INEOS Britannia turned on a Battle Royal between its eight crew racing a ten race series in AC40s. With seven Olympic Gold medals spread amongst three of the co-helms, the ten race series was always going to produce some fireworks, and duly obliged…
Monthly archives for January, 2024
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – Brest day 25
Wednesday
Jan 31
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 31
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Three different ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest skippers spoke of their differing fortunes this evening. Thomas Coville, Anthony Marchand and Charles Caudrelier.
Ep5: Road to the 37th America’s Cup
Wednesday
Jan 31
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 31
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Matt Sheahan and his PlanetSail team share the latest episode in a regular series of features about the road to the America’s Cup that will take us from the first official event in Vilanova to the Cup match itself in October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Here’s the episode synopsis:
Aside from Alinghi Red Bull Racing who had arrived in Jeddah well ahead of the other teams, few knew what to expect from the racing in the Saudi city for the second of the AC Preliminary Events. But after three days of spectacular racing and frequent shake ups on the race course, there was one thing that was clear as the Jeddah event had taken the racing and teams into new territory and given everyone something to think about on their way home.
Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. The entry period opened December 1, 2021 and runs until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup may be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the venue reveal, confirming it would be Barcelona on March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup begins October 12, 2024.
Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)
• Orient Express Racing Team (FRA)
2023-24 Preliminary Regattas
September 14-17, 2023 (AC40): Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
November 30-December 2 (AC40): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
August 22-25, 2024 (AC75): Barcelona, Spain
2024 Challenger Selection Series
August 29-September 8: Double Round Robin
September 14-19: Semi Finals (Best of 9)
September 26-October 5: Finals (Best of 13)
2024 America’s Cup
October 12-21: 37th Match (Best of 13)
Additionally, 12 teams will compete in the 2024 Youth & Women’s America’s Cup.
Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Additional details: www.americascup.com/en/home
Charles Caudrelier: Taking care of the beast
Tuesday
Jan 30
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 30
2024
Posted by XS Editor
(January 30, 2024; Day 24) – Charles Caudrelier, leading the 2024 Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest in the South Pacific, discusses life on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild during this solo, non-stop round-the-world race:
We get the impression that you are doing great miles and all the lights are green!
Yes, there are a lot of green lights but there is always a warning above my head. I know that what happened to Tom (Laperche) could happen to me at any moment, that I could break a part and suffer damage.
The boat is tired from a trip half way around the world. On this boat we have never gone this far. But I do feel in good shape, I have good sequences, I get an energy from being first, there is a great thing in not being stressed by a ranking. Yes, this is an ideal situation but this is a mechanical sport, there will be always aspects that cannot be controlled.
Is being able to take care of yourself a luxury?
Well, put it this way, I’m not looking for a record, I’m on the brakes all the time! When I exceed 40 knots, I get yelled at by my routers! I could go four knots faster but it’s a passage around the world, it’s long and hard. I have to pay attention to the phenomenon that is cavitation under the water which can cause micro-cracks on the appendages. And the faster you go the more monstrous the effort.. I must not take any risks and know how to take care of the beast.
You have broken several records, do these numbers interest you?
No, I don’t even look at the times. I don’t want to get into that game. It is dangerous. And after all, I won’t have a crossing of the Pacific, not as good as the one that François made on his record and his return up the Atlantic was really, really great! But we shouldn’t get locked into the wrong objective: it would be stupid to push the boat and break it. I’m not racing against the clock, even if that gets people excited and talking and even if it might make me a little happy in the end….
Listening to you, you seem in pretty good shape.
Yes I am ! Even when Tom pushed me at the start of the race, I managed to find the right balance between sleep and performance. Now I’m more in management, it’s relaxing and sometimes a little boring. But fortune smiles on me, I still have a lucky star for the moment!
We knew we had to fight to get down to the Indian Ocean first because we could “start from the front”. The team also did a very good job because I never had to slow down to make any kind of repairs. I did a little DIY here and there, and I too have had one problem a day. These are small annoyances usually but at 35 knots, they are not easy to resolve!
And when you’re bored, what do you do?
For three or four days that I’ve been sleeping pretty well, cleaning my boat. I tried watching films, I started reading a little on my tablet but I’m having a little trouble. When I relax I start to worry more. My bunk is slightly tilted and that distorts my sensations, I always have the impression of heeling, I have difficulty feeling my boat. And then I had my little problems, I have a sensor on the daggerboard that doesn’t work and I have to adjust it by feel. These things are a bit annoying but that doesn’t stop me from going fast forward!
