Of A-Cats, Hobies, Extremes and Big Waves

by Rob Kothe and the Sail-World Team on 14 Feb 2014 You've probably seen TV reports on the fierce storms that have been pounding the UK over the last two months. The fast moving Atlantic winter jetstreams have brought a succession of winter gales to the British Isles and now a rare Red Alert as winds intensify.

Remember that during the London 2012 Olympic Games, that the Australian Sailing Team adopted the Cove House Inn, Portland as their watering hole.

The Sail-World Team was amongst the thousands who celebrated Australia's three Golds and one silver at the Cove. Well this is what its looked like in recent days...

The racing action continues to get more intense at the A-Class Catamaran Worlds, which are currently taking place at Takapuna, Auckland.

Given the A-Cat’s long history as a development multihull class, it should come as little surprise to Cup fans that a disproportionate percentage of sailors racing in this event were also involved with the 34th America’s Cup and will likely be on tap for 'AC35' as well.

The Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) squad has been enjoying a great regatta with the team now commanding the top three positions on the leaderboard after a windy day three of racing that generated plenty of overnight repair jobs.

After six races, Australia’s Glenn Ashby, who served as ETNZ’s wing trimmer in AC34, is currently leading the regatta, not unsurprising considering that he has won the A Cat worlds some six times, followed by Blair Tuke (NZ) and Peter Burling (NZ).

Be sure to get the full event download from the A-Cat Worlds, inside this issue, including great photo galleries and an in-depth video interview that Sail-World’s Richard Gladwell conducted with Tuke, Burling and Davies.

More high-performance catamarans, the Extreme Sailing Series has revealed its team line-ups ahead of the first act of the 2014 season, which will take place on Singapore’s Marina Bay (February 20-23).

The Australian - Hamilton Island Yacht Club team lead by Seve Jarvin is racing as Team GAC Pindar. Jarvin is being supported by experienced Australian catamaran hands Sam Newton, part of Oracle Team USA’s America’s Cup winning crew, and Troy Tindill, who sailed with Artemis Racing in the America’s Cup World Series. The team has recruited the 2013 winning tactician from The Wave, Muscat, Ed Smyth in the transfer window, and 20-year old Alexandra South, 2013 Women’s 18-foot Skiff World Champion, to complete the team.

A seven-times 18-foot Skiff WorldChampion, Jarvin commented: 'I’m very new to multihulls but the guys I'm sailing with have a lot of experience. Our main strength is that we are a young team that are all great mates and could be coming in as the underdogs.'

The Hobie 16 class is enjoying its Worlds, which are being held on Jervis Bay.The event’s semi-finals have whittled the big fleet down to its fastest 56 teams, who will spend the next few days determining the best of the best. More, inside, and stay tuned to the website for more information, as it becomes available.