SailRaceWin

Nations Cup : Jury (NZL) ZOKE KiwiMatch and Leroy (FRA) Win Grand Final

2011-09-22T03:03:00.003+12:00

Laurie Jury and his ZOKE KiwiMatch team receive the Nations Cup 2011 trophy. Image copyright Sail Sheboygan.

by ISAF media, with additional material from SailRaceWin

Laurie Jury (NZL) and Claire Leroy (FRA) won the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final Open and Women's division in racing marked by strong winds and big waves in Sheboygan, USA.

Sunday's conditions were brisk, with a strong onshore southeast 15- to 18-knot breeze with gusts to 20, and the seas built to 3 to 6 feet, with larger breaking waves roaring through the starting area, putting boat handling at a premium.

"I was so impressed with how well the sailors handled the conditions, especially Claire in the final pre-start," said Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio, who also took his fair share of green water over the race committee boat. "It was incredible boat-handling by the sailors in the breaking waves."

Claire Leroy (FRA) went 3-0 against Rita Goncalves (POR) in the women's division, sailed in Elliott 6m's. This is the third straight Nations Cup win for Leroy, a first in event history.

"We weren't sure how well we would sail, with Elodie recently injured during training in Chicago," Leroy said. "It was important for us to do well in the race, but to win was the cherry on the cake."

"It was breath taking, but really demanding conditions. I was very impressed with how well the sailors handled the boats in the rough conditions," said ISAF President Goran Petersson, who watched the final racing on the water. "It is really unique in the history of the Nations Cup to have a three-time winner. Very well done for Claire."

Leroy appreciated the rough conditions that may be similar to those found in Weymouth, Great Britain, during the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. "We expected the lake to be light air, not like an ocean," Leroy said. "We learned a lot about sailing the boat in heavy weather."

Heavy weather picks up the pace of match racing tactics and raises the stakes for penalties, making them easier to incur and harder to clear because the competition stays so close, which were revealed in the final race of the open division.

Laurie Jury, Logan Fraser and Michael Edmonds in action at the Nations Cup 2011 Grand Final. Image copyright Sail Sheboygan.

With a 2-1 lead going into race four of the open division sailed in Sonars, Jury sailed clean while top-seeded Mads Ebler (DEN) was able to clear his first penalty, but received another at the final top mark during a luffing match. Jury was able to sail ahead to the finish to win.

"We are really excited to have won the Nations Cup. It is our first Grade 1 win," said Jury, who is on a match racing streak, winning the U.S. Grand Slam Match Race Series consisting of four grade two events, and gaining entry to the Congressional Cup 2012 by so doing. "It was really tough to get here. We had to win against the best top-ranked New Zealand and Australia match racers."

In the Petit Final for third and fourth place, Olivia Price (AUS) won 2-1 over Mandy Mulder (NED) in the women's division. In the open division, it was Henrique Haddad (BRA) who claimed third place after winning 2-0 against Lucy Macgregor (GBR).

"We are very pleased with how well Sail Sheboygan, Sheboygan Yacht Club and the City of Sheboygan prepared for this event," said Henry Menin, Chairman of the ISAF Match Racing Committee. "It was superb conditions, and the equipment held up so well in the challenging conditions. It is an example to other organizations on just how to run a match racing event."

"I was very impressed how much the community was able to watch the races. Not many places can do that," Petersson said. "Every one was so nice in Wisconsin. When you come down to it, it is about the people who make a successful sailing program and event."

A closing ceremony awarding the Nations Cup trophies was held at Blue Harbor Resort in the afternoon. "We congratulate the winners of the Nations Cup," Sail Sheboygan Executive Director Richard Reichelsdorfer said. "Every race organizer hopes for great conditions and great competitors. We had both."

ISAF

America's Cup : Onboard Video from Emirates Team New Zealand on the Final Day of ACWS Plymouth

2011-09-19T23:35:00.002+12:00

... also includes footage from Aleph, China Team and ORACLE Racing Spithill.

America's Cup

America's Cup : Final Day Fleet Race at ACWS Plymouth

2011-09-19T01:43:00.000+12:00

America's Cup

America's Cup : Live ACWS Plymouth Match Racing on Race Day 6

2011-09-18T01:30:00.001+12:00

America's Cup

America's Cup : Energy Team in Fine Form

2011-09-04T22:24:00.000+12:00

Energy Team
America's Cup

America's Cup : ACWS First Training in Plymouth

2011-09-04T22:23:00.001+12:00

America's Cup

Knickerbocker Cup : Livestream of the Match Racing with 3 Kiwi teams competing

2011-08-27T03:31:00.002+12:00

kcup on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Knickerbocker Cup

Knickerbocker Cup : Zoke KiwiMatch Lead after Day One

2011-08-27T03:30:00.007+12:00

by Andrea Watson

Mother Nature is trying the patience of everyone here at the Knickerbocker Cup this year. Manhasset Bay is known for its fluky winds and variable conditions, but this year the bay as full of surprises. Teams selected for the morning flights faced unstable winds, a lightening storm delay mid-day, and squalls from all points on the bay. But by the end of the day, Race Committee had completed 10 flights and leaders emerged from the mess of weather.

Laurie Jury, Zoke Kiwimatch, NZL, is the story of the day. He may have lost the battle at the Detroit Cup in a close final to Australian Jordan Reece, he is winning the war here at the Knickerbocker Cup. His 5 for 5 after 10 flights and this is his first time racing the Swedish Match 40s. “It was a most exciting day. We had a lost of close races and everything went our way. We were able to sail the boat smoothly.” Paul Cuneo, Color Commentator, added “their crew work was flawless. Jury was on fire!”

Sally Barkow was on fire too. After waiting all morning for the first group of racers to finish their flights, she was loaded for bear. Her first match against front runner Jury was proof of her determination to better her record of past appearances at the Cup. An early penalty forced Barkow to take some serious action. According to Chris Love, Director of Video Production, “As she was leading Jury coming into the windward mark, Barkow luffed up and tried to draw Jury in to either draw a penalty or get him out of position so she could extend to get rid of hers At first Jury was reluctant to engage but then he took an opportunity to go over the top. Sally kept him on the hook, made him tack and then tried to duck his stern, but didn’t quite make it.” Contact! Her bow bumper snagged his back stay which broke when the boats separated. Game Jury.

A furious Barkow turned the loss into an intensity that brought her wins for the remainder of the day. She quickly dispensed with William Tiller, Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL), Nicholai Sehested, TRE-FOR Match Racing (DEN), and Jordan Reece, True Blue Racing (AUS). One of the highlights of the day was the Tiller-Barkow race. Just after rounding the second windward mark beginning the final downwind leg, Sally was about 1.5 boat legs behind and expertly rolled Tiller to windward. The wind fell out of his chute and Barkow blew by him and he couldn’t catch up.

Shawn Bennett, Team Bennett (USA) is another team to watch closely. He won an automatic entry into the Knickerbocker Cup this year for his big win at the USMRC at Detroit YC last year. In extremely difficult wind conditions, he managed to pull off four wins with 5 matches during the morning flights.

PRO Sue Reilly, speaking about the leeward gate, used for the first time at the KCUP, had this to say, “I was surprised with the amount of boats that split sides at the gate. Other events that have used a gate 90 - 95% of the time both boats round the same gate. I don’t know what the stats were today, but it was more than I had expected. Dave Perry might be on to something.”

With the thread of a direct hit by Irene, RC is scrambling to finish the Round Robin quickly in the event the Harbor Master closes the bay to all activity. They will try to finish the Round Robin on Friday, but with wind conditions predicted to be light (the calm before the storm?) it will take some magic from Sue Reilly and her committee to get this done. For Reilly, this should be no problem.

Many thanks go to Dawn Riley, Executive Director, Oakcliff Sailing Center, for the use of their Swedish Match 40s.

Results after 10 Flights: (Wins-Matches Raced)

1. Laurie Jury (NZL) (5-5)
2. Sally Barkow (USA) (4-5)
3. Shawn Bennett (USA) (4-5)
4. Taylor Canfield (ISV) (3-5)
5. Nicolai Sehested (DEN (3-5)
6. Jon Singsen (USA) (3-5)
7. Reuben Corbett (NZL) (2-5)
8. Ollie-Pekka Lumijarvi (FIN) (2-5)
9. Robbie Allam (GBR) (1-5)
10. Jordan Reece (AUS) (1-5)
11. Bruce Stone (USA) (1-5)
12. William Tiller (NZL) (1-5)

Knickerbocker Cup

Knickerbocker Cup : Frustrating Start for Aon Racing

2011-08-27T03:30:00.005+12:00

by Aon Racing media

Aon Racing made a slow start to the Knickerbocker Cup, with only 2 wins from 5 on the first day of racing. The conditions were extremely variable, with mainly light winds interrupted by thunderstorms and squalls from strange directions. The team was sailing fairly well but simple mistakes cost us several races, making for a frustrating start.

Tomorrow we have a long break before getting back on the water for the final 6 flights of the round robin. Hopefully the breeze is good to us because we're told there's a good chance of Hurricane Irene paying a visit during the weekend, meaning the regatta may have to be shortened.

Aon racing would like to thank their principal sponsor, Aon Insurance Brokers, as well as Club Marine and Allianz for their support. Thanks also to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Aon Racing is Reuben Corbett (Skipper), Adrian Short (Main), Tom Bentham (Trim), Tom Blampied (Pit) and Jay Halligan (Bow).

Aon Racing
Knickerbocker Cup

VOR : “Telefónica” bound for Galicia

2011-08-27T03:29:00.004+12:00

Following three months of training at Marina Rubicón the Spanish boat racing in the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race has set off on the 1,000 journey to her base at Sanxenxo (Pontevedra, Spain)

Image copyright Maria Muina/Team Telefonica

by Helena Paz

Spanish entry “Telefónica” has turned yet another page in her preparation in the run-up to the Volvo Ocean Race. Following three months of training and preparation at Marina Rubicón (Lanzarote), the yacht skippered by Iker Martínez cast off her lines yesterday afternoon to set course for her next destination: the team base at Sanxenxo, in Pontevedra, Northern Spain.

With just two months to go until the start of the round the world competition, a brand new phase of preparation for Team Telefónica has kicked off.

“These three months have given us so much”

Following the time spent in Lanzarote, a weighing up of the experience and what's been achieved and learned by Team Telefónica up until now is unavoidable. “After three months it's clear that coming here was the right decision”, confessed Iker Martínez during his last few minutes in Lanzarote. “The crew have been very happy here and we've also done some really good sailing”.

Xabi Fernández, Trimmer on “Telefónica” also looked back over the experience before casting off: “To begin with, these three months have flown by because we've been happy both on the water and on shore. These seas were exactly what we were looking for, with good conditions in terms of wind and the water and we have been able to try out the whole sail program as well as the boat itself. We are really happy, not only because of what we've found here, but also with the feedback we got from the boat. We feel a lot more prepared for this one than we did for the last two Volvos I was involved in. We've sailed a lot, an average of five or six times a week and we have really made the most of being here”.

The crew on “Telefónica” are now focussed on what's ahead, as Martínez points out: “Now, rather than looking back at what we have done, we are focussed on what's left to do. Now's the time to think about the next step”.

Five days of sailing ahead

Image copyright Maria Muina/Team Telefonica

With the yacht in regatta mode, “Telefónica” is now taking on the almost 1,000 mile climb up the Atlantic Ocean, where the course will be mainly upwind, with the wind coming at the yacht head-on.

“We will reach the halfway point along the length of Portugal with Northeasterly winds and then we'll get North winds, with four days of pure close-hauling”, said Xabi Fernández. “It's not the most fun sail for us, but it's good for us as here we've been sailing on more open courses. We'll be setting off in regatta mode and we will try to get to know the boat even better. We hope these days will be quick so we can get stuck into the next phase of training in Sanxenxo”, he concluded.

I'm going to Sanxenxo, and you're going to Alicante

The logistics behind a round the world sailing team is anything but simple. Whilst “Telefónica” and her entire crew are climbing North, the Shore Crew (riggers, sail-makers, boat-builders, electronics experts, purchasing department, logistics crew, etc...) were working hard to dismantle the Team Telefónica base in the Canaries. It's a process that began days ago with the packing of a lot of equipment and finished yesterday.

The base, which is made up of various 40-foot containers, other smaller containers which will remain in situ and two tents for the sail loft and the composites and boat-building team, was completely dismantled. A new process will now begin: sending off the containers to Alicante.

The 40-foot containers will leave Lanzarote at the end of the month. They'll go from Marina Rubicón to the island's capital Arrecife, where they'll then be loaded onto a ship for Alicante where the Team Telefónica base will then be set up at the port of departure for the Volvo Ocean Race.

What will be transported? All of the spares and working equipment, the tools, the team rib (seven metres long), the forklift, each crew and shore members personal items including suitcases, bicycles, surfboards etc., office equipment... Everything bound for Alicante.

Image copyright Maria Muina/Team Telefonica

What about Sanxenxo? A van is travelling to the team base in Galicia with all of the team's baggage. Another van is travelling with any spares the team might need and will be in Sanxenxo when “Telefónica” ties up at the Galician port.

The vans are driven by two of the Shore Crew: the “Jorges” (Jorge Blanco and George Peacock). Both started today the long journey across land and sea, a total of almost 60 hours from Marina Rubicón – Arrecife – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Portimao – Sanxenxo.

Tuesday 30th, in Galicia

“Telefónica” is forecasted to reach Vigo on Tuesday 30th at around 11:30 am, with a stopover of some four hours at the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, the royal yacht club. Another 17 miles will take the crew to Sanxenxo, where they will also be greeted by local authorities and sailing fans.

“Both at Vigo and Sanxenxo we'll get a warm welcome, which we are really looking forward to”, said Iker Martínez. “Sanxenxo is also the Team Telefónica offshore sailing base. It has been for years and it is also where we prepared our round the world BWR challenge and where the Volvo team have been working for a year, so many people are waiting for us and we are really looking forward to being there too”.

As one phase draws to an end, another commences...

Team Telefonica
Volvo Ocean Race

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : One Race to Go

2011-08-27T03:28:00.007+12:00

Wild Oats XI. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

On the penultimate day of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, two premier divisions have all but been run and won while the rest have one race remaining to make a final grab for points before the curtain closes tomorrow.

Conditions were cool on the water today with a 14 knot average south easterly breeze and a top gust of 21 knots and early light showers.

With the ocean water whipped up by high winds earlier in the week, whale sightings have been rare however today a mother and calf humpback made an appearance in Whitsunday Passage, breeching as Bob Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI approached.

The line honours order has remained constant all week, Wild Oats XI leading Anthony Bell’s Investec Loyal and Peter Millard and John Honan’s 30m Bakewell White. All three are ramping up for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart and valuable lessons taken away from Race Week will be incorporated into their preparation.

Melges 32s. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Corrected time tells a completely different story with the bigger boats handicapped out of the top spots and a week-long all-in scrap between Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki and the grand prix 50 foot flyers.

For Marcus Blackmore’s TP52 Hooligan, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is the culmination of an 18 month long winning program before the boat is shipped to Singapore for the Asian IRC circuit. Following today’s overall win, their seventh from nine starts, Blackmore seems well beyond the reach of his nearest rivals on nine points to Loki’s 19 points.

It’s a similar story in IRC Class B, Darryl Hodgkinson’s Beneteau 45 Victoire five wins, two seconds and today’s third setting them up for a call to the stage at tomorrow evening’s official trophy presentation.

M32 Lumix. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

In the remaining divisions the competition is far from over, particularly in Performance Racing Division 2 where just two points separate the first six boats on the results sheet.

“When it’s that close, you have to sail your own race and not worry about the tactical situations of the others,” said leading skipper Tony Coleman, one of three sitting at front of the pack on 38 points with his Sydney based J133 Euphoria.

Coleman’s secret weapon this week is one of the Island’s medical staff members who has never sailed before but has been on board for a day one win and also today’s win in one of the windward/leeward races. “She thinks sailing’s so easy,” laughed Coleman. Of course she’s been invited back for tomorrow’s ultimate race.

Ice Racing. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week’s concluding on water event is the Molle Islands Race, kicking off from 10.30am tomorrow morning from Dent Passage.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

America's Cup : Countdown to America’s Cup World Series San Diego

2011-08-27T03:28:00.004+12:00

San Diego layout. Image copyright ACEA.

by Stephanie Martin

In under three months’ time, the America’s Cup World Series will land in San Diego for the U.S. debut of the new look America’s Cup racing. A new professional global circuit, the AC World Series features the sport’s best athletes competing on some of the most physically demanding boats in the world - the AC45 wing-sailed catamarans.

Adding a new and exciting chapter to its storied history with America’s Cup, San Diego is renown as one of the best sailing venues in the world. But come this November, San Diego will see a very different America’s Cup experience, with racing held just feet offshore, live inside San Diego Harbor in front of thousands of spectators. As one of the real birthplaces of extreme sports, San Diego is an ideal host for the next generation America’s Cup, with boats that really embrace the extreme.

“We spent 16 months in San Diego preparing for the last America's Cup, so we know that the harbor is a perfect stadium for the new-look high-speed, high-energy America's Cup,” said James Spithill, Skipper of ORACLE Racing. “We thought it was pretty cool just sailing our wing-sailed multihull back in 2009, but this time there will be a whole fleet sailed by teams from around the world. I can promise you this: people in San Diego will have a new appreciation for America's Cup sailing."

The AC World Series San Diego event will take place inside San Diego Bay, with numerous waterfront viewing locations that will allow spectators to see the on-the-water action up close. In addition to a full race schedule, the series stop will feature the all-ages AC Village at Harbor Drive which encompasses activities on Broadway Pier and the U.S.S. Midway with spectator grandstands, interactive displays, concession booths and a nightly entertainment schedule, while the stylish AC Experience at Harbor Island will provide a more lavish setting for patrons.

“Our city’s long and storied history with the Cup makes San Diego Bay an ideal location to help transform America’s Cup racing in to a new era,“ said Chuck Nichols, chairman of Sailing Events Association San Diego. “With its natural stadium environment, we are able to host multiple venues along San Diego Bay for fans to view this new form of high-adrenaline racing and, most importantly, celebrate the America’s Cup sporting experience in an intimate way never before experienced in the U.S.”

Fans will be greeted by new boats, new formats and a whole new level of racing. Sailing the AC45, the athletes will tested through both fleet and match races that put a premium on physical and mental strength. The highlight of the event is winner-takes-all, fleet race on Sunday November 20, where the teams will compete for the title of AC World Series San Diego Champion, as well as the chance to put points on the board for an overall 2011-12 AC World Series win. Another fan showcase – the AC 500 Speed Trial, where teams push their boats to the limit to cover a 500-meter straight-line course in the shortest time.

"San Diego Bay has a proven track record as a perfect venue for this type of action-packed sailing," said Lou Smith, Vice Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. "The port supports the America's Cup World Series as part of its goal to 'activate' the waterfront around San Diego Bay, providing economic benefit to port tenant businesses and enjoyment to spectators."

Broadcast to expose millions more fans to the sport of high-performance sailing, the AC World Series is a regular circuit of regattas that will bring America’s Cup-level racing and experience to top international venues. The AC World Series champion will be crowned during the final circuit stop in Newport, RI, in 2012. The AC World Series events provide the fans the only opportunity to see all of the America’s Cup competitors racing together.

“This exciting event will provide the city with a healthy economic jolt and also serve as a great advertisement for San Diego,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “Media from all over the globe will broadcast images of San Diego’s spectacular scenery to viewers as far away as China and New Zealand.”

The AC World Series is sailed in the AC45, the forerunner to the next generation of America’s Cup boats. Focused on creating more on-the-water excitement for both the teams and the fans, the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran was designed for both speed and close racing. While capable of closing speeds of over 35 mph, the AC45 remains nimble enough to handle the tight, tactical race courses planned by America’s Cup Race Management. The new format of the America’s Cup also includes a strong commitment to restoring and preserving the world’s oceans through a partnership with Sailors for the Sea and other organizations at each series stop.

“With the breakneck speed of the boats and the athleticism needed onboard, the new look America’s Cup will be attracting a whole new audience, one that is younger and loves action sports and extreme thrills,” said Tom Huston, Chief Operating Officer, America’s Cup Event Authority. “San Diego will provide a world-class experience for AC World Series competitors and fans alike. We look forward to celebrating this AC World Series event with thousands of spectators in San Diego, and help write a new exciting chapter in San Diego’s long history with the America’s Cup.”

America's Cup - San Diego

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Hooligan holds firm in Audi IRC Australian Championship

2011-08-27T03:27:00.008+12:00

Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

Multiple Laser world champion and Rolex ISAF World Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby has been part of many different race programs. When asked what he believes is the magic ingredient, the explanation for Marcus Blackmore’s mind boggling success at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week with his TP52 Hooligan, Slingsby says it’s the team.

“Sometimes the volume goes up but it’s always constructive. There is never a harsh word spoken to a crewmember, no one gets attacked,” he says.

Slingsby is Hooligan’s tactician and on the owner who does the majority of the driving he’s particularly complimentary, “As long as I can paint a good picture Marcus does the rest perfectly, probably better than what I could do.”

There’s no doubt Blackmore’s boat is fast, damn fast, and boasts an enviable line up of yachting superstars who are being coached by one of the best, Australian Olympic coach Victor Kovalenko.

Including today’s two windward/leewards, Hooligan has recorded six wins and two seconds to be on eight points in IRC Class A Grand Prix Division, stretching away from the nearest boat, Stephen Ainsworth’s RP63 Loki on 14 points with two races remaining.

Hooligan is also holding firm in the Audi IRC Australian Championship which will be decided at Race Week, leading Class A on three points from Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki on six points and Michael Hiatt’s Living Doll on seven points.

Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

In Class B of the Championship, Darryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire is leading comfortably on four points well clear of Rob Reynolds’ Exile on 10 points and Paul Clitheroe’s Balance on 11.

In Class C of the Audi IRC Australian Championship Peter Sorensen’s Sydney 36CR The Philsophers Club is leading on six points from Andy Kearnan’s L’Altra Donna on nine points and Andrew Hurt’s Onya on 17 points.

Hooligan, Rob Hanna’s Shogun and Loki are staging a three-way tussle for the major Race Week placings, holding out the other players including Hiatt’s Living Doll and Jim Farmer’s New Zealand Botin & Carkeek design, racing with America’s Cup sailor Chris Dickson aboard.

Hooligan. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

The Melges 32 Sports Boats Division at Race Week is one design racing at its best. Noel Leigh-Smith’s Desperado from Southport Yacht Club is the new clubhouse leader after today’s long race, ousting Stephen Girdis’ Funnel Web from the top spot.

Desperado’s tactician “when it’s going right” Phil Kellond-Knight from the Gold Coast admits “the afterguard is fairly ancient” and at this point of the week they are starting to hurt given the physical nature of the class and the testing conditions. “We go to the Tavern at night and tell a few lies then go home to bed,” said Kellond-Knight.

Amazingly Desperado, a brand new Melges 32, only arrived in the country last month giving the crew just two opportunities for some training on the Gold Coast Broadwater before trucking the boat to Hamilton Island where they are just one point out in front with two passage races to be sailed.

Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Today's forecast is for abating E/SE 10/15 knot winds and decreasing seas with scattered showers. Tomorrow, for the final day of Australia’s most awarded sailing regatta winds are likely to swing to the NE/SE at 10-15 knots and decrease, hopefully just enough breeze to get the 195 competing boats around the track in the Molle Islands Race before the series runs out of puff.

Trophies of a different kind will be up for grabs this morning with the Prix d'Elegance being run in the morning before racing commences. Winners will be announced at Saturday evening’s official trophy presentation for the following categories;
• Best Presented Yacht and Crew (yacht in first-class trim and crew in matching uniforms)
• Best Fun-Themed Yacht and Crew

On departing Hamilton Marina and entering Dent Passage those vying will turn immediately to starboard and cruise past the Flag Deck of Hamilton island Yacht Club, as close as possible without running aground.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

18 Foot Skiffs : Kiteboard, Coxon winners in Ronstan race

2011-08-27T03:27:00.005+12:00

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

by Rich Roberts

Fog and wind are served up like hors d'oeuvres on San Francisco Bay, but this week has seen too much of the former and too little of the latter to suit a serious sailor's taste.

Nevertheless, hometowner Bryan Lake and Michael Coxon of Australia gulped it down with satisfaction Thursday in the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge Race woven into the 10th annual 18ft Skiff International Regatta hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Lake, a kite boarder, was the first finisher by far among a diverse fleet of kites, 18ft Skiffs, a bunch of sailboarders and even a small catamaran that struggled home last. His time over the 7 1/2-nautical mile course from the Golden Gate past the city to the Bay Bridge was a commendable 17 minutes 56.15 seconds, comfortably ahead of the 18s that had won the race the last three years.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

America's Howie Hamlin, New Zealand's Alex Vallings, Australia's Nick Press and Australia's John Winning followed closely in that order.

Winning, the week-long leader, won the day's regular 18s race on the windward-leeward course, but fifth in the Ronstan lifted Hamlin from a point behind him to a point ahead after 8 of 10 races.

"We still have two races to go," Hamlin said. "We've had some unusual conditions [including] the most fog I can remember ever sailing in here."

Winning held the Ronstan lead briefly until Coxon and Hamlin slipped by from farther outside on the turn past the city.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

Coxon, who sat out the first three days of racing with a neck injury, showed up Thursday morning fit to go well before race time. The veteran Trevor Barnabas gladly handed the tiller back to the countryman who last year garnished his regatta triumph with a win in the Bridge to Bridge classic.

"A little time in Napa Valley did a lot of good," Coxon said.

With a day off Wednesday, Coxon was among 20 sailors who chartered a bus to visit the nearby California wine country.

Another familiar face, that of Mike Martin, was aboard Panasonic with skipper Jonathan Whitty. Martin crewed for Hamlin in four of his five wins in this regatta and is now, officially, Director of Umpiring and Rules Administration for America's Cup Race Management. He was just in Cascais, Portugal for the first America's Cup World Series tune-up competition.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

Standings
(Results for 8 races not available at time of this report; results after 6 of 10 races, including one discard; skippers listed first)

1. Yandoo, Australia, John Winning/David Gibson/Andrew Hay, 1-2-3-2-3-(5), 11 points.
2. CST Composites, USA, Howie Hamlin/ Matt Noble/Paul Allen, 2-3-1-(5)-5-1, 12.
3. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Australia, Michael Coxon/Aaron Links/Trent Barnabas, 7-1-6-1-(16/OCS)-2, 17.
4. SLAM/Mounts Bay WA, Australia, Grant Rollerson/Justin Healey/Marco Schuermann, (11)-5-5-3-1-4, 18.
5. CT Sailbattens, New Zealand, Alex Vallings/Chris Hiller/Josh McCormack, (6)-6-4-4-2-3, 19.
6. SMEG, Australia, Nick Press/Daniel Phillips/Brant Demis, 3-(7)-2-6-6-6, 23.
7. Maersk Line, Australia, Graham Catley/Nick Catley/Riley Dean, 4-(9)-7-9-4-8, 32.
8. Harken, Australia, Glenn Raphael/Ben Lawrie/Matt McKinlay, 8-4-11-7-(16/OCS)-7, 37.
9. Yamaha, New Zealand, Dave McDiarmid/Andrew Archibald/Chris Burgess, 5-10-9-(11)-8-10, 42.
10. White Lightning, USA, Patrick Whitmarsh/Charlie Smythe/Mark Breen, 10-(12)-10-8-9-9, 46.
11. Panasonic Lumix, Australia, Jonathan Whitty/Mike Martin/James Hozack, 9-8-13-10-7-(16/DNF), 47.
12. O'Canada, USA, David Rasmussen/ John Gray/Trevor Bozina, 12-(14)-12-13-11-11, 59.
13. USA Black, USA, Skip McCormack/Jody McCormack/Polish Mike, 15-13-8-(16/DNF)-10-16/DNF, 62.
14. Death Dealer, USA, Brian Malouf/John Gilmour/Joe Penrod, 13-11-14-12-13-(16/DNF), 63.
15. Love Machine, USA, Chad Freitas/Katie Love/Daniel Roberts, 14-(16/DNF)-16/DNF-16/DNF-12-16/DNF, 74.

St Francis YC

Audi MedCup : Rabenschwarzer Schümann-Tag

2011-08-27T03:26:00.002+12:00

Region of Murcia Cartagena Trophy, 25 08 2011 © Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

von Andreas Kling

Zwei letzte Plätze werfen das deutsch-französische Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One weit zurück. „Container“ als Vierte und Dritte verbessert. Einheimische „Bribón“ übernimmt Führung in Cartagena.

