Better late than never: Thanks to all who
attended my OceanPlanet II talk at The Inn on Peaks Island
(July 18) or the Third annual OceanPlanet Lobstah Dinnah at the Osprey
Restaurant (Aug 21). Huge thanks to Fred Forsley and Shipyard
Brewing for supporting both events, and to Ed Rodgers of
the Osprey Restaurant for throwing another memorable
party!
I'm honored to be doing my next show at
Hannaford Hall on the USM (University of Southern Maine) Campus on
September 28. More about this show at http://www.usm.maine.edu/cce/.
This is a truly great venue, a big and modern auditorium with great
sound qualities. I may have to play a guitar tune or two if I can get away
with it...;-)
One reason you haven't heard much from is that I
have been sailing constantly...the racing scene here in Maine on both modern
racers and classics is great. Sailing both for fun, and as a "hired gun"
on various boats I've been racking up some very satisfying results. As
tactician aboard Ed Rodgers "Revolution II" we've had more that our share
of bullets and are now leading Class A in the Gulf of Maine season
championship.
Those of you who remember "Rumbleseat" know that I
love to race classic yachts as well. One of the most famous and fun
regattas in the Northeast is the IYRS (International Yacht Restoration School)
cruise/race that culminates in the fabulous "Eggemoggin Reach Regatta".
Over Aug 2-4 as guest driver on Edgar Crocker's "Crocodile" we took three races
in a row over the competitive Concordia 39/41 class and 1, 2, and 3 in
fleet. This was my first time in these events and I will definitely be
back...sailing in the Penobscot Bay/Vinalhaven/Deer Isle region in the
summer in Maine is simply NOT to be missed.
Later this week I have been invited to sail at the
Celebrity
Invitational Regatta aboard IOD's (International One Designs) in Nantucket.
There event is hosted by Gary Jobson and will feature some pretty big "round the
cans" names, like Ed Baird, etc Hopefully yours truly, while an
experienced buoy racer is more of a "jack of all trades" solo
ocean guy, will be able hold his own! At the very least, it will be
fun.
In other news:
The sale of OceanPlanet to an aspiring
American solo sailor has not yet gone through. The potential buyer is
doing his best to pull it off, and I certainly know how hard it is to raise the
$ needed. If he can come through, I will likely be hired to train him for
his own solo adventures. I wish him luck but you can bet I'll be a tough
coach....;-)
Support needed:
We are on the hunt to secure sponsorship for
OceanPlanet II. However, this is very involved process and we can
use your help. To take our story and create the type of sponsorship
proposal package that will succeed we need to complete our comprehensive
media analysis from the last Vendee Globe. Also necessary are media
projections and valuations for what we can offer in the IMOCA circuit
including the next Vendee in 2008/2009. To finish the development of this
material and create, print, and deliver targeted packages, our team of
volunteers needs your financial support. It is definitely a
"chicken or the egg" situation and to make it happen we need you.
I'll be honest. I'm not interested in going around
the world again for the novelty of it. Twice around so far has certainly
worn that off. I want to be in a position to win, and to do that we need serious
backing which means a Title Sponsor. We can provide a huge value to that
Sponsor, and it is definitely time for a competitive American
program. Help us get to that Title Sponsor, and then I'll take care
of the rest.
Speaking of sponsors, special thanks to
OceanPlanet Supplier Sponsor Epaint. We certainly know what
paint will be on the bottom OceanPlanet II: |
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