Nautical Luxuries Blog

159 years ago, Verdi’s opera Rigoletto was first performed in Venice; the New York Times was founded, and the yacht America won the now infamous race around the Isle of Wight, taking home the silver cup that would become known as the America’s Cup. That original race was re-enacted this week in a spectacular match-up between the current holder of the America’s Cup, BMW Oracle Racing, and Sir Keith Mills’ British TeamOrigin.  It was reported to have been quite the event, with a large spectator fleet on land and on the water.  

Alongside the race coverage posted in ScuttlebuttEurope.com was a fun ad for sponsor Wight Vodka, promoting their “Perfect Cocktail For August”, the August Wight martini. According to Wight Vodka’s owner, Ritu Manocha, you strain the juice of a small handful of fresh blackberries into a shaker with ice. Add a half teaspoon of clear honey and two shots of Wight Vodka. Shake for about a minute to really chill the cocktail, then pour into a martini glass and serve.

Well, we’d like to suggest the perfect glasses for that Perfect August Cocktail…  Like a traditionally style Etched Shell Martini Glass, part of an entire line of Etched Shell Glassware.

 And… did we mention the perfect cocktail shakers – chrome plated ships’ lanterns!!

Or, traditionally styled and modern stemless Etched Fish Martini Glasses.

Or, you might even throw a few ice cubes in one of our Code Flags Double Old-Fashioned Glasses and enjoy your martini ‘on the rocks’.

BMW/Oracle Racing’s successful defense of America’s Honor, with a decisive victory over the British yacht, certainly sounds like an excellent opportunity to celebrate with an August Wight Martini!

Cheers,

DJ

Our nautical Rope Knot Doorstop, that is.  Real Simple Magazine just featured this classic nautical item in their August issue as one of their recommended “Everyday Indulgence Take-Notice Doorstops.”

As the Real Simple editors note, it’s much heavier than it looks. It has another real simple feature the editors didn’t mention- the sturdy top loop makes it real simple to move around the beach house!

   It’s available online:
                                                                  Rope Knot Doorstop

Sure, over the years a few sailing trophies may have managed to find their way to my home. Tucked into the bookcases, or half-hidden on shelves “artfully” filled with pictures and model boats, my collection includes the standard etched brass platters and sailboats mounted on wood, a few glass vases, and even a brass candlestick holder.

I think my favorite, though, is a tiny, 4-inch tall plastic trophy each of us crew received from the owner after winning the annual Women’s Ocean Racing Series. Possibly because it’s never needed Brasso, but mostly because it continues to remind me of a great regatta, a great boat, and a great season.

In mid-July now, the summer racing season is full-on, (in the northern hemisphere at least), and trophy presentations are occurring almost daily. All jokes about dust-gathering trophies aside,  I don’t envy the yacht club’s Trophy Chair. It’s not easy finding trophies that recipients might actually find unique and/or more interesting or useful than the standard cups, bowls, platters and mugs.  Inspired by that challenge, I went on my own hunt for new trophy ideas.

Voila! The new Nautical Luxuries Regatta Trophy Collection has just launched online! 

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find – all completely customizable:

              
       Cheese Boards                            Footed Bar Blocks

   
     Multi-Stripe Double Cleat Carvery Boards               Single Mahogany Stripe Cleat Carvery Boards                   

     
       Single Stripe Double Cleat Carvery Boards      Multi-Stripe Double Cleat Carvery Boards               
                                                            

                  Chopping Blocks              French Bread Boards & Double Cleat Cheese Serving Boards

And of course the usual and the not-so-usual  engravable crystal pieces (Love the sailboat vases):

        
            Crystal Sailboat Trophy Vases                               Scroll Handle Ice Buckets                
          Classic Triumph Trophy Vases                             Engravable Crystal Paperweights

And a few more unique trophy options, though not engravable, still enviable trophies to receive!

        
                    Cleat Bookends                                                Etched Sailboat Barware
    
           Etched Compass Rose Barware                     Code Flag Glass Sets in Glass or Acrylic

Plenty of great reasons to sail smart and fast!

