Written by CAT TALES HISTORY – What began as a windless regatta in the 1974 Can-Am Hobie Cat Race, from Port Angeles WA. to Victoria BC, ended in a race for survival!! Unexpected winds gusting up to 70 mph surprised the Hobie 16′s in their round-trip race across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Brought to you by Hobie Cat dealer FuntoSail.com
THE TRANSAT HAS A DATE
SOLO SAILING – The next edition of THE TRANSAT, the successor for pro-sailors to the original solo race across the North Atlantic that was born as the OSTAR, will take place in May 2016. As we wish the sailors good luck for the start of the Corinthian version for smaller boats this Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May from Plymouth, UK, this serves as a timely reminder to establish a marker for the The Transat, or La Transat Anglaise as its known in France.
The first race was competed by just a handful of pioneering sailors including Francis Chichester and Blondie Hasler who coined the phrase: “One man, one boat, the ocean”. There has been tragedy, dramatic rescues and exceptional drama since the race began in 1960. Over time THETRANSAT, as it is known today, has evolved and now serves the professional end of offshore sailing. But there are few modern day races that can reflect on such a long and outstanding history.
IMOCA 60 Monohull record: 12 days, 11 hours and 45 minutes set by Loick Peyron (FRA) on board Gitana in 2008
Multihull 60ft record: 8 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes set by Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) on board Geant in 2004
For more info go to: www.thetransat.com
CAOL ILA R (USA) WINS VOLCANO RACING
ROLEX CAPRI SAILING WEEK VOLCANO RACE – The third edition of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race concluded with the final prizegiving ceremony today at the docks in Capri’s Marina Grande. During the ceremony, the crew of Alexander Schaerer’s Caol Ila R (USA) received the week’s most coveted prize – the Rolex Trophy and Rolex timepiece – awarded to the overall winner of the event on IRC.
“It was exactly three years ago here in Capri that we went into racing,” explained Caol Ila R owner Alexander Schaerer, “and the fact that we won a Rolex in our first competitive outing with the new boat is really a dream come true, but of course we hope it’s not going to be the last one!”
“A big thanks goes out to my crew,” added Schaerer at the prizegiving ceremony. “We came here with the idea that it would be a nice holiday in Capri with little wind for our first offshore race so we could get to know the new boat. If anything, we certainly got to know her; we know the bowsprit can only take up to 40 knots but not more than 40 knots- because then it breaks off! I was lucky to have a very seasoned crew onboard, with over 40 Rolex Sydney Hobart wins in total, and they managed to fly a downwind sail off a broken bowsprit and bring us home safely to this beautiful island. A big thank you to Rolex, IMA, the yacht clubs and the cities involved in making this event possible.”
The Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race began on 18 May and was comprised of one leg from Gaeta to Capri, an inshore race off Capri and a long-distance offshore race that started and finished off Capri. Caol Ila Rwas not only the winner of the event overall on handicap, but also claimed line honours for the offshore race, the 210-nm Rolex Volcano Race, completing the course in a blistering 18 hours, 2 minutes, and finishing off Capri at 05:07 on Thursday.
Extreme weather conditions around the Aeolian Islands during the scheduled race period led the race committee to alter the original course for the final offshore race. The resulting long-distance race took the participating Maxi fleet from Capri to Santa Maria di Castellabate, back past Capri and on to the island of Ponza before finishing off Capri’s Marina Grande.
The Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race is organised by the International Maxi Association, in collaboration with the Yacht Club Gaeta EVS and the Yacht Club Capri, and upholds a decade-long tradition of Rolex’s involvement in Capri’s international yachting calendar.
Line Honours Rolex Volcano Race
Caol Ila R (USA), Alexander Schaerer
Overall Results Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race
1st IRC Overall: Caol Ila R (USA), Alexander Schaerer
2nd IRC Overall: Jethou (GBR), Sir Peter Ogden
3rd IRC Overall: Wild Joe (HUN), Marton Jozsa
How to Follow the Event
Further information on the Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race may be found at www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
To receive a post-event wrap up report and to download high-resolution images, copyright free for editorial purposes, register online at www.regattanews.com.
