Major Events 2013 America's Cup US Sailing US College Sailing Events

 

Joining the Club—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond

25/04/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America's Cup - AC45 test event - Day 1 - Oracle 1 capsize and redress  Oracle Racing - copyright

It's been a big week for the AC45 class. First off, Oracle Racing's Jimmy Spithill joined an infamous club at the conclusion of day one of the America's Cup Regatta and Media Trials, which began this week in Auckland, New Zealand, when he capsized the team's AC45 wingsail-powered catamaran. Thankfully, the crew escaped unscathed and the boat only sustained minimal damage to her wing. 'We were pushing really, really hard,' Spithill explained. 'We ended up having a capsize, we just weren't quite set up right for that run. But it was a good experience. I think everyone will go through this... I don't think it will be the last time.' Be sure to check out Oracle Racing's video and still images of the flip, in this issue. Also, don't miss Richard Gladwell's event report from the America's Cup Regatta and Media Trials to learn more about what it's like to sail these powerful cats in a racing format.

Speaking of AC45s, Team China became the fourth AC34 challenger to sail their new wingsail-powered AC45 catamaran this week in Auckland, New Zealand. Check out the video footage and the still photos of their first go aboard their sporty white cat. In related class news, six talented New Zealand Opti sailors got the ride of a lifetime this week when they were given the chance to sail aboard one of Oracle Racing's two AC45s. 'To my surprise, skipper James (Jimmy) Spithill invited me to take the helm as we entered the Hauraki Gulf,' wrote young Tim Adair of his experience. 'Shortly after, I put in the first tack of the day! I was very nervous but with Jimmy by my side, my nerves were calmed and I started to feel like this is what I could do in the future. It was an amazing piece of machinery/art, you could feel every little adjustment made by the crew, with the helm surprisingly light and ultra-responsive.' More inside.

Also in this issue, two must watches are Richard Gladwell's pieces on the America's Cup Competitors Forum, which was held this week in Auckland. America's Cup Regatta Director Iain Murray and Principal Race Officer John Craig were on hand, as were several sailing teams and international journalists, with the conversation centering on what the racecourses in San Francisco could look like, as well other important details. Then he talks to Stan Honey about the Umpiring systems.

Puma's Mar Mostro  Puma Ocean Racing

In Volvo Ocean Race circles, both Puma Ocean Racing and Telefonica have unveiled their new Juan-K designed Volvo Open 70s this week. While the two boats share the same basic lines plans, each team has made their own modifications based on their expected conditions. Not surprisingly, both boats feature the same sort of fifth-generation IACC-inspired cockpit that the Farr-designed Telefonica boats sported in the last race, as well as plenty of other go-fast refineries.

Lastly, don't miss this issue's reports from the Semaine Olympique Française. And, as its the weekend, spend some time scrolling through Ingrid Abery's image galleries from this year's Antigua Sailing Week. Bluewater sailing and plenty of breeze—what's not to love?

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

America's Cup: Sit in on the Remote Umpiring System + Video Richard Gladwell, Sail-World sat in on the final day of testing for the remote umpiring system to be used for the America's Cup World series and America's Cup itself in the new multihull competition. Developed to avoid the need for umpires to be chasing the competitors at speeds of up to 35 knots and making decisions, the on screen system effectively slows down the action and enables very accurate calls to be made... [more] Share this story

Melges 32 Sailing Series lead retained on day two Justin Chisholm, The Italian weather took an uncharacteristic turn for the worse on the second day of the Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series 2011 regatta at Marina di Scarlino, Maremma Tuscany, Italy, with distinctly cooler temperatures than yesterday preventing the thermal breeze from ever developing properly.... [more] Share this story

Antigua Sailing Week images by Tim Wright Tim Wright images, Gallery of images from the racing action during Antigua Sailing Week by photographer Tim Wright.... [more] Share this story

Groupama 4 arrives in Lorient Kate Jennings translation, Groupama 4, Franck Cammas' new Volvo Open 70 arrived at Groupama Sailing Team's base in nearby Lorient at 0830 hours. Prior to the launch, scheduled for 10 May, there is still a substantial jobs' list for Groupama Sailing Team. Ten intense days are in prospect then for Groupama Sailing Team but their spirits are high and the desire to go sailing is very much in evidence...... [more] Share this story

