January-February 2019

This issue rocks! Call me biased and yes, I nearly broke my arm patting our team and all the contributors on the back in December. But this one has content that the WindCheck Community truly represents from cover to cover. I’m thinking about adding distribution at ski areas this month so folks have something to relish in between runs, over a cup of chili. Just don’t stuff it in the boot bag at the end of the…

RACE Coastal Engineering, a waterfront structural, geotechnical and regulatory consultation and design firm in Stratford, CT, has joined join the Connecticut Maritime Coalition (CMC), the State’s maritime industry advocate. Comprising 23 member businesses that share market knowledge and expertise and work together with government, businesses and private organizations to solve issues, CMC develops strategies to strengthen and grow the State’s maritime economy. “We’re excited to be part of the revitalization of Connecticut’s waterfront cities and towns for…

Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, has appointed Nick Ewenson (Newport, RI) as Race Programs Manager. Ewenson will be responsible for developing youth racing programs and racing sailors on all age levels, managing the coaching staff and overseeing youth regatta participation at Sail Newport and for travel events. Sail Newport’s high-performance Brooke E. Gonzalez Advanced Racing Clinic will also be under his direction. “We have wanted to enhance and expand our youth racing programs for both…

The Classic Yacht Owners Association (CYOA) has announced a plan to continue and expand the series formerly known as the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge into 2019. With Panerai’s recently announced intention to discontinue their support of classic yachting events in both Europe and the U.S., the series was left without an Organizing Authority. This is one of the things CYOA was built to do, and working in partnership with the individual event organizers Corinthian Yacht Club, Nantucket Community…

Our friends at the Cruising Club of America (CCA) are offering their popular International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-On Training Course. Taught by experienced, lifelong sailors, the course is designed to prepare sailors of all types and abilities for survival offshore in demanding situations and emergencies.

One of the primary goals of junior sailing programs should be retaining kids long enough for them to develop a passion for the sport and a personal desire to continue. Far too often, however, before that happens kids are asked to spend too much time (years) in boats that do not align with their version of fun and pressure to “succeed” comes much too soon. The current junior sailing recipe is driving kids out and resulting in…

The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee is proud to announce the race has earned gold-level certification from Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas program, a race of its own aimed at restoring ocean health. Administered by Newport, RI-based Sailors for the Sea, Clean Regattas is a certification system with five levels – Participant, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – enabling sailors to protect their local waters with as many of 25 best practices as possible, making sustainability approachable and easy. The race earned Clean Regattas certification previously, in 2014 and ‘16, but 2018 was the first year the race reached the Gold level.

United States SailGP Team Five very talented American sailors comprise the United States SailGP Team, who’ll be competing against five other international squads in the inaugural SailGP season. Billed as “sailing redefined,” SailGP was created “to engage and excite global sports fans year-round in a supercharged, fast-paced version of sailing aimed at increasing its mainstream popularity, introducing the next generation to the sport and creating a career path for extraordinary athletes.” The United States SailGP Team roster…

Every adventure has at least one moment – a moment that sinks in and will forever connect you back to that time and place. These moments have a way of being small and perhaps inconsequential to other people, but I think you will appreciate this one.

By Ed Cesare My longtime friend and shipmate Chad Corning recently invited me to come along on a delivery of Jason Carroll’s MOD 70 trimaran Argo from Newport, RI to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Readers might be familiar with Jason’s program and stable of race boats, including the turboed Gunboat 62 Elvis. Jason purchased the ex-Oman Racing last summer. The MOD (“Multi One Design”) 70 was conceived in 2009 as a class of one-design transoceanic racers. These are…