From Latitude 38
COURT OF APPEALS DECISION RELEASED
State of New York, Court of Appeals announced their decision this morning, finding the defender Société Nautique Genève (SNG) had breached their fiduciary duty and has instructed that the America’s Cup shall be returned to the custody of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) who will conduct a two boat challenge between SNG and Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) in Long Island Sound no later than September 1, 2009.
Judge Judy-Smith, writing the decision stated, “The defender (SNG) has clearly ignored the spirit of the Deed of Gift by creating a challenger yacht club Club Nautico Español de Vela (CNEV) to gain an advantage and rewrite a set of rules that have served the Cup well for many years.”
The GGYC challenge is approved and NYYC shall act as escrow agent and shall conduct a best of seven series from their base in Newport, RI. The race dates should be announced next week. SNG shall immediately transfer the Cup to NYC as escrow agent.
and here
Alex Caizergues and Melissa Gil lead the 2009 Kitespeed Worlds
Tuesday, 31 March 2009 11:13
After two rounds of racing yesterday, Alex Caizergues (FRA, F-One) and Melissa Gil (USA, Cabrinha) have taken the lead in this years speed world championship.
In total, 35 competitors registered for the first event of the season, and although the weather forecast is not brilliant for the upcoming days, there is hope for the weekend to bring more wind to allow for more racing.
The first heat of the competition was won by Rob Douglas (USA, Cabrinha), the first kiter that broke the speedsailing dominance of the windsurfers last year in Luderitz, and one of the three kiteboarders that made it over 50 knots. Heat two was then won by World Record Holder Alex Caizergues. Second in both legs was Sylvain Hoceini, ensuring him a second place in the overall ranking as well. Rob Douglas is in third overall, and US course racing star Damien Leroy (Cabrinha) on an excellent fourth place in his first speed competition. In fifth, local hero Sylvain Maurin (FRA, F-One).
In the womens fleet, newcomer Melissa Gil was able to defeat reigning world champion Charlotte Consorti (FRA, F-One), they are both tied in points but Melissa with a slightly better top speed. In third then reigning world record holder Sjoukje Bredenkamp (RSA, Naish).
Racing continues until Sunday, fifth of April, with daily racing from 10:00 hours.
Expression
The Expression category is judged on overall impression rather than top speed or tactics. Although, with its spectaculare jumps and wave riding action it is most appealing for spectators and the medias.
Kite Wave Boarding
Wave Riding
The Wave discipline is often regarded as the crown jewel of the disciplines. Competitors go head to head or in heats of up to 4 at a time, against some of the toughest conditions on the planet. The battle between man and the elements makes for the most radical action combined with some of the most extreme examples of nature.
The first SolOceans will start on 23 October 2011
In the context of the world economic crisis, SailingOne and the sponsors from the private and public sectors of the SolOceans* – the first round-the-world single-handed race on equal footing raced on 16-metre high tech monohulls – have officialised this morning the postponement of the start of the first edition initially scheduled on 25 October 2009 until 23 October 2011.
Broken Boats
Nineteen out of the thirty boats which started the single handed Vendée Globe race have been forced to
retire to date through breakages. Meanwhile, only four teams out of eight managed to finish leg 4 of the
Volvo Ocean Race and make it to Qingdao, China, in racing mode. What are the reasons for the high
percentage of failures? Is the situation acceptable, is it just simply “nature of the game”? We asked some of
those closest to the races for their views…
Loïck Peyron, Vendée Globe skipper (Gitana)
Ken Read, Volvo Ocean Race skipper (PUMA)
Marcus Hutchinson, Volvo Ocean Race Communication Director
Pat Shaughnessy, President, Farr Yacht Design
Dominique Wavre, Vendée Globe skipper (Temenos) and IMOCA President
full interview here – wyrf press release
On the morning of March 26th, on the ‘dry’ Lake Ivanpah, The Ecotricity Greenbird driven by British engineer, Richard Jenkins smashed the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles. The Greenbird clocked 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h) , eclipsing the old, American held, record of 116 mph , set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location.
Balokovic Cup 2009
Outrageous Fortune
Sue, Richard, Garrath, Paul, Kbell, Fred, me and the mirror ball. Almost finished.
