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Team Aqua Take Victory In Virgin Gorda
Photo by Nico Martinez, www.martinezstudio.es. Click on image for photo gallery.
Peninsula Petroleum had led the RC44 Virgin Gorda Cup since day one, for the final day all they needed to do was stick with the same format; consistency and staying out of trouble. But the day didn't go to plan for the Gibraltar based team, allowing Chris Bake's Team Aqua to snatch victory on the final race of the event.
As the fleet got underway Peninsula Petroleum were given a red flag penalty off the startline of the day's opening race, putting them to the back of the fleet. Vasco Vascotto calling the shots for John Bassadone got the team back in touch with the fleet by the second beat. But a port-starboard incident with Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge, saw the Russian team head back into the dock with a gaping hole in the side of their RC44 and retire from racing.
Team Aqua have two new crew members this season, the team seem to have gelled straight away.
Peninsula Petroleum's disappointed owner, John Bassadone, summed up his team's day. "We crashed in to Gazprom Youth; we were bearing away, the main got stuck, didn't release and we went straight into them. We feel terrible for them because they had to retire and a complete disaster of a day really, especially as we were in control of the regatta with a bit of a cushion. We had a penalty at the start of that first race, got back to fourth position so everything was going well and then one big mistake and we gifted it away."
The RC44 class now move back across the Atlantic to Cascais, Portugal for the second event of the 2014 Tour from 23-27th April.
RC44 Virgin Gorda Cup Overall Fleet Race Ranking (After 12 races)
1. Team Aqua, 46 points
2. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team, 48
3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 51
4. Bombarda Racing, 57
5. Artemis Racing, 58
6. Lunajets Aleph Racing, 58
7. Katusha, 67
8. Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge, 71
9. Team Nika, 77
Glenn Ashby Is The 2014 A-Class World Champion
The final day of racing scheduled in the A Class Catamaran World Championships was basically a drifter when the crews arrived at the Takapuna Boating club this morning.
There was one race for the final day, but after waiting on the water for an hour the committee called the boats back to the beach to wait for some breeze.
As seems to be always the case, once the boats hit the beach the fingers of breeze extended towards the shore, finally allowing enough wind to convince the race committee to call for a start.
The sailors were ready and charged for the final race, with the eagerness causing more than half the fleet to be over the line early; triggering a recall. The second start saw the black flag flying, leaving no room for error.
The final race results do little to upset the leader board, and if anything go on to cement the three top racers in their podium places. The 2014 A-Class World Champion is Glenn Ashby (AUS), second is Blair Tuke (NZL) with Peter Burling (NZL) in third.
Most notable perhaps is the fact that the top four places are all members of the America's cup syndicate Emirates Team New Zealand.
This is Ashby's 8th A Class Worlds title
Provisional Results of World Championship Placings:
1. Glenn Ashby, 13 points
2. Blair Tuke, 30
3. Peter Burling, 40
4. Andrew Landenberger, 42
5. Ray Davies, 49
6. Nathan Outteridge, 53
7. Scott Andersen, 54
Race The RORC Caribbean 600 On A Volvo 70!
Do you dream of sailing a Volvo 70? The keel fully canted. Flying a huge spinnaker with six of your crewmates grinding on the pedestals in tropical sunshine. Feeling the power as the boat accelerates down a wave at 25+ knots in warm Caribbean winds...
This could be you!
Monster Project, Team Russia's boat (Kosatka) in the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race, is the only Volvo Open 70 available for charter - a unique opportunity for amateur sailors to experience these amazing racing machines!
The RORC Caribbean 600 is the headline offshore racing event in the Caribbean. With a 600 mile course around 10 islands, it's an epic race to rival the Fastnet - but much warmer!
