July 2019

Raise your hand if you knew that the Herreshoff S Class was a box rule. A box rule means that a yacht designer is given a set of parameters: length, displacement, rig size, etc. and designs within that rule; like the America’s Cup, TP52s or 12 Metres, or any of the current grand prix rules. Some of us sail under those parameters, but mostly “grand prix” type sailing with a mix of pros and amateurs. PHRF gives…

On June 1, more than 100 women sailors gathered to learn, network and celebrate at Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC) in Marblehead, MA for the National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) 18th Annual Women’s Sailing Conference and honored one of their own, Pat Dieselman of Ipswich, MA, with the 2019 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. The award, recognizing an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating, and enriching the lives of women through sailing, was presented by NWSA…

Zim Sailing, headquartered in Bristol, RI, is excited to announce that Adam Werblow is the company’s newly appointed Director of Institutional Programs. Werblow will serve as the liaison between the dinghy manufacturer and colleges and high schools. Zim Sailing has established itself as a leader in the marine industry since opening its doors in 2008 and steadily grown. Werblow will assist in product development as Zim continues its effort to provide the best performing boats and meet…

Our friends at McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers are proud to announce the opening of their newest brokerage office at West Shore Marina, located at 135 West Shore Road in Huntington, New York. The office will be led by Cameron Campbell (pictured) and will offer brokerage services for used boats, as well as McMichael’s full line of new sailboats including J/Boats, Hanse Yachts, Dehler Yachts, Fountaine Pajot catamarans, and Amel luxury passagemakers. McMichael COO Steve Leicht remarked,…

By David Hubbard One hundred years ago, the most famous boat designer of all time, Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, aka “Captain Nat,” aka “The Wizard of Bristol,” was 71 years old, and quite possibly at the height of his powers as a sailboat designer. If you own a sailboat, or have ever seen a modern sailboat, you should give him a nod for what he was about to do; that is to design the “S Boat,” of which…

By Ron Weiss For the 65 boats that started the 74th Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race, the wind gods proved to be capricious. Competitors found themselves to be racing in big breeze one minute, and no breeze the next. Many were sailing in a northerly only to find that they were – without warning – “auto-tacked” by a southerly of similar strength and now headed in the exact same direction but on the opposite board. Ideal…

By Dick Holliday Within several weeks of Neil Armstrong’s historic first steps on the moon in July 1969, Frank Hall Boatyard in Avondale, Rhode Island launched two prototype fiberglass Watch Hill 15s. These two 24’ 7” racing sloops, the first of a fleet of 25, were commissioned by Hubbard Phelps and Avard Fuller, Past Commodores of Watch Hill Yacht Club in nearby Westerly. Avard Fuller’s vision was to sponsor an active racing fleet to replace the aging and…

The 65th Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Phil Lotz (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Newport, RI) has competed successfully in J/105s, Melges 32s, Etchells, Viper 640s and IC37s. He won two national championships on his Swan 42, Arethusa, and won the inaugural Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. Phil currently owns a Gunboat 60 and has sailed and raced her extensively in New England and the Caribbean. He’s also an accomplished team racer. WindCheck: When did you…

By Coco Solsvig The Second Annual Sunfish Adventure Raid, presented by LaserPerformance, took place on the Connecticut River on June 1 & 2. Sunfish – including one Super Sunfish – were filled with single- and double-handed crews hailing from as far as Rochester, NY (a 5-hour drive!) and as young as 10. Everyone had a blast!   In preparation for an early start Saturday, Sunfish were unloaded Friday night at the start point at Ferry Park in…

By Jan Hodnett Robie Pierce Women’s Invitational, May 30 Julia Dorsett, along with her crew Gabby Mitchell and Deb Frankel, dominated the Robie Pierce Women’s Invitational for Disabled Sailors with four firsts for a total of 4.8 points. Second-place winner JoAnn Stead with Pat Burst and Alix Hahn scored a total of 10 points, and Dawn Hart with Rebecca Miller and Pam Washington were third with 12 points. Julia, who has sailed all her life, said that…