Wally is proud to announce the sale of the first hull of the new wallywind110 sailing yacht to a passionate loyal client, member of the Wally family for a long time…
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Successful repairs for The Ocean Race team in Cape Town
Friday
Mar 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(March 10, 2023; Day 13) – While The Ocean Race has four IMOCAs now sprinting across the Indian Ocean toward Cape Horn, the repair of GUYOT environnement – Team Europe has gone faster than expected.
Since arriving back to Cape Town on March 4 to repair a delaminated area on the port side of the hull, non-destructive testing revealed no additional damage, so the work at the improvised construction site in Cape Town progressed quickly for the yacht.
The departure for Itajaí is planned on March 16 which will have the team there in time for the start of the fourth leg of The Ocean Race on April 23.
“The repair has progressed really well,” reported skipper Benjamin Dutreux. “The team did a very good, fast, and strong job. The lamination work was completed this morning. Now a few more bumps will be filled and the laminated area will be in good shape, then the painters can start work.”
On March 12, the team will then start craning the yacht back into the water, setting the mast and refitting the yacht…
Cup Spy Mar 8: Comparing the AC40 statistics
Thursday
Mar 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Alinghi Red Bull Racing and American Magic both sailed their AC40’s – achieving very different statistics for achieving dry tacks and gybes…
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 12
Thursday
Mar 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
It’s been a fantastic 48 hours on the race track for the trio of boats chasing down the current Leg 3 leader, Team Holcim-PRB…
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 10
Tuesday
Mar 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
It’s an interesting day in The Ocean Race with quick moving weather making for a day of transitions in the southern latitudes. The big winner over the past 24 hours is second placed Biotherm, who have gained over 30 miles on Team Holcim-PRB.
2023 Worlds entries top the 100 mark
Monday
Mar 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Entries for the 2023 OK World Championships, which are being hosted by Lyme Regis SC from 22 to 30 June, have topped the 100 mark today, with 103 competitors now signed up to take part…
What was intriguing at the RYA Dinghy Show 2023?
Monday
Mar 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Determined not to let moving house (the day before) put him off, YachtsandYachting.com’s website developer, Magnus Smith, attended his favourite boat show during the last weekend in February…
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 9
Monday
Mar 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 06
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Waking up Monday with a 470+ nautical mile lead, one week into leg 3, would appear to be an enviable position for Kevin Escoffier and his Team Holcim PRB…
J/24 North American Championship announcement
Sunday
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Some of the world’s best J/24 sailors will descend on Sandusky, Ohio for the J/24 North American Championship hosted by Sandusky Sailing Club…
Eight Bells: Gonzalo Diaz
Sunday
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Gonzalo Diaz
Gonzalo Eduardo Diaz (92) of Miami, Florida passed away at home, surrounded by family on Thursday, March 3rd, 2023.
Gonzalo, known to his grandchildren as “Abo”, and as “The Old Man” by sailors and friends around the world, was born to Saul and Rosario Diaz on April 1st, 1930, in Havana, Cuba. He was a devoted husband and father and a humble, selfless man of few words with a strong faith in God.
Gonzalo fled Communist Cuba in 1964 for a better life for his family. After settling in Miami, together with his brother Saul, Gonzalo started Med-Lab, a diagnostic imaging solutions company. He was deeply devoted to his loving wife Carmen and his entire family.
Gonzalo also loved sailing. Despite his impressive individual accomplishments in the sport, he will unequivocally be remembered for catalyzing his own obsession into that of many young sailors and for single-handedly keeping the Snipe fleet alive.
Gonzalo was preceded in death by his parents Saul and Rosario, and brother Saul. He is survived by his wife Carmen; three children Gonzo, Augie and Ani; eight grandchildren Daniela, Veronica, Lucas, Gonzalo, Adrian, Annelli, Arturo, and Augie; and eight great grandchildren Lucy, Henry, Alexa, Monica, Gonzalo, Gabriel, George, and Hawkins.
Services will be held Monday, March 6th from 6-11pm at Caballero Rivero Westchester – 8200 Bird Road (Viewing) and Tuesday, March 7th at 1:30pm at St Augustine Catholic Church – 1400 Miller Road (Mass), followed by interment at 3pm at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South – 11655 SW 117 Ave. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Miami Learning Experience would be appreciated.
