The annual open meeting for catamarans at Grafham Water is back and will take place on 30-31 Oct. Over 70 boats are expected. This event has a reputation for being extremely sociable with highlights including an evening meal, open bar and on-site camping.
Ainslie takes Great Britain SailGP franchise ownership
Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain SailGP Team becomes the first competing team in the SailGP league to take franchise ownership…
Female Owner/Driver joins RC44 for 2021 World Championship
Moscow-based lawyer Valeriya Kovelenko has put together her ArtTube team with tactician Igor Lisovenko, who represented Russia twice at the Olympic Games in the Laser dinghy…
WASZP X 5.8m – Junior foiling ready to take flight
Providing a clear pathway into senior sailing and retention through the existing WASZP 6.9m & 8.2m class. This is a class the whole family can be involved with!
The Ocean Race Europe
The fully crewed, round-the-world Ocean Race has experienced tremendous change over the years. From the 1993 transition to a one-design fleet to an ever-shifting route, what began as the amateur Whitbread Round the World Yacht Regatta in 1972 is a very different race today.
The latest round of updates include some of the biggest changes ever, and if this summer’s preliminary offshore lap of the Iberian Peninsula is anything to go by, it’s going to be an exciting new era for both sailors and spectators.
The Ocean Race Europe, as the race was called, not only provided The Ocean Race sailors a chance to test their mettle, but also provided its European fan base multiple opportunities to see their favorite teams in action. The European offshoot of the former Volvo Ocean Race began in May in Lorient, France, after which it made stopovers at Cascais, Portugal, and Alicante, Spain, before concluding in Genoa, Italy. In addition to the three offshore portions of the regatta, there were also a pair of coastal races, which provided “bonus points” for the top three finishers in each…
50th Finn World Masters preview
After nearly two and a half years of waiting, the 50th Finn World Masters will finally take place next week at Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor in Murcia, Spain.
ban it
Protestors from the environmental group Greenpeace blocked the waterways around Europe’s largest oil refinery located in the Port of Rotterdam earlier today. Targeting Shell’s Pernis refinery, the activists sought to call attention to the launch of a new effort seeking to ban advertisements and sponsorships both by oil companies as well as ferry, car companies, and airlines using fossil fuels.
“We’re blocking Europe’s largest oil refinery with the very same ads that the fossil fuel industry use to deceive the public about their responsibility for climate breakdown,” said Silvia Pastorelli of Greenpeace. “Fossil fuel companies, car companies, and airlines have refused to change their polluting business, but use ads and sponsorships to present themselves as the solution to the climate crisis they caused. We’re asking the public to make their voices heard and demand an EU ban on fossil fuel ads.” Read on.
Nancy Pearson and Ed Padin on the Viper 640 NAs
Sail-World checked in with Nancy Pearson and Ed “Buttons” Padin, event co-chair of the 2021 Viper 640 North American Championship and Viper 640 Class Administrator (respectively), via email, to learn more about this One Design regatta.
East Coast 5O5 North Americans with West Coast Winners
Over the past few days Sail Newport in Newport, RI, hosted 30 5O5s from 12 states and two countries competing in the 2021 5O5 North Americans. In the end, the always-strong California 5O5 sailing fleet put in another impressive performance, with the Bay Area’s Mike Martin and Adam Lowry, who are also the current world champions, taking the top spot. Mike Holt and Carl Smit from Santa Cruz took second, and Nic Baird and Eric Anderson (Redwood City) took fourth, with Howie Hamlin and Jeff Nelson from Southern California taking fifth.
Newport showed off sunshine, breeze and a full spectrum of sparkling conditions. Photo/videographer Ty Baird caught some great drone action in the video below.
It was tight racing for the top two positions when, after Friday’s racing, in a classic high-teens southwesterly with enormous ground swell from an offshore storm, Holt and Smit took the day with a 2-1-1 to Martin/Lowry’s 1-4-2 and moved to within two points for the overall lead. The weekend continued with good breezes and challenging conditions. The racing remained tight, but the Martin/Lowry duo ended up on top, finishing with two bullets.
