Sweeney and Point Buckler Back in Court Against California Agencies
Following the January arrest of John Sweeney outside the Solano County courthouse, he is now headed back to court with his own lawsuit. As first reported in The Daily Muck on April 8, John Sweeney and his wife Jennifer Frost utilized AI to file a lawsuit alleging a 25-year environmental and judicial conspiracy in California. Using Grok AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, they produced a 34-page legal complaint to draft a lawsuit primarily created by these artificial intelligence tools.
Their suit is seeking $665 million in damages and alleges a decades-long fraud by state and federal environmental agencies. According to Sweeney and Frost, the scheme involved falsified wetland restoration records that allowed officials and contractors to siphon public funds while failing to complete actual projects. Sweeney claims the fraud began with the manipulation of the EcoAtlas database — used by agencies like the EPA and NOAA — listing nonexistent or unpermitted restoration on islands including Sweeney’s properties, Point Buckler and Chipps islands.
The filing alleges that this eco-fraud not only led to the misappropriation of $152 million in land value, but also contributed to the near-extinction of the Delta smelt. They claim their efforts to challenge the false records were met with judicial retaliation, including asset freezes, voided deeds, forced sales, and arrests. Judge Christine Carringer and other officials are accused of using the courts to silence Sweeney and Frost by denying legal counsel, issuing defective warrants, and orchestrating a “civil conspiracy” to bankrupt and discredit them.
Central to the case is the claim that California’s environmental apparatus became a racketeering enterprise using green policies as cover for property theft and fraud. AI is prolific. The 34-page lawsuit includes 11 counts under civil rights statutes and RICO laws, demanding both restitution and a federal investigation.
It will be interesting to see how this AI-powered filing works out with its intent to expose systemic corruption. Maybe we’ll all find a way to use the technology when we can’t afford lawyers. If so, will AI-empowered judges be the next tool to emerge to resolve the rapid increase in lawsuits? Sadly, it’s a far cry from the days of sailing 11 Meters, kiteboards and IACC boats on the Bay.
Sail Tahiti Takes Over Pacific Puddle Jump
The Pacific Puddle Jump (PPJ) has changed captains and will now be organized by Sail Tahiti. From summer 2025, the new Pacific Puddle Jump website will offer free access to content covering everything from preparing the boat for the crossing to tips for discovering Polynesia off the beaten track.
The Pacific Puddle Jump is a major transpacific sailing event created by Andy Turpin and Latitude 38. Since 1997 more than 4,000 vessels from all over the world have joined the rally to make the jump across the Pacific from the West Coast of the Americas to the archipelagos of French Polynesia. To support the PPJ, Sail Tahiti founders David Allouch and Nikki Puttergill are strengthening their maintenance and service team with new qualified technicians to work with new technologies such as Starlink, PredictWind, and Beneteau’s Seanapps.
What does this mean for Puddle Jumpers? We understand that sailors will have access to high-quality support, including weather monitoring, technical assistance, advice on discovering the islands and protecting the atolls, meetings and social networking. So, pretty much what they had in the past, but perhaps with some significant upgrades. There are also plans for partnerships with nautical equipment manufacturers, boat builders, and specialists in digital technology and race tracking in the coming months.
From January 2026, the the PPJ will offer packages, such as a free package enabling participants to display their boat’s position to other participants and friends and family; a classic package also offering real-time display of the boat’s data and a whole library of content, video tutorials, guides to discovering the Polynesian islands, etc.; and finally, a premium package including routing, remote technical assistance, pre-departure technical checks, and a concierge service.
“Andy Turpin, the creator of the Pacific Puddle Jump in 1997, wanted to hand over the reins and ensure that this historic rally would not only live on (there are an average of 200 boats taking part every year) but would also attract a new generation of yachtsmen, perhaps a little less experienced in terms of sailing but eager to meet new people and enjoy cultural and sporting experiences. For us, it was the logical extension of our activity; since since 2017 we have been accompanying all those who wish to discover Polynesia by boat,” David Allouch said.
Allouch added that utilizing new communication and tracking technologies will help Sail Tahiti provide a level of service that does not currently exist in the rally world. “We’re also going to strengthen interaction within the sailing community thanks to the new types of social networks dedicated to yachting.”
Learn more about the PPJ here.
Learn more about Sail Tahiti’s PPJ takeover here.
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Charlie Enright Appointed as New CEO of US Sailing
Charlie Enright, winner of the 2022–23 Ocean Race, made a huge jump in his sailing career when he raced the 2007 Transpac as part of Roy Disney’s Morning Light project. He has now been selected to lead as the new CEO of US Sailing. Enright has been well-recognized for his success in The Ocean Race aboard Team Alvimedica in 2014–15 and Vestas 11th Hour Racing in 2017–18, and winning in 2022–23 aboard the IMOCA 60 Malama with 11th Hour Racing. Now he’s on to bigger challenges as he takes the helm of US Sailing ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Long Beach.
“We are extremely proud to welcome Charlie to US Sailing,” said Henry Brauer, president of US Sailing. “Charlie offers a wealth of experience as a world-class sailor, a proven leader in sustainable practices, and a passionate advocate for growing the sport of sailing. His expertise and commitment to excellence will help US Sailing continue its growth and outreach, ensuring a bright future for the sport in the US.”
Charlie Enright is an accomplished sailor and an advocate of the sport, known for his leadership in the offshore racing community. He was a member of the first American team to win The Ocean Race. Enright’s career has been defined by his commitment to excellence and sustainability, and inspiring the next generation of American sailors. He co-founded the 11th Hour Racing Team, an initiative dedicated to promoting ocean health and sustainable practices through high-profile sailing campaigns.
“I’m honored and excited to take on the role of CEO at US Sailing,” said Enright. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to witness the incredible impact that sailing can have on individuals, teams, and entire communities. I look forward to building on US Sailing’s legacy, working with our dedicated team to grow the sport, and ensuring that sailing remains accessible, inclusive, sustainable and fun for generations to come.”
Enright is also a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, whose lifelong dedication will bring fresh energy to US Sailing and the wide variety of programs it supports.
Max Ebb — Nature vs Nurture
Never quote a racing rule without first taking a look to see what the rule actually says. They change the wording from time to time, and sometimes a subtle word substitution can alter the meaning. Also, your memory of the sacred text may not be entirely accurate, especially if you first studied the racing rules several versions ago. It’s best not to be surprised. I usually carry the US Sailing version of the Racing Rules of Sailing in the hard-copy booklet version, to help clue in my competitors during the usual post-race thrash, and to make sure I have it right. But this was easier to do some years ago, when US Sailing sent every member a new rulebook with each four-year revision. No more. Now you have to order the little book for $34.95.
Just last week I needed to resolve a common newbie misconception: It’s about the proper course of the leeward boat versus the windward boat, when two boats are overlapped, same tack, and the leeward boat came from astern. But all I had was the old rulebook. The new one had been ordered weeks ago, but not yet arrived. This was particularly unfortunate because the US Sailing website appeared to be down, so we could not check the rules online.
Can I see the bar copy of the rule book?” I asked Lee Helm, a graduate student who was moonlighting as the yacht club bartender that evening in return for tips and a free BBQ ticket.
“Bar copy not in yet,” she explained. “And like, I don’t know what’s with those old tars at US Sailing. Their site is down, and I even tried the voice line but just got a recording, even during East Coast biz hours.”
“I guess you didn’t hear,” another yacht club barfly explained, speaking loudly from three stools to my starboard. “The whole staff of US Sailing has been laid off by DOGE. No one’s minding the store back there.”
Haven Boatworks: Full Service Boatyard in Port Townsend
