In a Tweet sent earlier today the Swiss America’s Cup Challenger Alinghi Red Bull Racing have advised they are almost ready to launch their AC75, formerly Emirates Team NZ’s Te Aihe, in Barcelona…
Posts in category Article
Successful rescue in the Pacific Ocean
Monday
Aug 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(August 8, 2022) – USCG-licensed captain, instructor and rigging specialist Andy Schwenk (57, Point Richmond, CA) has been brought safely to land by a combination of Coast Guard, Air Force, commercial shipping, and assistance from a fellow yacht. A rapidly-spreading infection required the action.
Schwenk’s Express 37 Spindrift V had completed the 2022 Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Hawaii, finishing first in her class on July 18. Returning to California, the boat faced heavy weather, damaging their mainsail and leading to an injury to Andy’s ankle, which subsequently became infected.
Various elements of Spindrift’s communications tools were also damaged, leading to challenges in getting assistance. A relayed call to Pac Cup race organizers led to the diversion of fellow racer (and division winner) Surprise, a Schumacher 46 owned by Bob and Maryann Hinden and skippered for the return by Robin Jeffers, diverting to transfer antibiotics to Spindrift V…
Globe40 leader diverts to Cape Town
Monday
Aug 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
American Joe Harris is competing in the Globe40, a multi-leg doublehanded round the world race in Class40s. The second leg started July 17, taking the five-boat fleet from Cape Verde Islands to Mauritius. Harris expects the 7000nm course will take 35 days to complete… here’s his update from August 7, 2022:
Big news here on GryphonSolo2 from the high seas is that we passed the halfway point on this epic Leg 2 of the Globe40 a few days ago, which means we have sailed more than 4,000 miles from the Cape Verde Islands over the last three weeks, through the Doldrums, past the equator and into the SE trade winds.
However, we still have to get around the Cape of Good Hope, which is our next major routing challenge. Because of the Agulhas Current running East to West (against us), we either have to go close to shore or well south, so we are considering those options now. A few other bits of action:
A Catamaran for a New Era
Monday
Aug 08
2022
Posted by deleteme
Aug 08
2022
Posted by deleteme
Anacortes, Washington, is an unassuming sea-salty town near the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound, and the Betts Boats yard is easy for a passerby to miss. But within Betts’ facilities, the dawn of an era in Pacific Northwest production boatbuilding could be breaking with the construction of Hull #1 of the new performance-cruiser Whitacre 47. In true Cascadian fashion, it’ll be locally grown with a sustainable ethos, both environmentally and economically, for rugged off-grid all-weather living. Combined with a high degree of customization and ideal market conditions, the Whitacre 47 is positioned to make quite a splash.
The seeds that sprouted into the Whitacre 47 were first sown when Mike Mullenberg, a yacht broker with his own Anacortes-based brokerage Pacific Cruising Yachts (PCY), sold retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot, aerospace engineer and avid sailor TC Skeels a Dragonfly 1000. After cruising extensively with his wife for over six years, it was time to go bigger…
505 World Championships – Day 1
Monday
Aug 08
2022
Posted by deleteme
Aug 08
2022
Posted by deleteme
Long, slow race for the first race of the 505 World Championships at Royal Cork YC, Ireland…
Live GPS tracking for the Snipe UK Nationals
Sunday
Aug 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
You can watch The Marlin Spike Rum UK Snipe Nationals & Open taking place in Plymouth from 12th-14th August with live GPS tracking. There are 28 boats entered from the UK, Belgium, Brazil and France…
UK Optimist Nationals at Largs overall
Sunday
Aug 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The final day was upon us all too quickly and Largs again served up a cracking day to finish the regatta. The Race Officer had 3 races in the plan for the Senior and Junior fleets and although the breeze was quite light to start with…
Long Beach YC to host 7th Annual Heroes Regatta
