I just read on "cnn.com" that Sir Peter Blake was shot and killed by river pirates on the Amazon River while onboard his sailboat. See link below. It is a sad day! Steve, s/v NOETA (P323)
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Roy Mosteller
What A Shame
The sailing community has lost a truely great man. He may have taken the America's Cup away from San Diego Yacht Club and the United States, but he made many friends here while he was demonstrating that he was an outstanding sailor and gracious individual. He will be missed by people around the World.
The sailing community has lost a truely great man. He may have taken the America's Cup away from San Diego Yacht Club and the United States, but he made many friends here while he was demonstrating that he was an outstanding sailor and gracious individual. He will be missed by people around the World.
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Jack
How did the surgery go on Wednesday?
Steve, I have been following your threads on your hand injury, how did the surgery go this past Wednesday? Speedy recovery. Jack
Steve, I have been following your threads on your hand injury, how did the surgery go this past Wednesday? Speedy recovery. Jack
Sir Peter Blake at 17 kts
I shall never forget the snippet of video that ESPN actually ran during the Whitbread in 1992. They'd promised to run frequent installments of the round-the-world race but typically sailing does not bring in much TV audience and they never advertised anything, even in the TV Guide, after the second part. They had video cameras mounted all over the boats for the TV coverage, you know. I wonder what that cost in money, weight, and hassle for the racers. Anyway there was a piece of video aired of Blake and New Zealand Endeavour crossing the South Pacific. What a boat! --80 ft, with two independently stayed masts; the mizzen was about three ft shorter than the main and carried its own standing forestay and roller jib (exactly what my dad designed for the Hunter 54 ketch in 1979 by the way). It had a canoe body like a J-27 with a deep fin keel about 12 ft deep and a modest bulb on bottom. And there is Peter Blake at the very aftmost quarter holding the wheel with three fingers whilst an enormous following sea (or was that wake?) rolls along just two metres beyond his left elbow. And he says, 'We've just been going along at this rate for about two days now....' --totally casually, like there was nothing to it. And you know boats always look like they're sailing faster on TV. Then he says, 'Yes, well, there's-- yes, that's 17-1/2 now on the knotmeter' --and I go, 'Whoa!' SEVENTEEN KNOTS? It looked like an afternoon jaunt. But they'd hit 20 or 22 a few times already. That totally blew me away. I don't think I ever actually SAILED faster than 10. Imagine doing 17-20 knots round the world in THAT climate and weather. We look at the Open 60s like they are worthy race boats (and they're not, really-- they're profoundly unsafe and finicky to handle) and then here's the NZ team and Blake doing the race (and winning it) in a very conservative 80-footer with refrigeration and pressure water and so forth, a proper yacht, really, and roaring through the Roaring 40s at 20 knots. Sorry-- that just blows me away. The pirates ought to hook up with bin Laden since they're obviously invited to the same party. JC 2
I shall never forget the snippet of video that ESPN actually ran during the Whitbread in 1992. They'd promised to run frequent installments of the round-the-world race but typically sailing does not bring in much TV audience and they never advertised anything, even in the TV Guide, after the second part. They had video cameras mounted all over the boats for the TV coverage, you know. I wonder what that cost in money, weight, and hassle for the racers. Anyway there was a piece of video aired of Blake and New Zealand Endeavour crossing the South Pacific. What a boat! --80 ft, with two independently stayed masts; the mizzen was about three ft shorter than the main and carried its own standing forestay and roller jib (exactly what my dad designed for the Hunter 54 ketch in 1979 by the way). It had a canoe body like a J-27 with a deep fin keel about 12 ft deep and a modest bulb on bottom. And there is Peter Blake at the very aftmost quarter holding the wheel with three fingers whilst an enormous following sea (or was that wake?) rolls along just two metres beyond his left elbow. And he says, 'We've just been going along at this rate for about two days now....' --totally casually, like there was nothing to it. And you know boats always look like they're sailing faster on TV. Then he says, 'Yes, well, there's-- yes, that's 17-1/2 now on the knotmeter' --and I go, 'Whoa!' SEVENTEEN KNOTS? It looked like an afternoon jaunt. But they'd hit 20 or 22 a few times already. That totally blew me away. I don't think I ever actually SAILED faster than 10. Imagine doing 17-20 knots round the world in THAT climate and weather. We look at the Open 60s like they are worthy race boats (and they're not, really-- they're profoundly unsafe and finicky to handle) and then here's the NZ team and Blake doing the race (and winning it) in a very conservative 80-footer with refrigeration and pressure water and so forth, a proper yacht, really, and roaring through the Roaring 40s at 20 knots. Sorry-- that just blows me away. The pirates ought to hook up with bin Laden since they're obviously invited to the same party. JC 2
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Paul Akers
Surfing at 29 kts!
Imagine surfing at 29kts on a 50 footer. I remember reading during the last Around Alone race that J.P. Mouligne (sp?) hit 29 kts surfing down the face of a wave in CRAY VALLEY. (I wouldn't want to pitch pole at that point).
Imagine surfing at 29kts on a 50 footer. I remember reading during the last Around Alone race that J.P. Mouligne (sp?) hit 29 kts surfing down the face of a wave in CRAY VALLEY. (I wouldn't want to pitch pole at that point).
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Paul Akers
More info on Peter Blake
I know most of you have probably read the detail about this, since it's such a large story in the sailing world, but some regions of the country may not get the coverage. Being located near Newport, RI, plenty of sailing news comes our way. This is an AP story. See the link below.
I know most of you have probably read the detail about this, since it's such a large story in the sailing world, but some regions of the country may not get the coverage. Being located near Newport, RI, plenty of sailing news comes our way. This is an AP story. See the link below.
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