IMOCA Looking Forward to Major Races

Friday - August 31 2007 - 1023 PST - The IMOCA circuit confirms its expanding success and gets ready for the main events of the 2007 season. Between the Barcelona World Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre, there will not be less than 25 IMOCA boats, of which 17 are new, competing for a place on the podium of those 2 IMOCA championship official events.

On the 3rd of November, 16 skippers and their co-skippers will be departing from Le Havre in France towards Brazil for the 8th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, while 9 other boats (18 skippers and co-skippers) will be testing themselves in the new non-stop round the world race leaving from Barcelona on November 11th, the Barcelona World Race.

The current situation of the championship, after the Rolex Fastnet race, shows a close fight for the podium places between Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) -after his great win in the Velux 5 oceans race- followed by a very determined Jean le Cam (VM Matériaux) onboard his well tested Lombard design. On third place, Dominique Wavre (Temenos) is the best representative of the new breed of boats having been launched recently. This top three will see the level of competition increase in the following weeks as skippers like Alex Thomson, Mike Golding or French solo legend Michel Desjoyeaux are just launching their new boats this summer.

Puma's Skipper Talks Volvo

Friday - August 31 2007 - 0940 PST - Part 1.
As skipper of the PUMA Ocean Racing entry in the 2008-09 race, American Ken Read is overseeing both the design/build program in his native Newport, Rhode Island and crew selection aboard the maxi Rambler, currently in Europe. Read, who joined Ericsson for the last four legs of the 2005-06 race, shares his thoughts on what it takes to tough it out when the going gets rough.

Q: What were your first recollections of the Whitbread/Volvo race?
A: To be honest my first thought was "these guys have got to be nuts to do something like this" like any other sane person would think I imagine. I built up a fascination and an intrigue about the race from the books I read about it as a kid. When you delve back in to history and read some of the tales and the adventures they were mind-boggling to a young kid.

Q: What did your experiences in 2005-06 teach you about the race?
A: What I learned most is that you need a whole new mindset for this race. It's a pacing rather than a pressing situation on a Volvo Open 70. The chemistry of the people on board is crucial and the all-purpose mentality of an individual crew member rather than a specialist is a big part of it. Then there's the question of how to tame the boats themselves. They are fascinating both in design and the speed they generate. How hard you can push a boat like this without it breaking is unbelievable. It’s like nothing I've ever sailed before. In terms of learning, we all want to become better at anything we do - whether as an accountant, a lawyer, a doctor or a sail boat racer. And even though I jumped in late last time, because of the guys I sailed with and because of the experience I had, I became a better sailor and I look forward to keeping the learning curve going.

BBC World to Air Sailing Documentary

Friday - August 31 2007 - 0922 PST - The Archipelago Raid, the 5-day extreme sailing survival marathon through the Scandinavian islands is coming to TV homes, hotels and airlines worldwide. The international viewing will start on the 1st/2nd September 2007 when the 24-minute film "Archipelago Raid" will be aired on BBC World.

The film charts the grueling event as the 29 world-class teams from 13 nations navigate their way through one of the world's most unique landscapes. The 2 man crews, sailing volatile high performance catamarans were followed as they faced the challenges of racing 400 miles - by day and night - around some of the most breathtaking but unpredictable landscapes in the world. The result is a tale of endurance and stamina played out against a backdrop of beautiful, but threatening islands and rocks. It's hard enough to complete the course without collapsing from exhaustion but winning is a very special achievement. With helicopter footage, onboard minicams and headcams this is a travelogue with a difference.

The worlds largest TV Broadcaster BBC World (the BBC's international news and information television channel) will broadcast the documentary at the following times: Saturday 1st September 1630 CET and 2130 CET Sunday 2nd September 0630 CET and 1130 CET Monday 3rd September 0330 CET. Photo Th. Martinez.

Major Multhull Event Hits West Coast

Friday - August 31 2007 - 0915 PST - Multi Marine in partnership with Fairwind Yacht Club will run what will probably be the biggest offshore multhull event in the country, the Indian Summer Splash, on Sept. 14-16, starting at the Marina del Rey launch ramp with an additional start in Long Beach, Ca.

This year there are a variety of sponsors who are bringing lots of goodies. There will be three days of racing, cruising, education and fun. Race organizers encourage contestants to bring the family and/or friends and relax in the company of novices, experts and like-minded sailors. Photo Pat Reynolds.

