Monsoon Cup, TJV, Mini Transat—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond
by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 2 Dec 2013
USone win the Alpari World Match Racing Tour 2013, at the Monsoon Cup, Malaysia 1 OnEdition / WMRT
http://wmrt.com/
In match-racing circles, Taylor Canfield and his 'USone' team have won the 2013 Alpari Match Racing World Tour after taking a third-place finish at the rain-steeped Monsoon Cup, which just wrapped up in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Canfield beat out Ian Williams ('GAC Pindar') and Phil Robertson ('WAKA Racing') for top honors on this year’s tour. This is Canfield’s first full year on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, yet he seems to be having no trouble finding his way to the top of the podium’s steps.
'It was our first year on the Tour, and we came in all fists swinging, hoping to put up a fight, and we did!' reported an elated Canfield. 'Thanks go to my amazing team, they’re the real force here. Hopefully we’ll have many more years on the Tour.'
As far as the actual Monsoon Cup, Robertson and his 'WAKA Racing' team claimed first prize, followed by Williams and his 'GAC Pindar' squad, with Canfield rounding out the Top Three. But while Canfield might have won the 2013 tour, this was a big win for the 26-year-old Robertson and his Kiwi team.
'We're stoked,' reported Robertson. 'It’s been a real long time coming. The boys put in a massive effort in the bigger breeze, and everything went our way today. That's what you need to happen in the Finals when the pressure is on.' Get the full Monsoon Cup report, inside.
Meanwhile, in offshore-sailing circles, the competition remains fierce in the ongoing Transat Jacques Vabre Class where the doublehanded fleet of Class 40s is approaching the finishing line under complicated skies. 'The final promises to be difficult,' reported Fabien Delahaye, co skipper of 'GDF Suez'. 'The files are showing we should have 15 knots of wind reaching with the gennaker, but we are under big spinnaker in five knots of wind. It’s difficult to understand what is happening. And we just try to find the right sail combinations. We are getting there but there can be plenty of pitfalls along the final miles.'
Get the full TJV report, inside this issue, and be sure to stay tuned to the website for more from the Class 40s, as their race progresses.
And in the Mini Transat race, the fleet of singlehanded skippers is now confronting a major low-pressure system that’s likely costing sleep and causing migraines as the sailors attempt to best position their boats relative to the weather front and to their competition. According to reports, the northerly option was the correct routing choice, with skippers on other courses struggling to find their pace. Get the full Mini Transat update, inside this issue, and be sure to also stay tuned to the website for the latest on this historically grueling race, as it progresses.
Also inside, be sure to get the full download from the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne (December 1-7) and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, and don’t miss the report on the recently announced improvements to the Offshore Racing Congress’ rating systems.
And finally, be sure to check out the great image gallery of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne practice sessions, compliments of Sail-World’s Richard Gladwell.
May the four winds blow you safely home,
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