(Burlington, VT)- J/88 boat co-owner of ALCHEMY- Dana Bolton- passed away last weekend due to complications from brain cancer. Dana was an avid sailor and racer and a huge supporter of junior sailing at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. He was awarded the US Sailing Volunteer of the Year a few years ago. Prior to the J/88, he owned the J/95 SWISH. His co-owner, Mark Damico, had this to say about the passing of his close friend:
"When Dana Bolton and I agreed to partner on the purchase of our new J/88, our first task was to decide on a name. We emailed each other long lists of possible names and followed up with discussions about the various possibilities. When Dana came up with the idea to name her Alchemy, we knew we had found the right name. It was perfect.
"Alchemy" is defined as the process of taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary, sometimes in a way that cannot be explained. That was our hope, to make our partnership and every shared experience on the boat something memorable for us and for our crew.
Thanks to Dana, every time we sailed Alchemy, the experiences were always special and always memorable. He had a knack for making every crew member feel important regardless of their sailing experience. Dana made every day on the water fun.
Although Dana loved the competitive aspects of racing our J/88, sailing Alchemy was more about having fun, sailing her well, staying safe, and creating lasting memories and valued friendships. Dana always created a welcoming environment on the boat for our regular crew as well as new sailors we had invited on the boat. On-board post-race reflections always included cold Vermont beers, snacks for the crew, and a lot of laughs. He helped everyone to get a little bit better every time we sailed through his understated leadership skills and extensive sailing knowledge.
Some of the best days on Alchemy were taking junior sailors out for the week during the Community Sailing Center’s Junior Big Boat program; he was a highly skilled instructor and his students learned a lot about sailing and a lot about life. Other memorable days were long sails out in the open waters of Lake Champlain. Dana cherished beautiful, sunny, windy Vermont days. He loved the long spinnaker runs and surfing down waves to grab an extra knot or two of boat speed. He brought smiles and joy to all his many sailing friends every day we hoisted Alchemy’s sails.
Alchemy was the perfect name for our boat because Dana was a sailing alchemist; everyone whose life he touched has been made better and richer in extraordinary ways. He will never be forgotten."
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Marc Hermann shares a non-sailing story to take our minds off all the non-sailing now occurring.
"Many years ago, I got an opportunity to go out fishing with a friend, and as we waited for the next bite, he told me about his wife’s unique experience obtaining her diving certification.
She was pursuing her dockside certification in shallow waters, and while underwater she saw a large white object floating just above the ocean floor. Curious, she swam closer to discover it was a 5+ foot halibut that had a rope noose around its body, followed by a length of line with a frayed end.
She found this to be rather odd, and once back on the dock, she told her story to one of the Marina attendants. He immediately started to laugh and began to tell her about an early morning fishing incident with a guy who had snagged a massive halibut in his old aluminum car-topper boat.
Apparently, he fought with this thing for a couple of hours when finally it succumbed, allowing him to reel it alongside the boat to club it. Realizing he had landed the mother lode, and it being far too big to bring into the boat, he decided to make a rope noose and tie it to the side of the boat and head back to the marina.
However, on his way back, the fish came back to life, and for those of you familiar with halibut and the strength in their tail, it started to violently thrash around while attached to the boat.
With less than half mile to the marina, this is when our avid, and at the time happy fisherman, realized that given the current circumstances, the trapped fish was going to destroy the boat.
Not realizing what to do next, and seeing the boat was taking on water, he panicked and picked up his shotgun (don’t ask me why he had a shotgun) to shoot the thrashing fish.
However, this idea didn’t quite go according to plan. As when he aimed at the fish, the fish’s tail violently hit the side of the boat and knocked our fisherman off balance just as he fired the gun. Rather than his aim be directed at the fish, it instead blew out the stern, which then led to significant ingress of water and subsequent sinking.
With half the marina watching this unfold, our now very unhappy fisherman was swimming in the water, with no boat, and much to his consternation that last traumatic course of events broke the noose around the fish and it, too, got away.
And now you know the story of the large halibut with a noose that got away." Thanks for this funny fish story from Scuttlebutt.
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(Chicago, IL)- In the wake of a successful weather Zoom presentation, Chicago Yacht Club members Matt Gallagher and Winn Soldani teamed up with CYC’s On-the-Water Director Skip Dieball and hatched a plan to create a weather forecasting contest.
“After Matt and Winn set up the simple website, invitations to participate were sent to club members and friends around the country, and through social media,” noted Dieball. “Inquiries from all over the world came in.”
