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Five World Champions Crowned With A Day To Spare
Photo by Icarus Sailing Media. Click on image for photo gallery.
Great Britain's Kieran Martin, China's Lu Yunxiu, Norway's Line Flem Host, Australia's Carrie Smith and Ella Clark and New Zealand's Isaac McHardie and Micah Wilkinson have won gold with a day to spare at the 2013 Sail First ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus.
Martin has not finished outside the top four once all week and deservedly takes the RS:X Boys gold medal whilst Yunxiu's consistency proved decisive as she took her nations first ever ISAF Youth Worlds gold medal in the RS:X Girls.
Host has been dominant in the Laser Radial Girls all week and has a massive 29 point advantage whilst McHardie and Wilkinson got the SL16 job done on the penultimate day of racing.
Smith and Clark were crowned 420 Girls ISAF Youth World Champions late in the day after Italy's Ilaria Paternoster and Benedetta di Salle picked up a non excludable disqualification. Breeze and waves spoilt the sailors once again in the sun kissed Island as the Mediterranean Sea and wind offered up 16 knots with gusts up to 25 knots reported on the race course.
China's Yinxiu has an unassailable eight point lead in the RS:X Girls and takes her nations first ever ISAF Youth Worlds gold medal. Yinxiu was near perfect on the penultimate day picking up a 2-1-1 scoreline. With a race to go Yinxiu discards a sixth place meaning Marta Maggetti (ITA) cannot catch her.
Maggetti is guaranteed at least bronze as she has put America's Marion Lepert, in fourth, out of her reach. Five points separate Lepert and third place Sara Wennekes (NED) which will make for an exciting climax in the RS:X Girls.
The Nations Trophy currently counts 10 races with Italy leading the way on 276 points followed by Australia on 267 points and Great Britain on 257 points.
The final day of racing at the 2013 Sail First ISAF Youth Worlds gets underway at 12:00 local time on 19 July.
Optimist Worlds
Lake Garda, Italy: Another beautiful, but long day of racing, confirming the strength of the Singaporean team. A day of redemption for Germany and Great Britain. It was the second day of racing in the Optimist World Championship in Riva del Garda with highly variable conditions. In the first race the wind settled at 8-10 knots, allowing the lighter sailors to do well after the medium-strong wind of yesterday.
By mid-afternoon, after an enforced break waiting for a steady breeze to return, the Race Committee was able to complete another 4 races, one for each fleet.
Singapore continues to dominate in the overall standings with two sailors in the top 3 overall: three wins and a second to SIN 115, Loh Jia Yi, who maintains the championship lead. Fast behind him, German, Nils Sternbeck posted two wins today after a fourth and second yesterday. Third, Edward Tan of Singapore with 2 thirds yesterday and a first and an eighth today. The Italian Peroni Dimitri was second in the third race, he slipped to nineteenth in the last race in the lighter breeze.
It was a good day for GBR sailor, Labrouche, with a second and ninth which leaves him two points behind Peroni. In the women's ranking the Spaniard Maria Bover Guerrero is ruling (5-8-12-12 to date), second Ceci Wollman (Bermuda, excellent second in the first race of the day) and the third Slovenian Jana Germans, third overall in the race 3. It will be interesting to see how the overall rankings change after the discards come into play. We have one more day of fleet racing tomorrow before a break for the Team Racing Championship.
Results www.fragliavelariva.it
Contender Worlds
Click on image to enlarge.
Gravedona - Como Lake, Italy: Another couple of races with south winds around 14 - 15 knots were held in Gravedona on the second day of the Championships. 174 boats lined up to the start divided in four groups.
GBR's Simon Mussel is still on top with an impressive score list, Simon is followed by the german young sailor Christoph Hengel and the danish Søren Dulong Andreasen. The 2012 world champion Antonio Lambertini was disqualified on the first race (OCS) and now the first italian is Michele Benvenuti in 7th place.
The weather forecasts for the third day are not so promising but the Como lake will give for sure its best again.
