America's Cup shock, Youth Worlds, Moth and more

by Dan Ibsen, Sail-World UK editor on 22 Jul 2014 This week’s most surprising news in the sailing world is by far the decision of the Challenger of Record to withdraw from the 35th Americas Cup.

Hamilton Island Yacht Club CEO, Iain Murray told Sail-World that the decision to withdraw from the 35th America’s Cup was made only a few days ago.

'This challenge has grown to the point where the gap between the commercial side and the competitive costs' are out of HIYC’s comfort zone. The Cup campaign has grown into a far bigger cost and potential risk, with which they are not comfortable.'

'We've had a detailed assessment of the campaign, and have had expert advice from a lot of expert companies that deal in the commercial area. Even though I think the commercial feeling is very positive towards the America’s Cup, the timeline is the killer in this Cup. Sponsors want to know where the venues are, and the dates. The gap gets pretty wide trying to get the sponsors to commit against the timeline of the expenditure.'

The shocking withdrawal of the Challenger of Record for the 35th Match, is the second time in the last two America's Cups that this has happened. During the negotiation there were significant points of disagreement between then Challenger and Defender being the split venues, the media rights, costs. Those still remain plus the lack of oversight by the International Sailing Federation.

Read Sail-World Richard Gladwell’s article about the withdrawal of the Challenger of Record.

The 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship has set new grounds for the regatta with Tavira, Portugal playing host to a record number of nations and sailors as the curtain was drawn on the event at the closing ceremony.

This year’s event saw the achievements of all 367 sailors from 67 nations celebrated. Five days of intense competition saw 86 races completed with the finest youth sailors on the planet taking the honours. Spain lifted the Nations Trophy for the first time in their history as they celebrated four medals from the eight classes racing in the Algarve.

The ISAF Bengt Julin Trophy was awarded to South Africa's Brandon Wijtenburg and Todd Fisher who had demonstrated good sportsmanship, respect, graciousness, helpfulness and friendliness to their fellow competitors. This is a unique trophy which is awarded to a competitor or a National Team that has done the most to foster understanding and displaying attributes that are encouraged at the ISAF Youth Worlds.

ISAF Vice-President Nazli Imre (TUR) closed the event and handed the ISAF flag over to Langkawi, Malaysia, host venue of the 2015 ISAF Youth Worlds.

A new generation of match racers meet in Helsinki-Finland this week for the inaugural 2014 ISAF Youth Match Racing World Championship. 16 nations will be represented, with sailors all under 23 years old, and racing will be in J/80’s.

The highest ranked sailor amongst the entrants is 20-year-old Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN). At World #12 in the Open Rankings the Dane has had considerable success on the Open circuit, and he will be one of the favourites to take the honours in Helsinki.

New Zealand’s Chris Steele will come into the event buoyed having won his first ISAF Grade 2 regatta, the Chicago Match Cup qualifier, and holds World #17 at ISAF Open Rankings.

With match racing in his family’s blood Sam Gilmour (AUS) will be a fierce contender for gold at the Youth Match Racing Worlds. Gilmour is the son of four-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion, Peter Gilmour, and with older brother David a tour card holder on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour the 20-year-old also is among the favorites.

But there are many more talented young match racing sailors – so don’t be surprised if you see another winner of this first Match Racing Youth Worlds.

One of sailing’s oldest but also most beautiful and prestigious classes is gathered for the Six Metre European Championship 2014 hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth. The event opened with blazing sunshine, but not too much wind as most of Northern Europe is influenced by a large high pressure system.

The events includes spectacular racing for both the Classic Division and the Modern Division – both divisions with very close and exiting racing before the champions will be crowned at the end of this week.

Among many events, Sail-World will this week also follow Int. Moth Worlds in Hayling Islands-UK, OK Europeans at Steinhude-Germany, Bic Techno Worlds in Brest-France and more exiting sailing events all over Europe.

Stay up with the latest sailing news, as it happens, on our websites www.sail-world.com/uk and www.sail-world.com/europe

Good Sailing and enjoy a nice summer – with lots of racing and cruising.

Dan Ibsen, Sail-World UK editor
dan.ibsen@sail-world.com