The concept is simple – submit your predicted forecast for tomorrow’s weather and get scored based on its accuracy. High/Low Temps, Wind Speed/Direction, and Precipitation. The closer you are, the lower your score.
All sailors fancy themselves weather experts, and as Gallagher, Soldani, and other weather experts provide support and education via the contest’s site and a private Facebook group, this is a chance for people to prove themselves while waiting to get back on the water.
The current contest is free of charge and open to all. This week’s forecast is for Chicago, IL; next week is Providence, RI; and the week of June 1 is Miami, FL. New forecasters can join any time, and champions will be crowned for all three cities individually along with an overall champion. Suitable swag and bragging rights will be awarded to the winner. Thanks for contribution from Scuttlebutt. For more info and to enter.
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(Manhasset, NY)- Sailboat racing is about dealing with variables, and despite health guidelines now to limit the COVID-19 spread, event formats can safely navigate through the restrictions. This is occurring on New York’s Long Island Sound as 20 entrants signed up for an informal “pick-up” race on May 16 organized by Adam Loory. Here’s his report:
"To observe social distancing, all boats were doublehanded. There was no race committee, no trophies, and no party, but there was a lot of fun as sailors pushed their boats as best as possible considering that most boats are rigged for full-crewed racing.
While the weather was beautiful for sun-bathing, it was a little difficult for sailing. An all-too-common mid-summer weather pattern made sailing challenging. A light northerly was in a battle to the death with a southerly sea breeze. Neither won, but both made their scant presence known at times.
Third place finisher Richard du Moulin called the conditions, “About as ‘Long Island Sound’ as it could be, but at least it was fun racing in close proximity with friends, except PHANTOM, which missed all the fun and won by a mile!”
To sail without a race committee, the pursuit format was used. The slowest boat in the fleet started first and rest of the boats started later based on how much time they owed the slowest boat. This way, the finish order is the results.
With a scratch sheet having start times for a long, medium and short course (click here), I announce on the radio which course we are sailing, and everyone can then see their starting time. Given the conditions, the call was for the short, 9.25nm course.
The race started with 8-12 knots out of the N-NE, and then did exactly what the weather forecast called for – it died. Most of the fleet set off on a close reach heading straight at the one turning mark a little over four miles away, but soon the boats on the rhumbline got headed and then the wind died.
For most of the fleet, the wind died away for nearly an hour just as the boats were reaching the turning mark at Matinecock Point. The fleet struggled to change sails, jibe and tack multiple times to eke out some forward progress; some jibed to the north and others worked their way south.
For a while, each looked good, until they weren’t..."
Enjoying a nice sunny day on the water was the J/88 ONE TOO MANY, the new J/99 THIN MAN, and others like the gorgeous J/42 ATALANTA. Thanks for contribution from Scuttlebutt.
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Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world.
Built and launched in 2015, Jackal is hull #868 of over 1,500 J/70's now built. She comes ready to sail; with 3 sets of North class sails, a road trailer, Suzuki outboard and safety gear. The ease of launching the J/70 on a slipway with the keel-up trailer and the small crew needed makes this class the ideal sportsboat to get out on the water and have fun. Check out a number of well-maintained J/70s and other beautiful J's for sale at J/UK's listings page.
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(Annapolis, MD)- The 2020 Annapolis sailing season has started unlike any other, and despite the recent easing of Maryland’s recreational boating restrictions to limit the COVID-19 spread, there are still limitations on organized racing.
No racing? No problem. Go sailing like this intrepid J/70 sailor did the previous weekend. Watch the video here.
Gale Force Sailing created the Good Fun Sailing Challenge for sailors interested in getting that “racing feel” back, while still being compliant with state regulations. The course is a 10-mile loop that allows sailors to compete in a pandemic-friendly way. Good Fun Sailing Challenge sailing information
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(Greenwich, CT)- Over the years, racing on Long Island Sound has been very popular in western Connecticut. The competition is typically casual, particularly mid-week evening racing. And as important as the racing is, for many, the social aspect is equally critical. Following the racing, the Greenwich area clubs organize post-race gatherings so competitors can share stories of triumph and defeat.
Yet in the age of COVID-19, activities such as sailing have had to be curtailed, but with restrictions starting to loosen, it is appropriate to ask if competitive sailing can be held in a way that does not jeopardize the community. Indian Harbor Yacht Club (IHYC) has responded by creating the Captain Islands Challenge.
This event is unique in that instead of racing against other boats on the same course at the same time, competitors race against the clock around a fixed course. This makes the competition more akin to a time trial. Competitors pick when to race. All they need is a boat and a watch.