Antigua Sailing Week's final countdown Louay Habib, Friday's 18-knot easterly seemed almost benign compared to the rush of trade winds that have been blasting through Antigua Sailing Week. There was some intense action amongst Start Boat A boats.... [more] Share this story

Melges 32 Marina Di Scarlino images by Max Ranchi Maxi Ranchi Images, Gallery of images from the Melges 32 action in Marina Di Scarlino during race four in the Audi Sailing Series by photographer Max Ranchi.... [more] Share this story

Soling World Championship 2011 won by Canada Matias Collins/ISAF, After a frustrating week there were three races held on the final day. Peter Hall, Paul Davis and Phillip Kerrigan sailed well on the final day picking up two bullets and an eighth place finish to end on 29 points. This was enough for them to beat the Hungarian team of George Wossala, Karoly Vezer and Peter Nemeth who finished with a score card of 4-5-7 on the final day giving them 30 points.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Stan Honey on TV and Umpiring systems for AC45's Richard Gladwell, Sail-World's NZ Editor, Richard Gladwell spoke with Stan Honey, one of the key players behind the development of the remote umpiring systems and television systems intended for the America's Cup World Series and then the America's Cup itself.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Competitors Forum Media Conference + Video + Full Audio Richard Gladwell, Another Competitors Forum was held in Auckland today. Sail-World understands it was attended by 14 of the 15 teams entered, with about eight in physical attendance and others participating by phone in. Following the Forum, designed to allow the Challengers and Defender to discuss issues and concepts relating to the the 34th America's Cup, a Media Conference was held in the America's Cup Regatta... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: The Kids are all right - Opti sailors taste the AC45 Gilles Martin-Raget, After the Toyota National Optimist Championships concluded in Auckland, New Zealand on Easter Monday, the five sailors in the New Zealand team were invited out for a sail on Oracle racing's AC45. A good picture speaks a thousand words, but the looks on these young sailor's faces speak volumes. Does it get any better than this when you are a kid?... [more] Share this story

Gladwell's Line: America's Cup investment a smart move for New Zealand Richard Gladwell, On the back of the Emirates Team NZ funding and America's Cup challenge announcement there has been a lot of media comment, most of it negative on whether NZ Economic Development should be investing in the New Zealand team. During the week on Radio Live Emirates Team NZ CEO discussed the economic impact of the New Zealand investment, and the issues of this America's cup Challenge... [more] Share this story

Vendee Globe 18 months out Vendee Globe, For the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe there have been a few new appointments made and some major changes within the organising team. For the first time, the start of the seventh Vendée Globe will take place on a Saturday (10th November 2012).... [more] Share this story

Olympic Match Racing Support Video Dobbs Davis, The Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC) and the Women's International Match Racing Association (WIMRA) have teamed up to produce a video to support Match Racing as an Olympic discipline, to be presented to ISAF at their upcoming Mid-year meeting to be held in St Petersburg, Russia. This video helps show that match racing fulfills the recommendations made by the ISAF Olympic Commission.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Artemis racing at AC45 test regatta in Auckland Paul Cayard, Paul Cayard updates us on Artemis Racing at the AC45 test regatta in Auckland, New Zealand.... [more] Share this story

Team AlphaGraphics four medals at French Olympic Sailing Week Dana Paxton, On the final day of racing for the fourth stop on the ISAF Sailing World Cup 2010-2011 series, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics has won four medals.... [more] Share this story

Semaine Olympique Francaise Finn - Silver and bronze medals decided Robert Deaves, The Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres drew to a close Friday with the medal race for Finns settling who took home the silver and bronze medals.... [more] Share this story

Women's International Match Racing and the Olympics WIMRA, The Women's International Match Racing Association (WIMRA) shares highlights on the vision of women's match racing in the Olympics.... [more] Share this story

Historic launch Merin at Bowen's Wharf for viewing and bidding Kirsten Ferguson, The opportunity to own a piece of maritime history will present itself when the beautifully restored historic launch Merin makes an appearance at Bowen's Wharf until May 6, when it is auctioned off... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Match racing trials begin in earnest in Auckland Oracle Racing Media, The name of the game today at the America's Cup Race Management trials was match racing, and the AC45s proved nimble with blazing speed. More importantly, they showed that the game of match racing can be just as compelling in multihulls as in monohulls. While the action was exciting to watch, it was a drain on the crews. The races lasted between 15 and 20 minutes around the windward/leeward cou... [more] Share this story

