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Phaedo3 Breaks RORC Caribbean 600 Multihull Record
Hurtling around the Caribbean at speeds in excess of 30 knots and topping out nearer 40, often barely a boat length apart, the epic duel between MOD70s Concise 10 and Phaedo3 came to a conclusion after 32 hours of hot racing. Lloyd Thornburg's MOD70 Phaedo3, co-skippered by Brian Thompson crossed the finish line at Fort Charlotte in an elapsed time of 31 hours, 59 minutes, 04 seconds, breaking their own multihull race record set last year by 1 hour 34 minutes 26 seconds.
Barely out of sight of each other the entire race, Tony Lawson's MOD70 Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield was just 9mins 52seconds behind.
Phaedo3 Crew: Lloyd Thornburg (Owner/Skipper), Brian Thompson (Co-Skipper), Miles Seddon, Robert Greenhalgh, Sam Goodchild, Paul Allen, Pete Cumming, Damian Foxhall.
Concise 10 Crew: Ned Collier Wakefield (Skipper), Thomas Dawson, Michel Desjoyeaux, Paul Larsen, Jonny Malbon, Tom Smedley, Martin Watts, Jackson Bouttell.
* The record fleet for the RORC Caribbean 600 enjoyed a full moon on the first night of racing. At sunset on the first night, all of the fleet had rounded the Barbuda mark, enjoying fantastic sailing conditions and highly competitive racing. Phaedo3 and Concise 10 were at the front of the fleet enjoying a thrilling high-speed duel, often touching a blistering 30 knots of boat speed. 100ft Maxi, Comanche was blasting through the Caribbean surf in hot pursuit of the monohull record for the course. Four Maxi72s were in a close quarters battle for supremacy, but two of the smaller yachts in the fleet were vying for the overall lead as dawn broke on day two of the RORC Caribbean 600.
IRC Overall
Three yachts in IRC Zero occupy the podium. Steve Benjamin's American TP52, Spookie is the provisional leader for the race after IRC time correction. Spookie was set to round Tintamarre the northern most part of the course this morning. Last night, Spookie and a leading pack of about 25 yachts rounded the chicane at the top of the course weaving past Nevis, St.Kitts, Saba, St. Barths and St.Martin. This is probably the most technical part of the 600 mile race, with dozens of manoeuvres requiring precision and stamina from the crew. Spookie's crew is a well-drilled short course unit, well versed in boat handling. On Spookie's hip is Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 51, Tonnerre. The Dutch grandmaster's team is also well versed in short course racing having won her class in last year's RORC IRC National Championship. Tonnerre 4 was less than eight minutes behind Spookie after IRC time correction.
Race Track Challenges
Another light start to the day, with 2 knots the only breeze sniffing around the race track at the scheduled start time of 1400 hours. Postponements ashore saw teams relaxing around the venue and generally chilling in this very beautiful location at Club Nautico San Isidro.
Patience from the Race Committee and teams, as everyone waited for an opening in the weather, which eventually delivered around 1745 hours. Racing got underway in the late afternoon in an 8-9 knot easterly breeze, increasing to 10-11 knots, with pumping allowed.
Again the weather and race track made sure there was no margin for errors, with the tables turned in the 470 Men as the winners of both races yesterday, Paul Snow-Hansen/Daniel Wilcox (NZL), took a scoring penalty for being over the starting line. Defending World Champions and world #1 pair, Mat Belcher/Will Ryan (AUS), found themselves in the same position yesterday, but no mishap today as they picked up their game to claim the lead in the day's only race.
Control at the front of the 470 Women race changed mark by mark, until the Dutch pair of Afrodite Kyranakou/Anneloes van Veen found a speed advantage, and made a clear call to claim and hold the lead from the downwind gate to the finish. They now lead a three-way tiebreak.
Top five, men after 3 races
1. Paul Snow-Hansen/Daniel Willcox (NZL 2) - 2 pts
2. Anton Dahlberg/Fredrik Bergström (SWE 349) - 6 pts
3. Asenathi Jim/Roger Hudson (RSA 1) - 9 pts
4. Onán Barreiros Rodríguez/Juan Curbelo Cabrera (ESP 9) - 9 pts
5. Gabrio Zandona/Andrea Trani (ITA 2) - 10 pts.
Top five, women:
1. Afrodite Zegers-Kyranakou/Anneloes Van Veen (NED 216) - 5 pts
2. Sydney Bolger/Carly Shevitz (USA 88) - 5 pts
3. Anne Haeger/Briana Provancha (USA 1712) - 5 pts
4. Camille Lecointre/Helene Defrance (FRA 9) - 6 pts
5. Xiaoli Wang/Lizhu Huang (CHN 1221) - 6 pts
New Marstron+ 7 Mm - Also Available In New Colours!
