Written by 
SINGLE HANDED SAILING - In 2012 Open Sailing Offshore Racing is going to be the first to race a mini transat, a Pogo 2, in the Single Handed Transpac from San Francisco to Hawaii! Follow them at Open Sailing USA.
Monthly archives for June, 2012
The Big Announcement VOR 65
Written by
MOVING PICTURES – At a special presentation in Lorient, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad announced a major change for the next race; the introduction of a new high performance, one design 65ft racing boat.
Artemis Defeats Energy Team 2-0
AMERICAS CUP – The first day of the America’s Cup World Series got underway in Newport at midday today. The conditions were light and shifty, until the sea breeze filled in, providing close racing for the eight international teams.
In the first fleet race of the series, Artemis struggled to get clear on the line, but had a good first run. Then on the second upwind leg, the breeze went hard right, which was another knock for the team. But Skipper Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the crew stuck with it and battled back to slide into fourth place, narrowly ahead of Energy Team. Artemis then went directly into the match racing, lining up against Liock Peyron’s Energy Team.
Peyron suffered penalties in both of the two pre-starts. A port-starboard infraction in the first pre-start, then in race two Energy did a good job holding off Artemis off, but was a bit aggressive and collided with Artemis to put themselves over early. In both races, Artemis stretched their lead to win 2-0 over Energy Team.
“It was a great team day. The guys sailed really well,” said Terry. “We had a bit of luck in really trying conditions.” Racing continues tomorrow.
Artemis will line up against ORACLE Team USA Spithill in the Match Racing semi-finals for the best two out of three races, followed by a fleet race
ORACLE Team USA Spithill Strong on Day One
AMERICAS CUP – It was a frenetic opening day of racing at the AC World Series in Newport, the sixth and final stop on the global international circuit. In glorious conditions on Thursday afternoon, the overall series leader, ORACLE TEAM USA’s Jimmy Spithill, extended his lead, while his nearest rival, Dean Barker, saw his season championship hopes sink with a dramatic and unexpected capsize.
Spithill had roaring start in the opening fleet race, powering off the starting line in light breezes to lead from start to finish, giving the American team top seeding in the match racing quarterfinals, which started immediately afterward. Pushed to the limit in the match racing, the team responded to advance to the semi finals.
“We went one-nil down, match point down, and I thought this was a great test for the guys to keep cool and fight back,” Spithill said of his match racing. “I’m really happy with how we performed under pressure.”
Conditions were tricky to start the day, with the forecast sea breeze not having filled in by race time at noon. But that didn’t trouble Spithill, who extended a narrow lead at the first mark all the way around the race course. A big wind shift late in the race gave the chasing pack some hope, but Spithill held on for what was doubtlessly a satisfying birthday present for the 33 year-old skipper.
With the sea breeze then beginning to build ahead of the match racing, anticipation was high for an action-packed afternoon. The thousands of fans lining the shoreline at Fort Adams and crowding the race course boundaries with spectator boats on Narragansett Bay were not disappointed. MORE STORY
2012 470 European Championship – Day 1
MOVING PICTURES – 012 470 European Championship
27 June – 4 July 2012, Largs|UK 1st day of the Championship today with the top european teams participating in the Event. See the full action here!
Marazzi Ready for London
MOVING PICTURES – After 4 years intense preparation the Swiss Olympic Sailing top team Marazzi De Maria review the key events of their Olympic preparation. 10 Star Teams have a real medal chance in London 2012, the last Olympic Star medals will be the hardest ever to win in this discipline.
Stan Honey Explains Sailing on TV
MOVING PICTURES – SAILING ON TV - The America’s Cup is employing a series of ambitious augmented reality graphics to explain pro sailing to the television audience. Famed sailor Stan Honey explains his creation to help others understand sailing on TV. Click on the video above.
“Never Say Never” says PUMA Skipper
VOLVO OCEAN RACE – PUMA skipper Ken Read says he and his crew are viewing this Saturday’s Bretagne In-Port Race as a must-win opportunity to close the gap on overall leaders Groupama.
Despite lying 23 points adrift of Franck Cammas’ crew with just the Lorient and Galway in-port races and final Leg 9 sprint to Ireland to go, Read said his team would keep on fighting as long as there was a glimmer of hope.
“If you look at the points, they are still there to be had, so you never quit,” Read said. “This crew never needs to be motivated beyond that fact.
“We have to put some points on Groupama for sure. I doubt they are going to have many friends on the racecourse right now.
“There are three guys within fighting distance at least of them, so I’m guessing the green boat finds not a lot of friends out there.
“If that is the case then somebody has got to get ahead and why not us?”
Despite the pressure to perform, Read said PUMA planned to approach the Bretagne In-Port Race in the same way as normal, but would be ready to pounce on any opportunity to steal points.
