2013 was a great year

Happy New Year

All the best in 2014

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year!!

It has been a very busy year for us.  We had big some big wins and one that got away.  I just hope in the next year, we all can have as much fun as we did this year.  Looking back into 2013, there were a lot of jobs and very different venues.  From fun sailing with friends to the biggest prize that got away.  The people I was able to sail with and work with this year were a pleasure to be with.  Thanks to them all, it was a year to remember, maybe my best experience.

Going back, guess we have to start with Key West on the new Bella Mente.  After winning the Mini Maxi worlds the year before, it was hard to take a second.  But second we took in a light air series with Shockwave getting the best of us.

Then is was to Antigua for my first Caribbean 600 on Bella.  This was a great race.  Reaching at speed for 600 miles.  The boat was on fire.  Again second overall by only 10 minutes.  This was the first one that we should have had for the year.  We fell into a hole under one of the island for 5 hrs, or it would have been a very big win.

 

Staying in the south, next race was the HPR regatta in Miami.  We had 4 good boats, again second to a very good Spookie.  This one was way too close.  If we were a second faster in one race we would have won the series in the tie break.  We took a new crew and had a great race.  Team Premier, Farr 400 is a good boat and we sailed well.  

A week later, still in March, off to Southern California to do the Newport to Cabo race with Wizard.  What a great crew and fun boat to sail on the West Coast.  Dave and Peter Askew put a very good program together and this was the tune up for the Trans-Pac in July.  The boat was fast, the wind was not, but we did in fact win the race on elapse time, which was the goal.

 

The next trip was a long one but fun.  Joc, Sully and I drove across the country to settle back into San Francisco for the America's Cup.  We took some time were able to see things we have not.   We arrived in Tiburon and I flew out the next day to Barcelona for the TP 52 Supper Series.  There I sailed on Rio for the first time.  We did not have too good of a regatta, but it was great to get back on the boats and see a lot of people I have not seen for a while.  Sails were old, but we worked on the sailing of the boat and learned as we went.  The next event was to be Copa Del Rey for me with the Rio.

After Barcelona, it was right back to San Francisco to start up with Emirates Team New Zealand.  What a experience.  I would have to say, this was the most rewarding experience of my career.  I learned so much and work with the best people, in the best team atmosphere, ever!!  My job was to be local knowledge.  Work with the weather team and very closely with Ray Davies, Clouds and Sunshine.  The team, Ray and Dean over the first month or so, learned the bay very well.  I learned, working with Clouds, why I did things on the bay, but never knew what caused the situation.  All I can say was wow.  The early summer went so well.  Never a let up to get better.

 

 Just as the racing was to get started I sent off across the Pacific on Wizard with my mates.  We did what we wanted, we won the Barn Door for first to finish.  The weather was not so helpful as there was a cut off low that came across us near the finish.  It slowed us down enough not to set the record.  But the trip was fun and fast enough...  For Wizard, two out of two was very good and everyone happy.

After  short holiday in Kauai, it was off to Palma for Copa. Back on Rio with some better sails and a strange weather pattern on the bay.  We did have a over the top regatta.  We sailed very well to take a fourth.  I know, a fourth, you say?  The top three boats are almost unbeatable, with the time and crew they have.  We won class B, which is made up of good boats that were always beating Rio in the past.  So we felt it was a good regatta for the boat.

Back to San Francisco for real AC racing or was suppose to be.  At this point, I came in on Race days to help the plan of the day with the tides and wind.  Before and between races I would talk to Clouds and Ray to work out the best way to look into the race.  After, debrief and work on the next day.  It was great.  I would sit up on my perch on the west side of the course.  

Clouds would watch the east end of the course.  Together, we did not miss much.  Ray applied everything and sailed very well.  I was very proud of the way we sailed.   The LV went well and we were ready for the AC.

Though the ups and only one big down, everyone held their head high.  Never quit, never a hard word to anyone on the team, only encouragement for each other.  This was the best and worst second I have ever been involved with.  I hate taking second.  You all know what happened.

The day after we lost the cup, the BBS started.  I think it was a good thing as it took a lot off my mind.  Not bad to have the experience of the AC to be tuned up for the BBS.  It went well and we won our class pretty easily.  I sailed with an old friend, Tad Lacy, who I never sailed with before.  We come from the same era, he sailed on Imp and other great IOR boats of the Bay and I sailed on other IOR boats, like Scarlet and Bravura, from the other side of the bay...  We had fun.  Just what the Dr ordered.

