Garbage Island – Part 2
March 10, 2010
Teamwork Featured in Spinsheet Magazine
March 7, 2010
This winter I sailed the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race with the J122 Teamwork . We were fortunate to win the event. Below is an article from Spinsheet Magazine about the race and our early morning efforts to help another competitor who was in distress. Thanks to Molly Winans and the whole Spinsheet crew for another great article.
15 Minutes of Fame – Kristen Berry in GQ Magazine
March 2, 2010
Well, it proves yet again that it is better to be lucky than good. My work with the Ocean Conservation Yacht Club and Oceana helped me to be the 2009 GQ Gentleman’s Ball honoree for conservation, and this month they have featured some pictures from the dinner. Pick up an issue (if you can find one, since my mother is buying them up like crazy) or check out the page below. Thanks!
Important Video – NOTE! Some Adult Language
March 1, 2010
Key West Race Week – Part Five
December 29, 2009
You are the green boat. Where do you tack? What is your strategic thinking? What is your tactical thinking? Is this a good place to “push” a tough maneuver? What are your rules considerations? Is there a “safe” option? Let’s hear your thoughts. Post them to the comments section or email them to me.
Visualization First Windward Mark
Check Out This Fresh Spinsheet Article
December 29, 2009
Key West Weather – Let the pattern begin
December 29, 2009
December 28, 2009 10:00 pm EST
Location: 24.46N 81.88W
Wind Direction: N (360°)
Wind Speed: 15.9 knots
Wind Gust: 17.1 knots
Atmospheric Pressure: 30.21 in (1022.9 mb)
Pressure Tendency: +0.05 in (+1.6 mb)
Air Temperature: 66.4°F (19.1°C)
[ Observed at Sand Key station. ]
I have started my weather data collection for Key West Race Week, presented by Nautica. And I was sitting here writing a weather briefing for Key West Race week, and while I was searching the interweeds for some supporting data for my anecdotal diatribe. Fortunately the good people (they really are) at North Sails have put together a great reference. Check it out below or go to their website. Here is what they have to say and, for what it is worth; it is pretty close to what I would have written, and interestingly the current conditions are almost EXACTLY the conditions we are using for our visualization. I love being lucky.
From the big brains at North Sails:
Very consistent sailing conditions are frequently experienced during Key West Race Week. Often nailing subtle wind shifts is the key to success. The typical Key West weather in January follows a relatively simple and predictable cycle lasting between five and seven days. Predicting individual shifts is difficult, but a general understanding of the weather patterns can be a big help in defining what shifts you will experience.
To understand the cycle, let’s say that the first day of racing finds a recently passed cold front stationary or dying south of the racing area. At the same time, a high pressure center would likely be building in the northern Plains and sweeping toward the southeastern U.S. coastline. This weather pattern often brings cool temperatures and a cloudy sky to Key West. Winds would be northerly with gusty and shifty conditions. The wind speed will normally start the day fresh, say 15 to 20 knots and maybe more, but decrease with time.
On the next day of the cycle, the high would move to the southeastern U.S., positioned almost directly north of Florida. The high in this position weakens the northerly wind, veering it to the northeast. The breeze can be gusty and shifty, but there is a clear easing trend. Big directional swings to the right are often possible, especially during the afternoon.
Days 3 and 4 find the high lingering over the Southeastern U.S and spreading east off the Georgia or northeast Florida coast into the Atlantic. The wind continues veering to the east and sometimes southeast with speeds slowly starting to increase, especially on Day 4. These are the most consistent sailing days, with smaller, oscillating shifts. Temperatures are often seasonable and humidity increases with few clouds in the sky.
Toward the end of this period and moving into Day 5, the high moves off the Southeastern U.S. coast. The wind veers further into the southeast bringing warmer and more humid air. Trade wind cumulus clouds containing isolated showers may pass through the course causing larger oscillations and shifts.
By the end of the cycle, the high moves farther away from Florida to the east. The cycle begins to repeat itself with another cold front possibly threatening Key West from the northern Gulf. Ahead of cold fronts, watch for winds veering farther right and increasing in strength. The weather becomes less stable and there is even the possibility of some squalls and thunderstorms in this pattern.
Keep in mind that there are always exceptions to this cycle and the timing can change. However, the accompanying wind rose graphic shows how this weather cycle relates to historic wind conditions. The wind rose shows historic wind speed and direction frequency near the racing areas during the race period. Notice the N/NNE wind often found during days 1-2 of the cycle is more frequently fresh to strong. Winds tend to moderate when veering to the NE on day 2. Increasingly fresh speeds are apparent as the wind frequently veers from the ENE to ESE on days 3-5. The cycle often repeats after day 5 so the moderate to fresh SE/S winds on a cycle that extends to days 6-7 are less frequent.
