Plymouth RNLI volunteers helped save a man who was in the water for 25 minutes after his vessel sank near Rame Head on 27 March 2023…
Monthly archives for April, 2023
VIDEO: Inflatable wing for boats
Thursday
Apr 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Aeroforce wing system is an inflatable, retractable, and fully automated wing designed for the yachting industry. Aeroforce is the technology partner of the MODX 70 series, the first 100% electric and renewable energies catamaran which will be launch in October 2023…
VIDEO: Fast got faster
Thursday
Apr 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
After Emirates Team New Zealand and Glenn Ashby set a new wind-powered land sailing world speed record of 222.43km/h in their craft Horonuku on December 11, 2022, they have now raised the bar to 225.58km/h.
“In February we were really coming back to the lake pack up the craft,” explained Ashby. “We had to get Horonuku and the containers back to New Zealand. But a few days out, Clouds our Meteorologist indicated there was a possible weather opportunity, so we rattled our daggs and got to the lake.”
505 World Championship coming to USA
Thursday
Apr 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 13
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 5O5 Class Championships in 2023 will be hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California. The two-day 5O5 Pre-Worlds and North American Championship will be on September 23-24. The 5O5 World Championship will be sailed September 26 through October 1, with five days of racing plus one lay day for a total of six days.
Initially slated to be held in Santa Cruz, CA, the event was moved due to damage from the winter storms which impacted harbor access.
“There is no boat like a Five-O,” said said Beau Vrolyk, 2023 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. “The extraordinary levels of skill in the fleet, and the tremendous camaraderie, make this one of our favorite fleets. Our Race Committee has been testing course options and working closely with the local fleet leadership, including a few World Champions, to ensure the best possible racing and parties.”
For three-time 5O5 World Champion Mike Holt, to be able to participate in a World Championship event on his own turf is exciting—particularly in a fleet as competitive and challenging as the International 5O5.
“It’s great to have the regatta in California. It’s an amazing venue in an iconic spectacular piece of water,” Holt stated. “It was very gracious of StFYC to step in at the last minute to host the event. It’ll be fun and I’m looking forward to it.”
The depth of talent in the 5O5 class is impressive, including sailors like Holt who started sailing the boat in 1985 when he was 16 years old.
“I’ve pretty much done only 5O5 sailing all those years. I’ve maybe taken a few years off here and there and sailed other things—keelboats, dinghies, 49ers, 18s—but it’s what I keep coming back to,” said Holt, who resides in Santa Cruz. “When you live on the West Coast it’s really the only good high-performance sailing that you can do safely, and it is a great fleet.”
Holt will be racing with his two-time World Champion crew Carl Smit (Annapolis, MD), and the pair have a long-time friendly rivalry with Mike Martin, “the evil other Mike,” Holt noted with good humor. Martin, who lives and trains in the Bay Area with crew Adam Lowry, is a four-time 5O5 World Champion and twelve-time 5O5 North American Champion…
St. Francis YC announces Offshore Mixed Doubles
Tuesday
Apr 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Notice of Race is posted and registration is open for St. Francis Yacht Club’s inaugural Offshore Mixed Doubles Race, scheduled for July 29-30, 2023, and open to doublehanded crews of mixed gender…
Eight Bells: Robert Stewart
Tuesday
Apr 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Capt. Robert (Bob) N. Stewart passed away suddenly on April 2, 2023 in Maine while working aboard his yacht, Adrianee. He was a spry and zesty 91years old with a love for the sea.
Known to all as Bob, he was born in Boston in 1932. A Master Mariner, he was the definition of a renaissance man. A quick wit, always ready with a snarky joke, and his beloved dessert order. His experiences and compassion touched everyone who met him.
His seamanship and life skills prompted many to rely on him when things got rough on land or offshore. Bob was a veteran of countless Bermuda, Halifax, and international offshore races as well as numerous deliveries…
Racing Recaps: Leg 3 of The Ocean Race
Tuesday
Apr 11
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 11
2023
Posted by deleteme
Leg 3 is the showpiece of The Ocean Race, combining exhausting conditions, constant boat repairs, and challenging tactics. Join SAIL’s Managing Editor Lydia Mullan for a breakdown of all the highs and lows of this Southern Ocean marathon…
Rescue underway in Golden Globe Race
Tuesday
Apr 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(April 10, 2023) – Ian Herbert Jones (GBR), who had been racing his Tradewind 35 PUFFIN in the Golden Globe Race, had his boat roll over and dismast, with the skipper injuring his back and incurring a gash to his head. His location was northeast of Cape Horn when he became overwhelmed in winds gusting over 90 knots and a confused sea.
Jones was the last placed boat in the race, and had been relegated to the Chichester Class due to his use of safety electronics to coordinate stopover logistics.
