Aussies everywhere —Sailing News from around the world

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, won both the Discover Ireland In-Port Race and the VOR's overall in-port racing championship  Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race©

After an exciting, nail-biting nine months of inshore and open-ocean tactical combat, the final guns have sounded in the 2011/2012 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR). This year's event saw multiple teams topping the leaderboard at different points as the fleet completed their fully crewed 'laps' of the planet.

One-time leader Telefonica—seemingly untouchable for the first portion of the race—saw their fortunes evaporate as VOR newcomer Groupama snatched away the overall win, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) and Puma Ocean Racing. The Spanish-flagged team that once looked so strong had to settle for fourth-place.

Yesterday marked the official end to racing as crews saddled up one last time for the Discover Ireland In-Port Race. Interestingly, the VOR created a separate in-shore championship, as these short-course events test sailors in ways that the offshore legs simply can't match. Skipper Ken Read's Puma Ocean Racing proved untouchable in the final in-shore sprint, besting the fleet of five other VO70s and cinching up his overall victory in the in-port series, despite yesterday's victory being his only all-out in-shore win.

The fleet split to different sides of the course, in the Discover Ireland In-Port Race, in Galway, Ireland, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race)  Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race©

'Winning anything is fun, whether it's an In-Port Race or a game of checkers,' reported Read. 'And, it's fun to compete against the best sailors in the world. We definitely waited pretty long for an In-Port win, but consistency paid off. We're really pleased, and I'm happy for the whole program – it's a great way to finish.' Australian Skipper Chris Nicholson's ETNZ finished second in the Discover Ireland In-Port Race, while skipper Iker Martinez' Telefonica squad rallied to finish in third-place.

For fans of the expensive-yet-spectacular Volvo Open 70 design (ourselves included!), yesterday was also a bittersweet moment. It represented the last time that these magnificent open-ocean thoroughbreds will compete for the VOR's prestigious trophies, as the race is moving to a One Design format for the next few editions. While the racing will be more level and the budgets far more reasonable, there's something sad about leaving behind a world of technological and design-related innovation, but—thankfully—the flipside also includes the promise of more teams, tighter competition and a lighter environmental footprint, all of which are worthy objectives. Big congratulations to all of the sailors who just completed this year's VOR, and stay tuned for updates on the next edition, as they unfurl.

Don't miss the latest news and developments from the the World Match Racing Tour Stena Cup where Aussie veteran Peter Gilmour came second, Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 (taking place in Porto, Portugal), the Lake Ontario 300, the Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2012, the upcoming Chicago Match Cup (which takes place this coming week - with WA's Keith Swinton sailing there ), and the wrap-up report from the Farr 40 North Americans, with Guido Belgiorno-Nettis's (Sydney, Australia) Transfusion team preparing for the Worlds in September.

Lots of entries flowing in for the key Queensland regattas now coming up fast!!

Airlie Beach Race Week 2012, www.airlebeachraceweek.com Audi Hamilton Island Race Week www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au and the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week. www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au (have you seen the video)

The northern action continues and later this week the 2012 Laser Radial Mens World Championship will start at RQYS. We will report from the water.

Just before the Olympics the 29er World Championship 2012 is being held at Travemunde, Germany from 22nd to 28th July and 18ft Skiff skipper/sail maker Andrew Chapman (Fisher and Paykel) will be on the start line. More on 29ers with the Australian Mid-Winter Youth Championships being sailed out of RQYS and we have regular reports.

You've probably noticed the regular flow of new products from Barz Optics the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) based Sunglass Company who is exporting their products to France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Croatia, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, USA, Brazil, Malta and Dubai. Barz Optics continues to prove they are one of the most innovative optics companies around. Well done to Kevin and his team!!

And finally look at more great photos

FANTASY 5 - Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week 2012  © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

You will have seen Carlo Borlenghi's great Sydney to Hobart photography, look at the dolphins he photographed at the Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Prix d' Elegance - Anyone can win Rob Mundle, The Prix d' Elegance is one of the many fun events at Race Week that make it so special for competitors, families and friends. It is a competition where ingenuity and creative genius are the keys to success – just dress up the crew and the yacht and you are in the running.... [more] Share this story

ISAF Youth Sailing World - Victorian teenagers ready Craig Heydon, Tom Klemens and James Oliver will be representing Australia at the 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in the 420 boy's class.... [more] Share this story

Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 Overall + Man Overboard Video Extreme Sailing Series, If the previous day's racing in Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Porto was outstanding, today's was astonishing with bigger crowds than the Series has ever witnessed. On the final day, there was an estimated 38,000 spectators (66,000 estimated over the course of the event) surrounding the Extreme Stadium on both the Porto and Gaia sides of the Douro river.... [more] Share this story

Australian Mid-Winter Youth Championship - Panther victorious David Price, The 2012 Australian Mid-Winter Youth Championship was played out over three magical days of pristine weather and strong to moderate winds on Waterloo Bay, Brisbane. The eighteen 29er youth crews from NSW, VIC, QLD and NZL revelled in the breezes ranging from 20+ to 14kts on the final day of competition with plenty of seaway to see the fleet literally flying off the water.... [more] Share this story

2012 Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous filling fast Kate Elkington, Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous has seen entries flooding in for the 2012 event, from 27 August to 2 September... [more] Share this story

