Sailing Blogs - Just Blogging

Syracuse University Sailing Team

Where is everyone from the team?! Anyone still sailing??

I cant wait to sail this season. I am graduating from SUNY ESF in just a few weeks now. I cant believe it! The new change is exciting but I have very spolied with being able to spend summer on Sodus Bay for the past 22 years of my life. Becoming a sailing instructor is one of the best things I've ever done and will miss coaching this summer. I'm looking re forward to the Lightning NAs in Sodus this summer, I will certainly be attending. As of now I'm looking forward to sailing Pymatuning with either Jed or Bob or maybe both! So thats whats on my mind now as I sit here in Sodus on a Tuesday Night... very relaxing!

2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race

I am psyched!  The 2008(-2009) edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is set to start.  The race will be sailed in second generation Open 70's.  The first generation of these boats that sailed in the previous edition of the Volvo showed amazing potential, though also experienced some growing pains.  I'm expecting some amazing speeds, and hopefully a bit of a safer platform, during this time around.  During the last go-around, several boats had engineering and build issues, including one boat (Movistar) that had to be abandoned due to structural failures and is now resting on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.  Nonetheless, this is a great event and is (in my opinion anyways) one of the few "around the world" sailing races that actually engages the public.  Stopovers in multiple co

On September 15th as a wonderous birthday gift I was able to check out the Americas Cup Port! Not only did I get to explore the venue, I was able to see the derigging of some catamarans that some of the skippers have been practicing in. Bob King and I were able to speak with some of the men that were taking  apart the boats. They said the practice/race event for the skippers had  just ended and they were taking apart the boats. The boats they were sailing were  small maybe 20' catamarans. I think this could be a very clear indication that the cup is going to explore the use of different boats.  I've heard trimarans. Where the event will be.... who knows?

Central New York Lightning District

Olin J. Stephens passed away this weekend at the age of 100 years.  Olin will always be remembered as one of the most accomplished yacht designers ever having designed 8 Americas Cup winners and numerous other "ageless" boats including smaller day sailors like the Lightning.  There is an article about Olin's life posted on the New York Yacht Club website here and some pictures of Olin through the years posted here. 

The famed race between challenger BMW Oracle Racing and defender Alinghi will take place. The question still remains exactly when and where the race will be, but it will be occurring. The boats that will be used in the racing are still a bit of a mystery, though more details will be released in the future. What is known, is that the boats will be huge (90' x 90'), will be fast, and will be multihulls.

Central New York Lightning District

At the Newport Yacht Club Celebration of Spring Lightning Regatta this past weekend, we ended up having a protest hearing after racing on Sunday for an incident at the start.  Briefly, what had happened was that the boat end of the line was incredibly favored making it very advantageous to start right at the boat.  If you were down the line even a few boat lengths you would immediately be behind. 

Yesterday Team Russia launched their new Volvo Open 70 for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race. This will certainly be one of the extreme ends of the design spectrum for the boats in the upcoming race.

This is a story definitely worth reading and following as it progresses.  A 16 year old from California, Zac Sunderland, will depart westward on May 31 and attempt to become the youngest to complete a solo circumnavigation.  Zac, a bright home schooled student, will make this attempt in a 36' Islander.  He appears to be no stranger to ocean sailing and to be well beyond his years in terms of experience.  I will definitely be interested in hearing more about his travels in the near future.  His departure is just around the corner.  Read more at his website.  Also, here's a video about Zac and his adventures: