Once upon a time… on a lake not so far away 24 solo sailors arrived at Budworth SC for the penultimate solo open of the 2023 Northern Series event on a very mild October day…
Reality bites as green agenda takes hold
Monday
Oct 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
As green as we’d like to think of our sport, competing beyond the local level is hardly clean. And lately, its been pretty costly, particularly when putting a boat on a ship for transport.
Futuristic stories of transport ships with wing sails have transitioned to realistic objectives, perhaps to help both needs, but changes to this industry are coming. Lloyd’s List editor-in-chief Richard Meade shares the clairvoyant content from his crystal ball:
That faint whirring you can hear in the background right now is not the air con on the blink — it’s the sound of mental cogs grinding as the industry collectively runs through the mental calculations and reviews long-held assumptions about what happens next.
There is a recalibration happening in the minds of governments and, some, executives as they start to clock that decarbonization is not just a press release and real problems are about to start really hurting much sooner than they expected.
Widespread complacency based on the 2018 initial greenhouse gas strategy of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is evaporating and, in some quarters, mild panic is setting in. Once the rest of them catch up, that panic is going to be more audible.
Conceptually, most understand that the IMO’s revised climate strategy creates a very clear onus for a rapid and strong upwards revision of corporate, national and regional actions…
Cup Spy Oct 7: Decisions for Luna Rossa
Sunday
Oct 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailed on Saturday. With the Italians continuing to test the recent upgrades to their LEQ12…
Sweden’s Berntsson wins Bermuda Gold Cup
Sunday
Oct 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Swedish skipper Johnie Berntsson has won the King Edward VII Gold Cup, the championship trophy of the Bermuda Gold Cup match racing tournament, for the third time since 2008…
18ft Skiff 2023-24 Spring Championship Race 1
Sunday
Oct 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Australian 18 Footers League’s 89th consecutive 18ft skiff racing season began on Sydney Harbour today, when the club staged Race 1 of the 2023-24 Spring Championship…
Antigua Yacht Club Marina offices burned down
Saturday
Oct 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
As many of you will have heard already, very sadly during tropical storm Philippe that passed over Antigua and Barbuda last Monday night, the Antigua YC Marina offices burned down which included Skullduggery cafe, Cloggy’s and shops within that block…
Blackwater Sailing Club Optimist Open
Saturday
Oct 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Indian Summer arrived just in time for this year’s Optimist Open meeting at Blackwater Sailing Club; a one-day event and indicator for the East’s regional training group RTG. This year with a bumper entry of over 80 boats…
Live Ocean Racing: Kiwis 5th in Spain
Saturday
Oct 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Live Ocean Racing has finished the ETF26 Series season in 4th place, after wrapping up the season finale in 5th place…
double fast
Friday
Oct 06
2023
Posted by deleteme
Oct 06
2023
Posted by deleteme
An interesting look at the new VPLP Gunboat 80 full-race version
Launched in early June for Irvine Laidlaw, a Scottish baron, the first Gunboat 80 made her regatta debut in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (3–9 September, Porto Cervo). Xavier Guilbaud, Partner Naval Architect at VPLP Design, and Benoît Lebizay, Managing Partner at Gunboat, were aboard to present this exceptional catamaran.
She’s the eighth Gunboat to be launched since the brand was picked up in 2016 by Grand Large Yachting, and she’s also the biggest. While seven Gunboats ranging in size from the Gunboat 68 to the Gunboat 72 flybridge have already gone into the water since last spring, the new Gunboat 80 represents another step forward for the range of ocean cruising catamarans built by the yard based in La Grande Motte (France).
“We honoured the brand’s DNA, notably with the inclusion of a cockpit forward and a helm station inside,” says Xavier Guilbaud. “But we also managed to move the mast further aft, stepping it on the coachroof, which results in a more balanced sail plan and a better centre of gravity.” Unlike her predecessors whose carbon cored layup was infused in-house, the 80 was built entirely with pre-impregnated carbon fibre, a construction process also used on the big racing boats (Ultim, IMOCA).