Carmen and Gonzalo Diaz.
Sitting down with Alex Thomson
Sunday
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Shirley Robertson
This edition of Shirley Robertson’s Sailing Podcast captures one of offshore sailing’s most active campaigners, a sailor who’s career spans two decades at the highest level of the sport and includes a record equaling five Vendee Globe starts.
Alex Thomson, widely known for his Vendee campaigns sailing a series of iconic Hugo Boss IMOCA, has done much to raise awareness of offshore sailing and with his team, has been responsible for some of the most innovative developments the monohull IMOCA Class has ever seen.
While much of Thomson’s discussion in this two part podcast centers around his various Vendee Globe campaigns, there’s also much to cover about Thomson’s remarkable career path, time spent sailing with Sir Robin Knox Johnston, and the result of his time spent with British business tycoon Sir Keith Mills:
“We met at Shoreham airport, we flew to Brest, and he bought me a boat for 1.1 million Euros….That level of belief, in me, at that time, was difficult to comprehend really.”
Thomson is candid about his first campaign, as he is throughout the chat with Robertson, and reveals much about how, along with Sir Keith Mills, they brought Hugo Boss into what would go on to become one of the longest sponsorship partnerships in the sport.
Thomson has also had an eventful career that’s involved a series of very high profile sinkings and race retirements, not least when keel damage to the original Hugo Boss famously left him floundering deep in the South Atlantic. But the drama doesn’t end with keel damage.
Having discussed the cause of a very public falling out with fellow British offshore sailor Mike Golding, “…the next day in the Sunday Times, Mike called me a jumped up little prick!”, Thomson discusses how, with his keel dangling uselessly from the hull, the only chance of rescue was of course, with Mike Golding, who pulled off a daring rescue with catastrophic circumstances:
Alex Thomson
“I was on the boat for about three hours…the wind hit, the boat leaned over, and his mast just collapsed, Mike is standing in the cockpit with his mouth open, and I’m now feeling guilty…I said to Mike, ‘I am so sorry…’”
Thomson’s memories of the daring rescue, Golding’s unfaltering seamanship and the awkward incidents that followed is a first hand account of offshore folklore not to be missed. It’s a fascinating tale told by one of only two people that were actually there.
There is of course much chat between the pair of Thomson’s sailing adventures, but also of his series of daring stunts that have netted him over 10 million views on YouTube alone. The evolution of the idea, the execution of the stunts themselves and Thomson’s desire to bring new audiences to his offshore campaigns are all talked through in this revealing chat…
SailGP Technologies achieves fast turnround on F50
Sunday
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 05
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The NZ SailGP Team will be back in black later this month, with the team’s F50 ‘Amokura’ set to make the startline on Whakaraupo, Lyttelton Harbour (18-19 March). The update follows days of inspection, testing, refit and repair at SailGP Technologies
Chasing the Jules Verne Trophy
Saturday
Mar 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Although Gitana Team is extending its stand-by for a few more days, the Spindrift Racing team announced this week that, after four months of fruitless waiting, it is giving up on tackling the Jules Verne Trophy for this season in this report from Tip & Shaft.
Never has the crewed round the world record which has been set by Francis Joyon since 2017 been held for so long. The actual magnitude of the feat of Idec Sport and now also the difficulty in finding a properly favorable weather pattern partially explain why the Jules Verne Trophy remains so elusive.
On March 1, the end of stand-by was announced by the Spindrift Racing team, which gave up setting out on Sails of Change, led by Yann Guichard, to attack the world record. Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (Charles Caudrelier) continues to hold on on standby for some more days, but time is running out because the Jules Verne can no longer be attempted once the austral summer is over, the conditions in the South Seas then become just too tough and dangerous. “
“We are extending stand by for the meantime to give ourselves every possible chance, even if the North Atlantic is still not good”, confirms Cyril Dardashti, general manager of Gitana Team.
And so one thing is clear, again this winter – 2022-2023 – has not been favorable for a start to a Jules Verne Trophy. The Sails of Change crew believed it possible twice, meeting in Brest on both occasions, but possible weather windows on January 14 and 26 finally closed. “We really hesitated to leave, we watched the weather forecast until the final minutes, our boots were already on our feet and actually decision not to leave is more difficult to make than that to leave,” says Yann Guichard.