Super-GAU, der größte anzunehmende Unfall – anders kann die Tagesbilanz von Jochen Schümann am Donnerstag (25. August) nicht ausfallen. In beiden Segelwettfahrten der vierten Regattaserie des Audi MedCups in Cartagena/Spanien belegte der zweimalige America’s-Gewinner mit seinem Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One (Kiel) nur den letzten Platz. In der Gesamtwertung übernahm das deutsch-französische Projekt die rote Laterne von der „Container“. Die TP 52 von Udo Schütz aus Selters zeigte sich nach verpatztem Auftakt verbessert, ist nach den Einzelrängen vier und drei jedoch vorerst sechs Punkte hinter der Spitze nur Vorletzte (6.). Die „Bribón“ der Gastgeber glänzte mit einem hauchdünnen Tagessieg im dritten Rennen und übernahm die Gesamtführung einen Zähler vor der russischen „Synergy“.

Erneut musste das internationale Spitzenfeld drei Stunden warten, bis kurz vor 16 Uhr endlich genug Wind für den ersten Start wehte. Bei Stärke zwei bis drei waren wiederum die Leichtwindspezialisten gefragt – und eine Nase für den Wind, der wieder oft schwankte. „Wir sind zweimal auf der benachteiligten Seite gestartet, dann war der Ofen schon aus“, fasste Schümann die empfindlichen Niederlagen kurz und bündig zusammen. Die Gratwanderung zwischen taktischem Missgeschick und schlicht Pech war augenscheinlich, doch eine echte Aufholjagd fand nicht statt. Dazu reichte offenbar auch die Bootsgeschwindigkeit nicht. „In beiden Rennen war der später Vorletzte bei uns gestartet“, analysierte der Steuermann, „und der hat sich auch nicht mehr erholt.“

Positiver fiel die Zwischenbilanz der „Container“-Crew aus. „Wir haben zwar immer noch leichte Speedprobleme, aber es ging schon deutlich bergauf“, sagte der Berliner Frithjof Kleen, der von Skipper Markus Wieser als Coach geholt wurde. „Zwei Super-Starts und keine große Fehler auf der Bahn haben uns zwei Mittelplätze eingebracht“, so der Starbootsegler weiter, „damit müssen wir zufrieden sein.“ Zwar hatte die US-amerikanische „Quantum Racing“, Gegner Nummer eins im Kampf um den Saisonsieg im Audi Med Cup Circuit 2011, zunächst das bessere Ende für sich und zog in Lee der Deutschen langsam vorbei. Doch im zweiten Tagesrennen gelang die Revanche, als Ed Baird das US-Boot nur auf den vorletzten Platz manövrierte.

„Es ist immer noch schwierig für uns, bei Leichtwind mit ‚Quantum‘, ‚Bribón‘ und ‚Synergy‘ mitzufahren, aber das ging deutlich besser als zum Auftakt“, meinte Taktiker Hamish Pepper (Neuseeland). Der Hamburger Vorsegeltrimmer Matti Paschen ergänzte: „Wir haben das erste Rennen detailliert ausgewertet und nochmal einiges am Setup und Trimm geändert. Das ermöglicht automatisch eine freiere Wahl der Taktik. Ich bin davon überzeugt, dass wir den Hebel nun in die richtige Richtung umgelegt haben.“

Die schwierigen Windbedingungen spiegelten sich auch zum Auftakt der Soto 40-Regatta wider. Der Auftaktsieg ging an die einheimische „NH Hotels“, während die sonst haushoch überlegene „Iberdrola“ nur Vorletzte vor der „cruiser-racer.com“ (alle Spanien) wurde. Die deutsche Taktikerin Sabine Schumann aus Barcelona musste auch im zweiten Rennen der Erfahrung der Gegner auf diesen neuen Booten Tribut zollen und war mit ihrer Mannschaft abgeschlagen. Die Gesamtführung übernahm überraschend die britische „Ngoni“ mit einem Tagessieg nach Rang zwei zu Beginn.

Die Region of Murcia Trophy im Audi MedCup wird am Freitag (26. August) mit zwei geplanten Wettfahrten und – wenn möglich – einem Nachholrennen der TP 52 fortgesetzt, das am Mittwoch mangels Wind ausgefallen war. Die letzten Rennen finden am Sonntag (28. Juli) statt.

Audi MedCup Circuit 2011
Region of Murcia Trophy in Cartagena/Spanien (vierte von fünf Regattaserien)
TP 52-Serie

2. Wettfahrt:
1. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (Italien), Guillermo Parada
2. Quantum Racing (USA), Ed Baird
3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (Russland), Eugeniy Neigodnikov
4. Container (Selters), Skipper Markus Wieser
5. Bribón (Spanien), Gonzalo Araujo
6. Ràn (Schweden), Niklas Zennström
7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (Kiel), Jochen Schümann

3. Wettfahrt:
1. Bribón, 2. Ràn, 3. Container, 4. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 5. Synergy, 6. Quantum Racing, 7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One

Gesamtstand (nach drei von neun Wettfahrten)

1. Bribón, Gonzalo Araujo (Spanien, 2/5/1) 8 Punkte
2. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, Eugeniy Neigodnikov (Russland, 1/3/5) 9
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, Guillermo Parada (Italien, 5/1/4) 10
4. Quantum Racing, Ed Baird (USA, 3/2/6) 11
5. Ràn, Niklas Zennström (Schweden, 6/6/2) 15
6. Container, Udo Schütz (Selters), Skipper Markus Wieser (7/4/3) 14
7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One, Jochen Schümann (Kiel, 4/7/7) 18

Audi MedCup

Audi MedCup : Bribon and Ngoni lead off Cartagena

2011-08-27T03:15:00.003+12:00

Region of Murcia Trophy Cartagena, 25 08 2011 © Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

From a second day of light winds racing off Cartagena, SE Spain, the Spanish TP52 Bribon emerged with a slender overall lead at the Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy regatta after they held their nerve to win the second race of the day.

In the Soto 40 Class Kevin Sproul (GBR) and the crew of Tony Buckingham’s Ngoni (GBR) lead after two races after scoring a second then a first place.

Patience has been a key virtue so far: not just for dealing with the long postponements waiting for the fickle minded sea-breeze to fill out enough to allow racing, but in the judgement calls required to decipher what the shifting, unsettled breeze is doing.

After a fifth then a race win, adding to their second place on the opening day, 2008’s winners here Bribon top the regatta standings by one single point ahead of Synergy’s Russian Sailing Team.

But the Spanish crew might have been further ahead on the results table were it not for a costly penalty during the second beat of the first race. Infringing Quantum Racing (USA) dropped them from second place to finish fifth.

The gentle sea breeze was slightly stronger than for the 52 Series first racing day, but it still never made more than 10kts.

Region of Murcia Cartagena Trophy, 25 08 2011 © Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

There was little in the way of a solid wind pattern from one leg to another. In the first race Italy’s Audi Azzurra Sailing Team won from the left, pin end of the start line to work the offshore side of the course, finishing ahead of Circuit leaders Quantum Racing. In the second race Bribon’s double Olympic medal winning tactician Ross MacDonald (CAN) did an astute job of keeping them in the best pressure and they were just able to hold off Niklas and Catherine Zennström’s RÁN (SWE) to win. Consistency over both races proved especially elusive, the Italian crew on Audi Azzurra Sailing Team scoring best for the day with their 1,4.

The Soto 40 fleet’s first experience of racing on this testing arena was no easier, but the closely matched fleet did have what must rank as their closest and most tactical day of racing yet in the lighter breezes. In place of the physical demands of controlling these light powerful one designs the key gains were made off the start line and making best use of the wind shifts.

After the young Australian Team on Patagonia by the Australian Soto 40 Team had lead since the first run Inaki Castaner (ESP) and the crew of NH Resorts (ESP) (aka Noticias IV) were able to take the lead in the dying minutes of the last run. As Patagonia tried to hold up Circuit leaders Iberdrola (ESP), they opened the door for Ngoni to steal second at the other end of the finish line.

NH Resorts and Patagonia by the Australian Soto 40 Team both jumped the start gun in the second race which was won comfortably by Sproul and the Ngoni team who lead the regatta by one point from NH Resorts.

Region of Murcia Trophy – Cartagena
52 Series
Results after three races:

1. Bribón (ESP), 2+5+1=8 points
2. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1+3+5= 9 point
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5+1+4=10 points
4. Quantum Racing (USA), 3+2+6=11 points
5. RÁN (SUE), 6+6+2=14 points
6. Container (GER), 7+4+3=14 points
7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4+7+7=18 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)=27 points

Region of Murcia Trophy Cartagena, 25 08 2011 © Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup

40 Series
Results after two races:

1. Ngoni (GBR) 2+1=3 points
2. NH Resorts (ESP) 1+3= 4 points
3. Iberdrola Team (ESP) 4+2= 6 points
4. Patagonia by the Australian Team (AUS) 3+4= 7 points
5. cruiser-racer.com (ESP) 5+5= 10 points

Ignasi Triay (ESP), trimmer, Bribón (ESP):
“ The boat performs very well in these conditions. In the first race we fought against Azzurra and Quantum but in a port-starboard situation they were on port and made us hesitate and we ended up being penalized. No objection, it was a mistake from our side, but we left that behind and we managed to save the day. In the second race we were among the top boats from the beginning. On the last run we had RÁN ahead but we caught them and that makes us leaders in Cartagena".

Francesco Bruni (ITA), tactician Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA):
“ A fourth and a first place is a nice score. In the first one we did things well, we started well and went to the left. We were in control from the beginning, Quantum was behind sailing very fast and were kind of threatening but we coped with it and won the race".

Kevin Sproul (GBR) skipper-helm Ngoni (GBR):
“We had a couple of good starts and that always helps. We were first at the windward mark in both races, but it was a bit ironic in the first race because if we had only been one boatlength ahead we could probably have won it, but because we were ten boatlengths ahead we didn’t. The breeze shut down for us at the mark and the others rounded with pressure, in a puff and caught us right up. If we had been closer to them we could have been in the same puff, but that is the way it is sometimes. But generally it all came together quite nicely, we seemed to be quick enough and in the lighter breezes can maybe get a bit of the consistency we have lacked in the stronger breeze.”

Iñaki Castañer (ESP), helmsman, NH Resorts (ESP):
" We did a good start in the race we won. Our tactician Gustavo Martínez Doreste did a good job, and also the rest of the crew, which sailed at their best inspite of all the shifts and preassure differences. The keys today were consistency and good tactics, you had to choose one side or the other. In this conditions you can't lose concentration".

Audi MedCup

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Victory imminent for Victoire

2011-08-27T03:13:00.001+12:00

Victoire. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

In the hard-fought IRC Class B at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Darryl Hodgkinson’s slippery Beneteau 45 Victoire has padlocked the top placing and thrown away the key with today’s fifth consecutive handicap win from six starts.

An island course in a gusty 18-20 knot SE breeze proved another easy hit out for Victoire which is demoralising its Class B competition.

Hodgkinson, a Sydney based plastic surgeon, and his Cruising Yacht Club of Australia team pre-planned their season well in advance. They have put significant effort into boat maintenance and their sail wardrobe as well as time on the water to gel the crew.

There’s no doubt tactician and the linchpin Hodgkinson describes as “a magician on the helm downwind in 30 knots plus”, Sean Kirkjian, has been instrumental in the boat’s success which so far includes divisional wins in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast and Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week. Now a win at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is at their fingertips.

Guest crew aboard Victoire for this week include Ros Urwin and 16 year-old Kristie, the wife and daughter of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s rating director Mike Urwin, who is part of the Race Week jury.

Sistership Paul Clitheroe’s Balance was today shuffled out of second place by Ray Roberts’ Evolution Racing, the two tied on equal points with two races remaining.

“Because ours is a sistership to Victoire the tragic truth is we can’t blame the boat,” laughed Clitheroe today on the dock.

“We have periods where we lose concentration, we have a drift off and Victoire slips away. Full credit to them.”

Beneteau designs make up a quarter of the almost 200 strong fleet enjoying the 28th edition of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Ross Wilson’s First 47.7 Eagle Rock is second on the Performance Racing 1 pointscore on a countback while the all Japanese crew on Kiwamu Takahashi’s chartered First 40 Chancellor is runner up in Performance Racing 2 by a slim one point margin.

A very different looking Beneteau, a mini version of the Open 70, has made its Australian regatta debut at Race Week.

Gold Coast owner Paul Laurence was a cruising sailor who was in the market for something sporty. He put in his order last November for the new generation Beneteau First 30 in May this year and just prior to the Sanctuary Boat Show it arrived and immediately went on display.

Called G2, Laurence’s First 30 is one of only two in the country. It found early success club racing out of Southport Yacht Club in light conditions. At a windy Race Week Laurence and his crew are still finding their feet in Cruising 2 Division of the wide, snub nose sports boat design.

“My first impression is that it’s a fantastic boat, a weapon,” said the delighted skipper today.

“It feels solid. It’s a better boat than I imagined it would be.”

The design, which measures 9.52m in length and 3.2 in hull beam, includes a wide open cockpit, twin transom hung rudders and mast that’s aft to create a larger triangle so the mast doesn’t have to be too tall or the keel too deep.

“The boat actually enjoys being over on its ear....the crew don’t mind this either.... and the leeward rudder stays vertical. It’s also a very dry boat,” added Laurence.

With the breeze trending down after a blustery start to Race Week, Laurence is looking forward to tomorrow’s island course and Saturday’s final Molle Islands Race to gauge G2’s potential in more moderate conditions.

Designed by the talented Juan Kouyoumdjian, well known from the America’s Cup and the VOR, and technical advisor Michel Desjoyeaux, the First 30 has made a spectacular comeback more than 30 years after its predecessor.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : America's Cup and Admiral's Cup make history

2011-08-27T03:08:00.003+12:00

left to right: Tom Ehman, Jimmy Spithill and Bob Oatley, with the America's Cup and the Admiral's Cup. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

For the first time ever, two of the most significant trophies in the sport of sailing, have been displayed together. The America’s Cup and the Admiral’s Cup are on show this week at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

The oldest trophy in the history of international sport, the America’s Cup, arrived on Hamilton Island yesterday afternoon. The cup flew to Australia from San Francisco in a first-class passenger seat. The visit coincides with the 160th anniversary of the first awarding of the Cup in 1851.

This is only the third time that the Cup has been seen in Australia, so its presence at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is high recognition of the stature that this regatta now holds on the international sailing scene.

The Admiral’s Cup is currently defended by Australia and Sydney’s Royal Prince Albert Yacht Club after Bob Oatley’s yacht Wild Oats won it in 2003.

Last night, at sunset, at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, both Cups were revealed from their travelling boxes.

“The America’s Cup travels in a very large Louis Vuitton box which captures great attention at the airport,” said Vice Commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club Tom Ehman who travelled to Australia, with the Cup and two security officers.

Hamilton Island Chairman Sandy Oatley said it was one of his life’s pleasures to have both of the Cups together on the island.

“We are extremely honoured to have the America’s Cup at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week,” he said.

“Hamilton Island is already well recognised across the world as an award winning holiday destination, and now the presence of the America’s Cup at Race Week confirms we are also well recognised as an international destination for sailing and boating.”

Bob Oatley, Jimmy Spithill and Iain Murray with the America's Cup. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

The America’s Cup is currently held by San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club after it was won by Larry Ellison’s giant trimaran, BMW Oracle, in a series against the Swiss defender, Alinghi, in Spain last year. Thirty one year old Australian James Spithill skippered Ellison’s yacht.

The America’s Cup visit to Audi Hamilton Island Race Week was organised by Iain Murray, the Commodore of Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Murray is also the CEO and Regatta Director for the next America’s Cup match, which will be staged in San Francisco in 2013. Murray’s direct association with the America’s Cup spans almost 30 years. In that time he has been credited with making significant contributions towards the development of the event, particularly through yacht design and development.

During Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Iain Murray and the Vice-Commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, Tom Ehman, will be speaking at forums about the America’s Cup as an event, and the exciting new catamarans that will be competing in the 34th match in 2013.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

D35 : Foncia D35 - Du Sel en plus

2011-08-27T02:58:00.004+12:00

Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&co/Foncia

par Laurence Dacoury

Pas le temps de s’ennuyer pour le Team FONCIA : 15 jours seulement après la mise à l’eau du MOD70, le Vulcain Trophy reprendra ses droits le 1er Septembre. Nouveauté cette année, les deux derniers actes se disputent en Méditerranée. Deux épreuves à courir et une place de leader à confirmer, une fin de saison qui s’annonce passionnante à bord du D35 FONCIA.

Une épreuve riche en symboles...

Cette sixième étape marque un tournant dans le Vulcain Trophy : un retour du multicoque dans l’hexagone qui rappelle également que ce sera le support de prédilection lors des années à venir avec le MOD70. Et pour la première fois de leur carrière, les D35 vont goûter à l’eau salée. Direction les Alpes-Maritimes à Beaulieu-sur-Mer pour ce baptême.

Les conditions de navigation en mer s’annoncent ainsi radicalement différentes de celles rencontrées sur le Lac, Michel Desjoyeaux confirme que "cela va être une découverte pour les D35, car ils n’ont jamais vu la mer. Le plan d’eau est plus ouvert, cela laissera un petit peu plus de terrain de jeu. Le problème pourrait venir du Mistral ou d’un coup de vent d’Est qui nous clouerait au port". Une attention plus particulière sera apportée à l’électronique et aux composants mécaniq ues, car l’eau de mer marque en profondeur le bateau. "L’hydraulique et l’électronique vont plus vieillir en deux mois sur un plan d’eau salé qu’en cinq ans sur un plan d’eau douce. Le bateau est en carbone avec des pièces en aluminium ou en inox de haute qualité. Ces matériaux, conjugués à l’eau de mer, forment une véritable pile électrique" ajoute Michel. En fin de navigation il faudra donc rincer à grande eau le bateau et l’équipage pour enlever le sel accumulé tout au long de la journée.

Une première place à conserver

Après une ouverture de saison difficile (8e du Grand-Prix Les Ambassadeurs), le Team FONCIA a su trouver les bons réglages pour enchaîner les résultats : quatre podiums, dont deux victoires, lors des cinq épreuves. C’est donc en leaders du classement général provisoire que Michel Desjoyeaux et ses équipiers attaquent cette session méditerranéenne. "Nous n’avons pas de pression sur les épaules, confirme Michel Desjoyeaux, nous allons continuer à fonctionner comme nous l’avons toujours fait. Cela nous a réussis."

Si Michel Desjoyeaux a plus l’habitude des embruns salés que ses adversaires suisses, le plateau est relevé et la concurrence ne doit pas être sous-estimée : "Pour moi, la connaissance d’un plan d’eau est complètement anecdotique. Penser connaître c’est oublier d e regarder et c’est là où l’on se fait avoir. Nous n’aurons pas d’avantage par rapport aux équipages suisses. Nous devrons rester concentrés en permanence" prévient Michel.

Neuf des onze équipages ont fait le voyage vers le sud de la France, les D35 Ylliam de Pierre-Yves Firmenich et De Rham Sothebys de Philippe Cardis ne participeront pas aux deux dernières manches.

Un Antoine débarque, un autre embarque

Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&co/Foncia

Comme prévu depuis le début de la saison, Antoine Gautier cède sa place à bord à Antoine Carraz. Jusqu’à présent prépar ateur, ce dernier a suivi le Team FONCIA tout au long des Grand Prix et a même embarqué, au pied levé, à bord du catamaran arc-en-ciel lors de la victoire sur la Realstone Cup. Très impliqué au sein de l’équipe, il navigue régulièrement sur de nombreux supports et connaît sur le bout des doigts le D35 FONCIA.

Antoine Carraz a d’ores et déjà rejoint Antibes, accompagné de Nicolas de Castro et Alban Rossollin, pour assembler le bateau complètement désossé en juin après le Bol d’Or. Un véritable puzzle avec trois coques, les poutres, le mât, l’accastillage et l’électronique. Si l’assemblage en lui-même ressemble à un "Meccano", le plus gros du travail consistera à remettre le filet en place : "Il y a 300 points de transfilage. Pour démonter il suffit de couper les attaches mais pour le remonter il faudra remettre des garcettes et tendre un par un tous ces points. Un travail long et rébarbatif !" explique Michel Desjoyeaux. Une petite semaine sera nécessaire pour remettre en ordre de marche le D35 FONCIA.

Le D35, quèsaco ?

Ce monotype suisse est un multicoque de 35 pieds (10,81m). Catamaran à trois coques (la coque centrale n’étant que structurelle et ne touche pas l’eau), c’est un bateau de lac surtoilé avec des échelles latérales qui offre la possibilité aux six équipiers de contrecarrer la puissance développée par le "moteur", i.e. les voiles. La monotypie permet aux concurrents de se battre à armes égales : c’est l’équipage qui fait la différence.

Les premières épreuves de Décision 35 se sont disputées dès 2004 sous le nom de Challenge Julius Baër puis de Vulcain Trophy. Depuis des grands noms de la voile française ont laissé leur empreinte sur ce circuit lémanique : Alain Gautier (Team FONCIA), Loïck Peyron, Franck Cammas, Pascal Bidegorry, Karine Fauconnier… face aux meilleurs des navigateurs suisses : Ernesto Bertarelli (Alinghi), les frères Ravussin...

Naviguer en D35 était une priorité de la saison pour le Team FONCIA. En attendant la livraison de leur MOD 70, la n ouvelle génération des multicoques et monotypes océaniques, le Vulcain Trophy a permis à Michel Desjoyeaux et ses équipiers de se remettre dans le bain des multicoques face à une concurrence sévère.

Classement Vulcain Trophy 2011
Provisoire après cinq manches

1e - FONCIA (8e, 1er, 1er, 3e, 2e = 7 pts)
2e - Veltigroup (4e, 3e, 3e, 1er, 8e = 11 pts)
3e - Alinghi (2e, 4e, 5e, 5e, 1er = 12 pts)
4e - Artemis Racing (3e, 5e, 2e, 2e, 10e = 12 pts)
5e - CER Carrefour Prévention (1er, 2e, 10e, 6e, 7e = 16 pts)
6e - Okalys-Corum (6e, 6e, 8e, 4e, 4e = 20 pts)
7e - De Rham Sotheby’s (5e, 7e, 6e, 8e, 5e = 23 pts)
8e - Zen Too (7e, 8e, 11e, 7e, 9e = 31 pts)
9e - Nickel (10e, 9e, 4e, 9e, 11e = 32 pts)
10e - Ladycat (9e, 10e, 7e, 11e, 6e = 32 pts)
11e - Ylliam (11e, 11e, 9e, 10e, 3e = 33 pts)

Équipage du Team FONCIA

Alban Rossollin - N°1
Antoine Carraz – N°2
Franck Citeau - Régleur de voiles d'avant
Jean-Christophe Mourniac – Tactique
Xavier Revil - Chariot de grand-voile
Michel Desjoyeaux - Skipper-Barreur

PROGRAMME :

6 > 8 mai : Grand Prix Les Ambassadeurs (Lausanne et Genève)
20 > 22 mai : Realstone Cup (Crans-sur-Nyon)
11 juin : Genève-Rolle-Genève
12 > 13 juin : Sogeti Cup (Genève)
18 juin : Bol d'Or Mirabaud (Genève)
1 > 4 septembre : Grand Prix de Beaulieu-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes)
22 > 25 septembre : Grand Prix d'Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes)

Team Foncia
Vulcain Trophy

Solitaire du Figaro : Jeremie Beyou double vainqueur de la Solitaire du Figaro - la fureur de vaincre

2011-08-27T02:31:00.003+12:00

Jérémie Beyou with the champagne. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux-Jean-Christophe Marmara/Le Figaro.

par Laurence Déguernel - Caraës

A 35 ans, Jérémie Beyou remporte la Solitaire du Figaro pour la deuxième fois et trois étapes sur quatre. En 2005, il la remportait devant deux anciens vainqueurs, Michel Desjoyeaux et Kito de Pavant. Six ans plus tard, sa victoire est sans appel, après avoir remporté trois étapes sur quatre devant Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen Ouistreham) et Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat). Les dernières heures ont été terriblement disputées à l'image des douze secondes qui séparent Jérémie Beyou de son dauphin sur cette dernière étape, Paul Meilhat (Macif 2011).

- Une victoire sans appel
- Les premiers mots de Jérémie Beyou
- Ce que représente la Solitaire du Figaro pour lui
- retour sur les quatre étapes
- BPI, une très belle histoire
- Portrait
- Palmarès
- Le groupe BPI

Une victoire sans appel

"Bien heureux les fêlés, car ils laisseront passer la lumière..." disait Michel Audiard. Il fallait l'être durant cette ultime étape de la Solitaire du Figaro, entre les Sables d'Olonne et Dieppe !!! Jérémie Beyou, Fabien Delahaye, Erwan Tabarly et Paul Meilhat se sont battus comme des chiffonniers, à ne pas se lâcher d'une demi-longueur de bateau. Au final, c'est Jérémie Beyou qui décroche la lune douze secondes devant Paul Meilhat ! Il rentre dans le clan très fermé des doubles vainqueurs de l'épreuve.

Cette victoire il la voulait, il la pensait et la préparait depuis trois ans. Lorsque, en 2009, il revenait sur la Solitaire du Figaro après quatre ans d'absence, son objectif était clair : la victoire. Mais en 2009 comme en 2010, même s'il a fait des coups d'éclat (il remporte deux étapes sur quatre en 2009), il manque de préparation. Une Solitaire, ça ne se gagne pas à quelques coups d'entraînements.

Cela exige un travail de préparation aussi précis que celui d'un orfèvre. Tout est passé au crible, analysé, optimisé, de la préparation de chaque centimètre du bateau, aux voiles, en passant par l'analyse des conditions météo des éditions précédentes, la préparation physique, l'alimentation et le mental. Jérémie Beyou n'a pas de préparateur mental mais il a préparé cette course depuis si longtemps qu'il est arrivé au départ, extrêmement concentré sur son objectif. Rien ne pouvait le perturber. Aux escales, il était rare de le croiser. Il préférait rester dans sa bulle pour se reposer, étudier l'étape à suivre, ne pas se laisser distraire. Sa course, il l'a préparée au Pôle Finistère Course au Large ainsi qu'avec son préparateur François Guiffant et Christopher Pratt, skipper, qui a décortiqué avec lui les scénarios météo envisageables sur chaque étape. Cette course, il la voulait, il est allé au bout de lui-même, il a été impérial.

Perros Guirec mon amour ...

En 2005, Jérémie Beyou remportait l'épreuve dont le départ était donné de Perros Guirec. En 2011, le départ était donné à ... Perros Guirec. C'est aussi dans cette petite station costarmoricaine que Jérémie a rencontré sa femme et qu'il y passe quelques vacances.

Trois étapes sur quatre

Première étape Perros Guirec - Caen : Cinquième à la bouée Radio France devant Perros Guirec, il s'accordait le prix GMF, à Hand Deeps. Après avoir mené l'étape aux avant-postes, il termine 4ème, forcément déçu et déclare : " Durant la nuit, je n'ai pas réussi à mouiller mon ancre pour éviter le courant. Alors j'ai perdu du temps parce que, pendant ce temps, je ne faisais pas marcher le bateau. Je suis tombé dans un trou d'air, on ne voyait pas les nuages, le ciel était bouché, impossible de se placer."

Deuxième étape Caen- Dun Laoghaire : Dès le départ de Caen, Jérémie était dans le tempo et maîtrisait parfaitement ses choix de route. Les leaders au classement général changeaient au gré des positions, Jérémie restait toujours à moins d'un mille du leader, n'étant jamais pointé au-delà de la 5è place.

L'étape fut rude. Après la traversée de la Manche au près, la flotte progressait au louvoyage le long des côtes britanniques. Il fallait manier la tactique avec aisance pour arriver à Land's End, à la pointe britannique qu'il franchissait en tête. Jérémie ne quittait plus la tête de la flotte et creusait même l'écart peu de temps avant l'arrivée. Il franchissait la ligne d'arrivée en grand vainqueur.

Troisième étape Dun Laoghaire - Les Sables d'Olonne : Après un départ mitigé devant le port irlandais, le skipper de BPI choisissait de s'approcher au plus près de la côte pour bénéficier des effets de site. Dans la nuit, il prend le leadership de la flotte pour ne plus le quitter jusqu'à l'arrivée plus de 48 heures et 475 milles plus tard. Jérémie frappe un grand coup et s'octroie la victoire, une fois de plus.
Quatrième étape Les Sables d'Olonne - Dieppe : L'étape s'annonce compliquée à gérer. Jérémie caracole en tête avec Fabien Delahaye dès le lendemain du départ.

Il franchit le raz de Sein en tête, passe au ras des cailloux, s'octroie le grand prix GMF entre Ouessant et le phare du Four, est toujours en tête au phare de l'île Vierge lundi soir. A chaque zone de transition, il gagne quelques longueurs. La nuit est fatigante, à louvoyer dans les cailloux et dans la brume. Après un passage ralenti sous l'île de Guernesey et le raz Blanchard, ils forment un groupe de quatre avec Fabien, Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat) et Paul Meilhat et se marquent. Aucun d'eux ne veut rien lâcher, ils ont tous autant la niaque. L'un pour remporter l'étape, l'autre pour s'assurer une place sur le podium de la course. C'est une petite manoeuvre, un empannage qui permettent à Jérémie Beyou de franchir la ligne en tête, 12 secondes devant Paul Meilhat (Macif). Au classement général, Jérémie augmente encore un peu l'avance qu'il avait sur Fabien Delahaye de quelques secondes, 34 minutes et 43 secondes au final.

