It Helps to be Able to Visualize

If you've scoffed at my posts on Second Life & sailing I don't blame you...after all the idea of sailing in a virtual world seems to defeat many of the things we love about the experience. Namely being out-of-doors and enjoying the wind in our hair (and sails) the sun on our face, etc. But if you have to be on a computer...then why not participate in an extension of your passion. Not perfect by any means but, as I've attested to in previous posts, certainly intriguing. Have a glance at this video, footage of a Second Life Sailing Regatta in the Hollywood region. It helps to be able to visualize.

Comment Envy

I'm lucky to get comments at all on Zephyr and believe me, I'm thankful for each and every one. But I have to admit to comment envy after reading the below from Scuttlebutt...which is hands down my favorite online sailing publication. I was going to write an update on the Velux 5 today but after scanning Richard Clark's rant, I thought the better of it ;-)

From Richard Clark, New Zealand: I love sailing, I love those who do as
opposed to those that prop the bars at yacht clubs, and I love people like
Donna Lange who have insane dreams and go sail classic designs around the
world. But I ask myself, why am I becoming turned off by boring, screaming
yachts barely surviving around the planet in so many races, like the present
Velux 5 Oceans, that I continue to hope will inspire me to follow their
progress… but don't! Where are the Maxis, where is the Whitbread, yachts
that held together with sailors who did it for the sheer joy. Doesn't anyone
else lust after a race around for Maxis, no one design rules, just good
looking boats I can drool over and crews that I can relate to. Young, old,
male, female, black, white. Who cares, just damn fine sailors with damn fine
skippers on damn fine boats. I am honestly starting to yawn at the
newsletter. I truly don't give a damn anymore if sailing grows or dies,
regattas with coaches in pursuit boats – really! The Olympic classes are
becoming dull. I can't wait for the Americas Cup with egos and big bucks and
big boats. Good old fashioned Pirates with a capital "P". Enough of all this
dreadfully dull trivia. Even RKJ doesn't do it for me any more. One bloody
good race for a simple trophy and no money, around the world, unlimited.
Bugger me, now that is sailing.

SAIL Magazine Beware

Now well written and topical sailing blogs surface regularly...but when I started writing when baby Claire came along March 2005, there was "whitespace" in the niche world of sailors & writers with something to say. I wrote in a vacuum with notice from Sailing Anarchist bastards who, when someone posted a link back to me on their precious SA message board, became enraged.

Anyway.

Not that anyone of us jellyfish compare to Huffington-type blog politicos - but there is a strong sense that we've got the root of a community. The whitespace is being filled with many colored markers and this fledgling community is more visible than any one individual rant. Given the diversity of sailing blogs and the no end of ways to cover the sport and pastime of locomoting via a breeze, I'd say that, collectively, we make quite a virtual publication. SAIL Magazine beware...

In this spirit I thank Eric Sorensen for his most recent comment on yesterdays post, Eric writes "From the Dock" - the official blog of the S/V Mistral. For an example of a blogger crossing over to dead trees (or maybe vice versa as he's titled "Northwest Weekend boating columnist"), take a glance at this feature story Eric authored for the Seattle Times about the birth of a love affair with a 31' Ben Seaborn-designed sloop named, you guessed it, Mistral.

Celebrating the Opti Dinghy

The Optimist Dinghy, designed and manufactured by Vanguard, has been the introduction to a lifelong love of sailing for many a junior swabbie. This shot was taken in Watch Hill, RI last Monday - a fleet of "Opti's" were gathering for a morning of instruction and racing in the harbor. Doubtless they're associated with the Watch Hill YC...but one of the great things about these boats is that they're easy to transport and maintain, not intimidating for a newbie (stable, flat bottom), relatively inexpensive and thus - contrary to much of sailing - accessible. Accessibility is a quality we all need to do more to foster if we want new blood to develop a passion for the sport and pastime of sailing.

According to Vangaurd, over 150,000 Optimist Dinghies are actively racing in 85 nations. The Optimist is one of the largest and fastest-growing classes in the world. Young sailors can race at the club, regional, national and world levels as their skills develop.

Have a great weekend!

Memorial for Merrill

I don't like ending the week on a sad note but as a follow-up to my earlier post on the death of publisher and avid Chesapeake sailor Philip Merrill...his body was discovered nine days later floating in the Bay, ankles tied and a reported shotgun wound to the head. The Washington Post published an article today that covers the memorial ceremony attended by D.C. luminaries including Former CIA directors R. James Woolsey and William H. Webster, former secretary of state Colin L. Powell, World Bank President Paul D. Wolfowitz, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Reagan administration chief of staff Ken Duberstein.

According to the article, Merrill's family has said that his suicide resulted from a struggle with poor physical and emotional health that followed heart surgery a year ago. Police would not comment on the family's statement and are awaiting an autopsy report expected next week that may resolve at least some questions surrounding Merrill's death.

Regardless of the circumstance of his death - Merrill contributed much during life and, like most of us, had a keen appreciation for the life-affirming, soul soothing, challenging yet peaceful character of the sport and pastime of sailing. God rest.