These two windows were also considered by Charles Caudrelier and his five crew members who, on February 12, saw another one and the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild did set off, before turning around a few hours later due to damage to part of their generator…
Winning Group JJ Giltinan Championship Preview
Saturday
Mar 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 04
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Invitation Race for the Winning Group 73rd JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship will be sailed on Sydney Harbour (Friday, March 3) as a last hit out for the nine-race championship, which begins on the same course March 4…
Fighting for Golden Globe lead
Friday
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(March 3, 2023)- In August 2015 Michael Guggenbergger read a magazine announcing the 50th anniversary edition of the first ever 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. It would start from Les Sables d’Olonne in three years. He immediately sent his entry and his life began to change. He bought a boat, sold his house and focused on the challenge ahead.
A few years later his dream met reality and it all fell apart. Beaten by time and money he kept pushing forward. Eight years later, following weeks of storms, and utter determination, Captain GUGG finally sailed solo around Cape Horn, at 0228hrsUTC 26th February (eating NURI chilli sardines), 175 days and 21000 miles after setting out from Les Sables d’olonne in France. His Biscay 36 NURI is in great shape and he is relieved, emotional and a little sad that it is all coming to an end. He has 7000 miles and nine weeks to sail to the finish and is now running in third place.
Simon Curwen (GBR) sailing HOWDENS, another Biscay 36, had a dream to sail solo around the world. He had previously come 2nd in the Classe Mini Transat Race and faced many sailing challenges, including falling overboard while sailing solo in the English Channel. The British sailor led the GGR for 150 days thanks to his razor-sharp skills, and beautifully prepared yacht, but storm damage 1000 miles from the Horn required a stop for repairs and a change to the one stop Chichester Class.
Now back at sea he is racing hard even though no longer in the rankings. The fun and challenge is still there and he sails for les Sables with racing spirit and passion. He rounded Cape Horn at 23:34hrs UTC on the 25th of Feb just hours ahead of Capt Gugg, in mild weather close enough at dawn for a picture and a VHF chat with the light house Sergeant Jose Luarte who lives on the island with his family.
While it’s been tough getting to Cape Horn, the twin Biscay 36 have had more frustrations continuing on toward the Falkland Islands with elusive winds, unstable in both force and direction, alternating nothingness of squalls with violent fronts and lows. Both skippers are getting little sleep. Simon is slowly pulling away from NURI and enjoying the close racing…
SailGP: Nowhere to hide
Friday
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
SailGP presenter Lisa Darmanin dissects Sydney’s fast and furious racing action, from France’s flawless performance to Diego Botin’s baptism of fire as Spain’s new driver.
Sydney was probably the most exciting racing we’ve had in SailGP so far. There were so many overtakes, crosses and close mark roundings – it was just action packed. More teams are becoming more competitive and that means that mistakes are being punished harder. Teams are getting more aggressive around the race track and are prepared to push each other around at marks.
Everyone is putting the throttle down and fighting for every point. Despite France winning every race, you didn’t know who was going to win until the end of each race and, as a sports fan, that’s exactly what you want. It really was anyone’s game.
I was surprised by how much the French dominated. Coming off the back of a bad event in Singapore (where France finished eighth), you might have expected their confidence to be knocked. But they came out in some of the most challenging conditions of the season and just dominated…
Ocean Race: Start your engines
Friday
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(March 3, 2023; Day 6) – All four boats racing the Ocean Race on Leg 3 to Itajai are finally making speed as the wind returns to Roaring 40s. It is still a far cry from traditional Roaring 40s weather, but at least one critical element has returned – the wind.
Biotherm, 11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia are all finally on the move after a frustrating period of unusually light, warm, and calm conditions.
While the unusual weather suited Team Malizia as they worked through the day and into the night on Wednesday to repair their damaged mast, it was received far less well by the sailors on Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team who could only watch as Leg leading Team Holcim – PRB raced away from them, one full weather system ahead…
Ocean Race: Unstoppable
Friday
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(March 2, 2023; Day 5) – In this edition of The Ocean Race, Kevin Escoffier’s Team Holcim-PRB has selected Sia’s “Unstoppable” as its team song for dockout and stage ceremonies, and early into leg 3 it has never seemed more appropriate. Few would have thought the Roaring 40s would turn into such a paper tiger just days into leg 3 of The Ocean Race. But that’s the case for all but the leader, Team Holcim-PRB.
