Friday 31 January 2014

Thomas Coville abandons round the world solo record attempt with unfavourable weather conditions placing him out of contention

Here is their latest press release (in French). Too bad for Thomas hopefully he might take another swing at it with the reinvigorated Geronimo.

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/bord-sodebo-thomas-coville-fait-demi-tour

 The rough bing translate:

2013 14-Round the world

30/01/2014

Aboard Sodebo, Thomas Coville turns

The upcoming weather situation, the backlog and routings that do fall below the Kerguelen in the ice some 300 miles from the Antarctic lead competitor Thomas Coville, in agreement with its partner Sodebo, to renounce his record attempt around the world single-handed in a multihull. The maxi-trimaran returned to her home port of La Trinité-sur-Mer.

Started from Ushant January 17 at 7:42 (HF), the skipper had crossed the equator in 6 days 20 hours, a time in its objectives. "Window last chance, it descended to the equator in a manner far from ridiculous. I knew the key was going to be Helena," explained this evening the skipper.

Since he sailed in the southern hemisphere, the weather was not conducive to speed. Struggling since Monday with a particularly far-reaching St. Helena high between South America and Africa, Thomas lagging since this morning over 1000 miles on the holder Francis Joyon.

This afternoon, while sailing to the close in 15 knots of wind at 2,000 miles from the Cape of good hope, a new brake kick announced within the next 36 hours with the circumvention of a zone of calm involving considerably lengthen the road. The reading of the last routing, Sodebo delayed to its entry into the Indian Ocean would be 600 miles, or about three days at sea.

The shore crew which analyzes weather for Thomas from files of weather France and CLS, observes a new zone of light winds and the presence of ice in the Indian. The proposed theoretical route would go down Thomas by 60 degrees South, or 300 miles north of Antarctica.

The risks, both in terms of sporting performance and in terms of security, run counter to what look for the skipper and his partner.

Thomas, reached by telephone this evening by his team on land:

Armel le Cleac'h on maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII smashes solo discovery route record

From the following press release (in French) on the Banque Populaire website:

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/Nouveau-record-pour-Banque-Populaire-9941.html#suite

and the rough bing translate:

New record for Banque Populaire!

Thursday, January 30, 2014 - 10:06 pm

The record of the Route de la Découverte was literally exploded in less than a week by The Maxi Trimaran Solo Bank Populaire VII since the time of solitaire reference between Cadiz (Spain) and San El Salvador (Bahamas) has improved over a day and a half: 6 d 23 h 42' 18 "! Armel Le Cléac ' h loop thus his third record after the Mediterranean and the distance covered in 24 hours (682 miles). Impressions of Armel Le Cléac ' h shortly after his arrival...

« This 3 884 mile course somewhat divided into three parts with a start quite tense for the Canary, one half of the Atlantic very muscular with over 30 knots of wind and a more technical end with the gybes. The passage of Gran Canaria was delicate with seas but then I found my rhythm and the right settings which allowed me to break the record for distance in 24 h (682 miles)! "In the end it is a good average, but in addition to the solo record, I improve time to the boat that Franck Cammas had conducted with a crew on this course... . indicated Armel Le Cléac ' h.

An exceptional time

« Get down under the bar of the week, it's great! We start the year to celebrate 25 years of partnership of Banque Populaire: two new records. I have taken the pace on this route as long as a Route du Rhum: I'm not too tired, optimizations of the boat work well, I well anticipated manoeuvres which are always very long and very rears and I no nothing broke important on board. »

At an average of 23,16 knots, this record is the second best of all time!

« The team of Banque Populaire awaits me on the spot because the arrival is not easy with a great boat: we will stand at anchor until Sunday and returning to Lorient in the wake. A new crossed over North Atlantic... And always a good workout for the Route du Rhum at the end of the year. The next deadline, this is the record for crossing the Atlantic: the bar is very high! » 

The record of Armel Le Cléac ' h

-3 884 depressor miles covered in 6 d 23 h 42' 18 "to an average of 23,16 knots
-Actual distance travelled: 4 271 miles to 25.47 knots average speed
-Departure before Cádiz Thursday, January 23 at 8 pm, arrival on Thursday, January 30 at 19 h 39' 17 "
The best times in crew

1988: Serge Madec (Jet Services V) in 12d 12 h 30 m 27 s
2000: Grant Dalton & Bruno Peyron (Club Med) in 10 d 14 h 53 m 44 s
2003: Steve Fossett (PlayStation) in 9 d 13 h 30 m 18s
2007: Franck Cammas (Groupama 3) in 7 d 10 h 58 min 53 s
2013: Dona Bertarelli & Yann Guichard (Spindrift 2) in 6 d 14 h 29 min 21 s

The best times in solitaire

2004: Francis Joyon (IDEC) in 11 d 3 h 17 min 20s
2005: Thomas Coville (Sodeb'o ' O) in 10 d 11 h 50 m 20 s
2008: Francis Joyon (IDEC) in 9 d 20 h 32 min 23 s
2013: Francis Joyon (IDEC) in 8 d 16 h 07 min 05 sec
2014: Armel Le Cléac ' h (Bank popular VII) in 6 d 23 h 42' 18 "

Thursday 30 January 2014

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80, tech team enroute to Rio to facilitate recovery of capsized trimaran and skipper Lionel Lemonchois

From the following article on the excellent Vsail.info:

http://www.vsail.info/2014/01/28/rescue-operation-of-lionel-lemonchois-and-prince-de-bretagne-maxi-trimaran-underway/

Less than 24 hours after the unfortunate capsize of Lionel Lemonchois’ maxi trimaran, 800 miles off the Brazilian coast, the Prince de Bretagne team has elaborated a rescue and salvage plan for the French skipper and his boat. After going through all available options, a four-strong team (Frédéric Le Peutrec, Patrice Richardot, Gurloës Merrien and Quentin Monégier) has already left France and is flying to Rio de Janeiro where they are expected to arrive early in the morning on Wednesday.

At that time, another two team members (Guillaume Helfer and Didier Le Vourc’h) will fly to South America to lend a hand on site. In addition, two local coordinators are already hard at work on site, preparing the necessary equipment. Their goal is to organize the tow of the trimaran in coordination with Arnaud Aubry, who has remained at Lorient and is in constant contact with Lemonchois.

read more here

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran, tech team on way to facilitate recovery of trimaran

Spindrift Racing team, New partners announced for Spindrift team and confirmation that maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 will be raced solo by Yann Guichard in the 2014 Route du Rhum

From the following press release from the Spindrift Racing website:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2014/01/spindrift-racing-an-ambitious-new-year/

Spindrift racing : an ambitious new year!

Mirabaud and Zenith join the team as Gold Partner and Official Timekeeper respectively
Spindrift 2 on the North Atlantic and 24-hours record
Yann Guichard to start the Route du Rhum on Spindrift 2

Through Spindrift racing, Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard share their passion for sailing, a sport of many facets, where performance relies primarily on a motivated and efficient team ready to advance together and take on new challenges. The entrepreneurial spirit of the team is reflected today in the first two partners in the Spindrift adventure. The bank Mirabaud (Gold Partner) and the watchmaker Zenith (Official Timekeeper) have committed for three years with, from 2014, to sharing significant challenges on Lake Geneva and all around the Atlantic.