Because of this, Gunboat decided to outsource the manufacture of the hulls, superstructure and bulkheads to Multiplast (Vannes) and Fibre Mechanics (Lymington). It took two years to build the first boat. “On this model we are assemblers, in the best sense of the word. More than ever our expertise lies in our capacity to manage the integration of complex systems in a body whose weight estimate is strictly controlled. Weight estimates are, by the way, a contractual obligation at Gunboat,” says CEO Benoit Lebizay.
This focus on weight began way back in the concept stage, because the boat’s lines and structure were designed for the most unfavourable loading scenario, in this instance 29 tonnes light displacement. The second Gunboat 80, which was commissioned by the American Jason Caroll (owner and skipper of the MOD70 Argo) for fast cruising with his family, should be close to this maximum displacement…
An action-packed Global Solo Challenge in October
Friday
Oct 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Another three are preparing to set sail in two weeks, and the docks at Marina Coruña are beginning to welcome other skippers, including the nine competitors who will animate the event’s most significant departure on October 28…
Coca-Cola joins the 37th America’s Cup
Friday
Oct 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
On Friday morning, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners signed an agreement at its Martorelles (Barcelona) plant, through which the company becomes a sponsor of the 37th America’s Cup.
Guinness World Record for Gimson & Burnett
Thursday
Oct 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Gimson and Burnett achieve Guinness World Record sailing from Northern Ireland to Scotland, while campaigning for climate change awareness…
heartbreak at the bathtub worlds
Thursday
Oct 05
2023
Posted by deleteme
Oct 05
2023
Posted by deleteme
We kid, these minis are so badass and a very close race just finished as a heartbreaker for Victor Mathieu, (pictured above) as he saw his once 40-mile lead get eaten up. More here.
hellish
Wednesday
Oct 04
2023
Posted by deleteme
Oct 04
2023
Posted by deleteme
An inferno engulfed Falmouth Harbour, Antigua as Tropical Storm Phillipe travelled across the islands in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday 2nd). Whilst some reports claim it was instigated by lightning, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. No deaths or injuries have been reported at this moment in time. Government authorities are also reporting widespread flooding on both islands.
“First and foremost, the most important thing is that everyone is safe. No one has been hurt or injured,” Devin Joseph, Yachting and Sailing Business Development Manager, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority tells SuperyachtNews. “The commercial building, however, has been fully destroyed, which housed the Dock Master’s Office, Cloggy’s restaurant, Turtle Surf Shop, Skulduggery bar and café, Ari fish shop, Dockside supermarket, Marina Gym, and Seabreeze bar and café.” More here.
Former Tesla exec announces e-boat launch
Wednesday
Oct 04
2023
Posted by deleteme
Oct 04
2023
Posted by deleteme
Some St. Petersburg Pier visitors may have noticed a strange-looking boat cruising just offshore. Blue Innovations group will soon publicly unveil the completed version. Images provided.
John Vo, the former global head of manufacturing for Tesla, pledged that his latest venture would bring technological ingenuity typically found in Silicon Valley to St. Petersburg.
He is now eager for residents to test drive his R30, a 30-foot…
Cup Spy Oct 4: Fresh breeze arrives in Barcelona
Wednesday
Oct 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Five teams sailed off Barcelona in fresh winds – but generally below the maximum strength for racing. The best option for Barcelona would seem to be a good all round boat, rather than one that is moded for a particular set of expected weather conditions.
SailGP doubles down in the UAE
Tuesday
Oct 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The fourth season for the SailGP sports league has expanded from 12 to 13 events with the addition of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix in Mina Rashid on December 9-10. This adds a second event in the United Arab Emirates, filling a gap between the Spain Sail Grand Prix (October 14-15) and Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix (January 13-14).
“Following our successful debut (at the venue) last year, returning to Dubai will help to amplify our ambitions to grow the sport across the UAE,” said SailGP CEO Russell Coutts. “…we are looking forward to what the Dubai event can bring this year by welcoming even more fans to the race stadium at Mina Rashid.”