SPLIT OR COVER
RACE TACTICS IN REVIEW – While Leg 2 of the Atlantic Cup has been decided, check out Gryphon Solo’s decision making process concerning whether or not to cut inside Block Island only miles before the Jamestown FiSH Finish Line. This was not an easy decision, especially given their position at the front of the fleet and cost her the race. Even in ocean racing it can pay to ‘cover’ the fleet instead of searching for the fastest course.
EASTERN STARS
STAR SAILING – The first day of the Eastern Hemisphere Championship in Torbole was successful with 2 races sailed. The sea breeze helped a lot the sailors to compete on ideal weather conditions. So with two races today, the duo of Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen found them in the lead with 10 points difference from the second and the third. Check out the action above.
THERE’S A NEW MAXI IN TOWN
RECORD BREAKERS - Save the date – July 2nd 2013 – Official launch of the new Spindrfit2 Maxi trimaran. Check out her specs below:
Characteristics:
Length overall 40 m
Beam overall 23 m
Hull draft 5,80 m
Air draft 47 m
Mainsail 450 m2
Gennaker 610 m2
Solent 270 m2
For more info go to: SPINDRIFT RACING
RUM & COKE ICE CREAM FLOAT
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HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY – Here is a cool drink for the hot summer afternoons
DAY 1 ON THE BAY
TEAM EMIRATES – Today Emirates Team New Zealand took its AC72 out sailing on San Francisco Bay for the very first time. It was to be a light shake down but all systems were go and so was the AC72 foiling around the bay. Get used to the sight, it will be a frequent one over the coming months.
FLYING PHANTOM
COOL DESIGNS – F18′s on foils. Testing session on the Flying Phantom with Gurvan Bontemps and Louis Viat from Groupama Sailing Team. Whats next for the world of cats?
MELGES 32′s ROCK HOLLAND
MELGES 32 CLASS – Get your boat and crews ready for some good sailing in Holland Mi
THEIR BACK ON THE WATER
AMERICAS CUP – On Thursday, less than 10 hours after a no-sailing recommendation period expired, three America’s Cup teams resumed training on San Francisco Bay.
For ORACLE TEAM USA and Luna Rossa, sailing again meant a return to their
training programs on the Bay. For Emirates Team New Zealand it was their first
sail on the Bay since arriving en masse as a team earlier this month.
Check out the photos for the day HERE
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BRAIN TEASER
Photo credit: Storm Trysail Club
STORM TRYSAIL - Ushered in with snow and rain, a messy spring in the Northeast looks to be giving way to more acceptable conditions for Memorial Day Weekend and the Storm Trysail Club’s 68th Block Island Race that coincides with it. Scheduled to start Friday, May 24 at 1400, the 186 nautical mile race (from Stamford, Conn., down Long Island Sound, around Block Island, R.I. and back to Stamford) is an annual rite of passage for sailors from New York and New England and is notorious for a “fork in the road” decision that must be made upon leaving and returning to Long Island Sound.
“The natural obstruction of Plum Island, which lies about 60 miles off the start, forces navigators to decide whether to take the passage of Plum Gut or The Race (or in some rare instances, Fishers Island Sound), and the decision often determines the outcome of the race,” said Event Chair Ray Redniss. He added that Long Island Sound, an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, is situated between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south and that with eight million people living within its watershed, it’s no wonder that the Connecticut cities of Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Southport and Stamford as well as the New York cities of Bay Shore, Brooklyn, Larchmont and New York City are well represented by the 63 boats signed up, thus far, in six IRC and two PHRF classes as well as a one-design class for J/109s.
The largest boat in the fleet will be George David’s (Hartford, Conn.) 90’ Reichel/Pugh design Rambler, which took line honors last year and will be sailing in the event for the 7th time in a row. “We have won it twice on corrected time overall and have broken the course record once,” said Rambler’s Project Manager Mick Harvey, adding that the race is extremely challenging for a number of reasons. “Firstly it is very early in the season, late spring really, so the race is subject to cooler seawater temperature and relatively fast passage of weather systems across the course. The land mass in Connecticut is relatively cool this time of the year; however, in the right weather conditions, it can become quite warm during daylight hours. You can have situations where there are two sea breezes fighting each other, one on the Connecticut shore and one on the Long Island shore.”
