showed me 28 knots on an AC45, but the boys on l’Hydroptere let me drive at a boatspeed of 34 knots. Top number for [...]

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New Zealand’s AC72 Launched

The first of the new generation of America’s Cup boats will be shown off Down Under tonight in a ceremony scheduled to start at 10:30 pm Pacific. Emirates Team New Zealand is the first team with a boat in the water. Pics can be viewed at Sail-World. The christening will be streamed live at the [...]

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Alaska’s finest Eagle

Once upon a time I was visiting the Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship, and somebody asked if I wanted a tour of Alaska Eagle. No big deal, but why not? And then there I was, walking the deck, prowling below, and this feeling crept over me. Gosh. Alaska Eagle. Ex-Flyer. Round the [...]

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Traditional Sailing in Tonga

It’s billed as the largest boat ever built in Vava’u, and it is sailing now after a six-month build in the fisheries shed at Halaevalu Wharf, Neiafu. Named for the Kingdom of Tonga’s beloved Queen Salote Tupou III, whose 46-year rule began at the age of 18 and ended in 1966, here is the new [...]

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The Spithill Start

Oracle Team USA wants you to know — Photo by Guilain Grenier/Oracle Team USA Jimmy Spithill showed some great cojones on the start line at ACWS – Newport. At least three times during fleet racing he set up at the windward end. As the fleet approached the line he hung a few lengths back waiting [...]

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First Timer’s Guide to San Francisco

Really, it’s everything you need to know . . .

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A New Solo Transpac Record

A year ago Alex Mehran sailed a doublehanded Transpac in his Open 50, Truth, but came away a lot less happy than he is with this year’s race, solo, and a new Singlehanded Transpacific Race record. Mehran’s passage of 8 days, 12 hours shaves nearly two and a half days off the previous record, set [...]

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American as Apple Pie

USA-17 still in shrink wrap; not a recent image. Photo © KL American as apple pie, that’s USA-17, and now the big tri has passed her first Fourth of July at home as an America’s Cup winner. But will she ever sail again? Probably not. Which is not exactly a first, not in the America’s [...]

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