Hi Max,

There's a good thread over on Sailing Anarchy about NINA... (the one about Ted Hood is worth a read, as well - some wonderful recollections from those who actually sailed with, or worked for him)...

This was my favorite bit about Fales:

De Coursey Fales, befitting a man of letters, would write a pre-race formal letter of invitation to each member of his crew, assigning bunks, lockers and watches and would issue post-race wrap-ups containing pictures, copies of log entries, notes of some of the highlights of the respective race. He sailed with a core group of friends for decades, campaigning the waters of Long Island and beyond. The racing crew, all amateurs, lived well onboard, with the full-time crew taking care of the galley chores ,though on one particularly long race the crew had to resort to pouring martinis over their cornflakes for dawn breakfast. The post-race get-togethers always involved a shaker and gin.

Fales distributed a 12-page guide entitled “ Nina’s Sea Routine for Ocean Racing and Day Cruising, by her Owner.” The last page contained a list of ten rules for the boat including such homilies as “Tidiness is a blessing,” and “Investigate the Gear.” The last one summed it all up-“Let’s win.” And win he did, finally, in 1962, the 34 year-old boat and its 72 year-old skipper taking the Newport-Bermuda top prize. The Commodore, as he was always known, had finally won the big one and his competitors were glad that if they had to lose to anyone, it was him.

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=148096&p=4194342

best regards,

Jon