Monday, June 30, 2008

RTI Race Video

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Round the Island Race




Atomic loses her mast after hitting Hugo Boss





Photos by onEdition
The annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar. Competitors come from Europe and the USA, as well as all over the UK, to follow the 50 mile course round the Isle of Wight. This year the race has attracted a record entry of nearly 1900 boats.

Speedboat to attempt Trans Atlantic record!


PHOTO CREDIT: Barry Pickthall/PPL
We have heard that Speedboat maybe on it’s way to New York to also attempt a Trans Atlantic crossing.

Attempt at the North Atlantic record....


The upcoming weather conditions have convinced Thomas Coville to fly off to New York. Several weather windows are opening next week, which should enable him to head off on his single-handed attempt at the North Atlantic record.

This Saturday 28th June at 1530 UT, Thomas Coville and two of the shore crew from Sodeb’O, Jochen Krauth and Martial Salvant, will board a plane taking them to New York where the trimaran Sodeb’O is all set to go.

Sodeb'O's team of routers have revealed a weather window for the start of the transatlantic crossing record attempt this coming Monday or Tuesday, as well as the possibility of a second opportunity later in the week. “It’s excellent at the start and a little less so at the finish, commented Thomas shortly before flying off to the United States, but it remains within the record time of 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds. We’re not sure about the end of the attempt, but we do know that now is the best period in terms of the climate and the weather, which is something I'm delighted about!”

The threat of ice drifting in the North Atlantic is over. Once they arrive in New York, Thomas and his team will fill up with fresh food and complete the final little bits and pieces on the boat. -http://www.sodebo-voile.com/

Audi MedCup Circuit races off Sardinia


© Th.Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP
For the first time since May 2006 the MedCup Circuit returns to Italy when racing starts for the 2008 Audi MedCup Circuit's third event, the Region of Sardinia Trophy on Tuesday.

Monday sees the usual pre-regatta practise race which, again, showcases the fleet for the media, VIP’s and local dignitaries with each of the 13 boats entered here allowed to sail with one guest on board while also offering the contestants a chance to learn, under racing conditions, the waters and winds of the Gulf of Cagliaria, the open, south facing bay which lie off the island of Sardinia’s capital city.

Meanhile Matador have recruited Italian Francesco Bruni, who has sailed two America’s Cup with Luna Rossa, as a replacement here for tactician Vince Brun (USA). Recently corwned Melges 24 world champion tacitician Bruni knows the waters of the Gulf of Cagliari well. He will step directly from taking second place in the Melges 32 Audi Circuit regatta here on to the TP52, and has already this season sailed to second place at the Italian Melges 24 Championships, and at the RC 44 series here.

But, slightly controversially, the Russian team from Rusal Synergy, having completed the purchase of USA-17, were seeking to have their new boat accepted as a replacement for RUS 13, the 2006 Botin & Carkeek design which was damaged during the same coastal race in Marseille as Matador, CXG and Mutua Madrielena all suffered damage. Read More

Bill Hardesty Wins Etchells Worlds



[By Christie Kirchner Sail World] Bill Hardesty, Erik Shampain, Steve Hunt, and Jennifer Wilson of San Diego take their first Etchells World Championship title after ending the regatta with a strong 12th place finish in race 6. After dropping a 39 point finish from their score, the team secures first place overall with a total of 30. Hardesty was the pre-event favorite having won both the Midwinters East and West.

Chris Busch, Chad Hough, Chuck Sinks, and Peter Burton, also of San Diego, came in second with 38 points followed by Jud Smith, Henry Frazer, and James Porter with 41 to come in third. -http://www.etchellsworlds2008.com/

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Fog and green algae... Nice!


Just another great day of sailing in Beijing - Nice place for a regatta! Thanks to our friends at http://verysailing.wordpress.com/ for the photos.

New sail design

BMW ORACLE Racing’s new sail design program underway.

Working with experts at North Sails in the USA, BMW ORACLE Racing's sail design and production team are now well underway in developing the huge new sails required for the 33rd America's Cup.

The sail design team is headed by BMW ORACLE Racing sail trimmer Ross Halcrow, and includes designers Laurent Delage, Robert Hook, and Juan Meseguer. Delage brings valuable multihull experience from North Sails France. Hook, another North Sails veteran, was with Emirates Team New Zealand in the last America's Cup. Meseguer, who runs the North loft in Valencia, returns to the team from the 32nd campaign.

