This bulletin board, hosted by the CDSOA, Inc., is the on-line meeting place for all Cape Dory owners and groups. We welcome everyone's questions, answers and comments about Cape Dory sailboat
Russell wrote:When they start using sailboats again, rather then airplanes, I will get more interested.
I wonder if that is what the crusty old sailors said after boats started planning?
This is a closed circuit kind of sailing. Kind of like Formula One cars but somewhat slower and much bigger. It is exciting to watch anything race at this level. Could they make an ocean crossing like a real boat? No. But they are still fun to watch, Steve.
I do appreciate the increadable engineering, and I am fascinated and impressed watching it. I watched some Moth races in Charleston early this spring as well, such boats are really amazing. But, its hard to relate to the kind of sailing we do and are passionate about. I am glad there has been some very wealthy Americans (turner, elison..) who have kept the sport alive in a country that seems to not care about it as much as cars racing in circles or football. In a way though, the tech has gotten to the point where I wonder if its like watching two super computers play chess rather then two international grand masters? I am sure every sailor on these boats is insanely skilled and that their abilities play a huge part in the victories and my comparison is not at all fair, but its sort of the emotional response I cant help jumping too even if it is entirely unfair.
I guess I am kind of a crusty old sailor (even though I am not yet 40), set in my ways, a curmudgeon before I should be. I can relate though in some degree to the Vendee or the Volvo, but what the Americas Cup has become? I cant relate. But I cant relate to watching 420s in the Olympics either, yawn. I think its the round the bouys thing that gets to me in general perhaps.
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
Congratulations to the skilled designers and sailors for giving us the most thrilling finish. None of us could have predicted the USA win but lets all give credit to the skill of the sailors aboard these sailing monsters and also the wonderful technical coverage. It made the races more thrilling to see all of the boundaries, current and how the wind effects the boat positions. I can better understand the sailor's skills and the wonder of Oracle pulling out from way, way behind to overcome the very skillful Kiwis.
I feel a kinship with these sailors even though I sail a Typhoon. I still manage the forces of mother nature to my advantage in getting to my destination. I also remember to thank my Typhoon every time I reach my destination for being such a wonderful boat.
Once again, thanks to both the USA and the New Zealanders for wonderful sailing memories. I look forward to whatever they choose for the next Cup challenge sailboats and can only wonder if they have considered how great the races could be within Casco Bay, Maine.
Ron
Ron Kallenberg
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Sailing in Saco Bay, Maine
Actually, contrary what I said above, the Yanks won seven straight to tie it up! Then they won the final. And because of the penalty, they won 11 races to the Kiwis 8, of which 8 were in a row! It was perhaps the greatest comeback in all of sports history. Really cool to watch.
I follow Formula One auto racing, avidly; so I am not going to get involved in any discussions about the relative excesses and decadence of rich guys' sports!
Dean
Dean Abramson
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
Neil Gordon wrote:If you think the America's Cup was good, you should watch a kid navigate a crowded mooring field racing an Opti back to the dock after sailing camp!
Sailing involves the courage to cherish adventure and the wisdom to fear danger. Knowing where one ends, and the other begins, makes all the difference.
Neil Gordon wrote:If you think the America's Cup was good, you should watch a kid navigate a crowded mooring field racing an Opti back to the dock after sailing camp!
Or 70 Opti's starting at once:
I fully expect to see some of these kids on an AC boat or the Olympics one day.
Here is a little story concerning The America's Cup entry that you probably never heard about or maybe never will again. I wasn't involved in the happening. It was told to me by my #2 son, Mike who witnessed this story unfold.
I was inside my home yesterday watching TV at about 4:00 PM EST. Mike asked me if I felt alright and I told him that I'm trying to watch a sailboat race that I read about on the Cape Dory forum.. It was a gloriously, brisk, autumn day and Mike thought it strange to catch me inside watching the boob tube, especially at that time of day.
Well, we found the race program channel and both of us started to watch, slack jawed. This kind of racing was entirely new to me. I kept wondering what the deuce was going on. Mike kept muttering barely audibly, "holy bleep" Then the story unfolded.
About a month ago, Mike was down at the Oswego City dock doing some diesel maintenance on our schooner's engine. He heard some loud noises, looked up and saw some huge trucks pulling huger trailers. He strolled over to where the trucks were and was told rather gruffly to leave the area. Those of you who know Mike, know that he is neither bashful nor meek and mild mannered when confronted or engaged by negativity of any manner. Since being reminded that the CD forum is family oriented, I feel that it is safe for me to mention that sweet Mike responded warmly in his dulcet toned ex-DI manner to the cloddish bozos on the dock. Nothing like starting things off on the right foot.