Harvey also mentioned the “big tidal features” at Plum Gut and The Race as contributing to an “interesting, tricky race.”
“Every time we do this race it is different, and no doubt you will learn something new, however, what you learn most likely will not be applicable to the next edition of the race,” said Harvey. “It’s like a long day race where you have a basic plan based on forecasting and tides, but then you have to be able to change you plan and adapt quickly to changing conditions during the course of the race.”
Coming from farther afield is Arthur Santry (Arlington, Va.), who sailed the Ker 50 Temptation–Oakcliff to second last year in one of the IRC classes. He foresees a “dog fight” once again with Larry Huntington’s (New York, N.Y.) Snow Lion, another Ker 50 that finished third last year; James Sykes’ (New York, N.Y.) Santa Cruz 52 Bombardino; and Steve and Heidi Benjamin’s (Norwalk, Conn.) new entrant Spookie, a Carkeek 40. “Yes, sailing against Spookie will be scary stuff,” said Santry with a chuckle. “I haven’t sailed against her, but I know Steve and Heidi really well; they are incredible sailors and that boat just screams off wind. Who knows how the weather system will finally set up, but if it is a northwest breeze behind us leaving the Sound, Spookie could be as much as 10 miles ahead of us by the time we get to Block Island. Beating back, Temptation’s speed would be better than Spookie’s so it’s a question of whether we have enough runway to catch her. It should be a lot of fun.”
Temptation is one of four boats entered in the competition by Oakcliff Sailing Center, a non-profit training center based in Oyster Bay, N.Y. dedicated to raising the level of sailors and sailing in the United States. Santry “sponsors” the boat and sails regularly with a core team that is rounded out with Oakcliff students and often times his own teenage kids. (14-year-old Richie Santry will sail with his father in this Block Island Race.)
The Block Island Race was first held in 1946 and is a qualifier for the North Ocean Racing Trophy (IRC), the Double Handed Ocean Racing Trophy (IRC), the New England Lighthouse Series (PHRF), and the Gulf Stream Series (IRC). The Block Island Race is also a qualifier for the Caper, Sagola, and Windigo trophies awarded by the YRA of Long Island Sound and the ‘Tuna” Trophy for the best combined IRC scores in the Edlu (40%) and the Block Island Race (60%).
For more information on the Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race, visit www.stormtrysail.org or contact The Storm Trysail Club (914) 834-8857.
NEW SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AC72′s
AMERICAS CUP – Structural reviews of AC72 boats and wings, a 10-knot lower wind limit (23 knots maximum) and enhanced sailor safety equipment are among the 37 recommendations issued today to increase safety during the Summer of Racing at the 2013 America’s Cup.
Many of the recommendations are intended to increase the personal safety of the sailors and they include buoyancy aids, body armor, crew locator devices, hands-free breathing apparatus and high visibility helmets. Other recommendations are specific to the AC72 yachts, additional support equipment and race management.
A full list of the recommendations can be found here.
Regatta Director Iain Murray, progressing the work of the Review Committee, presented his “2013 America’s Cup Regatta Director Recommendations” at a meeting with the four competing teams and the America’s Cup Event Authority on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco.
For reasons of insurance and liability, the Review Committee stopped short of making its own recommendations. Regatta Director Iain Murray has formulated the specific safety recommendations.
These additional recommendations have been incorporated into the safety plan produced by the America’s Cup, which was forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard today.
“Producing and implementing the safety plan is within the scope of the America’s Cup, as the sponsoring organization for this summer’s racing,” said Stephen Barclay, the CEO of the America’s Cup. “This America’s Cup safety plan is a necessary component of the permit application submitted to the Coast Guard for their consideration.”
The Regatta Director will now form a number of task forces to bring in experts to define additional technical recommendations for specific safety items such as protective gear for sailors.
