Final day of racing for the 505 Euro Cup at Yacht Club de San Raphael, France this Easter weekend…
Brisbane to Gladstone Multihull race record
Saturday
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Rex, the ORMA60 trimaran previously known for many years as New Zealand’s Team Vodafone, has bettered the previous race record, set by Beau Geste MOD70 in 2019, by more than an hour in this year’s City Winery Brisbane to Gladstone Multihull Yacht Race…
Coast Guard rescue off Cape Fear
Saturday
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Elizabeth City, NC (April 15, 2022) – The Coast Guard today hoisted two people from a damaged sailboat approximately 86 miles southeast of Cape Fear. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew transported them back to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City.
Watchstanders from the U.S. Coast Guard Fifth District command center received notification from the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center stating that they received a distress alert from the 34-foot Spin Drift crew.
The Fifth District command center team directed the launch of crews and the Jayhawk and an HC-130 Hercules airplane from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City.
The USCGC Richard Dixon (WPC 1113) crew, based in Puerto Rico, was 50 miles away, transiting to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore and diverted to the scene to assist.
The Hercules crew arrived on the scene first and confirmed that the Spin Drift was disabled and adrift in 12-foot seas and 21 mph winds. The Jayhawk arrived shortly after and conducted the hoist.
There are no reports of injuries or pollution. The vessel remains a possible hazard to navigation. An emergency Broadcast Notice to Mariners was issued, alerting mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout to avoid a collision. The owners of the vessel will coordinate salvage…
Emirates Team NZ face flooded venue for record bid
Saturday
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Emirates Team New Zealand are putting a brave face on a few unanticipated issues that have arisen with their attempt to set a new Windpowered Land Speed record mark…
Eclectic mix prepare for So Cal classic
Saturday
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The 2022 Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race has attracted 165 entrants for the 74th edition, with the start on April 22 from Newport Beach, CA.
Racers will sail on one of three courses – the sprint to Dana Point, the extended San Diego run around the Coronado Islands, and the classic 125nm course to Ensenada, Mexico.
An eclectic mix of serious sailors campaigning multi-million-dollar yachts racing alongside recreational cruisers – from 16 to 100 feet – will cross the start line off the Balboa Pier.
In 2019, Jerry Fiat entered an AC45, a former Oracle (America’s Cup) training boat. Last year, he and renowned sailor and yacht designer Pete Melvin sailed a Farrier 32SRX folding trimaran and claimed three trophies. This year, the duo is taking a foiling catamaran, a GC32, on the San Diego course.
A few first-timers are big enough and fast enough to break the monohull elapsed time record. Top of the list isManouch Moshayedi’s Rio100, which broke the 2016 record in the Puerta Vallarta Race, despite finishing second to finish this year…
505 Euro Cup San Raphael – Day 1
Saturday
Apr 16
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 16
2022
Posted by deleteme
First day of racing for the 505 Euro Cup at Yacht Club de San Raphael, France for this Easter weekend…
time on time
Saturday
Apr 16
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 16
2022
Posted by deleteme
A good post on a subject that most of us have no idea…
Our club is going to use ToT scoring this year. We plan on using the 3 B factors for light, medium and heavy air. We are wondering:
- What wind speed should be attributed to Light, Medium and heavy?
- How do you determine the strength? From the signal boat? Mast head reading?
- When do you determine the wind strength? At the start? Mid race?
- How do you select the B factor with a building or dying breeze?
74th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race start
Friday
Apr 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
It was a spectacular spinnaker start for the 37 offshore racing yachts who are now racing 308 nautical miles up the coast to Gladstone for the Gladstone Ports Corporation’s iconic 74th annual Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race which started at 11am today…
Prysmian Group in the Vendée Globe 2024
Friday
Apr 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Kitted out with a new bow, a reinforced structure (prior to the arrival of her new foils) and a new livery, Prysmian Group – the only IMOCA to fly the Italian flag – will return to the liquid element on 27 April 2022 after a 4-month refit…
Match Racing Tour begins in Long Beach
Friday
Apr 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Long Beach, CA (April 14, 2022) – It didn’t take but an instant for Ficker Cup competitors to get their game on, on the first day of racing for the Ficker Cup trophy and a berth in next week’s Congressional Cup. The eight teams from the US, Sweden, and Denmark came out swinging, as cool breezes buffeted the waters off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.
In the first half of today’s races, four skippers looked to sweep the pack – Jeppe Borch (DEN), Emil Kjaer (DEN), Jeffery Petersen (USA), and Peter Holz (USA) – but soon the leaderboard shuffle began.
