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VOR Rerouted—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond

Pirates captured by French commandos with Jean de Vienne navy ship  .. .

In a precautionary move, the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) has announced that it is re-routing Leg 2 and Leg 3 of the 2011-2012 event due to escalating fears of piracy off the coast of Somalia. 'This has been an incredibly difficult decision,' said Knut Frostad, the VOR's Chief Executive. 'We have consulted leading naval and commercial intelligence experts and their advice could not have been clearer: ‘Do not risk it.'

According to an official release, the VOR consulted with Dryad Maritime Intelligence and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Rather than risk problems—or worse—with pirates, the fleet will instead race from Cape Town, South Africa, to an 'undisclosed location'. From there, boats will be transported 'closer to Abu Dhabi', where they will sprint into the emirate. Current plans call for a reversal of this process for Leg 3, which concludes in Sanya, China.

Thus far there has been no reaction from any of the teams, but it's safe to say that a few wives/girlfriends/mothers of VOR sailors will be sleeping better tonight (and maybe even a sailor or two), given that pirates kidnapped 1,181 mariners in 2010 alone. 'The measures taken by the Volvo Ocean Race are very much in line with the advice that the International Sailing Federation has been giving for some time,' said Jerome Pels, ISAF's Secretary General. 'The ISAF strongly urges all yacht skippers intent on sailing anywhere in the area to seek an alternative, which the Volvo Ocean Race is now providing.'

While this was a prudent move for the VOR, it is a sad day when an around-the-world sailboat race has to be re-routed due to lawlessness and piracy, and the international community's failure to effectively 'manage' the problem.

223762 206073699445720 130926090293815 515408 4942724 n - Rambler 100 capsize Fastnet Rock August 2011  Nigel Millard/RNLI Baltimore

In Fastnet news, Rambler 100 has been righted and pumped (mostly) free of water, following the loss of her keel bulb in this year's Fastnet. The boat was towed to Barley Cove Bay, Ireland, a few days ago but she was only righted—sans stick and sails—yesterday. Divers have found her rig and marked its location on the seafloor; they have also been assessing the integrity of the hull before she is hauled. Be sure to check out the photos and the videos, as well as interviews with Rambler 100's owner George David and offshore legend Erle Williams, inside.

Niklas Zennström's RÁN - Rolex Fastnet Race 2011  © Rolex/Daniel Forster

Also Fastnet related, Niklas Zennström's Rán has pulled off the first pair of consecutive wins for the coveted corrected-time winner in more than 50 years. 'You may say ‘we're going to race to win', and that is really what we were going for, but also these races have so many different variables that you cannot really take into account,' said Zennström. 'The achievement of winning two back-to-backs is pretty amazing and more than we could have hoped for. After the first win—and when we started to think about this year's planning—this was the thing we had to go for.'

And Cup circles, China Team and skipper Mitch Booth have 'decided to part ways' according to a team press release. This move comes after a disappointing showing at the first America's Cup World Series event, which just wrapped up in Cascais, Portugal. Team China is expected to announce their new skipper shortly. Stay tuned.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

Piracy threat forces Volvo Ocean racers out of the water Volvo Ocean Race Media, The escalating security problem caused by piracy in the Indian Ocean has forced Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 organisers to redraw the second and third leg routes in the 39,000 nautical mile round-the-world challenge. The competing boats were due to have sailed through an East African corridor in the Indian Ocean on the second leg from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi and again in the third leg from Abu Dhabi... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race prizegiving ceremony at the Royal Citadel Trish Jenkins, The Rolex Fastnet Race completed its prizegiving ceremony at the historic Royal Citadel on Plymouth's famous Hoe. Dating back to 1660s and standing on the site of the fort built in the time of Sir Francis Drake, the Royal Citadel over the centuries has been one of Britain's most important defences and today is the base for the 29 Commando Regiment of the Royal Artillery.... [more] Share this story

RC44 Sweden Cup - Volatile day for Artemis Racing Paul Cayard, RC44 Sweden Cup - Paul Cayard of Artemis Racing reports on the ups and downs of the day: It was a wet and dreary day weather wise but there was a bit of wind and the Petter Reggio and his race committee managed to get in three good races.... [more] Share this story

Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship winner decided Thomas Capitani, After eight successful races in weather conditions ranging from clear blue skies, with four to six knot breezes, to harsh, rainy days with up to 22 knot gusts, the 2011 Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championship was finally settled today. The excitement of this last day's racing was further underlined by the fact that PRO Andreas Kuchler, following today's first race (the eighth overall), put th... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Singapore takes the lead Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - After snatching the lead from Welcome to Yorkshire earlier this morning, Singapore has been forced to revert to their secondary steering mechanism after a sheave broke on the main steering system. The team quickly set about installing the backup tiller which is mounted directly onto the top of the rudder stock and allows direct drive of the rudder.... [more] Share this story

