Wave Pattern

Wave Pattern, photo by Willie Waw.

Narragansett Bay is so empty at this time of the year -- in the summer you can often see as many as 100 sailboats from this spot.

These waves are about 2" tall -- very friendly.

Have you been following Dee Caffari's adventures with wind and waves? She's circumnavigating the globe in a westerly direction and is going against the wind -- visit the Aviva Challenge website for logs, podcasts, maps and more.

Dutch Sailing Yacht Brandaris

Brandaris, photo by Willie Waw.

The Brandaris is a beautiful and historically-significant charter vessel based in downtown Wickford, RI. These sailing barges were designed to navigate very shallow Dutch waterways -- the draft is only 3 feet, so large wooden leeboards are used in place of a keel or centerboard.

Owner/Captain Doug Somers takes all kinds of groups out onto Narragansett Bay for daysails, evening cruises and trips to see the harbor seals in cooler months.

The Brandaris was built in the Netherlands in 1938 and participated in the evacuation of allied forces from Dunkirk in 1940.

Link here to see more photos and learn how to get aboard the Brandaris -- an amazing vessel.

Let me know if you have sailed aboard the Brandaris and how you liked it.

Laser 2s Sailing in Newport

Laser 2s Sailing in Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

Doublehanded Laser 2s sail in the foreground with the Laser frostbite fleet and Newport in the background.

Laser 2s carry plenty of sail and are very fast especially for a lightweight team.

Visit the Vanguard web site for more information on the Laser, Laser 2 and 49er.

Tall Ships in San Diego

San Diego Festival of Sail, photo by Willie Waw.

During the Tall Ships Challenge port calls, there are often opportunities to sail on some of the participating vessels, either racing between ports or for daysails in port.

In this photo, Schooner Californian is at the dock on the left with the Exy Johnson from Los Angeles and the Spirit of Dana Point (far right) out sailing.

Link here for more information on the Schooner Spirit of Dana Point which is owned by the Ocean Institute.

Skype is Good

I have been having a great time using Skype -- it is a form of VoIP and can be used free anywhere in the world between those who have dowloaded the software (and have a good internet connection).

A sailing/windsurfing friend from Portugal tracked me down recently via Skype and we have renewed our friendship after 5 years without contact. If you have a Mac with built-in microphone, you'll only need a set of earphones (to avoid feedback); if you have a PC, you may need a USB headset. Link to Skype for further info.

Sailing links from my friend Ze, the Dragon sailor from Cascais:

Cascais Yacht Club link here. We will be organizing the ISAF World Championship in 2007.

St Tropez 75th Anniversary site http://www.intdragon.org/anniversary/frameset2.html

Hawaiian Chieftain in Anacortes

Hawaiian Chieftain in Anacortes, photo by Willie Waw.

The square topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain and some smaller sloops head out for an evening sail from Anacortes, Washington toward majestic Mt. Baker in the background.

Now that she has arrived back on the West Coast after relocating briefly to Massachusetts, the Hawaiian Chieftain will be based in Aberdeen, Washington along with the Lady Washington.

Link to the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority web site for information on both vessels.

Privateer Lynx in San Francisco

Privateer Lynx in San Francisco, photo by Willie Waw.

The beautiful schooner "Privateer" Lynx from Newport Beach sails in a strong breeze past Alcatraz Island.

The Lynx was launched in 2001 in Rockport, Maine. Her length (including bowsprit) is 122 feet and she carries 4,669 sq. ft. of sail.

The original Lynx was a "letter of marque" Baltimore Clipper commissioned during the opening days of the War of 1812 and served as a blockade runner and offensive weapon of war.

Lynx and Lady Washington will be taking guests out for battle reenactments from now through the 14th in Oxnard, CA -- link here to find out about sailing on the Lynx or supporting the historical and educational programs aboard.

Rockport in Winter

Rockport in Winter, photo by Willie Waw.

Even in the middle of winter, Rockport (Massachusetts) Harbor is full of dinghies and lobster boats. Often painted and photographed Motif #1 is at the back right.

Link here for more information on the famous Motif #1.

Highlander Sea near Kingston, Ontario

Highlander Sea near Kingston, Ontario, originally uploaded by Willie Waw.

Schooner Highlander Sea starting a Tall Ships Challenge race from Kingston across Lake Ontario to the Welland Canal; the 2006 series will be back in the Great Lakes after being on the East Coast in 2004 and the West Coast in 2005.

Schooner Grand Nellie is on the left and Fair Jeanne is on the far right.

Link to Acheson Ventures in Port Huron, Michigan to learn more about the Highlander Sea and link here for more details on the Grand Nellie.

Sunfish Racing on Narragansett Bay

Sunfish Racing on Narragansett Bay, photo by Willie Waw.

These Sunfish are starting a marathon race -- almost 26 miles (including tacking) around Jamestown (Conanicut Island) in Narragansett Bay. The race is run every few years from the Saunderstown Yacht Club. The race is divided into two sections with a stop for lunch in beautiful downtown Jamestown.

What do you think of Josh's hiking style?

Brigantine Kaisei in California

Brigantine Kaisei, photo by Willie Waw.

The Kaisei -- which means Ocean Planet -- was built in Poland and later moved to Japan where she was the flagship of the Sail Training Association of Japan. She is now based on the West Coast of the US and will carry international sail trainees for adventure sailing trips.

Link to Ocean Voyages Foundation to find out how to get aboard for a trip. As on most sail training vessels or tall ships, no prior sailing experience is necessary.

Bluenose II and Cisne Branco

Bluenose II and Cisne Branco, photo by Willie Waw.

Schooner Bluenose II from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, replica of the famous Bluenose, winner of the International Fishermen's Race Series in 1922, 1923, 1931 and 1938.

