Hey (America's Cup) Sailor – How About a Ride?

This is not a story about the America’s Cup. If you want technology, stats and schedules, stop now and go to their website, http://www.americascup.com. (They cover it well.) This story ... my story … is about the way the universe works, killer accents and the pursuit of an elusive hat.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from my Alameda Patch editor:

“Hi, Alice, I saw somewhere that the skipper of the Artemis has arrived in town. Would you consider/interviewing him if I can track down contact information? I don’t think I’ve got another writer around that knows one end of a sailboat from another...”

I jumped on it, and Dixie said she was eager to see a photo of me standing next to some lanky Swedish sailor. Then last Tuesday at 2:33 a.m., another email:

“On the remote off-chance that you’d like to go – Dixie”

Media Alert:  “America’s Cup 101” briefing The Bay Theater/PIER 39 The first races of the highly anticipated America’s Cup World Series kick off on August 21st at Marina Green. Join San Francisco Travel and Tom Ehman, Vice Commodore at Golden Gate Yacht Club to get up to speed on understanding and making the most of the races.

I rushed home to change out of my sweats and into nautical attire for my first official press conference — pleated khakis, a preppy button-down shirt, and a pair of knock-off “Topsider” deck shoes. (Although I have no press credentials, I did wear my official “Patch” button and carried a spiral-bound Patch note pad — treasured gifts from my first editor, Eve.

Driving west across the top deck of the Bay Bridge, I began mentally composing interview questions. My inner comic wondered if it would upset my husband if I asked, “Hey, sailor — who the heck does a girl have to sleep with to wrap her legs around a long hard carbon-fiber hull?”

Si is hypersensitive to my behavior around extreme athletes. Years ago when we were dating (OK, technically engaged…), a group of my friends went into the City to celebrate a 21st birthday at Perry’s on Union Street. We befriended a rugby team from the Isle of Jersey and ended up sharing a ride back to Berkeley. It was close quarters in the back seat.

Scout's honor, in spite of those sexy accents I wound up alone in my own twin bed. But one of the players did leave me a souvenir rugby shirt on the sorority’s front steps. To this day, whenever I swoon over an accent, Si rolls his eyes and says, “Eh, wot? Wanna T-shuht?”

From the moment I entered the Bay Theater, I knew flirting was pointless. I was completely outgunned, surrounded by photogenic young women my daughter’s age. (Picture it - a sea of long legs and short skirts…) One of the oldest there, I was a kindergartener let out to play with the big kids at recess. Everyone seemed to know each other, saying things like, “It’s good to be seen!” I was relieved when the briefing began.

Golden Gate Yacht Club Vice Commodore Tom Ehman asked, “How many of you out there are sailors? Raise your hands.” I shot my hand up so fast I nearly dislocated my shoulder, and then looked around smugly to see that mine was one of just a few in the air. When he showed a video of high-tech yachts in winds that could “blow dogs off chains,” Ehman was disappointed by the scarcity of applause. (He said that clip always gets applause.) When he explained that the first leg of the race would be a “reach,” I knew it was a reach to expect those landlubbers to know the term.  

[Because I love you, I’ll share the nautical definition of “reach” — sailing across the wind, from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Feel free to use that fun fact if you’re ever a contestant on Jeopardy’s Tournament of Champions. You can thank me later...]

Ehman passed out lapel pins and logo hats. Sadly, I didn’t get a hat. As the briefing ended, the facilitator reminded us to leave business cards for a chance to win a ride on an AC45.

For the sailboat ride of a lifetime, all I needed was a business card!

But I don’t have a Patch business card. I don’t even have one that reads, “Have pen, will travel.” As I dug more frantically in my black hole of a purse, I realized I only had my youngest daughter’s “Esty” card. So I scratched out her contact information and scribbled in mine, hoping for a call that never came.

After my workout early Monday morning, I received two more emails. One came from my editor’s editor, with a pdf on Patch letterhead:

“To Whom It May Concern: Please provide Alice Lewis with credentials to cover the America’s Cup media availability scheduled for Tuesday, August 21. She will be covering and photographing the event for Patch.com. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.”

The second was from Dixie, saying this would probably be my only shot at an interview with the Artemis skipper. The online application was grueling, and I realized I was probably too late to qualify.

I went home to shower, then took my daughter, Sarah, to Wescafé for breakfast. When I tried to steal an inside table from a fellow who appeared to be leaving, I heard his killer accent and quickly asked if he was a sailor. (Not many killer accents in Alameda…)

Kismet! Turns out he is a sailor — Great Britain’s Ian Percy, just back from the Olympics where he silver medaled. He is the Swedish team’s tactician. Sarah and I sat with him for over half an hour, chatting amicably. Although he didn’t give me a hat or a T-shirt, he did give me an interview and we’re hoping he’ll take us up on my offer to come for dinner.

And just now I received an email approving me to “Meet the Skippers” Tuesday on the Marina Green. Cross your fingers I get a hat…

(..to be continued…)

For more information on the America’s Cup or this week’s AC World Series, go to http://www.americascup.com. The best viewing is either from the Marina Green or from the warmer comfort of your own living room with coverage on NBC.

Don't miss a day of Alameda news, opinion and events. Sign up here for the Alameda Patch morning e-newsletter. And 'like' us on Facebook!