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Halfway To Hawaii
In the last 48 hours most of the 58 entries in the 47th biennial LA-Honolulu Transpac are now at the halfway point or beyond on this 2225-mile ocean racing classic that started in three waves last week. The days have gone from cool and overcast to warm and sunny as the teams dry out, relax, and make their final downwind push to the islands.
Of the first wave of starters that left LA in fast conditions on Monday afternoon, July 8th, the largest boat, Bob Hayward's Seastream 650 Manatea, has been leading the pack boat-for-boat the entire race. They are only 400 miles from the finish at Diamond Head just east of Honolulu, and are averaging about 9 knots as they come into the stronger wind tradewinds east of the archipelago.
From the second day of the race, the Division 3 ULDB Sleds have been led by Roy Pat Disney's Andrews 70 Pyewacket, who have been making covering moves against their four rivals with 1100 miles to go. Lately, however, Per Peterson's Andrews 68 Alchemy have been putting the pressure on the veteran team on Pyewacket, so the next 24 hours will be interesting for this group as they sag well south of rhumb in the search for more wind.
Tonight the lights of Division 2 boats will be interspersed with the Sleds, as these TP 52's gybe in and around each other in a tightly-packed group. But their leader, Isao Mita's Beecom, has extended away 50 miles south on their own hunt for more breeze, trying to regain not jus the actual lead but extend even more to the current corrected time leader, Byron Erhardt's Lucky.
And the waning wind conditions are quickly undermining the Division 1 leaders who were for a time on record pace. With 700 miles to go, Ragamuffin 100 has broken off their earlier match race with Giovanni Soldini's Volvo 70 Maserati, who has fallen back in the lighter breeze, but at 14 knots of boat speed will make it near impossible to challenge the current course record of 5D 14H 36M 20S held by Alfa Romeo.
The corrected time leader in this class is Tom Holthus's STP 65 Bad Pak, who has been gybing regularly on the shifts close to the middle road in the course.
But all these monohulls, including Manatea, will have not reached Hawaii before John Sangmeister's modified ORMA 73 Lending Club will get there. The big trimaran sustained impact damage to one of its foils a few days ago, but made repairs and has been off and running fast on their final 500 miles towards the finish. At over 20 knots of boatspeed this is
Standings: www.transpacyc.com/current-race-honolulu-2013/standings
Espada Wins Coutts Quarter Ton Cup With A Race To Spare
Photo by Jonathan Hoare, www.jonathanhoare.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Cowes, UK - The closing day of the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup 2013 produced one final stunning race in perfect conditions for the 26-strong fleet. Again the boats had to wait for wind and several of the teams will have been hoping that it would fill in early enough to run multiple races, but it was not to be and only one start was possible before the 14.30 cut off time.
With an eight point lead going into the day and a worst result of seventh Louise Morton and her crew aboard the 1980 Bruce Farr designed Espada had the regatta in the bag with a race to spare, although they still chose to come out and sail regardless.
Espada's position might have been secure, but the battle for the remaining podium places was wide open. Rickard Melander's Alice II, Bullit, helmed by Ashley Curtis, Ian Southworth in Whiskers and Willy McNeil & Mike Pascall's Illegal Immigrant went into the day separated by just 6.5 points so it was game on.
Coutts' Executive Director Peter Burke announced a new trophy called the Kemp Trophy, presented by Coutts in honour of Stephen Kemp, the Coutts' Director who initiated their sponsorship of this event and who sadly lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Stephen loved how welcoming the class is and how the event encourages people to get involved and the trophy will be presented annually to a boat which the organisers feel most embodies that spirit. The inaugural winner of the Kemp Trophy was Eric Reynolds' Magnum Evolution which was taking part in her first ever Coutts Quarter Ton Cup and the presentation was made by Stephen's young sons Samuel and Joseph.
Final Top Five
1. Espada, Louise Morton, GBR, 17 points
2. Alice II, Rickard Melander, SWE, 21
3. Illegal Immigrant, W McNeill & M Pascall, GBR, 25.5
4. Bullit, Ashley Curtis, FRA, 25.5
5. Whiskers, Ian Southworth, GBR, 29.5
Only Four Weeks Left To Check Your Fastnet Race Safety List
There are only four weekends left on your boat to get ready for whatever the 600 mile epic might throw at you.
The Rolex Fastnet Race starts on 11th August, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, leaving nothing to chance, have whole raft of safety procedures to adhere to. Experience qualification, training qualification and other elements all have to be satisfied before a yacht becomes eligible to start the race.