After noting that the trucks and trailers didn't have NYS plates on them, he reminded the belligerent strangers that they were on city property at the city marina and he just happened to be a taxpayer. He had all the right in the world to be there. About that time, a City PD patrol car pulled up and the officer got out and greeted Mike warmly. Up to that time, everything seemed to be secretive and hush hushed. Mike explained that he came over to see what's going on. The secretive people warmed up after Mike pointed out that he was with that white schooner tied up over there. "Oh, so you are a sailor, too?" Yup, he said . Mike called up a friend who owns a local pizzeria and a huge square pizza was delivered to the workers and crew. Much secrecy was rapidly melting and cordiality prevailed. But why did some of the hands speak with a strong British accent. Why was everyone called "Mate", or more precisely, "Mite"?
The biggest of the tractors was very expensive. It slept five hands and had a shower and water supply on board as well as provisions for cooking. Attached to the tractor was a huge crane that slid out from under its frame. The crane was used to lift huge masses from the trailers. The secretive pieces were attached to one another and the unknown whatever it was was finally taking form. The last trailer was unloaded on the third day. To a new observer, upon seeing this creation reminded one of seeing a huge catamaran on skis. This strange looking aquatic rocket ship had absolutely no markings on it. It was of a silver grey color.
The strange thing, whatever it was, was launched and many of the workers/crew swam out to this mother ship. Then a huge mast was stepped and sails and miles or rigging and nets were installed. Whatever this strange looking thing was, it made a few test runs around the harbour and then headed for open waters of Lake Ontario.
The obvious leader of the pack who spoke to Mike told him that they wanted to sail on the infamous Lake Ontario and test this prototype in various modes. He said that if it can do what he wanted it to do on this lake, it will do it anywhere. I can't imagine that there is that much difference between salt water and sweet water.
I'm not noted for being a too sentimental guy, but I'm not ashamed to admit that when Oracle was flying down the last leg toward victory, my heart swelled with pride and my eyes were a little more moist than usual. Probably the dang pollen and allergies again. Yeah, probably.
The kicker was while watching the post race celebration and interviews, Mike yells out " Holy bleep, those are the two dudes I was talking to down on the dock a few weeks ago.
Congratulations to the Kiwis!! Yessirree! The Kiwi's I say because the Kiwi's couldn't lose. That is if the report I read is correct, there was only one single solitary American on Oracle.
You could have painted any fancy insignia on those airplane wings with country designations but no matter where the megabucks came from it was a New Zealand show the whole way. Is the information wrong about this being an all Kiwi show?? So, even the friendly international competition, the backbone of the AC in history, is gone!
Sad, that in recent years more of the AC competition has been in courtrooms than on the water, and sad (for me anyway) that "boats" that spend most of their time above the water than in it, are the new standard. Sad that an airplane wing has replaced sailcloth (even the laminates.)
Perhaps I'm an old curmudgeon. Nothing surprises me these days. But that comeback from first being trounce 8-1 to a comeback of winning 9-8. I suppose the boat measurers remeasured and rechecked Oracle after the final race. After all, its not beyond comprehension that Ellison would "fiddle with the boat on the QT" is it? He has, shall we say, a very recent history of doing just that!
I too am one of those who lost interest in the America's Cup a long time ago. I'm not against the development or racing of these massive cats. But give that competition its own venue and leave the America's Cup to racing in sailboats.
I've vented my spleen. I'm done!
"I desire no more delight, than to be under sail and gone tonight."
(W. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice)
Warren Kaplan wrote:Perhaps I'm an old curmudgeon.
Perhaps. Or perhaps it's just an aesthetic respect for traditional boats. As I noted recently, I preferred the competition when there were fewer hulls and fewer lawyers.
About the only part of the series I enjoyed was watching tactics unfold. That might have been better observed at a more traditional pace.
I liken the change to what might happen to the magic of baseball if it was tweaked to turn it into a speed game, with lots of action but no subtlety. We'd all be worse off.
(You could work on that. Embellish it slowly over time. Start dropping into your conversation phrases like "Well, I was talking to Larry the other day and..."
Seriously, great story.
Dean
Dean Abramson
Cape Dory 31 "Loda May"
Falmouth, Maine
I can relate though in some degree to the Vendee or the Volvo, but what the Americas Cup has become? I cant relate. But I cant relate to watching 420s in the Olympics either, yawn. I think its the round the bouys thing that gets to me in general perhaps.
