Dame Pattie is an International 12-metre class racing yacht built for the America’s Cup Challenge Series in 1967. She was designed by Warwick Hood and built by W.H. Barnett in New South Wales, Australia…
Back in the ‘hood… Alex Thomson in Saint Malo
Back in the ‘hood…British star Alex Thomson in Saint Malo at Route du Rhum start. “For all the new boats it is really touch and go if they even make it to the other side.”
Cup Spy Nov 4: AC40 morphs into LEQ12
ETNZ have taken their AC40 out of One Design mode, in which it has been sailing for the past 16 sailing sessions, or so, and have turned it into their development boat, or LEQ12 in the parlance of the Protocol governing the next America’s Cup…
Alinghi Red Bull Racing hit 40+ Knots
After a few days off, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team came back out of their temporary shed at the Barcelona Nautic Centre…
Storm postpones Route du Rhum
Saint Malo, France (November 5, 2022) – The start of the 3542 nm Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe solo race across the Atlantic from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe, which was due to be tomorrow at 1302hrs local time has been postponed, because of the forecast for storms which would have hit the 138-boat fleet during the first hours of the course and particularly in the English Channel.
The decision was announced today at 10:30 am during the skippers’ weather briefing because of the forecast weather situation in the Channel during the first 36 hours of the race. This decision is made in particular because of the the passage of a very violent depression, accompanied by a very big sea blocking the course during the first night and leaving no escape for the sailors to get out of the English Channel.
After consultation with Météo Consult forecasters, OC Sport Pen Duick, the organizer of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, and Race Director Francis Le Goff, will wait to find a next more favorable window for a new start on November 8 or 9.
With 20 to 25 knots of westerly wind anticipated tomorrow, the latest 48-hour accurate weather reports had a very active cold front to follow with average winds of around 40 knots and gusts above 50 knots to be accompanied by a very big swell created by tropical storm Martin, creating a seven metres swell in the Channel on November 7…
Cup Spy: Swiss slowly taming their AC75
Three teams sailed in USA, Sardinia and Spain with two AC75’s being deployed by Alinghi Red Bull Racing and American Magic. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli continue to work up the first bespoke LEQ12 , and appear to be getting some good results…
Solo Sailors Back Cyclops in Route du Rhum
In the highly technical war of attrition of transatlantic racing, precision load monitoring is essential…
Golden Globe approaches checkpoint
(November 4, 2022; Day 62) – Sixteen solo sailors set sail two months ago to race nonstop around the world in small 36-foot yachts without modern technology using sextants, paper charts, and wind up clocks. The Golden Globe Race leaders are now in sight of Cape Town with the first arriving in two days. All must pass through a compulsory “Photo Gate” in Grangers Bay to drop letters and video films before continuing on around the world without stopping.
Three entrants have already retired from the Race, one grounding ashore onto rocks in the Canary Islands. Many are now infested with barnacles seriously slowing their speed and others are in need of repairs that cannot be carried out at sea. Two are running low on water. Some may need to anchor in Grangers bay to fix their problems. They cannot go ashore or seek any outside assistance or they will be penalized.
South African sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer from Port Elizabeth, the only female entrant, is sailing a strong race and is a serious contender for a podium finish in Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Her yacht is in great shape and she is excited to see family and friends as she sails past Cape Town…
Eight Bells: Peter de Savary
Yachtsman and tycoon Peter de Savary died at the age of 78 on October 30, 2022 in Chelsea, south-west London.
The maverick entrepreneur amassed hotels, golf resorts, and castles – and at one time owned both Land’s End and John O’Groats. A passionate yachtsman, de Savary owned more than 30 boats during his lifetime, including a 30 metre rive barge named Savvy, the iconic Hollywood yacht Kalizma and Herreshoff-designed sailing yacht Vagrant.
The British entrepreneur led the British challenge for the America’s Cup by Royal Burnham Yacht Club in 1983. The Victory syndicate made it to the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup but were beaten by Alan Bond’s Australian syndicate, who went on to claim the Auld Mug by defeating the New York Yacht Club for the first time in 132 years.