Being bold while remaining pragmatic and organised is the approach adopted by the team from its inception in 2011 and it has been rewarded. Whether sailing the Decision 35 Ladycat, the MOD70 trimaran, or the maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2, the results speak for themselves. On board this year, 2013 was notable for the record-breaking feat of the Discovery Route crew (Cadiz, Spain-San Salvador, Bahamas) lowering the time by more than 20 hours after crossing in 6 days, 14 hours, with an average speed of 24.5 knots.

“Spindrift racing is a young team that brings together a group of professionals whose work has quickly borne fruit,” says Dona Bertarelli, owner and skipper of Spindrift racing. “Our project has grown and already has a good international reputation. With Yann, we have the cards in hand to take the next steps.”

read more here


Extreme Sailing Series update, Sarah Ayton return to competitive sailing with The Wave, Muscat

From the following press release linked by the Sail Racing Magazine website:

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/editors-blog/sarah-ayton-returns-to-competitive-sailing-with-the-wave-muscat

January 27, 2014   

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - British Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton will make her debut in the Extreme Sailing Series in Singapore next month after she joined The Wave, Muscat team for the 2014 season, marking a welcome return to top level competitive sailing after a three year break.

The 33 year-old sailing professional who won her first gold medal in the Yngling class at Athens in 2004 and a second at Beijing four years later, is currently in training in Singapore with Leigh McMillan’s new look crew in preparation for the 2014 curtain raiser which starts on February 20.

Her last competitive outing was in 2010 as a member of the British Olympic squad for London 2012 but joining The Wave, Muscat’s championship winning crew after a break and with little experience of Extreme 40 racing represents an extreme and exciting challenge for Ayton.

“It has been a while since I last raced competitively and my only experience of Extreme 40 sailing was when we did a fly by for Princess Anne in Basilica in Weymouth so it’s all new,” she said.

“It will be the most high-performing sailing I have ever done. Olympic sailing is one thing but racing alongside and against America’s Cup teams with a crew who are going all out to defend their title is a really big deal.

read more here

Tuesday 28 January 2014

Want to get onboard with one of the fastest offshore multihulls in the Pacific? The Transpac winning Tritium modified ORMA 60 is for sale

Tritium the Transpac record chasing modified ORMA 60 Bonduelle/Artemis AC72 testbed is up for sale. 

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2000/Orma-72-2637352/San-Francisco/CA/United-States#.UtRH-fbkg4Q
 
FIRST TO FINISH - 2013 TRANSPAC!

TRITIUM is a modified ORMA Trimaran - stretched to 72 feet. Originally built by offshore veteran, Jean Le Cam, the boat was updated by Artemis Racing for testing of AC wing and dagger foils. The boat was heavily modified - with floats lengthened to 72 feet - and cross beams reinforced, for the new loads.

TRITIUM recently competed in the 2013 Transpac, where it was First-to-Finish and had the fastest elapsed time. It remains one of the fastest offshore vessels in the Pacific - and is ready for new record attempts.


 

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran capsizes off coast of Brazil, Lionel Lemonchois safe onboard

The following update from the teams facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/MaxiPrinceDeBretagne

and the rough bing translate:

After his emergency beacon in mid-afternoon to 800 miles off the Brazilian coast Monday, Lionel Lemonchois had a brief telephone contact with his team ashore evening.
 
The latter informed its multihull had capsized, he was safely inside the central hull after having released the rigging to relieve the boat.

Monday 27 January 2014

Festival of Sails update, Nacra 36 "Malice" just edges out Seacart 30 "Morticia" in regatta

From the following article on the Festival of Sails website:

http://festivalofsails.com.au/news/malice-steels-to-defeat-the-unbeaten

A ‘get out of jail free card’ has been credited for saving the Festival of Sails multihull champion Malice from a race defeat that would have proven terminal to any regatta winning hopes.
Mal Richardson’s Nacra 36 Malice from Port Douglas won the Fuso Trucks Multihull Series by just two points over rival Morticia, a Sea Cart 30 skippered by Chris Williams from Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

The same margin separated the pair going into the last hit-out of the seven race series at twilight on Sunday, and tensions were high.

Richardson said he thought all was lost when Malice parked-up in a lull just metres from the finish line as Morticia led the fleet on a wind-fuelled charge to the finish.

“There was some sweat on the forehead, I don’t think I’ve any nerves left,” Richardson said.

“Thankfully we managed to steel ourselves and we won.”

It was far from a perfect performance for the Malice crew, who began the series by starting incorrectly not just once, but twice in the regatta’s spectacular Melbourne to Geelong passage race on Friday.

read more here

and the series results below:

http://www.topyacht.net.au/results/2014/fos/multi/series.htm

Armel le Cleach on Banque Populaire VII well ahead of Route of Discovery record time sets new 24 hour solo multihull record

Armel is well ahead of record pace on BPVII and has just set a new unratified solo multihull 24 hour record 677nm at 28.20 knots.

From the following Banque Populaire press release (in French)

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/FLASH-RECORD-Armel-Le-Cleac-h-explose-le-record-de-distance-parcourue-a-la-voile-en-24-heures-en-solitaire-9901.html#suite

and the rough bing translate:

FLASH RECORD: Armel Le Cléac ' h exploded the record for distance sailed in 24 hours single-handed!
Sunday, January 26, 2014 - 5:00 pm

Armel Le Cléac ' h and the Maxi Trimaran Solo Bank Populaire VII , today, beating the record for distance covered in 24 hours alone with 677 miles * is 1253 km to the stunning average of 28,20 knots. This is the new absolute record of speed in 24 hours and solitaire.
The skipper of the Bank of the sail, party Thursday night, trying to beat the record of the Route de la Découverte between Cadiz (Spain) and San El Salvador (Bahamas).
Armel Le Cléac ' has h, at 16.30 clock, 311.3 mile lead over the course of reference * There are 2283,5 miles to go the bow of the trimaran in the colours of the Banque Populaire.

"It's perfect, it's great!"said Armel Le Cléac ' h. "Distance in 24 hours record is beaten! From the Canary Islands, the conditions are conducive to speed even though I am cautious. The sea is in the right direction and my trimaran goes almost as fast as the wind (about 30 knots) while I'm still on the same side. This record was part of our goals on the road of discovery or as early as late May between New York and the Lizard. Today, it is in the Pocket. »

* This new absolute record is now running the World Record Sailing Speed Council approval. It belonged to Francis Joyon with 666.2 miles.

* This course of 3 884 miles on the Route de la Découverte is held by Francis Joyon since February 2013 in 8 d 16 h 07' 05 ", either 18,66 knots...


