What a difference a breeze makes

(AUS) Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page, 470 leaders day 5 - Semaine Olympique Francaise 2012  © Jean-Marie Liot /DPPI/FFV

Six Australian crews in Hyeres Medal Races - the usual suspects Slingsby, Outteridge and Jensen, Belcher and Page have sailed well in this windy event, joined by Brendan Casey and Krystal Weir in the Medal Rounds and Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch leading the Scud 18's – if it blows like this in Weymouth..... Look out Brits!!

We have wonderful collection of images from this heavy weather regatta. Well worth a look.

Good luck dolphins - Camper sailed by Emirates Team NZ - Leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race  Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race©

After several days of sticky sailing and frustratingly light air, the lead boats in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) are now punching into developing trade winds, which are immediately registering as double-digit figures on their speedos.

Currently, Puma Ocean Racing's Mar Mostro is leading the charge, followed nearly 20 miles astern by Emirates Team New Zealand's (ENTZ) Camper and then Telefonica, another 20 miles behind their Kiwi-flagged friends. 'We'd be happy to be another 40 miles east than where we are now, but, at the same time, we are only 180 nm off the coast, so the breeze only has to shift 10 degrees further right and we'd be very happy with where we are,' lamented ENTZ's navigator, Australia's Will Oxley.

And in latest America's Cup news, America's Cup Regatta Director, Iain Murray, has confirmed reports that his organization has offered New Zealand a pre-Cup regatta, to be contested in the new AC72-class wing sail-powered catamarans. 'We have offered to go to New Zealand and provide a three-day series,' said Murray. 'It would be a test session for us and we would use the full electronic controls, which mean that race boundaries would be used and we would interface with the full electronics package.' Current speculation holds that three teams—ENTZ, Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa—will take part in the informal regatta, although there is no official word as to venue, or if New Zealand will even accept the offer

Liz Wardley faces new challenge  © Barbara Bernard / La Septième Vague

Liz (Chook) Wardley is now officially launching her 2012-2013 Vendée Globe project. Time is not her friend, if you can think of any way to help her that would be great.

26 boats have entered the Airlie Beach Race Week event in just five days, berthing has to be done separately hence the flood. www.airliebeachraceweek.com.au August 10-16th

Entries are open now for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week August 30th- September 4th this is a great event www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au

SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2012 – Enter online NOW!! Magnetic Island Race Week, SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, from August 30th to September 4th 2012 on the sheltered waters around Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island. Notice of Race online now, online entry is live!!... [more] Share this story

Semaine Olympique Francaise: Six medal races for Australia + Video Craig Heydon, On the final day of Semaine Olympique Francaise, the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, Australian crews will race for medals in six classes following a number of race wins on Thursday. Strong winds returned for day five of racing, keeping a number of classes on shore, but for those Australians that went racing there were plenty of race wins shared around.... [more] Share this story

All that floats – TOG Regatta class updates TOG Event Media, Since its inception eight years ago, the Top of the Gulf Regatta (TOG Regatta) has endeavoured to provide an opportunity for Thai and regional sailors to compete against international sailors of the highest calibre. To this end, each year the Regatta welcomes national, Asian, World Champions and Olympians to take part in a varied fleet of dinghies, multihulls and keelboats.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: AC72 regatta offered to New Zealand for summer of 2013 Richard Gladwell, America's Cup Regatta Director Iain Murray, told Sail-World.com this morning that his organisation had offered to stage an informal series between the three America's Cup teams that would be sailing AC72's in New Zealand, next summer. 'We have offered to go to New Zealand and provide a three day series', he told an international media conference this morning.... [more] Share this story

Liz Wardley officially launches her Vendee Globe project Vendee Globe, Vendee Globe - Impossible is not Liz! Inspired by the motto of a famous sporting goods brand, Liz Wardley is now officially launching her 2012 Vendée Globe project. Only a week after the contract she had signed with an unscrupulous sponsor who kept none of his promises was terminated.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Puma out in front and hanging on Volvo Ocean Race and Sail-World, In the Volvo Ocean Race, after a tense night with plenty of cloud activity and a few gybes this morning to set up the angle for the turning point at Recife on the coast of Brazil, Puma Ocean Racing Powered by Berg has continued to hang on to the lead she claimed at 0400 GMT this morning. Puma enjoys a lead of about an hour over Camper, according to the latest projections.... [more] Share this story

