Written by MOVING PICTURES
Financial Times reporter Rohit Jaggi skims around the south of France aboard the world’s fastest boat, L’Hydroptère.
Monthly archives for September, 2011
Ultimate Speed Sailing
Out of the Windless Hole
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At 17:00 GMT on Thursday, Nick Leggatt and Phillippa Hutton-Squire finally found some breeze following a day locked in a windless bubble 40 miles off Morocco. As the South African duo picked up speed to six knots, sailing Phesheya-Racing directly away from the African coast into stronger breeze to the west, the fleet leaders in the double-handed Global Ocean Race (GOR) were 140 miles further south with Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron on Campagne de France leading the fleet of six Class40s averaging between nine – 12 knots with a lead of nine miles over Ross and Campbell Field on BSL in second place. More here.
Hard Times Will Soon Be Over at VOR
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The most competitive line-up to contest a Volvo Ocean Race is assembling in Alicante ready for the start of the 2011-2012 edition in just under a month. Many of the boats are on the cement receiving their last repairs, adjustments and/or improvements. More here.
RC44 Fleet Opener
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There was no standout performance on the fleet race opener. Three boats took race wins with ORACLE Racing, (Stuart Hebb /Russell Coutts) winning the first and third race, Artemis Racing, (Torbjorn Tornqvist/Morgan Larson) taking the second and Team Aqua (Chris Bake/Cameron Appleton) the fourth and final race of the day.
Sailing Round Up
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The Destopnews peeps have some great footage of the major sailing stories of the week…
Nice to be in Nice
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Extreme Sailing Series, Act 7, Nice, Day 2 – early start for the 11 Extreme 40 teams to maximise the morning breeze ahead of the afternoon racing which actually delivered some great, close racing.
Prep Work
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By midday GMT on Friday, the Global Ocean Race leaders were closing in on the Canary Islands with Campagne de France 35 miles due north of Lanzarote holding an eight-mile lead over Ross and Campbell Field and BSL. Here’s the fleet before they sailed off.
VOR Skipper Rushed to Hospital
Volvo Ocean Race skipper Mike Sanderson was rushed to hospital yesterday evening for an emergency appendicitis operation and now looks set to miss the qualifying leg in just over a week. However, his participation in the race proper is not in doubt.
“I am supported by a great team and am safe in the knowledge that everything will be progressing forward just as planned and bound to be in great shape when I make it back to work 100 per cent,” the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean race winner said.
Normally, patients who have had operations of this kind need around two weeks to recover.
The 40-year-old New Zealander suffered severe stomach pains on a flight to Alicante having first experienced discomfort while sailing on another boat earlier in the week in France.
He had the operation shortly after landing in Spain.
“It was incredibly painful and I’m not sure how I managed the trip back from France to Spain – the homing instinct set in for sure,” Sanderson added.
“The doctors and the hospital here in Alicante have been amazing and everything happened very quickly. I’m allowed home tomorrow and so won’t be out of action for too long.
“It looks marginal for me to be able to do the qualifier that starts on October 7 but I have every confidence in the guys and they can take that on no problem.”
Volvo Ocean Race chief executive Knut Frostad said: “This is the worst thing that can happen when you’re in the middle of the ocean as Mike would have been in just six or seven weeks’ time.
“There’s nothing really that can be done until you get medical help on land for this kind of thing.”
The three-day, 600-nautical mile qualifying race begins on October 7 and will finish three days later.
The first In-Port Race for the Volvo Ocean Race will be held in Alicante on October 29 before the fleet heads for Cape Town on November 5.
“There is no chance of him missing the start of the racing at the end of the month,” said a spokesman for Team Sanya, the first ever Chinese entry in the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo Paul Todd/VOR.
Redbull Keeps Lead at Extreme Sailing Series
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Red Bull Extreme Sailing sailed home with strong results under difficult conditions on the second day of the multihull world series off the coast of Nice (FRA), getting places 4/10/2/10/2/7/1/4. Skipper Roman Hagara (AUT) and his crew held onto a 1.5 point lead in the top-ranked field (with 11 teams from 9 countries) ahead of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA/89 points) and Luna Rossa Prada (ITA/88. More here.
On the Lee Side
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As part of the America’s Cup Event Authority’s ongoing commitment to support local businesses, today Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the Event Authority announced a local business outreach initiative to ensure San Francisco businesses benefit from the anticipated economic impact generated by the 34th America’s Cup. More here.
Day One of the Adris RC44 Cup
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Watch the highlights from day one of match racing at the Adris RC44 Cup 2011.
The Local Poop
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AC advocate Stephanie Martin discusses what the event will mean to the city of San Fran.
Major Talent Sails in Nice
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Eleven very talented and competitive Extreme 40 teams rolled into Nice for the start of Act 7 of the Extreme Sailing Series.
Red Bull Charges Ahead
Red Bull Extreme Sailing got off to a flying start in the seventh regatta of the 2011 Extreme Sailing World Series. Double Olympic gold medal winner Roman Hagara (AUT) led his team on their 20-meter high catamaran to three race victories (out of four races) against the world’s 10 best sailing syndicates. The Austrian team thus captured the top spot in the standings.
Mini Transat Update
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Part of the Mini Transat sailors fleet will cross the Cape Finisterre tonight. Prototype leader Jorg Riechers was 68 miles of the Spanish foreland at last report. The wind is blowing from the South and the Southwest swell will begin to gradually be felt, as they will sail toward the west. Currently the sky is cloudy and the fleet probably find a few showers. More here.
XS Poll Results Are In!
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Last week’s free XS poll is done with a record number of votes! And what did we find out about our XS readers…they like speed! Our question was “You have one day to live. You are offered a sail on one of these boats. Which boat would you want to sail on before you die?” – The top four boats were: Banque Populaire Maxi Tri with 25%, the AC45 Cat with 22%, the Hydroptere foiler with 19% and the VOR 70 speedster with 13%. Even Rambler with a new keel pulled in one vote!
This weeks new XS poll asks the question – “Will capsizing in the America’s Cup events CHANGE the perception of catamarans or further say that they’re UNSAFE platforms and accidents waiting to happen?” So will it? Take a chance…be brave and vote your opinion over there on the right hand side. It’s free, fast, easy and your right as an XS reader!
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