SAILSCAPE

2011-11-26T11:23:00.001-05:00

Staysail schooner Fortune in the Wickford race.

2011-11-04T19:33:00.003-04:00

Here are two of the boats racing in a classic boat regatta off Wickford in mid-October.

2011-10-29T20:12:00.003-04:00

A few weeks later, a barge and crane came by and salvaged Kalispera from her rocky berth near Wickford harbor and took her away; another boat had been rescued earlier and can be seen on the barge.

2011-10-10T21:27:00.002-04:00

We evacuated inland as Hurricane Irene approached and returned the next day to find the unfortunate Kalispera on the rocks. She didn't look too bad until we realized that her starboard side had a number of holes from her time crashing on the rocks.

2011-09-22T19:58:00.001-04:00

An Ensign heads back into Wickford harbor after the races.

2011-09-07T21:24:00.002-04:00

Quite an unusual yacht anchored off Gustavia on St. Barts.

Lady Maryland Visits the Bay

2011-08-08T09:50:00.004-04:00

Local 8-meter King Haakon (front) and visiting school ship Lady Maryland (back) on Narragansett Bay in August. The Lady Maryland is a pungy schooner built in 1986 in Baltimore -- her sparred length is 104 feet. She provides students "the opportunity to experience sailing a historic vessel, while studying history, sailing, seamanship, marine science and ecology on her traditional waters from Maryland to Maine." Link here to learn more about the Lady Maryland and her programs.

Transatlantic 2011

2011-07-03T21:47:00.003-04:00

This was the final start in the 2011 Transatlantic Race from Newport to the Lizard in England -- other starts were up to a week earlier. Top photo is the Oakcliff All-American Offshore team entry Vanquish with its crew with an average age of under 24 years. The second photo shows Rambler 100 and ICAP Leopard (100) at the dock -- both shots were a few hours before the start. The last photo is about 5-6 minutes after the start and, from left to right, you have Vanquish, Rambler, PUMA Mar Mostro and ICAP Leopard. More than 2700 nautical miles to the finish.

More Cats on St Barts

2011-06-25T12:22:00.002-04:00

More cats racing off St Barts in the French West Indies.

Sunset on St Barts

2011-05-21T11:47:00.002-04:00

A beautiful sunset from villa BEN on Pointe Milou on St Barts.

Rockport Inner Harbor in Winter

2011-04-13T20:30:00.003-04:00

Beautiful winter day in Rockport (Mass) inner harbor -- the lobster vessels in this area operate year 'round and are protected quite well from winter nor'easters.

2011-03-17T21:36:00.000-04:00

Boats at anchor in Gustavia Harbor on St Barts.

2011-02-13T19:25:00.001-05:00

One of the tougher parts of the Round the Island Race at the CataCup was the turning mark tucked up into Gustavia Harbor with its squirrely winds and dead spots.

St Barts CataCup

2011-02-12T20:52:00.005-05:00

Here are two shots from the 2010 CataCup on St Barts in November -- the large island in the background in the top shot is St Martin and the low island in the distant background in the bottom photo is Anguilla. Click the photos to enlarge.

Homeward Bound

2011-01-19T22:05:00.001-05:00

Here are the boys sailing the Sunfish back home at the end of another season at SYC on Narragansett Bay.

Maltese Falcon Closer

2010-12-31T15:37:00.002-05:00

A close-up of the Maltese Falcon on her way to Gustavia.

Maltese Falcon off St Barts

2010-12-12T21:50:00.003-05:00

Megayacht 'Maltese Falcon' sails past Grand Cul de Sac on St. Barts in November. She's 289 feet long and has a beam of 42 feet.

2010-11-13T16:30:00.001-05:00

An unusual schooner crosses the line near Wickford harbor in a late October classic boat race on Narragansett Bay.

Wickford Windsurfing

2010-10-30T22:00:00.002-04:00

Coach and sailor extraordinaire Skip Whyte out for a fall Sunday session on Narragansett Bay.

Season Ending

2010-10-24T20:02:00.005-04:00

Interesting sunrise on the bay. Most of the boats in the mooring field just outside Wickford Harbor have either been hauled for the winter or have moved inside the breakwater.

Big Taz off Wickford

2010-10-09T19:46:00.002-04:00

J-29 'Big Taz' racing in the Wickford Wednesday night series.

