Laser Worlds, TJV and Cupdate—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 21 Nov 2013 For One Design sailors, it’s tough to find a finer class than the Laser when it comes to singlehanded competition, from a friendly, after-work beer-can chases to the Olympics. Currently, the Laser Worlds are taking place in Oman. According to reports, the conditions have been fairly light (especially recently), testing each sailors’ ability to make the boat move quickly, sans a lot of external energy. Still, it should come as little surprise to anyone who follows this hyper-competitive class that eight-time Laser World Champion Robert Scheidt (BRA) is once again commanding the leaderboard.

'The wind in the first race was really unstable and I was surprised they started,' said Scheidt. 'But I got into a bad strategy when I went right and the wind went left so finished well down the fleet but I bounced back in the second race.'
'I made a good start, had a good first beat and managed to come away with a race win so I’m pretty happy with that,' continued Scheidt. 'I hope we have a bit more wind tomorrow, not necessarily strength but in direction because it was very fluky today.'

Racing continues at the Laser Worlds through November 23, so stay tuned to the website for more news from this high-level event, as it transpires.

Meanwhile, in Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) news, news has broken that co-skippers Francois Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux were dismasted some 140 miles from Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. According to reports, Gabart and Desjoyeaux were able to successfully cut away the rig and secure the safety of 'MACIF', but the two are currently in a shipping lane and are trying to reach shore. Get the full report, inside this issue, and stay tuned to the website for the latest news, as it becomes known.

Meanwhile, in the Multi 50 class, the capsized 'Arkema-Region Aquitaine' reached the Portuguese town of Canical undertow and has now been turned right side up by a crane. Fortunately, the skippers report that the boat is still in relatively good shape, at least structurally.

'We have got to land nine days after we capsized and will never forget this experience, including the tow!' report co-skipper skipper Lalou Roucayrol. 'It was long and it was complicated to tow the boat this far and so we are very lucky to now find that structurally it is intact… Now really the second phase begins and we are in a brand new marina here with all that we need to clean up the boat and then we will make a decision how and when to repatriate the boat to France.'

Get the full TJV download, inside this issue.

And in America’s Cup news, Sail-World’s Rob Kothe recently caught up with Tom Slingsby, strategist for Oracle Team USA in the 34th America’s Cup, to get his pulse on AC34, as well as the state-of-play with AC35. Slingsby, it will be remembered, has already signed-on with Oracle Team USA for AC 35.

‘Going forward, for me my main focus is on America’s Cup 35,' said Slingsby. 'I want to sail with really good people. I want to be part of a really good team that can win the Cup and for me that’s the most important thing. I had a really good experience last time and Oracle was great to me as a team. I know how good the people are who get involved in with this team, from the designers to the sailors,' Check out part one of this three-part series, inside.

Also inside, be sure to get the latest reports from the Mini Transat, the RC44 Match Racing Championship in Calero Marin and be sure to check out the interview with America’s Cup skipper Iain Percy to get his thoughts on AC35.

May the four winds blow you safely home,