Buzzards Bay Regatta

Buzzards Bay, Day 14

Gunboat 62 Searching for Elvis

Searching for Elvis, napping in Newport

The weather was outside my level of acceptability. I may not go sailing based on the rain, wind, or the temperature. The wind was consistently above 20 knots, I can deal with that, I don’t really care for it that much usually and it is hard on the equipment, especially new expensive sails. The rain can be a nuisance and dangerous if it is reducing visibility, seldom is it intolerable. However when the wind is 25 knots, the rains is continuous and the temperature is 64 degrees, homey don’t play that way. The temp dropped three degrees between leaving the motel and getting to the boat. The race committee had postponed and was waiting to see if  it might be a little more tolerable. I decided not to sail about noon regardless of the RC’s decision. We loaded into the Suburban and went to Newport RI, to check out the harbour, the boats, and eat some clams. After lunch and the obligatory stop at numerous marine store we went to Newport Harbour and became awestruck. Searching for Elvis was the first boat we saw at the dock, It is a Gunboat 62 and I can see that a Gunboat could be a delightful next step .  Two of the Puma Volvo Ocean Racers were there. The orange (maybe it was red) was in the water. The black one was up on stands, really tall stands. It has a 14 foot keel with a bulb that is almost as big as the Suburban,

There was also a boat named Speedboat, recently featured in one of the top sailing mags, a hunnert footer (2012 update, Speedboat became Virgin Money, and then became Rambler, I am sure someone will correct me, if this is incorrect). Carbon is very expensive, whether in the form of diamonds or carbon fiber sailboat. For my money, diamonds are ugly, and difficult to fair.

Clouds are leaving, there is blue sky all over everything, and the wind  is predicted to be light, but what the hell do I care, I have battens in my jib. Today we will be very fast.

-wb-

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