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
