tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133360562024-03-13T23:13:00.868-06:00Troy GilbertPortfolio and clips of published articles as well as other non-fiction and fiction. All items contained on this site are copyrighted material.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1143482483071712152009-06-07T17:30:00.012-06:002011-01-25T12:16:46.310-06:00Compiled Works<span style="font-weight:bold;">THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span><br /><br />Otherwise you will be redirected in 5 seconds.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-21022001970725789372007-01-12T00:10:00.002-06:002011-01-24T21:07:56.966-06:00Web DesignTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1143484335584519092006-11-15T17:00:00.014-06:002011-01-25T12:17:27.340-06:00Published ArticlesTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.<br /><br />Otherwise you will be redirected in five seconds.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163640581611907672006-11-14T19:00:00.002-06:002011-01-24T21:08:45.077-06:00Current/Available ProjectsTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163642265277563892006-11-13T12:01:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:09:00.915-06:00Awards/AccoladesTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163639331980586392006-11-10T19:00:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:09:38.562-06:00Nearly Lost, but Not ForgottonTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/nearly-lost-but-not-forgotten/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163639497979541052006-11-10T18:00:00.000-06:002006-11-15T19:11:37.983-06:00Zephyr!<span style="font-size:85%;">Published: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.sailingworld.com/index.jsp">Sailing World</a><br />January 2007</span><br /><br />Fifteen months ago Scott Tonguis and his longtime J/30 crew were gearing up to compete for their record fifth consecutive J/30 North American Championship win. Best of all it was to be on their hometown waters in New Orleans where they knew how to tackle the sometimes schizophrenic winds. Unfortunately, no one was prepared to tackle the weather that Hurricane Katrina wreaked on this city and region only weeks before the regatta.<br /><br />From Tennessee, Tonguis was able to view his J/30, Zephyr, in the ruined marina using satellite photos, but knew this was trivial in the big picture as he began hearing reports from his crew on their losses. "These good friends of mine, many of who had taught me to sail, had their homes destroyed, businesses upturned and spouses losing jobs." He adds, "It was really rough."<br /><br />It wasn't until after the military lockdown of the city was lifted that he was able to return and survey the damage. Zephyr, though properly and heavily secured, had risen up in her slip in the 24-foot storm surge, and eventually came down suffering a hole as she was impaled on a piling. Additionally, Zephyr's bow had been put under water by Hurricane Rita, which resulted in further damage to the boat's interior and sail stock.<br /><br />Standing amidst the few salvaged halyards, the spinnaker pole and roughed up mainsail in his mother's garage and understanding full well that the 2005 North American's were cancelled was when his emotions finally caught up. "All of us racing Zephyr lost something in that storm. The seven or eight of us who raced that boat used it as an excuse for old friends to get back together again every year. It was tough and really emotional."<br /><br />However, as the date approached in September for the 2006 North American's, Cedar Point Yacht Club made the incredibly gracious move of asking New Orleans Yacht Club to stand in as co-hosts for the event, and undaunted by the loss of their boat, Team Zephyr committed to attending the championship in Connecticut. They chartered a local J/30 and with nearly everyone from the previous year's crew sailing the regatta - they went to win.<br /><br />Team Zephyr raced a 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, (6) against 16 competitors in winds ranging from 4 -25 knots to win the championship by a full seven points over their nearest competitor. <br /><br />Adding to this unprecedented fifth consecutive J/30 championship and as a symbol of those who suffered and lost lives when the levees failed, the New Orleans sailors raced with Zephyr's surviving mainsail, stained and slightly misshapen from the weeks it was pinned under the murky Katrina floodwaters. Tonguis adds, "It was still the best main we had! We didn't even bother to clean it. We really wanted to sail with it as a symbol and show that everyone down there is still hurting."TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163639740026154652006-11-10T17:00:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:03:23.002-06:00Marina RefugeTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/marina-refuge/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163641010333800872006-11-10T16:30:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:06:51.354-06:00ZoologistTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/clips/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163641524196801862006-11-10T15:00:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:04:11.965-06:00Just Do It: The State of Sailing (and Racing) in New Orleans Post KatrinaTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/just-do-it/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1163647657997566902006-11-09T06:00:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:10:42.654-06:00BloggingTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1143483521648995092006-03-26T12:01:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:10:57.941-06:00NovelsTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1143485067766543012006-03-24T12:43:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:11:12.095-06:00ScreenplaysTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1143487722414791832006-03-23T13:08:00.002-06:002011-01-24T21:07:39.988-06:00Author's ProfileTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1135049951139047812006-03-12T16:18:00.002-06:002011-01-24T21:43:21.651-06:00Published Interviews<span style="font-weight:bold;">THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/">HERE</a> to redirect.