Greetings Yachties,

Team Kiwi Match

Abby Sunderland

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series 2010

TP52

Melges 20

La Solitaire

Hurricane Bill

Sailonline and Bill

Enjoy,

North Sails Model Yacht Regatta

Thursday the 1st of October at Westhaven at around 4:30pm.
Any model yacht is allowed, there will be divisions for windwarriors and NS open 600s but any other fleet of more than 5 boats will get a division as well as an open ‘free for all’ div where anything goes.
Norths will be giving out some prizes and there will be a sausage sizzle going on too.
The aim is to have a good fun day and dust the cobwebs off all the models that are gathering dust in a corner somewhere.
Everyone is welcome, entry is free.
NOR is attached.

The NS 600 class is a open box rule class that we started about 5 years ago, in its heyday we had about 35 measured in and about 18 on the startline for the nationals. Great fun little class, I will copy the class rules for those too so anyone can build a boat with in the class rules.
I will have mine out for sure and its roumored that Grunta will have the ‘Stacey Jones’ (the little warrior) out as well. No doubt there will be a few 600s on the startline.

I might even get the trimaran going for a little display of how not to sail a RC multihull!

Northsails 600 model yacht class rules
This is an ‘open’ box rule.
The Box is 600mm long x 1050mm high, the boat has to fit
thru the box with the waterline parallel to the 600mm edge.
The only other rule is, it can only have one hull.
As many movable appendages as you want.
Any materials.
Any sail configuration.
National champs will be held later in the year
Josh Tucker will be the class measurer.

more here

more model yachts here

TEAM KIWI MATCH

Bring it on!

With the practice day out of the way all that is left is to bring on the racing tomorrow. We feel we have a good handle on the boats after our 4 hours of training today and look forward to getting started tomorrow.

Hopefully the good breeze we had today holds together and we can racing can get away on schedule tomorrow.

We’re Here

We have all made it to Chicago, Andy met us at the airport so now we are 4 and finally we have our full team all together.

We are heading out this morning for our practise sail and to get our bearings around the yacht club so that will be good to get amongst it.

Cheers

Team Kiwi Match

more here

Laurie Jury Team Kiwi Match Helm

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week

An impressive fleet of 194 yachts comprising everything from small cruising boats to the upper echelon of Grand Prix racers will line up for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, starting this Saturday, August 22.

The fleet size, which has exceeded the highest expectations of organisers, cements Race Week as the biggest offshore yachting regatta in Australia, as well as the most awarded.

“This fleet confirms that Audi Hamilton Island Race Week stands at the pinnacle of keelboat racing in Australia,” said the island’s CEO, Glenn Bourke, who is a yachting Olympian and multi world championship winner. “Everyone associated with the regatta is elated. To achieve the fleet we have this year you must offer the best formula for close and satisfying racing, and an outstanding venue, and that is what we have done, thanks in no small way to the Oatley family who have done a superb job in developing Hamilton Island as the premier island holiday destination in Australia.

“However, we also recognise we can’t rest on our laurels. Our challenge is to see Hamilton Island Race Week continue to deliver a premium level of competition plus stimulating events onshore that satisfy everyone over the years ahead.”

Glenn Bourke made special mention of the cruising and non-spinnaker cruising divisions that make up the bulk of the fleet. He said Race Week organisers would never lose sight of the important role they play in the overall success of the regatta.

And while these cruising division sailors are destined to enjoy close racing on special courses that embrace the exceptional natural beauty that comes with the many islands making up the Whitsunday region, it will be the intensity of the competition in the IRC Grand Prix division that will hold centre stage. The fleet here is possibly the best ever assembled in ocean racing in Australia.

In all 59 yachts make up the IRC Grand Prix and IRC Passage divisions, a figure that this year represents a surprising percentage increase in the makeup of the entire fleet.

more here

more Louis Vuitton Pacific Series here

Dalton looking to expand Pacific Series

2:35PM Thursday Aug 20, 2009

By Robert Lowe

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

PORTIMAO – Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton is hopeful America’s Cup-class yacht racing will make a return to New Zealand this summer.

