28 June 2008

New Addition to Offshore Fleet


There has been alot of speculation and debate about this one, but Kings Point will soon take over the 90' canting keel speedster Genuine Risk. Kings Point sailors will sail with donor Mr. Randall Pittman in the Chicago to Mackinac race, and many alumni and a few current team members have been in Sarnia, Ontario getting the boat ready for the race. Ralf Steitz and I will be joining the boat today for the 450 mile transit from Sarnia to Holland, MI in preperation for the race. The boats 16.5 ft draft will keep it away from KP most of the time, but it will allow our sailors to compete is some world class events in the years to come. Thanks to j/80 Jibberish for the pic.

27 June 2008

Kings Pointers at top in Etchells Worlds

Bill Hardesty KP '98 leads the Etchells Worlds in Chicago. In seventh place is Kings Pointer Gary Gilbert. Hardesty has dominated the class this year, having set a goal of winning the worlds. Below is an excert from a Sailing Anarchy interview with Billy-

Lord of Etchells
Any way you play it, Bill Hardesty has been crushing in his dominance of the Etchells Class over the past year. Along with Steve Hunt, Erik “mini-hippy” Shampain, and Jennifer Wilson, Billy grabbed a 7,1,1 at The Etchells Worlds yesterday – springing to a five point lead over Vince Brun after two days of racing, with third place a distant speck on the points horizon. Day 3's racing today gave a dose of humility to Hardesty and crew, but even after eating a 39 in a shifty race 4, they're still leading.
We know how skilled and hardworking Shampain is, having raced against him and chilled with him a lot on the Melges circuit. But Hardesty's intensity surprised us when we spent two weeks with him in Sardinia last month when he was calling tactics for Sevenstar SLAM. The kid is absolutely driven to perfection, smart as hell, and completely thorough in everything he does. If we were to put money on anyone in US racing ascending to where Spithill has, we'd put it all on Billy.
We talked to him today just as he was finishing dinner with his crew.
On their position:
'It doesn't feel like we should be leading after today, but still – we're gettin' it done.'
On big-fleet sailing in Chicago:
'It's an interesting place to sail in a fleet this big – that's pretty much a summary of our regatta so far. The reason is because you just can't switch sides during a beat. Without the oscillations of a sea breeze, the changing weather patterns have basically favored one side of every beat, and once you're committed, you sometimes just can't get there. That's what happened to us on the first day, and that's what happened today. In a smaller fleet, or with a more consistent breeze, you can duck a few or cross a few and get to the correct side.
'The first race we missed the lefty on the first leg, rounded in the 20s, and got lucky with some randon light-air stuff to grind back into 7th. Today we missed the righty, and with enough breeze for most of the boats to be sailing the same speed upwind, we couldn't get back into it. Yesterday we nailed both starts, broke out to the left in both races, and took two bullets. With 85 boats, a start line a mile long and 3-mile beats, you need to make your decision early, and you need to make it right.'
'With super-cold water, and hot land, the wind does strange things when it comes over the lake. We're still getting the hang of that.'
On sailing with four vs. three crew:
'I wouldn't say that there's a real benefit one way or another. I've been sailing with Steve and Erik for most of my life on all the boats I've sailed, and they're both small guys. We found Jennifer to be the perfect fit, so four just works for us.'
On the competition:
'The Brits see more of this type of weather, so they should have a bit of an advantage. Andy Beadsworth and Jud Smith came on strong today. We expect to see a lot more of them, though hopefully not too much.
'We've only sailed four races, and the RC hopes to get nine in. It's a long week, and it's barely started.'
Check below for more about the Etchells Worlds, including details of where to see more of it this week, and thanks to Tim Wilkes for the excellent shot. Results so far are here.
06/26/2008

Kings Point Sailors go Fishing in Bermuda

Pat gives his fish a high-five.
Ben shows it's a workout!

After finishing the Bermuda Race, the Defiance race sponsors invited the crew for a day of fishing on Challenger Bank. Pat Gerometta '08 and Ben Reavis '11 each caught a 250 lbs plus Blue Marlin!

