November-December 2023

I went to visit a friend in Annapolis the other day. His take on September and October was strikingly different than mine. We are both obviously pretty avid sailors and general boat people. So not surprisingly, weather is often a part of the conversation as we compare Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake Bay for which body of water has less wind. There’s a reason we both also own powerboats. But this time, the conversation that led…

Dear WindCheck crew, When looking up Peter Cooper the previous owner of our [Hinckley Bermuda 40], I came across your Eight Bells remembrance of Mary M. Savage. As an avid racer myself, I was quite impressed with her accomplishments. You believe that the photo in your article was taken on Peter’s Pumpkin Shell on the way back from Bermuda. I laughed when I read that, “according to Mary, not an easy passage. I believe they were down to bare poles at…

Our friends at Offshore Sailing School, headquartered in Fort Myers, FL, are launching several major initiatives to kick off a year-long celebration of the company’s 60th Anniversary. “We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a new location in Key West!” said Offshore President and CEO Doris Colgate. “Starting in January, we’ll have Colgate 26s and a new 40-foot catamaran available for US Sailing certification courses from Stock Island Yacht Club & Marina.” The company has…

By Courtney Moore, CMB Creative Group Our friends at Sails Up 4 Cancer are pleased to announce the first annual Creating Hope Gala in recognition of World Cancer Prevention Month. The Gala, at Mystic Marriott in Groton, CT on February 3, 2024, is the eve of World Cancer Day. Tickets are $150 per person which includes dinner, two drink tickets, a silent auction and live music from The Cartells. The Gala is black tie optional, and proceeds…

Kerry Gonzalez of AMG International Insurance was honored with the prestigious 2023 Annapolis Boat Shows Sailing Industry Distinguished Service Award. Established in 2014, this award recognizes individuals within the sailing industry who consistently uphold the highest standards of excellence, unwavering service, and continued commitment. Kerry received the award at the Sail America Industry Breakfast during the 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD. She was nominated by her peers in the sailing industry, and the final selection…

The 2023 Dyer Dhow Derby was held on Saturday, October 21 at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT. In very wet conditions with initially little wind and then gusts over 25 knots, hearty racers hit the course. The rainy and fluky conditions allowed for three races with Carl Fast winning the day, Jamie Race in second and Ben Wilkinson third. Carl cruised the course while holding an umbrella; everyone wore their fashionable foul weather gear. While attendance…

Beginning with the next edition, April 18 -21, 2024, the regatta unlike any other has a new partnership and a new name. “Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point is the new event name, and it’s an exciting update as we advance the largest keelboat regatta in the Western Hemisphere,” said Regatta Chair Randy Draftz. “We will be on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown for the entirety of the event, with expanded use of the space only an…

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 Hartford Boat Show. The show will boast the most boat brands and models under one roof, from Thursday, January 18 through Sunday, January 21 at the Earth Expo Center at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. The marine industry has continued to experience unparalleled growth in the past few years, with folks from all walks of life getting started in boating at a time when travel and entertainment options were…

iQFOil The iQFOil is the one-design foiling windsurfer class selected by World Sailing to replace the RS:X for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and the ’28 Games in LA. The Men’s Olympic Windsurfing event will use 9m2 sails and the Women’s will use 8m2 sails. Additional classes for Junior (under age 17) and Youth (under 19) utilize smaller boards and rigs, making the iQFOil a direct pathway to Olympic Windsurfing. If you’re ready to take flight, visit iqfoilclassofficial.org. Padanaram…

The thrill of big boat racing for college sailors By Kate Somers Photos by Stephen R Cloutier The goal of the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta presented by ShopRite of Carteret is to give a unique keelboat experience to college sailors from around the world. From dinghy sailors – who may have never stepped on anything but a 420 – to experienced offshore teams with their own boats, the IOR is a rare opportunity to compete in a big…