Elapsed time 21 hours 10 minutes and 30 seconds for 90 miles.
more later, need to catch up on some sleep.
As Bondage man would say, Crap!
After a brissiling start in 5knots gusting 6, we all headed towards Flat Rock, a very pleasent sail up the East Coast Bays under mast head kite slowly pulling ahead of a small fleet of Kiwi, Touchdown, Lolanthe 11 and Charlatan. By Rangi Light Wired had reached into the distant night and Starlight Express abeam and to leeward.
By Tiri passage the fleet behind was becoming hard to pick out from the city lights with Starlight and Wired just ahead. We managed to hang onto Starlight as we approched Flat Rock at 2330 changing kites to the reaching one we headed off towards the Cow at 8 knots. Very pleasent sailing reaching towards the eastern end of Waiheke settling into our watch system we were able to celebrate the corners with the traditional refreshment.
0300, tide will be changing soon and we still had a gentle breeze. 0400 or there abouts and the breeze moves into the south east. By this time the fleet behind had dropped out of sight and the 2 lights ahead on Wired and Starlight were a little smaller too, but still visible. A few short tacks to round the Cow and Starlight is only a few miles ahead with Wired a few miles a head of her. As we sailed away from the Cow back across the Firth we are able to set the mast head again, however with the breeze clocking left we are lifted, and lifted and then the tide changed with it went the breeze. By now its getting light and we can see 2 sails ahead and to leeward, Wired and Starlight and back towards the Cow we can see 2 more sails, Kiwi and Touchdown still heading towards the Cow.
mmm….. time to make a call, do we gybe and head down the northern side of Waiheke or keep heading towards the mark. Although the breeze had moved into the East it’s still the wrong gybe for us to head around the outside…. mmmm …… the now casting is saying Bean Rock is 8knots from the West and Passage Rock is 5 knots from the North West Manukau is not available, Channel Island is 11knots from the East, Great Mercury is also 10 from from the East we have 4 from the South East, mmmm there will be some big wind holes.
As we approach Ponui Island we can see Wired and Starlight against the land and by now Touchdown and Kiwi have rounded the Cow have set kites and are about 10 miles behind. Opting for the little gap at the southern end of Pouni we inch our way forward in a dying breeze. Behind us we can see that the breeze had gone.
By now there are 4 now casting sites reporting no wind. Once through the gap we can see Wired over towards Rocky Bay and another yacht slowly tacking up Waiheke Channel. A small Northerly breeze has made its way to us and up goes the reacher. Slowly we make our way past Maraetai. The Pineharbour fleet have started their race towards Flat Rock, slowly we catch and pass them keeping our 11 tons moving in this soft breeze requires 100% concentration by the helm and trimmer. The yacht tacking up through the channel has parked and Wired is now approaching Browns Island. Where is Starlight?.
Just as we close in on Browns we hear on the radio that Wired is nearly finished, a little while later Starlight annouce they have just past Browns, where ever they went they are just around the corner. Looking back towards Passage Rock we cannot see either Kiwi or Touchdown. We have managed to sneek our way along the shore and with just Browns to get around, we are looking forward to a kite run down Motukorea Channel.
But heuy was knot going to be so ………nice.
As we rounded the Island, the breeze dies completely. We rounded this rock just after 1300 with only a couple of miles to run home we can smell the finish line. But whats that red kite powering around Browns Island in a freashing northerly, Touchdown has brought down a nice little breeze and has closed to within a few 100 meters, as Bondage man would say, Crap!
Touchdown is under kite in a northerly and we have a westerly, the AC charter yachts over by Narrowneck have a norwest and Manukau is in the South. Then over the radio we hear that Starlight have withdrawn insight of the finish, they must be gutted to come so far and not get a result.
We can just lay Bean Rock and then a huge knock heads us towards Mission Bay. We have to tack onto a Southerly to finish under headsail on port. Looking back Touchdown has found a nice little hole to fall into and from closing to within 100 meters we are able to pull away and finish 1/2 an hour ahead. Knot enough in the end to save our great position we had at Browns. Next Year maybe we will have a bit more breeze, maybe.
A great sail and a good chance to work on our light airs sailing, Well done to Touchdown, Charlatan, Wired. It takes a lot of skill to sail in light conditions.