Route de la Découverte - Maxi Solo Banque... by VoileBanquePop

Sunday 26 January 2014

Team Australia update, Sean Langman puts first steps in place to establish Australian Offshore Racing Multihull Association

From the following article on mysailing.com

http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/sean-langman-decides-to-be-proactive-with-new-offshore-multihull-association

Sean Langman decides to be proactive with new Australian offshore multihull association
Irritated that multihulls remain barred from major events like the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the Australia Day Regatta (see Related Content), Sydney sailing identity and owner of the Orma 60 Team Australia has decided to take matters into his own hands.

He has instructed a friend who is a lawyer and a sailor to draft the constitution for AORMA. the Australian Ocean Racing Multihull Association, which he hopes to get affiliated with Yachting Australia and become proactive in organising offshore events for multihulls.

read more here



 

Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII, Armel le Cleac'h passes the Canary Islands and is ahead of reference time for the Discovery Route

From the following press release (in French) on the Banque Populaire sailing website:

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/Armel-Le-Cleac-h-prend-le-large-9893.html#suite

and the rough bing translate below:

After now more than a day and a half of navigation, Armel Le Cléac ' h, aboard the Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII, file at high speed in the direction of the Bahamas. Last night was not any rest for the skipper of the Bank of the sail but it has very well negotiated the first delicate passage, the Canary Islands. At 9 h 30 clock, it has more than 87.9 mile lead over the reference time set by Francis Joyon in February 2013 on the Route de la Découverte, crossed the Atlantic between Cádiz and the island of San El Salvador.

It is never easy to go in the middle of the Canary Islands, the wind is often very irregular and very present maritime traffic. But at the moment everything is smoothly as explains Ronan Lucas, Director of the Team Banque Populaire who joined Armel by phone this morning: «» Armel is shaped and the boat also! We knew that this passage in the Canary Islands would be one of the most delicate moments of the course and we were not wrong. The wind was very irregular, Armel met with winds gusting up to 40 knots and had to maneuver a good part of the night. He took a second reef in the mainsail for more cautiously. He crossed Gran Canaria starboard * around 4:30 in the morning and then it gybed towards San El Salvador. Now it is left for a long starboard tack tack several days but we are really relieved that within 24 hours when it will be definitely out of this delicate area. It should still extend his lead in the coming hours if everything goes well. »

Saturday 25 January 2014

Festival of Sails update, Seacart 30 trimaran Morticia claims overall line honours in Melbourne to Geelong passage race

From the following article on the Festival of Sails event website:

http://festivalofsails.com.au/news/morticia-resurrects-race-to-take-line-honours-in-melbourne-to-geelong

The featherweight trimaran Morticia fought above its weight to claim a surprise victory against much bigger and more powerful rivals in the Festival of Sails’ Melbourne to Geelong passage race today, Friday 24th January, 2014.

Weighing in at just 900 kilos the pure carbon 30-foot racer was built by Formula 1 car manufacturers in Europe, and it performed like one once the southerly change revved-up the 230-strong fleet across the 34 nautical mile course.

Morticia’s skipper Chris Williams said they were in fifth place with about 15 nautical miles to go when a sloppy 8 knot sou’easterly breeze finally clocked around to the south, building to near 20 knots.

read more here

Seacart 30 trimaran Morticia, photo courtesy Terri Dodds/Festival of Sails



Friday 24 January 2014

Thomas Coville on the maxi trimaran Sodebo crosses the equator in less than 7 days on his round the world solo record attempt

From the following press release (in French) on the sodebo maxi trimaran website:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/sodebo-franchi-equateur-moins-7-jours

and the rough bing translate below:

24/01/2014

Sodebo crossed the equator in less than 7 days!

First contract completed for Thomas Coville, who cut the virtual border between the two hemispheres that night to 4 h 01 ' 50 (French time). As it was the skipper who tackles record around the world single-handed, Sodebo passes under 7 days for this first part of course. Party of Ouessant Friday last at 7 h 42'44 ", the maxi-trimaran crossed the equator in 6 days, 20 hours, 19 minutes and 6 seconds after having travelled on the bottom from the start 3538 miles with the average speed of 21.5 knots. On the direct route, the ship conducted 3018 miles to 18.4 knots. Thomas is better than on these first three attempts. With only 3 hours and 16 minutes behind the record holder Francis Joyon who had 6 days and 16 hours and 58 minutes in 2007, the 'challenger' Coville is well in the match!

Thomas Bravo and bravo to its routers, Jean-Luc Nélias, Thierry Douillard, and Thierry Briend who knew how to get the most out of a window far from easy. With a start to the close in muscular conditions, the game is not announced simple for Sodebo who had several weather transitions to negotiate before touching fast conditions.

A passage from light winds in the Bay of Biscay, a shot of dog throughout Portugal, a first quick 'run' under Madeira before squalls in the Canary Islands, Thomas has given a lot on these first three days. He was then awarded by three days of pure gliding. Yesterday, slowdowns of the 'Pot - le-Noir' had expected, allowing the skipper to win quickly towards the equator. Since the beginning of the afternoon, the Speedo has nevertheless slowed without ever stopping for as much. This morning, happened in the southern hemisphere at 12.3 knots for an average speed of 14.3 knots over the last 24 hours.

A peeling scores of the night, imagine however the efforts made by the skipper to adapt the wing of his boats to the horrors of the 'pot'. The Trinitain was not the only one to activate as a handsome devil to move his trimaran since Lionel Lemonchois who carries out Port Louis (France) - Port Louis (Mauritius), another record of Francis Joyon, plunged South 3 h 15 minutes before Thomas.

And already, a new chapter opens for these solitaires that must definitively out of the 'Pot - le-Noir' and then fetch the southeast trade winds before the St. Helena anticyclone which seems well spread on the road. Follow...

In the meantime, to find Thomas at 1400 hours on sodebo.fr/sail



Photo Yvan Zedda/Sodebo

Extreme Sailing Series update, Gazprom team rumoured to be fielding a team in the 2014 season

From the following article on vsail.info

http://www.vsail.info/2014/01/23/gazprom-set-to-enter-the-extreme-sailing-series-led-by-paul-campbell-james/

If one is to believe our well-informed sources from Australia, the Extreme Sailing Series is set to become in 2014 the undisputed, premiere sailing circuit that will gather the who-is-who of the sport in the world. Two weeks ago, organizers unveiled a lineup of nine teams that included two of the world’s most renowned skippers, Sir Ben Ainslie and Franck Cammas. Then, two days ago, Emirates

Team New Zealand was confirmed as the tenth team. America’s Cup veteran Dean Barker and young gun Peter Burling will alternate at the helm of the kiwi Extreme 40.

When we thought that the circuit had reached its peak, our well-informed sources from Australia surprised us with the news that the 11th team that will complete this year’s lineup will be no other than a strong Russian entry, funded by energy giant Gazprom and skippered by two-time winner of the circuit, Great Britain’s Paul Campbell-James.

read more here

Maxi trimaran Banque Popuaire VII skippered by Armel le Cleach departs on Route of Discovery Record attempt

The tracker is here:

http://banquepopulaire.geovoile.fr/routedeladecouverte/2014/app/flash/

Thursday 23 January 2014

34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Ben Ainslie of Oracle Team USA Parts 1,2 and 3

Links to sailing.org 
 
Jobson Meets Ainslie

Having sat down with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill, ISAF Vice-President met with Ben Ainslie (GBR) shortly afterwards.
 
