GBCA Discussion Forum

I got a chance to be at the America's Cup for race 12 last Thursday in SF Bay.  For anyone watching it has been a tremendous comeback for Oracle and who now stands 5 to 8 against the Kiwis. For everyone who wrote this team off when it was 8 to 1 in favour of New Zealand boat, this group of sailors lead by Jimmy Spithill have gotten their act together and have come back starting last Thursday and made this event something to watch.  Oracle now seems to be the better boat in both moderate light to stronger winds.  In very light winds Emirates is the faster boat, but has to finish the race in less than 40 minutes.  Watching the AC-72's I can only say that it unlike anything that I have ever seen in sailboat racing. The speed and power that these boats have and then to have two crews of great sailors going at each other....will it really is something to watch. There are two races scheduled today and all it takes is Emirates to win one more race and it?s over. Stay tuned if Oracle pulls off another two wins this afternoon......odds are stacked against them but funnier things have happend in sports!

Ed was a great guy and was quick to share his knowledge and experience to anyone who wanted to talk to him.  He had made all of my sails on Tenacious and Orion and Butch his shop manager, has sailed with me over the last several years.  I will miss him a great deal and I can only say that he was one of a kind.  I can only wish warm seas and a following wind along with a couple of rum and cokes!  For the people up in Heaven sailing with him.....watch out, because if you pass across his path, he will hit you.  Take care Ed, we will all miss you.

John, I have one of my crew going home on Sunday by car.  Give me a call if they have not found a ride yet.

Chris, the event would be for October 20th!  WW organization has a conference in town starting on the 19th.  Would appreciate any boats volunteering for the event and I understand there will be some great WW swag for any of the participating boats. It would be good time to take your boat out for last minutes tuneup before HM.  I can also be reached at 713-301-0838.

Beverly, could you take a WW vet Saturday on your boat?  Will have 6 vets out for the 4th race. You can reply or call me at 713-301-0838.

I would like to thank everyone who has volunteered so far!  Still need more boats and if you have any questions will be happy to answer them for you.  I will have John Boerstler, area representative for Wounded Warriors sailing with me next week and will be at the party at GBCA after the race.  John was with the 4th Marine Division in Iraq and is also a disabled veteran.  He went back to Texas A&M after his medical discharge from the Marines and got this degree in Political Science.   Please give him a warm welcome when we introduce him next week at the party. 

Jim Apple
713-301-0838

Bee thanks for volunteering and for the people who have contacted me by my cell phone.  Still need volunteers especially the bigger boats.  If you want to to do something that will be very rewarding in 2012, I can't think of a better project to work on.   My contact number is 713-301-0838.

A Pessimist complains about the weather
An Optimist waits for it to change
A Realist adjusts his sails and goes about his day!

To the GBCA community: my name is Jim Apple and a senior member of GBCA, and I am looking for boat owners to participate in taking disabled veterans out for some leisurely sailing, primarily during the weekends for this upcoming year. They are part of the local Houston chapter of Wounded Warriors, which is a non-profit national organization that helps returning veteran?s adjustment back into civilian life. These young men and women served in Iraq and Afghanistan and made many sacrifices for their units and for their country.  Most of them suffer from wounds that will affect them for the rest of their lives.  I have made contact with the local person who runs the WW's chapter in Houston, who sent out an email, and we have received 18 replies back from veterans who are interested in sailing.  So, we need volunteers from the sailing community to volunteer their time and boat to make this happen.  I am going to use my Islander 36 for the program and if you are interested in participating for a day or on an ongoing basis in this program, please send me your contact information so that we can start putting this together.  You may respond to this post or contact me directly at 713-301-0838.  If you respond to this post, please don't forget your contact information.  I look forward to hearing from you.

I believe that Ben took 2nd in Spin and 3rd in Non-Spin for the series!

Have you ever been to Venice, LA?  If the offshore oilfield work boats don't get you then the locals will!

George, I am in agreement with you on the W/L races!  Would like to get as much weather work in as possible! 

Jim Apple
Tenacious

BJSilor, in the Icicle #5 results you had Tenactiy finishing 2nd! The boats name is Tenacious.  For the overall results you have Tenacity (Tenacious) finishing 3r in the 4th race and I believe for the 1st race you had Morgan 27 finishing 5th.  These results should also be listed under Tenacious.  If you could make the changes I would appreciate it.