“We chat about certain things, certain strategies, certain ways to play things, but for the most part we will continue to do what we normally do,” he said. MORE STORY
Final Tune-up in Newport
AMERICAS CUP – Nearly ideal conditions greeted the AC World Series teams in Newport on Wednesday as they took to the water for official training – a final opportunity to tune up ahead of Thursday’s Championship Racing. Winds in the 10-15 knot range under sunny skies meant the Narragansett race course was perfect for the final tune-up. Crowds lined the north lawn of Fort Adams to soak up the atmosphere and watch the final preliminaries ahead of Championship Racing on Thursday.
Newport marks the sixth and final stop on the 2011-12 AC World Series circuit and with just four points separating the leading ORACLE TEAM USA Spithill from Dean Barker’s Emirates Team New Zealand, the races here will determine the overall season champion.
For Barker, tomorrow’s first day of racing could be the key to the championship. He says his team has to advance through the initial match racing stages if he is to have a chance at catching Spithill.
“We need to do well in the match racing and continue to do well in the fleet racing,” Barker said. “Tomorrow (Thursday) is the key day. You have to get through the quarter-finals of the match racing which we haven’t done in the last two events. So for us to have any chance of winning the overall we have to have a good day tomorrow. And if we do that, then let’s see what happens the rest of the week.” MORE STORY
Trouble on Return Trip from Bermuda
RACE DELIVERY NEWS – The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee learned from Bermuda Harbour Radio on Tuesday that two boats returning from the Newport Bermuda Race had faced emergency situations that are being managed by Bermuda Radio and the US Coast Guard. Although they are not in control of the returning yachts, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of America continue to monitor the situation and will assist as needed.
Returning crews were offered daily weather briefings and were advised by forecasters of the possibility of strong winds along their route home.
Many of the boats have elected to continue to use their Yellowbrick positioning recording devices for their return trip and may be tracked on http://gae.yb.tl/nb2012return. The position of Avenir has been returned to its 6/24 location at the request of the owner.
Following is the notice distributed by Bermuda Radio RCC:
Early this morning (Tuesday June 26) the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre received a call from the U.S. Coastguard in Norfolk, Virginia, requesting information on the Newport to Bermuda race boat ‘Avenir’.
41 ft sloop ‘Avenir’ which departed Bermuda two days ago bound for Newport, Rhode Island, reported that vessel had suffered rudder damage in position 230 miles Northwest of Bermuda and was in need of assistance. Unsuccessful attempts were made by the crew to jury rig a temporary rudder with Captain also reporting that some of the crew had become violently seasick. A decision was made by Captain and crew to abandon vessel.
Cruise ship ‘Norwegian Star’ was diverted to the yacht’s position, picking up the six survivors at 2:30 pm this afternoon. Norwegian Star is due into Bermuda tomorrow morning.
Early this afternoon [Tuesday] another ‘Newport to Bermuda’ race boat ‘Convictus Maximus’ contacted the U.S. Coastguard for assistance after a crew member onboard suffered a suspected spinal injury.
Sailing vessel ‘Convictus Maximus’, a 42 foot sloop with six persons onboard, located 230 miles Northwest of Bermuda, also departed Bermuda two days ago bound for Newport, Rhode Island.
Efforts are currently underway to have the injured crewmember brought ashore for medical treatment.
Discover Sailing with Sail America
MOVING PICTURES – Discover Sailing from Learn to Sail to the Chartering around the world. The Sail America Discover Sailing Video shows you how easy it is to explore the world of sailing.
Andrew Hamilton Wins FARR 30 Canadian National Title
FARR 30 – Eight teams from Canada and the US sailed ten races over three days on picturesque English Bay in Vancouver. Hosted by the beautiful Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, conditions ranged from moderate to light breeze and pouring rain on day one, to glorious sunshine and a stable eight to ten knot breeze on the final day of racing.
After the first day’s racing, the scoring was tight with 6 of 8 boats clearly in the hunt. Canadians Andrew Hamilton (Through) and James Duess (M Power) were tied for the lead with 11 points, followed by local Fleet Captain, Richard Alban (Spiny Norman), Bruce Chan (65 Red Roses), and Dan Randolph (Nefarious) all with 17 points. Two other boats were close behind with 18 points.
On day two of racing Through found their stride and never looked back, scoring 4 consecutive bullets. Racing continued to be tight amongst the fleet providing some exciting moments downwind and at the mark roundings. After day two the fourth through fifth boats found themselves within one point of each other.
Ultimately there was no stopping the consistency of the team on Through and they rightly claimed the title of 2012 Canadian National Champion. The top three finishers were Andrew Hamilton on Through, Richard Alban sailing Spiny Norman and James Duess on M Power.
Special thanks to our gracious hosts the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, event chair Cory Wright, Sailing Director James Macdonald and Race Officer Peter Van Muyden.
470′s Getting Ready
DINGHY RACING – The last major event for the 470 Class before the Olympics is about to start. The European Championship in Largs, UK is the last test for the sailors to test their level and equipment. Check out this 470 Class – Promotional Video for 2012 470 World Championship and 2012 470 European Championship
Title Fight
MOVING PICTURES – Series leaders Jimmy Spithill & John Kostecki look ahead to the AC World Series-Newport as they attempt to close-out the 2011-12 overall championship.
