January-February 2014

by SOLVIG SAYRE If you want to start racing windsurfers, you have an advantage being a dinghy sailor. Racing dinghies and Techno-293s are almost the same on paper. We have the same governing bodies, rules (with a few exceptions), courses, and basic tactics. As a sailor, you know what sail position does, and because of the Techno-293’s mast track, the mast can be moved easily during a race. The biggest difference is probably the technique of working…

Light on a clipper In the article “Tall Ships on Canvas” [July 2013], author J. Russell Jinishian mentions that the clipper St. Mary ran into a British ship, Magellan. The Magellan belonged to Hemenway Browne of Boston (now Wessel, Duval & Co.) and was built in 1873 at the East Boston Shipyards. It was great to see the painting of the St. Mary and know the ship that was involved in the collision. We have been looking for…

by Martin van Breems The Dutchman Flaking System was born out of my frustration with lazy jacks, which catch the mainsail as it’s raised and lowered, cause chafe, and make it harder to properly flake. Since 1986, we have built Dutchman Systems in Norwalk CT, with over 15,000 systems on boats from 20 to 90 feet. The Dutchman allows the sail to neatly flake to either side, without the sharp creases or folds forced in by lazy jacks, which harm modern sail fabrics. Although a little…

by Cynthia Goss This winter, summer becomes a destination when the Providence Boat Show draws exhibitors from throughout New England to re-create a Northeast boater’s favorite season inside the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI. The show will be held January 31 to February 2 and will feature boats, gear and equipment, seminars, and plenty of inspiration from experts. Now in its 21st year, the Providence Boat Show was purchased by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association…

New England Ropes’ STS Stronger than Steel Technology is based on a very precisely controlled process that utilizes the ideal balance of uniform tensioning, uniform heating, and minimized rope rotation from start to finish in order to balance fiber lengths within a rope’s cross section. This process essentially presets the rope, resulting in the maximization of strength, the minimization of constructional elastic elongation, and a longer overall service life for the rope. With STS, sailors have the option to use a…

Latest news – January/ February 2014

Whether you’re a professional or a newbie racer you’ll hear it around the boatyard or yacht club: “Doin’ Bermuda?”

The new Cruiser 37 from Bavaria Yachts turned plenty of heads at her debut in the New England Boat Show in Boston in February. This capable model is a solid blend of exact German engineering, proven Farr Yacht Design naval architecture, and tasteful Design Unlimited (UK) interior and exterior design. Features are many and notably, a spacious cockpit, twin helm stations plus a full-beam lowering transom. Below, she’s bright, comfortable and beautifully finished. A choice of quality woods, fabrics and flooring are available along…

by Paul Jacobs Photos by Nancy Kaull except where noted Nancy and I had just returned from the BVI when we were wondering where to go next! The selection process was an adventure. Three earlier trips had been very different, but shared common elements we love: (1) visiting beautiful geographic locations, (2) swimming in warm ocean water, (3) snorkeling among colorful fish, and (4) sailing! In less than a year we had already experienced three wonderful voyages…