Since its first meeting on May 16, the Review Committee has worked diligently interviewing 25 team members including team heads, skippers, designers, engineers, sailors and support boat operators.
“All four competing America’s Cup teams have cooperated in an open, helpful and constructive way,” Murray said, “and the Review Committee noted there is a clear desire on the part of the teams to ensure the safety of the America’s Cup as much as possible.”
“I want to thank the members of the Review Committee for their exceptional and efficient work,” Murray concluded.
SHOCK BLOCKS
NEW PRODUCTS – Sheaveless “Shock” Blocks - The Ultra-Light, Ultra-Compact Line Purchase and Deflection Solution.
Understanding that some small line rigging applications do not require ball bearing blocks, Ronstan has just introduced its new Shocks SHeaveless compact blOCKS. Designed to fit a wide array of small diameter rigging uses, the new Shocks are perfect for moderate load uses where minimal purchase is required.
Extremely compact, Shocks are carefully engineered to work well even if the load alignment is not straight. Made from anodized aluminum they weigh only 2.5g (.01oz), yet can carry up to 350kg (770lb) of break-load force. Highly versatile, the Shocks soft attachment compatibility make them perfect for use in numerous high-performance dinghy and small sailboat rigging applications including tweakers, vangs, trapezes, cunninghams, barber haulers and kite bridles. They are also handy on larger boats for uses such as ladder and motor hoists, lazy jacks, sail covers, and tie-downs.
Shocks accept 1.4 to 5mm (1/16” – 3/16”) line diameters for running rigging and can be used with up to 8mm (5/16”) webbing attachments. They are available in four color choices to help keep complicated rigging configurations more organized.
DELTA LLOYD DAY 2
OLYMPIC CLASS SAILING – The second day of racing in the Delta Lloyd Regatta tested sailor’s fitnessand the equipment. Wind averaging 25 knots and picking at 30, throughout the day made for physical racing.
Only the Nacra and the 49er FX were cancelled. The Finn and Laser radial were the first to hit the water in the morning, followed by the RS:X men and women. The remaining fleets were kept to shore waiting for the wind to decrease.
Hyères Sailing World Cup winner, Andrew Mills (GBR) has taken the lead from Greg Douglas (CAN) in the Finn class after three races sailed this morning. Mills is discarding a disqualification at the start of race two to count only top five places. The day’s races win went to Miami SWC winner Caleb Paine (USA) and PJ Postma (NED) who place second and third overall.
The Laser Radial completed two races on the three scheduled. Alison Young (GBR) keeps the lead with a bullet in the first race. While the second race was taken by Annalise Murphy (IRL) who is renowned to show her best in the heavy winds. The Irish places second overall in front of Marit Bouwmeester (NED) consistent with two second places.
Hei Man Hayley Victoria Chan (HKG) enjoyed the waves and planning conditions to still the lead from Moana Delle in the RS:X with top three placings. However with a victory and two second places, Hélène Noesmoen (FRA) scored the best results on the water and climbs to sixth overall.
Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) conserves top position in the RS:X men but Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL), winner of the SWC in Hyères is closing the gap with two first places and a second. 2012 World Champion Julien Bontemps (FRA) wins the third race to remain in third overall.
The race committees had a very long day on the water. After the completion of racing in the Finn, Radial and RS:X, the remaining classes were kept ashore waiting for the wind to calm down. At 5PM the warning signal was finally given for the 470 and Lasers and racing cancelled for the 49ers, 2.4 and Sonar.
Soon after 7pm, the 470 and Lasers came back to shore after two races in 20 knots.
Olympic Champions Joe Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) continued on their impressive performance to add another two victories to their score to comfort their lead over the 470 fleets.
Croatians are taking the lead in two classes.
In the Men, Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) won the first race and placed second in the last to take a narrow lead over the Australians Matt Belcher and Will Ryan.
The Lasers were last to reach the shore, the windy races were dominated by the Australians and New-Zealanders, however consistent results from Croatian Tonci Stipanovic (3-4) place him in the lead after five races.
Today saw the end of the qualification stages for the Laser, Radial and RS:X. They will be split in Gold and Silver for the next two days with the top 25 in each class qualifying for the Gold fleet.