Saturday
Aug 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Long Beach Yacht Club Heroes Regatta will return Saturday August 13, 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic…
29er World Championships – 2022 Title for Maximo Videla and Tadeo Funes De Rioja
Saturday
Aug 06
2022
Posted by deleteme
Aug 06
2022
Posted by deleteme
Saturday 8 August was the final day of racing for the 29er World Championships at Club Nàutic El Balís, Spain…
505 Pre-Worlds at Crosshaven, Ireland day 2
Saturday
Aug 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Day 2 of the 505 Pre-Worlds at Cork in Ireland saw the final three races of the six-race series and there was a mighty battle for the title…
2022 505 Pre-Worlds at Crosshaven, Ireland day 1
Friday
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The first day of racing in Crosshaven was challenging. Three races of an hour each in shifty conditions with large pressure changes, saw big numbers on each team’s scorecard…
29er Worlds 2022 at El Balís, Spain day 4
Friday
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
French team Hugo Revil and Karl Devaux have taken the lead of the 29er Worlds in the choppy waters of El Balis after three races on the first day of the final series, although tied on 46 points with the Italian team of Alex Demurtas and Giovanni Santi…
International Topper Worlds at Lake Garda
Friday
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
170 International Toppers from across Europe, Asia and North America gathered at Fraglia Vela Riva, at the northern tip of Lake Garda for the 27th edition of the Topper World Championships…
Cowes Week – Day 6 New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup
Friday
Aug 05
2022
Posted by deleteme
Aug 05
2022
Posted by deleteme
A thrilling finish for the Grand Prix yachts competing for the New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup at Cowes Week and Keelboat round up…
Project Land Speed: Horonuku arrives in Australia
Friday
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 05
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Horonuku has arrived safely in Australia, clearing customs this week in Adelaide after its journey via sea from Auckland over the past month or so…
Sixteen hours inside capsized yacht
Thursday
Aug 04
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 04
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A 62-year-old Frenchman survived for 16 hours in an air bubble inside his capsized sailing boat in the Atlantic Ocean before being rescued by Spanish coastguard divers in what they described as an operation “verging on the impossible”.
The 40-foot yacht Jeanne Solo Sailor sent out a distress signal at 8.23pm on August 1, located 14 miles from the Sisargas Islands off Spain’s north-western Galicia region, the coastguard said. Tracking data shows it had set sail from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, early on July 31.
As a rescue ship carrying five divers set sail, one of three helicopters sent to aid the search located the upturned vessel as the sun went down. A diver was winched on to the ship’s hull to seek signs of life, and the man inside, who has not been named, responded to his banging on the hull by knocking from inside.
With the sea too rough to attempt a rescue, the coastguard attached buoyancy balloons to the ship’s hull to prevent it from sinking further and waited until the morning.
Two divers swam under the boat to help free the sailor, who they found wearing a neoprene survival suit and submerged in water up to his knees…
To watch video, click here.
Paralympians take flight with Swiss SailGP Team
Thursday
Aug 04
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 04
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Three Paralympic athletes were invited to the GB SailGP Grand Prix in Plymouth last weekend to join the Switzerland SailGP Team and their Race for the Future partner, Stiftelsen VI, to experience sailing onboard the speediest raceboats in the sport…
29er World Championships – Gold Fleet day 1
Thursday
Aug 04
2022
Posted by deleteme
Aug 04
2022
Posted by deleteme
Thursday was the first day of Final series racing for the 29er World Championships at Club Nàutic El Balís, Spain…
How many fenders do I need for my boat?
