SailGP, the world’s most exciting racing on water, officially launched its Season 4 ‘We Are Racing’ Global Brand Campaign with a week-long digital 3D OOH immersive full screen takeover at the world-renowned Piccadilly Lights
splat
Wednesday
Aug 30
2023
Posted by deleteme
Aug 30
2023
Posted by deleteme
Splat was the sound that came next from this nicely timed shot of a National 18-foot dinghy racing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven Co. Cork this past weekend. Helm is Alex Barry with Anthony Coole and William O’Brien crew. Photo thanks to Bob Bateman.
mall cop
Tuesday
Aug 29
2023
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Aug 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
The Canadian ILCA National Championships were held this past weekend at the Buffalo Canoe Club. There were 133 boats spread across the three classes. The winner in the 7’s was Norman Struthers from Royal Canadian YC. The 6’s were won by Rory Walsh from Royal Vancouver YC, while Angus Beauregard from Hudson YC won the 4’s. Full results here.
As an umpire, I wasn’t really in a position to watch the race, and no one really cared about who tacked on who and when. Being an on-the-water umpire for the first time gave me an interesting perspective on some things that happened behind the scenes. Generally, the regatta had a great vibe, and the talent level for the vast majority of this fleet is exceptionally high….
56th Shark World Championship
Tuesday
Aug 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 56th Shark World Championship came to a close on Friday, August 25th with 48 crews and 10 races over six days with Niagara Sailors taking the top honours and also winning the Bill Metzger Trophy…
The World Sailing Show
Tuesday
Aug 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 29
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 August episode of the World Sailing Show is dedicated to the 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships, The Hague, where athletes in all 10 of the Olympic sailing events competed for gold, Para Sailors made their debut at the event, and over 100 places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were on the line.
• Coverage of all 10 Olympic Classes
• Four Para Sailing events make impressive Sailing World Championship debut
• The 37th America’s Cup gets ready for its first event
• Fastnet Race conjures up a storm in the Irish Sea
• Round up of all the sailing action from around the world
Competitors from 81 countries descended on The Hague to crown new world champions. Boosted by the Emerging Nations Program and Para Sailing events, taking place in tandem with the 10 Olympic Classes at the Sailing World Championships for the first time. The World Sailing Show has all the action from The Hague and Braassemermeer and catches up with the winners as 1200 sailors battled it out over 10 days.
Four Para Sailing categories were featured at the Allianz Sailing World Championships for the first time, showing that sailing is a sport for all. Elite racing was held on Lake Braassemermeer, and the World Sailing Show has reactions from the sailors and a round up of all the action.
Meanwhile, it has been a busy few months in Barcelona as the boats and teams arrived ahead of the first of three preliminary regattas to kick off the 37th America’s Cup on 14 September in Vilanova, 45km along the coast from Barcelona. The first race will be contested in one-design AC 40s, and the World Sailing Show hears from the crews of Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa, Ineos Brittania and American Magic during practice as they prepare for kick off.
Elsewhere, the Rolex Fastnet Race celebrated its 50th edition with a record fleet of 420 yachts taking part in the 695 nautical mile race. Starting in Cowes on the Isle of Wight to Cherbourg, France, via the famous Fastnet Rock in Ireland. The event was not without drama, however, as conditions proved challenging for the Multihulls leading the way.
Strong winds and high winds forced a shift in tactics, but it was François Gabart and his team who emerged victorious, taking line honours and setting a new record in the process as they completed the race in 1 day 8 hours 38 minutes 27 seconds, breaking the time set by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier on Maxi Groupe Edmond de Rothschild two years ago by 36 minutes 27 seconds.
Could this be the last Ha-Ha?