Defiance and Peregrine arrive in Bermuda after very different races

Kings Point Crew Dinner at Elbow Beach. 17 Kings Pointers from '75 to '11!
Sunset from Defiance

There were two different races to Bermuda this year depending upon the size of boat a sailor was on. Aboard Defiance we had an upwind beat in light to moderate winds- 18 knots max- and finished the race at midnight Monday having barely seen a drop of rain or. Peregrine had the opposite, with many hours of 25 knot plus winds, big waves in the Gulf Stream, a 50 knot squall, and generally a much more "classic" Bermuda Race experience. Regardless of the nature of the race everyone was relieved to be in Bermuda and enjoy the great welcome that the island is famous for. Defiance is currently sailing back to Newport to prepare for the Chicago to Mackinac race, and Peregrine should leave Bermuda for Kings Point on Saturday. As for race results we were mixed against our rivals- Defiance beat the Navy's big boat Zaraffa, but Peregrine lost to the Coast Guard. Full Results

20 June 2008

Bermuda Bound


The Newport to Bermuda Race fleet will head out today to cross the 635 miles to Bermuda. Winds look better than the those of two years ago where the fleet drifted much of the way. Skipper Brian Giorgio has Peregrine ready, and the Defiance crew is looking to keep up with some of the big boys, such as the Puma Volvo 70, and the 100' long brand new Speedboat.

17 June 2008

Getting Ready for the Newport to Bermuda Race


Newport Harbor is filled with some of the newest, fastest racing yachts in the world preparing to compete in the 635 nautical mile Newport to Bermuda Race, and Kings Point is raring to go.
Kings Point will be represented by Defiance and Peregrine and will be competing against both the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and 240 other professional and amatuer entries. Click here for more info on the race and tracking information to follow our sailors.

14 June 2008

Allison Davis awarded USMMA Female Athlete of the Year


Allison Davis KP '08 was awarded the Female Athlete of the Year Award at Thursday's Varsity Awards Dinner. Allison has been a four year member and leader of the Kings Point Varsity Dinghy team, and has twice traveled to the Intercollegiate Singlehanded National Championship. Congratulations to Allison!!

11 June 2008

Sailing World Magazine Spotlights Kings Point Farr 40 Worlds Program



The June 2008 issue of Sailing World Magazine has a spotlight interview with Chris Branning KP '09 talking about our teams participation in the 2008 Farr 40 World Championship in Miami, FL.

Getting Ready for Graduation and Summer Sailing


It is a busy week at the Kings Point Waterfront- Prepping the Yocum Sailing Center grounds for the annual Graduation Weekend, June Ball, and the 20 RV's that the Waterfront Department hosts for the families of our graduation midshipmen. Also coming up June 20th is the start of the Newport to Bermuda Race, where Defiance and Peregrine will be competing in the classic 600 mile race to Bermuda. Skipper Brian Giorgia KP '08 will be looking to best his 2nd in class finish in the Around Block Island Race with a win in the Academy Division in the Bermuda Race.


Welcome to all the family and friends of our graduating seniors!

06 June 2008

New Powerboat for the Fleet


Waterfront Staff Members Rich Cain, John Casey, and Rob Asma brought in the newest addition to the KP Waterfront Training Fleet this week. The Grand Banks 46 was donated by a gentleman from Portsmouth, NH, so our crew had quite a delivery with stops in Gloucester, MA and Montauk, NY.

Dinghy Team Finishes 14th at National Championship


The Kings Point Dinghy Team finished the 2008 Intercollegiate National Championship in 14th place yesterday. This was a respectable finish for our team- led by a group of Seniors whose last weeks were spent studying for and passing their License Exams instead of on the water practicing as the other teams were. The Kings Point Waterfront was well represented in Newport with members of the Power Squadron and Offshore team to cheer on the sailors and a small flotilla of boats present including Mariner, Liberator, and Defiance.



02 June 2008

Day One at Dinghy Nationals


Day One did not match the forecast for strong southerlies, and only two races were held in each division. Kings Point is in 9th place after two races.

01 June 2008

Kings Point Arrives in Newport for Dinghy Nationals




After a night of squalls and smooth sailing aboard Liberator, Mariner, and Defiance the Kings Point Sailing Team is in Newport and ready for tomorrows start of racing. Some teams come by van......not us!