Monthly archives for September, 2012

MELGES 32 WORLDS

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

MELGES 32 WORLDS – Newport, RI – USA – PRO Hank Stuart fired off three more great races at the 2012 MELGES 32 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, hosted by the NEW YORK YACHT CLUB (NYYC) on Wednesday. With two more days left to race, the pressure to do well is extremely intense as Bombarda’s Andrea Pozzi with tactician Gabriele Benussi sit atop the leaderboard ahead by two. In second overall, is John Kilroy Jr. on Samba Pa Ti who felt the full effects of a great day of successful racing with Paul Goodison on tactics. Ben Schwartz on Pisces with Chris Rast as tactician is now third. Tied in points with Schwartz, seated fourth and fifth respectively is Steve Howe’s Warpath and Alec Cutler’s Hedgehog.

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged MELGES 32 WORLDS 2012, sailing

AC WORLD SERIES TEASER

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

AC WORLD SERIES – To get you all in the mood for the AC World Series coming soon here, back by popular demand, is the AC World Series teaser.

Posted in Article - Tagged ac world series, sailing

SCANDAL IN COLLEGE SAILING

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

COLLEGE SAILING – Welcome back to Chalk Talk! We’re also happy to welcome back US Sailing as our presenting sponsor for this 7th season of the show. Each week we’ll tell you about all the movers and shakers in college sailing and point out who to watch in the upcoming weekend.

If you or someone you know is a college sailor, we have an amazing deal: a four-year US Sailing membership just for college sailors, at a fraction of the cost of the full adult membership. Sound good? http://ussailing.org/college for details and to sign up now.

This week we look at the regattas past and future and take a hard look at the issues surrounding the current Nationals media contract scandal that has been rocking the ICSA email list. Is this the first you’ve heard of it? See below for resources to get you caught up.

Spread the good word! Like Chalk Talk on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/collegesailingchalktalk

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged college sailing, sailing

TEACHING THE YOUNG

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

OLD SCHOOL SAILING – Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI) is on a favored tack as it sails into fall with Richard Bailey (Wellfleet, Mass.) as its newly appointed captain. Bailey, who has been involved with the organization since its inception in 2008, will take the helm of Rhode Island’s official sailing education vessel, the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, once it is commissioned in July 20 13 as a 196-foot long and 13 ½ story high tall ship.

“This will be the biggest and most sophisticated school ship built in America since the passing of The Sailing School Vessels Act in 1985, and it is the first full-rigged sailing ship to be built in this country in the last 110 years,” said Bailey, who is no novice to the seafaring life, commanding over six tall ships since 1972, including the HMS Rose when it sailed as the largest active wooden tall ship in the world.

“My father was lost at sea on his small commercial fishing vessel six weeks before I was born. At the time, he and my mother had lived in a very old Cape Cod house decorated with paintings of commercial sail vessels. Though I never lived in this house, growing up we visited it often enough for me to become fascinated with these vessels.

“As a kid, I think there was an unspoken family effort to discourage nautical activities and it wasn’t until I was 18 that I finally stepped aboard a sailboat.”

Bailey grew up in central Rhode Island and became fixated on the HMS Rose – a replica of an 18th century Royal Navy frigate that cruised the American coast during the Revolutionary War – after reading about the tall ship in the newspaper. In 1972, at the age of 21, Bailey traveled to Newport, Rhode Island and joined day sails with the tall ship, which served as a dockside attraction throughout most of the 1970s. During this time, Bailey was eager to learn and also sailed aboard other vessels while spending his remaining hours reading books on traditional ship operation and maintenance.

In 1980, Bailey left Newport to participate in boat deliveries around the world. Four years later, while driving from Rhode Island to New York, Bailey noticed a billboard on I-95 announcing that the HMS Rose had moved to Black Rock Harbor in Connecticut. Bailey took a detour to visit the ship, and the new owner offered him a job onboard as Captain.

“He said he knew who I was and he had great plans to rebuild the ship, which was, by this time, in very poor condition due to both neglect and poor choices of material in her original construction,” said Bailey. “I was a little skeptical at first, but by summer I was back aboard Rose and, over a six year period, we rebuilt the ship and operated it as a Coast Guard-inspected Sailing School Vessel until 2001 when it was sold to Hollywood for the making of the 2003 movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.”

Following his time on the HMS Rose, Bailey went on to command other tall ships, including the schooners Spirit of Massachusetts, Westward and Harvey Gamage and the 177-foot tall ship Gazela Primeiro, all of which incorporated education-at-sea programs, similar to what the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will offer when it sails.

