A Transat Jacques Vabre full of promise A Transat Jacques Vabre full of promise The four classes of offshore sailing boats will compete over a 4,350-mile course full of hurdles, squalls and excitement Today, at the Pavillon Champs-Elysées in Paris, they were all present, eager to head out to sea, boots and oilies ready to cross the start line on Sunday, November 5. by Transat Jacques Vabre Posted on 20 Sep Melges 20 World League enters critical stage of the season Melges 20 World League enters critical stage of the season It all started in February at the Miami Winter Series and since, 12 events scattered across Europe, Asia, North America Worldwide however, the match remains wide open with four final events left to complete - Worlds in Newport, Hayama, Zushi (both in Japan) and the opening act of the 2017-18 Miami Winter Series. With potentially 80 points still to be awarded on the international circuit, Rytov's leadership is anything but secure. by IM20CA Posted on 20 Sep Azzurra holds on to her lead in the 52 Super Series Azzurra holds on to her lead in the 52 Super Series The boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's burgee placed fourth and is holding on to her leadership in the overall This morning the TP52 fleet docked out at 9:00 from Mahon's beautiful natural port, ready to race at 11:00 to take advantage of the northerly breezes before the predicted lull as winds shifted to the south. Starting procedures began punctually in northerly breezes at about 12 knots that died down to about 7-8 during the race. by Azzurra Posted on 20 Sep Young Vendee2020Vision sailors take on British Record Young Vendee2020Vision sailors take on British Record The record held by Phil Sharp stands at three days, 11 hours, 52 minutes, 15 seconds at an average speed of 7.39 knots. The team who will be racing onboard the Open 60 Artemis Ocean Racing are currently waiting for an optimum weather window for this iconic 620 nm British course. The team sails along the English and Welsh coastline west about up to Pentland Firth on the north coast of Scotland, the final marker before the finish line off John O’Groats. by Vendee2020Vision Posted on 20 Sep IKA KiteFoil GoldCup World Series – Axel Mazella nearly untouchable IKA KiteFoil GoldCup World Series – Axel Mazella nearly untouchable Mazella racked up an incredible eight bullets from nine races, picking up where he had left off a few days earlier In the women’s division—racing among the mixed fleet of 21 riders from 13 nations—Russia’s Elena Kalinina was battling with Alexia Fancelli (FRA) and for the most part seemed to have he measure of the Frenchwoman, though their races were hard fought. by IKA Posted on 20 Sep 52 Super Series Sailing Week – Staying on the emotional rollercoaster 52 Super Series Sailing Week – Staying on the emotional rollercoaster Quantum Racing made an excellent start, but were caught out on the last run when they, and Azzurra sailed into a hole. The German-flagged Platoon, with John Kostecki calling tactics, clawed two points back against the circuit leaders Azzurra, and opened five points more on Quantum Racing. by 52 Super Series Posted on 20 Sep TP52 Super Series Mahon – Race 2 images gallery by Max Ranchi TP52 Super Series Mahon – Race 2 images gallery by Max Ranchi Max Ranchi provided this gallery of images from race two Max Ranchi provided this gallery of images from race two by Max Ranchi Posted on 20 Sep GKA Kite-Surf World Tour – The final wrap-up from Mauritius GKA Kite-Surf World Tour – The final wrap-up from Mauritius The tussle for the top spots promised an epic end but, before that could happen, there was a huge field of competitors Kevin wasn’t the only Langeree making his GKA debut in Mauritius. His sister Jalou was among the 19 riders registered for the women’s division alongside some high-calibre riders in the form of last year’s event winner and local shredder Ninja-Maria Bichler, 2016 Dakhla champ Milla Ferreira, Hawaiian regular-footer Moona Whyte and former multiple-freestyle world champion Gisela Pulido. by Matt Pearce Posted on 20 Sep Clipper World Yacht Race – Day 31 – Wind returns for final push Clipper World Yacht Race – Day 31 – Wind returns for final push After a frustrating 24 hours languishing in a wind hole off the southern coast, most of the fleet is on the move again. Minus any mishap, Sanya Serenity Coast is the favourite to take line honours, and currently has a lead of around 80nM (nautical miles) on second-placed PSP Logistics, and around 100nM on Great Britain in third. But, there is a stiff challenge for the overall Atlantic Trade Winds Leg one win forming in the shape of Greenings. by The Clipper Race Posted on 20 Sep J24 World Championships – Day 1 images gallery by Christopher Howell J24 World Championships – Day 1 images gallery by Christopher Howell Christopher Howell provided this gallery of images from day one Christopher Howell provided this gallery of images from day one by Christopher Howell Posted on 20 Sep Gladwell's Line - More from la Stampa...and from (la) Taipa Gladwell's Line - More from la Stampa...and from (la) Taipa More leaks from Italy overnight on what the Protocol