Thursday
Aug 04
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 04
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Boat fenders, sometimes known as boat bumpers, are an essential piece of equipment for protecting the hull from contact with docks, pilings or other boats. They are an essential for avoiding damage to your boat and other boats around you…
Moneypenny crowned overall winner
Wednesday
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Sean Langman’s Reichel/Pugh 69 Moneypenny is the overall winner of the 2022 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. This is Langman’s third win on IRC in the race which he now sponsors, as Managing Director of Noakes Group…
FlyingNikka to debut at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Wednesday
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After an intense test and training program between Valencia and Punta Ala, FlyingNikka is ready to make its race debut: the first full foiling sailboat in the Mini Maxi category will race in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo…
UK Optimist Nationals at Largs day 3
Wednesday
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Well day 3 was one of the toughest days on the water I have seen for a long time with ever changing breeze strength and direction meaning that the race officers had their work cut out again…
Something So Right
Wednesday
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
As early as the mid-1970s, worried articles were appearing in Yachts & Yachting magazine that highlighted the concerns that – after 20 years of unbroken growth – participation numbers hadn’t just plateaued, but were already starting a downward trend…
RS700 Nationals and Europeans overall
Wednesday
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 03
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A solid forecast of gusts of 20 knots was superseded when the RS700 fleet started peeling their covers off Sunday morning. It was averaging 25 knots on the harbour wall and some slightly worried faces set a mood in the camp…
fools gold
Wednesday
Aug 03
2022
Posted by deleteme
Aug 03
2022
Posted by deleteme
The Sydney-Gold Coast Race was the first offshore event in Australia in which two-handed and fully crewed boats competed within the same divisions. Conditions were light, and the results not quite as expected.
It’s natural to think that the heavier the conditions the more disadvantaged a two-handed boat should be racing against fully crewed entrants.
But the 384nm Sydney-Gold Coast Race just completed in predominantly light winds on the Australian east coast might indicate the opposite. The two-handers, who would have given many of the conventional yachts a decent fight on IRC and ORCi during the medium-to-fresh Sydney-Hobart in December, struggled to sail to their handicaps.
Constant sail changes and the energy-sapping need to chase every puff of wind clearly took their toll. It’s also probable that in drifting conditions on a lumpy sea their autohelms weren’t sufficiently responsive. Hand-steering for long watches on cold winter nights can be frustrating – and exhausting. Every mile is hard won.
The first 30 hours of the race were deathly slow as the fleet of 61 starters crept North. Even the 100-foot supermaxis with their vast spreads of sail found it difficult to make better than 8 knots. After two days’ racing half the 10-strong fleet of two-handers had retired, either because of equipment failure, injuries or time constraints. The attrition rate among the fully crewed yachts was lower.
Up front, the three 100-footers engaged in a tactical battle that saw a gamble pay off for Comanche. Initially Black Jack and Wild Oats XI swapped the lead as they hugged the coast. But then Will Oxley, navigator on Comanche, sent his boat much further East looking for more breeze and a better angle on which to approach the finish off Southport…
One month to go for Golden Globe Race
Tuesday
Aug 02
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 02
2022
Posted by XS Editor
From the 32 original paid-up entries for the third edition of the Golden Globe Race, 22 had intended to be at the September 4 start in France, but in the past six weeks, six entrants have retired, or been forced out through non-Compliance of the Notice of Race.
Sixteen are now confirmed to start the solo, non-stop 2022-23 race, with two retired skippers fighting to get back into the event. At issue is how the GGR has some of the most stringent qualifications and safety regulations in the sport.
The Golden Globe Race was resurrected in 2018, attracting 18 starters with five finishers. To embrace the original race in 1968, boat designs were restricted to types of the era and sailors used only sextants, paper charts, wind up clocks, and cassette tapes for music…
Dissimilar boats just got really different
Tuesday
Aug 02
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 02
2022
Posted by XS Editor
When it comes to the different handicap rating rules, there are many differences but they all have one attribute in common. For dissimilar boats to fairly compete against each other, the less dissimilar the better.
The best racing comes when fleets of boats have narrow rating bands and include boats of similar type, whether it be heavier displacement or lighter ‘fast is fun’ designs. However, there is also an arrogance to measurement rule authorities that, regardless of boat type, their rule can get it right.
That will be put to the test when the FlyingNikka competes in the 2022 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup on September 5-10 in Porto Cervo, Italy. This futuristic foil boat designed by a team led by Irishman Mark Mills is like nothing that has ever competed before.