The series consists of three races starting in mid-June and ending in late-September. Racing dates are chosen by the sailor subject to certain restrictions. Competitors also choose whether to race in the double-handed class or fully crewed class subject to any social distancing rules. Both classes are main and jib only – spinnakers are prohibited.
The course has a fixed starting and finishing location and the race is around Captain Islands (twice in one direction, once in the opposite direction). Boats record how long it took them and report that time to IHYC. The club then takes those times and adjusts them for each boat’s handicap and publishes the results. At the end of the season, each boat’s times are summed and the boats with the lowest handicap-adjusted times from each class are the winners.
IHYC will monitor official health and governmental regulations and guidelines and will not hesitate to suspend or cancel the series if conditions warrant. In the meantime, the Captain Islands Challenge offers the opportunity to get on the water and sail with a purpose. Contact information- regatta@indianharboryc.com. Thanks for contribution from Scuttlebutt. For more Captain Islands Challenge sailing information
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(Manhattan, New York)- It was a wild ride, with nautical trivia, human bingo, fantastic raffle prizes, and a tutorial from an 8th-generation Gosling rum runner. We danced to "Men or Myth", introduced our pets and kids, sang to score points, and raised a glass to Hudson River Community Sailing center. We saw short films of our students engaged and learning remotely, and were carried through the festivities by a dynamic MC.
When we set out to do a virtual Dark‘n’Stormy, we were in uncharted waters. But, we knew we had to find a way to bring our community together in the midst of this crisis and raise funds to support Sail Academy and the future of our students. Two months later, here we are, having sold over 300 tickets and having raised over $47,000!
This is the kind of magic our community makes happen.
Take a moment to watch the videos we shared during the event. Relive MEN or MYTH's from-home concert. Consider a gift to help us hit our $50K goal!
Thank you again for being part of our mission.
Highlights video of kids remote learning
MEN OR MYTH music video- an entertaining group!
For more Hudson River Community Sailing information
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Down in South Carolina, an enthusiastic J/130 owner- Bob Musor from Mount Pleasant- passed along his perspectives on the joy of having the ability to go short-handed sailing and cruising on his 43 ft performance cruiser named SCEPTRE.
Commented Bob, "I celebrated 25 years of owning SCEPTRE this past month. She is as much fun to sail and cruise as ever. She has raced to Hawaii (2,225.0 nm), spent several years in Mexico after participating in the Baja Haha (a 1,100 nm cruise-in-company), held the San Francisco to Santa Barbara (Coastal Cup) record for a while. She trophied in the Rolex Big Boat Series. More importantly, I have taught many folks how to a sail a big J sprit boat! She is J/130 Hull# 25. She is still winning trophies and great fun to cruise. Just a great boat!
This photo is the University of Michigan sailing team racing her in the SCOR (South Carolina Offshore Racing association) Regatta in February this year.
I had a J/30 #340 before SCEPTRE. Prior to that, I raced Tornado Olympic class cats. Some friends bought a J/30. I crewed with them and got the bug. I have owned J/Boats for over 35 years and have enjoyed every moment on them.
By the way, great to see J/Boats' co-founder Bob Johnstone and his wife Mary living in Charleston now. I often see them out on their gorgeous MJM Yachts (can never figure which one he's got now- a 43z or 53z)."
Fair Winds,
Bob Musor
Charleston, SC
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Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world.
Here is another beautiful example of our popular 33 ft. day sailor- the J/100. This J/00 shows in near new condition and is loaded with race and day sailing gear. She was completely re-fitted by her current owner in 2015 and has a number of great improvements on the boat; including a retractable carbon sprit, new standing and running rigging, full Grand Prix race bottom and keel fairing, and gorgeous new Awlgrip hull paint in Ice Blue. More information here.
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(Miami, FL)- As each region makes progress through the coronavirus pandemic, government restriction on recreation eases and boating becomes more permissible. But, with limitations within health guidelines, developing new events for organized activity becomes the focus.
At this point, any effort is worthwhile, as there are no bad ideas other than waiting for normal times to return (if ever). That’s not an option, so here are a couple efforts to mimic:
Social Distance Offshore Race- SORC– Miami, FL:
We realize that the sailing calendar has been placed on postponement for most all of the events planned for this spring and even into early summer. SORC has found a way to get you out on your boats in a safe and socially conscious way.
The Southern Ocean Racing Conference is the Organizing Authority for The Social Distance Race on May 24 which will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, and Miami-Dade County guidance on On-Water Activity.