Jérémie Beyou à son arrivée au ponton à Dieppe

Jérémie Beyou en route. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux-Jean-Christophe Marmara/Le Figaro.

La dernière étape : "A la fin, c'était une super petite régate. Paul a empanné un peu trop loin. Et puis voilà ! J'ai bien géré, il faut un peu de réussite aussi. Toute la nuit c'était un peu longuet. Il y avait du marquage sur Fabien, je n'ai jamais été trop inquiet. A la fin je me suis dit que Fabien ce serait plus propre s'il était derrière. Il m'aurait battu 2 fois (il a remporté la première étape), je l'aurais battu 2 fois, voilà. Ca fait un peu cour de récré mais bon ! Et puis je me suis dit que ce serait bien que Fabien soit derrière alors je me suis rapproché de Paul, le vent est rentré un peu par derrière et on est revenu un peu sur Macif et à un moment tu te dis c'est bon, la Solitaire c'est dans la poche, une régate gagnée, ça a fait tilt. Je n'y pensais pas du tout à cette victoire d'étape et puis avec la réussite, j'ai beaucoup de chance. L a première partie de l'étape, je l'ai vraiment faite à ma main. Fabien était dans les mêmes parages que moi. Mais j'étais le premier à virer, le premier à aller à la côte au Four (Chenal du Four ndlr), le premier à aller vers la bascule en Manche. Quand ca a commencé à prendre feu sous Guernesey, je me suis dit qu'il était temps que je sois observateur."

La course : "Cette victoire, il faut que j'en profite, que je savoure. Tout était facile. Quand tout le schéma stratégique est très clair dans la tête, tu as une bonne vitesse, et ça fonctionne. (..) C'est un enchaînement de choses. Je me suis toujours dit qu'il y avait une méthode pour gagner à chaque fois. Il faut prendre en main sa façon de naviguer, ne jamais subir."

La Solitaire du Figaro : "C'est un truc de fou, un truc génial. C'est une ambiance sur l'eau, à terre, que tu ne connais nul part ailleurs. Des gens comme Claire de Crépy à terre, Jacques Caraës, le Docteur Chauve en mer, c'est de l'or en barres. Cette course est extraordinaire, c'est MA course préférée. Il y a des courses plus prestigieuses, différentes mais celle-là, c'est MA course de coeur."

La concurrence : "C'est intéressant de savoir ce que pensent les autres, l'influence que j'ai sur l'eau ...L'avenir sourira à Fabien Delahaye. Il est vraiment très bien, il va vraiment très vite. Je savais qu'il allait plus vite au portant. Je n'ai pas joué les gros bras, j'ai fait du gagne petit. Il a gagné une étape, il est tout jeune, comme Paul Meilhat. Ce n'est pas facile de revenir les battre, ils sont vraiment forts ; ce n'était pas évident de revenir et de dire, je vais gagner la Solitaire du Figaro. En 2009, quand j'ai dit à Claude Paoli que je voulais revenir, c'était des mots mais il y avait un paquet de boulot pour arriver à ça. Je suis vraiment super fier de ça, revenir pour gagner et arriver à gagner ! Ca restera une fierté."

Le Vendée Globe : "Ce serait vraiment pas de bol de ne pas être au Vendée Globe parce que j'ai la niaque pour bien faire, je sais bien faire, ça mettra un peu de spectacle sur l'eau. Il ne manque plus que le ou les partenaires et je ferai aussi bien que sur la Solitaire du Figaro en 2012 "

Claude Paoli, Présidente de BPI : "Il a de l'élégance".

En 2009, Jérémie portait les couleurs de Bernard Paoli sur la Solitaire du Figaro. Claude Paoli, sa femme, et ses enfants avaient décidé de soutenir amicalement et personnellement Jérémie Beyou, pour commémorer la disparition de leur mari et père. L'année suivante, Claude Paoli était toujours présente aux côtés de Jérémie qui portait alors les couleurs de BPI, tout comme cette année. Jérémie aura offert à Claude Paoli, à sa famille et à ses collaborateurs, le plus beau des remerciements ... et de l'émotion, beaucoup d'émotion.

Claude Paoli : "Je laisse aux experts parler des qualités de marin de Jérémie. Le mot qui va le mieux à Jérémie c'est Elégant. Il a de l'élégance dans sa relation à son sponsor : la façon dont il parle de nous, la façon dont il dit "Je me suis arraché pour mon partenaire". Ce soutien à Jérémie, je le vois comme un tremplin pour qu'il trouve un partenaire plus important parce que nous n'avons pas les moyens de le suivre plus loin. En interne, tous les collaborateurs sont très très fiers et très excités par cette fin de course ! Il est formidable, tout le monde est ébloui."

JEREMIE BEYOU - PORTRAIT

Les eaux de la baie de Morlaix doivent posséder des vertus insoupçonnées.

Aujourd'hui, c'est Jérémie Beyou, enfant du pays, qui entre dans le cercle très fermé des doubles vainqueurs de la Solitaire du Figaro. C'est ici qu'il a appris à naviguer sur ce bassin où la multitude des têtes de roches empêche d'envisager de mouiller un parcours de régate orthodoxe, où les courants suivent parfois des itinéraires peu recommandables. C'est ici qu'il a fait ses premières armes en dériveur puis sur les bateaux des aînés, tel son père ou Yvon Quillec chef d'entreprise et régatier insatiable qui embarquait des jeunots à la pelle sur des voiliers de course apprêtés comme des jeunes filles de jour de leur premier bal ou encore Bruno Jourdren qui porta le premier les couleurs de Carantec dans le monde de la voile professionnelle. La baie de Morlaix est un terreau qu'il faut savoir faire fructifier : Jérémie Beyou n'a eu de cesse, tout au long de sa carrière, de porter toujours un peu plus haut la barre de ses exigences. Il a vingt ans tout juste quand il débarque sur le circuit Figaro, tout en continuant de mener des études au sein d'une école de commerce.

La voile n'en est qu'au tout début de la professionnalisation ; en vivre est encore une gageure. Petit à petit, le jeune homme franchit les paliers qui l'amèneront à cette année 2005 où il rafle tout : Champion de France en Solitaire, il remporte l'ensemble des épreuves du circuit, y compris la mythique Solitaire du Figaro. De 1997 année de ses débuts, à 2005, il a déjà glané un titre de Champion de France, accédé plusieurs fois au podium de la Solitaire du Figaro. Son triomphe est donc tout, sauf une surprise.

La victoire de 2011 n'est pas que celle d'un doublé réservé à une poignée de coureurs. C'est aussi celle de l'achèvement d'une métamorphose. En 2005, quand il avait emporté le grand chelem, Jérémie Beyou se devait de combattre perpétuellement de vieux démons. Lui, le navigateur exigeant avec lui-même, perfectionniste jusqu'au bout des ongles, n'avait de cesse de s'inquiéter d'un revers de fortune improbable, au point de donner le sentiment qu'il en gâchait une part de son plaisir. Pourtant, la victoire appelant d'autres ambitions, c'est somme toute assez logiquement, qu'il envisageait de partir sur le Vendée Globe 2008-2009. Mais parfois le chat noir décide de vous mettre des bâtons dans les safrans.

C'est tout d'abord, une Route du Rhum qui se termine avant même d'avoir pu entrer dans le vif du sujet. Des raisons familiales impérieuses mettent fin à l'expérience. Certains, dans le petit monde qui gravite autour de la course au large ont vite fait de brûler les idoles qu'ils ont vénérées. Abandonner une course pour des raisons privées est un bon moyen de donner prise à des rumeurs parfois peu amicales. Pour Jérémie, la blessure est vive, même s'il ne regrette à aucun moment sa décision. Par la suite, deux démâtages dans la Barcelona World Race puis dans le Vendée Globe, conjoints d'un contexte économique difficile, auront finalement raison de la volonté de son partenaire de continuer l'aventure.

Paradoxalement, c'est peut-être là que Jérémie Beyou a trouvé la force de rebondir. En embarquant en 2009 aux côtés de Michel Desjoyeaux, il y découvre que l'on peut associer une féroce envie de gagner et une certaine décontraction. Il multiplie les expériences entre le monocoque de Michel et le trimaran géant de Pascal Bidégorry. Il affiche dès lors une joie de vivre et une sérénité nouvelle qui va se manifester dès l'été 2009, quand avec la seule aide d'une famille mécène, il enquille deux étapes de la Solitaire du Figaro, et devient un candidat plus que crédible à la victoire finale. Jérémie a aussi cette capacité à se remettre en question, à engranger les expériences, à reconnaître ce qu'il doit aux autres.

L'héritage est un don pour celui qui sait le recevoir : ainsi, très vite, Jérémie a pris conscience que sa génération, celle des trentenaires d'aujourd'hui, a bénéficié des premier pas du professionnalisme : « Les Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain, Michel Desjoyeaux nous ont ouvert la voie. Eux ont connu cette époque où le fait de gagner un peu d'argent était l'exception... Alors, même si c'est parfois difficile, on doit se rappeler que nous sommes plutôt des privilégiés. On est arrivé au bon moment. » Dans le même temps, les jeunes pousses montrent de l'étrave, ce qui n'est pas pour lui déplaire : « Dans la voile, on ne peut pas se satisfaire d'a priori. Que des gars arrivent avec d'autres méthodes d'entraînement, une autre approche des avancées technologiques, des ambitions, ne peut que nous faire progresser. »

Alors, si Jérémie avoue encore qu'une certaine dose de souffrance peut être parfois un ressort essentiel pour la gagne, il laisse maintenant transparaître une sérénité nouvelle, celle d'un homme qui a su digérer ses échecs pour en tirer les enseignements. Quand on a touché le fond, et que l'on sait rebondir, on porte forcément un autre regard sur les petites contrariétés qu'amène fatalement une compétition aussi acharnée que la Solitaire du Figaro. « Si je suis repris après avoir été longtemps devant, je ne gamberge plus. Je sais que c'est comme çà, qu'il faut en remettre une couche, c'est tout... » Le compétiteur implacable est toujours présent, mais il dispose maintenant d'une confiance renforcée dans ses capacités... Après tout, c'est peut-être ça, l'état de grâce.

35 ans - Marié, 2 enfants - Né à Landivisiau (29) - Vit à Lorient (56)

Solitaire du Figaro :

Jérémie Beyou en route. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux-Jean-Christophe Marmara/Le Figaro.

12è participation et 50 étapes courues dont :
- 2 victoires générales (2005 - 2011)
- 6 victoires d'étapes (2005 - 2009 - 2011)
- 20 fois dans le Top ten
- 2 fois deuxième
- 2 fois troisième

2011
Préparation Transat Jacques Vabre avec Jean-Pierre Dick sur Virbac-Paprec 3
Victoire Transmanche de l'Aber Wrac'h
2010
Tentative Trophée Jules Verne . Banque Populaire V
7ème Solitaire du Figaro sur BPI
Etapes du Tour de France à la Voile sur Groovederci de Deneen Demourkas
Transat AG2R sur Generali avec Yann Eliès
Préparation Trophée Jules Verne sur Banque Populaire V de Pascal Bidegorry
2009
4ème Transat Jacques Vabre avec Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)
1er Cap Istanbul (Foncia)
2 victoires d'étape sur la Solitaire du Figaro (Bernard Paoli)
2ème Record SNSM (Foncia)
2008
Abandon dans le Vendée Globe (Delta Dore)
2007
2ème Calais round Britain race (Imoca 60 Delta Dore)
2ème Trophée Multicoques AS Lease Challenge (trimaran Banque Populaire)
Barcelona World Race avec Sidney Gavignet ab
2006
8ème Transat AG2R avec Vincent Riou
2005
1er Solitaire du Figaro
Champion de France de Course au Large en Solitaire
Champion Orma (trimaran Banque Populaire)
2004
3ème Solitaire du Figaro
6ème Transat AG2R avec Kito de Pavant
2003
4ème Transat Jacques Vabre (avec Vincent Riou - PRB)
2002
Champion de France de Course au Large en Solitaire (Delta Dore)
2001
4ème Solitaire du Figaro
2000
3ème Transat AG2R avec Pascal Bidegorry
1998
1ère participation Transat AG2R avec Gaël le Cléac'h
1997
1ère participation à la Solitaire du Figaro à l'âge de 20 ans

LA SOLITAIRE DU FIGARO - PRECEDENTS MULTI VAINQUEURS

Vainqueurs ayant remporté 3 étapes ou plus dans la même édition : Gilles Le Baud - Patrick Eliès (4) - Lionel Péan - Philippe Poupon - Alain Gautier - Yves Parlier - Armel le Cléac'h - Jérémie Beyou
Doubles vainqueurs : Gilles le Baud - Yves Cornou - Gilles Gahinet - Nicolas Troussel - Armel le Cléac'h - Jérémie Beyou
Triples vainqueurs : Phlippe Poupon - Jean le Cam - Michel Desjoyeaux

BPI, premier groupe indépendant de conseil en ressources humaines et management
Fondé en 1984, BPI est aujourd'hui une entreprise d'envergure internationale présente dans 40 pays et forte de 1800 collaborateurs.

Spécialisé dans la préparation, la mise en œuvre et le pilotage des stratégies de changement de ses clients, entreprises et institutions, BPI a la conviction que le progrès durable ne peut résulter que d'une étroite combinaison entre deux facteurs : l'économique et l'humain.

« La création de BPI est fondée sur l'idée que lorsque des questions humaines sont en jeu, il n'existe pas de solutions « prêt-à-porter »viables dans la durée. Notre objectif est d'aider nos clients à dessiner leur développement, à optimiser leurs performances, à organiser les conditions de restructuration et de croissance, à franchir avec succès le cap des décisions difficiles », Claude Paoli, Président directeur général BPI.

The podium. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux-Jean-Christophe Marmara/Le Figaro.

CLASSEMENT GENERAL AVANT JURY

1 98 BEYOU Jérémie BPI Arrivé en 257h08'41"
2 4 DELAHAYE Fabien PORT DE CAEN OUISTREHAM + 34'43"
3 3 TABARLY Erwan NACARAT + 01h07'59"
4 9 LUNVEN Nicolas GENERALI + 01h11'21"
5 190 ROUXEL Thomas BRETAGNE-CREDIT MUTUEL PERFORMANCE + 01h22'06"
6 79 MEILHAT Paul MACIF 2011 + 01h35'47"
7 ± 92 CHABAGNY Thierry GEDIMAT + 01h46'49"
8 * 192 LAGRAVIERE Morgan VENDEE + 01h48'39"
9 31 PELLECUER Laurent ATELIER D'ARCHITECTURE JEAN PIERRE MONIER + 01h48'56"
10 8 MARCHAND Anthony BRETAGNE-CREDIT MUTUEL ESPOIR + 01h56'13"
11 10 ATTANASIO Romain SAVEOL + 02h10'14"
12 * ± 70 MACAIRE Xavier STARTER ACTIVE BRIDGE + 02h14'29"
13 ± 60 DUTHIL Frédéric SEPALUMIC + 02h30'37"
14 32 HARDY Adrien AGIR Recouvrement + 02h30'58"
15 68 NICOL Jean-Pierre BERNARD CONTROLS + 02h31'21"
16 28 LOISON Alexis Port Chantereyne Cherbourg-Octeville + 02h37'45"
17 5 GREGOIRE Jeanne BANQUE POPULAIRE + 02h40'47"
18 * ± 57 SHARP Phil The Spirit of Independence + 02h42'51"
19 ± 66 JOSCHKE Isabelle Galettes Saint Michel + 02h55'50"
20 48 SVILARICH Etienne Volkswagen Think Blue + 03h10'12"
21 * 26 RUYANT Thomas DESTINATION DUNKERQUE + 03h37'43"
22 64 JOSSIER Nicolas Entreprendre en Pays Granvillais + 04h10'09"
23 96 DROUGLAZET Eric LUISINA + 04h24'06"
24 * 34 DALIN Charlie Keopsys + 04h24'32"
25 17 GOUEZIGOUX Laurent VALORISONS + 04h39'11"
26 ± 16 RICHOMME Yoann DLBC + 04h47'15"
27 6 PERON Eric MACIF 2009 + 04h49'03"
28 72 BIARNES Vincent PRATI'BÛCHES + 04h55'12"
29 2 MORVAN Gildas CERCLE VERT + 05h05'12"
30 ± 11 MONNET Jean-Charles PARIS 15 - Château Peyrat Fourthon + 05h49'26"
31 * ± 59 HUMPHREYS Conrad DMS + 06h14'57"
32 88 RIVET Frédéric VENDEE 1 + 06h46'44"
33 ± 13 MOUREN Jean-Paul GROUPE SNEF + 08h22'34"
34 * ± 23 GOODCHILD Sam Artemis + 09h36'33"
35 95 BOTHUON Michel LES RECYCLEURS BRETONS + 10h18'15"
36 85 LOBATO Francisco ROFF + 10h40'29"
37 93 KING Nigel E-Line Orthodontics + 11h12'42"
38 30 EMIG Marc ENSEMBLE AUTOUR DU MONDE + 11h13'42"
39 * 45 LITTOZ-BARITEL Alexis SAVOIE MONT-BLANC + 11h50'22"
40 * ± 36 PICAULT Sébastien KICKERS + 13h22'50"
41 ± 67 LIVORY Yannig ONE NETWORK ENERGIES + 16h03'04"

Jeremie Beyou
La Solitaire du Figaro

Solitaire du Figaro : Jérémie Beyou remporte la 4e étape et La Solitaire du Figaro 2011

2011-08-27T02:27:00.005+12:00

Jérémie Beyou - winning. Image copyright Alexis Courcoux-Jean-Christophe Marmara/Le Figaro.

par Soazig Guého

Ce mercredi 24 août à 12 heures 49 minutes et 01 secondes, Jérémie Beyou est le premier à franchir la ligne d’arrivée à Dieppe. Le skipper de BPI a mis 3 jours 37 minutes pour parcourir les 437 milles de cette quatrième étape très côtière où la flotte a navigué au contact de la Vendée à la Normandie. Le vainqueur à Dieppe précédait ainsi une véritable rafale d’arrivées puisque les quatre premiers passaient la ligne en l’espace de 35 secondes. Cette victoire confirme la suprématie de Jérémie Beyou qui s’empare de La Solitaire du Figaro Eric Bompard Cachemire 2011, une édition qu’il a dominée de bout en bout, remportant aussi les étapes 2 et 3. Sur le podium du classement général, il devance Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen Ouistreham) et Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat). Formidable performance pour Jérémie qui entre dans le club fermé des doubles vainqueurs de La Solitaire !

Superbe final pour le jeune Paul Meilhat (Macif 2011) qui ne s’incline qu’à quelques longueurs à Dieppe après 437 milles de course essentiellement dans les petits airs (de 3 à 15 nœuds). Le jeune skipper (29 ans) avait pris le commandement ce mercredi matin à l’occasion des bascules d’un vent tournant à l’Ouest, grâce à sa micro-option au-dessus de la route directe. C’est le premier podium d’étape du sélectionné par Macif pour les saisons 2011 et 2012 alors qu’il participe pour la seconde fois à La Solitaire du Figaro.

Méli-mélo pour Meilhat

Paul Meilhat s’était déjà fait remarquer lors de sa première participation en 2009, une édition qui s’achevait comme cette année dans les eaux dieppoises. Cette ultime étape normande lui avait déjà souri, puisqu’il était alors à la lutte pour le classement bizuth avec un certain… Fabien Delahaye ! Faute de budget, il n’avait pu s’engager sur l’épreuve en 2010 mais avait effectué le suivi météo pour les coureurs du Centre d’Entraînement Méditerranée. Sa réussite lors de la sélection Macif lui remettait le pied à l’étrier cette saison aux côtés d’Eric Péron (Macif 2009).

Sa deuxième place à Dieppe a été obtenue à l’arraché car la pression n’est jamais tombée lorsque les deux leaders au général ont commencé à entamer un véritable match-race final ! Avec Jérémie Beyou et Fabien Delahaye, il a offert un spectacle grandiose dans les derniers milles en enchaînant les empannages au gré des bascules de vent… Mais dans ce méli-mélo de croisement, le jeune skipper Macif s’est finalement incliné face à Jérémie Beyou sur la ligne d’arrivée, 35 secondes d’écart séparant le premier du quatrième !

Maître Yoda et ses Jedi

A 35 ans et pour sa douzième participation à La Solitaire du Figaro, Jérémie Beyou remporte donc sa deuxième victoire après celle de 2005. Il rejoint le club très fermé des doubles vainqueurs tels Armel Le Cléac’h (2003-2010), Nicolas Troussel (2006-2008), Jean-Marie Vidal (1972-1987), Gilles Gahinet (1977-1980), Guy Cornou (1975-1976) et Gilles le Baud (1973-1978), auxquels il faut ajouter les triples vainqueurs Philippe Poupon (1982-1985-1995), Jean Le Cam (1994-1996-1999) et Michel Desjoyeaux (1992-1998-2007)...

La domination du skipper de BPI a rarement été contestée sur les quatre étapes de cette 42ème édition : lors de la première manche entre Perros-Guirec et Caen, il avait animé dans le petit temps portant la course avec Thomas Rouxel (Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Performance) et Nicolas Lunven (Generali) jusqu’à vingt milles de l’arrivée, perdant le leadership suite à un trou de vent. Lors de la deuxième étape dans la brise au près puis sous spinnaker pour monter jusqu’en Irlande, il avait emmené la flotte quasiment dès les premiers milles. Et il en fit de même pour la troisième étape entre Dun Laoghaire et Les Sables d’Olonne courue essentiellement au largue serré dans le médium faible. Cette ultime manche confirme qu’il n’a jamais lâché quelques soient ses adversaires au contact dans les petits airs. Pour preuve, Jérémie Beyou remporte les quatre Trophée GMF Assistance marquant le point névralgique de chaque étape !

La relève est assurée

Toujours à l’affût et au contact du vainqueur incontesté de La Solitaire 2011, Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen Ouistreham) s’impose comme la relève avec une victoire lors de la première étape, une place de troisième pour la manche irlandaise, une deuxième place aux Sables d’Olonne et une conclusion sur la troisième marche du podium à Dieppe. Avec moins de 35 minutes de retard sur quatre étapes sur le vainqueur au général, le jeune skipper normand démontre que la « nouvelle vague » formée à l’école de l’olympisme s’est très rapidement adaptée au format particulier de La Solitaire du Figaro.

La troisième place sur le podium du classement général s’est avérée très incertaine jusqu’à l’arrivée à Dieppe : Nicolas Luven (Generali) termine sa cinquième Solitaire du Figaro sur une note en demi-teinte (24ème). Le vainqueur de 2009 avait pourtant bien débuté à Perros-Guirec, mais cette ultime manche l’a mis en ballotage face à Thomas Rouxel (Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Performance), lui aussi moins percutant entre Les Sables d’Olonne et Dieppe, et à Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat) qui en revanche termine très fort en Normandie. Ce dernier prend ainsi la troisième place au classement général de La Solitaire du Figaro Eric Bompard Cachemire pour moins de trois minutes d’écart !

Des bleus affûtés

Cette 42ème édition de La Solitaire du Figaro marque aussi la forte présence aux avant-postes des bizuths sur toutes les étapes : Xavier Macaire (Starter Active Bridge) terminait 4ème à Caen et Morgan Lagravière (Vendée) 12ème à Dun Laoghaire, 9ème aux Sables d’Olonne, 7ème à Dieppe. Ce dernier est arrivé blessé suite à un retour de tangon dans le visage lors d’un empannage, deux milles avant l’arrivée. Mais le jeune skipper a tenu bon jusqu’à la ligne pour sa troisième victoire consécutive parmi les bizuths et pour sa victoire de « bleu » au classement général.

Solitaire du Figaro

Tornado World Championship, Day One

2011-08-26T23:22:00.001+12:00

Tornado Worlds 2011

Fastnet Record, BANKED : Superb Images of Banque Populaire V by Christophe Launay/Sealaunay

2011-08-26T05:41:00.004+12:00

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

by Lia Ditton

Fastnet Record, BANKED!

And the name is Peyron, Loïck Peyron...!

Having covered the 608 nautical mile course from Cowes to Plymouth via Ireland, in a trifle one day 8 hours and 48 minutes, the skipper of the 140ft "géant" did a swift about turn; picked up photographer Christophe Launay and headed off back to home port, Lorient.

Enroute, the Banq' Pop' monster cruised past the Figaro soloists, including BP's little sister, sailed by Jeanne Grégoire. "Good luck Jeanne!" the crew encouraged.

Breeze on and it was all action stations, "man your handles" as the BP5 Space Craft turned BP Gym!

Into the early hours the night train blew, the men in yellow taking turns to drive the bus and rest in shelter.

Energy Team AC45 or more record breaking with BP5?

What's next double-agent Peyron?

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

Image copyright Christophe Launay/www.sealaunay.com @Sealaunay

More images from Christophe Launay are available here

Lia Ditton
Sealaunay
Banque Populaire V
Rolex Fastnet Race

Le Café de la Marine du Télégramme : Tagada, Tagada, voilà Grant Dalton

2011-08-26T05:08:00.005+12:00

Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, is the invited guest at the Le Café de la Marine du Télégramme, Restaurant le Quai Ouest, Lorient, France, on 8th September 2011

Grant Dalton. Image copyright Chris Cameron/CAMPER/Café de la Marine.

par Johann Rénel

Grant Dalton dirige Emirates Team New-Zealand. Il compte 6 participations à la Volvo Ocean Race (à l’époque courue sous le nom de Whitbread) et s’est fait connaître en France grâce à sa victoire sur le maxi-catamaran CLUB MED lors de The Race en 2001, la course autour du monde en multicoque No Limit organisée par Bruno Peyron.

Légende vivante de la voile, Grant Dalton sera l’invité d’honneur de l’émission de TV spéciale du Café de la Marine - Le Télégramme consacrée l’équipe CAMPER le 8 septembre à 19h à la Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly à Lorient.

Le Café de la Marine du Télégramme

VOR : The Kiwis Visit Lorient, 8th & 9th September !

2011-08-26T04:59:00.004+12:00

As a precursor to the Volvo Ocean Race, CAMPER Emirates Team New Zealand will visit Lorient 8th and 9th September 2011

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Camper

EN PROLOGUE DE LA VOLVO OCEAN RACE CAMPER EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND VISITE LORIENT LES 8 ET 9 SEPTEMBRE 2011

par Eve Bougault

A moins de deux mois du départ de la VOLVO OCEAN RACE le 5 novembre 2011 et à 282 jours de l’arrivée à Lorient de la 8e étape aux environs du 17 juin 2012 LORIENT GRAND LARGE, organisateur de l'étape lorientaise de la Volvo Ocean Race, accueillera le bateau CAMPER à Lorient les jeudi 8 et vendredi 9 septembre prochain.

UN FAVORI DE LA VOLVO OCEAN RACE

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Camper

S'il est des favoris sur la prochaine édition de la Volvo Ocean Race, Camper fait bien partie de ceux-là. La célèbre marque de chaussures espagnole s'est allouée les services de la meilleure équipe du monde, "EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND" pour briller au firmament de cette course mythique. ETNZ, avec ses marins aguerris portant fièrement les couleurs de leur nation vélique – en Nouvelle Zélande la Voile partage avec le Rugby le statut de sport national - fait véritablement figure d'épouvantail. Les membres de l’équipage cumulent à eux seuls 17 participations à la Coupe de l'America, 22 Volvo/Whitbread et rien de moins que 3 campagnes olympiques sans compter les innombrables titres de Champion du Monde.

CAMPER a été entièrement construit en Nouvelle-Zélande d'après les plans de Marcelino Botin. Mis à l'eau en mai dernier, il a été éprouvé dans les conditions dantesques de l’hémisphère sud lors de navigations tests avant d'arriver en Europe au milieu de l'été. Après un passage à Londres, CAMPER s'amarrera au ponton course de la Base de Sous-Marins à Lorient, l'occasion pour le public de découvrir ce voilier à la décoration soignée et avant-gardiste, à l’image de la marque qui le sponsorise.

"La venue de CAMPER à Lorient est un évènement majeur" se félicite Christophe Baudry, Directeur de Lorient Grand Large. Ce bateau a été construit à Auckland, qui est avec Lorient un des rares endroits où l’on peut mener à bien de tels projets tant au niveau construction et technique qu’au niveau sportif. Pouvoir recevoir Camper et Emirates Team New Zealand ici, sur le site de l'avant dernière étape de la Volvo Ocean Race et à 2 mois, seulement, du départ de la course est un grand honneur et un coup d’envoi génial pour Lorient »

Lorient Grand Large
Volvo Ocean Race

America's Cup : Countdown to ACWS San Diego

2011-08-26T04:58:00.001+12:00

America's Cup

Solitaire du Figaro : Jérémie Beyou wins in Dieppe and is crowned king of the Solitaire du Figaro 2011

2011-08-26T04:35:00.002+12:00

Beyou wins in Dieppe. Image copyright Courcoux/Marmara-Le Figaro.

by Carla Anselmi

Wednesday at 12:49:01 Jérémie Beyou crossed the line first to win the fourth and final leg from Les Sables d’Olonne to Dieppe. By finishing in Dieppe ahead of the rest of the fleet, and scoring his third consecutive victory, BPI’s skipper Jérémie Beyou was crowned overall winner of the 2011 Solitaire du Figaro, an edition he dominated from the outset. This win means he joins the exclusive club of double winners of the event.