"It is a massive challenge, as with all aspects of the multihull everything is on a larger scale," said Halcrow. "The sail plan for the multihull has huge dimensions yet we must keep weight to a minimum. While we are working with many of the same methods and materials as in the last America's Cup, the designs are quite different. We also are looking at a wider range of sails since we won't know the venue for the Match until six months in advance."

The team's other sail trimmers are also contributing to the sail design program, including Dirk de Ridder (NED), Noel Drennan (IRL), Daniel Fong (NZL), and Joe Newton (AUS). JB Braun (USA) coordinates the "aero program," integrating the rig and sail package, and held a similar role with BMW ORACLE Racing's last campaign. Craig Phillips (AUS) is managing production.

As required by the America's Cup Deed of Gift, the sails and other components of the boat must be built in the country the team represents. -http://bmworacleracing.com

Ericsson 4 unveiled




Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team
(l-r) Torben Grael (BRA) Skipper International crew and Anders Lewander(SWE) Skipper Nordic Crew, Ericsson Racing Team.The second of Ericsson Racing Teams two boats Ericsson 4 is revealed andhanded over by the boatbuilding crew to the sailing crew of Ericsson RacingTeam. The Volvo Open 70 Ericsson 4 is designed by Juan K and built by Killian Bushe and his team in Ericsson headquarters, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden.
The day was doubly significant in that it marks 100 days to the opening racein the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 on October 4, 2008.

No racing today

Etchells Worlds 2008 - After waiting around for a few hours on shore the racing was abandon for the day do to no wind. The Race Committee will try to run two races tomorrow as they have moved up the start time to 10:30. http://www.etchellsworlds2008.com/

Monday, June 23, 2008

No records this time


Maybe next time…Elapse time records won’t fall

Dateline: Bermuda 22. July 2008 : George David owner of Rambler and Alex Jackson on Speedboat, the two men vying for line honors in their respective classes, will have to put their record-breaking ambitions on hold for two more years. A light wind blowing up the rhumb line directly from Bermuda has dashed their hopes. Speedboat’s navigator had predicted an ETA of 1500hrs on Sunday. Now, it may be 1500 on Monday before they reach Bermuda, a day late and a little short.

The race has two records, one for Open Division boats, 48hr, 28min, 31sec set by Hasso Plattner’s Morning Glory in 2004, and the ‘official’ record for traditional designs set by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket at 53hr, 39 min 22 min.

Both Rambler and Speedboat will have to settle for line honors now. But we have to remember how the much smaller 66 foot Bella Mente skippered by Hap Fauth slipped over the line well ahead of the 98 foot super-maxi Maximus back in 2006. The new 69 foot Bella Mente is within striking distance if the big boats falter. www.bermudarace.com

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Monday, June 16, 2008

Grant Dalton on "Night Talk" Bloomberg TV

Tonight on the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® program "Night Talk" anchor Mike Schneider talks to Emirates Team New Zealand & Round-the-World Yacht Race Champion Grant Dalton.

Grant Dalton talks about the America’s Cup controversy and how it is tearing up the sailing world, “Its destroying it [the competition]...people are turned off by it and so the brand of the America’s Cup has been desperately damaged."

Dalton also comments about how the New Zealand team has suffered financially, fighting to stay viable, as billionaires Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli battle it out in the courts.

"Night Talk" airs in the U.S., Europe and Asia on Bloomberg TV at 10PM on weeknights and is simulcast on Bloomberg Radio at 10PM. Bloomberg Radio is broadcast on 1130AM in the New York Metropolitan area and is available on XM and Sirius. The Friday night Show re-airs over the weekend Sat at 8:00-9:00pm, 10:00-11:00pm and Mon 12:00am - 1:00am.

"Night Talk" can also be seen on Bloomberg.com (http://www.bloomberg.com/tvradio/shows.html is podcast at (http://www.bloomberg.com/tvradio/podcast/night_talk.html and also on iTunes under Business News.

