Publisher's Log

As we emerge from March of 2020, and stride forth in the spring of 2022, and as we have mentioned before in this column, some things seem to be permanently different. And I have talked about how we are going to treat the newbies and how we shouldn’t act like the grumpy ranger but more like the hail-fellow well-met mentor. But then, once that effort has been made, mostly last summer, what will this summer look like?…

Well, it is pretty obvious that, overall, we in the Northeast are very lucky to live where we do. And within that good fortune, at WindCheck we are entering an outstanding quarter. Let’s start with the cascading effect of what is shaping up to be a record-setting Newport Bermuda Race. Gracing this month’s cover is three-time winner Carina, and it is an epic shot taken by world renowned photographer Barry Pickthall. Barry was kind enough to share…

Last month, I was encouraged to sing the praises of February because it is a short month. But now, let the real seasons begin for sailing, fishing and boating. So much to look forward to in March. Of course, the vernal equinox probably tops the list. Come March 20, it will be officially OK to take the cover off the boat. And then get focused on prepping for family fun, fishing, racing or all three. We have…

February is short. Which is good. In a blink, it will be March. The thing about February is that there are only four of each day. Only four Mondays, only four Saturdays, and only four Sundays. I think that is good because while iceboating is wicked cool and fun, and frostbite racing is wicked cold and pretty fun, and skiing or snowboarding is fun (but has gotten really popular and therefore crowded thus less actual skiing and…

Most folks are weary of the pandemic and its impact on daily life. By the same token, you cannot help but marvel at the changes to society at large and to our own lives that seem here to stay. As I write this, Thanksgiving is a week away but there is no question that the holiday spirit is in full swing…and I mean that in a good way. Sure, it is a bit staggering to see Christmas…

I’m guilty, but it’s not my fault! Summer is over. It was officially, astronomically over last month. So why do I get grief? It’s because I am in charge of my neighborhood’s docks. And when I decide that the weather really is going to turn into nonstop northeasterlies which beat up our east-facing pier, pilings, and docks, then I have to do what I have to do. Even though we live on an island of 109 homes,…

We have been on quite a roll with our “classics” content in 2021. Beyond working with our friends at the Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame as a partner for their Golden Jubilee Celebration, we have continued with our relationship with Conversations with Classic Boats. The content from these contributors has been just fantastic, and we hope you have enjoyed digging into a very uniquely Northeast/New England topic, one we can all be both…

It is with great sadness that we heard that Bruce Kirby had passed away at his home in Rowayton, Connecticut on Sunday evening, July 18. Bruce has been deservedly well eulogized across sailing and social media. He was a delightful soul who had so many accomplishments in his long and fruitful life. In WindCheck country, his work permeates not just through the Laser, but with the Sonar and Ideal 18 fleets that dot the coastline. But for…

I was Sonar racing with a mentor out of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard in the late eighties. It was a one-day event with fantastic summertime conditions. After the cookout, it was revealed that Mentor had not lined up a place for us to spend the night. Since the forecast called for a big cold front and northwester, it seemed a good idea to beat the rush to the hoist and avoid what promised to be a…

Raise your hand if you played hooky for all or part of a weekday to do boat work in the past month. Excellent…very shrewd of you, as the weather turned perfect from the second week of May onwards. Now, raise your hand again if you pressed any children into service to expedite the boat work. I find that 13 and over is really the line of demarcation for significant progress being made versus needing so much instruction,…