Ainslie was drafted in to replace John Kostecki mid-way through the 34th America's Cup on-board ORACLE TEAM USA and played a key part in one of the finest sporting comebacks of all time.
part 1

http://www.sailing.org/news/37238.php

part 2

http://www.sailing.org/news/37243.php

part 3

http://www.sailing.org/news/37250.php

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Sodebo maxi trimaran, Thomas Coville trailing IDEC's ghost but charging hard to get back into contention

From the following article on Sail Racing Magazine:

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/editors-blog/coville-chasing-joyons-ghost-hard-on-fifth-day-of-record-attempt

Since setting off five days ago on an attempt to break the single handed multihull round the world record, French sailor Thomas Coville has been forced to chase the shadow of the record holder - fellow Frenchman Francis Joyon. 

Coville’s maxi-triamaran Sodebo crossed the official starting line near the French island of Ushant off the Brittany coast shortly before 0800 local time on Friday.

However, after just over four and a half days of sailing in the North Atlantic Coville’s maxi trimaran Sodebo trails the ghost track of Joyon’s sister tri IDEC by just under 138 miles.

Coville has the hammer down however - averaging 27 knots+ and closing fast on IDEC’s record pace.

read more here

 

34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 4 and 5

From the following interview by Gary Jobson of Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA:

http://www.sailing.org/news/37075.php

part 4 of the interview

 Gary Jobson

"The first couple campaigns you were in, in the America's Cup didn't go as well as you would have liked. So you must have learned some lessons along the way that helped you out a little bit later, particularly a couple weeks ago."
Jimmy Spithill

"Most definitely. These campaigns are incredible. It's a big people game too. You've got over 100 people working together. It's not a day job. It's an obsession. You're there six days a week usually. For a lot of guys it's almost seven days. Long hours. But it's a passion. You love it and you just can't wait to get up every day. You learn a lot. For me, the best opportunity for learning is usually in a defeat or usually when you go through a hard time. As Gary said, you know, it took me quite a few campaigns before we were able to finally pull off a couple wins. But even the successful campaigns, this past one is a great example, we capsized. We were the first ones to capsize in an AC72. We had a situation right before the competition where we had a couple team members involved in a Jury decision. So quite a lot of distractions. But it is during those hard times, that's usually the ultimate test for a team.

"And now, at the end of it, for instance I look back on the capsize as a real highlight or key moment because of the learning. Not because I've destroyed a $10 million boat but because I got to see how our team reacted in a tough situation. It wouldn't have been such a …I don't think people would have judged us too much if we said oh, if we split up or if it was just too hard or said hey guys this isn't for us. But this team doesn't do that. It's hey, no problem. There's no finger pointing. Let's get together. Let's work hard. Let's solve this. For me personally after the capsize I kept waiting for someone to come up and say something or at least point their finger at me and blame me for something. Someone must be a bit wound up about this? But they didn't. All they kept saying was don't worry, we're going to get you guys out on the water soon. We've got your back. This is fine. I think that's…when you face that as a team, that adversity, you almost get that sort of immortal feeling that hey, bring on the competition because if we can get through those sort of situations, we can take anything else on. It gives you confidence."


read more here

Interview of Jimmy Spithill part 5

http://www.sailing.org/news/37097.php

Gary Jobson

"If you were doing the football, there's always a sport where you compare the Peyton Manning's of today and who did he equate to in the past. So I would take an America's Cup skipper, who would I equate you to in the past? And I have read quite a bit about the America's Cup. Have you heard of the name Charlie Barr?"


Jimmy Spithill

"Yes."

Jobson

"So Charlie Barr was fearless and had very radical boats to sail, particularly with Reliance in 1903. And Nathanael Greene Herreshoff made the boat as radical and threw as much sail area and was the longest boat to sail in the Cup because he knew Charlie Barr was the one guy in the world to handle it. I think you are kind of the Charlie Barr of our era after what you did. Are you contemplating any Olympic campaigns? You haven't done an Olympic program I don't think."

Spithill

"No, didn't really have the opportunity as a kid. It's obviously one thing that is…that our sport is probably one drawback is that it is quite expensive. So it does take some resource to get it out there and that's something I think whether it's yacht clubs or sailing associations, I think that I'm really pushing for hard is to have programs where kids don't have to own a boat. So they can still come in and race. It's cheap. They can get out there even if it's on a weekend or something and learn the sport of sailing and be competitive. And then if they really want it, then they'll get there eventually.

read more here

Promo video for the GC32 Catamaran 2014 European Tour


Extreme Sailing Series update, Emirates Team New Zealand return to contest 2014 season

From the following press release by the Extreme Sailing Series:

http://www.extremesailingseries.com/news/view/emirates-team-new-zealand-go-extreme#.Ut70cK99LFd

Emirates Team New Zealand have today been confirmed as the tenth team on the Extreme Sailing
Series™ starting blocks for 2014, with legendary America’s Cup skipper Dean Barker. With a further Series team announcement in the coming weeks, a full grid of 11 teams will embark on the eight stop global tour, which starts in Singapore in just over four weeks, with the first starting gun on the 20th February.

London 2012 silver medal winning 49er duo Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who last week were announced as part of the Kiwi development squad for the 35th America’s Cup, will join Barker. While the pair are currently campaigning for the Rio 2016 Olympics, Barker and Burling will share skipper duties, as Barker explained: “I will skipper five. We will rotate sailing squad members through the other crew positions. Between the two of us we will be able to field competitive crews through the year.”

read more here

Emirates Team New Zealand back to contest 2014 series, photo courtesy Extreme Sailing Series

Festival of Sails 2014, Seacart 30 "Morticia" claims line honours, Nacra 36 "Malice" handicap victory

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by Danielle McKay

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Festival-of-Sails---Morticia-claims-opening-points/118553

The 2013 Festival of Sails opening act went ahead without a hitch today; nine multihulls of various sizes completed the inaugural event on the week-long program and first tributes went to three interstate boats.

Chris Williams’ Sea Cart 30 called Morticia, all the way from the Royal Motor Yacht Club on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, claimed the opening points on corrected time in the 30 odd nautical mile Geelong to Melbourne passage race, which began in an 8-10 knot southerly breeze.

Malcolm Richardson’s Nacra 36, Malice, finished second on corrected time and was the line honours winner with an elapsed time of two hours two minutes and 40 seconds.

Richardson towed Malice from Port Douglas for his maiden Festival of Sails, a handy pit-stop on the way to the multihull nationals at Port Lincoln next month.

'We thought we might as well do Geelong on the way,' he said this evening, pleased his crew’s opening performance.

