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March 2015

Sailing the Northeast

Fordham Sailing

Zero to #6 in 15 Years

Volvo Ocean Race

On Its Way To Newport

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U.S. Coast Guard Academy Coastal Sail Training

Editor’s Log What will be the next Junior Trainer?

This winter has afforded many of us an abundance of time to daydream about sailing. I admit having been jogged back to reality by a horn honk at a stoplight, or a Matchbox car to the head while shirking my fatherly duties during playtime. It’s hard to keep the mind from wandering during the fifteenth re-run of Curious George. It’s easy – almost therapeutic – when surrounded by snow and bitter cold to transport oneself to a boat bobbing in warm water and summer breeze. Most often, I think back to my junior sailing days; my most relaxed days.

My junior trainer was a Blue Jay and for my first years in the program, I used a club-owned boat. Back in the day they were in pretty rough shape. These were vintage vessels (even then!) and because we were a member-run, volunteer club, each winter a family would take a boat home for maintenance. Since folks possessed varying degrees of repair aptitude when it came to fiberglass, paint and varnish, it was always interesting to see what ‘came out of the shed’ come spring.

Because of the aesthetic variances of those members, hull colors (likely chosen by what was on special at the paint store) were particularly special and boats acquired names such as Blueberry and Fern. We kids didn’t care because all we wanted to do was get out on the water and have some fun. We had our favorites when it came to racing, but nobody using a club-owned boat had much of a chance against those shiny, white, unmolested private ‘yachts.’

This was a special time for me because it was when I got my first boat and garnered an appreciation for keeping a boat shipshape. I often think about those days and how fragile the boats were, frequently sinking beneath us (often on purpose during those especially stifling summer days). And now, as an adult, I think about what a burden those boats had become because of their shortcomings. I think the current crop of junior trainers is suffering the same fate.

Much has been written recently about retaining sailors as they age out of junior sailing, or are attracted to alternative sports. Certainly great strides have been made with regard to big boat training, and many manufacturers have been producing boats designed to appeal to the lateteen, early-twenties crowd. But creating and retaining great memories (and skills) is essential to keeping kids hot on sailing, not just sticking it out until the end of their junior program.

I recently saw a picture of an Optimist team trailer loaded for the highway. There were about a dozen hulls and a coach boat lashed down to the thirty or so foot rig. I got to thinking how neat and tidy a pram is for transport. I also remembered how annoying the Optimist was/ is in so many ways. But, as successful as the Opti has been, I got to thinking that even this venerable entry-level staple can’t live on forever. I suspect parents and program directors are longing for a more durable, easy-to-launch boat with a competitive price point. And perhaps more importantly, it seems kids are looking to rig (more) quickly and go faster earlier in their training.

Boats like the O’Pen BIC, RS Tera and Feva, and LaserPerformance Bug meet many of the criteria to emerge as the entry- to mid-level trainer of choice, and perhaps one, with widespread acceptance, could replace the Optimist. Clubs, however, seem to still be searching for a ‘do-it-all’ boat in the 14-foot range that can be banged around while still providing a safe, easy-to-handle and exciting platform. But, let’s face it, no matter how conscientious little Sally is or how many shipshape awards little Johnny wins, any boat in a junior program is going to get beat up. The bow bumpers, fire hose dock wrap and RIB coach boats can only do so much.

With no intermediate trainer clearly ruling the waves, I wonder what’s on the horizon, or currently being developed that will actually fill the gap between (or replace all together) the Opti, Laser/420, and so on. A scalable platform that, like the Laser, can accept different rigs to provide more horsepower as the sailor’s skills increase seems, to me, to be the best way to go.

But that’s not enough. The boat must also be stable, have a self-bailing cockpit, easily storable rig and spars, and a hull that’s both light for easy shoreside handling and tough enough to withstand years of use and abuse. A tall order for sure.

I am sure that plenty of Opti moms and pops have done their share of daydreaming this winter too, thinking about running a successful junior program with happy parents and smiling kids. And the debate about providing the best all-around boat undoubtedly incites frequent and lively discussion. I am attending the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound’s Annual Meeting this month to see what’s being planned for junior programs (new boats, different development tracks, etc.), and I am interested to hear what program chairs, boat dealers, designers and importers think fits the bill. I look forward to seeing (and sailing) that boat!

See you on the water.

Sailing the Northeast Issue 141 Publisher Anne Hannan anne@windcheckmagazine.com Editor in Chief Christopher Gill chris@windcheckmagazine.com Senior Editor Chris Szepessy zep@windcheckmagazine.com Contributing Editor Joe Cooper coop@windcheckmagazine.com Graphic Design Kerstin Fairbend kerstin@windcheckmagazine.com Contributors Ann Baldelli, Sharon Benton, Meredith Block, Maria Burton, Samuel Cabot, Maria Coughlin, Captain Ed Cubanski, USCG, Dan Dickison, Bob Flemming, Dave Foster, Elizabeth Foulston, John K. Fulweiler, Fred Garvin, Sam Greenfield, Fran Grenon, Zeke Lyons, Barby MacGowan, Kate Mouligne, Dennis Murphy, Anderson Ogg, PhotoBoat.com, Vin Pica, Tom Pilkington, Colin Rath, Jane Reilly, Dan Rennie, Amory Ross, Ainhoa Sanchez, Leah Lopez Schmalz, Ryan Schreck, Joe Sullivan, Joan Thayer, Onne Van der Wal, Bill Wagner, Bridget Walter, Dave White Ad Sales Erica Pagnam erica@windcheckmagazine.com Distribution Satu Lahti, Man in Motion, Chris Metivier, Prolo Services, Rare Sales, Jack Szepessy, Urban Distribution WindCheck is a monthly magazine. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the members. WindCheck encourages reader feedback and welcomes editorial contributions in the form of stories, anecdotes, photographs, and technical expertise. Copies are available for free at 1,000+ locations (yacht clubs, marinas, marine retailers, restaurants, sailing events & transportation centers) in the Northeast. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute WindCheck should contact us at (203) 332-7639. While WindCheck is available free of charge, we will mail your copy each month for an annual mailing fee of $27.

Mail payment to: WindCheck Magazine P.O. Box 195, Stratford, CT 06615 Phone: (203) 332-7639 Fax: (203) 332-7668 E-mail: contactus@windcheckmagazine.com On the web: windcheckmagazine.com WindCheck is printed on recycled paper.

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Contents

Editor’s Log 6

Letters 10

Checking In 12

Long Island Sound 31 Catalina Association

The Herreshoff Seamanship 32 Program

Features 22 Teaching Life and Leadership Lessons Through Sailing: The Coast Guard Academy Coastal Sail Training Program

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT recently commissioned a fleet of boats for cadet sail training. Each summer, cadets sail the waters of New England for two weeks aboard the eight Leadership 44s, each one with a seabird namesake.

Lieutenant Commander Zeke Lyons tells the story of this outstanding program.

25 The Ideal Women

Shortly after she and her husband joined Stonington Harbor Yacht Club in Stonington, CT, Kathy Sinnett was asked to spearhead a program to give women an opportunity to go sailing with other women on the club’s fleet of Ideal 18s.

Ann Baldelli has the story on this fast growing part of the sailing community, which is being emulated at clubs throughout the country.

Take the Helm® 14th Women’s 34 Sailing Conference

Captain of the Port 35

Sound Environment 36

The Boating Barrister 37

Calendar of Events 38

Tide Tables 46

Full-on Fun at Quantum 52 Key West Race Week

Subscription Form 56

Fairfield University & 57 SAIL BLACK ROCK Intercollegiate Trophy

Coop’s Corner 58

5th Annual Connecticut River 59 Dinghy Distance Race

Sperry Top-Sider Charleston 60 Race Week

Comic 60

Broker Tips 62

Brokerage 63

Classifieds 65

Advertisers Index 69

On the cover: Bridget Walter shot this dramatic photo of members of the Fordham University Rams racing in a stiff breeze on Eastchester Bay, with the Manhattan skyline in the background. You’ll find the story of this team’s remarkable comeback on page 54.

On Watch: J. Russell Jinishian 70

© Bridget Walter/North Fork Memories

28 Cuba Libra!

The recent opening of Cuba to travelers from the United States has created a wealth of new Caribbean cruising destinations. Colin Rath, who is enjoying a long-term cruise with his family aboard their Hanse 545 Persevere, says the island nation is a beautiful place that’s home to very friendly people…and a park that his daughters liked better than Disney World.

48 The Volvo Ocean Race is Coming to Newport in May!

The current edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is the closest in the event’s history, and this spring the City by the Sea is going to get its first taste of Life at the Extreme. Fort Adams State Park will provide close-up spectating for the In-Port Race, and the Race Village will offer something for everyone in the family. Start planning your visit!

54 Zero to #6 in 15 Years – A College Sailing Success Story

An enthusiastic group of students and alumni have revitalized the Sailing Team at

Fordham University in New York, NY. A former team member, Joe Sullivan (Class of 1958), who proudly serves as the volunteer Director of Sailing, chronicles the Rams’ resurgence from a defunct club to a strong presence in the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.

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Letters What Happened TeamVestas Wind?

Editor’s Note: John Fulweiler’s “Boating Barrister column titled ‘What Happened Team Vestas Wind?’ garnered a great deal of response last month and the grounding of the Volvo Ocean Race team is still a subject of much discussion. The following is an excerpt from a letter sent in via email. To read the letter in its entirety, go to windcheckmagazine.com.

From Cruising Log of the Murrelet The saying that there are two kinds of sailors, those who have run aground and those who will run aground, is comforting to those recently grounded. But grounding rarely involves shipwreck and, with modern electronics and reporting, the chances of being unintentionally grounded, let alone shipwrecked, are minuscule. This means that investigators must diligently research the possibility that shipwrecking is a purposeful or negligent act. There is also need to look holistically at the system under which the team operated.

If the vessel is fully insured, then financial gain becomes a motive. It was very common around the 1900s for owners to cash in on shipwrecks. Typically the wreck involved a sailing vessel in commercial service and the wrecking benefitted owners in converting from sail to steam power. Sailboat sailors could not

trust owners with their lives during these times. Rumors spread from crew to crew (scuttlebutt) regarding possible purposeful shipwrecking, served to alert all to the risks. The risks typically were not compensated for.

What Can Be Learned There are at least a few things to be done moving forward. The first is for Captains of race boats to apply the standard applied in the U.S. which is to gather information from multiple sources.

This could take the form of having others check the work, others including onboard crew, shore crew and race management.

Next, flicking team members off of crews between legs must be discouraged, because this promotes a gang "yes man" mentality and lack of transparency. But that will not fully make the race boat seaworthy. Many do not know that the U.S. navy allows 19 year olds to operate huge war boats that must race across seas to perform their duties on a need to know basis. The U.S. Navy way of decision making is the way it should be in racing.

Frank Mighetto, Via E-mail More on Vestas Wind It is a case of situational awareness, and all of the questions [John Fulweiler] asked about paper charts, a co-pilot, a depth sounder, or perception of changing sea state are all part of maintaining situational awareness. The five crews who passed the shoal ahead of Team Vestas Wind were wary, and knew that it did not show

up on vector charts without a big zoom. The causes of the TVW loss of situational awareness are a great place to start on lessons learned.

Peter Rugg, Fishers Island, NY

for the review you wrote of My Name is Luke [January/February 2015; windcheckmagazine.com].

Observations at NSPS About 300 sailors attended the National Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) in New Orleans in January. The three-day symposium was jam-packed with presentations, seminars, panels and most important, networking. Attendees were from Yacht Clubs, Community Sailing Programs, boat and equipment manufactures, and US Sailing, who organized the event.

Some of the presenters were from the Northeast, and from my perspective, a recurring theme at many of the sessions was how to keep junior sailors and women involved in sailing. The vast majority of the juniors enrolled in our programs, it turns out, are not interested in competitive sailing and we need to find other paths to keep them engaged and involved in our sport.

Ideas such as Adventure Sailing, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), destination sailing, windsurfing, stand-uppaddleboarding, and kayaking are all ways to keep juniors and women interested.

Paul Risseeuw, Ivoryton, CT

I haven’t staked the farm (if I had one) on the book’s acceptance, however, stringing a host of words together in hopes of giving diversion, entertainment, and fun to other people is an aim that appreciates appreciation.

Thanks, Jim Ruddle, Rye, New York

My Name is Luke I finally had a chance to pick up a copy of the Jan/Feb WindCheck and I can only say that I am eternally grateful

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Jim – We’d stake the farm (if we had one) that your book will be well received! We look forward to your next. F

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Checking In...

Local Organizations and Individuals Honored by US Sailing Several sailing centers and sailors from the Northeast are among US Sailing’s 2015 Training and Community Sailing Award winners. The awards were presented at the National Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) in New Orleans, LA in January.

Oakcliff Sailing in Oyster Bay, NY received the Captain Joe Prosser Award for Excellence in Sailing Instruction, which is given to an organization that has made an exemplary contribution toward improving the quality and safety Oakcliff Sailing’s Training Program Director Liz in the training or instruction Shaw (left) and Alicia Martorella, Sailing Director at The Waterfront Center, were among of sailors. Alicia the honorees at US Sailing’s awards dinner.

Martorella, © US Sailing Sailing Director at The WaterFront Center, also located in Oyster Bay, NY, was named Outstanding Community Sailing Director for her notable contributions to promote public access sailing in the development and organization of a sailing program.

John O’Flaherty, Executive Director of the Community Boating Center in Providence, RI, received the Marty A. Luray Award, which is presented to a deserving recipient who has made an outstanding and unselfish contribution to further public access sailing. He’s created programs that allow children from various socio-economic backgrounds to go sailing for little to no cost.

Hallie Payne, the Camp Director and Supervisor of Overnight and Community Sailing at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT, received the Excellence in Instruction Award. During her ten years as an instructor and Director, Payne has played a prominent role in the education of more than 6,000 students.

The Young Mariners Foundation in Stamford, CT received the Creative Innovations in Programming award, which recognizes programs or individuals who have successfully found new and different methods for teaching sailing. Nantucket Community Sailing in Nantucket, MA received the Outstanding Outreach & Inclusion Award for making notable contributions to promote public access sailing. F

Bart Dunbar Named RIMTA’s John H. Chafee Boater of the Year

Bart Dunbar of Newport, RI, Chair of the non-profit organization Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) and President of Bowen’s Wharf Company, has been named 2015 John H. Chafee Boater of the Year by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA). The award recognizes and honors an individual who has contributed to the success of the recreational boating industry in Rhode Island or championed the cause of bringing recreational boating to the public. RIMTA President Dick Cromwell and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit presented the award to Dunbar at the Providence Boat Show.

Dunbar’s contributions to helping more individuals gain access to sailing include his key roles in the development of Bowen’s Wharf and the incorporation of the American Sail Training Association (now Tall Ships America) in the early 1970s; the cofounding of Sail Newport after the loss of the America’s Cup in 1983; and bringing Rhode Island’s Official Sailing Education Vessel, the 200-foot, three-masted SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, to life.

Bart Dunbar (left) receives the RIMTA Boater of the Year Award.

Also pictured are Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, Governor Gina Raimondo, and Representative Kenneth Marshall. © Kate Mouligne

“This is deeply appreciated, and I’m very humbled,” said Dunbar. “When SSV Oliver Hazard Perry is at her berth at Fort Adams this summer, the people of Rhode Island are going to be as proud of their Tall Ship as we have been in building her. As a symbol for our state, she has served and will continue serving local and regional economic interests, but specifically we will be bringing an education-at-sea to a variety of different groups, including kids who might not otherwise have such a chance to step outside their boundaries and challenge themselves in ways they could never even dream of.” F Barby MacGowan at Media Pro International contributed to this report.

12 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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Checking In...

11th Hour Racing Supports US Sailing Reach Initiative 11th Hour Racing, a Newport, RI-based program established

by The Schmidt Family Foundation that specializes in fostering strategic partnerships within the sailing and marine communities to promote collaborative systemic change for the health of our marine environment, has provided an educational grant to US Sailing. The $100,000 grant will fund US Sailing’s efforts to grow sailing as an educational platform for youth through the Reach initiative and bring more awareness to environmental and ocean stewardship.

“We are thrilled that 11th Hour Racing has demonstrated confidence in US Sailing’s Reach and put their valued resources behind this critical initiative,” said US Sailing Executive Director Jack Gierhart “Reach has a unique ability to engage kids about STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] education through sailing, while teaching them about leadership, teamwork and self-confidence.”

Developed in 2012, US Sailing’s Reach initiative was created as a national education venture to inspire schools and sailing programs to utilize sailing to teach STEM subjects and stewardship to youth. Originally piloted through the support of

© reach.ussailing.org

the John B. “Jim” and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation, Reach has established itself as a pioneer and leader in the integration of STEM education with sailing.

“11th Hour Racing is excited to support the Reach Program’s innovative approach of integrating youth sailing education with meaningful environmental stewardship,” said 11th Hour Racing Co-Founder Jeremy Pochman. “US Sailing is uniquely positioned to provide community sailing centers across the country with STEM curriculum and high quality training.

By furthering their investment in the inspiration and education of young ocean stewards, they clearly demonstrate their commitment to protecting the health of our waters now and in the future.” For more information, visit reach.usssailing.org. F

14 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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Checking In...

Oliver Hazard Perry Teen Summer Camps The first ocean-going full-rigged ship to be built in America in over a century will begin sailing this spring, and teens from around the country and the world will board in July and August for thrilling one- and two-week Education at Sea camps. The 200-foot Sailing School Vessel (SSV) Oliver Hazard Perry, hailing from Newport, RI, has a 500-ton steel hull and a 130-foot tall rig with square sails on all three masts. She will have a captain, officers, a cook, an engineer and a dozen other professional crewmembers, but the balance of her crew will be the students themselves.

Olivia Lawrence of Kittery, ME participated in Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island’s camp for Seacoast Youth Services aboard the Tall Ship Mystic last August. © Ryan Schreck

“They’ll learn to haul lines, hoist yards, climb the rigging, tie knots, keep lookout, and even steer at the helm, along with other seamanship skills,” said Captain Richard Bailey, “but most important, they’ll learn to be good shipmates and good citizens of their greater world.”

Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI), the non-profit organization responsible for the ship’s construction, has outfitted her with three classroom spaces: a science lab with tanks and water monitors, a traditional classroom outfitted with a library and a SmartBoard, and an historically-inspired Great Cabin – all in addition to the communal mess (dining area), galley, state rooms, engine room, chart house, fo’c’sle, and three dormitories.

Tentative schedule and itinerary (subject to change): July 5 -18, two weeks from Newport, RI to Portland, ME for ages 12-15, July 26 - August 1, one week from Boston, MA to Newport for ages 15-18, August 2 - 15, two weeks from Newport to Boston for ages 15-18, August 16 - 22, one week from Boston to Newport for ages 12-15

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Camp price is $1,600 for one week and $3,000 for two weeks, which includes tuition and all meals. For a reservation form, call 401-841-0080 or visit ohpri.org/teen-summer-camp. For more information, follow the ship at Facebook.com/OHPRI. F Barby MacGowan at Media Pro International contributed to this report.

16 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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Checking In...

Mystic Seaport Names New Director of Exhibits

Mystic Seaport has promoted Elysa Engelman to be the Museum’s new Director of Exhibits.

