Comanche sea trials, VOR, ACnews—Sailing news from the U.S. and beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 31 Oct 2014 Every so often, someone builds an all-out, make-no-bones-about-it racing yacht that stops your dead in your tracks and makes you say 'Wow!'. Jim and Kristy Clark’s new 100-foot, VPLP-Verdier designed, record-breaking monster, 'Comanche', which was just built at Hodgdon Yachts in Maine, is such a machine. The boat was built with the design briefing that she be the first boat to finish every race that she starts-provided, of course, that the weather cooperates-irrespective of what other teams turn out for the contest.

'Comanche’s' first offshore test will be this year’s Sydney to Hobart Race, which kicks off on Boxing Day (Aussie translation: December 26). Skipper Ken Read and his American-flagged team have only had a few precious sailing days to get their new steed up to speed before shipping her DownUnder in time for the December start (touch wood!), but the preliminary reports have been positive and the video downright impressive.

Inside this issue, be sure to check out the multi-media report on 'Comanche’s' sea trials, complete with mind-numbingly quick footage of the boat ripping along under full sail, and be sure to stay tuned for the latest reports on the 'Hobart', as it becomes known.

Meanwhile, the offshore action has been intense in the Volvo Ocean Race, as teams negotiate the St. Helena high, en route to Cape Town, South Africa and the end of leg one of this year’s 'VOR'. As of this writing, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing was in the pole position, followed by Team Vestas Wind and Team Brunel, but this has been changing hands as boats set up for their (eventual) turns towards Africa while also trying to dodge the speed-sucking high-pressure system.

'It’s all about how we sail around this area, which is in a direct path to our destination Cape Town,' wrote Team Vestas Wind's On Board Reporter (OBR), Brian Carlin. 'We could sail close to it and have a shorter route, we could sail further south, longer but faster. The risks are the risks, [skipper] Chris [Nicholson] and [navigator] Wouter [Verbraak] will weigh up the options in the next 48hrs and then it’s time to pull the trigger and go for it.'

The math was much the same aboard the U.S.- and Turkish-flagged 'Team Alvimedica', who were sitting in fifth place as of this writing. 'Like Icarus who flew too close to the sun, it’s tempting to cut the corner now but the fear is running out of wind,' reported Amory Ross, Team Alvimedica’s OBR. 'If you sail too close to the high you may never have the wind to get south. Stay far away to the west and your racetrack gets considerably longer, albeit far windier; you get south sooner, but have a much farther distance to sail east. We’ve opted for somewhere in the middle mostly because it leaves us with options, with the ability to hedge one way or another depending on how the High shifts.'

The next 24 hours will be important to each team’s long-term strategy as they continue to negotiate their passage around this high. Stay tuned to the website for the latest news as it unfurls over the weekend, and don’t miss Erik Simonson’s in-depth interview with Bill Erkelens, Team Alvimedica’s Chief Operating Officer, to get his pulse on this year’s VOR.

And in America’s Cup news, Paul Goodison, the Laser Gold Medalist at the Qingdao 2008 Olympics, as well as a former Melges 32 and Melges 20 World Champion, has signed on with Artemis Racing for 'AC35'. 'The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and I’m really excited to be joining Artemis Racing,' said Goodison.

'I’m fortunate to have spent a few weeks at the team base in Alameda, and what has impressed me most is the incredible work ethic and culture within the group,' continued Goodison. 'The America’s Cup finals are still almost three years away but with the buzz at the base, you would think they were next week. I took part in the team’s recent foiling camp, and it was great to be working alongside Nathan [Outteridge] and Iain [Percy] and the amazing talents here at Artemis Racing.' More, inside.

Also inside, get the latest news from the Opti Worlds, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the Severne Starboard Aloha Classic, and the upcoming U.S. Disabled Championships.

And finally, be sure to check out the impressive video footage of 'Comanche’s' blisteringly quick sea trials. Enjoy!

May the four winds blow you safely home,