“For centuries now, tall ships have proven themselves to be timeless tools for adventure education. Today, nearly every maritime nation operates a sail training ship,” said Bailey. “The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry is singular in this one respect: it’s not a naval training ship. Instead it will offer education to non-military students of all ages. This is an opportunity for people to experience the authentic adventure of old time ‘working sail.’ Centuries ago tall ships were the ultimate vehicle of adventure and discovery, equivalent to space shuttles today.

“For me, the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry builds on my life experience in ships and sail training. This project has sparked my energy and enthusiasm, and I feel that I could happily sail this tall ship for decades to come.”

Posted in News - Tagged sailing

THE AC ON TV!

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

AC WORLD SERIES NEWS – The “Super Sunday” final races of AC World Series San Francisco will be broadcast nationwide on NBC on Oct. 7, beginning at 1:30 p.m. (PDT).

More than 20 years had passed since the America’s Cup was on network television, but NBC broke that trend in July when it broadcast the final day of AC World Series Newport. It followed up with a similar program on the final day of AC World Series San Francisco in August.

The broadcast agreement with NBC preempts the YouTube coverage of the final day in the U.S., but replays, highlights and on-demand full replay coverage are unaffected and will be available to American viewers throughout all four days of the America’s Cup World Series San Francisco.

Viewers in the Bay Area can also tune in Thursday to Saturday on NBC Bay Area (11.2), while viewers across California can watch on NBC’s California NonStop channel as well as Comcast Sportsnet.

Globally, the Emmy award-winning coverage is available on more than 35 networks, including Mediaset in Italy, Canal+ in France, SkySports in the UK, Supersport in South Africa, Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, OSN across the Middle-East, Fox Sports in Australia, TVE in Spain and TVNZ in New Zealand.

Live Broadcast Schedule (all times PDT):

Wednesday October 3
Match Race Qualifying – 1605 – 1800 – (VirtualEye only – via americascup.com)

Thursday October 4
Match Race Quarterfinals, Fleet Racing – 1630 – 1830

Friday October 5
Match Race Quarterfinals, Fleet Racing – 1600 – 1800

Saturday October 6
Match Race Semifinals, Fleet Racing – 1600 – 1800

Sunday October 7
Match Race Final, Super Sunday Fleet Race – 1330 – 1500

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged americas cup world series, sailing

ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY FOR SPEED!

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

SPEED TRIALS – Weymouth Speed Trials start in one week! Weymouth Speed Week is the oldest and longest-running speed sailing event in the world. Held annually since 1972, it has challenged sailors of a wide variety of wind-powered craft to sail as fast as they can over a distance of 500m. A competitor’s speed is recorded as the average speed over that distance.

This October we celebrate the event’s 40th anniversary; the fun starts on Saturday the 6th and ends on Friday the 12th with a prize-giving ceremony. To celebrate this milestone in the event’s history, remember to dig out and bring along your old sailing equipment. You never know, that old Speed Needle and Dacron sail from the 1980′s may prove to be a winning combination!

Today’s competitors comprise kite boarders, sail boarders and boaters. They compete over a 500m course laid out in Portland Harbour. The number of courses and their positions can vary each day according to the prevailing and anticipated wind conditions. Each course has a start line and each competitor is free to choose their best angle to maximise their speed. Each competitor’s run is now accurately measured by GPS with the recorded GPS data processed each day to generate the results for each of the competition classes. Competitors are also free to put in as many runs as they can; on a windy day, the course can be a constant buzz as the competitors relentlessly charge up and down to find the best wind.

Sailing fast is not simply about sailing in strong winds; whilst strong winds provide the basis for a fast run, a sailor’s ability to sail efficiently and consistently is highly important. Sailing fast in less-than-perfect winds presents an opportunity to demonstrate a sailor’s skill and judgement.

Weymouth Speed Week is a unique event. All sailors with an interest in speed sailing are invited to compete and there are no restrictions upon the craft you may sail – experimental craft are particularly welcome. There are, in fact, few rules to who can compete; so long as your craft is wind-powered, it is eligible. The event has attracted some of the world’s top professional and record-holding sailors over the years. The event allows first-time competitors to compete with professionals on the same course – not something normally offered by other events.

THE HARBOUR RECORD

The current speed week harbour speed record of 38.48 knots was set by Anders Bringdal in 2008 on a sailboard.

In 2011, four competitors exceeded 35 knots and one, a kite boarder, exceeded 36 knots. With the right wind conditions this year, the harbour record could fall. There’s a prize for the competitor who breaks the record and sets the week’s top speed. Many kite and sail boarders have achieved speeds of over 30 knots in the last 2 events; 49 of the 100 competitors exceeded 30 knots in 2011.

High speeds are, of course, dependent upon having the right wind conditions at the right time; with the event set for a single week to coincide with the best tidal conditions, the wind conditions can make or break a speed challenge.