At 61 feet, with two T-shaped foil arms extending out from the hull, FlyingNikka is the evolution of the AC75 used in the last America’s Cup and is designed for long offshore events. Racing under IRC, it will be the lone full foiler in a fleet of 50 water pushers from 60 to 141 feet…
America’s Cup bases now being allocated to teams
Tuesday
Aug 02
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 02
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Dalton: “All of the bases are located in the Barcelona Port Vell area along with the dedicated America’s Cup race village, hospitality and fan zone areas which will create an amazing atmosphere in the lead up to and during the event in 2024.”
New Zealand wins Governor’s Cup
Sunday
Jul 31
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 31
2022
Posted by XS Editor
With the lifting of pandemic travel restrictions, Jordan Stevenson (NZL) won the 2022 Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship presented by DISC Sports and Spine Center after last appearing at the Cup in 2019.
Admittedly rusty in the qualifying stage, Stevenson turned a meager performance in the first round to domination of the second round, and stayed on a roll through the Semi Finals and Finals to sit atop the 12 teams from five nations in the 55th edition. Race was held in GC22s on July 26-30 in Newport Beach, CA.
On the final day, Stevenson won the first and second races against defending champion and newly crowned World Youth Match Racing Champs Jeffrey Petersen, Max Brennan, and Scott Mais to go up 2-0 in the “first to three”’ point series.
In the 4-6 knot wind conditions, Stevenson had exceptional boat speed, both upwind and downwind. His starts were never disastrous, and he often had a slight advantage. As the boats started the last downwind leg of the third race, Stevenson had a comfortable lead about halfway down the leg in this deciding race.
Stevenson did so and started up the course. Petersen then rounded in the other direction, and once he realized his mistake, he returned to round again. Even then he did not “unwind the string” of his first incorrect rounding and therefore had still not rounded the mark.
At that point, the Race Committee started to move one of the leeward “gate” marks to square the gate to the wind. Since the move couldn’t be done by the time the boats were approaching the mark, that left a single mark, which needed to be rounded in a clockwise direction.
By then, Stevenson had sailed so far away that the Cup was to be his in a walk, but when Petersen protested the race, the umpires called for a do-over with Stevenson remaining at a 2-0 score against Petersen.
Stevenson could not have been pleased, but both boats prepared for another start and a crucial race. Stevenson and crew put that “almost win” behind them, and although the boats in any race were typically less than two boats apart, eked out another lead on the second and final downwind leg.
By mid-leg, Stevenson had increased his lead, and with all the marks in their proper place, looked to complete a sweep. But suddenly Stevenson notably slowed down, snagging what he described as“40 kilos of kelp on the keel.” Petersen forged ahead to win, and with the score now 2-1, he was back in the hunt.
Hoping to even the score in the next race, Petersen at first incurred a penalty before the start, but in shepherding Stevenson down the line before the starting gun, Stevenson made a critical mistake and was over the line when the gun went off. As he returned to the line with no rights against Petersen, he committed a double penalty for an intentional foul, which meant he had to do his penalty turn immediately.
This erased the penalty for Petersen but left Stevenson with one penalty turn to do. His boat speed and tactics were again sufficient to eke out a lead, but it was unclear whether he had enough distance to finish his turn before the hard-charging Petersen finished.
Stevenson and crew did an excellent job with the turn, but Petersen got a puff, got an overlap, and was surging past Stevenson. The large spectator fleet had to wait for the Race Committee to raise a yellow flag indicating that the New Zealand team had won by 2-3 feet giving Stevenson the Cup with teammates Mitch Jackson and George Angus.
The best to two petit final stage between the other two semifinalists, Marius Westerlind (SWE) and Jack Egan (USA) was equally as close with one mistake at the start, or downwind, and a change of lead would occur. With the score tied 1-1, like Stevenson, Egan looked to take the race and place third in the final standings. In the deciding race, Westerind’s team was excellent upwind, but not as fast as the virtual perfection of Egan and his team, and Egan won the race and achieved a “podium finish” in the Cup.
