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Esimit Europa 2 - Rolex Middle Sea Race 2011  © Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo

For distance-racing fans, the annual Rolex Middle Sea is always a favorite. Race veterans often describe the course as the most beautiful of any ocean challenge, and navigators and tacticians are often quick to point out the race's fickle nature. This year was no exception, with a strong line-up and plenty of tactical challenges to keep the 'brain trusts' satisfied. Igor Simcic's Esimit Europa 2 nabbed line honors with an elapsed time of 61 hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds, a feat that he also pulled off in 2010. 'We kept some land breeze longer and we stretched there,' said Esimit Europa 2's navigator, Juan Vila. 'Everyone on the boat did a good job of keeping the boat going and we probably managed to keep going with the little bit of wind that was going north. To keep the boat moving in these light airs, we knew it would be tricky - as the Rolex Middle Sea Race is - especially the first night. We thought it would be a deciding point of the race, getting by the eastern coast of Sicily and through Messina. From Stromboli it was light, but we managed to find some clouds, so we were jumping from cloud to cloud.'

Meanwhile, in the Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50, two singlehanded Classe Mini skippers have had to abandon their boats in recent days. First, Mathieu Claveau (405) hit an unidentified object, causing massive damage to his boat. In a coordinated effort between a cargo vessel and one of the race's escort boats, Claveau was safely plucked from his liferaft and brought aboard the escort boat, where he'll remain until the fleet arrives in Brazil. 'I had 10 knots of wind when it happened. I was asleep and I was awakened by a great shock,' said Claveau. 'I saw the water gushing under my kitchen board. I went down, I plunged in my hand and I felt the wood of the hull that had exploded. I think that I hit a metal object, which destroyed my hull. The boat was filled with water in an hour. I tried to bail out but I quickly realized that this was not possible and that it was completely useless. I was surprised that everyone was there so quickly. I had everything prepared to stay one or two days without help. All is fine... '

Scott Cavanough - © Bateau accompagnateur Pen Ar Clos  La Charente-Maritime /Bahia Transat 6.50

Then, Australian Scott Cavanough (79) was forced to abandon after sustaining a collision with a super tanker that resulted in 'substantial' damage to 79's bow. According to reports, race officials dispatched an escort boat to Cavanough's aide, but help was many hours away. American sailor Emma Creighton (574 Pocket Rocket selflessly answered the law of the sea and man, standing by Cavanough overnight until the cavalry arrived the next morning before re-starting her own race. Get the full story inside, and stand by for more details, as they become known.

And in another tale of an offshore drubbing, be sure to check in with the Global Ocean Race, where the main fleet of four boats has been slammed with serious conditions. 'The only way to describe the sea is the French word ‘méchante',' said Hugo Ramon (Cessna Citation). 'It's more expressive than ‘pretty bad' or ‘really messy' as the current sea state is malevolent, vicious and wicked, and is giving us hell. The boat is flying from the top of waves, throwing us around the boat in every direction and landing with such an impact that it leaves the rigging shaking and vibrating.' Get the full scoop inside.

Also inside, check out the latest inductees into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, the newest Cup media and Paul Larsen's update on his speed-sailing ventures.

And finally, be sure to check out Sail-World.com's massive media plans for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race and the 2012 Olympics—you will not be disappointed.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor

Charente-Maritime Bahia Transat 6.50 - Aussie sailor forced to abandon Sail-World.com, Australian sailor Scott Cavanough (797 - brainchild.org.au) has been forced to abandon his yacht after it suffered severe damage in a collision with a super tanker.... [more] Share this story

McConaghy's MC38 on the water - a cause for further excitement John Curnow, Around 10 months ago, we had some serious cause for excitement when the MC38 from McConaghy went from drawings to moulds. At the time, we thought that the boat would do to one design keelboat racing what the Mach 2 had done to foiling Moths.... [more] Share this story

