Another short but sweet AC33 video

Let’s see Miami’s Amphitheatre

Volvo 2011/12 update

Brad Read sent over the attached charts with the plan for sailing the in port races inside Narragansett Bay. This is part of the proposal to bring a Volvo Stopover to Newport in the spring of 2012. They have scenarios for NW, SW and NE breeze. Each race course would offer great viewing from a bunch of vantage points. Each would also send the boats right by our webcams!

We may find out Monday or Wednesday if Newport is in.

racing_charts

The Governor takes it on

Office of the Governor - Governor Carcieri, Speaker Fox, and Senate President Paiva-Weed Create the America’s Cup Rhode Island 2013 Planning Committee

Governor Donald L. Carcieri, House Speaker Gordon Fox, and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed today announced the creation of the America’s Cup Rhode Island 2013 Planning Committee. Coordinated through the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, the Planning Committee is responsible for developing a proposal for Rhode Island to host the next America’s Cup.

The Planning Committee will serve as principal entity for the state’s coordinated effort to bring the America’s Cup races back to Rhode Island. The Committee will develop an infrastructure and capacity assessment that will further enhance Narragansett Bay’s world renowned marine industry and serve as the basis for a proposal to BMW Oracle and the America’s Cup Organizing Committee.

Members of the Planning Committee include representation from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, the Rhode Island State Yachting Committee, the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, the City of Newport, and individuals with extensive America’s Cup experience.

“Throughout the history of the America’s Cup, Rhode Island has demonstrated itself to be an ideal host location, and boasts excellent sailing conditions, the necessary marine infrastructure and marine trades, world class accommodations, legions of supportive sailing enthusiasts, and exceptional physical beauty,” said Governor Carcieri. “We are well poised to compete with any city in the world to host the next America’s Cup. An international event of this scope has the potential to generate millions of dollars in economic development throughout the entire state, from full hotels and restaurants and jobs in construction and the marine trades to a host of opportunities in the retail and service industries.”

House Speaker Gordon D. Fox added, “Bringing the America’s Cup back to Rhode Island would be a huge boost to our economy, our hospitality and tourism industry, and would showcase our state’s beautiful natural resources and marine trade heritage.”

“The people of Newport and Rhode Island recognize and appreciate the significance of the America’s Cup tradition. Newport has hosted 12 of the 33 America’s Cup races and is home to the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. Our world-class city, outstanding sailing conditions, welcoming and enthusiastic residents, and longstanding maritime tradition make Newport the ideal location to host the 34th America’s Cup Challenge,” said Senate President M Teresa Paiva-Weed. “This is an outstanding economic development opportunity for our state. The Senate looks forward to working with the House of Representatives and Governor Carcieri to bring the Cup back to Newport.”

“Rhode Island’s sailing community will welcome the return of America’s Cup racing to our shores. This hallmark event along with the presence of the many challenger syndicates, some of whom may be here for the first time, will experience the great sailing waters off our coast and the warmth of our welcome ashore,” said Dr. Robin Wallace, Chairman of the RI State Yachting Committee.

“Bringing the America’s Cup back to Newport is the historic equivalent of the Olympic Games returning to Athens, Greece in 2004,” added Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the RI Economic Development Corporation. “Every competitive yacht racer in the world would relish the chance to be a part of sailing history, and the event will bring international exposure and dollars to Rhode Island.”

Members of the America’s Cup Rhode Island 2013 Planning Committee are:

• Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the RI Economic Development Corporation
• Robin Wallace, Chairman, RI State Yachting Committee
• Halsey Herreshoff, Herreshoff Marine Museum and Member of the RI State Yachting Committee
• David Elwell, Member of the RI State Yachting Committee and Commodore, New York Yacht Club
• W.H. Dyer Jones, Member of the RI State Yachting Committee and America’s Cup Regatta Manager in Valencia and Auckland
• Michael Keyworth, Member of the RI State Yachting Committee and Member of the RI Marine Trades Association
• Brad Read, Executive Director, Sail Newport
• Ed Lavelle, Newport City Manager
• Mark Brodeur, Rhode Island State Tourism Director
• Designees of the Speaker of the House and Senate President

riyachting.com - note. The America’s Cup Hall of Fame is Not in Newport, it’s in Bristol.