After winning legs 1 and 2 of The Ocean Race, the Holcim-PRB crew have now built a solid lead just four days into the leg, escaping with a low pressure, high wind system that has left the rest of the fleet behind.
As at 1500 UTC today, Team Holcim-PRB has an approximately 300 nautical mile lead over 11th Hour Racing Team, and it is growing hour by hour with Escoffier and his crew sailing up to 10 knots more quickly than the pursuing boats. But it hasn’t been easy. – Full report
GKA Freestyle-Kite World Cup Colombia day 1
Friday
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Following the first event of the season in Qatar, 3x World Champion Bruna Kajiya is currently leading the standings with a gritty win in eight-meter conditions over Mikaili Sol at the Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup…
Will Harris completes gruelling mast repair at sea
Friday
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 03
2023
Posted by XS Editor
At first light this morning the boat team wanted to start the repair that had been expertly prepared by the tech team, they had to delay this due to the bad sea state which would have made it incredibly dangerous to start work up the rig…
Fireballs, 35 Knots and My First Hoist
Thursday
Mar 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
In May of 2022 I was asked by Paul Cullen, who sails in numerous dinghy classes, to crew in his Fireball for Abersoch Dinghy Week. I was a little nervous about sailing such a high-performance boat, but welcomed the challenge…
Cup Spy Mar 1 : American Magic sails new AC40
Thursday
Mar 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
American Magic rolled out their new AC40 One Design and sailed it for over five hours off Pensacola in 12kt winds. The Brits completed their ninth day of sailing in their AC40-OD, off Mallorca. Alinghi Red Bull Racing rolled out their altered AC75.
Ocean Race: Pushing east
Thursday
Mar 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 02
2023
Posted by XS Editor
(March 1, 2023; Day 4) – Holcim – PRB leads fleet east while two teams have suffered setbacks over the past 24 hours in The Ocean Race, with GUYOT environnement electing to return to Cape Town while Team Malizia is down a sail. The fleet is pushing east at pace, trying to hold on to the strong winds of a southern latitude low pressure system.
Team Holcim – PRB is making the best of it, but the news of the day centres around GUYOT environnement – Team Europe who have elected to turn back towards Cape Town after suffering what the team and its technicians are calling a ‘hull sandwich failure’ – essentially a structural problem with the boat.
“I was just coming off watch and I was just about to get into my bed and I could see on the opposite side of the boat there was a pelican case tied to the floor and it was moving,” said Annie Lush. “I didn’t think I’d seen it move like that before and when I went to check I could hear the noise of delamination. We could hear it and see it moving up and down. We spoke to the architects and there is no way we can fix this out here, so we have to return to Cape Town.”
The Ocean Race Leg 3 Day 4
Wednesday
Mar 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Mar 01
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Two teams suffered setbacks over the past 24 hours with GUYOT environnement electing to return to Cape Town while Team Malizia is down a sail…
Buddy Melges documentary to premiere
Monday
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
MELGES: The Wizard of Zenda, a film about the life of sailing legend Buddy Melges, will have its first premiere at the 2023 Annapolis Film Festival on March 25. Wizard of Zenda takes the viewer on a wild ride through the career of one of the greatest sailors in the history of the sport.
This is the untold story of Buddy Melges, a fiercely competitive but beloved sailor who won Olympic medals and championships, and his quest to capture the pinnacle of sailing, the America’s Cup.
Melges was an entertaining character who shared everything he knew and refused to take himself too seriously. His intuitive, some would say mystical, powers to see and feel the wind, along with his home base of Zenda, Wisconsin combined to earn him the well-deserved nickname: The Wizard of Zenda…
Charlie Enright: Dealing with the changes
Monday
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Prior to the Leg 3 start of the The Ocean Race – the 12,750 nm third leg from Cape Town in South Africa to Itajai in Brazil – Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck checked in with 11th Hour Racing Team skipper Charlie Enright for an update:
Due to the race postponement, your boat was effectively designed and launched between nine to 12 months earlier than your competitors. How had the design target moved during the postponement?
