Vendee Globe have advised in the latest update that at 2327hrs UTC on Dec 23 that Yoann Richomme was the first Vendee Globe competitor to round Cape Horn…
Monthly archives for December, 2024
off and running
Monday
Dec 23
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 23
2024
Posted by deleteme
Please click the above pic to read the entire article.
For those of us who race as impoverished amateurs, or just watch from the shore, there’s always a bittersweet taste to the start of the Hobart race every Boxing Day.
Sure, it is still one of the greatest spectacles in world sport as the yachts charge down the unique scenic runway of Sydney Harbour. But in terms of ‘fair play’ it’s only the largest few boats that get a genuinely equal chance as they sprint towards the Heads and turn South. All the others have to then battle through the maxi’s choppy wakes and disturbed air. Even the high-performance TP52s can struggle to reach maximum speed and height.
The organizers – and let’s give them their due – have tried hard over the decades to reduce this problem. The fleet is now divided into four groups based on size, each starting from their own staggered line set further back down the Harbour. That’s a prudent safety measure but can often be unfair because the Summer breeze in Sydney is usually stronger the closer you are to the Heads.
To lessen congestion and stop foolhardy skippers from trying to cut the corner on the southern headland (which has a bombora), all yachts must navigate two laid clearance marks. These also compensate for the extra distance traveled by the boats that started further behind the first line.
That’s all well and good, but the secondary effect is to again slow the smaller boats while the maxis are already off and running down the 180° rhumbline towards Tasmania. There’s usually a lot of bash-and-barge as the frustrated back-markers converge on these marks – often on opposite tacks – and they struggle to make decent speed in the souped-up water and bad gas. It’s never a nice way to begin a 628-mile race.
So, is there a solution to this unfair scramble at the start of every Sydney-Hobart? One suggestion might be for the four classes to set off at half-hour intervals with the smallest yachts going first and the largest last. Elapsed times could then be adjusted after the finish. That could certainly help give everyone an equal chance in clear conditions, but it’s doubtful whether Rolex would agree. Marketing people don’t like complexity. Nor, apparently, fairness – ed.
– anarchist David
Only USA entry in Rolex Sydney Hobart
Monday
Dec 23
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 23
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The 2024 Sydney Hobart Race extends 628-nautical miles from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania. The start on December 26 takes place in the heart of the Australian summer, with 105 yachts set to take on the 79th edition. Kimball Livingston reports on one of the entrants for the NY Times:
A slow epiphany brought Ron Epstein and his boat to Australia as the only U.S. entry in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, starting Thursday (Dec. 26).
“I’m not the poster child of who should be doing this,” he said.
Growing up sailing casually with family in Southern California, Epstein, a patent attorney, carried on the tradition when he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, bought a J/133 yacht and sailed with family and friends. He shared the experience of sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, looping around Alcatraz or lazily drifting past the downtown towers.
Competition was not on his mind, Epstein said, until a guest said that his 43 footer was as much a race boat as a cruiser. “I told him, ‘I don’t think so. Look at all that wood down below.’”
That one comment, however, sparked two years of cautious experimenting as Epstein discovered that he could succeed at racing, and that he liked it, and that he might like it even more with a boat that did not have all that wood down below. – Full report
Event details: https://rolexsydneyhobart.com
Vendee Globe – Goodchild forced to stop after headsail failure
Sunday
Dec 22
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 22
2024
Posted by deleteme
Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) suddenly lost his headsail during the night and was forced to stop to untangle the sail from the keel. He stopped the boat and found the 180sq m sail partly wrapped around his port foil. Fortunately he managed to get it all back on board without any damage to it and it…
Sydney Hobart – Tasman in 20 hours
Sunday
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Four days out from the big race is always a perilous time to be making weather predictions. The advanced computer models we have today do make it more approachable than ever, however…
Abandoning a perfectly good boat
Sunday
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
by Peter Swanson, Loose Cannon
The sailing world was abuzz with skepticism recently as the U.S. Coast Guard reported rescuing three men in a sailboat that wasn’t sinking. Why? According to the Coast Guard, they were experiencing up to 20-knot winds and 10-foot seas and feared the boat would capsize.1
On December 12, the trio abandoned a 2005 Beneteau Oceanis 523 that was 150 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras—sails furled, a $225,000 purchase left to drift toward Scotland.