 

Ok, after a busy season, so many days of work, Joc and I took a fishing trip.  Our first!!  We went up to Oregon, and meet up with Mike Howard (member of the Wizard Crew), Erin his wife and John and Deneen Demourkas to drift down the Rouge River.  Best thing was our guide was my cousin Greg Smith.   Greg is a river Rat.  Spent 4 years on the US white water team and has so much experience with White Water and fishing.  What a fun trip, 4 days, no phones.....   And we got to eat some very fresh fish...

After the holiday on the river is was the big drive back across the country.  And a bit of a slow down.  Tad then asked if I would like to go back to the Bay and help him with the Leukemia Cup.  I knew his son had his bout with the disease and I wanted to support him.  I have done the last three years but thought I could not get the time to do one this year.  So, I took him up on it.  one day home and a quick flight back to SF.  Tad and family did a great job raising money.  I put my two cents in on the late date and together we were the highest team in the country....  The regatta pulled in more than $800,000.  All good.  You know if you did not donate you still can at:http://www.leukemiacup.org/pages/gba/sf13/dsmith

One last trip back to Dubai to do sea trials on a new Carkeek 47.  PCT has come a long way in their marine division.  It has been great to be involved.  The boats are coming out great and at a very good value.  Check out PCT at http://www.pct.ae/marine_composites.php.  Next year we will be sailing this boat in Europe.  

ALL THE BEST IN THE NEW YEAR

Leukemia Cup San Francisco YC Oct 19-20, please help

Hi everyone,

It has been a very busy summer. Just driving home from San Francisco and working with Emirates TNZL in the America's Cup.  We were so close.  Also sailed the Trans-Pac on Wizard, the Barn Door winner.

Now I have been asked to join Team Lacey and sail the SFYC Leukemia Cup this weekend.  This one is the most important regatta of the year.  Our turn to give it up to cancer research.  As you know I have been involve the last few years after getting Stage 4 Lung cancer.  This is my way of paying it back.  It is because of this kind of research that I am alive now.  LLS gives over 90% of what they get in to the research.  Which is amazing!!

Tad Lacey is an old friend.  He is also the commodore of the STYC.  I had the pleasure of sailing with him and the Mirthmaker crew to win our class in this year's BBS.  During this series, I learned that their son Britt came down with Stage 4 Lymphoma. Check out the Lacey story here http://www.marinij.com/sports/ci_24316733/sailing-marin-leukemia-cup-regatta-hits-home-san?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com.  When Tad asked me to come back to SF to help, I quickly accepted.  This is important, please look up the site and make a donation at : http://www.leukemiacup.org/pages/gba/sf13/dsmith

If the site doesn't work for you, you can also send checks to the address below and I will forward them on.

Thanks for your help

Cheers
Dee

AC Emirates Team NZL Job

Most of you know I have been working with ETNZL for a while now.  Here is a little interview held on site while working before a race.  It has been a lot of fun working with the afterguard and weather team.  I have learned a lot and I feel the boys are ready to sail very well and they have been.

Check it out:
http://www.sailingworld.com/blogs/racing/americas-cup/doesnt-have-to-be-high-tech-to-be-good-tech
 

Wizard is off to Hawaii today

Ok we are off to HI today.  Just a quick one to let you know how to find out about and follow the race.  It looks to be fast, might even have a chance to break the record. 

I did an interview with Dobbs Davis yesterday and you can see it here:

To follow the race check these sites:
Transpac Website: http://www.transpacyc.com

Boat Tracking App: http://yb.tl/transpac2013

Here is the routing from this am. 
Black is the Rags, 100 footer gets in at 5d 21 hr
Green is Maserati, V 70 gets in at 6d .5 hr
Red is Wizard, gets in at 6d 14.5 hrs
Maroon is a Sled gets in at 9d 19.5 hrs
Blue is a TP 52 going way south at 8d 6hr

 
All good here, can't wait to get off shore,

Cheers
Dee

The new job Emirates Team New Zealand

Ok,  I have been here in San Francisco for a few weeks now.  Getting used to being home and seeing family and friends.  But I did come to work and it has been a treat.  I know most of you have know that I have been here but I just had a bit of time to say a few words.  Of course I can say too much or I would have to kill you..  but it has been a lot of fun.