Aviva to Qualify for Transat

Friday - August 31 2007 - 0851 PST - From Dee Caffari's Aviva camp:
Dee and Aviva are back out on the water and this week's focus is qualifying for the Transat Jacques Vabre race beginning on 3rd November. Aviva, Dee and her co-skipper left La Rochelle on Tuesday to spend the week sailing the 1,000 qualifying miles (accredited by the TJV race committee) which will secure their place on the start line of this exciting race.

Apart from a small autopilot issue directly after departure which was resolved within a couple of hours, the weather ahead looks set to give them a good mix of sailing conditions over the next few days as they return the boat to the UK as part of this qualifying passage.

Next Monday, September 3rd, is an extremely exciting day for Dee and the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign. Firstly, Dee's inspirational book Against the Flow hits the shelves. This remarkable book recounts how Dee went from rookie to record breaker by becoming the first woman to sail non-stop solo around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Photo onEdition.

Peaking at the Right Time is Key at Rolex Worlds

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 1447 PST - After day two of racing in the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship 2007, the top four boats overall are all familiar names - Mascalzone Latino, Alinghi, Nerone, and Barking Mad - all are previous Rolex Farr 40 World Champions. Yet several other boats picked the shifts well enough on a difficult day to move up in the standings. Struntje Light (GER), Siragusawa (FIN), Nanoq (DEN), and Norwegian Steam (NOR) all had a top five race finish - no mean feat in this fleet. The key to this tight one-design class racing is peaking at the right time and those who have managed to do so are trending up in the rankings.

On board Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi (SUI), which posted an 18th in their first race yesterday, tactician Brad Butterworth summed it up succinctly, "trending up is better than trending down". While the team is fresh from an America's Cup win in Valencia last month, they hadn't sailed together in the Farr 40 class until the Rolex Pre-Worlds. Butterworth said, "We didn't sail at all until that regatta so we just didn't hit it in the first race (yesterday), but we've had a bit of luck, and some teams have had a bit of luck, and some teams are sailing very well. I think Nerone, Barking Mad, and obviously Mascalzone Latino are going very well."

Racing continues tomorrow, Friday 30 August with a first race start at 1100; three races are planned. Photo of Alinghi - ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Becker, Ward and Rabin Win Lightning North American Championship

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 1035 PST - Geoff Becker, Bill Ward, and Dan Rabin (15151) captured the Lightning North American Championship held in Annapolis, August 20-24. Going into the final race of the event, Becker's team had to finish within 6 places of Allan Terhune's team (15232). About 50 yards from the downwind finish, it appeared that Terhune had sealed the victory, as he won the race while Becker had slipped to 8th. In dramatic fashion, though, Becker caught a private puff just boat lengths away from the finish line, and barely coasted by two boats to finish 6th, thus reclaiming the regatta win. For complete results, visit: www.2007lightningnas.com. This report brought to you by www.sail1design.com.

Nail-Biter at 505 European Championships

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 1030 PST - Tough competition amongst the top three in the 505 European Championships. After 6 races only 4 points divide these sailors. In first place is still the Danish crew Jorgen and Jacob Bojsen-Moller, who are in front of their fellow country men Jan Saugman/ Morten Ramsbarle and Germans Wolfgang Hunger/ Holger Jess. Photo courtesy of www.sail505.org.

Things Get Ugly for J/24 European Championship

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 1010 PST - Two races were started after general recalls and finally black flags. Starting off with winds from 270 degrees, the wind never settled down and swung around a lot and the fleet was forced to react fast to the low flying cloud fields that inflicted the wind direction. Wind speed leveled around 10-14 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Now with only one race to go, the fight for the medal places will start tomorrow. The Brazilian Daniel Glomb and the UK sailor Ian Southworth will fight for gold. All current standings can be found in the here.

Team Ericsson Chooses Young Navigator for Volvo

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 0922 PST - Anders Lewander, skipper of one of the two Volvo Ocean Race entries for Ericsson Racing Team, has chosen Norwegian Aksel Magdahl (28) as his navigator/tactician for the next race starting from Alicante in October 2008.

Although Aksel Magdahl will be competing in his first round the world race, skipper Anders Lewander is not worried about Aksel's youth and lack of Volvo Ocean Race experience.

"Very few sailors turn down the chance to be part of a serious Volvo Ocean Race project," Aksel says. "But that was not enough of a reason for me. I also have to be super-motivated, so it is of paramount importance that the project feels right. There are really good, talented people in the Ericsson Racing Team, and I like Anders Lewander's leadership style. He gives me room to move, and I know he trusts me."

