Ten years after he raced his last Vendée Globe, finishing sixth, British yachtsman Mike Golding is back on an IMOCA, making ready to compete on the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre, and says he’d still love to do a fifth Vendée Globe…
Australia dominates opening day in Taranto
Saturday
Sep 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 23
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Tom Slingsby’s Australia team got off to a world class start in day 1 of the ROCKWOOL Italy Sail Grand Prix | Taranto in one of the windiest SailGP race days to date in Season 4 with an impressive 1-1-5 finish…
Strong line-up for Italy SailGP this weekend
Friday
Sep 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
This weekend, Switzerland SailGP Team will race in the Southern Italian city of Taranto, the second of three back-to-back European SailGP events…
Hospice Cup Draws Record Turnout off Annapolis
Friday
Sep 22
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 22
2023
Posted by deleteme
This year’s Hospice Cup off Annapolis on September 19 saw 94 racing boats competing on three different courses, a record turnout of participants, and record fundraising to support the four hospice partners: Capital Caring Health, Luminis Health Gilchrist Life Institute, Montgomery Hospice, and Talbot Hospice.
The 94 entries represented 13 classes, from Melges 15s and Snipes to J/105s, 40-footers and a Reichel-Pugh Aquila 45. The classes divided into three racing areas: an inner course for the smaller one-designs, a pursuit course around government marks for the handicapped classes and the Cal 25s, and a southern course for the J/105s and the Vipers.
The inner course was run by Drew Mutch, PRO for the Organizing Authority, Sailing Club of the Chesapeake. Mutch was able to get five competitive races off, leveraging the northwest breezes coming out of the Severn River. With 19 entries, the Harbor 20s were the largest class in the regatta…
America’s Cup: AC75 used for 18 metre high dive
Friday
Sep 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The new Alinghi Red Bull Racing home opened its doors to the public on Thursday for the first time with a busy schedule of events and activities to mark the special occasion…
SailGP: Wingless Kiwis awarded redress
Friday
Sep 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 22
2023
Posted by XS Editor
NZSailGP Skipper Peter Burling said he was disappointed the decision was based on average points across the fleet, rather than the team’s performance so far this season…
Cup Spy Sept 17: A magic day for America
Sunday
Sep 17
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 17
2023
Posted by XS Editor
After being the first team to exit the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland, the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic won the first Preliminary Regatta of the 2024 America’s Cup…
Whittemore wins 2023 J/24 Worlds
Saturday
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Keith Whittemore’s Furio (USA), with team Willem van Waay, Marianne Schoke, Brian Thomas, and Melanie Edwards, have been crowned 2023 J/24 World Champions. Whittemore, who also won the 2019 J/24 World Championship in Miami, Florida USA, ended this event with only 25 net points in the full 10-race series.
After discarding a 19 from race seven, the Seattle, Washington-based helmsman kept scores in the top seven including three bullets. Ignazio Bonanno’s La Superba (ITA) was second with 40 points, followed by Tony Parker’s Bangor Packet (USA) in third with 52 net points. Parker has been sailing in the J/24 Class for all of its 45 years, and shipped his hull #58 to Greece.
Cillian Dickson’s Headcase of Ireland won the 23-boat Corinthian division, also placing fourth overall and tied on points with Parker. The crew included Ryan Glynn, Marcus Ryan, Louis Mulloy, and Sam O’Byrne. The all-amateur podium was also comprised of Stephan Mais’ Running Men of Germany and Alexandros Tagaropoulos’s Hellenic Police of Greece.
The IJCA awarded its perpetual Youth Turner Trophy to Papanikitas Spiridon-Eleftherios’s Hellenic Naval Academy.
Competitors reveled in gorgeous conditions for five days at the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Top Three Overall:
1) Keith Whittemore, Furio, USA, 25 points
2) Ignazio Bonanno, La Superba, ITA, 40 points
3) Tony Parker, Bangor Packet, USA, 52 points
Top Three Corinthian:
1) Cillian Dickson, Headcase, IRL
2) Stephan Mais, Running Men, GER
3) Alexandros Tagaropoulos, Hellenic Police, GRE
Thirty-five boats from 10 nations and four continents competed from Argentina, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and the United States on September 12-16.