Engelman will be responsible for creating and delivering an ongoing program of dynamic, interdisciplinary exhibits that attract diverse audiences and introduce new scholarship and content in support of the Museum’s mission and strategic vision. She will direct all aspects of exhibit design and production.

“Elysa Engelman takes on this position at an exciting time for the Museum, and we are very pleased that her exceptional creative, innovative, and academic expertise will play an important role in maximizing the potential of the new Gallery Quad,” said Susan Funk, Executive Vice President of Mystic Seaport.

Engelman assumes the directorship after 10 years as Exhibit Researcher/Developer for the Museum, where she has contributed to the creation of numerous exhibits, including “Women and the Sea,” “TUGS!,” “Black Hands, Blue Seas,”

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and the upcoming “Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers” due to open this June. She was also intimately involved in the programming of the 38th Voyage of the Charles W. Morgan last summer.

Engelman holds an undergraduate degree in English and Theater Studies from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Boston University in American and New England Studies. She has also been a guest lecturer at the Williams-Mystic Program at Mystic Seaport and an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut. She is a resident of East Greenwich, RI, where she lives with her husband and family. Mystic Seaport is the museum of America and the Sea. For more information about current or upcoming exhibits, go to mysticseaport.org. F © Dennis Murphy/Mystic Seaport

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Checking In...

Marion Bermuda Racers Will Earn Priority for 35th America’s Cup

Rhode Island Composites Alliance Receives Seed Funding

Sailors entering the 20th Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race, which starts June 19, 2015 in Marion, MA, will earn priority status at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club to watch the 35th America’s Cup, which will be held in Bermuda during the month of June 2017, from the comfort of their own boats.

© Spectrum Photo/Fran Grenon

“Racing the 2015 race leads to special opportunities for those interested in this year’s race and in the next race, too,” said Ray Cullum, Marion Bermuda’s Marketing Director. “Skippers racing this year will be given preferential dockage and mooring space at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club in 2017.

Skippers and crew in the 2015 race will have the current rates guaranteed plus first refusal on dockage and mooring space for the 2017 race. They may also receive special discounts following this year’s race surrounding their stay for the America’s Cup.”

The race was also recently named a “Signature Event” by the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “The accolade is not only fantastic or the race itself, but also for the participants,” Cullum continued. “In partnership with the Bermuda Tourism Authority we will be able to offer our competitors and their guests a number of discounts, specials and other perks as a part of the Signature Events package.”

Registration for the biennial 645 nautical mile Marion Bermuda Race is now open to all cruising boats with an LOA of 32 feet or more. For more information including the Notice of Race, regulations for eligible entries, and the Mentor Program for first-timers, log onto marionbermuda.com. F

The Rhode Island Composites Alliance (RICA), a newly formed partnership of companies and stakeholders focused on growing the composites industry in Rhode Island, has received $175,000 in funding from the Rhode Island Foundation and the van Beuren Charitable Foundation. The announcement was made at a press conference organized by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) on “Launching into the Future: Growing Rhode Island’s Marine and Composites Industries,” held on the opening day of the Providence Boat Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center in January.

“We are going to create good jobs by focusing on industries where Rhode Island can be a leader, such as the marine and composites industry,” said Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, one of the dignitaries at the press conference.

Rhode Island’s boat-building industry was a pioneer in working with composite materials, and this method is now used for a wealth of applications including alternative energy, architecture, green technology, defense, construction, aerospace, underwater submersibles, and transportation. The state has a high concentration of composites expertise, coupled with strong education and training capabilities, mold-building capacity, and a long tradition of innovation. There are 75 companies in Rhode Island involved in many aspects of composite building.

Rambler 88, an all-carbon maxi recently launched by New England

Boatworks in Portsmouth, RI, exemplifies Rhode Island’s leadership in the composites industry. © neboatworks.com

RICA currently has some 50 members, including composites companies and regional and national stakeholders. The funding will allow the organization to begin their industry- and workforcedevelopment initiatives. RIMTA is working with RICA members and stakeholders such as the IYRS School of Composites Technology to launch the organization. For more information, contact RIMTA at info@rimta.org or 401-396-9619. F Cynthia Goss contributed to this report.

18 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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CJ Salustro Joins North Sails as Sail Care Manager, Milford, CT Christopher (CJ) Salustro has joined North Sails as the sail care manager at the company’s flagship loft in Milford, CT. An experienced sailmaker and marine industry professional, Salustro will manage the sailmaking team in Milford.

“North Sails is proud to have CJ back after a six-year hiatus where he worked in other areas of the marine world,” said Pete Colby, North Sails’ North American Sail Care Manager.

“He has over 20 years of sailmaking experience and has participated in a number of notable events including the Annapolis to Newport Race, Marblehead to Halifax Race and Block Island Race Week, just to name a few. He has logged thousands of offshore miles, so he understands the importance of making sails that are durable and appropriate for

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their application. CJ has also worked as a sailing instructor so he knows how to translate his knowledge and experience to younger sailmakers, which will make our Milford loft a great environment for up-and-coming sailmakers to learn the trade.”

Salustro grew up near the Connecticut shoreline and has enjoyed both racing and cruising in the waters from New York to Newport, RI and beyond. He has done everything from frostbiting on Lasers to racing offshore, and he spent three years as an instructor at J/World in Eastport, MD. “Returning to North Sails is great and I am proud to be back with the industry leader,” said Salustro. “I still enjoy competitive sailing whenever time allows, but right now I am focused on working with North clients to be sure their sails are ready for the upcoming season.

North Sails is known for innovation and technology and I look forward to delivering top quality sail care to match our reputation and the expectations of our clients.” Salustro can be contacted at cj.salustro@northsails.com or 203-783-4270. F

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Shelley Brown Joins Sailors for the Sea

Sailors for the Sea, a Newport, RI-based conservation organization that engages, educates, inspires and activates the sailing and boating community toward healing the ocean, has appointed Shelley M. Brown, Ph.D. as its new Education Director.

“Shelley will be leading the growth of our marine education program, KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans),” said R. Mark Davis, President of Sailors for the Sea. “With her strong background in science, she will bring a great deal of knowledge to the curriculum of our lesson plans for informal educators along with all of our other programs.”

Dr. Shelley Brown doing research onboard F/V Mister G. The monitoring project in Rhode Island Sound collected and documented bottom dwelling marine species including the large skate pictured. © sailorsforthesea.org

A native Rhode Islander who has spent a lifetime sailing with family from Bar Harbor, ME to Long Island, NY, Brown earned her doctoral degree at the University of Rhode Island, with a focus on microbial ecology in coastal marine environments.

She has gained experience in education as the Program Director of the Block Island Maritime Institute (BIMI). She was also previously a member of the education team at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and has served as a visiting scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Atlantic Ecology Division.

“I am truly honored and excited to be part of such a passionate group of people working towards improving our ocean’s health,” said Brown. “I look forward to combining my passion for education and sailing in this exciting role.” To learn more about how Sailors for the Sea is working with boaters to become catalysts for change, visit sailorsforthesea.org. F

20 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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2014 Participating Lines

Teaching Life and Leadership Lessons Through Sailing

The Coast Guard Academy Coastal Sail Training Program

By Lieutenant Commander Zeke Lyons U.S. Coast Guard Academy Hotel Company Officer and Sailor I have the best job in the world. For the last three summers from my homeport in New London, Connecticut, I have sailed with U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets on a two-week sailing adventure where we cruise to some of the finest ports in New England on our fleet of 44-foot sailboats. On this trip, the cadets practice peer leadership, teamwork and of course, seamanship; but it’s so much more. It becomes an experience of life-changing self-discovery that leads to a liking for the sea and insights and life lessons that add meaning and purpose to their existence as future Coast Guard officers.

The cadets that sail are new second-class cadets who are halfway through their four years of academic classes, physical and moral development and professional military and seamanship training. They have spent the previous summer

sailing on Eagle, our historic 295-foot tall ship. This halfway point marks what many of the cadets say is the highlight of their Academy experience – sailing on eight of the Academy’s new Pedrick-designed, Morris Yachts-built Leadership 44s through our Coastal Sail Training Program. In this program, cadets are divided into crews, usually six or seven per boat, and paired with a safety officer (the other luckiest Coast Guard officers in the fleet; all of whom are instructors at the Academy who teach everything from Physics to English Literature to Mechanical Engineering – plus one civilian sailing coach who leads the program). Four of the boats then sail together for two weeks, stopping in Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, Woods Hole, Newport, and Stonington.

What works best about this trip is that the cadets have full responsibility for operation and navigation of the sailboat, and they thrive under such immersion and autonomy. Each day, the cadets rotate through the positions of engineer, deckhand, navigator, cook and watch captain, who is overall in charge. For perhaps the first time in their cadet careers, they really feel the burden of responsibility, and the peer leadership they practice is a bigger deal than they think. They make real-life decisions with regard to navigation, sailing evolutions, and docking. We even give them cash to go shopping for their meals, which they cook on board – some cooking for the first time.

“I think the biggest challenge for me was leading my peers,” said Cadet Jasen Kingsley. “Our lives are so centered around a chain of command with superiors and subordinates, but on this trip we have to hold our peers, our friends, and our equals accountable. In such tight quarters, next to only five or six of our classmates, we must do this and find a way to do it successfully because if we don’t that sailboat is not going to go anywhere.” At the end of each day of sailing, we debrief and the cadets humbly and openly reflect on each day’s lessons learned related to sailing, leadership, and followership. Because the experience of the day is so fresh and real, there is always plenty to talk about and commitments to make to change for the future – for example, tomorrow.

The secret is, though, that it’s not just about the sailing.

We want the cadets to come away with a liking for the sea, a seaman’s eye, navigation and sailing skills – and they do. But it’s about the life and leadership lessons learned aboard that can be applied to the future. It’s about transferring what they learn while sailing toward living more abundantly in life, as leaders, in relationships and in organizational life. On this trip, there are choices and consequences, failures and conquests, the facing of dangers and plodding on in rigorous conditions; there is triumph and tragedy, all of which are strung together in an adventure story with a happy ending. On the boats, it’s an environment where mistakes are mutually inevitable, expected, celebrated and most importantly – learned from. Needless to say, it’s the ultimate teaching job. Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound, said it best when he wrote, “I regard it as the foremost task of education…to ensure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness of sensible self-denial, and above

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all compassion.” Our job, as safety officers, is that we first teach them to sail, and then in two weeks we watch them grow up.

To do so, we take a break from emails, reports, papers, classes and finally get to really live! The most important thing each morning is not the traffic and news or how many meetings we have that day; rather, the most important thing is to know from which way the wind will blow and how strong it will be. Here are some of the other life and leadership lessons that we teach:

You can’t always get where you need to go by going directly there.

The cadets learn this one easily on our first upwind sailing day. As they try to beat into the wind they find that they have to tack back and forth to get there. Unlike a powerboat, sailboats can’t go straight to their destination. And this might be the enchantment of sailing. It’s about enjoying those zig-zags – taking the longer, more scenic route. It’s about zigging over here so we can zag back to make the mark. There are real consequences for zigging when we should have zagged, and sometimes a 90-degree zag becomes a 540-degree, Tony Hawk-style-skateboarding-roundabout (come on, you’ve all seen a tack become a jibe)! In life and in our careers, we’ve all likely experienced unplanned detours and unexpected zig-zags.

Upon reflection, we can all probably be glad for the zigs and zags and other surprises that didn’t take us straight from here to there.

There were the doors that closed that allowed for others to open. Perhaps it was the road less traveled, as Robert Frost wrote, that made all the difference. My life has not gone according to a plan, and I’m glad it hasn’t because it has been better than the plan! What is the destination of life anyway? Is it Egret is one of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s eight Leadership 44s. © LT Anderson Ogg

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USCGA graduates (l – r) Alex Rennie, John Locke and Chelsea Sheehy, all from the class of 2014, are currently serving as U.S. Coast Guard officers. © LT Anderson Ogg

about the journey or the destination? On this trip, we zig and zag to special places so that the cadets can truly appreciate that it is about both journey and destination. Just like life.

You have to say what you need in order to get what you want.

On a boat, and a sailboat in particular, the cadets learn a whole new language. They learn that you can’t just say, “Pull on that line over there.” They learn that they have to say, “Take the slack out of the portside jib sheet.” To really sail a boat is to fully utilize each unique piece and part appropriate to its capabilities.

During the trip we talk about how true this is in our life and relationships. People, like sailboats, are complex. We talk about how we might have unmet expectations because they haven’t been expressed. In other words, we can’t get what we need because we haven’t asked for the specifics of what we want. The cadets reflect about whether anything in their relationships is left unsaid or generically glossed over and, as a result, never attained.

Organizational and relational improvements come from facing facts and realities. Good feedback and learning requires specifics from teachers, coaches and those we trust.

On every sailing trip with cadets, there is conflict. Many times, there are covert issues that remain under the table; among the crew there are always differences in expectations, commitment and work ethic during the trip. I’ve seen it both ways. Sometimes the cadet sailors don’t address the issues on the boat in the name of morale, but find that morale declines with unaddressed issues. Those cadets that risk confronting the topic work through it and talk it out, and ironically have more morale at the other end. In group dynamics-speak, it’s the storming that comes after forming, but this needs to happen in order for the team to norm and perform. The cadets almost always discover that it was worth it.

Susan Wheelan, a group dynamics writer, wrote, “to engage in conflict with others and to ‘work it out’ is an exhilarating experience. It provides energy, a shared experience and a sense of safety and authenticity, as well as allowing WindCheck Magazine

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for deeper trust levels and collaboration.” In life and on organizational teams, we constantly face conflict, issues, frustrations, and differences in expectations. On sailboat crews, we learn that these differences are best prevailed over through conflict management rather than conflict avoidance. The best crews and teams say what they need in order to get what they want; and they are usually better off for it.

On a boat you can’t hide. You’ve got to be real.

Living in tight quarters on a boat requires real authenticity.

Cadets come aboard with a variety of identities and simplistic reputations, and I’ve seen those reputations smashed. I’ve seen cadets with a certain history of conduct (for example, they got in trouble once) who have emerged from a trip as a solid sailor with the earned confidence of their classmates and looking like high-potential future officers. In life and on our crews, we might think that we know each other, but there is always more to know.

On a boat, there are moments to get vulnerable. We get out our Book of Questions and ask each other probing questions like, “Would you trade beauty for more brains?” and, “What would you do differently if you knew a nuclear war was coming next year?” and, “What are you afraid of?” We reflect on the value of getting to know each other beyond the simplistic version of what we think we know. Cadets who are adversaries or strangers can turn into friends with more understanding, perspective-taking and appreciation of differences. Authenticity is valued and new friendships are always born. On a boat, social behaviors matter as much as task behaviors because the cadets are living together and working together – much like their future life on a Coast Guard cutter. Authenticity requires vulnerability – both of which are much easier to withhold in a typical nine-to-five day job. Not so much on a sailboat, and it’s awesome. It is so freeing to be real.

You might have to scale back on exposure in order to be more in balance.

No day on a sailboat is the same as the last. Unlike an office

Participants in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Coastal Sail Training Program navigate the waters of southern New England for two weeks. © LT Anderson Ogg

job, every single day on a sailboat is special because of our exposure to the environment – and it’s the environment that is in charge. A heavier wind can overpower the boat, and we inevitably have days where it takes more work to keep the boat in balance. Various options exist for the cadets to reef our sails or ease the pressure, and we can find a new equilibrium that feels more manageable. In life and work, as with a heavy air day on the boat, sometimes we feel as if we are being blown over or overpowered.

During those days, it might be best to “reef our sails” to minimize exposure and let some things blow by. We might not be able to catch everything that comes our way and still have an enjoyable journey. This realization leads to some very interesting reflections about trade-offs and balance. The cadet sailors are constantly experimenting with small adjustments with an awareness of all the forces inside and outside the boat; the cadets can make a small change – a little pull on the outhaul or an adjustment to the backstay, for example – and see a big result in performance. Like flattening or reefing the sails allows for a more comfortable ride, similarly there are little tweaks we can make to our life physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. On this trip, the cadets reflect on how, in the future, they will continue to face forces and pressures from various directions, and they decide which new habits or new routines, some of which might be small, that if tried, might make a big difference for an existence more in balance.

Getting anywhere requires a strong core and a homeport.

Second class cadets (l – r) LT Anderson Ogg, Jess Mulroy, Tharindu Wathuthanthri, Matt Chapman, Hayley Smith, Alyssa Milanese and Ricardo Rodriguez in port during a recent cruise. © LT Anderson Ogg

Throughout the trip, we face strong winds and currents, which inevitably, we don’t get to choose which direction they are blowing or flowing. Nevertheless, we adjust our sails and our techniques and we still make progress in our chosen route. Every single day we make it to a destination and we have always safely made it back to our homeport. We realize that every day we have overcome because we have had a strong keel deep under

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water. Our keel, the foundation and core of the boat, has kept us stable when everything above the water wanted to blow us over, wash us out, or push us in the wrong direction. Yet, with a strong keel, we’ve been able to arrange our rig so that we can get where we want, not where the environment would take us if we were weak.

On the last day of the trip we discuss what foundation the cadets are standing on; we examine what core is keeping them stable and steering straight. This can be a family or faith, but we all need something rooted deep if we are to overcome and ultimately make an impact. I ask the cadets if their “personal keel” needs attention, deepening or strengthening. During the trip, I like to wander around dry docks and see boats out of the water. I like to appreciate and admire what’s below the waterline.

Ironically, as any Naval Architect can tell us, it’s about what’s under the water that keeps the boat afloat. Just like we might not have noticed our keel until we really needed it – when the wind wanted to blow us over or our boat got battered about by the waves, likewise, our character and values get tested under conditions of adversity, temptation and hardship. Our major realization is that boats with a strong keel and cadets with a strong core of character will prevail over whatever forces are against us.

After the adventure, returning to homeport is always bittersweet. I return to my supportive wife and kids and the cadets get back to work. Both the boats and the crews get

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cleaned, rested, recharged, refueled and ready for the next one – whatever that means for each one of us. The beauty of sailing is that in our journey of only two weeks, we each come back forever changed. Cadet Jasen Kingsley said, “We don’t often realize it until after the summer, but in a way we really sense a difference about ourselves and our classmates.” That means to me that I’ve accomplished the mission. The cadets recognize that they have moved towards greater maturity with new insights, self-awareness, and friendships. With newfound courage and confidence they are ready to brave the next storm and continue on with more effective living in life, relationships and in our organizations. F Lieutenant Commander Zeke Lyons is a company officer at the Coast Guard Academy where he teaches Organizational Behavior and Leadership. Originally from San Diego, he started sailing as an undergrad at San Diego State University. He has a Master’s in Organizational Psychology from Columbia Teacher’s College in New York City. His first sailboat was a 23-foot boat named Off-Duty Two, which he sailed on the Columbia River. He lives in Mystic, CT with his wife Abby and sons Levi and Saylor. He can be reached at zekelyons@hotmail.com. *The views expressed herein are those of the author and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Commandant or of the U. S. Coast Guard.

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March 2015 25

The Ideal Women

By Ann Baldelli Industry observers are reporting that women are the fastest growing segment of the sailing community, a fact not lost on the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club in Stonington, CT when it started a women’s sailing program three years ago. Now, on Thursday nights in season, the docks and clubhouse at SHYC are dominated by the “Ideal Women.”