<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span>TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-53792223813362175032006-01-26T10:42:00.001-06:002011-01-24T21:05:49.473-06:00Katrina's MarinasTHIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN MOVED<br />Please click <a href="http://troyagilbert.wordpress.com/clips/">HERE</a> to redirect.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1138670353087342762006-01-25T19:12:00.000-06:002006-01-30T19:19:13.103-06:0060 Second Interview with Ryan Finn<span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: NOYC.org</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">January 25,2006</span><br /><br />Alone on the water a single gust of wind grows more powerful, building momentum and strength while its incandescent spirit charges through steering currents seeking anything but the inevitable landfall. The sheer chutzpah and character of this rising force on the water cannot be denied and is only lightly diminished by the odd hats this solo sailor wears.<br /><br />Straight back from the double handed Trans-Atlantic race, the Transat Jacues Vabre, and after having put nearly 20,000 lifetime ocean miles under his belt, New Orleanian Ryan Finn took a few minutes of his time over cocktails at the Saint to answer some pressing questions for NOYC’s vast audience.<br /><br />NOYC.org – So, how’s your house?<br /><br />Finn – Soaked.<br /><br />NOYC.org - I hear that people were asking you for your autograph in France – true?<br /><br />Finn -Yep, it’s true. The French public loves shorthanded sailing, and on a daily basis thousands of people would come to the basin and watch us do the most boring things like cleaning the boat or taping up shrouds. Even so, it was a privilege for me to be a part of.<br /><br />NOYC.org - What's your vision for the future of the New Orleans levee system?<br /><br />Finn - Simple, our levees should not break. I know that was the vision last time, but this time we need a little more conviction. And in the bigger picture, but just as urgently, we need to start working to reverse coastal erosion in Louisiana. On a daily basis we are becoming more and more vulnerable to hurricanes such as Katrina.<br /><br />NOYC.org - Should NOYC keep the vaulted ceilings in the bar?<br /><br />Finn - Yes. We finally have a bar that could be considered trendy. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the post apocalyptic look is in this season. It’s a big step up from the Lion’s Club aesthetic, which Katrina seemed to have particular disdain for in yacht clubs across the Gulf Coast.<br /><br />NOYC.org - What are these rumors I hear about you getting involved with an Open 60?<br /><br />Finn - I am currently searching for a sponsor for the Velux 5-Oceans race. Ultimately I want to do the 2008 Vendee Globe, an Open 60’ race, but for the Velux race I am keeping my options open to either an Open 50 or 60.<br /><br />NOYC.org - Under what conditions would you beat Bad Dog head-to-head on a Finn?<br /><br />Finn - I raced against him early in his Finn career and was able to beat him, but that was some time ago. My new strategy is to wait a week or two for old age to catch up to him before I sail against him again.<br /><br />NOYC.org - What was the most excruciating moment for you on the Transat Jacques Vabre?<br /><br />Finn - Saying goodbye to Katie and my Dad before the start, because I knew it was going to be a very long and difficult race.<br /><br />NOYC.org - Word on the street is that your girlfriend was a little nervous helming the boat a couple of days before the start of the Transat, what's up with that?<br /><br />Finn - It was actually the morning of the start, and Katie was probably feeling a bit of pressure sharing a small space behind a sea wall with the most expensive Open 50’s and 60’s in the world. It was also blowing around 25 knots at the time.<br /><br />Triplett – No, it was easily 30++.<br /><br />NOYC.org - With the obvious success of the Sugar Bowl Regatta over the years, how do you feel about CSA's goal to create and host the Bayou Classic Regatta?<br /><br />Finn - The more racing there is on the lake the better.<br /><br />NOYC.org - What's the best advice that you can give to Riley Stogner in order to help him overcome his obvious shortcomings in sailing J Boats fast?<br /><br />Finn - I suggest he reads Dianetics. It changed my life. Would you believe me if I told you that Rod Johnstone was a Scientologist?<br /><br />NOYC.org – Probably. Has anybody ever confused you with Tony Hawk?<br /><br />Finn - No, and especially not while on a skateboard.<br /><br />NOYC.org - What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say “Pave the Lake”?<br /><br />Finn - Dude, the lake chop would make awesome little launch ramps.<br /><br />NOYC.org – Thanks for taking the time for us Ryan.<br /><br />Finn – No problem dude.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1138400238463673762005-12-19T22:00:00.000-06:002006-01-27T16:37:52.453-06:00Escaping to Marfa<span style="font-style: italic;">Published: <a href="http://www.desertcandle.org/">Desert Candle</a></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Spring 2006</span><br /><br />The storm was nothing, the aftermath was everything. After six weeks of enduring Hurricane Katrina's wake including walking around my city armed, visiting my home by canoe, zero utilities, pet rescue by boat, becoming one with my chainsaw, alarmist national media, Hepatitis and tetanus shots, and experiencing the near death of one of the most beloved cities in America - I had to finally get out of New Orleans.<br /><br />What I needed and had been dreaming of was the wide open expanses of West Texas, looking for solace in the dusty, mold-free western roads and highways with mental self penalties for every mile wasted on an interstate.