Team NZ were one of the movers behind the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland in January and February, when they went on to win the final against archrivals Alinghi.

That series was organised in response to the lack of America’s Cup action because of the ongoing court wrangle between American syndicate Oracle and cup holders Alinghi.

The pair are set to do battle in a one-on-one duel in giant multihulls in the Persian Gulf next February, with both sides saying the cup regatta after that would revert to the mult-challenger format.

Dalton said today that the feedback from the Pacific Series had been such that there were plans for a repeat.

But rather than being a stand-alone event, it would be part of a new circuit that would include three other stops around the world.

“Initially, we were trying to put something together for this year, but it just got too late to get something ready,” he said.

“We hope that it will commence in Auckland next year, probably a little later than February to get away from the cup, but still in summer.”

more here

chatter on Sailing Anarchy here

TP52 – Audi MedCup – Portimao

Paul Cayard
Thursday, August 20, 2009

Another good day on the Artemis today! Finishes of 2, 4, 2 has us tied for first with Team New Zealand on 15 points. Quantum is third with 17.

The first raced was very tricky because we started in a wind direction of 245 and finished in a wind direction of 305. In the middle, the wind went light and then banged right as predicted.

We were in good shape up the first windward leg rounding the top mark 5th. Down the run, the transition happened and the fleet bunched up. We made a gybe away from the group that paid us well and we rounded the gate fourth.

We held fourth up the 2nd windward leg in a tough fight with Sunergy and Quantum. Bigimist the local boat had the race won and Team New Zealand was comfortably in second.

Down the final run, Team New Zealand gybe set while we and Bigimist bore away and went offshore. We had 4 knots more wind out in that corner and came back to cross TNZ by one length to steal second place from them. Quantum ended up 8th!

The second race was started in 20 knots from 310. We had an ok start but Bigimist was over early. We got tacked on by Team New Zealand off the line and that set us back a bit. So we were on the back foot as we came up to the top mark but managed to get around in 5th with some tight work on Audi Q8. Down the run we moved up to 4th and that is pretty much where we stayed for the rest of the race. Team New Zealand had the good lane off the start and was very fast upwind and went on to win that one. Synergy had a good race in second and Quantum was just un front of us in third.

So all in all, another solid performance for us on Artemis. Very consistent and steady. Tomorrow is the coastal race.

Looks familiar?

Portugal Trophy, 20 08 2009 © Ian Roman/ Audi MedCup

Challenging and, at times, humbling. That was the assessment of Emirates Team New Zealand’s navigator Kevin Hall after the Kiwi team posted a third and a first today to lead the Portugal Trophy after five races have been sailed.

The gusty, puffy breeze was, once more, rich with both pitfalls and opportunities. Even when the north westerly had kicked in and the wind topped 20-21 knots there were lines of lighter breeze to avoid.

While Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) lead the TP52 Series regatta, so too the GP42 Series leader board has a familiar look too now as Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) emerge with a one point lead after two wins and a third from the first three races here.

Big gusts, especially on the downwind legs, were not only a big payout for those who struck it rich from the weather mark, but offered the viewing spectators great action as the TP52’s surfed at speed.

Emirates Team New Zealand promoted themselves from fifth after the first day to lead in to the coastal race, albeit on countback, from Artemis (SWE).

The Swedish flagged 2007 champions, with Paul Cayard calling tactics, remained consistent today with a second and a fourth, in no small way thanks to one long surf down the final run of the first race which allowed them to pass Emirates Team New Zealand to finish just behind Portugal’s victors Bigamist 7.

TP52 Race 1
The first race was won by Pedro Mendonça’s Portuguese team on Bigamist. They were able to overtake Emirates Team New Zealand on the first run to secure their second successive win, their seventh winning gun of the season.

In 13-14 knots of westerly breeze Emirates Team New Zealand lead around the windward mark first time up after choosing the early left in better wind pressure, but on the first run they let Bigamist to the stronger breeze. As the breeze shifted right for the second beat they were able to extend.

On the final run the preferred downwind route according to the wind shift would have been inshore but the bonus wind pressure offshore, down the right was there for Artemis and Matador (ARG) in particular.