Keepin it Unreal at Louie's 9th Last Regatta

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 0902 PST - We posted an announcement for Louie's 9th Last Regatta, an annual fund raising event for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin where 100% of donated funds go to CHW and supplied our own photo. But then we received this photo from XS Rob (who made us aware of the event) and thought we'd share. Last year they had over 1300 participants and 130 boats registered and we're hoping that this year will be event better. If you're in the area - join the fun. The Louie’s 9th Last Regatta will be held on September 29th 2007. Learn more by clicking here.

Entry List Swells for Audi 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship

Thursday - August 30 2007 - 0842 PST - Forty-two teams have already registered from as far away as England and California, with at least 15 more boats expected to register over the coming weeks for the Audi 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship to be held in Detroit. Under two weeks remain until the September 10 early registration deadline. Online registration, press registration, entry list and the Notice of Race are available through the official Audi 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship website at www.melges24racing.com/nationals.

Tough Day At The Office

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 1755 PST - It was a tough day for helmsmen and their tacticians on the Oresund Strait on day one of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship. With the northwesterly breeze shifting steadily throughout the day, fortunes were swiftly won, lost and sometimes regained. The race committee ran three windward/leeward races, roughly 9 miles in length that fully tested the wind reading skills of those charged with determining strategy. Overall it was Antonio Sodo Migliori & Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone (ITA) that sailed most consistently posting a 3-6-1 to edge out Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino (ITA) by one point for the day.

Mezzaaroma said, "It was very tricky and quite shifty. I'm glad we were here to sail for a while before the Worlds. The class is so tough. We've sailed at most of the Worlds except San Francisco. Normally if you are 15-20 in the fleet in a place like this you can gain 10 boats."

Today's scorelines suggest it's going to be a high scoring regatta. Only three boats kept their scores for all three races in the top ten. Wolfgang Stoltz's Opus One (GER) lies in third on 13 points after a day of consistency that the remainder of the fleet could only dream about.

According to Tom King, the Olympic Gold Medallist in the 470 Class at Sydney 2000, who is tactician on Ivan Wheen's Sputnik (5, 30, 2), "it was a question of holding one's nerve and being patient. It was enjoyable conditions to race in because there were always opportunities even when you were back in the fleet to get back up to the front again. It was not boring by any stretch of the imagination."

Top performing Scandinavian boat today was David Holm's Monick (DEN), which lies in 10th position overall on 44 points. The top six boats after 3 races are:

1 NERONE ITA 1972 Antonio Sodo Migliori 3.0 6.0 1.0 10.0

2 MASCALZONE LATINO ITA 1 Vincenzo Onorato 2.0 2.0 7.0 11.0

3 OPUS ONE GER 5565 Wolfgang Stolz 4.0 3.0 6.0 13.0

4 CALVI ITA 40102 Carlo Alberini 1.0 9.0 14.0 24.0

5 ALINGHI SUI 81818 Ernesto Bertarelli 18.0 5.0 4.0 27.0

6 BARKING MAD USA 50955 Jim Richardson 7.0 16.0 5.0 28.0

For more details and photos click here.

Dart Start

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 0922 PST - One hundred and twenty three boats have finalized their entries for the Dart 18 World Championship, which got underway yesterday 28 August and continues until 1 September. 12 races are scheduled and the first was won by Daniel NORMAN and Melanie ROGERS on a difficult first day.

Great Britain has the largest fleet with 43 boats and they have all intentions to win the title, but also Germany has a large fleet with 18 boats. France has 17 boats, the Netherlands and South Africa 15 each. There are also boats from Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, and Italy. Italy has got two boats: one with the skipper Martino SALVO and crew Luca RODOLFI from Circolo Nautico Volano di Codigoro (Fe), the other with skipper Giorgio VINCENTI and crew Fabrizio OTTAVIANI from Assonautica Viterbo. Photo courtesy of dartworlds.com.

Young Sailor to Sail Around the World

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 0849 PST - Clipper Ventures is pleased to announce that Ellen MacArthur Trust ambassador Daniel Monk will be participating in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race. Daniel’s dream of sailing around the world has been made possible with the support of the Phillip Green Memorial Trust and JPMorgan Asset Management. This coming September 16, the 21-year-old will untie the lines as part of the crew of Liverpool 08 for Clipper 07-08.