That’s actually a really interesting question because we designed our boat to go to China, and New Zealand and back, which were legs that got eliminated after we launched. So we have a much more reaching oriented, all-round boat, than we do a downwind heavy weather big seas boat. And you can see that most in the bow profile.
You had to replace your foils after Leg 2 due to damage. Any answers why?
Well, there’s a bit of science and a bit of art that goes into the design and construction of the foils. And the goal of the first set was to make something big and reliable and robust, and that was a little bit more draggy, a little bit more powerful, but less prone to ventilation and cavitation.
And when those came out and worked exceptionally well, we pushed a bit back in the other direction and tried to go a little smaller, a little less draggy. They were a bit more of a evolution than a revolution with maybe higher top speeds but definitely not as powerful and robust. And it just didn’t work out!
How will the boat behave with the replacement foils?
As it behaved with success for 16 months prior to launching the V2s…
VIDEO: RORC Caribbean 600 2023
Monday
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 featured a 70-boat fleet with nearly 600 crew from 30 different countries when it got underway February 20, 2023…
Video uploaded Feb 27, 2023.
Large international field entered in AEGEAN 600
Monday
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 27
2023
Posted by XS Editor
With more than two months to go before the close of entries, organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) are excited that there are already teams from 13 nations signed up for the 2023 edition of the AEGEAN 600.
‘Simply the Best’
Sunday
Feb 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
For many years now the story of one of the sport’s most iconic dinghies, the 5o5, has been shrouded in something of a mystery. Where did that wonderful reverse flared hull shape come from?
Eight Bells: Syd Fischer
Sunday
Feb 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Australian sailing legend Syd Fischer, who enjoyed many great victories but also helped mentor and launch the careers of numerous other successful sailors, died at the age of 95 on February 25, 2023.
Born on March 4, 1927, he was a property developer renowned for being tough in sailing and business, but also known for his strong sense of humor and his gentle side.
He self-funded five America’s Cup campaigns and represented Australia a record eight times in the Admiral’s Cup, captaining his country on an unparalleled seven occasions…
Ugly start for Leg 3 of The Ocean Race
Sunday
Feb 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 26
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Cape Town, South Africa (February 26, 2023) – It was an extraordinary ‘stop-go’ type of start to Leg 3 of The Ocean Race in Table Bay as the five-boat IMOCA fleet set out on their 12,750 nautical mile adventure towards Itajaí in Brazil.
The race started with two and a half laps of an inshore course which was plagued by both drifting conditions and full blow as the offshore winds weaved past Table Mountain before reaching the fleet.
A pod of three whales sighted in the original starting area meant the race committee had to make a late change to setting up the race course. The result was a start line with next to no wind.
But with massive wind anticipated beyond the start line, the under-staffed teams had small jibs and two reefs in the main, and were severely under-powered as they limped toward the line. Only Biotherm had the timing right as the other four boats were stranded, just over a hundred metres away.
It wasn’t long before Paul Meilhat’s team found 25 knots of wind gusting around the edge of Table Mountain and his Biotherm team shot away into an impressive lead as the rest of the fleet drifted across the start line well after the start had opened.
Biotherm continued to stretch away to what was almost a 600 metre advantage over the rest of the fleet who eventually hooked into the 25-knot wind and accelerated up to speeds of 30 knots or more…
2023 ILCA 7 Masters Worlds Day 4
Friday
Feb 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Today’s sailing followed a different format at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC) for the 2023 ILCA 7 Masters World Championships since the Grand Masters were only able to complete one race on Day 3…
2.4mR Australian Nationals in Tasmania
Friday
Feb 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
There is a lot of energy in the class and when the National Championships were held in Tasmania in early February, eight skippers arranged to take their boats to Hobart for the event…
Cup Spy Feb 22-24: Kiwis take flight
Friday
Feb 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 24
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The British, NZers and Italians worked out in Mallorca, Auckland and Cagliari. The Brits sailed their AC40-One Design while they wait the return of their damaged LEQ12. The Italians continued with their development program on the LEQ12.