Cheers,

DJ

My first time sailing, I was stumped by the foreign language spoken onboard; that everyone seemed to know except me. “No ropes?” I scoffed naively, “Well then, what are all those things tied to the sails and wrapped around the winches?” After much clucking and rolling of eyes among the rest of the crew, my language class began with a lesson on the difference between ropes and lines.

Boats, I learned, use lines, not rope. Rope, I was corrected, is relegated to land-based uses… like trimming some of our hottest new nautical pieces!  So here’s to lines and learning a new language, and to ropes, and the beautiful accents they create for our getaways by the sea!

Part of our line of handmade Italian Rope Serving Trays, this extra large one has a lift-out acrylic insert to securly hold two bottles and twelve glasses. Teak bottom has an inlaid compass rose design.

 A classic Knotty Nautical Accent Pillow in deep navy,  features a  traditional square knot motif – using actual … err… rope – adds a great touch of color and nautical style to a chair or sofa.

Part of our handmade Italian Rope Bath Accessories line, these rope towel rings and towel bars are available with chrome or gold plated fittings.

One of our most extraordinary nautical serving pieces has rope edging, wood deck planking and chrome trimmed cleat handles. Beautiful!

The height of nautical craftsmanship is seen in our Yachtsman’s Basket. Where else would you leave your favorite Prada pumps while you’re onboard your superyacht?  The hatch-work wooden bottom promotes air circulation and lets water or sand slide through. Handles allow the crew to hoist precious cargo onto the stern deck for a quick cruise to an outlying island. I would definitely like to tag along where these baskets go!

And, one of the greatest little nautical gifts is our studly little Rope Knot Doorstop. With its loop handle, it’s actually easier than standard jambs to move, and ever so much more stylish!

If you’re remodeling or decorating a bath or adding a few nautical accents to a family room, here are two great ideas: The Rope Trim Wall Mirror, and Rope Handled Ottomans - sturdy enough to use as extra seating anywhere in the house.

So… I know that those are rope ottomans, but is that a rope lying on the deck, or a line! Whatever it’s called, I love the nautical look!

DJ

After a 15 year absence, the America’s Cup is back in the United States, thanks to the efforts, talent, and brilliance of Larry Ellison and the entire BMW/Oracle Racing team!  A hearty congratulations to everyone on the team and a resounding Welcome Back! to the oldest trophy in sport!

All the America’s Cup action made me flash back to Auckland, 2000…

… when our Abracadabra 2000 Challenge built both boats and trained in Hawaii.

 Sailing off Diamond Head – beautiful and warm!

Marine artist – and Hawaii resident – Wyland, painted both of our hulls and – during a lunch break – he painted his own brand new VW Bug. Yes, in about an hour or so, he completely painted a just-delivered Bug. Amazing talent.

Watching him paint an 80-foot whale on the hull was extraordinary. He even made sure Hawaii’s state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, was represented.

P&O Nedlloyd sponsored us and carried all of our boats and gear to Auckland – shown here offloading in Auckland.

 And mugging it up with one of our build crew at our base in Auckland.

One of my favorite shots (although probably not one of theirs), above left, towing the boys back in after a long day of racing. It was spring in Auckland, cold and rainy a lot of the time. 

And then about ten years later, my own AC Reunion of sorts…

Both of our old boats are in San Diego now. One is part of Next Level Sailing’s charter fleet. I had a chance to sail on her again a couple of years ago – and had the first opportunity to actually take the helm for a while. No, we couldn’t put up a chute, and they’d made a lot of modifications to her, but it was still quite a thrill to take her out for a sail.

These 11-year-old monohulls are a far cry from the multi’s that just raced AC 33. It will be exciting to see what technological innovations trickle down to the various levels of pro and amateur racing. 

It will also be very interesting to see what the participants jointly determine to be the rule for AC 34.  A new RC 70-footer maybe?

Very exciting, indeed!  Welcome back, Auld Mug.