Details: https://www.matchracingresults.com/2022/governors-cup/
The format began with a double round robin qualifying series to advance the top four teams to the knock-out rounds for semi-final, petit-final, and final matches.
New Zealand win British Grand Prix at Plymouth
Sunday
Jul 31
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jul 31
2022
Posted by deleteme
Ben Ainslie came within a gnat’s whisker of the British Grand Prix Final at Plymouth, only to be denied by arch rival Tom Slingsby…
Sir Ben Ainslie looks to kickstart season
Friday
Jul 29
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 29
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After two wins from two events and with two championships from two seasons, Tom Slingsby and the Australia SailGP Team remain the firm focus of the other eight drivers ahead of the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth this weekend…
34 skippers to compete in La Solitaire du Figaro
Friday
Jul 29
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 29
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The starting gun for the first stage of the 53rd edition of La Solitaire du Figaro will sound on August 21, off Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef in the Loire-Atlantique after the fleet has paraded up the Loire from Nantes…
SailGP – Nathan Outteridge joins Swiss Team
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jul 28
2022
Posted by deleteme
Nathan Outteridge, has joined the Swiss SailGP team for the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix at Plymouth this weekend…
the old ways
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jul 28
2022
Posted by deleteme
Pulling into the harbor at Mackinac Island Sunday, July 24th at 5:04 a.m., driver Greg Fordon parked Whitehawk and a crew of 14 went below deck to toast their first-to-finish of 31 boats in the Cruising Division in the 113th Chicago Mac Race. They were ninth on corrected time at 2:05:41:04.
Sending out emails and making a few calls, owner Peter Thornton assembled a skilled squad who had been with him for a few Macs. Antonio Cuervas mons flew in from Spain, Willie Lynch, Peter Eagan and Lat Spinney are from Rhode Island, Deane Tank from western South Carolina, Bogdan Ogorek, Fordon and Gary Murino are from Chicago, Tom Murray, suburban Chicago, Tom Cote, Harbor Springs, Mich., Chris Thornton and his son, Jack, reside in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Leaving the starting line Friday, July 22 in front of Navy Pier at 3:00 p.m., the 104-foot ketch set a swift pace propelling them a few minutes in front of several severe storms…
55th Governor’s Cup Day 2
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jeffrey Petersen & Co. maintain their lead, with only three points separating the next nine teams. Fight for four semi-final spots still far from decided among the twelve teams from five countries…
Celebrate the Clipper Race finish this weekend
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A huge celebration is in store for Race Finish at London’s historic Royal Docks on Saturday 30 July in honour of the teams competing in the Clipper 2019-20 Race…
European Moth Championship – Funk, Fletcher, Hiscock lead
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by deleteme
Jul 28
2022
Posted by deleteme
No wind on the third day of the European Moth Championship in Quiberon, France, so no racing for the 91 competitors…
GP Zero – the Magnificent Seven
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Cowes Week beckons and the entire big boat IRC Zero Class at the world-famous regatta will be composed of GP Zero Class. The fastest boats at Cowes Week with crew from the Olympics, America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and World Championships…
Wallywind110 – a new range of cruiser-racers
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The three sailing boat models range from 110ft LOA up to 150ft aim to completely redefine the possibilities for owners interested in blistering performance allied to long-range cruising comfort…
On Course, Episode 20
Thursday
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jul 28
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The On Course series takes a regular look at the sailing world with show host Matt Sheahan:
After two years of uncertainty, there is no doubt that this year the sailing season is well underway. It’s been a very busy and exciting summer so far with a huge range of events filling the calendar to bursting point. And what a variety we’ve had already.
From a race into unknown territory for the IMOCA 60s, to the launch of a radical new design for one of the biggest offshore rockstars in the scene. Plus, we’ve seen the ProSailing Tour demonstrate why it could be the next hottest thing offshore.
There have been world championships aplenty too, the TP52s in Portugal, the 6 Metres in Switzerland, and three impressive ClubSwan fleets in Spain to name just a few…
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