Join us on Monster Project for our RORC Caribbean 600 program:
- Tuesday 18 through Saturday 22 February: pre-race training at Falmouth Harbour in beautiful Antigua
- Saturday 22 February: Welcome Party, Antigua Yacht Club
- Sunday 23 February: final boat preparations / rest day
- Monday 24 February: RORC Caribbean 600 starts at 1050h
- Friday 28 February: Prize-giving Ceremony, Antigua Yacht Club
Monster Project's RORC Caribbean 600 package includes:
- Race entry
- Berthing fees
- Pre-race training
- Professional Racing Skipper and Crew
- Food and bottled water during sailing
- Monster Project race clothing
- Safety equipment (loan)
- Wet-weather clothing (loan)
Can't make it to the RORC? Monster Project also operates Caribbean, UK, European and Trans-Atlantic Racing and Adventure Sailing charters for groups, corporates and individuals.
See the Calendar on our website:
www.volvo70charter.co.uk
email:
18ft Skiffs Nsw Championship, Race 4
Click on image for photo gallery.
Sydney Harbour" Gotta Love It 7's Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage gave another outstanding display in difficult conditions to easily take out Race 4 of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.
Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) won the start and crossed 7 on the first two tacks but once Gotta Love It 7 grabbed the lead the crew continually drew away from the fleet to win by 4m.
Nick Press, Dan Phillips and Dave Ewings also gave a great display to take second place in Smeg, with Andrew Chapman Mike McKensey and Ricky Bridge a further 22s back in Mojo Wine.
Coopers 62-Rag & Famish finished fourth, ahead of Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) and Sydney City Marine (David Witt).
Gotta Love It 7 heads the point total on 3, followed by Smeg on 8, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers 9, Sydney City Marine and Coopers 62-Rag & Famish on 12 and Mojo Wine on 16.
The race was sailed over the South course with all teams using their smaller #2 rigs.
Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage left immediately after the race to fly to Singapore where they will sail Pindar in the Extreme Sailing series regatta. -- Frank Quealey Australian 18 Footers League
Team Delft Challenge Dominates Inport Racing
The second inport race of the EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour 2014, the region's leading offshore yacht racing event, took place earlier today at Water Bridge, the coastal area, which connects Abu Dhabi Corniche with the sea.
A total of seven teams, including Team Abu Dhabi from the UAE who joined the Tour specifically for today's inport race, enjoyed engaging racing in extremely light winds,
Having been disqualified from their line honours position on Leg 2 following a port/starboard incident with EFG Bank (Monaco), Team Delft Challenge - TU Delft, were back with a vengeance today, winning both races from EFG Bank (Monaco).
The team of Dutch university students are sailing smart and, today demonstrated just how versatile they are in both disciplines (offshore and inport).
The teams are now preparing for Leg 3 of the EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour 2014, which start tomorrow 0700.
This leg from Abu Dhabi to Dubai is 60 nautical miles, 10 miles shorter than originally planned. Depending on the strength of the wind, and if the scheduled start time goes to plan, the estimated time of arrival in Dubai is between 1800-1900.
The 760 nautical mile course of the Tour spans over four countries from Bahrain to Oman, with eight of the region's premier marinas playing host as stopover venues during the seven legs of the course. In Dubai, teams will be based at the marina at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.
Hobie 16 Worlds
New South Wales, Australia: Australia's Gavin Colby and Josie Mark have been crowned 2014 Hobie 16 World Champions at Jervis Bay, Australia after a challenging week of racing.
Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin again took the top spot in what was a fantastic days racing for the pair as winds freshened and the boats got to stretch their legs giving the sailors some pressure for the last race of the day. Second and third were picked up by Tim Shuwalow and Nina Curtis from Sweden and Daniel Bjornholt-Christensen and Lachlan White respectively.
Gavin Colby and Josie Mark gave it their all and placed fourth. Unaware of Jerome Le Gal's BFD the pair unknowingly sealed up the event to ultimately be crowned Hobie 16 World Champions.
Full results of all divisions: hobieworlds.com/hobie16-worlds/results-2
IMX 45 For Race Charter
YRC Partners has been offering yacht charter services, both racing and cruising since 2004.
Their main offering is an IMX 45 which is based on the East Coast of the US, this boat is delivered ORC Cat 1 compliant and is ready to tackle any and all of the major distance races from the Block Island Race to the 2015 Transat.