What moments do you really enjoy?
I’m not a person given to contemplation. Sometimes there are some beautiful lights in the sky but overall it’s gray, there’s fog, wet, damp, mist and I don’t really go outside. What I like more is looking at the charts and data to optimize my trajectory, to choose the right sails. I also really enjoy anticipating, being one step ahead.
What excites me is more the process than the outcome, the result. I really enjoy steering my boat. I know where I have come from on this odyssey, the desire I had to do this exercise, to have been too afraid of it too, and now to do it by myself too. And I enjoy that the boat is well managed and to be here, more than halfway through, is very satisfying in itself.”
Details: https://arkeaultimchallengebrest.com/en
The Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest is a solo, non-stop round-the-world race for Ultim Class trimarans which have a maximum length of 32 meters and a maximum width of 23 meters.
The solo speed record around the world was set in 2017 by François Gabart (FRA) on the 30m Macif trimaran in a time of 42d 14h 40m 15s for an average speed of 21.08 knots. This yacht has been rebranded and will be raced by Marchand.
Entrants:
• Charles Caudrelier (FRA), Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (2017 Verdier 32/23)
• Thomas Coville (FRA), Sodebo Ultim 3 (2019 VPLP/others 32/23)
• Tom Laperche (FRA), Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue (2021 VPLP 32/23)
• Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA), Maxi Banque Populaire XI (2021 VPLP 32/23)
• Anthony Marchand (FRA), Actual Ultim 3 (2015 VPLP 30/22)
• Éric Péron (FRA), Trimaran Adagio (2014 VPLP 31/21)*
* Only entrant without foiling appendages
Five rules from the Sailing Instructions:
• The start is January 7 from Brest, France. The start line is kept open for 168 hours and the finish line is closed after an elapsed time of 100 days after the start time, that is to say April 16, 2024.
• The skippers can communicate and exchange with their teams on shore, so they have the freedom to get weather information and be routed by their team on shore and get technical help and advice to help with technical problems.
• The solo skippers can stop but there are two distinct operations. A technical stop is unassisted and requires the sailor to drop anchor, take a mooring, or tie up alongside an anchored or moored boat with no external help. There is no time penalty for a technical stop. But for a technical stopover (escale technique) where one or more crew or technical team come on board to help, there is a mandatory 24 hours minimum. This does not apply to the start port of Brest where all means are authorized to reach or leave the port within a radius of 50 miles.
• For the first time in ocean racing, zones where there are known to be a high concentration of whales and sea mammals are determined. Establishing these zones should both protect the marine wildlife and reduce the chance of a collision. These zones are around the Azores, the Canaries, south of South Africa, the Kerguelens, and parts of the Antarctic.
• There are ice exclusion zones to protect the skippers and their boats.
18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 3
Sunday
Jan 28
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 28
2024
Posted by XS Editor
NSW champion Yandoo increased her lead at the halfway mark of the Australian 18ft Skiff Championship today with a brilliant win by her crew in the Smeg Race 3 of the series, sailed on Sydney Harbour…
Race to Alaska Podcast
Sunday
Jan 28
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 28
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The Race to Alaska will hold its 8th edition in 2024, continuing with its 750-mile course from Port Townsend, WA to Victoria, BC. And now there is a podcast series prior to the June 9 start. In this episode, Race Boss Emeritus Daniel Evans chats with Hobie-hopefuls Tips Up and Race Boss Actual meets Sail Like a Mother.
Team Tips Up
John and Kaila have a Hobie 16. John and Kaila think that sailing a Hobie 16 is a good idea. John and Kaila might be nuts. Either that or perhaps they’ve got solid plans and tons of experience under their belts that will help them get 8 feet of boat per person to Ketchikan. Race Boss Emeritus, Daniel Evans, came out of the cave of solitude just long enough to chat with Team Tips Up about sacrifice and how they’re going to beat boats twice their size.
Team Sail Like a Mother
Let’s welcome back the good vessel Wild Card. That’s right, email-reader, the famed 2018 third-place-finishing/first-place-losing Santa Cruz 27 is here again, helmed anew by a trio whose kids will grow up with an inferiority complex due to the myriad exploits of their mothers. Meet Bri, Katie, and Melissa—the sailors of Team SLAM. Listen in as the Race Boss demands confessions, grills them on their medical preparedness, and inquires about the Mark Aberle curse.
