Boatshed reports bumper sales
By IBI Magazine/Motor Boat & Yachting
UK-based yacht broker Boatshed.com has reported another month of buoyant boat sales.
The company says that despite tough market conditions, a number of positive factors have led to decent sales results.
Peter Watt of Boatshed Portsmouth says: “The strength of the euro is making buyers from all over Europe look to UK boats as they are better value at this time, plus all the talk of gloom and doom has brought more boats onto the market.”
Similarly Steve at Boatshed Essex says: “Buyers are motivated by realistic prices and sellers are taking advantage in the upsurge in activity. In February we have had eight boats sold and five under offer. It’s fantastic!”
Even the US market has felt a boost recently with Boatshed Florida reporting a huge rise in the number of leads: “Suddenly someone turned on the taps! We have over 400 buyer leads we are managing this month with 15 deals on the board and 10 boats going to Europe, it’s real busy.”
Have a good won guys
Real Entertainment
BASIC RULES THAT EVERY RACER SHOULD KNOW
by Ken Quant
In Scuttlebutt 2794, Jim Mahaffy mentioned the rules of golf and baseball as examples of confusing rules, but failed to point out that few of the people enjoying these sports everyday knows or cares about the details of these rules. I certainly don’t remember any rules seminars to go play Little League. The devil is in the detail and the detail is meant for those competing at the top level.
If we want to encourage new people to try racing, we have to nurture them along by keeping it as simple as possible. A project we’ve been working on this winter for a Friday evening social JAM fleet here in Milwaukee, WI is creating a “Basic Rules that Every Racer Should Know” document. It covers only the most basic terms and situations and was created to encourage a bit of confidence in anyone thinking about trying their first race. It uses plain language descriptions, simple diagrams, and is designed to make sure anyone willing to try racing can have fun and be safe. We are requiring every skipper to read and sign it this season before racing. It’s far from perfect, but it’s a good start and I’m sure it will be refined as we go along.
Think of it this way. If a novice racer unknowingly gets into a situation that leads a veteran racer to rightfully start shouting rules at him, do you think they are coming back for another race? My guess is no. Nobody wants to feel embarrassed by their lack of knowledge. It should be the responsibility of all social fleet organizers to offer a little basic rules knowledge to anyone willing to try racing. Remember the first time you played baseball? I’m sure your Little League coach pointed towards first base and told you to run after the first time you hit the ball. I’m also sure he didn’t reference rule A, appendix B of the baseball rule book. – K.I.S.S..
* Here is the ‘Basic Rules that Every Racer Should Know’ document:
2009 WORLD TOUR STARTS IN FRANCE WITH A BATTLE ROYALE
The newest event of the ten-stage 2009 World Match Racing Tour will also be its first as 12 teams prepare for next week’s Marseille International Match Race, held over 10-15 March and hosted by the Yachting Club Pointe Rouge (YCPR). The assembled field is one of the strongest yet seen, lured by the opportunity to compete against the best talent in the sport, valuable Tour points earned towards the World Championship, and a piece of the €50,000 prize purse.
“Its only fitting that the first battlefield of the 2009 Tour is here in France, where so many of our competing teams hail from and there is such a rich tradition of excellence in match race sailing,” says Tour Director Craig Mitchell. “But we’re also very pleased to have this first event of the 2009 Tour attract such a strong international field from among non-French teams as well.”
Leading the non-French field will be last year’s Tour winner and reigning World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) and his Bahrain Team Pindar. However, this two-time Tour winner will likely see a strong challenge by local-based Sebastian Col (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge crew, who not only finished as close runners-up to Williams, but are currently ranked 1st in the ISAF ranking list.
Hi Steve,
Last weekend I was umpiring the Ski Yachting event in Switzerland with model boats, I did some shots during the breaks with my underwater camera, I think this are the first of this kind ever done.
By the way in the final we had SNG against the Squadron from Cowes and SNG won the best of 5 final.
More about in the press releases ki yachting 2009.
Maybe you can use them on your blog.
Best regards
Jürg Kaufmann
Special guests Bruno Trouble and Jochen Schuemann, and competitors from 19 teams, from 10 clubs representing 6 countries, enjoyed perfect snow, sun, wind and a great friendly atmosphere of this unique event, which was first held 10 years ago in the Swiss resort of Gstaad, where the Gstaad Yacht Club is based.
The event creatively combines ski races where consistency (not speed) counts, with match racing in the semi-Olympic indoor pool with remote-controlled America’s cup model replica boats. The Societe Nautique de Geneve narrowly beat Royal Yacht Squadron in the final.
The prizegiving dinner was held in the prestigious GYC clubhouse, where participants and guests enjoyed a special presentation by Bruno Trouble on the recently held Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland.