The California 5O5 sailors push each other with practice racing when they’re back home, and it shows whenever they’re on the road. To see the full results click here.
The post East Coast 5O5 North Americans with West Coast Winners appeared first on Latitude38.
Tanguy Bouroullec wins Mini Transat EuroChef Leg 1
This Monday 4 October at 15h42 UTC, Tanguy Bouroullec was the first skipper across the finish line of the first leg in the 23rd edition of the Mini Transat EuroChef as well as first in the prototype category.
Severe weather warning for Mini Transat
(October 1, 2021; Day 5) – Though the top four boats in the Mini Transat EuroChef are lapping up perfect conditions to rack up the miles at high speed offshore of Portugal, the reverse is true in the Bay of Biscay and offshore of Cape Finisterre, where conditions today remain sluggish and shifty.
However, a drastic change of pace is announced from tomorrow, with the forecast turning especially violent from the night hours through into the following day due to a serious deterioration in the weather. In fact, Dantean conditions are expected in these zones, with gusts of 50 knots on difficult seas.
Race Management has transmitted a severe weather warning to all the competitors together with the advice to demonstrate good seamanship and consider seeking shelter. Since receiving the message, a large number of the competitors have seen reason and opted to put their race on hold to guarantee their safety and that of their boat.
Barely settled at 505 North Americans
Newport, RI (October 1, 2021) – Code flag Alpha flew at Sail Newport this morning, sending the 2021 505 North Americans fleet out to Rhode Island Sound for day two.
Regatta race five started in a soft northerly that had crews off the wire for the first time in this series. Eventually, things got worse and PRO Sue Reilly wisely decided to fly the N flag and give things time to settle down.
If by “settle down” you guessed “change direction 180° and send the crews back out on the wire” you’d be correct. Pathfinder boat Ethan Bixby and Chris Brady extended their lead the whole race to win, with the rest of the pack all nearly overlapped with each other at the end of the affair.
Race 6 brought firmer conditions a bit more left, and regatta leaders Mike Martin and Adam Lowry, seventh in the previous race, played pathfinder. By the end of the first run, the breeze was softening with ominous holes. Matt Barry and JB Turney, victims of rudder hardware failure on day one, made the good call to go right on the second beat and sealed it on the wisely (mercifully?) shortened 3 leg course.
A Series of Unfortunate Events in the South Pacific
There is something almost mystical and more than a little eerie about scuba diving in the deep ocean, hundreds of miles from land and a mile from the bottom. You are surrounded by blue, all shades of blue, vanishing into deep black as you look down. No fish, no coral, just endless blue.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t really in a position to appreciate the magnificence of the scene in which I found myself. My focus was mainly on looking out for sharks, only slightly on the task at hand and not at all on the beauty of my Zen-like surroundings.
We were on passage from Raratonga, in the Cook Islands, to Neiafu, Tonga, with a possible stop at the island of Niue. We’d been dealing with the usual ever-changing weather, the wind dying completely for a few hours and then swinging round to the north, giving us a nice sail. It had been too good to last, though, and we’d also run into a line of squalls with 25-plus knots of wind and driving rain. At the end of the third squall, one of the cockpit cover zips came apart, and we’d struggled for half an hour to fix it. Then the fourth squall hit. This one brought 40 knots of wind and the largest seas yet, so we started the engine of our Mason 53, Dolphin Spirit, to meet the latter and ease our motion a little…
on the march
Pulling out in front of the crazy competitive Menorca 52 Super Series after five races is Platoon. Results here. Photo by Max Ranchi.
Survive and thrive in Mini Transat
(September 29, 2021; Day 3) – As expected, the front that swept across the Bay of Biscay last night whipped up some strong winds, gusting to 30 knots on messy seas. These tough conditions have obviously taken their toll on the 2021 Mini Transat EuroChef fleet, with a number of skippers lamenting some minor damage. – Full report
the plot thickens
I did suggest in my previous piece that Grant Dalton may have a few aces up his sleeve. The copy of the recent email from Hamish Ross to NYYC is perhaps one of them.