De Savary was also a regular on the regatta circuit competing in the Newport Bucket and the St Barths Bucket.
The son of a French-born Essex farmer, de Savary was kicked out of Charterhouse School aged 16, allegedly after been caught in bed with the au pair. By the time he was 30, he had made his first million selling goods to Nigeria.
Amid a wide range of pursuits, de Savary became known for his hospitality career. He founded the St James’s Club in London in 1979, opening venues in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Antigua, and started the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle – the Highlands backdrop for Madonna’s wedding to Guy Ritchie in 2000.
De Savary also invested heavily in Grenada, developing the Port Louis site as a marina and owning Mount Cinnamon Resort on Grand Anse Beach. During his colourful career, he also founded Pendennis Shipyard and was the chairman of Millwall Football Club.
While travelling with his family from the Caribbean in 1987, their plane crashed, killing the pilot. “My philosophy on life changed,” said de Savary, whose young daughter had to be revived on the beach. “When you look death in the eye, you know it’s a pretty tenuous thing we’re hanging on to.”
De Savary said none of his £100million fortune would be left to his children, explaining: “They will not be given the awesome task of trying to preserve or augment or carry on any of my efforts.”
De Savary is survived by his third wife and his five daughters…
Race Preview: Route du Rhum
If you follow the pros, you’ve probably seen the Route du Rhum on many sailing CVs, but what is this event and what can we expect from next week’s race?
The Route du Rhum is a French transatlantic race beginning on November 6 in Saint-Malo, France and finishing 3,500 miles later in Guadeloupe. The race is held every four years and sailed solo by skippers in four classes: Ultim, Ocean Fifty, Class40, and IMOCA 60. Two additional classes—Rhum Multi and Rhum Mono—make space for competitors who don’t fall into any of the above classes. The current race record set in 2018 by Francois Joyon is seven days, 14 hours, 21 minutes, and 47 seconds.
Despite many of these classes being typically the domain of professional skippers, one important attribute of this race is that amateurs and professionals alike participate. This makes it a critical jumping-off point for those hoping to break into the professional circuit. And, since the Rhum classes open the race up to any boat greater than 39 feet, it’s possible for sailors to go toe-to-toe with their heroes…
For more on the race, including the race tracker, click here.
America’s Cup gets documentary series
Skydance Sports will produce an all-access, behind-the-scenes documentary series on the 37th edition of the America’s Cup. All the competing teams will allow never-before-seen access into their preparations and execution of the race, and the documentary series will showcase the people and the drama – on and off the water – throughout the competition. – Full report
Route du Rhum: The countdown is on in Saint Malo
Now just four days away from the start of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, the safety briefing, which gathered together the one-hundred and thirty-eight sailors competing in the 2022 edition, set the tone…
Golden Globe Race Cape Town Gate gets interesting
GGR fleet on the way to Cape Town, last call before the Southern Ocean, battling High Pressure Systems and barnacles (again), and a local hero making a big bet!
America’s Cup: Max Sirena on Luna Rossa’s LEQ12
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli launched their LEQ12 America’s Cup test or prototype boat in October. Team Director Max Sirena explains their thinking behind the 12 metre boat, which is a key part of their 2024 America’s Cup program…
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe – Just 4 British entries in 138 strong fleet
The Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe will start on Sunday 6 November from Saint Malo. For 2022 a record 138 boats spread across six classes will start at 13:02 hrs local time on a course of 3,542 miles (6,500 km) to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe…
brought to you by coors
A 175′ aluminum Juan K race boat is something of a surprise, eh? Click to expand.
his dream boat
I took delivery of my new boat late in the summer. It is a JPK 39 FC. I live in the US but the French shipyards have a lock on this type of boat. I wanted:
1). Strong performance. Not just speed but also a well-thought-out deck plan. I am done with wonky rigging solutions on large catamarans or all-encompassing cockpit enclosures on mono hulls. I wanted a boat that lets me trim. My lack of ability will be the only hurdle not the design of the boat. I chartered a mono with the main sheet attached mid-boom. Horror show to weather. I also wanted the boat to have that feeling that I was almost racing.