Crocodile off Wickford

2010-10-04T21:01:00.003-04:00

Sloop Crocodile racing in the Wickford Yacht Club Wednesday evening series on Narragansett Bay.

2010-09-14T20:45:00.002-04:00

Unusual angle with a Corsair 27(?) Trimaran in the background and a Mistral Equipe in the foreground, one above the other, sailing fast on Narragansett Bay.

Tall Ship Formidable

2010-08-30T21:43:00.001-04:00

Here's a closer shot of the Formidable which sails out of Rockport, Mass.

Tim Baker Race in Rockport

2010-08-07T08:22:00.004-04:00

Here are a few shots from the Tim Baker Memorial Junior Regatta sailed in 420s in Rockport MA on Aug. 4. The top photo shows the fleet between races with Straitsmouth lighthouse and the Brigantine 'Formidable' in the background. The second shows the racers with their trapezes (the lead trapeze artist is Shelby Salas, Tim Baker's niece). The last shot is the fleet just after a race start.

Views from Villa KAN on St. Barts

2010-08-01T17:36:00.006-04:00

Views of charter yachts and Gustavia from villa KAN on St. Barts in the French West Indies.

Puma in Newport

2010-07-17T20:12:00.004-04:00

The Volvo Ocean Racer 'Il Mostro' crew prepares to drop the main after a day race in Newport in June.

I took this shot during my daughter's wedding rehearsal on the dock on Goat Island.

2010-07-10T09:40:00.000-04:00

Saturday Sunfish racing at the Saunderstown YC on Narragansett Bay.

V-Class Sloop off Wickford

2010-07-02T22:06:00.003-04:00

V-Class Sloop sailing into Wickford last fall. Photo by Sailscape guest photographer Nico B.

Sloop and Yawl off Wickford

2010-06-02T12:13:00.002-04:00

A beautiful sloop and handsome yawl sailing in Narragansett Bay off Wickford last fall. Photo by Sailscape guest photographer Nico Baker.

Twelves US-17 and KA-10

2010-05-21T21:07:00.002-04:00

Twelves US-17 (Weatherly) and KA-10 (Challenge 12) off Newport in September.

Twelves US-61 and US-26

2010-04-20T20:51:00.004-04:00

US-61 "USA" was built in 1986 -- America's Cup contender in 1987 -- renamed Ecosse; also US-26 Courageous built in 1974 -- successfully defended the cup in 1974 and 1977.

More 12s in Newport

2010-04-02T21:19:00.003-04:00

K22 Victory '83 leads others toward Newport in the 12-meter worlds in September.

Three Twelves

2010-03-15T16:52:00.003-04:00

Three twelves racing in the 12-Meter Worlds in Newport last fall:
Left to right: US-11 Gleam built in 1937; US-22 Intrepid -- defended the cup in 1967 and 1970; US-46 Fiddler built in 1986 as America II.

Click here to learn more about the Intrepid.

12 Meter Freedom

2010-03-09T21:19:00.002-05:00

US-30 'Freedom' at the 12-Meter Worlds in Newport -- Freedom defended the cup in 1980.

12 Meter Worlds

2010-02-20T19:36:00.002-05:00

New Zealand (KZ 3) and Kiwi Magic (KZ7) flank a classic yawl at the end of the 12 Meter Worlds in Newport in September.

Classic Sloop in Newport

2010-02-07T14:24:00.004-05:00

A classic sloop returns to Newport after watching the 12-Meter Worlds.

Hanuman Again

2010-01-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

Here's another shot of the majestic Hanuman.

Another Hanuman Photo

2010-01-14T21:11:00.001-05:00

Here's a closer shot of Hanuman in Newport in September.

J-Class Hanuman in Newport

2009-12-26T10:18:00.005-05:00

Beautiful new J-Class yacht K6 Hanuman (Endeavour II replica) sails off Newport at the time of the 12-Meter Worlds in September. The original Endeavour II was defeated in the America's Cup in 1937 by Ranger, which has also been replicated recently.

Link here to learn more about the Hanuman and the other Js now sailing or being built or planned. There may be as many as 10 of these stunning J-Class yachts sailing in a few years.

12 Meter Worlds

2009-12-17T21:14:00.002-05:00

The 12 meter worlds were held in Newport this year as part of the 12 meter Golden Year of Racing. Heritage (US 23) is on the left passing a handsome yawl.

Wickford Catboats

2009-11-21T20:49:00.001-05:00

The catboat fleet heads back to Wickford on a beautiful summer evening.