Sunday
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The registration deadline is approaching for the “this could be the last time” 2023 Baja Ha-Ha. In the first 28 years, 3,500 boats and nearly 15,000 sailors have done the Baja Ha-Ha, the 750-mile cruisers’ rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with R&R stops at fun and funky Turtle Bay and spectacular Bahia Santa Maria. For a combination of reasons, it’s very possible that this 29th edition will be the last of this unique rally. So if you want to be part of Ha-Ha history, be sure to sign up by September 10. – Details
Weymouth Speed Week 2023 entry now open
Sunday
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
With six weeks until the start of Weymouth Speed Week 2023 is now open. The first and the longest running speed sailing event open to all types of wind powered craft starts on Saturday 7th October…
Clipper Race: Dare to Lead returns
Sunday
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Team Partner Dare To Lead returns to the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Formed over ten years ago, and partnering with the Clipper Race since its 2013-14 edition, Dare To Lead is an initiative founded by former Clipper Race Crew member and entrepreneur Dirk van Daele. For the 2023-24 edition, which starts September 12, Dirk is joined by Alex Wilkinson, his business partner at global financial advisory Circlo 3. Dare To Lead focuses on personal and professional development, teamwork, and leadership in people of all ages, gender, backgrounds, and nationalities through the experience of ocean racing. – Full report
Brisk start to La Solitaire du Figaro first leg
Sunday
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Ouistreham beach, off Caen on France’s Normandy coast, this afternoon gave the 32 solo skippers starting first stage of the 54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec a purposeful but relatively straight forward send off on a 610 nautical miles leg…
Hamilton Island Race Week – IRC Downhill Start
Saturday
Aug 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Day Five at Hamilton Island Race Week saw the IRC classes and trailables start in Dent Passage. It was another fast downhill run for the starters in Dent Passage as they headed off in the Whitsunday Passage on another Island Race…
Rolex Middle Sea Race: Another good-looking fleet
Saturday
Aug 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
With the news that last year’s monohull and multihull line honours winners have entered, entries at the 44th Rolex Middle Sea Race have shifted gears again…
SailGP: Gearing up for St. Tropez
Saturday
Aug 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Saint-Tropez could host the comeback of Quentin Delapierre’s French team after a shaky start to SailGP’s Season 4. The 10-strong F50 fleet will next meet for battle on the waters of Saint-Tropez when the France Sail Grand Prix gets underway on September 9-10, 2023. Ahead of the event, the crew and substitution line-ups for each team have been revealed…
2023 Tempest Worlds – Clean Sweep for German teams
Saturday
Aug 26
2023
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Aug 26
2023
Posted by deleteme
The final day of the 2023 Tempest World Championships hosted by Portsmouth SC…
Representing in the Mini Transat
Friday
Aug 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
On September 24, 90 singlehanded sailors will take off from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, racing 21-foot (6.5-meter) Classe Mini boats alone for 4,050 nautical miles to the Canary Islands and then Guadeloupe in the 2023 edition of the legendary Mini Transat.
They sail without chartplotters, laptops, or satellite communications. They race like their lives depend upon it. Renowned for its extreme challenges and the high-performance pocket rockets on which it takes place, the Mini Transat is largely the domain of French singlehanders.
This year, though, an American sailor has met the qualifying miles and races necessary to secure a start. Barring unforeseen circumstance, lifelong Annapolis sailor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Peter Gibbons-Neff will be on the line with his Classe Mini 6.50, Terminal Leave, sailing to meet his own hopes and dreams and to spread the word about an organization that has played a key role in his life, U.S. Patriot Sailing. – Full story
17th Annual CRAB Cup reports record attendance
Friday
Aug 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 25
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Over 650 sailors and supporters of Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) celebrated a successful pursuit race with 88 sailboats registered and seven powerboats in the poker pursuit on Saturday, August 19, 2023…
Hydrogen race boat enters final build phase
Thursday
Aug 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The structural assembly of the deck and hull of the 60-foot foiling OceansLab IMOCA, a third evolution Manuard design, has now completed at Pauger Carbon Composites boatyard…
Rolex TP52 World Championship day 3
Thursday
Aug 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Winners of two of the season’s three regattas so far, 2023’s circuit leaders Ergin Imré’s Turkish flagged Provezza made the strongest start to the Rolex TP52 World Championship today in Barcelona…
Australia’s sole Global Solo Challenge entrant
Wednesday
Aug 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The race is an East-about, solo, non-stop, and unassisted, pursuit style round-the-world event, starting and finishing in A Coruña, North West Spain…
Cup Spy Aug 23: Italians have a solid session
Wednesday
Aug 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Three Cup Challengers wanted to sail on Wednesday, but the breeze was a no-show for the third successive day. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, based in Cagliari, enjoyed a good four hour session. From a late report, the Swiss did get sailing late in the day…
Tempest Worlds Day 3 – Lars and Leif Bahr of Germany increase their lead
Wednesday
Aug 23
2023
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Aug 23
2023
Posted by deleteme
Lars and Leif Bahr are powering away at the 2023 Tempest World Championships sailed in the Solent off Portsmouth…
WASZP Eurocup in Norway
Tuesday
Aug 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
One of the most spectacular venues on the WASZP calendar came to life last week, with the 2024 European Games venue turning on an event for the ages…
A U.S. Marine in the Mini Transat
Tuesday
Aug 22
2023
Posted by deleteme
Aug 22
2023
Posted by deleteme
On September 24, 90 singlehanded sailors will take off from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, racing 21-foot (6.5-meter) Classe Mini boats alone for 4,050 nautical miles to the Canary Islands and then Guadeloupe in the legendary Mini Transat. They sail without chartplotters, laptops, or satellite communications. They race like their lives depend upon it. Renowned for its extreme challenges and the high-performance pocket rockets on which it takes place, the Mini Transat is largely the domain of French singlehanders. This year, though, an American sailor has met the qualifying miles and races necessary to secure a start. Barring unforeseen circumstance, lifelong Annapolis sailor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Peter Gibbons-Neff will be on the line with his Classe Mini 6.50, Terminal Leave, sailing to meet his own hopes and dreams and to spread the word about an organization that has played a key role in his life, U.S. Patriot Sailing. The following is his story of finding his way to this singular class and his path through thousands of ocean miles he’s had to sail to make it to the starting line.
