Olympic class sailing and Moths—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 26 Mar 2014 This week’s big sailing news comes from Europe, where the prestigious Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía regatta will be taking place in Palma de Mallorca from March 29 to April 5, attracting many of the world’s top Olympic class sailors for an important mid-quad reality check. According to reports, 882 sailors, representing 55 different nations, will be competing in Palma in one Paralympic event and ten Olympic events.

'Last year, being a Post-Olympic year we had an incredible number of entries and a high quality fleet,' said Ferran Muniesa, the regatta’s CEO. 'We could say that after the post-Olympic rest, this is the first season towards Río 2016, so we expect to see all the teams starting the Olympic campaign in Mallorca.'

160 Lasers are registered to sail in the regatta, making it the biggest single class. 'I am always buzzing to get back over to Europe this time of the year, and get back into racing against all of the best,' said Andy Maloney (NZ). 'The thing that makes the Laser Class so appealing to me is the tight racing, this is what excites me about the class and I can't wait to get back into that competitive racing.'

Get the full Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía regatta report, inside this issue, and stay tuned to the website for news from the regatta, as it unfurls.

And speaking of One Design sailing but of the foiling variety, Anthony Kotoun has won the 2014 International Moth Class U.S. National Championship, beating out a talent-studded fleet at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo, Florida. This regatta represents Kotoun’s third major Moth regatta victory in the last three months, and he shared the podium with Brad Funk, followed by Dalton Bergan.

Also, for photographers, the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award will once again be presented in 2014, so shooters are advised to start gathering their best work. This year will be the fifth year that the awards are presented, and, if 2014 proves as 'colorful' as 2013 (or 2012, 2011 or 2010), we are all in for a treat. Details inside.

Also inside, be sure to check in with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, check out the wild-ride video of a couple of 49er sailors 'savoring' a full-value pitchpole ride, and don’t miss the regatta preview report from the 35th edition of the Doublehanded Farallones race.

And finally, for anyone who loves big and powerful luxury sailing yachts, be sure to spend some time with the wrap-up report and photo gallery from the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous 2014. Enjoy!

For those people who received multiple copies of this newsletter we do apologize. We have found and squashed the bug that prevented about 80% of our newsletter readers receiving their dose of our US and World news. Normal service will now be resumed.

May the four winds blow you safely home,