Vineyard Open House Blog

Happy Holidays! (with help from Alerion)

Stunning November Light Creates Painterly Boats in Vineyard Haven Harbor

Tuesday, November 7 was a beautiful day on Martha's Vineyard, and Vineyard Haven harbor in particular. I rowed out into the harbor in a dingy and let the current take me where it wanted and shot some of the remaining boating still sitting on moorings. Every day there are fewer boats and soon just the hardy, wooden, stay-out-all-winter boats will remain. Click on the photos below to get a truer sense of how incredible the November light really was.

Sallie Mae.

Perception.

Minnehaha.

In the foreground, Avanti.


Anoa.


Phra Luang.


Schooners.

A Bright October Day in Vineyard Haven Harbor Brings People Out to Mess Around

A rare day of good weather and tender wind brought people out into Vineyard Haven harbor to work on their boats either in preparation for putting them away for the winter or in anticipation of one last sail.

Malabar II at the town dock with its spars taken down, only the two main masts remain.
Working or just messing around? Either way, you are on your boat and that's what counts.
A father and son in the sleek Minnehaha.

The schooner Perception takes a ride in the harbor under some gusts.




You don't have to be a big boat to enjoy the water.

Charlie Felder works on the beetlecat he's had stored in his garage for two years.

Malabar II returns to its mooring, stripped down for winter.

CAVU, 52' Concordia 1989 by Sparkman & Stephens Reduced to $325,000

Sleek on the outside, spacious and luxurious on the inside.

CAVU, a 52-foot Concordia 1989 designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Concordia Custom Yachts, is for sale and recently has been reduced to $325,000.

Cavu is sloop rigged with in-mast furling and optional cutter rig. The design features a comfortable center cockpit allowing for a generous owners stateroom aft. Below she glistens with the warmth of fine woodwork and generous accommodations. She is now located in located Seabrook, TX . For more information contact Central Agent Kevin Dailey Cell: 203-434-6060.

Stats

LOA:     52' (15.8 m)
Beam:   15' (4.6 m)
Draft:    Max  6' (1.8 m)
Speed:   8 knots
Location: Sea Brook, TX, United States

Year:  Mfg-1989 Model-1989
Mfg:   CONCORDIA YACHTS
Model: Custom
Type:  Cruising Sailboat
Price: $325,000 USD

Morris Yachts Rendezvous on Martha's Vineyard for 2011 Vineyard Cup

Morris Yachts jockey for position at the starting line.

A record number of Morris Yacht owners--including local skippers Mike Loberg/Masquerade and Ed Cerullo/Undine--turned out in force for the 2011 Vineyard Cup and a Morris Rendezvous that included an evening at the Loberg's Vineyard Haven home. See story and photos here on the Morris Yachts blog.

Holmes Hole Sailors Make Their Mark in Annual Vineyard Cup Regatta

The annual Vineyard Cup for the benefit of Sail Martha's Vineyard ended its 3-day regatta on Sunday with a flourish. Winds gusting up to 25+ knots buffeted the fleet as it passed East Chop en route to the finish line for the 17.7 mile final race.

Boats heeled sharply in the heavy winds off East Chop.

The weather was flawless for the weekend with cloudless skies, temps in the high '70s and winds 5-10 Friday and Saturday with a heavier go on Sunday that saw boats heeling severely in the face of occasional heavy blasts and swells from the SW winds.

Perception with John Amabile aboard bearing down.

Holmes Hole SA boats made their mark with Andy Berry (Isobar), Ed Cerullo (Undine), Mo Flam (Penelope) and Jerry Goodale (Stormalong) all finishing in the money in their respective divisions.

Sunday's first leg, running off East Chop to first mark, belied what was to come later in the afternoon: building seas and heavy wind.

Final leg, a pair of Nonsuch boats come upon Trinka, a Bristol Channel Cutter.

Trinka up close with skipper John Rose, an accomplished sailmaker, at the helm.