By the evening of the 12th day at sea in August 2022, I was beyond exhausted. With almost no direct sunlight on my solar panels for the previous week, my boat’s batteries were run down. The final 300 miles into the Bay of Biscay were the most difficult of this 1,300-nautical-mile solo race from the Azores to France. Without power, I had no autopilot, and with my automatic identification system (AIS) transponder shut off, I was playing frogger with giant ships crossing between the mouth of the English Channel and Cape Finisterre, Spain.
Reaching speeds of up to 15 knots, I was surfing down waves with a large asymmetric spinnaker and flying it for days at a time. The two handheld VHF radios were dead, and all that remained was a little handheld GPS and a flashlight to shine on my mainsail. For the first time ever in a race, I hove to that final night at sea for a brief three-hour nap before I hurt myself or the boat…
Strong line-up expected at RORC Transatlantic Race
Monday
Aug 21
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 21
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Starting on 7th January 2024, the 3,000-mile race across the Atlantic Ocean is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and supported by Calero Marinas and the International Maxi Association, along with Yacht Club de France…
Hilary Brings Flash Floods to Baja and SoCal, but Its Bark Appears Worse Than Its Bite
Monday
Aug 21
2023
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Aug 21
2023
Posted by deleteme
As the remnants of the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years now evaporate over northern Nevada, people are trying to assess the damage done by the heavy rainfall and flooding from Hilary.
The New York Times said: “Los Angeles Survives Tropical Storm With ‘Minimal Impacts,’ Officials Say,” noting that there have been no reports of deaths or major storm damage in L.A. itself, but that “the impact in other cities is still being assessed.” The Los Angeles Times said, “Hilary Leaves Massive Flooding, Mudslides, Upheaval Across Southern California,” citing that parts of San Bernardino saw mud and debris slides that closed roads.
About 18,000 customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power were without power Monday morning, according to the L.A. Times. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the damage from Hilary was “minor.” (By the way, yesterday there was a 5.1 earthquake centered near Ojai, inland from Ventura; no damage or injuries were reported, but surely an already tense situation was made worse.)
At the moment, Hilary appears to be more annoyance than the potentially “catastrophic” storm with the potential to bring heavy flooding to desert landscapes that are unable to absorb a deluge of water. As residents of Florida and the Gulf and East coasts well know, hurricanes often come with ominous warnings and a media frenzy, then underwhelm the hunkered-down populace.
© 2023 Windy.com
“If that was the hurricane I have to deal with, I could deal with that every year — no problem,” said my cousin, Ed ‘Frondo’ van Os, who lives with his family in San Miguel, just north of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. “It was, like, 25 knots at its worst. We had zero damage at the house and zero damage at the shop, other than losing a couple of days to preparation, and a lot of stress.”
Mexican authorities are assessing the damage Hilary caused in Baja before crossing the border, according to the New York Times. “Nearly 3,000 Mexican Marines were mobilized to provide aid in parts of the Baja California peninsula, the military said Sunday night.” The Times said that the Mexican navy rescued the municipal president of Mulegé and other government and military officials, as well as 13 citizens, from floods.