Pyewacket 70 sweeps Caribbean 600
Thursday
Feb 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Antigua (February 23, 2023) – The Royal Ocean Racing Club confirmed the overall winner of the 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 is Roy P. Disney’s Pyewacket 70 (USA). None of the teams still racing under IRC has any realistic chance of beating Pyewacket 70 after time correction.
The winning crew for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy are Ben Mitchell, Peter Isler, Tony Mutter, Brad Jackson, Brian Janney, Daryl Wislang, David Tank, Jan Majer, Mark Callahan, Matt Mialik, Robbie Kane, Rodney Daniel, and Tristan Louwrens.
Pyewacket 70 also claimed Monohull Line Honors, finishing yesterday in a time of 42:45:06. Mitchell was the stand-in skipper for Disney who was not on board due to knee surgery. He has always been part of the Pyewacket family ever since Roy Disney started it in 1989…
Cup Spy Feb 20-21: Pushing the limits
Thursday
Feb 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Kiwis set the record for the shortest sail yet – just 7 minutes, on a wind-staved day. The Swiss tried some extreme maneuvers and did a double wipe-out, the Italians had a close call. The Brits has a polished sailing session in a fresh breeze…
How to claw your way back into the race
Tuesday
Feb 21
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 21
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Perhaps it was a bad start or an early missed windshift, but now you are deep in the fleet. Pushing aside anger and frustration, the good news is the race is young and opportunity is ahead. Mike Considine of UK Sailmakers identifies some of the areas to move up:
Windward Mark Laylines:
Don’t over-stand! Often boats will sail too far to the right, beyond the starboard layline, and end up reaching into the mark. They have sailed further than they need to. You can make big gains on those over-stood boats by not making the same mistake as they did.
Try not to get into the starboard tack parade until you are four to six boat lengths from the mark. Do not try to tack onto starboard so close to the mark that you risk getting protested for tacking in the Zone (Rule 18.3). In big, tightly packed fleets, coming into the windward mark near the port tack layline can be a low probability move, but if you are still to leeward enough to find a gap in the traffic, you can make a big gains.
On the other hand, if you end up approaching the windward mark on port and will have to tack inside the zone, here is how you can avoid getting protested for breaking rule 18.3. Instead of tacking in front of or to leeward of a startboard tacker, sail beyond any starboard boat and then tack to windward of them. Yes, you give up one boat, but you will not risk getting pitched. This video that explains rule 18.3.
The only time to over-stand is when you are approaching the starboard layline and you see there is a pile up ahead with boats pinching to make the mark. Over-stand just enough to have clear air — perhaps a boat length or two — and sail around the slow pileup while you’re still at full speed.
Note, if you are rounding the mark from this position, you will also be sailing slightly higher as you round the mark. This has an added advantage as it will position you to windward of boat(s) that you can blanket on the run.
Rounding windward marks:
If you have clean air as you round the mark/offset, use that pressure to sail lower than the fleet. Typically, the pack ahead of you will sail higher as each trailing boat takes a line just higher than the boat ahead. Use this pressure to sail lower, get separation from the boats ahead, and sail less distance. Sail your best VMC/VMG, which is usually lower than the boats sailing in a pack that are trying to get on each other’s wind.
Rounding leeward marks:
Of course, do not over-stand leeward marks by always sailing your fastest VMG to leeward mark. Make sure to keep jibing to stay on the knocked jibe. Big gains can be made by playing those last shifts while everyone else is just thinking about their rounding…
Eight Bells: Hank Easom
Tuesday
Feb 21
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 21
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Hank Easom
Notable yachtsman Harry (Hank) Easom passed away at the age of 88, succumbing to inoperable cancer on February 14, 2023 at home with his family in Tiburon, CA.
A life-long resident of the Tiburon Peninsula, Hank began sailing a Moon boat with his older brother, Bruce, at age eight, but didn’t win his first race against the adults until age 11. At age 13 he landed a job working at Clipper boatyard in Sausalito on condition that he buy a kit and build a 20’ Clipper dinghy.
After buying and building the boat, Hank daily sailed his Clipper from Tiburon to work at the boatyard in Sausalito. As 15-year-old crew, Hank and his skipper won the 1950 Mercury National Championships out of Sausalito Yacht Club.