The event is supported by Regione Lombardia and sponsored by Doka, Navionics, Il Prodiere, Viadana, M26 Tech.
Full results can be found here: www.contender.it
Extreme Sailing Series Approaches Halfway Stage
The Extreme Sailing Series hits the halfway stage in just one week when eight Extreme 40 catamarans will go full throttle in one of the most compact and challenging Stadium Racecourses the Extreme 40s have ever raced on in Porto, Portugal. Current Series leaders Alinghi (SUI) are out to defend their position at the top of the leaderboard at the venue which in 2012 attracted the biggest crowds the Series has ever witnessed, and that temporary helm Morgan Larson described as "one of the best events for both the crews on the water and also from a spectator point of view". The fleet will be joined by wildcard entries Team Tilt (SUI) and ROFF Cascais Sailing Team (POR) ready for the first day of racing on Thursday 25 July. Follow all the action as it happens via the live video stream on the website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (#exss).
Four teams have reached the podium so far this year, (The Wave, Muscat, Red Bull Sailing Team, SAP Extreme Sailing Team and Alinghi) but the Swiss America's Cup winners on Alinghi are the only team to have finished on the podium at all Acts.
The shape of things at the top of the leaderboard is tantalizingly close, with Extreme 40 heavyweights The Wave, Muscat just one point behind Alinghi.
Both Team Tilt and ROFF Cascais Sailing Team will step into the Extreme 40s for the first time as part of their preparations for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup taking place in September, while Team Korea will be absent from this Act and hoping to return later in the Series.
After three relatively light wind events, the teams are gearing up for the bigger breeze expected in Porto.
Fans in Portugal can follow the action unfold from the banks of Gaia and Porto and live on national Portuguese broadcaster RTP2, while online fans can keep up to date on the official event website including live video streaming with analytics from SAP from 26-28 July, 1700-1800 BST daily.
Seahorse August 2013
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
World news
The Mini Transat returns to its roots, new boats fly out of La France, young Kiwis prepare for San Francisco, McConaghy go all classical and a Transpac preview. Dobbs Davis, Blue Robinson, Patrice Carpentier, Ivor Wilkins
Design - Catching the wave
Multihull design guru Martin Fischer is extremely proud of his new mid-sized offering
Seahorse build table - Fantastica!
A ‘very’ one-off from Guillaume Verdier
Sailor of the Month
This one is going to be hard...
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Transpac: Tritium Lending Club Slows, Will Not Break Record
Latest from John Sangmeister:
As many of you suspect, the boat has sustained significant damage from contact with debris in the water over the last few days.
We have been pressing the boat to beat the record. However, we are now exercising prudence and good seamanship for the safety of our crew and to not risk further damage to the boat.
To finish first, one must first finish.
We anticipate finishing at approximately 10 p.m. Hawaii time.
Looking forward to seeing our loved ones at the dock!
Finn European Championship In Warnemunde
The Finn European Championship returns to Warnemunde, Germany for this third time in the event's history this weekend as the 2013 Open and Junior Finn European Championship gets under way on Friday 19 July. It has attracted a huge entry from across the world.
So the story goes, the marina at Warnemunde, where the 2013 event will take place, was originally built in time for the first Finn Europeans there in 1961. The second event was held shortly afterwards in 1969, so a third visit to the former East German sailing centre has been a long time coming. Those who know Warnemunde well, know it as an exceptional venue for sailing and by the end of next week, the Finn fleet will hopefully know the same.
Warnemunde is famous for its big stable winds, long waves and fabulous hospitality. The organising club for the championship is Akademischer Segler Verein zu Rostock eV, which is actually located close to Rostock, further up the River Warnow. However the venue for the event is located at the Warnemunder Segel Club, which overlooks the entrance to the River Warnow. The course area is just a short sail from the club to just outside the harbour mouth. The club is also just a short walk across the town bridge to the delights of the picturesque fishing town of Warnemunde, as well as its active nightlife.