Demonstrator would of had a blinder.
PRESS RELEASE for immediate release.
YACHT RACING DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM ADDED TO WORLD YACHT RACING FORUM.
March 30, 2009 – Informa Yacht Group, organisers of the World Yacht Racing Forum have announced the addition of the Yacht Racing Design & Technology Symposium to run parallel to this year’s Forum, 9-10 December at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Over 300 delegates and 65 media attended the inaugural World Yacht Racing Forum last December, co-located with the 4th edition of the popular Motorsport Business Forum.
The two day symposium will bring together the world’s leading yacht racing designers, naval architects and technology experts to meet and discuss some of the latest developments and issues in yacht racing design and technology. The schedule will include topics such as composite technology, canting keel and rudder technology, hydrodynamics, rig technology, advances in coating techniques and sail design. The symposium will also address the environmental implications on today’s yacht racing designers and builders. The full schedule will be announced in due course.
As well as industry experts and Production Directors from yacht builders, the symposium is also open for racing yacht owners to participate and meet and network with design professionals to discuss their own yachts or projects. The symposium will share joint access with the World Yacht Racing Forum lounge and exhibition area, as Event Director James Pleasance explains;
“The commercial and design/technical world of yacht racing are intrinsically linked as many of today’s biggest yachting events are driven by the design and technology of the yachts competing in them; the America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, Vendee Globe, Farr 40 class, Swan 45 regattas, and so on. Joining these two conferences together is the ideal opportunity for both sides of the sport to share ideas and forge new relationships. ”
Participants from both conferences will also gain free access to the Motorsport Business Forum and the Track & Ocean cocktail reception where they will have the opportunity to meet fellow business and design professionals from the world of motorsport. Top yacht designer Juan Kouyoumdjian attended the inaugural Forum last year;
“It is a great idea to add a symposium for the professionals involved in yacht design technology. It will allow us to meet in a pleasant environment, and to share our views on the future. It will also be interesting for teams, or yacht owners, to meet us and compare our ideas and discuss new trends and innovations.”
For more information on the Yacht Racing Design & Technology Symposium and details of how to register, visit www.yrdts.com
Sunreef reports strong sales for 2008
By IBI Magazine
Poland’s Sunreef Yachts reports that net income from production and services reached €27.6m in 2008 — a 40 per cent increase over the €19.6m that was generated during the previous year. The company is now predicting turnover of €33.6m in 2009, with more than 10 annual deliveries scheduled for the current year and another 16 scheduled for 2009.
“Our success to date comes from our focus on innovation and by extending the range of yachts we produce,” says Nicolas Lapp, Sunreef’s vice president. “In 2008 we launched two new yacht models, the 70 Sunreef Power and Sunreef 70 Sailing. This year, we will launch our first superyacht, the Sunreef 102 Double Deck. At the same time, we are now designing new mega-catamarans projects over 100 feet.”
Despite a challenging labour market in Poland, Sunreef has been able to reduce production time for its most popular model, the Sunreef 62, from nine to four months. The company has also acquired 16 hectares of land in Wiślinka, not far from Gdańsk in Poland, for the construction of a 24,000sq m manufacturing plant. The new purpose-built facility, which is due for completion and occupancy in 2010, will increase the company’s overall production capacity and enable Sunreef to build yachts of up to 50m (164ft).
Sunreef Yachts is comprised of three business units: Sunreef Yachts, Sunreef Yachts Charter and Yacht Management. The company has a worldwide brokers network in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, Qatar, USA and China and more.
Sunreef also recently established an aftersales service, refit and Brokerage Division which now has more than 800 yachts in its database.
“Our goal for the future is quite simply to maintain our position as the world’s largest manufacturer of large and luxury catamarans from 60 to 150 feet,” says Lapp.
(30 March 2009)
Portofino, Italy
Italian Riviera to ban coastal anchoring
By IBI Magazine
One of the most popular cruising grounds in Italy intends to ban boats from anchoring along most of its coastline. The regional government of Liguria said dozens of inlets will now be off limits to boats over 5m (16ft) for environmental reasons. Liguria oversees the coastal area known as the Italian Riviera, which extends from the French border to Tuscany.
