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Gaining Momentum—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond

Vestas Sailrocket 2  Sailrocket

For fans of speed-sailing records, these are heady times. American Rob Douglas—a kiteboarder—currently holds the outright record, a mind-boggling 55.65 knots, but other takers such as Paul Larsen and his Vestas Sailrocket 2 project are a serious threat. Larsen and his team are currently in Walvis Bay, Namibia, working up their new 'yacht' (it's half plane, half boat), which the team recently unveiled. The plan is to gradually get the boat up to pace with a series of pre-determined speed goals/benchmarks, one of which the team just recently achieved, namely the 30-knot club. Accordingly, Larsen and company uncorked a special bottle of celebratory champagne. 'Nice,' reported Larsen about the day's sailing and the boat's first performance. 'I'm not going to even try and dramatize it as it felt so cruisy and natural... The ride was clean, spray free... almost majestic compared to our first boat. I used to get hammered by spray at 30 knots but not in this boat. I knew we were over 30 knots and finished the run early as it was low tide and the shallows at the end of the course beckoned.' Check out the report inside for more info on Larsen's project and Vestas Sailrocket 2's work-up.

At the Delta Lloyd Regatta, currently taking place in Holland, day one proved to be a windy affair that rewarded those with great heavy-air skills. 'I know I have a good speed in the breeze but I have started well both times,' said Milan Vujasinovic (CRO), who took two bullets in the 120-boat Laser class and is currently sitting in first. 'It was also a matter to be patient and wait for the right shift. The rest was not an issue.' 2010 Laser World Champion Tom Slingsy (AUS) is in second place, with Dutchman Roelof Bouwmeester rounding out the top three in this hyper-competitive class. More about this event and other classes, inside.

DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) and ALEGRE (GBR) round the first mark of the race - Rolex Volcano Race 2011  © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Meanwhile, in the Med, the first edition of the Rolex Volcano Race, which starts in Gaeta, Italy and sails past some of Europe's prettiest coastline and scenery, has begun. 'Classic sea-breeze conditions are developing,' said Andrea Casale, tactician on the Swan 90, DSK Pioneer Investments just prior to the start. 'It is something that Italian sailors are very used to. We expect to have good wind nearly all the way to Ponza and we expect to be there well before dusk. Our weather models are showing that the wind will continue through the night. We could be passing Capri by midnight.' Not a bad way to pass an evening... Stay tuned for more from this event.

And in the Velux 5 Oceans Race, Brad Van Liew is leading the pack, as he has for every leg of this around-the-world event. That's the god news for Van Liew. The less god news is that current conditions of the final 1,000 miles of the final leg, from Charlestown, South Carolina, to La Rochelle, France, are a bit bumpy. 'This low-pressure area I'm in is quite a barn-burner,' reported Van Liew. 'I've had up to 47 knots this morning with lots of squalls. The seas have got really gnarly too – not huge but really short and steep. Right now I'm just trying to take care of the boat – I've got three reefs in the main and no jib at all. I wanted to stay north to get the stronger breeze but it has got pretty serious. I should probably have a storm job up but I don't think I'm going to have these winds for too much longer, plus I'm sailing pretty deep downwind. Everything is under control and I have made some really good miles over the last few position reports. I'm just trying to keep my promise to Le Pingouin to push hard and do well but not break anything and get her there in one piece.' Read the full report inside this issue.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

Sailrocket 2 hits 40 knots - heading for 60? Paul Larsen, It really was effortless. We made some changes to the pitch of the main foil in order to help lift the rear float clear of the water and it all worked a treat. The steering was great and it all just felt smooth. To be honest I was surprised that we hit 40 knots.... [more] Share this story

Extreme Sailing World Series Team Red Bull ready to race in Istanbul Mario Schoby, Extreme Sailing World Series 2011 - The world's 11 best sailing syndicates will set sail starting on Wednesday on the Bosphorus in Istanbul. This year's surprise package, Austria's Red Bull Extreme Sailing team led by double Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher, will again be battling the world's elite for championship points.... [more] Share this story

Annapolis Leukemia Cup Regatta to raise funds for cancer research Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Leukemia Cup Regatta is a thrilling series of sailing events that combines the joy of boating with the important task of raising money to fight leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. The Maryland Chapter Leukemia Cup Regatta will be held June 10-11 2011.... [more] Share this story

ICSA Women's National Championships day 2 commences Jennifer Mitchell, Today's racing began with the final races for the First Round Women's teams, who were competing to make it in the top nine to move on to race in the Final Round of the Sperry Top-Sider / ICSA Women's National Championships. The conditions this morning were more pleasant than yesterday.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 to stop in Sanya, China Volvo Ocean Race, Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 will make a stop in Sanya, China. This comes after the Chinese city of Sanya held a star studded press conference in Beijing this past Friday, celebrating the stopover.... [more] Share this story