Top mark action
Barcelona Yacht Design Group team, led by Sebastian Simó and Raúl Gonzalo, and his proposed 50 ‘IP has been awarded at the “MILLENNIUM YACHT DESIGN AWARD” as the best design of a sailing yacht in the professional category, issued by the International exhibition of technology, subcontracting , yachts design and mega yachts, SEATEC, in Carrara, Italy.
The yacht 50′IP is the next step in the evolution of the motor sailor. Thanks to the fluid dynamics studies in conjunction with professionals in the highest sailing competition (America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race), achieves excellent performance under sail and a motor speed of 21 knots. The propulsion of this boat is achieved by two 300 hp outboard, which in sailing conditions are lifted and reduces the resistance of the vessel, thereby improving its performance significantly. The lifting keel, which provides enviable sailing performance, substantially reduces the friction when motoring and also allows the yacht approaching the shallow waters for anchoring.
Club Trophy
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Sydney Harbour
After two months of championship racing, the Australian 18 Footers League returned to Sydney Harbour today when it conducted the Club Trophy 3-buoys race.
A few skippers and crew members swapped boats for the day but it was the tried and true combination of John Harris, Scott Babbage and Peter Harris on board Rag & Famish Hotel which won the day.
Rag & Famish Hotel took the honours by 48s from the UK team of Project Racing, led by Andy Budgen.
Third place went to Kinder Caring Home Nursing, guest skippered today by Nathan Outteridge, which finished a further 36s back.
Rag & Famish and Project Racing won the start at the windward end of the line and both elected to go to the western side of Shark Island.
The rest of the fleet, headed into Rose Bay by Bruce Savage’s Thurlow Fisher, went to the left.
When the two groups met at the 3-buoy windward marks, Thurlow Fisher took advantage of a red buoy rounding to grab the lead.
The Rag was superior downwind to lead Thurlow Fisher around the Robertson Point mark.
John Winning Jr. had Gotta Love It 7 into third position, closely followed by Asko Appliances (Evan Walker) and Project Racing, which lost time after a premature spinnaker set.
Smeg (Daniel Phillips) and De Longhi (Simon Nearn) were next ahead of a closely bunched group of boats.
Gotta Love It 7 narrowly led Rag & Famish at Clarke Island, but The Rag was again superior downwind to retake the lead.
From that point the Rag & Famish team was faultless and always in control.
Project Racing came back strongly to regain second placing over the loop section (Rose Bay-Taylors Bay-Rose Bay) of the course but never really looked likely to take the lead.
Australian Olympic 49er sailor, Nathan Outteridge showed his talent with a guest stint as skipper of Kinder Caring Home Nursing.
After a slow start, Outteridge led the Kinder Caring team back through the fleet for an excellent third placing ahead of Smeg, Southern Cross Constructions (Euan Mc Nicol) and Gotta Love It 7.
ERICSSON 3 TAKES LEAD AS NORTHERN GAMBLE PAYS OFF
current positions
The leaderboard has been turned on its head in the past 24 hours with Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) seizing control as the fleet reaches the halfway point of this 12,300 nautical mile marathon en route to Cape Horn.
Navigator Aksel Magdahl’s gamble on a northern heading, away from the pack and against conventional Southern Ocean wisdom, soon after the scoring gate at 36 degrees south, is paying off for Ericsson 3.
By 13:00 GMT Position Report, the Nordics had hooked up with the low pressure system and were powering south-east at 18 knots to the first ice gate.
While Magdahl is not ready to celebrate wildly just yet, there is the matter of his 30th birthday today. ”I am sitting here by the nav desk with a couple of guys eating our best freeze dried meal as a celebration of my 30th birthday,” he said.
“It will be an unforgettable birthday, really. Sailing straight into the middle of the low pressure with bad sea state and variable breeze, trying to nail a big lead on THE leg of this Volvo Ocean Race. Screaming out on the other side straight for the second ice gate, gaining 50 miles a sched (Position Report).
“The latest report from Volvo Ocean Race HQ shows we have jumped into the lead by 80 miles. And I assume we will gain quite a bit more over the next couple of scheds.”
In fact the gap to second-placed PUMA (Ken Read/USA), which tacked shortly after 22:00 GMT last night, had grown to 110 miles.
The constant beating in 20 knots over the past few days has tested the patience of the crew of il mostro, according to Media Crew Member Rick Deppe. “Having tacked last night at least we finally we have our bow somewhat pointing at ‘The Horn’, a little under 4,000 miles away,” he says.
“That’s the good news. The reality is somewhat bleaker. Who would ever have imagined that we would be in the Volvo Ocean Race, and actually beating in the Southern Ocean?
“And I don’t just mean beating for a few hours, we’re talking days here. It’s madness. And not much fun either. The boat is constantly heeled over at a 23-degree angle and bouncing around violently as we launch off hundreds of waves every hour – I just counted 14 in the last minute – proof enough.”
