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Eye Candy—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond

J Class Regatta 2011 Day 1 by George Bekris (9 of 68)-010  George Bekris

One of sailing's greatest powers is its ability to stop people dead in their tracks with its sheer beauty: perfect lines plying crisp, clean waters, using the elements and a bit of clever thinking to yield some truly breathtaking scenes.
I'll admit upfront that I'm a sucker for J-Class boats. Really, how can you not love them? With lines that can melt a heart of stone, football fields of cloth, spars that seem to stretch to the moon and a grace that's impossible to touch—friends, there is nothing wrong with the sight of one of these majestic yachts under full sail.

For the fortunate few who are racing in the Newport J Class Regatta—that would be the boys on Velsheda and Endeavour—Karma will catch you in the next life. For the rest of us cyber-wed sods, George Bekris's spectacular image gallery, in this issue, will more than suffice, as the yachts—and Narragansett Bay—certainly put on a wonderful show.

FRANCE, Marseille. 16th June 2011. AUDI MedCup Marseille Trophy. - Audi MedCup - 2011 - Marseille - Day 3  Ian Roman/Audi MedCup ©

Also taking place right now is the Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy, the second of the five Audi MedCup events. While you'll have to excuse the abrupt jump from wood to carbon-fiber, Ian Roman's images from this event do a great job in presenting another of sailing's myriad faces: hyper-fast, state-of-the-art racing shells that use the latest in carbon-fiber and computer-designed technology to win pickle dishes. While it remains to be seen if future sailing writers will pontificate lovingly about the aesthetic qualities of carbon the way that so many people dote upon wood, there's little denying that technology and time have dramatically improved sailing efficiency.

Meanwhile, on sailing's grander stage, the eight (you read that number correctly) teams that are competing in the 34th America's Cup recently gathered for a press conference in San Francisco, officially confirming the whispers of a 'sub-ten' AC34 that have been flying around for months. [NOTE: a ninth team will announce their campaign on June 23 in Europe.]

And as Jeraldine Kennedy reports today for Sail-World.com, the Australians believe they have overcome their funding hiccup and will be on the park for the AC45 Round in San Deigo.

While the numbers are smaller than Oracle and everyone else involved had hoped for, this is to be expected, given the economy, the number of changes to the AC status quo, as well as the associated costs of developing the new class of winged-beasts.

While the later issue has been addressed by allowing teams to participate in tiers, with the America's Cup World Series no longer tied directly the Cup, only time will tell if these changes are here to stay. 'In every sense of the word, the America's Cup is reinventing itself, from our cutting-edge boats to breakthrough sporting technology to our visual identity,' said Richard Worth, Chairman, America's Cup Event Authority. 'Everything about this new America's Cup is designed around transforming the sport.' Be sure to read the full story inside.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

America's Cup: AC45's - Redefining the 'Dolly Ride'.. Kimball Livingstone, San Francisco based sailing journalist, Kimball Livingstone is a passionate follower of things America's Cup. Seeing the AC45's sailing on San Francisco Bay is a small slice of heaven, and sailing on one is probably as good as it gets.. Here's Kimball's take on his Big Day Out. I have to tell it to you backwards. It went like this . . .... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Aboard the AC45 - Still pinching myself.. Michelle Slade, It was my turn to clamber aboard the 45, I got a quick introduction to the guys on Coutts 5 - Dirk 'Cheese' de Ridder, Matt Mason, Phillipe Presti, Simon Daubney and Jonno Macbeth - before being shown my spot behind the aft crossbeam. The only instruction: hold onto to the piece of yellow rubber hosing fixed on the crossbeam. And we shot off on a reach... [more] Share this story

Stunning day of J Class racing in Newport, Rhode Island Ben Stack, A fantastic day of racing was watched by the thousands of spectators who took to the waters to see Ranger and Velsheda battle in the near perfect conditions of Newport Harbour - 16 knots southerly with sunshine. The two yachts circled and manoeuvred for the best position to cross the start line, laid across the bay from Fort Adams. Both got away cleanly but RANGER quickly got the advantage... [more] Share this story