'Today’s race started off light, blew up a bit making it a quick run at an average 20 knots of boat speed, then it went light again at the finish. Melbourne’s weather was truly beautiful and we had a lot of fun,' Richardson added.


read more here

Surf to City yacht race, Boss Racing line honours and Fantasia first on handicap

From the following Sail-World article submitted by Peter Hackett:

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=118556&refre=y&ntid=0&rid=1

Occasionally the weather gods get it right, and they were certainly smiling on the 92 competing boats inside and outside the unique and awesome 2014 Gill Surf to City Yacht Race.

On the cruise down over a few days there have been plenty of interesting stories coming in and you will hear little about them here, except to say that in the F22 Midnight Rain I was lucky enough to head down in, we only had to tack three times between Sandgate and Southport for a lovely seven hour sail. The usual rumble of nongs on jetskis, clowns getting nosebleed somewhere in the towers of Riviera stinkboats, and even the ubiquitous seaplane tried to land on our parade, but it was still all fun in the fresh easterly with a soupcon of south.

As expected, the awesome Volvo 70 Black Jack completed the ocean course and blasted across the finish line in an elapsed time under seven hours to take a few hours off the race record and even beat the (smaller) multihulls home. Thankfully their canting keel was up enough to not pick up any of the old crab pots and sunken sharpie keels around the fisheries beacon. They also claimed corrected time on IRC from Jessandra II.

Local hero Scott Murphy bought extra bags of lollies to get his young crew on the wings and win PHRF Div I - also from Jessandra II in his home built gold rocket. The Qld Cruising Yacht Club coup continued with the Commodore Phil Lazzarini easily winning div II ahead of Bad Habits.

In the ocean multihulls course, Andrew Stransky just edged out Boss Racing with his continually dominating Fantasia in the lumpy conditions which suited his waterline length nicely.

read more here

Fantasia in full flight, photo courtesy Fantasia Sailing


Tuesday 21 January 2014

12th Royal Langkawi International Regatta, David Renno's Stealth 12.6 catamaran After Burner takes out the multihull division

This extract from the following article on the asianyachting.com website:

http://asianyachting.com/news/RLIR2014/Royal_Langkawi_Int_Regatta_2014_Race_Report_5.htm

By retiring from today's race. Daniel Renno's Stealth 12.6 After Burner opened the door for Grenville Fordham's 11.6m Andaman Cabriolet Niña to snatch victory. This resulted in the two catamarans being tied on 12 points, but by dropping today's retirement Renno's After Burner goes on to claim the Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup on their first attempt. Although Bob Mott's Oasis suffered equipment failure today, they cling onto third place from James Harris Lagoon 410 Fleur d"Epice in the overall stakes.

The rest of the article and day by day reports here

Monday 20 January 2014

Airplay RAW30 trimaran, sailing video in light conditions showing the boat being maneuvered through a tack

A note from the video uploaded by the Airplay trimarans crew:

A quiet sail up the West Johor Straits, zipping between Singapore and Malaysia. Nice breeze and good to see how the bow lifts coming out of a tack and getting going. Plenty of space in the cockpit for people too... That's Michael on the helm, Singapore's most prolific cat sailor... At 85 years of youth, he's our hero!


Farrier F-22 production trimaran update, Hulls #2 and #3 assembled and approaching completion.

More progress noted by Ian Farrier of Farrier Marine on the production version of the Farrier F-22 trimaran.

Factory view as of today. Boats #2 and #3 are now full assembled with floats, while the trailer for #2
is nearing completion. Prototype (#1 on trailer at left) is undergoing some improvements in the wing
net area and is about to have its wheels changed as part of the development process. The new wheels
and tires will lower the trailering height by another 25mm (1") plus have a much higher load carrying
capacity to more than cover any heavily overloaded boats. 


You can read the full production blog here:

http://www.f-boat.com/pages/News4/FM-Factory2014.html

F-22 trimarans hull #2 and #3 assembled and approaching completion, photo courtesy Farrier Marine

Sodebo Maxi trimaran update, Thomas Coville to pass Madeira tonight on his round the world solo record attempt

From the following press release (in Fremch) on the Sodebo Voile website:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/madere-soir

and the rough bing translate below:

Madeira tonight

The maxi-trimaran Sodebo departed Brest two days ago and a half. He was already on the latitude of Gibraltar this morning and will double Madeira tonight. Thomas Coville has succeeded brilliantly the first hurdle of this sail solo around the world. The headwinds, nor the succession of systems depressional unstable prevented the skipper of cavaler South and to be already back up to Francis Joyon, virtual opponent.

A frantic pace

Since his departure, the skipper has constantly maneuver to keep the schedule of this atypical round defined with its routers. In applied student, Sodebo broke this morning the first 1000 miles of his journey. Last night was yet rough along the Portugal with 40 knots in squalls but with an angle of announced more favourable wind. The breeze and the sea have aligned themselves with measure, which helped the skipper to lengthen the stride and maintain speeds above 22 knots.

The exit of the tunnel
"The hard part is behind us," lance Thierry Briend in binding permanently with the sailor. "In the morning, the wind fell below 25 nodes in a North-North West, forcing Thomas to canvas. Sodebo will come out gradually this low-pressure system and wind will continue to engage (turn right)" the dullness should finally fade and the skipper will finally be milder temperatures. "

Place downwind

 The time is in the slips under small then large gennaker for the first time in this round the world! Solitaire can finally relax a little before negotiating the passage in the evening in the West of Madeira. "Sodebo slides along the curvature of the anticyclone of the Azores," continues Thierry. "After Madeira, he will cross off the coast of the Canary Islands tomorrow evening, pushed by the beginnings of the Ne'ly Tradewinds."

Wednesday, he should pass off the coast of Dakar and let the islands of Cape Verde in its wake for his sixth day of navigation, there where a cruise ship would put several weeks!

Friday 17 January 2014

Maxi trimaran Sodebo, Thomas Coville prepares to leave on his round the world solo record attempt:

From the following entry (in French) on the Sodebo website:

http://www.sodebo.fr/voile/actualites/article/sodebo-prepare-appareiller

16/01/2014

Sodebo prepares to sail

It already well blows in Brest! The maxi-trimaran Sodebo team prepares to leave the Port du Château tonight from 8 pm. In muscular conditions (currently 30 knots of wind in the marina), Thomas Coville will head to the start line of the lap record of the world located in the Phare de Créac ' h on the island of Ouessant should cross in middle of night.
The starting conditions are difficult with southwest of 25 to 30 knots wind accompanied by squalls and heavy swells to Ushant. It is for the skipper soar before a (area of low wind) thalweg announced on Brest tomorrow morning.
 
