Anyone remember Hard Sails, the sail loft in Islip, N.Y.?
Back in the sixties and seventies, these sails were hot with
big boats, including 12 meters, and also loads of smaller
one-designs, Penguins and E's among those popular classes.
The man who bought the loft from William Hard in 1954
was actually a paratrooper in WWII, and developed some
cutting-edge spinnaker technology due to his familiarity
with the parachute shape and dynamics. I wasn't on the
boat during this particular race, but I clearly remember
dousing that same chute and stuffing it into the plastic
laundry basket kept in the cockpit. We regularly sailed
with a Hard on, and I get that same sensation quite often.
Wait. Isn't it a bit late for your April 1st post?
ReplyDeleteMcKee's Minute in Sailing World Magazine a few issues back did say that the key to success in sports (sailing) is to maintain an "optimum level of arousal."
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Baydog! I'm happy for you!
ReplyDeleteIt's all done with a rope and a pole...
ReplyDelete...'we reached along beside the running giraffe with a loop of rope at the end of the pole, suppressing our desire to scream with excitement, in fear that the beast would change course and all would be lost'.......
ReplyDelete"we" reached alongside the running giraffe, Marlin??
DeleteI don't recall a helping hand with that pole.
Yep, the mighty triangle logo: Hard sails (along with Ulmer sails) were the bomb back in the early '60s. I still have a Hard Penguin sail bag from that era. Can't remember if I still have the sail.
ReplyDeleteSkip used to have an old Seidelmann Penguin sail shower curtain.
ReplyDeleteBaydog - As a man of the sea, would you say it's preferable to sail with a Hard on, or a woody (pole)?
ReplyDeleteAs a seaman, one or the other would suffice. After that it seems redundant.
ReplyDeleteAye, Jack, elation!
DeleteShould your racing crew be concerned?
ReplyDeleteit probably depends on how closely they are standing to him!
DeleteYes, I'm told the ladies recommend giving him a wide berth.
DeleteLove you MillieMac! And no.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that up 'til now, nobody has mentioned a connection between last post's photo and this post's subject. Doh!!!!
ReplyDeleteRight...
ReplyDeleteI had meant to comment in the last post on the lusty, lone turtle working his way out on the woody (pole) to seduce the (wood) pecker.
The little guy no doubt had a Hard on.