Here is one of my favorite YouTube sailing accounts, Ruddy Duck Sailing Adventures. I particularly love this channel because its local and he creates great videos/content. I am also planning on doing more videos this year and I take inspiration from him and his account.
Check out his videos at this link and reward is awesome work by subscribing...
SailGP F50 foiling catamaran racing happened on February 17-18, 2025 in Aukland New Zealand.
Team Australia finished ahead of Spain and the Great Britian in the 3 way final. The Australians seem to be back in top form, winning or placed in the top 3 throughout the weekends racing series.
New for this series was the use of T-Foils versus the old L-Foils, giving all the teams better control and consistent higher speeds. However, team USA as almost always is the case SUCKS! They came in dead last, even the new teams beat them. I think the sponsors/owners of this team really need to consider a new captain and crew, it's obvious to everyone that this current team is just not up to the task. If they keep coming in at the bottom of the fleet its likely they will not be invited to race next year. In this current season racing standings they are now in 7th place overall out of 12 teams, last series they were in 3rd place. If they have bad finishes in the next series they will drop to last place and if that happens, they are finished. Honestly, I feel all the teams should move from nationality-based teams to team names and sponsors, so anyone can race together as a team without nation limits. Example, team Red Bull, team Oracle, etc. versus team USA, team Australia, etc.
The racing was amazing, particularly on the last day of racing with high winds and fly top speeds.
Next racing series takes place in Australia on February 7-8, 2024.
Watch racing replays at the following links...
I do not know about you but I like stories of adventure, etc. True stories about people being stranded on deserted islands fascinates me. This particular store was the inspiration for the book Robinson Crusoe. Here is one such story...
Watch SailGP racing live or via replay on Youtube.com/sailgp
Racing starts again this weekend Feb 18-19, 2025.
Many of us are excited to watch racing in Australia in particular due to the new T-Foils that will give the boats better control and higher speeds over the old L shaped foils.
Let's see what speeds they hit. In San Fransico they tested the new T-Foils, and they hit for the first time 100+ kph (101.98 or basically 102 kph / 55 knots / 63 mph) on Nov 15th, 2024, in San Fransico Bay. Team New Zealand just hit 97.2 / 52 knots / 60 mph on Jan 13 in Waitematā Harbour in Auckland, just before the upcoming racing. It will be curious to see who hits 100 kph / 54 knots / 62 mph during actual racing.
I am happy to say Team USA is sitting in 3rd place in the current standing before this weekend's racing. They are looking good, and I have high hopes they can continue their good results? We shall see...
102 kph, watch the video
Greetings All,
Below is a forwarded message from the USACE that Flexible Winter Pool Operations (FWPO) have been requested by BPA this year and the USACE will accommodate that request by adjusting the operations at Albeni Falls Dam temporarily. The notice shows they will likely raise Lake Pend Oreille (LPO) by 3 feet over the next couple days. They will likely release that water in the near future to generate power. As a reminder, FWPO is an agreement with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) that allows them to request LPO be filled up to 5 feet in the winter and then released again to generate power when power is in demand. FWPO, and power generation overall, is the reason we have had a maximum lake drawdown for the past 10 years. 2013 was the last year LPO was held at a high winter pool of 2055.5'.
Lakes Commission Meeting Adjustment: January 9th is postponed. Since our agenda has numerous USACE speakers, we are attempting to reschedule our meeting. Stay tuned! We will let you know ASAP of the new date. Zoom link for attending virtually, will remain the same.
Best,
Molly McCahon: Lakes Commission Executive Director; Phone 208-265-4568, Cell 208-255-9675; Email lakescommission@gmail.com; Website lakescommission.org
Here is a video about a replica Viking Ship that was sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. Great video. What intrigues me is their comment about possibly being in the Race 2 Alaska, like the same year my wife and I will be doing it. Would be amazing to see this boat and possibly sail the same year in the race. Hope you enjoy this video.
So, my fellow sailors and friends here is what is going to happen in 2025...
1. A big effort this year is the WA360 (Washington 360), a race around the Puget Sound WA and north to the WA and CAN boarder, followed by in 2026 the Race 2 Alaska (R2AK). We are looking for sponsors and donations for this effort. We will be dedicating these two races to men's suicide prevention. Learn more at our R2AK page.
2. Our big focus sales wise is the Malbec18 sportboat/trailerable keelboat . We are developing an access chair for this boat so those with disAbilities can enjoy sailing her as well.
3. Starting January 1st, 2025, we will no longer sell Hobie Catamarans or any Hobie products other than the Hobie Mirage Tandem Island (TI) (currently at the low price of $6,999) while stock lasts. We highly recommend taking a look at TopCats for an alternative to Hobie catamarans. With Hobie continued delays and moving production to Mexico, seems Hobie Cat of old has been replaced by Hobie Corp of new, with their focus on kayaks. All the old Hobie Cat employees of old have been let go and replaced by non-sailors to again focus on their kayaks. From this point on Hobie catamarans (when and if available), parts, and accessories can be purchased from Murrays. We will continue to sell use Hobie Cats and other sailboats and supply our expertise to any that ask. We have wonderful memories of Hobie Cat of old but sadly they are no more. May we all remember Hobart "Hobie" Laidlaw Alter of old and the amazing products he created and produced, such as the Hobie 16, etc. RIP Hobie Alter and Hobie Cat.
4. We are creating a historical Lake Coeur d'Alene chart that will be available spring 2025. In association with this chart, we will create steamboat stickers, shirts and hats, etc.
5. We wanted to get involved more in our local community so on July 19th in Coeur d'Alene Idaho we are running cardboard boat races with a historical theme of Steamboats of Lake Coeur d'Alene.
6. We will start our new video series FINALLY! Of course, much of the content will be about sailing, but also about safety gear, the environment, ancient sailing, various marine education content, better mental health via adventures, etc., and even some stuff not about sailing but may apply like nutrition and fitness, religion/spiritual, etc. See our current videos at https://www.youtube.com/funtosail
7. Skipper Miles Moore has written a learn-to-sail book that is in process of being edited. Still working on the diagrams. We do not have an official publishing date, but hopefully late Spring. His next book will be about small boat coastal sailing.
8. Our Access To Outdoors efforts will of course continue with our accessibled Lakes Guide or officially called Marine Access Guide and development of our access chair for the Malbec18. To help us with these 2 projects please visit Access To Outdoors and Donate if you can.
2025 will be an exciting year! We greatly appreciate your support.
Wish you all Fair Winds in 2025
ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Paved from 3 to 7 percent inclines. Parking lot is split from launch area by steep 10 percent inclined paved road; PATHS/TRAILS... None. One must use the launch road from vehicle in parking lot to launch area. Road is 10 percent incline; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… One fully accessible restroom. Shade via trees; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… One fully accessible dock with gangway, with one single lane cement launch ramp with 7% grade; DIRECT WATER ACCESS… None. Not suitable for this site; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments; CAMPING... No camping at this site but about 10 miles away is the Mokins Bay Campground (see #3 above this launch info); O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: This end of the lake is heavily infested with lily pads and other aquatic plant life making for an idea location for fish and waterfowl to live; Terrain: Is heavily inclined up to 10 percent inclines; H2O/Water: Water normally clear. Water temperature in the summer can be around 70 degrees. No drinking water available; Environmental Conditions: Varies; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in town of Hayden.Have an amazing
4th of July!
Hope you enjoy story of the Star Spangled Banner as most have never heard it, and two musical renditions of the Star Spangled Banner, which will reminds us all why this nation is so amazing.(scroll down)!