The wind and seas were as reported by the Coast Guard at the time of rescue.
“Capsizing seems unlikely in those stated conditions, but we weren’t there,” wrote Tad Roberts, a Canadian naval architect. “Cape Hatteras in December is too late in the year. Big, fat, snap-rolling boat with short crew, the one experienced person gets exhausted after four days, and they give up.” – Full report
Sailing (on purpose) into a hurricane
Sunday
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
The 2024 hurricane season, predicted to be “above-normal,” began with the earliest-ever category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, Hurricane Beryl, in early July, and ended with Rafael, the westernmost major November hurricane on record. Saildrone sailed into both.
“In a lot of ways, this was the most successful hurricane mission that we’ve ever had,” said Greg Foltz, an oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and one of the principal investigators on the mission.
In 2021, NOAA and Saildrone launched a multiyear mission to deploy Saildrone Explorer uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) into tropical storms and hurricanes to measure near-surface atmospheric and upper-ocean data to better understand how ocean-atmosphere interaction affects hurricane intensity and improve hurricane prediction models. – Full story
Cape Horn records set to tumble
Sunday
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 22
2024
Posted by XS Editor
At six weeks into the Vendée Globe, with the leading duo Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) set to round Cape Horn late tomorrow, fatigue is the constant, gnawing, universal presence..
Yoann Richomme is new Vendee Globe leader
Tuesday
Dec 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
]Yoann Richomme is back on top of the Vendée Globe fleet, overhauling long time leader Charlie Dalin earlier this morning…
forward thinking
Tuesday
Dec 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
Weirdly enough, we received a “media plan” for the 2026 J/24 Worlds in Melbourne. 2026? I mean, sure, you have to plan for such an event, but 2026? And the pic they sent doesn’t exactly inspire!
control freaks
Tuesday
Dec 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 17
2024
Posted by deleteme
What the hell is wrong with these people? We all know plenty of uptight, sphincter-clenched yacht clubs (STFYC in ‘Frisco comes to mind), but these clowns take the cake. Paranoid and clearly trying to control every narrative that comes out of CYCA, this sort of clampdown is censorship, plain and simple.
And we have no doubt that the investigative reporting from Sailing Anarchy is the primary reason for this nonsense. It makes us both lol and disdainful of a club that thinks this okay. We are also fairly certain of who the individual behind all this is.
Thin skin much?
“The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) would like to remind Members of the Club’s protocol regarding media interviews. To ensure consistent and accurate communication, only the Club Commodore or approved representative is authorised to speak to the media on behalf of the Club.
Recently a Member of the Club was interviewed after a sailing incident that occurred on Sydney Harbour. The information that was shared during this interview was inaccurate, leading to potential misunderstandings about what had transpired. This highlights the importance of ensuring that all information shared with the media is accurate and comes from an authorised source.
This policy regarding our media communications is in place to maintain a unified voice and to protect the integrity of CYCA’s reputation. Members approached by media for comments or interviews relating to the CYCA are kindly requested to direct all inquiries to Club’s Media and Communication team.”
The new SUNBEAM 29.1 GT: Less weight, more sport!
Tuesday
Dec 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
SUNBEAM Yachts is never satisfied with the status quo. This is also the case with the SUNBEAM 29.1. Based on the current SUNBEAM 29.1, a GT model has been developed that focuses even more on performance and sportiness.
Szabolcs Weöres retires from the Vendée Globe
Tuesday
Dec 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Because of irreparable damage to the D2 shroud on his IMOCA, New Europe, Hungarian skipper Szabolcs Weöres has made the difficult decision to retire from Vendée Globe 2024-25…
Mini Globe Race, Vendee Globe, and US Sailing news
Tuesday
Dec 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 17
2024
Posted by XS Editor
While the eyes of the sailing world are rightfully glued to the Southern Ocean-exploits of the ongoing Vendée Globe sailors (see below), another round-the-world race is beginning to capture my imagination…
Charlie Dalin at the gateway to the Pacific Ocean
Thursday
Dec 12
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 12
2024
Posted by XS Editor
On this 32nd day of racing, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance continues his express ride on the Vendée Globe after having engulfed the Cape of Good Hope / Cape Leeuwin section in 9 days and 22 hours. A record!