Hank mustered out of the Coast Guard on March 11, 1955, and the next day March 12, established Easom Boatworks on the historic Marinship waterfront in Sausalito. While continuing to race at every opportunity, often recruiting his workers as crew, he quickly built a reputation for quality.
Hank sailed his classic 8-meter yacht, Yucca from 1964 until 2017. Built in 1937 and raced competitively under his ownership for 53 years, this beautiful wooden sailboat still graces San Francisco Bay. Not surprisingly, Hank’s current racing boat – the 36’ Sabre Spirit Serenade – frequently finds its way to the podium, as well.
Crewing for Hank is a rewarding experience, given the on-board camaraderie and opportunity to hone skills in sail trim and tactics – navigating the nuances of the Bay’s tricky wind and currents. Many of Hank’s crew have gone on to success racing their own boats.
Selected as Yachtsman of the Year by the St. Francis Yacht Club in 1971 and The San Francisco Yacht Club in 1990 and 2014, Hank Easom is the embodiment of gracious Corinthian spirit – which shapes and guides our lives on and off the water.
To recognize this humble hero, the Hank Easom Buoy was installed and dedicated February 9 on San Francisco Bay, creating an enduring remembrance of an exemplary person and sailor on his favorite playground.
Though he was too ill to accompany the voyage, Hank sent Serenade to be first to round San Francisco Bay’s newest weather mark – and christen it with a bottle of champagne. Hank delighted in seeing his buoy from the Sausalito shoreline on two special occasions during the last days of his life, putting a final, big and well-deserved smile on this hero’s face.
In the perfect close to a legendary career, on February 4, 2023, ten days before his passing, in Hank’s final race – the Golden Gate Yacht Club Midwinters – he was first to finish, first in division and first overall. In a competition usually decided by seconds, the next boat finished 30 minutes behind Hank Easom.
Maiden to race in the Ocean Global Race 2023
Monday
Feb 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Tracy Edwards MBE and title sponsor of The Maiden Factor World Tour, DP World, the global logistics leader, are delighted to announce that the iconic yacht Maiden and her all-female crew will enter the 2023 Ocean Global Race (OGR)…
Eight Bells: Victoria Matthews
Monday
Feb 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Feb 20
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Victoria Dewise Matthews, 65, passed away February 10, 2023 with her husband Randall White alongside at home in Miami, FL.
Some knew her as a daring world class skipper; some knew her as an athletically tireless road cyclist; folks in Southport, North Carolina knew her as Garden Club President; her friends and family knew her as Adventure Vic or when she was very young, as Blip.
Vickie was born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on April 30, 1957. As a child she excelled in school, both academically and as a leader among kids, serving on the Safety Patrol and occasionally as a substitute for her teacher.
Her diligent piano lessons paid off with state championships and since her piano teacher was also her church’s organist, teenage Vickie became an occasional substitute organist.
Although music captivated her, the family’s Lightning Class sailboat became an obsession. More than once, Vickie would play organ for the morning service, doff her choir robe wearing a bikini underneath, and bike to the lake to race the Lightning. Her passion for cycling and sailing was to continue throughout her life.
After attending Marquette, Vickie held professional positions that drew on her management skills and leadership, including with architects DeStefano Partners and the investigating and risk consulting firm, Kroll—both in Chicago. She served as President of the Lincoln Park Association.
But Vickie worked to sail. On flat water and open ocean swells, sailing was her true vocation. She became a sought-after crew member with some of the top names in competitive sailing, including Buddy Melges, Bruce Goldsmith, Ed Baird, Larry Klein, Betsy Alison, and Betsy Barrett (Altman).
She landed her dream job as manager of Buddy Melges’ boat yard—and would go on to be his favorite spinnaker trimmer.
In 1983, while with Baird and Klein, Vickie competed in the Pan Am Games in Caracas, Venezuela. In 2007, her all-female crew skippered by Betsy Altman, won US Sailing’s Adams Cup. The cup, inscribed with Vickie’s name, is now retired in the US Sailing Hall of Fame.
Vickie competed in regattas from Nova Scotia to San Diego. She sailed the Baltic Sea and circumnavigated the United Kingdom. She is a member of the Storm Trysail Club, and it was through sailing that Vickie met her soulmate and husband, Randy later joining him in Southport—a home that became the basecamp to adventures, both land and sea…
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