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Monthly archives for January, 2022
RORC Transatlantic Race Day 15
Sunday
Jan 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Two weeks into the RORC Transatlantic Race, three more French teams have crossed the finish line outside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina…
A great year ahead for the UK D-One Class
Sunday
Jan 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
2022 is shaping up as a strong one for the UK D-One fleet with an open event calendar comprising an exciting mix of inland, sea and foreign venues…
18ft Skiff NSW Championship in Sydney race 7
Sunday
Jan 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Another brilliant finishing burst by the current Australian champion Tech2 team to win Race 7 of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today has set the scene for a match race type finish to the series…
RORC Transatlantic Race – I Love Poland video
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski, the team is composed of young talented Polish sailors. OBR Robert Hadjuk’s great imagery shows what it’s really like to race across the Atlantic in a Volvo 70…
Two weeks to go to Heaven Can Wait 2022
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Thank you to everybody who responded to my last update indicating they plan to be a starter on the 2022 Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta. We believe we have enough entrants to run the regatta…
Solid trades for Transatlantic Race
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(January 21, 2022; Day 14) – At 0900 UTC, over 30 knots of trade winds in the Atlantic has greeted the 15 teams still racing in the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race. The latest teams to finish the RORC Transatlantic Race are Volvo 70 HYPR (ESP) skippered by Jens Lindner and Halvard Mabire’s ORC50 GDD (FRA) racing Two-Handed with Miranda Merron.
The Mylius 60 Lady First III (FRA) and the Ker 46 Tonnerre de Glen (FRA) are expected today…
Race details – Entry list – Tracker
The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race started January 8 for 256 sailors from 27 different countries. The record fleet of 30 boats set off from Lanzarote for the 3000nm course to Grenada.
Multihull elapsed record is 5 days, 22 hrs, 46 mins, 03 secs set in 2015 by Lloyd Thornburg’s Phaedo 3, skippered by Brian Thompson.
Monohull elapsed record is 7 days, 22 hrs, 01 mins, 04 secs set in 2022 by the 100ft VPLP Design/Verdier Comanche, skippered by Mitch Booth.
Source: Louay Habib
24 Hour Dinghy Race succumbs to Covid Pandemic
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 21
2022
Posted by deleteme
The West Lancashire YC Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to cancel the ‘Southport 24 Hour Race’ due to take place on 10 and 11 September 2022.
52nd Australian Contender Championship overall
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
It was looking like a great day for sailing with a 13-18 knot SE blowing before the start. After several start relocations racing got away in fresh breeze but a rain squall came across and before boats got to the top mark and the wind dropped to zero…
Ryan Finn sets off on solo journey to San Fran
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Ryan began his solo journey to San Francisco via Cape Horn on Tuesday, January 18th. He will be attempting the word record for the fastest single handed route to San Francisco…
New York’s first offshore wind project
Friday
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
New York State’s first offshore wind farm will move to the construction phase after receiving approval from federal regulators. The 132 megawatt (MW) South Fork Wind project, which includes 12 turbines with one nautical mile spacing, will be located 35 miles east of Montauk Point and produce enough clean energy to power 70,000 homes. Offshore installation of the project’s monopile foundations and 11-megawatt Siemens-Gamesa wind turbines is expected to begin in summer 2023, with operations to begin in later in the year. – Full report
A big year ahead for the International Moth Class
Thursday
Jan 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
This year is shaping as a strong one for the UK Moth fleet with a calendar full of events both at home and internationally as we build towards our home in Worlds in Weymouth, 2023…
Dean Barker back to defend Northland Cherub title
Thursday
Jan 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A bevy of former America’s Cup sailors will be crewed by their sons at the Northland Cherub titles at Algies Bay at the end of January. Dean Barker will return to defend his trophy…
night flight
Thursday
Jan 20
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 20
2022
Posted by deleteme
52nd Australian Contender Championship day 3
Wednesday
Jan 19
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 19
2022
Posted by XS Editor
As predicted a fresh southerly was on the order today. 10-25 knots SSE and very gusty meaning most boats had many capsizes. A few boats retired with gear failure…
RORC Transatlantic Race – Wednesday – Day 12
Wednesday
Jan 19
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 19
2022
Posted by deleteme
SiSi the Austrian Ocean Race Project’s VO65 of Gerwin Jansen finished the RORC Transatlantic Race Wednesday at 15:53hrs an elapsed time of 11d 4h 43m…
SeaGliders – From nearly flying to fully flying
Tuesday
Jan 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
With the America’s Cup now raced in boats that nearly fly, one U.S. marine manufacturer has taken the next step to build crafts that fully fly.
Moore Brothers Co., a maker of composite boat components, is working with research and development company Regent Craft Inc. to build vehicles that combine elements of boats and aircraft. According to Boston-based Regent, these seagliders will cruise at 180 mph for distances up to 180 miles, and as far as 500 miles as battery technology advances.