"These are not frankly rêvées conditions. Starting from night to the close in sea is quickly complicated solo on a 30-metre boat. But it must soar with the wind to avoid ending up stuck tomorrow morning at Brest where it was announced less than 7 knots of wind. The situation is different for Lionel (Lemonchois, skipper of the Prince de Bretagne Maxi80 who must tackle tomorrow to record Port-Louis, France - Port Louis, Mauritius). Starting from Lorient (80 miles - 150 km to the South), it should escape through this mou and will still 15 to 20 knots of wind tomorrow at noon. The window is tempting. I would have 12 to 14 hours closely in wind strong before crossing the front and recover the West-North-West bearing wind. Then, it will be a sporting descent in the wind and the sea. In Portugal, it passes under the anticyclone of the Azores which is still installed with established trade winds which can allow us to place up to Cape Verde. »

The tracker is now active for this attempt:

http://sodebo-tdm.addviso.org/fr/

Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80, Lionel Lemonchois makes final preparations to leave on record route "The Mauritian"

An update on the "Mauritian" record attempt looks like they will be leaving tomorrow.  Looking on the web It appears the record is held by Francis Joyon at ~26 days (doesn't seem to be a WSSRC ratified record though).

From the Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 FB page (in French).

https://www.facebook.com/MaxiPrinceDeBretagne?hc_location=timeline

and the rough bing translate:

It refines a little...
"We are almost 100% to go sure. In fact, we see the window state for five days, there should not be any surprise by tomorrow, if not on the exact timing of the departure" stated Normandy skipper.
So, it should leave its Lorient base pontoon around 9:30 to cut the line before 11 a.m. South of the tip of Gâvres.
The Lorient (and others!), come and encourage him to BSM before going off to work

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Extreme Sailing Series update, Oman Air team to return to contest 2014 season

From the following article in the Times of Oman:

http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-28252.aspx

Muscat: Oman Air announced return to action in the upcoming international inshore sailing circuit, the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series, according to a press release issued by Oman Sail on 15 January, 2014.

Celebrating its eighth edition, the world tour will be hosted in nine iconic venues spanning three continents, and will see a competition between nine elite teams representing seven nations to win the series coveted title. The fleet will start the curtain raiser in Singapore on the February 20, continue in Muscat for Act II from March 19 to 22, before heading to Qingdao, Saint Petersburg, Cardiff, Istanbul, the Mediterranean and Sydney. After an acclaimed staging of the Laser World Championships in the past few months, Oman Sail is proud to be hosting yet another act from the series, and field two teams this year, Oman Air and defending champions, The Wave Muscat. 

Wayne Pearce, CEO Oman Air, said:  "We are excited to be returning back to the Extreme Sailing Series this year and linking our name to this successful event. We would like to wish fair winds to Rob Greenhalgh and the whole Oman Air team.


read more here

Extreme 40's racing, photo courtesy Extreme Sailing Series




Tuesday 14 January 2014

34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 3 of 5

ORACLE TEAM USA celebrations
From the following article on sailing.org:
 
 
Jobson Meets Spithill
 
Part 3 of 5
 
From an America's Cup winning tactician to a winning skipper. ISAF Vice-President Gary Jobson caught up with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill at the end of 2013.
Offering a fascinating insight into the 2013 America's Cup, Jobson and Spithill analyse what went down in San Francisco, USA.

Click here for Part 1.

Click here for Part 2.
Part 4 of 5 will be available on the ISAF website on Tuesday 14 January 2014.

Gary Jobson

"So I understand that you took some flying lessons. Did that help you understand wings, foils, aerodynamics?"

Jimmy Spithill

"Definitely. I actually took the flying lessons, got my license when we did the wing on the trimaran. That wing on that trimaran was the biggest wing ever built in the world. Aircraft Aerospace. Everything. 230 feet. Massive. Doesn't fit under the Golden Gate Bridge if we were to sail the boat there. It's a huge bit of kit. I just figured, look the best way to learn about wings is to get a pilot's license. I had a break. I had a couple weeks off at the time and I thought okay down to Australia and I sort of went to this sort of little country air strip and learned with a couple of great guys. We went up and everything. I said I've only got two weeks. We have to go up every day in this little, tiny two seaters Cessna. It was straight away, it was amazing how similar it is to sailing. It's all about lift, drag, balance. A well set up plane is very easy to fly. Just like a boat that is well set up, it's easy to sail. Get your head out of the boat and look around and you're not fighting the boat. The same with the plane.

"It was amazing to see how many people in sailing have their pilot's license. Tom Schnackenberg, Russell Coutts, Larry Ellison. I could go on and on and on. I'm really fascinated by it. The next one on my list is the helicopter. It sort of reminds me of these boats that you've got so many things going on at once. The flying, yes, I love it. It's an amazing thing out there and certainly the technology."

read more here

Sunday 12 January 2014

Farrier F-22 trimaran update, shipshape once more at the Farrier Marine factory and more progress towards production

From the following entry on the Farrier Marine website:

http://www.f-boat.com/pages/News4/FM-Factory2014.html

Progress continues, and we are finally getting factory back into shipshape condition now that the earthquake repair workers have gone. All staff members will also be back from their annual summer holidays next week, which will finally get us back up to full speed. Hulls #2 and #3 are getting closer to shipping, and #2's trailer (with optional stainless disk brakes) is nearing completion in the foreground, photo being taken this weekend.

Everything still feels like a snail's pace however, even to me, but to get a high production level one has to be patient, develop every aspect properly, in minute detail, and then fully document so as to ensure it is easily buildable and repeatable. We are not just copying an old design or using old technology, but developing something truly new in every aspect - just like the original F-27 in fact.

read more here

Farrier Marine factory, photo courtesy Farrier Marine

Dragonfly trimarans, New model the Dragonfly 25 announced concept drawings on view at Dusseldorf Boat show 18th to 26th January 2014

From the following entry on the dragonfly trimarans website:

http://www.trimarans.com/news-and-events/current-news/new-dragonfly-25-model-coming-up.aspx

New Dragonfly 25 Model Coming Up
 
We are very happy to inform all Dragonfly fans and followers that we are working on the design of a new Dragonfly. We will bring the concept drawings at BOOT Düsseldorf so that all of our guests have the possibility to see the first workings of this new boat. The first boats of this new project will be ready for delivery in 2015. We have designed several new boats before, however, this time we are going to try a new approach. We want to hear Your opinion of what You expect of a Dragonfly, and what would be important for You to include in this new Dragonfly 25. We will only present the concept drawings, and that is why Your opinion matters. The guests at Dragonfly's stand at BOOT answering a short questionnaire will be in the competition of winning a week of sailing in Denmark in one of our own Dragonfly 28 charter boats. We will also have the latest up-dated versions of DF 28 and 32 at expose and many of the Dragonfly dealers will be present during the show. There is no excuse for not dropping by to see us at BOOT Düsseldorf from the 18th until the 26th of January 2014. We look forward to see You in Hall 17.  
 
New dragonfly 25 trimaran concept design, render courtesy dragonfly trimarans
 

Extreme Sailing Series 2014, what the skippers have to say about the upcoming season


34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 2 of 5

From the following interview on sailing.org by Gary Jobson of Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA:
 
 
10 January 2014, 03:06 pm
 
Jobson Meets Spithill
 
Part 2 of 5
 
From an America's Cup winning tactician to a winning skipper. ISAF Vice-President Gary Jobson caught up with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill at the end of 2013.
Offering a fascinating insight into the 2013 America's Cup, Jobson and Spithill analyse what went down in San Francisco, USA.