<br /><br />Having driven the length of Texas in one form or another at least ten times, there was no doubt in my mind about what I was looking for. I wanted to put miles on my odometer… and use the time to breathe and think.<br /><br />The first day's drive was a blur of Katrina devastation, which then gave way to Rita devastation and it wasn't until nearly past Houston that normality on the road began to appear.<br /><br />Making great time through Eastern Texas, the drive through the night was long, but perfect. The lights and traffic of the big cities finally gave way to the hill country and ranchland of Highway 90. The stars played out in the sky, and the eyes of doe and rabbits sparked amongst the scrub. I finally found the strength to turn off the New Orleans AM news station that can be picked up as far west as New Mexico on some nights. I was leaving it behind. I needed to divest myself, and I did - I put a Steve Earle cd into the radio.<br /><br />Not far out of Del Rio, I finally pulled to the side of the road in a small picnic area, the lone truck awash in the blackest black of a south Texas night. Two quick cold beers mostly allayed my fears of being hijacked by 'coyotes' running illegals, whether real or perceived, and I crashed.<br /><br />Morning brought bad Del Rio coffee and a wrong turn nearly into Mexico, but a few miles gave way and broke the beginnings of some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen, vistas I had no idea existed in Texas.<br /><br />With no timetable and only a general heading, I passed over the spaghetti western rivers of the Pecos and the Big Canyon, discovering true one-burro towns whose names escape me now. Other than the views and hours of Robert Earl Keen on the radio, the only conversation I had was with a border guard at a checkpoint.<br /><br />As he examined me and my Louisiana license, we laughed as I explained how six weeks ago these checkpoints were outrageously foreign and nearly un-American to me, but now after humvees, M-16's and "let me see your papers" at near every major intersection in New Orleans, I had become slightly accustomed.<br /><br />He asked where I was heading. I shrugged. He nodded - understanding I think.<br /><br />Later that day leaning against my truck in the dry desert air, I figured I would maybe camp for a few days in Big Bend, but while following Highway 90 on the map - my finger landed on Marfa. I remembered in a moment why that name was familiar and recalled a friend of mine explaining how Marfa was becoming the new Santa Fe. What the heck, and like that Marfa became my destination.<br /><br />Each town I buzzed through lifted my spirits, Marathon then Alpine - I got excited about what I might find a little bit further down the road.<br /><br />Passing over the last rise, Marfa - I guess you could say spread out before me - with the water tower greeting me first. I made a quick pass through the town getting my bearings and then launched into a financial debate… The Thunderbird or the Riata?<br /><br />Being the lowly freelance writer that I am and having not received any emergency funding from FEMA or the Red Cross at this point, the cheaper move was obviously not the Thunderbird, but heck my body and spirit demanded solace, and I went with the Thunderbird.<br /><br />I walked into the office and learned of my immediate future… the Chinati Festival was happening that weekend and I could only have a room until Friday morning. Disheartened - how could I chance upon the big festival weekend in Marfa, only to not have a place to stay? The desk manager and I laughed about this, and then I discovered he had grown up in New Orleans and had been in Marfa for a few years, but his parents were still there. "So how's your house?" I asked in the now typical New Orleans greeting.<br /><br />Within a few hours I was refreshed, and putting my ancient ragged Luchese's on - I walked out into Marfa. During that first thirty minutes in town, I discovered what were to become my two biggest haunts during my stay - the Brown Recluse Coffeeshop and Joe's Bar, although I would become familiar with Carmen's (of course), Maiya's and a barbershop straight out of the 1930's that trimmed my unruly Katrina beard.<br /><br />What I didn't know was that within a day I was to be welcomed by a complete stranger who would offer me a place to stay.<br /><br />Firmly establishing myself as a transient regular at Joe's Bar, I was quickly befriended by Ray, the owner of the bar, and Anita, his kind and gracious bartender. In fact, over the next few nights, I played a lot of pool and drank beer with some of the true Marfian characters, ranging from the town banker to ranchers and hands, as well as a ton of tourists from Austin.<br /><br />By the second night, Ray knew of my situation with regards to not having a hotel room and offered up his Winnebago to me for the weekend. Surprised at his generosity, it took me a bit to accept. But I did, explaining that I was now accustomed to not having utilities - it would be no great difficulty, and it was to put it mildly, rustic and perfect. In the mornings I'd stroll over to Carmen's, then while away a few hours in the sun reading McCarthy's Blood Meridian, before exploring the roads down to Presidio and Valentine.<br /><br />I stayed in contact with family and friends through the library's computers and sat in the rain one afternoon looking for the Marfa Lights, knowing full well that I was supposed to look to the Southwest at night, but really I was dwelling on home. By evening, I would take up my spot at Joe's curious of who fate would have me talk to that night.<br /><br />The night of the Chinati Festival, I joined the dinner early, watching the crews set up the long tables while sipping on a Lone Star, the sun passing down behind the western buildings, but warming me in their reflection off the windows across the street. I searched for the ghosts of Hudson, Taylor and Dean down the street at the Paisano and eventually fell in with a random group from Austin bouncing through the galleries for a long night of celebration.<br /><br />A day later, as Monday morning eventually came down, I knew I had to move on further west. An old high school buddy of mine had offered to meet me in the Canyonlands of Utah and I was wary of overstaying my welcome in the winnebago.