Craig Leweck

San Diego

Editor and Publisher at Scuttlebutt Sailing News

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Articles

Confusion won't help sell this boat

1 week ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on May 7th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News The 2013 America's Cup initiated a significant shift, trading monohulls for catamarans on San Francisco Bay. While the AC72 broke new ground in performance as it introduced foiling to the world, it broke a lot of eggs along the way. The USA defender capsized and nearly destroyed their boat. A capsize by the Swedish challenger led to a fatality.
Can team racing events get it together?

1 week ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on May 2nd, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News As much as I admire team racing, I have a certain disdain for the event organizers. It's nothing personal, and they are not fully to blame. World Sailing is complicit, as they are the authority on everything. Plus general ignorance is a contributing factor. My problem? The inconsistency in event names. The High School racing calendar lists the Team Race National Championship, but its NOR calls it the Team Racing National Championship.
Different kinds of mixed crew

2 weeks ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 29th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News With the ultra-high level of competition in J/70 one design racing, the class association has been busy building bridges. While the main trophies typically require a significant budget for new equipment and professional crew, there are now sub-divisions to spread out the ribbons. * Corinthian Division: For people that qualify for World Sailing Group 1 categorization. This is where the amateurs can shine.
Will sailmaking return to the USA?

2 weeks ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 27th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News I began making racing sails in 1983, and did so for the next 12 years. I had no previous skills, but I made fast sails. Looking back, I was lucky, as sail production has moved to Asia, and domestic sailmakers are a dying breed. But I was still stunned a few years back when a new sail for my 8-foot Sabot, bought from a local sailmaker, included a shipping charge. It was built in Asia, and I was angry at myself for not knowing.
Waving the golden wand

3 weeks ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 23rd, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News I was cleaning out the Scuttlebutt inbox, and found an email exchange with a friend regarding the youth years of sailing. My take may not be popular, but you know what they say: Opinions are like a**holes - everybody has one:College Sailing has always been great and still is, though kids are often selecting schools for the team and not for their education.
Should the America's Cup be worried?

3 weeks ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 21st, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News The quiet period between America's Cup events hasn't been too quiet. The Challenger of Record had a divorce and the Defense split from its 3-time winning skipper. Conversely, there's little known about the next America's Cup, which is increasingly odd given the desire to maintain interest in a crowded commercial sporting landscape.
Sailing's been very, very good to me

3 weeks ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 19th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News I know I'm lucky that at 62, the conversation during my annual physical has little to do with health. My parents clocking days in their 90s, so I've got good DNA, but sailing has been good for me too. "I fully believe the fountain of youth is swirling around the cockpit bailer of a Thistle," contends Bill Faude, Marketing guru for Harken. He's not wrong.
Soap opera for Sailing at 2028 Olympics

4 weeks ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 17th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News It was April 15, known as Tax Day in the USA for the deadline to submit individual income tax returns to the federal government. But in 2025, it would also be when a badly scripted soap opera was released for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The plot was the Sailing venue, which is not yet known, for the one Olympic sport that needs to know. Basketball is basketball anywhere. Swimming is swimming anywhere.
Eager for ideas to overcome hurdles

1 month ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 14th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News There's an online story about an American couple who took a ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia in March, but on their first gondola ride up the mountain, they were seated next to a Canadian couple that expressed their anger about the US' recent antagonism toward Canada. "I think they're taking it really personally," explained the wife, who then described how they were given some advice on which ski run to try.
I know how to boat

1 month ago | sailingscuttlebutt.com | Craig Leweck

Published on April 11th, 2025by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News On September 18, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 941, which prohibits the operation of motorized vessels in California without a valid operator card. The program had a phased-in schedule based on age, beginning in 2018 with persons 20 years of age or younger. The age range increased each year to now, all persons regardless of age need the card in 2025.