THE WORLD RECORD

Competitors are challenged to beat not only the harbour record but also that of the outright World Speed Record; that currently stands at 55.65 knots and was set by Robert Douglas (USA), a kite rider, at the Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia in October 2010.

The French trimaran, l’Hydroptère, had previously set a record of 51.36 knots over 500 meters in September 2009.

The top windsurfer speed of 49.09 knots was set by Antoine Albeau (FRA) in 2008.

Please refer to the World Sailing Speed Record Council for more information about the past and current world speed records over the distance of 500m.

Portland Harbour has been the location for many of the early speed sailing world records for boats and windsurfers, with Tim Colman setting several notable records with his Crossbow proa and Crossbow II catamaran in the 70′s and early 80′s.

RECENT YEARS

Kite boards have recently presented serious challenges to the dominance of the sail boarders at Weymouth Speed Week and have taken the week’s honours over the last two years:

In 2010 James Longmuir achieved 33.419 knots on a kite board with sailboarder Kevin Greenslade marginally behind on 32.753 knots;
in 2011 kite boarder David Williams achieved 36.250 knots and just pipped David Garrel at 35.742 knots on a sailboard to take the week’s fastest speed.

EVENT LOCATION

Portland Harbour, Dorset.

Portland Harbour

EVENT DATES

Weymouth Speed Week 2012 runs from Saturday 6th October 2012 – Friday 12th October 2012. If you would like to take part, please click here.

Spectators are invited to come and watch; Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the site of the 2012 Olympics sailing competition, hosts the event and is open to visitors.

WSW 2012 REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged sailing, weymouth speed trials 2012

MATCH RACING ‘LIVE’ FROM FRANCE

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

MATCH RACING – Live streaming video is available from Match Race France, the sixth stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT). To get you up to speed on the event check out the video above.

Today, you can watch the action live with action running for the remaining two days of the event:

Friday 28th September – 1200 to 1400 (GMT +2)
Saturday 29th September – 1200 to 1400 (GMT +2)

Match Race France Semi Finals begin at 1100AM local time (GMT+2) on Friday 28th September followed by the event Final on Saturday 29th September. Full schedule and additional information and to watch the event visit http://www.wmrt.com/live.html.

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged ALPARI WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR, match racing, sailing

WHERE’S THE RUM

Friday
Sep 28
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor

HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY – Team Argo’s entertainment tap onboard the Gunboat 62 ELVIS. Hand pump linked to integral Mount Gay Rum tank….weighs much less than several glass bottles.

Posted in Article

UFO ON THE WATER CHASING TANKERS

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

WHAT IS IT? – New secret testing of a UFO in Long Beach Ca has been sighted playing chicken with tankers and jumping off waves. Speeds have been recorded at 1.8x wind speed…what could it be? Innovations such as curved structures, slanted hull and extreme sail profiles have been reported. A hint of what it could be can be viewed HERE. Stay tuned for more as sightings are coming in daily…

Posted in Article, News, Racing - Tagged catamarans, multihulls, sailing, xscats.com randy reynolds

ORACLE TEAM USA???

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

THE BLOWHARD SPEAKS! – As the America’s Cup gets closer and closer the XS Blowhard has really been getting excited about supporting the USA in the America’s Cup. Country vs country in friendly competition on the water! Makes the XS Blowhard feel patriotic to support the USA and its great effort to defend the Cup. But after reading more closely the crew list of Team Oracle USA, reality hit home as Team USA is really Team NZ.

The Blowhard knew that the crew was a mixed selection of great sailors from around the world including the USA. However, hard to believe, but out of the 24 sailors that are listed as team members of Oracle Team USA, only one sailor is from the USA and one other has a dual nationality…so lets call it 1.5 team members are from the USA and 22.5 are from outside the USA (mostly from New Zealand). With all the great sailors in the USA we can’t find at least 50% of the team to come from the USA?

The America’s Cup used to be about nation vs. nation. We love the hi-tech look of the new AC and the fact that most of the boat has to be built in the country defending or challenging. But why try to promote the teams as countries? All of the AC teams have sailors from other countries and nationalities except for New Zealand where they have only one crew member from Australia.

No offense to all the great sailors on Team Oracle from New Zealand, France, Australia, Netherlands and England, just to name a few, but come on Larry…Oracle Team USA??? Just call it Team ORACLE. Maybe in the next America’s Cup they will have a ‘crew rule’ for all the boats.

What do you think? Do you think the boats should be sailed by a majority or ALL her crew from the country defending or challenging? Or does it really matter and that the XS Blowhard’s opinion really blows! Let us know at [email protected]

Posted in Article, News, Racing - Tagged americas cup, sailing, Team Oracle

THE SAILING GOURMET?