Equal time - LNG and the America’s Cup

LNG Fact Check - Response to claims of Attorney General Patrick Lynch regarding LNG shipments and the prospect of Newport hosting the next America’s Cup.

On February 24 Newport Now published an article titled “Attorney General: Bring Back The Cup, Not LNG.” In the article Attorney General Patrick Lynch suggests that the Weaver’s Cove LNG Project “could take Newport out of the running to host one of the world’s most prestigious events,” the America’s Cup. General Lynch also references “…recent economic impact studies showing that the 2007 America’s Cup race in Valencia, Spain, created 70,000 jobs and billions of dollars in revenue.”

Attorney General Lynch’s comments are the latest in a long history of misstatements he has made related to the Weaver’s Cove’s LNG Project. Had Mr. Lynch checked even the most rudimentary facts he could have learned that the Sagunto LNG terminal is located roughly 14 miles from Valencia, Spain, the site of both the 2007 and 2010 America’s Cup Races. By comparison, the Weaver’s Cove LNG facility would be located more than 20 miles from the race area in Rhode Island Sound.

Read on: http://lngfactcheck.com/

J/105 Narragansett Bay Championship Tour

(Newport, RI)- Fleet 14 (southern New England) will run a J-105 Narragansett Bay 2010 Championship Tour consisting of three closely-spaced regattas that typically draw competitors from Marblehead to Annapolis:

• July 10-11 Coastal Living Sail Newport- Newport, RI
• July 17-19 Rolex NYYC Race Week- Newport, RI
• August 7-8 West Passage Regatta- Wickford, RI

North Sails will provide mark set boats during the West Passage Regatta as well as offering on-the-water coaching for all comers on Friday, August 6, followed by a debrief and welcome party at Wickford Yacht Club.

All the details

Ice fisherman rescued by hovercraft

Yikes!

North American sailboat sales declined 53 per cent in 2009.

ibinews.com - Sales by North American sailboat manufacturers fell to US$258m in 2009, a 53 per cent decline compared to 2008. Overall unit sales fell by 38 per cent to 7,076 units, according to a study by The Sailing Company.

Full story

America’s Cup Mania

If you have not had enough of the speculation here is a bunch of it.

• ABC interview with Larry http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/sports&id=7288971
• Cities vying to host next America’s Cup http://dailycaller.com/2010/02/20/cities-vying-to-host-next-americas-cup/
• Several cities vying to host next America’s Cup http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/nation/cities-vying-to-host-next-americas-cup-84837897.html
• Are stars aligning to bring America’s Cup back home to Newport? http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_goddard21_02-21-10_6IHGEJ0_v8.3f8a508.html
• Ellison makes no commitments on America’s Cup racing for San Francisco Bay http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/02/15/daily91.html
• RI gov sending letter to woo America’s Cup return http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2010/02/19/ri_gov_sending_letter_to_woo_americas_cup_return/
• Update: Carcieri sends letter to woo America’s Cup http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/carcieri-sending-letter-to-woo.html
• R.I. could be back in the America’s Cup race http://www.projo.com/ri/newport/content/AMERICAS_CUP_NEWPORT_02-18-10_M0HG5BE_v29.3a650e6.html
• San Diego mayor makes personal pitch for America’s Cup http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/san-diego-mayor-makes-personal.html

Newport Bermuda Race Chooses NYYC as Headquarters

bermudarace.com - The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee has announced that the pre-race race headquarters for the 47th Newport Bermuda Race will be the Robert G. Stone Jr. Sailing Center at the New York Yacht Club’s Newport clubhouse, Harbour Court. Crews may use the clubhouse and its facilities before the race’s start on June 18, 2010.

The announcement was made by Bjorn Johnson, chairman of the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee. “After an intensive selection process we chose the New York Yacht Club’s Sailing Center as the best possible site for our Newport headquarters. The club’s generous offer is only the most recent event in a long, healthy relationship between the NYYC and the Newport Bermuda Race. For years the race has been started by the club’s race committee, and many NYYC members (including me) have raced to Bermuda.” Details

IYRS Career Day - March 6

One-Day Event in Newport to Feature Green Marine Technology Expert

Newport (R.I.) - The Fifth Annual Marine Industry Career Day on March 6 at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport will again be the singular event in Rhode Island where marine industry professionals and career seekers can meet area employers and learn about job and training opportunities in the field. But this year, IYRS has broadened the scope of the event beyond current career opportunities. Career Day will cast an eye toward the future with a special presentation by marine technology expert Nigel Calder, who will talk about green technological advances on the horizon for the global marine industry.