Marlow Ropes are extremely proud of the relationships that we have with our sporting partners. These partnerships allow us to improve and adapt our products according to their needs. Thanks to this feedback, our Marstron+ product range has now been refreshed and extended.
Marstron+ is still available in: 6mm and 8mm, but is now also available in 7mm, to bridge the gap between lightweight and easy handling. We have also introduced Mastron+ in a newly refreshed colour range!
Available in: RED, YELLOW, GREEN, GREY & PURPLE
Full information can be found on page 39 of the definitive rope guide: issue 3.
Balance and Ichi Ban Lead Grand Prix Charge For Sydney Harbour Regatta
Middle Harbour Yacht Club's 2016 Sydney Harbour Regatta is just 10 days away and over 150 boat owners have pledged their support for the 11th running of the autumn event, among them some high profile names.
Winner of the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart and the 2015 Blue Water Pointscore, Paul Clitheroe and his Balance are on a winning streak, so will come to the Regatta, to be held over the weekend of 5-6 March, as the boat to beat in the Open Class (IRC and ORCi).
Clitheroe's TP52 underlined her ability on the weekend, breaking the Sydney Newcastle race record and taking out every category in the race: line honours and overall wins under IRC, ORCi and PHS, leaving the crumbs for her opponents.
However, Paul Clitheroe believes otherwise, with the likes of Matt Allen's Ichi Ban, the undisputed star performer at Airlie Beach Race Week and the CYCA Trophy in 2015. Allen owns the former Shogun V, which is highly regarded as the best regatta boat around. Add Ichi Ban's impeccable crew work, and she will be almost impregnable.
In all, the Regatta is open to 21 classes, many of them one-design, which will make for spectacular racing - and viewing, as they take over Sydney Harbour for the weekend. -- Di Pearson
IRC Rating Offers a Selection Box of GBR Championships
In 2016 the Spinlock IRC Rating rule, administered by the RORC Rating Office and owned by RORC in partnership with UNCL in France, will be used to battle out no less than eleven regional and special championships around Great Britain and the Channel Islands, including the annual IRC National Championship.
This year's regional venues stretch from Jersey in the Channel Islands to the Clyde in Scotland and from North Wales to Kent, providing a rich variety of racing and conditions. Specialist IRC Championships include the Small Boat Championship to be held in Weymouth and the Double Handed Championship organised by the Royal Southampton YC and RORC.
Most of the Championships are held over two to six days but the IRC Solent Championship offers racing over six weekends between May and October with different clubs, with the best four results to count. The Championship calendar for 2016 also boasts two brand new additions in Poole and Brighton, giving IRC sailors even more opportunities to join in and pit their skills against each other for the title of Champion!
May-Oct - IRC Solent Championship
28-30 May - IRC Southern Championship, Poole *new*
11-12 June - IRC Scottish Championship, Mudhook YC, Clyde
18-19 June - IRC Sussex Championship, Brighton *new*
24-26 June - IRC National Championship, Cowes
15-17 July - IRC South West Championship, Plymouth
24-29 July - IRC East Coast Championship, Ramsgate
12-14 Aug - IRC Welsh National Championship, Pwllheli
3-4 Sept - IRC Small Boats Championship, Weymouth
9-11 Sept - IRC Channel Islands Championship, Jersey
16-17 Sept - IRC Double Handed Championship, Southampton
www.rorcrating.com/irc-rating-gbr/irc-regional-champs
ircrating.org
Marion Bermuda Race Changes Start Date Of 2017 Race
In an effort to provide the best possible viewing opportunity for the 2017 America's Cup finals in Bermuda, the Trustees of Marion Bermuda Race have announced that they will move the Race start date up one week to June 9, 2017. This will enable all Race participants to arrive in Bermuda prior to the start of the America's Cup finals on June 17, 2017. A survey taken by the Marion Bermuda Race Organizing Committee in the fall showed a very high interest by past race participants to be in Bermuda for the America's Cup.
In keeping with the Race's mission of supporting youth sailing in both North America and Bermuda, the race will be supporting the America's Cup Endeavor Program, a community sailing program for Bermuda youth. This program was developed by the America's Cup Committee to leave a sporting legacy in Bermuda after the America's Cup.
Industry News
Bremont is travelling to Oman this week for the first leg of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series 2016; this weekend marks the first time the America's Cup will be held in the Middle East. After being announced as Official Timing Partner of the America's Cup and ORACLE TEAM USA in May last year Bremont is looking forward to another exciting year of foiling action. Following the racing on the Gulf of Oman the series will continue to the USA for races in New York and Chicago before heading to Europe for legs in Portsmouth, UK and Toulon, France.
