On day three of the Melges 24 North Americans in Annapolis
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
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Incredibly after just 13 days in the build shed, Alex Thomson’s Open 60 is ready to go back into the water
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
On Run 66 Paul Larsen’s flying machine achieves an effortless 44.29 knots…
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
[Source: Alinghi] The following teams entered in the 33rd America’s Cup, gathered at the Société Nautique de Genève on Thursday 30 October, formally ask BMW Oracle Racing and the Golden Gate Yacht Club to drop their law suit and join the fair and constructive process of reviewing the applicable documents and schedule that will allow the America’s Cup to return to the water as soon as possible, along with the challengers and the Defender:
Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back
PJ Montgomery talks to Brad about the latest situation with Grant Dalton and Emirates Team New Zealand…
Original post by Alinghi News and software by Elliott Back
RYA to build a multi-purpose facility in Dorset to be the central base of UK sailing
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Briton Ross Hobson’s catamaran washes up on a beach in the Bahamas two years after capsizing
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
With only ten days to go before the race start, Les Sables d’Olonne’s pontoon is getting busier
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
The latest blogs from some of the crewmembers as they battle big seas and squalls
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Plus a short update on Paul Larsen’s Vestas SailRocket
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
200,000 people have already been down to the Vendee Globe boats
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Plus a short update on Paul Larsen’s Vestas SailRocket
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
[Source: International Melges 24 Class Association] The Race Committee stepped up the pace today at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship, running four excellent races (race four to seven in the 12 race series) in winds ranging from 10 – 15 knots. Terry Hutchinson on USA 751 Quantum Racing made his intentions clear for this regatta by moving into a seven point overall lead. Gabrio Zandona on ITA 777 Joe Fly had a mixed day on the water but won the first and last races to sit in second place tonight. Chris Larson on USA 655 West Marine Rigging / New England Ropes put in a steady performance to claim the final podium place, eight points behind Zandona.
Zandona came out punching in race four, winning the start and rounding the first mark well in the lead. His charge faltered a little down wind when he got out of phase with the shifts and dropped to third at the gate behind Bruce Ayres USA 747 Monsoon and Othmar von Blumencron USA 679 Gannet. Zandona hit the afterburners on the next beat however and scorched back into a lead he was able to hold to the end of the race. David Dabney USA-626 Wireless also made the best of the conditions to move from sixth to second. Ayres initially looked to have suffered badly on this leg but recovered to round third.
Down the final run, nobody’s place was secure with the premium on keeping heads out of the boat and staying in the veins of pressure. With Zandona securely across the line with a win under his belt, the chasing pack were involved in a gybing frenzy which resulted in Flavio Favini SUI 521 Blu Moon catapulting himself from fourth to second. Simon Strauss on also pulled up to take third ahead of a disappointed Ayres, whilst Dabney had to be content with fifth.
Race five was all about Chris Larson who led around every mark to take a convincing win. Behind him a tight knot of boats including Shane Vowels GER 624 I’m with Stupid, Hutchinson, von Blumencron and Ayres, were involved in a prolonged fight for second place. This was only eventually resolved close to the finish, with Hutchinson taking second and von Blumencron third. Yesterday’s overnight leader Dave Ullman kept his title hopes alive with a fourth.
Race six was also dominated by a single boat. Simon Strauss USA 757 Simplicity found some of his true form for the first time this regatta, winning the start and taking control of the race from the off. In shifty conditions he played an excellent tactical game, gaining leverage on the fleet with every tack and gybe. Stuart McNay on USA 620 had his work cut out holding off a sustained challenge from Favini throughout the whole race but eventually prevailed to take second. On the final run Favini had to break off his attack to close off an advancing Jamie Lea GBR 569 Team Barbarians who crossed the line on Favini’s transom to take fourth. Corinthian David Dabney clocked up a solid fifth.