Krys Ocean Race day 2 - High speed conditions Sabina Mollart-Rogerson, Krys Ocean Race Day 2 - Finding the level, whether to try and set the pace or simply stay with it; those were just some of the questions which occupied the minds of the five Krys Ocean Race skippers before they left New York, Saturday for the first ever trans-oceanic race for the exciting new one design Multihull class.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet head to Den Helder Amy Martindale, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet are on day two of race fourteen from Derry-Londonderry to Den Helder. After a spectacular visit and farewell ceremony held in Derry-Londonderry the UK City of Culture 2013, thousands of spectators flocked to wish the fleet well as it performed an impressive parade of sail on the River Foyle to mark the start of the race to the Netherlands.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: Formal Prizegiving - Racing Award winners Sail-World, The racing award winners were recognised at the formal prizegiving for the Volvo Ocean Race, at Galway, Ireland after the conclusion of the InPort race on Saturday. All six crews were presented with overall awards or place momentos. The InPort Trophy was awarded as well, the speed record trophy was also awarded.... [more] Share this story

29er World Championship - 18ft Skiff skipper Chapman never rests Frank Quealey, 29er World Championship 2012 is being held at Travemunde, Germany from 22nd to 28th July. 18ft Skiff skipper/sail maker Andrew Chapman (Fisher and Paykel) is never one to ‘rest on his laurels' with anything sailing so it's not surprising to see him take on another project during the Australian off-season.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: Formal Prizegiving - selected Award winners Sail-World, The selected awards were announced at the formal prizegiving for the Volvo Ocean Race, at Galway, Ireland after the conclusion of the InPort race on Saturday. Categories included the seamanship award, the media crew award, rookkie award and many more... [more] Share this story

Farr 40 North American Championship victory to Barking Mad + Video Farr 40 Class Association, Over the four days of racing of the Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship, held off Newport, R.I. it was anyone's guess as to who would win. The event hosted 11 teams and the bets kept going through to the last day... [more] Share this story

Australia's Smith and Clark- Second shot at Youth Sailing World titles Craig Heydon, West Australian duo Carrie Smith and Ella Clark are preparing for their second shot at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship podium after coming so close in 2011.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race: Images from the Overall Race Prizegiving in Galway Volvo Ocean Race, Franck Cammas became the first skipper to hold aloft the new Volvo Ocean Race Trophy as thousands of fans joined his Groupama sailing team for a raucous Race Village reception. There was a party atmosphere all day in Galway as people lined the docks and packed the viewing areas to see the final action of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 -- the Discover Ireland In-Port Race.... [more] Share this story

Australian Mid-Winter Youth Championships - QLD locals seize day 2 David Price, Queensland locals seized the day yesterday at the 2012 Australian Mid-Winter Youth Championships in the 29er class with a clean sweep in three races, which has placed them at the top of the scorecard leading into the final day of racing on Waterloo Bay, Brisbane.... [more] Share this story

WMRT Stena Match Cup - Bjorn Hansen victorious in Marstrand WMRT, At the Alpari World Match Racing Tour's Stena Match Cup, Swedish number one Bjorn Hansen pulled off the victory over Tour legend and four-time World Champion Peter Gilmour to lift the Stena Match Cup Sweden trophy and preserve his lead at the top of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour leaderboard.... [more] Share this story

Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 - Big crashes, McMillan escapes + Video Extreme Sailing Series, The Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 in Porto and day 3 was one of the most sensational days ever witnessed in the Series. GAC Pindar and Oman Air to retire from racing after big crashes.... [more] Share this story

Images of New York: MOD70's Prologue and Speed Trial George Bekris, Top US photographer, George Bekris provide this gallery of the MOD 70's (Multihull One Designs) from the KRYS Ocean Race. Here's his view of Prologue Race from Newport RI to New York City and the Speed trials in New York City... [more] Share this story

Farr 40 North American Championship 2012 Day 3 - New leader Farr 40 Class Association, Day Three of the 2012 Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship showed the sailors competing on 11 teams some classic Newport conditions on Rhode Island Sound. A warm southerly seabreeze settled in for the afternoon after race officials had to postpone ashore in the morning, and once again, a new leader had emerged by the end of the day.... [more] Share this story

World Match Racing Tour comes to Chicago CMRC, The top event in the 2012 US match racing season comes to Chicago July 10-15th at the Chicago Match Cup, the only US stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT). Twelve teams from eight nations will be on hand to compete for their share of the $100,000 prize money purse and the chance to further advance on the AWMRT leaderboard and earn valuable Grade WC points on the ISAF Open match race... [more] Share this story

l'Hydroptère to challenge Transpac Record Stéphanie André, Following a month long delivery trip on board a cargo ship, which left Toulon in southern France on 28 May 2012, l'Hydroptère DCNS made it safely into port in Los Angeles this Tuesday 5 July 2012. The big carbon bird will be reassembled and re-launched in the Californian port of Long Beach, where she will be on weather stand-by for her Transpacific Record attempt.... [more] Share this story

BIA Victoria Awards - Ronstan wins in two categories AIMEX, At the annual Boating Industry Association of Victoria Awards breakfast this morning, Friday 6th July 2012, AIMEX member Ronstan International were awarded winners of two award categories the ‘Marine Manufacturer of Marine Related Product 2012' and ‘International Exporter Award'.... [more] Share this story

ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships – Laser Radial fleet preview ISAF, ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships are to be held from 12th to 21st July 2012 in Dublin. Ireland's Sophie Murphy and Norway's Hermann Tomasgaard will look to use their experience to win gold. At just 18-year's old Murphy will not only bring her knowledge of her home waters to the regatta, but her big event experience, that cannot be rivalled.... [more] Share this story

Gilmour talks about the current state of match racing at Stena Cup Katie Nicoll, Sail-World interview with Peter Gilmour: Gilmour is now probably one of the most mature match racers still actively competing in the sport. He is a seven time winner of the Marstrand stop of the World Match Race Series. He has seen a lot in his many years of match racing and is excited about the new breed of sailors coming into the sport. Recently there has been a massive shift to younger people.... [more] Share this story

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