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

ONBOARD COOKING – How about a cheesy bagel? Check out how the ‘Sailing Gourmet’ prepares this onboard delight. However, in the middle of his cooking he is distracted by a crow walking around for some reason… but if you can get past the crow the end result will satisfy anyone’s hunger on the water.

Posted in News - Tagged cooking onboards, sailing gourmet

GAFFERS RULE THE WATER

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

OLD SCHOOL SAILING – The Scottish designer and builder would have liked the second day of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai 2012. William Fife has signed no less than twelve yachts that got a win in their respective class. Gusts and light air, sun and rain, it was all there.

Nan of Fife (1896), Pen Duick (1898), Iona (1899), Moonbeam of Fife 3 (1903), Mariska (1908), Mariquita (1911), Moonbeam 4 (1914), Hallowe’en (1926), Cambria (1928), Eilean (1936), Vanity V (1936) and the replica Sunshine (2003) are all boats signed by William Fife and successfully racing in Cannes.

The weather conditions were all but stable today, strong gusts alternating to light airs, transforming the Bay of La Napoule almost in a mountain lake. Finally the five classes started in a flimsy five knots south-easterly to cover a coastal rectangular course around 9 miles long. It was a short lived pleasure as the wind almost completely disappeared, leaving sails flapping, boats trailing in the residual waves.

The fleet was left scattered over the bay while a massive rainstorm, almost a flood, hit. Luckily enough and shortly afterward the sun and the wind made their reappearance allowing the race to be sailed, albeit on a reduced course. Only Milena, was not able to finish due to an unfortunate dismasting caused by a broken backstay: the mast fell down and broke in two pieces forcing the crew led by skipper Jacques Anderruthy to motor back to the marina to clear up the chaos on deck.

The first boat to cross the line was, once more, Shamrock V but on corrected time the win went to Jacques Fauroux’s Dilong Catleya in the Spirit of Tradition class. In the Vintage class Arcadia signs her first victory at the 34th Régates Royales de Cannes while one of the smallest boats racing, Dainty scored a first in the under 15 metres Marconi class, Leonore in the over 15 metre class. Thendara won in the Big Boats division and Bona Fide confirmed her leadership among the gaffers.

For more go to regatesroyales.com

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai 2012., sailing

HEDGEHOG LEADS M32 WORLDS

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

MELGES WORLDS – Newport, RI – USA – Day two of the 2012 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) was a long day featuring one race and a new overnight leader – Bermuda’s Alec Cutler and tactician Richard Clarke aboard Hedgehog. “We just wanted to get through the two windiest days in good position.” said Cutler. “Today was great, but it’s still a little too early to get excited about where we are at in the standings. We still a long way to go.”

Moving from fourth place overnight into the second position is Edoardo Lupi’s Torpyone with Branko Brcin on tactics and in third overall, Andrea Pozzi with Gabriele Benussi as tactician on Bombarda.

The day started with teams anticipating racing on the outside (offshore) again, but the Race Committee, due to very harsh conditions, relocated racing to the inside course (bay). When teams arrived they found 18-20+ knots of breeze and a steep chop. As the Race Committee worked hard to set the course, the breeze gradually built to a healthy 20+ for the first start of the day, which resulted in a general recall. The breeze only increased further, prompting PRO Hank Stuart to send the fleet ashore while he and his NYYC Race Committee Team remained on station. At 12.30, Stuart reported a solid 27 knots with gusts to 33, clearly exceeding the IM32CA Rule racing maximum.

At 14.00, the AP ashore was lowered and the fleet went racing again, in the same place as before but with more overcast skies and chop. The one and only race of the day, a course five with a bearing of 230 at 2.0 nm, kicked off a little after three o’clock, with Cutler, Steve Howe on Warpath, Lupi and John Kilroy’s Samba Pa Ti battling the entire race. Cutler took the early lead with Kilroy and Howe chasing for the lead but in the end, Kilroy took command at the final windward mark of the race and held on for the win. Cutler settled for second and Lupi finished a solid third.

“Our first place finish today proved that we are a strong team and that we can compete at a very high level.” commented Kilroy. “Yesterday was not a good day as we broke a spinnaker and we did a penalty turn which caused us to end with a 20th place finish. Our win today put us in the top ten, but we hope to not stop there. Sailing the Melges 32 in Newport, hosted by NYYC has been just fantastic.”

Cutler now possesses one of the few single digit score lines at the event thus far, moving into the lead by one point.

Two more races, with the option for a third, are scheduled for Thursday, September 27 with a start of 11.00.

MELGES MEDIA
The 2012 Melges 32 World Championship Press Team will be bringing live reports and updates of the racing via the Melges 32 Blog. Every start, play and finish will be published, and as connection allows, video from the race course may be provided too. In addition, the latest racing developments will post to the Official Melges 32 Facebook Page. A host of photos from the event can be found online at melges32.com.