With light airs forecast for tomorrow, the race team wisely opted to put one in the bag by running a five leg fourth race. Perhaps it was fatigue or enthusiasm, but no less than twenty boats were called OCS at the start of race seven. Significantly, several boats failed to return to exonerate themselves, including Morgan Reeser USA 750 M-fatic, Ullman and Favini. Zandona had no such worries and having rounded ten lengths clear at the windward mark he went on to give the fleet an absolute sailing master class. Hutchinson had a difficult job on his hands getting past Kristen Lane, but finally wrested second from her at the start of the final beat. With Zandona and Hutchinson finished, a couple of big shifts at the end of this leg upset the running order, allowing Peter Lane USA 539 Brickhouse 539 to move up into third and Argyle Campbell USA 630 Rock n’ Roll to take fourth ahead of Ayres.
The new championship leader, Terry Hutchinson, is understandably happy to be leading but was critical of his own performance. “Everyone on this boat is sailing really, really well. That being said, I feel like the weakest link as I’m struggling a little with my time and distance. We set a goal that if we could come out with a fifth and above we would be happy. We had a tough first race, but had a great come back to ninth.” He also had this to say about the conditions in store for tomorrow “Tomorrow will be a hard day, really hard. Third day of an event like this with a cold front, we can expect light and shift conditions. Very interesting conditions are definitely on the way.”
Corinthian division leader Othmar von Blumencron is also pleased to have extended his lead on second placed David Dabney. “We are an amateur team and so don’t get much time to practice. That usually results in us getting better as the regattas go on but this time we have made a good start so our challenge is maintaining our performance.”
Racing at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship continues tomorrow and runs through to Saturday with five more races scheduled. To follow the racing live as it happens visit the IMCA’s from the race course blog at http://blog.melges24.com.
TOP TEN RESULTS (Preliminary, After seven races)
1.) Terry Hutchinson, Quantum Racing - 4, 2, 4, [9], 2, 6, 1 = 20
2.) Gabrio Zandona/Giovanni Maspero, Joe Fly - 9, 6, 2, 1, [12], 8, 1 = 27
3.) Chris Larson, West Marine Rigging/NE Ropes - 8, 8, 7, 6, 1, 7, 6 = 35
4.) Dave Ullman, Pegasus 505 - 1, 3, 3, 12, 4, 17, [50/DCS] = 40
5.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon - 5, 9, 8, 4, 10, [15], 5 = 41
6.) Flavio Favini/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon - 2, 7, 1,2, 29, 3, [50/DNF] = 10
7.) Othmar Blumencron, Gannett - 13, 12, 9, 7, 3, [14], 10 = 54
8.) Stu McNay, USA-620 - 11, 5, 10, 14, [16], 2, 14 = 56
9.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle - 6, 10, 6, 10, 5, 24, [25] = 61
10.) Jamie Lea, Team Barbarians - 7, 11, 14, 11, [18], 4, 17 = 64
Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back
The RS Tera fleet has some big winds at their Inland Championship in Draycote Water
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
But with a 70 mile lead Ericsson 4 is looking surefire favourite to be first into Cape Town in the Volvo Ocean Race
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Puma’s Jerry Kirby describes why he has returned for his third crack at the Volvo Ocean Race
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
St Thomas International Rolex Regatta and BVI Sailing Festival and Spring Regatta to combine once again
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Scary ‘ping’ on board Roaring Forty in the Portimao Global Ocean Race
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
TP52 winner takes up position at the Melges 24 North Americans
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Alinghi meteorologist Jon Bilger’s weather tool gets the thumbs up
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Statement of Tom Ehman, Jr.
Spokesperson, Golden Gate Yacht Club
10-30-08
We have offered repeatedly to drop our lawsuit if Alinghi commits to fair rules, and our offer still stands. We would like nothing better than to have a fully competitive multi-challenger America’s Cup on the water by 2010. We stand ready and willing to meet with Alinghi and all of the other competitors to discuss the future of the Cup, but without unreasonable pre-conditions.
Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back
Eleven challnegers meet with the current Cup holders according to a statement by Alinghi
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Alinghi and 11 challengers ask BMW Oracle Racing to drop their lawsuit
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
[Source: Alinghi] Eleven challengers entered in the 33rd America’s Cup and the Defender, Alinghi, met today at the Société Nautique de Genève, for the first of several Competitor Meetings to discuss returning the competition to the water as soon as possible. The meeting was called for by the Defender’s event organising entity AC Management and chaired by Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth.
This initial get together follows a series of individual discussions between Alinghi and the challengers. At the top of the agenda was the need for a financially sustainable model that includes cost-containment measures, such as a one-boat campaign and the creation of a new class of race yacht; faster and more spectacular than the Version 5.0 used for the 32nd America’s Cup, but cheaper than the AC90 originally intended for the 33rd edition.
33rd America’s Cup Competitor Meeting. Geneva, 30 October 2008. Photo copyright Chris Schmid / Alinghi
The new class will mean affordable participation for all existing teams, including the most recent entries, and will provide motivation for potential new challengers to join the 33rd America’s Cup, expected to take place in 2010.
At the end of the meeting, the eleven challengers present and the Defender signed a joint request addressed to BMW Oracle Racing and the Golden Gate Yacht Club asking them to withdraw their law suit and join the fair and constructive process of reviewing the applicable documents and schedule that will allow the America’s Cup to return to the water as soon as possible.
The entered teams and their yacht clubs, present at the Competitor Meeting were:
- Alinghi, Société Nautique de Genève, Switzerland – Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup
- Desafío Español, Club Náutico Español de Vela, Spain – Challenger of Record
- Shosholoza, Royal Cape Yacht Club, South Africa
- TeamOrigin, Royal Thames Yacht Club, United Kingdom
- Emirates Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, New Zealand
- United Internet Team Germany, Deutscher Challenger Yacht Club, Germany
- Green Comm, Challenge Circolo di Vela Gargano, Italy
- Ayre, Real Club Náutico de Dénia, Spain
- Victory Challenge, Gamla Stans Yacht Sällskap, Sweden
- Argo Challenge, Club Náutico di Gaeta, Italy
- French Spirit, Yacht Club de St Tropez, France
- Carbon Challenge, Royal Belgian Sailing Club, Belgium
Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back
A new facility is to be built by the RYA in Portland in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Le Defender Alinghi et onze challengers inscrits pour la 33e America’s Cup se sont rencontrés aujourd’hui à la Société Nautique de Genève pour une première Réunion des Concurrents, dans le but de discuter le retour à la compétition. Cette rencontre sollicitée par la société organisatrice du Defender AC Management fut présidée par le skipper d’Alinghi Brad Butterworth…
Original post by Alinghi News and software by Elliott Back
Le Defender Alinghi et onze challengers inscrits pour la 33e America’s Cup se sont rencontrés aujourd’hui à la Société Nautique de Genève pour une première Réunion des Concurrents, dans le but de discuter le retour à la compétition. Cette rencontre sollicitée par la société organisatrice du Defender AC Management fut présidée par le skipper d’Alinghi Brad Butterworth…
Original post by Alinghi News and software by Elliott Back
The cold front sweeps over the Volvo fleet leaving crews to battle huge seas and vicious squalls
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
The cold front sweeps over the Volvo fleet leaving crews to battle huge seas and vicious squalls
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Superyacht regattas in Palma and Antigua have adopted the American rating system
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Mike Horn dines at same spot Captain Charcot celebrated his first steps on Antarctica in 1904
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Ericsson 4 break their own record by sailing 602.66 miles in 24-hours
Original post by Jeffrey Davis and software by Elliott Back
Chris Sherlock describes the mods made to Leopard and when they will line up with Speedboat/Virgin Money
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Notice of Race for the 2009 Rolex Miami OCR is now avaiable for download
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
Torben Grael and his team go supersonic en route to Cape Town
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
16-18 teams expected at the Nanny Cay Nations Cup
Original post by Bruce and software by Elliott Back
[Source: Volvo Ocean Race] Ericsson 4 broke through the 600-mile barrier as their historic run continued with the log reaching 602.66 nautical miles at 18:54 GMT.