That first event in 1961 attracted just 14 entries, but it was different regatta in those days with only one boat per nation allowed. The picture in 2013 is very different with a massive pre-entry of 116 boats from 29 nations and five continents, making it not only the largest entry ever for the Finn Europeans but also the largest entry for a Finn senior championship for 30 years.
The defending champion is Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) who was the surprise winner at last year's very light championship in Scarlino, Italy. Other former champions in attendance this year are Ed Wright (GBR) from 2006, Eduard Skornyakov (RUS) from 2007, and Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) from 2009 and 2010.
There are also 17 sailors with Olympic experience in the fleet and five who are past world champions or Olympic medalists. It is probably the strongest Finn fleet that has gathered together in one place for a long time. With a couple of exceptions, virtually all the top sailors will be present.
www.finneuropeans.org/ec2013
www.finnclass.org
Hot And Bothered at UK Solo Nationals
Hot, bothered and bewildered was the general reaction as the Solo Nationals fleet made its way back into HISC after a long slow day on the water. The first race abandoned at the first mark and then rerun and the second starting late in the afternoon and then shortened as the wind died again.
But there are always winners and losers and depending on which category you finish, colours your view of the day. Ross Harvey, who was leading race 9 when it was abandoned, was definitely of the latter persuasion, while Andy Tunnicliffe, the eventual winner was more upbeat. Likewise Ewen Birkin-Wells who, as the wind died in race 10, picked up a new wind on the right to lead Kevan Gibb and Pete Mitchell across the finish line.
The results Thursday were dramatic in their overall effect as the 115 competitors go into the final day. Both Matt Howard and Andy Davis were BFD in race 9 removing them from any further title contention. Leaving five possible contenders. -- Gerald New
Top five after 10 races, 2 discards (entries 115)
1. Geoff Carveth, 39 points
2. Andy Tunnicliffe, 43
3. Ross Harvey, 47
4. Charlie Cumbley, 47
5. Michael Sims, 47
Full results available at www.hisc.co.uk
The Atlantic Connects
Two entries from Angola have been entered to compete in the Cape To Rio Yacht Race. The two boats are both Bavaria 55s. Bille is sponsored by Angola Cables and is skippered and helmed by Sybille Correira Da Silva and Luis Da Silva. The second entry sailing for Angola is Mussulo 111, skippered by Jose Guilherme Mendes Pereira Caldas.
For a number of reasons, it's a natural fit for Angola to enter the Cape to Rio Race. First is the idea of participation between Africa and the Americas; second is that the sport of sailing has a rich tradition in Angola - nautical clubs have been active there for over 100 years; third is that a few Angolan Olympic campaigns have been launched over the years with notable wins; and finally, the sea is seen as the wealth of Angola, supplying not only food and sustenance, but providing a gateway to the rest of the world.
Almost every continent seems to have their own iconic yacht race: Australia has the Sydney Hobart, Europe has the Middle Sea Race (and plenty more), North America has the Newport Bermuda Race (to name one of many), and Africa has the Cape To Rio Race. Steeped in history and known the world over as one of the longest ocean crossings, the Cape To Rio caters for Corinthian, or amateur, sailors as well as professional teams. The race sees competitors sail from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro, a 2500-nautical mile crossing in winds ranging from strong south easterlies for the first three to four days, and light breezes that leave yachts floating on mercury-like seas. The trick is how to avoid the high-pressure bubble usually found in the middle of the Atlantic.
In order to extend the company's involvement in the race, Angola Cables has devised an extensive schedule of events that will support their entry in the Cape To Rio Race. The most significant of these are a series of outreach events in Lisbon, Luanda, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. These events will promote both Angola Cables' business and their participation in the race. Digital platforms and a strong media plan will also garner support for the campaign.
Cork Dry Gin Calves Week
Country Cork, Ireland: From Tuesday the 6th to Friday the 9th of August the crews of 60 yachts will experience the excitement of sailing around the islands off Schull Harbour, in the pristine waters of Roaring Water Bay and beyond. Already over 45 boats have secured their entry to compete at the Festival of Sailing. Entries are well ahead of last year. This year there will be a strict cap of 60 boats competing to ensure an enjoyable experience for all.