<br /><br />Packed back up for the road, I discovered more vast and beautiful areas of west Texas on these small quiet semi-highways, and at one point nearly had a wash-out on some road from a tropical system that had moved in from the Pacific.<br /><br />Nearing the Guadalupe Mountains, I pulled over to eat lunch on Hwy 54 after the rain had passed, and reminisced about the last few days in Marfa. One conversation kept coming back to me from a night at Joe's over a beer and a pool game. A Marfian who had originally come from the Mississippi Gulf Coast explained to me how not but a week before I had arrived, he had been down in Biloxi to bury his brother who had died in the rising waters of that hurricane.<br /><br />Over a thousand miles from landfall, Katrina was able to reach out and touch a town in west Texas with only pop. 2,424, and somehow I to had made my way there to experience the grace of a group of people who I am lucky to have walked amongst in a time when grace and companionship were exactly what I needed.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1135049579365978562005-12-19T21:29:00.000-06:002005-12-19T21:32:59.366-06:00NOLA Still RacesPublished: <a href="http://www.sailinganarchy.com">Sailing Anarchy</a><br />December 20, 2005<br /><br />One would think that when the 630 square miles of Lake Pontchartrain decided to add New Orleans to its acreage after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in late August, that New Orleans would cease to exist for awhile in the racing arena.<br /><br />Not true, in the four months post-K, in plain view of the much honored and now burned out husk of Southern Yacht Club and the nearby gutted New Orleans Yacht Club - New Orleans area racers have held four regattas out on the lake replete with several PHRF and one-design classes.<br /><br />Granted the numbers were down, as nearly 60% of the sailboat stock in New Orleans was destroyed including the J/30 Zephyr which was on course to shoot for her 5th North American J/30 Championship on her home waters in October.<br /><br />New Orleans area sailors also rallied to fund local Anthony Hudson's attempt at the Laser World Championships in Brazil within a month of Katrina's landfall and have actively followed local single-handed sailor Ryan Finn as he competed in the TransAt.<br /><br />Moreover, New Orleans Yacht Club, located a short three blocks from the 17th St. Canal breach, also opened up her doors to all Gulf Coast sailors within five weeks of landfall. Still under generator power and a 9:00 pm curfew, this sailing community bellies up to the one yacht club bar that still stands, as club volunteers dish out cold beer and hot burgers to sailors and National Guardsmen alike amidst the ruins of the once scenic West End.<br /><br />Never count this town and her people out.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1135049232030142562005-12-19T21:27:00.000-06:002005-12-19T21:29:36.770-06:00MRE's in the Four Corners<span style="font-style: italic;">Published: <a href="http://www.insideoutsidemag.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inside Outside Southwest Magazine</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">December 1, 2005</span><br /><br />The storm was nothing, the aftermath was everything. After six weeks of enduring Katrina's wake including walking around my city armed, visiting my home by canoe, pet rescue by boat, zero utilities, becoming one with my chainsaw, alarmist national media, Hep A & B and tetanus shots, and experiencing the death of one of the most beloved cities in America - I had to finally get out of New Orleans.<br /><br />I had lived out west for a few years and skied Colorado every Mardi Gras until I was eighteen, so I knew that the mountains, desert and cooler weather was as foreign a place from my home that I could get to.<br /><br />Armed to the teeth with MRE's, stories to make a war vet weep, and a few New Orleans' exiles or expatriates strategically positioned throughout the west offering couches, I got in my truck and left one odyssey for another. Destination Santa Fe, the Canyonlands and Durango.<br /><br />The road out of New Orleans was tough, driving through military convoys and the fact that after the twin punch of Rita, normalcy on the road did not appear until nearly through Houston, but the wide open expanses of Texas and then New Mexico did come. As did eventually the familiar sight of Santa Fe.<br /><br />Camped out on the floor of an adobe staying with a friend of a friend, the extravagance of coffee houses, bars and fried poblanos at Del Charo's was a beautiful thing, but what I discovered was that this town was bringing me down. I don't know if it was the kin tourist nature of the city, the nightmares that started to come or if it was the outright normality of a functioning town that was doing it, but five days was enough.<br /><br />As it turned out, an old high school buddy of mine who is now a technical climbing guide and who has lived in the west since college offered to meet me in the Canyonlands of Utah for several days. I semi-seriously warned him that I hadn't been above sea level in 15 years, and hadn't put on a pair of climbing shoes in the same, in fact my hiking boots were to be a beat-up pair of Reebok tennis shoes, my sleeping bag south Louisiana weight with a failing zipper.<br /><br />As I waited for him and his climbing partner to arrive, I already knew that this is where I needed to be as I sat in the back of my truck at Newspaper Rock sipping on a beer in the cool night air.<br /><br />The days were filled with climbing these insane 5.12+ routes, none of which I succeeded in getting past even the first holds - explaining that my failings had all to do with the size 8.5 borrowed climbing shoes I had on my 10.5 feet - all of us laughing at these bare attempts at deception and explanation.<br /><br />I quickly settled down into my duty of sitting at the base of these routes, watching my friends and others defy gravity and the laws of the physical body, sipping on water and soaking in the high desert sun and amazing views which names like the Valley of the Gods gives no justice. All was good in the world.