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Oman, 27-28 February 2016
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series New York, 7-8 May 2016
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago, 11-12 June 2016
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Portsmouth, 23-24 July 2016
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Toulon, 10-11 September 2016
Bremont is delighted to be the Official Timing Partner of all the events as well as the America's Cup presented by Louis Vuitton in May and June 2017 held in Bermuda.
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Swedish sporting lifestyle brand, Pelle P will remain the 'Official Clothing Partner' of the RC44 Class for a further three years, while 'Official Timekeeper' of the RC44 Championship Tour, HYT, commits to the relationship for an additional two years.
Inspired by Swedish sailing legend Pelle Petterson, the brand's technical sailing clothing is designed in collaboration with Swedish America's Cup Challenger Artemis Racing, who currently has two teams competing on the RC44 Championship Tour.
HYT maximise the partnership, using the RC44 Championship Tour events to host journalists, hold annual meetings and showcase their unique hydro-mechanical watches that push the boundaries of watch innovation and design, harnessing the ancient technology of clepsydras, or water clocks, to overcome gravity and indicate the time with a liquid in a mechanical wristwatch.
The brand's first venture into the world of international yacht racing has thus far been a success and HYT will remain the 'Official Timekeeper' of the RC44 Championship Tour until 2017.
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Spanish boatbuilder Rodman is returning to Norway with a new importer.
KystTrading AS will represent the brand from its base in Stord on the Norwegian southwest coast. KystTrading AS initiated the new set up for Rodman, which used to have a Norwegian importer in Stavanger on the west coast.
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Volvo Car UK has announced sponsorship of a third youth class in 2016 – the International Topper Class Association (GBR).
Volvo Car UK has been a key sponsor of British sailing since 1999, supporting everything from youth development at grass roots through to Britain's top sailors at the pinnacle of the sport.
Recognised by the Royal Yachting Association as a Pathway Class, the Topper enables young dinghy sailors to develop their racing talent towards sailing in the Olympic Classes. Some of Britain's great athletes have progressed from the class, including three-times Finn World Champion, Giles Scott. Giles hopes to bring a medal home for Britain in this summers' games.
Designed in 1977 by Ian Proctor, the International Topper's colourful 'fun factor', combined with its serious racing pedigree, grabbed the attention of the sail training world and helped revolutionise the way sailing is taught. Having two sail sizes for the Topper allows sailors from 9 to 16 years old to compete nationally.
There are now nearly 50,000 Toppers worldwide. In the UK, the class holds around 70 events annually, attracting about 1,400 participants.The weekend of 27th February will see more than 175 Topper sailors take to the 2012 Olympic waters of Weymouth as they compete at the first National Series Event of 2016, hosted at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
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Eight months after officially signing up for the 35th America's Cup, the French challenge mounted by Franck Cammas, Michel Desjoyeaux and Olivier de Kersauson welcomes the arrival of the first official partner alongside title partner, Groupama. An international brand, a European leader in its field, Norauto joins an ambitious project, which combines human challenge and technological proving.
Norauto's management team was quick to see the benefits they will be able to derive from this project for the America's Cup. Indeed, the international group, created in 1970, boasts a strong presence with its car centres spanning some eight countries.
Armed with some 620 centres across Europe, Norauto is inaugurating twenty or so more centres each year, recruiting over 800 new representatives, in France (370 centres) as well as in the other seven countries (Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Poland and Romania) where it has developed further.
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Italian shipyard Perini Navi has recruited Stephane Leveel to its design team. He joins the company with over 18 years of experience in the naval architecture of sailing yachts.
Leveel will join the design team headed by Franco Romani to enhance Perini Navi's cooperation with the industry's naval architects as well as further developing the naval architecture-specific practices undertaken internally.
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2012 Farr 63 Kiwi Spirit. 2,450,000 USD. Annapolis, Maryland, USA.
Following many years of extensive cruising in a Farr Pilothouse 60 (Design 320), Dr. Stanley Paris commissioned this new design for a high performance offshore passage making and cruising yacht.
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Ker 46 - NEW BOAT. First launched in 2012.
Ker effected an IRC revolution when his relatively lightweight Ker 40s started cleaning up two years ago. This is the latest evolution of the marque – at a size that makes it an attractive choice for offshore enthusiasts. Boat no4 has now been sold
Contact
McConaghy Boats
+61 2 999 777 22
www.mcconaghyboats.com
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2008 Elliot 30 Overload. 90,000 USD. Located in Auckland, New Zealand.
Elliott 9metre Super Sport OVERLOAD is a carbon fiber 30ft canting keel race yacht, designed by Greg Elliott. It was set up and built for inshore/coastal and even offshore racing, launched in September 2008.
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
See that the imagination of nature is far, far greater than the imagination of man. -- Richard P. Feynman
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