Greetings yachties,
Alinghi offers Australian venue
Groupama 3 switches to code green
Cox Bay Skimmer – Sails
Superyachts invited to Auckland
Louis Vuitton Trophy – Team Origin
Southern Ocean Multihull Regatta – e-marineworld Skips’
Red Bull Air Race
Enjoy
Alinghi offers Australian venue to unlock 33rd America’s Cup and return the competition to the water
Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the 33rd America’s Cup defending yacht club, has proposed an alternative venue to the American challenger in a bid to end their continued litigation and return the Cup to the water
Ahead of tomorrow’s hearing at the New York Supreme Court, the Swiss Defender has proposed a solution to the legal impasse brought about by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC). While the Defender’s first choice for the Deed of Gift Match is Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, in order to achieve a Match in February SNG proposes to stage the 33rd America’s Cup on the east coast of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, in compliance with the Deed of Gift. This is a venue that should be acceptable to both teams if, as expressed publicly, the true intention of BMW Oracle is to race for the America’s Cup on the water.
A specific race course in the Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Australia, with weather conditions suitable for racing in February, will be announced promptly should GGYC accept this offer and cease their legal strategy. The east coast of Australia offers several locations with ideal sailing conditions for the best-of-three match. A venue in this region would be approximately two and a half weeks away by ship from BMW Oracle’s base in San Diego, while Alinghi’s voyage from Ras Al Khaimah would take approximately three weeks.
SNG is hopeful that this offer will be accepted and that the competition will resume on the water rather than in court.
Departure around 1700 hours
Jules Verne Trophy 2009 – 2010
The crew of Groupama 3 has been in position in Brest since Wednesday evening in view of a new Jules Verne Trophy record attempt. Today Franck Cammas and his nine crew will leave the pontoon of the port of Le Château at 1300 hours to make for the start line off the Créac’h lighthouse…
Groupama 3 switches to code green
Jules Verne Trophy 2009 – 2010
Less than a day since Groupama’s announcement that it is renewing its partnership with the French sailor Franck Cammas until 2015, the skipper is announcing the switch to code green. This colour means that Groupama 3, on stand-by in Brest since 1st November, will set off on Thursday 5th November on her bid to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy, a round the world record attempt under sail.
50 days and 16 hours: this is the time to beat in order to snatch the record for the fastest yacht to circumnavigate the globe. Since 2005 the record has been in the hands of Bruno Peyron aboard the maxi catamaran Orange 2.
For his second attempt at the record, Franck Cammas has put together the perfect team to steer Groupama 3 through what is a hostile yet fascinating universe: “The time to beat is very quick. In order to succeed, besides an excellent boat, you need a crew which blends experience, performance and solidarity. As such a loyal and ambitious partner is required, which has been the case with Groupama for over twelve years. The renewal of our partnership until 2015 is an additional source of motivation in paying Groupama back for the trust they’ve shown in me” says the French skipper.
Accompanying him in this round the world adventure via the three capes are the loyal members of the Groupama team: Swiss sailor Stève Ravussin with whom Franck has already won two Transat Jacques Vabres, Fred Le Peutrec, Loïc Le Mignon, Ronan Le Goff as well as Jacques Caraës. Alongside them are some newcomers to the team in the form of Lionel Lemonchois, reigning champion of the Route du Rhum, Thomas Coville, solo Transatlantic recordman, Stan Honey, winning American navigator from the Volvo Ocean Race as well as Bruno Jeanjean, World Champion Match Racer.
This dream team has been preparing for the attempt in earnest since the start of the year, covering 15,000 miles or two thirds of a circumnavigation of the globe since that time: “We know each other well, we get on well and we’re eager to go, even though we know it will be difficult. Circumnavigating the globe under sail as fast as we can isn’t something you do everyday. We’ll have to be quick without causing Groupama 3 to suffer and by manoeuvring her well. Added to that we’ll have to choose the best course” adds the skipper.
Groupama 3 dream team – © Yvan Zedda
Watching the weather for the past week, Franck Cammas, Stan Honey and Sylvain Mondon from Météo France appreciate the quality of the window opening up on Thursday: “There’s going to be strong winds and big seas off Brest with 30 knots of breeze and five metre waves. We’re going to be shaken about at the start but, from Cape Finisterre, the wind will become more favourable. We should then be able to smoothly hook onto the trade winds” wrote the skipper of skipper of Groupama 3 in an email to his nine crew yesterday.
This analysis is confirmed by Sylvain Mondon who will be accompanying Groupama 3 throughout his attempt from his office at Météo France in Toulouse: “The weather window expected for Groupama 3′s Jules Verne Trophy attempt isn’t exactly classic for this type of attempt. Indeed, by choosing to set off on Thursday 5th November, just after the passage of an active zone with numerous squalls and strong gusts in what are still big seas,
Sam Davies ready for Transat Jacques Vabres race
Sam Davies and Sidney Gavignet, co-skippers on Artemis Ocean Racing’s 60 foot IMOCA monohull, have arrived in Le Havre, ready for the start of the 4,720 mile TJV transatlantic race from France to Costa Rica.
The Atlantic with no compass and no watch!