Link to Grant Dalton Interview:


http://www.clipsyndicate.com/searcher/search_process/8601693


Link to David Boies interview on America's Cup


http://www.clipsyndicate.com/searcher/search_process/8601748


Linkt to Barry Ostrager Interview on America's Cup:


http://www.clipsyndicate.com/searcher/search_process/6720769

Team Russia plays through



A couple of shots from today’s IRC nationals in Cowes Isle of Wight. As the fleet waited to start racing in the light winds, the “Team Russia’s” Volvo 70 sailed through the start line. Photos by Mark Lloyd -http//www.lloydimages.com

DIve!!! Dive!!! Dive!!!


http://verysailing.wordpress.com/

Farr 40 takes a noise dive at the Audi Farr 40 Cup in Puerto Cervo. Photo from http://www.sailrev.tv/

Archipelago Raid





The Pressure is on for the Frontrunners

The French experienced Formula 18-duo Eric Proust and Romain Motteau on Team Kalix are leading the Archipelago Raid since the first day. But it is not over yet and the followers are constantly nagging at their heals. On the fourth day of the Raid the boats are back in the Åland archipelago, sailing a tight race between the small islands in great conditions with winds around 10-15 knots. Tension is rising and the battle is on.

At the early 5 am start this morning, the Swedish Team Thule (Martin Strandberg/Johan Örtendahl), started paddling straight ahead while the other teams where tacking when leaving Nagu island in the Finnish archipelago. Their physically bold tactics paid off and they led the fleet through leg 7 and won the leg! Team Thule is currently second on the overall ranking and is fighting hard to catch up with the French leader.

America’s Cup sailor Martin Strandberg on Team Thule commented their successful morning: “We made a good choice when we started to paddle at the start instead of putting the jib up. Thanks to this we started off with a small lead, although it was very tight during the whole leg. We made a good tactical decision after the fourth checkpoint and won the leg. Other teams chose another option and had to turn around because of a cable blocking the masts. We're tired now but very motivated, we have to keep up with Proust & Co [Team Kalix]!” -http://www.archipelagoraid.com/news.php

Stark Raving Mad Sold


'Black Jack. Photo: Mark Bradford'
[http://www.sail-world.com/] The ship carrying the American Reichel Pugh 66 to be renamed from Stark Raving Mad to Black Jack is due to arrive at Fisherman’s Wharf in Brisbane River on Wednesday evening. The crew based in Brisbane will be on hand to prepare the canting keeled yacht for its maiden Australian race the from Sydney to Southport in late July.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Good Save

Day 2 - Hyères : Tommy Hilfiger pitch pole - www.isharescup.com

Friday, June 13, 2008

More iShares Wpeouts

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Big Mac

Today, Chicago Yacht Club announced that ESPN Classic will air a one-hour documentary regarding the 100th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands' End Business Outfitters. 2008 marks the 100th running of 'the Mac,' the world's longest annual freshwater sailing distance race. This documentary will be presented by Rolex Watch USA, the Official Timekeeper of the 100th Race. This year, the Mac will start off Chicago's lakefront on July 19, 2008.

The program will air worldwide on ESPN Classic twice in late 2008, with the first airing scheduled for Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Alfa Romeo smashes the Giraglia Race record



ALFA ROMEO, off the Giraglia Rock towards the record. Photo by Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi


[Regatta News]
Neville Crichton has smashed his own course record in the Giraglia Race, after steering Alfa Romeo across the finish line at Genoa at 0803 hours this morning. This means the 100-footer completed the 243-mile course in just over 18 hours, a massive improvement on the record set by Crichton's previous Alfa Romeo, a 90-footer which set a time of just over 22 hours back in 2003.

The New Zealand skipper said they had a good run all the way up to Giraglia Rock, off the northern tip of Corsica, before 'parking up' for three hours. Then the wind filled in again close to the Italian coast and the supremely efficient Alfa Romeo finished off the job. This is the 56th edition of the Giraglia Race, a 243-mile marathon starting from St Tropez via the Giraglia Rock at the northern tip of Corsica to the finish in the Italian port of Genoa.

For more information about the Giraglia Rolex Cup including entry lists and results please visit http://www.yachtclubitaliano.it/
To receive daily reports and to download high-resolution images, copyright free for editorial purposes, register online http://www.regattanews.com/

Telefonica Black in the water




Photo Equipo Telefonica
Telefonica Black touches Spanish water for the first time. With the mast and keel now fitted, the 2nd generation Volvo Open 70 was craned into the water in Alicante, where she will be spend the coming weeks being put through her paces before race start on the 4th October.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Cayard family getting ready for Pac Cup


Allie Cayard

[Source Cayard Sailing] May 31st and June 1st was our second practice weekend in preparation for the Pacific Cup. I feel as though most of us are becoming much more comfortable around each other. We are also all beginning to see what needs to be done when, and who is best at doing it.

