Dr. Stanley Paris & Kiwi Spirit II

The demanding 630 mile race from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda began with the solo leg down being won by Stanley Paris on Kiwi Spirit by some six hours. For both the boat and the sailor it was their first “serious” race. Twenty three boats started but only sixteen finished. One developed a loose keel and the captain was rescued before the boat sunk. The others turned back because of the heavy weather, but Kiwi Spirit plowed on, remaining on course for a comfortable line-ho

So, Kiwi Spirit came in first on elapsed time by some eight hours ahead of the next boat in the 650 mile race from Newport to Bermuda. Now we get set to race back but this time we are required to have a second crew member, hence the Bermuda 1-2. My crew will be my oldest son, Alan, who is a veteran of this event, participating in 1995 before he sailed a solo circumnavigation in the 2002 Around Alone. I will learn from him and gain further confidence on being able to handle th

The eighteenth run of this biannual event, solo to Bermuda and Two Handed back to Newport, Rhode Island, the Bermuda One-Two Race, got off to a good start in fair winds. The race began at 11:00 am with Class I. I was alone in Class 6 and was not to start until 11:40 am and carried the largest handicap by far. Within four hours I had passed most, if not all of the yachts, and was racing along at 10 to 11 knots (11 to 12 miles per hour). However, by the end of the first twent

Overnight while most of us were sleeping soundly Kiwi Spirit moved into a 42.5m lead over the nearest boat in the Bermuda One-Two Yacht Race. The weather gods are dishing up some challenging conditions but these are the conditions best suited to Kiwi Spirit! Sailing close to the wind and headed directly to Bermuda at an average 10kts of boat speed, Stanley Paris’ world is bumpy, lumpy and at a 20 – 25 degree angle of heel. Just to keep things interesting, one of Kiwi Spirit's

Currently the Kiwi Spirit is fighting for second place in the Bermuda One-Two Yacht Race, which began on Saturday at 12noon. After a long and challenging night of light and variable winds, all boats have struggled and a few have given up completely and appear to be headed back to Newport, RI. I am approximately mid-way through the first part of the race (to Bermuda) and will begin the second part of the race (Bermuda back to Rhode Island) with my son, Alan, on June 20th. Visi

Now in Newport, Rhode Island making final preparations for the race to begin at noon on Saturday. I have been informed by one of the race organizers that I am to start last "so the other boats can see me sail through.” However, I know I will my division, since I have the only boat in that division! The rules say that boats are to be limited to 60 feet but Kiwi Spirit measures at 63 feet, which makes her entry in the race as invitational. That is fine by me! Had a great exper

Kiwi Spirit spent two weeks in Maine to get a long list of things attended to. Many were achieved but not the major ones. I still lack power to the winches due to a mix up in getting the parts, solar panels are still non-functioning and the radar still not operating well due to its location. On the other hand the second autopilot is fixed and the bow thruster works. With a production boat or car, any faults are no doubt worked out on the first boat or two before they go into