For those that don't get Wooden Boat Magazine, every month they have a
section called Launchings where they will put the pictures and info on newly
launched boats. It would be a constant source of free media promotion of
the class if you submitted pictures of newly finished solos for the class.
>From the section on how to submit:
These pages are dedicated to sharing news of recently launched new boats and
"relaunched" (that is, restored or substantially rebuilt) craft. Please
send color photographs (slides preferred) of your projects to: Launchings,
WoodenBoat, P.O. Box 78, Brooklin, ME 04616.
Include the following information:
1. Length on deck
2. beam
3. type, class, or rig
4. boat's name
5. names and addresses of designer, builder, and owner
6. port or place of intended use
7. date of launching (should be within the past year)
8. Brief description of construction or restoration.
It would be great to see 2 or 3 Solos every month in WoodenBoat.
To your health,
Rob
Rob DesMarais, D.C.
P.O. Box 1579, Clinton, AR 72031
888-754-7730
"One of the biggest tragedies of human civilization is the precedents of
chemical therapy over nutrition. It's a substitution of artificial therapy
over natural, of poisons over food, in which we are feeding people poison in
trying to correct the reactions of starvation."
Dr. Royal Lee
January 12, 1951
Founder of the "Vitamins Products Company" - 1929
Now DBA: Standard Process, Inc.
www.standardprocess.com www.mediherb.com
-----Original Message-----
From: BDally6107@xxxxxxx [mailto:BDally6107@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 11:31 AM
To: swiftsolo@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Boat of the Year
(See the "what's new" section of the home page for the pictures)
Boat of the Year competition.
As most of you know by now, we were invited to enter Sailing World's Boat Of
The Year competition (be sure to pick up a copy of Sailing World -- the
Swift Solo is the featured picture for the story). What a great adventure
it was with over 7700 miles traveled and 3 weeks of "Suburban" living (Chevy
Suburban)
The trip began here at the base of Mount Rainier pulling my 20 foot van
trailer, moved on to Frankfort Michigan and VMG's facility where I picked up
USA 038 and then on to Annapolis for the competition. I decided to take
USA 002 with me so that we could exactly duplicate every detail on the never
launched USA 038. The idea was to get the new boat to Annapolis, complete
rigging it, and then sail it for a couple of days for "shake down" before
turning it over to the judges.
The trip to Michigan was easy with nice weather and the opportunity to stop
and do some rides on my mountain bike along the way. I arrived to find, as
always, that Pat and Anita at VMG had done a fantastic job of preparing the
boat and the finish was 1st class (Boat of the Year quality). Pat and I
spent the day rigging the new mast while Anita continued work on USA 013--my
new boat. We felt no guilt since Anita was at the fun, long boarding, stage
of fairing 013 while we had the difficult job of pop riveting parts to a
mast and splicing rope (honest Anita, you'd hate it-keep sanding). If you
look at the picture you can see Anita's fairing job on the bottom of 038.
We loaded 038 that evening and after a long night and day, I arrived in
Annapolis. Greg and Christian met me at the Navy Stadium parking lot where
we spent a long day rigging. It was really good to finally meet Christian
and they both provided a lot of much needed help. Christian had to leave
that evening so the next morning Greg and I moved the boat to the
"designated" location. Upon arrival, we discovered that this was a great
place to launch 60 foot yachts but that it had no launching or sailing
facilities for small boats. Greg helped me for another day preparing the
boat and looking for an appropriate sailing location before he had to go
back to work.
The Annapolis Sailing School has a great location and sailing facility with
a sandy beach at the junction of the channel we were on and the
Chesapeake--only a few miles down the road. The next day I located their
offices, told them about the BOTY competition and tried to get permission to
sail off of their nearly deserted beach for a day or two. Late that evening
I received their decision---Permission denied-"we're too busy". Since this
process took a large part of the day and the next day was the scheduled
"viewing day" for the competition, I realized the probability that this boat
was going to see water for the first time when the judges showed up and
towed it to an appropriate location for sailing-not a great strategy for
winning the competition. With this in mind, I spent the next day focused on
exactly duplicating every line length and detail of USA 002. This boat
would have to be perfect, right off.
With the weather not cooperating, both the viewing and the sailing were
postponed until Thursday.
Thursday morning the Judges arrived in a large power launch with two 150 hp
outboards. We launched 038 over the 6 foot bulkhead and they towed me for a
couple of miles to the Severn Sailing Association where we were warmly
greeted. Clearly, this is the place where we should have been all along.
In view of the miscommunication that sent me to the Yacht Yard, the judges
agreed that I should get a chance to sail the boat for a short while to make
sure everything was working OK. After a short sail to weather on the
trapeze I bore off and raised the kite. This boat felt perfect and
everything was working well (the centerboard needed to be tied down because
we had miscalculated the packing needed around the top cassette block).
After asking me to capsize and right the Swift, it was their turn. Chuck
Allen traded places with me. Chuck is a past collegiate "Sailor of the
Year" and it showed. After a half hour in the boat he was really getting
the hang of it. Both of my major fears were over. The boat worked
perfectly and Chuck was not only sailing the boat well, but having way too
much fun. After a long sail from the wire with the kite up, the other
judges reminded Chuck of their other BOTY obligations and I sailed the boat
back to the Severn Sailing Association. It was a satisfying sail
back-knowing we had done our very best in a rather difficult situation.
Now we get to wait and see how we did. Overall, it was a great trip.
Special thanks to Greg and Christian for helping me get it together.
Also, it needs to be said that Pat and Anita will be seriously missed by the
class. They are 1st class both as craftsmen and as friends to all of us who
have had the pleasure of doing business with them. I also want to thank
John at VMG for his integrity and pioneering spirit. They clearly blazed
the trail for others to follow. Roger (Aquilo Boats) is filling the void
and will be making parts for the class. Since Roger is actually sailing
Swifts, we can be assured of high quality products.
With so many Swifts hitting the water now and in the next several months,
Our future is bright. It can't hurt that I'll soon have three boats to take
around the country to help get other skiff sailors addicted. We'll have the
first active fleet of week night Swift Solo racing in Seattle by the end of
this coming summer (unless someone beats us somewhere else). There is
little doubt that with Greg's energy and the number of Swifts being built in
the Northeast that we should see a fleet around NYC fairly soon as well.
We'll be spending a lot of energy this summer promoting the boat and helping
form other fleets as well. It will be a sight to see 15 or more Swift Solos
sailing at our Regatta/Clinic in Florida.
Jane and I will be reporting on what we find when we travel to evaluate
sites in Florida before Christmas. Stay tuned
Best regards,
Bram
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