If you missed Part 1 then it is available here. Part 3 of 5 will be available on the ISAF website on Monday 13 January 2014.

Gary Jobson

"There were a few theories in the New Zealand press going on. We'll cast that aside for the moment. One of the other changes you made was to bring Ben Ainslie on the boat. In the long history of the America's Cup it is very rare in the actual Cup to change one of the crew, whether you're winning or losing. So what was behind bringing Ben Ainslie in and what difference did that make?"

Jimmy Spithill

"We had amazing depth in our sailing team. We actually had it set up this way on purpose because our campaign was based around trying to sail two AC72s. We don't get to race in the challenger series. Big advantage to the challenger. Always has been. To take on two 72s, we honestly didn't know how often we'd be able to sail one let alone two which is a big undertaking. So we hired the best guys we could.
read more here
 

Saturday 11 January 2014

34th America's Cup, Gary Jobson interviews Jimmy Spithill of Oracle Team USA part 1 of 5

From the following interview posted on the ISAF website:
 
 
9 January 2014, 02:53 pm
 
Jobson Meets Spithill - Part 1
From an America's Cup winning tactician to a winning skipper. ISAF Vice-President Gary Jobson caught up with ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill at the end of 2013.
Offering a fascinating insight into the 2013 America's Cup, Jobson and Spithill analyse what went down in San Francisco, USA.

Enjoy part 1 of 5… Part 2 will follow on 10 January 2014.

Gary Jobson,

"All of us here love sailing and everybody is a sporting enthusiast and everybody likes an underdog and everybody likes a good contest, and when Jimmy walked into the press room the score was now 8-1, Emirates Team New Zealand had won their eighth race. One more race and it was over for your team. You walked in there and declared, "we can win races, we're not done. This could be the greatest comeback in sailing." And I was sitting there thinking well either you're going to be the next Joe Namath guaranteeing victory in the Super Bowl, or look like Y.A. Tittle in the end zone after losing the championship. You're the next Joe Namath. What was in your head that gave you the confidence to say that we could turn this around?"
Jimmy Spithill,

"I think it's the people around you that give you the confidence. The America's Cup, by no question, is by far the biggest team sport out there. It's huge team size. We're talking over 100 people. Obviously there's the sailors. There's the guys that are on the boat that go out and do the racing. But really you're nothing without all your other team members. The shore teams, what we call the pit crews, the designers, the engineers, the people in the office, the guys cleaning the base. Everyone is just as important as the other person. I think once you get out on the water, for me, it's looking next to the guy standing within the guys, that guy that you face on either side of you and knowing that he'll do anything for you. He is almost like you, in fear of letting your teammates down. It's that sort of dedication. You'll do anything. Whatever it takes for your teammate. And when you get that sort of synergy involved and where your teammates put the team number 1 and themselves #2, then that's the ultimate. That's team sport. When you look around even up to the Navy Seal level, that's something that is consistent in, almost like a family or brotherhood of guys that will just do anything for their teammates. That really is a really rewarding thing when you get that thing. It's hard to put words to it, I'm probably not doing a good job of it, but it's an amazing feeling."
 
read more here

Friday 10 January 2014

Cherry Pie Regatta, Sarasota Sailing Squadron February 6th - 9th 2014

From the following entry on the Corsair Marine website:

http://sail.corsairmarine.com/race-in-the-cherry-pie-multihull-regatta?fbnonce=1852994889

February 6th-9th, 2014 the Sarasota Sailing Squadron will host  three events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday under the Cherry Pie Regatta. The Cherry Pie has long been a tradition at the Sailing Squadron bringing together their well represented One Design fleets including the Flying Scots and E Scows, as well as our handicap fleet including Spinnaker, Non Spinnaker, Cruiser, Pocket Cruiser and Multihull Sailboats fleets. So, all you Corsair Dash 750, and Corsair Sprint 750 sailors get on out and register to race in February!

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is a great venue for our fleet.  Plenty of parking and ramps on site, lots of floating docks, and great sailing just minutes from the club.

read more here

Surf to City 2014, Still time to enter and race in the multihull division

From the following entry on the Surf to City 2014 website:

http://www.surf2city.com.au/

Surf to City Yacht Race - 18th January 2014
Minimize
 No other race in Australia consists of two fleets, an offshore and inshore fleet, both starting and finishing at the same place. The Surf to City Yacht Race is also one of a handful of races that see both monohull and multihull yachts compete against each other.
Held in January, the Surf to City is now in its 21st year. In 2013, the Surf to City attracted 94 of the most influential yachts in Queensland and northern New South Wales ranging in size from the mighty Black Jack to 7m trailer sailors.

The Inshore Fleet is usually a day race. The course follows the main channel from Southport to Brisbane past all of the islands in the southern part of Moreton Bay.
The Offshore Fleet is a day/night race. Starting off the Southport Seaway, the yachts head north around Cape Moreton to enter Moreton Bay and then to the finish.
The race is organised and hosted by Queensland Cruising Yacht Club and run in association with Southport Yacht Club.

read more here

Extreme Sailing Series update, JP Morgan/Ben Ainslie Racing to compete in the 2014 series

 From the following article on the JP Morgan/Ben Ainslie Racing website

http://bar.americascup.com/news/615/sir-ben-ainslies-j-p-morgan-bar-to-enter-extreme-sailing-series-2014-2

Sir Ben Ainslie’s J.P. Morgan BAR to enter Extreme Sailing Series 2014

Sir Ben Ainslie has announced the continued partnership with long term sponsors J.P. Morgan who will support Ben Ainslie Racing’s (BAR) entry into the Extreme Sailing Series 2014 (ESS). In addition to this, J.P. Morgan also announced that their title sponsorship of the iconic Round the Island Race will continue to reside with J.P. Morgan Asset Management for a further two-year period up to and including 2016. These announcements came at the annual London Boat Show on the stand, exhibiting BAR’s AC45 that broke the Round the Island Race Multihull record last year.

Also revealed were three of the four sailors who will compete with Ainslie in the Extreme Sailing Series 2014: Team GB teammates and Beijing Olympic Gold Medallist’s, Paul Goodison and Pippa Wilson, alongside bowman Matt Cornwell, a previous Match Racing World Champion with Ainslie. The final crew member will be revealed before the first event of the season in Singapore.

read more here

1980 OSTAR race, documentary on Bob Lush and Mike Birch


Airplay RAW30 trimaran, photo gallery showing the boat folded at the dock

A gallery of photos has been published on the RAW30 facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.572755686146715.1073741836.543605899061694&type=1

 

Thursday 9 January 2014

Extreme Sailing Series update, venues and teams announced for the 2014 season

From the following press release on the Extreme Sailing Series website:

http://www.extremesailingseries.com/news/view/ambitious-series-confirmed-for-2014-full-starting-grid-3-continent-world-to#.Us2kkWyIrFd

- An eight Act globetrotting circuit spanning Asia, the Middle East and Europe confirmed for an eighth year of Stadium Racing including two brand new Host Venues – Russia and Australia.
- Nine elite level teams representing seven nations – all 2013 teams return plus Olympic legend Sir Ben Ainslie and Volvo Ocean Race winner Franck Cammas.
- Maintaining the highest level of sporting integrity, in the same award-winning format, across a mix of iconic cities, established sailing venues, and new markets of strong commercial value to stakeholders.
- Win a Land Rover driving experience for two thanks to Series Main Partners Land Rover. There is no better way to go off-road! Enter
here.
- Watch the official Series launch promo video
here

8 January – London: Extreme Sailing Series™ organisers OC Sport, alongside Land Rover, one of two Series Main Partners, have today confirmed details of their most ambitious Series to date at the London Boat Show. The award-winning and 'ISAF Special Event' world tour will celebrate its eighth year on the international sailing calendar with eight iconic Host Venues spanning three continents, over eleven months and nine elite level teams representing seven nations, who will compete to win the coveted Extreme Sailing Series trophy.

