Alan D. Hyde
12-19-2003, 04:15 PM
This recollection was spurred by mention of Yachting magazine in another thread, and, rather than highjack that thread, I'll start one for it.
Here's a little about Alf Loomis:
Biography of Loomis, Alfred Fullerton (1890-1968)
Alfred F. Loomis (1890 Aug 23-1968 Mar 26) was a distinguished yachtsman and writer. He was a member of Yachting magazine's staff for 34 years, and was senior associate editor for that publication at the time of his death. In addition to a wealth of articles and news stories he wrote a monthly column, "Under the Lee of the Longboat," which, over the years, became an international institution. Under the pseudonym of "Spun Yarn" he was a tireless campaigner in behalf of the yachtsman's rights and traditions. One of the highlights of his column was the reporting of potential candidates for membership of his fictional organization, "The Lee Rail Vikings," a select group of yachtsman noted for their bad conduct and poor sportsmanship.
Alfred Loomis, by a yardstick, was the dean of ocean racing historians. He wrote voluminously, and his book Ocean Racing is a classic on the subject. He was the author of many other books. One of the best known to American yachtsmen was Ranging the Maine Coast.
In 1912 he made a five-month trip down the Inland Waterway, wrote the story for Motor Boating, then went to work for that magazine and subsequently became an associate editor. In the years that followed he cruised extensively in various parts of the world, an activity which was interrupted by service in the Navy during both World Wars. He was an avid maker of motion pictures which he showed during his long career as a lecturer.
In 1928 he made the first of three Trans-Atlantic passages in sailing vessels, navigating PINTA in the race to Spain. In 1933 he navigated the Schooner BRILLIANT in her Trans-Atlantic passage, and in 1935 navigated the J-boat YANKEE to England and campaigned aboard her that summer. During the course of his long career afloat he established an offshore racing record that will probably never be equaled: 17 Bermuda and 11 Fastnet races, and participation in the Trans-Pacific, Los Angeles-Mazatlan, Miami-Montego, Buenos Aires-Rio, Port Huron and Chicago Mackinacs as well as innumerable shorter races both in this country as well as abroad.
His rich and distinguished career and his contribution to the sport he loved so well is incalculable. Everything he wrote was identifiable by his incisive wit, dry humor, and, as one reader put it, "his tactful acidity." While oft times his typewriter became a ruthless weapon when championing a cause, he was at all times fair, and in person his infectious grin became a trademark.
At the time of his death he still owned the Linton Rigg designed HOTSPUR, built in 1929, a 32-footer that her owner insisted was a cutter, despite the fact that the late Bill Taylor protested that she was indeed a sloop. HOTSPUR was the vessel in which Alf made many memorable cruises in company with his wife, whom his many readers know affectionately as "P.L."
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There's more at this link:
http://www.mysticseaport.org/library/manuscripts/coll/coll164/coll164.html
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I've laughed until I cried reading some of his books; a very likeable guy, both on paper and in person.
****
Alan
Here's a little about Alf Loomis:
Biography of Loomis, Alfred Fullerton (1890-1968)
Alfred F. Loomis (1890 Aug 23-1968 Mar 26) was a distinguished yachtsman and writer. He was a member of Yachting magazine's staff for 34 years, and was senior associate editor for that publication at the time of his death. In addition to a wealth of articles and news stories he wrote a monthly column, "Under the Lee of the Longboat," which, over the years, became an international institution. Under the pseudonym of "Spun Yarn" he was a tireless campaigner in behalf of the yachtsman's rights and traditions. One of the highlights of his column was the reporting of potential candidates for membership of his fictional organization, "The Lee Rail Vikings," a select group of yachtsman noted for their bad conduct and poor sportsmanship.
Alfred Loomis, by a yardstick, was the dean of ocean racing historians. He wrote voluminously, and his book Ocean Racing is a classic on the subject. He was the author of many other books. One of the best known to American yachtsmen was Ranging the Maine Coast.
In 1912 he made a five-month trip down the Inland Waterway, wrote the story for Motor Boating, then went to work for that magazine and subsequently became an associate editor. In the years that followed he cruised extensively in various parts of the world, an activity which was interrupted by service in the Navy during both World Wars. He was an avid maker of motion pictures which he showed during his long career as a lecturer.
In 1928 he made the first of three Trans-Atlantic passages in sailing vessels, navigating PINTA in the race to Spain. In 1933 he navigated the Schooner BRILLIANT in her Trans-Atlantic passage, and in 1935 navigated the J-boat YANKEE to England and campaigned aboard her that summer. During the course of his long career afloat he established an offshore racing record that will probably never be equaled: 17 Bermuda and 11 Fastnet races, and participation in the Trans-Pacific, Los Angeles-Mazatlan, Miami-Montego, Buenos Aires-Rio, Port Huron and Chicago Mackinacs as well as innumerable shorter races both in this country as well as abroad.
His rich and distinguished career and his contribution to the sport he loved so well is incalculable. Everything he wrote was identifiable by his incisive wit, dry humor, and, as one reader put it, "his tactful acidity." While oft times his typewriter became a ruthless weapon when championing a cause, he was at all times fair, and in person his infectious grin became a trademark.
At the time of his death he still owned the Linton Rigg designed HOTSPUR, built in 1929, a 32-footer that her owner insisted was a cutter, despite the fact that the late Bill Taylor protested that she was indeed a sloop. HOTSPUR was the vessel in which Alf made many memorable cruises in company with his wife, whom his many readers know affectionately as "P.L."
****
There's more at this link:
http://www.mysticseaport.org/library/manuscripts/coll/coll164/coll164.html
****
I've laughed until I cried reading some of his books; a very likeable guy, both on paper and in person.
****
Alan