New Indian Ocean record for Caudrelier on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild
Sunday
Jan 28
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 28
2024
Posted by deleteme
ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE solo round the world race leader Charles Caudrelier sailed into the Pacific Ocean after setting a new solo record time for the passage of the Indian Ocean…
America’s Cup: Critics get last laugh
Thursday
Jan 25
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 25
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The America’s Cup Defender Team New Zealand was widely criticized for their decision to hold a preliminary regatta in Saudi Arabia. Their choice of overlooking the Kingdom’s oppressive policies to gain hosting fees did not sit well with everyone, but now it appears the critics are getting the last laugh.
War in the Middle East – where Houthi militants are attacking ships linked to Israel in response to that country’s attacks on Gaza – has stalled progress for Team New Zealand’s AC40 which is held up by shipping delays in the Red Sea.
While the Defender still has a testing boat in Auckland, the delay does impact the training for their teams competing in the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup. As a result of delays in getting the boat out of Jeddah, the crews would be getting on the water later than they had anticipated, with appears to be in March…
Countdown to Vallarta Race 2024
Thursday
Jan 25
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 25
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The 37th edition of the San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race, a biennial international offshore yacht race between the USA and Mexico, begins with staggered starts that get underway on February 22 for the 1000 nm course. Twenty-six boats have confirmed their participation.
In 2022, Roy P. Disney and the crew of Pyewacket 70 set a new monohull record for the course of 3:04:38:02. Disney’s team bested the Bakewell White 100 Rio100’s 2016 mark by one hour and 4 minutes. Less than an hour later, Rio100 also beat their 2016 time by about 25 minutes.
Disney returns with his Andrews 68 Pyewacket, as does John Raymont on his Ker 52 Fast Exit II who will seek to defend his 2022 title in which his team won ORR-2 Class and Overall Honors. As he gears up for his fourth Puerto Vallarta Race, he looks forward to fast reaching into warmer waters. “Offshore racing is a complex, healthy, competitive, high skill sport with addressable risks,” said Raymont.
The Future of the F50 – T-Foil Development Video
Thursday
Jan 25
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 25
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Set to replace the current L-Foils in Season 5, the T-Foils were designed to improve the performance and control of the F50s at high speeds…
it’s never like this
Tuesday
Jan 23
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 23
2024
Posted by deleteme
It seems that circumstances conspired this morning to throw a spanner in the works of the Martinique Cata Raid’s well-oiled organisers. As soon as the competitors were on the water, the start procedure was delayed. The cause was the heavy conditions outside the bay, which made anchoring the markers tricky.
With the fleet dismasting and returning to the club, the series has only just begun on a day full of pitfalls. A torn mainsail, a blown genoa sheet and a blown spinnaker pole for three of the race’s main protagonists… It’s clear that Tuesday will have given everyone a hard time! Read more.
Photo Pierrick Contin.
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – Brest day 17
Tuesday
Jan 23
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 23
2024
Posted by XS Editor
At his current average speed, race leader Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) should pass Cape Leeuwin later tomorrow afternoon or evening…
Avoiding problems in ULTIM CHALLENGE
Tuesday
Jan 23
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 23
2024
Posted by XS Editor
(January 23, 2024; Day 17) – While Charles Caudrelier on the 32m Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has demonstrated his offshore mastery by leading the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, he has benefited in this solo, non-stop round the world race from the hardships across the fleet. Here is the position report:
1. Charles Caudrelier (FRA), Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (2017 Verdier 32/23)
No reported issues.
2. Thomas Coville (FRA), Sodebo Ultim 3 (2019 VPLP/others 32/23)
Damage on January 17 to starboard foil lowering system but anticipates it can be fixed without stopping.
3. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA), Maxi Banque Populaire XI (2021 VPLP 32/23)
Completed on January 16 a 27-hour pitstop in Recife, Brazil to repair bow pulpit and correct an issue with the hydraulics on the starboard foil.
4. Anthony Marchand (FRA), Actual Ultim 3 (2015 VPLP 30/22)
Collision on January 23 damaged port foil. No plan to stop.
5. Tom Laperche (FRA), Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue (2021 VPLP 32/23)
Damage on January 18 when daggerboard in the main hull collided with an UFO (unidentified floating object). Arrived to Cape Town on January 22 for repairs.