 A few of this year’s Boat Parade stand-outs.

What a great year – balmy tempatures and tons of spectators watching a great parade. 

As baseball winds its way to the World Series, football season hits full-stride, and daylight savings time gives way to long wintry nights, thoughts here at Nautical Luxuries are already focused on the new year! New designs and new style trends are emerging for next year, with both good and bad news for your 2010 coastal/nautical decorating plans.

On the bad news front, it appears that Harvest Gold and Avocado Green are attempting a come-back.  (It was bad enough in the late 60’s – early 70’s… I could have lived without a renaissance!) Thankfully, shabby chic neutrals and sun-bleached coastal whites will go with anything! But – on to the good news.

I’m happy to report that next year is looking decidedly nautical!  Several manufacturers are featuring nautical collections for the first time in many seasons, in bold new shapes and fabrications. Traditional colors are accented with new silhouettes and intriguing materials.

Based on how popular our Rope Knot Doorstops have been, we know these new, super versatile woven Rope Ottomans and the Rope Trim Wall Mirror will also be a big hit. 

The Ottomans are sturdy – can be used as extra seating, or to hold a small tray. They’ve also got a handy loop so you can move them around the house, porch, or boat! 

The Rope Trim Mirror would look great above a dresser, on a nautically-papered wall, or over a bathroom sink.

Continuing the nautical rope theme, we’ll be expanding our offerings of Giovanna Locatelli’s dramatic line of rope tabletop accessories, including napkin rings, wine decanters, 

even the most elegant holders for the lowly, but ever-so-practical, plastic cup!

 If your decor is more coastal-themed, you’ll love some of the new items heading this way.

This trio of Aluminum Shell-Shaped Serving Bowls will be a welcome staple for any busy seaside hostesses – and will also make a great wedding gift. Classic styling means theyll go with any tabletop style, from casual to formal and, made of aluminum, they won’t require polishing. Living on an island, let me tell you, aluminum is a blessing!

Or, how about these handmade wooden mailboxes – available in either black or white, with the most elegant shell design!

And, in a retro-mood of our own, we’re even bringing back another old favorite, our Carribean Sea Turtle ceramics, including the Lidded Turtle Tureen, with matching ruffle-edged soup bowls, and the charming Sea Turtle Dip Server with matching Appetizer Plates.

They may not go with Harvest Gold or Avocado Green, but they’ll certainly be welcome additions to any home by the water – no matter the season!

Had I gone totally mad?  Standing in chest-high surf, with no wetsuit, my teeth chattering uncontrollably and struggling to stand against the constant pull of a strong current, I considered the possibility.  At 8:15 AM on a chilly, overcast October morning, I reminded myself that I could be sitting by a fire, with a nice hot cup of coffee!

As another breath-stealing wave snuck up from behind, I grabbed for the board and said to my two intrepid young helpers – with as much confidence as I could muster – “This one!” And in a three-way effort, we propelled a terrified Jack Russell Terrier on his way to surfing legend.

Sunday was Mr Jones’ inauguration to surfing, and the inaugural Surf City Surf Dog competition in Surf City USA, Huntington Beach.  A huge success, the event was… well, just plain hilarious. Costume and dog/owner look-alike-contests notwithstanding, the surfing was outrageously fun.  I simply do not think it’s possible to watch dogs surfing, without breaking into a huge grin! Cheers and applause greeted each dog, large or small, who managed to catch a wave – standing, sitting, forwards or backwards.  The agony of defeat was there too, with loud,  ”OHH’s!” from the crowd for each dog who wiped out; some, like Mr Jones, quite spectacularly.

At the end of the day, every dog was a winner – even my own Mr Jones managed to win for “Best Wipeout!” And, as for the madness of this weekend’s early morning ocean adventure – I’d do it again in a heartbeat. For anyone who loves dogs and the sea, I’d go so far as to add this one to your bucket list!  Cowabunga, Moondoggie, that was a hoot!

DJ

(Many thanks to Diane Edmonds, for capturing the moment through her lens.)