Dave Perry (USA) upset Holz; then Holz beat Borch, after the Danish team drew a foul and red flag stipulating the penalty turn had to be done immediately. Christopher Weis (USA) got on the scoreboard with wins over Petersen and Anna Östling (SWE), while David Wood (USA) warmed up to two wins late in the day…
not sunk by missiles
Friday
Apr 15
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 15
2022
Posted by deleteme
The museum ship USS The Sullivans (DD-537) experienced flooding on her starboard side and took on a heavy list overnight Wednesday, according to her caretaker, the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.
Images from the scene show the WWII-era warship listing heavily towards the pier and settling by the stern, her starboard rail underwater.
The park’s staff realized that the ship was taking on water at about 2200 hours, according to the Buffalo News, and they called a salvage and repair company to attempt an emergency patch. The breach is located aft on the starboard side, the park’s director told media. Dive inspections and emergency dewatering efforts were under way on Thursday afternoon, with assistance from local fire and rescue agencies…
iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games Day 2
Thursday
Apr 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The 74 young athletes from 16 countries hit the water today with the Ora – the classic breeze from the south of the Lake Garda – around 1 pm, but had to wait another hour before they were able to start racing…
Seeking Atlantic crossing from Guatemala to UK with 2 cats
Thursday
Apr 14
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 14
2022
Posted by deleteme
I know this is a long shot, but I thought I’d ask. I am British and returning to live in the UK after spending over 13 years in Guatemala.
I wish to bring my 2 beloved cats with me (all their vaccines & papers are up-to-date)
It’s really complicated with the airlines (to travel with 2) and especially into the UK, as they have to go in the hold, and requiring 3 flight changes – I don’t want to put them through this.
It’s really complicated with the airlines (to travel with 2) and especially into the UK, as they have to go in the hold, and requiring 3 flight changes – I don’t want to put them through this.
I’ve made 1 Atlantic crossing before (S.of France to Antigua) and have a…Seeking Atlantic crossing from Guatemala to UK with 2 cats
Going faster than the fastest
Thursday
Apr 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The final design of a boat designed to break the World Sailing Speed Record has been revealed, with the spaceship-like SP80 craft built with the aim of a top speed of 80 knots. The Swiss project expects to launch at the end of this year.
The speed record is currently held by Australian Paul Larsen and his Vestas Sailrocket 2, posting an average speed of 65.45 knots on the 500m track. Setting the standard in November 2012, the 40-foot wing-powered craft represented 11 years work, with some spectacular failures along the way.
After a prototype was tested with dimensions 4.5 by 3.5 meters, the SP80 is ten metres long and seven metres wide and will be powered by a giant kite…
cascade
Thursday
Apr 14
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 14
2022
Posted by deleteme
The trickle-down effect is supposed to happen slowly but this time its pace is very fast indeed. Just five months after the end of the 36th America’s Cup, Persico Marine launched a fully engineered concept for a 40ft foiling monohull loaded with America’s Cup technology and systems. But the Persico Fly40 isn’t a leading-edge one-off, it’s a one design class for owner-drivers with a fully managed regatta circuit – and the price, and ongoing cost of ownership, is a lot lower than what TP52 owners, for example, are currently paying. It’s a compelling idea and one that Persico is in a uniquely strong position to deliver.
‘We built two boats for Luna Rossa which took a couple of years and we built the one design arms for all the teams,’ says Mark Somerville, general manager at Persico Marine. ‘That’s when the concept was developed. We put in place the technology and tried to capture as much as we could within the AC period to have that trickle-down effect happen as quickly as possible so we can bring this new technology of foiling boats to the public…
First AC40 is out of the mould
Thursday
Apr 14
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 14
2022
Posted by deleteme
Emirates Team New Zealand released some images of the first AC40 out of the mould…
UF50 Celebration Sailing Regatta entries now open
Wednesday
Apr 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
Hosted by the Royal London YC, Cowes, the UF50 Celebration sailing regatta will take place on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August 2022…
Folkboats in the Round The Island Race
Wednesday
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
If you want to win the Round The Island Race, you need the right boat; one that will benefit from the tidal gates in this race. Past history tells us that the overall winner will generally come from either IRC Division 3D or IRC Division 0…
Line honours for Leyton in 1000 milles des Sables
Wednesday
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Sam Goodchild is savouring this result in what is his very first singlehanded race in Ocean Fifty and with it his entry ticket for the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe…
A-holes
Wednesday
Apr 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
Looks like these chumps are running out of places to run to. Check the video.
Global Solo Challenge and the Canaries
Wednesday
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Even when a sailor’s eye gets used to the vast horizon, the colours and tones of the sea and sky change every day… the open seas are never the same from one day to the next…
American Magic: Team behind the team
Wednesday
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Before America’s Cup challenger New York Yacht Club American Magic hits the water this fall, they are putting the finishing touches on the leadership group which will support the sailing team. Two new additions are Luis Saenz Mariscal and Jon Persch:
• Luis Saenz Mariscal (Madrid, Spain) returns to American Magic as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. Luis specializes in Corporate and Sports Law. His experience extends to America’s Cup Challenges, Round the World Sailing Races, and the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation. His America’s Cup work has previously supported American Magic in the 36th America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa Challenge, Dennis Conner, and Desafio Español.