Paperwork hiccup overcome for Australian America's Cup Challenge Jeraldine Kennedy, Sail-World.com, A dramatic turn of events in the last few days when the list of challengers announced at a press conference in the host city of San Francisco included two teams from France plus representatives from China, Italy, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden and the United States but no Australian Team.... [more] Share this story

Giraglia Rolex Cup 2011 - Impressive line up KPMS, Giraglia Rolex Cup 2011: There are 194 entrants for the offshore race; 20 countries and territories in attendance; around 2,200 competitors; numerous, challenging hours at sea; 18 hours 3 minutes 15 seconds the line honours record to beat; Esimit Europa 2 (SLO), the largest yacht on the roster at 30.5-metres/100-feet and the Vismara 34 Manida (ITA), one of the smallest.... [more] Share this story

Coastal Cup 2011 day two - Division D departs San Francisco Erik Simonson, Costal Cup 2011 Divison D departed San Francisco today much as the fleets in division A and C did yesterday, seeking relief from the maxing flood by hugging the South Tower of the Golden Gate, hugging the San Francisco coast and attempting to eek out past Seal Rocks and into favorable current and wind.... [more] Share this story

Audi MedCup Circuit Marseille Trophy keeps tacticians on their toes Sabina Mollart-Rogerson, Audi MedCup Circuit's Marseille Trophy 2011 - Marseille's Rade Sud has kept the tacticians on their toes over the first two days of the event and today will almost certainly be the same.... [more] Share this story

Bonaire PWA World Cup 2011 day five freestyle frenzy PWA, Bonaire PWA World Cup 2011 fifth and final day of competition erupted into a freestyle frenzy, as the sailors brought everything they had to the table in an attempt to progress through the double elimination.... [more] Share this story

Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series 2011 at Porto Cervo preview Justin Chisholm, Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series 2011 - A top quality international fleet, comprising 19 teams from six countries (ITA, CZE, GBR, NED, USA, FRA), has gathered at the YCCS on the eve of the third leg of the Series.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race China's Team Sanya skipper announced Volvo Ocean Race and Sail-World, China launched its first ever sole entry in the Volvo Ocean Race today and announced New Zealander Mike Sanderson as skipper. 'This is a fantastic opportunity to race under the flag of such a great country and culture,' said Sanderson today at the Team Sanya launch in central Beijing.... [more] Share this story

Finn World Masters 2011 day four new leader Robert Deaves, Finn World Masters 2011 taking place in Punta Ala, Italy, saw lighter winds on day four with numerous new faces coming to the front of the fleet.... [more] Share this story

Newport J Class Regatta – Thursday 16th June Ben Stack, Ranger locked out Velsheda at the start of the first race of the Newport J Class Regatta with a stunning textbook manoeuvre. Both boats lined up in perfect conditions - 16 knots northerly and sunny - to give them a beat away from the spectator start area off Fort Adams and up into the harbour under the famous Newport Bridge.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Inside Wednesday's Media Conference Michelle Slade, San Francisco based sailing journalist, Michelle Slade, was at the Media Conference held in the San Francisco Ferry Building on Wednesday. It was too difficult for ACEA to put on a phone line for the international media to listen in to proceedings. Here's Michelle's take on the day:... [more] Share this story

Images from Marseille: Audio MedCup - Day 2 Ian Roman, Top international photographer, Ian Roman presents this gallery of images from Day2 of the Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy... [more] Share this story

Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy day two rollercoaster Sabina Mollart-Rogerson, The Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy day two started off with light winds and no shortage of variety for the 52 fleet as the were able to sail on each of Marseille's main courses.... [more] Share this story

Sailing World Cup 2011 titles on the line in Kiel ISAF, The ISAF Sailing World Cup 2011 titles will be decided in Kiel, Germany. The 2010-2011 series has already seen excellent competition as sailors prepare for the London 2012 Olympics to be held in Weymouth and Portland, Great Britain.... [more] Share this story