End of the World report Erik Simonson, May 21'st 2011 began a day like just any other. However dire predictions of the Apocalypse rearing it's ugly head again, brought out the curiosity.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Pepe Ribes joins Telefonica Volvo Ocean Race, Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 today saw Team Telefónica announce that Spanish sailor Pepe Ribes will become a part of their crew. The upcoming VOR will be his fourth but, fifth circumnavigation after his fourth place finish in the Barcelona World Race only a few weeks ago.... [more] Share this story

Delta Lloyd Regatta - Shifty day 1 for Team Maclaren Anna Tunnicliffe, Delta Lloyd Regatta's first day resulted in a 2-2 finish for Team Maclaren after a morning of very puffy and shifty conditions.... [more] Share this story

Delta Lloyd Regatta day 1 Finn shared lead Robert Deaves, Delta Lloyd Regatta, the fifth leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup 2011 set off in dramatic style presenting a sturdy 20 knot wind that kicked up choppy waters for the Finn class on the IJsselmeer. With a first and second each Ed Wright (GBR) and Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) share the lead after day one. Greg Douglas (CAN) is third.... [more] Share this story

PredictWind demonstrates new weather routing and receiving systems Richard Gladwell, Jon Bilger of PredictWind.com demonstrated their new onboard weather and wind package along with routing functions, yesterday aboard the ORMA60 TeamVodafoneSailing. For racers or cruisers, the system offers a very cost effective solution for wind and route prediction, with relatively low-cost reception units to receive email and weather data feeds, using the Iridium network.... [more] Share this story

Delta Lloyd Regatta day one for the breeze lovers Corinne Rolland-McKenzie, Delta Lloyd Regatta 2011 is the fifth event on the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit and is following in the trend of previous European events, with quite a windy opening day.... [more] Share this story

Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race start from Southampton Heather Ewing, Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race will start from the historic maritime city of Southampton on the south coast of England on Sunday 31 July 2011. At 40,000 miles the event is the world's longest sailing race and will take the ten identical 68-foot ocean racing yachts almost a year to complete their circumnavigation of the globe.... [more] Share this story

Women's Collegiate Sailing Nationals day 1 Jennifer Mitchell, Today was the first day of racing for the final berths to the Sperry Top-Sider/ICSA Women's National Championships. Eighteen teams competed today for a spot in the top nine that will allow them to advance to the final round of competition for the Gerald C. Miller Memorial Trophy.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Capri Sailing Week's first ever Volcano Race KPMS, Rolex Capri Sailing Week's first ever Rolex Volcano Race will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) just outside the picturesque medieval town of Gaeta, Italy.... [more] Share this story

Charleston Bermuda Race leaders pickup the speed Charleston Bermuda Race, Charleston Bermuda Race's 11-boat fleet continues to make significant progress toward Bermuda; Mean while, two entries have pulled ahead during the wee hours of Sunday night and Monday morning.... [more] Share this story

Sailrocket 2 - 30 knots and a bottle of champagne Paul Larsen, It was quite a promising day today as Vestas Sailrocket 2 thrust the team effortlessly into the fridge for the 30 knot bottle of Pol Roger champagne.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Oracle Racing News - Edition 11 - Coutts at Orewa Oracle Racing Media, Oracle Racing's newsletter for 23 May 2011 covering the latest entries and America's Cup World Series and more.... [more] Share this story

Greg Elliott: From Sports boats to record holders and cruising tourers Richard Gladwell, Latterly Greg Elliott has been better known as the designer of the Elliott 6, the Womens Keelboat to be used for the 2012 Olympics. His focus on easily driven racing designs transfers well into Elliott's cruisers. 'Cruising boats to me are about safety, comfort and speed. Once you have sailed what I call the Tourer version, you'll never go back.'... [more] Share this story

New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta's booming entry list Barby MacGowan, New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta has only ever been put on hold due to war..... beginning with America's Civil War in 1861. The regatta is now in its 157th edition and is the longest-running regatta in America.... [more] Share this story

GryphonSolo2 - The sequel Joe Harris, Joe Harris has just announced his campaign on Gryphonsolo2 for the Global Solo Race 2013-14. Joe is currently competing in the Normandy Channel Race 2011.... [more] Share this story

Nations Cup North America/Caribbean Regional Final - Canadian trio win International Sailing Federation, ISAF Nations Cup North American / Caribbean Regional Final winners are Canada's Peter Wickwire and his crew of Matt Christie and Tim Bishop.... [more] Share this story

Charles River Team Race Open MIT Sailing, Eighteen teams competed in 192 races held over two days in mostly easterly 5-13 knots. The champions were determined by a semi-final and final best of three rounds.... [more] Share this story

European Access Class Championships 2011 preview David Staley, Competitors are now arriving at Circolo Vela Gargnano, on Lake Garda in Italy, for the 2011 European Access Class Championships. Teams from France, Great Britain, Switzerland and Italy will challenge the Hungarians.... [more] Share this story

Delta Lloyd Regatta next stop for Women's Match Racing teams WIMRA, The Women's Match Racing competition has seen three different winners for the three Sailing World Cup regattas so far this season.... [more] Share this story

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