Kathy Sinnett and Joan Soons (left and right) enjoy a sail in Stonington Harbor with a friend from Shelter Island Yacht Club. © shyc.us

In the February edition of Sailing Magazine, author Nick Hayes, an advocate for family and community sailing, wrote, “The fastest growing and most active group entering sailing is made up of active, outdoorsy adult women, who eventually bring their friends and families.” And that’s exactly what has happened in Stonington, where, after prodding by club leadership several years ago, the women’s sailing program was launched on the club fleet of Ideal 18s, lightheartedly calling themselves the “Ideal Women.”

“It started as an opportunity for women to go sailing with other women, and the idea was to take away the dynamic of guys pretending to be in charge,” said SHYC Fleet Captain Chris Sinnett, a retired Coast Guard captain and former commanding officer of the Coast Guard’s Barque Eagle. Sinnett’s wife, Kathy Sinnett, a lifelong sailor, was approached shortly after the couple joined the club and asked to establish a program to get more women out on the water and in sailboats.

She did. Since 2012, on Thursday evenings from May to September, women show up at 5:00pm to sail the club’s Ideal 18s in Stonington Harbor. At about 6:30, they return to the

dock and clubhouse, where they have cocktails, dinner, and lively conversation with each other and any family members or guests who join for dinner. On days when the weather is too inclement for sailing, the Ideal Women will gather by the clubhouse fireplace to tie knots and drink wine.

This past summer, 50 Ideal Women participated in the program. Of that number, 40% were women new to the club or to the women’s sailing program. Thirteen were guests, three of whom have joined the club or are considering membership.

Over the season, 20 qualified women skippers participated, and three additional women were qualified to skipper the Ideal 18s throughout the season.

When the women’s sailing program started, the goal of organizers was to promote sailing and on-the-water social activities for SHYC women. The intention was to increase the comfort level, sailing, and seamanship skills of the participants in a supportive and social manner. Each week the crews change, with one advanced, one intermediate, and one new sailor sharing an Ideal 18. By changing up the crews week after week, the women meet other participants and learn different skills from the various skippers.

Commenting on the program, new sailor Jan Hinkle said the best part of the club’s Ideal Women activity is the camaraderie it has fostered on-the-water and in the clubhouse. Tori Gimple, a member of the Ideal Women from the beginning, added, “It’s a social sailing and we all learn from one another. We problemsolve together. But mostly we have fun.”

Indeed, the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club’s women’s sailing program has succeeded. It’s so popular that there’s discussion now about starting a similar group for men. In fact, the success of the Ideal Women has inspired more family sailing and on-the-water activities at SHYC. With its fleet of six Ideal 18 keelboats, five Optimists, and one 420, recreational sailing is high on the agenda

The Ideal Women strike a pose at the SHYC-Essex Ladies Challenge Regatta. © shyc.us

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at the club.

For instance, this past summer, the club revived its youth sailing program to get young children involved. Another new program is Monday night family sail. This program was modeled on the women’s sailing program and involves children from kindergarten to high school sailing with parents or guardians and returning to the club afterwards for a barbecue on the patio.

The club also initiated an Introductory Guest Sailing Program last summer, which allowed visitors to participate in club sailing programs and use of the Clubhouse for as short as a week or as long as six weeks, for one season only. Part of the appeal of the Guest Sailing Program is that participants can take part in all of the club's recreational sailing and racing programs, including the women’s sailing program.

“One thing I can say about sailing is that it doesn’t happen without some help,” said Chris Sinnett. “People wonder, ‘How do I get out there? How do I reserve boats?’ So learning to sail is just one part. The other part is showing it is logistically easy to do.”

The youth, family, guest, and Ideal Women programs all introduce members to the club’s fleet, and how to access the boats, whether as part of a program or on their own once they qualify.

Tucker Bragdon, a sailor since the late 1960s and the club’s former Fleet Captain, partners with Chris on Thursday nights to get women out to the Ideal 18s and answer any questions they have. But the decision-making, he said, is left up to the women.

“They might ask us a question, but what happens is determined by the women themselves,” said Bragdon.

And that’s a good thing for sailing, which has seen a decline

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in participation since its glory days in the 1970s and ‘80s. As the industry and advocates work to reverse that trend, they give a nod of appreciation to programs like SHYC’s Ideal Women.

SHYC Vice Commodore Betsy Bowman, an active sailor, noted that the number of women participating in Stonington is the envy of other clubs up and down the Sound. And the Stonington Ideal Women have reached out to the ladies at Essex Yacht Club in Essex, who they race against once each year, to brainstorm ideas to get more women and clubs participating.

But the Ideal Women do not just sail and dine. They fully participate in the club’s many year-round activities both on and off the water, crew with their friends and families in club-sponsored races, and join other club members on SHYC’s extensive summer cruising schedule. They are also mainstays in the on-the-water race committee support team from SHYC for the annual Special Olympics Fall Games State Regatta, sailed in Stonington Harbor annually.

“People in the club know, if you need something done, call the Ideal Women,” said Kathy Sinnett. And she emphasized that the simplicity of the women’s sailing program has led to its success: “It was a magic formula and we stuck with it.”

To learn more about the Ideal Women, visit shyc.us, click on “Jr & Family Sailing,” and scroll down to “Ladies Sailing.” F Ann Baldelli is a longtime reporter at The Day, a daily newspaper in New London, CT. She makes her home in Stonington, where she is a member of the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club. While she enjoys sailing, she spends more time on the water in small powerboats.

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March 2015 27

Cuba Libra!

By Colin Rath Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a series of dispatches from the Rath family (Colin & Pam, daughters Breana, Meriel and Nerina, dog Aspen and cat Wasabi), who departed Stamford, CT last fall for a worldwide cruise aboard their Hanse 545 Persevere.

You can read Part One at WindCheckMagazine.com (Search for Persevere).

Little did we know when we rounded the Spanish castle Fortaleza de San Pedro Del Roca Del Morro at the coast of Santiago de Cuba what had transpired that day. It was 8 am on December 17, and we had just sailed from the Bahamas and had intentionally been out of the news loop for a while…one of the main points of cruising, right? We were quickly brought up to speed when the Cuban health inspector boarded Persevere.

Like the rest of the world, Cuba initiated a superficial Ebola inspection for arriving vessels before we would be allowed to dock for the other five departments’ inspections.

We were prepared for this from research that told us checking in can take a full day or two.

Dr. Luis asked if we had a thermometer. Pam acknowledged that we did, and was asked to take all our family’s temperatures. It was hot, so

be a familiar conservation. All of Cuba saw foreign visitors as Internet information ports and were eager to capitalize on any new relation to the outside world.

After copying several documents on our on-board printer for the doctor for his future inspections (good copies are expensive ashore, we all know how expensive toner is, think how expensive it would be in a closed country). Upon his exit, Dr. Luis thanked us on the quality of the copies and asked for a couple Heinekens for his wife. He put the beer in his briefcase and we were allowed to proceed to the marina for docking thanks to Nurse Pamela’s accurate temperature readings. Further inspections in port lasted the rest of the day and continued the next morning with the vet checking our dog Aspen and cat Wasabi. The Cubans say that they learned bureaucracy from the Russians, and they were good students.

Above left: The we offered him a glass of water while Pam was doing her new entrance to nursing duties. Dr. Luis refused, but suggested he would gladly Santiago de Cuba. accept a cerveza on this day of celebration.

Above: Jump

With Heinekens at 9 am, Dr. Luis proceeded to tell me starting the truck how he would be interested in going into business with us to at Baconao Right: El Salton promote tourism on the web. How there is no information for people coming to Cuba on where to go and what to see? He © Persevere60545.com was excited about the possibilities on the future relations with America since President Obama announced he was opening relations with Cuba again that morning. Dr. Luis invited us to dinner at his home to discuss it further. This turned out to 28 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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Meriel at Baconao © Persevere60545.com

Now, a point of clarification. We did not know that you are allowed to bring pets into Cuba with the correct documentation, but they are not allowed to leave the marina that your boat is in and the authorities prefer that the animals stay on the boat. This was news to us because we had done research and nothing about that restriction was mentioned, but it was prudent because Cuba is littered with wild packs of disease-ridden dogs. The last thing a visitor wants is to be walking a dog down the local streets and have a pack of wild dogs show up. The marina was pleasant, with restaurant and bar and conventional with cement docks.

Tap water was only for washing the boat – drink only bottled water in Cuba! Once we were organized, we proceeded to explore the city.

I am sure you have heard all about the 1950s American cars with fins still on Cuban roads, and they are. But, you have to realize that they have literally been on the road since the ‘50s without any manufacturers’ parts or dealer service. These cars are held together with handmade parts and jury-rigged repairs, and many are barely drivable. None of the speedometers work or any of the gauges, for that matter, and most of their shocks went in the ‘70s. The fact that these cars are still on the road may be a testament to American manufacturing quality in the ‘50s, when products were built to last. Unlike nowadays where products are manufactured to only last until the next version comes out in six months. Still, the tailfins are cool.

On one of our taxi rides to Santiago de Cuba, while coasting down a hill (all Cuban taxi drivers do this to save fuel) our driver saw something, stopped abruptly and backed up.

We were looking out the window for some animal or plant or something else we thought he wanted to show us…crazy Americans. He got out of our cab, a 1950 Lada (a small Russian FIAT), walked down the dirt road a few feet and picked up a lug nut, opened his trunk, grabbed a tire iron and put the nut on his rear wheel. Upon his return, he told us that he was down to three lugs on that wheel and needed to find that one he lost last week to keep the wheel on. We decided to stop asking questions about the cars after that or we probably would not have gotten in them again.

The Cuban government also provides much newer taxis that are safer and have air conditioning, but fares are twice as expensive…and you want to see the real Cuba, right? Plus most government cabs are minivans or SUVs, and the driver usually windcheckmagazine.com

brings his family on longer fares. Our driver took his wife and child along for the ride when we took a visit to El Salton in Sierra Maestra, about two hours away in the mountains where Castro began his rebellion. We didn’t want to break down in the hills with an old American car, and decided the expense was worth the air conditioning and shocks for a more comfortable long ride. El Salton, Cuba’s highest waterfall, plunges into a large swimming hole in a dense jungle. It was beautiful and relaxing, and the kids enjoyed a swim in fresh water for a change. There was a nice resort nearby that served a quiet lunch surrounded by beautiful natural jungle and flowers.

To learn more about the people of Cuba, we befriended a young man named Oscar Mendez, who was on winter break from college where he was learning English. Osacr became our guide and jack-of-all-trades during our visit. He knew where to change money on the black market (local DVD pirates were the “bank,” give an 8% better rate), where to get the best cigars (a box of 28 Cohebas in a sealed box for $60) and fresh fish.

He taught my daughters how to salsa and brought us to local salsa clubs (actually people’s houses where they have bands play and sell drinks) and private homes for meals, to name a few. He also helped set up a trip to Parque de Baconao, an 800-square kilometer park in which a complete Jurassic Park is brought to life in actual-size cement sculptures. Baconao was built in the 1970s by political prisoners. My kids thought it was better than Disney World.

We teamed up with two other cruising families in the marina (one French and one Austrian family we met along the

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way that had children) and rented a truck to drive us to Baconao with a stop on the coast for a swim and lunch. Everyone loved climbing on top of the dinosaurs with many photo opportunities and enjoyed a good swim on a beautiful beach. We had lunch right on the beach, with fresh fish, shrimp, octopus, beer, fresh fruit, plantains and live local music.

It was fortunate that we brought such a large group, since the truck had lost its starter decades ago. We were the “starter,” and it took all 10 of us to push start this large truck after each stop. It was a large yellow truck with metal benches along the sides and handholds on the ceiling of a type that is used for buses in Cuba. It got us there, but comfort was not one of its benefits.

A word of caution: Be careful when befriending the locals, because once you make friends with their We shared a Christmas dinner with Oscar’s family. family you will start © Persevere60545.com running into them, their girlfriends and neighbors along your travels and before you know it you have an entourage for lunch. Remember, foreign visitors are the only “Internet” that they have and they want more, and it can be overwhelming at times. But since it was Christmas, we embraced our new extended family and spent most of our days touring with Oscar’s family and had several meals at his home, including Christmas dinner. They went out and got a turkey; they had never had one and wanted to celebrate an American Christmas dinner.

It was nice meal, much rum was had, and there was much dancing and celebration. We exchanged addresses and will keep in touch with our Cuban family.

Cruising rule #2: Go all-in native when visiting a new country. [In Part One of this adventure, Rath says the Most Important Rule of Cruising is: Let the Weather - Not Your Timetable - Determine Your Schedule.] Forget any perceptions about the location and learn what the real people feel about their country and yours, and try everything. Don’t hesitate. Use common sense, of course, but let your inner child out and view the place as a new world. My family had a real non-commercialized Christmas for once and met people with very little who were willing to share all they had with us to explore new relationships. We still did the traditional present giving, but we expanded it to our new Cuban family and got back much more than material gifts.

My daughter Breana learned to be a good Salsa dancer (you can see her on our Facebook page, Persevere60545), and made a good friend with Oscar’s daughter Daniella.

I learned how to dive for squid and de-ink them for cooking. My family went to local markets and saw how people in other countries sell meat, vegetables and produce cement stalls and no refrigeration), which made our children realize how lucky they are. Life during our voyage has become about new experiences and touching people again, as life should be. I know this is what my family wants to be doing more of, and think the world might be a better place if more people put down their phones and actually conversed with each other. F In addition to family cruising, Persevere has a very ambitious racing schedule. After a season in the Caribbean that includes the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta in March, the Raths are returning to Newport, RI in June. Their 2015 racing calendar (with additional crew) includes the NYYC RORC Transatlantic Race in July, the Rolex Fastnet Race in August, the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October, and the RORC Transatlantic Race (Lanzarote, Canary Islands to Grenada, West Indies) in November. Look for updates on Persevere’s journey in future issues of WindCheck.

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Long Island Sound Catalina Association Welcomes New Members

By Bob Flemming The Long Island Sound Catalina Association (LISCA) is comprised of sailors in the Long Island Sound area that presently own or previously owned Catalina cruising sailboats. Members, with boats ranging from 25 to 47 feet, reside on Long Island, in other parts of New York, in New Jersey and throughout Connecticut, with boats harbored in many ports on Long Island Sound.

Above: A few members’

Catalinas on a recent visit to Norwich, CT. Right: Exploring a Connecticut River backwater. © Bob Flemming

The focus of LISCA is on shoreside social events during the winter and cruising events during the summer. The shore events tend to be located in western Connecticut, within easy reach of members by car, while the cruising events tend to be in one of the many harbors of Long Island. LISCA owns three moorings, one each in Port Jefferson and Northport, NY and Stamford, CT, and has applied for moorings in three eastern locations. Among the highlights of the summer is the association’s two-week cruise to ports in eastern Long Island, eastern Connecticut, and further to the east.

At the recent LISCA annual meeting, members recapped the 2014 season and discussed plans for the 2015 season. This winter’s events include a welcoming potluck supper for new and prospective members in January at a member’s home in Trumbull, CT, and an early afternoon dinner meeting at a waterfront restaurant in Stamford, CT. New and prospective members are welcome at these two events, but please visit the LISCA website first and call ahead to let the host know you are coming.

Spring will be welcomed at a member’s home in Norwalk, CT in April, followed by a gathering of members in what is commonly windcheckmagazine.com

A LISCA flotilla cruises down the Thames River between New London and Groton, CT.

called Conscience Bay in Port Jefferson Harbor during the Memorial Day weekend, which will have a hot dog roast/potluck dinner on the Sunday afternoon. In early June, many LISCA members venture to West Harbor in Oyster Bay for dinner on the beach adjacent to the St. Gertrude’s carnival, and to City Island and Liberty State Park in late June. The July Fourth weekend offers another opportunity for a raftup, with many boats again returning to Port Jefferson.

The summer cruise is still in the planning stages, but is likely to begin in early to mid-July and venture to harbors around the eastern end of Long Island Sound and Rhode Island. The 2014 cruise went as far east as Provincetown, MA, where members saw Mystic Seaport’s whaleship Charles W. Morgan sailing during her historic 38th Voyage.

LISCA has had an August rendezvous at Northport Yacht Club in Northport, NY for many years, at a time when many Northport YC sailors are away on the club’s summer cruise, and another one is planned for mid August. LISCA will also have a lobster bake on the beach at Port Jefferson during our Labor Day weekend raftup. The final events for 2015 include a visit by car to the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD, and the LISCA annual meeting at a member’s home in Milford, CT.

For more information about LISCA, visit sailLISCA.com.

We look forward to meeting the owners of other Catalina sailboats during our 2015 events. F

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The Herreshoff Seamanship Program

By Maria Coughlin The Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, RI offers interactive and unique sailing programs for youth and adults during the summer on Narragansett Bay. All classes are taught on historic Herreshoff 12 1/2s, 16-foot wooden sloops with jib, main & spinnaker, or our Sea Sprite 23. We also offer a 12 1/2 rental program for those interested in taking these classics out during the season.

The mission of the Herreshoff Seamanship Program is to teach the art of seamanship and the principles of sailing with an emphasis on excellent instruction, as well as the design, beauty, and unique features of these classic vessels. Our objective is for our students to love sailing and feel a sense of accomplishment. We hope they take away respect for the boats and the elements, as well as selfreliance, responsibility and accountability. It is such a unique opportunity to sail these 100-year-old boats in Bristol Harbor and Narragansett Bay!

Youth Program Youth classes are offered during the week, Monday - Friday, full day or half day. Our students range in age from 7 to 15, with opportunities for our instructor-in-training program for 16 and 17-year-olds. No experience is necessary – all levels are welcome! Students who sign up for a one-week session will learn the basics and get a feel for how a sailboat actually works. Each week we offer on-the-water instruction as well as “chalk talks” on land. Students will learn boat terminology, wind direction, and tacking and jibing. Classroom time is spent learning knots and discussing maneuvers, as well as navigation.

Students are grouped according to sailing level and age. There are four students on each boat and one instructor. Students also participate in camp activities such as pirate day or a sail to Hog

Sailing classes in the Herreshoff Seamanship Program are taught in Herreshoff 12 1/2s. © Maria Burton Photography

Island, a museum scavenger hunt, and ultimate Frisbee. Parents have the opportunity to go sailing with their child on Friday afternoons and see what they have learned. There is an awards ceremony and ice cream social each Friday following the parent/ child sail.

We highly recommend that students sign up for multiple weeks so that they have the opportunity to truly learn the art of sailing and master new skills. As student’s progress, they can earn their “Guppie” (ages 7-9), “Mate” (10+) or “Bosun” certifications. They will build on their skills by learning by topics such as points of sail, spinnakers, mooring and docking, as well as man overboard drills. Special field trips are also scheduled for those who sign up for multiple weeks, which may include a trip to Battleship Cove or other destinations.

Scholarship opportunities are available to those who qualify. Applications can be found on our website. Safety is a high priority of the program. All students must wear lifejackets, and instructors carry a VHF radio on every boat.

Instructors are all US Sailing Level 1 and CPR/First Aid certified, and there is always a chase boat on the water with the boats.