Schull is set in the centre of an area of outstanding natural beauty, the prevailing southwesterly winds having travelled more than 2,000 miles of open sea. The air is clean and the sea is beautifully clear. Schull Tourism and Schull Harbour Sailing Club have joined forces to ensure a week full of fun and entertainment, for sailors and non-sailors alike. Cork Dry Gin Calves Week will feature nightly presentations of prizes, live entertainment by local musicians and a Food Market at the pier amongst other things.
Industry News
A Spanish tax on charterboats will be repealed Jan. 1, a move supporters say will open up Spanish waters for international charter yachts.
"Given the trickle-down effect of yachting in every maritime region, this should have an immediate and very positive economic impact," Salamanca Marine director Norma Trease told Trade Only Today in an email. "For us specifically, charter yachts will now be able to be home-based here, which opens up all types of opportunities for the entire region."
The repeal means that all charter vessels, whatever their length, will be exempt from the 12 percent matriculation tax. The removal of the tax, which was applied only in Spain, creates a more equitable playing field for the country, compared with the tax rates of surrounding European nations, said ANEN, the Spanish marine trade association. -- Reagan Haynes in Soundings Trade Only Today
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Volvo Ocean Race has appointed British-based independent sports production company Sunset+Vine as Host Broadcaster and Distribution Partner for the 2014-15 edition.
As well as delivering live coverage of the In-Port Race Series and Leg Starts, Sunset+Vine will distribute all race programming and news footage around the world. The production will be headed by the company's specialist sailing unit Sunset+Vine|APP.
For the 12th edition of the race, each of the new one-design Volvo Ocean 65 boats will be equipped with the most sophisticated ever on-board filming, editing and satellite transmission equipment. At race headquarters in Alicante, a 24-hour watch system will be in place to ensure a more complete picture of the ocean legs will be painted than ever before.
Over 2,000 applications have been received for Onboard Reporter positions. The Race is now working with teams to match them up with candidates possessing the multimedia storytelling skills to do justice to a race that celebrates its 40th birthday in 2013.
Sunset+Vine delivered widely acclaimed work as the Volvo Ocean Race's official TV partners in both the 2005-06 and 2008-09 editions. The Sunset+Vine team also produced the Olympic sailing events for London 2012, and continue to produce CNN International's flagship sailing programme "Mainsail" while owning the production and distribution rights for Sea Master Sailing, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
Details of Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015 programming will be announced closer to the start of the race in October 2014.
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The Irish Sailing Association have announced that the Irish oil and gas exploration and production company Providence Resources P.l.c., are to sponsor the Irish Sailing Team for a four year period in the run up to the Olympic Games in RIO in 2016. This sponsorship follows a six month deal in 2012, which provided the team with additional resources in preparation for the London Games.
The Irish sailing team had their most successful Olympics for thirty years in 2012 with 4th, 10th and 14th finishes.
The Irish sailing team will be named Providence Team IRL for the four year period and joint branding will be rolled out over the coming weeks. -- Rachel Solon, Irish Sailing Association
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Peroni Nastro Azzurro - Italy's No. 1 premium beer - was announced as the "Official Beer of the America's Cup." This partnership aligns the iconic Italian lager with one of sailing's most prestigious international competitions.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro will be available at the America's Cup Sports Bar and concessions throughout the America's Cup Park, at Piers 27/29. At the America's Cup Village, at Marina Green, the beer garden will serve Peroni Nastro Azzurro.
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Drift, a leading action sports technology company specialising in the capture and sharing of digital imagery across all platforms, has signed a deal that sees them become the official action camera suppliers to the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT).
As part of the deal, Drift will provide AWMRT with Drift HD Ghost cameras, enabling them to capture all the action as it unfolds around the globe. Video content of the races will be published on Drift's social media platforms including Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo, Twitter as well as via other platforms.
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