Mina Rashid, also referred to as Port Rashid, is a man-made cruise terminal and was Dubai’s first commercial port. As cargo operations moved to Jebel Ali Port in 2018, it currently serves as a seafront coastal destination, tourist cruise destination, and residential area.
“Mina Rashid Marina is the perfect destination for all things maritime,” said Hamza Mustafa, Chief Operating Officer at P&O Marinas. “Our partnership (with SailGP) cements our commitment to making Dubai a leading maritime hub and a global destination for yachting and sailing enthusiasts.”
For additional details, click here.
are we clear?
Monday
Oct 02
2023
Posted by deleteme
Oct 02
2023
Posted by deleteme
Don’t know the story, just know it is the fear of “are we clear?” come to life…
Best Boat Nominees 2024
Monday
Oct 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
It’s boat show season in the USA which triggers the magazines to host their ‘best boat’ contests. Here is the preview from SAIL magazine:
One thing you can say for sure about sailboat designers and builders, they are always up for a challenge—whether that’s finding new ways to provide comfort and glamour to a sailboat’s living spaces while delivering improved performance; seeking more environmentally sustainable propulsion systems, charging methods, or building processes; improving what’s tried and true; or stretching into new thinking about some aspect of sailing.
All of this and more is reflected in the designs that are nominees for SAIL’s Top 10 Best Boats for 2024. From comfort and performance to size range and customizable options, we’re seeing production boats deliver more than ever before…
The Kitchen Maker 18ft Skiff Racing Team
Sunday
Oct 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Australian 18 Footers League is always aware of the need to develop a good relationship with its sponsorship partners, so it’s no surprise that The Kitchen Maker will be lining up for its 13th consecutive season.
Whitbread Round the World Race 85-86 Official Film
Sunday
Oct 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The latest in the series of historical re-uploads… The 1985-86 Whitbread Round the World Race. Lionel Péan skippered L’esprit d’équipe to victory over 14 other teams, marking the first time a French team would win the race…
Around the world in a 5-metre boat
Sunday
Oct 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Oct 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Polish adventure-seeker Arek Pawelek will attempt to singlehandedly circumnavigate the globe, non-stop and unassisted in his 5-metre boat Elblag. Believed to be the smallest boat to attempt the feat, he departed September 28 from Plymouth, England. Pawelek’s expects the route around the capes of Africa, Australia, and South America will require 300 days to complete.
While no official record is maintained for the feat, the smallest yacht to previously circumnavigate the globe is understood to be Poland’s Szymon Kuczynski who completed the course in a 6.36-metre boat Atlantic Puffin in 2017.
Pawelek’s adventurous nature first attracted attention in 1998 when he participated in sailing across the Atlantic from Cadiz to Barbados on a 4.4-metre-long inflatable boat. He has been a treasure hunter and will produce a documentary about his voyage.
“People have asked why I want to sail such a small boat,” he said. “I was searching for a new adventure and considered sailing the world on my 2.7 metre long dinghy. My wife, unsurprisingly, was concerned about this and suggested I sail the world in Elblag instead.
“I like sailing on small boats. I feel more confident on small boats than on large sailing yachts. For years, I have been trying to show other sailors that sailing doesn’t have to be very expensive and can be made on a budget. I encourage others to buy or build small yachts and try to sail at sea.”
Tracker: https://share.garmin.com/T9NXY
They were our eyes and ears on board
Saturday
Sep 30
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 30
2023
Posted by XS Editor
For Jimmy Horel, the Bay of Biscay in late September on the first section of the Défi Azimut 48-Hours, was a true baptism of fire…
slip owership-the good, bad, and ugly
Saturday
Sep 30
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 30
2023
Posted by deleteme
I have read through other forums and info online. I think I have my head wrapped around the basic dangers and short comings of purchasing a slip. I am asking if anyone has any useful opinions/experience owning a slip at a Safe Harbour marina in…slip owership-the good, bad, and ugly
Cup Spy Sept 29: Missed day for Swiss, USA
Friday
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The breeze all but deserted Barcelona on Friday, disrupting a planned sailing day for the Swiss, and leaving the US team no option than to run with a plannned photo-shoot, usiung a towed up AC40…
Happening Right Now on San Francisco Bay
Friday
Sep 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
As we write these words and bang away on the keyboard, as the October issue of Latitude 38 is making its way to your local waterfront, mailbox and inbox, boats are making their way onto the water. Today marks the last day of the biennial International Folkboat Regatta, sailing out of Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon.
