One of my favorite short stories when I was a nipper growing up in South Africa was ‘The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner’…
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America’s Cup: Rigging the Silver Arrow
Friday
Nov 25
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 25
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The INEOS Britannia shore team and technicians had a busy day dockside today in Palma with the crucial first-stepping of the ‘Silver Arrow’ T6 LEQ12 carbon mast and rigging…
Cup Spy Nov 24: Brits foil testing again
Friday
Nov 25
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 25
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Six days after doing their first towing test in Mallorca, the British America’s Cup Challenger, INEOS Britannia, did a second towing exercise – with the delay between runs put down to inclement weather…
Cup Spy Nov 23: American Magic trials new main
Wednesday
Nov 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
American Magic made further gains on the other four teams contesting the 37th America’s Cup, with another strong day on Pensacola Bay, sailing in light winds with a newly recut, and larger mainsail…
NSW 18ft skiff Championship starts Sunday
Wednesday
Nov 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Sunday’s Race 1 of the NSW 18ft skiff Championship is the first step of a long campaign towards becoming the world’s best team at the 2023 JJ Giltinan Championship next March on Sydney Harbour…
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe update
Wednesday
Nov 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 23
2022
Posted by XS Editor
French skipper Yoann Richomme joined the very elite group of solo ocean racers to have twice won their class on the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe today, with a win in the Class40 from a record entry of 55 boats…
Cup Spy Nov 21: Italians reveal new move
Tuesday
Nov 22
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 22
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Luna Rossa has emerged from the shed to undertake towing tests, with some basic sensors attached to their port wingfoil. Emirates Team NZ are still evaluating their options after destroying the bow of their AC40 in a training nosedive at 40kts yesterday…
Swiss skipper Justine Mettraux top female
Tuesday
Nov 22
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 22
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Swiss skipper Justine Mettraux (Teamwork.net) took seventh place in the IMOCA class when she crossed the finish line of the 12th Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe at 02:41:35 UTC this morning, 22 November…
Abandon boat: Sunk in five minutes
Monday
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
When 2022-23 Golden Globe Race front-runner Tapio Lehtinen was woken by a loud noise, he had five minutes to escape his sinking boat. Translated from Finnish publication Ilta-Sanomat, he shares some details from a cargo ship en route to China:
Lehtinen, 64, managed to lower the life raft into the water, and thanks to the good weather, he was able to calmly wait for the rescuers, who arrived a day later.
He still can’t believe that after careful preparation, the Asteria boat sank in five minutes.
“During those five minutes, the thought that this could not be possible was running through the back of my head. I was able to react to the situation without panicking and without getting nervous, but I also had a bit of a problem with me because the weather was so good.”
After reaching the life raft, Lehtinen watched his beloved boat sink below the surface of the water. After two days since the accident, the cause remains a mystery to him. Asteria was completely rebuilt five years ago before the previous round-the-world sailing organized in 2018…
MORE: In a blog post by Peter Foerthmann, he speculates how the stern may have incurred significant damage due to the auxiliary rudder system. For photos and details, click here.
Retaining a seat at the wingfoiling table
Monday
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
World Sailing has partnered with the Global Wingsports Association (GWA) and the International Wing Sports Association (IWSA) to support the development of the fast growing sailing discipline wingfoiling. Riders in this genre have a foiling board and a handheld wingsail.
Under a new governance structure for the sport, and eager to retain a seat at these tables, the world governing body for the sport of sailing will endorse two Wingfoil world tours to cater to the fast-growing wingfoiling community and provide the best platform for sailors across the globe…
Mervyn Cook : 1942-2022
Monday
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Mervyn passed away peacefully at his home on Hayling Island on Monday 14th of November after a long illness. He was a lovely modest and quietly spoken man with a lifetime interest in sailing boats.
His initial interest started way back, when with a friend he cycled to the Rick Pond to sail their little boats and was amazed by the magnificent A boats racing. The seed may have been planted there at what was then the Yachting Monthly 6 Metre Owners Association just as it was for me also, a few years later.
His first sailing boat was a British Moth dinghy with the hull built professionally, but finished off by his dad for him to sail on the Thames. Whilst his sailing included lots of dinghy classes, he loved drawing boats, as he was a fine draughtsman and was convinced that the relatively high rocker displacement boats, which were the norm in all development classes, were not the fastest way to go…
Crash reveals AC40 structural problem
Monday
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The eagerness of the New Zealanders to technically advance the America’s Cup has gotten derailed again. For the 2021 event, the development of the AC75 parts forced teams to delay their launches, and now the requirement of the AC40 training boat has hit a structural snag.
