AC 34 Skippers Sound Off—Sailing News from the U.S. and Beyond
by David Schmidt, US Editor Sail-World.com on 9 Apr 2011
Ever wonder how Oracle Racing’s Jimmy Spithill managed to get his match-racing start, or how Dean Barker, skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand, got involved with Nexus Marine? If so, check out the videos (and, in Barker’s case, the accompanying article) in this issue. The first, an interview with Jimmy Spithill by T2P.TV's Lindsay Foster, sheds light on how this impressive young sailor thinks, whereas Richard Gladwell’s article and video considers Barker’s double life as both a professional racing skipper and a businessman with interests in the marine-electronics world.
Meanwhile, in the doublehanded, non-stop Barcelona world Race, Toño Piris and Pachi Rivero aboard Renault Z.E, have crossed the finishing line in Barcelona. Astern of Renault Z.E is Estrella Damm Sailing Team; several hundred miles back still is . Neutrogena, with American co-skipper Ryan Breymaier representing North American sailing in this fantastic race. 'We are feeling pretty good about getting back,' said Breymaier. 'We are still in good shape, we have had our share of difficulties, it is nice to be getting close, the conditions are not that bad for us at the moment, we are going upwind at the moment, we have nice waves and so it is quite easy actually.' Check out the report inside and stay tuned for more coverage as the rest of the fleet starts to converge on Barcelona.
One Design and Olympic sailing fans, be sure to check out the latest Day 5 news, we just posted from US SailingTeam AlphaGraphics members, who are competing in the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia regatta in Palma.
Offshore enthusiasts should pay attention to the list of newly named skippers for the next edition of the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race. And Cup fans, be sure to check out the story of South Korea’s first-ever America’s Cup challenge.
And lastly, if your mindset is that of 'big is better' when it comes to sailboat hardware, make sure you point your mouse to Ingrid Abery’s image galleries from the Les Voiles de St. Barth. Here, you can drool at some of the most exotic hardware afloat, being put to great use in the Caribbean. Not too bad…
May the four winds blow you safely home.
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