Dennis Conner at the helm

[Gary Wyngarden]

With Stars and Stripes deeply mired in the second division of the LV Cup, Dennis took the helm for the first time in this series yesterday and skippered the boat to a badly needed victory. But was this a move of inspiration or desparation? In his almost 30 years of cup experience, he has a great track record of coming from behind. Do you think he can do it this time against the likes of Alinghi and the rest?Gary WyngardenS/V Shibumi H335

 

[Paul]

Easy Pickings...

I thought he drove an OK start, it reminded me of the 12-meter days with all of the circling. But I think that Ken Read has driven well, too. There's nothing wrong with that crew at any position.The boat is just slow in the mandated moderate air conditions. Doesn't matter who has the wheel in his hands, Stripes can't compete against the top boats--at least not in 12 knots.It's too bad, I like the idea of an American boat with actual Americans on board.

 

[Carl and Juliana Dupre]

Tentative

I thought DC looked rather tentative and a bit uncertain behind the wheel. But then I don't think that he has done much sailing in IACC boats recently. As for besting Mascalzone, their record (1 - 11) speaks to that "accomplishment". Ken Read has probably sailed as well as anyone else out there; Stars and Stripes just seems a shade slower than the likes of Alinghi and One World. And DC at the helm won't change that, whatever his ego may think. S-and-S doesn't have as many $$$millions to work with, and that may well be the determining factor in these days of $$$billion sponsors and campaigns that started literally the day after the last challenge ended. AC competition has changed a great deal in the last 20 years; it now seems to be a full-time profession unto itself!What I find more interesting than seeing DC at the helm is watching the young tigers like James Spithill and Dean Barker; very talented and very aggressive.But then seeing DC out there on his 60th birthday made us feel very good. See; we're not so old after all!Carl and Jules/v 'Syzygy'

 

[RREgge]

Carl and Jule are you still in the water?

Carl and Jule are you still in the water? We hope to get a few more sails in this year.Russell Egge

 

[Carl and Juliana Dupre]

Yo, Russell!

Hi, Russell! We pulled this week. We also had hoped to get one more weekend in, but the weather just didn't seem amenable. We enjoy 20-25 knots with temperature over 60 degrees. But that wind with temperatures in the 40's isn't our idea of fun. In those conditions, a hot tub is much more appealing than the ocean! We seem to be settling into a cold fall weather pattern. But now that we have pulled, of course, we will have a gorgeous Indian Summer weekewnd coming! Ah, well.......We will now have to get our sailing thrills vicariously every night on OLN watching the LV and AC series.Carl and Jules/v 'Syzygy'

 

[Jay Eaton]

Or Watch it Live

I am using Virtual Spectator to watch some of the races live or near live using their telemetry. It is a fun program.