Finn World Masters 2011 day 3 head to head Robert Deaves, Finn World Masters 2011 being held in Punta Ala, Italy from 10th to 17th June has attracted more than 300 entries from 28 nations worldwide... [more] Share this story

Audi MedCup Circuit 2011 Marseille Trophy Day 2 on the Rade Nord Audi MedCup, Audi MedCup Circuit 2011 Marseille Trophy Day 2 is the second day of racing for the 52 Series and the first day for the 40 Series. Another day of light winds is expected as the Audi MedCup Circuit is due to race on the northern race course, the Rade Nord, today.... [more] Share this story

Images of Newport: The J's George Bekris, Top US photographer George Bekris is at the J class regatta in Newport, RI and provides this gallery of images of these spectacular classic yachts.... [more] Share this story

Team Intac competes at U.S. Nationals, brings home more hardware Robert Jennings, Virgin Islands sailors continue to make a name for themselves in international sailing, with Team Intac returning from a successful challenge at the 2011 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship at the American Yacht Club in Rye, NY on June 10 – 12. Team Intac skippered by Mark Plaxton successfully sailed to an impressive second place overall finish.... [more] Share this story

Mark Foy Trophy 2011 to Winning and Yandoo Frank Quealey, The Mark Foy Trophy 2011 has seen the crew of Yandoo take the win with ‘Woody' being regarded in Australian 18 Footer Sailing circles as the ‘modern day Mark Foy' due to his achievements in prospering the present fleet and the introduction of the 3-Buoys handicap system.... [more] Share this story

Newport J Class Regatta - Report No.1 Ben Stack, Two of the most competitive yachts in the world are coming together for the first race of the Newport J Class Regatta, R.I. USA - a series of five races from 15-19 June. The yachts, their entourage of support boats, containers and Crew have been arriving over the last few weeks in preparation for this event: bringing the famous J Class yachts back to sail on Newport waters.... [more] Share this story

Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy slender lead to Quantum Racing Sabina Mollart-Rogerson, Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy 2011's race area opened for the day with two light wind windward-leeward races that were punctuated by delays waiting for the breezes to settle.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Reduced line-up revealed for 34th America's Cup America's Cup Media, Teams representing China, France (with two teams), Italy, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Sweden and USA made their first appearance together in the host city of the 2013 America's Cup at a press conference where organizers introduced the line-up. The ninth team will be announced at a press conference on June 23rd in Europe.... [more] Share this story

Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 Boston Extreme Sailing Series, Extreme Sailing Series is now heading to Fan Pier located in Boston in the United States for Act 4. This will be the very first time the circuit has staged an official event in the U.S... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Eight teams announced in San Francisco for 34th Match Richard Gladwell, America's Cup organisers have announced a line up of eight teams for the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco. The numbers are well down on the 15 teams who initially entered by the entry close date of the 31st March.... [more] Share this story

Finn World Masters 2011 Day 2: Drama in the Blue Fleet Robert Deaves, Finn World Masters 2011 Day 2 conditions continued to be perfect with eight more heats across two courses. Both Allen Burrell (GBR) and Michael Maier (CZE) keep their perfect scores, winning both their heats, while Uli Breuer (GER) stays in third after another first and second.... [more] Share this story

Sunfish Youth Worlds 2011 victory to Jean-Paul Tranzegnies Jorge Barreda, Sunfish Youth World Championships have been decided with Jean-Paul de Trazegnies (PER) grabbing the title in the final race by a margin of one point over Kevin van Otterdijk (AHO) in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Oracle Racing News - Edition 14- Drama Day Oracle Racing Media, Oracle Racing's newsletter for 14 June 2011 covering the Media Day in San Francisco and more.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Russell Coutts reflects on AC45's + new Video Bernie Wilson, AP, Bernie Wilson, long time America's Cup correspondent for the Associated Press reports on yesterday's drama on San Francisco Bay: Said Coutts, a 49-year-old New Zealander: 'Sometimes it helps to be a little younger, you know. You've got to get to the point of finding the edge and not going over the edge, and sometimes you're going to go over the edge....... [more] Share this story

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