Adult Program Our adult sailing program also focuses on seamanship and offers classes for every experience level. Beginner and intermediate classes are held twice a week, with instruction time both on the water and in the classroom. The curriculum includes boat handling, tacking and jibing, points of sail, docking, anchoring, sail trim, and much more. Class sizes are small, with Youth Program participants sail with four students and one instructor per boat. © Maria Burton Photography 32 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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The lovely 12 ½s are also available for rentals. © Maria Burton Photography

a maximum of three students and one instructor per boat.

Packages are available with four classes per package – pick the dates you’d like to attend!

Advanced classes such as Spinnaker Training and Intro to Racing are also offered on both the 12 1/2s and the Sea Sprite 23. Our new Intro to Racing class is held on the Sea Sprite during the Bristol Yacht Club’s Wednesday night races.

Participants will learn starts, basic tactics, racing rules, rounding marks, and finishes. It’s a great way for the non-racers to get out on the racecourse and improve their sailing knowledge.

Other adult classes of interest are our Wednesday Women’s Night, Couple’s Night & Private Lessons. These classes are taught once a week, and are great for those who would like to get a taste of sailing without having to commit to a full summer on the water. You can attend once or ten times, it’s up to the participant! The women’s classes are a fun night on the water building confidence and skills. Join us afterwards for a glass of wine and light snacks – a great night to sail & sip!

Rental Program The Herreshoff Marine Museum also has a new rental program for the Herreshoff 12 1/2s. These unique boats are available for rentals by qualified sailors on weekday afternoons and weekends.

This is a great opportunity for those who’d like to get out on the water without the hassle of boat ownership.

Summer 2015 with the Herreshoff Seamanship Program is shaping up to be a great one! Come join us for lessons, rentals or classes on our classic wooden boats and get the experience of a lifetime. There is nothing better than sailing a historic boat around Narragansett Bay on a summer day! Registration forms are available at herreshoff.org, or contact me at m.coughlin@herreshoff.org. F Maria Coughlin is the Sailing Director at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. windcheckmagazine.com

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March 2015 33

Take The Helm® – 14th Women’s Sailing Conference is June 6

By Joan Thayer The 14th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference, a program of the National Women’s Sailing Association, will be held Saturday, June 6 at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. At press time, Contributing Sponsors include the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) and Black Rock Sailing School.

Through combinations of hands-on workshops, seminars and on-the-water experiences, participants will learn and hone sailing skills, and network with women sailors from all points. The gathering begins before breakfast and runs through a post-conference cocktail hour where women might pick up a berth for a Wednesday night race or meet a new pal for afternoon sailing. Women of all sailing abilities are encouraged to participate. The Women’s Sailing Conference is a great way to learn from experienced and enthusiastic women sailors, and many attendees return to year after year.

The workshops are numerous and varied, addressing basics as well as techniques and skills that bring new insights to long-time sailors. There will be a hands-on Introduction to Charting, a Knots workshop, and one on handling basic diesel

Floating Dock Mooring Space Available in 2015 Milford Harbor, Milford, CT • Docks Secured with Helix Anchors & Seaflex Lines • Walk to Restaurants, Shops & Train Station • Dinghy Launch Area/Space Available • Boats up to 42’ • $25 per ft. for the Season • Free Pump-out Service

City of Milford Harbor Management Commission Milford Lisman Landing 203-874-1610 milfordlanding@ci.milford.ct.us

The Charting workshop is among the most popular.. Sue Lavoie (not pictured) has led this workshop for almost all of the 13 years of the conference. © womensailing.org

engine problems. The Suddenly Singlehanded and Advanced Anchoring seminars are always popular. Women can learn to use springlines to turn a boat around in tight quarters, and the Crew Overboard workshop includes a live demonstration at the float before participants take to boats and practice the drill.

Workshops on seasonal boat maintenance and preparing your boat for a pending storm will also be offered, while more are in development. On the water, women new to sailing will get some hands-on-the-tiller time in either a Colgate 26 or a Sonar.

Intermediate sailors can improve their skills by taking a Sail Trim workshop aboard larger craft.

All workshop leaders are experienced in their field. Some own sailing schools for women, such as Nancy Erley of Seattle, WA and Capt. Sharon Renk-Greenlaw of Casco Bay, ME. Beth Burlingame, an ABYC Master Marine Tech, leads the workshop on Marine Electronics/Marine Systems. There is always something for everyone’s interest and skill level. Simply by sharing experiences, women leave with skills and knowledge that contribute to better days on the water.

The Conference begins at 8:30 am and ends at 5:00 pm. Raffles and a silent auction benefit the Women’s Sailing Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization that funds the AdventureSail® program for young girls at-risk and provides scholarships for AdventureSail® participants in learn-to-sail community programs and other venues.

Course registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Your registration fee includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, a day of workshops and one raffle ticket. Specific workshop information and the registration form will be available at the NWSA website this spring. For further information, contact co-chairs Joan Thayer at joan_thayer@comcast.net or Scottie Robinson at rob-son@verizon.net. We hope to see you there!

The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) is a program of the Women’s Sailing Foundation, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of women and girls through education and access to the sport of sailing. To learn more, visit womensailing.org. F Joan Thayer is the Co-chair of the Women’s Sailing Conference.

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From the Captain of the Port Quick, Honey, Put This On!

By Vincent Pica Assistant National Commodore, Recreational Boating Safety Directorate US Coast Guard Auxiliary A number of years ago, as I was doing a (free) vessel exam for the owner of a very substantial yacht, I got to the part where I ask to see the life jackets. He pointed me to a locker, which I opened to find the life jackets, stowed under an anchor, chain and additional rode. This column is about that.

No Good If You Can’t Get To Them I promptly asked him, “Sir, do you have any grandchildren?”

“Why, yes, I do,” he said. “Five of them. Why do you ask?” I replied, “Imagine what forces you will be under when you say these words to your grandchildren: ‘Quick, honey! Put on a life jacket!’ and you point to this locker. Which one of your grandchildren will be able to move this anchor to get to the life jackets – which are still in their wrappers, by the way.” He blanched.

No safety equipment is of any use if you can’t get to it. Or, if no one knows where it is except you, the skipper, who is likely to be mighty busy just when safety equipment is needed. Talk about pressure!

Pre-Underway Checklist

By USCG regulations, before we leave the dock on a mission – of any type or any duration – we must, as a crew, go through a checklist akin to a vessel exam. This includes, among many items, where are: 1. The extra life jackets – we Auxiliarists must have ours on at all times, which is an EXCELLENT idea, skipper; 2. The medical kit – and ensure that none of the perishable supplies have in fact perished due to the passage of time; 3. The “visual distress signals,” i.e. flares – and that they have not expired and are serviceable; 4. The boat hook – a good tool for extending for retrieving something – or someone – that may be just out of reach; 5. The Man Overboard “apparatus,” i.e. line and ring to throw to someone who has indeed fallen overboard; 6. And fire extinguishers.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it represents some of the windcheckmagazine.com

major categories of pending disaster that may befall a skipper.

While you are dealing with the boat and how it needs to be used to respond to the emergency, your crew can be dealing with the crew’s response. Whether it be a grounding, or far worse, a vessel sinking being dealt with, you as the skipper have a lot on your mind and a lot to deal with. Can you imagine yourself also having to stop dealing with the emergency at hand so that you can direct crew to emergency equipment that will protect them and you from the effects of that emergency?

But Everyone Has a Pressure Point…

Beyond which, they start to crack. What do you do if the crew can’t handle the pressure as well as you are handling it?

Well, how about handing them a laminated layout of your boat with the location of all the equipment labeled? Seriously, of all the risks that you spend time and money in preparing for and against, have you thought about panic as a risk? What then?

“Honey, hey, enough! Here, look at this – right now – and go get everybody in life jackets. Now!”

It is likely to reduce the panic because now the crew has something to focus on other than the water sloshing on the floorboards…

Oh, remember the comment about a (free) vessel exam at the start of this column? If you want one, email me at the address below.

If you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux@aol.com or go direct to the D1SR Human Resources department, who are in charge of new members matters, at FSO-PS@emcg.us and we will help you “get in this thing.” F Captain Ed Cubanski is the Captain of the Port and Sector Commander for US Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. Captain Cubanski is responsible for all active-duty, reservist and auxiliary Coast Guard personnel within the Sector. Vin Pica, Assistant National Commodore for recreational boating safety nationally, works closely with Captain Cubanski and his staff to promote boating safety in the waters between Connecticut, Long Island and 200 nautical miles offshore. Sector Long Island Sound Command Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 203-468-4401.

Editor’s note: Weekly updates for the waters from Eastport, ME to Shrewsbury, NJ including discrepancies in Aids to Navigation, chart corrections and waterway projects are listed in the USCG Local Notice to Mariners.

Log onto navcen.uscg.gov, scroll to “Current Operational/ Safety Information,” click on “Local Notice to Mariners” then “LNMs by CG District,” and click on “First District.”

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March 2015 35

Sound Environment...

Putting the Feds on Notice

Federal government’s planned sale of Plum Island would put endangered wildlife at risk

By Leah Lopez Schmalz Director of Legal and Legislative Affairs, Save the Sound In the first days of 2015, Save the Sound (a bi-state program of Connecticut Fund for the Environment) and Soundkeeper issued a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA) under the Endangered Species Act. The letter alleges that the agencies have failed to protect endangered and threatened species while pursuing a public sale of the federally-owned island.

The 840-acre Plum Island, located off the tip of Long Island’s North Fork, has been a haven for rare wildlife in our highly developed region. Human presence is restricted due to a federal animal disease research facility, allowing the island to become a de facto wildlife refuge with a diverse array of habitats. Birds like the federally endangered Roseate Tern and the federally threatened Piping Plover use its shores, as do 57 bird species listed as being of Greatest Conservation Need in New York, such as the Osprey and Common Eider. The waters around the island are probable habitat for five species of threatened and endangered sea turtle. Threatened plants and insects also populate the island, and its rocks are one of the most important seal haul-out areas in southern New England.

Sadly, GSA and DHS conducted their environmental assessment and issued their final decision for a sale in August 2013 without sufficiently consulting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service about alternatives that could protect endangered species, as required by law. This consultation is not a mere formality—it’s essential to making sure GSA and DHS’s actions don’t jeopardize these rare plants, birds, and animals. This failure violates the Endangered Species Act and puts the natural resources that belong to the American people at risk.

New York and Connecticut leaders are in strong support of conserving Plum Island.

“Congress’ decision to sell Plum Island was flawed from the start, and GSA’s process since then has only compounded that unacceptable mistake,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “Failure to protect this environmental treasure—and the endangered species that rely on its pristine habitat—would be a true crime against nature.”

“The island—which is home to rare, threatened, and endangered species—needs to be managed by an entity that has environmental preservation as its top priority; anything else would be a step backwards in our goal of achieving a cleaner, healthier planet,” added Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that Plum Island, and the Sound as a whole, is a healthy and vibrant natural resource for the

The rocks off Plum Island are one of the most important seal haul-out areas in southern New England. © Save the Sound

next generation,” said Congressman Steve Israel (NY-3), co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus. “Maintaining Plum Island as a haven for a large number of species, including some endangered species, is of the utmost importance.”

“The Sound’s overall health and vitality is of great significance for our region and the ecological importance of Plum Island cannot be overstated,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT3), co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus. “This natural habitat is a refuge for wildlife that, once developed, cannot be undone.”

“I share the concerns of many on both sides of the Sound about the harmful impact of the statutory requirement that GSA sell the island—a requirement that short-circuits the normal process of disposing of federal property like Plum Island in a thoughtful way,” said Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2).

“The decision to sell Plum Island was, in my opinion, made without adequate critical analysis and evaluation,” said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. “The lack of development on Plum Island makes this unique open space an environmental treasure that should be preserved.”

“It is impossible to understand how the federal government could simultaneously document the island’s unique and fragile environmental, cultural, and historical resources, yet conclude that a private sale of the island for any number of potential development purposes would not result in significant environmental damage,” said Bob DeLuca, President of the Group for the East End. The Long Island-based organization is a member, along with Save the Sound, of the Preserve Plum Island Coalition.

The Endangered Species Act protects listed species from harassment or harm, including interference with breeding and feeding. In addition, it requires that federal agencies must ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by them is not likely to threaten the existence of protected species or their habitats.

Plum Island and the waters around it are a safe haven for terns, plovers, sea turtles, rare orchids, and untold thousands of migrating birds each year. The federal government has a solemn legal and ethical obligation to protect threatened and endangered species. But GSA and DHS’s current plan fails to ensure that their action will not jeopardize endangered or threatened species or destroy critical habitat. Moving forward with an unfettered sale of Plum Island therefore constitutes an ongoing violation of the Endangered Species Act. F

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The Boating Barrister A Sailor’s Gypsy Life Meets the Maritime Law

By John K. Fulweiler The ocean breeds a contempt for authority. Not the sort of contempt you punctuate with a Molotov Cocktail, something milder. I sense those taking to the sea who enjoy the voyage more than the destination chase the high of being unbridled.

No yellow lines corralling their path, no tolls, no routine of business and a momentary shedding of life’s leash. I know it’s not the only reason you smile into the wind or grin at hearing the grunt-grunt noise of the mainsheet taunting the winch, but I’d venture the freedom of our navigable waters is a big piece of the picture. And so with your thoughts now heeled over and foaming at the bow, let me don my admiralty attorney regalia and capsize your craft. Indeed, the ocean commons are actually more regulated than you realize.

First, they’re the Rules of the Road. A lot of us float around thinking we know these directives, but they’re more involved and nuanced than you may appreciate. Setting aside the myriad mandates on lights and shapes, did you know a sailing vessel is sometimes required to keep clear of other vessels such as those engaged in fishing? Are you aware of the number of degrees abaft the beam each of your sidelights need be? (It’s 22.5 degrees on either side.) My point is there’s a lot of information in those approximately 216 pages and it’s worth breaking out your teenage Scotch, propping feet in front of fire and giving them a read. At a minimum, it’ll help kindle thoughts of summer days to come.

Second, there’s a fair bit of law criminalizing actions unique to the sea. There’s a law prohibiting someone from tying up or anchoring vessels in a navigable channel so as to block the passage of other vessels. And no doubt the marine insurers are particular fans of the possible life sentence for someone who intentionally sinks a vessel. Indeed, while your state may be allowing it to all go up in smoke, Cheech and Chong risk losing their vessel to a forfeiture action if illegal drugs are found aboard. Then there’s my current favorite penalty concerning the operation of a submersible (or a variant thereof ) without nationality. Yes, unless you satisfy one of the exceptions, idling around in your own submarine could land you in the pokey for up to fifteen years.

Thirdly, as a bespectacled old partner was ought to say, there’s the standards promulgated by various agencies from the American Boat and Yacht Council to the International Maritime Organization. The kind and quantity of circuit breakers you should install aboard your vessel are as tightly tallied as the

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manning requirements for ships. Your yacht is likely subject to numerous standards for design, construction, repair and upkeep, all of which are worthy of a working knowledge.

Lastly, let me not have you forget the gaggle of rules and etiquette accompanying your social interaction with other boaters and wildlife. No Wake and manatee protection zones crowd up against vessel traffic separation, no discharge and security zones. There’s a VHF marine radio channel for distress, others for gabbing and certain channels on which to hail your marina. Don’t anchor near the eelgrass, take your trash ashore and hail the honey wagon if the holding tank is full. Why there’s burgees to be strung at certain heights, ensigns to be doffed at sunset and fenders to be hurried into the lazarette once clear of the dock.

You can’t help but like John Mansfield’s Sea Fever poem.

It’s overplayed and overused but like my Allied Seabreeze, it’s spun together with enough toughness to withstand the assault of time. His cadence makes it so you don’t even have to know much about the sea to still get momentarily lost in its salty fever.

So like he preaches, go down to the sea and that vagrant gypsy life, but keep an eye on the rules and don’t lose sight of the playing field’s boundaries.

This article is provided for your general information, is not legal opinion and should not be relied upon. Always seek legal counsel to understand your rights and remedies.

Underway and making way.

Admiralty attorney John K. Fulweiler, Esq. practices maritime law on the East and Gulf Coasts. As a former partner of a Manhattan maritime firm, John now helms his own practice located in Newport, Rhode Island where he helps individuals and businesses navigate the choppy waters of the maritime law. John can be reached anytime at 1-800-383-MAYDAY (6293) or via e-mail at john@fulweilerlaw.com.

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Calendar 2015 MARCH Daily through 5/21 Humpback Whales - This IMAX film looks at the most acrobatic of all whales, why only the males sing, and why these intelligent 50-foot, 48ton animals migrate more than 6,000 miles every year. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT; 203-852-0700, ext. 2206; maritimeaquarium.org 1 & weekends until 3/15 EagleWatch & Winter Wildlife Boat Cruises - Get an up-close view of majestic bald eagles on a 1.5-hour tour aboard Project Oceanology’s 65-foot Enviro-Lab III with heated cabin & ample deck area. Binoculars & coffee provided. Friday afternoons and mornings and afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays; Connecticut River Museum, Essex, CT; Reservations are strongly suggested, and children under age 6 are not allowed on board. Call 860-767-8269 x 110 for reservations; ctrivermuseum.org 1-7 6th Annual Bacardi Miami Sailing Week presented

by EFG Bank - One-design racing for Stars,Viper 640s, Audi Melges 20s, Melges 24s, J/80s, J/70s,VX Ones and (new for 2015) M32 Catamarans; Miami, FL; miamisailingweek.com 1 & subsequent weekends through 4/12 Seal Spotting Cruise Study winter biodiversity aboard the Maritime Aquarium’s brand new research vessel Spirit of the Sound™, a 63-foot catamaran running quietly on hybrid-electric propulsion, while seeking out seals that winter in Long Island Sound.

Passengers must be over 42” tall, and those under age 21 must be accompanied by an adult. Departure times vary according to the tides; $22.95

($17.95 for Aquarium members); Bring binoculars and dress very warmly! Space is limited; advance reservations are strongly recommended. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT; 203-852-0700, ext. 2206; full schedule at maritimeaquarium.org

© maritimeaquarium.org

5 Singles Under Sail meeting - SUS is a sailing club for adults who are also single.

Meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at various locations in Fairfield County, CT; 203-8473456; visit SinglesUnderSail.org for cruises, lectures and other special events.

5 Shoreline Sailing Club meeting - If you’re an active single over 35, this club’s activities include sailing, fishing, kayaking, dances, dockside parties, golfing, skiing and more. Meetings are held the first & third Thursdays of each month (lite bites/cash bar available); 7:30pm; Westbrook Elks Lodge, Westbrook, CT; shorelinesailingclub.com 6 US Sailing Regional Symposium - This event provides an opportunity for organizations to share ideas and concerns about sailing education and programming within the various regions throughout the country.