TOP TEN RESULTS (As of Tuesday, September 25, after two races)
1.) Alec Cutler/Richard Clarke, Hedgehog; 5-7-2 = 14
2.) Edoardo Lupi/Branko Brcin, Torpyone; 8-4-3 = 15
3.) Andre Pozzi/Gabriele Benussi, Bombarda; 1-6-9 = 16
4.) William Douglass/Chris Larson, Goombay Smash; 3-3-12 = 18
5.) Steve Howe/Morgan Larson, Warpath; 2-15-4 = 21
6.) Benjamin Schwartz/Chris Rast, Pisces; 4-1-19 = 24
7.) Vincenzo Onorato/Nathan Wilmot, Mascalzone Latino; 12-2-13 = 27
8.) John Kilroy/Paul Goodison, Samba Pa Ti; 20-8-1 = 29
9.) Pieter Taselaar/Nick Thompson, Bliksem; 7-16-6 = 29
10.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima; 6-21-5 = 32
View Full Results
View 2012 Melges 32 World Championship Photo Gallery – JOY | IM32CA
View 2012 Melges 32 World Championship Photo Gallery – Max Ranchi

Visit the Official 2012 Melges 32 World Championship Website

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged m32 sailing, MELGES 32 WORLDS 2012, sailing

LET’S MATCH RACE

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

MATCH RACING NEWS – From our friends at Match Racing 360:

“The excitement of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour is upon us in full-blown glory, and here at Match Racing 360°, we’re raring to keep up with the adrenaline rush as we bring you yet another up-to-date and stimulating edition.

Our team has put together a collection of interesting interviews, news accounts and articles that we trust will make MR360°’s latest issue a must-read for match racers, sailing enthusiasts as well as the every day folk with a passion for travel, the great outdoors and the deep blue sea.

Read all about the AWMRT Media Challenge that pitted local network TV news teams against each other; find out what makes the St. Moritz Match Race the favourite of sailors; join in on an interview with Didier Réault, Local Council for the Sea, Boating, Beaches and the National Parc of “Les Calanques”; and read about our take on the future of women’s Match Racing.

Sit back, flip across our pages for colourful and exciting pictures from around the world, and be swept into the wild, fun and exhilarating world of Match Racing.

Go to MatchRace.com to check it out.

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged match race 360, sailing

SAILING NEWS IN 7 MINUTES

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

HERE’S YOUR DESTOPNEWS – We love this guy! From Portugal to Porto Cervo visiting Italy along the way, your weekly sailing updates program.

In this week’s agenda
1. 49er European Championships – Italy
2. Champions Trophy – La Grande Motte
3. MOD 70s European Tour – Marseille
4. Internationaux de France de Match Racing – Pornichet

Posted in Moving Pictures, News, Racing - Tagged destopnews, sailing, sailing news

666.2 MILES IN ONE DAY…ALONE!

Thursday
Sep 27
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor 2

RECORDS – The WSSRC has just ratified the 24-hour solo sailing record set by Francis Joyon this summer aboard the maxi trimaran IDEC. Francis Joyon covered 666.2 miles in a single day at the incredible average speed of 27.75 knots.

In just 24 hours, he sailed 666.2 miles alone. The equivalent of 1234 kilometres. Francis Joyon’s latest achievement has just been ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, the international body which is in charge of these records. John Reed, the General Secretary of the WSSRC, which is directed by Claude Breton, has just informed the Breton skipper, who already holds the outright solo round the world record with a time of just over 57 days.

It was in late July between the North of the Azores and the tip of Brittany that Francis Joyon took his boat to the extreme limits, in winds in excess of thirty knots: “It was extremely risky. The boat was constantly on the edge. I wasn’t at the helm. I just stood in the cockpit for 24 hours with the mainsail sheet in one hand and the solent sheet in the other. When the boat dug into a wave, I eased off one or the other. But I often had to ease them both off at the same time.”

38 miles more than the previous record

We should add that just as in the round the world voyage, this record has led to an extraordinary duel between Francis Joyon and Thomas Coville. In 2004, Francis was already the record-holder, but Thomas went on to better it. Joyon won it back (613.5 miles) during his second victorious round the world voyage in 2007. In the following year, Coville improved on it still further taking the record to 619, then 628.5 miles. This summer, IDEC shattered that record by an incredible amount: almost 40 miles more (37.7 miles to be precise)! Another great achievement from the sailor from Locmariaquer, who took advantage of the occasion to pay tribute to his loyal partners.