At 1540UTC, he rang the GGR Race Office on Iridium phone to advise he was in extreme weather, running under bare poles, and trying to hand steer downwind. The yacht was laid over often by the force of wind and waves and there was a small amount of water down below.
The line was bad and contact was lost, but ten minutes later he called again, reporting how he could not launch his drogue to keep Puffin stern to the waves. He had been washed out of the cockpit twice and activated his EPIRB. Don McIntyre advised Jones that the extreme weather would last for at least another five hours, and that he should launch his drogue if possible, to assist down wind control on Puffin. Keeping the stern facing the wave is critical to avoid being rolled.
With only eight inches of water over the cabin sole, which was probably leakage through the cockpit, the manual bilge pump was working and Puffin was not sinking. At this time, the mast was secure and all safety equipment onboard was secure, although his electrical system was low on power…
Live Ocean Racing: – Day 4
Monday
Apr 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Live Ocean Racing will head into the final day of the ETF26 SERIES opener holding 4th overall after another cold, windy and wavy day on Quiberon Bay, France…
Registration open for Melges 24 U.S. Nationals
Monday
Apr 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The U.S. Melges 24 National Championship is a 2023 U.S. National Ranking Series Event (No. 9 of 11). It is also the finale of the 2023 Quantum Great Lakes Cup Series!
Shifting winds impacting Golden Globe
Monday
Apr 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(April 10, 2023) – The wind is strengthening and veering for the Golden Globe Race frontrunners who have about three more weeks before finishing in Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Leader Kirsten Neuschäfer(RSA) is nearly heading north, and as she is positioned on the inside of the shift from Abhilash Tomy (IND), added another 20 miles to now have a 100 mile cushion. However, Tomy is still 4° further north (240+ nm) and is well positioned to be the first in downwind conditions when that shift occurs. The ETA for the leader is April 30.
Event details – Entry list – Tracker – Facebook
Finish times will be adjusted as race organizers have issued credit for helping with the rescue of Tapio Lehtinen:
• Kirsten Neuschäfer: 35 hours + 30 litres of fuel
• Abhilash Tomy: 12hrs
2022 GGR Class:
1. Kirsten Neuschäfer (39) / South Africa / Cape George 36 – “MINNEHAHA”
2. Abhilash Tomy (43) / India / Rustler 36 – “BAYANAT”
3. Michael Guggenberger (44) / Austria / Biscay 36 – “NURI”
2022 GGR Chichester Class:*
1. Simon Curwen (63) / UK / Biscay 36 – “CLARA” (will stop to repair windvane)
2. Jeremy Bagshaw (59) / South Africa / OE32 – “OLLEANNA” (stopped in Hobart to clean hull)
3. Ian Herbert Jones (52) / UK / Tradewind 35 – “PUFFIN” (use of safety electronics for stopover logistics)
* Competitors shift to this class by making one stop.
Retired
Edward Walentynowicz (68) / Canada / Rustler 36 (dropped out, Sept. 8)
Guy deBoer (66) / USA / Tashiba 36 (ran aground, Sept. 16)
Mark Sinclair (63) / Australia / Lello 34 (retired in Lanzarote, Sept. 22)
Pat Lawless (66) / Ireland / Saga 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 9)
Damien Guillou (39) / France / Rustler 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 14)
Ertan Beskardes (60) / UK / Rustler 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 16)
Tapio Lehtinen (64) / Finland / Gaia 36 Masthead sloop (sank off Cape Town, Nov. 18)
Arnaud Gaist (50) / France / BARBICAN 33 MKII-long keel version (retired near Saint Helena, Dec. 9)
Elliott Smith (27) / USA / Gale Force 34 (retired, Dec. 20)
Guy Waites (54) / UK / Tradewind 35 (stopped in Cape Town to clean/paint hull; retired in Hobart after losing his liferaft, Feb. 10)
Milai Around The World finishes Globe40
Sunday
Apr 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
MILAI Around The World, the epic Japanese project of the 1st edition of the GLOBE40 will have earned its name and completed its world tour by crossing the symbolic finish line of the 8th stage in front of Lorient this day April 8, 2023 at 10:30 a.m…
Rolex China Sea Race day 3
Saturday
Apr 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Ernesto Echauz’s Standard Insurance Centennial 5 crossed the finish in Subic Bay with an elapsed time of 3d 1h 25m 47s, marking the first time in its 61-year history that a Philippines entry has taken Line Honours at the Rolex China Sea Race…
Trofeo Princesa Sofía overall
Saturday
Apr 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Good, reliable easter sea-breezes on the Bay of Palma allowed rapid progress to be made through an ambitious roster of Medal deciding contests as the record sized 52 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca Iberostar regatta reached a thrilling conclusion…
Cup Spy – April 5-6: Luna Rossa has new wing
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
A fairly short day for Alinghi Red Bull Racing – they capsized after an autopilot malfunction. Emirates Team NZ has a good session in a building NE (sea breeze) – reportedly hitting speeds of 45kts. Luna Rossa relaunched their LEQ12 with a new test wing…
Blow to Irish hopes at Princess Sofia Trophy
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Hopes of a strong result for Irish sailors competing at the Princess Sofia World Cup of Sailing regatta were set back today (Thursday 6th April 2023, Palma, Mallorca, Spain) when light winds and handling errors proved costly…
Golden Globe leaders in the tradewinds
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(April 7, 2023) – In the northern hemisphere, it’s been tense for Golden Globe Race leader Kirsten Neuschäfer (RSA) who has been in less wind than her runner-up Abhilash Tomy (IND) for longer. However, every time it looks like she’s losing the lead, she finds the resources to grab some miles back, or clutch to the extra bit of wind to hold the lead.
