Who is Chris Ford? and Why should I care?

[john baker]

Hi guys,

Chris Ford will come visit us next week on May 19th. Most of you know who Chris is. For those who don't, Chris is a guy who used to sail with us. Then he moved to Austin TX. His visit next week is a big deal. It's like if we were amateur musicians and Keith Richards came to visit us. Like Keith Richards, Chris is not much to look at. Like Keith Richards, Chris is well accomplished. Chris is highly respected in the sailing world, as a musician and other cerebral genres. But you wouldn't know it. Chris is like a silent wall flower in social environments. Ya gotta poke him with a stick to get him to tell a story. He is the complete opposite of guys like Bobby Orr who must be the center of attention.

So, come next week. Meet Chris Ford. Get his autograph. If there is an awkward silence, you can ask him one of these questions:

Have you ever sailed to Gun Powder State Park with Kevin Cook on a Tornado?

Did your wife Betsy find a ID band from the hospital on the kitchen counter later that day?

Have you ever put a spinnaker on a Nacra 5.5?

Have you ever put a spinnaker on a Marstrom Acat?

Have you ever done the Down the Bay Race on a Prindle 16?

Have you ever played The Star Spangled Banner on the saxophone while riding a unicycle and balancing a soccer ball on your forehead? 

see ya,

JMB

 

 

[John Baker]

Another question you can ask Chris is:

Have you ever crewed for John Baker on a Nacra 20 and said, “Give me the main sheet. We won’t capsize if I control the main sheet.”

Sent from my iPhone

On May 11, 2026, at 4:53 PM, 'john baker' via West River Catamaran Racing Association <WR...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



[Michael Nolan]

Does it need to be a pointy stick?

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

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[john baker]

Here are a couple of pictures from 8/6/19.

First is just after I reluctantly gave Chris the main sheet.

Second is little later.

[Chris Ford]

so glad you keep your photo galleries organized!  i can feel the love from here!

chris 

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[Patrick Stadt]

Ha! Good capture.  Who’s on the closer bot in the first pic?

Pat

On May 15, 2026, at 11:49, 'john baker' via West River Catamaran Racing Association <WR...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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