Event information – Race details – Results – Facebook
Source: J/24 Class
More bad news for NZL SailGP Team
Saturday
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
After New Zealand suffered a huge blow following the first day of racing at France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez when the wing of their F50 collapsed, the bad news continues as a replacement rig can not be transported in time for the next event on September 23-24. As such, New Zealand will not be able to compete at Italy Sail Grand Prix in Taranto.
The league, which supplies the equipment, is now working towards a solution to get the Kiwi team back for the event on October 14-15 in Cádiz, Spain. Additionally, a review of SailGP rules around redress is underway with with all teams.
Following the full structural failure of the team’s wingsail, caused by the wing coming out of alignment, SailGP began investigating options to transport the fleet’s spare wing from New Zealand to Italy and fit it out such that it would be ready to race at the upcoming event.
But due to shipment timelines, along with the extensive setup and testing once it arrives on-site along with the short lead-time between events, it proved to be impossible to get the team on the start line in Taranto.
“We’re working closely with the league to chart a path forward from here,” said Wing trimmer and co-CEO Blair Tuke. “That includes reviewing the rules for redress and compensatory points to ensure this forced non participation does not further hinder our results this season.”
SailGP information – Taranto details – YouTube – How to watch
Cup Spy Sept 16: Day 2 – Plenty of French fizz
Saturday
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
It was the Day of the Underdog in Race 1, with the newest entry Orient Express Racing Team taking the first race win of the 2024 America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta. The Italians finished second but were DSQ’d for being on the wrong side of the start…
Bart’s Bash 2023 so far
Saturday
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 16
2023
Posted by XS Editor
As the first day comes to a close, we want to thank everyone who took part today. Whether you were out on the water or helping to fundraise for your event, we hope that you enjoyed joining together with the sailing community around the world…
Anchor hooks an unexploded bomb
Friday
Sep 15
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 15
2023
Posted by XS Editor
A Dutch cruising couple were forced to abandon their brand new anchor and chain off the port of Pula, northern Croatia, after they discovered they were entangled with an unexploded bomb.
Experienced cruisers Daniel Steenstra and his wife employed a diver to find out why they were unable to weigh anchor after a night in North Harbour, Pula. The diver reported seeing a large cylindrical object rising from the seabed, approximately 2m in diameter, which the authorities then confirmed to be an unexploded Allied bomb that had been dropped during World War II.
Pula Harbour was a German submarine base during World War II and was attacked heavily as a result, but it is now a busy sailing hub with hundreds of charter yachts based at multiple marinas in the area. – Full report
PHOTO: A foil-assisted superyacht
Thursday
Sep 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The launch by Baltic Yachts of the ultra-light, foil-assisted 111-foot Raven for sailing trials off Jakobstad, Finland.
The yacht was first lowered into the water in mid-July, minus her side arms and T-shaped hydrofoils, so that all her systems could be tested before foiling commenced. This ensured that everything from her hydraulic, electrical and electronic systems, including her diesel electric propulsion were working.
Her Southern Spars mast was stepped, North 3Di sails bent on, and her water ballast tanks activated so that she could be assessed under sail without her foils. Although Raven is fitted with a fixed keel, without her foils, she needs the assistance of water ballast to maintain stability while sailing.
When this phase of commissioning was completed, Raven was lifted back onto the hard standing in Jakobstad so that her side arms and foils could be fitted and be prepared for further trials to test her ability as a foil-assisted ultra-lightweight superyacht.
2023-24 Clipper Race to descend Atlantic
Thursday
Sep 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race is set to depart on its second race for the fleet of eleven identical Tony Castro designed Clipper 70s. After the teams completed passage from Portsmouth, UK to Puerto Sherry, Spain, their next course to Punta del Este, Uruguay will begin September 15 with an expected arrival window of October 12-16.