The IMX 45 is a solid and proven winning design. IMThis is a boat truly capable of winning, as proven in the 2006 Bermuda Race when an IMX 45 "Temptress" won the highly competitive Gibbs High Lighthouse Trophy awarded to the boat with the best corrected time in the Bermuda Race and Cybele won her class in the St David Lighthouse Division.
The team at YRC Partners has worked diligently over the years to optimize all aspects of the boat's racing program. In 2008 YRC Partners engaged Evolution Sails in a sail development program. This partnership with Evolution has led to many optimizations and a current inventory of sails which maximizes the boats performance and minimizes the impact of both IRC and ORR ratings. In addition to the outstanding sail inventory YRC Partners has spared no expense in outfitting the boat, the boat is a navigators dream, and includes: B&G 3000, on board pc with 18" LCD monitor with Expedition software, a satellite telephone with 120 minutes for both voice and data, Radar, a cellular amplifier, AIS and a host of other features all designed to make this a winning platform.
Irish Sailors To Benefit From International Carding Scheme Announcement
The Irish Sports Council today announced details of the 2014 International Carding Scheme. €1.6m will be invested in 85 athletes from 15 sports providing direct financial assistance to Ireland's most talented players and athletes.
Six Providence Team IRL sailors will benefit from this scheme as follows:
Annalise Murphy - €40,000
Ryan Seaton - €20,000
Matthew McGovern - €20,000
James Espey - €12,000
John Twomey - €12,000
Ian Costelloe - €12,000
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring said "The substantial investment will support our most talented sports people who represented Ireland so well in 2012 and 2013. In addition to the direct investment, athletes will be supported by the Performance Plans of their NGBs and have access to science, medicine and lifestyle support services at the Institute of Sport".
There are 102 sailors training as part of the ISA Performance Pathway Programme starting from the junior classes through to the Olympic classes.
Newport Is In The Running
Event organizers have asked for a response to a request for information, or RFI, from local sailing officials, hinting that Newport is being considered as a host for the America's Cup race.
Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read said they have been contacted by the America's Cup event to determine if Newport is a suitable location for the prestigious yachting competition.
"We're coming into this with our eyes open." Read said. "You have to take things as they are. It's important to know if Newport fits in their vision and their mission and then we'll put our best foot forward to make sure it happens. If it doesn't, then we'll come to the conclusion that a different part of the America's Cup event could come here, like another World Series."
The effort doesn't rest on just Sail Newport. Work from the city, state, committees and "our very own smart partners within Rhode Island" are behind the effort to make Newport world-class contender in the world of sailing.
SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2014
History was made this week when the largest sail training ship in the world, Class A Tall Ship Sedov (Russia) confirmed that she would be racing in The SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2014 this spring.
Sedov will be joining three other Russian Class A ships in the race - Mir, Kruzenshtern and Nadezhda - and they will all sail and race against each other for the first time. They join over 20 other vessels in the international fleet of this spectacular event.
The event and race dates are:
Varna, Bulgaria: Wednesday 30 April to Saturday 3 May
Race 1: Novorossiysk, Russia, Friday 9 to Monday 12 May
Cruise-in-Company: Sochi, Russia, Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 May
Race 2: Constanta, Romania, Saturday 24 to Tuesday 27 May
Organised by Sail Training International, The SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta is the first of three Tall Ship race events being held this year.
Sedov, the four masted sail training barque of the University of Murmansk, Sedov, is the vessel on which the young cadets from university train to become officers, mechanics and radio specialists.
Sedov can accommodate up to 320 people on board, 75 of which are crew members. The sail training takes place during journeys of up to four months along European coasts and takes advantage of cultural and economic exchanges with the ports.
Sedov was launched in Kiel in 1921 at the Krupp shipbuilding yard.
The fall of the Wall in 1989 and the Proclamation of Independence of Latvia in 1991 influenced the fate of Sedov. She left Riga for Murmansk, her new port of registry, which assured her management and maintenance.