Major AC72 Components Arrive at ETNZ Base
AMERICAS CUP – The major hull components of the Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 have arrived at the team base in Auckland.
“We have been working towards this day since the end of 2010,” said managing director Grant Dalton. “We started building in August last year and we’re now planning a public naming ceremony at the Viaduct Harbour in the early evening of July 21.”
Skipper Dean Barker is in Newport, preparing for the final stage of the 2011-12 AC World Series. But he says the AC72 is never far from his mind.
“We’re looking forward to getting it on the water and scaring ourselves to bits,” he says, acknowledging the size and power of the design.
“There’s going to be huge amount of respect for the boat to begin with. It’s a big boat, with big loads and we’ve seen how quickly the campaign can be changed around with what happened to Artemis (who damaged their AC72 wing in training). That was a big wake-up call that we are dealing with some serious equipment and the consequences can be very big.”
Four teams are in the final stages of AC72 construction, with launches expected throughout the summer. Under event Rules, teams may not begin sailing AC72s before July 1.
Gains Made as Fleet Commits to Revised Tactics
CLIPPER RACE – It has been an interesting 24 hours for the ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts taking part in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race which has seen new tactics come into play on the approach to the finish line.
The tactical decision to go south of the eye of ex tropical storm ‘Chris’ which has been dictating the fleet’s progress over the past few days has paid off for Singapore, which has taken a 19-mile lead over its more northerly positioned rival Welcome to Yorkshire.
Meanwhile yesterday’s frontrunner Gold Coast Australia has played another tactical card, as it entered into its 24 hour Stealth Mode and will reappear to the public at 1200 UTC today.
De Lage Landen and Geraldton Western Australia have entered the Ocean Sprint where the team sprinting the distance the fastest will be awarded an additional point.
On board the Dutch entry, skipper Stuart Jackson, reports, “We have finally started making decent ground now after taking ourselves so far south to stay on the southern side of the low. It has also been a relief not to be beating constantly, so is a lot more comfortable for everyone too.
“We have just entered the Ocean Sprint, so we’ll see if we can rival the times already set. The next few days is looking interesting as the northern group and southern group will start to merge together, we just have to hope that we can continue to make some ground on the others. So there is every chance that the mid-fleet positions could change hands a few times before the finish line.”
The leading yachts of the Clipper Race fleet are set to start arriving into Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, between 29 June and 1 July. Keep a close eye on the Race Viewer on the Clipper Race website to see which tactics pay dividends. MORE STORY
CAMPER Ready to Roll
VOLVO OCEAN RACE – CAMPER skipper Chris Nicholson says his team are ready to roll after their first training session ahead of the Bretagne In-Port Race and Leg 9 start this weekend went better than expected.
“We had our first day on the water after a break and normally first days back are quite often disjointed and hard to get running smooth, but we had a good day out there,” Nicholson said.
With just three more scoring opportunities left in the current edition of the race, Nicholson said he had no plans to depart from the crew’s normal approach.
“We just have to do our normal thing and see what happens to the other teams,” he said. “Obviously we are looking to step up, but we also need to see whether the other teams step up or step backwards.
“At this stage of the race, with so many things going on there is a lot of tired people in all the programmes, and I think that if you can just keep on doing what you have been doing, that may well step you up against the others.”
CAMPER currently sit in third place in the overall standings, tied with fourth-placed Telefónica and five points behind second placed PUMA.
Despite having 28 points to make up on leaders Groupama, Nicholson still believes anything is possible as the race winds up to its closest finish ever.
“We all always thought it was going to be very close,” he said. “At the start nobody could pick who would win this race and now we still do not know who is going to win this race.
“Of course Groupama are looking strong, but we have seen other teams looking strong a different stages of this race, and I think there is still so much to play for here.”
CAMPER have little left in terms of new sails to bring out but Nicholson declared himself happy that their existing wardrobe was in good shape for the Leg 9 to Galway. MORE STORY
Melges 32 Upcoming Event
RACE NEWS – 2012 U.S. National Championship July 27 – 29 in Newport Rhode Island.
Border Run 2 – Dauntless VS. Y-Knot
FROM OUR READERS - Let the trash talking end and the sailing begin! The Montgomery 23 “Dauntless” will sail against the Catalina 22mkII “Y-knot” June 29th.The course is Long Beach to San Diego…distance 87 miles as the crow flies…Track their progress at www.sailhavasu.com
Volvo Ocean Race: Leg 8 Documentary Show
MOVING PICTURES – This Leg 8 Documentary tracks the fleet as they leave the historic city of Lisbon, Portugal before starting their epic voyage through the North Atlantic Ocean, rounding the Azores, entering to the Bay of Biscay and finishing in Lorient, France. Catch all the drama and action as the teams experience some of the most extreme conditions in this race
Follow Us!