The BPI skipper covered the 437 miles in 72 hours, 37 minutes and 1 second. It was one of the closest finishes ever for the race, with four boats flying past the line in a little more than 30 seconds. Second place went to Paul Meilhat (Macif 2011) just 12 seconds later, third to Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen Ouistreham) 28 seconds after the winner and fourth to Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat) at within 35 seconds.

King Jérémie

At 35 and on his 12th participation in La Solitaire du Figaro, Jérémie Beyou secures his second victory following that obtained in 2005. He joins the very exclusive club of winners to have won the event twice; Armel Le Cléac’h (2003-2010), Nicolas Troussel (2006-2008), Jean-Marie Vidal (1972-1987), Gilles Gahinet (1977-1980), Guy Cornou (1975-1976) and Gilles le Baud (1973-1978). Only Philippe Poupon (1982-1985-1995), Jean Le Cam (1994-1996-1999) and Michel Desjoyeaux (1992-1998-2007) managed to do better with three wins each…

Beyou’s domination over the four legs was rarely challenged: on the first stage between Perros-Guirec and Caen, he ruled the game together with Thomas Rouxel and Nicolas Lunven in the light airs up to twenty miles from the finish, only to be caught out in an bubble with no wind which saw him loose the leadership. He then went on to set the pace and lead on the breezy second leg that was 470 miles long, mainly upwind from up Caen to Dùn Laoghaire, and put his trademark on the third to Les Sables d’Olonne, also setting the pace and leading in the medium and light airs. Never giving up, Beyou built his lead and then final triumph on the fourth leg, carefully fencing off all of his adversaries’ attacks. And, even more impressive, Jérémie Beyou won all the four GMF Trophy prizes, that is to say the turning point of each leg!

The rising star

By finishing in third on the final leg and second overall, Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen-Ouistreham) becomes the rising star and future talent to watch out for in the Bénéteau Figaro class. The young sailor from Caen, who won the first leg on home waters, showed an impressive consistency finishing seventh, second and third in the following legs and only 35 minutes separates him in the overall ranking from the winner.

And the bronze goes to...

Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat), who finished 4th in Dieppe, had to wait until his closest rivals in the overall time accumulated rankings finished, to find out that he had the third place this season. Both Nicolas Lunven (Generali) and Thomas Rouxel (Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Performance) finished their Solitaire du Figaro 2011 participation with average performance, 24th and 22nd respectively to relinquish the third spot to a deserving Tabarly. Erwan Tabarly concludes with a mere 5 minutes lead on Lunven and Rouxel.

The new kids on the block

This 42nd edition of la Solitaire du Figaro was also marked by the presence in the top part of the scoreboard of a number of newcomers to the race: rookies such as Xavier Macarie (Starter Active Bridge) finished 4th in Caen, Morgan Lagravière (Vendée) 12th in Dun Laoghaire, 9th in Les Sables d’Olonne, 7th in Dieppe. An impressive performance that rewarded the 24-years-old skipper from the Vendée region, not only with the overall victory in the rookie class, but also with a remarkable 8th place in the general ranking. Second place goes to Xavier Macaire (Sterter Active Bridge), 8 minutes and 33 seconds behind while Jersey based Phil Sharp (The Spirit of Independence) managed to finish in third overall by only four seconds after more than 260 hours at sea!

They said:

Jérémie Beyou (BPI), overall winner of the Solitaire 2011 with three leg wins
“I feel a bit guilty, Paul (Meilhat) sailed really well on this last leg and he deserved to win. How do you win a Solitaire? It’s not only a matter of performances, it’s also about willpower, you have to train, get organised, question yourself, never give up and you need luck too. It may sound obvious but it’s a combination of all these factors. And this year I had everything that I needed. I’ve been thinking about coming back to win since 2009, and I’ve done everything I could.”
On how he managed to keep his nerves, and his margin: “After the third leg, I told myself that I could make it again: I knew that Fabien (Delahaye) was a bit faster than me downwind, but I didn’t panic. I tried to remain self-confident. Because I know my strong and weak points and thats how I manage not to be anxious of my adversaries.”
About joining the double winners’ club: “Right, with Nicolas Troussel and Armel Le Cléach’, now we’re three from the bay of Morlaix. We’ve always done everything together, but it’s amazing anyway.”
When asked if he will come back on the Solitaire Beyou commented: “I don’t know the answer. Maybe yes, but not just to be there. And physically it’s very tough, true I won three legs but I’m exhausted.”
What the winner likes most about the race: “The constant fight, the level of the competition. But there’s more, when you finish there’s such a special atmosphere, you feel at home, people are smiling at you and it’s nice to meet the others ashore. The organisers have made a fantastic job and it’s not only the sailors that make this race so special…”

Fabien Delahaye (Port de Caen-Ouistreham) – 3rd in Dieppe and second overall
“First, seventh, second, third: I’m over the moon with my performance over the four legs and to jump on the second step of the podium is great. These are good results, but the Solitaire victory is calculated on total time and Jérémie (Beyou) never let me go. At times it was me at times him to be in front, but we’ve never been more than half a mile apart. We made the same choices, he was keeping a constant watch on me, and now and then we could even talk to each other. It was an amazing leg and I’m happy to have lived it with him! Two years ago I was fighting with Paul (Meilhat) for the rookie win and we were finishing in Dieppe, you can say that this is like a nice remake of the same movie. You have to be consistent and being there with the best ones on all the legs. There is a bunch of new kids to keep an eye on: Morgan Lagravière, Phil Sharp among the rookies, but also Anthony Marchand, Thomas Rouxel, Paul Meilhat… they come from everywhere! “

Erwan Tabarly (Nacarat) – 3rd overall and 4th in leg three
“A fourth place in this last leg, I could have done better! I would have loved to finish with a win because I knew I could make it, but I’m on the third step of the podium and that’s brilliant. It’s been a long time that I have been up in the top ten, but I could not get on the podium, so that’s great. I still have to go up two places but it’s true that Jérémie (Beyou) was untouchable and Fabien (Delahaye) sailed very well. I set my watch to see if I was going to be third overall, Thomas Rouxel was too far behind but Nicolas Lunven was only 27 minutes back. Not that much. On this last leg it was impossible to relax, it all came down to detail, the good boat handling… This year’s format is very interesting, because you had plenty of little options to take all the time. We’ve been sailing round the rocks, with and against the current, wind shifting, coastal effects: enough to keep you busy. I hope one day I will win this race and I hope not to be 60 when I will!”

La Solitaire du Figaro

Solitaire du Figaro : Arrival in Dieppe

2011-08-26T03:28:00.000+12:00

Solitaire du Figaro

IDEC Recovered to Montauk, New York

2011-08-26T03:27:00.002+12:00

Francis Joyon sur la Terre Ferme

IDEC leaving New York. Image copyright Don Emmert / AFP / DPPI / IDEC.

par Anne-Laure Hamonou

Francis Joyon vient de mettre pied à terre sur le quai du petit port de Montauk (East Hampton / NY). Il avait pris place cette nuit (heure française) à bord du remorqueur américain venu de Port Jefferson sur Long Island prendre en charge son trimaran géant IDEC retourné.

48 heures après son brutal chavirage survenu lundi matin, quelques heures seulement après le franchissement de la ligne de départ de sa tentative contre le record de la traversée de l'Atlantique, Francis Joyon, sain et sauf malgré une belle frayeur, a pu participer cette nuit aux opérations de prise en remorque de sa plateforme retournée. Le mât, brisé en deux parties, a cependant été récupéré, ainsi que le reste du gréement afin de libérer le trimaran et permettre le remorquage. Le lent convoi a fait route toute cette nuit à petite allure vers la pointe nord de Long Island au large de New-York. Il vient d' atteindre en ce milieu d'après midi (heure française) le petit port de Montauk où une grue a été réservée afin de permettre le retournement du bateau.

"Nous avons choisi ce petit port car il est bien abrité" expliquait Francis joint à la mi-journée à bord du remorqueur de Miller Marine Service ; "Nous avons réservé une grue capable de lever le trimaran et de le poser à l'endroit. Nous terminerons ainsi cette opération de sauvetage. J'ai réussi à préserver de l'eau tout l'électronique du bord et la plateforme, examinée par le plongeur et moi-même me semble intacte."

Francis souhaite naturellement rapatrier au plus vite son trimaran vers la Bretagne. Différentes solutions sont d'ores et déjà examinées par son équipe technique et son partenaire IDEC. Fatigué après ces deux dernières nuits mouvementées et sans sommeil, Francis se déclare très déçu de l'issue malheureuse de cette tentative. Il avoue à demi mot "s'être fait une belle peur" lors du chavirage aussi soudain que brutal, vécu comme "un véritable coup de poing qui a projeté le bateau..."

Trimaran IDEC

Audi MedCup : Synergy strong starters in Cartagena; Australians win Soto 40 Practice Race

2011-08-26T03:26:00.009+12:00

Synergy. Image copyright Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup.

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

In very light and fickle breezes, under the stark, rugged cliffs off Cartagena, tactician Rod Dawson (NZL), helm Eugeniy Neugodnikov (RUS) and navigator Francesco Mongelli (ITA) conspired to make the most of a strong start, proving they have the speed in the very gentle airs to hold off the very competitive fleet.

Synergy lead from the first windward mark, ahead of Jose Cusi’s Copa del Rey winning Spanish boat Bribon. Both extended noticeably on the second beat when they gained from a right windshift and were comfortably clear of third placed Quantum Racing (USA) by the finish line.

For the Russian flagged team, who have made two crew changes for this regatta, one forced through injury to their bowman and one new trimmer as they sought better downwind speed, this was their third race win of the season, a victory which ensures they have never finished Race 1 of any regatta this season any worse than third place.

It was after 1615hrs when racing finally got under way, after a long delay ashore. And in the end there was only just enough breeze, 5-7kts, to complete only the one contest.

In stark contrast to the majority of the racing over what has been a breezy season so far, it proved a difficult test for the afterguards especially attempting to read and react to the subtle changes on the water.

Markus Wieser (GER) and the crew of Container (GER), second placed for the season standings, found themselves on the wrong side of that pernicious wind shift and could only cross the finish line in seventh place.

Region of Murcia Cartagena Trophy, 24 08 2011 © Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

The young Australian crew on Patagonia by the Australian Soto 40 Team, average age just 24, sailed an inspired Soto 40 practice race.

They made best use of their hand-me -down sail wardrobe, an inventory complemented by ‘borrows’ from three different boats including Quantum headsails from circuit leaders Iberdrola– and lead from the first cross to the finish line.

There was no room for superstition and they greeted their winning gun with megawatt smiles, and now endeavour to repeat the same measure of performance Thursday when their fleet starts racing for real.

“We have three jibs from Iberdrola, but maybe they will want them back after today.” Grinned skipper-helm Brent Fowler of Western Australia.

Light winds are expected to prevail at least for the next couple of days.

Region of Murcia Trophy – Cartagena
52 Series 
Results after one race:

1. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1 point
2. Bribón (ESP), 2 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 3 points
4. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4 points
5. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5 points
6. RÁN (SWE), 6 points
7. Container (GER), 7 points

Rod Dawson (NZL), Tactician, Synergy (RUS):
“A really light day here, with tricky conditions, we sort of had a plan to get to the left side of the racecourse and that paid off well up the first beat. At the first mark we managed to stay ahead of Bribón and we stayed there the whole race. It was really close until the end but we managed to hold them off at the end. It´s a good start for us, hopefully we can get going with good results. I think that the boat is pretty good in light conditions, we are really happy about it, but having said that, the boat loves sailing is 15-20 knots conditions.”

Francesco Mongelli (ITA), navigator Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS):
"Today was very good, we have done everything perfectly and the race went very good, from the start. And then we had a good speed for all the race, and we kept, thanks to the speed, the side that we wanted. And that was the correct side.
Compliments to the whole team who made the boat go fast, to the guys that made the manouvres to go on the right side, and to the people that have chosen that side."

Gonzalo Araújo (ESP), Skipper, Bribón (ESP):
“It was a tough day out there but we sailed well in all departments. We´ve also been a bit lucky because days like today are complicated. We are happy because it was the first race and it was pretty easy for something to go wrong and start the trophy with the wrong foot. We did not start well, but we caught a couple shifts and we managed to keep a second place. We spent the rest of the day trying to catch Synergy, but keeping an eye on the boats behind us. We controlled our position well during the whole race. We have to be really positive about what we did today.”

Region of Murcia Cartagena Trophy, 24 08 2011 © Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Brent Fowler (AUS) skipper-helm Patagonia powered by Australian Soto 40 Sailing Team: “It was pretty testing conditions, but it was great. We went out early and spent a fair bit of time practising, then cooled down a bit. We spent a lot more time on the race course area than the other guys.
There is a lot more to learn, we need to spend more time in the boat, it’s a one design so there is a lot more to learn. I think we will get there.
We came off the start not in a great a position but if we had been only a little bit slower it could easily have been us at the other end of the fleet. We went right and were in front from the first cross in a strong position. Then from there we just did not let anyone get between us and the top mark. Going downwind we overlaid the bottom gate mark but that was not too bad, upwind the breeze had shifted right a little more and it paid off.
Sometimes it is a bit of a curse to win the practise race, but then Iberdrola is green and green is bad luck on boats, so you never know. I don’t think we are believing in superstition this week, but we do think we have the pace. It gives us some confidence because the boys have been working pretty hard these last few days.
We will get out early tomorrow and see if we can do it when it counts, we will try and get a bit more rig tuning in the boat.
We have a mainsail from Patagonia, we have one of their original kites and have borrowed two headsails from Iberdrola. I don’t know if they will let us have them back again tomorrow! And we have some spinnakers from Negra.”

Audi MedCup

18 Foot Skiffs : Aussies and Kiwis make it a five-way fight

2011-08-26T03:26:00.005+12:00

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

by Rich Roberts

From out of the fog, heralded by a chorus of foghorns growling in bass tones in concert with soprano finish horns, the 10th annual 18ft Skiff International Regatta, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, expanded its scope on the third day of racing Tuesday.

The three tenors---John Winning, Howie Hamlin and Trevor Barnabas---now need to make room for two more contenders when the competition rolls into the final acts Thursday and Friday, following a day off Wednesday.

On a bright and sunny day, the fog at the bridge notwithstanding, a 20-knot westerly blowing straight through the bridge swept veteran Grant Rollerson of Australia, with 18 points, and Alex Vallings of New Zealand (19) into contention tight on the transom of countryman Trevor Barnabas (17) in a fight for third place in the 15-boat fleet.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

Hamlin's win in the second race Tuesday has him one point behind Winning, the week-long leader now with 11 points after everyone chucked their worst finish after the fifth race. Another discard is due after nine races.

Barnabas, driving Thurlow Fisher Lawyers for the injured Michael Coxon, the defending champion, and Rollerson benefited most from the throwouts. Barnabas was nicked for an overanxious start in Tuesday's first race but tossed the 16 points into the shredder.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

Rollerson did better. In the same race he and his crew of Justin Healey and Germany's Marco Schuermann on SLAM, sponsored by Mounts Bay Western Australia, flew off the line and into the fog shrouding the Golden Gate Bridge and were never seriously threatened in a 47-second win over Vallings, sailing CT Sailbattens with
Chris Hiller and Josh McCormack. Then Rollerson finished a solid fourth in the second race.

"It was a good day," he said.

The tricky part was finding the windward mark---a round red buoy---in the fog at the bridge.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

"We got the layline right," Rollerson said. "You gotta see the buoy before you go into the fog, and both times we nailed it."

Vallings, notching a 2-3 day, said, "We had a good start [in the first race] and the others all tacked into the beach, which wasn't too good. Our problem is that we're way better downwind [than upwind because] we're all so light. But we're happy. It was a good day."

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

Hamlin, with local veterans Matt Noble and Paul Allen on board, echoed Vallings' and Rollerson's comments.

About locating the mark: "You think you know where it is. Paul calls the laylines … he'd say, 'I think it's about there,' and he was right."

And his crew being on the light side was a factor in his second win. "Today it was all on the first run downwind that we made it," Hamlin said. "Upwind we're off the pace."

At the gun they tacked behind three other boats to get to the north side of the course where there was more current but better wind.

Noble said, "Paul and I work together figuring things out. Sometimes you couldn't see the mark at all."

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

Basically, once in front they covered their nearest pursuers, Barnabas and Co., because, Allen said, "Those guys are so fast."

A bit too fast at the start of the first race.

"I didn't think we were over [the line early]," Barnabas said. "We came to the line on pace [with the other boats]."

They came back to push Hamlin hard in the second race, "but our only chance to beat him was if he made a mistake," Barnabas said.

Image copyright Rich Roberts.

There will be two races Thursday, including the Bridge to Bridge classic late in the afternoon.

Standings
(after 6 of 10 races, including one discard; skippers listed first)

1. Yandoo, Australia, John Winning/David Gibson/Andrew Hay, 1-2-3-2-3-(5), 11 points.
2. CST Composites, USA, Howie Hamlin/ Matt Noble/Paul Allen, 2-3-1-(5)-5-1, 12.
3. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Australia, Trevor Barnabas/Aaron Links/Trent Barnabas, 7-1-6-1-(16/OCS)-2, 17.
4. SLAM/Mounts Bay WA, Australia, Grant Rollerson/Justin Healey/Marco Schuermann, (11)-5-5-3-1-4, 18.
5. CT Sailbattens, Alex Vallings/Chris Hiller/Josh McCormack, (6)-6-4-4-2-3, 19.
6. SMEG, Australia, Nick Press/Daniel Phillips/Brant Demis, 3-(7)-2-6-6-6, 23.
7. Maersk Line, Australia, Graham Catley/Nick Catley/Riley Dean, 4-(9)-7-9-4-8, 32.
8. Harken, Australia, Glenn Raphael/Ben Lawrie/Matt McKinlay, 8-4-11-7-(16/OCS)-7, 37.
9. Yamaha, New Zealand, Dave McDiarmid/Andrew Archibald/Chris Burgess, 5-10-9-(11)-8-10, 42.
10. White Lightning, USA, Patrick Whitmarsh/Mark Breen/Charlie Smythe, 10-(12)-10-8-9-9, 46.
11. Panasonic Lumix, Australia, Jonathan Whitty/James Hozack/Phillip Beuner, 9-8-13-10-7-(16/DNF), 47.
12. O'Canada, USA, John Ladha/Daniel Inkpen/Trevor Bozina, 12-(14)-12-13-11-11, 59.
13. USA Black, USA, Skip McCormack/Jody McCormack/Polish Mike, 15-13-8-(16/DNF)-10-16/DNF, 62.
14. Death Dealer, USA, Brian Malouf/John Gilmour/Luke Lawrence, 13-11-14-12-13-(16/DNF), 63.
15. Love Machine, USA, Chad Freitas/Katie Love/Daniel Roberts, 14-(16/DNF)-16/DNF-16/DNF-12-16/DNF, 74.

St Francis YC

VOR : CAMPER Arrives in England

2011-08-26T03:25:00.001+12:00

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand arrives in Felixstowe, UK. Chloe Purcell/HPUK

by Sophie Luther

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Chris Nicholson will have been relieved to see the team's Volvo Open 70 being safely unloaded from a container ship in Felixstowe after its trip from Auckland.

The Lorient stop will see CAMPER make an appearance alongside Volvo Ocean Race rivals Groupama sailing team at their home port.

Nicholson's team are due to reconvene in the next few days for a tour taking in London, Lorient, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona before their arrival in Alicante ahead of the start of the race on October 29.

The Lorient stop will see them make an appearance alongside Volvo Ocean Race rivals Groupama sailing team at their home port.

CAMPER bid farewell to their own Auckland base back in July. With their arrival in England, all six boats to have declared entry are in European waters.

Team Telefónica are on their way from Lanzarote to their new base in Sanxenxo in northern Spain, Groupama are in Lorient, Team Sanya are at Hamble in England, PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG Propulsion are in Lanzarote and Abu Dhabi are at their base in Cascais outside Lisbon.

Volvo Ocean Race

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Halfway Point

2011-08-26T03:19:00.005+12:00

Wild Oats XI. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

There is a ding dong battle for the coveted regatta silverware going on between two major sailing and business heavyweights at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, which has just passed the half way point.

Blackmore’s chairman Marcus Blackmore came to Race Week the grand prix favourite but has found himself a worthy opponent in last year’s winner, Stephen Ainsworth, former Aristocrat director and major shareholder.

Hooligan. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Blackmore’s TP52 Hooligan has had the Midas touch this year, winning every major series it has contested including Audi Victoria Week, the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta and the NSW IRC Championship at Port Stephens. Hooligan is also on top of the points table for the prestigious Audi IRC Australian Championship which culminates at Race Week.

Last year Ainsworth had a similar winning streak and was named Audi IRC Australian Champion.

The two are fighting it out at the top of the IRC Class A Grand Prix division, recognisable by the blistering speeds, carbon fibre and professional sailors dotted among the crews. Many America’s Cup, Admiral’s Cup, Olympic champions and round the world stars of the sport are this week stacked on the rails of Australia and New Zealand’s fastest ocean going yachts.

Ainsworth’s Sydney based 63 foot Reichel Pugh design spectacularly burst a mainsail early on in yesterday’s long race and retired while Blackmore went on to record his fourth win from six starts to be three points clear in the pointscore with four races remaining.

Luckily Ainsworth has a spare smaller mainsail and with the forecast indicating the strong south easterlies may persist, Blackmore can’t breathe easy just yet.

The line honours duel between the two 100 foot supermaxis, Island owner Bob Oatley’s Rolex Sydney Hobart record holder Wild Oats XI and Anthony Bell’s Investec Loyal has been one sided with Oatley’s champion team unbeaten.

Iain Murray (left) and Jimmy Spithill (right, at the helm), on board Wild Oats XI. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Bell has once again combined a mixed crew of highly regarded sailors and sporting stars turned yachties in Phil Waugh, Larry Emdur and Layne Beachley, to try and upset the dominant Wild Oats XI in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart.

IRC Class B looks all but decided, Darryl Hodgkinson’s Beneteau 45 Victoire setting up a nine point cushion from moneyman and fellow Beneteau owner Paul Clitheroe and his 45 footer, Balance.

The 195 entrants at this year’s Race Week have been broken up into 11 divisions plus Simon Hull’s speed machine Orma 60 trimaran TeamVodafoneSailing demonstrating the multihull’s potential around the scenic island courses.

The fleet of identical 6.15m SB3s are the smallest boats racing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal the largest at just over 30 metres.

Hamilton Island owner Bob Oatley is leading the line honours scoreboard in the grand prix class while his CEO Glenn Bourke, a multiple Laser world champion and America’s Cup sailor, has an unassailable lead in the SB3 class with his boat, Club Marine HI.

The hierarchy of Hamilton Island is having a busy week with yacht club Commodore Iain Murray not only sailing on Wild Oats XI but today hosting a sailor’s forum on the new America’s Cup Series for which he is the regatta director. Defending Oracle Racing skipper James Spithill was also part of the panel, travelling with the America’s Cup trophy from San Francisco to speak to the large gathering of sailors.

Conditions this week have been to the liking of most of the thousands of yachties gathered for the 28th Audi Hamilton Island Race Week with sunny skies and strong winds. Those not lunching are using today’s layday for repairs, particularly sail repairs with plenty of tears being stitched up before racing resumes tomorrow.

Competition wraps up this Saturday.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Class 40 : Heading to Palma - Update from Ross Field (NZL)

2011-08-26T03:11:00.002+12:00

The Fields testing BSL. Supplied image.

by Nicky Moore

Ross and Campbell Field recently finished seventh in class in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race in their first competitive race onboard their Class40, BSL. Here Ross reflects on the race and talks about the duo's plans in the build up to the Global Ocean Race.

"A week after the finish of the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race has given us a chance to reflect. For our first race on BSL we were very happy with our performance and it was certainly the first full test for the boat. Our aim was to finish in the top ten so to finish seventh and be in the lead on a number of occasions was great for us. It was really a test of boat speed, our sails and crew work. We would of course have been happier to come first but the boat has got huge potential so we’re extremely happy with it.

"The Rolex Fastnet was also a huge test for us in that it gave us the opportunity to compare ourselves to our competitors in the class, especially those who will be racing the Global Ocean Race starting in September . The Class40 is a really competitive class and I think we all finished within about 40 minutes of each other, which just shows how competitive it is. The Class40 that won has been sailing for about four or five years so we were very happy with our results.

"The boat was extremely comfortable to sail, and it was well set up. The only low point being the prospect of finishing in Plymouth and having to get back to Lymington before we were home!

"So, looking forward, we are leaving today for France as we are in touch with a boat builder who has built us two new rudders, so we’re planning on going over to get them fitted. Then to head on down to Palma. We haven’t got a huge amount of boat work to do in Palma, our time will be filled with promotional sailing for BSL, but the boat work is pretty much compete, delivery sails are on (racing sails ready for Palma) just the final touches to do. Campbell has done a fantastic job getting the boat set up and ready to go so now we are totally focussed on sailing, and extremely looking forward to it!"

Field Yachting

D35 : The D35s get a Taste of Salt Water

2011-08-26T02:49:00.006+12:00

D35 racing for the Vulcain Trophy 2011. Image copyright Chris Schmid/Eyemage

par Aurélie Fontanellaz

Après cinq belles étapes courues en Suisse, la classe des Décision 35 innove en disputant les deux dernières étapes de son championnat en Mer Méditerranée. Du 1er au 4 septembre 2011, les neuf équipages se retrouveront à Beaulieu-sur-Mer pour leur première régate sur un plan d’eau salé. Au classement général, c’est Foncia de Michel Desjoyeaux qui mène la danse devant Veltigroup de Marco Simeoni et Alinghi d’Ernesto Bertarelli.

L’heure de la rentrée sonne pour les marins engagés dans le Vulcain Trophy. Après une pause estivale, les régates reprennent leur droit dans un lieu inédit pour la classe des multicoques. Pour la première fois dans l’histoire des Décision 35, les multicoques lémaniques ont été convoyés dans le Sud de la France pour défier la Mer Méditerranée. Ainsi, Beaulieu-sur-Mer (France, Alpes Maritimes) accueillera les neufs équipages du 1er au 4 septembre. Les moyens techniques mis en œuvre pour cette opération ont été énormes. Il aura fallu neuf camions pour les multicoques ainsi qu’un camion-remorque uniquement pour les mâts. Cette régate répondra à de nombreuses interrogations: Comment les multicoques se comporteront-ils sur un nouveau plan d’eau? Comment les marins Suisses s’en sortiront-ils face aux marins plus habitués aux eaux salées?

Avant-dernière étape du Vulcain Trophy, le Grand Prix de Beaulieu-sur-Mer sonnera comme la dernière chance pour les équipages de bien se profiler avant le week-end final du Grand Prix d’Antibes. La régate se déroulera sur quatre jours ce qui permettra aux équipages de s’adapter aux nouvelles conditions et de donner le meilleur d’eux-mêmes pour offrir un spectacle exceptionnel.

Fonica - series leader. Image copyright Th. Martinez/Sea&Co.

Foncia de Michel Desjoyeaux est en tête du Vulcain Trophy après cinq étapes. Une fois monté sur le podium à la Realstone Cup, ils ne l’ont plus quitté grâce à leur troisième place à la Sogeti Cup et leur seconde place au Bol d’Or Mirabaud. Leur dauphin, Veltigroup de Marco Simeoni, pour lequel Stève Ravussin est le barreur, l’avait annoncé en début de saison, il ne venait pas faire de la figuration. Alinghi d’Ernesto Bertarelli monte, à l’issue de sa superbe victoire au Bol d’Or Mirabaud, sur la troisième marche du podium provisoire du Vulcain Trophy.

Artemis Racing de Torbjorn Tornqvist est quatrième après être monté à trois reprises sur le podium. L’équipage suédois, qui peut compter sur Paul Cayard comme stratège, avait fait une remontée incroyable lors de la classique Genève-Rolle-Genève. A la cinquième position se trouve le CER Carrefour Prévention, barré par Jérôme Clerc.

L’équipage amateur genevois a créé la surprise en remportant, chez eux, la première étape de la saison. Okalys-Corum de Nicolas Grange est sixième. Malgré des péripéties durant la Sogeti Cup (accrochage violent avec un concurrent) et le Bol d’Or Mirabaud (équipier blessé après être passé par-dessus bord), l’équipage amateur a su rester dans la première moitié du classement. Nicolas Grange a accueilli Loïck Peyron sur les deux classiques de la saison. Séparés par quelques points seulement, ces deux équipages se disputeront le titre officieux de meilleur équipage amateur durant la seconde partie de la saison.