On the one hand, these pair try to give the impression they are helping while at the same using back channels to muddy the waters and make funding AC37 even more difficult.
Ross, and also Dunphy (by the very fact that he was copied in on the email) clearly need to be somewhat better at their research before casting aspersions on the Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Limited as being an invalid challenger for the America’s Cup.
Let’s look at some FACTS surrounding that for a moment. The RYSRL needs to be “incorporated”. Well, they have been since 2014, a brief, and simple, check with “Companies House” in London confirms that they indeed are except they are not…
Ready for 2021 Etchells North Americans
Twenty-nine teams are entered in the 2021 Etchells North American Championship to be held October 1-3 on the Pacific Ocean course in San Diego, CA. A tune-up regatta on September 25-26 had Argyle Campbell and his crew of Alex Curtiss, Chuck Eaton, and Jesse Kirkland top 18 other teams in the 6-race series. Light to moderate west winds are forecasted for the three day North Americans. – Details
23rd Mini Transat EuroChef Leg 1 Day 3
As expected, the front which swept across the Bay of Biscay last night, whipped up some strong winds, gusting to 30 knots on messy seas. These tough conditions have obviously taken their toll on the Mini Transat EuroChef fleet…
Riley Gibbs: Taking steps to the podium
At 24 years old, Riley Gibbs just competed in his first Olympic Games, finishing 9th overall in the Mixed Multihull event (Nacra 17) with crew Anna Weis. In this report by Michelle Slade for the St Francis Sailing Foundation, Gibbs talks about his Tokyo 2020 experience and shares his thoughts about what’s next.
Where did your inspiration to be an Olympian come from?
It’s been a dream of mine since I was young – for as long as I can honestly remember. I sailed Sabots in So Cal as a kid – when I was in third grade, I remember hiding Seahorse magazines under my history books on my desk, trying to read articles and looking at all the photos on the Games.
I remember European teams came to Alamitos Yacht Club when I was a junior to train with Chris Rast. One team broke their rudder and threw it in the trash. My friend and I grabbed the rudder, cut it in half with a hack saw and each kept a half in our rooms – we idolized the idea of what it represented. Putting our fingers on the rudder itself was like a dream come true for us at the time – I’d say much of the desire to be an Olympian is internal.
What was the atmosphere in Tokyo like given all the constraints, and did it live up to your dream?
Regardless of COVID, just being there and to be able to experience it for yourself is something that’s unmatched by anything else in life, I’d say. It’s something I’ve personally looked forward to my whole life and I have idolized anyone I ever talked to about it or had met who had gone to the Olympics.
Vandemoer provides his side of the story
by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
When the college admissions scandal hit the headlines in March 2019, and the Stanford sailing program was implicated in the plot, I desperately wanted this not to be a Scuttlebutt story. However, when every major news outlet led with the involvement of sailing coach John Vandemoer, it became unavoidable.
This massive bribery scheme to get students admitted to elite universities as recruited athletes hit a public nerve as a step too far. While it is easy to judge when you don’t have the wealth to do the same, the irony is how the culture of parenting has been tilting the scale for some time.
Doing more is what parents now do to give their children an advantage. While some parents are strategic about it, others get swept up in this shifting landscape, but either way kids are entering the world more coddled than ever…
race to green
Straight off the PR e-mail…
Northern Light Composites has chosen the International Boat Show to unveil the first prototype of ecoracer, the recyclable sportboat designed by Matteo Polli with the aim of combining performance and sustainability. Ecoracer is present on land, in the Sailing World Area at stand YB01, thanks to the hospitality of the International Boat Show and Confindustria Nautica. During the awards ceremony of the Design Innovation Award, an award that aims to promote excellence in the nautical sector, the project of the young Friulian startup was awarded in the category reserved for sailing vessels up to 10 meters.
