Front Rudder

Mark Reid

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Mark Reid joined the Bay & Delta Yachtsman family in the Summer of 2012 to cover the America’s Cup events in his increasingly popular monthly column Front Rudder. Having followed or written about the America’s Cup since 1980 Mark brings with him an exciting, narrative and educational perspective to each article written.

Mark relocated from Minnesota back to the SF Bay Area while his son Mitch was attending college at UC Berkeley. A distinguished author, Mark has put the finishing touches on his first book on the America’s Cup titled “Riblets, Plastic and a Frontrudder” regarding the 1986/87 Golden Gate Challenge and is currently working on his second America’s Cup book covering the “Multihull” era, with a 3rd one in the works about the history of the event and its days in court.

Mark enjoys going to the Indy 500 every year, spending time on Mackinac Island and hiking along Lake Superior Shore Trail. His interests included sailing, camping, downhill skiing, running, the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants and all Illinois Fighting Illini Sports.

See monthly columns below


Front Rudder articles

  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    America’s Cup And Date I guess writing your last column is akin to composing your own obituary. So, here goes. It is with a heavy heart and with sincere gratitude that I bid Bay & Delta...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    Remote Control I am sure when SailGP’s CEO, Russell Coutts set up 2021’s opening round in Bermuda, it was perfectly timed a month out from the America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, with a lineup...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    What Is Old, Is New Again In A Wild and Wonderful America’s Cup My world revolves around a few special events. Some are annual pilgrimages, others not so much. The Indianapolis 500 on Memorial...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    The In-Betweens Of America’s Cup Memos And Memes Here we are. The 36th America’s Cup is at hand and we are all waiting with bated breath. There is nothing more exciting in sports than...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    More Than A War of Words The Prada Cup so far may be lacking in races, but it’s not missing drama on or off the water. As the remainder of the racing calendar moves...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    A World Away in Another Universe The 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada has begun in earnest. This time the competition for the oldest continuing sporting event in the world will take place in...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    Around And Alone This has been a year like no other. As far as sailing events go, they have been few and far between. Our yearly St. Francis Yacht Club Rolex Big Boat Series...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    Out To Launch Tis the season? Wow! Seems like it. On the other side of the planet or what could be the other side of the universe in a COVID-19 free country, multiple christenings...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    Save The Best For Next Year! The 56th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series has been put on hold until next year. It is only the second time that it has been canceled...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    Hollywood Goes Sailing… Again! So far, the 2020 sailing season has been a wash. Certainly, washed up. I have little need to remind anyone as to why. We all know. The quicker we can...
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    A Way Forward This year will be one for the books for sure. We’re still not there yet and we have a long way to go. This summer though, there was a way forward....
  • Front Rudder – by Mark Reid
    Who, Why, What And When! Wow! Going into Fourth of July weekend, what started as a series of story updates on the current state of the wide, wide world of sailing and yachting, of...