“Technology in our world is changing so rapidly. We wanted Career Day to be a valuable opportunity for education-to help career seekers stay ahead of the curve by learning about advances in marine technology from a leading expert, and about the career opportunities that will emerge as a result,” said Susan Daly, VP, Marketing of IYRS. (more…)

Newport Volvo Stopover - update

Cape Town has been confirmed as the first port of call for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race. It is the first of a series of port announcements with the entire race route being revealed by the end of March. So we have to wait a few more weeks. Story

LaserPerformance Partners with Simon Cooke

Portsmouth RI. LaserPerformance last week announced that its parent company Full Moon Holdings, will partner with Infused Foils. Infused Foils is led by Simon Cooke and is known world-wide for producing high performance centerboard’s and rudders for a variety of products including the Optimist, i420 and Olympic level 470.

This acquisition will allow LaserPerformance to offer their customers the very best foils on the market regardless of the boat they sail. “I am very excited about the addition of Simon to the LaserPerformance family. Simon has done groundbreaking work in developing innovative foils. Having him on board is a great asset,” said Devin Kelly, President of LaserPerformance.

For his part, Simon Cooke was equally pleased with the new relationship. “LaserPerformance is the world leader in small boat sailing. It’s a great opportunity for me to showcase the technology and processes we have developed to a broader audience. We both share a commitment to sailing and the sailor, and I have great confidence that we will bring exciting new products to the market”.

Production has already begun on a brand new manufacturing facility. The new Infused Foils will begin appearing on LaserPerformance boats shortly and will be rolled across the product line over the course of the next six to twelve months.  www.laserperformance.com

The Teaching Ship

NEWPORT, R.I. Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI), the non-profit organization that is building Rhode Island’s Education at Sea Tall Ship, has announced that an Educational Symposium will be held Friday, March 12, 2010, from 1p.m. to 4p.m at the University of Rhode Island.

The event, co-hosted by OHPRI, the University of Rhode Island Foundation and the Newport Chamber of Commerce and funded by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, is designed to explore how educators can create customized courses by combining academic and experiential programs on board the SSV (Sailing School Vessel) Oliver Hazard Perry.

When completed in 2012 the OHPRI will sail as a 207-foot, three-masted, square-rigged Class A school ship.

Photo - Onne van der Wal (more…)

2010 Calendar

It took some time but we have most of the 2010 events plugged into our calendar. This year is packed with stuff to do. I think that you will like our calendar because it is easy to read and actually looks like a calendar. Check it out here. Let us know if you have an event we missed here.