Artemis surfed down nearly the entire run with a big speed advantage on those to their left. Torbjorn Tornqvist’s crew crossed ahead of ETNZ to pip them for second, gaining three places on the run, so too Matador dragged themselves up from seventh to fourth, riding the same gust pattern.

TP52 Race 2
In the second race Emirates Team New Zealand were able to take control early on the first beat after getting the start they wanted. They could cross to win the favoured right, Praia Rocha shore on the upwind leg. This time they made no mistake on the first run, choosing to stick with the right, offshore lane. Synergy (RUS) were able to hold second with Quantum Racing (USA) third.

After leading the regatta on the first day, Quantum Racing were one of the teams to lose out to the left, starved of less pressure on the second run of first race, dropping from fourth to a weighty eighth.

Bigamist 7 jumped the start gun for Race 2. It took them time to extricate themselves from a tight line up. After rounding the first mark 300 metres behind the last boat they fought back to eighth, but now lie fourth overall.

GP42 Series
In winning the third and last race of the day, the youthful team of “Canarias Kids” led by Jose Maria Ponce (ESP) on Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) have taken an early lead in the GP42 Series on scores of 1-3-1. Unlike their first win, which was achieved in just the last few metres of the final run into the finish line, their win in the last race was achieved nearly at the start. On a starting line shortened to fit the GP42’s, the Canarias Kids chose to stay well away from the fray in the middle-right of the line by accelerating towards the pin, shooting off the line with speed, and within less than a minute had enough space to tack and cross the group towards the favored right side of the course.

From there they led and never looked back.

Runner-up in the standings is Roma 2 (ITA), who on consistent 2-2-2 scores showed they have the potential to win at any moment, especially now that regular helmsman Paolo Cian (ITA) is back in action.

But the win by Caser-Endesa (ESP) in the second race showed that they too have the potential to get to the top, as most races were pitted battles between these three teams for the lead.

Quotes of the day:

Dean Barker (NZL) skipper-helm Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“It was good. In the first race we were going well, had a good first beat and ended up a little bit conservative and lost a couple of places, but in the second race we were good. The boat is going really well and it was nice to stretch away.
For us it is still about getting a good clean start, not necessarily winning whichever end of the line that is favoured but wanting a lane just to be able to sail how you want. It is not always easy.
Once the breeze went round to the NW’ly direction it was nice. It made for some great sailing, but you could see that even when the breeze was up in the 20-21 knots range there were lines of lighter breeze. But it was enjoyable sailing.”

Katie Burns (USA), deck hand and winner of the Quantum Sails ‘Living the Dream’:
“It has been a great learning experience, I have been learning so much how the professional racing team work, how the boat runs and how it operates. And I have been hiking a lot, but really just enjoying being out there on the water in these great winds. It was a great day.”

Kevin Hall (USA), Navigator Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“We were a little disappointed after the first run today to seemingly make the same mistake to yesterday. On the other hand with the same information we had at the time, you would make the same decision again. But the second race was nice.
There is more pressure outside for the runs, and that carries for the day, but mostly it is the shifts at the top of the beat which is important, with the ‘righty’ (right hand shift) in the top corner.”

Audi MedCup Circuit 2009
Portugal Trophy

TP52 Series
Overall – Day 2
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 2+3+6+3+1= 15 points
2. Artemis (SWE), 3+4+2+2+4= 15 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+1+4+8+3= 17 points
4. Bigamist (POR), 5+5+1+1+8= 20 points
5. Bribón (ESP), 6+2+3+7+7= 25 points
…

GP42 Series
Overall – Day 1
1. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 1+3+1= 5 points
2. Roma (ITA), 2+2+2= 6 points
3. Caser Endesa (ESP), 3+1+3= 7 points
4. Turismo Madrid (ESP), 4+5+4= 13 points
5. Airis (ITA), 5+4+5= 14 points

more here

more here

TP52 – Audi MedCup – Portimao

Paul Cayard
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Good day on the Artemis today! Finishes of 3, 4, 2 has us in second place overall after three races. Quantum is leading with 1, 1, 4.