The Kiwi team was testing on their home waters north of Waiheke Island in around 15-20 knots of windspeed and large waves when the crew lost control of the ride height. While sailing downwind at over 40 knots of boat speed, the result was a high-speed uncontrolled gybe and simultaneous deep nosedive followed by a capsize.
The impact of the water pressure collapsed the foredeck at the bow of the AC40. Fortunately, the watertight bulkhead aft of where the damage occurred maintained its structural integrity, successfully serving the purpose of controlling water ingress so the boat could be righted and towed back to base.
“The designers are analyzing the load cases of the incident and although it might be too soon to tell, it is likely that we will have some retrofit structure necessary to our boat and throughout the AC40’s fleet,” noted Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton.
The AC40 was intended to be used by teams as a test platform, and for regattas in advance of the 2024 America’s Cup. The boat also has a one-design configuration and automated flight control system for when it get used in women’s and youth events during the 37th edition.
At the time of the accident, the boat was under manual flight control and testing custom equipment.
While envisioned as a cost saving move, the acceptance of the AC40 by the other teams has been mixed. As the boat’s development provided the Kiwi team with an education, the Italians and Brits have designed and built their own 40-footers for similar effect.
Both the Swiss and USA teams are training in AC75s, with their AC40s likely to arrive too late next year to provide much help in the development of their new AC75 race boat…
To watch the crash sequence, click here.
Ruyant makes it a transatlantic double
Monday
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After a compelling duel with Charlie Dalin, Thomas Ruyant on board LinkedOut completed his second consecutive victory in the IMOCA Class on the Atlantic racecourse, with a stunning win in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe…
Ireland’s Rocco Wright wins ILCA 6 Men’s Europeans
Monday
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 21
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After battling at the top of his 60 boat event all week, Ireland’s Rocco Wright (Howth Yacht Club) held his nerve and emerged overall winner of the ILCA6 Men’s European Championship on the Côte d’Azur today (Monday 21st November 2022, Hyères, France)…
18ft Skiff Spring Championship race 7
Sunday
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Yandoo 18ft skiff team of John Winning, Fang Warren & Josh Porebski became the 2022-23 Spring champions after 30-35 knot westerly winds battering Sydney Harbour forced the abandonment of today’s scheduled final race of the Spring Championship series…
Cup Spy Nov 19: Another day in foiling paradise
Sunday
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Those who have been following these daily commentaries will be aware that sailing conditions in Pensacola, Florida and the 2024 America’s Cup venue of Barcelona are at opposite ends of the spectrum…
Route du Rhum: Le Roux wins Ocean Fifty showdown
Sunday
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
French solo skipper Erwan Le Roux sailed Koesio across the finish line first in the Ocean Fifty fleet this morning at 10:50:52 UTC narrowly beating second placed Quentin Vlamynck (Arkema) after nail-biting head to head over the final miles…
Last night moves to decide thrilling IMOCA victory
Sunday
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A record sized entry of 38 boats at the start line in Saint Malo on Wednesday 9th November looks set to produce the closest and most exciting finish to an IMOCA race in the 44-year history of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe…
EurILCA European Championships day 4
Saturday
Nov 19
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 19
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Final series started today at the EurILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy in Hyeres, France. The wind was unstable in both race areas, forcing the Race Committee to adjust the courses many times before and during the competition…
Route du Rhum: The IMOCA title is in the balance
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After the redoubtable 66-year-old Francis Joyon last night completed his eighth Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in fourth place on his 105ft/32m Ultim IDEC Sport…
Cup Spy Nov 18: Brits get foiling
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
American Magic put in a sailing session of over four hours on Pensacola Bay, Florida – clocking up 70nm, with Olympic representative Riley Gibbs on the helm. INEOS Britannia’s LEQ12 finally got tow testing three weeks after its launch…
Maxi Tri for Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
37 meters long, 23 meters wide, and weighing 21 tons, Sails Of Change has a long list of accomplishments to its credit…
Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Award
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
US Sailing has opened nominations for the 2022 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, widely acknowledged as the premiere individual sailing honors in the nation…
Francis Joyon takes fourth place at age 66
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Legendary French skipper Francis Joyon sailed to fourth place in the 12th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe when he crossed the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe this Friday morning at 02:56:40hrs UTC…
Route du Rhum: a rematch of sorts
Thursday
Nov 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 17, 2022; Day 9) – The Ultim 32/23 podium for the 12th Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe was completed yesterday (Wednesday) when Thomas Coville brought the Sodebo Ultim 3 through the finish line off Pointe-a-Pitre at 1952hrs UTC (1542hrs local time) 10 hours and fifty minutes after winner Charles Caudrelier.
