Sail Magazine

by David Schmidt

David Schmidt, a SAIL editor-at-large, is a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest from SAIL's Boston offices

FLIR, Hall Spars Win Awards

by David Schmidt, Posted November 19, 2009

Few honors have more prestige in the marine equipment field than the DAME Awards, which are decided at the METS trade show in Amsterdam in mid-November. The entries represent some of the most forward-thinking advances in marine aftermarket equipment. They are also a litmus test for the health of the industry: the more innovative products on show, the more effort is being put into R&D and product

Volvo Ocean Race Update

by David Schmidt, Posted November 19, 2009

While the next Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) doesn’t kick off until 2011, gears are spinning rapidly to get the various pieces in place so that teams can design boats, build boats and start test sailing their craft. As the past two editions have made completely clear, VOR teams that start early, train hard and are the most prepared are certain to be strong contenders, if not outright winners. It was no

Custom Cut

by David Schmidt, Posted November 19, 2009

Synthetic rigging has come of age. Colligo Marine is now taking orders for made-to-order twelve-strand Dynex Dux (pre-stretched Dyneema SK-75) shrouds, backstays, and forestays (and other standing rigging), which are compatible with either lashing or turnbuckle-style tensioning systems. Colligo claims that the synthetic rigging is roughly the same cost as stainless-steel wire shrouds but is only

Cupdate

by David Schmidt, Posted November 19, 2009

Anyone who follows the America’s Cup likely has a headache the size of Texas and more than a few empty bottles of Aspirin kicking around the floor. And given the legal shenanigans involved, who wouldn’t? The good news is that it finally looks as though the Cup is on track to be raced in February at a venue that both parties can agree upon.Astute Cup fans will baulk at this last sentence,

Look Ma, a Wing!

by David Schmidt, Posted November 10, 2009

On November 8, BMW/Oracle released what could be the worst-kept secret of the 33rd America's Cup, but also the coolest single development in months: a hard wing sail for their massive trimaran, which is slated to race against Alinghi in a Deed of Gift (DoG) challenge this coming February. But unlike the somewhat modest looking wing used on Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes 1988

Charlie McKee Interview

by David Schmidt, Posted November 2, 2009

Moth Madness: A Q&A with Ace American Moth Sailor Charlie McKeeThe Moth class has a storied tradition dating back decades, but what’s kept it thriving is that it’s a development class, freeing designers to experiment with sailplans, rigs, hull shapes, and, recently foils. You’ve likely seen the amazing images of these tiny craft zooming around at astonishing speeds, with a wetted

Harken Radial Winches

by David Schmidt, Posted November 2, 2009

Harken made a big announcement at the 2009 U.S. Sailboat Show at Annapolis: A new line of winches, called the Radials. But unlike other “new” winches that are merely a 2.0 version of an existing product, Harken literally started with a blank sheet of paper and built from the ground up. The resulting winches are lighter, more efficient, safer, easier to install, and easier to upgrade to powered

RAK Your Brains Out

by David Schmidt, Posted October 28, 2009

For months, the sailing world has had a field day(s) with images of a Middle Eastern America’s Cup, as the defender, Ernesto Bertarelli’s charade YC, the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), had hoped to hold the 33rd AC in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nation of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). Reportedly, the tiny nation, "conveniently" located precariously close to Iran, has spent hundreds

Sunsets: W.I.B. Crealock

by David Schmidt, Posted October 22, 2009

The sailing world lost one of its own on September 26 when William I. B. Crealock passed away n his Carlsbad, California home. The noted sailor, yacht designer, and author was 89 years old. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1920, Crealock set out to sea in 1932 with three mates to "study the behavior of boats at sea." The group of friends sailed an ancient cutter called Content from the

2009 Classic Boats Regatta - Falling In Love Again

by David Schmidt, Posted October 22, 2009

Should you find yourself needing a bit of reassurance as to why you sail, a glimpse of the 300-plus beautiful classic yachts that were assembled in Saint Tropez in September for the 2009 Classic Boats Regatta will immediately have you remembering exactly why you fell in love with our sport-and lifestyle-in the first place.