Francis Joyon: ”The 24-hour attempt may look like a small challenge in comparison with the round the world voyage, but the trust you need to have in the trimaran needs to be even greater for this record, where the average speed climbed at times to more than 32 knots, with peak speeds of 35 knots. This confidence was possible thanks to the IDEC Group, which remains faithful whether we are sailing against the wind or speeding downwind. It was also possible thanks to the suppliers, who contributed to the performance of the IDEC trimaran and helped during her refit: Profurl, who serviced all the headsail furlers; Navtec, who changed all the cables; Uship, who supplied us with the wind turbine and deck hardware; Nautix, who supplied the paints; Incidences, who took care of the sails. I would like to express my gratitude to them all and offer them my sincere thanks.”

Posted in News, Racing - Tagged Francis Joyan, idec, sailing, The WSSRC has just ratified the 24-hour solo sailing record set by Francis Joyon this summer aboard the maxi trimaran IDEC

GILMORE BACK TO BUSINESS IN FRANCE

Wednesday
Sep 26
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor

MATCH RACING – Strong offshore winds made for exciting sailing conditions on the first day of Qualifying at Match Race France, where Peter Gilmour got off to a flying start for the sixth stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT).

Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing sits on top of the standings in Marseille after five straight wins put his team on the brink of qualification to the knockout stages. Whilst he retained an unbeaten start to the competition, it was the elements that Gilmour felt were the toughest opposition.

He said: “We had a great day today and I think the boys did a really fabulous job. It’s a long day but we sailed well, getting the starts we wanted and keeping everything together. We discussed things this morning and decided it was going to be one of those days where you don’t really need to concentrate so much on the opposition. The key thing was always going to be keeping stable, alive and not capsize or losing by crew error. We just concentrated on keeping the boat upright.

“The J80’s certainly don’t suit me but when you’re sailing in 20 knots of breeze, you’re a hundred kilogrammes and you can get over the side to start swinging the boat down, it seems to work ok!”

Gilmour attributes his team’s good start to the decision to arrive in Marseille early in order to spend some extra time in the racing area. He said: “We came out here early and managed to get in two really good days of practice with Simone Ferrarese. I think that has become a huge advantage, getting comfortable in the boats and with these conditions so I’m really pleased we spent our time doing that. After the practice was cancelled yesterday, I think the extra time on the race area has really told.”

Ferrarese (ITA) Ferrarese Racing Team also started the day strongly with four opening wins and seemed to have a handle on the tricky conditions, powering the J80 boats to a 4-2 record by the end of the session. He said: “It’s our first time here at Match Race France but we’re confident after the grade 1 last week in Pornichet where we performed well and finished fourth.

“The racing conditions are tricky here with the strong winds but we’re enjoying it and look forward to getting back out on the water tomorrow.

“At the moment all we’re concentrating on is getting as many points as we can in qualifying here in Marseille. Honestly, we’re not thinking too far ahead of ourselves through to the knockout rounds. We’ve got off to a good start so we’ll try to continue that tomorrow.”

Laurie Jury (NZL) Kiwi Match was one of the skippers who also elected to get his team in shape for the event by competing at the Internationeaux de France de Match-Racing in Pornichet and the decision was justified as he recorded a 4-1 record in 20 knot shifting winds and taking key victories over current Tour leader Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team and reigning Tour Champion, Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar. Of his good start, Jury said: “We have begun strongly like we did in St. Moritz. We’re sailing the boat well and doing a good job of getting the boat around the track and not making too many mistakes. Our starts were average but the kite work down wind was good and overall we’re happy.

Referring to one of his fellow competitors and second place finisher in Pornichet, Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team, Jury said: “We were frustrated in our match against Pierre-Antoine Morvan, a penalty put us behind. He just got second last week [in Pornichet] so I’m sure he’ll be one to watch out for at a home regatta but we felt confident against them today.

“We’re seventh in the Tour overall at the moment but with the close gap up to third, that’s a realistic target for us. If we can get a good result here, I’d feel pretty good about the Monsoon Cup.”

The teams will be back on the water from 1000AM local time (GMT+2) tomorrow for the second day of Qualifying at Match Race France (24 – 29 September) in Marseille, the sixth stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour.

Match Race France – Standings after Qualifying Session 1:
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 5-0
Laurie Jury (NZL) Kiwi Match 4-1
Simone Ferrarese (ITA) Ferrarese Racing Team 4-2
Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team 4-2
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 3-2
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 3-3
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Argo Group Black Match 2-3
William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing 2-3
Damien Iehl (FRA) Wind 2 Win 2-3
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team 2-4
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 1-4
Tamara Echegoyen (ESP) Echegoyen Team 0-5