<br /><br />My MRE's ended up being a big hit for about a day and were eventually rummaged through for M&M's and Reese's Pieces. I do have to say, they're not that bad. Not that good, but really not that bad.<br /><br />At night by the campfire over tequila and Tecate, I started to learn the language of climbers, laughing at all the slang. In awe at the creativity of route names, climbs like Belly Full of Bad Berries, Serrator and Way Rambo as they planned their next day's climbs. Eventually my Katrina stories started to come out, and each one told released me a bit, my spirits continuing to rise dust, sweat and all.<br /><br />We discussed a climb up the tower, South Six Shooter, and I told them I would give it a run. The next day we set out for this spire crossing through marscapes and geological lotteries. Bringing up the rear in my Louisiana lungs, I eventually made it to the top only to very nearly have a panic attack as I was buffeted by familiar strong winds. Even in a place as far removed as this was, my past was right there in my face.<br /><br />Before I hit the road out the next day, I walked over to Newspaper Rock and stared at the Indian marks and the few left by western men and had the urge to carve my name with no date under, but Katrina Survivor instead.<br /><br />That night in Durango after a much needed shower, I walked down the main street and happened upon a bar that was holding a Gulf Coast fundraising concert. I paid my five dollars, drank many beers and contemplated the road home and what will eventually constitute home, my spirit freshened by the west.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1164985152803983242005-12-01T08:57:00.002-06:002008-09-15T20:49:53.929-06:00Radio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdDGJiAnBWAJVDHr39T_K-ECMlrpiHXhwnBaSj4f_gpQ0JFRuRK82OSXlkF-hmaT8IRKhITTltSv7kOSpMX9nPtQxO5rZ2kWKMN8DmG0eb_T6uCt4PheLFk6apCGY6z5XzSdH1A/s1600-h/WWNO+TAG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdDGJiAnBWAJVDHr39T_K-ECMlrpiHXhwnBaSj4f_gpQ0JFRuRK82OSXlkF-hmaT8IRKhITTltSv7kOSpMX9nPtQxO5rZ2kWKMN8DmG0eb_T6uCt4PheLFk6apCGY6z5XzSdH1A/s200/WWNO+TAG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028840919318385730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radio Diner</span><br />WWNO 89.9 - Thursdays @ 4:45pm<br />New Orleans Restaurant Reviews<br /><br />• <a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wwno/news.mediaplayer?STATION_NAME=wwno&MEDIA_ID=548933&MEDIA_EXTENSION=asf&MODULE=news"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chefs in Exile</span></a><br />WWNO 89.9 - Thanksgiving 2006<br />Informative piece regarding the <a href="http://www.cookinginexile.blogspot.com/">Chefs in Exile project</a>.<br /><br />• <a href="http://gulfsails.podomatic.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mariner Rides Out Hurricane Gustav</span></a><br />Sailing Anarchy PodcastTAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1131051876758760662005-11-03T14:53:00.000-06:002008-01-17T18:03:41.627-06:00The GulfSails Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/842/1168/320/NOYC%20Gulfsails%20Logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/842/1168/320/NOYC%20Gulfsails%20Logo.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>My personal account of riding out Hurricane Katrina, Rita and the aftermath.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulfsails.blogspot.com/">GulfSails</a> was profiled in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Times Picayune as well as countless other publications in the U.S. and around the world.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1135054900186605952005-09-19T21:59:00.000-06:002006-03-14T16:50:32.643-06:00'83 Lightship Revisted<span style="font-weight: bold;">Publish date:</span> April 2006<br />Southwinds Sailing Magazine<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*Note: All individuals quoted in this article have been listed as anonymous, as even today there is serious bad blood between many of the participants in the Lightship. With the loss of life and the many lawsuits which followed, myself and my editor deemed it best to go this route.</span></span><br /><br />Twenty-three years ago the New Orleans Lightship Race, one of a series of offshore races that made up the Gulf Ocean Racing Circuit (GORC), became a cautionary tale for all who sail or race in waters anywhere.<br /><br />In April of 1983, thirty-eight vessels began the 200nm course that would take them from Gulfport, MS to the mouth of the Mississippi River where the competitors would pass the New Orleans Lightship to port. They would then return by way of passing the Mobile Sea Buoy to port and subsequently follow the southern edges of the Gulf Islands westward until turning back north at Ship Island to finish just outside Gulfport Yacht Club.<br /><br />Out of the diverse classes of sailboats that started the race, only six boats managed to finish, and what follows is a reconstruction of the harrowing and tragic adventure that has become lore along the Gulf Coast.<br /><br />As anyone who has lived on the Gulf Coast for any period of time knows, April can be one of the most beautiful months with temperatures generally resting in the lower seventies, which are then frequently reinforced by cooler high pressure systems moving down from the north. On this April evening the conditions for sailing were reasonable, though forecast to turn ahead of one of these reinforcing fronts, but predictions were for nothing in the Gulf over 10 feet.<br /><br />As such, the race went on as scheduled with only a few vessels not starting because of the forecast. According to one crewmember before they headed out to the start, "One of our skippers came up and announced he wasn't going on account of the forecast. This seemed rather ominous to me as the guy had this aura of being very competent, but many dismissed him out-of-hand."