Magnetic Island, Gothenburg, Tooth Fairies and more

by Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team on 28 Aug 2015 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2015, the ninth regatta started today, who would have thought...

Spare a thought for Race Director Denis Thompson aboard the Committee Boat at the finish line off Nelly Bay- Thompson and his course officials are slumming on it on Flying Fish, a 106 foot powerboat formerly owned by Rene Rivkin.

The sailors were slumming it too today on the Cleveland Bay course, where it was blowing at 14 knots, and (sheep in the paddock as Big D calls it). It was a chilly 27 degrees but the southerners are being brave about that, especially Bob Steel aboard his new MAT 1180 Quest. Tracey Johnstone will be giving us a detailed report on the first days racing shortly.

The America's Cup, as we knew and loved it is no more, remember the magic of Newport 1984 and Fremantle 1987, it was a nation against nation battle, of national design, sailors, sail making and more.

Some say the modern event is rapidly sliding south, the sailors are hired guns, the accents aboard the Defender Team USA are mainly Australian, there might be a token Seppo sometimes, the boats are pretty much One Design, if you need design work, the Defenders will sell you a technology package, the boats can be built anywhere, the main event won’t be sailed in the Defenders waters, the venue has gone to the highest bidder and you can watch the action how?

The opinion has been ventured that with Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison's brilliant decision making, the event is now close to being an Extreme Sailing series clone, but the venues are less interesting.

This weekend the America's Cup series will be sailed in Gothenburg Sweden, but other than sailing fanatics who will care? We will have more to say on this over the weekend.

Richard Gladwell reports that a German 49er sailor has been hospitalised post Rio Test event, you can read the full story below.

Naturally we will be told that the pollution in Guanabara Bay had nothing to do with his illness. And we still should put our milk teeth under the pillow for the Tooth Fairies.

Sail-World has been talking at length to the World Health Organisation in Geneva, they make some very sensible points about the Rio pollution and we will bring you that in a feature next week.

But in the meantime remember that the British Sailing Team believes Coca Cola is the best anti-bacterial and anti-viral compound, while Victor Kovalenko says Whiskey is better. Australia is lucky to have such a wise Supercoach!!

Have a great weekend, the rain will be gone at last!!

BTW On Monday morning Sail-World be delivering live the start of the 10th Clipper Round the World Race from London.