Posted in Article - Tagged alpari world match racing

SCHWART’S ‘PISCES’ IN OVERALL LEAD

Wednesday
Sep 26
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor

MELGES 32 – Opening day at the 2012 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) was nothing short of spectacular with NYYC member Benjamin Schwartz on Pisces securing the lead after two races. Schwartz, with tactician Chris Rast currently leads the championship by one point. Chasing hard in second place is defending champ William Douglass on Goombay Smash with Chris Larson on tactics, and in third is Andrea Pozzi with Gabriele Benussi as tactician aboard Bombarda.
With big seas and a steady 18-20 knots blowing throughout the day, Pozzi creamed the competition in the first race of the day leading from start to finish. “Leading the first race of the World Championship from start to finish is thrilling as I only started sailing just one year ago. The conditions were quite challenging – the hard choppy sea and strong wind, but my crew was more than perfect.” commented Pozzi. “We were very fast and with a sixth place finish in the second heat of the day, we have started this event in the very best way possible. I hope that the weather forecast will give us more days like this! Racing the Melges 32 is an absolute adrenaline rush.”
Steve Howe, with tactician Morgan Larson on Warpath came second and Douglass was third.
Race two proved to be equally exciting with Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino and Nathan Wilmot as tactician punched the second start hard. Onorato took the lead at the top mark with Schwartz in second and Douglass in third. The breeze built ever so slightly and the wave action increased for the final downwind run. Onorato poured on the speed, while Schwartz chased him down to take the win right at the finish line. “The European teams are super aggressive and these boats are so fast downwind,” said a simply elated Schwartz post racing. “We caught a couple of really great waves, the surfing was so incredible and once the boat lifted up and out of the water it was so much fun. This is such a great ride. Today proved that the passing lanes are really, really wide. It was just great.”
“The first time I sailed with Ben was in Ft. Lauderdale at the Gold Cup last December, and immediately I felt very comfortable and confident on the boat.” commented Rast. “Ben is a great helm, George ‘Bear’ Peet does an awesome job trimming and Marty (Kullman) pulls all the remaining pieces together. Everyone really knows what needs to be done in order to win and that there is no time to ever feel we are not in control. Which for me, as a tactician, it really sets me up in a nice spot. I can ask for things and it’s usually delivered. So, like on the last run today, we needed to go lower and slightly faster than the guys in front of us, which set us up perfectly to gybe on top of them and win. This team is delivering right now.”
Two more races are scheduled for Wednesday, September 26 with a start of 11.00.

Posted in Article, Races - Tagged Melges 32

AUTUMN BREEZE

Wednesday
Sep 26
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor

SAILING NEWS – The weather conditions were almost perfect for the opening day of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai with a good easterly/south-easterly breeze between ten and twelve knots, flat sea and blue skies. The classic yacht were able to fight for the first points over a coastal course in the Bay of La Napoule while the 44 Dragons completed two races.

Once more, the weather took central stage in Cannes during the morning hours, with huge, grey and menacing clouds hovering over the city and the race village. But, as it happened yesterday, a heavy shower gave way to a bright sun, blue skies and a variable wind that took some time to set in onto the race course. The Race Committee thus opted for a rectangular coastal course with the first mark just off the Lérins Islands, a downwind tack to Théoule, a long reaching to Mandelieu to finish upwind close to the marina entrance.

Shamrock V gets the first one

Eight miles to cover, all sails up, a magnificent show: the big J Class designed by Charles E. Nicholson opened the party for the hundred boats participating to the 34^th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée in a light easterly/south-easterly of ten to twelve knots. Shamrock V finished in a bit more than 1 hour and twenty minutes, before Teewa 5 and the Tofinou 9.50 Speedbird both competing in the Spirit of Tradition division… But on corrected time it was the brand new Dilong (a Dragon hull equipped with a gaff rig) owned by Jacques Fauroux, Catleya to get the top spot .

Leonore, the Q-Class formerly Cotton Blossom II, leads in the Marconi over 15 metres class followed by two Olin Stephens’ designed yachts, Skylark et Manitou, while Mariquita won among the Big Boats crossing the line a mere two minutes after the gigantic J Class Cambria… Cholita finished in first with an almost 15 minutes lead on her adversaries, the marconi less than 15 metres long class. The fight was closer among the Vintage yachts where White Dolphin won, followed by Italian Navy’s Stella Polare. Avel confirmed his leading role among the Gaffs, despite Kelpie‘s and Nan of Fife’s brilliant performance.

A Cloud over the Annapurna

The 43 Dragons finally found the right conditions, albeit quite tricky for tacticians, to finish two windward/leeward races on the Golfe Juan bay. With the Iles de Lérins shadow and a southerly breeze of around six to eight knots all the crews opted for the left hand side of the course. If the first race had to be abandoned because the wind completely died away, the second race was won by Russian Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) followed by his countryman Vassily Senatorov (I feel Good), while the second race went to one of the few female skippers in the fleet, UK’s Gavia Wilkinson-Cox (Jerboa) followed by ever-consistent Danish crew led by Soren Pehrsson (Blue Lady) and the reigning champion Guiseppe Duca (Cloud) from Italy. After three races the overall scoreboard is led by the Danish at 12 points, the Italian with 13 points and the Russian at 19 because of a not so brilliant second race of the day. In fourth Germany’s Helmut Schmidt at 20 points.

