In 1994, at the age of 49, Jim Clark, owing to a company called Silicon Graphics, was one of the legends of the high-tech world. 20 years later, he became a legend in sailing (see Sailing World 28 October 2014.) Today we view him as a model of the American Dream. American Dream During the…
There are several boat designs that can be expected as the move away from fossil fuels continues. These include: In summary, boat designs that can be expected given the move away from fossil fuels include solar-powered boats, hydrogen fuel cell technology, methanol and other fossil-fuel alternatives, wind-assisted propulsion, fuel cell propulsion, non-fossil paraffinic fuels and…
The Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world, founded in 1775 1 2 3. But it credits the start of it all to the Starcross Yacht Club which as The Starcross Society (a dining club) held a regatta in 1775 known as the Fete Marine. 10,000 spectators…
The nature of the Murrelet centerboard is not well understood. MacGregor Yachts states in the cruiser’s brochure that A long, thin airfoil is far more efficient than a short, wide one. This is why racing sailboat keels are deep, and why sailplane wings are long and thin. The relationship between the fore and aft width of the board…
Held every three years, The Ocean Race is one of the most popular spectator sports after Formula 1 and the World Cup. The boats use water as the primary form of ballast.
King of Sports and King of Beers Would you do it again? I seek the answer at Seattle Clipper Race Village where I spot a childhood hero, Robin Johnston. He notices that I have taken his picture but is busy. I look for my answer from other Clipper Race participants. Perhaps 40 percent of the…
In 1954 the Olin Stephens designed yacht Finisterre was launched, to late for the Bermuda race that year. She was a 38 foot centerboarder and there is no more accomplished racing yacht. She ranks as one of the most significant yachts in the history of the sport. Carleton Mitchell, the owner of Finisterre, is the…
Almost All is Lost In 1973 there were 46 boat builders in Costa Mesa California and 24,000 boats were produced. A year later that number shrank to 22. Today there are less than a handful. Nonetheless Costa Mesa California remains a Mecca for boat owners, a sacred historical place to any who ever owned or…
“It should be more like Formula One, where you have races all around the world and all the races count toward the Championship.” Larry Ellison in 10 March 2014 San Francisco Chronicle. Regattas all over the world, Louis Vuitton Cup then America’s Cup in Honolulu is the current Vision. AC45s followed by AC60s but…
Lady Washington On the east coast of the United States the warming and cooling land mass does not create winds that fully overcome the ocean weather or trade winds that a very tall mast can capture. Hence, for some commercial sailing vessels following the same courses trip after trip, the taller masts were desirable even though…