6. Éric Péron (FRA), Trimaran Adagio (2014 VPLP 31/21)
Slowed progress as only entrant without foiling appendages
The top four solo skipper are in the Indian Ocean which Coville considers the ocean he fears the most:
“It is the ocean that mixes more different air masses. First, there is the cold air mass of Antarctica along the line between Cape Town and Cape Horn. On the other hand, there is the warm air that comes down from Africa, Madagascar, and Reunion. We must go along this corridor affected by masses which are very different, which meet and generate violent and sometimes very erratic phenomena. Sometimes it takes different measures of opportunity, talent, and luck like Charles has to cross the Indian Ocean, remaining at the front of one front which was generated in South America….. but this is very rare. That doesn’t make us give up, we all know how long this course is!”
“The” Externally Mounted Thruster for Sailboats
Tuesday
Jan 23
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 23
2024
Posted by deleteme
Yacht Thruster, celebrating 15+ years, is a compact & powerful bow/stern thruster, installed on thousands of sailboats from 30ft – 75ft. The minimally invasive mounting design makes this the perfect project for the Do-It-Yourself-er with NO fiberglass work required.
Built from a solid block of milled aluminum, the hydrodynamic housing is impervious to impact and provides efficient cooling of the thruster motor for extended run times of up to 7-10 minutes, continuous.
Getting rest while solo sailing
Monday
Jan 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
For the six Ultim Class multihulls racing in the solo non-stop ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, getting rest while their boat sets a blistering yet blind pace around the world would not seem too restful. And while a good night’s sleep is not an option, neither is getting no sleep.
“To last the distance, long term you have to eat well and sleep well,” notes skipper Charles Caudrelier. But sleeping well is a battle and requires preparation both technically and psychologically. That can be specific equipment, alarms, working with freedivers. Sleep management has long since become a performance issue.
“What we try to do is to sleep as regularly as possible five, six, maybe seven times cumulatively over any 24 hours in increments of 30 to minutes to 1 hour 30,” explains skipper Armel Le Cléac’h. “As soon as the conditions are good, you have to sleep.”
Sébastien Josse, a member of the Banque Populaire routing unit and co-skipper of Le Cléac’h on the Transat Jacques Vabre, notes how 6 to 8 hours of sleep is possible…
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – English video – Jan 20
Monday
Jan 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
At the latest report 2000hrs UTC on January 22, 2024, the race leader Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) has stepped out to a lead of over 1400nm over Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3)
ripping
Monday
Jan 22
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 22
2024
Posted by deleteme
Charles Caudrelier, leader of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, is passing the NE corner of the Kerguelen Islands exclusion zone, racing on a SE’ly course at around 35kts as he plunges towards the ice exclusion zone. The skipper of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is expected to pass Cape Leeuwin on Wednesday and Tasmania, gateway to the Pacific on Thursday or Friday. More here.
An Extraordinary Solo Race Around the World
Saturday
Jan 20
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 20
2024
Posted by XS Editor
It’s never been done before. In fact, to date only four people have ever completed a solo lap of the planet in a multihull…
Maxi Edmond de Rothschild leading at Good Hope
Saturday
Jan 20
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 20
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Charles Caudrelier and the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crossed the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope this Friday 19 January at 13:32:22 UTC…
Key dates for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup released
Saturday
Jan 20
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 20
2024
Posted by deleteme
The dates for the Preliminary Regatta, Louis Vuitton Cup and the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match have now been released…
ETNZ hit the ground running back out on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf with new foil
Saturday
Jan 20
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 20
2024
Posted by deleteme
In seven months, America’s Cup racing will begin in anger in Barcelona – with the start of racing for the new AC75 boats in the Preliminary Regatta on 22 August…
Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest day 11 morning update
Wednesday
Jan 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Brest pacemakers Charles Caudrelier (Edmond de Rotchschild) and Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) are profiting from conditions which remain ideal for high speeds as they head south east towards the longitude of Cape Horn…
AC37 – Ainslie buckles down to two boat training with INEOS Britannia
Wednesday
Jan 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
INEOS Britannia have started two boat training with the new AC40-10 ‘Sienna’ and the older AC40-2 ‘Athena’ in Barcelona…
Teen sailor makes record-breaking voyage
Wednesday
Jan 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
On Sunday 14th January 2024 13-year-old Vincentian Kai Marks Dasent accomplished a remarkable feat by sailing 10 miles from St. Vincent to Bequia, setting a record for future attempts…
Australian A-Cat Nationals at Lake Macquarie overa
Sunday
Jan 14
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 14
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The final day of a regatta can be a strange one. Sometimes, it all comes down to the last race as in the Toulon Worlds, and sometimes the last downwind leg of that race too, as we saw in Houston. On other occasions, the frontrunner is already decided.