By Emmaneul and Maximilien Berque – Saint Julien en Born – France
IN APRIL 2003, TWO 53-YEARS-OLD ADVENTURERS FROM THE LANDES REGION OF FRANCE, EMMANUEL AND MAXIMILIEN BERQUE, MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY ATLANTIC CROSSING ABOARD A TINY OUTRIGGER CANOE WITH NO DOCUMENTS AN NO NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS – A FABULOUS ASTRONOMICAL EXPERIENCE. AFTER 27 DAYS SAILING AND 3000 MILES, THEY MADE A PRECISE LANDFALL ON THE SMALL ISLAND THEY WERE AIMING FOR.
Cox Bay Skimmer
Cox Creek Skimmer cruising dayboat, trailer sailer design in the making: 5.5 metres long by 2.25 metres beam (with two mean bunks under the forward cockpit sides) water ballasted for heavy conditions, otherwise empty, schooner rigged with free standing 6.5 metre wing masts and square topped fully battened mains, lightweight 120 kgs all up?
Superyachts invited to Auckland by NZ Marine
By NZ Marine Export Group Inc.
AUCKLAND
With the Louis Vuitton World Series scheduled to head to Auckland in March 2010, the New Zealand marine industry association, NZ Marine Export Group Inc., is again inviting superyacht owners and crews to enjoy a unique Kiwi experience before enjoying watching the intense Louis Vuitton racing.
The invitation was formally issued to all sail and motor superyachts by the NZ Marine team at the hugely-popular, well-attended ‘Kiwi night’ during the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Florida, USA.
“The one-day NZ Marine superyacht event will involve a race from Auckland to a well-known Hauraki Gulf island where the yacht crews will be treated to a fun beach barbeque and prize-giving event at the day’s end,” says NZ Marine chairman Mark Wightman. “This entertaining event, for both motor and sailing yachts, will have a true Kiwi flavour as we build up to the super-competitive racing in the Louis Vuitton World Series on Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour.”
This afternoon I decided it was time to have a bit of fun in the galley. I’ve been making chocolate cupcakes! It’s been quite an adventure really with ingredients and mixture going everywhere, as Ella’s Pink Lady bounces along. Life would be so much easier with a third arm but I got there in the end with all the mixture, less the stuff all over my face! (Maybe I should consider a career as a juggler when I get home?). Then divided it out into the paper patty pans. Then the fun part, icing and decorating!
They are all cooked now and they smell very good. Better go now and try them out. But I’ve attached a pic of the cupcakes below for you all to see!
Jesse
e-marineworld Skips’ (formally Quickskips), a Farrier F9AX tri wins the ‘e-marineworld 2009, Southern Ocean Multihull Regatta’ (SOMR) held on Western Port in Victoria.
The crew of e-marineworld Skips, Tim Pepperell, Robin Reiger, Tony Holt and Gale Perry had a great time at SOMR, taking out line honours in all four races winning the prestigious Greyhound trophy. The regatta was held in light and fluky frustrating conditions except for the first reach in the first race. Tim Pepperell said “the first race was the most exciting of the series when sailing across to Joes Island, on a tight reach, holding our mast head kite was exciting when sticking it in several times going from 16 to 0 knots four times before we ran out of water and needed to drop the kite in a hurry”.
Team Origin announces team for first Louis Vuitton regatta
Team Origin has announced the sailing team line-up for the forthcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta in Nice, Côte d’Azur which begins at the weekend.
Ben Ainslie is Team Origin’s star skipper and helmsman
Leading the team is triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, the team’s skipper and helmsman, backed up by Iain Percy as tactician, Ian Moore as navigator, Andrew Simpson as strategist, and Robert Greenhalgh as strategist/traveller – an impressive all British line-up for the afterguard.
The team includes eight sailors from Great Britain, four from New Zealand, three from Australia, and one each from France, Denmark and Poland.
Mike Sanderson, Team Director, said: “Team Origin is ready to go and looking forward to racing here in Nice. It is especially good to see GBR-75, our ACC training yacht, here on the water and in great shape thanks to the work of our shore crew over the last few weeks. It promises to be a great event.”
Ben Ainslie, added “It’s great to be back on the water with so many of the guys from the team squad that sailed together in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland – and a few extras who will add their expertise and skill to our team for this event. We are looking forward to the racing starting on Saturday and should have plenty of exciting matches against some of the best teams in the world.”
Team Origin sailing team for the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d’Azur:
Matt Mitchell NZL Bowman
Julian Cressant FRA Mid Bowman
George Skuodas GBR Mastman
Craig Satterthwaite NZL Pit
Mark McTeague AUS Grinder
Pawel Bielecki POL Grinder
Chris Brittle GBR Grinder
Mike Mottl AUS Trimmer upwind
Christian Kamp DEN Trimmer downwind
Tony Mutter NZL Mainsail trimmer
Robert Greenhalgh GBR Strategist/traveller
Ben Ainslie GBR Skipper & Helmsman
Iain Percy GBR Tactician
Ian Moore GBR Navigator
Andrew Simpson GBR Strategist
Mike Sanderson NZL Runners
Anthony Nossiter AUS Runners/pit assist
Garry Bainbridge GBR Grinder back-up
SAILING TEAM SUPPORT
Kelvin Harrap NZL Afterguard coach
James Stagg GBR Crew coach
Stevie Erickson USA Sailing Manager
Charlotte Harmer NED PA to Mike Sanderson
This post is tagged Alinghi AC33, Cox Creek Skimmer, e-marineworld Skips, groupama 3, Jessica Watson, Louis Vuitton Trophy, Louis Vuitton World Series, Red Bull Air Race, Sam Davies, Sidney Gavignet, team origin, Transat Jacques Vabres
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