Daniel will become the first Ellen MacArthur Trust ambassador to take on this epic challenge. Dan, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2001, first sailed with The Ellen MacArthur Trust in 2003 joining other young children who were suffering or in recovery from cancer or leukemia on a four-day trip in The Solent. It was clear from the very beginning that Dan had a passion for sailing and wanted to take his sailing further. Year after year Dan returned to join The Trust sailing in and around The Solent and in various races and regattas, including the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. After a relapse in 2005 Dan decided that he wanted to become more involved in the sailing industry, with the support of The Trust he took on the Professional Yachtmaster course, successfully qualifying May 2007.

N.O.R. for Sydney International Regatta Now Available

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 0834 PST - The Notice of Race for the Sydney International Regatta (SIR), to be held from 15-18 December is now available online for download at Yachting NSW website.

Organized by Yachting NSW and held on Sydney Harbour annually, SIR is expected to attract a record entry from Australia-wide and internationally, particularly as it will encompass the Olympic classes competing at one of their final events before teams head off to the Beijing Olympic Sailing Competition in Qingdao, China.

The ISAF Grade 1 Olympic classes; RS:X Men's and Women's, Finn, Laser, Laser Radial Women's, 49er, 470 Men's and Women's, Tornado and Yngling classes, along with Laser Radial Men's, Laser 4.7, 29er, 420 and 29erXX (a possible Olympic class for Women in 2012), will again be hosted by Woollahra Sailing Club.

Open to all skiff, dinghy and keelboats, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Woollahra Sailing Club will play host to these classes.

"Sail the World" Weekend Starts This Saturday

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 0805 PST - There is less than a week to go until the "Sail the World" weekend on the 1st and 2nd of September 2007. Around the world, yacht clubs, classes, sailors and ISAF Member National Authorities (MNA) are gearing up to join ISAF in celebrating sailing.

The idea is simple - to celebrate our sport and Get Sailing!

The Sail the World weekend is set to be one of the highlights of the ISAF Centenary and a global celebration of sailing. By getting as many people out on the water as possible - whether young or old, an experienced pro or a newcomer to the sport - ISAF wants to celebrate sailing through "Sail the World".

More than 100 clubs/events from 48 nations across Africa, Asian, Europe, Oceania and North and South America have so far registered their participation in the Sail the World Weekend. ISAF looks forward to bringing you photographs and reports from many diverse celebrations at every level of the sport - including open days in Australia, have a go at sailing in South Africa, National Championships in Paraguay, European Championships in Poland, Pre-Worlds in Portugal, Coaches training in New Zealand and Classic boats in Greece to name but a few.

Every club and every sailor will receive a certificate, whilst each participating MNA will receive a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion. To get involved click here.

Skandia Geelong Week Dates Finalized

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 0751 PST - The dates for Skandia Docklands Invitational in 2008 have been finalized, with the event due to start on Friday 18th of January through to Sunday 20th. Skandia Geelong Week is Australia's largest sailing event! First held in 1844 and officially established in 1859, it is also one of the nation's oldest sporting events. Skandia will continue to support the event, having renewed their contract for 2008. Photo by Andrea Francolini.

Audi Announces Title Sponsorship for Melges Nationals

Wednesday - August 29 2007 - 0743 PST - Organizers of the Audi 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship have announced that Audi of America Inc. and the Detroit-Area Audi Metro Dealers have been named Title Sponsor of this prestigious event.

"We are extremely happy to have Audi on board for this regatta and pleased they recognize what we already know; that Melges 24 racing is the most exciting sailing going on in the United States today," said Paul Hulsey, event chairman. "We're looking forward to showing the folks at Audi that 50 plus Melges's roaring into the leeward mark is the maritime equivalent to dozens of race cars zooming around a track."

Holt Crosses 100-Day Mark in "Personal Everest"

Tuesday - August 28 2007 - 1655 PST - Disabled sailor Geoff Holt reports from his around the UK Personal Everest: "Well, on day 100, Bank Holiday Monday, we tried again at 0600 to get over the sand bar at Wells-next-the-Sea, after a lot of splashing, bumping and receiving a thorough soaking (not my favourite way to wake up), we made it into relatively calmer seas, headed east and powered downwind with a following tide for what proved to be one of the quickest, longest and most tiring sails of the entire journey. We made the 58 mile trip in just over 10 hours, barely going below 5 knots and often reaching over 10 knots, even punching a foul tide for nearly 5 hours. Despite the clear skies and bright sunshine, it was a thouroughly wet sail and took much concentration surfing down the following seas but good fun too. Thanks to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk YC for allowing us to set up the PE circus in their compound, having basics like electricity, water and access to bathrooms and showers is very important indeed and is much appreciated."