Sailing on the America II... 12-metre racing sloop out of Lahaina, Maui

[TheHoff]

The America II was commissioned for the 1983 America's Cup in Australia and with a racing crew of 11, she made it to the semi-finals. Unlike her competitors, which were made mostly from fiberglass at the time, this gal was metal-hulled and built-to-last. With most of today's racing sloops built out of carbon fibre, it isn't likely they'll make it past the race they were built for... while the America II is over a quarter-century old and still going strong. The mast is shorter now (around 70-feet from the original that was over 100) and she is setup more for comfort but WOW is she still fast. The hull speed is just under 11 knots.

The first one is me helping to hoist the main sail (taken by my wife), the rest are by me...

1.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/3942143419_6b15900ba1_o.jpg


2.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/3942144055_a142d73d09_o.jpg


3.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3480/3942922980_258b272e1e_o.jpg


4.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3942144979_d02abe80b2_o.jpg


5.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3942923810_af6fa1a2ac_o.jpg


6.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3942145551_65bc5ca827_o.jpg


7.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3942145849_1dffde426e_o.jpg


8.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3942924770_a3b641ed44_o.jpg



All shots: 1DS2 with 16-35 II

All exposures: (sunny 16) 1/800 @ f/8 and ISO 200... don't try this on anything but M or you'll just be all over the place when shooting into the sun and glaring whites of the boat and waves.

[9deuce9rr]

came out real good! haven't been sailing in a long time, looks like a blast!

[canonloader]

Nice shots. I lived aboard my small sailboat in San Diego in the mid 94 and they had several of the boats in a neighboring yard. It was quite a show, but I didn't have a camera then. :)

[PhotosGuy]

Good ones!

[DaleP]

Great pics and nice to see it's still in use. I remember watching that final race in 1983. I was 10 years old at the time (giving away alot there!). It was an amazing day, especially when they hoisted Australia II up to reveal her keel.

[powerslave]

Ummm the shots are kickass but you kind of unintentionally inspired me to work hard enough to be able to afford sailing sometime in the near future.

[Lowner]

She's kept in excellent condition from what I can see in your shots. Any idea why the mast was cut down? Seems a shame not to keep her as she was designed, vandalism of a sort.

[PhotosGuy]

you kind of unintentionally inspired me to work hard enough to be able to afford sailing sometime in the near future. Take a ice cold shower while someone flushes handfuls of your money down the toilet. Have them start with your "L-fund". ;)

[-g-]

Now that you're experienced maybe you can get up early on the weekends and come down to Blaine to crew for me. :-)

came out real good! haven't been sailing in a long time, looks like a blast!

Crew needed! :-) PM me.

She's kept in excellent condition from what I can see in your shots. Any idea why the mast was cut down? Seems a shame not to keep her as she was designed, vandalism of a sort.

The boat wasn't designed for heavy air. Putting it into a Hawaii charter/tour scenario would be foolish with the extra 30' of mast. You'd need an experienced crew to be able to sail safely and there goes any potential of profit.

[TheHoff]

Thanks for the good words!

Now that you're experienced maybe you can get up early on the weekends and come down to Blaine to crew for me.

You sure? Everything I know about sailing I learned from the movie Summer Rental with John Candy. Do you ever hoist your pants up the line to catch more wind?


The boat wasn't designed for heavy air. Putting it into a Hawaii charter/tour scenario would be foolish with the extra 30' of mast. You'd need an experienced crew to be able to sail safely and there goes any potential of profit.

And they said the original bow was about 2 feet lower and prime for a head injury... so overall it was made a bit more of a passenger ship (has a head, guard lines around the side, storage in the middle of the pit, etc).

[-g-]

You sure? Everything I know about sailing I learned from the movie Summer Rental with John Candy. Do you ever hoist your pants up the line to catch more wind?

We prefer Bras. :-)

Do you know how to tie a man to the mast?

BTW, sent a reply to your email. Get it this time?

[Sundevil9]

Great pics and nice to see it's still in use. I remember watching that final race in 1983. I was 10 years old at the time (giving away alot there!). It was an amazing day, especially when they hoisted Australia II up to reveal her keel.

I was in Newport, RI during that America's Cup (I was 12 so don't feel so bad), and you could wander around the docks and see the boats and chat with the crews, and look at Australia II out of the water with tarps covering the keel.

TheHoff, thanks for posting those pics they're great.