The performance extends Coville’s remarkable history with the solo Transatlantic race. He has now finished on the podium five times in his seven ‘Rhums.’ He won in the IMOCA class in 1998 when he deputized for Yves Parlier who was injured pre-start in a hang gliding accident, and then has been third in the multihull or Ultim divisions in 2006, 2010 and 2018.
Coville followed François Gabart (SVR Lazartigue) through the line seven hours and 34 minutes after the runner up after spending time caught in fishing nets on the west of the island. Although both Gabart and Coville finished in the same positions as last edition four years ago, for both it was a very different, better race and indeed Coville also bettered the 2018 course record.
Gabart’s elapsed time on his first ever race for his new SVR Lazartigue was 6 days, 23 hours, 3 minutes and 15 seconds, 3 hours 15 minutes and 50 seconds after class winner Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild).
Route du Rhum: Caudrelier first to finish
Wednesday
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 16, 2022; Day 8) – In the dark of a Caribbean night to a typically rapturous welcome, French solo skipper Charles Caudrelier on the Ultim 32/32 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crossed the line off Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 05:02:05hrs local time (09:02:05 UTC) this morning.
His was the first boat to finish the 12th Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the legendary 3,542 nautical mile solo Transatlantic race, which started off Saint-Malo, northern Brittany last Wednesday at 1415hrs.
Caudrelier, a 48-year-old two-time winner of the crewed Volvo Ocean Race, first as crew in the 2011/12 race and then skipper in 2017/18, set a new record for the course with an elapsed time of 6 days 19 hours 47 minutes and 25 seconds, bettering the 7 days 14 hours 21 minutes benchmark set by veteran Francis Joyon in 2018 by 18 hours 34 minutes and 22 seconds.
Upon crossing the line, Caudrelier paid tribute to his team and family, “I’m not even tired. The first 24 hours were hard. I so wanted to win the race for the team. I’ve been dreaming of it since I was young. It’s for the family Rothschild. It seemed like a crazy idea, building a boat that could fly. It’s for Franck Cammas, as he had the experience. Without him I wouldn’t be here.
Yandoo set to take 18ft Skiff Spring Championship
Wednesday
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The John ‘Woody’ Winning-led Yandoo team of sheet hand Fang Warren and bowman Josh Porebski has taken an almost unbeatable lead in the Australian 18 Footers League Spring Championship as the fleet prepares to line up in next Sunday’s final race…
Golden Globe: Into the Southern Ocean
Tuesday
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 15, 2022; Day 73) – With the absence of modern equipment, half of the Golden Globe fleet is currently in the Southern Ocean. Two front runners of the Golden Globe Race, Pat Lawless (IRL) and Damien Guillou (FRA) have retired into Cape Town with wind vane failures.
Pat Lawless retired on November 9th after the failure of a critical bearing bush, caught without a spare. Both sailors did not wish to continue after repairs in port. “I realized I wouldn’t be competitive without the self-steering; I could sail but I wouldn’t be competitive.
“And then in a storm, I would end up broaching so it took a day or two to accept that I was out of the race. If this had happened in Hobart, I would have continued, but not here,” said Lawless. Lawless (IRL), who had been struggling with his failing Aries wind vane for days, arrived at Cape Town sailing sheet to tiller on the 10th of November.
12th Route du Rhum Day 7
Tuesday
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
If there is one thing that the 2018 edition of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe taught us, it is that this solo 3,542 nautical mile Transatlantic race is never over until it is over…
Fire aboard IMOCA Nexans – Art & Fenêtres
Monday
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
At 1132hrs UTC this morning, while French skipper Fabrice Amedeo was en route to Cascais in Portugal after suffering damage during the Route du Rhum solo Transatlantic race, there was an explosion aboard his Imoca, Nexans – Art & Fenêtres…
12th Route du Rhum Day 6
Monday
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After five days and nights of tough, physical, racing which has taken them to the edge of exhaustion, there are just 1100 nautical miles of direct runway left to sail to the Pointe-à-Pitre finish line for the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe leaders…
Australia wins Dubai Sail Grand Prix
Sunday
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (November 13, 2022) – Tom Slingsby’s Australia SailGP Team delivered one of the more remarkable victories seen in SailGP to dramatically overtake both France and Great Britain from what had seemed respective winning positions to storm back onto the winner’s podium.