2). Folding or lifting keel was a must. When I get stateside it is no fun dealing with 6+ foot draft. Most of the French boats fold between 1.3 meters up to 2.7 meters down.
3). I wanted a proper nav station where I could look forward. When sailing solo I want to be able to do long watches in the cabin. By the way the use case is for some harbor hoping with two aboard and some multi day legs with just me. Eventually going for longer.
4). I wanted a basic interior but not one that was a Clorox bottle. Read more at the SA Fabulous Forums.
Cup Spy: Three teams, three boats, three locations
Early Edition: Three America’s Cup teams sailed on 1/2 November in three locations in a LEQ12, AC40 and AC75. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli had a good day in Cagliari, getting in a good session in the sea breeze…
SailGP and AC, adversaries or allies?
When it comes to world-class sailors, few are as internationally renowned as New Zealand’s Russell Coutts. Claiming the gold at the LA Olympics in 1984, helming his country’s team to victory at the America’s Cup (AC) in 1995, and again in 2000, and subsequently successfully racing with the AC Swiss and then US teams, he’s truly one of the sport’s true figureheads.
But the America’s Cup could not be re-imagined into his vision as a commercially sustainable entertainment property, so upon his team losing it in 2017, Coutts alongside team owner Larry Ellison launched the global sports league SailGP, notably using the same AC50 platform in which their team failed to defend.
When asked how SailGP is set apart from other international competitions such as the America’s Cup, Coutts replied:
“I think that the audience for the America’s Cup is the same as that of SailGP and in my opinion the two properties are really interconnected, benefiting one another. Sailing has always lacked consistency and publicity, two of the major factors when it comes to audience – SailGP has both…
Womens Match Racing Nationals starts
The Waitemata Harbour is the stage for two weeks of world-class women’s sailing The RNZYS will host the NZ Women’s Match Racing titles, from the 3-6 November leading into the Barfoot & Thompson World Championships from 9-13 November 2022…
Project Landspeed: Horonuku starts speed runs
After an enforced break over the past week for the Project Land Speed team at Lake Gairdner they are back on location making the most of every vital window that becomes available to get more speed runs in…
The World Sailing Show
The World Sailing Show delivers 30-minute episodes which feature news, profiles, and racing highlights from across the world of sailing.
Episode 6 goes inside the World Sailing Awards, a glittering ceremony where unstoppable Nacra 17 teammates Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti were named male and female Rolex World Sailor of the Year, respectively, this year’s most innovative sustainability initiative was revealed, the boat and team of the year were celebrated and awards for lifetime contributions to the sport were also presented.
This episode also features how Charles Caudrelier’s crew won the first edition of Finistère Atlantique in a thrilling finish. After more than six days at sea, and 3,200 miles between Brittany, the Canary Islands and the Azores, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild finished 26 minutes ahead of the People’s Bank XI Armel Le Cléac’h.
The show takes a look at the recent ILCA 6 World Championships from Kemah, Texas in the United States where 2019 Rolex World Sailor of the Year and current Olympic champion, Anne Marie Rindom, was crowned new 2022 ILCA 6 Women’s world champion for the third time in her career. Peter Barnard from the USA was the ILCA 6 Men’s winner…
Cup Critiqued: AC and F1 teams’ first yacht design
Last Thursday, INEOS Britannia – the British Challenger for the 2024 America’s Cup launched their surrogate/test yacht from the team’s sailing base at Mallorca, Spain. It’s INEOS Britannia and Mercedes-AMG’s first ever yacht design…
Eight Bells: Brad White
Bradford J. White, 64, of Essex, passed away from cancer October 15, 2022 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was the beloved husband of Janet (Perkins) White. Born in Boston, he was the son of William B. White and the late Jane (Jackson) White.