The companies say they expect the electric-powered vehicles, which resemble seaplanes, to operate over water routes connecting coastal cities such as New York and Boston. Regent says they will generate a fraction of the noise and emissions of the ferries and airlines that currently serve these regional routes.
Moore Brothers, based in Bristol, Rhode Island, has been part of the New England boat-building community for generations, says its president, Samuel Moore. The company designs, develops, and manufactures rudders, steering systems, keels, and structural parts for a range of vessels including America’s Cup racing yachts.
Working on the seaglider “is a logical next step for us,” according to Moore, who added that the company will expand its plant by 5,000 square feet and add 10 workers as it prepares to ramp up seaglider production.
Moore says the companies are almost finished assembling a quarter-scale, radio-controlled prototype of the vehicle that they expect to test in Tampa, Florida, by the end of January, with Regent planning to bring seagliders to market within five years.
RORC Transatlantic Race – Day 11 – Comanche looking safe in the clubhouse
Tuesday
Jan 18
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 18
2022
Posted by deleteme
With RORC Transatlantic Race Line honours decided, the race takes a breather with just the Volvo 70 I Love Poland due to finish today…
A perfect day of winter racing
Tuesday
Jan 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The roads were icy, but far less treacherous than I feared as I eased onto I-5, my car aimed at Seattle’s Shilshole Bay Marina. Amazingly, this motif of the day exceeding expectations continued throughout our team’s 2022 Duwamish Head Race…
Fast Finishes for the RORC Leaders
Tuesday
Jan 18
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 18
2022
Posted by deleteme
Over the weekend, the first finishers of the 2022 RORC Transat made landfall in Grenada, led by Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati, which was awarded line honors with a corrected time of six days, 18 hours and 51 minutes. Maserati finished ahead of Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay and Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo by less than 20 miles.
“That was really fantastic,” said Soldini after the finish. “To do a transatlantic race like that with three boat 20 miles from each other is just amazing. We had a big problem the first night as straight away we broke the port rudder (hitting a UFO). However, in the second part of the race, luckily the angle was such that the starboard rudder was in the water.”
The next day, the famed 100ft VPLP Design/Verdier Maxi Comanche was awarded line honors for monohulls and secured the IMA Trophy. Comanche has set a new race record of seven days, 22 hours and one minute, beating the previous monohull record by over two days. Their speed run is not a huge surprise given that Comanche is in the habit of squashing records, and it already holds the title for the Monohull West-East Transatlantic record, as well as race records and line honors for the Rolex Fastnet Race, the RORC Caribbean 600, the Rolex Sydney Hobart, the Transpac and the Rolex Middle Sea Race. It’s still possible, however, that another monohull in the fleet could take the overall victory with a corrected IRC time.
“Comanche is an absolute weapon in the open ocean,” said skipper Mitch Booth. “The team are just so privileged to have the opportunity to race this boat with the full support and trust from the owners. It’s just a real thrill to be on board” The crew is a mix of offshore sailors, grand prix inshore sailors and a few newcomers. “We are not in set roles,” Booth says. “Everyone is trimming and on the helm. We are mixing it up, having a great time. It’s been really fun sailing together. Setting Atlantic records is iconic and very special.”
A treacherous piece of water
Monday
Jan 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
In his January column for Seahorse magazine, Paul Cayard described San Francisco Bay as “a treacherous piece of water off the otherwise peaceful Pacific Ocean. On a summer afternoon, with the current going at 2kt out the gate and the 59° wind pushing in at 25kt, what you have is the Octagon of Sailing.”
Here are some memories from fighting on this canvas:
Toby Cooper:
Besides the routine knockdown Westerlies, SF Bay is known and loved for its powerful and complex tidal patterns.
Winter races can be notorious for variable winds and big tides. During one double handed race on the Moore 24, we were eeking our way to the Golden Gate Bridge against a monster flood.
We squeezed past Harding Rock in the light stuff, marveling at how disorienting it felt to creep past the buoy which was stationary, but surrounded by surging water which was not. In fact, you almost had to consciously deny the perception that the mark was trying to pass your boat and not the reverse.
A half hour later a desperate voice rang out over the VHF, “Pan Pan, Pan Pan,” came the near-frantic call. “Harding buoy is hooked on a submarine and it is being pulled out to sea!” It actually took multiple replies from all over the Bay to convince them of the truth.
