Postponement Notes With Jonathan

Jonathan Bartlett is a leader in the sailmaking industry. As one of the big dogs at North Sails Chesapeake, JB is well versed on how to sail fast and outwit the Chesapeake. Here are some good points on how his team found success at the J/80 World Championships.

Postponement Notes With Dave

Dave Gross of Quantum Sails shared with us some of his thoughts on how to go fast in the light and shifty conditions of the Chesapeake Bay. The J/80 World Championships challenged all of the sailors – but Dave and his team found a way to succeed in all conditions.

Day 3 of Preparing to go Offshore

Any of our constituency that knows me personally, knows that I am not only a better talker than writer, also knows that I am pretty horrible writer.  That’s the disclaimer mates.  The World is taking on a little bit of a make over.  As the right side of my brain (KB) explained in the previous post we are pointing our bows towards deep water.  On a personal note, as I simultaneously prepare for the J 80 World Championships, off shore could be my favorite destination that I have been.  Sorry Gustavia, St. Barts, you are really a close second.  In a world that seems to be continuously more connected, I personally find solace in being unconnected.  The brief respite from laptops and cell phones can be very liberating, and also very pure.  Your priorities and focus change immensely.  I remember a conference held by Microsft in the early 90’s based on Bill Gates book Business at the Speed of Thought  suggested  that technology would let us work less and play more.  In my opinion it just allows us to work all of the time.  All that said I am personally committed to taking 6 students offshore, my boss and my insurance agent could not be more thrilled.  For our current crews we have tried to build a program that would provide training in all of the areas of education that Kristen and I feel are necessary to give the grand sensation of  ” I got this”.  In honesty, when you cast off the lines to enter the deep blue, if you do not have butterflies, you simply do not understand what you have signed up to do.

Last weekend we spent time learning a about my current sweetheart, Euro Trash Girl.  No I  will never change the name, I love the name, the song and the owner.  We sailed, we reefed, we did countless COBs (used to be MOBs) with JWA veterans.    Read more

J World Annapolis Points the Bow Towards The Ocean

Our friend Andy Schell who has helped us to become the World Cruising Club’s official training partner, encouraged us to join the ARC Bahamas Rally and is a major contributor to the global ocean sailing discussion writes a really cool blog that you should check out at http://59-north.com.  59º North Ocean Sailing is a blog filled with Offshore sailing articles by your favorite writers. Plus events, seminars, gear, books, charts & podcasts. Hosted by Andy Schell.  Not too long ago, all of the sailors in the world were at sea – and needing to fill a little air time, Andy took the time to Skype us from Sweden and conduct an interview.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard me speak that I went on and on about myself without saying much – but if you’ve got nothing better to do, you might grab a glass of wine and have a listen.  Better make that a bottle.

Kristen Berry is one of the directors at J/World Annapolis sailing school. Andy chatted with him in early August about his racing and cruising career, his transition into professional sailing from managing political campaigns (you’d be surprised at the similarities), his thoughts on what racers can learn from cruisers (and vice versa) and how he creates successful trainig programs at J/World and manages successful ocean racing campaigns. J/World Annapolis is now the Official Training Partner of World Cruising Club USA, and are hosting their first Ocean ‘OPS’ course on September 22-23. The Ocean Preparedness Seminar will be a hands-on weekend learning safety and emergency management specific to ocean sailing. Check them out at jworldannapolis.com.

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