Sometimes La Solitaire is a war, sometimes a dance
Thursday
Sep 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 14
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The annual French solo, multi stage one design offshore race, La Solitaire du Figaro is an incredible sporting challenge and this year’s edition, the 54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec which finished into Piriac-sur-Mer this morning was no exception.
Clipper 2023-24 Race arrives in Puerto Sherry
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Race 1 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has finished with Perseverance taking the win of the first race of the circumnavigation…
Dual defending champs prepare
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Of the many illustrious clubs from around the world that have competed in the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, the premiere fleet regatta for Corinthian crews, two have most consistently demonstrated the slick boatspeed…
What are the Indicators the Hurricane Season is Over? Atlantic
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 11
2023
Posted by deleteme
What indicators do the meteorologists use to determine that the Atlantic Hurricane Season is finished/finishing for the year?(Yes, I know its not now. We are at peak season). I can’t find a list of indicators on the net…
McIntyre Ocean Globe underway
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
History was made anew on Sunday as the cannons of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, signaled the start of the inaugural McIntyre Ocean Globe mirroring the original 1973 Whitbread…
A Class Cat Worlds at Toulon, France Day 1
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Following a lovely champagne sailing week’s run up to a major championship, it’s obvious now, to anyone with any wind connection and recent experience, that the actual race week will inevitably be one where total near windless conditions shall prevail…
How the America’s Cup teams are looking
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 11
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The pre-event practice racing that has been held in Barcelona ahead of the first Preliminary Regatta in Vilanova i La Geltrú, has given us an early look into the form and revealed much about the sailor’s approach to pure one-design AC40 fleet racing…
alien invasion
Monday
Sep 11
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 11
2023
Posted by deleteme
The Environment
A new landmark survey by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has concluded that invasive species – including marine invasives like the zebra mussel and the lionfish – cost humanity an estimated $423 billion per year. Marine invasive species account for an estimated 10 percent of the impact, but they are of particular concern because they are extremely difficult to eradicate once established along a new coastline. Freshwater species account for an additional 14 percent.
According to IPBES, invasive species (terrestrial and aquatic) have contributed to 60 percent of all known global species extinctions in the modern era. The overwhelming majority (85 percent) of their effects on people are negative – but people are the primary cause of their transport and establishment. Driven by trade and travel, the economic impact of invasive species has been quadrupling every decade. Read on.
MC38 Series Act 5 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club
Sunday
Sep 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Leslie Green and the Ginger crew made a remarkable mark in MC38 Act 5, securing three consecutive victories during the event. Ideal sailing conditions prevailed, with a steady 10-knot east-southeasterly breeze on The Sound…
Great Britain wins SailGP Saint-Tropez
Sunday
Sep 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 10
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Ben Ainslie’s Emirates GBR has triumphed at Sail Grand Prix taking place in Saint-Tropez, beating Season 3 champions Australia and Los Angeles victors Spain in a dramatic sprint to the finish line.
Held on September 9-10, the triumph ends a long-running win drought for the British team, which last won an event at Season 2’s Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in May 2021.
The three-boat Final was tense from the gun, with Australia and Emirates GBR going head to head on the start line. It was the Brits who won the best start – crossing the line with just 0.27 seconds to go and traveling faster than both their competitors…
SailGP: Newsflash – Kiwis drop big rig
Saturday
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The New Zealand Sail GP team dropped their big 29metre rig just after the finish of Race 3 on the opening day of France SailGP in Saint-Tropez…
Race to Alaska gets changed for 2024
Saturday
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 8th edition of the Race to Alaska (R2AK) returns again in 2024 for the 750 mile course from Port Townsend, WA to Victoria, BC. But unlike the 2022 and 2023 races, the western side of Vancouver Island is no longer an option as the course has reestablished the Seymour Narrows checkpoint…
Details: https://r2ak.com/
America’s Cup teams get first taste
Saturday
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The first Preliminary Regatta on the road to the 37th America’s Cup begins in the Catalan port of Vilanova i La Geltrú on September 14-17 and offers the first competition for the challengers and defender. While the results do not extend beyond the event, everyone is seeking the morale-boost that a good result offers and all are desperate to make the Match Race Final on September 17, 2023.