The jury of the award was chaired by Admiral Nicola Carlone, and the member of the steering committee Luisa Bocchietto. The other members of the jury were Silvia Piardi, professor of design at the Milan Polytechnic, Andrea Ratti, professor of yacht design at the Milan Polytechnic, Franco Michienzi, director of the magazine “Barche”, Nabil Farrat, editor of the magazine “Yachts and Boats ”, and Carlotta de Bevilacqua, president and CEO of Artemide. The 7.69-meter boat is de facto built with nlcomp’s rComposite technology: thermoplastic matrix, linen fibers for the hull and deck and the Atlas by NMG Europe recyclable core…
How to Use Jib Telltales
What your telltales are telling you: “Telltales flowing” is good when underpowered. “Telltales dancing” (windward) can be good when overpowered. “Telltales stalled” (leeward) is bad and means not fast. (Illustration: Tim Barker/)
Telltales are the most ubiquitous and simplest piece of equipment found on any sailboat, and even in this age of powerful race electronics, nothing is more reliable or true than these trusty yarns—or fabric strips—that serve as our guide to good sail trim. They’re an effective teaching tool for beginning racers, especially those on the headsails, so let’s focus on the basics of our jib telltales…
France SailGP Team announces new driver
The France SailGP Team will have a new driver for the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cádiz, Andalusia, following the announcement that Quentin Delapierre will be taking the helm of the team’s F50…
The name’s Bond, James Bond
The imminent release of the latest James Bond movie – No Time To Die – will revive memories for Hayling Island SC members of an earlier Bond movie – The Spy Who Loved Me – released back in 1977…
Boat of the Year 2022: Tartan 245 Preview
The Tartan 245 as shown with cassette rudder assembly, lifting keel and asymmetric spinnaker sprit well. (Courtesy Marine Manufacturing Group/)
Like most things in life, the new Tartan 245, was born of necessity—and the desire for something ideally suited for the purpose. And this is how yacht designer Tim Jackett, of the Marine Manufacturing Group in Painesville, Ohio, created the Tartan 245 with a customer who once owned a sailing school in Miami’s Biscayne Bay. This particular retired sailing instructor, who also owned a C&C 99, had experience with a wide variety of boats over the years, and naturally, had ideas of his own that would combine to make the ideal wind-powered vessel for harbors and bays. Jackett, as he’s known to do, took on the gentleman’s challenge and ran with it…
the numbers are in
Each Olympic cycle brings something unique. Classes are introduced and discontinued, formats evolve and new stars arise through incredible dedication, hard work, and smarter training practices. One constant through every recent olympiad, however, is the continual push towards data-driven performance analytics.
Tokyo 2021 saw Japan’s Judo Federation use algorithmic formulas to rank their athletes, computer vision used in beach volleyball, and machine learning and AI employed by USA surfing. Every cycle becomes more professional and performance-obsessed, and data technology spearheads that movement.
23rd Mini Transat EuroChef underway
The first leg of the 23rd Mini Transat EuroChef set off this Monday 27 September at 15:30 hours local time, just a tad later than planned…
VIDEO: Even crazy wears a PFD
Red Bull Flugtag was in Vienna on September 26 where 40 teams of DIY aviators jump from a six-metre ramp on their homemade flying machines. The crew that gets the best marks from the judges wins…
In Conversation with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
The University of Kent’s ‘In Conversation’ series of discussion events will return with renowned sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE…
TF35 Scarlino II day 3
Another top of the range day off Scarlino, Italy, for the TF35 season final saw Esteban Garcia’s Realteam Sailing claim two bullets from three races, further extending their lead over the chasing pack…
September 26 . . . The day that changed the America’s Cup for ever
September 26 is an iconic day in America’s Cup history . . . on this day in 1983 Australia II won the America’s Cup off Newport, Rhode Island…
2021 International Masters Regatta is back
After a year without one of San Diego Yacht Club’s most cherished and anticipated regattas, the Club is excited to welcome twelve legendary Master skippers to vie for victory at the 2021 International Masters Regatta.