For boats 21 feet or larger, a pursuit start will commence a 20nm course on Biscayne Bay, with special rules including limits on crew size and how boats must remain more than 50 feet apart. Learn more here about "The Social Distance Race"
Rock the Lake Challenge- Sailing Inc. – Cleveland, OH:
The "Rock the Lake Challenge" seeks to promote and encourage participation in the sport of sailing in a format that is flexible and inclusive (please note- this is the home to the Rock & Roll Musuem of Planet Earth!). The event will consist of multiple race courses on Lake Erie along the coastline of Cleveland that competitors can attempt to race any date or time of your choosing between June 1st and August 31st.
No entry fee, and all sailboats with a LOA greater than 21 ft are welcome to compete. Scoring will use PHRF-SS, there will be multiple divisions (Performance, Cruising & Double-handed), and a rating will be provided if a boat does not have a valid certificate.
While the race courses will be defined, the format allows for a competitor to go when they want. If its breeze-on at 8 AM on Sunday morning, go sailing! If it’s a gorgeous moonlit Thursday night, go sailing. If the wind/ wave set favors an upwind machine, go sailing! Please come join us! Thanks for contribution from Scuttlebutt. Learn more here
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(Southampton, England)- Cyclops Marine and the Smart Tune/ Smart Link range of products have continued to evolve since its introduction in 2018 by innovative J/Sailors with backgrounds in engineering from the famous colleges in England- Cambridge and Oxford. The wireless rig sensor replaces your current forestay/ shroud turnbuckle fittings. They have been fitted already on J/99s, J/109s, J/111s and J/122s across the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America.
Peter Gustafsson, owner of the famous J/111 BLUR.SE, explained his experiences with the Smart Tune fitting and Smart Link for his B&G instruments system.
"In August, we installed a Smart Tune to measure forestay tension. The initial impressions were great; installation was super simple and having the tension on the mast display made communication much easier.
After sailing the Rolex Middle Sea Race and also the Coastal Race in Malta (we had a very shifty upwind leg) we also had some data to work with. Above is the forestay tension (in kg) as a function of TWS (in knots). So, in 12 knots of wind, 1400 kg is a good starting point with the J2 jib on our J/111.
This is just the first iteration, and we need more data before this becomes a cheat-sheet in the cockpit. But, it felt great to be able to convert our experience, and prior references on the backstay, to hard numbers. Also, communication with our crew/ trimmers worked very well, and it felt we could be more proactive with backstay tension when we have the numbers in view rather than flying blind behind us…" Read more here.
Video of the Smart Tune and Smart Link system at work
In a recent development, Cyclops Marine is supporting Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS TEAM UK in their bid to bring the America’s Cup back home to Great Britain (last time it was there was in 1851)! The INEOS TEAM will be using both Smart Tune and Smart Link state-of-the-art wireless load-sensing products.
“Cyclops is proud to have our expertise contribute to the British America’s Cup challenge”, explained Ian Howarth, Cyclops Marine’s CEO. “And, it's fantastic that INEOS TEAM UK chose to utilize our leading-edge technology to help them with their data requirements". Read more here about INEOS TEAM UK data.
The NEW Sports Boat Smart Tune is due to be introduced to the market by June 2020, just in time to go sailing again! This new smaller size will be well-suited for J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, and J/80s. You can use them to "dial-in" repeatable, fast settings on your boat just using your mobile phone and the Smart Tune app. Learn more about Smart Tune and Smart Link here
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(Newport, RI)- Said New York Yacht Club Commodore, Bill Ketcham (owner of the J/44 MAXINE), "it's with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of Commodore Henry H. Anderson, Jr., the 47th Commodore of New York Yacht Club and member #2. Commodore Anderson joined the Club in 1948, and his contributions to the Club were boundless, along with his character, spirit and sense of humor. The burgee is flying at half-mast at Harbour Court, and three black mourning ribbons are flying with the burgee at 44th Street."
From a J/Boats perspective, Harry was a big fan of the J/24 from its very beginning as a global sailing phenomenon. Its impact on sailing at all levels, from women's sailing, to youth programs, to multiple World Champions and America's Cup crews and skippers having learned from the world's best sailors in what is still the World's largest one-design keelboat class- 5,400+ boats and counting.