International Moth Worlds head to New Zealand for a late 2024 championship
Thursday
Dec 12
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 12
2024
Posted by deleteme
2024 International Moth World Championships open in Manly, New Zealand, 30 December 2024 to 9 Jan 2025…
Eight Bells: Dan Delave
Thursday
Dec 12
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 12
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dan Delave (68) passed away peacefully at his home in Long Beach, CA surrounded by friends and family on December 8, 2024 after a one year battle with cancer.
Dan’s journey on the water started with surfing and then later onto sailing where he was a test pilot for the Hobie tri-foiler and a competitor in many fleets including the F18 catamaran class. He was always looking to go faster and create friends, whether it was a new class on the starting line or through his proud leadership as Commodore of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.
Most recently his passion was wing foiling that challenged him the most, and while getting old sucks, he ignored it being a young man’s sport. Dan was forever young at heart.
In his wake he left his loving wife Eileen, his brother and sister, extended family and many friends from a lifetime in and around the water. Sail on Dan!
Vendée Globe Twists and Turns, Thrills and Spills
Wednesday
Dec 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
I need to start with an admission… I’m addicted to the Vendée Globe. When I wake in the morning, I look at the tracker, and at each sched (it updates every four hours) I take a look…
machette not included
Wednesday
Dec 11
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 11
2024
Posted by deleteme
Laurent Martinez is 68 years old, he is passionate about sailing and has started building a 13-metre long and 4-metre wide sloop. The boat is currently in his garden, all it needs is its rigging, its fittings, and some interior fittings, so that it can finally set sail. But Laurent no longer has the energy to take care of it, and wants to give it to those who will take care of his dream, to make it their reality.
The story of its owner is for the readers of the magazine.
19 classes set for Foiling Week Pensacola 2025
Wednesday
Dec 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 11
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Excitement is building for the first-ever Foiling Week Pensacola 2025, the premier international foiling regatta and World Sailing Special Event, taking place in less than three months in Florida’s Panhandle…
Sam Davies just had an “interesting” night . . . We ended up tacking, sails against, boat lying at almost 90 degrees
Wednesday
Dec 11
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 11
2024
Posted by deleteme
Sam Davies – Hello! I just had an interesting night. And there, don’t panic. I no longer have a pilot, no more electronics, I can’t even tilt the keel to help straighten the boat…
Louis Burton has had to abandon the Vendee Globe
Thursday
Dec 05
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 05
2024
Posted by deleteme
At around midday UTC Wednesday, Louis Burton (BUREAU VALLÉE) informed the Vendée Globe race management that he had to abandon the race…
Vendée Globe leaders racing storm
Thursday
Dec 05
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 05
2024
Posted by XS Editor
(December 5, 2024; Day 26) – The Vendée Globe story continues to be how the leaders in the Indian Ocean – Charlie Dalin and Sébastien Simon – are outrunning a monster low pressure system as they pass the Kerguelen Islands. While Louis Burton’s issue has proven race ending, Dalin and Simon are thriving where others dared not.
Dalin seemed to be almost enjoying his race which right now is not against his rivals but against the low pressure system. At the back of the center of the low there are ten metre waves and brutal 60 knots gusts, but if he and Simon can succeed in staying ahead of the worst of the voracious system, the gains will be significant.
“I am feeling a bit tired, I need to get a bit of rest,” admitted Dalin. “But apart from that I am all good. I am racing this monster of a low pressure. It is not going too bad and I am managing to keep up with my routing, which is good.
“I am in a pretty good place right now, making good progress towards the east, every little gain towards is pure gold, it means we will be caught by the low pressure further east which means I will have a smaller sea state and less strong winds, which is good. So I am fighting hard to stay ahead for as long as possible. I will get caught eventually that is for sure. But the later, the better.
“The GRIB files are working pretty well, at the moment regarding wind speed and direction and then I am looking at satellite imagery through Windy (weather forecasting website) and so I am monitoring the progress of these two weather systems in these two ways.”
He describes the process which brought him to decide to stay south and challenge the big system.
“It is true I was the south most boat at the time but nonetheless I still had an opportunity to shift north, but it would have cost me, it would probably have been more costly for me than the others. But in terms of decision making, I spent ten hours in front of the computer, running hundreds of routings, trying to work out what choice was good and for what reason.