The past week has been hard on Neuschäfer who has generally been in lighter weather for several weeks running, bleeding miles from her lead to Tomy, falling from 300 miles last week to 50 today. Worse, the eastern option she chose, while closer to the finish has brought an in-and-out of the doldrums scenario with more frustrating light winds and psychological trauma. But yesterday she was in fresh winds, now on a higher route at speed towards the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
The contrast with Tomy is notable. Choosing a closer route to Brazil, he had very narrow doldrums and found strong, consistent tradewinds earlier, allowing him to sail higher and faster for weeks. After several months of fixing/rebuilding equipment failures and rationing water to less than one litre a day, he is posting good speed with time to relax and hydrate…
Trofeo Princesa Sofía – Beckett wins ILCA 7 Gold ahead of Medal Race
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 07
2023
Posted by deleteme
Britain’s Micky Beckett wins the Trofeo Princesa Sofía ILCA 7 (Laser) event for the second year in a row…
The Future of Dinghy Racing in the UK
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Where is dinghy racing in the UK headed? Dinghy sailing in the UK is still the most vibrant and diverse small-boat racing circuit anywhere in the world, but can it do better?
Battling storm force conditions to save sailor
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
A lone yachtsman was rescued off the coast of Devon as rescue teams battled Storm Mathis and wind speeds gusting over 50mph…
SP80’s location for the world speed record
Friday
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
SP80, the challenge chasing the World Sailing Speed Record, the town of Leucate and the Agglomeration of Grand Narbonne are officially announcing a partnership to make Leucate the official record base for the Swiss team…
Life-changing charity event on the water
Thursday
Apr 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Moore Barlow Silicon Cup Regatta returns this September to The Solent. The IT industry’s biggest charity sailing event presents an exciting opportunity for companies to network with like-minded individuals while raising money…
America’s Cup: Emirates Team NZ does flypast
Thursday
Apr 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Emirates Team NZ finished Wednesday’s training session with a flypast North Head, giving still and video shooters a close-up view of the AC75 sailing at over 40kts. In a just released video ETNZ’s cyclors give their impressions of sailing at 50kts…
Rolex China Sea Race day 1
Thursday
Apr 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The first night of the Rolex China Race 2023 went well with the fleet continuing to beat upwind in their first 24 hours, in a fair south-easterly breeze…
INEOS Brittania drops-by Trofeo Princesa Sofia
Thursday
Apr 06
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 06
2023
Posted by deleteme
IINEOS Brittania is sharing the Bay of Palma this week with the near 1,000 boats competing in the Princess Sofia Olympic classes regatta and their session started with a fly-by of the ILCA/Laser race area…
11th Hour Racing Team completes the podium
Wednesday
Apr 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
At 08:20 UTC [05:20 local], 11th Hour Racing Team crossed the finish line of Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23, completing a Leg that was described by Skipper Charlie Enright (USA) as “gruelling”…
Longest leg done for The Ocean Race
Wednesday
Apr 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Itajaí, Brazil (April 5, 2023; Day 39) – The grueling 14,840 nautical mile Leg 3 of The Ocean Race came to a close as 11th Hour Racing Team crossed the finish in third this morning, followed two hours later by Biotherm. Both teams incurred damage which slowed their progress by over three days.
“It didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, and it tested our team, and it tested our platform, but the resilience that we all showed was absolutely outstanding,” commented 11th Hour Racing Team skipper Charlie Enright.
Setting off from Cape Town, South Africa on February 27, the team was beset by technical challenges from the very start, having to suspend racing after just 42 minutes due to broken battens in the mainsail.
The issues onboard didn’t stop there, as the team had to contend with two damaged rudders, damaged foil downlines, as well as a huge tear in the mainsail.