Harry often enjoyed his conversations with various members of the J/Boats family from the early days in 1977, while he was Commodore of NYYC, to the present day. Bob & Mary, Rod & Lucia, Stu, Drake, Peter & Jeff, would often encounter Harry at NYYC's Harbour Court in the dining room, at the bar, sitting outside on the deck chairs, sharing a few laughs and drinks together as we discussed an extraordinary range of topics. How could you not love Harry? A gentleman, bright as hell, considerate, with a quick wit, always something thoughtful to say. We will miss him dearly! Harry, truly the soul of Robert Frost's poem- The Road Not Taken- and John Masefield's poem- Sea Fever. A man passionate about the sea and those who loved it as well.
As American President John F. Kennedy once remarked at the dinner for the America's Cup crews, on September 14, 1962 in Newport, RI, "“I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it's because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it's because we all came from the sea. And, it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our vein,s the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came." And, so our dear beloved friend Harry... sail on.
A family tribute to his amazing life follows.....
Henry Hill Anderson Jr passed away peacefully on the morning of May 11 in Mystic, Connecticut. Commodore Anderson was a young man of 98 years. In his beloved Latin, Harry proved “Quam bene vivas refert non quam diu….it is how well you live that matters, not how long.” Harry lived an incredibly full and generous life for almost a century.
“Harry”, as he was known to his family, friends as well as by those who knew him by his legend, was a man of enormous intellect, inspiration, leadership, and inexhaustible energy. Recognized by many as a leader in international sailing circles for more than 60 years, Harry was also a mentor to many, a champion of experiential learning, and a historian of rare equal.
An adventurer from a young age, Harry sailed his first Newport-Bermuda Race at 15 years. Harry’s passion for the sport of sailing took him along many paths; from sailing as a child on Six Meters in the 1930s, to introducing the Finn dinghy class in the United States in the 1950s with his friend Glen Foster, to serving on the America’s Cup Selection Committee in the 1970s and 80s. Harry was the Commodore of the New York Yacht Club during the club’s last successful defense of the America’s Cup in 1980.
Harry’s achievements and contribution to the sport may never see an equal. He was a very successful racer, having collected dozens of victories over the years sailing his many boats of all sizes and varieties. He was a stalwart shipmate whose seamanship skills were exemplary. Many Collegiate and Frostbite sailors compete on the “Harry A” race course, a unique dinghy racing course created by the imaginative Harry.
To the many who had the privilege of racing or cruising or acting in an official manner with Harry, his greatest delight was derived from the camaraderie and friendships that came from the sport he devoted much of his life to. There is nary a noteworthy body of water upon which Harry did not compete or officiate, or a smart waterfront tavern where he did not raise a glass. Communicator, prolific writer of countless notes, problem solver, philanthropist, and fun-loving friend, “godfather by proxy” to legions and Uncle to a very special few, everyone – from waterfront rascals and collegiate sailors to Kings and Princes, Gold Medalists, Sultans, and Presidents, too – knew him as their cheerful friend Harry.
His connections were limitless. One would never be surprised to hear a person’s name come up in passing only to have Harry say, “he’s my second cousin, twice removed.”
His travels were limitless, too. Whether sailing a clipper ship in the Windward Islands, competing on the famed Six Metre “Goose” in the Solent, or working on his beloved Boulaceet Farm in Cape Breton, Harry was rarely a sedentary soul.
During those travels, Harry would never miss a chance to drop in and visit his many nieces and nephews and give them his whole-hearted support in their endeavors.
Born June 2, 1921, in New York City, to Henry H. Anderson Sr and Helen James Anderson, Harry had early distinguished Colonial antecedents, namely his great-grandfather Henry Hill Anderson, counsel for the City of New York in the 1800s.
Harry’s great grandfather, Oliver Burr Jennings, was a "Forty-Niner" (San Francisco Gold Rush days) whose ancestor Joshua Jennings settled in Hartford, Connecticut in 1645, concurrently with Jehue Burr, great grandfather of Col. Aaron Burr of whom Henry H. Anderson Jr. is a collateral descendant (both families settled in Fairfield, Connecticut). Harry is also a descendant of William James of Scituate, Massachusetts, who moved to Newport, Rhode Island, ca 1680.
Brought up in Oyster Bay, New York, Harry was also the Commodore of Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Commodore of the Revolting Colonist Outpost, and an honorary member of yacht clubs extending from Long Beach, California to Helsinki, Finland. He was a flag officer of nine different yacht clubs.
A graduate of Yale, Harry completed his studies there in three and a half years so he could join the United States Army in 1943. He served in World War II as a Field Artillery captain in Patton’s Third Army having landed at Normandy, D-Day plus 30. He was a part of Patton’s historic campaign which helped to liberate Europe from the Nazi’s. After the war Harry got his Law degree from Columbia University, though he did not follow in the Anderson family tradition to practice law.