18ft Skiff Australian Championship Race 1
Sunday
Jan 14
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 14
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Current Giltinan 18ft skiff champion Andoo, skippered by John Winning Jr, with Seve Jarvin on the sheet and Peter Harris standing in for Sam Newton in the bow, survived the strengthening South-East breeze to take out Race 1 on Sydney Harbour…
ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Top duo open the gap
Sunday
Jan 14
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 14
2024
Posted by deleteme
The leaders of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, Tom Laperche and Charles Caudrelier, head south in a steadily building trade wind…
RORC Transatlantic Race – Argo take Multihull Line Honours in Grenada
Sunday
Jan 14
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 14
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) crossed the RORC Transatlantic Race finish line Saturday 13 January 2024…
SailGP – Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix day 2
Sunday
Jan 14
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 14
2024
Posted by deleteme
Another light weather forecast for Day 2 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix, with seven of the teams still in with a chance to make the winner-takes-all final…
Genoa headquarters for The Foiling Organization
Thursday
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The Foiling Organization, the global association of the foiling industry and its professionals, will establish its headquarters in Genoa (Italy) from the first months of 2024…
A mystery in Hawaii. Can you help solve it?
Thursday
Jan 11
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 11
2024
Posted by deleteme
Forgive me if someone has previously posted here about this case. I need this forum’s help to identify a man who washed up on Punahuu beach in Hawaii on November 19, 1982. He was wearing shorts in a Bayley Exposure Suit, model 7-01-00, serial number 1-38-54. It was made on 4-3-79, and was sold in Tacoma, Washington. He was estimated to be about 5’9″ tall and possibly had brown hair. He may have had a missing left forearm in life or may have lost it post-mortem. We only have his dentals to…A mystery in Hawaii. Can you help solve it?
SDYC and NHYC set the stage for 2024 Islands Race
Thursday
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Sailors are eager to take on the challenge of this competitive offshore race, covering 142 nautical miles around Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands…
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – Brest day 5
Thursday
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Leaders of the Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest, the solo Ultim multihull race around the world, Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) and Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), have continued to pace each other…
SailGP returns to the water in Abu Dhabi
Thursday
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Following holiday break, the SailGP league returns to the water on January 13-14 for the Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix. As the seventh stage on the 13-event schedule for Season Four, here are five things to watch out for when racing gets underway in Abu Dhabi at 2:00pm GST (5:00am EST):
SailGP’s first ever event in Abu Dhabi
This weekend’s event marks the first time SailGP has ever visited the UAE capital, marking a first for all competing teams. With a light air forecast and tight racecourse on the iconic Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi promises to throw a fresh set of challenges at SailGP’s 10-strong F50 fleet.
Giles Scott’s racing debut at Emirates GBR driver
Freshly unveiled as Ben Ainslie’s immediate replacement, Olympic champion Giles Scott will take the wheel for his SailGP racing debut on board Emirates GBR this weekend. With a few days of practice in Dubai behind him, and another crucial training day in Abu Dhabi, Scott will take charge of the team and go head to head against the F50 fleet for the first time.
The return of Tom Slingsby
After missing Dubai for the birth of his first child, Australia driver Tom Slingsby will return to the Flying Roo this weekend, and remains on the hunt for the team’s first Season 4 victory. Still top of the leaderboard, the triple SailGP champions haven’t won an event since Season 3’s San Francisco Grand Final, despite appearing in all six Season 4 Finals so far. Could Abu Dhabi host the Aussies’ first win of the season?
More Information, and a Correction, About Anchoring in the Port of Los Angeles
Tuesday
Jan 09
2024
Posted by deleteme
Jan 09
2024
Posted by deleteme
Readers — We made a mistake. (Or rather, I did.) In the December 2023 ‘Lectronic “Can Cruisers Anchor in the Port of Los Angeles?,” I mistakenly referred to both the ports of Long Beach and L.A. simply as “the Port of Los Angeles.”
“You tried to answer a question and made everything far muddier,” said one reader, who understandably assumed that we didn’t know that there were two distinct and separately governed ports within the same massive breakwater in the heart of the Los Angeles coast. We did speak with the City of Long Beach’s marine bureau manager, and the information they gave us is accurate. (We’ll add a bit of info about Long Beach later in this story.)