Ocean Safety has published a Safety Checklist incorporating Category 2 Offshore Special Regulations and the incorporated RORC prescriptions for the majority of the safety equipment required for the Rolex Fastnet Race. There are over 40 items that need to be carried on board that directly relate to safety, and it's useful to know that every one of them can be purchased from an Ocean Safety stockist. Plus you can beef up on personal safety with extra options like having the personal Kannad R10 Survival Recovery System fitted to your Kru Sport Pro lifejacket.
Click on the link below to obtain a copy of the list and find out more about the best racing safety products.
oceansafety.com/fastnet-checklist
Contact us on to find your nearest Ocean Safety stockist, and to get expert advice as well.
Farr 30 Worlds
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: The heat wave continued in Newport today with temperatures in the mid-90s, but it wasn't all bad; after a one-hour postponement and a photoshoot with Sail Newport's "Junior Pirates", the same heat that burned backs and necks all day kicked up a classic Newport sea breeze.
Race Officer Peter Reggio took advantage, banging off three hotly competitive races in succession to kick off the 2013 Farr 30 World Championship.
The breeze provided refreshing apparent wind on the beats, but downwind sailing was "like standing in a blast furnace" according to current World Champ Deneen Demourkas. "Keeping your energy up in that heat is really tough," she said. Demourkas sits in fourth place, with an uphill climb ahead to win a third world title.
While Demourkas roasted, Annapolis sailor Kevin McNeil rode his Seabiscuit to second place in the standings, one point ahead of ahead local favorite Barking Mad. With help from America's Cup alumnus and Starboat skipper Andy Horton, McNeil led the opening race from start to finish, and in the last race of the day, was the only team to challenge Jabin on Ramrod's wire-to-wire win.
Conditions are likely to build throughout the week, with early forecasts calling for up to 20 knots on Friday or Saturday and slightly cooler temperatures. Racing continues through Saturday.
Results after 3 races:
1. Ramrod, Rod Jabin, 5 points
2. Seabiscuit, Kevin McNeil, 8
3. Barking Mad, James Richardson, 9
4. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas, 11
5. Topas, Harald Bruening, 14
Results: bit.ly/13PA2Vb
Swimming With Pigs!
Anyone can swim with dolphins! Click on image to enlarge.
Pigs are known to be very smart, but are most frequently pictured in mud and thought of as unclean. Not these pigs! They are rumored to have been left by sailors of a bygone era who wanted to return to cook them, but now they are great entertainment for visiting sailors cruising the Bahamas.
With great swimming ability, these very clean sandy pigs swim out to meet each boat that arrives in Big Major Cay Island on the Bahamian archipelago of Exuma, otherwise known as 'Pig Beach'.
At least 20 pigs are thriving and are frequently fed not only by visiting sailors, but also by locals and tourists. Mother pigs can be seen being trailed by almost another 20 pigs.
The animals were first discovered in 2007 by photographer Eric Cheng and captain Jim Abernathy. Cheng says of the pigs: 'Because visitors often bring food, the pigs will run into the water and actually swim out to the oncoming boats, as if to greet them individually.
'It is strange enough to see pigs laying around on tropical beaches of white sand, but to see them then charge into the water to greet oncoming boats is just bizarre.'
If you are ever close enough and interested in sailing into the area, you can inquire at Staniel Cay nearby. -- Des Ryan in Sail-world.com
OK Dinghy Europeans
The 2013 OK Dinghy Europeans Championship gets under way at the Yacht Club de Carnac, France this weekend. The OK Dinghy class only holds a Europeans when the world championship is outside Europe, so it follows on from the class worlds in Thailand at Easter. However such is the dynamic and the spread of the fleet that only 17 of the 68 entries for Carnac were present in Thailand, so for many sailors this will be their major event of the year. The start of the event also coincides with the July 2013 release of the OK Dinghy World Ranking list.
The 68 sailors heading to Carnac come from 10 countries and include sailors from Australia and New Zealand. Unlike some classes these sailors are able to take the overall title; there is no continental segregation in the OK Dinghy class. Bringing the championship to France has also boosted the home fleet with an encouraging 14 French entries, the highest number at an international event for many years.
The line up also includes four former world champions, one of which, the four time world champion Nick Craig (GBR) is also the only sailor present to hold the European title, and that was 11 years ago. Neither the current world champion, nor the current European champion, nor the world No.1 will be present in Carnac, but the fleet is so deep and competitive that there are still plenty of big names taking part.
