Editor’s note: This is the second part of Coop’s conversation with Ellie, a rising star in the doublehanded offshore racing world. Sailing with her father on their Jeanneau Sun Fast 3330, she was named Sailor of the Year at the 2022 British Yachting Awards. Part 1 is at windcheckmagazine.com. Coop: Ellie, we left you with the RORC doing their Butch and Sundance imitation: “Who are you guys?” …and you guys trying to park the boat….
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…
Voted Sailor of the Year at the 2022 British Yachting Awards, Ellie was in town to speak at a seminar hosted by North Sails and Bluenose Yacht Sales, local dealer for the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300. Ken Read and a variety of crews have been sailing one of these in the DH scene around Newport the past couple of years. Ellie and her dad sail one, very successfully, in the UK. Coop: Ellie, welcome to…
Deep Water Voyaging, Navigation and Yacht Management By Tom Cunliffe Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, an imprint of Adlard Coles Reviewed by Cooper For aficionados of the British sailing press, the name Tom Cunliffe ought to be well known. If it isn’t, you need to change that. He is one of the masters of the sailing game. A veteran sailor having spent time in, and on, every style of boat on most oceans and worked in just about…
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…
Part Four: “You’re all going to die!” Tracy Edwards, MBE was the first (and until the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, the only) skipper to muster an all-women crew and compete in the then named Whitbread Round the World Race. I spoke with Tracy aboard the same yacht, the refit Maiden, at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard in Newport, Rhode Island. This is the final installment of an amazing conversation. Parts One, Two and Three can be found at…
Part Three: “I have a dream.” Tracy Edwards, MBE was the first (and until the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, the only) skipper to muster an all-women crew and compete in the then named Whitbread Round the World Race. I spoke with Tracy aboard the same yacht, the refit Maiden, at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard in Newport, Rhode Island. (Part One of our conversation can be found at windcheckmagazine.com.) Coop: You had just come ashore after three weeks…
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…
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