Bull & Bear Sailing News
Friends of BULL and BEAR Sandbaggers
In cooperation with BULL and BEAR Sailing, the National Sailing Hall of Fame & Sailing Center has established a Friends of BULL and BEAR Sandbaggers to organize educational and community activities at the NSHOF Sailing Center.BULL and BEAR will be utilized for the FreeSail program, May to September; Wednesday Night Racing May to September; for the Teaching Math and Science through Sailing organized by Anne Arundel County Public Schools; for the Box of Rain program ; for the Brendan Sailing Program; for Annapolis Community Boating Youth Camp; for the Classic Wooden Boat Rendezvous & Regatta September 18 & 19; for the U.S. Naval Academy; and for display at the U.S. Sailboat Show.
Volvo Ocean Race 2005
A while back the Bull & Bear Sailing Team helped the Volvo Ocean Race get under way in New York Harbor. We helped the Brunel Crew and retiring skipper Grant Thornton, shuttled press and VIP, and gave our crew the chance to see some world class sailing up REALLY close.We chased the boats out to Ambros lighthouse, running at full bore in the White Whale under heavy weather and rough seas- being the last to see the ABN Ambro and Erricson crew before their misshapes.
Our 36 ft Nautica RIB caught some wicked air on the ride, the 20 or so people on board didn't mind though, as the amazing VOR boats passed us by. The wierd thing, our RIB does 60 mph, but in that surf, the VOR boats were faster than us! Clocked them at a smooth 40 knots. Pictures below.
Barack Visits Sunapee
Senator Obama visited Sunapee Lake 7/19 and met the Bull & Bear Sailing Team. They did not discuss politics but rather tried to get him out sailing to see his skills on the water - their true test of a President!!Do Sandbaggers Flip?
Ever wonder if a Sandbagger like Bull & Bear could flip over?Lake Champlain Burlington Sailing Center event news!
Teams from the Community Sailing Center, the City of Burlington and Plattsurgh competed in two Nineteenth Century "Sandbagger" sailboats brought to Burlington by the "Bull & Bear Sailing Team" on tour from the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia assisting charitable organizations with fund raising. Conditions were perfect for racing these powerful boats, which were extreme machines in their day, requiring many strong crewmen hefting sandbags from side to side to keep them from capsizing under over sized sails. The fastest crew overall was the "Camper" crew, kids and adults representing the groups learning to sail at the Community Sailing Center. They beat their mentors, the Center's "Staff" crew, who were slowest.Burlington City Government's crew with Joan Shannon, Ward _ Councilor as its captain, beat a quickly assembled crew from Plattsburgh with Skipper Kjell Dahlen and Captain Bill Rowe at the helm. Captain Shannon said, "The Plattsburgh crew of seasoned competitors sailed an excellent race. Our crew on "Bull" gained the controlling position after the start, preventing Plattsburgh from tacking. This move put "Bull" ahead rounding the Burlington breakwater, and we were able to hold the lead across the finish line. The inexperienced "Burlington Baggers" crew was a hearty bunch willing to crowd on the windward side, get wet, and enjoy the sailing experience of a lifetime."
Others councilors onboard the winning boat were Councilors Clarence Davis, Ward 3, Barbara Perry, Ward 6, Nicole Losch, Britta Mainello, Erin Demers, and Donata Sikon-Amato.
The Sandbaggers have been in Burlington for a week giving free rides to almost 600 people of all ages, including those from the following area organizations and agencies:
• Barnes Summer World Academy – an ESL summer camp for Somali Bantu Refugees • Howard Center – organization to providing support to developmentally disabled • Baird Center – alternative educational facility • DREAM Mentoring Program – youth mentoring organization • Stormboarding – adrenalin watersport camp run by Rachael Miller • Apple Tree Learning Center • Greater Burlington YMCA • South Burlington Parks and Recreation • Burlington Parks and Recreation Summer Nutritional Program • Boys and Girls Club of Burlington • Spectrum Youth and Family Services
The Sandbaggers will leave Burlington for an event in Mallets Bay Wednesday. The Bull & Bear Sailing Team will haul the boats out at the Shelburne Shipyard Thursday and leave for Cape Cod, Nantucket and other ports of call in the Northeast to provide the public with this unique sailing opportunity and to raise funds for charitable causes.
Contact Fritz Horton at 985-8387, email me here, for more information.
Bull & Bear Sailing Videos