Magic Time on the far left, Mischief, and Gloria, far right, on Sunday's first leg.

Avanti crew David McDonough, a future Holmes Holer and Vineyard Cup competitor (Trinity, Morgan 37), accepts an Avanti burgee from its grateful skipper.

Trinka heeling on the last leg.

Avanti skipper David Lott with crew Elise Ryan: Wait 'til next year!

 

Final Day of J Class Newport Regatta Has Moments of Drama & a Velsheda Win

The final day of the J Class Regatta in Newport, RI, had Velsheda playing for pride and she in fact finished strong to claim her point. It was her only win in the five-race match which Ranger took, four races to one.

The Sunday race started on a downwind leg that immediately cast some drama into the race when Ranger's spinnaker ripped to pieces shortly after being deployed. The crew quickly replaced the 10,000 s.f. sail, but it gave valuable space to Velsheda which she maintained throughout the day.

Ranger bears down on a closing beat at day's end, but could not make up the time.

At the start, the two giant boats jockey for starting line position.

Over the line together, the J Class racers are even for just a moment.

Each boat sent a crew member up the mast to look out over the spinnaker.

A perch not for one afraid of heights.

Ranger's spinnaker suddenly and completely rips across a seam and plummets to the water.

The crew worked quickly to pull the torn sail onto the boat while working up a replacement.

Further down the leg, Velsheda runs by Castle Hill light.

The spinnaker and pole come down on Velsheda in preparation for the beat back to Newport.

Close-up of the Velsheda main and jib.

The Ranger team hops to the spinnaker and pole.

Close-up of Ranger's jib and main.

Ranger tacking as the final leg nears its end.

The winning Ranger team: Earl Williams, professional helmsman, Ranger owner John A. Williams of the New York Yacht Club, and Alastair Tait, Captain.

To the victor, the spoils.

Read all the post in the series on the J Class Regatta:

Off to Newport & the J Class Regatta

Cruise to Newport & J Class Regatta Begins with a Run to (a Quiet) Cuttyhunk

Cruise to Newport/J Class Regatta: Sakonnet's Elegant Clubhouse & Warm Welcome

J Class Regatta at Newport Puts Big Power, Precision and Majesty on Display

Everything Is Big on a J Class Yacht: Crews, Sails, Accessories & Maintenance

In Newport for J Class Regatta, World's Most Beautiful Yachts Compete for Attention

In Newport for J Class Regatta, World's Most Beautiful Yachts Compete for Attention

The visual boating feast in Newport during the recent J Class Regatta was not all about the stunning Js. Row upon row of magnificent vessels were on display, including the world's most expensive sailboat, the Maltese Falcon. Here are some of the beauties we saw. (Click the photo to see the full picture.)

 The owner of the J Class Velsheda, Dutch businessman Ronald de Waal (European retail fashion chain WE), provided on-site hospitality for his crew on his super yacht Bystander.

One of the belles of the ball, the bright-work beauty Sophie.

Close-up of Sophie.

One of several regatta chase boats which originated in the same era as the Js.

From Royal Huisman, Meteor combines the classic lines of the Gloucester schooner with 21st century sail and rig technology.

La Forza del Destino, a 167-foot Swan 77.

Braveheart.

Gracie at her home berth.

Read all the posts in the J Class Regatta series of articles:

Off to Newport & the J Class Regatta

Cruise to Newport & J Class Regatta Begins with a Run to (a Quiet) Cuttyhunk

Cruise to Newport/J Class Regatta: Sakonnet's Elegant Clubhouse & Warm Welcome

J Class Regatta at Newport Puts Big Power, Precision and Majesty on Display

Everything Is Big on a J Class Yacht: Crews, Sails, Accessories & Maintenance

Final Day of J Class Newport Regatta Has Moments of Drama & a Velsheda Win

Everything Is Big on a J Class Yacht: Crews, Sails, Accessories & Maintenance

Just 28 seconds separated the two super yachts, Ranger and Velsheda after the first two days of J Class racing at Newport June 15 and 16, with 3 races still to go. Ranger had eeked out a 1 second win the first day on corrected time, but had more breathing space the next day.

