Category: Uncategorized

Speaking of getting out and about (see below), it’s time to turn to the Daily Sail’s peripatetic James Boyd, who recently took a ride with Alex Thompson onboard his Open 60 Hugo Boss. Boyd, as far as I can tell, is almost never at his desk, and armed with his video and voice recorder travels the world ceaselessly. All for us (and for a price; the Daily Sail is a subscription site and well worth the cost…). Boyd made a nice video of his Open 60 ride, which you can watch right here. Enjoy it, and then go pay your subscription you cheap SOB…

Wet Ride: “Holy cr*p! What would this thing be like in the Southern Ocean…”

Not just with sails, but also with, umm, podcasts. I’m a blogger and I’m still not sure what a podcast is, or at least I am not sure why it is any different than what used to be called “audio files.” But who really cares. It’s progress when you can go to Quantum’s Destination One Design site, and listen to the Quantum team talking about everything from sailing J22s to racing at Key West. You can check out their full menu of podcasts here. Listen and enjoy. But don’t forget to actually leave your house on occasion and go sailing…

Podcast Mania: “I sure wish Russell would spend more time looking at the sails and racecourse, and less time talking into his little digital recorder…”

If videos are a window into the sporting soul, then parachuters aren’t looking too good this week. Here’s another video (courtesy of the ever-resourceful Uncle Bob), that is painfully mesmerizing, even as it jumps off my computer screen and tickles my gag reflex. And don’t even get me started on the soundtrack…

“We’re really cool! Right…?

Jetskiing is annoying. Skydiving is cool. But I’m not sure what you get when you do both at the same time. Other questions abound. Like, umm: why? And, umm: how many tequilas were involved in the conception of this idea? And, maybe, for good measure: why…again? Anyhow, watch it and decide for yourself. One thing I like. The guy wore a bathing suit…

“Goddammit! We’re about to get buzzed by a jetski…?”

If you are a sailor, you probably read it. But did you ever wonder how it got started, or just who the hell “The Curmudgeon” is? Well, if you did, here’s the whole story…

“Well, you’d be a curmudgeon too, if you were as short as I am…”

Serial record-breaker Steve Fossett just won’t take a break. After becoming the first person to fly solo and non-stop around the globe last year, he is getting ready to fuel up for another solo, non-stop of the planet, with a twist. Instead of landing where he started–because what would be the point of that, he’s already done that–Fossett will tack on a transatlantic leg to his flight. Why? If he succeeds he will hold the record for the longest flight–whether by plane or balloon–in the history of this planet (I mean, you just never know what has gone on on other planets…). Here are the marks Fossett is gunning for: The current record for the longest flight by an airplane is held by the Voyager aircraft (pilots Dick Rutan & Jeanna Yeager), flying 24,987 miles (40,212 km) in 1986. The longest flight by any kind of aircraft is held by the Breitling Orbiter balloon at 25,361 miles (40,814 km) in 1999 (pilots Bertrand Piccard & Brian Jones). How far does Fossett plan to fly? 26,084 miles, which should take him about 80 hours. This is no piece of cake, and an unbelievable number of things can go wrong. You can follow along at Fossett’s website, and the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer website. The plane is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, while the team waits for the right weather window. I’m nervous already…

Global Snoozer: “Dum-de-dum-de-dum. Just another 20,000 miles to go…”

No, it’s just a cold. But the cure is to daydream about skiff racing. And a good place to do it is the European 18 Foot Skiff Class Association. They’ve got the usual. Photo galleries, and some excellent videos (particularly if you are multilingual). Like this one and this one…

Like an ugly child, every boat has someone who loves it. I think. Check out this beaut from the ever-observant denizens of Sailing Anarchy. If anyone has pics of anything uglier, send ’em in and I’ll post ’em. Time to restore some balance to our beauty obssessed boating culture…

Easy come, easy go. Last year, Maximus was sailing fast, winning line honors in the Rolex Transatlantic Race and the Fastnet. But suddenly it all went downhill from there. Down came the rig during the Maxi Worlds, faster boats started to hit the water, and now the old girl is lying on the hard in Genoa, Italy with a “For Sale” sign. How much, you might wonder, for all that carbon fiber, a pile of sails, and plenty of performance? A cool $6 mil. Still interested? Check the listing here. And if you want to know more about what, in fact, you will be buying, check out the Maximus website, and then check out this 12 and a half minute vid, which has all the history and some pretty good sailing action…

Maximus Maxi…

There’s some sweet video of ABN Amro’s one-two finish in the first Southern Ocean leg of the limping Volvo Ocean Race. Click here to watch Moose Sanderson’s old “fogies” take the victory. And click here to watch the “kids” bring it on home, nipping at their transom. Oh, and it appears that one of the most dangerous moments for both boats was getting under the low bridge blocking them from the race village…

Finally, The Finish: “Ahhhhhhhhhh…….”