Ladycat. Image copyright Chris Schmid/Eyemage

De Rham Sotheby’s de Philippe Cardis est actuellement septième au classement avec deux cinquième rangs encourageant. L’équipage du multicoque blanc et bleu a su se montrer dangereux sur de nombreuses manches où il terminait sur le podium. Huitième, Zen Too de Guy de Picciotto a réussi à trouver un équilibre entre un barreur et un tacticien professionnels, Fred Le Peutrec et Gildas Philippe, et de jeunes recrues telles Lucien Cujean et Romain Meyer. Ils devancent d’un point Nickel. L’équipage amateur de Nyon a su montrer sa valeur lors de la Genève-Rolle-Genève en terminant quatrième. A la dixième place, Ladycat de Dona Bertarelli est à égalité de point avec Nickel. L’équipage du multicoque fuchsia termine sixième du Bol d’Or Mirabaud après une très belle remontée sur Genève. Ylliam de Pierre-Yves Firmenich ferme la marche à la onzième place. Le multicoque n’avait pas participé aux deux premières étapes.

Bon à savoir : Le grand public pourra assister à ces régates depuis les quais de Beaulieu-sur-Mer et d’Antibes.

Programme du Grand Prix de Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Jeudi 1er septembre 2011
12h30 Briefing
14h00 Une course d’entraînement, puis 3 courses à suivre comptant pour le classement officiel

Vendredi 2 septembre 2011
10h30 Briefing
12h00 1er signal d’avertissement possible pour maximum quatre courses.

Samedi 3 septembre 2011
10h30 Briefing
12h00 1er signal d’avertissement possible pour maximum quatre courses.

Dimanche 4 septembre 2011
10h00 Briefing
11h00 1er signal d’avertissement possible pour maximum trois courses.
15h30 Dernier départ possible pour les régates officielles du Grand Prix de Beaulieu-sur-Mer
16h45 Remise des prix du Grand Prix de Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Classement général du Vulcain Trophy présenté Business & Decision (après 5 étapes):
Rang Teams points GP Ambassadeurs Realstone Cup Genève - Rolle - Genève Sogeti Cup Bol d’Or Mirabaud

1 SUI 5 Foncia 7 8 1 1 3 2
2 SUI 11 Veltigroup 11 4 3 3 1 8
3 SUI 1 Alinghi 12 2 4 5 5 1
4 SWE 12 Artemis Racing 12 3 5 2 2 10
5 SUI 7 CER Carrefour Prévention 16 1 2 10 6 7
6 SUI 2 Okalys-Corum 20 6 6 8 4 4
7 SUI 3 de Rham Sothebys 23 5 7 6 8 5
8 SUI 4 Zen Too 31 7 8 11 7 9
9 SUI 8 Nickel 32 10 9 4 9 11
10 SUI 10 Ladycat 32 9 10 7 11 6
11 SUI 6 Ylliam 33 11 11 9 10 3

Vulcain Trophy

Trophée Clairefontaine : Look out for Michel Desjoyeaux !

2011-08-26T00:15:00.006+12:00

Michel Desjoyeaux. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Sea & Co.

by Eve Laforest (in translation by SailRaceWin)

For the third consecutive year, the champions of sailing will be returning to La Grande Motte. The 22nd edition of the Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions will run from Thursday, 8th, to Sunday, 11th, September.

Michel Desjoyeaux, twice winner of the Vendée Globe, already "Champion of Champions" in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007, will be present. He has recommenced an intensive campaign in the D35 catamaran this season.

Pascal Bidégorry, who holds records for crossing the Atlantic and the distance travelled in 24 hours on the giant trimaran Banque Populaire V, and finished third at La Grande Motte in 2010, looks for victory this year.

The 2010 victorious crew on the water: From left to right, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Loïck Peyron and Gilles André, win the 21st Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile at La Grande Motte. This was the eigth victory in this event by Loïck Peyron. Image copyright Jean-Marie Liot/SailingOne.

Aside from these two Frenchman who should direct the debate in the absence of the duelists Loïck Peyon and Franck Cammas - the first is engaged, at the same time, in England on the AC45 in preparation for the America's Cup and the second is in preparation for the Volvo Ocean Race, the team race around the world that leaves from Spain at the end of October - it is possible that the foreigner who has been invited will keep the French armada in order.

The Australian Darren Bundock arrives at La Grande Motte holder of two silver medals at the Olympic Games, won in the Tornado (Olympic catamaran) and no less than fourteen world titles obtained on catamarans.

Darren Bundock A-cat sailing at the Australian Nationals 2011. Image copyright Mia Hacker.

Nicolas Charbonnier bronze medallist in the 470 at the Beijing Games will take part in the Trophée Clairefontaine for the fourth time.

Armel Le Cléac'h, twice winner of La Solitaire du Figaro (2003 and 2010) and second in the last Vendée Globe, has taken part in the Trophée Clairefontaine many times as a crew member and also as a champion last year. His seventh place in 2010 gave him taste for revenge in 2011.

François Gabart was a team member of Michel Desjoyeaux's last year. This year he comes titled as Champion de France de Course au Large en Solitaire. He campaigned a Tornado at the beginning of his career. He is expected to do well.

Jean-Pierre-Dick returns to the Trophée Clairefontaine this year, due to his second victory in the Barcelona World Race and his title of IMOCA Champion 2010. Jérémie Beyou, twice winner of La Solitaire du Figaro (2005 and 2011) will be at his side as "team member de luxe".

Roland Jourdain on his MOD70, Veolia Environnement. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Sea&Co.

In regard to Roland Jourdain, he comes to La Grande Motte due to his two victories in la Route du Rhum in the IMOCA 60 monohull (2006 and 2010).

Since its origination, in 1990 and so for the twenty-second consecutive time, the Trophée Clairefontaine is the only event in the world that unites the champions from different international sailing disciplines, with rigorously equal weapons, on spectacular identical catamarans 7.65 metres long, constructed and used exclusively for this nautical show.

In French : Attention à Michel Desjoyeaux !

Pour la troisième année consécutive, les champions de voile effectueront leur rentrée à La Grande Motte. C'est en effet du jeudi 8 au dimanche 11 septembre 2011 que se courra la vingt-deuxième édition du Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions. Le super favori est Michel Desjoyeaux, déjà quatre fois vainqueur de la spécialité.

Michel Desjoyeaux with his MOD70, Foncia. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Sea & Co.

Michel Desjoyeaux, double vainqueur du Vendée Globe, déjà sacré "Champion des Champions" en 2001, 2003, 2004 et 2007 est affûté. Il a en effet repris la compétition intensive en catamaran D35 en début de saison.

Pascal Bidégorry, recordman de traversée de l'Atlantique et de la distance parcourue en 24h00 sur le trimaran géant Banque Populaire V, classé troisième à La Grande Motte en 2010, vise la victoire cette année.

Franck Cammas won everything in 2009 on the nautical stadium of La Grande Motte and commenced with the same rhythm at the 21st Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile in 2010. Image copyright Jean-Marie Liot/SailingOne.

Outre ces deux Français qui devraient diriger les débats en l'absence des duettistes Loïck Peyon et Franck Cammas - le premier est engagé au même moment en Angleterre sur le nouveau circuit de compétitions AC45 de préparation à l'America's Cup et le second est en préparation de la Volvo Ocean Race, la course autour du monde en équipage qui partira fin octobre d'Espagne - c'est bien l'invité étranger qui pourrait mettre l'armada française aux ordres.

Loïck Peyron (Oman Sail) competing in 2010. Image copyright Jean-Marie Liot/SailingOne.

L'Australien Darren Bundock arrive à La Grande Motte auréolé de deux médailles d'argent glanées aux J.O. sur Tornado (catamaran olympique) et pas moins de quatorze titres de champion du monde obtenus sur catamarans.

Nicolas Charbonnier médaillé de bronze en 470 aux J.O. de Pékin participera au Trophée Clairefontaine pour la quatrième fois.

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) competing in 2010. Image copyright Jean-Marie Liot/SailingOne.

Armel Le Cléac'h, double vainqueur de La Solitaire du Figaro (2003 et 2010) et deuxième du dernier Vendée Globe, a couru plusieurs fois le Trophée Clairefontaine comme équipier et l'an dernier comme champion. Sa place de septième en 2010 lui a donné le goût de la revanche pour l'édition 2011.

François Gabart était équipier de Michel Desjoyeaux l'an passé. Il vient cette saison en Champion de France de Course au Large en Solitaire en titre. Il a couru en Tornado au début de sa carrière. Il est attendu aux avant-postes lui aussi.

Jean-Pierre Dick announced his Vendée Globe campaign while halfway around the world en route to his second victory in the Barcelona World Race. Image copyright Loïck Peyon/Jean-Pierre Dick/Virbac Paprec 3.

Jean-Pierre-Dick est de retour au Trophée Clairefontaine cette année, pour sa seconde victoire dans la Barcelona World Race et son titre de Champion IMOCA 2010. Jérémie Beyou, double vainqueur de La Solitaire du Figaro (2005 et 2011) sera à ses côtés en "équipier de luxe".

Quant à Roland Jourdain, il vient à La Grande Motte pour ses deux victoires de rang dans la Route du Rhum en catégorie monocoque IMOCA 60 (2006 et 2010).

Depuis son origine, en 1990 et donc pour la vingt-deuxième fois consécutive, le Trophée Clairefontaine est le seul événement au monde à réunir des champions issus de disciplines aussi différentes de la voile internationale, à armes rigoureusement égales, sur des catamarans spectaculaires de 7,65 mètres tous identiques, exclusivement conçus et seulement utilisés pour ce show nautique.

Trophée Clairefontaine

RC44 : Awesome Images from Marstrand, Sweden, by Oskar Kihlborg

2011-08-24T05:00:00.005+12:00

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Team Aqua - narrow winners of the RC44 Sweden Cup in Marstrand. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/www.kihlborg.se

Oskar Kihlborg
RC44

18 Foot Skiffs : St Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, Day 2 - Winning is Still Winning

2011-08-24T04:47:00.004+12:00

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

by Rich Roberts

After four of 10 races in the 10th annual 18ft Skiff International Regatta, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, all of the first-, second- and third-place finishes in the 15-boat fleet have been collected by the top four competitors.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

But don't assume they're in total control. The two skippers with three of the wins---Trevor Barnabas on Thurlow Fisher Lawyers from Australia and Howie Hamlin on CST Composites of the USA---aren't immune to the unstable characteristics of the craft they're sailing, which must be comforting to the stragglers.

Each won one of the two races Monday, and each flipped once in the other races.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

"That's what makes them fun to sail," said Hamlin (2-3-1-5), who has won the JJ Giltinan regatta that is recognized as the class's world championship.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

Barnabas (7-1-6-1) is filling in on the tiller for the injured skipper, Michael Coxon, who won this event last year, and it must have been nice to have a five-time winner of the Giltinan regatta on hand standing by to step up.

All of that leaves another veteran, John (Woody) Winning, cruising quietly (1-2-3-2) and holding onto a tight lead, three points ahead of Hamlin and seven on Barnabas, with the first discards due to kick in after the fifth race Tuesday. Nick Press of Australia, sailing SMEG, is in fourth place with a 3-7-2-6 line.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

All the elements were positive Monday. The wind piped up to 18 knots, the sun came out and a flood tide pushed the skiffs downwind with the breeze, rather than creating a collision course between the flows.

Barnabas, with his son Trent and Aaron Links as crew, led at the first mark of the first race but went right toward the beach downwind while everyone else went left out into the bay. When they converged off Alcatraz, Hamlin held the leverage for the lead, and any hopes Barnabas had vanished on the next run when his boat flipped as he tried to jibe through the midway gate.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

"That was just me," Barnabas said, absolving his crew. "I got caught up in the middle of the boat … couldn't get through."

Barnabas recovered from 12th place to finish sixth.

Hamlin was home free, but his turn would come.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

The five-time winner of this event was struggling to pick off boats from back in the pack when his new boat went down trying to tack for the windward mark---about 150 meters in front of an incoming Matson container ship coming through the Golden Gate Bridge.

"I just dropped the tiller extension," Hamlin said.

They recovered quickly but the flip left them with their worst finish so far---fifth, which really ain't bad---and in second place overall.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

After all, it can happen to anybody sailing an 18ft Skiff, and usually does.

Competition continues through Friday, with Wednesday off. There will be two races a day, including the Bridge to Bridge classic late Thursday afternoon.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.pressure-drop.us

Standings
(after 4 of 10 races; 2 discards; skippers listed first)

1. Yandoo, Australia, John Winning/David Gibson/Andrew Hay, 1-2-3-2, 8 points.
2. CST Composites, USA, Howie Hamlin/ Matt Noble/Paul Allen, 2-3-1-5, 11.
3. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Trevor Barnabas/Aaron Links/Trent Barnabas, 7-1-6-1, 15.
4. SMEG, Australia. Nick Press/Daniel Phillips/Brant Demis, 3-7-2-6, 18.
5. CT Sailbattens, Alex Vallings/Chris Hiller/Josh McCormack, 6-6-4-4, 20.
6. SLAM, Australia, Grant Rollerson/Justin Healey/Marco Schuermann, 11-5-5-3, 22.
7. Maersk Line, Australia, Graham Catley/Nick Catley/Riley Dean, 4-9-7-9, 29.
8. Harken, Australia, Glenn Raphael/Ben Lawrie/Matt McKinlay, 8-4-11-7, 30.
9. Yamaha, New Zealand, Dave McDiarmid/Andrew Archibald/Chris Burgess, 5-10-9-11, 35.
10. Panasonic Lumix, Australia, Jonathan Whitty/James Hozack/Phillip Beuner, 9-8-13-10, 40.
11. White Lightning, Patrick Whitmarsh/Mark Breen/Charlie Smythe, 10-12-10-8, 40.
12. Death Dealer, USA, Brian Malouf/John Gilmour/Luke Lawrence, 13-11-14-12, 50.
13. O'Canada, USA, John Ladha/Daniel Inkpen/Trevor Bozina, 12-14-12-13, 51, 26.
14. USA Black, Skip McCormack/Jody McCormack/Polish Mike, 15-13-8-16/DNF, 52.
15. Love Machine, Chad Freitas/Katie Love/Daniel Roberts, 14-16/DNF-16/DNF-16/DNF, 62.

St Francis YC

Audi MedCup : Light Airs Lead to Cancellation of Practice Race

2011-08-24T04:39:00.003+12:00

Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

With 26 races completed of the season’s maximum complement of 45, the 52 Series fleet is hardly short on practice.

But the disappointment that today’s official Practice Race was thwarted by insufficient breeze was felt because the vast majority of the season's races have been contested in winds above 13kts.

With many of the fleet having made configuration alterations and/or carding brand new sails aimed at enhancing their light winds potential, a chance to line up against the fleet in full race mode in light winds would have been welcomed today.
But it was not to be.

The race fleet were back at the dock by 1600hrs ready to contemplate Wednesday’s first windward-leeward races.

Light to moderate winds are in prospect at least for the early part of the regatta.

Three different boats have already won regattas this season.

Tim Powell and the crew of Niklas and Catherine Zennström’s RÁN come directly to Cartagena after winning the classic 608 miles Fastnet Race for the second consecutive time, but Powell believes this will be a tough test for their team in the lighter conditions:

“ The last few regattas have been windy and so now we have to get to grips with the lighter airs.” said Powell, “It is a little more of a challenge for us because all of the sailing that we have done over the last few weeks has been in good breeze, and so we need to get our heads around it a bit. Of course now it is finesse which required rather than brute force. So it will be a learning curve on that for us.”

“For sure winning the Fastnet is a great, great achievement and coming here it does give us a boost, but of course this is very, very different racing.” Powell continues, “ We have always had a good group of people and we have always got on well together and we have always believed in ourselves that we are capable of performing well. The difference here is the format, windward-leeward racing and so we have to be realistic that just because we won the Fastnet it does not mean we will come here and suddenly win the Audi MedCup.”

“We have a tight schedule, we finished the Fastnet on the Tuesday and came here on Saturday, then we go to the Maxi Worlds and then straight to Barcelona, so it is a hectic few weeks.”

“ I think probably at the moment we lack a little bit of the consistency which is required to win a regatta, but it is slowly coming together. There is no one thing, in all areas we need to be just a little better and that higher level of consistency would get us up the fleet quite quickly.”

The 52 Series should race two scheduled windward-leeward races Wednesday when the 40 Series fleet have their practice race planned.

Quantum Racing (USA) will go afloat with a seven points series lead over second placed Container (GER) who in turn are seven points ahead of third placed Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA).

The conventional thinking around the Cartagena dockside is that this regatta will shape the podium which will be finally settled at next month’s Barcelona finale.

Audi MedCup TV’s live broadcasting of all the action from the Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy regatta begins Wednesday at 1250hrs (local/1150hrs BST/1050hrs. GMT). The live programme stream can also be also now be followed on Facebook along where there is now a live chat forum.

2011 Audi MedCup Circuit
52 Series
Standings after 3 events

1. Quantum Racing (USA), 19 + 30 + 42= 91 points
2. Container (GER), 31,5 + 28,5+38= 98 points
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 32,5 + 37+35,5= 105 points
4. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 37 + 39,5+44,5= 121 points
5. Bribón (ESP), 47,5 + 38+37= 122,5 points
5. Ràn (SWE), 40,5+41,5+43,5= 125,5 points
7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR) 58 + 43,5+26,5 =128 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 85,5 + 47+85,5= 218 points

Tim Powell (GBR) skipper-mainsail trimmer RÁN (SWE/GBR):
“We have quite a few new sails on the boat and so we are hoping that will give us a nice little speed jump. The last few regattas have been windy and so now we have to get to grips with the lighter airs.
"It is a little more of a challenge for us because even all of the sailing that we have done over the last few weeks has been in good breeze, and so we need to get our heads around it a bit. Of course now it is finesse which required rather than brute force. So it will be a learning curve on that for us.
"I think probably at the moment we lack a little bit of the consistency which is required to win a regatta, but it is slowly coming together. There is no one thing, in all areas we need to be just a little better and that higher level of consistency would get us up the fleet quite quickly.
“For sure winning the Fastnet is a great, great achievement and coming here it does give us a boost, but of course this is very, very different racing. We have always had a good group of people and we have always got on well together and we have always believed in ourselves that we are capable of performing well. The difference here is the format, windward-leeward racing and so we have to be realistic that just because we won the Fastnet it does not mean we will come here and suddenly win the Audi MedCup.
"We have a tight schedule, we finished the Fastnet on the Tuesday and came here on Saturday, then we go to the Maxi Worlds and then straight to Barcelona, so it is a hectic few weeks.
“In terms of our expectations I think we are probably a little behind where we hoped to be, but I think we are realistic enough to know this a really tough fleet, and that realisation hits home having now done a few regattas.
"We will be back year and we always knew this was going to be quite an upwards learning curve, we are here next year and the aim will be to set ourselves higher targets for next year.”

Ignasi Triay (ESP), trimmer, Bribón (ESP):
“We left a bit early, because we knew there was going to be little wind out there today and we wanted to try a couple of things in these conditions, because there has not been a lot of days like today so far this year. We had a couple of doubts that we wanted to solve regarding trimming, so we sailed a while until the wind has disappeared and the regatta could not take place. We´ve drawn some conclusions so we benefited from today´s sailing. We have our inflatable boat out there now, our Navigator and our Skipper are checking the rocks and the depth for the coastal race. These are things that you usually can´t do because you don´t have the time. Now we have to rest and stay away from the heat. Tomorrow shouldn´t be very windy, but I think that we´ll be able to sail. What´s important is to be ready then.”

Jochen Schuemann (GER), skipper, Audi Sailing Team powered ALL4ONE (FRA/GER):
“We tried to make today an efficient day so we went straight out at 1100hrs and we sailed two hours before the first signal was given. We sailed a while and that´s good, we are not disappointed. The race committee was right about cancelling the race because outside there´s no wind. I hope the upcoming days are better in terms of wind. We have not made major changes. We are learning every day; every hour that can sail helps us because these are the only days when we have all the 12 members of the crew together”.

Audi MedCup

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Audi IRC Australian Championship set for exciting finale

2011-08-24T04:34:00.005+12:00

Hooligan. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

The Audi IRC Australian Championship set for exciting finale as racing heads north.

The battle for the 2011 Audi IRC Australian Championship is set to get right down to the wire with the final round currently underway in Queensland.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is the fourth and final round of the 2011 championship with tight battles for the title in all three IRC classes.

The three class winners in the 2011 Audi IRC Australian Championship will be crowned following the final day of racing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week on Saturday 27 August.

Ensign Racing. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Audi Australia’s managing director, Uwe Hagen, says the battle for the championship lead has been great to watch, right from the first event.

“The spirited competition that we are seeing in this national championship highlights the competitive nature of sailing in Australia. All three IRC classes have been challenging for the crews and we are excited to see how this final round plays out this week. At this stage, it is anyone’s race to win an Audi A1 for a year,” Mr Hagen said.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week marks the culmination of a national championship which began with Audi Victoria Week back in January before the action headed north for the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta in March.

Australia’s leading keelboats got back into action last month with the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race with the competition tight at all events across all the three classes.

Heading into the final round, Marcus Blackmore’s TP52 Hooligan leads in Class A the way by just a single point, ahead of Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki.

Third placed Living Doll, owned by Michael Hiatt, is just two points further back setting up an exciting finale in the Whitsundays.

After the opening three rounds Class B is led by Darryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire, five points clear of Robert Reynold’s Exile with Paul Clitheroe’s Balance a further four points behind.

Chancellor. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

In Class C Peter Sorensen’s The Philosopher’s Club leads the way, ahead of Andy Kearnan’s L’Altra Donna while Peregrine, skippered by owner Ryan Walker, third overall.

Racing at Audi Hamilton Island Race week is a mix of windward –leeward courses and passage races, with crews having to be consistent throughout the week to ensure they’re in the mix at the end of the regatta.

The winner of each Class of the 2011 Audi IRC Australian Championship will receive the sporty and compact Audi A1 for a year.

Audi IRC Australian Championship TV coverage
The 2011 Audi IRC Australian Championship will go to air on ONE HD from Saturday 3 September at 6:00pm. This year's series will comprise of eight 30 minute episodes. The TV series is produced by Audi Australia and Fuzzy TV. Network Ten sports presenter, Rob Canning, is the host of the series and will be joined by expert commentators, Will Hagon and Neville Wittey.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Loki's Luck Runs Out

2011-08-24T04:22:00.002+12:00

Wild Oats XI. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

The wind howled all night and 30 plus knots of south easterly breeze greeted the starters on the race track, packing plenty of punch for the longest races of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Second on the IRC Class A Grand Prix pointscore heading into day four, Stephen Ainsworth’s RP63 Loki was the highest profile casualty, less than five minutes after their start in Dent Passage. Gear failure resulted in one of the mast’s sweptback spreaders punching a giant hole through the mainsail, the cloth torn to pieces like a cannon ball had been shot through it.

“We will try and repair it,” said an optimistic Ainsworth. “Our crewman Billy Sykes from North Sails thinks it can be fixed with Sikaflex. Luckily we have a layday tomorrow.

“We do have a spare mainsail but it’s smaller than this one and with the forecast lightening off we need to stay powered up. We will drop today’s race and carry our worst result so far of a third, and if we have to use our spare at least we will be sailing.”

Two crewmen were hoisted up Loki’s mast to try and bring the pieces down without further tearing.

With boats still finishing, corrected time results are still a while off but with Loki out of the hunt, one of the TP52s is likely to claim the handicap top tier. These lightweight fliers were hammering down Whitsunday Passage under spinnaker with the spray flying and all crew crammed at the aft quarter to keep the weight in the stern and the boat flat.

Other early casualties were Bruce Absolon’s Spirit of the Maid, Roland Dane’s Tofinu 9.5 Jessandra, which retired with a broken boom, and Janet Dean’s Adams 10 Grizzly which was forced out with a broken mast.

Investec Loyal. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Bob Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI, a five-time Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours winner, is in a class of its own at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. The 100 footer absorbed the worst of the bumps in a choppy Whitsunday Passage and stretched away from Investec Loyal to claim yet another line honours win, this time in the 63 nautical mile Club Marine Classic Long Race.

Wild Oats XI finished in Dent Passage at 2.08pm this afternoon, giving her an average speed of just over 13 knots over the course.

Anthony Bell’s 100 footer Investec Loyal again struck issues with its furling spinnaker, losing precious time and the opportunity to claw Oats back.

Today’s Club Marine Classic Long Race was a new course at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week for the IRC Grand Prix and IRC Passage Class B divisions. They were sent by Principal Race Officer Denis Thompson past the Molle Islands, around Double Cone and Armit Island and back up to Pentecost via South Molle Island before finishing in Dent Passage.

Racing was abandoned for the cruising and non-spinnaker divisions while the Melges 32 Sports Boats and SB3s raced windward/leewards in Dent Passage.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Plans to Rescue Francis Joyon and IDEC

2011-08-24T04:17:00.002+12:00

Les Secours s'Organisent

IDEC. Image copyright JM Liot/DPPI/IDEC.

par Trimaran IDEC media

Depuis le chavirage hier matin de son trimaran géant IDEC au large des côtes américaines, Francis Joyon patiente dans l'inconfort et l'humidité de sa coque retournée. Grâce à son téléphone Irridium, il est tenu heure par heure au courant de la chaîne active de secours qui se met méthodiquement en place afin de le récupérer et de sauver son bateau.

Francis Joyon a, dès hier midi, reçu sur la zone du chavirage la visite d'un "rescue boat" américain, navire de sauvetage en mer, accompagné d'un hélicoptère. Depuis hier soir, c'est un navire des US Coast Guards, le USS "Tiger Shark" qui s'est positionné en "chien de garde" autour de la zone de l'accident et qui restera sur place jusqu'à la fin des opérations.

Le Groupe IDEC et son Président Patrice Lafargue ainsi que Christophe Houdet ont, depuis la France, coordonné les relations entre le CROSS et le MRCC de Boston, tout en activant de nombreux contacts pour trouver les moyens techniques capables de remorquer le trimaran géant vers un port US. Un remorqueur de la société d'armement "Miller Marine Service" basée à Port Jefferson sur Long Island fait route depuis cette nuit vers Francis. Le bateau dans lequel trois plongeurs ont pris place devrait arriver sur zone vers 15 heures (heure française). Le jour sera alors levé aux Etats-Unis, et les opérations de largage du gréement et d'arrimage du bateau pourront s'effectuer dans de bonnes conditions.

Francis Joyon a toute la journée pour réfléchir au port d'arrivée le plus apte à accueillir son trimaran blessé. Il semble très probable que Newport (Rhodes Island), peu éloigné et véritable "Mecque" de la voile US, soit la destination finale de l'opération de remorquage.

Trimaran IDEC

18 Foot Skiffs : St Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, Day 1

2011-08-23T02:23:00.003+12:00

Coxon sidelined, but his old guy rules, too

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

by Rich Roberts

Trevor Barnabas tagged along from Australia to watch his son Trent crew for defending champion Michael Coxon in the 10th annual 18ft Skiff International Regatta, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Good thing he did.

Coxon, suffering from a severe crick in his neck, handed off the skipper's role to the elder Barnabas on a few hours' notice Sunday morning and watched from the club's upper deck as he drove the Thurlow Fishers Lawyers-sponsored boat to a tentative seventh place in the first race and then a runaway win in the second.

Introduction to the 18 Foot Skiffs in San Francisco:

That left them in third place in the 15-boat fleet after two of 10 races behind former winners John Winning of Australia, who scored a 1-2 day, and Howie Hamlin of Long Beach, Calif., who staged two remarkable comebacks for a 2-3 day.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

Coxon watched every move from the club's veranda.

"I did something to my neck a couple of weeks ago," he said, "and it's just been getting worse."

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

It wasn't any better after a practice sail Saturday or when he got up Sunday morning and decided to turn the tiller over to Barnabas, an experienced but retired 18ft Skiff competitor.

"I just came along to help out and watch," said Barnabas, who at 58 is in the same age group as Winning and Hamlin, who are still going strong. "The first race we couldn't get out of our own way, but we did a few things to the boat between races and it felt really good in the second race."

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

The only problem was the bloody bridge of middle crew Aaron Links' nose.

"That was my fault," Barnabas said. "I missed a [control action]."

Coxon was seeking a medical cure for his back but was not optimistic about returning before the end of the regatta Friday, which would leave Barnabas on the boat for the whole run.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

"I hope not," Barnabas said. "I don't think the body will hold up."

But Winning and Hamlin just keep on going, no matter what the conditions, which were more civilized than usual Sunday--- a moderate 12 knots of southwest breeze building to 18, with a friendly 2-knot flood tide making for relatively comfortable downwind runs around the 1.1-nautical mile windward leeward course from inside the Golden Gate Bridge to just past Alcatraz Island.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

But it was tricky finding the way through the three- and two-lap races.

"The first race we came here and went there," Winning said.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

He and Hamlin have new boats this year.