<br /><br />The race commenced around dusk in a medium southerly breeze with conditions that continued to worsen throughout the race as the cold front approached from the north. For most, the breeze began freshening in a big way past Ship Island and in the vicinity of the Chandeleur Islands, as evidenced by a '37 Heritage One Ton, which had started the race with a #2 and before even reaching the Lightship had dropped down to a #4 with two reefs in her. A C&C 34 named Patricia was in 'survival' mode even before the first mark, reaching around the course with a blade and no main.<br /><br />Nearby, a Hobie 33 named Carnival Time lost her port spreader close to the Chandeleur light. The crew made several attempts climbing the mast to repair the dangling shroud, but to no avail. Because of this "stroke of luck", Carnival Time dropped out of the race and limped downwind back to Gulfport. Arriving in port the crew was shocked to discover that several other boats had already returned without their masts and stories began to arise of catastrophes on the water.<br /><br />A S2 7.9 which was rolling in the steadily worsening conditions had already caught another vessel, the Stella Maris, when the weather truly turned. According to one member of her crew, "The stints on the helm got shorter and shorter as it was luff up the face, bear off to near knockdown on the backside and then try to do a controlled round-up to complete the cycle. Short of the lightship, a shroud started to part and we turned back in the black of night. Using dead reckoning, we somehow did not retrace our course and slid east and went over Dogs Key Pass. Brother, was that wild! But what the hell, we were inside."<br /><br />Nearing the first mark, a C&C 40 had a small electrical fire and lost most of her electronics. A crewmember states that, "We don't know how hard it blew but probably pretty close to 40. Some of the rigs reported as high as 65. Seas were around 15 ft and I mean a real 15, so the front sides were like 30."<br /><br />Two vessels, including a Chance '39, both either lost their mast and/or rigging and dropped out of the race. "The race was going well but our rig broke about 2 miles shy of the light." A crewmember details, "We were carrying a #3 and a double reef but were honestly talking about whether to put up a full size 1.5oz or the storm chute nicknamed Darth Vader. After we cut the rig loose we motored up the MRGO back to New Orleans."<br /><br />Many others fought on.<br /><br />According to a crewmember on Slot Machine, a Lindenberg 30, "Conditions continued to worsen throughout the race, and after rounding the lightship, and the Mobile Bay sea buoy, it was a deemed safest to just get home rather than dropping out and threading through one of the minor passes in the islands."<br /><br />According to everyone, turning past the Mobile Sea Buoy is when things really started to hit the fan. The combination of the cold front carrying with it 50+ winds and the shallower waters near the Gulf Islands created an irresistible formula for disaster.<br /><br />Back on the Heritage One Ton a crewmember reported that, "By the time we got to the Mobile buoy, the breeze was a steady 30+ from the south and we were afraid to jibe, so we tried to tack. I say tried because the first time a huge wave slapped us back onto starboard tack, so we got up more speed and slammed it around between two waves in time for the second wave to force us around onto port and back west."<br /><br />On the C&C 40 a crewmember recalls, "The next leg from Mobile to Ship Island was downwind in real steep seas, we got pooped every fourth or fifth wave so that the cockpit completely filled. One wave was so bad that it stove in some of the companionway boards which really freaked out the below deck denizens who weren't feeling too chipper anyway. But, we must have been far enough behind to miss the really bad conditions on the leg along Petit Bois Island where everyone had problems."<br /><br />Another crewmember recalls, "I would like to say that we were great seamen and all of that, but most of us puked around the course and just did the work that we had to do to get back. I remember sitting a watch with my watch captain. He was steering downwind in puffs up to 60 knots when he said 'hey, look at this'. He was turning the wheel but nothing was happening. The boat was just sailing with the sails, max reef on the main and a storm trysail."<br /><br />Another states, "I can also tell you about sailing the boat downwind under storm jib alone and turning the wheel and nothing happening at all. Or I can tell you about being down in a bowl in the waves so that to see the sky you had to look straight up. Actually that's about all that I can tell you, because other than being sick and tired I don't really remember too much. I remember trimming sails when it was my watch, but of the thirteen of us on the boat that I was on, at least ten of us were sick most of the way, and the guy who owned the boat told me later that the only reason that he didn't get sick was that he was too scared to let that happen."<br /><br />According to a crewmember on a Pearson 424, "Our anemometer was pegged at 63 knots for one period and we were surfing at 15+ with a storm jib."<br /><br />Another participant witnessed that, "A Creekmore had lost it's rudder just inside of the Ship island channel and he had to anchor and ride it out. Had he been outside there is no telling what might have happened. The Lord watches after sailors and fools, and I know that HE was watching after many of us that weekend."<br /><br />Back onboard Slot Machine, "Rogue waves started coming in earnest. On top of the 12ft sea running at the time, occasional monsters would come through, breaking on top. It was one of these waves in particular that came through and seems to have been the harbringer of disaster. The wave broke, and flipped her stern over bow. In the same motion, the rudder was broken off. The boat came up, rig intact, but no steerage. A sea anchor was deployed, but it did not bring the bow into the wind. Slot Machine had no control, and was broadside to the breaking waves. The crew got below deck, wedged themselves into place with sails, and tried to stow all potential projectiles. A Mayday was put out, but in the middle of communication with the Coast Guard, the boat rolled again, this time the mast hit the bottom, and communication with the Coast Guard ended."