Posted by Mark on 5th June 2006

A new frontier

Team Eagle spent the last five days in Newport, Road Island rigging the new SKUD 18 and participating in a training clinic with Betsy Alison and other SKUD 18 owners. We are thrilled with the performance of the new boat and grateful that the IFDS chose the SKUD18 for the new two-person event.

The boats arrived Wednesday afternoon and were unpacked from the container. Thursday was spent assembling the keels and rigging. Julian Bethwaite, from the design firm in Australia, was on hand to help us with the process. On Friday morning, one by one the boats were completed and we took the maiden voyage that afternoon.

During our time in Newport, the weather did not cooperate. Nonetheless, our first sail in the new boat ended with smiles from ear to ear. Surrounded by young Optimist sailors, we kept hearing "wow, that's a cool boat!" And if they think it's cool, you know it's cool.

Saturday came and the harbor was completely fogged in, but that didn't stop us from trying. Unfortunately, the fog won out and we returned to the docks early Saturday afternoon.

The spinnakers got separated from the container the boats came in, but arrived on Saturday. On Sunday, we were impressed once again. With the wind in the lower teens, we managed to get the boat planning downwind late Sunday morning just before the winds quieted down. Did I mention she's fast?

We are currently working with other SKUD 18 owners to schedule regattas before August.

Lastly, we would like to thank Duxbury Bay Maritime School for their continued support and EZ Loader Boat Trailers for making this past weekend a success. Without the support of our sponsors and individual donors, we could not sail and reach our goals.

Thank you.