IRC Lake Ontario Fleet - 2011 Spring Newsletter IRC Lake Ontario Fleet, With the first event of our 2011 racing season less a month away we would like to take this opportunity to summarize our 2010 season, last November's AGM and start to look forward to the upcoming IRC racing season on Lake Ontario which promises to be the best yet.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Can multihulls matchrace? You bet! Catch the Video! Richard Gladwell, Oracle Racing have just posted a video showing a minute or so of the pre-start between two AC45's in moderate breezes. It gives us a first glimpse of what match racing could be like in wingsailed multihulls with their rapid acceleration and ability to spin on a dime.... [more] Share this story

Antigua Sailing Week - Full blown action on day five Louay Habib, A full blown easterly with trade winds touching 25 knots provided for some high speed thrilling action at Antigua Sailing Week.... [more] Share this story

C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta set for August Jan Harley, Organizers of North America's premier event for sailors with disabilities – the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta – have scheduled the ninth annual edition for August 20-23, 2011, at Sail Newport, Rhode Island's community sailing center.... [more] Share this story

Semaine Olympique Francaise - Seven gold Corinne Rolland-McKenzie, The last day of finals in the Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyères has concluded on Thursday with seven early winners in the Olympic and Paralympic classes.... [more] Share this story

Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race return entry from Finland Zoe Williamson, Following a hugely successful campaign in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race and an overall position of second place, Finland has confirmed it will return to the race track with an entry in Clipper 11-12... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: From Opti to AC45 – the stuff of dreams Tim Adair, From Opti to AC45 – the stuff of dreams On a damp Wednesday morning on 27th April 2011, six excited young sailors – selected from the recent 2011 NZ Optimist Nationals – were lucky enough to be invited to crew on the AC45. To my surprise, skipper James (Jimmy) Spithill invited me to take the helm as we entered the Hauraki Gulf.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Oracle Racing release new capsize video Oracle Racing Media, Oracle Racing who capsized their AC45 on the first day of the America's Cup Regatta Management Trials have released a new video of the 'event', along with crew reactions to the free-fall.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Team China becomes the fourth team to sail their AC45 Gilles Martin-Raget, America's Cup.com, Ahead of the Competitors Forum due to be held tomorrow morning in Auckland tomorrow, Team China too delivery of their new AC45, and became the fourth team to own and sail one of the one-designs. Here Gilles-Martin-Raget presents a gallery of the occasion of the first sail of the team.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: What the Regatta and Media Trials will achieve America's Cup Media, America's Cup organizers will begin a two-week test period in Auckland by evaluating new race course configurations, umpiring systems and racing rules. With the first week focused on race management, the second week will be dedicated to testing next generation television and graphics as well as onboard cameras.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: First impressions of Regatta and Media Trials Richard Gladwell and Event Media, Two days of testing in the America's Cup Regatta and Media Trials have concluded. Conditions for both days have been quite different - with breezes at the top end of the scale on Tuesday and more moderate winds today, Wednesday. Today winds lightened from 16-17 kts at the start of the test round to 4-5kts at the end.... [more] Share this story

US Sailing Team's day three at Semaine Olympique Française Dana Paxton, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics racing at French Olympic Sailing Week was plagued with a late start due to weather. To date most fleets have completed six races with the 49ers completing nine.... [more] Share this story

ICSA Western and Eastern Coed Semifinals Rich Roberts, The top 36 college sailing teams in the country will compete in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association's Western and Eastern Coed Semifinals Saturday and Sunday at the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Each team has earned a spot via respective district championship regattas.... [more] Share this story

San Francisco's 95th Annual 'Opening Day on the Bay' parade BoatUS News, San Francisco 2011 boating season has a decorated boat parade scheduled for Sunday, May 1.... [more] Share this story

We are sending you this newsletter because you are already receiving an existing Sail-World newsletter or because we believe this will be of interest to you. If you like this newsletter, do nothing, we will send you regular news.
 
If you don't, its a single click to stop.

No, I don't need or want to read about US and World sailing news. Please don't send me another.