But in addition to using poor/incorrect wording to describe the individual ports, we … sorry, I … failed to contact the Port of Los Angeles to complete our original query: Can cruisers drop the hook in the Port of L.A.? We are happy to report that the answer is yes, temporary anchoring is allowed inside the port.
© 2024 City of San Pedro
The Port of Los Angeles
A spokesperson for the Port of Los Angeles shared two links with us. The first “boaters” link describes the launch ramp, public landings, and recreational courtesy docks within the Port of L.A., as well as links to the 15 marinas within the Port. The “Mariners Guide” link is nearly 90 pages of rules, safety information, maps and charts, phone numbers for maritime services, etc.
Regarding anchoring, we spoke with the Los Angeles Port Police, who are the primary contact for boaters to obtain a permit to drop the hook in the Port of L.A. “We issue permits for around three days; anything longer than that would have to be discussed with our supervisor,” an L.A. Port Police officer told us, adding that in the event of severe weather, permits would be extended to allow boaters safe haven. “We do a background check and see if the vessel is registered and operable,” the officer added; boats are apparently not required to have insurance in order to anchor in the port.
The officer recommended calling the Port Police’s dispatchers directly at (310) 732-3500 for the quickest response. The background check can take as little as 10 to 15 minutes depending on the availability of officers. There is no fee for a permit; sailors anchoring for just a few hours do not need to obtain a permit.
The anchorage itself lies in the southwest corner inside the breakwater, off Cabrillo Beach and near the Cabrillo launch ramp.
© 2024 Google Maps
What about dinghy docks? That one’s a bit tricky.
“The closest public dinghy dock is at the [Cabrillo] launch ramp, but that’s only for loading and unloading,” the Port Police officer told us. “If it’s during the week and slow, and if you arrange it with the lifeguards, it might be OK [to leave a dinghy for an extended period]. If it’s on a busy weekend, [the dinghy] could be cited or impounded.”
The “boaters link” above mentions two courtesy docks — at berths 85 and 186, the latter of which is currently closed — but both are deep inside the canal separating the harbor shores of San Pedro from Terminal Island. Berth 85 is an eight-mile drive from the Cabrillo Launch Ramp (to be fair, traffic in L.A. is famously terrible), so it’s probably quite the epic dinghy ride to get there.
The Port of Long Beach
To reiterate from our December story, there is a “nearshore ocean area” in the Port of Long Beach, off Island White; that anchorage is only available on Friday through Sunday, along with moorings for rent.
“We highly recommend consulting an L.A. area chartbook,” a Port of Long Beach spokesperson told us this morning. There is an “‘open permit’ to allow for limited anchorage at Island White in the nearshore ocean area,” the spokesperson said. “The permit does not need to be filled out or submitted to our office. A boater needs simply to follow the rules of the open permit while at Island White. Long Beach Fire Department marine safety personnel patrol the area by boat and advise mariners of the open permit and rules thereof daily.” Click here to see the open permit: Open Permit – Island White 11-1-21
© 2024 Google Maps
Apologies again, Latitude Nation, for the mistake, and that I’m just now getting around to correcting it. (The holidays always do a number on me.)
Does anyone have sailing stories or photos from the enormous and densely packed megalopolis in which the ports of Long Beach and L.A. lie? Please comment below, or email us here.
Cup Spy Jan 6-8: Quick start for American Magic
Tuesday
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
American Magic was the first America’s Cup team to begin training/testing for 2024, the year of the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona. The US team sailed on Saturday January 6 and Monday January 8, 2024 in their AC75 Patriot…
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – Brest day 3 morning update
Tuesday
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The steady leader is still Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) who has a margin of about four miles. But as they sought a lane with more breeze and start to consider the approach to a big low pressure set to hit them tomorrow night…
RORC Transatlantic Race, Day 3 – Out of Africa
Tuesday
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Land effects have created strategic options for the international fleet for the first three days of the RORC Transatlantic Race…
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – Positions/Images – Day 2
Tuesday
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 09
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Charles Caudreiler in Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is leading the Arkéa Ultim Challenge by a 3.6nm margin over Thomas Colville (Sodebo)…
Arkéa Ultim Challenge – Positions/Images – Day 1
Sunday
Jan 07
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 07
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Join six of the Worlds top trans-oceanic sailors and record holders as they race in a non-stop single handed around the World Race in monster 105ft Ultim trimarans. Currently the least experienced sailor in the fleet is leading…
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