Yachting News 9th October 2009

Oct 8th 2009
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Greetings yachties,

Recently I have had some great feedback about what people would like to see on yachtyakka, yachting stories of course and also some yachting related stories like fishing, diving and some general boating news. This issue I have found this coming season bikini wear from Brazil. must be a huge shortage of fabric in that beautiful country, enjoy. also new on yachtyakka is the translation icon above, simply click the language and the whole site is translated for you. Fortunity the pictures are visible in ALL languages.

Bikini 2010,

Jessica Watson – Update

Valencia Sailing,

TP52,

Vetus Expands,

Bermuda Sun Talk to Peter Gilmour

more later

Jessica almost ready to take on the world

7 October, 2009
Jessica Watson is confident in her preparations for the solo around the world voyage and predicts a departure from Sydney Harbour next week.

Speaking at a packed media conference today opposite the Opera House which was hosted by 7 time world surfing champion Layne Beachley, the 16 year old shone as she answered probing questions, displaying a maturity way beyond her teen years.

Current record holder Jesse Martin, who became the youngest person to sail around the world in 1999 at the age of 18, also attended the function today in support of Jessica.

Today, Jessica spoke openly about the years of planning that has gone into this project. She is confident in her boat Ella’s Pink Lady, which is bright pink and packed with skin care products provided by her major sponsor Ella Bache.

“She’s a really cute little boat and I’m so proud of her, but she’s really tough as well,” Jessica said.

“We stripped her right back to nothing and basically rebuilt the boat, so she’s now ready to take on the world. We’ve got a big heavy keel, so if we go over we come back up, which is a uncomfortable but we can take it”.

“I’ve got an amazing amount of equipment – we’ve got all sorts of satellite communication equipment and navigation gear and Panasonic Toughbook computers, so I’m in good company”.

“But I suppose the important thing is that when it comes down to it, I can survive without all the fancy gear as well.”

Once Jessica sets sail, she believes it will take around 8 months to complete her journey.

“Starting from Sydney I’ll be sailing up above New Zealand, out to the Pacific, up to the equator and a little Island in the Line island group just over the equator. From there it’s back down to Cape Horn, the big Everest of sailing, so it’ll be pretty amazing to get around there. It will be a bit cooler and I’m expecting some bad weather around there. Then after that it’s back around through the Roaring Forties, bottom of south Atlantic, Cape of Good Hope, Indian Ocean and returning home into Sydney Harbour”.

“So I should be working out there for just under eight months,” said Jessica.

If the quality of Jessica Watson’s performance today on land at the media conference is to be indicative of her performance on the sea in her solo circumnavigation attempt, then this inspirational 16 year old is well on the way to achieving her dream.

more here

Valencia Sailing

Video: TV New Zealand reports from Ras Al-Khaimah

To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of a major western media from Ras Al-Khaimah, the disputed venue of the 33rd America’s Cup. TV New Zealand’s Martin Tasker reports on the stage of the construction works that, God willing, seem will be ready on time for the world’s oldest sports trophy. Unfortunately, as Tasker jokingly concludes, we don’t know yet whose God will prevail…

more here

Vetus expands in Sweden, Finland and Russia

By IBI Magazine

Vetus NV in Schiedam, the Netherlands has established new branch offices in Finland, Sweden and Russia.

From its location in Helsinki, Vetus OY will be responsible for all commercial activities in Finland and the Baltic States. Vetus NV has also taken over distributorship from Vator in Sweden. This deal includes taking on Vator personnel that were previously working with Vetus serving the Swedish market.

For the Russian market Vetus has established an office in St Petersburg, that will serve all Russian customers. Deliveries to the customers will be managed directly from the Vetus head quarters in Schiedam, and to offer the customers short delivery times Vetus has made a new deal with a forwarding company.

“I’m really satisfied with establishing new sales offices in Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg with good personnel that will serve our customers in these customers. The employees have deep knowledge for the different markets since all of them come from the previous distributors, giving us the advantage that we can go on with our activities with high ambitions”, says Marcel Borsboom, managing director of Vetus.

more here

Gilmour: ‘97 win was most challenging

Here he speaks with the Bermuda Sun’s Colin Thompson.
Courtesy of the Bermuda Sun

Peter Gilmour is one of the most feared sailors on the World Match Racing Tour.

The Aussie is a four-time World Match Racing Tour champion as well as a three-time Argo Group Gold Cup winner.

