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 Inshore and offshore racing action—Sailing news from U.S. and beyond
 | | Cascais RC44 Cup 2012 © Nico Marintez / MartinezStudio.es |
Few classes can touch the sleek-looking RC44s when it comes to the integration of modern design and technology, high-speed performance off and on the breeze, and—most importantly—some semblance of international critical mass. Take, for example, the ongoing RC44 Calero Cup, which is taking place in Cascais, Portugal. Here, the fleet of 15 boats is being put through its paces in both fleet-racing and match-racing formats, with yesterday' racing involving all competitors.
 | | Cascais RC44 Cup 2012 © Nico Marintez / MartinezStudio.es |
'Today was an excellent day, the conditions were fairly stable and anything could have happened at any moment,' said Igor Lah, owner of the Slovenian-flagged Ceeref. 'In one race we came from almost last up to second or third place. Every moment mattered today so you had to be very careful with how you performed, but Michele [Ivaldi] was calling very good tactics and the crew members were excellent—it really paid off.' Get the full scoop on the RC44 Calero Cup, including a great photo spread of these powerful steeds, inside.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing Leg Five of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR), fleet leaders Groupama and Puma Ocean Racing are closing in on Cape Horn. 'We are heading towards the southern tip of South America, but not directly towards Cape Horn, since we will have to gybe several times along the coast,' reported Groupama skipper Franck Cammas.
 | | Martin Krite on the bow, preparing for a sail change, onboard Groupama Sailing Team during leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajai, Brazil. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team © /Volvo Ocean Race |
While the weather has temporarily moderated, another low-pressure system is stalking the leaders. 'If 11 days of Southern Ocean shellacking isn't enough, it appears this remote place could be saving its severest punishment for last,' reported Amory Ross, Media Crew Member aboard Puma Ocean Racing. 'A new system of low pressure is moving in, and just in time to make sure we remember how miserably malicious the weather can be in this part of the world! The forecast is calling for 30 to 40 knots – maybe more – and we'll likely be gybing down the coast of Chile on our way down to The Horn. One more pasting for the books...'
Get the full VOR report, as well as updates from other teams (both those still racing and those who have suspended racing), inside, and be sure to stay tuned to the website as the lead teams should be rounding The Horn soon.
 | | normal concup12d2-10H Rich Roberts © |
Closer to home, the 48th Congressional Cup is taking place at the Long Beach Yacht Club, in Long Beach, California, featuring plenty of aggressive on-the-water moves by crews racing identical Catalina 37s. 'I am aggressive,' said skipper Simone Ferrarese. 'We started that much with the idea of being more aggressive because Gavin [Brady] is so fast.' More about the ongoing Congressional Cup, inside.
Also One Design related, the US Sailing Team AlphaGrapics has announced that the team will be training and racing in Europe through June in preparation for this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games. 'Today marks four months until the Olympic Games begin with the Paralympic Games following a month after,' said US Sailing's High Performance Director and Head Coach, Kenneth Andreasen. 'Every competition counts toward the ultimate competition, and each is an important milestone in the Team's progress.'
And finally, get the wrap-up report from the RS:X Windsurfing Worlds, the Clipper Around the World Race, the BVI Spring Regatta and the America's Cup, where the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the agreement to host the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco from September 7 to 22, 2012.
May the four winds blow you safely home,
David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor
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