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Second Volvo dismasting, more from ACWS—Sailing News from the U.S.


The America's Cup World Series (ACWS) San Diego event wrapped up this weekend after a great run, thrilling crowds and crews alike. The wind gods saved the best for last, with this weekend's match-racing championships (Saturday) and yesterday's fleet-racing championships seeing winds puffing to about 20 knots. Impressively, Oracle Racing Spithill was on a tear, becoming the first team to pull off a 'double' at an AMWS event. While skipper James Spithill was rock solid in the match-racing sections throughout the event, it was his come-from-astern win in the fleet-racing championship that demonstrated again just how skilled this young skipper is, and how well oiled this team has become. 'We really wanted to win the double,' said Spithill. 'We started okay, but got mixed up in the pack. But JK [tactician John Kostecki] got us back into it and then the boys did a fantastic job. We were able to stretch away and use our speed.'

Energy Team, the French challenger, showed tremendous improvement in this event, finishing up in third place overall all, with Dean Barker's Emirates Team New Zealand taking second-place honors. Clearly, the French team is gelling around Yann Guichard, who replaced offshore ocean-racing legend Loïck Peyron as skipper. The team saw steady advancement throughout the week, beating Barker and the Kiwis in the match-racing championships and taking third-place in the fleet-racing. 'I'm quite pleased,' said Guichard. 'We worked well throughout the week and remained constant in our performance. I'm very happy to finish in second place in the match-racing championship. We surprised everyone and are making progress every day. The team has really done some excellent work.'

Team Telefonica during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race)  Diego Fructuoso/ Team Telefónica

Meanwhile, in the Volvo Ocean Race, Iker Martinez and his Telefonica are now leading the fleet of three Volvo Open 70s to Cape Town. Puma Ocean Racing has officially retired from Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 after suffering a broken mast. The rig onboard Puma's Mar Mostro failed on Monday, November 21, at around 15:00 UTC in the southern Atlantic Ocean, about 2,150 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa. All crew were unhurt.

The team has recovered all pieces of the mast and all sails from the water. They are currently headed toward the island of Tristan da Cunha.

'We've just withdrawn from the leg,' said skipper Ken Read. 'We have [the mast] jury rigged – we have about 15 feet of mast left. We have our trysail and storm jib awkwardly set. We're supplementing that with really low revs of the engine just to make forward progress. 'As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of smiles right now, but one way to make it even worse would be to proclaim that there wasn't a chance to make the next leg.
Get the full VOR report, inside.

USA 470 team of Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Farrar are excited about the wind and upcoming Perth 2011 regatta - Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships  Shauna McGee Kinney

And finally, be sure to check out ace lensman Gilles Martin-Raget's fantastic image galleries of the San Diego ACWS action. And to really soften the start to your work week, take a gander at Shauna McGee Kinney's image gallery of US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics in Perth, Australia, preparing for the upcoming ISAF World Championships (December 3-18). Stay tuned for serious media coverage of this important event, which will dictate Olympic participation for many sailors racing across numerous classes.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

Fisher's View: Fleet Race Final - The End at San Diego Bob Fisher, Just as he had promised the boss, Larry Ellison, Jimmy Spithill delivered the double championship victory in San Diego when he added the winner-takes-all Fleet Racing Championship to the Match Racing Championship that he had won the previous day... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Puma Ocean Racing retire from leg 1 Lisa Ramsperger, Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg team has officially retired from Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 after suffering a broken mast. We've just withdrawn from the leg,' said skipper Ken Read. 'We have [the mast] jury rigged – we have about 15 feet of mast left. We have our trysail and storm jib awkwardly set.'... [more] Share this story

Perth 2011 - Canada's RS:X Champ Nikola Girke shares love and luck Shauna McGee Kinney, ISAF Sailing World Championships - Canada's Nikola Girke and Women's RS:X sailor shares her love and luck as she prepares for Perth 2011. As of Friday the 18th of November the RS:X coaches and teams have been running a four day regatta - a Pre-Worlds event. Nikola Girke (CAN) is one of the competitors using this event to prepare for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships... [more] Share this story

ISAF World Match Racing Tour poised for major growth Rob Kothe, Internet TV is watch it where you want, when you want, download it ... and it has become very significant for the sport of sailing' says World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Chief Executive Officer Jim O'Toole. Our Tour Card Holders are our single biggest asset – they are the headline acts that attract live spectators, TV and IPTV viewers around the world to watch Championship events.... [more] Share this story

Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta - Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup begins Jill Campbell, The fourth edition of the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta - Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup got underway today in 10 to 12 knots of north north-easterly breeze and only the Wally 107 Kenora chose to head south of the Island of Tenerife while the remainder of the fleet left the island to port.... [more] Share this story

U.S. Naval Academy wins 2011 ICSA Match Race Nationals Jennifer Mitchell, The Intercollegiate Sailing Association Match Race Nationals took place between the 18-20 November and were co-hosted by the California Maritime Academy and the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. Racing action took place out of St. Francis YC on San Francisco Bay just in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean race: Camper crew member suffers injury + Video Thomas Pryor, Camper's bowman Mike Pammenter has sustained injuries after being thrown into the boat's shrouds while moving forward to do a sail change. Mike suffered a broken tooth, gash to the face and various bumps and bruises in the fall. He was stabilised immediately by onboard medic Tony Rae (Trae). Includes video of the operation on board Camper... [more] Share this story