At the close of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, Australia now leads the championship by nine points from New Zealand, with France one point further back, maintaining its position in the crucial top three placings. A good result from Great Britain in Dubai sees it just two points out of the Grand Final currently with four events left in the season, as the top four teams have started to pull away from the rest of the field.
But on the packed shorelines of Mina Rashid in front of sold out crowds the talk was all about Australia’s come from behind win.
Slingsby said: “I have no idea how we did that to be honest, I would want to replicate that every race if we could because whatever we did there was pretty incredible. That final was a blur, someone will have to explain to me sometime what happened but it was just unreal.”
Sir Ben Ainslie was on track for a first SailGP win in eighteen months as he led right up to the final gate before an error saw Australia and France sweep past them in the final seconds.
Ainslie said: “I think that is one of the best examples of grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory that I have seen for a very long time, it’s hugely frustrating for the team, we had such a good weekend, and just missed the final move, but that’s SailGP, that’s sport, it happens.”
Earlier in the final podium race France had looked to have wrapped up the win as it enjoyed a huge lead, but a tactical error of its own saw Australia and Britain reel them in…
SailGP information – Dubai details – Season 3 scoreboard – YouTube
18ft Skiff Spring Championship races 5 & 6
Sunday
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Races 5 and 6 of the Australian 18 Footers League’s 2022-23 Spring Championship were sailed over two windward-leeward 3-buoys courses, on Sydney Harbour today and resulted in wins for Rag & Famish Hotel and Yandoo…
Canada SailGP Team hot out of the blocks in Dubai
Sunday
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The inaugural SailGP event in the Middle East started out exceptionally well for the Canadian team with a win in Race number one…
SailGP: Kiwis in top three after Dubai – Day 1
Saturday
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The New Zealand SailGP Team is third on the event leaderboard after a tricky first day of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, which saw all nine teams battling to get up – and stay up – on the foils in light winds…
U.S. SailGP Team in the hunt after day one
Saturday
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Currently in second place, U.S. SailGP Team’s Jimmy Spithill has no illusions: the real battle begins tomorrow at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas. “Tomorrow is a reset; our goal is to make the podium,” said the team CEO and driver.
Route du Rhum: face off for Ultims
Saturday
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 12, 2022; Day 4) – Different strategies through the Azores see the two Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe leaders Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) and François Gabart (SVR Lazartigue) less than 15 miles apart and on converging tracks as they negotiate the island group, looking to get through the next cold front and into the fast reaching conditions which will accelerate them towards Guadeloupe.
Gabart has held the lead for some of today and is approaching the island of Sao Miguel on the windward side, sailing faster than Caudrelier. Tonight and into tomorrow could prove a key stage of the race.
In third Thomas Coville on Sodebo is not out of the match, some 45 miles behind “Charles and François managed to sail a little better than me. The strategy was to move to the West to pass between the two systems. Given our position, we couldn’t see how to do it any other way.” He is expected to cross the front in the coming hours, but the wind is already up to 30 knots and so he is sailing with one reef and staysail.
To the South where Charles Caudrelier and François Gabart are close together, the wind is likely to be slightly weaker. Over the coming hours, they will have to find their way through the front extending out from the Azores High, but can look forward to the trade winds tomorrow evening.
As Coville moves further west, Sodebo Ultim 3 may find less wind, but a better angle to head South, but ultimately could simply find herself lined up behind the frontrunners, who in stronger winds should extend their lead.
Coville reported this lunchtime, “There were a lot of maneuvers during the night and it used up a lot of my energy. Yesterday evening, we wanted to get as far South as possible to cross the second front at a more favorable latitude. The gains you make to the South at this point affect the rest of the race. I hope my position will allow me to sail down reaching towards the area of high pressure. I don’t know how it will work out for the second front. It’s never like it in theory.”
Meantime 1000 miles behind the leaders Armel Le Cléac’h resumed racing this afternoon on his repaired Maxi Banque Populaire XI which has an original spec daggerboard in as a replacement for the broken one…
U.S. SailGP Team faces pivotal test in Dubai
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jimmy Spithill is keenly aware of the critical juncture facing the United States SailGP Team as it prepares for its next challenge, this weekend’s SailGP Middle East debut, the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas…
SailGP: Kiwis feel the heat in Dubai
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Kiwis will be feeling the heat this weekend when SailGP makes its Middle Eastern debut at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix…
12th Route du Rhum Day 3
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Title favourite Charlie Dalin (APIVIA) has been enjoying something of a rich-get-richer scenario at the front of the 36 strong Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe IMOCA fleet, his lead of 60 miles ahead of Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOUt) increasing by the hour…
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