Cyclone Season in Polynesia
Thinking of spending cyclone season in the South Pacific? Plenty of sailors take the chance every year, with the recent travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic making this an especially popular option in 2020.
Cyclone season in this part of the world runs from November to April, with the areas most affected stretching from French Polynesia to New Caledonia. To avoid getting in trouble you either need to sail through the entire region in a single season, make a detour to higher latitudes or New Zealand, or be prepared for storms…
Wanted: Ranger 33, J29, J30 or Olson 911s on the West Coast
If you have one of those boats or know someone that may be interested in selling, please email me at Steve at cropfood dot com. Or just post here.
Thanks,
Global Solo Challenge: Pasquale, gentleman sailor
Pasquale De Gregorio is one of the closest sailors to all lovers of the sea and sailing. Pasquale is an example, he had to conquer the sea, he was not born near it, it was love at first sight, which lasted a lifetime.
that’s unpossible
Title thanks to Ralph Wiggum.
A Wing and a Board Round the Isle of Wight
Ross Williams, has become the first person to wing foil around the Isle of Wight…
America’s Cup: Cloak and dagger tactics
Not everyone agrees with the direction of the modern America’s Cup, and this includes New York Yacht Club which has previously voiced concerns about the future of the event. This contention has fueled the latest controversy when America’s Cup legal specialist Hamish Ross sought the club’s support to legally remove the standing Challenger of Record.
The vision was that by ousting the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), which is represented by Sir Ben Ainslie’s Team UK, the move would scrap critical regatta rules being worked on by the pair, and allow NYYC to take over the traditional role as lead challenger.
With it becoming increasingly likely that Team New Zealand will seek a financial windfall by taking the next America’s Cup offshore, Ross claimed to be representing a group of prominent New Zealanders seeking to keep the next America’s Cup in Auckland.
Ross’ legal argument was the challenge was made in the name of a limited liability company owned by RYS, rather than by the yacht club entity itself, which could be in breach of the Cup’s governing Deed of Gift and ousted in an action before the New York Supreme Court.
If successful, the Challenger of Record would become NYYC, which has expressed quite different views over the future of the America’s Cup to those agreed by Team New Zealand and Team UK.
But this cloak and dagger tactic hasn’t gone over well with defender Team New Zealand and was refuted by New York. “We applaud (New York) Commodore Culver and the NYYC for wanting no part and rejecting these overtures,” said Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton.
Ross is an Auckland lawyer whose first involvement in the America’s Cup was with the Young America team, which represented NYYC in Auckland in 2000. He later worked full-time for the Swiss Alinghi team…
Sailing World on Water – Video Round Up
Video highlights of what happened globally in the sport of Sailing in the last 7 days…
How to Set a Double Anchor
<em>Britannia</em>’s bow sprit has space for two CQR anchors on rollers (left). The main anchor is on 250 feet of chain, while the secondary anchor is rigged with a strong line at least as long as the amount of chain that will be payed out (right). (Roger Hughes/)
When I was new to sailing many years ago, it didn’t take long for me to realize that it was much better to anchor securely the first time rather than to be stumbling on deck at 0300 on a blustery, rainy, pitch-black night, trying to haul-in and then reset a dragging anchor. Anchoring is a vital part of seamanship. It’s just as important to be able to stop a boat as it is to make it move, and while different boats react differently when anchored, there are still some common tenets that apply to all anchoring situations. The main worry is always that the anchor will uproot, for whatever reason, and the boat will drag, sometimes with catastrophic results.
The best assurance to avoid dragging is to lay a good length of rode, about five or six times the anchoring depth for all-chain (the rode being the total length from the boat to the anchor). But this in itself doesn’t guarantee that an anchor won’t drag, and after hauling in 200 or so feet of chain, when dragging in 40 feet—all in the above-mentioned weather conditions—most people soon learn to do it right the first time…
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