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 Big Boats Series report—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond
 | | Jim Swartz's TP 52 VESPER in IRC-A - Rolex Big Boat Series 2012 © Rolex/Daniel Forster |
The annual Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, is easily one of the country's best regattas, and this year's event didn't disappoint. Racecourse conditions tested each crew's breeze-on acumen and the talent-rife fleet ensured world-class tactics across all classes.
'In my mind, sailing is all about teamwork, and we just have a fantastic team,' said Jim Swartz, owner of the TP52 'Vesper', the winner of the IRC A and the 2012 IRC North American Champions. 'It really helps the program immensely when you have a group of people who know how to take care of each other.' Check out the full Big Boat Series report, inside this issue.
 | | J 105s ALCHEMY and BLACKHAWK - Rolex Big Boat Series 2012 © Rolex/Daniel Forster |
Meanwhile, in America's Cup news, Cup and Olympics veteran Rod Davis offers some insight at how Emirates Team New Zealand has been taking advantage of shore time, so as to optimize their limited (30 days) days of AC72 sailing. 'The boys just have to tough it out as they run to the shed that houses the AC72,' writes Davis. 'We are doing the whole short-course drill inside [and on the boat], out of the weather but more importantly it does not count as one of our sailing days. When you are allowed only 30 days of sailing, you need to get creative in how you train.'
 | | One person in the crowd in the Mixed Zone, but Bernie Wilson (foreground) (Associated Press) has a readership in the millions, if not tens of millions Richard Gladwell |
In Olympic circles, be sure to check out Richard Gladwell's up-close-and-informative look at the role that the media (and the media-sailor interface) played at the London Olympics 2012. 'In many ways the competitors run a media gauntlet, and the stop at each point is usually a couple of minutes or so, unless they really want to milk the media and lift the exposure for themselves and their sport,' writes Gladwell about the 'mixed zone' (sailors and media) dynamic. 'Other than maybe the TV stops, the gig is not compulsory. However you skip it at your peril. Very simply, you can either embrace the media or keep it at arms length.'
 | | STARK RAVING MAD (USA), winner of the coastal race in the first day of racing - 2012 Rolex Swan Cup © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi |
And for a glimpse at how the lucky ones live, check out the report from the ongoing Rolex Swan Cup, which is unfurling at the lovely Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, situated on Porto Cervo, Sardinia. 'It is by far the prettiest place I've ever sailed,' said James Madden, owner of the Swan 601 'Stark Raving Mad', after a good day of racing. 'It was very puffy with winds from 9-13 knots, which saw us flirting with going from an A1 to an A2. When we rounded the Maddalena on the backside it got really interesting with shifts of 60 degrees. We knew we were doing well but it was hard to assess on corrected time.'
 | | Startline at the 2012 North Amnerican Etchells Championships, Bayview John Payne © |
Also inside, get the latest news from the 2012 Etchells North Americans, the wrap-up reports from the Oakcliff Sailing Center's 2012 International Grade 2, and—in college-sailing circles—reports from the Pine Trophy and Fall Fury. And finally, don't miss lensman Leighton O'Connor's great image gallery from last weekend's Viper 640 North Americans. Enjoy!
 | | 2012 Viper 640 North Americans Leighton O'Connor © |
May the four winds blow you safely home,
David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor
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