After the conclusion of every race, though, the crews of 35+ men and women on each boat have the large task of putting their mega-yacht to bed for the night. As these photos show, large is the operative word with everything from flags to fenders to rigging inspection set upon an amplified stage.

After their 27-second win in the second race, the Ranger crew talks it over.

The fenders for Ranger can match a Mini Cooper in size.

Hauling out 7,500 sq. feet of main and jib requires lifts and lads.

Earl Williams (r), Ranger's professional skipper, and Tom Dodson (l), Velsheda's tactician, answer post-race questions.

Sponsors such as Cox, Corum and livingsocial provide the funds to make the event happen.

Teak Deck Dictum: Abandon offending shoes all those who enter here.

Ranger's sails swing across to the dock.

A staple of closing shop each day is a rigging check.

High above the deck, this Ranger crewman appears comfortable on his swing.

Detail of the Ranger crew uniform.

Velsheda crew is active stem to stern with each a specific duty.

Velsheda's spinaker, 10,000 sq. ft. of sail, fills the length of the dock.

WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott shares a moment with Alastair Tait, Ranger's captain.

Read all the posts in the J Class Regatta series:

Off to Newport & the J Class Regatta

Cruise to Newport & J Class Regatta Begins with a Run to (a Quiet) Cuttyhunk

Cruise to Newport/J Class Regatta: Sakonnet's Elegant Clubhouse & Warm Welcome

J Class Regatta at Newport Puts Big Power, Precision and Majesty on Display

In Newport for J Class Regatta, World's Most Beautiful Yachts Compete for Attention

Final Day of J Class Newport Regatta Has Moments of Drama & a Velsheda Win

J Class Regatta at Newport Puts Big Power, Precision and Majesty on Display

Here are our first selects of photos from the J Class Regatta held in Newport June 15 thru Sunday June 19. The white hulled Ranger won over the dark-blue Velsheda in what was a match race 4 races to one. But the results were not the real story.

The story was that these magnificent anachronisms were there. And there are more on the way. Newport marked the dawn of a new, modern era for the Js, and the excitement is just beginning to build. All photos by David Lott ©2011.

A rare sight during the J Class Regatta at Newport, Velsheda in front.

With a crew of more than 35 men and women, teamwork is a skill prized above all others.

Ranger is a replica, with modern adjustments, of the 1930s America's Cup competitor.

The 129-foot Velsheda is one of three original J Class boats to survive to present day.

Today's J Class competitors must be able to weather tough seas and transatlantic crossings.

One of the key members of the crew, the bowman, keeps his eye on his opponent.

Ranger crosses Velsheda's bow as the super yachts vie for an advantage.

The chase boat keeps the throttle open as it matches Velsheda at 18 knots and more.

Captain and crew wear no life jackets despite the lack of life lines or railings.

Ranger pounds the waves on its way to another victory.

Swells outside of Narragansett Bay rose to 6-8 feet on Saturday.

Ranger's carbon-fiber sails reflect like mirrors in the sunlight.

Bow crew work the spinnaker.

Out on the Atlantic, fog quickly engulfed both super yachts, creating a ghostly tableau.

Read all the posts in the J Class Regatta series of articles:

Off to Newport & the J Class Regatta

Cruise to Newport & J Class Regatta Begins with a Run to (a Quiet) Cuttyhunk

Cruise to Newport/J Class Regatta: Sakonnet's Elegant Clubhouse & Warm Welcome

J Class Regatta at Newport Puts Big Power, Precision and Majesty on Display

Everything Is Big on a J Class Yacht: Crews, Sails, Accessories & Maintenance

In Newport for J Class Regatta, World's Most Beautiful Yachts Compete for Attention

Final Day of J Class Newport Regatta Has Moments of Drama & a Velsheda Win