<br /><br />Around this point, on another boat, a J29, a 20 year old Tulane student, Nelson Roltsch, climbed from below deck. The stories vary, but he was apparently wearing a lifejacket and a harness. He was unclipped and moving to another point, but did not have a chance to hook on when a wave hit. He was washed overboard and once he was off the boat, "there was no way to get to him, and no way for him to get to the boat."<br /><br />As this was happening, the Heritage One Ton was also in a precarious position, "We sailed along the south side of the islands, the rollers were forced higher and higher as they met shallower bottom, until they were breaking completely over the boat every third time. At Petit Bois pass, the shit hit the fan. Our forestay tang sheered with a loud bang and the only thing holding the mast forward were a baby stay and the jib luff. We quickly ran halyards forward to the surviving jib-tack horns and cinched them tight, saving the mast. No longer able to sail, we began motoring north, with huge help from the now following seas, to try to find the pass and put in at Pascagoula. It was the middle of the night now, and you couldn't see a thing, but you could hear each wave as it approached like a freight train. It's amazing how attuned and accurate yours ears become at moments like this. We heard the next wave coming, but instead of it being behind us, it was above us. The wave broke over the first set of spreaders and the boat pitchpoled stern-over-bow into a fully inverted position."<br /><br />Within the next hour Slot Machine started pounding on the beach of Petit Bois. "Timing was critical, as one by one the crew ran off the boat through the surf, avoiding being crushed under the boat as it came off the next wave. We set up a shelter in the dunes with a liferaft and a sail."<br /><br />On the inverted Heritage, a crewmember recounts, "When the boat finally rolled to one side enough, the keel took over and righted the boat, two of our crew hung precipitously from the pulpit. Several of us ran on deck, I was still unconscious having been knocked out below. They pulled the first crewmember back in, one to go. I guess I should mention that at this time our second crew still hanging over the side played line for Georgia football and weighed in the 350 range. It took all four to get him back in the boat."<br /><br />Now precariously attempting to shelter themselves on Petit Bois Island, a skipper of Slot Machine recounts, "We were eight souls aboard Slot Machine during the Lightship Race. All survived the foundering suffering some degree of hypothermia having been exposed to rain and 42 degree temperatures on Petit Bois. Our watch captain who was at the helm during the pitchpole, but harnessed to the rail suffered cracked ribs when he bent the stern pulpit and broke through the lifelines during the pitchpole." A Coast Guard chopper was eventually able to evacuate the crew of Slot Machine to Gulfport after a few hours on the island.<br /><br />Back on the Heritage, "We fired a flare, concerned that we might be going up on shore. A rescue helicopter was already out there and led us the short distance to the pass. Amazingly the engine had kept running while we were inverted! Inside the pass, the waves instantly went from 15'-30' to 1'. Coast residents, save your barrier islands - that's why they are called BARRIER islands."<br /><br />Behind the worst of the action a crewmember on the C&C 40 states, "The sun came up before we got to Mobile and it was a glorious sight. Those big seas with the tops being blown off were incredible. I had been driving for quite a while in the dark, so once the sun came up so did some other drivers. The wind started to back off and we were able to fly a chute before we got to the turn to Gulfport. When we got to the dock it was night again and all these wives and mothers were asking us if we had any information regarding their loved ones. A lot of people had not been heard from so everyone feared the worse."<br /><br />Another states, "I was in that race in the vicinity of where Nelson was lost. I'll never forget the sight the next day of the rescue planes searching back and forth for him to no avail."<br /><br />Another recounts, "As I recall we never knew that Nelson was lost until Monday. I think that we just trudged off of the boat and into the car, heading for Mobile. I remember that I fell asleep in the bath tub. When we first heard that he had been lost my initial response was that that could not have happened on the boat that I was on, but after thinking more carefully, it began to dawn on me that it could have happened to anyone, on any of the boats, and that it was amazing that it didn't happen more often."<br /><br />Tragically, Nelson Roltsch was never found. An accomplished sailor, well-liked and with fiery red hair, he had won a national scow championship at age 16. He had entered Tulane in 1981 and had spent the summer as a charter captain, having earned his US Coast Guard Captain's License at age 18.<br /><br />Today Tulane University is proud to continue to remember Nelson by having renamed the annual Windjammer Regatta to the Nelson Roltsch Regatta. It is well attended and very competitive.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1135051350911737312005-09-01T21:02:00.000-06:002005-12-19T22:04:08.930-06:00J/30 Nationals Come to the Gulf Coast<span style="font-style: italic;">Published: Southwinds Sailing Magazine</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">September 1, 2005</span><br /><br />The winds and water of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans will be host to the J/30 National Championships October 20th - 23rd and the expectations are building for this to be one of the most fiercely competitive championships to date.