My job is to help the Kiwi's learn the venue, tides and wind of San Francisco.  The currents rip, the wind shifts and the course is small.  The boat is way cool, I am very lucky to be involved.  Finally after 2 weeks of watching from the rib I had a chance to ride the beast.  Yes it is a beast but I have to say the way the boat rides, it is just very fast and much smoother than I expected.  I guess it is more like flying than sailing.  Those Moth guys are into it.  Just a new way of sailing.

If you watch this video, toward the end you will be able to see the boat foil gybe.  When this part was filmed, I was riding.  The only time it was hard to hold on was when we did a G turn at the bottom mark.. Everything else was very smooth.

Check it out: go to :http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL74ksMbwxhovHD48vrufvvA0fcX7PCBPy

There are many videos that show the boat sailing around the bay.  This video is the day that I was on board.  Great gybes....

America's Cup: Code 0's on Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand, June 11 2013

DS

Big trip across the states

It has been a while.  Been very busy packing up the house in Annapolis and did the big drive out to SF bay 3 weeks ago.  It was suppose to be a slow tour but we got a later start so not as much time to look around.  Joc, Sully and I fit into the car and drove 3100 miles in 29 hrs over 5 days.  It was a good trip.  Virgina and Tennessee were very nice to drive through, green and hilly, with a good amount of water and rivers.  Nashville was the highlight of the trip, we spent 8 hrs there bar hoping and listening to some great music.  Once we hit the Mississippi, it was all over and we just wanted to drive.

  best driver

We did stop in Santa Fe for a few hrs.  Very cool town with mountains and desert.  Trails go though it.  Great Architecture and big history.  Then across the Colorado River, into CA for good.

 

Sully swimming across the Colorado

The best part of the trip was when we got to the coast for the last day slow trip up from Paso Robles.  Along the Big Sur Coast on a perfect day.

 

Can't get much better than this!!

We took a doggie pit stop on the best dog beach, Carmel.  No leech law and such a great place.

 Sully was wondering where his golf clubs were

Next stop was Santa Cruz for lunch with the Larson's.  So nice in Capitola.   Great day. Then on up to SF.  We are living in Tiburon for the next few months.  More on that later..

Dee

Wizard, Newport to Cabo race, one slow race south

Wizard sailed the Newport to Cabo race as a tune up to this year's assault on the Trans-Pac Barn Door race.  Wizard, as Bella Mente, already owns the elapse time record for the TP in the last race.  Now with a new crew headed up by Dave and Peter Askew, the boat is at it again.  Wizard is perfect for the Pacific races, long, light with lots of sail area and stability.  There is not much to do to the boat.  Main work is in the crew and sail program.  We used this Cabo race to try some ideas out.

Best wind of the first day was at the start.  Stacked and sailing through the boats that started before us.  Fully powered up with the R2.

I think I will explain what we did with the sail program after the TP.  The race was slow but it was a good practice.  We all got along well and got plenty of rest.  First day was very light, almost no wind on the water.  Still we made good progress and was leading the fleet.  This day of light air made it sure it was to be a little boat race as the handicap was time on time and every time we stopped the clock did not.  We would have done well on handicap if we did the race 24 hrs less.  But that is the way it is, still second in class was a good finish, over course added to the first to finish, which is what we are after...

Crew:

Dave Askew     Skipper and watch Captain

Peter Askew     Co Skipper

Dee Smith         Co Navigator/Tactician

Ian Moore         Co Navigator/Weather guy

Trevor Baylis   Watch Captain

Sean "Doogie" Couvreux    Bow guy

Ted Haaland   Bow Guy

Arnis Baltins   Big guy

Mike Howard  another Big guy

Bill Jenkins      Trimmer/Pit

Matt Smith       Pit/food guy

Dave Culver    Boat Captain

Matt Beck        Trimmer/ Driver

Grant "Fuzz" Spanhake    Trimmer/sailmaker

One should mention that everyone did everything really.  It was great to work with people that had no problem doing anything at any time.   Everyone worked hard and kept the boat in good working order. We did not break anything and was able to sail fast 100% of the time.

All good!!

