A Love 4 Sailing

The latest update, the team had a wonderful training session with Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett who were just back from the test event in

We have been testing a new steering system which Scott has been using.  The steering now gimbals with the seat as before it did not.  We are currently in the process of packing the container which departs July 10^th.  One thing is that there are no marine shops in China so we must bring any spare gear that we may need such as tape, switches, wiring, blocks and shackles.

This has been one heck of a journey.  The sailing community has been overwhelmingly supportive. Our friends and family have endured the hardships of ever changing circumstances.  Maureen and I have kept a positive attitude and we all are just one regatta away from becoming Olympic medalist.  May we sail our best and enjoy the ride. Thank You.

Now that we have had some time to catch our breath we set our sights on our next goal…..WINNING THE PARALYMPIC GAMES and a GOLD MEDAL.    Our next stop is Florida then to

After spending the last few days practicing and going through a US Sailing clinic hosted by five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year winner Betsy Alison and rules expert Dave Perry the racing got started for the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta. 

Day 1 brought light, fluky winds from both the north and the south. Range was 4-7 knots.  Race one started a northerly 5 knots with downwind current and lots of weed.  We started at the weather end and tacked right to get current relief.  The rest of the fleet went left.  We unfortunately ran over a big kelp patch while crossing a current line.  We should have had a big lead but the weed held us back and we rounded third.  Due to light winds the course was just a windward-leeward.  We caught up to the Chinese downwind but just missed beating them at the finish. 

Race two went somewhat similar. We started well, lead at the first mark only to catch more weed at the weather mark.  We got caught and past downwind and rounded second.  On the next beat we were losing more ground so I decided to stop and back down to remove the weed.  Now nearly thirty boat lengths behind, we rounded the last weather mark still in second and caught all the way up to finish just a half a boat length behind first. 

Race three we had a poor start, tack to clear and tacked back to stay left.  Rounded weather mark in second, made the pass downwind, rounded leeward mark and protected the right where we saw more pressure.  Finished well ahead.  So we ended up with a 3, 2, 1.  Still in first by two points.  Thanks to Mike Pinckney, all my sponsors and my friends and family.  More to come this week.   

Maureen and I sailed the Marblehead NOOD out of Boston Yacht Club July 27 thru July 29.  Day one brought sunny skies with 7 – 13 knots of wind.  Race One was going very well around the first two marks where we wrapped our spinnaker sheet around the pole at the leeward mark.  We continued around the next weather mark and attempted to hoist the spinnaker, only to realize that once it is wrapped under the pole, it wont come out.  Therefore we sailed the last downwind with main and jib only.  Finishing the race in 2^nd place.  Our first race without a bullet. 

Race two went very well with a good start and good upwind speed.  We led at all marks and finished in first.

In race three we again started well and were leading halfway up the beat by 5 or 6 boat lengths where we suddenly became quite slow in a straight line.  We struggled the rest of the way up the first beat and ended up hitting the weather mark.   After a 360 we set the chute and continued to be rather slow downwind.   The next beat the boat and spinnaker bag filled up with so much water it was hard to explain.  We kept losing distance to the two leaders as I kept trying to make sail adjustments to figure out why we were going so slow.  Once we finished I came to the conclusion that we must have something on our keel and decided to do a back-down.  We found not only did have seaweed but more like a bush. The weed out here does not grow in a strand but more like a tumbleweed.  So after day one we found ourselves in 2^nd place with a 2, 1, 3, one point out of 1^st.  It was a frustrating day but there seemed to be a reason for our two bad finishes. 

Day two brought some interesting weather with us only completing one race.  We led from start to finish making sure we kept an eye out for weed. After the race a thunderstorm with heavy rain and lightning came very close to our course.  The race committee actually recommended we sail away from land in order to stay away from the severe weather.  After 1 ½ hour delay with the wind doing circles, the race committee informed us of another severe cell headed our direction.  They sent us in; we got to the dock, unrigged just before the lightning and downpour started.  It rained more over the next hour than it had inSouthern California all last year.   I always believed the weather on the east coast sucks, and now it was confirmed.  Hot, sticky, and raining in the middle of summer.  Then it’s cold and snowing in the winter. 

Day three brought 5 – 7 knots of wind as on the way out a British boat builder started taking pictures of our set up.  He seemed to be doing some research for the competition.  We again only had one race on day three due to lack of breeze and an early race cutoff. A lot of effort was put into having only one race.  Some say Marblehead—others say MarbleDead.

All in all things went well.  We won the regatta and made it out alive.  Maureen and I know we still need to improve but so far so good.  Thanks to all my supporters and I’ll see you back in Cali.

First regatta in the new class proves to be a good one. With only four boats competing and medium to heavy winds, Maureen and I dominated the Skud 18 class. The regatta took place at the same location as the upcoming trials and we took some time to train with the others US teams before the event. We seemed to have great speed both upwind and downwind. We still made many mistakes to learn from so we know we can only get better.

Day one was warm with winds in the 8-13 knot range. We were on the course with Vangaurd 15’s, Laser II’s, Sunfish, 420’s, and Jet 15’s. There were six races with windward-leeward coures. The biggest challange seem to be the currents. Big gains and losses can be made if you choose the proper side of the course. I need to learn some more local knowledge. We ended the day with six bullets.