<br /><br />With big name sailors already being spotted sizing up the notoriously shifty winds on the lake and having cocktails at New Orleans Yacht Club's bar, it's bringing an early sense of what's to come. The interest level is already high, as one New Orleans based team has a lot riding on this regatta. Team Zephyr having won the last four J/30 Nationals Championships will be shooting for an unprecedented fifth win on their home waters.<br /><br />When asked about the upcoming championship, maverick New Orleans sailmaker and Zephyr crew, Benz Faget, states "I'm looking forward to the J-30 nationals after being with Scott for the last four winning years. We are expecting some great competition from both the local sailors as well as the out of town boats. I will be doing a tuning seminar prior to the regatta and will give away some of our successful secrets and tricks to help everyone get the most performance from their boat."<br /><br />In J/30 circles, the blue-hulled Zephyr, has become the boat to beat on the Gulf Coast, with an average margin of victory of over 18 seconds per mile against other J/30s and is manned by some big names in southern sailing: Tonguis, Faget, Steinkamp, Brennan and Erwin. They're not only known in south either, in 2001, Zephyr won Chicago's Verve Cup, Leukemia Cup and the 2001 North American Championship all within a two-week period.<br /><br />With an anticipated turn-out of over 25 J/30 teams from over 15 states and helmed by names such as David Bolyard, John McArthur and Scott Tonguis, the expectations are that there will be a record number of spectator boats plying the waters around the course.<br /><br />As the host site, New Orleans Yacht Club is providing a huge amount of support ranging from the parties, including an expedition to the French Quarter, to the spectator boats to free winter storage. A number of loaner boats are available and registration is ongoing. For further information, visit www.noyc.org or contact Katie Triplett at Katie@noyc.info.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13336056.post-1135053109246052022005-08-15T21:31:00.000-06:002006-01-30T19:29:14.816-06:0060 Second Interview with Anthony Hudson<span style="font-weight: bold;">Published: NOYC.org</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">July 15, 2005</span><br /><br />On September 18th, NOYC member Anthony Hudson will be representing the club, New Orleans and the states when he competes in the 2005 Laser Worlds down in Fortaleza, Brazil. Anthony is ranked 291st in the World Laser Standings.<br /><br />He needs to raise nearly $4,000 to cover registration, new sails, a plane ticket and other expenses and is asking for your help. If anyone is interested in donating money to assist his effort, you can contact his via email at rumpus333@hotmail.com.<br /><br />Anyway, we recently sat down with him and had a chat regarding his upcoming races.<br /><br />NOYC - So you're ranked 291st in the World Laser Standings, that's a pretty strong accomplishment, but where's the darn cutoff for being invited to the worlds?<br /><br />Hudson - The US was allocated 6 of 100 spots at the worlds. There are several major regattas that lead to qualifying. I attended 4 that were in the southeastern region of the country: Midwinters East, US Nationals, District 14 & 15 champs. The winner of Midwinters east & west, North Americans, US Nationals, and Canadian Nationals get an automatic bid. In addition, one at large bid is given to the person who has consistently done well at major regattas accumulating Grand Prix points along the way and hasn't already qualified. I qualified under the Midwinters east bid by being one of the top Americans.<br /><br />NOYC - If for whatever reason, perish the thought, that you can't raise enough money, how long would it take to sail a 30' Easterly down to Fortaleza, Brazil?<br /><br />Hudson - An Easterly 30 is a reaching machine. She can carry lots of sail area and remain balanced with her larger rebuilt rudder. So lets say I could sail her down there in 3 weeks. However, I don't really know. I have solo sailed Pompano to Gulfport in under 10 hours. Does that count for anything? With my normal crew of 15, we could race down to J mark and back in maybe 3 hours, after stopping for a swim and bbq.<br /><br />NOYC - On the 2005 Laser World's website they state, "Ceará (Fortaleza) is one of the best touristical places to visit in Brasil." Is 'touristical' a word?<br /><br />Hudson - Touristical is not a word in the dictionary. My flight gets me to Fortaleza 3 days before the regatta. I imagine I will have a little time after practicing to see some sights. I am anxious to see the water. On the Laser Worlds website the pictures of the water are incredible. Lake Pontchartrain is detritus brown, while Fortaleza has turquoise water. I imagine it will look a lot like Miami. Sailing in Biscayne Bay is incredibly beautiful with the clear water and the light colored architecture of downtown Miami in the background.<br /><br />NOYC - Who did you feel was your toughest competition on the Gulf Coast?<br /><br />Hudson - John Loe and I have been the only Gulf Coast Laser sailors to attend several major regattas and place well. John is from Southern YC. Recently, John beat me at O'Day regionals in a 12-boat fleet, but I placed ahead of him at Midwinters East and Nationals in larger fleets. We are very equal sailors who love the light fluky gulf coast winds.<br /><br />NOYC - Who are you pulling for in the J/30 Nationals?<br /><br />Hudson - I am rooting for the boat I will be on for J-30 Nationals. Jackpot!!<br /><br />NOYC - Brazil has a certain reputation for having some interesting 'beach' scenery, are you considering trying to raise money for the race and having a second fund for shall we say, more touristical activities?<br /><br />Hudson - I need no money for beach activities. Every penny I raise will be used towards my huge flight and registration bills. Yet, I will return with many stories and pictures of the beautiful beach scenery for the NOYC website.<br /><br />NOYC - We'll be looking forward to that Anthony. Best of luck and bring home the win.<br /><br />Hudson - Thanks.TAGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735355994046809357noreply@blogger.com