The new mark established by Torben Grael’s men translates into an average speed of 25.11 knots, according to the telemetry received from the boat at Race Headquarters.
The record eclipsed the previous best 24-hour benchmark for a racing monohull of 562.96 miles set by Sebastian Josse and the crew of ABN AMRO TWO on the second leg of the 2005-06 race from Cape Town to Melbourne. Ericsson 4 added nearly 40 miles to that figure.
It must now be ratified by ISAF and the World Sailing Speed Record Council. That is likely to happen a week after the fleet’s arrival in Cape Town, which, at the going rate, is predicted as Monday 3rd November.
Grael and his crew had been pushing the boat hard for well over 24 hours, first toppling the previous mark at 03:55 GMT with a run of 566.57 miles. They raised the bar repeatedly and by 13:00 GMT, 593 miles were on the board as the magical 600-mark grew nearer. By 14:25, they had clocked 594.23 as they moved onwards and upwards. Then came Grael’s holy grail.
The achievement is all the more credible given that Ericsson 4 have been sailing a man down since dropping off Tony Mutter, one of their drivers, at the Cape Verde Islands.
Drained by the experience, Grael is not about to get too carried away with the record when the serious business of being first to Cape Town remains top of the to-do list.
The conditions were not ideal given the sea state overnight. Winds approaching 40 knots are one thing, boisterous seas of eight metres in pitch darkness quite another. Shattered records, shattered bodies it seems.
’We have been on the edge’
“The record is a great achievement,” an audibly spent Grael said in an interview with Amanda Blackley earlier in the day (Check box above). “To be honest we were not really looking for records we were looking for a good ride on this weather system for as long as possible.
“Conditions were marginal, especially during the night. It was no fun at all. The problem was the waves, especially during the middle of the night as there is no moon and it is very difficult to read them so the boat has been jumping about.
“We have been very much on the edge, if we had an easier sea state we could have gone faster.”
Guy Salter, the Media Crew Member on board added: “It’s not everyday you get to have a ride as we have had over the past day or so, and to get a new 24-hour record has been superb.
“The reality of that feat out here hasn’t really sunk in, we know we have a record but what is more on our minds is getting to Cape Town and hopefully at the front of the pack, avoiding damage to ourselves and the yacht.
“All the boys look really drained - sleep is not the easiest on E4, I can only describe the motion as I would imagine re-entry on the Space shuttle is like. Everything is bouncing - including every cell in our bodies and the mundane tasks are near impossible.”
The Volvo Ocean Race mutual admiration society issued statements as news of Ericsson 4’s achievement went out on the bush telegraph.
Green Dragon’s Ian Walker said: “Hats off to ERT 4 for a storming 24 hours. We have just about been able to match them when we have had a steady three hours but sail changes, reefing and backing off at night has kept our 24 hour mileage in check.”
“The news of the day has been the new 24-hour new record established by Ericsson 4. Congratulations from Telefonica Negro. Good boat good sailors,” wrote Media Crew Member Mikel Pasabant.
“It has been a hard night, with rough seas and winds which exceeded 40 knots. In a pitch dark night, imagine the conditions to steer.”
Telefonica Blue’s Simon Fisher, the navigator on ABN AMRO TWO in 2005-06, said: “It has been hard not to smile a little when you see the pace that Ericsson 4 has laid down. Deeply, deeply impressive to say the least. It is a shame to see our old record from ABN AMRO TWO go but at the same time these things are made to be broken and those boys are certainly doing it with style.”
’They have been blasting’
Fisher’s skipper, Bouwe Bekking, was the first owner of the record for a Volvo Open 70 when his movistar clocked a relatively pedestrian 530 miles on the boat’s delivery run from Melbourne to Sanxenxo, Spain ahead of the previous race.
The Dutchman said: “Well done to the guys. They have been blasting. It’s really the first time that a lot of our guys have been sailing in big, big breeze so we’ve been taking it a bit easy and keeping the boat in one piece.
“But what Ericsson have done is impressive, congratulations to them. Its