Executive Chairman of OC Sport, Mark Turner, commented: “2014 is the eighth year of this the original Stadium Racing circuit, and significantly our fourth as a world tour. We’ve added two commercially important markets for our stakeholders, and retained six existing venues as well as all the teams from 2013 – we continue on an upward curve with this event which is delivering elite level top class sporting action, as well as strong commercial return on investment for all its stakeholders. That combination remains number one priority for us with this event.”

read more here

And a promotional video for the 2014 season:



Wednesday 8 January 2014

Matakana Island Raid 2014 for off the beach cats, 7th February Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat club

From the following entry on the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat club website:

http://www.yacht.org.nz/news/id/330

The Matakana Island raid for 2014 is fast approaching

This exciting social race is now into it's 6th edition, and is open to multihulls with a LOA 5m and greater. Plenty of fun to be had, meet new friends and catch up with old ones.

This years race begins with a Friday night race starting off the yacht club on 7th Feb, although if you miss this leg not to worry this year this result can be dropped, and dinner can be ordered from the yacht club.

Saturday will see racing up to Bowentown, and staying at the family friendly Athenree hot pools and camp ground. On Sunday we'll race back to Tauranga

read more here

and a video of the 2013 event:

Ports of Auckland Anniversary Regatta, 27th of January includes multihull division

From the following article on the Ports of Auckland Anniversary Regatta website:

http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ef7597a56f76315aa3de18fbc&id=8c322be6be

The Notice of Race for the upcoming Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta has been issued.

The prizes are about the best of any sailing regatta this season :
  • A Hawaiian Holiday (details to come soon)
  • A RED Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard (the perfect recreational tender)
  • A 10-day voyage on the Spirit of New Zealand  
  • Tickets to Snow Planet and Rainbows End
  • Cash prizes for race winners
  • And your name engraved on some of sailing's most famous trophies, on permanent display at the Voyager Maritime Museum 

17 clubs are involved, and here's what's on offer for sailors:
  • Passage racing - for anyone returning from Mahurangi, Kawau, and Rakino, sailing in cruising trim
  • Fleet Racing - for classics, keelers and multis starting off Princes Wharf 
  • Harbour Challenge - for M Class, Flying 15s, Moths and 'off the beach' multis
  • Radio Controlled Yachts - Westhaven Marina and Onehunga Lagoon
  • Centreboard dinghy racing - at Narrowneck, Kohi, Northcote Birkenhead, Takapuna, and Tamaki Yacht Clubs
read more here

visit Ports of Auckland Anniversary Regatta website for more details

http://www.regatta.org.nz/

Tuesday 7 January 2014

RAW30 airplay trimaran, two piece Mast setup


Article by Richard Gladwell on the Olympic Nacra 17 catamaran: ISAF's experiment gets big tick from top crew

From the following article on Sail-World by Richard Gladwell:

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=118082

The Nacra 17 is enjoying a stellar rise amongst the sailing and multihull community, both because of its design pedigree from US design team of Melvin and Morelli, and the fact that mixed gender crews are offering a new dimension to Olympic sailing.

The great experiment has worked.

Since the introduction of the mixed gender crew concept, and then the trials conducted by the ISAF to select a purpose designed boat for the 2016 Olympic event, the sailing world has been pondering the options.

Now these are starting to emerge, but as yet no best combination of roles in the boat, weight and height combination, or set up have really emerged.

All crews in the Nacra 17 at December's ISAF World Sailing Cup Melbourne acknowledge that they are on a steep learning curve and are learning with each race sailed.

A new crew having racing their first regatta together at Melbourne, are Olympic Silver medalists Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis.

Bundock (42) oozes multihull experience – a former World Champion in the Tornado class, and Olympic Silver medalist in the same year, 2008, the tall, slightly built Australian is acknowledged as one of the top racing multihull sailors in the world.

read more here

Saturday 4 January 2014

Weta trimaran training Clinic and Regatta to be held at Canberra Sailing Club, 22nd to 23rd February 2014

Paul White has contacted me to advise me of an upcoming training clinic and regatta to be held at the Canberra Sailing Club 22-23 February for Weta Trimarans.

The number of Weta's is increasing and there are now 10 in the Sydney area and more on the way, with the addition of Glenn Marney as agent for Weta NSW based in Jervis Bay.
 
We’ve organised a clinic and race day in Canberra with Miranda Powie of Weta Marine which will hopefully attract some of the Victorian boats too.

Weta trimarans fleet racing
For further details the contact is Glenn Marney at Weta NSW gofastglenn@gmail.com
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wetansw
Website http://www.weta.com.au/

Visitors interested in a test sail of a Weta trimaran at the event please contact Glenn to arrange.

Multihulls World magazine, recent edition on Ocean Cruising offered for free download online

A recent edition of Multihulls World magazine is being offered online for free as a read online or downloadable .pdf here:

http://www.multihulls-world.com/us/0115-863-Magazine-n-7.html

Friday 3 January 2014

Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, Team Australia sets new multihull reference time

From the following press release by Damian Devine / Pittwater & Coffs Harbour media

http://www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au/index.php/news/238-team-australia-continue-their-record-breaking-way

Friday 3 January, 10am

 Sean Langman's Orma 60 Team Australia steamed across the offshore finishing line in Coffs Harbour this morning at 0618hrs to create a new multihull race record in the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs race with an official time of 17hrs 3mins 5secs.

“What a great way to start the New Year, really happy with the performance last year with the two world records so to get another course record is fantastic. I was wondering what 2014 was going to bring as 2013 was successful in a lot of ways in both business and yachting, so yeah a good way to start,” said Langman dockside at Coffs Harbour marina.

 On the performance of the trimaran Langman offered, “ She did very well, we had to work hard through the night. The conditions were actually very testing, nothing like we were told in the weather briefing. There were a lot of coastal effects and with the Orma 60 you’re always on the edge and looking over your shoulder to see what’s coming next. We didn’t have any ugly hairy moments but we did hit 32 knots at one stage and decided to get the rag off and just play it safe. We shredded a halyard on the front sail so we got to work out a way of getting that down.

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