Deppe’s opposite number on Ericsson 4, Guy Salter, painted an equally grim picture. “I don’t know what the fleet has done to deserve it – but we are still going upwind,” he lamented this morning.
“We hope that the sleigh ride is just around the corner so we can really let E4 do what it does best – the ride onboard won’t be any easier but the daily totals will be healthier and the time to RIo should drop dramatically.”
Overnight leader Telefonica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED), has, as expected starting to leak miles to the opposition. Positioned furthest south of the fleet and jury-rigged after breaking its forestay 48 hours ago, the Blue boat has been relegated to fourth place behind Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) place, 176 miles adrift of Ericsson 3.
Leg Five, Day 22: 1300 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(boat name/country/skipper/nationality/distance to finish)
Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson/SWE) DTF 6152nm
PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) + 110
Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +152
Telefonica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) +176
Green Dragon IRL/CHI (Ian Walker/GBR) +228
Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) DNS
Telefonica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) DNS
Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) DNS
Click here for a snap shot of life on a Volvo70
Pictures by Tim Wright.
Many more of Tim Wright’s pictures are at: www.photoaction.com
Wet and Wild!
In Big Northerly Breeze and Gear-Busting Seas, the 29th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Sets Sail
bow-web.jpgSt. Maarten, N.A. (March 6, 2009) – Peter Holmberg clasped his hands together and allowed himself a brief glance skyward. It was time, apparently, for a prayer. Holmberg, an Olympic sailing medalist from the U.S. Virgin Islands and a native Caribbean son, is no stranger to big winds and heavy seas, and he was wearing a smile as he took in the wet and wild scene ahead. But the circumstances suggested that a small bit of divine intervention might certainly be welcome. And it’s no stretch to think, that when it came to asking for heavenly wishes, that he wasn’t alone.
Holmberg, calling tactics on the Melges 32, Jurakan, was one of hundreds of sailors on the 218 yachts that set sail today to begin the 29th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. It was not a day for the meek of heart or the weak of hull. For after a brief series of morning squalls, a northerly breeze packing gusts over 30-knots swept in with a vengeance, and the steady, pumping winds that accompanied them generated gear-busting seas of 8-10 feet and more. Torn sails, bruised sailors, broken equipment—as well as a dismasting, numerous collisions, and a near sinking—soon followed.
surfing-web.jpgThe carnage began after the respective racing, cruising and bareboat classes came hard on the freshening breeze
Southern Star arrives at Dennis Conner’s North Cove
March 7, 2009
The first yacht of ……er, um…. well, it’s not quite spring, so instead, let’s just say the last yacht of winter arrived yesterday at Dennis Conner’s North Cove.
New Yorkers who woke up and walked, jogged or bicycled around North Cove this morning were greeted by Southern Star, a vision of things to come as winter gives way to spring and summer.
Southern Star is a 75 foot sloop rigged cutter designed by William Tripp. She was built in 1965 at Stephens Marine and is an endurance cruiser. She has already completed 8 Arctic expeditions.
Her skipper is Olivier Pitras and he is currently leading a group of sailors on a circumnavigation of North America. Beginning in Europe, she sailed up and over the top of North America via the Northwest Passage. Then she traveled down the Pacific Coast, through the Panama Canal and now up the East Coast. In all, she will be traveling 12 months and complete 21 ports of call.
The purpose of the voyage is to better understand global warming. At each port of call, the expedition interviews experts in various field. The focus in New York City will be on local and international government responsiveness and responsibilities. The expedition is sponsored by the French consulates in San Francisco, Vancouver, Miami and New York City.
You can find out more at the expedition website at www.69nord.com/english/expe/index.html
Be sure to check the link for the “Daily Log Book.” You can see some pictures of what it was like to sail in the ocean when temperatures were below freezing last week. Great pictures of ice on the yacht. You can also find a link for the onboard team.
Southern Star arrived in NYC on March 6 and is expected to depart March 13.
North Cove is happy to welcome Southern Star to the island of Manhattan. Their visit coincides with the best weather so far this year. Enjoy your Big Apple experience!
And to all of our other yachting friends out there around the world, best wishes to you as well. We hope you will come visit North Cove again this year. You can make reservations any time at www.TheNorthCove.com. We’ll leave the lights on for you and roll out the red carpet. It’s been quite a winter and we look forward to the return of the beautiful yachts this spring!
- your friends at Dennis Conner’s North Cove
This post is tagged 18ft skiff, adam, Add new tag, dennis conner, ericsson, gilles, ibi, juerg, kaufmann, louis vuitton, marseille, martin-raget, match racing, minoprio, ocean, pete goss, scuttlebutt, seatec, spirit of mystery, st maarten, stewart 34, volvo
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