AUDI MELGES 20 ROCK DETROIT
MELGES 20 CLASS – Get your boats ready to rock in Detroit. MORE INFOMATION
KOREA CUP DAY 4
SAILING NEWS – The final offshore leg of the Korea Cup International Regatta was the longest and most exciting one, and would determine the overall winners of this year’s event. This leg took the 25 boat fleet from the Dokdo islands, off the eastern coast of Korea, back to the mainland and the city of Uljin, which they had left on 18 May.
GET YOUR DESTOPNEWS HERE!
DESTOPNEWS – This Weekly edition takes you from Austria to Switzerland visiting Greece and Porquerolles along the way, but first an are going to have an exhilarating ride onboard a TP52!
VISION ’2014′
US SAILING – The U.S. Olympic Sailing Program released “Vision 2024,” its plan to reshape the pathways to the Olympic podium. The plan represents phase one (2013-2016) with a 10-step action plan. With a mission of creating sustainable performance in all aspects of Olympic class sailing and reshaping our Olympic pathways, Vision 2024 activates many of the recommendations made by the Olympic Pathways Committee, a subcommittee to the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) that recently reported to the OSC a comprehensive evaluation of youth development in the U.S.
“Vision 2024 is a road map to long-term success in U.S. Olympic sailing,” said Josh Adams, Managing Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing. “It defines the concepts that will build the base of high-performance sailors in this country. We are mindful that there is no one path to Olympic success. By building a strong foundation in high-performance boats, for both skippers and crews, the U.S. can earn successful and sustainable results in Olympic class racing.”
Vision 2024 is aligned with the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program’s three fundamental success factors: lead a culture of technical excellence, make domestic training a strength and build the base of sailors. The plan shows how the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program intends to work within the existing frameworks of U.S. youth sailing, including clinics, championships, and organizations. It focuses on three key stages, beginning with “skill builders”, the many junior classes and organizations across US Sailing that successfully draw thousands of young Americans into sailboat racing. The next critical stage features the six Olympic Development Classes endorsed by the Olympic Sailing Committee. The third stage is Olympic class training and racing at the level of US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.
In December, 2012, Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) Chairman Ben Richardson and Managing Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing Josh Adams appointed an Olympic Pathways Committee to assess youth development in the U.S., define Olympic pathways and form recommendations. Serving on the panel were Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.), Cory Sertl (Rochester, N.Y.), Leandro Spina (Miami, Fla.), Zack Leonard (E. Haven, Conn.), Jay Kehoe (Oyster Bay, N.Y.), Greg Wilkinson (Rockport, Mass.), Charlie McKee (Coronado, Calif.) and Jerelyn Biehl (San Diego, Calif.). The OPC’s report was submitted to and accepted by the Olympic Sailing Committee in March 2013.
GO TO US SAILING FOR ALL THE DETAILS
ANDREW ‘BART’ SIMPSON MEMORIAL SERVICE ANNOUNCED
FAREWELL ANDREW – The funeral service for Olympic gold and silver medalist and America’s Cup sailor Andrew Simpson has been confirmed as 31 May 2013.
James ‘Bart’ Simpson MBE tragically passed away, aged 36, on 9 May 2013 in San Francisco. He was a devoted husband, adored daddy, son, brother and friend to so many whose lives he touched.
The service will be held at Sherborne Abbey, Dorset, on Friday 31 May at 1pm, followed by a celebration of Andrew’s life at Sherborne Castle.
Guests are requested to bring any photos they may have of Andrew to be placed on a memory wall for people to share, and his family to treasure.
Family flowers only are requested for the funeral – donations are instead welcome towards a sailing charity to benefit children which will be set up in Andrew’s memory. Cheques should be payable to ‘Peter Jackson Funeral Services Charity’ and sent to:
Peter Jackson Funeral Services
Mons Bungalow
High Street
Henstridge
Templecombe
Somerset
BA8 0RB
UK
Please write ‘Simpson’ on the reverse of the cheque or enclose a covering note.
Sky photo by Artemis Racing/ Sander van der Borch
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