If you are planning to race in Key West, you better start watching the weather now! You may be able to see this cycle and become more familiar with it before the race. Also, any unusual weather patterns may give you some hints on how things can vary from the typical weather pattern. Monitoring the Key West weather is easy in the North Sails Weather Center – simply visit www.na.northsails.com and navigate to the North Sails Weather Center. Look specifically at the current and forecast surface weather maps in the weather charts section of the North Sails Blue Weather Center. You can use these charts to see the movement of systems around the region and where you are in the cycle outlined above. Also, use the North Sails Blue Weather Center to monitor wind conditions reported near the race course area. Mostly importantly, sign up for complimentary race weather outlooks and race day forecasts issued by the North Sails Blue Weather Center.
Key West Race Week – Part Four – PROTEST!
December 27, 2009
Can you tell I am getting excited?
Now that we’ve checked the SI’s this seems like a good time to bring up the protest conversation. So here is another visualization to chew on this week (I hope YOU aren’t working).
Visualization Number 4 PROTEST!
On our way up the windward leg we are sailing on starboard tack. A port tack boat is making an effort to cross. We are nearing the port tack layline and we are thinking of tacking ourselves (sound familiar). The boat on port is one that we’ve been battling with all week and it’s close. They are going to go for it. We hail “starboard” at 6 boat lengths, they hail “hold your course.” 10 seconds later we are forced to bear away to avoid hitting their starboard stern quarter. What do we do? What purpose did the hails serve? Are either required? What should they do?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
What are you doing on this snowy day?
December 19, 2009
Gale Force Sailing’s Kristen Berry “Sailor of the Week”
December 9, 2009
Today US Sailing announced that I was picked as their Sailor of the Week. I am really floored to have been picked and happy to be a part of such a great group of sailors who have received this recognition.
You can click to the actual article, or see what US Sailing wrote, below.
Sailor of the Week
Kristen Berry
Kristen Berry has worked as a sailing coach and corporate team building event coordinator for more than five years. Kristen is the owner of Gale Force Sailing, an organization that provides professional coaching, instruction and innovative team building and leadership development programs.
Kristen, and Gale Force Sailing, works in close partnership with Oceana – the largest global ocean conservation organization – in order to advocate on behalf of marine ecosystems. Together they formed the Ocean Conservation Yacht Club, a virtual yacht club, designed to help boaters become more connected with the marine environment and conservation issues related to boating. In October at the Gentleman’s Ball, Kristen was presented with GQ’s Conservation Award by celebrity ambassador, Adrian Grenier. “Sailing has changed my life,” added Kristen. “In not only redirected my professional career path, but also has taught me some of the most important life lessons.”
Kristen coaches with JWorld Annapolis – America’s top ranked sailing school and is actively involved in their learn to sail, cruising and racing programs in Annapolis, Key West and St. Petersburg, Fla. He is a sailing instructor with the United States Naval Academy where he trains USNA Midshipmen and United States Naval Officers fundamental sailing, seamanship and leadership skills.
Kristen has also coached the National Maritime Heritage Foundation’s National Capital High School Sailing program. This one of a kind program is an alternative educational and physical fitness program for high school students in the Washington, D.C. area who are interested in sailing and racing. The program provides a positive environment in which all students learn the importance of teamwork, respect, responsibility, leadership, commitment, sportsmanship, and general sailing and racing techniques supporting varsity and junior varsity interscholastic competition.
Kristen spent several years with professional grassroots and lobbying firms where he designed and directed award-winning campaigns at the local, state and federal level. Kristen’s campaign experience includes working for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Kristen was worked as a lobbyist for corporations and municipalities. He was also a researcher/writer for ESPN’s X Games.
Kristen started sailing in a dinghy on a small lake in Fort Wayne, Ind. “I didn’t have much access to the water,” explained Kristen. “Yet, somehow I always knew I was a sailor.” Kristen sold everything he owned when he went to college, and bought an old 22-foot sailboat and a “how to sail” book. He got started in racing on Santa Cruz 70s in the Chicago area. “The owners and sailors on those boats really accelerated my learning, my passion and my experience,” mentioned Kristen. Kristen looks forward to competing as part of a team that will race at the 2010 J80 World Championship in Newport, R.I.
When asked about what he enjoyed most about sailing, Kristen answered, “From a sporting side, I enjoy the fact that there are no hard boundary lines and the self policing nature of the sport. From the enjoyment side I am an explorer and adventurer at heart.”
About me
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