SUNY Maritime College, Throggs Neck, NY;

sunymaritime.edu/waterfront; register at ussailing.org 6 Basic Diesel Engine Seminar - Spend a fun Friday evening learning about marine diesel engines, from regular maintenance to basic trouble shooting, from diesel technician Ladi Oguntoyinbo. 5:30pm; Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY; Bill Simon: 516-8020368; bsimon@oakcliffsailing. org; oakcliffsailing.org 7 Ahhh…The Cruising Life in Long Island Sound - Sally Small, who with Kurt Krimphove has been cruising LIS for more than 40 years on boats big and small, explains how to provision, how to plan for guests, where to go and what to do, and how to take advantage of nature’s gifts (winds and tides). She is “The Voice Of Experience” for all cruising families – experienced and first-timers – in both sailing and motor yachts. 10am; free; Halloween Yacht Club, Stamford CT; To assure seating, please contact in advance Bernie Weiss: 203-969-5936; CaptainBernieWeiss@Gmail. com or Ron Glassman: 203-3220592; rlgmedia@optonline.net 7 10th Annual IYRS Marine and Composites Industry Career Day - Hosted by the International Yacht Restoration School and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, this one-day event will draw marine and composites industry experts and employers from all over the U.S. 9am - 1pm; free; Newport, RI; register at iyrs.edu/ employers-and-industry/iyrscareer-day/ 7 North U. Racing Tactics Seminar - Instructor Todd Berman will share tips to help you sail faster this season.

8:30am - 4:30pm; Stamford Yacht Club, Stamford, CT; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; fran@northu.northsails.com; northu.com

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7 North U. Racing Tactics Seminar - Instructor David Dellenbaugh will share tips to help you sail faster this season.

8:30am - 4:30pm; Newport Yacht Club, Newport, RI; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; fran@northu.northsails.com; northu.com 7 US Sailing One-Day Race Management Seminar This seminar, led by Steven Purdy, provides the training and test for certification as a club race officer. Topics include RC objectives & responsibilities, writing sailing instructions, RC jobs & equipment, setting the course, starting system, starting penalties, before the start, during the race, finishing, and scoring. Niantic Bay Yacht Club, Niantic, CT; nbyc.org; register at raceadmin.ussailing.org 7 About Boating Safely Completion of this 8-hour class, presented by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 243, satisfies the Connecticut licensing requirements for a Safe Boating Certificate and PWC Certificate. Family participation is encouraged. 8am; Flotilla 24-3 Training Center, Milford, CT; 860-663-5505; skperrone@ hotmail.com; cgaux.org *All students must have a State of CT Conservation ID number before taking the course.

Visit ct.outdoorcentral.net/ InternetSales/Sales to register for a free ID number.

7 Garnet Rogers in Concert The younger brother of the late, great Stan Rogers is one of the finest singer/songwriters anywhere. Common Fence Point Community Hall, Portsmouth, RI; commonfencemusic.org 8 Dave Perry Onshore Clinic: The Racing Rules You Need to Know to Win in Fleet, Team & Match Racing - A strong understanding of the rules leads to better tactical decisions and windcheckmagazine.com

results – bring your crew so the entire boat will be up to speed on situations so you’ll stay away from fouls and penalties. 1- 5pm; snacks will be provided; bring your own lunch and rule book.

Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY; Bill Simon: 516-802-0368; bsimon@oakcliffsailing.org; oakcliffsailing.org 8 North U. Racing Tactics Seminar - Instructor David Dellenbaugh will share tips to help you sail faster this season.

8:30am - 4:30pm; MIT (location on campus TBA), Cambridge, MA; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727; northu.com fran@northu.northsails.com; 8 Chantey Sing - Raise your voice in singing maritime songs of all kinds. Please bring voices, instruments and friends. 4 -7pm; $5 suggested donation; Rowayton Arts Center, Rowayton, CT; Deirdre Murtha: sdmurtha@sbcglobal.net

11 Maritime Author Series with Richard J. King - The author, senior lecturer at the Maritime Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport, will discuss his book The Devil’s Cormorant: A Natural History, which looks at this misunderstood and too often maligned bird. One lucky person will win a free copy of the book. 6pm; $15 ($20 non-members); Collections Research Center Library at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT; call 860-572-5331 for tickets; mysticseaport.org 12 11th Annual IYRS School of Technology & Trades Winter Event - Sponsored

by The Hilton Group at UBS & Paul Weber Architect, this cocktail reception and dinner includes a presentation on the fusion of historic preservation and modern technology by keynote speaker Rhett Butler of E.R. Butler & Co., a New York City-based manufacturer

of fine architectural, builders’ and cabinetmakers’ hardware. Cocktails at 6pm; dinner at 7:30; $250 per couple; $150 per person; IYRS alumni $100 per person. New York Yacht Club, New York, NY; RSVP to events@iyrs.edu or by calling Jenny at 401-848-5777 ext.

231. Reservations are confirmed with payment.

15 Sea Shantey Session - This event for musicians and music lovers of all ages is co-hosted by the Folk Music Society of New York. 2-5 pm; free (donations are appreciated); Noble Maritime Collection main hall, Building D, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, NY; 718-447-6490 noblemaritime.org

13 US Sailing Regional Symposium - This event provides an opportunity for organizations to share ideas and concerns about sailing education and programming within the various regions throughout the country. Conanicut Yacht Club, Jamestown, RI; conanicutyachtclub.org; register at ussailing.org

15 & 16 Southern New England Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted by Connecticut College and sailed in FJs. New London, CT; collegesailing.org

14 58th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Céad Mile Fáilte! 11am; Newport, RI; newportirish.com

15 - 17 Snipe Midwinter Regatta Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater, FL; snipe.org 15 - 19 Flying Scot Midwinter Championship Regatta Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sarasota, FL; fssa.com

Port Milford is a Friendly Full-service Marina with Slips Available for 2015!

Best rates in the area.

Walking distance to shops, restaurants, train station, Milford Yacht Club and beaches We fix boats from all over!

Mechanical, electrical, fiberglass and paint repairs

Slips and racks available in Milford Harbor, Milford, CT. For boats 16 to 42 feet.

mie DeE Dave McDo na ld, Ja : Ch ris tia n Tre mo, vis Da ve From Lef t to Right Ste d an la ry , Br uce Ku Bil l Wo lf, Ray Sw ift windcheckmagazine.com

ll,

203-301-2222 WindCheck Magazine

March 2015 39

MARCH Continued 18 and 4/1, 4/12, 4/15 & 4/29 Photography 101: All the Basics with Cate Brown - Jumpstart your digital photography in this series of workshops with Cate, a specialist in coastal and nautical photography who has shot some of the finest WindCheck covers.

6 - 8pm; $145 WAA members ($180 non-members); Wickford Art Association, Wickford, RI; sign up at wickfordart. org/art-classes-current.html; catebrownphoto.com 18 - 21 Lightning Midwinter Championship - Coral Reef Yacht Club, Coconut Grove, FL; lightningclass.org 19 The Life of a Tugboat Captain - In this Mystic Seaport Adventure Series lecture, Captain Brian Fournier,

the President of Portland Tugboat LLC, will share stories of his experiences working in the New England maritime industry. 1:30 & 7:30pm; $20 ($15 for museum members) students admitted free; Latitude 41º Restaurant & Tavern, Mystic, CT; call 860-572-5331 for tickets. mysticseaport.org 19 Ask the Experts - A panel of boating experts will discuss spring maintenance work, mistakes to avoid, and more.

Reception begins at 6pm; lecture at 7; $10 for museum members ($18 non-members); Herreshoff Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame, Bristol, RI; herreshoff.org 19 Tales of the Buckrammer Author John E. Conway will give a photo-rich presentation on his book Buckrammer’s Tales: The Continuing Catboat Summers Adventures, including ghost stories, near disasters, family boating misadventures and tales of buried treasure. Reception at

6pm; lecture at 7, followed by a meet-the-author book signing; $15 for museum members ($20 non-members); New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA; 508-997-0046; whalingmuseum.org 20 Vernal Equinox - First day of spring!

20 - 22 O’Pen BIC North American Championships This event combines “conventional” race formats with unorthodox “Un-Regatta” courses & events. Capsizes, freestyle, speed & fun will be

© bicsport.com

40 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

required. Charter boats are available. Miami Yacht Club, Miami, FL: Nevin Sayre: 617-5845784; nsayre@aol.com; entry at mycyouthsailing.org 20 - 22 41st Annual Thistle Orange Peel Regatta - The Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville, FL; thistleclass.com 20 - 22 28th Annual Maine Boatbuilders Show - This gathering of the finest fiberglass and wooden custom boat builders on the East Coast features everything from small rowing boats, kayaks and canoes to powerboats and sailboats of every size. Portland Company Marine Complex, Portland, ME; portlandcompany.com/BoatShow 21 North U. Racing Tactics Seminar - Instructor Bill Gladstone will share tips to help you sail faster this season.

8:30am - 4:30pm; Raritan Yacht Club, Perth Amboy, NJ; Francine Wainer: 203-245-0727;

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drink, live music and dancing and more. Stonington, CT. New England Science & Sailing: 860535-9362; visit nessf.org to purchase tickets.

fran@northu.northsails.com; northu.com 21 & 22 Marion Bermuda Race Safety at Sea Symposium and Practical Training This symposium, sponsored

by Kingman Yacht Center, Team One Newport, Landfall and Hinckley Yacht Services and moderated by John Rousmaniere, features a very experienced group of speakers who will address topics of vital interest to all serious sailors.

University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA; marionbermuda.com/sas 22 & 23 Friis Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted

by Tufts and sailed in Larks.

Medford, MA; collegesailing.org 22 & 23 Admiral Moore Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted by SUNY Maritime and sailed in 420s and FJs. Throggs Neck, NY; collegesailing.org

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© College Sailing

22 Fireside Chat Shorthanded Sailing Skills Presented by Martin van Breems, owner of Sound Sailing Center, inventor of Dutchman Sail Flaking System, singlehanded transatlantic and has many years of teaching. Pequot Yacht Club, 669 Harbor Rd, Southport, CT. No charge, food can be purchased from the galley. Nonmembers welcome. Rsvp to 203-255-5740 x40 4:30pm.

25 NESS Fundraiser - Hosted by the Dog Watch Café, this event will feature great food and

26 Basic Diesel Engine Maintenance & Repair Taught by Mack Boring diesel technicians, this seminar covers diesel combustion theory, marine diesel basic operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, cooling, lubrication, fuel system and transmissions. 6 - 10pm; $125; Landfall Marine Training Center, 151 Harvard Avenue, Stamford, CT; 203-487-0775 ext 21; visit landfallnavigation.com/ mtccourse.html for full course listings. Also offered on 4/16 26-29 19th Annual Defender Warehouse Sale - Sale in store and online. 42 Great Neck Road, Waterford, CT; 800-6288225; defender.com

27 - 29 St. Thomas Annual

International Regatta The “Crown Jewel” of Caribbean racing, STIR 2015 is hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club. St. Thomas, USVI; rolexcupregatta.com 28 US Sailing One-Day Race Management Seminar This seminar, led by Steven Purdy, provides the training and test for certification as a club race officer. 8:30am 5pm: Cedar Point Yacht Club, Westport, CT; cedarpointyc.org; register at raceadmin.ussailing.org 28 Racing Rules Seminar for Women Only - UK Sailmakers’ rules guru Butch Ulmer uses video animation to clearly show what he is talking about. He also uses the Socratic method to get all participants involved and thinking. Come and learn about a part of the sport that too many sailors have not mastered. Doors open 9:30 am for loft tours, seminar

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MARCH

raceadmin.ussailing.org

Continued

29 & 30 Dellenbaugh Women’s Trophy - This collegiate regatta is hosted by Brown and sailed in 420s. Providence, RI; collegesailingorg

10:30-noon. UK Sailmakers, 175 City Island Ave, City Island, NY, Make a reservation by e-mailing annapolis@uksailmakers.com.

28 How to Run a Match Race Regatta - This seminar will cover the basics of organizing, coordinating and running a successful match race. 8am5:30pm; $75; Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY; Bill Simon: 516-802-0368; bsimon@oakcliffsailing.org; oakcliffsailing.org 29 US Sailing One-Day Race Management Seminar Led by Matthew Hill, this seminar provides the training and test for certification as a club race officer. 8:30am - 5pm: Oakcliff Sailing Center, Oyster Bay, NY; Bill Simon: 516-8020368; bsimon@oakcliffsailing. org; oakcliffsailing.org; register at

29 & 30 Lynne Marchiando Team Race - This collegiate regatta is hosted by MIT and sailed in FJs and Fireflies. Boston, MA; collegesailing.org 30 - 4/4 44th BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival - This event includes a distance race from Tortola to Virgin Gorda followed by three days of fun at the Bitter End Yacht Club; bvispringregatta.org

APRIL 4, 11, 18 & 25 Music of the Sea: Ballads, Chanteys and Songs of the Sailor - Sharpen your musical skills in this four-class

series while exploring the rich connections between music and the sea. Class registration includes a set of “Bones” and a Songs of the Sailor booklet and CD. All skill levels are welcome.

10am - 12pm; $90 ($110 nonmembers); Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT; call 860-572-5322 to register; mysticseaport.org 5&6 Emily Wick Trophy - This collegiate regatta is hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and sailed in FJs and 420s. New London, CT; collegesailing.org 8 Maritime Author Series with Walter Ansel: The Whaleboat: A Study of Design, Construction and Use From 1850 to 2014 Written by former Mystic Seaport shipwright Willits Ansel, The Whaleboat is the definitive source for information on this important workboat type.

The 2014 edition includes an Acknowledgment written by son Walter Ansel and an Afterword written by granddaughter Evelyn

42 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

Ansel. 6 - 8pm; $15 for museum members ($20 non-members); Collections Research Center Library at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT; call 860-572-5331 to register; mysticseaport.org 10 - 12 Interclub Dinghy National Championship Presented

by Medifast, Inc. - This frostbite event is part of the Wharf Rat Challenge.

Metedeconk River Yacht Club, Brick, NJ; Keith Taboada: 732383-1389 (during working hours) or ktaboada@pattersonsheridan. com; interclub.org 11 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race - This race is the first leg of the new East Coast Ocean Series. lyc.org 12 & 13 Thompson Trophy - This collegiate regatta is hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and sailed in FJs. New London, CT; collegesailing.org

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12 & 13 President’s Trophy Women’s - This collegiate regatta is hosted by Boston University and sailed in FJs. Boston, MA; collegesailing.org 13 Rescue of the Bounty Award-winning author Michael J. Tougias will discuss and sign copies of his book, subtitled Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy. 7pm; Milford Public Library, Milford, CT; view the author’s full lecture schedule at michaeltougias.com 13 - 18 6th Annual Les Voiles de Saint Barth - St Barth, FWI; lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com 16 What You Don’t Know About the Herreshoffs: NC-4, Automobiles, Motorcycles, & Much More - Halsey Herreshoff is the presenter of this lecture.

Reception begins at 6pm; lecture at 7pm; $10 for members($18 non-members); Herreshoff

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Marine Musuem & America’s Cup Hall of Fame, Bristol, RI; RSVP at 401-253-5000; herreshoff.org 16 Coming to America: The Story of the Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris In this Mystic Seaport Adventure Series lecture, Jim Carlton, Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program, will discuss this unique mega-rafting event, and the more than 200 species that survived the voyages to North America and Hawaii. 1:30 & 7:30pm; $20 ($15 for museum members); students admitted free; Latitude 41º Restaurant & Tavern, Mystic, CT; call 860-5725331 for tickets. mysticseaport.org 16 JSA Event Management Seminar - Larchmont Yacht Club, Larchmont, NY; Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound; jsalis.org

16 - 19 20th Annual Sperry TopSider Charleston Race Week - Three days of racing in 19 classes (One-Design, PHRF, IRC, Pursuit & Multihull), four nights of beach parties and daily free race debriefs, seminars and events make this a regatta unlike any other. Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Mt. Pleasant, SC; charlestonraceweek.com

on-the-water sessions for man overboard recovery and pool sessions featuring liferaft and PFD use. This seminar meets the Safety at Sea requirements for the 2016 Newport to Bermuda Race; attendance along with successful completion of a test that will be given will bring full ISAF certification. 8am 5pm; SUNY Maritime College, Throggs Neck, NY; stormtrysail.org

© Meredith Block

© stormtrysail.org

18 Storm Trysail Foundation Safety at Sea Seminar Moderated by Storm Trysail Club Past Commodore Rich du Moulin, this US Sailing certified hands-on seminar includes

19 & 20 Admiral’s Cup - This collegiate regatta is hosted by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and sailed in 420s, FJs and Lasers. Kings Point, NY; collegesailing.org

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March 2015 43

21 - 23 Sailing The Collegiate Dinghies - This 3-day clinic is for high school and college sailors who wish to learn collegiate sailing techniques and practice like one of the country’s top college sailing teams. Crimson Sailing Academy, Cambridge, MA; crimsonsailingacademy.com 24-26 6th Annual Essex Spring Boat Show – Power & Sail.

10-4pm, free admission. Brewer Dauntless Marina, 9 Novelty Lane, Essex, CT byy.com/ CTMarinas/Essex/Welcome.aspx 25 The Priddy Trophy - This inaugural intercollegiate regatta will be hosted by Fairfield University, SAIL BLACK ROCK, Captain’s Cove Seaport and Black Rock Yacht Club and sailed in FJs. Black Rock, CT; Dave White: dave@dhwhiterealestate.com 25 6th Annual Buzzards Society Dinner - If you’ve done 10 or more Vineyard Races

(as skipper or crew), you are cordially invited! Cocktails at 1800; dinner at 1900; Stamford Yacht Club, Stamford, CT; RSVP at buzzard@stamfordyc.com.

25 Coastal Weather and Sea State Seminar - Led by W. Frank Bohlen, Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences, this in-depth course covers the factors governing weather, currents, and surface waves in coastal waters extending seaward from the bays & estuaries to the edge of the continental shelf. Particular emphasis will be placed on smaller area, transient, weather phenomena such as seabreeze, thunderstorms & squall lines, associated forecast methods, and

the relationships between these systems and larger atmospheric high & low pressure systems. 9 am- 5pm; $150; Landfall Marine Training Center, 151 Harvard Avenue, Stamford, CT; 203-4870775 ext 21; visit landfallnavigation.com/mtccourse. html for full course listings.

25-26 Annual Consignment Sale at The Boat Locker - Optis, Fevas, Lasers, C420s. Bring in your boats ahead of time (call ahead) and/or come check out used boats/gear at great prices.

706 Howard Ave, Bridgeport, CT; 203-259-7808; boatlocker.com 25 & 26 and 5/2 & 3 AYC Spring Regatta American Yacht Club, Rye, NY; americanyc.org 25 - 5/1 48th Antigua Sailing Week - Antigua, BWI; sailingweek.com 26 Peter Milnes Memorial Regatta - Hosted by Laser

Fleet 413 and Sail Newport, this event honors the memory of the man who founded Fleet 413 in 1988. Newport, RI; newportlaserfleet.org 26 Safe Powerboat Handling Course - Open to boaters of all ages, this class provides hands-on training on how to operate small powerboats.

Pettipaug Yacht Club, Essex CT; Paul Risseeuw: 860-767-1995; prisseeuw@aol.com; pettipaug.com 30 Sea Legs Annual Benefit Rod Johnstone will speak at La Grua Center in Stonington Borough. Doors open at 6:30 PM. The event is a benefit for Sea-Legs, Inc. Serving Eastern Connecticut, Sea Legs help kids aged 9-17 to learn the joys of sailing. sea-legs.org. To buy tickets, call 860-912-5393 or email captain@virtualvoyages.net.