Detroit Cup – New Zealand's Mathew Steven undefeated Luiz E. Kahl, Detroit Cup 2011 - In a day that featured a wide variety of conditions and a mid-afternoon intermission due to a passing thunderstorm, one skipper and his team stands out after eight flights of racing. Mathew Steven, one of four young teams from New Zealand at this year's event, is the only skipper to be undefeated thus far in the competition... [more] Share this story

Ida Lewis Distance Race preview Kirsten Ferguson, Ida Distance Tace starts tomorrow, Friday August 19th when the starting gun will fire for three separate starts, which will see 35 IRC, PHRF and doublehanded boats embark on one of four courses ranging from 104 – 177 nautical miles. With winds forecasted between 10-15 (Friday) and 5-8 knots (Saturday), the Race Committee expects that the smallest boat will finish before 5:00 p.m. on Saturday nigh... [more] Share this story

RC44 Sweden Cup - First day for Artemis Racing Paul Cayard, RC44 Sweden Cup's fleet racing portion is now underway. Artemis Racing's Paul Cayard updates us on the progress: Unfortunately, the wind was very fickle and only allowed for one very light wind race. There was an abundance of sunshine though which made for a pleasant day.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Big Boat Series introduces the 'Fast Forties' Class Barby MacGowan, The Rolex Big Boat Series early registration has a deadline of September 1 and the organizers at St. Francis Yacht Club have now kicked up competition a few notches with the introduction of the 'Fast Forties' Class for light displacement, asymmetrical sprit boats that range between 36 and 46 feet.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - First double win in 50 years KPMS, The Rolex Fastnet Race has for the first time in more than 50 years witnessed a back-to-back handicap winner. Following on from her victory under IRC in 2009, this afternoon the Royal Ocean Racing Club has confirmed that Niklas Zennström's Rán (GBR) is once again the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race and the prestigious Fastnet Challenge Cup.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race: Rambler owner and crew interviewed in Baltimore Southern Star, Ireland, Driving into Baltimore village on a bright and sunny Tuesday morning, it was hard to believe that the weather the day before was so gristly that the emergency services had difficulty locating the twenty-one sailors whose boat, the Rambler 100, had capsized during the Fastnet Yacht Race.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Strategic battles continue Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - With the Scoring Gate points settled yesterday afternoon - Singapore, Welcome to Yorkshire and Gold Coast Australia taking three, two and one points respectively - the strategic battles during race two are continuing as teams aim to showcase their tactical nous in the race through the Doldrums and across the Atlantic Ocean to Rio de Janeiro.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race: Capsized supermaxi Rambler righted plus Video Sail-World, The Irish Times is reporting that the capsized supermaxi, Rambler 100, owned by US businessman George David, has finally been righted in Barleycove Bay, Ireland. 'The hull was being pumped out yesterday evening before the yacht was towed into port without its mast and rigging,' says the Times. 'Seán Harrington of Atlantic Towage and Marine Ltd of Castletownbere, Co Cork, said the location of... [more] Share this story

Detroit Cup at Bayview YC begins August 18 Luiz E. Kahl, The Grand Slam Series will continue on August 18th with the Detroit Cup where twelve teams from five nations will be converging at Bayview Yacht Club. The Detroit Cup which is an ISAF Grade 2 event, will take place from August 18-21. Raced in equally-matched Ultimate 20's, the event will feature exciting one-on-one match race sailing on courses set in the Detroit River... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race fleet slows down KPMS, In the Rolex Fastnet Race, the pace was brisk for the first forty-eight hours but, has now slowed due to high pressure encroaching into the Celtic Sea and towards the south of Cornwall, just west of the finish in Plymouth. Since yesterday afternoon there have been just been five finishers... [more] Share this story

Knickerbocker Cup at Western Long Island Sound preview Andrea Watson, The Knickerbocker Cup is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to the Argo Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious match racing events on the Tour. Twelve teams from around the world have been invited to compete in this year's event. Manhasset Bay, in western Long Island Sound, will be filled with match racing from mid-morning to late afternoon.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Teams cross Scoring Gate Zoe Williamson, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - 'It has been a very action packed and fun filled 24 hours!' exclaims Singapore's skipper Ben Bowley this morning. 'After yesterday morning's position report it was clear that with some careful trimming it would be possible to make it to the Scoring Gate at the very least in third place.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Class40's head uphill for the final miles Oliver Dewar, Rolex Fastnet Race - After 72 hours of racing, the Class40 fleet face beating to the finish for the final 70 miles following a predominantly offwind leg from Fastnet Rock to the Scilly Isles. With less than 200 miles of the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Course remaining, the leading Class40 pack in the 17-boat fleet compressed even further with the lead constantly changing as the group lined-up in the Celti... [more] Share this story