• New England Boat Show 2/20/2010
• IYRS lecture - Art in Miniature 2/23/2010
• IYRS Marine Industry Career Day 3/6/2010
• IYRS lecture - Collecting Fine Marine Art 3/9/2010
• “Saving Sailing” at the Herreshoff Marine Museum 3/10/2010
• Striper University 3/12/2010
• Newport Bermuda Race Safety at Sea Seminar 3/13/2010
• New England Saltwater Fishing Show 3/19/2010
• Maine Boat Builders show 3/19/2010
• North U - Wickford RI 3/20/2010
• IYRS lecture- J.E. Buttersworth: 19th-Century Marine Painter 3/23/2010
• US SAILING Sanctioned Safety-at-Sea Seminar 3/27/2010
• IYRS lecture - Photography of Classic Yacht Restoration 4/6/2010
• Fourth Classic Yacht Symposium Herreshoff Marine Museum 4/9/2010
• IYRS lecture - Dorade, The History of an Ocean Racing Yacht 4/20/2010
• Peter Milnes Memorial Laser Regatta 4/25/2010
• IYRS Marine Systems and Composites Technology Open House 4/29/2010
• NYYC Women’s Match Racing Clinic & Regatta 5/10/2010
• Prett Gladding Race 5/16/2010
• Wickford Regatta 5/22/2010
• Owen L. Mitchell Memorial Day Regatta 5/22/2010
• JESTER CHALLENGE 2010 Plymouth England to Newport 5/23/2010
• Owen L. Mitchell Memorial Day Regatta 5/23/2010
• Wickford Regatta 5/23/2010
• Storm Trysail Block Island Race 5/28/2010
• THE LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA 6/4/2010
• Herreshoff Wharf Sale 6/4/2010
• Sail Newport Family Sailing Festival 6/5/2010
• Herreshoff Wharf Sale 6/5/2010
• Great Chowder Cook Off 6/5/2010
• 156th Annual Rolex Regatta and Onion Patch Series 6/11/2010
• Spring Off Soundings 6/11/2010
• Sail Newport Youth Challenge 6/12/2010
• Spring Off Soundings 6/12/2010
• SN Brooke Gonzalez Advanced Racing Clinic 6/17/2010
• 2010 Newport Bermuda 6/18/2010
• NBYA Governor’s Cup 6/19/2010
• SN Brooke Gonzalez Advanced Racing Clinic 6/20/2010
• Block Island Race Week 6/21/2010
• NEWPORT CHARTER SHOW 6/22/2010
• Melges 32 New England Regatta 6/24/2010
• Wooden Boat Show, Mystic Seaport 6/25/2010
• Newport to Cuttyhunk Race 6/26/2010
• Sid Clark Overnight Race (Bristol YC) 6/26/2010
• IYAC Newport Cup Around The Island Race 7/3/2010
• Independence Day Celebration at the Herreshoff Marine Museum 7/5/2010
• Coastal Living Newport Regatta 7/9/2010
• IYRS Annual Summer Gala 7/10/2010
• Offshore 160 7/16/2010
• EGYC Regatta 7/16/2010
• NYYC RACE WEEK at NEWPORT presented by Rolex 7/17/2010
• Save The Bay Swim 7/17/2010
• EGYC Regatta 7/18/2010
• NBYA Topgun Regatta 7/24/2010
• New England SOLO/TWIN Championships 7/30/2010
• NBYA Junior Race Week 8/13/2010
• MORGAN CUP 8/13/2010
• Block Island Race 8/16/2010
• Ida Lewis Distance Race 8/20/2010
• International C Class Catamaran Championship 8/22/2010
• Sail Newport Blind National Championships 8/23/2010
• C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Regatta and Clinic 8/23/2010
• Herreshoff Classic Regatta 8/27/2010
• Twenty Hundred Prince Henry Race 8/28/2010
• NYYC VANGUARD 15 TEAM RACE 8/28/2010
• Herreshoff Classic Regatta 8/28/2010
• 31st Annual Classic Yacht Regatta and Parade 9/4/2010
• Conanicut YC Around-the-Island Race 9/5/2010
• 2010 U.S. Invitational Qualifying Series 9/7/2010
• Etchells North American Series Regatta 9/9/2010
• Newport Bucket Regatta 9/10/2010
• 2010 U.S. Invitational Qualifying Series 9/11/2010
• NBYA Champion of Champions - PHRF 9/11/2010
• Newport Bucket Regatta 9/12/2010
• Newport Brokerage Boat Show 9/16/2010
• Newport International Boat Show 9/16/2010
• Prudence Island Fall Race 9/18/2010
• ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship 9/20/2010
• New England Laser Masters (Third Beach) 9/25/2010
• Bud Humphrey Race 9/26/2010
• Sail for Hope, PHRF and One-Design 10/2/2010
• J 80 World Championships 10/4/2010
• Earl Mitchell Regatta 10/8/2010
• Sail Newport’s Halloween Howl (Youth Classes) 10/23/2010

Bristol Companies involved

Hall Builds Parts for Innovative Cup Winner

Hall supplied numerous carbon elements for the ingenious wing sail, including the leading and trailing carbon elements on the “flap.” Hall also supplied seamless tubes for the bow sprit and daggerboard supports, as well as other carbon parts. This was the third consecutive win for Hall products in the America’s Cup; Hall built the masts for Alinghi in 2003 and 2007.

Goetz Custom Technologies built structural parts

Eric Goetz confirms that his company built structural parts for the BMW Oracle team’s trimaran. Six Goetz technicians were on the west coast working on the boat this winter. Personal from the Bristol shop were also in Spain to assist with assembling the boat when it arrived there a few weeks ago.