San Francisco to Host America’s Cup in 2013
Bloomberg News is reporting that the Cup will be held in San Francisco. Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) — Larry Ellison will defend the America’s Cup in 2013 off San Francisco, the first U.S. city to stage the international sailing competition in almost two decades, the America’s Cup Event Authority said. Ellison’s Oracle Racing team selected San Francisco Bay as the Cup’s home waters after also holding talks with Newport, Rhode Island, Stephanie Martin, a spokeswoman for the Cup organization, said today in an e-mail. The team won the right to choose the next venue for the 159-year-old regatta by capturing yachting’s [...]
Happy New Year
And so we end one year and start another. We do so full of hope, promise, torn sails, yard bills, wonderful memories, and the profound wish that we will never again have to work that hard to reach the start line while watching the big, red flying horse cross the line and finish the race. See you on the water. We can't wait for another year of fun.
Sydney Hobart Forecast: Buckle Your Seatbelts
By Jim Gale, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team After several years of mostly tactical racing in comparatively benign conditions, the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart is set to return to its more traditional ways, with competitors told today that they are in for some very tough, boat and spirit-breaking sailing for at least the first 300 nautical miles of the race. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted that early in the race the fleet will strike a southerly change on the New South Wales coast, and by early Sunday evening the winds will have built to between 20 and [...]
Use of ‘flashbang’ ammo sparks controversy among boaters
A post by Deborah Bach on Three Sheets NW. What do you think about this? the forum is open for discussion. The Coast Guard defended plans to fire “flashbang” ammunition at Puget Sound boaters who enter marine security zones, following criticism from boaters who see the tactic as heavy-handed and unnecessary. The 13th District Coast Guard issued an announcement this week that it will start using flashbang munitions, which explode with a bright flash and extremely loud boom, to warn boaters who get too close to cruise ships, ferries and Navy ships being escorted by Coast Guard boats. [...]
Need a Project? Replace Your Steel Lifelines With Dyneema.
What do you think of this idea? Does it make sense to change out steel lifelines with Dyneema which probably is stronger at the same diameter but easier to cut? The forum is open, what do you think of this idea from West Marine Rigging? One of our next projects [at West Marine Rigging – Newport] is converting an IRC’ed Club Swan 42 from stainless steel lifelines to New England Ropes STS-12 SK90. Why convert??? Weight- Converting to Dyneema from SS is a HUGE weight savings. We recently replaced a Swan 55′s runners from oversized 1×19 wire to SK90. The assembly of their [...]
Cape George Brotherhood Rocks
Cape George Marine Works continues to build blue water boats, even in a down economy. The following article was written by Diana Talley and published in the Port Townsend Marine Trades Association newsletter. You can download the entire newsletter here. Todd and Tim Uecker of Cape George Marine Works have developed a business plan that really works. Their full service boatyard offers; boatbuilding in fiberglass and wood, fine cabinetry/joinery, design, fiberglass repairs, a boat yard and inside storage for do-it-yourselfers. Tim’s separate metal fabricating business – Meridian Stainless – makes you wonder why nepotism is a bad word. [...]
New Forum Is Waiting For You
The new PTSA Forum is online and waiting for you to give it a try. We're going to open it up to PTSA members and folks from the Port Townsend boating community. That may have to change in the future if the spam avalanche hits, but until then we hope all Port Townsend boaters will join in. To post on the Forum just click the Forum link on the site's top bar as shown in the picture above. When you get to the Forum page click "Post New" and you'll be taken to the registration function. It's easy. Really. Once [...]
Sparkle and Escapade
From the archive of the Balboa Yacht Club, a shot of Sparkle and Escapade racing for the Santana Trophy. Check out Sparkle's aft mainsheet trimmer's cockpit.
Who’s Does the Turns?
A brain teaser from David Dellenbaugh’s Speed & Smarts, subscriptions available here. Reprinted by permissions. On the first reach of a recent one-design race, a leeward boat (L) came from astern and established a leeward overlap close to a windward boat (W). Shortly afterward L began to head up until she was sailing about 30° above her proper course. She then had contact with the end of W’s boom. W, who had been sailing a straight (and proper) course the whole time, filed a protest. As a juror, what action would you recommend at the protest hearing? A) Don’t penalize [...]