Nautical Luxuries Blog | Sea Views & News

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.)

The superyachts are gathering this weekend in Edgartown, (possibly for the anticipated presidential visit next week?), and across the country, sailors and boaters are enjoying the last weeks of summer. Reluctant to turn our thoughts back to the indoors yet, here in Newport Beach we’ve found a few new items that might help you take advantage of the remaining warm, sunny days and late sunsets by the water.

While I’m not generally a fan of coasters, I’m giving up neither my summer G&Ts nor my perennial appreciation for beautiful wood surfaces. Thankfully, I don’t have to give up either with these handsome Maple & Mahogany Coasters. They’re made in the USA of entirely recycled materials. Four to a set, in a sloted wood holder.

To complement our newly well-heeled G&T’s, our thoughts turn to an outdoor late-summer barbeque, and the new collection of nautical-themed cleat-handle carvery boards. Each is handcrafted out of the finest Eastern Hard Maple and Santos Mahogany, hand-sealed with 100% Natural Tung oil, and then finished a second time with Mineral Oil and Bees Wax. The combination of these two finishes provides a safe and natural sealer.

Speaking of waterside entertaining, as soon as the Italians return from holiday, we should be seeing more of their unparalleled nautical serving pieces with layers of silky rope lines, knot accents, and inlaid teak bases. The trays can be used with or without the removable acrylic inserts, with multiple bottle and/or glass cut-outs. The inserts are a godsend when heeled over, or bringing a tray-full of cocktails up the companionway.

And of course, when summer’s finally over, you’ll need a stunning new coastal-themed frame to showcase a few of your favorite moments by, or on the water. From opulent Amythest-hued seashells, to airy, open-weave rattan, to sleek pewter waterscapes, we’re gathering a collection of frames to suit just about any waterside decor.

Reluctantly, we’ll soon be bidding summer goodbye. Until then, enjoy the sunny days at sea and the amazing joys of living and entertaining by the water.

DJ

Rare indeed, was the sight yesterday of the 100-ft maxi racing yacht Alfa Romeo at the dock by Gladstone’s in Long Beach, preparing for the TransPac yacht race to Hawaii.

Aside from the crews provisioning and readying boats for the race, most everyone else at Rainbow Harbor was enjoying the sunny Sunday afternoon and clicking away with their cameras at the impressive collection of vintage Alfa Romeo cars lined-up along the waterfront.

I don’t think the Alfa Romeo yacht has ever raced on the West Coast – maybe not even in the US? So, it was a truly special pleasure for Connie Crowley and me to be invited aboard by the yacht’s owner Neville Crichton.

A gracious host, Neville was kind- and patient enough, to endure my gawking at the sheer size of the winches and lines, the massive canting keel, the state-of-the-art electronics, and to answer all of my silly questions. I don’t think I’ve been surrounded by that much carbon fiber, ever! What an amazing yacht! Down below, it felt a bit like Reichel-Pugh meets Star Trek and Philippe Starck!

With the smallest/slowest TransPac boats already having started at about 1pm today, Neville and crew aboard Alfa Romeo have nearly a week longer to wait before their start on July 5th. That’s a lot of time/distance to make up on the water and, as Neville noted, not an easy task if the winds don’t cooperate.

After TransPac, Neville said he’s off to Europe, to race his 73-foot Alfa Romeo August-September, then back aboard the 100-foot Alfa Romeo for the Sydney-Hobart race on Boxing Day. An enviable schedule, to say the least!

Best of luck to Neville and his crew, and many thanks from Connie and me for the opportunity to be onboard such a magnificent yacht.

DJ

As the crew headed downwind during last Thursday’s Balboa Yacht Club Beercan Race, the wind simply shut off, stranding us a tantalizing hundred yards or so from the finish line. Springing into action, the finely tuned crew immediately… turned on the stereo. Then Dan pulled out a chilled magnum of champagne and launched the cork straight into the mainsail. A protestable case of ooching? An arguable example of pumping?

Whatever it was, it certainly reminded me of just how fun Thursday night racing in Newport Harbor can be!

Leave the papers on the desk – turn off the computer – it’s time to put on some gloves and go sailing! Or, in the case of this breeze-challenged Thursday, put on some sunnies, grab a light-air Regatta Gear jacket, break out the acrylic champagne glasses and pass the magnum!

Aaahh, another season of fun aboard Larry’s Cha Cha Cha, and (when not trimming), boating in heels!

Life is good. Spare no champagne!

DJ

Wind shifts on the water are, in many ways, an appropriate analogy for life.

While wind shifts are fickle and largely unpredictable, careful research on historic wind patterns, and a close eye on your instruments, and on the water’s surface, will provide important clues to what the wind wil likely do next – but there is never any sure bet on wind shifts.

Wind shifts can help or hurt you, depending upon where you are at any given time, relative to your destination. A helpful wind shift will set you on a shorter course to your goal. An unfavorable shift will send you on a longer course – if not force you to tack to even reach your destination.

Wind shifts are usually temporary. Eventually, things will revert to their historic norms.

Favorable or unfavorable, wind shifts are inevitable, and we cannot maximize their benefit or minimize their damage unless we first, recognize them and then adjust to them.

As I look out the window, the reality of the current economic downturn is at once imperceptible and profound. The morning’s bright sunshine and blue skies belie the winter storm that I know will be here by evening. There are still the same number of boats moored or docked in the harbor. There is still the same amount of construction and hustle and bustle attending to the homes here. People are still going about their lives and still appreciating living by the water. Yet the gorgeous waterfront home across the street now has a “BEST BUY” sign out front. The condominiums down the street have been empty for months. And wherever I go, I notice there are fewer, if any, lines.

Like many other retail and marine industry businesses, the present economic shift has put Nautical Luxuries off-course, requiring more than a tack; a complete re-evaluation of our destination. While charting the new course ahead, I look forward to sharing my thoughts, ideas, and experiences, through this Blog. I invite everyone who has enjoyed the Nautical Luxuries collection and shared my own passion for the sea, to join me, wherever this shift may lead.

DJ