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Local Hero Hazwan Socks It To Swinton
Johore Bahru, Malaysia: Fans of the Monsoon Cup didn't have to wait long for the first major upset of the regatta, when in Match 1 of Flight 1 in Qualifying, local sailor Hazwan Dermawan beat Australia's Keith Swinton on Malaysian home waters.
The last time the 27-year-old amateur managed to qualify for the Monsoon Cup was 2009, yet Hazwan showed no fear as he overtook Swinton on the downwind leg when he found more wind to the left of the Aussie boat.
A look back through the history books reveals that it was 2006 when a Malaysian skipper last took a match at the Monsoon Cup, with Tiffany Koo beating another local team from Singapore. But Hazwan's win comes against one of the best in the world.
It was a short day on the water after the good wind of the morning was swept away by a brief rain squall during lunch, leaving only the lightest and most fickle of breeze for the afternoon matches.
To watch the racing live online via livestream.com/worldmrt, tune in tomorrow at 1000 hours Malaysian local time.
After four flights:
Taylor Canfield, 4 - 0
Björn Hansen, 3 - 0
Ian Williams, 3 - 0
Phil Robertson , 2 - 1
Johnie Berntsson , 2 - 1
Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, 1 - 2
Joachim Aschenbrenner, 2 - 2
Eric Monnin, 1 - 2
Keith Swinton, 1 - 2
Reuben Corbett, 0 - 3
Nicolai Sehested, 0 - 3
Maximilian Soh, 0 - 3
For the latest standings and scores on the Monsoon Cup - wmrt.com
World Cup Miami
Sailors opening their curtains in Miami this morning would have been welcomed by a pleasant breeze that was enough to put a grin on their faces.
Upon arriving at the venues of Sailing World Cup Miami presented by Sunbrella their grins were to turn into a smile as a 14 knot south eastern breeze whipped its way around Biscayne Bay.
Predicted to hold throughout the day, the breeze was unable to sustain its tempo, dropping early afternoon and in the words of Australia's Jason Waterhouse it was a day to 'have your head on a screw.'
In the end, only the 49er, Laser and Paralympic fleets completed their full schedule of racing for the day with the remainder either completing three, two, one or in the RS:X Women and Finn fleets case, no races.
Racing resumes on Wednesday 27 January at 10:00 local time. The Laser, Laser Radial and 49er will complete their qualification series and many of the fleets will be looking to catch up on races lost over two challenging days. -- Daniel Smith and Stuart Streuli, Sailing World Cup Miami
Live Tracking
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking. Live tracking will be available when racing commences
Dubarry Crosshaven - 'Race Face' Protection
It's pitch-black. We're on the wind halfway across the Irish Sea, heading for 'The Rock' in a Force 6 - and it's building. On the rail we might look like a troop of Japanese snow monkeys on valium but we've huddled into something like comfort when skip calls the headsail change we've been dreading for the last five minutes. Three minutes later I'm clipped on with my feet on the leeward toerail with an armful of changed foresail when a wave engulfs the foredeck. The water clears and I'm still onboard thanks to the combined efforts of my tether and the stanchion lodged in my crotch. Lucky me.
Sail change over I'm back on the rail but my feet are cold and wet and my enthusiasm for this caper ebbs quickly away, unlike the sea water - the boots were still wet a week after the finish in Plymouth. It's 1989 and, though the stylishly weathered Shamrock boot is much in evidence, the Crosshaven is but a dream. Had I been wearing Crosshavens, the gaiter and drawstring would have kept my feet dry and my race face on. Funny how something so simple can be so incredibly effective.
Dubarry Crosshaven - Born at sea
Ex- World Sailing CEO: I Was Fired For Trying To Move Rio Event
The former CEO of World Sailing says he was fired for pushing to get rid of polluted Guanabara Bay as the sailing venue of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Peter Sowrey tried to change the venue, or at least have a "B plan" but says "I was told to gag myself on the subject."
Sowrey proposed moving the event to Buzios, a coastal resort about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Rio that has been host to large sailing events. Of course, it's too late now for that change.
