SAILの December 2017 の目次

Although only an overnighter, for the sailors taking part in the 2017 Ida Lewis Distance Race, the course must have still felt plenty long this past August as they were hammered by a series of storms only to have the wind shut down at the finish. “It was Biblical,” said Newport skipper Brian Cunha, who took overall honors in the PHRF division aboard his Kerr 55, Irie 2, with a crew comprised primarily of local sailors. “It was just one cell aft er another, and it was raining so hard you couldn’t have your face to the wind, because it hurt so much. We were waiting for Noah’s Ark to come floating by.” “We knew the forecast wasn’t going to be easy on us, but we didn’t think we’d see…

If it is true that adversity introduces man to himself, Michael Kane, 54, must know himself rather well. In a former life, Kane, who still goes by his childhood nickname, Spike, was a bike messenger, an outdoor instructor, a kayaker and a boatbuilder who loved to work with wood. On May 11, 2005, at the intersection of Spokane Street and 4th Avenue in South Seattle, the trajectory of that life was altered forever. Kane, on his Ducati, had a green light. Th e other guy in his SUV blew a red one. “I hit him on the side, slid under his car and was dragged along. My chest was crushed by the tank of the bike,” Kane says in his Merseyside accent, without a hint of emotion. He claims he…

The other day I came across the following passage in my Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual: “Given the ease and speed with which they can be serviced, it is a shame that so many boatowners go from one year to the next without paying the slightest attention to their winches.” Th e result was a rather severe “oops” moment: it had been at least two years since I last serviced our winches, and it could well have been four! At the first opportunity, I therefore pulled all the drums on my winches only to find the bearings, gears and other working parts in excellent shape with clean grease throughout. I did not, therefore, bother to disassemble them and do a full service. Th at said, had this been our first…

Behan and Jamie Gifford set off from Seattle, Washington aboard Totem, their Stevens 47 sloop, in 2008. Th ey’ve been sailing the world ever since, documenting their travels on their blog, Sailing Totem, and raising their three children, Niall, Mairen and Siobhan who were nine, six and four when they left, all while crossing oceans, exploring landfalls and meeting interesting people along the way. Do you remember the specific moment when you thought, this is what I’m going to do, and what did you do to make the leap? Jamie: I remember I was 11 and had just read Robin Lee Graham’s Dove, and thought, this is cool, this is what I want to do. Th en I grew up, became a sailmaker and sailed professionally a lot. I got…

GET COMFORTABLE Does the sailor in your life have trouble getting a good night’s sleep on board? A Froli undermattress kit could be the perfect gift. It improves air circulation, provides orthopedic support over the entire surface and can be adjusted to fit spaces of any shape or size. It comes in regular or large sizes and is easily clipped together to create a comfortable foundation. You can easily mount the system onto solid bunk tops or existing slatted frames so it can adapt to any environment. $279.00. Froli, frolisleepsystems.com TASTE TEST Rumson’s, New England’s award-winning rumm distillery, has created what it calls its Grand Reserve. A custom blend of fine aged Caribbean rums known for its exceptionally smooth taste; you’ll be sipping on something that reminds you of being…

September 19, 1974, 0400. The 40ft sloop Vela rocked gently, lines creaking with the steady motion of following seas. City lights glowed on the distant horizon like a beacon marking their destination: Suva, the capital of Fiji. After five days of sailing from the tiny island nation of Tonga with little but the change of watch to mark the passage of time, everyone in the Wilcox family eagerly anticipated landfall. Fiji would be the fifth South Pacific island nation they visited in the year since they’d sailed away from San Francisco’s Bay Area, a year filled with fascinating cultures and geography so different from their home in California. With an overcast sky, getting star sights had been a challenge the last few days, but conservative calculations projected they’d arrive at…

Just as southern sailors are donning light jackets and embarking on their winter racing and cruising programs, those up north are _ nishing winterizing their boats and contemplating the bleak prospect of swallowing the anchor for six months. _ is is, of course, an untenable situation for many of us, but fortunately there are a number of ways to keep the connection alive during the long, cold, boatless winter months. Check out this lot, and feel free to add your own suggestions, either by sending an email to sailmail@sailmagazine.com or on our Facebook page. 4 WAYS TO GET ACTIVE Go Frostbiting Yes, even in the frozen North it’s possible to go sailing when Jack Frost has his frigid grip on the country. Many clubs and community sailing centers run frostbiting…

Traditionalists rejoice. Nearly 15 years aft er it walked away from the America’s Cup, the gang that started it all— namely the New York Yacht Club—is getting back into the game for the 36th Cup, to be held in New Zealand in early 2021. Representing the New York YC will be a team calling itself Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association led by John J. “Hap” Fauth and Doug DeVos. Since 2005, at the helm of three successive large monohulls named “Bella Mente,” Fauth and his crew have won numerous distance and buoy races at venues in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. Fauth is also a three-time world champion in the Maxi 72 class. DeVos, as the skipper for Team Quantum Racing, has set the standard for excellence on the…

Checking in and out of different countries or islands while on a bareboat charter can be a timeconsuming and expensive proposition. Not only do you have to check out of the first port but also into the second, and then vice versa. Rinse and repeat. Some ports will allow you to do both in one visit, but then you can stay only 24 hours if you want to avoid a second trip to the customs and immigration office. Spontaneity on vacation may soon feel impossible. For example, charter in St. Maarten (Dutch side) and you’ll be required to repeat official processes when visiting St. Martin (French side) as well as Anguilla and St. Barths, both which can be reached in just a few hours. Some ports around the world make…