Winds of up to 85 miles an hour were reported in Cabo San Lucas, and at least one person died in Baja, according to CBS News.
Above: Footage from Mulegé, Baja California, Mexico, on the Sea of Cortez.
In a summer of record heat, smoke-filled days in the Midwest and Northeast, and the recent tragedy in Lahaina, Hurricane Hilary was another wild headline among a deluge of unbelievable weather-related headlines. Hilary was not the first over-hyped hurricane and it certainly won’t be the last. This is part of what can make hurricanes so deadly: People live through numerous non-events, over-prepare for storms that fizzle, and eventually become numb to warnings, making them complacent — and vulnerable — when a severe storm does actually deliver.
If you’re in Southern California or Mexico, please tell us about your experience with Hilary.
The post Hilary Brings Flash Floods to Baja and SoCal, but Its Bark Appears Worse Than Its Bite appeared first on Latitude38.
Tempest Worlds – First day to Lars and Leif Bahr
Monday
Aug 21
2023
Posted by deleteme
Aug 21
2023
Posted by deleteme
The first day of the Tempest World Championships and Lars Bahr and Leif Baehr (GER) are the leaders after taking wins in both races.
NZL Sailing Team: Allianz Sailing Worlds – Day 9
Sunday
Aug 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
George Gautrey hopes establishing the colour of New Zealand’s only medal at the Sailing World Championships early tomorrow morning will be far more straightforward than it was winning it…
The 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic preview
Sunday
Aug 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic is confirmed! This will be the Grand Final of the Unified PWA IWT Wave Tour.
Cup Spy August 18: Good times return for testing
Saturday
Aug 19
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 19
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Two America’s Cup Challengers sailed on Friday in good testing conditions off Cagliari and Barcelona. Both sailed their custom designed test boats…
Sail for Hope to benefit Maui victims
Friday
Aug 18
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 18
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sail Newport and organizers of the annual Sail for Hope on Saturday, September 30, have announced that the sailboat race will raise funds to help the victims of the Maui wildfires. The catastrophic fires on the Hawaiian island are said to be the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century.
“The need is immense in Maui, and because we have the opportunity to help relieve some of the human suffering, we’re going to do all we can to raise emergency funding for food, from one island community to another,” says Brad Read, executive director, Sail Newport.
Organizers will send the donations to the nonprofit organization Maul Food Bank (MFB). MFB is working round the clock to relieve hunger in the devastated community.
Sailboats 22′ and larger are invited to enter the race around Jamestown. Powerboats are also welcome to join the flotilla that starts outside Newport Harbor and makes an 18-mile circumnavigation of Conanicut Island.
Racing begins at 11 a.m. outside of Newport Harbor. Racing sailboat classes include multiple PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, Multi-Hull, and the Sail Newport J/22 One-Design Class.
Racers and non-Racing vessels are encouraged to participate. Sail Newport emphasizes that although it’s a race, all sailboats are welcome to join or cruise around the island in a show of support for Maui. Sail Newport will assign a Narragansett Bay rating for boats that do not normally race who wish to enter a scored class.
In addition to donations, financial support for the Maui Food Bank will also be derived from the net of race entry fees, social tickets, bar income, and merchandise sales.
Sailors will be encouraged to raise funds from their friends, neighbors, family and businesses to donate on behalf of their boat entry. An annual award for the top fundraising boat will be presented after the race.
“This race is about helping others who are in need of the basics of life,” Read adds.
A social will be held after racing at the Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard. Sailors and crew are invited, and guests may purchase a wristband to be available online at sailnewport.org
The event was first sailed in 2001, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in the skies over Pennsylvania, when a few local sailing enthusiasts quickly responded by organizing a race to honor and support those affected. The first Sail for Pride around Conanicut Island rallied over 180 boats and raised $110,000 to support the NYFD firefighters and NYPD widows’ and childrens’ funds and the victims of the attacks and their families.
The display of patriotism and generosity on and off the water made a lasting impression on the sailing community. After the inaugural year, the organizers retired the name Sail for Pride but continued the event as Sail For Hope, reflecting the Rhode Island state motto of “Hope.” Their mission then became an annual tradition held to support the nonprofit community and those they serve.