• Jon Persch (Boulder, Colo.) joins American Magic as Chief Commercial Officer. He is responsible for the commercial and marketing strategy, and execution for the team. Jon previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer for US Sailing, Chief Commercial Officer for USA Rugby and Major League Rugby. Jon has also held senior executive roles with Creative Artists Agency, World Wrestling Entertainment, and United Entertainment Group…
“Luis and Jon complete our leadership team and will be key players in shaping the future success and longevity of American Magic,” said Mike Cazer, Chief Executive Officer for NYYC American Magic. “We are building the franchise and intend for American Magic to be a regular competitor in the America’s Cup. As a team, we are strongly committed to our goal of winning the America’s Cup and bringing the Cup back to the United States.”
Zhik Combined High Schools Sailing Championships
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Zhik CHS sailing championships commenced this week at Belmont 16ft Sailing Club. The iconic event is steeped in history and has been a rite of passage for many young sailors. Many past winners include State, National, Olympic, SailGP and AC sailors…
What is a good way to learn to sail from scratch?
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 12
2022
Posted by deleteme
Hi guys, I am a field engineer who has wanted to learn to sail for years. As far as I know, there are a lot of sail schools in the UK and France, so I plan to choose one of them to receive professional training. Is it possible to recommend some good schools or other ways for me?
Sam Goodchild first to finish 1000 Milles des Sables
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 12
2022
Posted by deleteme
Sam Goodchild on the Ocean Fifty Leyton crossed the finish line of the 2nd edition of the 1000 Milles des Sables in 1st position on Tuesday 12 April…
Olympic circuit returns to France
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
For the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Sailing events will be held 400 miles to the south in Marseille on the Mediterranean Sea. This port city will be the focus in the coming years, but for now the attention turns toward the rustic charm and natural beauty of neighboring Hyeres.
The 53rd Semaine Olympique Française (French Olympic Week) is back on April 25-30, 2022.
Recent history had seen the iconic event shrink due to scheduling conflicts, and then the pandemic cancelled the 2020 and 2021 editions. However, for the first time in France, the SOF will bring together on the Hyères field of play the 10 classes that will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games…
Junior Sailing Programs back at full speed
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Do you know a child or teen who would benefit from being outdoors in the fresh air this summer?
Clipper Race: Crossing the International Date Line
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
In the coming days, the Clipper Race fleet is set to tick off the next big Race 10 milestone – crossing the International Date Line…
2022 Bermuda Gold Cup cancelled
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) has canceled the 2022 Bermuda Gold Cup, a prominent stage of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), due to be held October 18-22 in Hamilton, Bermuda.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and there were a few overriding concerns that have led to this outcome,” said Past Commodore Jon Corless, Chair of the RBYC International Sailing Events Committee. “Securing sufficient sponsorship was paramount for this prestigious event, which is renowned around the world for its standard of excellence and has proven challenging in these uncertain and fast changing times.”
After hosting the 2020 Bermuda Gold Cup during the pandemic, a failure to secure sufficient sponsorship in 2021 also led to the event’s cancellation…
Good for cars, Bad for boats
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
In a Reuters report, U.S. President Joe Biden will unveil plans to extend the availability of higher biofuel blends of gasoline during the summer to curb soaring fuel costs and to cut reliance on foreign energy sources, senior administration officials said.
The measure will allow Americans to keep buying E15, a gasoline that uses a 15% ethanol blend, from June 1 to Sept. 15. While E15 is only 10 cents cheaper on average and is less “energy dense,” meaning drivers would need to buy more fuel, it should still help lower expenses, the officials told reporters on a call previewing the announcement.
However, what Reuters omits is the danger of E15 on boat engines…
Antoine Mermod: IMOCA is stronger than ever
Tuesday
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
As its Annual General Assembly in Lorient comes to a close, Antoine Mermod, President of IMOCA, says the Class is in better shape than ever before and with an exciting new season of racing to come…
New Antigua to Newport record
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The MOD70 Argo has set a new provisional Antigua to Newport record of 3 days, 0 hours, 15 minutes, shaving approximately 5.5 hours off the previous mark set in 2015 by sistership Phaedo. The time becomes official when ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
Departing April 6, the route began with pleasant and fast downwind conditions through the Caribbean Sea, but became progressively more difficult. Big downwind conditions east of Hatteras saw required slowing the trimaran to keep things under control. Then a fairly large and disorganized sea state made the last night of the trip one to forget, but bright sunshine and flatter seas allowed the team to send on the final day and storm into Newport just ahead of the sunset…
fame
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 11
2022
Posted by deleteme
Rescue of Wan Hai 176
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
It was a successful and safe conclusion for the Wan Hai 176, a 564-foot container ship which lost power after departing San Francisco Bay on April 8.
