Kiel Week, America's Cup, JP Morgan, Volvo and more

by . on 24 Jun 2014 These weeks we see some of the largest sailing events in the world taking place in Europe. A sixth boat was announced for Volvo Ocean Race, the 'war of words' continues about the Americas Cup protocol, and the scene is set for this summer’s many top elite events.

The world’s largest fleet racing sailing events, Kiel Week takes place in this week: 5000 yachtsmen and women, 50 countries, 2000 yachts, dinghies and surfboards, almost 40 sailing events and more than 400 planned regatta starts on eleven race courses.

The start of the Kiel Week 2014 was just like what this event in the provincial capital is famous for - wet, cold, but also windy. The first part of Kiel Week also includes the Olympic Classes, and on the race courses of the outer fjord, the races are demanding the strength and fitness of the Olympic athletes. The Olympic Classes have their last races Wednesday, and from Thursday many of the other International Classes take over the race courses outside Schilksee Olympic Harbour. Follow the stories and results on Sail-World during the week.

In the past weekend one of the world’s largest distance races for cruisers and races took place around Isle of Wight. 1.580 boats with 16.000 sailors were challenged with very light winds, and the J.P.Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race became a very long race with winds ranging from zero knots to painfully light testing the patience of crews. A high performance catamaran took line honours with a time of 08.51.37, the slowest elapsed time for a 'line honours boat' ever in Race’s history. There were 715 finishers and 791 retirees, and it is always regrettable to have more retirees than finishers but a very positive response from the majority of competitors nonetheless. They will be back again next year for this great sailing event.

The 'war of words' between Oracle Team USA and New Zealand continues, and especially an article in a New Zealand newspaper made Russel Coutts react with a series of comments, in order to correct what he says is inaccurate interpretation of the Protocol. Russel is quite direct in his statement and expresses it this way:

'I have watched as the New Zealand media, and the New Zealand Herald in particular, have continued to publish inaccurate interpretations of how the next America’s Cup will be organized. While no one is obliged to support the America’s Cup, it seems to me that at the very least, journalists have an obligation to their readership to provide honest reporting. Regrettably, that has been in very short supply in your newspaper’s coverage of the America’s Cup of late.'

Read the articles at Sail-World.com. And isn’t it something that happens every time a new protocol is published. And still, none of the European Challengers have spoken a word about their interpretations of the protocol.

Spain returns for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 with a boat spearheaded by two of the country’s leading sailors, Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández who will be aiming to help claim their nation’s first victory. It’s the eighth time out of the 12 editions of the race that Spain has been represented in the 41-year-old event.

The campaign, which is being mounted by Galician sailor-businessman Pedro Campos, is the sixth crew announced so far for the Race which begins in Alicante on October 4 with the in-port race there followed by the departure on leg one to Cape Town a week later.

On Thursday this week Extreme Sailing Series global tour heads to Russian waters for the first time, the teams are preparing for what is expected to be a tactically challenging event. Russia’s second largest city, Saint Petersburg, will be the host city for Act 4 and with 12 teams confirmed to compete on the stadium racecourse - that is only 300 metres wide at its narrowest point - the Race Director is predicting a tough competition.

The fleet will race on the River Neva, 26-29 June, in the heart of the city, against the backdrop of the iconic Saint Peter and Saint Paul cathedral. The full team line-ups will be announced on Thursday, 19 June, as 60 of the world’s most elite sailors prepare for four days of close-fought Stadium Racing in front of the Winter Palace.

And finally, be sure to spend some time scrolling through the great image galleries from the Superyacht Cup Palma, compliments of ace shooters Ingrid Abery and Jesus Renedo, as well as imagery from the Giraglia Rolex Cup, compliments of Carlo Borlenghi. Enjoy!

Stay up with the latest sailing news, as it happens, on our websites www.sail-world.com/uk and www.sail-world.com/europe

Good Sailing.

Dan Ibsen, Sail-World Europe editor
dan.ibsen@sail-world.com