Clipper Cisne Branco (White Swan) was built in Amsterdam for the Navy of Brazil and completed in 2000 for a trip from Portugal to Brazil to celebrate the European discovery of Brazil by Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500.

This photo was taken during the 2004 Tall Ships Challenge visit to beautiful Greenport, New York.

Link here for information on the Bluenose II and here for information on the Cisne Branco.

Hawaiian Chieftain & Lady Washington

Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, photo by Willie Waw.

For a number of years, the Hawaiian Chieftain, a square topsail ketch, and the Brig Lady Washington have met in the off-season for gun battles along the Pacific Coast; in this shot they are in Richmond, British Columbia.

The Chieftain is currently in Cabo San Lucas on her way back from Massachusetts. The Lady is now in Oceanside, California.

Link here for information on both vessels.

Schooner Spirit of Massachusetts

Spirit of Massachusetts, photo by Willie Waw.

The Spirit of Massachusetts, shown here leaving New London for Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 2004 Tall Ships Challenge Race Series, is operated by Ocean Classrooms for high school students interested in something completely different. They participate in a complete semester at sea exploring the Western North Atlantic and the Caribbean.

Link here to sign on for school semester or summer programs aboard Schooners Spirit of Mass, Harvey Gamage, or Westward.

Broken Outhaul

Broken Outhaul, photo by Willie Waw.

Jesse couldn't stay out for the last two Laser frostbite races in Newport yesterday -- his outhaul let go even though the breeze was light.

For info on this 50-boat fleet, link to the Sail Newport Laser fleet site here.

Barque Mircea from Romania

Mircea, photo by Willie Waw.

The 3-masted barque Mircea is sailed by officers, crew and cadets from the Romanian Navy -- she is seen here leaving New London, CT to race to Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 2004 Tall Ships Challenge series.

This was her first visit to North America since 1976.

Link here for more photos and info on the Mircea.

Miami Start 2004

Miami Start 2004, photo by Sarah Austin posted by Willie Waw.

This is the start of race 1 in the 2004 ASTA Tall Ships Challenge series -- the race was to Jacksonville.

Vessels in the photo from left: Grand Nellie from Oriental, North Carolina; Cuauhtemoc from the Navy of Mexico; Pogoria from Gdynia, Poland; and Tenacious from the U.K. The Tenacious carries mixed ability crews including up to eight voyage crew in wheelchairs. Wonderful program -- link here to learn more about Tenacious and Lord Nelson.

San Diego Festival of Sail

San Diego Festival of Sail, photo by Willie Waw.

San Diego was the final stop on the 2005 Tall Ships Challenge tour of the West Coast. The local event was hosted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the tour and race series were organized by the American Sail Training Association.

Visit the ASTA site here to sail on a tall ship or to find out when the Tall Ships Challenge series will be coming to a port near you. The 2006 series will be on the Great Lakes.

Schooner Seaward

Schooner Seaward, photo by Willie Waw.

Schooner Seaward shown here in Los Angeles in August en route from Boston to San Francisco -- she'll be used for youth sail training and adventure sailing from San Francisco to Baja and beyond.

Visit the Call of the Sea website here.

Talofa

Talofa, photo by Willie Waw.

Tall Ship Talofa and 2 dolphins cross the starting line near Point Fermin in the 2005 Tall Ships Challenge Race from Los Angeles to San Diego. Visit her web site to read an amazing story of the Carter brothers who built her to sail to the south seas on a treasure hunt, but never had a chance to fulfill their dream..

Brigantine Irving Johnson

Brigantine Irving Johnson, photo by Willie Waw.

Crewmembers scramble into the rigging to ready the square sails for setting. The Irving Johnson is owned and operated by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute in San Pedro. Their youth programs have had tremendous success and are emulated worldwide. Their motto is "...we use the Sea to educate youth for Life."
Link to their web site here

Brigantine Fritha For Sale

Fritha For Sale, photo by Willie Waw.

The beautiful Fritha is now at Bowen's Wharf in Newport -- built in New Zealand of kauri in 1985, she's sturdy, sound and shiny.

More Laser Frostbite Action

Close competition, photo by Willie Waw.

The sailing fleet bunches up for exciting mark roundings in Newport.

Rigging the 49er

Rigging the 49er, photo by Willie Waw.

Mike and Jesse rig for a beautiful November day on and in the bay.

Gorgeous Yacht at Newport Shipyard

Gorgeous Yacht at Newport Shipyard, photo by Willie Waw.

Not sure if this yacht is getting ready to go south -- she would look great at the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta!

Pride of Baltimore II Needs Your Help

Pride of Baltimore II, photo by Willie Waw.

On September 2, 2005, the beautiful Pride of Baltimore II suffered a catastrophic rig and mast collapse while racing from Torquay, England to Santander, Spain. They are now making repairs and re-rigging in St. Nazaire, France.

Visit the Pride of Baltimore II web site to see how you can help raise the rig!

Back to Sail Newport

Lyle sailing in..., photo by Willie Waw.

Son Lyle sails back into Brenton Cove following the day's racing.

Frostbite sailing in Newport

Frostbite sailing in Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

Many New England sailors race small boats in frostbite fleets in the late fall, winter and early spring. Kim Ferguson has sail # 73575.

Wickford Sunrise

WickfordSunrise, photo by Willie Waw.

Beautiful fall sunrise in Rhode Island -- most of the moorings are now empty outside Wickford harbor

R Tucker Thompson and Lynx

R Tucker Thompson and Lynx, photo by Willie Waw.

Here's a photo of the start of the final race of the 2005 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Series -- this race was from Los Angeles to San Diego. Visit www.sailtraining.org