Racing the AC40s in one design mode, there will be up to three fleet races per day to decide the top two teams who will contest the winner-takes-all match race final.
Early indications of form really count for nothing until the teams are under the white-hot flame of racing for points towards winning a regatta.
Shorter course for showdown La Solitaire Stage 3
Saturday
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 09
2023
Posted by XS Editor
After what, for many of the 32 solo skippers, proved to a be a painfully frustrating, slow finish into Roscoff on the Bay of Morlaix Thursday night into Friday Stage 3 of the 54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has already been shortened…
2023 Finn European Masters at Lake Garda Day 3
Friday
Sep 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 08
2023
Posted by XS Editor
https://www.sail-world.com/photos/finn/yysw435693.jpgPeter Peet, from The Netherlands, will go into the final day of the 2023 Finn European Masters, at Campione del Garda, with a nine-point lead over Britain’s John Greenwood, while Olof Lundqvist, from Sweden, moves up to third.
SailGP resumes fourth season in Europe
Thursday
Sep 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The third installment of Season 4 for SailGP brings ten teams to the France Sail Grand Prix taking place in Saint-Tropez on September 9-10.
The F50 fleet will go head to head for five qualifying fleet races with the top three-boat to face off in a winner-takes-all Final for the largest share of the $300,00.00USD event purse.
Light wind conditions are forecast, meaning the F50s are likely to be fitted with the largest 29m wing and light air foils – there’s even a possibility of reduced crews.
All eyes will be on home team France, which has had a slow start to the season and currently sits in 8th on the overall Championship leaderboard. But France will be trailing a new flight controller in Saint-Tropez, as Jason Saunders has transferred from the Swiss team…
54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Stage 2 Finish
Thursday
Sep 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Under pressure from one of the title favourites, Corentin Horeau (Banque Populaire), the 21 year old youngest skipper on the race Basile Bourgnon (EDENRED) held his nerve in very light wind conditions this evening to win the very challenging second stage.
jimmy buffett
Thursday
Sep 07
2023
Posted by deleteme
Sep 07
2023
Posted by deleteme
I dropped a fresh podcast today, with the main topic being Jimmy Buffett. Most will not like my take, but I do tell a story about him from way back that you might find funny.
Oh yeah, and I talk about boatyards and the idiosyncracies of so many of them. Enjoy.
Sailing may be green, but not the sails
Thursday
Sep 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Sep 07
2023
Posted by XS Editor
by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
The extent of Naples Sabot racing is limited to about a 100-mile range in Southern California, with several prominent sailmakers getting their start in the Class. So it was with some surprise that my new sail came with a shipping charge, as it was not built locally but rather in Asia.
I hear how it is hard for sailmakers to find qualified workers, which makes sense when even sails for this 8-footer are manufactured overseas. But this idea of seeking cheap labor now comes with a shipping charge, let alone the environmental impact of transporting sails from across the globe. Sounds like regress, not progress.
To address this problem, the prominent offshore racing IMOCA Class enacted a rule implemented in 2023 for all teams to have one “Green Sail” among the eight sails authorized on board during races. There is a points-based scoring system, designed to minimize harmful emissions, with the reduction of air transport being a variable.
Nine months after being introduced, the rule has led to an average 30% reduction in CO2 emissions for every kilo of finished sail produced under its restrictions. I don’t know what this really means, but seems like some kind of progress to me. Maybe the Naples Sabot Class needs a similar rule.