There’s actually a bit of wind in today’s weather reports — it may be summer making an encore and taking a bow with one final day of fog and snorting San Francisco sea breezes. Looking at today’s windy.com forecast, there is a sea of upper-atmosphere green enveloping the Bay around 2 p.m., suggesting a brisk 20 knots of breeze and the kind of conditions hearty sailors, wingers, kiters and windsurfers love and maybe even plan their lives around…
Building a Classe Mini for the future
Friday
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Classe Mini have announced plans to reduce their environmental impact and make the popular series more accessible by organising a new solo race for older boats…
winter live aboard slip <$80 month.
Friday
Sep 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
Decided to find a slip for the winter in the finger lakes, live aboard, amenities, under $500 for October through May, no insurance required, quiet, peaceful, and inexpensive. Less than $80 a month!!!
M32 Worlds at Newport, Rhode Island Day 1
Friday
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Twelve teams are in motion at the big dance in Newport, Rhode Island. Today was a tricky, shifty day at the M32 World Championship…
Pen Duick VI first across equator
Friday
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Skipper Marie Tabarly and her determined Pen Duick VI crew were first to cross the doldrums, reach the South Easterly Trades and yesterday morning first to cross the equator. She is now 337 nm ahead of their closest rivals Spirit of Helsinki…
Cup Spy Sept 26: Defence comes into focus
Wednesday
Sep 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Emirates Team NZ sailed their AC75 for the first time in over a month, with co-helmsman Nathan Outteridge saying after the session that the Kiwis had shifted their focus to understanding the nuances of the venue…
there be pirates
Tuesday
Sep 26
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 26
2023
Posted by deleteme
At 12:09 UTC, Outlaw AU (08) / Captain Campbell Mackie, contacted McIntyre Ocean Globe race headquarters stating they’d come in contact with a sole male drifting in a 20ft canoe, 90nm off the coast of Dakar.
The distressed mariner, who doesn’t speak English or French, had no water, limited fuel in 2 small cans, no fishing gear and no sign of a radio. Campbell provided food and water and took the sailor under tow, but left him in the canoe making the best speed under motor to Dakar at 5knts in light winds.
OGR declared a Code Orange and contacted Senegal/Dakar MRCC, MRCC Dakar, JRCC /Maritime and Senegal Coast Guard asking for assistance in an immediate evacuation. More here.
The World Sailing Show
Tuesday
Sep 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The World Sailing Show delivers 30-minute episodes which feature news, profiles, and racing highlights from across the world of sailing.
The September episode of the World Sailing Show focuses on preparations for the 37th America’s Cup Barcelona with the first Preliminary Regatta already providing a tantalising glimpse at the action yet to come.
• Olympic qualification takes a major step forward
• 54th edition of the Solitaire du Figaro sets sail from Caen
• World Match Racing Tour set for an exciting conclusion in China for the first time
• Rolex TP52 World Championship heads to Barcelona
• All the news from around the sailing world
There is also an in-depth look at the progress of Olympic qualification following the 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships in The Hague and with events on every continent rapidly approaching ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Olympic qualifying is well underway with the 2024 Olympic sailing events in Marseille less than a year away. The World Sailing Show has all the details and catches up with the most recent qualifiers, including new Formula Kite world champion Max Maeder of Singapore, 49erFX world champions Rebecca Netzler and Vilma Bobeck of Sweden, and Nacra 17 world and Olympic champions – as well as 2022 Rolex World Sailors of the Year, Ruggero Tita and Catarina Banti of Italy…
How clouds impact your race strategy
Tuesday
Sep 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The movement of clouds is easy to forget when the action is in front of you, but the key to your next race win may very well be above. Here’s how to play the clouds, by Chelsea Freas for Sailing World:
So many factors go into prepping for a typical around-the-buoys day race: rig tune, sail selection, start line bias, course skew, and currents, but one of my biggest pieces of advice to sailors is to remember to regularly “look up!” One overlooked component of sailing strategy is how the wind behaves around the clouds and by understanding how they can influence wind patterns at the surface, you can gain a competitive edge on the water, especially if you are the only one looking around at the clouds. Clouds are a big topic, of which entire books have been published, but to get you started, here are my five top tips for cloud management. – Full report
2023 505 North American Championship
Monday
Sep 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
In advance of the 2023 505 World Championship on September 26-October 1, the 2023 505 North American Championship was held September 23-24 in San Francisco, CA.
