[Leica] Moffett Cup 2007

[luisripoll at telefonica.net (Luis Ripoll)]

 Nice pictures Dick, my favourite is the first
Saludos cordiales
Luis



-----Mensaje original-----
De: lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org] En nombre de
Richard Taylor
Enviado el: martes, 11 de septiembre de 2007 17:15
Para: Leica Users Group
Asunto: [Leica] Moffett Cup 2007

Last Saturday I was navigator and winch grinder on a 38' ketch in the 30th
annual Moffett Cup race on Vineyard Sound (Cape Cod, Massachusetts).  The
wind was honking:  a good 20-25 knots at the start and increasing over the
afternoon to 30-plus.  As usual, the race brought out a wide range of boats
from hundred-year-old schooners, recently built woodies that look like they
are from an earlier era, and powerful modern sloops.

Here are six shots I took during the race with my D40x and Nikkor 55-200 VR
Zoom.  All at 1/2000s and f5.6, ISO 400, VR off.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/main.php?g2_itemId=99214

http://tinyurl.com/3cfwze

1.  Malabar II Underway - These large, heavy, schooners don't need to reef
in these conditions.  Malabar II was marching on this close reach.

2.  Schooner Juno - Juno, a gorgeous sight with all sails flying, heads for
the Falmouth entrance buoy after rounding the first mark.

3.  Knockdown - With her boom in the water, this cat could have been  
in serious trouble if the wind puffed while she was over like this.   
As it was, she righted promptly and continued with the race.

4.  Swallows and Amazons - This relatively new cat was built on the Vineyard
of wood in the last decade, I believe.  Here she is roaring towards the
leeward mark in 25-30 knots with the crew looking remarkably dry and
comfortable despite being in such a small boat in such a big wind.

5.  Photog at Work - This is Louise Gould, a Cape photographer.  It's pretty
obvious what equipment she prefers.  She didn't have any of her Moffett 2007
photos up when I checked this morning (I was hoping  
to find a shot of Sea Queen, the boat I was on), but may have later.   
Her URL is

http://www.louisegould.com

if you'd like to check out her work.

6.  Reaching for East Chop - The final long leg of the race took us back to
Vineyard Haven in 30 knots of breeze and large seas.  Here are four sloops,
all larger than us - a good sign for our finish position, working their way
home.

7.  J-24 - One of the smaller boats in the race, this J-24 needed to be
worked hard to stay competitive.  These guys were doing their bit on the
rail on the weather leg back to Falmouth.  Been there, done that, don't need
to be cold, wet and aching any more.

8.  On the Run... - Two cats of different vintage make a pretty sight in the
heavy air, on the run to Succonnesset Shoal.

We finished 13th out of 60 starters, a respectable finish in this crowd.

Comments welcome as always.


Regards,

Dick




_______________________________________________
Leica Users Group.
See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information