Charities supported over the past 22 years include Seamen’s Church Institute, Newport Harbormaster’s Emergency Equipment Fund, The Rhode Island Red Cross, New Orleans Hurricane Katrina, Bahamas Hurricane Dorian, emergency assistance to active duty families, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (Newport), Wounded Warriors, R.I. Frontline Food for COVID medical workers, Seamen’s Church Institute, local public high school sailing teams, U.S. Olympic Sailing Trials, The Wounded Warriors Project, World Central Kitchen and Save the Children for Ukraine aid, the Warrior Sailing Program, Sail Newport’s Timothy J. Mills Financial Aid Fund and many others.
HOW TO DONATE
Online:
https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/38720/donations/new
In-Person
Donations accepted in person (checks written directly to “Maui Food Bank”) or walk-in credit card donations:
Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center
72 Fort Adams Dr., Newport, RI. 02840
Tel. (401) 846-1983
Sail Newport is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization
BECOME INVOLVED
Sail – All sailboats 22′ and over are welcome, even if you’re not an avid racer!
Register your sailboat: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=16178
Get a rating for your sailboat: gary.knapp@sailnewport.org
Powerboat or cruise around the Island with the Flotilla
Tell us you’re cruising around the island on a powerboat or sailboat: gary.knapp@sailnewport.org
The Maui Food Bank (MFB) was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1994. MFB is working round the clock to relieve hunger resulting from the catastrophic Maui wildfires. The Maui Food Bank is the only nonprofit in Maui County that collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of perishable and nonperishable food items to those in need. Visit mauifoodbank.org
CONTACTS
Donation Contact: eve.formisano@sailnewport.org
Media Contact: kim.cooper@sailnewport.org
Regatta Contact: gary.knapp@sailnewport.org
Van Den Heede on the great departure ahead for GSC
Wednesday
Aug 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Behind the scenes of the Global Solo Challenge, we meet a true old salt, the famous French solo navigator Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, who offers his valuable advice and support to many skippers…
Hobie 18 North American Championships
Wednesday
Aug 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 2023 Hobie 18 and Hobie 17 North American Championship was held from 31st July to 4th August at Lake Quinault in the Olympic National Park about 3 hours east of Seattle in Washington state, USA…
VIDEO: 2023 RC44 World Championship
Monday
Aug 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Highlights from the 2023 RC44 World Championship which attracted nine teams representing six countries on August 9-13 in Cowes, UK.
Australian sailors at Allianz Sailing Worlds day 3
Sunday
Aug 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The breeze was on again at the 2023 Sailing World Championships in The Hague, with seven Australian teams across the Skiff and Nacra 17 classes finding their way into Gold Fleet racing at the conclusion of their qualifying series…
We are Lahaina Strong
Sunday
Aug 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have killed over 90 people, and that number keeps increasing. More than 250 buildings in historic Lahaina Town have been destroyed which includes Lahaina Yacht Club on Front Street.
The fires started August 8 and fanned out across the island, growing in size and destructive power. It became national news as Hawaii declared a state of emergency on August 9, with aerial video showing the devastation.
As the co-host of the biennial Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race, Lahaina Yacht Club has welcomed been home to members and visitors since 1965. Here is a message from LYC Commodore Dave Schubert:
I write this with pure sorrow. Our beloved Lahaina Yacht Club and Lahaina Town has been devastated. The entire town of Lahaina and our home is gone and now just ash and rubble. What you are seeing in the news is probably accurate but just a small part of our reality. No power, water, etc… but we are an amazing community.
The people here are resilient. I have received many emails from reciprocal clubs across the country offering support and I want to assure that we will strive to rebuild, rebound, and come back better. We love and appreciate all of the heartfelt sentiments and support across the country.
To those amazing Commodores sharing such respect and support, I will absolutely share those caring messages after I get my/our lack of housing in check. To date quite a few of us Commodores, Past Commodores, and Board Members are now without homes. I do ultimately believe it will take all of us to be involved in rebuilding and all will commit to our future commitment to LYC.
Without hesitation, I am far more afraid for our general membership and their well-being. This town has so many amazing people. We are Lahaina Strong and most importantly we need to look out for the health and well-being of our families, friends, and membership and all those we love.
I hope this all makes sense. I am shedding tears as I write it. Lahaina Yacht Club and our strength has always been our family approach, our strength at its finest. Love and support to Lahaina and LYC.
To read the comments from this post on Facebook, click here.
To make a purchase from the LYC store, click here.
Tragedy in Lahaina
Thursday
Aug 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Amid the death and destruction due to wildfires in Maui, aerial video show the town of Lahaina having suffered significant damage, which includes Lahaina Yacht Club on Front Street and nearby Lahaina Harbor. Lahaina Town is a historic whaling village and tourism hotspot in Maui, Hawaii.