Adirondack II in Newport

2009-11-12T21:21:00.002-05:00

Here's the handsome 80-foot Schooner Adirondack II in Newport in the summer. She's now headed for Key West for the winter.

Link here to lean more about the Adirondack II built by Scarano Boat Building in Albany in 1999.

Gloucester Schooner Festival

2009-10-23T14:23:00.003-04:00

Last photo from the Schooner Festival -- from left to right, the Maine, Pride of Baltimore II and the American Eagle.

Ed Salas photo -- thanks, Ed & Shelby

Pride of Baltimore II

2009-10-15T16:12:00.002-04:00

Schooner Pride of Baltimore II is a reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore Clipper privateer.

Here she is competing in the Gloucester Schooner festival. Photo by Ed Salas.

Link here to go to the Pride II blog and web site.

Schooner Roseway in Gloucester

2009-10-09T17:39:00.004-04:00

Schooner Roseway under sail at the Schooner festival in Gloucester.

Link here to learn more about the Roseway and her sailing programs for youth and adults in Maine and the Virgin Islands.

Photo by Ed & Shelby Salas.

Schooner Alabama from Vineyard Haven

2009-10-06T22:05:00.004-04:00

Here's the handsome Schooner Alabama in the Gloucester races.

Link here to learn more about the Alabama and her larger sister the Shenandoah.

Photo by guest photographers Ed & Shelby Salas.

Schooner Summertime

2009-10-03T12:12:00.003-04:00

Here's Pinky Schooner Summertime from Rockland, Maine sailing in the 25th Gloucester Schooner Festival. This photo is by guest photographers Ed & Shelby Salas.

Link here to learn more about the Summertime and what makes her a pinky.

Gloucester Schooner Race

2009-09-28T22:03:00.003-04:00

Lots of vessels sailed to Gloucester, MA on Labor Day weekend to race in the 25th Anniversary of the Gloucester Schooner Festival. The large vessel on the right is the Pride of Baltimore II.

Catboats on the Gloucester Marsh

2009-09-22T20:50:00.001-04:00

Three catboats are sailing on Jones River in marsh country near Wingaersheek beach in Gloucester, MA.

Sunfish Doubles

2009-09-17T20:58:00.002-04:00

Sunfish doubles used to be very popular -- great way for the younger kids to learn from the older kids.

Rhodes 19s Racing

2009-09-11T08:26:00.002-04:00

Saunderstown Yacht Club has a few Rhodes 19s racing each week -- the motor on the stern isn't a problem if they all have them...

Two Schooners in Newport

2009-09-04T18:58:00.006-04:00

Schooners Aurora and Mystic Whaler pass near Castle Hill in Newport.

Click here to read more about the opportunities to sail onboard the Mystic Whaler. They have lobster dinner cruises, daysails and 3 abd 5 -day cruises -- great food from what I have heard.

Guest photo by Rudi -- taken while onboard the Sweet Escape.

Schooner Brilliant

2009-08-30T10:27:00.003-04:00

The 61-foot Schooner Brilliant, designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built in 1932 at the Henry B. Nevins yard on City Island, is owned by the Mystic Seaport Museum and has wonderful programs for young people. Link here to learn more about the teen programs on Brilliant.

And link here to see two more nice photos of her underway.

Schooner Aquidneck in Newport

2009-08-22T11:53:00.003-04:00

Another beautiful Newport daysailing schooner, the Aquidneck shows her style.

Click here to learn more about the Aquidneck.

Wednesday Night Pizazz

2009-08-14T20:05:00.001-04:00

Brutus from Wickford sails upwind in the Wednesday night races.

Aurora Newport

2009-08-07T10:41:00.004-04:00

Schooner Aurora with her distinctive tan bark sails takes passengers on daysails / harbor tours in Newport. Link here to learn more about the Aurora.

Northern Light in Newport

2009-08-02T11:50:00.004-04:00

Built in 1938, the beautiful 12-meter Northern Light is still active as a charter vessel in Newport. Here she is sailing in front of Clingstone, the house on the rock off Jamestown.

To learn more about the Northern Light, click here and to see some great interior and exterior photos of the 103-year-old Clingstone Mansion, click here.

Catboat Racing Saunderstown

2009-07-26T22:21:00.002-04:00

Catboats racing on a breezy day at Saunderstown Yacht Club hug the shore to stay out of the strong current running against them.

