Bermuda 1-2: Class 40 crew de-brief
The Bermuda 1-2 is the oldest short-handed race on the East Coast. Held every 2 years on the odd year, it was first run in 1977. It is a solo race from Newport (R.I) to Bermuda and then a double-handed race back to Newport. Sailors from this race, and the O.S.T.A.R., gave birth in the early 1908’s to the then named B.O.C which became the Around Alone & is now the Velux 5 oceans and so the Bermuda 1-2 might also be rightly known as the spiritual Grand father to the Vendee globe.
Adjustable Backstays: Rigging a fast (acting), light, simple and non-hydraulic backstay adjuster
And I ‘I'll bet it was cheap to build: Last summer I was in the UK doing a delivery and I ended up in Lymington. While strolling the docks, I came across a Contessa 32 with what I thought was a great modification/addition to the boats standing rigging in the form of a fast acting, light, simple and hydraulics-free backstay adjuster.
J-105 Double-handed: The Greenport Ocean Race
Regular readers will recall my participation on the Greenport Ocean race this time last year: We were one of two Double-handed entries, and we won. This year we were sailing against 5 other boats including another J-105 rating the same as us--a 90 mile match race, double-handed in what became 25-30 knots.
J-105-Offshore sailing modifications
Regular readers will know I have spent some time on a J 105 doing distance races. This post discusses some of the issues that pertain to a J 105 (or any boat frankly) when contemplating going offshore. The fact that we are going double handed makes the ideas used even more important to the average cruising couple I reckon.
Offshore sailing seminar: Discussion on the latest in offshore sailing.
A seminar is to be held on Saturday and Sunday May 30 and 31 Hosted by Newport Yacht Club, Long Wharf Newport RI and presented by the US Class 40 association. To get updated on the latest in sail handling, boat design, autopilots, deck layouts, navigation systems, furler's, batten car systems and many other items of equipment and systems of interest to the short handed community make it a date to attend. You can even sign up for a sail on one of these solo offshore boats.
Short handed sailing: Bermuda 1-2 Weather and sleep seminars
Apart from preparing the boat the two most important issues to be considered when contemplating an offshore passage, short handed or otherwise, are weather information gathering and analysis and managing the crew's fatigue/sleep arrangements. The latter being especially important when sail solo.
Bermuda 1-2 March meeting: Practicallysailing.com announces sponsorship of race tracking
One of the behind the scene's activities we have been working for a while is to try and spread the word about our website.
Hank-on headsail's: the soft hanks option
Hanks are a great way to make sail changes easy for the short-handed sailor but what if, like more boat owners today, you are curious or thinking about a composite stay? Traditional bronze hanks just won't cut it--but they will certainly chafe it.
Cruising Spinnakers: Different sails for different angles.
We now know there are two classes of spinnakers (Racing and all others) and three sub species, ("downwind", "across the wind" and "upwind"). Like other sails, spinnakers can have different aerodynamic shape, different sizes and be of different weights of materials.
J-105's: More on hank on jibs and the reefing of same
Following on from the previous article on the merits of hank-on jibs for some boats, like the J-105, and especially when sailing short-handed-(solo or DH) and or in the ocean-I will walk through the required rigging and the arrangements and techniques suitable for reefing a hank on jib.There is not much hardware needed to set up a reefing arrangement for the 100% Jib on J-105, or any boat with hank-on sails including stay-sails for that matter.