Cup Spy August 9: Three test alone in Barcelona
Thursday
Aug 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Three teams opted to sail for a second successive day in Barcelona. However two of those suffered breakdowns on one AC40, reducing their sessions to one-boat practice/testing only…
As the Earth hurtles headfirst
Thursday
Aug 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
To paraphrase John Masefield’s poem ‘Sea Fever’, having a star to steer by is helpful for a night passage, but as George Day reports in the Cruising Compass, we will want to sit still for this sky show:
Here we are again in the middle of August and, hopefully, you are getting Cruising Compass on your boat while anchored in a lovely quiet cove. And, with luck, you will have an unobstructed view of the night sky and very little ambient light from civilization ashore. That’s because the middle of August is when the Earth sails through the interplanetary debris field left by the huge comet Swift-Tuttle (click here); comets, apparently, are terrible litter bugs.
As the earth passes through the debris field, particles the size of large rocks enter the atmosphere at high speed and burn up creating shooting stars with long glowing tails. The best time to catch this summer’s shooting stars will be on August 12 and 13, just before the new moon when the sky is at its darkest. Between midnight and dawn, as the Earth hurtles headfirst into the debris, you can see as many a 100 shooting stars an hour.
It is known as the Perseid Meteor shower because the shooting stars seem to emit from the constellation Perseus. If you have never witnessed a meteor shower, it is a show of celestial fireworks worth staying up for. To read more on The Planetary Society’s website, click here.
Cup Spy August 8: Full fleet sails in Barcelona
Wednesday
Aug 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Five teams sailed on Tuesday in another seabreeze but lighter than the previous day. Two teams sailed AC75’s, two in AC40 combinations, and one in a custom design 12metre long test boat…
Bringing back the past to the present
Wednesday
Aug 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
During the 37th America’s Cup Challenger Selection Series in 2024, up to 25 12 Metres are anticipated for racing on September 4-7 in Barcelona, Spain. The 17th Regata Puig Vela Clàssica will be run by the Real Club Nàutic de Barcelona with the yachts moored at the RCNB’s marina in the heart of the America’s Cup Village.
“We enjoyed hosting the fleet back in 2014, on the 7th edition of the regatta, and look forward to welcoming the 12 Metre family again in 2024 where the contrast between the displacement era and the new era of foiling vessels will be a stunning backdrop for the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona,” said Jordi Puig, President of the Real Club Nàutic de Barcelona.
The 12 Metre Class can trace its history back to the early 1900s when they were used in the 1908, 1912, and 1920 Olympic Games. The class was introduced to the America’s Cup in 1958 by the holders at the time, the New York Yacht Club, following the cessation of the competition during the period of World War II.
The ‘Golden Era’ of the enormous J-Class yachts that had last competed for the Cup in 1937 was over, as harsh post-war economic times precluded the building and campaigning of these vessels.
The New York Yacht Club recognized the desire for a smaller and more cost-effective class to re-start the competition and the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes agreed, sending the David Boyd designed Sceptre to face the Olin Stephens designed Columbia in 1958.
The Americans successfully defended eight times in the Match against challengers from Britain and Australia through to 1983 when finally, the longest winning streak in sports history was ended by the radical winged-keel yacht Australia II helmed by John Bertrand and designed by the genius of Ben Lexcen.
The Cup was taken to Fremantle Western Australia for what would be the final time that 12 Metres competed for the trophy in a memorable regatta with the big seas and winds of Gage Roads as the Australian Kookaburra III Task Force Syndicate lost to Dennis Conner’s Stars ‘n’ Stripes ‘87 after a thrilling series that catapulted the America’s Cup into the mainstream.
The 12 Metre fleet was eventually replaced by the IACC class after the Deed of Gift Match in 1988 but they were anything but forgotten and fleets have sprung up most notably in North America and in both North and Southern Europe ever since, with owners restoring and updating the beautiful yachts with modern technology.
“In many people’s minds, the era of the 12 Metre Class in the America’s Cup was what inspired their interest in the event,” noted Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events.
“The 12 Metres will provide a lot of interest, and as always, their racing will be incredibly tight. We’re looking forward to seeing the boats and for the sailors to enjoy the unique atmosphere that is building in Barcelona.”
Source: ACE
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