“I still don’t know if it is a good choice. We will find out in a bit more than 24 hours. But it took me a long time to come up with this decision. And it has been fun, it has been fun to sail against this monster. I try not to watch “him” too much on Adrena (routing software program) because if you look too much you see the red arrows of 60kts and I say to myself ‘I don’t want to be there’. I am like a horse only looking forwards at the course with the blinkers on.
“I try to sail fast to the east, every metre is important. What is great is these fast foilers are letting us do new things which before you could do only with multihulls.”
Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Facebook
Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne – ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée – rigging failure
The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, holds the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.
Source: VG2024, SSN
Both Ultim 3 foiling trimarans aborte their Jules Verne Trophy record attempts
Thursday
Dec 05
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 05
2024
Posted by deleteme
The Ultim foiling trimarans of Thomas Coville’s Sodebo and Francois Gabart’s SVR-Lazartigue have both aborted their Jules Verne Trophy record attempts…
house of pain
Thursday
Dec 05
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 05
2024
Posted by deleteme
1,700 miles behind the leader, the night was even more painful for Louis Burton. For the skipper of Bureau Vallée, who suffered serious damage to his rigging, there was no miracle this time. Even MacGyver can’t fight when mechanical fate is relentless! After his structural repairs in the North Atlantic, the experienced sailor who has completed two round-the-world races, this time without a solution, had to announce, with a broken heart, his retirement. The sailor who was in 16th position at the time of his breakdown should take 36 hours to reach Cape Town, close-hauled , in strong sea and wind conditions. More here.
Title inspiration is, unsurprisingly, thanks to House of Pain.
Dalin ready to face first violent southern storm
Wednesday
Dec 04
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 04
2024
Posted by XS Editor
She has been making headlines in the Vendée Globe since the beginning of the week. The immense depression, 1,800 km long and high, is already beginning to cross the head of the fleet, sweeping the Indian Ocean with gusts of more than 40 knots…
there be monsters…
Wednesday
Dec 04
2024
Posted by deleteme
Dec 04
2024
Posted by deleteme
SailGP, CBS Sports extend partnership
Wednesday
Dec 04
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 04
2024
Posted by XS Editor
CBS Sports will have a record 54 hours of television coverage for the fifth season of the SailGP sports league set to air across its platforms during the 2024-25 season. The first event of the Season 5, which was held November 23-24, will be be broadcast on December 7 at 2:00pm ET.
“We are thrilled to make history with the largest-ever U.S. broadcast deal for SailGP as the appetite for the most exciting racing on water continues to grow in the U.S. market,” said Russell Coutts, SailGP CEP. “Coming off record-breaking audience figures from last season, CBS Sports’ expanded commitment to our league provides another proof point that SailGP is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and entertainment properties.”
Greg Trager, CBS Sports’ vice president of Programming added, “SailGP is high-octane, dynamic racing against the backdrop of the world’s most beautiful vistas. They have a growing fanbase and we look forward to welcoming them back for another exciting season.”
The 2025 SailGP schedule features three event in key United States markets – Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
Vendée Globe Race watched from space with CLS
Wednesday
Dec 04
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 04
2024
Posted by XS Editor
As the skippers race in the sometimes ferocious Southern Ocean close to Antarctica, the Vendée Globe is paying extra attention to look after the sailors’ safety…
Overboard in the mid-Atlantic
Monday
Dec 02
2024
Posted by XS Editor
Dec 02
2024
Posted by XS Editor
At 02:27 UTC on December 2, a crew member went overboard from Johannes Schwarz’s Ocean Breeze, a Volvo 70 competing in the in the 2024 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, an annual event from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia.
Starting November 24, Ocean Breeze is one of 11 yachts in the IRC racing division of the rally which also included 45 entrants in the multihull division along with 83 cruising yachts. The rescue operation is being coordinated by MRCC Norfolk USA.
MRCC (Marine Rescue Coordination Centre) Norfolk issued an emergency alert to all shipping for assistance, and ARC yacht Leaps & Bounds 2 and motor vessel Project X are now involved in the search. Air cover is not possible due to the distance of the incident from land.
Event organizer World Cruising Club understands that the casualty was wearing an automatically inflatable lifejacket with a personal AIS beacon attached. Conditions on the course were reported to have squalls with 35 knot gusts and a base wind of 22-30 with big swell.
The casualty’s next of kin has been informed.
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