The first race did not get off until 1400. The forecast had the wind in the southwest for the early part of the day but an eminent shift to the northwest was surely coming. Would it come during the race? Would it turn the race upside down?

Well, we got the first one in completely in the southwest wind. We had a good start, in the smooth water and 13 knots of wind. It was a matter of inches that made the difference at the top mark. We rounded third and then passed one boat on the run by choosing the proper gate. Held second up the second beat but Quantum tacked on us twice so we both lost ground to Team New Zealand and we ended up overstood. Down the run, Team New Zealand gybed on us three times and passed us while the both of us almost lost Matador.

The wind then died and quickly shifted to the northwest at about 16 knots. We had two races in this direction with the wind topping out at 22. So the boats were planing downwind and it was a lot of fun. Usually, it is all about the right in this direction but today there were gains to be had on the left especially downwind and fortunately we got most of it correct.

At the start of the second race we fouled Matador. So, after our penalty turn, we were dead last. But we kept chipping away and sailed heads up to finish fourth. This was a great come-back and probably the most important part of the day, definitely something that will stay with us for a while.

Then in the last race, we had a decent start, managed the first windward leg ok, but it was a decision to stay on starboard out of the windward mark on the run that got us to more pressure and we rounded the gate in 2nd to Bigimist (the locals). From there it was just about course management and we finished second. Quantum had a bad start in that one and did well to get back to fourth while Team New Zealand led at the first windward mark but gybed set and lost 6 places.

So we are pretty happy with that day and will sleep well tonight at least.

International Stage Is Set For Audi Melges 20 U.S. Nationals 2009

The Audi Melges 20 holds its very first major event — the Audi U.S. National Championship, hosted by the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, August 21-23.

20 August 2009 – Since its debut at Key West Race Week 2009, the Audi Melges 20 has taken the sailing world by storm with its ultra cool lines, sleek hull and big appetite for seriously competitive racing. Thus far, the Audi Melges 20 has been awarded 2009 Sailing World One Design Boat of The Year, impressed sailors multiple times over and inspired a driving desire for simplified sailing — a key feature of this young, aspiring fleet full of growth potential and prosperity.

Look even closer to those that helm, serve as tactician and crew. At the heart of every Audi Melges 20 worldwide, there is a maturing league of dedicated and loyal Melges sailing diehards – anxious for speed and challenging yacht racing.

This weekend, on August 21-23, hosted by the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club (MBYC), fourteen Audi Melges 20s will commence the very first Audi Melges 20 U.S. National Championship with Sebago as the official footwear sponsor.

“There is an undeniable buzz in the air at MBYC. Everyone is incredibly excited. We are especially thrilled that we are the first to be able to hold the National Championship for the Audi Melges 20. Boats are already here. As you walk through the parking lot you can just feel the energy,” says Regatta Chair Michael Kiss.

The vast majority of the competitors are from the Michigan area. Entrants include Chuck Holzman on Flyer, Charleston Race Week Champion Marc Hollerbach on Blackjack, Detroit NOOD Champ Eric Wynsma on Superfly and John Arendshorst on Blink. Several teams are traveling from all parts of the U.S.A. to participate including Joe Williams from Seattle, Wash. on Habit, Dave Hammett from the Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Md. on Simplified Sophistication and Pieter Taselaar from New York, N.Y. on Bliksem.

Taselaar’s rise to Melges fame came to be and is ongoing predominantly in the International Melges 32 Class. This weekend he tries his hand at the Audi Melges 20. Plan on seeing members of his star-studded champion team in Macatawa such as Morning Light star Jeremy Wilmot calling tactics and Willem Van Waay as crew.

The origin of competition that awaits the fleet has no parameters. Breaking the border is John Sherlock from Port Credit, Canada sailing his Audi Melges 20 CAN-141.

Traveling all the way from Italy are two very strong competitors — Marco Morino on Sei Tu 20 and current Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series leader Benedetto Giallongo on Value Team. They are raring and ready to try their luck at racing in the U.S.A. Giallongo is currently undefeated in the Audi Sailing Series 2009. It’s pretty safe to assume this fleet has officially put him on notice.