Tomorrow’s racing is expected to be tricky as the weather forecast speaks of heavy rainstorms and, as a consequence, very variable and shifty airs.

One date, one class

It’s 1904, the New York Yacht Club together with designer Nathanaël Herreshoff, decide to update the so called “Seawanhaka” rating rule that is twenty years old and replace it with the Universal Rule. The previous rule, as a matter of facts, did not take into account displacement or overhang that had become the norm and at times even excessive. Reliance, the most extreme of all the America’s cuppers and winner of the “Auld Mug” the previous year was 27,37 metres long bit her overall length amounted to no less than 43,79 metres, that is to say 6,70 aft and 7,92 forward!

The new rule defined a rating (R) taking into account the hull length (L) multiplied by the square root of the sail area (S) and by a fixed 0,182 coefficient, the result divided by the displacement cubic root. The hull length had to be balanced with the max beam, in order to reduce overhangs. The Universal Rule also gave origin to another ten classes, including the famous “J Class” that would compete in the America’s Cup from 1930 to 1937 (Entreprise vs Shamrock V in 1930, Rainbow vs Endeavour in 1934 and Ranger vs Endeavour II in 1937).

Among the newcomers to the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai, is the Q-Class Jour de Fête designed by Frank Paine in 1930 competing against famous Cotton Blossom II the totally restored in 2003 by AC legend Dennis Conner and that is now owned by Mark Faulkner and went back to her original name Leonore. This latter was designed by Norwegian Johan Anker built by Anker & Jensen near Oslo in 1925, while Jour de Fête is the sixteenth Q-Class, launched in 1930 under the name of Falcon II.

Sixty-seven Q-Class boats have been built between 1904 and 1938 like Dorothy Q (Q-2) and Eleanor (Q-3) by Francis Herreshoff in 1907, More Joy (designed by Francis Herreshoff in 1909), Virginia (W. Gardner, 1913), Grayling (Francis Herreshoff, 1923). Yet as the class was fast losing its appeal among North American owners so the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead tries to re-style the Q-Class by increasing the length and reducing the sail area by 10% by introducing a Marconi rig.

These new rules pushed owners to start building again and a series of boats follow: Cotton Blossom II (designed by Johan Anker and built by Anker & Jensen in 1925), Rascal (J.G. Alden built by Hodgon Bros. in 1925), Hornet (Frank Paine built by Lawley in 1926), Taygeta (J.G. Alden built by Lawley in 1926), Nor’easter V (Q-10, designed by Francis Herreshoff and buikt by Lawley in 1928), Robin and Cara Mia (Q-11 and Q-12, Franck Paine built by Lawley in 1928), Hope (Q-13, J.G. Alden built by Hodgon Bros. in 1929), Questa (Q-14, Francis Herreshoff, built by Lawley in 1929), Falcon II later named Hayday, and Jour de Fête (Q-16, Frank Paine and Lawley 1930), Stormy Petrel (designed by F.C. Brewer and built by South Coast Boat in 1937) and finally Tantalus the seems to be the last Q-Class to be created (design N.S. Potter built by Fellows & Stewart in 1938)…

One boat a day…

She’s debuting at the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai 2012. Skylark is an Olin Stephens’s design dating back to 1937, built in the same year John F. Kennedy launched Manitou, also known as “the floating White House” that he owned until 1955. Skylark, tough, is a 53 footer (16,20 metres), 12 feet wide (3,70 metres) while the US President’s yawl measured 62 feet (18,50 metres). Built by shipyard Pendleton Yard in Maine, the boat is drawing number 146 by Sparkman & Stephens and was inspired by Stormy Wheather (1934 – drawing number 27) and Manitou (1936 – number 99) that opened the way to the following series of fast cruising yawls signed by the renowned American architects like Comet (1940 – design number 522) or Argyll (1948 – number 628). Owned by Tara Getty, Skylark displacement is 20,741 kg, her sail area is 184m2 and in Cammes she will be battling against her “compatriots” Manitou et Argyll…

Posted in Article

52 SUPER SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

Tuesday
Sep 25
2012 Leave a Comment

Written by XS Editor

52 SUPER SERIES – A full season of yachting in 4 minutes! Best shots of the 52 Super Series 2012 season

Posted in Moving Pictures - Tagged 52 SUPER SERIES

Monthly archives for September, 2012

MELGES 32 WORLDS

AC WORLD SERIES TEASER

SCANDAL IN COLLEGE SAILING

TEACHING THE YOUNG

THE AC ON TV!