The ship was 12 miles off the California coastline when it went adrift, and with rough weather hampering efforts to rescue the ship, it was finally able to set its anchor seven miles off the coast of Point Reyes, a headland 30 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
More favorable weather conditions arrived April 10 when the Delta Deanna, a 112-foot tug, was able to pass tow lines to the Wan Hai 176’s crew at its anchored location. Once the lines and anchors were secured, the tug began towing the ship with the tugs Stacey Foss, Delta Billie, Delta Deanna, and Rachel Allen escorting the ship to an anchorage that evening in San Francisco Bay…
Zappy-J leads J/70 France Series
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The French J/70 Series is officially under way, and the fleet was treated to spectacular weather in Marseilles, France but just a little bit more wind than anyone bargained…
Clipper Race – Qingdao windbound by Typhoon
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 11
2022
Posted by deleteme
Clipper Race yacht Qingdao did not depart Japan as planned due to the a very strong Typhoon approaching Japan…
Cali Kids win spot in US Match Race Championships
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jeffery Petersen from Balboa Yacht Club wins the third David Storrs Memorial Qualifier, qualifying him for the USMRC. Pearson Potts came in second right behind him, but not without a strong fight…
Be good to yourself – Sail Solo
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Peter Becker, a leader in the USA for introducing young people to big boat sailing, is all in for the 2022 Bermuda Short-Handed Return, a post Newport Bermuda Race return to Newport for Single- and Double-Handed Boats. Here he explains:
I have been working on ways to challenge myself, to create a new mind-space that will allow me to grow and expand the boundaries that engulf us over time. Sailing is one of the places where I truly feel skilled, confident, and peaceful. Despite this heightened sense of confidence, I realized that I had a blind spot. For my entire sailing life, I have not engaged with short-handed sailing, especially solo sailing.
It is easy to have the utmost respect for solo and double-handed sailors, they do amazing feats such as sailing non-stop around the world in remarkable boats like IMOCA 60s and Ultim Trimarans. But sailing the 2021 Bermuda 1-2 race became my awakening and my challenge. The first leg to Bermuda is sailed single-handed followed by a double-handed return to Newport…
Cruising in an Open 60 Racer
Monday
Apr 11
2022
Posted by deleteme
Apr 11
2022
Posted by deleteme
An ex-Vendée Globe racer is an unusual choice as a world cruiser, so why was it ours? Although we already both owned a pair of production boats, my partner, Timo, and I were searching for something to spice up our cruising life. We toyed with the idea of a classic schooner, but weren’t sure we could handle all the varnishing. Another option was to maybe find some kind of an old raceboat. That would certainly make for some exciting sailing! In the end location—or was it destiny?—played as big a role in our final destination as anything else, as we found ourselves anchored just a few boats away from just such a vessel, the Open 60 NV, in Opua, New Zealand.
After doing a little digging, we were fascinated and humbled by what we learned about NV’s history. Designed and built in 1989 by Hungarian sailor Nándor Fa, she took part in four singlehanded around-the-world races in the first decade of her life. Perhaps the highlight of her career was a fifth-place finish in the 1992-93 Vendée Globe with Nándor at the helm, making him the first non-French skipper ever to finish. She entered the Vendée Globe again in 2000, skippered by Russian adventurer Fedor Knovukhov, who sadly abandoned both the race and the boat in Sydney, Australia, due to technical problems. In Australia, the boat underwent further modifications, including having an extra 6ft added to her stern, after which she became a regular competitor in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s (CYCA) many offshore races, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, in which she came in 8th in 2002…
Closure at Trofeo Sofía Mallorca
Sunday
Apr 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Palma, Spain (April 9, 2022) – Palma Bay witnessed 10 gold medal winning performances on the concluding day of the 2022 Trofeo Sofía Mallorca. With 1,015 competitors, this regatta launched the 2022 Hempel Sailing World Cup Circuit while also marking the start of a new Olympic cycle towards Paris 2024.
The Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca is unique among major multi-class Olympic regattas in delivering an overall winner. This year’s winners are Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti (ITA) who take the title after dominating the Nacra 17 division.
The winner is the boat with the lowest average points after dividing the total points in the regatta series by the number of races completed (including any discard). The Italians won nine of their 13 races, convincing overall winners.
With 11 to 15 knot winds from the north-west, the offshore breeze made for tricky Medal Race conditions. For the final report, click here.
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