Rambler 90 sends it again—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 27 May 2013 George David’s 'Rambler 90' isn’t a new boat. But check out her storied (and contemporary) race record-including the course record of 1 day, 15 hours 39 minutes and 18 seconds for the Newport Bermuda Race (set in 2012)-and you’d never know that the water-ballasted Reichel/Pugh 90 wasn’t a new build. Granted, Mr. David dedicated significant resources to maintaining and updating his impressive steed, but the mighty maxi shows no signs of slowing down, as exemplified this past weekend when she set a new course record of 13 hours, 15 minutes, 55 seconds for the 68th-annual, 186-mile Block Island Race.

Impressively, David and his star-studded crew (easily the best sailed maxi on the East Coast) managed to beat their own record, which they set aboard their much bigger, much more powerful 'Rambler 100' (the Juan K-designed supermaxi that lost her keel in the 2011 Fastnet Race). The new record is 2:27:10 quicker than 'Rambler 100’s' fastest passage, no doubt aided by strong northwesterly conditions that allowed the big boats to strut the entire length of Long Island Sound.

Also on the East Coast, the Atlantic Cup is proving to be a great experience for the eight teams that are competing in this three-leg event. Leg One took the fleet from Charleston, South Carolina to New York City, Leg Two brought the fleet further north to Newport, and Leg Three (May 25 and 26) involves inshore racing, aboard Class 40s, in Newport. 'Bodacious Dream', co-skippered by Dave Rearick and Matt Scharl won both offshore legs and-as of this writing-were also looking fast around the cans.

'There were three races [on Saturday] that produced many lead changes and a mad mix of finish placements,' reported Rearick. 'Mistakes were frequent from everyone ... so just when you thought you'd lost the race, someone else would make a mistake...and bam!-you were right back in it!' Get the full report, inside this issue.

And in One Design circles, the racecourse action was fast and furious at the Delta Lloyd Regatta, which just wrapped up in Medemblik, Holland. The U.S. posted a series of proud results, including a second-place finish in the Women’s 470 class (Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha), a fourth-place finish in the Finn Class (Caleb Paine) and a 14th-place finish in the RS:X Women’s (Farrah Hall). More, inside this issue.

Also in dinghy news but much closer to home, the ICSA/APS Team Race National Championships is taking place on Tampa Bay. Fourteen teams have gathered to compete for the prestigious Walter C. Wood Trophy. This year, teams are competing their way through a series of Round Robins that are designed to separate the fastest sailors afloat. Get the full report, inside this issue.

Also inside, don’t miss the latest news from the Women’s College Sailor of the Year Awards, get the wrap-up report from the Finn World Masters, and be sure to also check out the 52 Super Series’ Trofeo Conde de Godo.

And finally, don’t miss the great image galleries of AC72 sailing on San Francisco Bay.

May the four winds blow you safely home,