Dee

Final day at the HPR Midwinter Chsmpoinships

Team Premier was 4 points behind fellow Farr 400, Chessie Racing and Spookie, the Carkeek 40 sailed by Steve Benjamin, with his wife Heidi calling tactics.  It was a big ask to get the 4 points in four races, but we decided if we sailed well and won all three we still needed some help from our friends in the other boats.  The conditions were perfect, 10-18 knots from 25 to 66 degrees.  Big sheers in the wind both in direction and pressure.  We got 3 good starts.  But we were in faze with the shifts all day.  Don't think we missed one.  Spookie would get away with their speed but we kept cutting into their lead with a better shift that went our way.

We did get our three wins on the last day.  Good starts and called some great shifts.  Boat was going well and it was a lot of fun to get the boats up down wind over 15 knots in 17 knots of wind.

In the end after looking over the results for the series, a painful fact came up.  Int he first race we lost 3 place by one second.  If we had that third we would have won the regatta on a count back.  Very close I would say.  Of course you can look at the last race and see we won the race by 4 seconds....  Karma?

Results: http://www.transpac52.org/news/year-2013/Results-Gaastra-52-World-Championship.html

How do we like the HPR rule?  Very much.  It was the talk on the dock that the boat that sailed best won the race.  It was great to see the Farr 400's win 6 out of 8 races.  This happened because in most part, we got good starts and shifts.  The Carkeek's match races a bit and slowed each other down.  We would cut the corner.  Nobody said a boat won because they rated better...  I think this is the first time I have heard this on the dock durning a series...

Here is a site with more info:  http://www.hprsailing.org/hpr-media/press-releases.



more pictures from Rick Tomlinson:

HPR Midwinter's second day

Racing started on time but the wind did not stand up.  So after 2 legs the race was abandoned and we were sent in.  The Farr 400 had a good first leg in the shifty very light conditions against the Carkeek.  We were first to the windward mark for the second race in a row.  Hopefully we can do that in the next race that counts.  Web site for HPR  http://www.hprsailing.org. Here are some great shots from Rick Tomlinson:

HPR Midwinter Championship, Miami

all photos from Rick Tomlinsom

The HPR Midwinters started off with great sailing conditions yesterday.  This regatta is being run along side the TP 52 world's.  Wind was a fantastic 15-23 knots yesterday out of the 265-315 as there was a small cold front that passed through durning the races.  This brought some good shifts along with good puffs to ride.  I was sailing on Team Premier with a crew of very good sailors.  It was the first time we got together and we had a few issues in the first race, but in the second we sailed very well.

The fleet consists of 2 Carkeek 40's, Spookie and Decision.  Along with 2 Farr 400's Chessie Racing and Team Premier.  Not a lot of boats but all sailed very well.  First race saw Decision over early.  Chessie and Spookie sailed off to the left while we after a good start tried the right.  Left won. It was close.  Both Farr 400's lost some time because with the big breeze the spin halyard slipped through the stopper..  Took a while to sort it out and get going.  So our runs were not so good.  Spookie won, with Chessie second, followed by Decision and us.  

The second race, we very interesting.  We can see the clearing coming over the course from the north west.  We really wanted the right and to get there as fast as possible.  We decided if we could start on port at the committee boat it might be the race winner.  With the small fleet, so it was a small risk we could not get through and after seeing how the other set up we went for it.  Ducking the three others and clearing the committee boat by a boat length, we were off.  This saved us the tack in big breeze and made us the right hand boat.  Sure enough, the 15-20 degree shift came in when we were very close to the layline and we rounded first.  Chessie who was the right boat at the start on starboard, tack on our hip and followed us.  Spookie and Decision match raced out to the left and got hammered.

With the big right shift we gybed set.  3 minutes later Spookie sailed over us going faster, they give us 4 minutes an hr.  The rest of the race was holding position with no screw up.  We won and Chessie was second, Spookie third.  Decision had some problems with their spinnaker....

Points  Spookie           1,3 =4

            Cheesie            2,2=4

            Team Premier  4,1=5

            Decision          3,4=7

As you can see, very close racing.  Times are very close and the best sailed boat corrects out.  

Finished the Caribbean 600

48 hrs and 11 minutes to do 600 miles around a lot of islands and marks was not easy but it was a very rewarding race and a new experience for the crew of Bella Mente.  The boat preformed very well in all conditions.  We had a very tight race with a very well sailed Cookson 50, the Canted keel Privateer.  The canted keels gives a very large advantage sailing in this type of racing as it is mostly power reaching, and they have the added advantage of more RMC given with the keel out over 40 degrees.

here you have a Tim Wright shot of the start, and Bella has the jump on the fleet.