Fifty-four teams competed in the 6-race series with Mike Martin/ Adam Lowry (USA) claiming the title, followed by Eric Anderson/ Nic Baird (USA) in second and Nathan Batchelor/ Sam Pascoe (GBR) in third.
The North Americans was held on two sailing areas on San Francisco Bay, with the first day of racing held west of Alcatraz Island and the second day just west of Treasure Island.
Sixty teams representing eight nations are registered for the 10-race World Championship.
Event information – Race details – Entry list – Photos
Storms postpone 24th Mini Transat
Monday
Sep 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Rather than start 90 solo sailors on the first leg of the 2023 Mini Transat, the fleet of 21-foot Mini Class competitors were postponed on September 24 due to strong winds and large seas forecasted off Spain’s Cape Finisterre when the Mini fleet would be rounding this point.
Something about 40 knot winds and 10 foot high waves …
Instead, their 1400 nm course from Les Sables d’Olonne in France to the Canary Islands began a day later which has allowed the weather forecast to further develop and move slightly more north. Additionally, the race organization added a waypoint to keep the fleet towards the southern part of the Bay of Biscay to maintain distance from the low pressure system.
After two years of intense preparation, extra scrutiny is needed to dissect weather files to refine strategies as the first 48 hours of the race is expected to be in light winds, plus rounding Cape Finisterre promises to be challenging despite the change in the schedule.
The 24th edition follows the previous format of two stages, with the second extending from the Canary Islands to Guadeloupe. With divisions for prototype and production boats, the combined elapsed time for the two stages determines the overall winners…
bad man
Monday
Sep 25
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 25
2023
Posted by deleteme
The owner of Howard Boats in Barnstable, Mass was arraigned on charges of rape and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office announced.
Peter Eastman, 57, of Barnstable, was arraigned in the Barnstable District Court on Sept. 11. Eastman already had bail on a separate matter — with charges including assault with a dangerous weapon and violation of a restraining order — which was removed during the recent arraignment.
On Tuesday, Eastman appeared in the Barnstable District Court, where the state’s motion to hold him without bail was allowed. There was a motion by the Commonwealth to hold Eastman on dangerousness in the sexual assault case, meaning, as a matter of procedure, the court revoked bail on his previous pending case and held him on dangerousness.
He is due back in court today.
Balmain 18ft Skiff Racing Team
Sunday
Sep 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
As we approach the start of the Australian 18 Footer League’s 2023-24 season, with Race 1 of the Spring Championship to be sailed on Sunday, October 8, the Balmain team is looking to build on its spectacular finish to 2022-23…
The Lesser of 2 Weevils!!
Sunday
Sep 24
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 24
2023
Posted by deleteme
We are on the island of Carriacou, part of Grenada and Hillsborough has 5 “supermarkets” and 1 Co-op. None are airconditioned, all are open in some way to the open air.
I call them the “Supermarkets without Food”.
Our shopping on Saturday to last us till Monday took in the Co-Op and 3 of the alleged Supermarkets.
They all have flour. In paper bags.
On Thursdays shop we bought a bag of flour and Marjorie was happily mixing up a batter for…
2023 Caribbean Foiling Championships update
Sunday
Sep 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Exciting news for competitors travelling from Guadeloupe to the Caribbean Foiling Championships. In a combined effort Compagnie des Iles du Nord (CIN) and Frigodom have teamed up to sponsor the shipping of a 20ft container to and from St Martin…
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