Harry always saw sailing as an educational experience and tirelessly supported and promoted it, whether as a yacht club officer, U.S. Sailing director, college sailing advocate, Congressional Cup judge, financial supporter, or advisor to many sailing organizations. Harry was actively associated with numerous educational institutions including Tall Ships America, University of Rhode Island, Yale University, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Anderson chaired US Sailing’s Appeals Committee for 25 years and had a hand in writing a good part of the racing rules of sailing during that tenure.
Harry was a devoted, life-long researcher driven by a compelling curiosity about subjects ranging from the location of Captain Cook’s ships on the bottom of Newport Harbor, to the lives of his illustrious antecedents. He participated in comprehensive publications and films about railroad magnate Arthur Curtiss James (another collateral ancestor), and America’s third vice president, Aaron Burr. He was determined that those forgotten (James) or maligned (Burr) be accurately documented and assigned their proper places in history.
Anderson’s philanthropies included the Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Florida, his alma mater, where he was trustee for life. His name appears on the school’s gymnasium and sailing center. He was long involved as a champion of Yale (class of ’42) and University of Rhode Island sailing programs, having donated several fleets of boats, raised funds for sailing facilities, and as an advisor.
A longtime resident of Newport, R.I., Commodore Anderson sat on the boards of Tall Ships America, Seamen’s Church Institute, the US Naval War College, the Rhode Island Marine Archeology Project, the Aaron Burr Association, the Fales Committee at the United States Naval Academy, and the Foundation for the Preservation of Captain Cook’s Ships.
Always a volunteer himself, no one worked harder. Anderson had a subtle way of snapping the whip that not only produced results, but brought him respect and admiration. He was often the silent person at the table, whose succinct conclusions solved problems. His work continued well beyond the usual retirement age, including being a founding member of the University of Rhode Island Sailing Advisory Council when he was in his 90’s and even last month working on his latest project, a book about William Rockefeller (descendant of John D. Rockefeller- famous for creating the world's first vertically integrated oil monopoly- Standard Oil).
Harry’s awards and honoraria include Intercollegiate Sailing Association Hall of Fame; National Sailing Hall of Fame; Doctor of Laws from the University of Rhode Island (2009); The Beppe Croce Trophy (International Sailing Federation and International Yacht Racing Union); the Nathaniel Herreschoff Trophy (U.S. Sailing Foundation); Lifetime Service Award (Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association); Congressional Cup Scarlet Blazer; 33rd Congressional Cup (dedicated to HHA Jr); Post Captain’s Trophy (North American Station, Royal Scandinavian Yacht Clubs & Nylandska Jaktklubben); Bronze Star U.S. Army; Richard S. Nye Trophy (Cruising Club of America); Henry H. Anderson, Jr. Sail Training Scholarship Fund (American Sail Training Association); Lifetime Achievement Award (American Sail Training Association); W.P. Stephens Award (Mystic Seaport); Henry H. Anderson, Jr. Memorial Library (Seamen’s Church Institute).
Over the years and right up until the end, Harry would frequently write notes on an infinite number of topics, often on re-purposed paper. It is quite likely that many who are reading this tribute to Harry are smiling as they may have received one or many such notes through the years. Some were pointed in its message; others were anecdotal in their reference, often quoting classic poetry and prose to make their point or deliver the message. All were something to behold and cherished upon reflection.
Here is one of Harry’s notes to a friend in 2012: “Life’s pleasures are to be enjoyed in moderation, and apropos the cruising man, while we are not always borne with swelling sails before a blowing wind, neither do we drag out life struggling with headwinds; or befitting the fortune of the racing man ‘behind the foremost, ever before the foremost’. One snatches one’s enjoyment of the brief and pleasant hours like a school boy in the spring holidays.”
Harry Anderson’s was a life well-lived.
Harry was pre-deceased by his beloved brother Jim and is survived by his brother, David, and 45 nephews, nieces, and great nephews and nieces.
Given the restrictions of COVID-19, there will be a small family gathering to lay the Commodore to rest. A memorial “gam” of suitable scale and good cheer will be scheduled when the circumstances allow for Harry’s friends to raise a glass to his memory and legacy.
Harry was very generous to causes he believed in. All were focused on the development of young people through experiential learning from being on the water. Gifts in lieu of flowers can be sent any of the causes that were important to Harry:
- Yale Sailing Association, Ray Tompkins House, 20 Tower Parkway, New Haven, Ct. 06511
- Ransom Everglades School, Attn: Julie Rosenfeld, 3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
- Henry H. Jr Anderson Sailing Endowment, The University of Rhode Island Foundation, PO Box 1700 Kingston, RI 02881
- Tall Ships America, 221 3rd Street, Building 2, Suite 101, Newport, RI 02840
* How lucky we’ve been- a perspective on Harry Anderson from one of the United Kingdom's most successful sailors- Ian Walker- a guy who once knew how to sail J/24s....