Classic Sloop Near Dutch Island

2009-07-21T21:13:00.004-04:00

A handsome classic gaff-rigged Friendship sloop, the 'Heidi Lee,' seen off the north tip of Dutch Island in Narragansett Bay.

3 Js on Wednesday

2009-07-17T18:08:00.002-04:00

Three Js racing in the Wickford Wednesday night series...

Windsurfing Practice

2009-07-10T08:46:00.001-04:00

Son Lyle practices his moves on the bay near Wickford.

Wickford Yawl

2009-07-03T16:36:00.001-04:00

A classic yawl is bound for Wickford on a breezy and hazy July day.

Close Opti Action

2009-06-30T10:11:00.001-04:00

The talented Optimist fleet at the Saunderstown Yacht Club scoots toward the leeward mark in a warmup race last weekend.

Fog on the Bay

2009-06-25T20:47:00.001-04:00

An unusual low fog still allows good visibility above it.

Competition to Leeward

2009-06-21T09:25:00.003-04:00

These two boats to leeward are our main competition -- the Nonsuch is leading the series and the Freedom is always in the fight, but has trouble sailing to its rating. I sail on a nice old wooden 8 meter and we are a bit erratic, but have had a good start this season with a 1st and 2nd.

Wickford Racing

2009-06-18T22:21:00.001-04:00

Another Wednesday evening race shot -- prestart.

Twelves in Newport

2009-06-14T09:09:00.002-04:00

Two twelve-meter yachts gear up for the season in Newport.

This is the 12 Meter 'Golden Year' -- 50th anniversary of the founding of the class -- link here to see the amazing schedule of events for 12 meters this year in the northeast including the 12-meter worlds in Newport September 22-26.

More than 30 of these beautiful yachts are expected to participate in events this season.

Wickford Wednesday Racing

2009-06-10T22:14:00.003-04:00

20 boats turned out on a cloudy but comfortable Wednesday evening to race in Wickford -- 4 fleets -- no waiting.

Wickford Schooner

2009-06-05T07:41:00.002-04:00

Schooner on the bay on a quiet spring day.

505 Heading in after the Race

2009-05-30T18:38:00.002-04:00

A 505 returns to the beach after the Wickford Regatta.

Volvo Start Video

2009-05-28T07:31:00.004-04:00

Here's some footage from the start of the Volvo Ocean race in Boston -- you can see the arriving ship that disrupted the start. Also has a nice shot of the Puma foiler moth. This was taken by Maia and Cal.

Another Volvo Start Photo

2009-05-26T17:39:00.003-04:00

Puma is leading Ericsson 3 and 4 at the Volvo start in Boston. Most of the fleet completed the race to Galway, Ireland in less than 8 days, despite having to sail extra miles to avoid the right whale and iceberg exclusion zones.

Volvo Start Boston

2009-05-22T07:36:00.003-04:00

This photo of Green Dragon and Puma at the start of the race from Boston to Galway Ireland was taken by Sailscape correspondent Maia Pilzer.

International 14

2009-05-20T11:38:00.003-04:00

Here's an International 14 at the Wickford Regatta almost ready to head out. The unusual rudder with perpendicular hydrofoil has to be mounted in deep water.

To learn more about the class, link here. And to see the unusual foils, link here.

Wickford Regatta

2009-05-17T11:48:00.004-04:00

Last sailed in 1980, the Wickford Regatta has been resurrected by former Olympic coach Skip Whyte and the Wickford Yacht Club. Classes racing are the International 420, 505, International 14 and Laser. Next year the A Class cats will be included if they don't have another major event conflict.

Link here to learn more about the event.

Spring Training on the Bay

2009-05-08T14:17:00.001-04:00

The local high school team practices on the bay regularly now even though the water is still pretty cold.

Cruiser returns from the Bay

2009-05-02T18:52:00.002-04:00

A few more cruising boats are venturing out of the harbor for their early spring test sails. Soon the harbors will be full of boats on moorings.

Volvo Fleet Arrives in Boston

2009-04-26T17:35:00.003-04:00

Here are some distant photos of the top three Volvo boats in leg 6 from Rio as they pass Gloucester, Mass on the way to the finish this afternoon in Boston. They passed so close to Gloucester because they had to circumnavigate the right whale exclusion zone en route to Boston.

Top is Ericsson 4, winner of the leg.