Semaine Olympique Francaise - Extreme conditions and domination Corinne Rolland-McKenzie, The Semaine Olympique Francaise has had another day of extreme conditions with the sailors and racing committees having used lots of time and energy on the water over the week. While some classes and especially Women's Match racing being behind schedule, other classes were able to enjoy a full programme dominated by breezy races.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Puma punch through cold front Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race, Day 4 of Leg 6. Amory Ross, MCM for Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg, reports on the crew's progress: It seems we are through both front and ridge and finally free to point north, but it was not without its troubles! We first pushed through the frontal barrier with little resistance... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - New York in second Stealth Mode Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - 'A day of Champagne sailing', is how one of the skippers describes the last 24 hours at sea for the ten-strong fleet – a clear sign of joy as winds start to pick up for the fleet closest to shore. The past 24 hours has seen speeds going back up into double figure knots, especially for the more southerly positioned yachts... [more] Share this story

Great Whitsunday Fun Race - New date announced Corrie Gardner, Great Whitsunday Fun Race - People can join in the race in all manner of sailing vessel or just come out on a spectator craft to enjoy the day. After the racing, join in the fantastic party on the shores of Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Sailing Club. Live bands, heaps of prizes, fun competitions and a wonderful atmosphere of mateship combine to make it a memorable day on and off the water.... [more] Share this story

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week to include superyacht division Rob Mundle, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is being held from 17th to 25th August 2012. A superyacht division will again be part of Australia's premier keelboat event this year. This will be the 29th staging of the regatta, which is sailed on the tropical, island-laced waters of the Whitsunday region off the coast of Queensland.... [more] Share this story

Semaine Olympique Francaise - Women's 470 images by Thom Touw Anna Parker, Sail-World, Photographer Thom Touw shares with us images of Women's 470 sailing action from day three of the Semaine Olympique Francaise.... [more] Share this story

Steinlager 2 about to end her overseas sojourn Sail-World, One of the world's most iconic trans-oceanic racers, Steinlager 2, is permanently returning to New Zealand after more than two decades abroad. Steinlager 2 is best known as the yacht skippered by the late Sir Peter Blake, which won the 1989 Whitbread Round the World race. She won every leg over the line and on handicap, an unprecedented record which still stands.... [more] Share this story

Sail Port Stephens 2012 images by John Curnow John Curnow images, Sail Port Stephens 2012 was a great event. This rapidly growing regatta is in a perfect location at a good time of the year.... [more] Share this story

Semaine Olympique Francaise - Women's RS:X images by Thom Touw Anna Parker, Sail-World, Photographer Thom Touw shares with us images of Women's RS:X sailing action from day three of the Semaine Olympique Francaise taking place in Hyeres, France. Enjoy!... [more] Share this story

Airlie Beach Race Week 2012 is off with a bang! Airlie Beach Race Week media, Yachties are usually slow to enter events but Airlie Beach Race Week 2012 is off to a great start. The Notice of Race and online entry were only announced on Monday, and just four days later 25 boats have entered the 23rd annual tropical shirt regatta.... [more] Share this story

Sail-World.com - Contributors Guidelines Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com, Whether its information about yachts, catamarans or dinghies, or tales of your adventures on the water, there is always a story waiting to be told. Sail-World is happy to receive your articles - be it profiles of people and boats, techniques, safety or seamanship. Read on for the guidelines for submitting an article, including commercial articles - if the information is of value to our readers... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: Of snapping tacklines and abundant dolphins + Videos Hamish Hooper, Hamish Hooper blogs from on board Camper off the Brazilian coast, South America: At the moment my first action of the day is to go up on deck, scan the horizon and play spot the other Volvo boats. It was a satisfying way to start the day seeing Abu Dhabi had shrunk over night and was now around 3 or 4 miles astern of us. See two videos from Camper in this story... [more] Share this story

Hamilton Island Race Week 2012 Accommodation Options Kristie Kaighin, Have you booked your accommodation for Hamilton Island Race Week 2012? We have several privately owned apartments, villas and houses available for Hamilton Island Race Week. View our website for descriptions and photos - www.whitsundayholidays.com.au.... [more] Share this story

Sail Port Stephens 2012 – Loved by the sailors and growing rapidly Sail Port Stephens event media, Sail Port Stephens, one of Australia's fastest growing regattas, attracted a record 165 entries in 2012. While it competes for precious holiday time with many established regattas around the Asia Pacific, the event does have a very bright future.... [more] Share this story

Missing yacht Polska Miedz - call for help to cruising sailors Sail-World Cruising, On the 30th June 2011, Polish sailor Tomasz Chichocki departed on a solo sail around the world on his Delphia 40.3 yacht Polish Copper (Polska Miedz). It had taken eight years preparation, and he had a great following, particularly from his home country of Poland. Now he is missing somewhere in the Atlantic and all cruising sailors on his intended route are asked to assist.... [more] Share this story

Airlie Beach Race Week 2012 – Enter online Now Airlie Beach Race Week media, The Notice of Race for Airlie Beach Race Week 2012 is now able to download from the event website at www.airliebeachraceweek.com.au and online entries are now being accepted. Competitors will need to book directly with Abel Point Marina to secure their berth.... [more] Share this story

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