Berkeley Marina & Harbor News

Louis Vuitton Embraces the America’s Cup & Its Trophy

IMG_2502It’s time to bring out those Louis Vuitton bags! The Louis Vuitton World Series races start in July in Portsmouth, Great Britain. After pulling their support out of the World Series races in 2014, they are now back with an expanded sponsorship role with the Louis Vuitton World Series, LV Qualifiers and LV Challengers races. Louis Vuitton is also a presenting partner of the America’s Cup Match in 2017. Sealing their commitment, Louis Vuitton created the case that will transport the America’s Cup trophy to Bermuda. Read more and view the trophy case.

 More on the background of the America’s Cup.

Windsurfing evolves as Kiteboarding on San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay - Courtesy of Scuttlebutt Sailing News

San Francisco Bay – Courtesy of Scuttlebutt Sailing News

In the 1980s, many of us poured onto local beaches in the  early misty morning fog to try our hand at windsurfing lessons. I found myself caught up in a wind off the Alameda shore at Crown Beach, dangerously surfing to San Francisco solo – the rest of my class far behind and clustered close to the shore. After the rescue, I gained more control and stayed in sight of my instructor, finally passing all the tests for certification. The next day I went out in the same water and was hit by such horrific winds that I could not maneuver my board, even though I was certified! That was the beginning and end of the sport for me. Since then, Windsurfing, its gear and competitions evolved, and many experts moved on to hydrofoil Kiteboarding or Sailboarding.

Keeping pace with the changes, a local San Francisco Bay windsurfer turned kiter, who is gaining proficiency at “foiling” on SF Bay, tells his story of the evolution.

Kite Surfers on the Bay-445-1

 

By |2014-12-16T11:34:30-08:00December 16th, 2014|0 Comments

Berkeley Marina Fishing Report

Local King Salmon

Local King Salmon photo courtesy of BCB

Berkeley Charter Boats out of Berkeley Marina report recent catches are 14-20 lb. salmon, with one at 32 lbs.! Two boats went out last Monday and the combined total was 26 salmon for 27 anglers. But Berkeley Charter Boats’ Captain Robert Gallia said that at this time of year with the larger salmon, their catch would have been better if some of the fisherman had not used their own old gear. Their lines, knots and gear broke trying to reel in the big kings. Commercial salmon trolling ended on Oct. 15, so salmon fishing should improve through the rest of this season.  Other boats are fishing for salmon and rock cod in combination trips through the end of October.

Great Catch in August

Great Catch in August

Report data from Berkeley Charter Boats in Berkeley Marina. 510-849-3333.

By |2014-10-19T14:26:19-07:00October 19th, 2014|0 Comments

Luna Rossa Challenge Launches Second Foiling AC45 – Swordfish

big__MG_9288Both the Luna Rossa Piranha and Swordfish  are foiling about in Cagliari, after being modified with on-board systems that allow the AC45 catamarans to fully foil like the AC72s in the 2013 America’s Cup races. (take a look)

The new design protocol for the 35th America’s Cup allows for modifications of the AC45s of any sort, except for the shape of the hulls. Apparently these new catamarans will outperform the old ones and can simulate the sailing conditions of the new AC62s which will be used in the 2017 races. Practicing on the new AC45s will enrich the crews’ training program and better prepare them for maneuvers, boat handling and foiling techniques that will relate to the new AC62s. They are out at sea now testing all the boats’ components and systems in their full foiling modes.

“This is an important day for the team,” according to Max Sirena, skipper of Luna Rossa, “sailing with two boats offers a significant advantage not only for performance comparison but from all points of view. We participated in the last America’s Cup to set the basis for our 35th America’s Cup and now we can count on a solid team and a close collaboration between designers, sailing team and shore team. There is a constant exchange of information between these areas to address the design and optimize its applications.”

Watch Pirahna and Swordfish foiling in Cagliari.

Photo courtesy of lunarossachallenge.com

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.lunarossachallenge.com

By |2014-10-05T23:22:30-07:00September 16th, 2014|0 Comments

America’s Cup announces 37 Safety Specifications and the AC72s are back on the water

Wed., May 22, the America’s Cup organizers announced 37 safety rules for the continuance of the 34th annual America’s Cup challenge. Among the 37 recommendations, the maximum winds speeds for the racing events were reduced from 33 knots to 23 knots with a flexible start time, additional body armor and hands-free breathing devices were suggested, as well as crew locator devices.  The full list can be viewed on the America’s Cup website.

Shortly after the announcement, at midnight, the moratorium on practicing on the Bay was lifted and three of the AC72s were out on a fairly peaceful San Francisco Bay with winds about 12 -16 knots on Thurs., May 23. Cup Defender Oracle USA, and Challengers Luna Rossa Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand took to the water to stretch their sea legs or wings. Take a look (video). View photos.

By |2013-05-29T18:45:24-07:00May 29th, 2013|0 Comments
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