Registration takes place on Thursday, August 20 with championship racing kicking off on Friday and continuing until Sunday. Full race reports and results will be published after racing each day.

Stay tuned to the Official Audi Melges 20 Web Site, the Official Audi Melges 20 Blog,

more here

Une 40e édition digne d’un scenario d’Hitchcock

Cinquante-deux marins au départ, cinquante-deux à l’arrivée. Aucun abandon. De jeunes talents qui se révèlent, des stars de la voile qui ont fait honneur à leur rang, de belles histoires, un podium magnifique, des bizuths enthousiastes… et surtout un suspense insoutenable qui a tenu jusqu’aux derniers milles de la dernière ligne d’arrivée. Cette 40e Solitaire du Figaro a fait bien plus que tenir ses promesses. « Je ne pouvais rêver mieux » avoue le directeur de course, Jacques Caraës. Cette Solitaire-là a été passionnante à chaque seconde, jusqu’à la toute dernière et cette victoire olympienne de Nicolas Lunven devant les deux grands champions que sont Yann Eliès et Frédéric Duthil. Retour sur images.

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Race a 125ft Cat across the Atlantic with Hurricane Bill

Race starts 22 August here

Hurricane Bill

Hurricane Bill probably won’t get  within 200 miles of Long Island, but it still is likely to have a big impact on South Shore and East End beaches through this weekend.

“The forecast calls for high surf and strong rip currents to develop during Friday and become dangerous over the weekend, especially on Saturday, as Hurricane Bill, still a major hurricane, passes southeast of Montauk Point,” Gary Conte, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton, said Thursday. “The rough conditions on the ocean will probably last through Sunday.” The South Shore could see waves of up to 15 feet by Sunday, meteorologists said.

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Join the crew on the web @ sail on line racing an Hurricane

Photo credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Hurricane Bill is seen in the Atlantic Ocean Thursday.

I think he is saying he is bringing 1 friend to your BBQ

Unborn Fetus to Sail Around the World

On the heels of the announcement that 16 year-old Abby Sunderland is going to attempt to break her ‘older’ brother, 17 year-old Zac’s recent record as the youngest nonstop sailor around the world, The Unborn Sailor Association announced their new effort to break the record.

An unborn fetus named ‘Baby Ernesto’, will attempt to sail around the world, non stop and unassisted to become the youngest sailor ever to accomplish this. “They want young, we’ll give ‘em young. Given the fact that it is hard to be younger than an unborn, we feel confident that this record will truly stand the test of time. When we’re done, people will refer to Abby Sunderland as ‘Granny.”

Details of the effort have yet to be obtained, but a picture of ‘Baby Ernesto’ has been obtained showing BE training to deal with pirates. Pro life advocates are thought to be supporting the voyage of BE, “heralding the contributions to society of the unborn, as evidenced by Baby Ernesto.”

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Zac Sunderland’s younger sister to try to break his sailing record

Abby Sunderland, sister of Zac Sunderland, is hoping to break her brother’s record by becoming the youngest person to sail around the world by herself. (Laurence Sunderland / Associated Press)

Abby Sunderland

A month after Zac Sunderland, at 17, became the youngest person to sail around the world by himself, his younger sister has announced plans to try to break that record.

Abby Sunderland, who will turn 16 in October, is hoping to embark on a nonstop, unassisted voyage in November aboard a 40-foot cruising vessel, and complete the trip in about six months. First, however, she will have to land a sponsor to help cover the $350,000 cost of the odyssey.

“I’ve been wanting to do this since I was 13, and when I was 13 there was nobody doing this,” she told the Associated Press. “So it’s kind of like right as I’m about to finally get to do it, all these other kids start popping up doing it.”

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This post is tagged Abby Sunderland, artemis, Audi Medcup, Bigamist, bribon, dean barker, Emirates Team New Zealand, grant dalton, Hurricane Bill, Islas Canarias, Katie Burns, Kevin Hall, La Solitaire du Figaro, laurie jury, Louis Vuitton Pacific series, Melges 20, NS Open 600, Quatum racing, Roma, sailonline, Team Kiwi Match, yachtyakka