Brad was raised in Cohasset and graduated from Boston University in 1980 where was a member of the sailing team. He was the team captain during 1979 and 1980, MVP, and Collegiate All American. After college he continued to sail and maintain friendships with his teammates for the following 42 years.
Brad’s racing victories included the 110 National Championship, six Interclub Dinghy Nationals, the Mallory Cup and the US Men’s Sailing Championship. He had a variety of racing experience from local New England PHRF races to regattas on the West Coast, Europe, and offshore. Notably Block Island Race Week, Newport Bermuda Race, Marblehead Halifax Race, Kenwood Cup, Chicago Mackinac Race, Key West Race Week, and Big Boat series.
He worked in the sailmaking industry since 1983 and helped found and then worked at North Sails Salem for over 27 years. He was known for his informative and entertaining talks that he gave at local yacht clubs. In 2000, when his children came of age, he helped establish the Essex Bay Sailing Club…
Dazzling cast for RORC Transatlantic Race 2023
Entries are ramping up for the ninth edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, promising thrilling battles right through the fleet. Twenty one teams from nine nations have so far expressed their intention to race 3,000-miles across the Atlantic Ocean…
Globe40: Fuzzy on the details
American Joe Harris along with Roger Junet are competing in the Globe40, a multi-leg doublehanded round the world race in Class40s. Seven teams were at the beginning on June 26, with five teams now on the fourth leg from Auckland, New Zealand to Papeete, Tahiti.
After starting on October 29, Harris files this report from onboard GryphonSolo2 on October 31, 2022:
We are underway again, and while the days leading up to the start were typically hectic, we had a great sea trial the day before the start to test all our repairs and two new sails with marine electrician David Minors and rigger Andrew (Tiny) Duff. Tiny did a masterful job refurbishing our six Harken winches and then went on to re-build a number of damaged turning blocks and Spinlock clutches. Thank you Tiny!
When we returned from the sea trial, my wife Kim and sister Wendie had returned from the grocery store and ships chandler with a long list of food and supplies and set about re-organizing the boats small interior to “fit 10 pounds of sh#t in a 5 pound bag” as they say. Thank you Kim and Wendie!
On the day of the start, we got to the boat early to clear NZ Customs and cast off the dock at 10:30am for a noon start just off the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron clubhouse. GS2 had a “glamour” start according to shoreside sources as we took the gun and roared out the main channel on a tight reach that quickly turned into a beat in squally conditions.
GS2 took a left out “Rangi Channel” while the rest of the fleet kept going, and the wind and seas quickly built till we were in one reef in the main and the staysail (J2) in 25k of breeze and nasty sea state.
When we came back together with the fleet a few hours later, we were roughly even and proceeded to sail past the last few volcanic, lush green, deserted islands that pepper outer Auckland harbor before reaching the open South Pacific. – Read on
America’s Cup: In search of next idea
In his thirties, French yacht designer Thomas Tison is on his fourth America’s Cup campaign, having previously worked with Mascalzone Latino, Team Origin, Artemis Racing, and now INEOS Britannia Team. His responsibility includes imagining, simulating, and designing how the boats are built and turning the team’s ideas into reality.
Tison shares his thoughts on the evolution and future of the Auld Mug:
As the goal is to increase foiling time and avoid touchdowns, the aerodynamic aspect of the boat is becoming more and more crucial. For this reason, the boats are running very close to the water, have two cockpits and, between them, an air tunnel.
To continue this evolution, some Formula 1 car racing teams are now involved. America’s Cup teams and F1 teams work in a very similar manner, as aerodynamic subjects are important for F1 cars as they attempt to generate down force. On our side we are aiming to reduce the part of the air flow slowing us down. It is different but the methods are the same….