Add your event to our print and online calendar by emailing to contactus@windcheckmagazine.com by the 7th of the month.

Northeast Sailing News

Any Way You Like It!

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March 2015

These tide tables are predictions and are to be used as a reference only. The times of high and low are approximations and are affected, in part by onshore and offshore winds, full and new moons as well as changes in currents. Always use caution when entering or leaving any harbor and navigate in areas that are well marked. WindCheck assumes no liability due to the use of these tables.

Source: noaa.gov

The Battery, NY Port Washington, NY 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

5:12 AM 11:35 AM 5:41 PM 11:42 PM 6:03 AM 12:21 PM 6:28 PM 12:29 AM 6:46 AM 1:04 PM 7:10 PM 1:13 AM 7:25 AM 1:45 PM 7:48 PM 1:55 AM 8:01 AM 2:23 PM 8:25 PM 2:35 AM 8:36 AM 2:59 PM 9:00 PM 3:13 AM 9:09 AM 3:33 PM 9:33 PM 4:49 AM 10:41 AM 5:04 PM 11:03 PM 5:24 AM 11:12 AM 5:31 PM 11:33 PM 5:58 AM 11:47 AM 5:55 PM 12:07 AM 6:34 AM 12:28 PM 6:26 PM 12:50 AM 7:25 AM 1:17 PM 7:12 PM 1:41 AM 8:45 AM 2:13 PM 8:41 PM 2:40 AM 9:58 AM 3:18 PM 10:09 PM 3:47 AM 11:00 AM 4:30 PM 11:14 PM 5:01 AM 11:55 AM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

5:42 PM 12:13 AM 6:10 AM 12:48 PM 6:43 PM 1:09 AM 7:09 AM 1:40 PM 7:37 PM 2:03 AM 8:02 AM 2:30 PM 8:27 PM 2:57 AM 8:52 AM 3:19 PM 9:16 PM 3:48 AM 9:43 AM 4:07 PM 10:06 PM 4:38 AM 10:35 AM 4:53 PM 10:58 PM 5:28 AM 11:31 AM 5:41 PM 11:52 PM 6:20 AM 12:27 PM 6:30 PM 12:48 AM 7:16 AM 1:24 PM 7:26 PM 1:43 AM 8:18 AM 2:20 PM 8:28 PM 2:39 AM 9:22 AM 3:17 PM 9:33 PM 3:37 AM 10:22 AM 4:17 PM 10:33 PM 4:38 AM 11:15 AM 5:16 PM 11:27 PM 5:38 AM 12:03 PM 6:11 PM 12:16 AM 6:31 AM 12:48 PM 6:59 PM

H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

2:48 AM 8:56 AM 3:19 PM 9:26 PM 3:39 AM 9:45 AM 4:06 PM 10:13 PM 4:26 AM 10:29 AM 4:51 PM 10:54 PM 5:09 AM 11:09 AM 5:31 PM 11:30 PM 5:48 AM 11:42 AM 6:05 PM 11:57 PM 6:20 AM 12:02 PM 6:27 PM 12:06 AM 6:35 AM 12:11 PM 6:29 PM 12:21 AM 7:45 AM 1:37 PM 7:52 PM 1:53 AM 8:15 AM 2:13 PM 8:25 PM 2:31 AM 8:52 AM 2:54 PM 9:05 PM 3:14 AM 9:37 AM 3:40 PM 9:51 PM 4:03 AM 10:28 AM 4:31 PM 10:44 PM 4:56 AM 11:25 AM 5:28 PM 11:43 PM 5:54 AM 12:28 PM 6:29 PM 12:48 AM 6:58 AM 1:42 PM 7:39 PM 2:05 AM 8:11 AM

L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

3/16 3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

Bridgeport, CT 3:08 PM 9:00 PM 3:30 AM 9:29 AM 4:09 PM 10:06 PM 4:32 AM 10:31 AM 5:00 PM 10:59 PM 5:26 AM 11:24 AM 5:48 PM 11:48 PM 6:17 AM 12:15 PM 6:35 PM 12:36 AM 7:07 AM 1:05 PM 7:21 PM 1:24 AM 7:55 AM 1:52 PM 8:07 PM 2:10 AM 8:43 AM 2:40 PM 8:54 PM 2:57 AM 9:36 AM 3:31 PM 9:48 PM 3:51 AM 10:38 AM 4:34 PM 10:57 PM 4:56 AM 11:46 AM 5:46 PM 12:10 AM 6:10 AM 12:52 PM 6:56 PM 1:19 AM 7:22 AM 1:56 PM 8:03 PM 2:23 AM 8:29 AM 2:55 PM 9:04 PM 3:21 AM 9:28 AM 3:49 PM 9:56 PM 4:13 AM 10:18 AM 4:36 PM 10:42 PM

L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

46 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

1:58 AM 8:09 AM 2:35 PM 8:38 PM 2:50 AM 8:59 AM 3:21 PM 9:25 PM 3:36 AM 9:44 AM 4:02 PM 10:06 PM 4:17 AM 10:25 AM 4:39 PM 10:45 PM 4:56 AM 11:03 AM 5:15 PM 11:21 PM 5:33 AM 11:39 AM 5:49 PM 11:56 PM 6:09 AM 12:15 PM 6:23 PM 12:31 AM 7:46 AM 1:52 PM 7:59 PM 2:06 AM 8:24 AM 2:30 PM 8:36 PM 2:43 AM 9:04 AM 3:10 PM 9:16 PM 3:24 AM 9:50 AM 3:55 PM 10:02 PM 4:10 AM 10:41 AM 4:47 PM 10:55 PM 5:04 AM 11:39 AM 5:45 PM 11:55 PM 6:06 AM 12:41 PM 6:47 PM 1:00 AM 7:10 AM 1:44 PM 7:50 PM 2:04 AM 8:14 AM

L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

3/16 3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

2:44 PM 8:50 PM 3:05 AM 9:15 AM 3:40 PM 9:46 PM 4:03 AM 10:11 AM 4:32 PM 10:38 PM 4:57 AM 11:05 AM 5:22 PM 11:29 PM 5:50 AM 11:56 AM 6:11 PM 12:18 AM 6:41 AM 12:46 PM 7:00 PM 1:07 AM 7:32 AM 1:37 PM 7:48 PM 1:56 AM 8:23 AM 2:28 PM 8:39 PM 2:47 AM 9:16 AM 3:21 PM 9:31 PM 3:40 AM 10:11 AM 4:16 PM 10:27 PM 4:37 AM 11:09 AM 5:15 PM 11:27 PM 5:37 AM 12:10 PM 6:16 PM 12:30 AM 6:40 AM 1:11 PM 7:17 PM 1:32 AM 7:42 AM 2:08 PM 8:15 PM 2:30 AM 8:39 AM 3:00 PM 9:07 PM 3:22 AM 9:30 AM 3:46 PM 9:53 PM

L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

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March 2015

These tide tables are predictions and are to be used as a reference only. The times of high and low are approximations and are affected, in part by onshore and offshore winds, full and new moons as well as changes in currents. Always use caution when entering or leaving any harbor and navigate in areas that are well marked. WindCheck assumes no liability due to the use of these tables.

Source: noaa.gov

Fishers Island, NY 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/2 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/7 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/9 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/10 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/11 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/12 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/13 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/14 3/15 3/15 3/15 3/16 3/16

12:19 AM 6:21 AM 12:55 PM 6:32 PM 1:12 AM 7:06 AM 1:41 PM 7:18 PM 1:59 AM 7:49 AM 2:22 PM 8:02 PM 2:38 AM 8:30 AM 2:57 PM 8:43 PM 3:14 AM 9:09 AM 3:32 PM 9:23 PM 3:49 AM 9:48 AM 4:06 PM 10:02 PM 4:26 AM 10:28 AM 4:42 PM 10:44 PM 6:06 AM 12:11 PM 6:21 PM 12:26 AM 6:51 AM 12:54 PM 7:03 PM 1:10 AM 7:38 AM 1:37 PM 7:48 PM 1:53 AM 8:27 AM 2:19 PM 8:34 PM 2:37 AM 9:19 AM 3:05 PM 9:26 PM 3:32 AM 10:16 AM 4:05 PM 10:26 PM 4:39 AM 11:15 AM 5:11 PM 11:28 PM 5:42 AM 12:12 PM 6:09 PM 12:27 AM 6:37 AM

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L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

Woods Hole, MA 3/16 3/16 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/17 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/20 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/21 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/23 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/24 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/27 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/28 3/29 3/29 3/29 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/31 3/31 3/31 3/31

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The Volvo Ocean Race Is Coming to Newport, RI May 5-17

It’s the only North American port in the Volvo Ocean Race’s nine-month voyage around the world. Don’t miss it!

The North American Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race will be hosted by Sail Newport, the State of Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM), Discover Newport and the City of Newport. The twelve-day Newport Stopover will be a public celebration and will include entertainment, a marine Exploration Zone, kid’s activities, a food festival, team compounds, sponsor pavilions, a theater, up-close viewing of the race boats during the Pro-Am Race Day, the In-Port Race Day and the Leg Start to Lisbon - all taking place within yards of the shoreline of Fort Adams State Park.

How to Experience the Volvo Stopover Village Schedule Monday, May 5: Race Village Opens With free public access, the Race Village will feature dozens of interactive displays, sponsor pavilions, team bases, bars and food vendors.

Monday, May 5 - Thursday, May 15: Sailing Festival As teams arrive in Newport, Sail Newport will host public “try sailing” opportunities, youth regattas, and high performance © Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

one-design racing featuring everything from foiling Moths to Marstrom 32 catamarans. The Race Village is open daily.

Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9: Concert Series Newport Yachting Center will host internationally famous acts on a big stage in downtown Newport.

Thursday, May 14 & Friday, May 15: Pro-Am Races Sponsors, VIPs and lucky guests will mix it up with the race teams on the racecourse off Fort Adams.

Friday, May 15: Prize Giving - The winner of Leg 6, from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, RI, will receive their prize at the Race Village.

Saturday, May 16: Newport In-Port Race - The teams will duke it out on a stadium-style course on Narragansett Bay, with prime shoreside viewing from Fort Adams followed by a prize giving on the stage.

Sunday, May 17: Leg 7 Start - Following an on-the-water festival, the fleet departs for a transatlantic passage to Lisbon, Portugal, with viewing from the shoreline at Fort Adams.

For more information, visit volvooceanracenewport.com.

© Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

Interested in Volunteering at the Village?

The Race Village will need a tremendous volunteer team with many opportunities for people of all ages to help. If you are interested in volunteering some time to make this a great stopover for the teams and for visitors, as well as get involved in the village, visit our VOR Newport section at windcheckmagazine.com.

Where to Stay There are still plenty of options available to stay overnight during the Stopover dates. Newport offers a wide selection of lodging options including hotels, inns, B&Bs, timeshare units, homes and more. To view the many options, visit discovernewport.org. Coming by boat? There are many marine facilities in Newport and nearby towns on the Bay. A complete list of marinas is available at discovernewport. org/marine-services/marinas.

On the Water Viewing During the VOR Newport Stopover, America’s Cup Charters will offer a few options for individuals or groups to get out on the water to view the Volvo 65s in action.

Your experience will include viewing of the Volvo 65 boats racing and then a private sail around the bay for your own sailing experience to see what it’s like to work the 12 Metre class of America’s Cup boats.

The water shuttle will take you from Perotti Park to Fort Adams and back so you can experience the Race Village at your leisure, either before sailing or after. (Race Village open Daily 11am-7pm)

Transportation Tips There are several ways to get to Fort Adams – by car, by boat and by bike. If you are staying in Newport, the best bet is to take a water shuttle from downtown to the Fort.

There will be multiple water shuttles operating for a fee along the harbor front. If you enjoy biking, you might want to consider bringing your bike. It’s about a 2.5 mile ride between town and Fort Adams. There will be a limited number of spaces to park cars for a fee at Fort Adams.

Best Places to Watch To watch the In-Port races (May 16) and the Leg Start (May 17), you can get a great view from the shoreline at Fort Adams or purchase tickets for charter vessels along the racecourse. windcheckmagazine.com

© Vanderwal.com/AmericaCupCharters.com

Contact America’s Cup Charters for more information and reservations: 401-846-9886, AmericasCupCharters.com.

There will be lots of news as the fleet races towards Newport and the opening of the Race Village approaches. Follow our Newport Stopover section of our website at windcheckmagazine.com/2014_vor_newport_ ri_stopover and check our April issue for updates to the schedule. F WindCheck Magazine

March 2015 49

Volvo Ocean Race Update Following the In-Port victory of overall leaders Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA), the fleet has restarted and was mid-leg on their way from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand. The 5,764 nautical mile leg should see the entire fleet arrive by March 3.

Leg 4 has had its host of challenges and frustrations for all the crews. The start of the leg saw tough upwind conditions for several days, followed by light, frustrating conditions sailing around the top of the Philippines.

In a bold tactical move, two teams split from the pack in an attempt to stay with the breeze. The move paid dividends, but not to the extent that Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED), who made the most of the split and ended up with a small lead once the fleet reconverged, and SCA (Sam Davies/ GBR), the all-women team (now known for their tactical aptitude).

As the fleet worked their way toward Auckland with about 50 nautical miles separating all six boats, all of them were chasing ‘the right sort of cloud’ as they approached a huge area of Doldrums in the mid-Pacific with some 2,500nm still to sail to reach New Zealand.

At press time, Leg 4 leaders Team Brunel were doing the best job of calculating the odds – and rolling the dice under spotty cloud cover. Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA), Team MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández/ESP), Team SCA, Team Abu Dhabi (Ian Walker/GBR) and Dongfeng Race Team were banked up behind them, with little distance separating the

chasing pack.

Brunel’s skipper Bekking was counting down every mile until he reaches Auckland. “So close, but still so far. If you look on the map you’d think we’ve nearly reached New Zealand, but then you look at the mileage and know the reality is different,” he wrote on his blog. “We are getting close to the Equator and

Dongfeng Race Team made VOR history by winning the leg to their homeport of Sanya, China and the Sanya In-Port Race.

Sam Greenfield, a Mystic River Mudhead who is sailing as Dongfeng’s On Board Reporter, captured this shot in the heat of battle. © Sam Greenfield/Dongfeng Race Team

we are facing numerous big clouds in each watch, which makes it interesting from a short-term strategy perspective. “We are giving the sailors on watch total freedom on how to attack a cloud formation. That’s why you can see on the tracker back home some very big changes in our course.”

Meanwhile, Will Oxley (AUS), navigator on third-placed Team Alvimedica, was busy trying to read the elusive clouds. “For the first nine days, we raced in very close company with Azzam, Dongfeng and MAPFRE,” he said. “Then, when we reached the area of massive clouds, suddenly the fleet scattered as we found ourselves taking different options in the squalls.”

As the teams continue along the leg, the wind should not only increase, but stabilize allowing the lead boat to possibly extend on the fleet, but with such a short distance between them, it was difficult to predict.

The Auckland In-Port Race will take place March 14 and the restart March 15 with the fleet headed to Itajai, Brazil. Go to windcheckmagazine.com and follow the links for news on the race and especially Newport stopover information. F The Team Alvimedica boys enjoying the tropical conditions. © Amory Ross/Team Alvimedica

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Full-On Fun at Quantum Key West Race Week Organized by Premiere Racing, the 28th edition of Key West Race Week, sailed January 18 - 23 in Key West, FL, was a great success. Sailors on 146 boats from around the U.S. as well as Canada, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Brazil, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden reveled in five days of racing and shoreside festivities.

Points battles in most of the marquee classes came down to the last day of the regatta, which delivered the week’s toughest conditions. Howling winds and rough seas challenged competitors on Friday, forcing the top contenders to raise their game in order to claim overall victory. That was certainly the case aboard Hap Fauth’s Judel-Vrolijk 72 Bella Mente (Minneapolis, MN), winner of the Maxi 72 (IRC 1) Class. Fauth steered Bella Mente to first place in both races on Friday to hold off a stiff challenge from Gunther Buerman’s JV/66 Numbers (Highland Beach, FL). “The wind gods cooperated today and gave us great racing,” said Fauth. “We sailed hard in both races…and the whole crew did an impeccable job.”

The GC 32 Class made its North American competition debut at Key West, and a quartet of these foiling catamarans posted the fastest speeds ever recorded at Race Week. With winds gusting to nearly 30 knots during the second race on Iris Vogel’s Deviation (New Rochelle, NY) lost a tie-breaker for first place in the six-boat J/88 Class. © Allen Clark/PhotoBoat.com

Jason Carroll’s Argo (New York, NY) won three race in the new GC 32 Class, but rudder damage in Friday’s rough conditions relegated her to third place. © Allen Clark/PhotoBoat.com

Friday, the helmeted GC 32 crews hung on for dear life as the high-tech speedsters flew off waves, often completely out of the water. Ken Legler, Principal Race Officer on Division 1, reported that the ultra-fast cats completed a downwind leg in only six minutes. Flavio Marazzi’s ARMIN STROM Sailing Team (Bern, SUI) scored a one-point victory over Erik Maris’ ZouLou (Junal les Pins, Paca, FRA). The two American entries, Jason Carroll’s Argo (New York, NY) and Alex Jackson’s Leenabarca (Riverside, CT) were unable to compete in the last race after sustaining rudder damage in the rough conditions.

The largest class of the regatta, the 54boat J/70 Class, had a week-long dog fight with constant changes at the top end of the standings. When the spray had settled, Carlo Alberini’s Calvi Network (Pesaro, ITA) emerged as overall winner thanks to single-digit finishes in nine of 11 races, and was named Quantum

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Sails Boat of the Week.

Event sponsors included Title Sponsor Quantum Sail Design Group (Official Sailmaker) and Day Sponsors Lewmar (Official Marine Hardware) and Mount GayÂŽ Rum (Official Rum). Supporting Sponsors were B&G (Official Marine Electronics), Marlow Ropes (Official Rope), and Gaastra (Official Clothing and Footwear).

Quantum Key West Race Week is also supported

by The Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Council. Sapporo USA is the Official Beer, and Regatta Ginger Beer is the Official Ginger Beer. Chelsea Clock provided their classic Shipstrike Clocks for the Boat of the Day trophies, and 20 Industry Partners brought support through a program that is now in its 14th year. For more information and complete results

by YachtScoring.com, visit premiere-racing.com. F

windcheckmagazine.com

Competition was fierce in the 54-boat J/70 Class. Š Allen Clark/PhotoBoat.com

Sharon Benton and Quantum Key West Race Week Press Officer Bill Wagner contributed to this report.

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March 2015 53

Zero to #6 in 15 Years – A College Sailing Success Story

By Joe Sullivan, Director of Sailing, Fordham University Sailing Team It was September 1998 and the notice in Fordham Magazine invited former varsity athletes, who had not received an invitation to the Arthur Daley Memorial Dinner at the New York Athletic Club, to contact the Alumni Office. The young man who answered my call was very polite and contrite that I had not received an invitation. “Which sport did you play?” he asked. “Sailing,” I said. The pause lasted three or four seconds but seemed longer. “I don’t think we have a Sailing team,” he responded. “I suspect not, but we did,” I replied. He took my name and number and asked if he might call me back.

