As usual, click on the picture for a better view.
The singlehanded Trans-Atlantic speed record, that is. It was his from 2005-2008. He's here to try to get it back - and by sheer luck, I happened to catch his arrival.
Yes, it's another one from my Statue series taken at the Waterfront Museum on Sunday afternoon. Not the best picture I've ever taken but I suspected this boat was one of those fabulous ocean-going speed machines when I spotted it and I figured this one was likely to be in town for something interesting -- when this kind of boat appears in NY Harbor, it's generally for one of two reasons: a race, or a record attempt. I tossed this out on Facebook yesterday asking if anyone knew who she was and why she was here. Dan K, a trimaran man himself, immediately named the vessel as the racing trimaran IDEC. I remember enough of my high-school French to pick out the answer to the "why" half of the question without resorting to Google translate - IDEC is single-handed by Francis Joyon and yes, he's here to try to get back the single-handed Trans-Atlantic crossing record that he'd gotten in 2005 and then lost to Thomas Coville aboard the even BIGGER trimaran Sodeb'O in 2008 (story from that day here).
IDEC is supposed to be waiting for her weather window at North Cove Marina (although Capt. Michelle, one of my friends from my schooner-crew days, mentioned that Joyon was going to anchor out last night due to high winds making getting a boat with a 60' beam in through the can't-be-much-wider entrance to that marina too dicey to try). I will have to take my camera to work tomorrow and see if I can get some better shots - to this day I'm still regretting the fact that I didn't happen to have a camera along the day I was lucky enough to visit Sodeb'O when she was awaiting her crossing. She was actually waiting at the Gateway Marina in Dead Horse Bay, just outside the Marine Park bridge that spans the mouth of Jamaica Bay.
I hadn't heard about the attempt, I just happened to take my surfski out for an afternoon spin on a quiet day and as the marina came into view, I spotted this enormous beast towering over the rest of the sailboats there. Had to go see. I was able to paddle right up to her, too, between her hulls and everything. Amazing, but only recorded in my own memory! View from the sidewalk around North Cove may not be quite as unique as that kayak's-eye view, but it's always fun to see these things up close. Hope to have more to share before too long!
IDEC is supposed to be waiting for her weather window at North Cove Marina (although Capt. Michelle, one of my friends from my schooner-crew days, mentioned that Joyon was going to anchor out last night due to high winds making getting a boat with a 60' beam in through the can't-be-much-wider entrance to that marina too dicey to try). I will have to take my camera to work tomorrow and see if I can get some better shots - to this day I'm still regretting the fact that I didn't happen to have a camera along the day I was lucky enough to visit Sodeb'O when she was awaiting her crossing. She was actually waiting at the Gateway Marina in Dead Horse Bay, just outside the Marine Park bridge that spans the mouth of Jamaica Bay.
I hadn't heard about the attempt, I just happened to take my surfski out for an afternoon spin on a quiet day and as the marina came into view, I spotted this enormous beast towering over the rest of the sailboats there. Had to go see. I was able to paddle right up to her, too, between her hulls and everything. Amazing, but only recorded in my own memory! View from the sidewalk around North Cove may not be quite as unique as that kayak's-eye view, but it's always fun to see these things up close. Hope to have more to share before too long!
4 comments:
Those sentimental Frenchies.
They were probably passing that way just to see how we yanks are taking care of their statue.
Well, she's OK although she's got to be missing her visitors. She re-opens on the 4th of July.
Unfortunately the Ellis Island Museum will remain closed until who knows when.
Details here
Come to think of it, I think it was the French who also gave us the word 'sequestered' .
Ha. Win some, lose some.
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