Update
We’ve all seen it, a motorised obstruction looms at the worst possible moment. Usually it’s a nimble rubber thing with an outboard engine on the back not a foolish but still solid 30-foot New England launch – madly reversing to avoid the lovely Germán Frers Snr designed 1942 ketch Kalue at the start of the 2010 Bermuda Race. Things like this can swing you in the debate about boating licences
never thought imaginable on a sailboat. We have sailed up to and passed small powerboats where the passengers turn with the WTF look on their faces. How is that even possible? Does it create pucker factor? Yep, pucker factor is pegged. Is
it an amazing sensation bearing away in a solid 25kt of wind speed? Yep! There are no words really to describe the acceleration as at that moment all of your senses are engaged. You don’t really have time to process the environment or speed around you except when you hear Goody say ‘Go hard, boys’ you know we need more oil. The more oil produced by the eight grinders the faster we go. When in doubt grind! At this writing we are roughly three weeks from shutting down the
American Magic sailing operation in Pensacola, Florida. It is hard to believe how quick time is going by in this America’s Cup cycle and I am certain all teams are feeling the pressure right now. The seven- month delay in foil arms has condensed all teams’ development time and put all aspects of every operation under extra pressure. I can see strengths and weaknesses that this creates inside our
four walls. It is not a lack of experience, that is for certain. I am continually impressed by our entire shore team. The Dazzers and Bobos of the world don’t relent, as hard and as frustrating as it can be to come back to the dock with the same issue day in and day out. They just keep going as it is our job and it is the curse of being pioneers. Chasing this elusive trophy comes with consequences and I
guess that the bags under our eyes tell the story. When I look at some of those who have persevered successfully in the America’s Cup: Ed Baird, Grant Dalton, Dennis Conner, Tom Whidden… Having worked for and with all four, they are great testaments to the resilience and drive that it takes to win this regatta. I always enjoy talking and listening to Tom about race seven in
1983. Liberty enjoyed a big lead at the last top mark and on the day every decision was netting a gain. Knowing those types of day when you can ‘do no wrong’ and hearing Tom tell the story he puts you in
14 SEAHORSE
the moment. The outcome of that day has changed the sport for ever and in the story you can still hear Tom questioning his decisions (read more in our profile on page 52). But for any 14 or 51-year-old kid what an incredible demonstration
of perseverance, team and determination. Not because they lost but because he and Dennis stuck it out and over the next four years demonstrated what the power of the team, smarts, and a faster boat can achieve. Lots of lessons in that story! Speed is relative in this America’s Cup as every AC75 will be
hauling the mail. The trick, I suspect, will be the boat that has the ability to accelerate up on the foil most quickly, stay on the foils in manoeuvres and finally be fast in a straight line. The manoeuvring and straightline components are contradictions as one does not necessarily lead to the other. The team that can achieve both consistently will win. In April we will get our first look at where the fleet stands. Four
teams will line up for the first time and it will be good to see where we are strong and weak against our competitors. In the mindset of continual improvement it is about maintaining
consistency in your strengths and identifying/improving your weak- nesses. As Tom recently reminded me, Stars & Stripes sat out the 12 Metre World Championships the year before the America’s Cup. A big call, for sure, and yet the team that won that regatta did not make the semi-finals the following year when it counted. A great lesson and a reminder! Standing by at 21,000ft on United 96 en route to Ft Lauderdale
TIME TO WALK THE WALK? – Stevie Smith Last summer I attended two big European small boat regattas. Both events were excellent but what was pretty alarming from a sustain- able and environmental aspect was that there were over 300 private RIBs… yep, 300 RIBs out on the water for five days burning fuel following sailors!!
DANIEL FORSTER/PPL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122