The bowmen are Morgan and Robbie, while skippering has been a mix of me with light wind, my brother and my Dad in the heavier winds. Cameron does a lot of jib trimming and I did my fair share of main trimming. Mark Towill and Ralfie Steitz were not able to come out that weekend, so we had Eric Arndt and Jeff Thorpe in their places.

One of our main goals of this training session was to simulate a rudder failure and deploy our emergency steering system.ᅠFor safety reasons (and to pass the inspection) you must have an onboard steerage replacement, in case of rudder failure. A common method used is dragging a spin pole from the stern and attaching two lines to it, one to a port and one to a starboard winch. We then trim in the winch on the corresponding side and trim the sails accordingly.

I am still very excited about this experience even though it is proving to be a lot more work than we had initially planned (most of which is falling on my Dad).ᅠEric Arndt, Mark Cosby, Brad Fitzgerald and Brent Ruhne have been a great help with boat maintenance and are slowly taking things off our four page, over 100 item list of things to do before we go. Morgan and Cameron, who are on the crew, have also helped out tremendously with the boat and doing maintenance work.

I am in charge of packaging and buying the food, 227 pounds of it!ᅠ This is a big responsibility when you're talking about feeding seven large men. Helping me out in this project is Mark, because he did the food for Morning Light last year.

With this whole project comes a lot of stuff. I'm talking countless sails, ropes and boat parts my Dad has been taking off in order to get the weight down. For those of you who have sailed with him in any round the world race you know that anything that can come off will. All of this so called junk has been thrown into a storage locker where coincidently when you want to find something it's impossible. Last Monday, my Dad and I had the pleasure of organizing our locker for three hours and it looks amazing. It's times like this that my Dad and I will never forget.

Our next practice session is not until the second week of July as my Dad and a few of us will not be around. However, we know that the next session will be a three day adventure out into the open ocean and we hope to simulate much of the actual racing. We will be doing our four hour shifts and eating freeze dried meals. Many of us will also learn what it's like to be seasick and be freezing cold. - Allie

Cayard Sailing Website

Puma Ocean Racing Launches Website



Puma Ocean Racing launches there new website - Some great information on the Crew, the Race, the Boat and there gear check it out at http://pumaoceanracing.com/ You can also buy some of thier gear at one of our sponsors website Point Loma Outfitting

Megles 24 Worlds


THE MEGLES 24 WORLDS ARE OVER AND LORENZO BRESSANI AND UKA UKA RACING HAVE WON! - TO READ MORE GO HERE OR JUST STARE AT THE PICTURE ABOVE! Brought to you by CAMET CLOTHING

GP42 - Saint-Tropez



[GP42] Saint-Tropez, 08 June 2008: The Spanish GP42 team from the Canary Islands might have the youngest tactician of the whole fleet, 24-year old Rayco Tabares, but their consistency in today’s three opening races of the Giraglia Rolex Cup paid off and with three second places they are now at the top of the score table, 2 points ahead of Desafío. Once again, the old adage of consistency holds true. The fleet is so close that each and every errors costs dearly and one claim that errors are not permitted. Second-placed Desafío can easily testify to that.

The Saint-Tropez bay was the perfect host for the first day of the Giraglia Rolex Cup. The first race started right on time and conditions were sure to guarantee exciting and close racing. With the starting line a few hundred meters from the coast, not only was the backdrop stunning but scores of beachgoers were also able to enjoy watching the GP42 fleet. Read More...

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Video of Day 5 TP52

Saturday, June 7, 2008

I came, I saw, I conquered - then I left.


When the owners happy everyones happy!


Photos Ian Roman/Photo Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing
- The New Dynamic Trio - Talent - Money – Brains

[MEDCUP.ORG] USA-17, the American boat owned by Larry Ellison (ESP) and skippered by three times America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts (NZL), the current MedCup Circuit champion skipper, won on her first and only outing planned for the 2008 series. The brand new all white TP52 missed the opening regatta of the season three weeks ago in Alicante and will take no further part in the six regatta international Audi MedCup Circuit as the BMW Oracle race crew focus on their main goal, winning the 33rd America’s Cup. Full report