"But we're not fast upwind," said Hamlin, who has Matt Noble and Paul Allen as crew. "It might be because we're really light."

Competition continues through Friday, with Wednesday off. There will be two races a day, including the Bridge to Bridge classic late Thursday afternoon.

Image copyright Erik Simonson/www.h2oshots.com

Standings
(after 2 of 10 races; 2 discards; skippers listed first)

1. Yandoo, Australia, John Winning/David Gibson/Andrew Hay, 1-2, 3 points.
2. CST Composites, USA, Howie Hamlin/ Matt Noble/Paul Allen, 2-3, 5.
3. Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, Trevor Barnabas/Aaron Links/Trent Barnabas, 7-1, 8.
4. SMEG, Australia. Nick Press/Daniel Phillips/Brant Demis, 3-7, 10.
5. Harken, Australia, Glenn Raphael/Ben Lawrie/Matt McKinlay, 8-4, 12.
7. Maersk Line, Australia, Graham Catley/Nick Catley/Riley Dean, 4-9, 13.
8. Yamaha, New Zealand, Dave McDiarmid/Andrew Archibald/Chris Burgess, 5-10, 15.
9. SLAM, Australia, Grant Rollerson/Justin Healey/Marco Schuermann, 11-5, 16.
10. Panasonic Lumix, Australia, Jonathan Whitty/James Hozack/Phillip Beuner, 9-8, 17.
11. White Lightning, Patrick Whitmarsh/Mark Breen/Charlie Smythe, 10-12, 22.
12. Death Dealer, USA, Brian Malouf/John Gilmour/Luke Lawrence, 13-11, 24.
13. O'Canada, USA, John Ladha/Daniel Inkpen/Trevor Bozina, 12-14, 26.
14. USA Black, Skip McCormack/Jody McCormack/Polish Mike, 15-13, 28.
15. Love Machine, Chad Freitas/Katie Love/Daniel Roberts, 14-16/DNF, 30.

Love Machine takes a cold dip. Image copyright Rich Roberts.

St Francis Yacht Club

Detroit Cup : Aon Racing Finishes Third in the D-cup

2011-08-23T02:06:00.003+12:00

Corbett (Aon Racing) vs. Steven (Wellington Spirit) in the petit final. Image copyright Isao Toyama.

by Aon Racing media

Aon Racing had a great first semi-final race against Laurie Jury, extending to a fairly comfortable lead at the finish. Unfortunately Laurie then picked up his game, winning the second race and setting up a dramatic final race. In this race we had a thrilling pre-start, which ended with Laurie stuck to the pin and us doing 10 penalty turns to let him catch up. We then tried to clear our final penalty but were unable to, leaving us competing for 3rd place with Matthew Steven.

We then won our petit final 2-0 against Matty to wind up with a podium finish in the 2011 Detroit Cup. Congratulations to Jordan Reece (AUS) and team, who pipped Laurie 3-2 in the final. Next week the team is back in the big SM40 class for the Knickerbocker cup in New York.

We would like to thank our principal sponsor, Aon Insurance Brokers, as well as Club Marine and Allianz for their support. Thanks also to our home club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Aon Racing
Detroit Cup

IDEC Capsizes after Start of Solo Trans-Atlantic Record Attempt

2011-08-23T01:26:00.005+12:00

IDEC. Image copyright JM Liot/DPPI/IDEC.

by Francis Joyon (in translation by SailRaceWin)

I was on my seat outside on the boat. I was beginning to drag myself from the zone of perturbed meteorology near the American coast. I had run about 90 miles on the route in very irregular and unstable conditions, with the wind poorly established in direction and oscillating between 10 and 30 knots. I had crossed some very intense stormy periods, marked by violent gusts, but it was at the moment that I thought I had extracted myself from this zone that I received a giant punch which catapulted the boat on to its side.

I was sailing under mainsail with three reefs with the small ORC foreward. The violence of the gust was such that the motion detector, a kind of alarm against capsizing, didn't have the time to go off. I felt the push and I chocked the mainsail and then the maintrack car. The wind continued to push very violently and I felt the boat literally catapulted into the air. In a few seconds, I was "on the roof". I found myself under water beneath the trampoline. I tried to orientate myself to see how to get back up into the free air. It was night and chaos. With an effort, I found myself near a float. I do not know how I rejoined the cross-member before I was able to hoist myself on to the platform. I then got into the interior of the boat through the survival trap door.

It seems to me that Idec has not suffered much. I have about 10cm of water in the interior. I was able to save my electronics. I recovered my Irridium phone to advise of my capsize. I have a torch that is very strong and, as I felt that the boat was going towards an important maritime traffic route towards New York, I passed the end of the night on the trampoline to signal my presence to the freighters. With daylight, this danger has receded.

I am in hourly contact with Christophe Houdet on land. I know that numerous people are looking for a tow boat. I am only 50 miles from Newport (Rhode Island). The boat seems intact to me and I know that the rigging is not rubbing against the platform. The sea state is relatively calm and the air temperature very agreable. I have things to eat. After a rescue tow boat arrives, I will be in a position to drop the rig and maybe try to right the boat in order to facilitate its recovery...

Footnote...

A lifeboat has arrived in the area to evaluate the situation, help to secure the area of the capsize, and get ready to provide assistance to Francis. Patrice Lafargue, Prsident of the Group IDEC has activated all his public relation network and is follow the evolution of the situation in real time. Francis Joyon does not envision leaving his boat. Contact is being made with American tow boats and one can reasonable assume that the righting of the boat, with Francis on board, will occur during the day...

In French :

J'étais sur mon siège de veille à l'extérieur du bateau. Je commençais à m'extirper de la zone météorologiquement perturbée au plus près des côtes américaines. J'avais réussi à parcourir environ 90 milles sur la route dans des conditions très irrégulières et très instables, avec un vent mal établi en direction qui oscillait entre 10 et 30 noeuds. J'ai traversé quelques épisodes orageux très intenses, marqués par de violentes rafales mais c'est à un moment où je pensais m'extraire de cette zone que j'ai reçu comme un véritable coup de poing géant qui a catapulté le bateau sur le côté. Je naviguais sous grand voile arisée à trois ris, avec le petit ORC à l'avant. La violence de la rafale a été telle que le détecteur de gîte, sorte d'alarme anti chavirage n'a pas eu le temps de se déclencher ; J'ai senti la poussée et j'ai choqué la grand voile, puis le chariot en grand. Le vent a continué de pousser très violemment et j'ai senti le bateau littéralement catapulté en l'air. En quelques secondes, j'étais "sur le toit". Je me suis retrouvé sous l'eau, comme plaqué sous les filets. J'ai tenté de m'orienter pour voir comment remonter à l'air libre. C'était la nuit et le chaos. À l'énergie, je me suis retrouvé près d'un flotteur. Je ne sais trop comment j'ai rejoint le bras de liaison avant et j'ai pu me hisser sur la plateforme. J'ai ensuite rejoint l'intérieur du bateau par la trappe de survie.

Il me semble que Idec n'a pas trop souffert. J'ai environ 10 cm d'eau à l'intérieur. J'ai pu sauver mon électronique. J'ai récupéré mon téléphone Irridium pour prévenir de mon chavirage. J'ai un "flash light" très puissant et comme je sentais le bateau dériver vers la route de l'important trafic maritime vers New York, j'ai passé la fin de nuit sur les filets à signaler ma présence aux cargos. Le jour se lève à présent et ce danger est écarté. Je suis en contact heure par heure avec Christophe Houdet à terre. Je sais que de nombreuses personnes se mobilisent pour trouver un remorqueur. Je ne suis qu'à une cinquantaine de milles de Newport (Rhodes Island). Le bateau me semble intact et je sais que le gréement ne cogne pas contre la plate forme. L'état de la mer est relativeme nt calme et la température de l'air très supportable. J'ai de quoi manger. Dès qu'un navire de remorquage arrivera, je serai en mesure de larguer le gréement, et peut-être d'envisager une opération de retournement afin de faciliter le remorquage..."

Après...

Un bateau de secours est arrivé sur zone afin d'évaluer la situation, participer à la sécurisation de la zone du chavirage, et prêter éventuellement assistance à Francis. Patrice Lafargue, Président du Groupe IDEC active tout son réseau relationnel et suit en temps réel l'évolution de la situation. Francis Joyon n'envisage pas de quitter son voilier. Différents contacts sont en cours avec des remorqueurs américains et on peut raisonnablement estimer qu'une opération de récupération du bateau avec Francis à son bord se mettra en place dans la journée....

Trimaran IDEC

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Loki evens the score with Hooligan

2011-08-23T01:12:00.004+12:00

Calm. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

Marcus Blackmore’s all conquering TP52 Hooligan has found itself a worthy opponent. Today Stephen Ainsworth’s RP63 Loki evened the tally between the two over a number of events, the current being Audi Hamilton Island Race Week where the two are ruling the Grand Prix division.

Loki’s handicap win in IRC Class A Grand Prix division today means it’s five apiece from their total number of starts, the underdog successfully chasing and grabbing Blackmore’s team by the pants. Blackmore still leads the Race Week progressive pointscore by one point.

Ainsworth and his Irish born - now Australian based - principal helmsman Gordon Maguire have assembled another top notch crew including Alby Pratt and Anthony Merrington. New addition is Airlie Beach local Murray Spence who has spent many years sailing maxis with Neville Crichton and understands the tides and other local vagaries.

Hooligan. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

On their handicap win, Maguire said, “we levelled it out today and we were completely unscathed,” referring to Blackmore’s spinnaker tear which cost them a few bucks and a couple of valuable minutes in lost time.

“With the forecast and all the chat on the dock beforehand you can go out with an anticipation of something really big. With all of our offshore experience we backed ourselves and went out with a full mainsail and a number four. Many others had reefs in and were underpowered,” added Maguire.

The line honours matchup is proving a one horse race with the Mark Richards skippered supermaxi Wild Oats XI breaking gear but still out-pacing Anthony Bell’s Investec Loyal to take a fifth consecutive win.

Wild Oats XI. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

“Today was a great day....awesome,” said a smiling Richards who pressed the Reichel Pugh design up to their top speed of 26 knots (48km per hour). “We broke some gear but the boys did a great job recovering.”

In IRC Class B Darryl Hodgkinson’s Victoire is the undisputed boat to catch. It’s a different story in Class C where four boats are sharing equal top points, Andrew Hurt’s Sydney 36CRX Onya the current series leader on a countback.

Victoire. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

With gusts forecast to peak in the mid to high 30s and a short chop in Whitsunday Passage, the race committee deliberated this morning on whether to alter the racing schedule. They decided to go ahead as planned with Performance 1 and 2 divisions sent on the island course rather than windward/leewards and the Melges kept ashore.

Top wind speeds only just nudged 30 knots out of the sou’east but it was enough to give the grinders a hell of a workout and the bowmen and women a drenching. For the skippers it was an exhilarating as well as a mentally and physically tough day keeping their charges powered up and under control in the white water and smokin’ hot spinnaker reaches and runs.

Onya. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

This afternoon there are a number of boats limping into the marina with gear and sail damage but it’s mostly smiles all round as Audi Hamilton Island Race Week turns on its best for the thousands of sailors gathered for the watery feast.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for SE 20/25 knots and it will be an early start for the IRC Class A and B, IRC Passage Class B and Super Multihulls racing in the 63 nautical mile Club Marine Classic Long Race before Wednesday’s layday for all divisions.

Ocean Affinity. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Detroit Cup : Wellington Spirit Finishes Fourth

2011-08-23T01:10:00.004+12:00

Matt Steven's Wellington Spirit (NZL) team in action at the Detroit Cup. Image copyright Isao Toyama.

by Matt Steven

Wellington Spirit has finished in 4th place at the 2011 Detroit Match Cup ISAF Grade Two event. The team consisting of Matt Steven, Chris Jones and Jono Clough made a stroing start to the regatta ending up clear winners of the round robin phase and taking out their Quarter Final 2-0 against fellow kiwis William Tiller and the Full Metal Jacket racing team.

However the semis were a different story where they went down 2-0 to Jordan Reece and his team from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, who ended up winning the regatta and a place in the World Match Racing Tour. In the petit-finals, Wellington Spirit lost out to fellow Kiwis Aon Racing, skippered by Reuben Corbett, to finish fourth overall.

Wellington Spirit
Detroit Cup

Detroit Cup : Australia Wins, Kiwis Complete the Podium

2011-08-23T00:21:00.006+12:00

Jordan Reece, Henry Kernot and Harry Thurston with the Detroit Cup. Image copyright Isao Toyama.

by Kevin Schrage

In an impressive display of determination, patience, and skill beyond his 19 years, Australian Jordan Reece and his team of Henry Kernot and Harry Thurston have won the ISAF Grade 2 Detroit Cup in an exciting 5-match Final at the Bayview YC. The team defeated Kiwi Laurie Jury in an exciting Final that went to all five matches in the first-to-three point series.

Close finals between Laurie Jury's Zoke Kiwi Match and Jordan Reece (AUS). Image copyright Isao Toyama.

Reece started the day early, defeating Brad Funk to earn their place in the Semi-Finals, then came back from being one match down in the first-to-two point series to defeat Kiwi Reuben Corbett, and then went up by two in the first match of the first-to-three match Final.

But then Jury roared back, dominating the next two matches to bring the series even up, and forcing a conclusion to the fifth and final match. All matches featured contentious lead changes and fights at nearly every mark rounding in perfect 10-14 knot conditions on the Detroit River.

Close finals between Laurie Jury's Zoke Kiwi Match and Jordan Reece (AUS). Image copyright Isao Toyama.

The final match started with Reece rounding the first top mark first by two lengths, but as was seen throughout this series sailed in Ultimate 20's the trailing boat is at an advantage in gybing into the passing lane on the downwind legs. So Jury took the lead going into the bottom mark, and got to the favored left side to double his lead at the final top mark.

The problem is that Jury went to the wrong mark, opting to go to the default mark rather than the mark signaled at the start of the match, so Reece, trailing by several lengths and rounding the proper mark, managed to sail downwind unmolested to the finish and into victory.

Close racing in the petit final between Reuben Corbett's Aon Racing (NZL) and Matt Steven's Wellington Spirit (NZL). Image copyright Isao Toyama.

The Detroit Cup is the second stop on the four-stage US GRAND SLAM Series, a series of four consecutive ISAF Grade 2 match race events composed of last week's Chicago Grade 2 Invitational, this week's Detroit Cup, next week's Knickerbocker Cup, and the following week's concluding Oakcliff International. Winner of the series will get an invitation to next year's ISAF Grade 1 Congressional Cup in Long Beach.

Brad Funk (USA) had his match racer wife, Anna Tunnicliffe, on the foredeck. Image copyright Isao Toyama.

Jury may have lost the battle, but is winning the war now, leading the Grade 2 US GRAND SLAM series with two runner-up finishes in Chicago and now Detroit, with 160 points.

Results (top 8)

1. Jordan Reese (AUS)
2. Laurie Jury (NZL)
3. Reuben Corbett (NZL)
4. Matthew Steven (NZL)
5. Brad Funk (USA)
6. Taylor Canfield (ISV)
7. Nicolai Sehested (DEN)
8. William Tiller (NZL)

Detroit Cup

Detroit Cup : Livestream of the Semi-Finals and Finals with 3 Kiwi Teams Competing

2011-08-22T04:26:00.002+12:00

Reuben Corbett's Aon Racing, Laurie Jury's Zoke KiwiMatch, and Matt Steven's Wellington Spirit, are the New Zealand teams competing in the semi-finals of the Detroit Cup, hosted by Bayview Yacht Club, USA.

Detroit Cup

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Fast Racing in Perfect Conditions

2011-08-22T01:19:00.006+12:00

Wild Oats XI. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

by Susan Sullivan

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week’s IRC Class A Grand Prix and B riders and starters had their first day of taxing windward/leeward races in bumpy seas and a brisk 18-20 knot south easterly trade breeze.

Bob Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI continued its line honours winning form, spoiling Anthony Bell and Investec Loyal’s chances of getting on the scoreboard with three bullets from three starts. The unblemished run of Marcus Blackmore’s TP52 Hooligan also remains intact with the perfect scorecard on handicap after three races.

Hooligan (ex-ETNZ's TP52) on Day 2 of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

The photographers were rubbing their hands and the docks were abuzz this morning when flags started flapping early, indicating a sensational day of wind and clear skies ahead with more breeze forecast for tomorrow and up to 30 knots expected for Tuesday.

Generally the grand prix classes treat Audi Hamilton Island Race Week more seriously, some under strict nightly curfews imposed by professional coaches and morning fitness programs to wake up the muscles and kick start the adrenaline.

Anyone not fully conscious by the time they left Hamilton Island’s marina would have been slapped awake by the first gust and salt spray as the fleet left the island’s protection and headed for open water for three wet and exhilarating W/L races likely to yield the series’ cover shots.

Yesterday’s minor gear breakdowns hurt Bell’s chances of catching the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats XI and his luck failed to turn today with his giant spinnaker suddenly breaking free on a downwind run in race two of the series. Bell was forced to stall the Elliott design head to wind, losing time while the crew dragged the waterlogged chute back on deck.

Hooligan (ex-ETNZ's TP52) on Day 2 of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

On handicap in race two of the series, Victorian Rob Hanna’s older generation TP52 Shogun threatened to put the clamps on Marcus Blackmore’s newer TP52 Hooligan, but couldn’t quite claim the prized scalp, finishing second by 33 seconds with Loki (Stephen Ainsworth) third. In race three second and third were reversed with Loki’s sharp crew work putting them into second and Shogun into third.

Blackmore has triple world Laser champion, Etchells world champion and ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby calling the shots while Hanna has the clout of NZ ace and multiple round the world yachtsman Stu Bannatyne.

This will be Hanna’s last major regatta with his 2006 built TP, his newer version, currently racing as Matador for the Audi MedCup circuit, is due to arrive in Australia in November and should be prepped by the Rolex Trophy in December.

Calm and Georgia. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

In the IRC Passage Class B division Darryl Hodginson’s Beneteau 45 Victoire is clubhouse leader after three races, today’s two firsts in race two and three and yesterday’s second putting the rest of the division on notice.

Ian Oatley’s radical RP42 Q retired from the first race of the day citing gear failure and Phil Molony’s Papillon was a Class B division casualty as the heavy seaway took its toll.

Investec Loyal. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini.

Tomorrow the IRC divisions will join the Cruising, Non Spinnaker and Super Multihull divisions for an islands race while the Performance Racing divisions will have their turn on the windward/leeward course area.

The forecast SE 20/25 knot wind will light up the Audi Hamilton Island Race fleet while Tuesday’s expected 20/30 knots will test the strength and endurance of both boats and crew.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Detroit Cup : Aon Racing Through to the Semi-Finals

2011-08-22T01:11:00.002+12:00

by Aon Racing media

Aon Racing performed well today, winning their last three races of the round robin to finish in second place on 8 wins. This left us racing Nicolai Sehested (DEN) in the Quarter finals, in a best of 3 knock out. We won the first race, but went down in the second. Fortunately Reuben pulled out the stops in the last start, controlling Nicolai beautifully to lead off the line with a double penalty on our opponent. This allowed us to take a comfortable win and advance to the semi finals.

In the other quarter finals, Matthew Steven (NZL) beat William Tiller (NZL) and Laurie Jury (NZL) beat Taylor Canfield (BVI). The last quarter is still underway, with Jordan Reece (AUS) currently 1 nil up against Brad Funk (USA). Tune in for live coverage of the racing at http://www.detroitcup.com/.

We would like to thank our principal sponsor, Aon Insurance Brokers, as well as Club Marine and Allianz for their support. Thanks also to our home club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Aon Racing is Reuben Corbett (Skipper), Adrian Short (Main) and Tom Bentham (Bow).

Aon Racing
Detroit Cup

Detroit Cup : Wellington Spirit Defeats FMJ Racing from Auckland in Quarterfinals

2011-08-22T01:08:00.003+12:00

by Matt Steven, Chris Jones and Jono Clough

We had a good day today, on Day 3 of the Detroit Cup. It was very long but worthwhile. We got two wins over our Auckland rival Will Tiller to knock him out of the quater finals and put ourselves in the semi finals. After we finished we watched Brad Funk and Jordan Reece experience some Wellington weather with broaches everywhere and Brad capsizing, having to jump on the keel to get the boat back up.

Wellington Spirit
Detroit Cup

America's Cup : Kevin Hall, Artemis Racing, on the AC45 in the ACWS at Cascais

2011-08-21T03:07:00.004+12:00

Kevin Hall and Terry Hutchinson on the Artemis Racing AC45 in Cascais. Image copyright Sander van der Borch/Artemis Racing.

by Kevin Hall

Artemis Racing has just finished being a part of a watershed two weeks in the history of sailboat racing, at the first America's Cup World Series event in Cascais. I was once-in-a-lifetime fortunate to have a front row seat at the event, racing on the AC45 in the Camber position. Here are a few thoughts about what makes this different to everything we've ever done in our sport, and why I'm thrilled that this is the future of sailing.

I was terrible at ball sports as a kid. Pretty much the last one picked unless it was the County Science Fair team. So I never got to be a part of a basketball starting five. Which means I have less experience picking myself up after bouncing a bad pass or missing a catch in the endzone than most athletes. But picking yourself up off the tramp, or supporting a teammate who is running late to get over the spine and under the wing to the windward daggerboard is exactly what you better be able to do if you want to succeed in America's Cup World Series racing.

Artemis Racing at the America's Cup World Series in Cascais. Image copyright Sander van der Borch/Artemis Racing.

Sure, I've called too much time to kill in a semi-final in a Version 5 boat and gone on to sail a good race, and I've overstood a few laylines in the TP52, and sat myself down that night with my notes to figure out what I missed and how to increase my percentages next time. But none of that was meanwhile exerting at at 100% of max heart rate, with an average HR over 20 minutes of over 90% of max. And in those races, one little mistake - a half step shy of a perfect race - is about all you got if you wanted to win. There was plenty of time to plan ahead and not make them.

The AC45 feels onboard like the last 2 minutes of a basketball game that has had no subs, with the court bucking under your feet, everyone on the other team taller than you, and sometimes even the fans themselves between you and the hoop. There's grease on the ball, the backboard is changing from spongy to hard and back again, and don't forget the noise of three helicopters making the oxygen-starved space between your ears feel like the director's cut of Apocalypse Now.

You need to do your job. On our boat we call ourselves Monkey #1, 2, 3 and 4 from the bow back to remind ourselves that boathandling has to come first. On the Artemis Racing team website for the Cascais ACWS, my position was listed as "Camber". One little word which evokes the wing, but doesn't really mention the sub-roles as "Bowman Assist", "Trimmer Assist", "Runner if you get there first", and "Your call on this shift as long as you get it right…"

Time in the boat racing under pressure, as well as continued work on fitness, will make the boathandling more automatic and instinctual. But it won't change the fundamental newness of the AC45 class to all other sailing we've done : you can't do everything at the exact right time in any given maneuver with only 5 guys, so picking the right priority is a skill to be developed and honed. In the Olympic boards and dinghies they often sail at similar exertion levels, and for longer, but there tends to be a clear playbook for every maneuver, and not too many variations. There is lots of time between events to increase the base of repetitions of a maneuver, and a history in the class of what tends to work and what doesn't.

By contrast, we have a play right now called "freestyle", where because of a wave, or a late puff, or another boat, or a misstep, or a clearly unforced playbook error in loading a sheet or pre-setting the camber - partially, but not excusably, caused by being physically redline - or any number of other things, the normal sequence of events onboard just won't work.

Artemis Racing at the America's Cup World Series in Cascais. Image copyright Sander van der Borch/Artemis Racing.

I imagine the guys on the basketball court develop amazing peripheral vision for each other and their opposition, and even a loose form of telepathy whereby they know where that other guy is running to and can can throw the ball there with high confidence that it will get to him. We'll be working on similar skills for the bottom mark approach and gennaker drop, for two quick downspeed tacks, for a dial down in the prestart with the wind about to change dramatically for the first reach.

The reaching start has really grown on me, quickly. It's fair to say I have remained open minded about all aspects of the race format as they have evolved, trusting that some really smart and experienced people are developing it. As a forest the reaching start looks pretty straightforward - get reaching and hit the line with speed. When you get to the level of the trees though it becomes apparent that there are some very subtle choices at play. In a keelboat upwind start normally you have a good feel for how your setup is going to be with a minute to go, and it's all about execution.

In some of the windier starts we did some boats were still tacking away from the line at 40 seconds to find a new spot. Since 0-25 knots of boatspeed can take less than 10 seconds you can cover some distance! The slingshot is very powerful, but the margin for error at that approach speed, approaching perpendicular to the line, is extremely small. If you plan to roll over the top of everyone from the windward end that's great, as long as you are 100% sure you want to go straight out of the first mark. And even if you do roll over them but you get to the boundary before your plan yields significant gains, you won't have much clear air after the gybe.

What about light air? It would appear that a few wings between you and the breeze form what can essentially feel like a wall. Maybe even a back eddy. Secure your mask before attending to those around you. Pretty different to luffing sails next to you but perpendicular to the zephyr direction - the wings are straight upwind of you! Get too far away from the line and be at risk to be late or even very late, or get a little too close and be either poached and put head to wind or slungshot by the guys who held back a bit guessing there would be enough pressure, and pulled the trigger sooner than you. Now add shifts, reading whether the wind showing on the water is helicopter or ambient, whether the helicopter will move before or after the gun, whether when it goes right you will want to deploy - oh, and the fact that you just finished a race 8 minutes ago and haven't really caught your breath, and have gone straight into doing a jib change, hoisting the gennaker to unfurl and do an extra tight furl for the reach, drink some fluids. Try not to forget that the whole world is hearing pretty much every word you and your team are saying, while you're at all this through the ups and downs, too.

Artemis Racing at the America's Cup World Series in Cascais. Image copyright Sander van der Borch/Artemis Racing.

Boundaries - more tactical, as tactical but different, or simply an easy way for the leader to extend? Not sure yet. Might depend on the breeze and how one-sided the course is. Certainly if you lead around the favored gate and sail a high mode toward way more pressure and good current, it's going to be pretty hard on the guy behind to have the discipline to follow you. But the final beat of the Fleet Race Championship in Cascais, even with boundaries and usually more pressure top right, wasn't so straight forward that there weren't any passes. Time will tell, could be one of those big "it depends" questions which we love about our sport.

The question of whether pre-starts or match racing in winged cats are interesting never needs to come up again. Nobody misses jockey poles or the bulb either. Having to stay switched on between races to make sure you don't capsize is a new deal for many of us, as is the fact that you can't really entirely chill out after a race if you're coming out on the crane that day until the wing is in the shed.

The fleet lined up on the moorings along the shore in Cascais looked extremely cool. Bleeding edge comes to mind although I'm not sure those are the words the kids would use. What would be as obvious to them, sailor and skater alike, is the speed they must do when unleashed from the moorings : obvious just from the aesthetic. The onboard and helicopter footage of the racing provide a level of access to not just the fans but to the competitors which we have never had in the past but always wanted. How does ETNZ do their gennaker hoist? Just watch, from about 2 meters from where the halyard exits the wing. What do Jimmy and JK talk about in the middle of the run? Just listen, it's all there. Is there occasionally time for jokes onboard during a race? Most of the time we're too out of breath or brain power to even consider it. I did hear a replay in one race about getting a bag of chips which was good for a cautious laugh, but a very quiet one because I am quite sure there are at least 10 clips and soundbites that feature me as the class klutz or the village idiot : we're all pretty conscious of the glass houses we are operating in.

I am quite excited about having so much access to the inside of those houses on the other boats, not just vague memories of what went right or wrong on our own boat. The calibre of the racing in Cascais this week was already pretty good. Oracle Spithill and Emirates Team New Zealand showed solid preparation and a tiny bit more polish in the windier races than the rest of us to take first and second in the match race event. ETNZ slipped out in front in the winner take all fleet race. Thanks to a tremendous amount of work by the entire team, especially the shore team, wing and sail team, and coaching group, Artemis Racing was able to perform best when it counted most, and work through the fleet to finish just behind them in second.

The real winner in my mind was the event itself. There were clearly some doubts about what we might do and see in Cascais. Those can be put to bed, it was an excellent event on all fronts. Sure there are a few little niggles to iron out but considering the amount of innovation ACRM is taking on, they were minimal. Thank you to the hundreds of people who have toiled in the wee hours to bring the AC45 itself, and the racing we got to do, from vision to reality, and from something we read about a few days later to live in living rooms around the world.

Artemis Racing at the America's Cup World Series in Cascais. Image copyright Sander van der Borch/Artemis Racing.

There are unknowable unknowns between now and the first race of the America's Cup in 2013. One thing is for sure though - racing an AC72 on San Francisco Bay will be like leaving the bunny slopes to go hors piste.