The course of 600 miles starts off English Harbor, Antigua.  We rounded Antigua after a short beat and then reach off to the North Sails Mark just off the island of Barbuda.  Leopard, the 100' canted keel fastest boat in the fleet, took the lead of around 2 miles as we gybed around and headed to Nevis on a fast run in 16-22 knots of wind.  The sailing was really perfect as this video shows.  In the video you can hear Bella screaming, in over 12 knots of boat speed, the keel hums, at over 20 knots, it is quite loud.  But we get used to it and it help keep the boat moving at speed.

The sun was going down as we rounded St Kitts.  In darkness we then rounded Saba, St Barths, St Marteen and again St Barths to head south east to Guadeloupe.  We were leading the race for a few minutes over Privateer as we got near the large Island of Guadeloupe.  We had a plan and it was not so go.  We ran ran right into Leopard and stopped for 3 hrs.  Boats behind could watch our travels and head in around us toward the shore.  Many did not stop at all.  We continued to sail hard and make large gains back.  Only to lose to Privateer by about 20 minutes.

look Ma, no hands

But we did set an elapse time record for mono haul, non powered or non-moveable ballast boats.  We also won our class and was first out of all non powered and non moveable ballast boats.  We could have won the whole thing but our stop under Guadeloupe was too long.

Bella sailed very fast and hard the whole way.  The crew kept it moving fast but in a very safe way.  only problems we had was some batten problems on a couple of jibs.  600 miles about 110 miles of beating and we averaged over 12.5 knots. pretty fast including our 3 hr tour...

I really enjoyed the race.  So much fun sailing in strong trades, warm water...

Check out the website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org

Bella Mente does Caribbean 600

I arrived here in Antigua a few days ago to get ready for the 600 mile race on Bella Mente.  The wind has bee in the 15-23 knot range, water and temps in the 75-82 degrees, which is pretty nice for February.  There are around 50 boats in the race from over 200 feet to 30 feet.  It has been a while since I have visited Antigua and the big surprise is the mega yachts that are here now.  Many huge sail and power.  I have counted 3 J class boats.  Old classics and others that just get your mind spinning on how big they are.

The race starts in a few hrs.  Our routing has us finishing in around 1 day 20 hrs which is pretty fast.  We hope to get through the holes under the islands well and keep moving.  Most of the race is reaching which Bella really does well.

You can follow the race and read news at this site:

http://caribbean600.rorc.org

Tracker:

 http://caribbean600.rorc.org/race-information/tracking/2013-fleet-tracking.html

A good Cause

You all know I have tried my best to support cancer research over the last few years.  Mostly from working with the Leukemia Society, we have been able to raise some really good money.  This year I would like to put my efforts, though a bit late into the decease that I went down with, Lung Cancer.  Some of you might know that Lung Cancer is the biggest killer but because most people think it is a self inflicting it does not get much funding as other forms of cancer.  Some of you know my late friend Rob Moore.  He, like myself was a non smoker and he lost his battle over a year ago after a very well fought 2 year battle.  We have a chance to support Lung Cancer in Rob's name.  Check this out:

The Rob Moore Memorial Regatta Auction is now Open!

Live Event

Sat Feb 16, 2013
5PM - 8PM PST

Corinthian Yacht Club

Make Your Bid to Support Lung Cancer Research and Awareness!

Rob died just over one year ago from lung cancer-- an otherwise very healthy 58 year-old guy who never smoked.

Help us raise money for the #1 cancer killer -- lung cancer by bidding on some amazing items donate by Rob's friends and associates. This online auction is part of the fundraising efforts of the 1st Rob Moore Memorial Regatta, being held on February 16, 2013 in conjunction with the CYC Midwinter Regatta. Jointly organized by the Corinthian Yacht Club and the Bay Area Racing Federation, all proceeds from this auction will go directly to the National Lung Cancer Partnership to support lung cancer research and awareness.

The NLCP's mission is to decrease deaths due to lung cancer and to help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy. They are a 501 (c) (3) organization with a four-star Charity Navigator rating.

Web sites to check out:

• http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=robmoore
• http://www.bayarearacingfederation.org

Please feel free to look over the sites and give if you can.  There is a big regatta at Corinthian YC this weekend in San Francisco in Rob's name.  They have around 140 boats and there will be big parties going on.  I just wish I could be there.  

Thanks for your support

Cheers

Dee