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

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Knickerbocker Cup

Knickerbocker Cup : Zoke KiwiMatch Lead after Day One

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

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

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

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

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

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