Sail-World set for huge coverage of Volvo Ocean Race and Olympics Brendan Maxwell, The 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race starts in just over a week on 5th November in Alicante Spain. The Sail-World team is planning detailed coverage, as it will be with the Olympic newsletter series starting with Perth 2011. Between the two series there will be over eight million newsletters to our world-wide audience.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup Uncovered: Episode 13 - Bertrand on the new race format ACM, San Francisco Bay celebrates Fleet Week, United States Coast Guard chats with us about waterway traffic control and the transformation of San Francisco Bay into a perfect sailing stadium for spectators during AC World Series in 2012, Louis Vuitton Cup and AC Finals in 2013. America's Cup legend John Bertrand shares his opinion on the new race format with Regatta Director Iain Murray... [more] Share this story

Kaenon Polarized new, hand-painted sunglass styles Sail-World, Kaenon Polarized, the Newport Beach-based Lifestyle and Luxury Performance sunglass brand, announces the launch of its 2011 Anniversary Collection, in celebration of reaching its 10 year milestone as a company. The Anniversary Collection is available in November, online and through Kaenon's authorized dealer network.... [more] Share this story

Perth 2011 – a big U.S. team and a watershed for U.S. Olympic sailing Rob Kothe and the Sail-World Team, Since sailing first joined the Olympic program in 1908 the most successful sailing nation has been the United States of America, with 59 medals. At the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics the U.S. led the field with seven sailing medals, while Great Britain took home just one bronze.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race challenging for Rán KPMS, Rolex Middle Sea Race - Crossing the finish line at 1110 CEST this morning, Niklas Zennstrom's J/V 72 Rán (GBR) was the second boat to complete the 606-mile race. With Esimit Europa 2 taking line honours, Rán is dockside in Valetta having beaten Esimit Europa 2 on corrected time.... [more] Share this story

NYYC Invitational Cup 2013 dates announced New York Yacht Club, NYYC Invitational Cup 2013 - New York Yacht Club Commodore Robert C. Towse Jr. announced today that the third biennial Invitational Cup will be held September 7-14, 2013. Rolex will again be the presenting sponsor. The Invitational Cup is a regatta for yacht clubs from around the world and their sailors. It has become an important Corinthian (amateur) sailing competition.... [more] Share this story

OK Dinghy World Ranking List October 2011 Robert Deaves, It is all change at the top of the final OK Dinghy World Ranking List for 2011. Former World Champion Greg Wilcox (NZL) takes the top spot for the first time, moving up one place from the previous release after a fourth place finish at this summer's world championship in Largs.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Race - Visit Finland top in Ocean Sprint Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Visit Finland has beaten the leading Ocean Sprint time set by De Lage Landen on Sunday by covering the distance of approximately 300 miles between 90 and 95 degrees east in just 26 hours shaving an hour and ten minutes off the Dutch team's elapsed time.... [more] Share this story

World Match Racing Tour leader Williams prepares for Monsoon Cup World Match Racing Tour, Current World Match Racing Tour leader Ian Williams is leaning on past experience to keep a cool head as the series heads into the Championship decider, with just over six points separating the Brit and arch rivals Francesco Bruni and Torvar Mirsky.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race - First boats cross the finish line KPMS, Rolex Middle Sea Race - Early this morning, at 0054 CEST, the maxi Esimit Europa 2, crossed the finish line in Marsamxett Harbour, Valetta, Malta, to take the line honours win. The Slovenian maxi completed the course in an elapsed time of 61 hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds. In 2010, Esimit Europa2 was also the line honours winner, with an elapsed time of 54 hours, 52 minutes, 32 seconds.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race - Esimit Europa 2 takes line honours KPMS, The 2011 Rolex Middle Sea Race line honours were claimed by Igor Simcic's Esimit Europa 2 in 61 hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds. As Esimit Europa 2 crossed the line in Malta, the nearest yacht, Rán (GBR), was approximately 90 nautical miles behind, and was expected at the finish in Malta Tuesday afternoon.... [more] Share this story

