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VOR—Play It Again, Please—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond

Alicante practice race, ahead of the Iberdrola In-Port Race in Alicante.   Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race

If you're like me, the countdown to this coming weekend's start of Leg One of the 2011/2012 Volvo Ocean Race is becoming excruciating. Months of following each team's progress has ratcheted up my anticipation level for what I can only imagine will quickly evolve into a game of high-speed, long-distance fleet match racing, with tighter finishing deltas than ever before. According to sailors and skippers, this is a case of the class' evolution and refinement, similar budgets, a cap on the number of pre-race sailing days, and even tighter sail-tag allotments.

While last Saturday's in-shore race doesn't speak to each boat's offshore capabilities, it does offer a glimpse into the level of preparation and training that each team has invested (read: significant, across the board, with no real outliers). If you missed last weekend's racing, you'll be happy to find the full replay, inside this issue, as well as plenty of other multi-media.

And if this still doesn't cure your VOR jones, check out the piece on the role of the Media Crew Member, as these are the guys who will be enabling your portal to all the offshore (and inshore) action.

40 Degrees under Code 0 during the Prologue race - Transat Jacques Vabre 2011  Jesse Naimark-Rowse

Also in offshore circles, the action has begun in the Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV), which started in Le Havre, France and takes sailors to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. While the race was postponed for three days to allow a serious low-pressure system to barrel through, sailors can still expect stiff conditions, with forecasts calling for winds north of 50 knots and big, confused seas. 'Our boat is well-prepared and we're feeling as ready as possible to head out tomorrow and push as hard as we can all the way to Costa Rica,' wrote Jesse Naimark-Rowse, racing aboard the Class 40, 40 Degrees, in his race preview. 'We're looking at a few days of windy reaching conditions, which our boat absolutely loves but can be punishing for the crew. Blasting along at 12-14 knots with 20+ knots of wind on the beam in the English Channel and Western Approaches is a bit like hanging onto a bucking bronco while getting sprayed with a freezing cold fire hose. I say bring it!' Get the full story inside this issue and stay tuned for more from the TJV and Naimark-Rowse as the fleet charges into the business district.

Team Maclaren Celebrating After Winning The Trials Part 1 (2011)  © John Payne Photography

Also inside, get the latest on the America's Cup World Series' upcoming San Diego stopover, the Global Ocean Race, the La Charente Maritime Bahia Transat 6.50, and the World Match Racing Tour's upcoming Monsoon Cup. And finally, don't miss Anna Tunnicliffe's post-race report from the US Olympic Trials, where her Team Maclaren took top honors in the Women's Match Racing event.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

WMRT Monsoon World Cup - Win a trip to Malaysia World Match Racing Tour, The Monsoon Cup 2011 takes place from 22nd to 27th November in Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The Monsoon Cup has gained prominent status on the World Tour since it started in 2005, which includes winning the 'Best Event' status twice. The 2011 ISAF Match Racing World Championship will be named at the Monsoon Cup.... [more] Share this story

Ahead of Perth 2011-Kovalenko says key to Olympic success is the Big C Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team, ‘I am not a medal maker, the sailors are the medal-makers' says Australian sailing super coach Victor Kovalenko who has coached thirteen 470 World Championship titles winners and eight 470 Olympic-medal winning crews.... [more] Share this story

Transat Jacques Vabre race start fast and furious Hélène Tzara, Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race from Le Havre to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica is finally underway after a delay of 50 hours. The 35 duos were unleashed at 1500hrs today for a fast and furious ride west out of the Channel, ready to encounter the remainder of the malicious low pressure system which delayed Sunday's schedule start.... [more] Share this story

WMRT Monsoon Cup - Wildcard entries announced World Match Racing Tour, Monsoon Cup - The race to win the ISAF World Match Racing Tour just got harder with today's announcement that Tour Cardholders Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team and Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing are to be given wildcard entries to the season finale.... [more] Share this story

Kirby responds - ISAF and Laser World Council now with major Headache Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team, This week the Laser Class President Heini Wellmann and Class Executive Secretary Jeff Martin announced that after an overwhelming vote by International Laser Class membership to change the class rules, they will be applying to ISAF to have that change ratified. The response from Bruce Kirby, was forthright... [more] Share this story