Artemis Racing
America's Cup

Francis Joyon and IDEC Prepare to Attempt the Solo Trans-Atlantic Record Sunday 21st August

2011-08-21T02:42:00.003+12:00

Record de l'Atlantique : Confirmation de la Fenetre Meteo

IDEC. Image copyright JM Liot/DPPI/IDEC.

by Trimaran IDEC media

Après une première tentative avortée le 15 août dernier, Francis Joyon devrait repartir à l'assaut du record de la traversée de l'Atlantique, entre Ambrose (New York) et le cap Lizard, dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi. La nouvelle fenêtre météo repérée avec l'aide du routeur-navigateur Jean-Yves Bernot semble en effet favorable pour tirer le maximum des performances du maxi trimaran IDEC et ainsi espérer détrôner Thomas Coville, détenteur du record depuis juillet 2008. Pour cela, Francis devra boucler les 2980 milles théoriques du parcours en moins de 5 jours, 19 heures, 30 minutes et 40 secondes.

A relaxed Francis Joyon on board IDEC in New York, 20th August 2011. Image copyright © Don Emmert / AFP / DPPI / IDEC.

« Cette fenêtre météo vaut le coup d'être tentée ». C'est Jean-Yves Bernot, le conseiller météo de Francis Joyon, qui le dit. « Des opportunités comme celle-ci ne se présentent pas 50 fois dans l'été d'autant que plus on avance en saison, plus les chances de trouver des conditions propices s'amenuisent » poursuit-il. A moins que la situation ne se dégrade brutalement, le marin de Locmariaquer s'élancera donc de New-York dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi à bord de son maxi trimaran IDEC, pour une traversée de l'Atlantique express. Il devrait évoluer dans un flux de sud-ouest de 20 à 25 nœuds et sur une mer peu formée, soit les conditions optimales pour battre ce type de record. Jean-Yves Bernot : « Il nous faut du vent portant raisonnablement fort. Les conditions recherchées sont assez pointues, d'autant que nous les voulons sur quasiment toute la traversée. Cette fenêtre météo est donc intéressante et semble un peu plus favorable que celle de la semaine dernière, au moins pour le départ. Elle devrait permettre à Francis de naviguer assez proche de la route directe et donc de faire moins de manœuvres, ce qui est toujours appréciable en solitaire ».

IDEC. Image copyright JM Liot/DPPI/IDEC.

L'idée pour Francis et son routeur : parvenir à se faire porter par ce système dépressionnaire le plus loin possible en Atlantique, idéalement jusqu'aux environs du cap Lizard, où sera jugée l'arrivée de ce record. Mais si la situation météo est assez claire jusqu'au milieu de l'Atlantique, l'incertitude plane en revanche sur la phase d'arrivée. « C'est d'ailleurs là que se jouent souvent les records, souligne Jean-Yves Bernot. Une traversée en solitaire à grande vitesse induit toujours une part de chance, notamment au niveau de la météo. C'est la loi du genre ».

IDEC. Image copyright JM Liot/DPPI/IDEC.

Francis est impatient d'en découdre. Et c'est tant mieux. Car pour espérer reconquérir un record qu'il a déjà détenu de 2005 à 2008, il devra maintenir une vitesse moyenne de 25 nœuds sur sa route. Ce ne sera pas une mince affaire. Mais le recordman du tour du monde à la voile en solitaire a déjà démontré à maintes reprises qu'il était de taille à relever les plus grands défis. A suivre...

IDEC. Image copyright JM Liot/DPPI/IDEC.

Follow IDEC's trans-Atlantic progress here

Trimaran IDEC

Rolex Fastnet Race : Rolex Fastnet Race Lives Up to its Reputation

2011-08-21T01:45:00.008+12:00

Niklas Zennström's RÁN crossing the finish line off Plymouth to win the 2011 ROLEX FASTNET RACE. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

by Trish Jenkins

Records tumbled in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race, this year's event living up to its reputation as the most gruelling and tactically challenging of the classic offshore races. As usual the 608 mile long course took the boats from the start line off Cowes, Isles of Wight towards the Fastnet Rock off southwest Ireland, back around the outside of the Scilly Isles off southwest England to the finish line in Plymouth.

Race start in the Solent. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Starting cannons at the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

On Sunday 14 August, 314 boats set sail - the largest ever Rolex Fastnet Race fleet - up from the previous record of 303. This was due to a new initiative from race's organisers, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, to invite 'professional' offshore classes, able to compete under their own class rules, over and above the IRC fleet, that was capped at a maximum of 300 entries. The result was the most diverse selection of yachts ever assembled in a single offshore yacht race with the new initiative attracting many high-profile international racing teams. Thus in the same race some of the world's fastest multihulls such as the 140-foot long trimaran, Maxi Banque Populaire were lining up with Contessa 32s and pilot cutters with the complete pantheon of racing yachts in between.

A coup for the event was the participation of three Volvo Open 70s, the only occasion these boats would race together prior to this autumn's start of the fully crewed round the world race. The 'pro' classes also saw the race debut of the two Multi One Design 70 foot trimarans, and attracted six IMOCA 60s, best known for competing in the singlehanded non-stop round the world race, the Vendee Globe, plus an impressive fleet of 20 of their smaller cousins, the Class 40.

VO70 Groupama 4. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Leading the charge in the IRC fleet were the two 100 foot maxis Rambler 100 and ICAP Leopard, followed by the Farr 80 Beau Geste and Mini Maxis such as the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race winner, Niklas Zennstrom's JV72, Ran, and Andres Soriano's Mills 68, Alegre, but the bulk of the record-sized fleet were more regular yachts with amateur crews from a total of 20 nations. For many, participation in the Rolex Fastnet Race was the highlight of their sailing seasons, for others the pinnacle of their sailing careers.

Banque Populaire V on her way to line honours and a record time. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

VO70 Team Sanya. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Off the Royal Yacht Squadron platform, the fleet starts began with the multihulls and culminating with the canting keel monohulls and VO70s, the boats enduring a stiff beat out of the Solent and into the English Channel in the best Rolex Fastnet Race tradition. With winds gusting to 30 knots at the exit to the Solent at Hurst Narrows, there were the first dramas of the race with the Class 40, Eutourist Serv-System and the trimaran, Strontium Dog (GBR) dismasting, plus two collisions.
As expected Banque Populaire, Gitana 11 and the two MOD70s trimarans set off at lightning speed down the race course. While Gitana 11, skippered by Vendee Globe and Volvo Ocean Race skipper Seb Josse was constantly nipping at her heels, the world's fastest offshore boat, Maxi Banque Populaire, skippered by French offshore legend Loick Peyron, as expected proved the pace-setter. After being on the wind all the way to the Rock, the trimaran took off on a reach on her way back to the finish in Plymouth. Crossing the line Monday evening in a time of just 1 day, 8 hours, and 48 minutes, the world's fastest racing trimaran established a new outright record for the Rolex Fastnet Race - some 7 hours and 39 minutes quicker than that of the best previous time set by a multihull.

Banque Populaire V's victorious crew. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

MOD70 Veolia Environnement. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Banque Populaire V. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Banque Populaire V. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Gitana 11. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Unfortunately as this was happening, drama was unfolding close by the Fastnet Rock. While Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard, two-time line honours winner in this event, led the monohull fleet down the English Channel and into the Celtic Sea, George David's Rambler 100 finally overhauled them on the way to the Rock. Rambler 100 rounded the Rock at 17:25 BST and turned south for the Pantaenius offset mark into 25-30 knot headwinds and a sizable short sharp sea. Shortly after this, the fin for her canting keel snapped just below the hull exit causing her to capsize almost instantaneously.

Rambler 100 in rough weather, prior to losing her keel. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Rambler 100 capsized. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Rambler 100's crew on the Baltimore lifeboat. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Three crew were lucky and climbed straight on to the upturned hull as she capsized, the rest ended up in the water, including four who had been down below at the time. With a massive struggle in the difficult conditions, the majority of her 21 crew, managed to clamber up on top of the upturned hull, while five, including skipper George David, alarmingly drifted away from the boat. Fortunately, the five tied themselves together, and they were recovered after having spent 2.5 hours in the water, while the remainder of the crew were picked up by the lifeboat from nearby Baltimore. Incredibly, everyone was rescued - this through the combined heroic efforts of the Valentia MRCC, the Baltimore Lifeboat, and the dive vessel, Wave Chieftain. The shaken crew were taken to Baltimore while David's partner Wendy Touton was airlifted to hospital, suffering from hypothermia, and later released. Remembering the 1979 Fastnet disaster, many local residents in Baltimore offered the shaken Rambler crew unparalleled hospitality upon their arrival.

ICAP Leopard. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

After the terrible Rambler incident, Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard once again took the lead in the monohull fleet, but after rounding the Fastnet Rock and cracking off, the 100 foot maxi was rapidly overhauled on the leg back to the Scilly Isles by the three VO70s. After a spectacular race where each of the three boats, Abu Dhabi, Groupama 4 and Team Sanya held the lead at some point, Groupama 4 led back from the Fastnet Rock only to be pipped at the post by the Farr-designed Abu Dhabi, skippered by double Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker - with just 4 minutes 42 seconds separating her from Groupama 4, skippered by French non-stop round the world record holder Franck Cammas. In the process, Abu Dhabi also broke ICAP Leopard's monohull record for the Rolex Fastnet Race with an elapsed time for the course of 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes.

VO70 Azzam. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

IMOCA60 PRB rounding the Fastnet. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

IMOCA 60s Bernard Stamm's CHEEMINEES POUJOULAT and Jean-Pierre Dick's VIRBAC PARPEC 3. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Following them in mid-Tuesday morning, was a similarly tight finish between the IMOCA 60s with 2004-5 Vendee Globe winner Vincent Riou completing the course in 1 day, 23 hours, and 21 minutes, ahead of double Barcelona World Race winner Jean-Pierre Dick on Virbac Paprec 2 and double Velux 5 Oceans winner Bernard Stamm aboard his new Cheminees Poujoulat, the top three separated by less than five minutes.

Arndt rounding the Fastnet Rock at dawn. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Prior to the start of this Rolex Fastnet Race the forecast for brisk winds for the first two days followed by light conditions mid-week, indicated that the event would favour the larger, faster boats on handicap.

After ICAP Leopard, the next IRC arrival was Niklas Zennström's Rán at 12:53:44 BST on Tuesday, in an elapsed time of 2 days 3 minutes and 44 seconds and even upon her arrival the silver hulled Judel Vrolijk 72 was looking strong to take the overall prize in the Rolex Fastnet for a second consecutive time. Her race had been made easier with her immediate competition retiring - the Farr 80 Beau Geste, with a crack in her deck and Andres Soriano's Mills 68 Alegre, with a broken rudder tip.

Banque Populaire V. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

On Wednesday, pace in the Rolex Fastnet Race slowed with the onset of a high pressure system over parts of the race course, leaving many yachts becalmed, particularly around the Scilly Isles and along the south coast of Cornwall. The light winds continued into Thursday as the bulk of the fleet approached the Plymouth finish. Boats arrived with wind, only to be stalled on a foul tide, so there were several virtual restarts approaching the line and on Thursday night after the tide turned over a period of just two hours, an armada of 105 boats crossed the finish line, the crews arriving with tales of prolonged periods they had to anchor to avoid going backwards.

Niklas Zennström's Rán was confirmed as the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the first time a boat had won consecutive races since Carina II in the 1950s.

"It's fantastic, really, really good," said Zennström of his second victory. "Everyone on the team is very happy and very pleased. I think we've never sailed better as a team. We sailed the boat very hard, we were never kind of relaxed, we were very focused all the time and we pushed the boat a lot."

Class 40 INITIATIVES - ALEX OLIVIER rounding the Fastnet Rock. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

With the exception of Rán in IRC Z, ICAP Leopard in the Canting Keel class and Rives
Potts' McCurdy & Rhodes 48 Carina (USA) in IRC 2, French teams won the three other IRC classes and held the majority of positions on the podium. IRC 1 went to regular RORC race competitors Nicolas Loday and Jean Claude Nicoleau on their Grand Soleil 43 Codiam. Class 3 was won by Noel Racine's aboard his JPK 10.10 Foggy Dew, while once again in IRC 4 victory went to Jean Yves Chateau's Nicholson 33, Iromiguy, overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2007.

Rolex Fastnet Race fleet in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Eddie Warden Owen, CEO of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, summarised: "It's been a really interesting race because it offered everything: It's been a tough race - not just because of the wind conditions on the first two days, but also tough getting back for the little boats because they have had very little wind, they've parked up. And we had the Rambler incident and the first boat arriving after just 32 hours. Then the Volvo guys finishing within five minutes was amazing and the Class 40s had a really close finish. Maybird and Morwenna, the two pilot cutters, are having their own battle out there - they'll be in next week. So this Fastnet's been full of opportunities for people, an experience for everybody involved in it."

RÁN. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Banque Populaire V. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

As of 1200 BST there were six boats still racing, expected to finish today, including Edith Gray, Freebird, Brisbane Star, Rainbow UK, Morwenna, while Maybird is due in early Sunday morning.

Fastnet Rock at dusk. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Rolex Fastnet Race

Rolex Fastnet Race : Race Winners Reap Rewards

2011-08-21T01:30:00.003+12:00

Richard De Leyser, ROLEX UK, presents a Rolex Yacht-Master to Steve Hayles of RÁN. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

by Trish Jenkins

The prizegiving for the Rolex Fastnet Race took place this evening at the historic Royal Citadel on Plymouth's famous Hoe.

Dating back to 1660s and standing on the site of the fort built in the time of Sir Francis Drake, the Royal Citadel over the centuries has been one of Britain's most important defences and today is the base for the 29 Commando Regiment of the Royal Artillery.

The main trophy for overall victory in the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Fastnet Challenge Cup, was awarded this year to Niklas Zennström's Rán and this was presented along with a Rolex Yachtmaster Chronometer. The Judel-Vrolijk designed 72-footer also won the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2009, making her the first back-to-back winner since Carina II in 1955/1957.

In addition, Rán won the Joe Powder Trophy for best corrected time at the Fastnet Rock, the Hong Kong Cup for first in IRC Zero, Erroll Bruce Cup for the first yacht home in IRC Zero.

Rán navigator Steve Hayles also won the Alf Loomis Trophy as the navigator of the yacht that wins IRC overall.

Finish line from the Plymouth Breakwater Lighthouse. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Mike Slade's 100 foot maxi ICAP Leopard picked up a large quantity of silverware including the Erivale Trophy for first yacht home in IRC Canting Keel; the Gesture Trophy for first overall in IRC Canting Keel; the Clarion Cup for the first British yacht home; the Kees van Dam Memorial Trophy for second in IRC Overall and the Royal Thames Yacht Club Spirit Cup for the first Royal Thames yacht home.

A magnum of champagne and a Rolex Yachtmaster chronometer was presented to Ian Walker's VO70 Abu Dhabi for the line honours win and set a new monohull record for the Rolex Fastnet Race of 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes, and 0 seconds.

Rolex Fastnet Fleet at Sutton Harbour Marina, in Plymouth. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

The IRC class prizes included the West Mersea Yacht Club Trophy for first in IRC One to Nicolas Loday's Grand Soleil 43, Codiam; the Foxhound Cup for first in IRC Two to Rives Potts' McCurdy & Rhodes 48, Carina; the Favona Cup for first in IRC Three to Noel Racine's JPK 10.10's, Foggy Dew; the Iolaire Cup for first in IRC Four to Jean Yves Chateau's Nicholson 33, Iromiguy.

The Brunskill Trophy for the best Two Handed boat overall and the Berrimilla Dog Bowl for the best two handed boat in IRC Four were awarded to Will Sayer and Matthew Glasgow and their Sigma 36, Elmarleen.

The Jolie Brise Cup for the first yacht home in IRC classes One to Four was won by Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens.

Yachts and Yachting Catamaran Trophy for the first multihull home was awarded to the 140 foot trimaran, Maxi Banque Populaire, which set a new multihull record time of 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, while the MOCRA Musters Trophy for the first multihull home under 50 feet went to Will Claxton's 10m trimaran, Paradox and the MOCRA Crystal Trophy for the best multihull on corrected time under 50 feet went to Simon Baker's Dazcat D1150, Drama Queen.

2011 ROLEX FASTNET RACE trophies. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

The RORC IMOCA 60 Trophy for the first IMOCA 60 home went to Vincent Riou's, PRB, while the Philip Whitehead Trophy for first Class 40 home, for the second time running, was Initiatives - Alex Olivier, skippered by Tanguy de Lamotte.

Rolex Fastnet Race

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Georgia to sail at Hamilton Island

2011-08-21T01:23:00.004+12:00

Georgia in Sydney, December 2010. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

by Zoe Hawkins

Georgia was in Mackay, on the northern Queensland Coast, to gear up for one of the team's favourite regattas: Hamilton Island Race Week.

Last year the boat finished second in the Grand Prix IRC division, behind Australian IRC Champion Loki, and ahead of previous winners Wild Oats, and Living Doll. For this year the Grand Prix fleet will be no less impressive, and will be joined by Emirates Team New Zealand's former TP52, rechristened 'Hooligan', which won the Audi MedCup in both 2009 and 2010.

Hooligan and Georgia are built from the same mould, but the boats are different in many respects.

"Hooligan is a lighter and higher tech boat but Georgia has a better IRC rating. In the previous two regattas in Sydney Hooligan and Loki both beat Georgia. However, there have since been rating adjustments which favour Georgia and the racing should be close," says Georgia's owner and skipper, Jim Farmer.

Race Week begins on Saturday 20 August, running through to Saturday 27 August.

With Jim Farmer and Chris Meads (of Full Metal Jacket fame) helming, the crew will be joined by Chris Dickson, who will call tactics, and Harry Dodson as main trimmer. Harry, who owned Formula One until recently, was one of the original Georgia Racing crew, back in the days of the Mumm 36s, and he was onboard when the original Georgia 43 won the Kenwood Cup in 1996, and the two Air New Zealand International Regattas in Auckland.

"I am hopeful that we will once again do well, though we do not underestimate the strength of the opposition, which consists of very fine boats and in many cases largely professional crews," says Jim Farmer.

Georgia was delivered to Mackay by George Hendy, Shaun Mason (Geeza) and Bill Miller. George and Shaun will be joined by Jackie and Emma Hendy, for the final leg to Hamilton Island during this week.

Georgia Racing
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week : Sailors and the Stars are all part of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2011

2011-08-21T01:06:00.004+12:00

- Some of the biggest names in Australia’s social, sporting, fashion and media world will be part of the scene at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week
- In addition to both the America’s Cup and Admiral’s Cup being on display, one of the world’s great sailors is likely to make a surprise visit mid-week

Race Week sailing. Image copyright AUDI/Andrea Francolini.

by Rob Mundle

Superyachts, fashion designers, super models, celebrity chefs and the sailing fraternity will descend on Hamilton Island for Australia’s largest offshore yachting regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week from Friday 19 – Saturday 27 August 2011.

Model, actress and TV personality, Megan Gale, will make her first visit to the annual regatta to emcee the launch of the Collette Dinnigan Cruise Collection 2011 held at the exclusive qualia resort on the northern tip of Hamilton Island. She will be joined by a number of famous faces attending the Island festivities including Collette Dinnigan, Matt Moran, Tom Williams, Catriona Rowntree, Shannon Bennett, Geoff and Sarah Huegill, Gail Elliott, Kate Waterhouse, Anthony Bell, Kelly Landry, Kylie Speers, Sandra Sully and Mark Beretta.*

Condor of Bermuda and a whale at Hamilton Island. Image copyright AUDI/Andrea Francolini.

Nearly 200 yachts have entered the regatta which will run over seven days on widely varying courses around the Whitsunday Islands. Fierce competition is expected between the 100-foot supermaxi Investec Loyal and five-time Rolex Sydney to Hobart winner, Wild Oats XI. Also $25 million luxury yacht Janice of Wyoming will attend the event for the first time in a spectator capacity.

To celebrate the start of the America’s Cup challenge which recently began in Europe, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week will display for the first time the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in the history of sport and yachting’s ultimate prize. The spectacular silver trophy, which was first raced for in 1851, will be celebrating its 160th birthday while at the regatta. It will be joined at Race Week by another of the world’s great yachting trophies, the Admiral’s Cup - a symbol of world ocean racing supremacy which is currently held by Australia. These two magnificent trophies, which have never previously been seen together, will be on display at the Hamilton Island Yacht Club during the regatta.

The America's Cup is at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, where forums on the new-style America's Cup racing will be held. Image copyright Anne Hinton, all rights reserved.

Two sailing forums will be held during Race Week to reveal the new formula for the next America’s Cup match. It will be hosted by Hamilton Island Yacht Club Commodore Iain Murray, who is also the Regatta Director for the 34th America’s Cup match and CEO of America's Cup Race Management. Murray, who has contested the America’s Cup on four occasions, will be joined by Tom Ehman, from the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the club which currently holds the Cup. And, mid-week, one of the world’s great sailors may be making a surprise appearance.

New announcements to the glittering social program include the Australian launch of Moet Ice Imperial with a ‘white chic’ dress code at the glamorous Moet & Chandon luncheon, a MAC Makeup Suite for race goers offering complimentary styling appointments prior to most major events, the return of the spectacular Roulettes Air Show on Monday 22 August and fashion parades by Henri Lloyd, Little Joe and Miskin Martinez. Leading jewellery designer, Pandora will also feature this year as they stage a first time event in conjunction with renowned fashion magazine Harper’s BAZAAR.

Wild Oats XI is at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Image copyright AUDI/Andrea Francolini.

Service staff and supplies have been ramped up across Hamilton Island in preparation for the influx of over 3,000 visitors to the island during the prestigious regatta. Top orders for the celebratory regatta include: 2,000 bottles of champagne and sparkling wine, 500 bottles of Moet, 8,400 punnets of strawberries, 12,000 oysters and 1,500 kilos of prawns.

Hamilton Island Race Week’s naming rights sponsor, luxury car maker Audi, is Australia’s largest corporate sponsor of yachting.

*Audi Hamilton Island Race Week program and presenters are subject to change.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

Extreme 40 : Extreme Sailing Series Act 5, Cowes

2011-08-20T22:30:00.002+12:00

Local boy, Leigh McMillan, wins on The Wave, Muscat

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five: no racing

Day Six

Day Seven: Big Finish to the Week

Extreme Sailing Series

AAM Cowes Week : Yacht dismasted by Supertanker

2011-08-20T22:26:00.002+12:00

...as seen from Egypt Point at the Extreme Sailing Series

Cowes online
Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

Extreme 40 : Artemis and Gitana Crash at Act 5, Cowes

2011-08-20T22:25:00.001+12:00

Extreme Sailing Series

Extreme 40 : Aberdeen Asset Management Capsizes at Act 5, Cowes

2011-08-20T22:22:00.001+12:00

Extreme Sailing Series

Detroit Cup : Aon Racing still in the hunt on Day 2 of the D-cup

2011-08-20T22:08:00.002+12:00

by Aon Racing media

Aon Racing has made it to the Detroit Cup (affectionately known by locals as the D-cup).

Aon Racing has had a slightly better than average first two days, which is not bad going considering the light fickle winds and strong current that have featured at the venue. We are now on 5 wins from 8 races, with three races still to go in the round robin.

It will most likely take 6 wins to make the quarters, or 7 wins to make the semis if the wind forces the race committee to shorten the regatta format. This means the team will need to post some more wins tomorrow to ensure that their title hopes stay alive.

The racing will be broadcast live with fantastic commentary at http://www.detroitcup.com/. Racing is scheduled to start at 10am tomorrow, local time in the eastern USA.

We would like to thank our principal sponsor, Aon Insurance Brokers, as well as Club Marine and Allianz for their support. Thanks also to our home club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Aon Racing is Reuben Corbett (Skipper), Adrian Short (Main) and Tom Bentham (Bow).

Aon Racing
Detroit Cup

Detroit Cup : FMJ Racing Update

2011-08-20T22:04:00.002+12:00

FMJ Racing at the Detroit Cup 2011. Supplied image.

by Will Tiller

Over the past couple weeks we have had an intense sailing and travelling schedule, taking us from France to Spain and over to America.

We started off with the Grade 1 event in Pornichet France, without the uses of Geeza we imported Garth Ellingham from Waka Racing to jump on the mainsheet and Brad was thrown onto the bow. Struggling to gel as a team our decision making wasn't as clear-cut as it had been, but we still managed to come through the round robin with 6 wins and 5 loses, having us meet Eric Monin from SUI in the quarter finals. Through some tough and close matches Eric managed to come out on top, after this we sailed off for the minor places and unluckily we drew the 'slow' boat and slipped right down to 8th. It was a disappointing result but we were starting well and are coming to grips with gennaker tactics.

After this Brad and Will competed in the Spainish Copa Del Ray regatta in the highly competitive Melges 32 fleet, racing with the likes of Don Cowie, we learnt a lot and really enjoyed the challenges of fleet racing and Palma is not a bad place to hang out. While Brad and Will were enjoying the sites of Palma Harry was helping out at the Oakcliff Sailing Center on Long Island, New York.

Our next regatta was the first event on the US Grand Slam Series, Chicago Grade 2 Invitational, held off of Navy Pier, Chicago. Dan Pooley has flown over from New Zealand to compete in the Grand Slam Series consisting of 4 events - Chicago, Detroit, Manhasset Bay NY, Oyster Bay NY. Dan is the teams expert mainsail trimmer, with Will helming, Harry on trim and Brad staying up on bow.

Full Metal Jacket Racing led the first two days of the three day event, the final day bought wind speeds of 18-25 knots, the team was confident with how we were going. Qualifiying 2nd into the semifinals we were paired to race Bill Hardesty fresh from winning the Etchell World Champs in San Diego, after winning the first race of the semis we were looking good to rap it up in two races with a textbook start by Will but we could not keep up with Bill's teams speed in the windy conditions and ended up with going down 2-1. This had us sailing off for third against Taylor Canfield who we beat comfortably to take the third spot.

We are now competing in the Detroit Cup and are into our second day of racing, this regatta is three up so we have Brad on the bow and Dan Pooley on the main. On the first day we were undefeated but today we have had a shocker dropping 4 races only winning against Laurie Jury. We now have 6 races off before finishing off our last three races of the round robin. Fingers crossed they hold quarter finals and we can pick our game up and sneak into the semis.

FMJ Racing
Detroit Cup

America's Cup : Flying on Water - The AC45 Catamaran

2011-08-20T21:53:00.000+12:00

America's Cup

America's Cup : Day 7 Onboard Action from ACWS Cascais

2011-08-20T21:45:00.001+12:00

America's Cup

America's Cup : Uncovered !

2011-08-20T21:44:00.000+12:00

America's Cup

2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship - NEW WORLD CHAMPION STEVE BREWIN (AUS)

2011-08-20T06:58:00.004+12:00

Mike Drummond was top Kiwi in 9th overall; Australians filled the top five places overall

Stewe Brewin - 2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Champion. Image copyright Kristoffer West/Sailing Aarhus.

by Thomas Capitani

The 2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Champion is Steve Brewin (AUS)
“This has been my best win ever! I stood up and delivered,” said Steve Brewin in a live interview few minutes after crossing the finish line.

After eight successful races in weather conditions ranging from clear blue skies, with 4–6 knot breezes, to harsh, rainy days with up to 22 knot gusts, the 2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship was finally settled today.

The excitement of this last day’s racing was further underlined by the fact that PRO Andreas Kuchler, following today’s first race (the eighth overall), put the AP over H (postponement on shore), sending the sailors back to shore due to the rough conditions. The sailors had to endure nearly one hour of tension, not knowing whether to ready themselves for a ninth race or to get changed and pack their gear.

Steve Brewin in action during the 2011 Worlds. Image copyright Kristoffer West/Sailing Aarhus.

At 14.00, after having been in dialogue with the meteorological Royal Danish Airforce Base in Karup, PRO Andreas Kuchler decided to fire one shot and pull down the postponement pennant, calling the sailors onto the water for a ninth race.

By 14.45 the wind had dropped to a steady 17 knots and there was some sunshine, so PRO Andreas Kuchler set the starting time to 15.05. As the sailors were still facing relatively rough conditions, though, many stayed on shore, either for fear of damaging their gear or due to their poor overall rankings.

The ninth race was started at 15.10 and was an action-packed drama, with live video streaming commentated on by an energetic Jack Punch (father of Jack Benson), who provided enthusiastic coverage of the hectic battle between the all-Australian leaders, Steve Brewin, Scott Andersson, Jack Benson and Andrew Landsberg. Steve Brewin had to make at least third place to win, but ended the race with a spectacular first place and, hence, the title of 2011 World Champion in front of Scott Anderson (AUS) and Jack Benson (AUS).

“This has been my best win ever! I stood up and delivered,” said Steve Brewin.
The last day of the 2011 Ronstan A-Catamaran World Championship thus ended with the mixture of both drama and action that characterizes the spectacular A-Cat. All that remains is the prize-giving ceremony and barbecue, where many sailors will doubtless linger in the bar, despite their tiredness, consuming plenty of beer and recalling the events of recent days with the well known “hand sailing” attitude.