Sailrocket Sailing World Record attempt - Last time I dare this place Paul Larsen, The wind was filling nicely. It was 25 at the timing hut so we went straight to the top of the course. We had changed a few things and wanted to make sure things were right. Vestas Sailrocket 2 was released but once again struggled to bare away from the wind. Something about the wind and waves makes her weathercock in stronger winds. I tried a few tricks but she just sat there head to wind.... [more] Share this story

2012 Onion Patch Series - the triathlon of sailboat racing Talbot Wilson, Be sure to include all three events in the triathlon of sailboat racing, the 2012 Onion Patch Series, in your schedule. 'The Onion Patch is a tough series to win as an individual entry,' said Rives Potts owner of Carina, the St David's Lighthouse Trophy winner in the 2010 Newport Bermuda Race. He came in fifth overall in the 2010 Onion Patch and has yet to win the series.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Telefonica continues her course Sophie Luther, At 1900 UTC this evening, the Volvo Ocean Race crew aboard Telefonica were continuing their reach south at 18.5 knots amid the easterly trade winds whilst Puma's Mar Mostro trailed behind at a limping pace of 2.3 knots under a jury rig of storm trysail and staysail.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: Puma breaks mast in South Atlantic Sail-World, Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reported that they had suffered a broken mast on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, which began 17 days ago from Alicante, Spain. The crew are unhurt. The rig onboard Pumas Mar Mostro failed at around 1500 UTC in the southern Atlantic Ocean, about 2,150 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa.... [more] Share this story

Extreme Sailing Series heads to Singapore for final Act Shu Fen, Extreme Sailing Series™ ninth and final Act is being held between 7th and 11th December in Singapore, where ten Extreme 40 teams will take to the water of Marina Bay. The iconic Singapore Flyer will provide a stunning backdrop to what will be a dramatic end of season match to claim the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series Overall Championship.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Tight at the top Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - An intense battle is underway for the coveted podium with just 32 miles separating the five boats vying for the second and third spots. De Lage Landen, currently in fourth place, is one of the teams gunning for a top-three finish and skipper, Stuart Jackson, acknowledges that it is set to be close call with so many of the boats bunched together... [more] Share this story

America's Cup World Series San Diego - Images by Christophe Favreau Christophe Favreau, America's Cup World Series San Diego images of today's races and speed test from photographer Christophe Favreau.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup World Series San Diego – Energy Team in third Pierre Giboire, America's Cup World Series San Diego – Energy Team took third place on Sunday evening in the major fleet race. After coming second in the Match Racing Championship on Saturday, the French team has therefore reached the podium for a second time and ended this brilliant week in style.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup World Series San Diego double to Oracle Racing Spithill Oracle Racing, Oracle Racing Spithill dug its way out of the pack approaching the first windward mark and grabbed the lead on the ensuing downwind leg. 'We really wanted the double. It was a goal of ours when the ACWS started,' said Spithill.... [more] Share this story

ACWS San Diego: Testing winds as Oracle Racing Spithill score double Stephanie Martin, America's Cup World Series fleet in San Diego was tested with the strongest winds of the week. Oracle Racing Spithill, winners on Saturday of the Match Racing Championship, came from behind to win the Fleet Racing Championship, becoming the first team to secure a double win at the AC World Series.... [more] Share this story

J/24 World Championship - New Champion J24 Class Association, The J/24 class has a new World Champion. Luca skipper Alejo Rigoni and crew Gustavo Gonzalez, Joaquín Duarte Argerich, Fernando Gwozdz and Sergio Armestowon the title.... [more] Share this story

Intercollegiate Sailing Association Match Race Nationals 2011 Jennifer Vandemoer Mitchell, The 2011 Intercollegiate Sailing Association Match Race Nationals took place Friday, November 18 – Sunday, November 20. The first day of racing began with a southwest breeze 8 – 12 knots with shifts, a variety of puffs and an ebbing current.... [more] Share this story

Images from San Diego: AC World Series live shots Gilles Martin-Raget, Top international sailing photographer, Gilles Martin-Raget was on hand to capture live shots of the sailing action at the America's Cup World Series in San Diego.... [more] Share this story

Perth 2011 images - Training time Shauna McGee Kinney, Sail-World.com's on-the-spot reporter Shauna McGee Kinney took theses images of team members during a training session for Perth 2011.... [more] Share this story

Turkey Day Regatta day 2 - Cold blast disrupts proceedings Rich Roberts, Day 2 of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club's annual Turkey Day Regatta Sunday was canceled as cold southeast winds whistled through the rigs of 247 boats due to be launched.... [more] Share this story

Watch America's Cup World Series San Diego LIVE NOW! Anna Parker, Sail-World, Catch the America's Cup World Series - San Diego features the full replays and highlights from the Fleet Racing Finals of the America's Cup World Series.... [more] Share this story

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