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May 20, 2015
As we move closer to the Trans-Atlantic race we have a lot to accomplish which inevitably brings some hurdles to overcome. As mentioned before we had some fuel tank issues. After removal of the tank finishing up on a Friday and knowing the Trans-Atlantic crew will be coming Monday for their training session, we had […]
May 15, 2015
This week has been very busy for Dorade. She has been sailing every day with her crew, while Nick tunes up, assembles and organizes gear on and off the boat. I have been cranking along in the evenings after school picking up where Nick leaves off. I am learning a lot and taking everything as […]
May 10, 2015
Coming out of the refit and re-launch, Dorade and the team has shifted gears. We have to switch from refit mode to race mode. This entails getting the containers organized, inventoried and shipped, rigging the boat and tuning the rigs, done by Rig Pro Southern Spars, and loading the gear. Myles and I are finishing […]
May 10, 2015
With the cold winter refit and the re-launch behind us Dorade is happy to be off the hard and sitting at the dock outside LMI. Through the re-launch and we had a couple hiccups of getting back in the water. As we know when Dorade moves in the slings and gets back in the […]
May 2, 2015
As Dorade sits and sways gently in her quiet corner of the Hinckley Marina, she receives tiny bursts of wake from the jetty opening that tease anticipation of the imminent towering crests that shall soon to be overcome. She is patient, as are her caretakers, as we steadily move forward in an ever present venture […]
April 23, 2015
Dorade is back in the water! (Ahead of schedule) The results of the winter efforts in optimizing Dorade for its repeat this year of its 1931 Transatlantic and Fastnet Races is almost complete. These two Races will complete Dorade's "Return to Blue Water Series", which will have repeated all of Dorade's early historical races. This […]
April 23, 2015
Time is flying on our way to launch DORADE, here comes probably the last update before the launch later this coming week. Brightwork Deck Good thing we pushed hard to make the deadline 04/12 - it allowed us this week to pick a few areas and go for one more coat: cockpit, some areas of […]
April 23, 2015
Spring has just arrived and it seems that summer is already rapping on Dorade's door in an urgent, yet playful and almost polite manner as my youthful anticipation as a "fresh out of the womb" Nipper is surely at full capacity. The position has befell upon me as though I had been dubbed a Knight […]
April 20, 2015
Along with the St Francis burgee, we fly our house flag showing two stars. Those two stars are in honor of Matt's father, Jack Brooks, who served in the merchant marines and then in the navy during WWII as a ship’s engineer. Fifty years later, he was honored for his service to the nation with […]
April 20, 2015
Dorade during the 2007 Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport, RI. Picture was taken by Ken Murphy. Thank you to Peter D. Millard for the photo.
April 14, 2015
With launch day right around the corner everyone can feel the pressure to finish the final stages of the refit. This week, working with Jens Lange, the wooden blocks are back on board. With new harken high-speed high-load sheaves, fresh varnish, and new leather, the wooden blocks have never looked so good adding to the […]
April 13, 2015
In general: great progress and team work, good coordination and communication between all parties involved. Lots of hard work going on these day on DORADE… Brightwork Deck How to best measure the progress? DORADE decks are now officially a “No Shoe Zone”, all blue protective foil is gone and shiny brightwork is emerging. Everything went […]
April 7, 2015
John Winder of Winder Associates recounts his experience working on Dorade. In early January of this year, I was asked by Matt Brooks to do a thorough condition survey of DORADE. This was in preparation for another intensive year of rigorous offshore racing. The last survey had been done in 2011 in conjunction with the […]
April 7, 2015
Fun times in Santa Barbara wrapping up with Matt vs Pam match race on J80's. Who is the winner if you are wondering? The winner got to take a selfie.