In too deep- Behind the Race to Mackinac tragedy-U.S. SAILING comments Dawn Reiss, U.S. SAILING has now commented on this article. Before the 2011 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac race, the event had never seen a racing-related death in its 103 years. Experienced sailors Mark Morley, 51. and Suzanne Bickel, 40, both of Saginaw, Michigan, were among the 3,500 competitors. Chicago journalist Dawn Reiss researched this detailed article for six weeks... [more] Share this story

IYRS and RIMTA four part 'green education' lecture series Cynthia Goss, Rhode Island's IYRS Restoration Hall will transform into a place of green education when a four part series of evening lectures on ‘Environmental Issues Facing Sailors and the Marine World' gets underway on November 1st. The series is set to run through the middle of December.... [more] Share this story

National Sailing Hall of Fame inducts Paul Cayard Cayard Sailing, Paul Cayard was among fifteen sailing greats who were inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in San Diego during an inaugural ceremony. Having started sailing at the age of seven, Paul Cayard has become one of the best known American sailors of his time.... [more] Share this story

Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 - Forced to abandon his boat Veronique Largeau amended Sail-World.com, La Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 skipper Mathieu Claveau (405 – Okoume Les chevaux du Beal) is on board the escort boat Edulis, forced to abandon his boat at sea after a collision with an unidentified floating object last night. The unidentified floating object severely damaged his hull and also caused substantial leaks on board.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Middle Sea Race - Different scenarios for the fleet KPMS, The Rolex Middle Sea Race fleet were in the midst of two different scenarios on Monday afternoon. Reveling in the 20 knots plus breeze were the leaders who had already rounded the western tip of Sicily whilst, for a larger portion of the day, the bulk of the fleet slowly sailed in the lee along the north coast of Sicily in winds between five and ten knots.... [more] Share this story

Global Ocean Race - Horrific pounding for the main pack of Class40s Oliver Dewar, Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) - As the main group of double-handed Class40s prepare to confront the 200-mile wide centre of the high-pressure system directly to their south, the fleet leaders, BSL and Campagne de France, have crossed the 1,000 mile barrier to the Leg 1 finish line in Cape Town.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Race - Light conditions slow down leaders Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - The fleet is being compressed as a concertina effect comes into play with the back markers benefitting from stronger winds and the leaders remaining hampered by the lingering high pressure system. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Derry-Londonderry and Visit Finland, the three most north westerly boats, have all logged triple-digit 12-hour runs... [more] Share this story

AC World Series San Diego - Oracle Racing Coutts crew change Tim Jeffery, America's Cup World Series (ACWS) - Oracle Racing Coutts will contest next month's event in San Diego with a revised crew line up. Darren Bundock will take the helm at the third ACWS event whilst fellow Australian Olympic sailor Tom Slingsby also comes aboard for the first time. Russell Coutts Oracle Racing's CEO, will attend the San Diego event but won't be racing.... [more] Share this story

Volvo Ocean Race - Rule breach applications rejected Volvo Ocean Race, Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 - Two formal submissions by teams competing in the race, claiming that the race organisers had breached protocol by changing one of the strict Volvo Open 70 measurement rules, have been dismissed by an independent arbitration panel.... [more] Share this story

Puma's Volvo 70 - 'il mostro' - for sale! Marine Business-World.com, PUMA's il mostro is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. The auction started on September 30 and concluding on October 30, we will accept bids for one of the fastest VOR boats in the world. Puma's il mostro is the perfect platform for a racing owner wishing to compete in offshore racing both under handicap and as a course record breaker. Auction ends October 30th 2011... [more] Share this story

Sailrocket 2 - Waiting for the wind + short video Paul Larsen, We took the opportunity to re-skin the wing where it needed it.... [more] Share this story

U.S Sailors claim four Silver, two Bronze medals at Pan American Games Dana Paxton, The U.S. earned silver in the J/24, Lightning, Snipe and Sunfish classes. Among the U.S. silver medalists was the Lightning team of skipper Jody Lutz (Brick, N.J.) and crew Jay Lutz (Houston, Texas) and Derek Gauger (Ann Arbor, Mich.)... [more] Share this story

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