Ride Em Cowboy.

Yeehaw!

Foto via Matt Schulz via Jaume Soler tweaked by me.

Moth Man!

Moth Sailing with Champion Chris Rashley. Via Sailing Scuttlebutt

Old School Sailing.

When Southport solicitor and amateur boat designer George Cockshott, entered a design competition in 1913, little could he have envisaged that the boat that he drew would still be sailing 100 years later. Cockshott's 12 Foot Dinghy went on to become the first small boat to gain international status and was selected for the 1920 and 1928 Olympic Games. Although outclassed by modern boats, its endearing character ensures that it is still sailed and raced enthusiastically by near-fanatical owners around the world.

No fewer than 171 Dinghies assembled in the Netherlands during June 2014 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the 12' Dinghy in that country!

text from The International 12 foot Dinghy Class Association | Photos from La Sezione Classici dell Associazione Italiana Dinghy 12

Sailing Saturday.

View fullsize

Sudamericano de Optimist

Photo: Matías Capizzano

2015 Strictly Sail Pacific

The West Coast’s largest all-sail boat show will sail into Jack London Square with all that is hot in the world of sailing. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned sailor, this four day sailing spectacular is the place to immerse yourself in the world of sailing!

There is no better place on the West Coast to see the latest sailboats from around the world. From affordable dinghies to ocean-going yachts, Strictly Sail Pacific has a boat for every lifestyle and budget. Click here to see the complete list of boats on display at the show.

Best of all, the folks from West Coast Sailing will be there showing off the Triak. Now that's a great boat!

Dinghy Of The Day. "Space Ghost!"

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The Phantom dinghy.

The class motto: Get one or it will haunt you forever!

Monday Mishap. "Spectacular Laser Wipeout!" (moving pictures)

It's going to be one of those weeks.

Wild Ride Wednesday. (moving pictures)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2MCOM-N1Eg]

Who'd a thunk that you could ride a Pico in high winds. Giddy up!

Cross posted at the water channel.

A Boat I'd Like To Sail.

The Truc 12 is simple, has beautiful lines, and appears to sail well.
I'd love to take one out for a sail. Unfortunately, I have never seen one in the United States. So it looks like I'll just have to continue to daydream..unless someone out there has one and wouldn't mind letting me take a spin.

note: this boat has been on my mind since 2009....also, I'm a sucker for wooden boats.

Optimus Prime! (moving pictures) (sailing video)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZSLKzaHEAQ]

Wow, tough boat!

Laserpalooza!

There was a little event on the Bay this past weekend.  It was actually more impressive than the one we had last summer put on by the King of Lana'i.

I wonder who won?

note to self: I can't believe I took 600+ photos. I need to focus.

The Return Of The Banshee?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzjALRLuQQ]

Do I really want to go down this path again?

I rescued Orange Peeler.

Orange deux? $60! A dinghy that was desinged for San Francisco Bay. I love Bay boats (Cal 20s, El Toros, Olson 30s, Wylie Wabbits, etc).

Yeah, I know, some troll out there will tell me that it's only worthy of scuttling and being turned into a reef. My question to you is, have you ever sailed a Banshee? If you haven't, shut the f#ck up!

The Dog Days Of Summer.

It's a pretty damn good summer, so far.

The Lazy Days.

Of Summer.
Trim your sails, young man!

Throwback Thursday. "Frank Dye Crosses The Norwegian Sea In Wayfarer Dinghy"

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9Qh9hv8eQ]

The film above documents Frank Dye's second major sea passage, a Norwegian Sea crossing from Scotland to Aalesund, Norway, Dye and his crew, Bill Brockbank, narrowly survived four capsizes and a broken mast during a Force 9 storm. In Ocean–Crossing Wayfarer (1977), written with his wife Margaret, Dye recalled the scene: "It was impossible to look into the wind. It was screaming and the tops of the waves were blown completely away, feeling like hail. Within our limited vision the whole sea seemed to be smoking. Just to see such seas break away on the beam was frightening – 25ft of solid water, with another 12ft of overhanging crest above it. It was only a matter of time before we got one aboard."

When the inevitable happened, both men hauled on the warps, frantically trying to pull Wanderer through the crest: "She rose gallantly, but it was an impossible position: she seemed to be rising at 60 degrees and there was still a 15ft crest curling above us. Down it came and we were driven bodily under. With ears roaring under immense pressure, and swallowing water, I fought back to the surface, only to find Wanderer was lying bottom up."

After three more capsizes, Dye reflected: "Possibly we were the only people alive to have taken an open dinghy through a Force 9 gale, but we felt no elation, just a reaction of wetness, coldness and extreme tiredness." The pair recovered the mast from the sea, made a jury rig and went on to make landfall in Norway without further incident.

Sailing Photo Of The Day.

Photo of Team Hafren sailing their Wayfarer dinghy with Peel Castle in the background.

Photo by Charlene Howard.

Team Hafren is made up of two sailors, Phillip Kirk and Jeremy Warren, from Thornbury Sailing Club in Gloucestershire, UK. The team set sail on Saturday May 31st with the aim to sail an open boat around mainland Britain in record time. The current best is 76 days and the target is 60 days. They intend to demonstrate self-sufficiency and good seamanship, and in the spirit of sailing adventurer Frank Dye (1928-2010), reaffirm that a Wayfarer dinghy can undertake extended offshore passages safely. Phil and Jeremy seek to foster good will between sailing clubs and leave a trail of TSC pennants in clubhouses around Britain.

The direct distance is 1500 miles and the plan is for approximately ten hops of 200 miles. Each “hop” is three days, with two nights spent at sea. Going clockwise from Weymouth, up the Irish Sea, west of the Isle of Man, they’ll drop into Northern Ireland (mission accomplished) then off up the west coast of Scotland (they're currently sailing in the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland). This will take in the formidable headlands of Cape Wrath and Duncansby Head, sandbanks of the Thames Estuary, and the familiar headlands of the south coast.

To learn more about the challenge and to follow Team Hafren's progress go to their website or facebook page.

The Master!

Max, Dr Who's arch enemy does sail a Laser and he bears any uncanny resemblance to the late Roger Delgado.

Tillerman Tuesday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmxfgki3Y2g]

Learn how to race against the Master.

Sailing Photo Of The Day. "Old Faithful."

I remember back in the day when "Dear Sir" would rail against my beloved Force 5. Like many Newport tychoons who reach a certain age, he's being tempted by a younger filly. It will be sad to see "the kindly old Grand Dad" sucumumb to the siren song of the youthful vixen. She's a harlot sir, after your money! 

Photo of two Laser 4.7s (Via Shoreline Sailboats) - Semper fidelis!

Sailing Photo Of The Day. "Who Will Cry Chicken First?"

Toro, toro, toro!
El toro loco. John Amen sees red, and goes for it!