"The board felt I was way too aggressive," Sowrey said. "They basically voted me out. I didn't resign. The board finally told me to leave."
Sowrey said looking at Guanabara Bay on "fact-based, data-driven models we would never consider sailing in that quality of water."
Associated Press: bigstory.ap.org
Clipper Race: Great Britain Leads Charge Through Scoring Gate
The chase is on in the Da Nang New Discovery of Asia Race, with the Scoring Gate behind them, the next big focus for the teams is crossing the Equator and getting themselves positioned to pick up the Trade Winds, which will ease their journey past the Philippines and propel them towards the race finish, some 3000 nautical miles away.
Having been among the first of the fleet to clear the Doldrums, GREAT Britain, Derry~Londonderry~Doire, Qingdao and LMAX Exchange, all charged for the Scoring Gate yesterday, each vying for the bonus points on offer.
It was GREAT Britain that made it through the gate first at 1642 UTC.
Pending verification by the Race Office upon arrival into Vietnam, GREAT Britain will be awarded the maximum three points, Derry~Londonderry~Doire will receive two points for crossing in second place at 1740 UTC and Qingdao earns the remaining points for being third at 1901 UTC.
Those three remain the most northerly teams in the fleet, although being furthest east of the rhumb line, Qingdao is showing in tenth place because of its distance to finish.
With the front ten boats spread over a 40nM radius, frustrations continue for Visit Seattle and Mission Performance in eleventh and twelfth place, as they are still stuck in the Doldrums off New Ireland (Papa New Guinea), and now almost 100 nautical miles behind the rest of the pack. However, the pair have picked up speed and if the band of light wind forecast up ahead causes the rest of the fleet to slow down and concertina, it could allow the back two boats to narrow the distance.
In a few hours the teams will begin to cross the Equator and pay homage to King Neptune.
Race viewer:
clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings
SMA IMOCA Round The World Yacht Ready To Depart Kinsale
The SMA 60 recovered 100 miles off the Irish coast three weeks ago has been undergoing repairs afloat in the County Cork harbour of Kinsale. The team have been making the round the world yacht seaworthy again and despite of damage to its mechanical propulsion system, the 60–footer is ready to sail again with a new sail wardrobe.
Since Paul Meilhat was airlifted off SMA on 15th December, during the transatlantic Race in which Ireland's Enda O'Coineen finished third, the IMOCA class yacht drifted up from the Azores to Ireland over the past twenty days, during which the SMA team attempted several recovery operations, in spite of some horrendous weather.
The French led recovery crew plan to depart Kinsale for the French port of Port La Forêt next week.
Beaufort Cup Announced As Part Of Volvo Cork Week 2016
The inaugural Beaufort Cup will take place this July hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, Co Cork, Ireland, as part of the highly successful Volvo Cork Week.
The Beaufort Cup invites sailing teams from their associated national services, 50% of each team must be active in the service they represent. Racing will take place over five days in a mix of challenging offshore and tactical inshore racing. Teams will get the chance to enjoy the renowned social experience of Volvo Cork Week and the winning team will also have €10,000 donated to a nominated charity of their choice while the winner will also be eligible for the 'Boat of the Week' prize at Volvo Cork Week 2016.
The inaugural event, hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, will truly be a historic occasion and the Irish Defence Forces are delighted to have the opportunity to support, and compete, in the Beaufort Cup. The Irish Naval Service Headquarters is located in the heart of Cork Harbour and will play a strong supportive role in the event.
The Royal Cork Yacht Club, supported by the Irish Defence Forces, invites services from Ireland, Europe, and further afield, to compete for the Trophy.
Team Terrillon Avocats Joins Forces With Gwen Riou For The Tour Voile
This July, Gwen Riou will fly the flag of "Team Terrillon Avocats" at the start of the Tour de France a la Voile 2016, a team supported by Mr Patrick Terrillon, a great sailing buff. The 38-year old Breton skipper, with a background sailing prestigious monohull and multihull on an international scale (Volvo Open 70, Maxi, Imoca 60 and Multi50 among others), is returning to the 39th edition of the Tour de France a la Voile, a legendary race organised by ASO, with a crew made up of seasoned athletes and supported by Patrick Terrillon in the role of partner.