34th America's Cup - Luna Rossa's Notice of Challenge accepted Luna Rossa Challenge 2013, 34th America's Cup - Italian team Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 and the Circolo della Vela Sicilia of Palermo today announced that their Notice of Challenge has been accepted by the Golden Gate Yacht Club and will be held at San Francisco in September 2013. Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 and Emirates Team New Zealand have signed a cooperation agreement until 31st December 2012... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta - Lack of wind forces abandonment Volvo Ocean Race, The Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta has had the first race abandoned after a near complete absence of wind that had the fleet adrift for two and a half hours. Conditions were already very light when the sixteen boat fleet, which includes boats from the first ten round the world races, assembled at the start area off Postiguet Beach at 1300 local time.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Final preparations underway + Video Volvo Ocean Race, The Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 will get underway in less than three days and the teams are busy making sail selections, conducting boat maintenance, packing food, and watching the water. These are just a few of the tasks that the teams face in their final preparations for Leg 1 which will take them from Alicante to Cape Town.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Inaugural Legends winner returns Volvo Ocean Race, The lure of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends reunion was too much to resist after thirty-eight years for the 85-year old inaugural winner Ramon Carlin who journeyed from Mexico to be a part of the unique gathering. 'It is wonderful to be in Alicante and to see how far this race has come since we first set out on our round the world adventure all those years ago...'... [more] Share this story

La Charente Maritime Bahia Transat 6.50 - Fight for Funchal updates La Charente Maritime Bahia Transat 6.50, More competitors in the La Charente Maritime Bahia Transat 6.50 are crossing the finish line and we share with you today, updates on the fight for the final places in Funchal. Gwénolé Gahinet (455 - Asso Watever - gwenolegahinet.com) had arrived three hours and ten minutes after Benoit Mariette (599 - Odalys Vacances) in Funchal.... [more] Share this story

Perth Sailing World Championships Schedule Of Racing published International Sailing Federation, Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships Schedule of Racing has now been published after months of planning and the careful consideration of class requirements. Racing begins on 3 December at 12:00 local time with the women's match racers kicking things off. The Laser Radial, Women's RS:X, Finn and Men's 470 take to the water on 5 December with the Medal Races taking place on 11 December... [more] Share this story

ISAF Sailing World Cup Series kicks off with Sail Melbourne International Sailing Federation, 2011-2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup Series begins its fourth series with Sail Melbourne kicking things off at Sandringham Yacht Club, Melbourne, Australia, in a few days time. First launched in December 2008 the ISAF Sailing World Cup brings together the existing major regattas on the Olympic sailing circuit, starting in Australia.... [more] Share this story

Global Ocean Race Leg 1 – Fight to the finish line Oliver Dewar, Global Ocean Race - After 38 days and 6,000 miles of racing, the GOR teams are into the final push for the leg one finish line. While the leg one winners, Ross and Campbell Field and second placed Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron work on their boats in The V and A Waterfront Marina the four Class40s in the fleet's main pack are hammering across the final 1,000 miles of the South Atlantic... [more] Share this story

Sail Sydney – Light winds for day one Mainsheet Media, Sail Sydney is one of the premier sailing events in Australia and this year is being held over two regattas. The first day of the November regatta was greeted with rain and clouds as the competitors gathered in the briefing room at Woollahra Sailing Club.... [more] Share this story

Penfold Audi Sport goes carbon Sail-World, Melbourne based yachtsman Dave Ellis has upgraded his Archambault A31 'Penfold Audi Sport' with a custom designed Carbon mast from NZ Spars and Rigging. Dave sailed 'Penfold Audi sport' last season with the factory issued Alloy mast to some great results under IRC, but with Dave been the perfectionist that he is he wanted more, Everyone knew from Day 1 the alloy mast was on the softside and D... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Italian Challenger's return expected on Wednesday Richard Gladwell, Italian media are reporting that a media conference will be called late Wednesday afternoon (local time) to announce a return to the America's Cup by the three time Italian challenger, Luna Rossa, headed be Patrizio Bertelli. Also participating at the announcement will be Emirates Team New Zealand's CEO Grant Dalton, and the two teams are expected to announce a working agreement.... [more] Share this story

NYYC Invitational Cup to air on ESPN Classic New York Yacht Club, The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex took place in September and is now set to debut on ESPN Classic on Friday, November 4, at 8pm Eastern Time. It will be re-aired on Sunday November 6 at 2:30pm Eastern Time on ESPN2. Check local listings for the appropriate channels.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Bekking is back! Volvo Ocean Race, The Volvo Ocean Race has witnessed the return of a legend in Alicante with the arrival of Holland's Bouwe Bekking who is a veteran of five round the world races and most recently as the skipper of the third placed Telefonica in the previous race. Bekking said he was already enjoying his time at the Legends, despite having only just arrived.... [more] Share this story

ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards in San Juan KPMS, ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2011, in Puerto Rico, are being held in just one week. The ceremony will be held in the historic Cuartel de Ballaja, a former military barracks in the mid-19th century, and an impressive backdrop to a night that welcomes some of the best sailing talent the world has seen.... [more] Share this story

Global Ocean Race - Financial Crisis extends lead from main pack Oliver Dewar, Global Ocean Race - Having taken the lead in the second wave of the double-handed Class40s on Monday morning, Marco Nannini and Paul Peggs in third place with Financial Crisis kept the pressure on, consistently averaging above 11 knots overnight.... [more] Share this story