The great John Wooden once said: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are…the true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
The passing of Henry Hill Anderson, Jr. reminds us of how much he did when no one was watching, and how great the impact was from his random acts of kindness. Well before Ian Walker was a two-time Olympic medalist, J/24 sailing champion, and now the Director of Racing for the Royal Yachting Association, he was a recipient of Harry’s kindness.
Ian commented on his experience with Harry, "In 1991, I captained the British University Team on a USA tour of the East Coast, racing against colleges and combined US teams from Maine all the way down to South Carolina. It was arguably the most fun six weeks of my life… although, most of it still lives under a 'cone of silence'.
A special highlight was our visit to the home of the America’s Cup– Newport RI. We had a plan to compete in the Around Jamestown Island Race on J/24s, but were without accommodation and no local contacts. So, after a couple of cold beers in a local bar, we hatched a plan to visit the legendary New York Yacht Club and introduce ourselves.
Imagine... eight British students turning up in a van at the NYYC having had a few drinks– hoping to perhaps be given a tour. LOL. We donned our blazers, put on our best British accents, and walked straight in the front door. However, we immediately realized we weren’t going to get that far, until a member was passing and asked if he could help.
We thought we were going to be thrown out. But, before too long, this gentleman had not only signed us all in as guests, he had bought us all drinks. And to top it all, he offered us a roof over our heads (all eight of us) for nearly a week!
We had no idea how lucky we were to have met Harry. His hospitality was exemplary and his sailing memorabilia in his house was extraordinary– especially in the toilet, as I recall. I thoroughly enjoyed recounting the story of how we first met, when we met again at NYYC Harbour Court many years later.
I feel honored to have met Harry and to have stayed in his home. To this day I feel guilty for not having appreciated quite how lucky we were at the time. What an amazing man and an amazing life. Sail on Harry." Thanks for this contribution from Scuttlebutt newsletter.
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(Dublin, Ireland)- Four-time Olympic sailor, Mark Mansfield, a professional sailor, is part of the Key Yachting/ J/UK team representing J/Boats in Ireland. Mark contributed a good perspective on how sailing can take place while enjoying with family and friends.
Fully crewed or shorthanded?
Though there are other options around, family crew and the like, clearly it will be challenging to sail fully crewed for the first couple of months and still keep the required space between each other. The sight of 8 bodies huddled together on the rail while going upwind on a 35-foot cruiser-racer would not only be regarded as unsafe, but irresponsible and would send all the wrong messages.
So, at what crewing levels could racing happen and still keep close to the permitted social distancing levels?
It is possible to specify a max crew level for different sized boats.
Different sized boats have different crewing needs. A J/70, for example, does not need the same crew numbers as a 42-footer. So, what crew numbers would be required on different sized boats. Here is my estimate:
Up to 26 footers 3 max per boat – Only 2 allowed to sit over the side
Over 26 foot and up to 31 foot – Max of 4 crew – only 2 allowed to sit over the side
Over 31 foot and up to 36 foot – Max 5 crew – only 2 allowed to sit over the side
Over 36 foot and up to 41 foot – Max 6 crew – only 3 allowed to sit over the side
Over 41 foot and up to 46 foot – Max 7 crew and only 4 allowed to sit over the side
And, so on in 5-foot sized increases.
An amendment to The Notice of Race (NOR) could be inserted for events to make these reduced numbers a requirement, while we still have these restrictions due to COVID 19.
Is this enough crew to race boats with spinnakers?
In the Fastnet Race in 2019, there were 65 entries in the Doublehanded class, ranging from 45 footers, down to 30 footers. Most boats were in the 35-foot size range and used spinnakers. Yes, they all would have autopilots, and that effectively gives you an extra pair of hands doing sail changes. But that still would mean that they would have had two less crew than my crew size thoughts above. Here is how that would look like on specific boats:
J/22, J/24, J/70, J/80?
Three crew could easily handle any of these boats. In fact, two would be just as easy. One is helming and trimming the main, one in the cockpit, and one on the bow. The Bowman stays forward of the shrouds; the cockpit person stays away from the helm, up by the hatch. It won't be all that easy, but 30-foot boats like Etchells have similar-sized sails and normally sail with 3.