According to a story in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, Franco Zunino, Liguria’s environment councillor, says that boats anchored in coves are destroying seagrass meadows, home to marine fauna including seahorses, starfish and wrasse. Boats are already banned from anchoring in front of Portofino, but the plan now includes 26 more sites.
Italy’s National Association of Shipbuilders issued a statement saying that the new plan is like “changing the highway code at every [regional] border.”
The regional government is deciding whether “intelligent buoys”, similar to those used in Greece and Spain, could allow for overnight stays for yachts while protecting the seabeds.
But Giorgio Devoto, the mayor of Portofino, said this would compromise the coast’s natural beauty. “It would be a huge mess and would ruin the views,” he told the paper.
(30 March 2009)
26th March 2009
www.hilarylister.com
Hilary’s Blog -18 March 2009
First of all let me apologise for the long silence. Things are now beginning to move with alarming speed once again, which is probably a good thing although a little frightening!
Preparations for this year’s sail are now well underway. The boats have been spruced up and the RIB is being serviced, although we’re still looking for someone who knows the inside of a “Mermaid” tractor engine inside out. Generally I suspect that Toby is being his usual perfectionist self, rather than letting anything slip past him, which is a good thing. Thanks to two extremely generous friends they have overwintered in a barn, along with the “boys van” and the Land Rover. We started off asking for space for the boats … we’ve now taken over two barns and quite a lot of parking space! Paul Taroni has spent the last 2 weeks helping Toby in the barn and I know he’s really helped put some momentum back into the project after a tough winter.
Huge thanks also have to go to BTS. Both “Daves” opened up their very busy fibreglass and printing unit during the worst of the weather so that we could fix a few problems we had last year and get into the warm. They were, as ever, wonderfully welcoming and extremely generous. They didn’t even bat an eyelid when the keel toppled onto one of their un-mendable creations. They also printed many of the hull stickers for and helped get “Me Too” into boat show condition.
Viv Thompson has worked his magic on the jib boom so that it now swings freely. The whole job involved some really high-tech solutions, such as planing down the inside piece by just 1 mm to remove the corrosion, and some really low-tech solutions, like using a mountain bike inner tyre to seal up the holes which let the seawater in!
The charity, “Hilary’s Dream Trust” seems to be taking on a life of its own, which is wonderful to see. We’ve had some teething problems getting everything transferred over to the new team, but we are almost there at last. The new directors are, as they say on all the best TV programmes, in no particular order: Kim Faulkner (secretary), David Pearson (Financial Director, also FD of the Round Britain Dream) and Clifford Lister (chair). Tony Leppard did a great job last year, running everything from home, but has decided to take a back seat this time. He will be missed, but our new trustees are all looking forward to the challenge of helping to run this year’s RBD.
Sunstone
Les jours passent et la fenêtre tant attendue joue toujours les filles de l’air pour l’équipage du Maxi Banque Populaire V. Le stand-by de la Route de la Découverte se prolonge à Cadix-Puerto Sherry mais fidèles à leur philosophie initiale, Pascal Bidégorry et ses hommes en profitent pour gagner du temps sur le calendrier de mise au point de leur monture. Ainsi, faute de créneau propice à l’établissement d’un nouveau temps de référence entre le port ibérique et San Salvador dans l’archipel des Bahamas, le Maxi Trimaran armé par la Banque de la Voile a pris le large pour quelques jours la semaine dernière et s’est frotté pour la première fois à un menu météorologique pour le moins complet et musclé. Retour sur des sensations fortes…
Days pass and such a waited window always plays the girls of air for the crew of Maxi Banque Populaire V. The stand-by of the Road of Discovery persists in Cadix-Puerto Sherry but faithful to their initial philosophy, Pascal Bidégorry and his men use it for time saving on the calendar of bet so as to their setting. So, for lack of parallel parking advantageous for the establishment of a new reference time between the Iberian harbour and San Salvador in the archipelago of Ba
and
This post is tagged americas cup, anchoring, balokovic, ban, boarding, boss, fortune, ggyc, globe, greenbird, hilary, hugo, kite, latitude, lister, maxi, mirabaud, nyyc, outrageous, populaire, portofino, sng, soloceans, sunreef, sunset, vendee, volvo
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