In Carnac, registration and measurement begins on Saturday 20 July with the practice race on Sunday afternoon. The 10 race series takes place from Monday 22 through to Friday 26 July. -- Robert Deaves Top Ten World Ranking July 2013
1. Jorgen Svendsen, DEN
2. Greg Wilcox, NZL
3. Stefan Myralf, DEN
4. Nick Craig, GBR
5. Jorgen Lindhartdsen, DEN
6. Roger Blasse, AUS
7. Bo Petersen, DEN
8. Martin von Zimmermann, GER
9. Andre Budzien, GER
10. Paul Rhodes, NZL
Event website: euro2013.yoleok.org
Class website: www.okdia.org
Seahorse August 2013
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
Terry Hutchinson is glad to be back out there racing 52s, Bill Lee addresses ‘that’ gorilla in the room, Rodney Pattisson is cautious about ‘inshore’ attempts on ‘offshore’ records and Niklas Zennstrom goes for the treble...
The wizard of Santa Cruz - Part II
How could you ever write a story about Bill Lee without looking at the mythical tales of Merlin...
Seamless - Part II
Eric Hall presents a case study of Bella Mente
RORC news
Eddie Warden Owen
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Glandore Classic Regatta
The 11th Glandore Classic regatta opens next Saturday in Glandore Harbour. This regatta has been hosted every other year since 1992 by the Glandore Harbour Yacht Club.
Among the startling line up of classics for this years regatta Jolie Brise is visiting the regatta as part of her 100th anniversary celebrations.
As winner of the first Fastnet race she will be making a reprise Fastnet rounding as part of this years Glandore Classic Regatta.
Other well known entries this year include the lovely Fife Solway Maid who returns for her third Classic Regatta at Glandore last visiting in 2001. The Fife one designs of the Menai straits are also entered for this year these are regular visitors to the event and for the first time this year they are bringing a new build Fife on her first outing.
There is a new programme for Oar and Sail in the regatta this year. There are Bantry Gig long boats entered for the first time, with entries from Fionnbarra Unite and Integrite, these will be a sight in the harbour during the weekend.
The Regatta opens Saturday in the Evening, the Parade of Sail will be on Sunday afternoon with fireworks on the village on Sunday night. This will be followed by a full week sailing programme, including the Fastnet event, closing dinner on Thursday and prizegiving will be on Friday evening July 26th
We look forward to welcoming everyone to another wonderful Classic Regatta at Glandore. -- Cormac O'Carroll
New Build Tp52, Phoenix, Confirmed For The 2014 52 Super Series
The 2014 52 Super Series will welcome a new owner and his brand new build TP52 to the fleet. Botin Partners, designers of champions Azzurra, have confirmed today they have been commissioned to design a new TP52 for Brazilian owner Eduardo de Souza Ramos.
The new boat, which will be a development of the successful Emirates Team New Zealand, Quantum Racing and Azzurra, is expected to make its debut at Palma Vela, Mallorca next Easter and will then compete in the 52 Super Series as well as other key European regattas. Mr de Souza Ramos has a long history in international yacht racing, most recently campaigning in the Soto 40 class. He previously commissioned and raced a successful IMS 46 design from Botin Partners (previously Botin/Carkeek).
The crew is expected to be all Brazilian and selections are already under consideration.
The boat is to be built at King Marine beside Valencia. The sails, rig and deck hardware package is under review presently. Botin Partners signed their agreement on Monday.
Upcoming Super Series events for 2013:
- Copa del Rey, Palma, July 29 - August 3, 6 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
- AUDI Week Of The Straits, Porto Cervo, September 10 – 14, 3 day WL & 2 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.
For The Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record.
Record: Singlehanded Monohull 60 foot Transatlantic
Yacht: "Safran" IMOCA 60
Name: Marc Guillemot. FRA
Dates:. 27th June to the 6th July 2013
Start time: 23;19;20 UTC on 27/06/13
Finish time: 04;39;40 UTC on 06/07/13
Elapsed time: 8 days 5 hours 20 minutes and 20 seconds
Distance: 2880M
Average speed: 14.62 kts
Comments: Previous Record: "Hugo Boss". Alex Thomson, GBR. July 12. 8d 21h 8m 31s
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
Featured Brokerage
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Brokerage through Thoroughbred Yacht Sales: www.yachtworld.com/thoroughbred/
Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com
The Last Word
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