Sports coat to wet suit

From scuttlebutt:

http://media.ussailing.org/US_SAILING_Media_Home/Latest_News/2009_Rolex_Ceremony.htm

Tunnicliffe and Gulari Honored at US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Ceremony


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jan Harley, Media Pro Int’l for Rolex Watch U.S.A., 401.849.0220
or Jake Fish, US SAILING, 401.683.0800

New York, N.Y. (Feb. 26, 2010) – Neither rain nor sleet nor snow, all of which had combined to cancel flights and delay trains in the Northeast, could deter Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) and Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) from getting to Manhattan today for their moment in the spotlight at US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards ceremony.

The award recipients, chosen for their outstanding on-water sailing accomplishments in 2009, were joined by family, friends, sailing dignitaries and members of the press at the New York Yacht Club’s renowned Model Room for an intimate retrospective on their rise to the top of the sport. Gary Jobson, president of US SAILING and one of the sport’s most familiar media personalities, presented highlight videos for each winner, which led to emotional acceptance speeches before the two received specially engraved stainless steel and platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Masters, symbolic of their achievements in excellence. Also participating in the program were Rolex Watch U.S.A.’s President and CEO Allen Brill, US SAILING Executive Director Charlie Leighton and US SAILING Olympic Sailing Program Chair Dean Brenner.

Tunnicliffe, who also won the award in 2008, was cited for her win at French Sailing Week, an ISAF Sailing World Cup event, in the Laser Radials, among other notable events. Gulari, a first-time winner, was cited for winning the CST Composites International Moth World Championship. A shortlist of 10 male and five female sailors – determined from nominations submitted by members of US SAILING – was evaluated by a panel of sailing journalists who then selected the sailors for the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman distinction, the country’s highest sailing honor.

“I’m proud to say I’ve had another great year,” said Tunnicliffe, “but I am so humbled by the recognition from the sailing community, and this award is a fantastic way to top everything off.” With a nod to her crew at the luncheon -- Molly Vandemoer, Debbie Capozzi, and Liz Bower -- she added, “What I’ve done is not an individual effort.”

Gulari acknowledged support from his family as well as friends and fellow American sailors in the Moth class, who pushed each other to excel. “By the time we got to the worlds we really had raised the bar for the Americans and had the dominant edge as a nation,” said Gulari. “This award means so much to me; I don’t have words for it.”

Gulari, heads immediately to Dubai to defend his title at the 2010 Puma Moth World Championships. Tunnicliffe prepares for the Princess Sofia Trophy, an ISAF Sailing World Cup event in March.

A video podcast from the awards luncheon, produced by Gary Jobson, will be available later this evening at www.ussailing.org.

Picture Caption: (from left) Rolex Watch U.S.A.’s President and CEO Allen Brill, 2009 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), 2009 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.), US SAILING President Gary Jobson. Credit Dan Nerney/Rolex

Midwinters aftermath

Two weeks have passed so it's time for a brief report. The weekend of the huge east coast blizzard brought wind and cold to south Florida as well. Saturday proved too breezy for racing, but did tempt me to try out Aftermath's foiling set-up. While there were some creaks and groans from the gantry area, nothing broke in the 25-30 knots so I suppose the engineering was sufficient. Unfortunately, the mainfoil AoA was just too small to create lift off. Returning to the ramp area in the lee of the shore I managed a bit of air time by moving aft and cranking the rudderfoil down. The pics included in this post were taken by Ed Salva and show an attempted take off and the final splash down, just before I ran aground. So the dolphin was creased by the trailing edge of the strut, causing even a smaller AoA. The experiment will have to wait for spring when I can rebuild the mainfoil well exit dolphin and find some warmer temps. I just cannot comprehend how those crazy Brits manage to sail in freezing (litterally) temperatures.

I think the experiment will eventually be successful but doubt that the foiling classic will be competitive. I just can't see effectively going to weather with foils given the inefficient rig.  Stay tuned 'til spring. My plan is to next race Aftermath at the Portsmouth regatta over Memorial Day weekend.  Hopefully the week or two before I can attempt a couple of test sails in Willoughby Bay.

Oh yeah, the midwinters racing. Mike Parsons won in his Mistral. I ended up 4th sailing Jeff Linton's borrowed Mousetrap, primarily due to not reading the sailing instructions. Who would have thought the start line would be restricted on a two lap race with a single class and only ten boats? Those first 2 DSQs are hard to swallow, but live and learn.  Susan decided that a vacation doesn't mean donning a wetsuit and sailing in 40 degree air temp (the conditions Sunday morning) and went shopping instead.

Mike Parsons 1 1 1 3 3 (4) 2 = 11

John Zseleczky 3 2 2 1 (4) 3 1 = 12

Mark Saunders 2 3 4 (5) 1 2 3 = 15

Joe Bousquet  DSQ (DSQ) 3 2 2 1 7 = 26

Walt Collins 5 5 6 6  (6) 5 4 = 31

Rod Mincher 4 4 5 4 5 10 (10) = 32

Ray Hutchins 6 6 7 7 (9) 6 5 = 37

George Albaugh 7 7 9 8 8 (11) 6 = 45

Erik Albaugh 8 8 8 (9) 7 7 8 = 46