Now the plan is to expand the rule and make it more stringent, as Imogen Dinham-Price, IMOCA’s Co-Sustainability Manager, explains: “Since January, we have had frequent round-table discussions with the sailmakers to see how to improve the rule and how it works within sail production. The mission now is to work towards a potential carbon cap for the Green Sail…
that’s mad, man
Thursday
Aug 31
2023
Posted by deleteme
Aug 31
2023
Posted by deleteme
There may not be a better mid-size racer (cruiser) than the J/111. Fast in a lot of conditions, good looking, decent one design class, etc. I wanted to buy one a while back but didn’t have a wide enough slip at SDYC.
I noticed the used boat prices were starting to climb a couple of years ago, but when I saw this listing for one, I almost couldn’t believe it. Asking $339,000 for a 13-year-old 111?
Granted, this boat looks to be really, really nice, and all you boat owners know how spendy it is to keep a boat in top form, but jesus h. christ that is a ton of money.
Or am I tripping? – ed.
We cannot be what we cannot see
Thursday
Aug 31
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 31
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Olympic and Pan American Games athlete Lisa Ross reminds us how we all contribute to progress:
I recently revisited my contribution in 2019 to Lyndsay Doyle’s incredible #superROLEmodels project, which highlights women in sport – at all levels and in different disciplines.
I know that for years I had an unconscious bias towards male coaches, in large part as this was my reality coming up through sailing and sport. It took me a long time to recognise and work on addressing my biases.
Working with Kathy Foster in the lead up to the 2004 Olympic trails was the first time in my sailing career that I worked with a female coach in high performance, an experience which helped me believe there was a place in sport for me after my Olympic career was over, and that women could be coaches at the highest level.
I love that as a sport sector that we are embracing challenging the status quo, both at the individual and organisational level.
We cannot be what we cannot see.
With the explosion of coverage of women’s sports recently, we need to continue to push to ensure that we have representation across sport. Not just men coaching men and women coaching women, but equality in all aspects of our programming and leadership.
Gearing up for Clipper start
Wednesday
Aug 30
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 30
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 14th Clipper Round the World Yacht race will start from a line off Southsea Castle in Portsmouth, UK, on September 3, 2023. The 11 identical 70 foot yachts, manned with 24 crew aboard each, coming from 63 different nationalities, (105 sailors from the USA,) will sail to Cadiz in Spain then to Punta del Este in Uruguay on the first leg of their 40,000 mile circumnavigation of the world. In the 27 years since the Clipper races started, some 6000 people have sailed in the previous Clipper races made up of people from all walks of life. – Full report
SailGP splashes down in London’s West End
Wednesday
Aug 30
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 30
2023
Posted by XS Editor
SailGP, the world’s most exciting racing on water, officially launched its Season 4 ‘We Are Racing’ Global Brand Campaign with a week-long digital 3D OOH immersive full screen takeover at the world-renowned Piccadilly Lights
splat
Wednesday
Aug 30
2023
Posted by deleteme
Aug 30
2023
Posted by deleteme
Splat was the sound that came next from this nicely timed shot of a National 18-foot dinghy racing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven Co. Cork this past weekend. Helm is Alex Barry with Anthony Coole and William O’Brien crew. Photo thanks to Bob Bateman.
mall cop
Tuesday
Aug 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
Aug 29
2023
Posted by deleteme
The Canadian ILCA National Championships were held this past weekend at the Buffalo Canoe Club. There were 133 boats spread across the three classes. The winner in the 7’s was Norman Struthers from Royal Canadian YC. The 6’s were won by Rory Walsh from Royal Vancouver YC, while Angus Beauregard from Hudson YC won the 4’s. Full results here.
As an umpire, I wasn’t really in a position to watch the race, and no one really cared about who tacked on who and when. Being an on-the-water umpire for the first time gave me an interesting perspective on some things that happened behind the scenes. Generally, the regatta had a great vibe, and the talent level for the vast majority of this fleet is exceptionally high….
56th Shark World Championship
Tuesday
Aug 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
Aug 29
2023
Posted by XS Editor
The 56th Shark World Championship came to a close on Friday, August 25th with 48 crews and 10 races over six days with Niagara Sailors taking the top honours and also winning the Bill Metzger Trophy…
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