Ericsson 3 is shown passing Thacher Island; they finished in second place, but only twelve minutes behind Ericsson 4 after 15 days.

And bottom is Telefonica Blue -- they finished only 6 minutes after Ericsson 3.

Click here to visit the Volvo Ocean Race page -- or drive to Fan Pier in Boston to see them in person.

Early Cruiser

2009-04-25T07:40:00.003-04:00

Sloop Raven is one of the first cruising boats to venture out of Wickford this spring. The Jamestown bridge, Fox Island and Plum Beach Lighthouse are in the background.

The Volvo Ocean race fleet is fast approaching Boston -- updates at www.volvooceanrace.org.

Signs of Spring

2009-04-16T16:55:00.003-04:00

Not much sailing on the bay yet, but high school teams are out in the chilly weather practicing and having matches. This team sails out of the Newport Yacht Club.

New Tall Ship for Rhode Island

2009-04-10T12:41:00.003-04:00

Rhode Island's new sailing school vessel, the Oliver Hazard Perry, is in Newport waiting for work to start to rig her as a three-masted ship. The hull is 132 feet long and she'll have a sparred length of 207 feet.

To learn more about Tall Ships Rhode Island and to see how she'll look when completed, click here. You can also read about the objectives for this sail training ship.

Hobie Cats Ready to Go

2009-04-06T18:42:00.001-04:00

Hobie Cats, kayaks and more for rent on the beautiful west coast of Barbados.

World's Largest Sailing Ship?

2009-03-31T21:07:00.004-04:00

This car carrier has more sail area than anything else I've seen!

I wonder how this ship handles in a gale offshore -- do you think they sail her without engines if the wind direction is right?

Imagine the wind shadow!

Ensign on the Bay

2009-03-20T11:02:00.004-04:00

First day of spring -- won't be long 'til we see boats daysailing on the bay -- like this Ensign.

Didn't it seem like a very long winter in the northeast?

Two Cats in Barbados

2009-03-13T19:49:00.002-04:00

Four large catamarans and their guests shared our snorkeling area. Plenty of room for more.

Swim with the Turtles

2009-03-03T10:08:00.005-05:00

This is one of the sea turtles that came to swim with us off the west coast of Barbados. The boat crews feed them so they'll join the humans for a short session daily.

Link here for more information on swimming with the once-endangered hawksbills and leatherbacks.

Barbados Snorkeling

2009-02-12T21:32:00.004-05:00

We hired a small motorboat to take us out to swim/snorkel with the turtles -- it was fun. There were also a few nice large catamarans out there with lots of people.

Barbados Sunset

2009-02-05T18:35:00.004-05:00

Barbados sunset from the terrace of our rental condominium on Payne's Bay. The calm west coast of Barbados is great for daysailing, swimming and snorkeling.

Chilly on the Bay

2009-01-31T12:09:00.002-05:00

Ice art with Narragansett Bay in the background.

Gaff-rigged Sloop on the Bay

2009-01-20T20:18:00.002-05:00

Classic sloop bound for Wickford on Narragansett Bay.

Bay Blast

2009-01-01T11:39:00.004-05:00

Son Jesse windsurfing on Narragansett Bay in June.

Happy new year from Sailscape!

Labor Day Doubles

2008-12-28T10:41:00.004-05:00

More dad and child racing on Labor Day -- great way for kids to get a feel for racing!

Sunfish Doubles

2008-12-13T14:54:00.003-05:00

For the last race of the Labor Day Series in early September, sailors had to sail with a crew. Most brought their young children or found other kids to join them. If they didn't have a crew, they had to start 5 minutes later in the 5-mile round Dutch Island race on Narragansett Bay.

Catboat Fun

2008-11-25T20:43:00.003-05:00

Catboat sailors having fun off Saunderstown.

Catboats in the Afternoon Sun

2008-11-06T20:23:00.004-05:00

A lovely day for catboats on the bay.

Schooner Schooning

2008-10-15T21:23:00.002-04:00

A beautiful schooner making for Wickford.

Pure Pleasure

2008-09-27T09:27:00.004-04:00

Tell me Johnny B isn't having a blast on his Sunfish on the bay!

Green J -- Gray Day

2008-09-19T17:21:00.003-04:00

Race practice on J 100 'Grimace' on a gray bay evening.

Gaff-rigged Sloop near Wickford

2008-09-14T20:12:00.001-04:00

Here's a handsome classic sloop sailing on Narragansett Bay.