100 Days To The Start Of The Transat
In just under 100 days time, a growing fleet of first-class ocean racers and fearless adventurers will set sail on the world's oldest solo transatlantic race from Plymouth to New York - The Transat.
This year's race has attracted a star-studded line up of offshore greats, from the likes of Vendee Globe competitors Sebastien Josse and Armel Le Cleac'h in the IMOCA60, to Transat Jacques Vabre winner Erwan Le Roux and Route du Rhum winner Thomas Coville on the flying multihulls and seasoned offshore competitors Miranda Merron and Thibaut Vauchel in the Class40.
The Transat is a nostalgic race steeped in history, full of adventure and touched upon by tragedy. Established in 1960 by Sir Francis Chichester and Blondie Hasler, Hasler's legendary vision for the race is still as relevant today as it was then - The Transat is about "one man, one boat, one ocean."
But while the principle behind the race remains the same, a new generation of ocean racing machines sees a classic reborn in 2016. Giant Ultimes, flying Multi50s, powerful IMOCA60s and hardy Class40s, helmed by some of the world's finest solo sailors, could make for one of the fastest crossings yet.
The Transat boasts an international fleet of almost 30 boats including three Ultimes, five Multi 50s, seven IMOCA 60s, 11 Class40s, two female skippers, two Brits, 21 French entries, one German and The Transat's first Japanese entry.
Entries for the 2016 Transat are open until 31st January.
Yachtsmen Receive Australia Day Honours
Two prominent yachtsmen, from different spheres of the sport - one with a long association with Sydney Harbour skiffs, the other for his active involvement with C-class catamarans and the so-called 'Little America's Cup - have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours announced today.
John William Winning, of the Sydney suburb of Double Bay, has made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for 'significant services to the community through fundraising and support for charitable organisations, and to sailing and horse sports.'
John H Buzaglo, who now lives in retirement at Mornington, Victoria, has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), the citation reading:
'For services to sailing as a yachtsman and (sailing) instructor ... including being a crew member of the International C-Class catamaran Quest challenge for the Little America's Cup in the UK in 1965; his involvement in building and sailing the first successful wing-powered sailboat, the catamaran Miss Nylex, winner of the International Catamaran Challenge Trophy in 1974; and for 17 years operator of the Linden Lake Sailing School.'
John Winning enjoyed an early celebrated his award on Sydney Harbour over the weekend by winning the Australian championship for Historical 18 Foot Skiffs in Aberdare in as many years.
Winning has provided physical and financial support for the purchase and restoration of many of the Historical 18 Foot Skiffs with a near a dozen replicas of the gaff-rigged 18s of early last century competing in the championship and today's 180th Australia Day Regatta.
Winning has been President of the Australian 18 Footers League since 2001 and a members since 1975, being elected a life member in 1984. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Sydney Heritage Fleet. He has been a Member and Patron of the Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Club for more than 30 years. -- Peter Campbell
*|YOUTUBE:[$vid=qdHi_8guUdk, $max_width=500, $title=N, $border=N, $trim_border=N, $ratings=N, $views=N]|*
WWI U-Boat Missing For 100 Years Discovered Off Norfolk Coast
Windfarm developers ScottishPower Renewables have identified an uncharted wreck off the Norfolk coast as a German WWI U-boat missing in action since 1915.
The wreckage is Germany's U-31, which departed Wilhelmshaven on Germany's North Sea coast on 13 January 1915 and its whereabouts remained a mystery until a team of divers successfully identified the craft last week.
Mark Dunkley, marine archaeologist for Historic England said the submarine is thought to have struck a mine while on routine patrol off England's east coast. The boat then sank, taking with it four officers and 31 enlisted men who were on board.
Dunkley said: "After being on the seabed for over a century, the submarine appears to be in a remarkable condition with the conning tower present and the bows partially buried.
"Relatives and descendants of those lost in the U-31 may now take some comfort in knowing the final resting place of the crew and the discovery serves as a poignant reminder of all those lost at sea, on land and in the air during the First World War."
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