Publisher's Log

In anticipation of the oncoming winter freeze…

I had breakfast with WindCheck columnist Joe Cooper during the Newport International Boat Show last month.

Breakdowns happen, but we can minimize them with a little preventative maintenance.

I often ruminate about my sailing memories and how they’ve shaped my life. The Editor’s Log is where I introduce articles on the pages of the magazine, discuss ongoing or upcoming events, or reminisce about sailing adventures past, present and future.

There are lots of races run throughout the year. Some ‘round the buoys, others ‘round the world; some fully crewed, some double-handed or solo. Aside from the Volvo Ocean Race, there is only one that combines both offshore and inshore racing, and The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing is also the only race that I know of that mixes offshore, inshore and short-handed sailing together, creating a rather unique event.

It’s going to be a busy 2013 here at WindCheck. We’ve expanded our distribution network through Rhode Island and Buzzards Bay, we’ll be at the Providence Boat Show, we’re continuing our communications with regard to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and we’ve again partnered with The Atlantic Cup. The SailQuest boat show will return to Milford this spring and it’s the 25th running of the Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race Week.

Building & Land Technology (BLT) owns several parcels of land on Stamford Harbor that are in varying stages of development. Where once stood a full service marina is now a cleared lot, sitting in limbo awaiting development. Whether this will be a new office park or a refurbished marina remains to be seen, but BLT has their vision for the site and the some of the local boating community and residents have another.

More than 65,000 recreational boats were damaged or lost as a result of Hurricane Sandy, according to BoatU.S., who also estimates that dollar damage to all recreational boats (only) is $650 million, making the late October storm the single- largest industry loss since the Association began keeping track in 1966.

During this year’s Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, I was able to take a tack down memory lane.

There is much written and discussed regarding the state of our sport, be it junior sailor retention, professionals vs. amateurs, Olympic performance, and so on. I am constantly provided with statistics and studies, panel discussions and focus groups that all have differing opinions of why junior sailors have lost interest in the sport, don’t have the necessary portals by which to continue sailing, or won’t enter the maritime trades in their late teens and twenties. I see things a bit differently. We’re at the gateway to growth and success.