Within 15 minutes, my new friend from Fordham called, and very excitedly exclaimed, “Mr. Sullivan, we did have a Sailing team!” The Alumni Office maintained lists of former varsity athletes and he had retrieved the Sailing list, which contained the names of nearly 80 sailors from the Class of 1956 through the Class of 1975. I was surprised and pleased because I had not read or heard about the team of which I had been a member, and had assumed that it had disbanded at some time in the early sixties.

I subsequently learned that Sailing had continued as a varsity program through the 1971 season and remained active for two more years as a club sport before disbanding after the experienced sailors graduated.

Alumni were located all over the country but about half lived in the Greater New York City area. Twenty from the Class of 1958 through ‘75 attended a reunion on campus in February 1999. While most had not met before, within minutes it was old home week as their experiences on the Fordham Sailing team decades earlier brought them together like long lost friends.

Naturally, the question arose, “Why doesn’t Fordham have a Sailing team?”

Four alumni, Charles “Bud” McEntee ‘72, Sean Walsh ’70, and Dick Scallon and I, members of the Class of ’58, volunteered to serve as a committee to ascertain possible undergraduate interest in relaunching the Sailing program. After consultation with Athletic Director Frank McLaughlin, in September 1999 we displayed a Sunfish at the annual Club Fair and signed up 102 students, of whom 29 had had sailing experience and nine subsequently indicated interest in investing their time and energy into creating a new program. They asked many questions re: club vis-à-vis varsity, and competitive vis-à-vis recreational teams. After much discussion, they opted for a program in which all team members would have a chance to sail and improve their skills.

They wanted to be the best they could be.

Wisely, the administration had a protocol for new club sports, which included among other requirements a projected budget and a five-year plan. That fall, the students fulfilled all

Fordham Sailing’s homeport is the Morris Yacht & Beach Club in City Island, NY. © Elizabeth Foulston

that was required and applied for Associate Member status in the Middle Atlantic Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (MAISA), one of seven geographical conferences of the ICSA, the InterCollegiate Sailing Association of North America. In January, their application was accepted and Fordham was added to a handful of regattas on the 2000 MAISA schedule. The nascent team had minimal to moderate sailing experience, no boats, no sailing site and no money, but were full of enthusiasm. They had goals and were motivated to achieve them.

The five-year plan became an evolving document that was revised every few years as the team improved, but initially its goals were basic, i.e., establishing a team website; obtaining funding from the University; recruiting experienced sailors; initiating a fundraising campaign to buy boats; upgrading to provisional and then regular MAISA member status; finding a homeport; and qualifying for the fall and spring MAISA championships.

In the spring of 2000, the sailors and the alumni committee were surprised to learn that the team had to have a coach in order to compete. I volunteered to fill that role for the spring season, giving them time to seek a “real” coach. Little did I know that I’d still be involved with the program 16 years later. At our first regatta in 26 years, at Cornell, we finished last among seven schools and followed that up with a third place finish among six teams at Webb Institute. The feeling of accomplishment driving back to campus from Cornell was enormous, but the excitement returning from Webb was contagious. One would have thought we had won a national championship.

In the fall, the sailors approached the Afterguard, which consisted of former members of the Sailing team, and asked if we would help fund the purchase of boats. Our four-person committee hesitantly responded, “Maybe.” Before doing so, we wanted to be certain that the students were truly committed to building a program. We were justifiably skeptical because in the spring, our two most experienced skippers announced that they would

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be unavailable to participate in one of our initial regattas because they were going to a party. They were given the choice of sailing or partying but not both, and they opted to party. Our roster was reduced from nine to seven.

Thus, before asking the Afterguard for financial support, we wanted to be certain that the remaining seven sailors understood that to achieve their ambitious goal of being the best that they can be, the club team would have to be run like a varsity program. To their credit, over the next several months, they demonstrated their commitment by raising nearly $5,000 – enough money to buy one 420. Realizing the kids were serious, the alumni said, “OK, let’s see what we can do.”

Within 60 days, an additional $48,000 was generated.

Concurrently, a member of Morris Yacht & Beach Club on City Island saw an article in Catholic New York about the newly resurrected Fordham Sailing Team. MYBC Commodore Steve Breines

Fordham Rams (l – r) Bailey Fryer, Samantha Foulston, Elizabeth Foulston and Amanda Stapp at the Princeton Women’s Open © Samuel Cabot

contacted Athletic Director McLaughlin and shortly thereafter the team leaders and I met with Commodore Breines, who offered Morris Yacht & Beach Club as a homeport for the team. On Friday, September 7, 2001, we accepted delivery of six brand-new 420 sailboats and a $10,000 safety boat. Our first practice, scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, was obviously canceled.

From January 2000 to September 2001, the following goals in the initial five-year plan had been accomplished: a website (fordham.edu/sailing) had been created; a fleet of 420s and a coach/safety boat had been purchased; a homeport at Morris Yacht & Beach Club was established; the University agreed to provide modest financial support on an annual basis; our first ever sailor, from Little Rock, Arkansas of all places, was proactively recruited to attend Fordham as a member of the Class of 2005, and Fordwindcheckmagazine.com

ham was upgraded from Associate to Provisional membership in MAISA. The Rams were upgraded to Regular membership in January 2002.

In 2000, MAISA had 32 coed dinghy teams, of which 10 were varsity programs. Initially, our on-the-water goal was to become a top-five club program and qualify for the MAISA fall and spring championships. Once the boats had arrived, mandatory practices were scheduled twice weekly; special guest coaches were invited to assist as available; multiple regattas were scheduled on weekends so that as the team grew, all student-athletes would have the opportunity to compete; and serious recruiting was conducted by everyone on the team. Our sailors became our best ambassadors.

In 2002-‘03, our Rams qualified for the MAISA fall and spring championships. In 2003, Fordham won the MAISA Club Teams’ Championship for the first of five times between then and 2013. In its College Sailing issue in 2003, Sailing World featured Fordham as its #1 “Up & Coming Sailing Team.” Also that year, WindCheck described Fordham Sailing as “a wonderful success story.”

Meanwhile, college sailing was growing like Topsy. In 2006, when Fordham won the MAISA Club Teams Championship for the second time, the conference had grown from 32 to 42 teams, of which 32 were club teams. That same year, our women’s team was nationally ranked for the first time.

Our year-end conference ranking continued on an upward trajectory. By 2007, we cracked the top 10 in the conference for the first time. This was followed by three consecutive years when we were ranked ninth in the conference. In 2009, with 45 teams in MAISA, Fordham placed tenth at the spring conference championship and ninth at the fall conference championship; were ranked ninth in MAISA and our coed team was ranked nationally for the first time.

In 2010, the team’s success created quite a buzz on campus.

In May, the team celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding in 1950 and the 10th anniversary of its rebirth with a gala dinner for 174 people at the New York Yacht Club. University President Joseph M. McShane, S. J. welcomed the guests and keynote speaker Gary Jobson gave an exhilarating presentation.

Fordham’s fleet had expanded to 10 boats a few years earlier and the proceeds from the dinner and a fundraising campaign that preceded it enabled the Rams to enter into a joint venture WindCheck Magazine

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with the Columbia University Sailing Team, a neighbor on City Island. The two schools purchased a brand new fleet of 20 420s, plus Fordham generated enough money to hire a professional coach.

The timing was right, as I had coached the team for nearly 11 years and took them as far as I was able. Our goal was to consistently crack the top 20 in the national rankings and a professional coach was needed to take that next step. My swan song before kicking myself upstairs to focus upon managing the program was to take our women’s team to the Women’s Nationals in the spring of 2011 and share their satisfaction in finishing 14th at the Women’s National Semifinals.

The following fall we hired Reed Johnson, a former AllAmerican sailor, as our Head Coach. Practices were increased to three days weekly, an annual spring training trip was scheduled, and recruitment picked up. Reed led the team to national rankings of #17 in 2012 and #12 in 2013. In 2014, our coed and women’s teams each qualified for Nationals for the second time and nearly accomplished a trifecta by qualifying for the Team Race Nationals. The top four at the Prosser Team Race Regatta advanced to Nationals, and unfortunately Fordham lost a fourth place tiebreaker.

After three years, Reed retired from college sailing and Johnny Norfleet, another former All-American, was hired as Head Coach. Under his leadership, Fordham finished fourth at the extremely competitive 20-team, four-division Navy Fall Regatta, won the Hoyt Trophy Regatta hosted by Brown, placed second at the War Memorial Regatta and fifth at the Atlantic Coast Dinghy

Championship. The Rams ended the 2014 fall season ranked 6th in the country among 230 varsity and club teams, and #1 among 194 club teams. Fordham launched its 2015 season by taking home the third place award at the 30-team Rose Bowl Regatta in January.

When asked the secret of the team’s upward trajectory over a 15-year period, I must first give credit to the Athletic Department guideline that all new club teams must have a five-year plan. That one criterion got the student-athletes to focus upon what kind of team they wanted, and with the plan updated every few years, they were able to focus upon near and long-term goals and take the steps necessary to accomplish them. Building upon that, the program could not have had a more dedicated group of student-athletes. It is a pleasure to be associated with them. Moreover, the alumni and parents have been supportive in both financial and non-financial ways. Without that support, we would not be where we are today. As a volunteer, the psychic income in my retirement years has been enormous, and for this I am immensely grateful. F Joe Sullivan is the volunteer Director of Sailing at Fordham University in New York City. A Past Commodore of Southold Yacht Club in Southold, NY, he enjoys competing on the national Sunfish circuit and is the Co-Founder of the “Annual World’s Longest Sunfish Race, Around Shelter Island, NY” and the “Peconic Bay Midget & Junior Sunfish Championships,” which celebrate their 45th and 40thanniversaries respectively in 2015.

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56 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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Fairfield University & SAIL BLACK ROCK to Host Intercollegiate Trophy Stag Sailing, Fairfield University’s Sailing Team, is co-hosting the first major regatta with SAIL BLACK ROCK at Captain’s Cove Seaport in Black Rock, CT, which sponsors the competitive intercollegiate teams of Fairfield and Sacred Heart Universities. The Priddy Trophy will be raced Saturday, April 25 off St. Mary’s Point at the western side of the mouth of Black Rock Harbor on Long Island Sound. Fourteen teams will be fleet racing in FJs. Black Rock Yacht Club, located closer to the racecourse than Captain’s Cove, will welcome competitors to their clubhouse and docks.

Stag Sailing crew Hannah Lovejoy of Norwalk, CT and skipper Mateus Carvalho of Brazil –the Brazilian National Laser Champion – welcome collegiate racers from around New England to the inaugural Priddy Trophy regatta. © SAIL BLACK ROCK

The Priddy Trophy has over a four-decade legacy in the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association. Allen L. Priddy, Dartmouth ’43, was an avid sailor who distinguished himself by many years of giving back to collegiate sailing as graduate secretary of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association, the national controlling body for college sailing. This is the first trophy level race being conducted at SAIL BLACK ROCK. Fairfield University’s Eric Sowell (Class of ’16) will be running the races along with SAIL BLACK ROCK Technical Racing Coach Jamie Fales (UCONN ’10), with support from Head Race Coach Ginny Perry Worcester and Program Director Dave White.

“The team is growing so rapidly it may be time to engage Fairfield alumni who would like to provide guidance and direction,” said Dave White. “SAIL BLACK ROCK has an advisory board for the overall program’s advancement, and perhaps passionate alumni can help take Fairfield University’s Stag Sailing to the next level.” For more information, contact White at dave@dhwhiterealestate.com. F windcheckmagazine.com

WindCheck Magazine

March 2015 57

Corner

Coop’s

"Hey, You Can't Do That!"

By Joe Cooper By any measure, sailing is a male-dominated activity. This is slowly changing. In over 35 years in the sail & boat game I had not had one woman call me to inquire about equipment for herself. Yet in the past 12 months I’ve received calls from four women, and after chatting for a few minutes it was obvious they were shopping on their own account for sails for their own boats.

Racing is, with few exceptions, co-ed. There is high school and college sailing, and the Nacra co-ed catamaran in the Olympics. You will find women in the crew and occasionally steering at regattas large and small. The entry list for Block Island Race Week 2015 includes, so far, three boats entered under a woman’s name. And for the three of us who follow such races, the Vendée Globe has had women in the last few editions and there is a women sailing in the Barcelona World Race right now, as one member of a double-handed crew.

I coach the Prout School Sailing Team in Wakefield, RI, and more than half the team are girls. All of this has me thinking about mentoring for young girls interested in sailing, which led me to call one of the most experienced female sailors in the US.

Martha Parker has sailed on the bow of more boats than most guys, let alone girls, and runs her extremely successful Team One business in Newport. She’s enjoyed a long career as a sailing instructor, professional sailor, sailing retailer and industry leader, and I figured her experience might shed some light on how to get more women into big boats.

To the question: “How did you get to the bow?” she laughed, “To escape my brothers!” She was one of six kids, so she and her sister used to head to the bow to get away from four brothers when sailing on the family yacht. By default, this gave her experience in a traditionally male-dominated position.

I asked her for advice to teenage girls who sail and want to do more, but might feel overwhelmed by the predominance of males on a boat.

“Make sure you really love sailing. If you do, the rest will follow. Sailboat racing is a true meritocracy and attitude counts for a lot. Even if you’re not the absolute best skilled person

for the spot, if you can do the job and have the right attitude 99% of male sailors will in essence pay no attention to the fact you are a woman. Rather, you are part of the crew – one of the guys.”

Martha’s skills earned her a spot on an Ultimate 30. These hair-on-fire, free-for-all boats had almost no restrictions except LOA and beam. Racing a 30-foot monohull that looked like a Terminator version of an Aussie “eyedeen” on dedicated courses in front of TV cameras and spectators going wild ashore – at 25 knots and sometimes stopping abruptly – was its own steep learning curve. Practice days invariably turned into fix-the-boat days. Working on every aspect of the construction, layout and operation of a racing sailboat taught her much. “No one has the monopoly on good ideas,” she asserts. “Critical thinking is valuable and you learn a million things about how to fix stuff, all of which are huge confidence builders.”

Martha’s WOW! moment happened on the Ultimate 30 circuit. During a crucial race, a crew hiking rack failed they and ended up in the drink in spectacular fashion as their nearest challenger zoomed by, heading for the barn. In a Hollywood ending the troops righted the boat, jury-rigged the rack and beat the other boat by the length of a whisker from a four o’clock shadow. “We just kept pushing,” she recalls. “We never gave up.”

Ironically, says Martha, “There was never anyone telling me, ‘You can’t do that.’ The men in those days just assumed I would fail, so having not been told I could not do something, I just went out and did it. Sailboat racing is about your own performance on the boat - pushing yourself, more or less regardless of the result for the boat. If you like to improve yourself daily, for the rest of your life, sailing is the ideal activity, but you have to be passionate. If you suffer setbacks, work hard to brush them off. In many cases it is not you, but the circumstances.”

Much coffee and beer is being consumed on the topic of engaging young sailors and keeping them in the sport, the adventure and the life that is sailing. Well, here is the other 50% of the population, dead keen to sail, light and agile (perfect for the bow), smart and, today, much less inclined to be told ‘You can’t do that.’

Ladies and gents, there is a vast pool of young sailors out there. Invite them to sail weeknights, on deliveries, out to watch an interesting regatta, test new sails or down to the yard to work on the boat. The dead keen ones will be there in a flash. If a young sailor says, ‘Yes’ to an afternoon of wet sanding, cleaning winches, wiring the new GPS, (there are girls on high school robotics teams) or any job on a boat in exchange for sailing, you have a dedicated crew today and for the future. F Australian born, Joe ‘Coop’ Cooper stayed in the US after the 1980 America’s Cup where he was the boat captain and sailed as Grinder/ Sewer-man on Australia. His whole career has focused on sailing, especially the short-handed aspects of it. He lives in Middletown, RI where he coaches, consults and writes on his blog, joecoopersailing.com, when not paying attention to his wife, teenage son, dog, two cats and several, mainly small, boats.

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5th Annual Connecticut River Dinghy Distance Race is May 9

By Dan Rennie While surfing a popular sailing website a few years back, I came across a forum posting asking about a distance race on the Connecticut River that the local Sunfish association used to organize years ago. I was actively sailing my Laser during the summers at Duck Island Yacht Club and at Frostbite in Essex. Thinking it would be a great idea to invite a group of my fellow dinghy sailors to step away from the usual windward-leeward courses and get out on the river for a 10+ mile course in early May, in 2011 the Connecticut River Dinghy Distance Race was born.

Open to any boat with a Portsmouth Yardstick rating, the race has been contested by as many as 25 different models of boats since its inception. Affectionately nicknamed “the island of misfit toys regatta,” the event has attracted everything from the usual suspects such as the Laser, JY15, Club 420, Force 5 and Sunfish to higher performance boats such as the MC Scow, 5O5 and Melges 17 and truly old school models such as the Nutshell Pram, Buccaneer, Lark, Cape Cod Gemini, Flying Scot, Scorpion, and even multihulls such as Hobie 16 and 17 and Nacra.

This year’s 5th Annual Connecticut River Dinghy Distance Race will take place on Saturday May 9, starting from Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, CT down to Calves Island just north of the Baldwin Bridge in Old Saybrook, and back upstream to a finish line south of Brockway Island outside of Hamburg Cove. The party and awards ceremony will follow at Pettipaug Yacht Club in Essex. Competitors meet and launch their boats at Eagle Landing in the morning, bring their trailers and cars to Pettipaug Yacht Club and get shuttled back up to their boats. Start time is 12pm, just south of the Goodspeed Bridge.

It’s a winner-take-all race with the top three overall boats winning the trophies in single-handed, crewed, and multihull divisions. If more than five boats in a class register, they get their own one-design class and individual trophies as well. Past years have seen a vast array of competitors, both new to sailing and experienced including families enjoying a day sail to collegiate sailors (the UConn Avery Point team did very well last year) to Olympians, America’s Cup alumni, and everything in between.

Whether you actively race a dinghy or just have one in your garage or backyard that hasn’t seen the water in years, get it out, clean it up and join the fun. The official Notice of Race, as well windcheckmagazine.com

A dozen different types of boats sailing through the waters off Chester, CT in last year’s race. © Jane Reilly

as previous years’ results and photos can all be found on the regatta Facebook page or by contacting me at danrenniect@gmail.com. F Dan Rennie lives in Hamburg Cove, CT. He is a design engineer at Navtec Rigging Solutions in Guilford, CT and a longtime local racing sailor and race committee volunteer.

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March 2015 59

Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week – A Regatta on a Roll Can you say mega-regatta? That’s an apt description for Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week, to be sailed April 16-19.

With some 300 boats expected to compete and roughly 2,500 competitors descending upon Charleston, SC, it’s definitely big.

But big isn’t the only attribute. Charleston’s premier regatta, now celebrating its 20th year, has always distinguished itself in substantive ways. This year, the event organizers have arranged to offer live streaming of the on-the-water action courtesy of title sponsor Sperry. And, to increase the event’s visibility, the

© Meredith Block

organizers are also hoping to have big screens in strategic areas around downtown Charleston carrying the live feed. In addition, they’re working with the Volvo Ocean Race to offer live streaming of the start of Leg 6 on Sunday, April 19.

But those are just a few of the shoreside frills. On the water, competitors will see a couple of new classes in action, including the VX One Design, the J/88, the C&C 30 and the Farr 280.