Halloween Cup day 1 at Garda Lake, Italy
The Halloween Cup of the Optimist class began at Circolo Vela Torbole, in collaboration with the Italian Sailing Federation and the Garda Trentino Vela Consortium…
Quantum Racing win fifth 52 SUPER SERIES title
Quantum Racing write history with fifth 52 SUPER SERIES title as the world’s leading grand prix monohull circuit celebrates ten years…
European Freestyle Windsurfing Champion crowned
In what is uncharacteristic of Leucate, the wind did not fill in to a satisfactory level during the 10-day waiting period, causing the EFPT Finals to be called off, settling the current championship rankings…
18ft Skiff Spring Championship race 3
The first championship-style race of the 2022-23 Australian 18 Footers League season was sailed on Sydney Harbour today in a 10-15 knot North east breeze and was won by the classy Andoo team of John Winning Jr., Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton.
Honeybadger wins J/24 North Americans
Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger, with team Jay Miles, Chris Morgan, Monica Morgan and Terry Shannon, are the 2022 J/24 North American Champions, held October 28-30 in Annapolis, MD. Seven races were completed in the series, although none on the final day due to lack of breeze. – Details
Eight Bells: Al Chandler
Life-long sailor, international juror, and lifetime member of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand, Albert T. Chandler, 86, has sailed off into his final sunset.
If he had one message to those he sailed beside or sat aside (or across from) on an international jury, it would be to make sure you make it to the 2023 ILCA Masters World Championships to be held in February at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC) in Thailand. Seriously.
Al left on October 25, 2022, after a seven-week journey that ended peacefully in bed in the early morning hours as the sun rose over the Sierra Nevada Mountains in South Lake Tahoe, California. Only the day before he had been asking about the number of applications to the 2023 ILCA Masters. Seriously.
Born in Oakland, California, attending UC Berkeley for undergrad and then Harvard Law School before his profession would take him to Bangkok, Thailand. His childhood was spent in the Sierra Nevada Mountains so it was a fitting site for his final days.
His family wish to thank the international sailing community, and especially the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, for giving him such joy in his life. Despite a very busy schedule as a lawyer, he always made time for the sport and the friendships he found around the world through sailing. His contributions will outlive him in so many classes. – Read on
San Diego wins 2022 Lipton Cup
San Diego Yacht Club defended their Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup title when they defeated ten yacht club teams in J/105s on October 28-30 in San Diego, CA. Led by Tyler Sinks with crew Max Hutcheson, Lucy Wallace, Nick Kaschak, Eric Shampain, Jake La Dow, and Nevin Snow, they won three of 11 races in the round robin series to edge out Coronado Yacht Club by five points, with New York Yacht Club seven points off the lead. Yacht Club teams from across the USA competed in the 107th edition, with Sinks claiming his fifth Lipton Cup title. – Details
Cup Spy: Italians have eventful sail
Luna Rossa and Alinghi Red Bull Racing were the only two teams to sail on Saturday, with the Italians having their first sail in a moderate breeze in their LEQ12. The Swiss sported a new boomless mainsail. The Italians hit 28kts in their new LEQ12…
Melbourne’s Classic Yacht Cup Regatta D1
Alex McKinnon was out on the water today for the Classic Yacht Association of Australia (CYAA) 2022 Cup Regatta hosted by Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. The last time this regatta was held was in 2019, so it was great to be back on the water…
Cup Spy: AC40-OD Commissioning finished for ETNZ?
The Recon Team following Emirates Team New Zealand as part of the AC37 Joint Recon believe that the commissioning phase of the AC40 project has finished, and that the America’s Cup champions will move onto development work for their next sailing session…
2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: Entries close
Multiple former winners, international entrants and a record number of two-handed competitors headline a strong contingent of 120 boats entered for the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race…
Volcanic Eruption on Angel Island
Following the recent 5.1 earthquake south of San Jose, the long-dormant Angel Island volcano stirred back to life with the first signs of a new eruption early the other morning. To date, no further tremors or eruptions have been felt, but authorities* are keeping an eye on it.
*Actually any “authority” can witness this if, like us, they’re up for an early morning walk in Belvedere and happen to be in the right place at sunrise.
The post Volcanic Eruption on Angel Island appeared first on Latitude38.
Fatal POB – Bermuda Race 2022 fatality report
That night was gnarly, and while…Fatal POB – Bermuda Race 2022 fatality report
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