VSail.info talks to Patrick Shaughnessy of Farr Yacht Design Vsail.info, Following Saturday's overwhelming victory of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in the in-port race in Alicante, VSail.info talked to Patrick Shaughnessy, president of Farr Yacht Design, about his office's design in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race: Q:Were Ian Walker and the crew geniuses or simply very lucky? A: 'I am always very hesitant to use the word genius. Obviously the team has put in a lot of effort into... [more] Share this story

ISAF Annual Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico International Sailing Federation, ISAF Annual Conference for 2011 will be held this week in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ISAF Committee, Sub-committee and Commission members will travel from around the globe to San Juan where they will be joined by ISAF Member National Authorities, sailors, event organisers, class associations, boat manufacturers and many more.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: Auckland Stopover News 5 - Ready to Race VOR Auckland Stopover, The 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race has opened with the first In-Port Race in Alicante on Saturday 29 October, with Leg 1 starting a week later, on Saturday 5 November. This fifth edition of our e-newsletter Event HQ brings you the latest news from the Auckland Stopover and the Race Village.... [more] Share this story

US Olympic Trial victory for Anna Tunicliffe and Team Maclaren Anna Tunnicliffe, With US Olympic Trials currently underway, Team Maclaren today experienced an exhilarating victory when they wrapped up the series 4-0 over Team Tulloch after two windy races. We have qualified for the second trials in May in Weymouth UK, the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, and the first three of the 2012 ISAF World Cup events.... [more] Share this story

US Sailing Independent Report on the sailing accident at Annapolis John Rousmaniere, An Independent Study Report reviewing the youth sailing 420 tragedy on Severn River at Annapolis has been released: Introduction - Following a fatal sailing accident at Annapolis on June 23, 2011, the Severn Sailing Association invited the United States Sailing Association to send representatives to Annapolis to discuss the incident with its officers and staff.... [more] Share this story

US champion flies in for Sydney Etchells Worlds 2012 qualifier Peter Campbell, Jud Smith showed his helming skills sailing with the Sydney International Etchells class fleet racing yesterday on Sydney Harbour. Smith has long been one of the leading Etchells skippers in the world, with multiple wins in the North American championships going back 21 years and a win in the World championship in Fremantle, WA, in 2006, also finishing third in 1994 and second in 1996.... [more] Share this story

Drama ahead as Fundamental Rule Change approved by Laser Class Members Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team, A major sports political development may have ramifications for One Design Dinghy sailiing world wide, with the Laser Class President Heini Heini Wellmann and Class Executive Secretary Jeff Martin announcing that after an overwhelming vote by International Laser Class membership to change a fundamental class rule they will be applying to ISAF to have that change ratified.... [more] Share this story

US SAILING Inquiry into CYC Race to Mackinac capsize and fatalities C. Hawley, J. Rousmaniere, R. Naranjo & S.McCurdy, The 103rd Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac experienced two tragic deaths and now an inquiry into the fatalities has been released. The inquiry was conducted by a review panel which was appointed by US Sailing on July 28, 2011. Sailing is a remarkably safe sport in large part because of the caring of its close-knit community.... [more] Share this story

US Sailing releases independent study concerning CYC Race to Mackinac Rachelle Treiber, US Sailing, the national governing body for sailing, has published findings related to two deaths which occurred during the 103rd Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. The findings were contained in a detailed 70-page report authored by an independent panel, and are posted www.ussailing.org!online!new.... [more] Share this story

Sail-World visitors – this week a two metre snake Brendan Maxwell, Sail-World.com, We get an interesting range of visitors, beyond the old salts who drop by on a regular basis, the local wild-life often call in, unannounced. This two metre green tree snake, (Dendrelaphis Punctulatus) has previously attempted to venture into the office via an open window, but this week was applying for a sub-editors role.... [more] Share this story

Sail-World on Facebook -Check us out!! David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor, Jeraldine Kennedy, Sail-World UK and European Editor explained 'Sail-World's Facebook wall has key selections from the nine Sail-World sites world-wide posted as well as providing the opportunity for Fans to get to know the Editors. 'We have already posted feature stories from many of our editors world-wide for the last six months, going forward we will be adding key feature stories each day.... [more] Share this story

Perth 2011 – Can they knock off Big Ben? Rob Kothe, Sailings Superstar British sailor Ben Ainslie, the only sailor ever to be crowned ISAF World Sailor of the Year three times (1998, 2002 & 2008), will be 35 years old by the 2012 London Olympics. He will be sailing at his fifth Olympic Games, aiming to win another gold medal, perhaps weighed down by the British public expectations media demands with three gold medals and one silver round his ne... [more] Share this story

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