Day two brought 15-22 knot winds with some good waves. Triangle couses were run. We attempted to tighten the rig but bottomed out on the uppers. This left us with a very loose rig for the conditions. Boat speed was down which open the door for the other competitors. Also in one race we hooked a lobster pot and dragged it for 30 seconds or so. We tried some port tack starts and played with sail set up but with the looserig it was difficult to gauge.

We ended up with ten first and one DNS due to a faulty jib halyard tie job.

I look forward to racing in Marlehead in two weeks. I wanted to thank Maureen for doing an excellent job. Thanks to all my supporters and it looks like were on the right track. Regatta results on the right. Regatta web site is www.sailnewport.org

Skud hull number 022 was christened on May 20th.  With over fifty supporters looking on, the new “ALS” (A Love 4 Sailing) was hoisted in to the water for the first time.  With the help of Chuch Simmons, Jaime Malm, Mike Martin and Howard Hamlin the boat was ready to sail.  I took out Chuck for the first ride in 5 knots.  Everything worked great.  Two other Balboa Yacht Club members Clarence Yoshikane and Greg Newman also went for rides.  I ended the day taking my wife Mary Kate for a short harbor criuse.  It felt great to be out on the water again.  I look forward to my upcoming training sessions and regattas.

I was asked two common questions at the service. One was “Who is your crew”? and the other was “When is your first  regatta”?

My teammate is Maureen McKinnon-Tucker from Marblehead, Mass.

Maureen was the first woman to ever qualify for the US Disabled Sailing Team, and has qualified 5 more times since.  She decided to try the SKUD 18, attracted by the class effort to bring parity to women sailors in the disabled realm.
Maureen brings a year of SKUD 18 experience. She was sailing the first SKUDs delivered in the entire world and was part of the team which finished first at the 2006 US Pre-Trials. Her goal remains to be the first woman to sail the Paralympics for the USA.

The first regatta is set for Newport, RI where the Paralympic trials will be held.  Dates are July 13-15.  Boat leaves for east coast around July 1st.  Until then Maureen and I have two week long practice sessions and the rest of the time I will be sailing with able body friends.

Thanks to all my supporters and helpers.  I couldn’t do this without you.

Nick Scandone to sail in the SKUD 18

Many have inquired about the new boat, my upcoming schedule, Hopefully this will answer some of your questions.

Why are you switching classes? I decided to switch classes so I can compete against other disabled sailors with similar disabilities. Most of the 2.4 sailors are classified “4” and above. I was the only sailor classified as a “1”. This switch allows me to compete on a more even playing field.

When is the new boat going to be ready? I hope to have the boat here in California sometime in early May. It is being built in Indonesia. I am still working on getting it shipped here.

Who can sail a SKUD? This Olympic class boat requires two persons. One must be a female. The skipper is required to be a FCS “1” (Functional Classification System) to which I was classified in Miami in 2007.

How much does a new boat cost? With extra sails, canting seats and trailer-somewhere around $30k+. I am in the process of selling my three 2.4 boats, which I hope to sell for $25k.

Have you selected a crew? Not yet, I am considering viable candidates still.

What can you tell me about the SKUD? It is 18ft, two-person, seated at center line with a main, jib, asymmetrical spinnaker and a bulb keel. To learn more go to: http://www.bethwaite.com

What is your upcoming schedule? If all goes well, receive the boat in May, practice May, June and July in Southern California. Then ship boat to east coast for a late July NOOD regatta in Marblehead, MA. Next is Newport, RI for the Clagett in late August. After that is Rochester, NY for the disabled Worlds in early to mid September. Then back to Newport, RI for Olympic Trials in early to mid October.

I would also like to thank all who participated and donated to the Valentine’s Benefit. It was a huge success. I don’t always get to thank all of your personally but can’t tell you enough how much this means to me. I know this will definitely help me get to China in 2008.

Looking forward to all of you seeing the new boat when it arrives and giving some test rides.

10-17 knots in a gusty North wind we had three races. Sailed well in race one. I started in middle of line and played the left. Finished 4th. Wind shifted right and next two races were sailed in changing conditions. As in the past windy day my best race was the first race. My energy level seems to lower through the day. Finished tenth overall. Second disabled American. My finishes at the Nationals(4th), the Pre-trials(3rd) and here in MOCR(10th) still is good enough for 1st on the US Disabled Sailing Team for 2.4meter discipline. Thank you to all my supporters. I couldn’t of done it without your help.

On a side note: I was classified as a “1″ on the disabled classification system. This means I now qualify the sail the two-person discipline SKUD 18. My plans are to changes classes as I am the only “1″ sailing 2.4’s . See SKUD 18 for more info.

Light t moderate winds–7-12knots  Three races with good starts.  Struggled again with straight line speed.  Finished 6, 17, 14.  Got caught on the wrong side in the second race and then played follow the leader with a large right wind shift. Just seem to be lacking energy all week.  I sit in 10th with five races to go.  My decision to go to the two person boat may have been made.  Just need to sell my boats and buy the SKUD 18.  Thanks to all my supporters and good sailing.

Jaime sailed better with two fourths and a 12th. Hes actually beating me.  I now have a goal.