America's Cup!

America's Cup racing starts today in Bermuda with the Louis Vuitton World Series, for Oracle Team USA and the five other contenders who had enough money to participate in a Cup campaign this go around! The Cup is being contested this year in 15-meter (about 45 ft.) foiling catamarans, reputedly as fast or faster than the 72-ft. cats used in the last America's Cup in 2013.

{link to super-cool America's Cup catamaran used to be here!}

We got to get us one of these!!! With computer-controlled hydraulic rigid wings, lifting canting daggerboard foils, fin rudders, and carbon fiber and titanium everything, these boats are so freaky fast and generate so much apparent wind forward that they never experience downwind point of sail. Sailing purists say these things are more aircraft than sailboat.

Here's a guide to the TV coverage for the sailing, on NBC Sports Network...
https://www.americascup.com/en/where-to-watch.html

Enjoy and dream!

Sailing imagery from a higher vantage point!

Our crew mate Nate Lammers sent some pictures and video of what he's been doing on the Great Lakes, piloting a 1000+ ft. freighter.  Wow!  

 Foggy day on Lake Huron.

 Unloading coal in Monroe, Michigan.

 Approaching the Ambassador Bridge on the Detroit River.

 Sunny afternoon on Lake Superior.

Unloading coal in Toledo, Ohio.

Coming under the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

Some sailing imagery

Thanks to Kim and Todd, some nice sailing images and video...

An impressive thunderstorm front off to the north on our way in to port.

A short video of Mercedes upwind in 14 knots of breeze
with a venerable aged kevlar/mylar tri-radial #3
and a ripped-up delaminated twice-retired pentex 3DL mainsail
-- sailing at 7 knots!

St. Joe River Yacht Club racing

An organizational meeting for the St. Joseph River Yacht Club racing program was held yesterday.  The meeting was chaired by race committee lead Jim Schrager and fleet vice commodore Louie Trembly.  They introduced the on-the-water race committee for this year: Vickie Frees, Skip Heavener, Jim Scholz, and Sue Veersma.  Ken Zimmerman has retired from active duty on the race committee and received a lot of applause in thanks for many years of service.  

The racing schedule was announced, with one change from the preliminary one - the May 17 race will be a shakedown race instead of scored as race #1.  To allow this, one race was removed from the end of the summer.  The Mercedes master schedule (first link under the Schedule tab) is up to date.

Unfortunately, key SJRYC events that count in the club scoring, like the Rhumbline Regatta and PHRF race to Michigan City, are in conflict with the significant Lake Michigan races - the National Offshore One Design (NOOD) regatta and the Verve Cup, both hosted by Chicago Yacht Club.  One of the stated goals of SJRYC racing is to prepare sailors for events at higher levels, but they disincent skippers from participating. 

Course marks are going to be set today, in the same locations as last year.  When we are on the water, we will go find them and check the accuracy of their GPS position.

Happy racing, mates!

Sail numbers

Here are the sail numbers for Mercedes, Kim!

Ready to sail

Finally, ready to go!  

Brought all the safety gear and some sails on board.  With Dave's help, removed some pre-bend from the mast and did a static tune of the rig.  Last step tonight was taping up all the exposed cotter pins and rings.  

Mercedes is as ready to sail as I can make her!

The weather forecast shows generally fair skies, warmer temperatures, and lighter winds upcoming.  Bring it!

Launched

Mercedes was launched yesterday!  She's happy to be back in the water.  Safely tied up in her slip at West Basin Marina now.  This marina is well protected and picturesque, and does not have the river current of Anchor's Way Marina!  

Karen and I really appreciate the help by Kim, Dave, and Brett in sorting out dock lines, cleaning, stowing gear, and rigging yesterday!

Look for your sailing gear!  Plan is to go sailing this weekend.