and Class Rule could look like for the 36th America's Cup More leaks from Italy Monday night on what the Protocol and Class Rule could look like for the 36th America's Cup. All the running is coming out of Italy - mostly from Turin based newspaper La Stampa, which seems to have the hotline to the key players who reveal a few snippets about what is in the agreed, but yet to be announced documents for the Protocol and Class Rule. by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZ Posted on 20 Sep Azzurra wins the first race in 52 Super Series Sailing Week Menorca Azzurra wins the first race in 52 Super Series Sailing Week Menorca There were two windward-leeward races scheduled today, but shifty unstable northerly winds forced to abandon the second. Azzurra started on the left, third from the pin, fast and perfectly on time. While the rest of the fleet was compact, Azzurra was free and skipper Guillermo Parada to helm powerfully through the waves that were up to three meters. by Azzurra Posted on 19 Sep Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship – Bella Mente Racing wraps campaign Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship – Bella Mente Racing wraps campaign The regatta started off on a high note for Bella Mente, with the team playing the light winds and shifts to their favor Bella Mente closed the gap between the leading boats significantly on the final day when it finished first and second in the last two races, finishing in third place overall – less than two points behind Momo in first place and less than one point behind Proteus in second place. by Kirsten Ferguson Posted on 19 Sep 52 Super Series Sailing Week Menorca – One step closer? 52 Super Series Sailing Week Menorca – One step closer? A complicated, challenging weather situation resulted in just one race being sailed on the opening day season decider Big, bumpy, leftover seas were out of proportion to the 10-12kt N’ly winds that swung around in direction, and rose, and fell in strength. Race Officer Maria Torrijo and her team achieved one good, solid race before the winds became too unstable for a second contest, and the 11-boat fleet was returned to shore. by 52 Super Series Posted on 19 Sep Laser Standard Men's World Championships – Day 6 Laser Standard Men's World Championships – Day 6 Although there was no racing, the bonus was that celebrations could begin straight away for 27-year-old Pavlos Kontides The islands around Split were reporting various wind directions after the storm and significantly, the forecasted north westerly had not developed by the 14:00, the latest launching time to achieve a start before the final warning signal cut off. At the final start time, there was zero wind. by Katie Olsen Posted on 19 Sep High-octane racing on Day 1 of TwinTip-Racing World Championships High-octane racing on Day 1 of TwinTip-Racing World Championships In no time at all, on the day one of five, the leading women were scrapping for any small advantage in the intense races The East China Sea served up flat water and a steady breeze of 11kts to 13kts in the large sheltered bay to kick off the action in the sixth successive edition of China International Kiteboarding Festival. by IKA Posted on 19 Sep RS:X World Windsurfing Championship – Day 2 – Simplicity and stability RS:X World Windsurfing Championship – Day 2 – Simplicity and stability Today would be a day for simplicity and stability for all of the sailors aiming to keep their championship hopes alive. In both the men’s and women’s fleet, the overnight scorecard showed that a limited number of competitors actually mastered the conditions and the variables from the opening day. It could be that some nerves were showing and reigning double Olympic champion, Dorian van Rijsselberghe was potentially guilty of this with a mixed scoreline. by Bas Edmonds / RS:X Class Posted on 19 Sep TP52 Super Series Mahon – Race 1 images gallery by Max Ranchi TP52 Super Series Mahon – Race 1 images gallery by Max Ranchi Max Ranchi provided this gallery of images from race one Max Ranchi provided this gallery of images from race one by Max Ranchi Posted on 19 Sep Registration open for The Hague Offshore Sailing Worlds 2018 Registration open for The Hague Offshore Sailing Worlds 2018 Offshore racing will be competed in three classes on different types of yachts between nine and 20 meters in length. Everything is measured for each boat's handicap ratings: the crew, the sails, the boat above and below the waterline. Using these measurements and clever hi-tech models will give each racing yacht ratings to help equalize the competition among unlike boats. by ORC Media Posted on 19 Sep Excitement mounts for The Nations Trophy Excitement mounts for The Nations Trophy A formidable fleet of ClubSwan 50s, Swan 45s and ClubSwan 42s is ready to descend upon Mallorca and the host club Italy, with seven entries across all three classes, has the greatest spread of competing boats. Germany, by contrast, has four entries in just two classes – but two of those entries, the ClubSwan 50 Earlybird and the Swan 45 Elena Nova, come with impressive winning credentials. by Event Media Posted on 19 Sep