Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

The Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Transat Jaques Vabre and the International Masters Regatta

by David Schmidt 22 Oct 2019 08:00 PDT October 22, 2019
Rambler - 2019 Rolex Middle Sea Race, day 3 © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex

Autumn's dark and wet hit the Pacific Northwest in force this past week, slamming the mountains with snow and reminding sailors why summer days are so precious in this part of the world where one pays dearly for their luxuriously long summertime sunshine come the fall, with days that drop minutes of daylight seriously fast thanks to our location at almost 48 degrees north latitude. But while this sounds ominous, the truth is that our racing season is just now getting going, with some of the year's best races coming in the weeks and months ahead. Granted, this means racing when it's even darker, wetter and colder than this past weekend, but this is somehow fitting for life in this quirky city that sits at the northwestern edge of the Lower 48.

Looking beyond the waters of Puget Sound reveals a much sunnier picture of sailing, especially if one focuses their attention on the Rolex Middle Sea Race, where George David (USA) and his all-conquering crew aboard Rambler 88 took line honours just outside of Malta's Marsamxett Harbor at 08:13:00 CEST Tuesday.

Other North American entries in this prestigious offshore contest, which is considered to have one of the world's most breathtakingly beautiful racecourses, include Mark Stevens Hinckley 51 KIVA (USA 40104), Christopher Sheehan's well-sailed and well-traveled Xp44 Warrior Won (USA 60564), and Peter and David Askew's Volvo 70 Wizard (USA 70000), the latter of which has enjoyed one heck of a winning streak this summer.

Sail-World wishes all Rolex Middle Sea Race sailors safe and fast passage to Malta.

Speaking of European offshore races, 60 boats and doublehanded teams have gathered in the French port of Le Havre for the Sunday, October 27, start of the biennial Transat Jaques Vabre, which will take the fleet from France across the Atlantic to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Teams will be competing in this prestigious offshore contest aboard Class 40s, Multi50s and IMOCA 60s. 

While the "TJV", as its known colloquially, is a primarily French and European affair, American interests will be represented by Charlie Enright, who will be sailing with co-skipper Pascal Bidegorry aboard 11th Hour Racing. Enright will be skippering the 11th Hour Racing campaign (nee Hugo Boss) in the 2021/2022 edition of The Ocean Race and is wisely using this event to gain valuable shorthanded and foiling experience aboard his team's newest whip. 

Racing begins this coming weekend, so stay tuned for more TJV news, as it becomes known.

And finally, much closer to home, the 2019 International Masters Regatta took place last weekend on the waters off of San Diego, California, and was hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club. Racing took place aboard a rotating fleet of club-supplied J/105s, and after three days of racing, Canadian Andy Roy and his teammates emerged the winners, followed by skippers Scott Harris and Chuck Sinks and their hardworking crews. 

"We didn't start off the day great, but we got our act together just in time and had a great third race," said Roy, in an official regatta release. "We knew it was time for a good start. We just had to pull it off and get off the line. We had an opportunity to get underneath out biggest competitor [Chuck Sinks] at the start line and forced them to go up high."

May the four winds blow you safely home.

David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor

Related Articles

Globe40 and La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec
A look at the Globe40 and the La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec It's always an encouraging sign when a round-the-world race begins its second edition, especially when the steeds in question are approachable boats for most serious sailors. Posted on 9 Sep
You just gotta love a good algorithm
So, I opened up YouTube, and there it was. Could not believe my luck, actually. So, I opened up YouTube, and there it was. Could not believe my luck, actually. The algorithm had coughed up something I really wanted to watch. Yes, I know it means Big Brother is watching and listening.Also, every key stroke is being recorded. Posted on 7 Sep
Carbon or Steel?
Moth Foil Evolution with Alex Adams Foils have been shrinking for years as sailors continually try to reduce drag and increase speeds, but designers were reaching the limit of what they could do with carbon, so the latest foils have turned to steel for some parts. Posted on 7 Sep
Unboxing the Bieker Moth with Kyle Stoneham
A look 'below decks' at the hidden control systems on Kyle's International Moth Why are all the ropes hidden on all the latest International Moths? It's all about aerodynamic efficiency as the boats get faster and faster. As we find out with Kyle, there are also some very clever systems under the carbon covers. Posted on 6 Sep
The Age of Steel in the Land of Rock
The International Moth class is never standing still This week the Moths have gathered in Torquay at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club for the UK Championship, and the discussion is all about steel. Posted on 3 Sep
From vision to reality
The XR 41's journey from sketch to World Champion In 2023 I took part in my first X-Yachts Gold Cup at Aarhus in Denmark. It was a glorious event, balancing fun and competition perfectly, and was a weekend where new friendships were formed with sailors who I continue to chat with regularly. Posted on 2 Sep
Why we need VMG and VMC
On The Ocean Race Europe Tracker The Ocean Race Europe Tracker has just had an update thanks to PredictWind, and now looks at routing for the boats, but it doesn't yet have VMG or VMC. Posted on 27 Aug
Sail now, and sail often
Some thoughts on capturing as much sailing time as possible I'll admit it had been too long. Way too long, if I'm being honest. Posted on 26 Aug
Yet more 'F' word
One of the enduring joys of this gig is circling back One of the enduring joys of this gig is circling back. This is no more especially so than when you get to see the plan unfold. Posted on 25 Aug
Dale Dunning on the TBird PNW Championship Regatta
Dale Dunning discusses the 2025 Thunderbird PNW Championship Regatta While there are plenty of different boats that are actively raced on Pacific Northwest waters, few designs are as regionally classic—or as regionally respected—as the “T-Bird”. Posted on 20 Aug
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMRooster 2025