How-to review all the #acat2011 coverage
Like previous years, Sailing Aarhus had teamed up with Active Institute of the University of Aarhus in order to cover the event online via internet which integrated GPS tracking , online video streaming from the race course, live morning and afternoon interviews with daily winners, twitter feeds from the committee boat as well as countless, exiting photos. If you want to review all the excitement please look here

Start of Race 4 on Day 2. Image copyright Kristoffer West/Sailing Aarhus.

The 2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship is organized by Sailing Aarhus in association with Kaløvig Sailing Center. The event is supported by the City of Aarhus and Sport Event Denmark and is sponsored by Ronstan, Volvo Cars Denmark and Henri Lloyd.

Overall Results (top 12)
2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship
Sailing Aarhus - Kaløvig Sailing Centre
Sailed: 9, Discards: 2, To count: 7, Entries: 96, Scoring system: Appendix A
Rank Nat SailNo Name R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 Points

1 AUS 4 Steve Brewin (6.0) 1.0 (37.0) 4.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 16.0
2 AUS 902 Scott Anderson 1.0 2.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 (11.0) 4.0 4.0 (97.0 DNF) 18.0
3 AUS 13 Jack Benson 2.0 7.0 (21.0) 8.0 5.0 1.0 (39.0) 2.0 1.0 26.0
4 AUS 308 Andrew Landenberger 5.0 9.0 1.0 2.0 (25.0) 6.0 (21.0) 9.0 13.0 45.0
5 AUS 10 Brad Collett 9.0 5.0 (16.0) 7.0 9.0 3.0 (11.0) 8.0 6.0 47.0
6 ESP 1 Manuel Calavia 3.0 10.0 (33.0) 12.0 2.0 10.0 (16.0) 7.0 5.0 49.0
7 USA 11 Ben Moon 7.0 6.0 3.0 15.0 4.0 7.0 (97.0 BFD) (97.0 DNC) 8.0 50.0
8 AUS 25 Steve Brayshaw 8.0 (48.0) 12.0 13.0 10.0 2.0 3.0 (16.0) 15.0 63.0
9 NZL 245 Mike Drummond 14.0 8.0 8.0 9.0 13.0 (22.0) 10.0 (97.0 OCS) 7.0 69.0
10 GER 14 Bob Baier (27.0) 4.0 13.0 23.0 8.0 9.0 2.0 (97.0 OCS) 11.0 70.0
11 GBR 7 Chris Field 4.0 11.0 4.0 18.0 (32.0) 19.0 (33.0) 5.0 12.0 73.0
12 NED 7 Mischa Heemskerk (97.0 DNC) 35.0 (48.0) 19.0 6.0 5.0 9.0 3.0 3.0 80.0

Ronstan A-cat Worlds 2011

Team Jolly Update on their 470 Campaign after the pre-Olympics in Weymouth

2011-08-20T06:57:00.003+12:00

Breezy reaching. Supplied image.

by Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie

The overall result was not what we were looking for, obviously we went to Weymouth looking to win, and after some a) Weird boat things, and b) Rather poor decision making at times, we came away with a 4th, which was a little surprising, considering how badly we sailed at times, we were happy to just make the medal race!

We went into the regatta feeling good, but had an absolute shocker of a first race, just in the wrong place every leg, and just couldn't seem to catch back up. We followed that one up with a slightly better race number two (which we later found was a black flag - over the line early - so actually even worse), but still didn't feel quite on the pace.

When we got in, we did a full check of all the settings, and discovered that our rig was looser than we had thought (the rig tension is controlled by the front stay - forestay) and we had checked it the day before racing started, so we were a little confused, as we had not changed anything. So we decided to just come down early the next day and do a full check to make sure nothing was playing up again.

It was lucky that we did, as just after re-doing all the settings we discovered that one of the wires that makes up the forestay was snapped half through, so it was a rush job to change it out with a new one, and then once again re-do all the settings. We made good time, and got out to the race course with no change to our normal schedule, sailed a good first race, then had a bit of a shocker in the second race when the wind got up a bit and we felt extremely slow upwind, and just couldn't seem to get the boat going (our call for this is 'where's the bucket???' as it just feels like we are dragging a bucket around.. but we did check, and there was nothing there...).

So once again, when we got ashore it was time to recheck all the settings (I think we set a record for the number of rig checks..) only to find that this time our numbers were out, and the mast was raked further forward than we thought, so we had been in the wrong setting all day - hence the bucket call. More annoying was that we had checked all this before we went out, so either we didn't check well enough, or something was up with the rig (sadly looking back, most likely a 'didn't check well enough' problem.

Watching from the Nothe, Weymouth. Supplied image.

So by day three we were just determined to actually have the boat set up right, and finally start sailing a little better. There was a good 18-25 knots of wind, and we were racing in Portland Harbour (which was a little limited in size - as we were doing four laps instead of the normal two) so the water was very flat. We sailed two good races, slowly chipping away at the boats ahead to finish the day with two 3rds - a bit more what we were looking for!

Day four was the killer for us, we made a terrible decision on the first leg, to round the first mark in the last four boats, then followed that up with nothing better, to place 17th, which was pretty much the end of our chance of a medal. We did at least bounce back in the second race of the day, with a 4th, but from here on out it was all too little too late..

The last day of normal fleet racing was great fun, we were out in the ocean course, and there was a rather solid breeze - which built throughout the day, and some rather impressive waves. We owned the first race, sailing fast and smart, and were all ready to do it again in the second race, where we rounded the first top mark in third, then had a complete fail in boat handling, capsizing on the first downwind leg, to put us back to 17th. We tried to race back up the fleet, but eventually ran out of runway, and finished 7th, not quite the day we had wanted, but it was at least enough to get us in the medal race!

We finally got our act together for the medal race, and sailed a great race, in the top four for the first two laps, then taking the lead on the last upwind leg to sail away with the win, luckily for us the boats in front of us in the overall standings all had bad races, and we jumped up the leader board from 7th to 4th, about as good as we could have hoped for with the way we started off the event.

Once we had finished we were lucky enough to have time to watch a few of the other kiwis in their medal races - from our little NZ flagged area on the Nothe (a big grass area up on a hill, near an old castle, that overlooks the medal race course), and still get the boat and all our mountains of gear packed up in time, and put in a container bound for Perth.

Then it was time to head home, where we are all set for a bit of a break from sailing, and a return to the planning board, to make sure we learn from this regatta, and ensure that we won't be making the same mistakes in the future!

Thank you to our supporters and suppliers:
SPARC and the New Zealand Academy of Sport, Yachting New Zealand, Donaghys, Kaenon Sunglasses, Harken, Lynn River, Mackay Boats and Quantum Sails.

And a special thank you to Nathan Handley, the third member of Team Jolly, and the one who made sure we kept chipping away even though we were having a shocker!!

Thank you all for your support!

Jo & Polly
Team Jolly

Team Jolly Racing

2011 Knickerbocker Cup Brings International Match Racing to Western Long Island Sound

2011-08-20T06:54:00.001+12:00

Reuben Corbett (Aon Racing, NZL) with the winning teams at the Dennis Conner – Ed du Moulin Junior Match Race. Left to right: Gregory Stebbins, JP Ohanessian, Meredith Krim, Coleen Stack, Anne Wachowitz, Diana Weston, Krissy Weston, Champion Jack Parkin, William Logue, and Alex Delbello with Reuben Corbett, Aon Racing, NZL, guest clinic teacher. Supplied image.

by Andrea Watson

This being August, it’s just about time to welcome the international match racers from around the world to the 2011 Knickerbocker Cup, hosted by Manhasset Bay YC. The Knickerbocker CUP is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to the Argo Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious match racing events on the Tour. Twelve teams from around the world have been invited to compete in this year's event. From Thursday through Sunday, Aug 24-28, Manhasset Bay, in western Long Island Sound, will be filled with match racing from mid-morning to late afternoon. And from matches leading up to the CUP, both internationally and in the United States, viewers will be treated to some of the best match racing in recent years.

Teams that have been invited to this year’s event, listed in order of their ISAF ranking: Reuben Corbett, Aon Racing, (NZL), is leading the pack with an ISAF ranking of 14, is back again to reprise his 2009 win. William Tiller, Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL) ISAF 22, is back for his second year at the KCUP, and he is one to watch closely, for last year his downwind skills had everyone taking notice. Laurie Jury, Zoke Kiwimatch (NZL), ISAF 27, took some time away from the Knickerbocker CUP and is returning this year and from his matches out at the Chicago Match Race Center, he is going to be giving these teams some good competition. Taylor Canfield, Team CMRC, (ISV), at ISAF 32, Intercollegiate Match Race Champion, won the Trifecta (the 2010 equivalent of the GRAND SLAM), and received an automatic entry in the Congressional Cup, the only Grade 1 match race in the United States. Olli-Pekka Lumjarvi, Siragusawa Sailing Team, (FIN), ISAF 33, is new to the Knickerbocker Cup, but after a strong spring racing season, he will be ready to take on the competition. Nicholai Sehested, TRE-FOR Match Racing (DEN), ISAF 43, is back again this year to vie for the CUP, and from the looks of the competition in Chicago, matches between Sehested and Jury are not to be missed. Jordan Reece, True Blue Racing (AUS) ISAF 48, is somewhat of a newcomer, as he formed his team only last year – with the goal of making the World Tour by 2013. Rising to 48 on the ISAF ranking is a clear indication that this team means business. Shawn Bennett, Team Bennett (USA), ISAF 56, won the United States Match Racing Championship (USMRC) last Sept. at the Bayview YC which gave him automatic entry into the 2011 Knickerbocker Cup – he is another one to watch carefully. Jon Singsen, USMMA Kings Point Sailing (USA), ISAF 58, is our local entry who has risen in the ISAF rankings substantially, and is ready to take on the competition. Robbie Allam, Allam Sailing Team (GBR), ISAF 78, has won two of his events so far this year in Europe and is looking forward to strong results in the US Tour to take his team to the next level. Sally Barkow, Team 7 Match Race (USA), ISAF 159, is returning again this year with her all –female team to try again for the CUP and another one to keep an eye on as she has been doing well in her recent match races. Bruce Stone, Vela Club el Porvenir (USA), ISAF 195, has garnered big wins in fleet racing, and is somewhat new to the match racing scene, but with his long history of wins and years of experience, don’t count him out.

This year the Knickerbocker Cup is part of a series of four consecutive match races (last year it was a 3-series event called the Trifecta). Event organizers from Manhasset Bay YC (MBYC) along with Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC), Bayview YC (BYC) and Oakcliff Sailing Center (OSC) announced in early spring the inaugural North American GRAND SLAM Match Racing Series for 2011. The team with the best combined scores from match racing events raced at each venue will receive an invitation to the 2012 Congressional Cup at Long Beach YC, the oldest ISAF Grade 1 prize money event in the United States. Four competitors will race in all four events: Taylor Canfield (ISV), Laurie Jury (NZL), Nicholai Sehested (DEN) and William Tiller (NZL). Five teams have an outside shot at the Grand Slam as they are competing in two events: Robbie Allam (GBR), Mike Buckley (USA), Olli-Pekka Lumjarvi (FIN), Dave Perry (USA) and Shawn Ryan (USA).

“This growth in interest has been phenomenal,” said US SAILING’s Match Racing Committee Chairman and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics match racing coach Dave Perry. “We’ve been fortunate to have some enthusiastic clubs and patrons help support the game, including forming some new match racing centers around the U.S. Plus we have had great response from sailors who see match racing as an exciting form of the game that can lead to more and more competition through a series of qualifiers to the big events.” Perry continued, “The integration of these regattas will make it much easier now for sailors to compete in their local and regional areas to improve their game and gain valuable ISAF Ranking Points, and as their ranking improves they will have the opportunity to race in higher level events, and maybe even get onto the World Match Racing Tour.”

As a lead up to this year’s Knickerbocker Cup, Manhasset Bay Yacht Club hosted the Dennis Conner-Ed du Moulin Junior Match Race, which was open to all Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound (JSA-LIS) members. With a full day of clinic with on-the-water practice, these young teams were ready to try their new skills out. Reuben Corbett (NZL) who won the 2009 Knickerbocker Cup and is back again this year to try to win it again, stopped by the clinic and spent a good bit of time sharing his match racing experiences with the group, which added significantly to their understanding of the skills involved in match racing. At the end of the day, Jack Parkin of Riverside YC prevailed in the finals over Meredith Krim, MBYC. The Parkin team will receive their trophy on Sun., Aug 28 at the Knickerbocker Cup Awards Ceremony, where they will have a chance to be “up close and personal” with the international teams.

The Knickerbocker Cup Foundation is happy to extend an invitation to the community again this year to watch the races on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28. Boat tours are free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis. Enjoy some time on the water, take in the beauty of Manhasset Bay and catch the action as teams from around the world duke it out to claim the title of the 2010 Knickerbocker Champion. To be part of the excitement, email: boattours@knickerbockercup.org

For more information about the 2010 Knickerbocker Cup, go to: www.manhassetbayyc.org and select Knickerbocker Cup.

Rolex Sydney-Hobart : The CYCA pays tribute to Gary Ticehurst

2011-08-20T06:43:00.002+12:00

Gary Ticehurst flying one of his helicopters in to a commanding position for on board photographer Ian Mainsbridge to capture images during the Rolex Trophy Series 2010. Image copyright Andrea Francolini.

by Peter Campbell

The flying skills of ABC helicopter pilot Gary Ticehurst brought ocean yacht racing, with its the dramas and the exhilaration of sailing on the open sea, into the living rooms of millions of people around the world, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Harry Linacre said today.

Flying at extraordinarily low heights he placed his cameraman in a position to get remarkable images of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which were then featured on the evening news bulletins throughout the nation between Christmas and New Year.
“Over a quarter of a century he played a significant role in expanding the media coverage of our great ocean race, the Rolex Sydney Hobart, a race for which he developed a personal passion,” Commodore Linacre said.

“In particular, Gary will be remembered for his professional calm during the tragic storm that hit the 1998 Sydney Hobart fleet; he reported the positions of so many yachts in distress, resulting in the rescue of at least 25 yachtsmen from sinking vessels or life rafts, “the Commodore added.

Commodore Linacre joined many yachting administrators, media colleagues, friends and yachtsmen who have paid tribute to Gary who died, along with ABC colleagues, journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman Ben Bean, when their helicopter crashed near Lake Eyre in remote South Australia early Thursday evening.

“Gary covered 25 Sydney Hobart Yacht Races, always demonstrating a passion for the ocean classic,” Commodore Linacre added. “His understanding of the sport and the way yachts performed in all types of conditions allowed him to place his chopper in positions that allowed his cameramen to capture some of the most remarkable images of offshore yachting in Australia.”

Commodore Linacre stressed the key role that Gary had played in the 1998 race. “His calm professional skills in flying and communications saved the lives of at least 25 yachtsmen in that tragic storm that unfortunately saw the loss of six men at sea,” he added.

“At that time there was a transition going on between analogue and digital telecommunications and because the marine radio network was being inundated with mayday calls; Gary used his mobile telephone to give the co-ordinates of yachts in distress directly to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra which was co-ordinating the search and rescue operation.

“Flying dawn to dusk he continued the search for Winston Churchill and her crew who had taken to liferafts, spending long hours flying low over the sea, at times when waves where reaching between 75 and 100 feet.

“I understand the American Helicopter Pilots Associations gave Gary a special award for his involvement in the rescue efforts.”

In an interview before the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Gary Ticehurst recalled being able to fix the position of each yacht in difficulty in the 1998 race and direct the search and rescue operation to the scene. “We were there to reassure the yachts that help was on the way,” the veteran pilot said. “Even today, a mayday over the radio sends shivers down my spine.”

Ticehurst and his flying partner Richard Howe, through their company Film Helicopters Australia, covered the race each year for the ABC television network, also providing the ‘pool feed’ of race footage to other television networks in Australia and overseas.

Ticehurst also assisted the CYCA on many other occasions during the Sydney Hobart, including standing by when the maxi yacht Skandia capsized in 2004 and the vintage yacht Koomooloo foundered in 2006.

He hovered over the yachts to ensure that all crew had taken to their liferafts, co-ordinating the rescue efforts between AMSA and the Tasmanian water police.

Former Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race media director Peter Campbell also paid tribute to Ticehurst. “The media team would regularly talk to Gary during a race as he passed on news from out on the Tasman Sea…he was a great pilot who had a passion for ocean racing, but only from the air. I don’t think we could ever get him on a yacht.”

Friend and print media photographer Ian Mainsbridge said: “He was a great friend, a fearless pilot and a legend in the film industry in assisting with helicopter stunts.
“I have not only flown many miles with Gary but also flown in the News Limited chopper alongside the ABC aircraft and knew his extraordinary skills as a pilot who knew exactly where to get the best possible news shots.

“He pioneered the tricky manoeuvre of lifting cans of film from yachts which were carrying a cameraman during the Sydney Hobart, bringing the bluewater classic to the television screens for the evening news bulletins.

“It is ironic that a pilot who had so many hours flying over the ocean had died in the desert of inland Australia,” Mainsbridge added.

ABC journalist Scott Alley, who flew with Ticehurst in four Sydney Hobarts, said: “He had no peer in his operational flying skills …and he had an absolute passion for the Sydney Hobart.”

Gary learned to fly helicopters with the Australian Army, later helping set up the NSW Police flying wing. He was a technical advisor for several films and is believed to have been the only pilot to land a helicopter in Sydney’s Martin Place.
“On behalf of the CYCA and its members, we extend our deepest condolences to Gary’s wife Theresa and their children Michael and Michelle, and to the families of Paul Lockyer and John Bean.”

CYCA

VOR : Volvo Open 70s in the Rolex Fastnet Race - Podcast

2011-08-20T06:41:00.004+12:00

VO70 Azzam (Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing) won the class in the Rolex Fastnet Race. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Ben Jacobs and Pierre Orphanidis review the performance of the Volvo Open 70 entries in the 2011 Fastnet, talking to record-breaking skipper Ian Walker on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Franck Cammas on Groupama and Mike Sanderson on Team Sanya. We also chat with media crew members Yann Riou, Nick Dana and Frankie Leonard.

Listen to the Volvo Sailing Podcast here

Volvo Ocean Race

MOD70 : Véolia Environnement off Concarneau

2011-08-20T06:03:00.003+12:00

Véolia Environnement
MOD70

Rolex Fastnet Race : RAN Runs Away with Back-to-Back Handicap Victory

2011-08-20T06:01:00.006+12:00

Rán - First Back to Back Victory in 50 Years

RAN - handicap winner. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

by Trish Jenkins

For the first time in more than 50 years, the Rolex Fastnet Race has a back-to-back handicap winner. Following on from her victory under IRC in 2009, this afternoon the Royal Ocean Race Club has confirmed that Niklas Zennström's Rán (GBR) is once again the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race and the prestigious Fastnet Challenge Cup.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Past double winners of the race include Jolie Brise (1929 and 1930), yacht designer Olin Stephens' Dorade (1931 and 1933), John Ilingworth's Myth of Malham (1947 and 1949) and most recently Richard Nye's Carina II (1955 and 1957). It should be noted that Carina II is not the same boat as the one of this same name being campaigned in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race by American Rives Potts.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

The Judel-Vrolijk designed 72ft Rán finished in Plymouth on Tuesday at 12:53:44 and even then she was looking like a strong contender for the overall prize, but this afternoon her win was officially confirmed by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Under IRC, Rán's time corrected out so that she beat ICAP Leopard (GBR) by 4 hours, 38 minutes and 18 seconds, and Mike Slade's 100 foot supermaxi in turn a massive 10 hours, 40 minutes ahead of third placed Vanquish (USA), the Oakcliff All American Offshore Team's STP65.

RAN finishes off Plymouth. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

"It's fantastic. It's still hard to believe almost. Everyone on the team is very, very happy and very pleased," said Zennström of his second consecutive Rolex Fastnet Race victory, adding that defending their title was one of his sailing team's primary objectives for the year. "You may say 'we're going to race to win', and that is really what we were going for, but also these races have so many different variables that you cannot really take into account. Its great when it works out."

Rounding the Fastnet Rock at night. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Navigator Steve Hayles agreed: "We like the Fastnet Race and it has treated us well again on Rán. It was a bit of everything and felt like a pretty tough race at times. It was great."

Veolia Environnement, MOD70. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

While their campaign in 2009 was well planned, this year Zennström says he tried to take their campaign to a new level. "The way we sailed as a team - we've never sailed better and because we were very well prepared, I think we executed very well. We sailed the boat very hard, we were never relaxed, we were very focused all the time and we pushed the boat a lot. When we rounded the Rock, on the way back, we pushed the boat as hard as we could, and I think that we pretty much held our time on the water. I think we lost maybe 40 minutes or even less on Leopard on the way back, so we sailed very, very well. The strategy was great, well-implemented and we didn't have any crew mistakes. The team did a very good job."

Banque Populaire V passes Land's End. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Rán herself has seen a marked change compared to her two year old self with 500kg shed from her keel bulb at the beginning of 2010. Since then there haven't been any major changes, although the team have been constantly making small refinements.

Gitana 11 passes the Fastnet. Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

According to Zennström, the boat is now well-developed and the crew very comfortable sailing her. "This is the third year we have been racing the boat, and we have done quite a few offshores and I think that is important because not only do we know the boat very well, but we also have very, very good confidence. Having done two Sydney Hobarts with the boat, and one Fastnet Race, and one very windy Middle Sea Race without breaking, we knew even if it was rough the boat could take it and we were confident we could push harder and harder. So that is very important: sometimes not making so many changes in a boat can be a good thing, because you feel the boat is in very good trim."

Team Sanya, VO70, rounds the Fastnet Rock. Image copyright Rolex/Daniel Forster.

Navigator Steve Hayles felt the forecast, while favouring the upper echelons of the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet, wasn't quite as favourable for them as compared to two years ago. "We knew there was a bit more reaching, and our boat is better upwind. We had to work hard on getting out of the Solent and the Channel and that went pretty well and then we hung on for dear life to be honest...as close as we could."

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Their main competition had been Karl Kwok and Jim Schwartz's Beau Geste, and there was some friendly rivalry between the two boats as Gavin Brady skippered the Farr 80, but is also acting as tactician this year on Zennström's TP52 in the Mediterranean. "He slammed (tacked) on us a couple of times in the Solent and once down the Channel. It was a good race," recalled Hayles.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

So will Rán be back to defend her title for a second time? Zennström says it is too early to decide at this stage, but it is something they would certainly strongly consider. "The achievement of winning two back-to-backs is pretty amazing and more than we could have hoped for. After the first win - and when we started to think about this year's planning - this was the thing we had to go for."

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Image copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi.

Rolex Fastnet Race

MOD70 : Le MOD70 FONCIA mis à l’eau jeudi 18 août

2011-08-20T05:39:00.004+12:00

- Le MOD70 FONCIA, est le troisième de la série monotype
- Le mâtage et les tests de sécurité ont lieu dans la foulée de la mise à l’eau
- Entre Décision 35 et MOD70, le programme multicoque de FONCIA est dense

Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Team Foncia.

par Laurence Dacoury

Une fois n’est pas coutume : c’est d’un produit fini dont Michel Desjoyeaux prend livraison sans y avoir apporté sa patte personnelle. Mais le plaisir de pouvoir se mesurer sur un terrain exclusivement sportif compense largement le fait de n’avoir participé que de loin à la construction du troisième exemplaire de la série des MOD70. Objectif maintenant : naviguer encore et encore...

La règle du jeu est simple sur le circuit MOD70. Chaque skipper dispose d’un bateau clé en main, jusqu’aux longueurs d’écoute et la fourniture des voiles. Sur le bord du ponton devant la Cité de la Voile, à Lorient, Michel Desjoyeaux a attendu que le numéro 3 de la série des MOD70 ait touché enfin l’eau pour se l’approprier immédiatement. Entretien au bord de l’eau avant les premiers essais.

Ce retour au multicoque, c’est un vrai plaisir ?

Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Team Foncia.

« J’ai toujours dit que les multicoques sont les plus belles machines de course au large. Je me suis concentré un temps sur un autre objectif, le Vendée Globe 2008-2009, mais j’avais toujours ancré cette passion du multicoque… La création du circuit des MOD70 a été plus qu’une opportunité, puisque nous avons été, avec FONCIA, un des premiers à annoncer notre intention d’y participer. Ce sont des machines fabuleuses et de plus c’est un beau moyen de faire partager à d’autres notre passion de la voile de compétition. »

C’est à dire ?

« Quand on part pour une aventure comme le Vendée Globe, on fait vivre notre histoire par procuration. Sur un multicoque comme le nôtre, avec une plate-forme aussi large, on peut embarquer plusieurs personnes, même totalement néophytes et leur faire toucher du doigt les sensations que l’on peut éprouver à bord. Le multicoque est, en ce sens, un fantastique vecteur de communication. »

Pour quelqu’un dont on connaît la passion pour la conception des bateaux, la monotypie n’est-elle pas frustrante ?
« La monotypie, je sais ce que c’est... J’ai quand même passé pas mal d’années sur le circuit Figaro. Donc, je ne pense pas être celui qui soit le plus opposé à la monotypie. Se battre à armes réellement égales est quand même très satisfaisant sur un plan strictement sportif. Cela donne plus d’importance aux marins, on replace l’homme au cœur de l’action. La différence se fera sur l’utilisation de la machine. Et c’est un des meilleurs moyens pour attirer sur ce type de bateaux des compétiteurs étrangers qui ont été échaudés dans les années précédentes. »

Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Team Foncia.

A priori, quel regard portez-vous sur ce nouveau monotype ?
« Il est à la fois plutôt élégant et plus simple que les 60 pieds ORMA. On n’aura pas le niveau de recherche technologique que l’on avait sur les 60 pieds, mais tout le monde est logé à la même enseigne. Ce sera un bateau un peu plus sage ; on risque de souffrir un peu dans les tous petits airs. Mais à partir du principe où tout le monde est à la même enseigne… Les étraves inversées ont de l’allure et je pense que les premières navigations en flotte devraient donner vite de belles images. L’idée est quand même d’avoir des bateaux performants puisque l’on passe l’essentiel de notre temps à naviguer... Les premières impressions suite aux quelques heures de navigation que j’ai pu faire à bord du bateau de Steve Ravussin ou Roland Jourdain sont que nous avons affaire à des bateaux très sains, à bord desquels on ne devrait pas manquer de sensations. »

Comment constitue-t-on une équipe autour d’un tel projet ?
« Il y a deux aspects. Sur le plan sportif proprement dit, on a déjà constitué un noyau de base autour de l’équipage qui navigue actuellement sur le Décision 35 dans le cadre du Vulcain Trophy. D’autres navigateurs risquent de nous rejoindre, mais la composition définitive sera annoncée en octobre. Sur le plan technique, tout le travail d’entretien du bateau pourra être assuré au sein de l’équipe de Mer Agitée. Avoir une structure de cette nature, c’est aussi réconfortant en cas de coup dur. Je sais que je peux compter sur la réactivité de l’équipe, j’ai déjà eu l’occasion de l’expérimenter...»

Dans l’immédiat le programme de FONCIA...

« Durant, le mois de septembre nous allons être fortement mobilisés par les deux dernières épreuves du Vulcain Trophy en Décision 35, dont nous sommes les leaders provisoires, qui ont lieu en Méditerranée à Beaulieu-sur-Mer (1er au 4 septembre) et à Antibes (22 au 25 septembre). Il faut donc que l’on profite des quinze derniers jours d’août pour naviguer le plus possible sur le MOD 70 avant la première confrontation, le Krys Match à la Trinité sur Mer (6 au 8 octobre). »

Michel Desjoyeaux. Image copyright Yvan Zedda/Team Foncia.

Est-ce qu’il est prévu des sorties d’entrainement en commun avec les autres monotypes ?
« Avec Roland Jourdain, on est quasiment voisin. En ce qui concerne les bateaux qui seront à Lorient, il ne faut pas oublier qu’entre les deux baies, c’est une heure de navigation à 25 nœuds de moyenne. Donc, on ne va pas se priver... »

Interview de Franck David, directeur exécutif Multi One Design SA

« On est forcément ravi. La mise à l’eau suit son rythme. Tous les trois mois, c’est une nouvelle unité qui sort du chantier. Sur ce numéro trois, on est d’autant plus content que Michel et FONCIA ont été les premiers à s’être engagés dès 2010. Cette mise à l’eau intervient en même temps que l’annonce d’Oman Sail de rejoindre le circuit. C’est notre volonté d’internationalisation qui se confirme. On devrait avoir d’ici peu l’annonce d’un concurrent anglo-saxon… On est dans la bonne voie. »

PROGRAMME A VENIR :

Août : essais du bateau et navigations comparatives notamment avec le MOD70 n°2 de Roland Jourdain.
Septembre : Vulcain Trophy sur Décision 35. Grand Prix de Beaulieu sur Mer (1er-4 septembre) et Antibes (22-25 septembre).
6 au 8 octobre : La Trinité sur Mer : premier Krys Match opposant les trois premiers MOD70 et le trimaran Gitana XI.
Juillet 2012 : Krys Ocean Race New York – Brest

Team Foncia
MOD 70