Class 40, Atlantic Cup 2014.

The Class 40 renewed their Cup for this 2014 edition. 

Fewer boats, but equally good competition over the legs.

Starting in Charleston to New-York, then on to Newport.

With inshore races over the weekend, marred by the 

demise of Dragon hitting a rock in the Passage.

I am fond of this Class, but like said one of the designers; 

"It is so hard to get racing going in the US". Yes, for 

smaller or bigger boat you still a few one offs built but

for some reason there is little grip elsewhere.

Especially for single or double handed racing events.

Next year, I believe that the new generation of Class 40 will follow the success of David Raison's Mini Transat by increaing the width at the bow within the constraint of the new adopted rule to minimize the "scow effect". I designed a 40 representative of what the breed will be like

.

April in Newport.

- Finally, this winter is over. And the boats are coming. The first one to appear is the three-masted schooner Atlantic. The replica of the majestic William Gardner design with the same name. My friend Doug Peterson, the yacht designer had the rare privilege to reconstruct the drawings from files, a dream come true to be associated with such a project. For historical memory, the original Atlantic won the Kaiser's Cup in 1905 by crossing the ocean for which she was named in twelve days a record held for 75 years.

The second boat to arrive at the Shipyard was the 73' Sparkman & Stephens design Bolero, after a season in Florida. John Nicholas Brown had her built in 1949, the largest ocean racer launched after WW11. He kept her for six years and after a long career, with a recent rebuild, this Classic yacht looks just as good as new. Mr. Brown's mansion is now the location for the New York Yacht Club Newport station since 1988.

- A little side story.

- Probably better described in an article I wrote a few years ago, about a design I wanted to rival with the best looking boats of the Bolero, CCA Classic era. But maybe, I ought to start with the following brief.

- Mr. M. commissioned the design. Preliminary plans were drafted for a carbon-deck construction, with the idea of using modern materials and techniques to build a Classic. So, what happened is that after receiving the results of several bids, the client became uneasy about the money and time involved. The project was halted altogether and the client took refuge in a smaller boat. Here is the published article describing the elegance of boat design of that era.

- Now it is late in May.
- More to come.

Carter Offshore 36' Texas One Ton.

                                           
- Going on with the Memories of an earlier Post.

-In a rare delirious moment, I bid on eBay for this Carter Texas One Ton. It did not happen. In the end, I did not get her.

If the anonymous buyer ever sees this writing, they can get in touch with me at any time.

Transparent Boat.

                                                           

     Mexorc 2014

Sometimes it sucks to work alone. I could not make it to this Sombrero and Margarita Fiesta.
The Mexorc is getting bigger and better and the sun is guaranteed. The racing, giving right after the usually slow 1000 miles from San-Diego to Puerto Vallarta, is a week affair with a couple of starts everyday but for a party on Wednesday.

Dick Carter Design. Memories.

- Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of visiting Dick Carter, my boss at Carter Offshore for over 3 years.

-Guess what? We talked about boats and how things have changed. It was a memory lane with the main topic being the Rating Rules, guiding the Sport. I mean handicap rules. Let's not forget D. Carter started the I.O.R. along with Olin Stephens and van de Stadt. The goal was to merge the American C.C.A. with the British R.O.R.C.

- I joined this article in French about Dick Carter and his era. It gives a good account of the early days.

Grasse. Perfume Capital of the World.

At 600 M. above sea level, the views taken with the rising sun show straight across the mountains of Corsica. The town of Cannes is slightly down to the right. Below is the Ville de Grasse. The mountains in the far horizon are on the island of Corsica.

Super Yacht Trend. The Design of a 40M. Sailboat.