Author: Bill Sandberg

Over 120 former members of the Junior Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound gathered on Saturday, September 8, 2018 under the Pandemonium at Larchmont Yacht Club, scene of many great dances during their junior sailing days. The day began, naturally, with racing in Ideal 18s provided by LYC. Each team had a special connection – lifelong sailing pals Rich duMoulin and Elliot Oldak (both Knickerbocker YC); Instructor Bill Sandberg (American) and pupil Lili Jenkins (Noroton); the…

The world of sailing, especially adaptive sailing, lost a great friend when Robie Pierce of Newport, RI passed away peacefully on July 12 at 76 years, surrounded by his family. Known by many names – The Mayor of the Waterfront, Swamp Yankee, Borisll Logical Bob, Mr. Magoo, or just Bob,

Let me start this column by admitting that I was not the perfect sailing parent, making my share of mistakes along the way. However, I think I’ve observed the right and wrong ways to rear a capable young sailor.

by BILL SANDBERG If ever there were a person who knew how to bounce back from adversity, it would be Newport, RI’s Robie Pierce. At the 1982 Miami Boat Show, while working for the newly formed J Boats, Robie was moving a J/24 around the parking lot when the mast struck an overhead electrical wire. Robie was electrocuted, but survived. How did he deal with this? He named his J/24 Full Charge, complete with lightning bolts for graphics. Robie grew…