Coop's Corner

The gist of this month’s column started after (during, actually) a discussion about the importance of high average speeds when sailing or racing offshore. We got there from the response to the at least two dozen things I reckon the average bear can do to their average normal sailing boat in order to “speed it up” without breaking the bank. The proposition of high averages is sufficiently critical that none other than prominent French sailor Jean Le…

It’s quite possible this month’s column on boat captains is going to be of more interest to the high school sailors in the readership than boat owners, although both play a part. The topic is The Boat Captain, and more specifically how does one become a member of this august community? Much like one floats to the top of any game, it ain’t rocket science. Simply showing up on time with a plan, knowing enough, even if…

A Tale of Two Boats “Refit” conjures up a picture gallery in the Lifestyles of the Rich and Secretive in the marine industry’s glossy magazines. We have all seen the pictures. The latest Silicon Valley teenage billionaire’s 60-meter small ship getting the full day of beauty re-do. A massage, facial mask and Mani-Pedi. All in one. The refit would be new carpets, artwork, generators, furniture, upgrading of the computer systems aboard, new dishwashers, a paint job. A…

May in New England. I feel pooped already. I cannot think it is just me, but there is so much sailing around Newport, that as of the middle of May I was officially wishing it to be November. Sheesh. November across into February is Kids in Lasers crossing over into prepping for high school sailing, starting in March. Five afternoons a week of practice, instruction for the novices, most of whom have been elevated to Rookies. Our…

The fallout from the B’s* victory over Dennis on the AstroSurf off Brenton Reef in Sept 1983 – coming up to forty years ago this September – has been pinging the boundary lines of sailing ever since. The B’s first and only defense, bringing an international roster of challenges, in 1987 leading to DC’s comeback, and the name of his book of the same regatta. DC’s, ahem, description and comments, about the Farr composite glass 12 Metre,…

Jill and I took a round trip road trip last weekend, with Washington DC as the weather mark. The visit included catching up with our son Ned, his girlfriend, Mackenzie, her family and Jill’s sister. And I took the opportunity of catching up Friday evening with one of my former Prout sailors, now a sophomore in DC. On Saturday we did a walkabout of the Capitol and the White House. A memorable encounter was an exchange with…

One of the many great things about sailing is that it is pretty simple, to learn, in the scheme of things. Companies offering sailing lessons abound, in, on or near almost any waterway. One can learn the basics of sailing, the nomenclature, wind directions, how to steer, pick up a mooring, reef and other basics in around 20-24 hours. After which most entities offer some kind of membership, frequent flier arrangement where, if you are “certified” then…

In 2023, there will be two ocean passagemaking races from New England to Bermuda, one from Annapolis to Newport, and one from Marblehead to Halifax. With the exception of the Bermuda 1-2, they all have pretty extensive requirements for the crews to have attended a Safety a Sea seminar. The BDA 1-2 has a comprehensive safety checklist that largely mirrors the Offshore Regs lists, which must be verified by an inspector and a similar sign off by…

If you were to be seen at the yacht club post-race, propping yourself up using the time-honored rigging of placing your elbow on the bar, with half a glass of Dark ‘n Stormy in hand, and in the midst of replaying the afternoon’s race to all and sundry, you were to mutter the phrase, “Humans are a competitive lot” the response may be wide ranging. The most likely would be for the throng to immediately place that…

Our son, Ned, graduated high school in the class of ’14. By my calculations this makes his freshman debut the fall of 2010. In the fall of 2009, we attended the Prout School Open, day go see event. As we entered the campus, at the speed of rush hour traffic upstream of a five-tractor trailer crash behind all the SUVs in front of us, we found a right hand turn down a slight incline. This turned out…