Sedov participates regularly in the big maritime international events and is been a regular participant in the Tall Ships' Races.
www.sailtraininginternational.org
Organisers Plan Record Fleet For Brisbane To Gladstone Race
Fifty years ago the Brisbane to Gladstone Multi-hull Yacht Race was simply an idea, yet to deliver any benefit of the organiser's concept.
A half-century on, the race reaches a very important milestone, bringing with it the biggest edition yet, organisers hoping a fleet of more than 50 boats will be on the water.
Not all of these boats will be hungrily chasing victory though, many of them will be sailing just for fun.
"There are two rallies to go with it, we are trying to get 50 boats up there for the finish," assistant organiser Jim Stubbings said.
"The rallies are not usual; this is the first time we have done it."
The addition of the rally boats, which are able to join proceedings at the official start on Moreton Bay or anywhere else along the way, is expected to dramatically increase the fleet size.
"Organisers who are not usually able to be a part are looking forward to the opportunity," Stubbings said.
"There are a lot of us who don't race.
"There are a lot of people who don't race that will rally. It costs an owner up to $5000 to race."
With extra boats on the water, the spectacle of the race is going to be as big as ever, even with a chance of a new race record.
The return of Sean Langman's Team Australia, who broke the record in 2012, will mean the pace will be on.
Garmin Etchells New South Wales Championship
The best racing of the entire series was saved for the short, but oh-so-sweet last race. It had everything. Up to 22 knots of breeze from the South, plenty of rain, significantly reduced visibility, a short little chop and if you had your eyes out of the boat a little, some wonderful vistas with mist in the surrounding hills and even a spectacularly sunny patch over Gosford. Yes. You did have to be quick or you would miss that last one though.
Final top ten (after 7 races)
1. Taylor / Jarvin / Simmer, AUS, 17 points
2. McGain / Adshead / O'Brien, AUS, 21
3. Whitnall / Brook / Elliot, AUS, 34
4. Thornburrow / Cooke / Huang / Page, HKG, 34
5. Coxon / Allanson / Gavenlock, AUS, 37
6. Bradford / Langford / McCarthy, AUS, 60
7. King / Edwards / McMahon I. Wheen, AUS, 64
8. McNeill / Gleadhill / Reffold, AUS, 75
9. Garaty / Blatchford / Boyd, AUS, 79
10. Torpy / Morrish / Robinson, AUS, 80
Full results: www.etchells.org.au
www.etchells.org.au/gosford/states/
Featured Brokerage
2008 RP 63 Mini Maxi. NSW Australia
Reichel/Pugh Yachts are pleased to announce that the 63' Mini Maxi Loki is now for sale.
Australian Registered Yacht built by McConaghy Boats in Australia and launched in 2008. Professionally maintained by her original owner and in excellent condition. Since her launch the yacht has competed in the most prestigious regattas in Australia consistently scoring top results since her launch. Her enviable trophy list includes:
Winner of the 2011 ROLEX Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and 2nd Place Overall in 2012 ROLEX Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Winner of the 2011/2012 and 2010/2011 CYCA Blue Water Point Score Championship
Winner of the 2012 Audi Sydney to Southport Yacht Race
Winner of the 2011 &2009 Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Race
Winner of the 2011 & 2009 Audi Dockland Invitational Grand Prix Division
Winner of the 2010 AUDI IRC Australian Championship
Winner of the 2010 & 2009 Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (IRC & PHS)
Winner of the 2010 AUDI Sydney Hold Coat Race
Winner of the 2010 AUDI Sydney Harbor Regatta
Winner of the 2010 AUDI Hamilton Island Race Week Grand Prix Division
Current Holder of these Regatta Course Records:
Sydney to Southport Race (384nm) 1d 2h 52m
Sydney to Newcastle Race (213nm) 15h 57m
Flinders Islet Race (92m) 7h 48m
Details: seahorsemagazine.com
Brokerage by Reichel-Pugh: or +1 619 223 2299
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
What most people don't understand is that UFOs are on a cosmic tourist route. That's why they're always seen in Arizona, Scotland, and New Mexico. Another thing to consider is that all three of those destinations are good places to play golf. So there's possibly some connection between aliens and golf. -- Alice Cooper
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html