Gilmour has competed in five Americas Cup challenges and was victorious with the Alinghi syndicate in 2007.

He is currently in Bermuda taking part in this week’s Argo Group Gold Cup with Yanmar Racing Team where he hopes to celebrate a first win on the World Match Racing Tour since capturing last year’s Monsoon Cup in Malaysia and a first Gold Cup since 2003. Gilmour is currently fourth in this year’s World Match Racing Tour championship points standings. Here he speaks with the Bermuda Sun’s Colin Thompson.

Q: What are your impressions on Bermuda?

A: I love Bermuda and think it has this really unique place in the world of sailing generally. The first time I came we stayed with ‘Shorty’ Trimingham who was an old Olympic sailor from way back. It just sought of typified what Bermuda is. It is sort of a mix of societies and cultures.

In terms of the island itself and the beauty of people and natural resources, there is a genuine beauty about this place. This is a perfect arena for sailing and is absolutely what the world match racing tour is all about.

Even though it’s expensive to get here all the top teams come here and they love the racing and camaraderie.

Q: Do you enjoy sailing in the international one-design racing sloop?

A: Absolutely! These style of boats probably suit the style of match racing that I do, which is more of what I call the traditional style.

Q: Of the lot, which of your Gold Cup triumphs do you cherish most?

A: Certainly 1997 would have been very significant because I would have had an all-Japanese crew and that was pretty challenging back then.

We had different languages and a whole different philosophy and way of thinking. It certainly would have been a very big year for us.

Q: Has the sport evolved much since you first began competing?

A: Certainly. What you are seeing today is a far more disciplined approach to it. A lot of teams now bring their coaches along with them and they are very well organized.

The level has certainly gone up and there is also a lot more physical training going in to it and as a result it’s not good enough to just come along to a regatta and think you are going to do well.

You need to really prepare well for it and there’s a lot of psychology involved in the game. Typically all 24 teams are equal as we sit here on opening day but as we get down towards the closing day the pressure comes on and everybody starts thinking about winning some money to cover their airfares or whatever else.

Q: As a sailing destination, how do you rate Bermuda?

A: I rate Bermuda as an absolute top sailing destination. If you look back 20 years ago Russell Coutts (multiple Gold Cup winner) was begging to get invited to become a competitor of the Gold Cup and now he’s won the Americas Cup three times. That’s what these type of events do; they launch these talents onto the world of sailing.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Junior Gold Cup?

A: I think the Junior Gold Cup is fantastic because importantly you must have youngsters aspire to where this is all going. You can’t just have an elite level sport and not have it to do something to actually have a deep effect on the community.

Q: What advice would you give to any young aspiring sailor?

A: The first advice you give to a young sailor is to follow your dreams because situations change and evolve and suddenly doors open up where you didn’t think they were.

I think following your dreams is the first good bit of advice although it’s a difficult notion to explain to kids because they are looking for instant gratification. Sailing is a sport for life.

Sailing is a sport whereby you can’t expect results quickly; you have to be patient and chip away over the long term to achieve results. It’s really important to take a steady as it goes kind of approach. You also have to happy competing inside your own skin.

Q: Given Bermuda’s reasonable success on the world stage, are you surprised the island has yet to medal at the Olympics?

A: Not really because if you look at the size of the population it’s just a numbers game. Look at how well China can throw a billion people at the problem and it is solved.

I think Bermuda is already punching way beyond its weight on a per head basis. But if you go back to what I said about following your dreams, I generally think those dreams are attainable.

Q: What would be your most memorable achievement in the sport?

A: That’s such a hard one because I have had so many memorable occasions. I can go all the way back to winning my first World Championship when I was 21 years old and then winning my first World Match Racing Tour championship when I was 30.

Q: How do you compare today’s Gold Cup to those of yesteryear?

A: I think if you go back ten or 15 years the Gold Cup was a lot bigger than what it actually is now. I would say that as an event it probably has flat lined a bit.

Q: As a kid growing up, did you participate in other sports?

A: Yes, I actually played cricket and Aussie Rules football. However, sailing always got in the way.

Q: What how did sailing become your first passion?

A: My interest in sailing really came from growing up around the water in Perth. I lived very close to the water and used to paddle around in little dinghies and explore – which is probably something every kid here gets to do at some point.

Q: What does it take to compete on the World Match Racing Tour?

A: It really just takes dedication, application and focus to be able to do it. You also need the support of a sponsor to be able to move around and compete at these different events.”

more here

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