Those last three will be accommodated on a second offshore racecourse, and to keep things interesting, those and the other offshore one-design classes will finish the last race of each day on a longer leg back through the jetties and into the harbor.

Southern hospitality has long been a hallmark of this event, and that hasn’t changed. There will be plenty of Gosling’s Rum at the post race parties each evening, along with sumptuous meals on three nights. Each morning, the US Sailing Espresso Bar will be cranking out high-octane caffeine beverages. Couple all of that with intense on-thewater competition in the nation’s Number 1 tourist destination (according to the readers of Condé Nast Traveler) and what’s not to like?

Best of all, it’s not too late to register. Whether

you’re a one-design sailor, a PHRF racer, or an ORR aficionado, all you have to do is go sign up at charlestonraceweek.com. F

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☛ Broker Tips Just Make an Offer

By Tom Pilkington, CPYB Prestige Yacht Sales Right now in the yacht brokerage business, we are fully engaged in the spring season. So don’t pay any attention to that icy view outside your window, or how chilly you feel, even with thoughts of St. Patrick’s Day “spirits” to keep you warm. As a matter of fact, brokers have their own “Brokers’ Calendar” which is quite different from the traditional seasonal calendar. Fall officially starts for brokers in August, once we decide which boats will be at the Newport International Boat Show. Winter kicks in as soon as we have exhausted all of our fall boat show leads. And, the all-important spring season begins the day our customers return from President’s Day holiday.

During spring, we all hear brokers urging our customers to just “make the seller an offer,” or “give me a number that I can give to my seller.” Or, my favorite, “Just make an offer, you have nothing to lose!” The fact is making an offer on a yacht through a Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) is no different than making an offer on a favorite vacation property or condo that you have been dreaming about and are now in a position to buy.

After working with your broker, and finding the boat that matches your lifestyle, you decide to “make an offer” to the seller, with the help of your broker. We have all had a buyer who, while driving home after a showing, calls on his cell phone from the car and instructs his broker to call the owner and tell him he will pay a certain dollar amount for the boat he just viewed. At this point, his broker informs him that in order to make an offer, he, the broker, will fill out the Yacht Purchase and Sale Agreement (YBAA), send it to the buyer for signature (fax or scan copies are accepted), and when signed, the buyer will send all back to the broker, with a deposit, and the offer will be presented to the seller.

This offer is the contract between the buyer and seller. It serves as the foundation of all future negotiations of this deal between the buyer and seller.

We have all had buyers who, when handed the four-page Purchase and Sale Agreement, all of a sudden have second thoughts about moving forward with their offer. It is important that we, as CPYB brokers, explain to the buyer the functionality of the P&S (Purchase and Sale Agreement), and don’t merely dismiss it as “boiler plate,” or “legalese,” which does not have to be read.

It should be explained that the P&S has been the foundation of

boating transactions for decades, and it is meant to protect both buyer and seller.

There is language in the Purchase and Sale Contract that outlines deposit refunds for deals that are not consummated, Closing Dates, Survey Protocol, Buyer/Seller Representations, Default by the buyer or seller, and even defines what is done, if the vessel is damaged while under agreement. There is also a special section for Additional Provisions that the buyer may request as part of the offer. This P&S agreement is an important document and must be drawn up with attention to detail. Technically, any information missing can invalidate the document.

It should be explained to anyone buying or selling a yacht that the P&S, if executed properly, is an invaluable document for all parties involved. It is so thorough it serves as the roadmap for the entire boat buying process. In fact, buyers should consider reviewing a blank P&S well before they have found the boat of their dreams. Once buyers are comfortable with the P&S, I am

sure they will be more willing to “make an offer” and know they have a concise and “proven” method to follow.

When the closing date finally arrives, and the P&S agreement has done its job, it is time to “add water,” fuel, and start enjoying the boat! Just like life jackets, flares, horn and the rest of the United States Coast Guard Package, some may feel the Purchase and Sale agreement is not necessary, but I would not take the chance of not having it just in case!

Enjoy the boating season and I hope to see you on the water!

Tom Pilkington is a principal at Prestige Yacht Sales with offices in Norwalk, Essex, and Mystic, CT. Tom started his boating career as VP of Yacht Haven Marine Center in Stamford, CT. On weekends Tom and his wife Jennifer can often be seen boating with their two Springer Spaniels on Long Island Sound.

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30' US Marine Sloop, diesel, radar 1982 $14,500 1971 $18,500 1973 $8,900 30' Pearson 1984 $85,000 28' Tartan 1993 $38,000 1973 $31,500 28' Catalina MKII 1998 $38,000 1990 $61,000 Pearson New Honda Outboard

1985 $11,500 27' 1968 $19,000 27' Tartan, Diesel 1961 $5,990 1987 $45,000 27' Beneteau 265 Diesel 1992 $16,500 1995 $82,500 1987 $4,700 27' O'Day 2007 $139,900 26' Cobalt 262 2007 $47,900 2006 $129,900 1970 $4,900 26' Pearson 2008 $149,000 26' Sea Ray Sundeck 2008 $44,900 1988 $13,000 25' Hunter 1983 $3,500 25' Kirby w/Triad trailer 1979 $11,500 1985 $19,000 22' Aquasport Osprey, T top

1999 $11,000 1999 $15,500 164 ROGERS AVENUE, MILFORD, CT 06460 203-301-2222 Visit www.yachtworld.com/portmilford for more information and photos.

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42' Chris Craft Commanche 42' Nelson Marek 40' Islander Ketch 38' Ericson 38' Chris Craft Commander 37' Farr, Carbon Mast 35' Freedom 34' Sea Ray Sundancer 34' Sea Ray Sundancer 33' Formula 330 55 32' Wellcraft St. Tropez 31' Silverton 30' S2 9.1

64 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine 64 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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CLASSIFIEDS Place your classified ad here! (203) 332-7639

BOATS FOR SALE- INFLATABLE BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL Novurania 10’5” Premium Rigid Inflatable.

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BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 2008 Vanguard 15 with SeiTech Dolly and deck cover. Very little use. Fresh water only. Stored indoors. $4500. Firm. Phone or text 860-912-5393.

19’ Lightning 1998, Glass - Set-up for cruising and camping: full flotation, dodger and full cockpit cover/tent by Topside Canvas, ‘Bandit trailer, 3.3 hp. Mercury 2006, Regular and self-tending jib, sails are OK. Bottom and centerboard painted with anti-fouling. Boat is set-up for comfortable cruising/trailering or mooring, not racing.

Mooring mushroom & chain. $3,000 or B.O. Matsconn@gmail.com.

25’ Kirby 1979 - Fractional rig, Triad Trailer, 4HP Yamaha 4 stroke, new main, new 155% Genoa, new #3, new spin, Hall Van, cushions, head, tactic compass $11,500.

Sistership

26’ Beneteau 265 1992 - Settees & dining table convert to large V-berth. Oversized quarter berth. Galley w/ sink, cooler, alcohol stove. Full-size marine head. Roller furling. Tiller. Volvo diesel engine. Shore power. Owners moving up. Milford, CT Asking $16,500 203-301-2222

26’ O’Day 1985 Ray Hunt Design - w/ Shoal Draft, Centerboard, 8 Hp Honda Outboard, One Owner through June 2014. This pleasing 26 footer has 6’ standing head room and berths for 5. The anodized aluminum mast is deck-stepped on a hinged tabernacle base. This allows the mast to be hoisted in place with its own rig. A highly maneuverable sailor, extended centerboard provides great stability combined with comfortable interior in very good condition, porti-potty, CD, VHF, and Speed. Priced to sell at $5,950.

Scottwprentice@yahoo.com 203-570-8277

28’ Cal 1986 – This well maintained boat is in excellent condition. Can be seen at Fayerweather Boat Yard, Bridgeport, CT. $22,000. Contact Anne at 203-209-3577

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 30’ Pearson Flyer 1981 - Includes full set of sails – new genoa 150 and main, plus older spinnaker. Four wheel trailer.

New Harken roller furler. Also some older sails. Porta potty (head). Sleeps four, stove, sink, dinette table for cockpit or below, large cooler. Inboard Yanmar diesel 1gm10 engine purchased in 1994. Large roomy cockpit, very competitive racer-many trophies won, new teak and holly decking below. Must be seen to appreciate, kept in excellent condition. Asking $15,000. Make offer. For more information or to see the boat call David Riordan 203-259-8814, or email djrio218@att.net

30’ Cal 2-30 1969 - A well cared for example of the highly regarded William Lapworth designed Cal sloop. Rebuilt Atomic 4 engine. Replaced rigging and life lines Hood roller furling. Many upgrades, call for details. Price $8,000 Also available Zodiac and 2 hp outboard, $850 Call Bob: 203-261-5968

Place your classified ad by sending your listing to WindCheck, P.O. Box 195 Stratford, CT 06615 contactus@windcheckmagazine.com

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March 2015 65

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 30’ Pearson 1971 - Full set of racing sails. 2 spinnakers, 1 Asym. cruising chute. Twin head foil for roller Genoa W/ removable drum. Full instrument display & GPS. Harken deck hardware. Spinlock rope clutches. Cockpit cushions, dodger, bimini. New holding tank, water tank & plumbing. New cooktop. This boat is a race ready winner and a comfortable cruiser. Has Poppets. $12,500 Call Doug @ 860-227-5323 or email at dougmcdonald138@comcast.net

31’ Tartan 31 1989 - Exceptionally clean & well equipped. New Raymarine E120W, A/P, New Air Cond., full canvas, spin. Asking $47,900 Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

32’ C&C 99 2004 - Original owner, bought new 2004. Options included: Spinnaker package, Leatherette seat cushions in main cabin and macerator.

Very clean, well maintained. Carbon fiber mast, a custom canvas cover, auto-pilot and instruments. Two sets of sails plus a spinnaker. $87,000. Will cooperate with brokers. Call 203-937-6254 or 203-530-9143

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 33 Raider built by Cherubini 1983.

Excellent condition. Info and pictures to terence.sullivan1@verizon.net.

33’ Newport 1986 - Well equipped for cruising with rolling furling genoa, cruising chute, and Dutchman main. Autopilot, dodger, bimini, and main sail cover, Universal diesel, CNG stove/oven, refrigerator, GPS, solar panel, and H/C water/ foot pumps. $31,900 Call Bruce 203-3775219 or email jbgirt719@yahoo.com

BOATS FOR SALE- SAIL 36’ Sabre 362 1993 - Very clean & well updated Sabre. New windlass, radar/plotter, A/P, Hatches & ports, & much more in last 2 years. Flag blue, wing keel. Asking $129,900 Owner anxious - two boat owner.

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42’ Jeanneau 42DS 2007 - Very nicely maintained, full electronics & canvas, HUGE aft berth. Asking $189,900. Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

44’ Beneteau First 44.7 2006 - Great performance cruiser, North 3DL Sails, Asym. Spin., Raymarine electronics, full canvas, winter cover. Mint. $238,447 Willis Marine Center 631-421-3400

34’ Alsberg Express 1987 - Carl Schumacher design well built and fast. Yanmar diesel engine. New mast, full North sail inventory. Asking $45,000.

Call 917-545-8748 janusw@aol.com

35’ Freedom 1995 - Excellent condition, clean and well equipped. New sails, nice canvas, Yanmar diesel with low hours.

Interior is Bristol. Raytheon instruments, radar, GPS & autopilot. 4’6” shoal draft, Newer custom canvas winter cover. $82,500 Call Bruce at 203-314-7584

46’ Baltic 46 – MERRYTHOUGHT Finnish quality throughout in this well found and very able racer-cruiser. Close-winded, fast and comfortable with full teak interior, good electronics and large sail inventory.

Single hand cruise or full crew race this exceptional design. Sell or trade. sailmyles@aol.com 860-823-7952

66 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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ENGINES FOR SALE Yanmar 27hp. Diesel Outboards - Will Outlive you! Two for sale: #1 new factory power-head & lower unit, 0 hours, 6 gal. remote tank, 200 lbs $3,950. #2 , 2002, 1,500 hours, good shape, $1,950. Yanmar parts available worldwide. 500 - 4,500 RPM, 1,600 RPM max. torque. Extreme fuel efficiency, 200 lbs., 1 liter, 3 cyl. engine, new prop. like a 50 hp. in torque. Electric start or manual, 10 amp. alternator, Twist grip tiller or remote control. Robust industrial quality, good for 4,000 hours plus. matsconn@gmail.com

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WindCheck Magazine

March 2015 67

HELP WANTED

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

The Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT is looking for launch operators for the 2015 boating season. Must be 18 years of age, must have a USCG Launch License, able to pass a drug test and background check. Must have boating knowledge and must be personable. Please contact Dustin at dbruce@indianharboryc.com MARINE POSITIONS AVAILABLE M Yacht Services, Annapolis, a large, full service marine company, is hiring additional highly experienced crew in the following fields: marine systems (mechanical & electrical), carpentry, sailboat rigging, fiberglass/gelcoat/painting. We offer excellent wages and benefits. Applicants must have in-depth knowledge of their trade. Must have a clean driving record.

Email resumes to admin@myachtservices.net Experienced Yacht Sales Professional - Prestige Yacht Sales representing Beneteau, Hunt Yachts and Southport Boats as well brokerage is seeking qualified, experienced yacht brokers.

Positions at our offices in Essex, Mystic and Norwalk, CT. All Inquiries will be confidential. If interested, please send your resume to Info@PrestigeYachtSales.net LOOKING FOR A GREAT SUMMER JOB? The Housatonic Boat Club in Stratford, CT has 2015 seasonal steward/launch operator position available. Applicants must have a USCG launch operator’s license: OUPV min, Ltd Mater preferred. Other duties call for general maintenance of our club facilities.

Contact dgdriscoll@aol.com for further info/ application.

SUMMER POSITIONS OPEN Riverside Yacht Club is looking to fill positions in the Waterways Department for the summer season of 2015. The positions are outside on the water, working with a great group of people!

Dockhand: Must be 16 years or older. CT Safe Boating Certificate and or boating experience a plus. Duties include helping the vessels in and out of slips, working on the fuel dock, cleaning of club vessels, setting up for regattas, and light maintenance work on and off the water. Weekend work is expected, schedules are flexible.

Launch Operator: Must have a current United States Coast Guard Launch License.

Duties include all those described in the dockhand position, but also include the operation of the club’s 2 passenger launches, carrying people to and from their boats in the mooring field.

SAILS

STORAGE TRAILER STORAGE SAFE, SECURE AND DRY IN S TA M F O R D

Please contact Brian at 203-637-8987 for more information.

68 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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WindCheck Magazine

March 2015 69

On Watch J. Russell Jinishian With a very large number of paintings, drawings, ship models, sculpture and scrimshaw on display, the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery, located at 1899 Bronson Road in Fairfield, CT, is the nation’s foremost gallery of fine marine and sporting art. While the inventory is indeed spectacular, it’s the knowledge and enthusiasm of the affable owner, America’s leading authority on contemporary marine art, that makes this gallery a truly amazing place.

“I grew up in Old Greenwich, when it was a small beach community, says Russell. “I spent a lot of time on Long Island Sound, fishing, clamming and sailing. We’d ride our bikes down to the beach and go sailing every day. My first boat was a Sunfish, and later I sailed Penguins, Lightnings and Rhodes 19s. My family had a Flying Scot and then a Marshall 22 catboat and a Freedom 32, and some little power skiffs.”

“I became interested in art when I was about eight. I studied Studio Art at the Cornell University School of Art & Architecture, and went to work at the Silvermine Guild Arts Center in New Canaan. I was there for four or five years, and was the art critic for the Connecticut Post and other publications. Mystic Seaport opened a marine art gallery around that time and I started working there in 1982. We had a great time, and I stayed as Director of the Maritime Gallery until 1994 when I had an opportunity to join the Greenwich Workshop Gallery, a business in Fairfield started

by Dave Usher, who was the county’s premier maker of limited edition prints. Dave really pioneered that whole industry.”

“In the mid-nineties, I was recruited by a company called Big Horn Galleries, who had decided to open original art galleries around the country. They had one in Aspen, Colorado, one in Cody, Wyoming and one in Carmel, California. We renovated an old appliance store in Fairfield and turned it into a state-of-theart gallery. We did it for two or three years but found that, unlike prints, it was difficult to sell one-of-a-kind things in four locations.

When our leases came up, the gallery in Aspen closed and the guys in Cody and Carmel took those galleries over. I realized that I’m really a marine art expert, so in 1997 I decided to open a high-end marine art gallery upstairs from the Greenwich Workshop. I was there for several years, and moved to my new location, a renovated bank building, two years ago.”

The J. Russell Jinishian Gallery proudly represents the world's finest marine artists. “We’ve become a unique little place, and we’ve gotten to know each other over these 30 years – artists, customers and customers’ kids,” says Russell. “You can’t go anywhere else in the country and see work by all the top marine artists from around the world. I really enjoy the relationships with them and my customers. People buy these pictures because they like to look at them. The artists paint them because they’re

interested in and extremely knowledgeable about their subject matter, and that creates a nice equation.

If somebody buys a work of art – whether it’s a painting, scrimshaw or a ship model – they get something that they can enjoy. In turn, they’re helping support an artist in their creative endeavor, which is a pretty rough, uncertain lifestyle. That exchange is a very positive thing. And because I have very close relationships with the artists, I get things that other galleries may not get. Sometimes you’ll see a painting here that no one else has seen except the artist and his wife.” The gallery also represents sporting artists who specialize in fishing and hunting art. “Fred Polhemus, who worked with me at Mystic Seaport, runs that part of the business,” Russell explains.

“A big part of my job is to give people information about artists and their work so they can make a decision about a purchase. Everything in the gallery is on consignment to me, which means I can keep a really large inventory. Between paintings, drawings, ship models and scrimshaw I probably have a thousand works of art. For every painting here I’ve probably looked at 500 others, so when you come here you know you’re looking at work of a certain quality. With marine paintings in particular, things have to be correct – a boat must be rigged correctly, it’s got to sit in the water correctly, and the wind and water have to be correct. Beyond that, the top artists have a certain level of ‘poetry’ that sets them apart. Their research often includes reading logbook accounts of an event, and their own experience on the water enables them to bring a piece of history alive visually.”

“Marine art is now a worldwide artform, and there are marine art societies all over the world,” says Russell, who is an honorary member of the American Society of Marine Artists who sits on the Advisory Board of the National Maritime Historical Society. He lectures nationally on marine art and collecting, and is a frequent contributor to WindCheck on those subjects. He’s the author of Bound for Blue Water, the definitive guide to contemporary marine art, and he publishes Marine Art News, a beautifully produced magazine with information about artists’ techniques and what they’re currently working on, upcoming exhibitions and auctions, book reviews, and recent sale prices for all types of art and collectibles including classic automobiles, antique firearms, jewelry, Hollywood and sports memorabilia, and more.

Russell, who lives in Black Rock and has a house in South Bristol, ME, owns a lobster boat that was built in Maine in 1976.

“I don’t have a lot of free time,” he says, “but I try to get out on the water once a week in the summer and every other week in the winter…I saw seals on Penfield Reef last month. The water is a place where good things happen to body, mind and spirit.” F

70 March 2015 WindCheck Magazine

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