Is Sailing the new Swimming?

by Rob Kothe and the Sail-World Team on 19 Nov 2012 When I was a little tacker, the expectations and reality was that the Australian Swimming Team would always perform about its weight, now that honour seems to have shifted to the Australian Sailing Team.

Australian sailors grabbed the spotlight at the 2012 Australian Institute of Sports Awards in Canberra after Olympic and World champion Tom Slingsby was named the Male Athlete of the Year by the prestigious award-giving sports body.

Australian sailing was also honoured as the Program of the Year for the third time in five years. Well done Tom, AST and YA.

We look forward to great results in the Nacra 17 Cat and 49FX in years to come, with some very talented sailors preparing programs. We trust YA is looking at just how to lift its performance in the RS: X class now that it’s back on the table.

The Australian Keelboat season is winding up; we have good coverage of the Lipton Cup, the Cabbage Tree Island Race.

The Vendee Globe drama continues with more major damage overnight.

Our America's Cup coverage continues, lots happening there.

And down in Namibia, Aussie Paul Larsen just keeps on hitting bigger and bigger numbers with his Vesta Sailrocket 2. 63.98 knots is huge on a restricted course in less than optimal conditions.

Bloody well done mate!