J/109, J/109, J/111, J/112E?
Five on any one of these boats is possible. One on the wheel, staying back a bit. One in the cockpit is trimming the mainsheet but sitting well forward. Helm adjusts the traveler or leaves it in the center. One sits in the hatch, or on top of the coach roof. The Jib Trimmer sits out, and during tacks, they pull in the new sheet while the Mainsheet Trimmer has let off the old jib sheet. The Bow person sits out forward of the shrouds; jib trimmer sits out to windward, 2 metres back from the Bowman.
Downwind more room becomes available as both sides of the boat can accommodate the crew. Andrew Craig, Class Captain of the J/109 class in Ireland, says, "the J/109 is well-suited to shorthanded racing with the small jib and plenty of space for a reduced number to spread out. The Asymmetrical Spinnaker requires no pole, which also makes shorthanded use possible in the right conditions".
For more about Mark's perspective on the new world of sailing in the "post-covid-19 world"
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(Cowes, England)- The J/111 Class Association, its owners, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club in Cowes, England have determined, because of the varying levels of infection and disruption across the world, to cancel the 2020 J/111 World Championship originally scheduled for September.
The Executive Committee has been closely monitoring the worldwide developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. They understand the huge commitment of time and money it takes to participate in a major Championship, as well as the enormous resources that our host clubs dedicate to such events.
Simon Bamford, Captain of the J/111 North European Fleet, said, “A big thank you to everyone who helped organize the J/111 2020 Worlds. Special mentions to Simon Grier-Jones who put many hours of work into it and to Steve Cole and RORC for their professionalism and support. Best wishes to all of you and looking forward to meeting whenever we can get back onto the water.” More news for 2021 plans coming soon. Sailing photo credits- Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com. Learn more about the J/111 and the J/111 Class here
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(Cowes, England)- In the light of recent United Kingdom Government announcements, it has become clear that the 2020 Landsail Tyres J-Cup will be postponed and not take place in July. The new date, confirmed by an amendment to the Notice of Race, will be September 3rd to 5th, 2020.
Whilst the current measures on social distancing have been eased, they are still in place. However, by early September, the UK Government may allow competitive sports for fully crewed yacht racing, which would allow the Landsail Tyres J-Cup to take place. Key Yachting will continue to monitor the Government announcements and will keep the J Boat community updated with any relevant developments. Sailing photo credits- Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com. For more information.
J/Net Brokerage Specials! Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world here:
Here is one of those beauties, a J/97E down in Annapolis, MD. A rare opportunity to own this very lightly used very well taken care of J/97e. The 97e is the evolution of the J/97, a proven winner. The J/97e combines excellent performance with comfortable accommodations and easy sail handling. 97E is the first J in over two decades under 32' to combine headroom and family cruising accommodations in a high performance, easily driven hull. Learn more about her and nearly 100 other J/Boats here from around the world. For more information about J/97E cruisers.
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Moving beyond last week's "Sailors Binge Watching sailing videos", a number of sailmakers have been conducting on-going "Zoom" video webinars or YouTube broadcasts or even Facebook LIVE interactive sessions. Below are a select few of North Sails webinars that were related to the J/111 one-design class and also the highly popular J/70 one-design class. Lots of great information to study over Mother's Day weekend!
J/111 Upwind & Downwind Performance TipsThis webinar was chock full of great information sailing the hot J/111 one-design class. The experts included Seadon Wijsen from San Francisco, Jeremy Smart from United Kingdom, Allan Terhune from Annapolis/ Chicago, and Jack Orr from Milford, CT.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17qsyQom5j0
J/70 Worlds Webinar- sailing off Marina del Rey, CA Alex Curtiss, Allan Terhune and Eric Doyle held a fascinating webinar about sailing off Marina del Rey, the site of the 2021 J/70 World Championship. Many great tips, helpful insights sailing a regatta there.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knn3YscY3xw
J/70 Downwind tips and techniquesWorld Champion Tim Healy, along with last year's World Champion crew Ruairidh Scott from the United Kingdom, and Allan Terhune walk you through a strong webinar discussion on how to "send it" when it's breezy as well as the very tactical transition process of when it's best to go from VMG, to Wing & Wing, to Planing Mode! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGcnwm5X7Hs
J/70 Mainsail trimEver wonder why some boats are simply consistently faster upwind that others? It's the mainsail trim, dude! Learn some of those secrets here from Giulio Desiderato from Italy, Zeke Horowitz from Newport and Allan Terhune from Annapolis/ Chicago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAc07QRTCqo Flip