Sue Mikulski:
We’d chartered a boat for the 1998 J/105 North Americans, and wow were the boats beat up compared to Annapolis, and wow did the locals blade out their sails! With winds over 30, we all took turns tacking the jib, as with multiple short tacks next to the city front to avoid the current, we were exhausted by the end of the day…
Comanche’s RORC Transatlantic Race video
Monday
Jan 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The 30.48m (100ft) VPLP Design/Verdier Maxi Comanche, skippered by Mitch Booth, took Monohull Line Honours in the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race, winning the magnificent IMA Trophy…
NSW Championship in Sydney – race 6
Sunday
Jan 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The third race win of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship to the Tech2 team of Jack Macartney, Charlie Wyatt and Lewis Brake, in Race 6 on Sydney Harbour today, puts it into the equal lead of the series with just two more races to be sailed…
RORC Transatlantic Race – Comanche sets new race record
Sunday
Jan 16
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 16
2022
Posted by deleteme
Comanche the 100ft VPLP Design/Verdier Maxi, skippered by Mitch Booth, has taken Monohull Line Honours in the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race…
Be race ready – N2E 74 – Seminars scheduled
Saturday
Jan 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
As we enter into our 75th year, NOSA is once again going all out in preparation for the annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, which sails April 22, 2022…
Maserati takes win in Transatlantic Race
Saturday
Jan 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(January 15, 2022; Day 8) – After an intense Atlantic battle, Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 (ITA) Maserati has crossed the finish line first in the 8th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, finishing today at 05:51:41 UTC to take Multihull Line Honors.
Soldini’s crew was Vittorio Bissaro, Oliver Herrera Perez, Thomas Joffrin, Francesco Pedol and Matteo Soldini, and media man Alberto Origone.
Next to cross the finish line was Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay at 06:46:42 UTC.
Race details – Entry list – Tracker
The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race started January 8 for 256 sailors from 27 different countries. The record fleet of 30 boats set off from Lanzarote for the 3000nm course to Grenada.
America’s Cup – Somewhere to hang their hat
Thursday
Jan 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
While Cork, Ireland, has been making all the running with their pitch to host the 37th America’s Cup, Malaga in Spain has apparently also been testing the waters…
Pirates at Australian Weta Class Nationals
Thursday
Jan 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
With issues around border closures looming, nineteen boats – including six sailed two-up – made it to Port Kembla Sailing Club on Lake Illawarra near Wollongong, NSW for the five day event held over New Year…
RORC Transatlantic Race – Black Pearl dismasted on day 6
Thursday
Jan 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 13
2022
Posted by deleteme
The Botin 56 Black Pearl has contacted the RORC Race Team to retire from the race due to a broken mast – all OK on board…
Global Solo Challenge reaches 40 entries
Wednesday
Jan 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
First, we received two new entries bringing the total to 40. It is such an incredible milestone for the event. We never imagined the first edition of the Global Solo Challenge could receive so much interest…
NSW 18ft Skiff Championship continues this Sunday
Wednesday
Jan 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Australian 18 Footers League’s 21-boat fleet will be back on Sydney Harbour next Sunday (January 16) when the club will conduct Race 6 of the eight-race 2021-22 NSW 18ft Skiff Championship…
RORC Transatlantic Race Day 5
Wednesday
Jan 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The RORC Transatlantic Race enters the fifth day with the potential for a real twist of fate at the front of the RORC fleet…
RORC Transatlantic Race Day 4
Tuesday
Jan 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) is over halfway and just two hours outside multihull race record pace. The 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY), skippered by Mitch Booth, is 1,900 miles from Grenada and well inside monohull race record pace…
Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race goes virtual!
Monday
Jan 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
While we won’t be racing in person this January, we are excited to offer the Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay Race virtually via RealSail.net!
J/88 Midwinter Championship at St. Petersburg
Monday
Jan 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The J/88 Midwinter Championship returned this weekend amid picture-perfect conditions in the waters off St. Petersburg Yacht Club in Florida…
RORC Transatlantic Race – Day 2 and two boats retire
Monday
Jan 10
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 10
2022
Posted by deleteme
By sunset on the second day of the RORC Transatlantic Race, two of the boats racing in the RORC Transatlantic Race have reported that they are heading for shore…
Paper Tiger Nationals: Napier’s Percy wins
Monday
Jan 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Not only did 46 boats line up at the New Plymouth Yacht Club but the age range of sailors (15 to 75) also highlighted the popularity of the single-handed catamaran that first emerged in the late 1960s…
RORC Transatlantic Race – Spectacular downwind start
Sunday
Jan 09
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jan 09
2022
Posted by deleteme
The 3,000nm RORC Transatlantic to Grenada started on time in glorious conditions from Lanzarote…
Strong showing for 2022 Vallarta Race
Saturday
Jan 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jan 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Thirty-two boats have committed to the 2022 San Diego to Vallarta International Yacht Race, making this edition of the biennial event the largest since 2000. A staggered start schedule begins March 10 if needed, with additional starts on March 11 and 12.
Race Co-Chair Ben Mitchell, who will be onboard Roy Disney’s Pyewacket 70, looks forward to adventure. “The sunrise on the open ocean, the sunsets, and not knowing what the night skies will bring can all add up to an amazing experience.”
Tom Holthus, who won overall in 2020 sailing with Bill Hardesty on a Hobie 33, has entered his Botin 56 BadPak. “We will go with nine crew, a lot of the same crew that did Transpac last July and we are working hard on making sure the boat and crew are ready for the March start.”
The 1000 nm course begins with an offwind slide down Baja California, but strategy and luck are needed to make the turn at the tip toward Puerto Vallarta…
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