Update - Three Little Birds launched!

Bristol RI. - Here are some shots of launching day activities.
Three Little Birds was launched at 8:30 8/26/10
She is getting rigged at Little Harbor Marine.

2nd image.

Beautifully built by - Aquidneck Custom

Earl - Friday

Earl is becoming a very powerful hurricane and will be moving just off the Carolina coastline and northward and eastward to somewhere between 100 to 200 miles off Cape Cod. Remember the margin of era is 500 miles for 5 day outlook.

The Clagett Regatta

Image - Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Conn.), winner of the 2.4 Metre class
credit - Dan Nerney.

In each of the four classes (2.4 Metre, SKUD-18, Sonar and J/22) competing at the eighth annual C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta for sailors with disabilities, an unbroken winning streak on the second and final day of racing determined the championship winners. The storm that pulled out of the area Wednesday night left behind a perfect day for racing on Narragansett Bay, starting with a 5-7 knot westerly breeze that built to a top speed of 12-14. The only hiccup for the day came in the form of a 40-degree wind shift that caused a 2.4 Metre race to be abandoned just as it started and also necessitated a weather mark change for the SKUD-18 class. (more…)

Seamen’s Church Institute of Newport raises at $28,000 at Rock the Docks

On August 22nd Seamen’s Church Institute of Newport hosted its fourth annual Rock the Docks event. Seamen’s Church board members served dinner to 150 guests who braved the weather to support Seamen’s charitable mission. Rock the Docks is a grass root event run and staffed by the board and volunteers. We rolled up our sleeves and did the work and the result was that 90% of the funds raised went directly to Semen’s Church. Every board member played a role in our success in raising $28,000.

Image - (L to R) SCI Board members Mary Gilbane, Rick Grosvenor and Peggy Comfort

Little America’s Cup

Final results here.

The Winner!

BOAT: Canaan
OWNER: Fred Eaton, Toronto, Ontario
DESIGNER: Steve Killing, Midland, Ontario
BUILDER: Rossi Milev/ Multimatic, Toronto
LENGTH: 25 feet [7.6 meters]
YEAR: 2010
HULL: vacuum bagged carbon/epoxy

image - William Tuthill

Cardboard Shark Fin

It’s NEB!

New England Boatworks Inc. has been contracted to build PUMA’s new Volvo 70 for the upcoming VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-2012. Design for this latest generation round the world race yacht will be provided by Valencia based Naval Architecture firm Juan Yacht Design. Juan Kouyoumdjian’s designs have a perfect record in the VOR since the inception of the Volvo Open 70 Rule. They are credited with designing the 2006 VOR winner ABN AMRO One and the 2009 VOR winner Ericsson 4. Full release

Herreshoff Classic Regatta images from George Bekris

Here are some really nice images of the Herreshoff Classic Regatta presented by photographer George Bekris posted at Sail-world.com

More turtles

A Massachusetts-based network that counts turtle sightings has fielded 13 reports from Rhode Island boaters this month, including leatherback turtles and loggerheads like this one released in open waters off Key Biscayne, Fla.

They ply Rhode Island waters every summer, sometimes paddling right into Narragansett Bay or gliding along rip currents near the cliffy islands off Sakonnet Point. Story

Image - AP / Wilfredo Lee

Man swept to sea from Hazard Rock

Rhode Island Speed

There’s a very cool project taking shape in Rhode Island and you’ll want to find out more.

The Project Leader and Design Coordinator is Vlad Murnikov. The Skipper will be Cam Lewis. They’re going to build the fastest ocean-going sailing monohull on the planet.

SpeedDream will be capable of reaching 50+ knots and is going to be built, rigged and equipped in Rhode Island!

Read about it here.

Find out about the presentation at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 7pm

Rhode Island companies already involved:

Pedrick Yacht Design, Newport, USA
Rodger Martin Design, Newport, USA
Eric Goetz Boatbuilders, RI, USA
Jean-Pierre Mouligne, Gurit, RI, USA
Hall Spars, RI, USA
SDK Structures, RI, USA
Doyle Sailmakers, MA, USA

It’s not too late

Not too late to sign on for America’s Cup 12 Metre Era Reunion

Newport, Rhode Island: All the big names of sailing are signing on to attend New York Yacht Club’s America’s Cup 12 Metre Era Reunion from September 16-19 at Harbour Court, NYYC’s on-the-water clubhouse in Newport - and it’s not too late to join in - but you will have to hurry.

Syd Fischer, Sir James Hardy, Harold Cudmore, Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Gary Jobson, Bill Ficker, Ted Hood, Halsey Herreshoff, Bruno Trouble, Pele Petterson and Tom Whidden are just some of the big names of the 12 Metre Era attending, along with some of their crew members.

During the 12 Metre era (1958-1987), over 80 12 Metre teams competed as contenders or defenders for the 10 America’s Cup matches during the period. The America’s Cup 12 Metre Era Reunion will be a celebration of the yachts, the crews, syndicate members and the times, considered by many to be a golden era in the history of the America’s Cup.

Regatta Co-Chairs include 12 Metre veterans such as Gary Jobson, Jeff Neuberth, Jan Slee and Tom Whidden.

Reunion registration is only open to those who qualify. Please contact Jan Slee at slee142@cox.net or Daniela Burton at burtond@nyyc.org for details on how to register online for the Reunion.

Reunion events span 4 days from Thursday, September 16 thru Sunday, September 19 to include:

• Thursday Legend Panel at the Newport International Boat Show dubbed “Ficker is Quicker” headed by Bill Ficker
• Thursday “Barbecue Dinner” at Harbour Court
• Friday Breakfast Rendezvous at Harbour Court
• Friday “Clambake Dinner” at Harbour Court
• Saturday Breakfast Rendezvous at Harbour Court
• Saturday Reunion Dinner and 17th America’s Cup Hall of fame Induction Ceremony at Harbour Court
• Sunday Brunch followed by a Legends Panel at Harbour Court

The attendees list and event updates are posted on the NYYC site Reunion home page.

Image - America’s Cup Charters

Tim Healy & local crew are World Champions!

Tim Healy of Jamestown won the J24 world championships in Malmo Sweden with an all local crew.

Gordon Borges - Providence RI
Moose McClintock - Portsmouth RI
Danny Rabin - Boston
John Mollicone - Newport RI

The racing wrapped up Friday for the fleet of 55 boats.

Results here.

Onne van der Wal Photography: Workshops

“Workshops on the Water” teaching the basics and some advanced techniques of digital photography when shooting from a moving (and wet and unstable) platform - like a boat!

The first workshop which will take place during the Museum of Yachting’s Classic Yacht Regatta on Sunday September 5th. The workshop will be from noon - 4:30. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to shoot beautiful boats aside Onne.

A second workshop will be offered on Wednesday, September 22nd from 3pm - 7:30pm. Wednesday nights are notoriously busy on the Bay with the Shields fleet racing under the bridge and other sailors savoring the last days of summer. The late light at this time of year is a favorite for Onne who loves shooting scenics around the Bay. There is a lot to shoot -from racing to Lighthouses, shorelines and passing photo ops. This workshop is guaranteed to produce a few new favorites for your own portfolio.

Full details.

Little Nor’easter

Monday Aug. 23 1100 - Warning signal for the first fleet race

Forecast for Monday - ENE wind 16 to 19 kt becoming NNE 11 to 14 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 kt. Rain and thunderstorms before 3pm, then a chance of rain. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Seas 1 ft or less.

Live weather updates

The Teams