Ronstan A-Class Catamaran World Championships - Australians lead Thomas Capitani, Ronstan A-Cat Worlds first race day was sunny, with a light breeze from west; shortly before the start, however, the wind died down and Principal Race Officer Andreas Kuchler wisely chose to set the postponement pennant. After a brief pause, the wind came back; this time from the south, however.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup sailors recount Rambler capsize in Rolex Fastnet Race Richard Gladwell, Sail-World, Five times round the world racer, and America's Cup sailor Erle Williams (NZL), has described the moment when the supemaxi Rambler 100, capsized soon after rounding Fastnet Rock, yesterday. A professional yachtsman, Williams is one of New Zealand's top sailors, with a long sailing career encompassing five Round the World races, and several America's Cup campaigns. Other top America's Cup sailor... [more] Share this story

WMRT Tour Card holders set to compete in Argo Group Gold Cup Talbot Wilson, The Argo Group Gold Cup will welcome all nine of the World Match Racing Tour Card Holders into the competition which is set to take place from October 4-9 at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, though they may not all race each other in the event.... [more] Share this story

US Sailing Development Team expansion Dana Paxton, U.S. Sailing has decided to make expansions in order to reflect the advancement of Olympic class sailing in the United States and to meet the increased demand from talented sailors to join the US Sailing Development Team (USSDT). US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has announced a new structure for the 2012 USSDT.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race: Rambler capsize videos, interviews and images Sail-World, Yesterday the supermaxi, Rambler 100, the fastest supermaxi in the world, and widely expected to take the monohull record for the Fastnet race, capsized. Her keel fell off soon after rounding Fastnet Rock. Although five of her crew became separated from the yacht, all 21 were rescued. Here are the latest videos of the Rambler capsize and comment... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Race - Weather forecast suggests west is best Zoe Williamson, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - This morning Gold Coast Australia has emerged from Stealth Mode to reveal that the team has chosen a more westerly route towards the Scoring Gate – whether they make a run at the gate or chose to avoid it altogether, as De Lage Landen has opted to do, only time will tell.... [more] Share this story

Volvo 70 takes Rolex Fastnet Race monohull record KPMS, While the multihull record fell last night to Maxi Banque Populaire (FRA), so earlier this morning the monohull record for the Rolex Fastnet Race was also demolished. Surprisingly the new record went to the Volvo Open 70 Abu Dhabi (UAE), skippered by double Olympic silver medallist, Ian Walker.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Roaring Forty 2 leads Class40 fleet Oliver Dewar, Rolex Fastnet Race - Over Monday night, the 17 remaining Class40's in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race fleet crossed the Celtic Sea with reports of 25 knot windspeeds and gusts up to 30 knots with a challenging sea state. By the halfway point of the 150 mile leg from Land's End to Fastnet Rock at 22:30 BST, the two BT Boats Kiwi 40FC's were still holding the lead... [more] Share this story

Rolex Fastnet Race - Rambler 100 update Trish Jenkins, Rolex Fastnet Race - At midnight, Monday 15 August, Eddie Warden Owen, Chief Executive of the Royal Ocean Racing Club received a call from Mick Harvey, Project Manager of George David's Rambler 100 (USA). Harvey spoke about the harrowing incident when the 100' Maxi Rambler 100 capsized in the Celtic Sea during the Rolex Fastnet Race... [more] Share this story

Rambler 100 drops keel and bulb in Rolex Fastnet Race - more pictures Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia, Photo of the upturned Rambler 100, distinctly missing her (carbon?) keel, and bulb... [more] Share this story

South Florida Man Nearly Achieves Bimini Challenge Goal John Bell, Bill Boes from Stuart, Florida would have completed a record-setting journey to pedal boat from Bimini across the Florida Straits to South Florida. Companions in a sailboat following Boes and his Stella Mae, a 12-foot pedal boat, decided to bring the 61-year-old aboard, thus ending the world record attempt.... [more] Share this story

Rambler 100 capsized in Fastnet - keel lost + Video www.sail-world.com, The yacht Rambler 100 has capsized between the Fastnet Rock and the Pantaenius Buoy. The Irish Coastguard services are coordinating the rescue. The Baltimore RNLI lifeboat is on the scene. Two Sikorsky helicopters have been scrambled and an Irish Naval vessel is en route to the scene of the accident... [more] Share this story

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