“We always said it was going to be tough, but I don’t think we ever imagined it was going to be as challenging as it was,” said navigator Simon Fisher, as he undergoes his sixth circumnavigation of the planet.
Eager to finish, it was five days out from Itajaí when the team was knocked down by a 50 knot squall, and then just 10 hours later they crash gybed, with the boat knocked all the way down to the surface of the sea, and the mainsail incurred a massive tear, rendering it unusable without major repair…
Ocean Globe Race to start and finish at Southhampton
Wednesday
Apr 05
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 05
2023
Posted by deleteme
Ocean Village Southampton, home of several Whitbread races, is now home to the Ocean Globe Race! Credit: Ocean Village Southampton…
Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe debrief
Tuesday
Apr 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 12th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe delivered on all its promises when, last Autumn, it wrote yet another colourful and engaging chapter in the history of solo ocean racing and of French sport…
Team Malizia’s dream has come true
Tuesday
Apr 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
It had been less than 24 hours and the news hadn’t fully sunk in in our minds just yet: Our team has won the third leg of The Ocean Race. Yesterday, we turned our Southern Ocean dream into reality…
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 37 update
Tuesday
Apr 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The podium battle promises to push the two teams still racing up the coast to the very end with Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team racing within less than 15 miles of each other on the leaderboard…
MOD70: World’s coolest yachts
Monday
Apr 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and British offshore competitor Sam Goodchild nominated the MOD70 class trimaran. Here’s the report:
“In terms of complexity for speed, there isn’t anything else which has such a good ratio as a MOD70. We’ve been over 40 knots [boatspeed] on them, and with Phaedo we used to sail for up to 200 days a year, all around the world, with just two shore crew. We were sailing offshore with just five people, so you’ve got super high performance for relatively easy upkeep.
“We’d be doing the Caribbean regattas against boats like Comanche, they’d have 20-something people on the rail and we had five, doing circles around them! Then we did all the transatlantic races – for me it’s an amazing boat.
“The MOD70s are robustly built, but also fast. [designers VPLP] took learnings from the Orma 60 class, all the best bits, tamed them down a little so they’re a bit less dangerous, and came out with a boat which was simple and fast. We raced against the old Groupama Orma 60, and when you see how much more complicated the Ormas are, the MOD 70s definitely struck the right balance.”
Cup Spy Apr 3: Kiwis test in big breeze
Monday
Apr 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Emirates Team New Zealand put in a solid training session on the Waitemata Harbour and inner Hauraki Gulf today in offshore winds of 20-25kts, and gusting to just under 30kts…
Improving future for North American Finn Class
Monday
Apr 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
It was February 2021 when Peter Frissell, President of the USA Finn Association and Finn Foundation, made the pitch. “What if you could buy a brand-new, competitive, US-built Finn rather than paying a premium to ship a new Finn from overseas? The Finn Foundation is launching a project to make that a reality.”
The recent growth of the class in the USA was notable, but at that moment, it had mostly relied on cleaning up old used boats. Without a domestic supplier, the ceiling would be reached, so the fundraising mission began to purchase the Lemieux Finn molds and finance a reputable US boat builder’s start-up and development costs.
Two years later, the first boat ably competed at the 2023 Finn North American Masters Championship (above). Here’s an update from Rodion Mazin:
Cleaning the hull – what are these
Monday
Apr 03
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 03
2023
Posted by deleteme
I cleaned a portion of my hull and thousands of these small, wriggling things had to be washed from my skin, dive gear, and even ears. This picture is from my swimming shorts and doesn’t show their wriggling motion. What are they? I’ve googled a bit but haven’t found anything definitive. They are really irksome and I’m either going to have to get a wetsuit or hire divers to clean the hull.
Team Holcim-PRB retain overall lead
Sunday
Apr 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Ocean Race leaderboard is beginning to take shape after two teams crossed the finishing line in Itajaí on Sunday morning…
The Ocean Race – Biotherm hits unidentified floating object
Saturday
Apr 01
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 01
2023
Posted by deleteme
Biotherm has collided with an ‘unidentified floating object’ damaging the port foil as they head north to the finish in Itajaí, Brazil…
52 Trofeo Princesa Sofía – Stella Leads International 6M Class
Saturday
Apr 01
2023
Posted by deleteme
Apr 01
2023
Posted by deleteme
Ahead of the Olympic class racing starting on Monday, the keelboats and ORC racer-cruisers enjoyed excellent conditions for their races…
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 34
Saturday
Apr 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Apr 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
A quick, deepening low pressure system bringing winds in excess of 40 knots, a sickening sea state, and another massive challenge for sailors operating on the 34th day of racing…
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