Greetings yachties,
Seems the WordPress people have developed an upgrade that means a whole new problem for us, 
the changes they have made to the code and work involved in putting the upgrade in place is so extensive that the best option is a new template – all double dutch to me. In the meantime enjoy my little collection of yachting news and random humour.
In this edition:
Emirates Team New Zealand – Press Release Volvo Ocean Race
Lady Gaga
Abby Sunderland
Des Top News
RORC’s Easter regatta – The Knowledge Zone
Volvo Cup melges 24 Uka Uka 23 knots bressaniok
BlockSail
Even Keel
Match Race France
Americas Cup on Tour
San Diego pursues Louis Vuitton
Eric Schmidt - American Society of News Editors
Enjoy
Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton says: “The team has no shortage of experience with the Volvo Ocean Race and the Whitbread Round-the-World race before it.
“The Volvo project instantly energises our team, allows our designers and engineers to get going and in Camper we have found a great partner. They are a family company with family values and a culture that fits very well with Emirates Team New Zealand and our family of sponsors.
“The team has the capacity to integrate a Volvo Ocean Race campaign to sit alongside its commitments to the Louis Vuitton Trophy regattas, the Audi MedCup 2010 and the next America’s Cup.
“There is some certainty in the America’s Cup following BMW Oracle Racing’s defeat of Alinghi. It’s apparent that with the timing of the America’s Cup, either 2013 or 2014, Emirates Team New Zealand can comfortably integrate a Volvo campaign into its operations.
Grant Dalton said a Volvo Ocean Race campaign was a natural fit for the team. “Our objective, once the team had re-established its credentials, was always to diversify as a means of keeping our people busy, focused and creative.
Camper – Emirates Team New Zealand Presentation from Valencia Sailing on Vimeo.
Update on a Tired Sailor
Abby knew that you all would be concerned if she didn’t post a blog tonight but she was pretty wiped out so asked if we would put something up for her. She has gone from frustratingly light winds to nice 20s, to more challenging 30s out of the NE which caused her slightly southward track yesterday.
She has had a series of cold fronts that have brought pouring rain, heavy winds and gusts as high as 40 knots. Tonight’s forecast is for 25-35 knots of wind with possible gusts of 40-50 knots. She is sailing under staysail alone tonight for safety, though during the day she carries a triple reefed main sail as well. She likes the speeds and the surfing conditions.
The guys over at Commander’s Weather are amazing. Abby loves her forecasts. She says they are like driving directions. Their meteorological knowledge and routing experience have kept her with a nice balance of safety and good winds. She is becoming very knowledgable about weather systems and patterns…among many other things, especially electrical systems (thanks Scott and Jeff!).
Last week she had an email from Laura Dekker, the young lady out of Holland who is hoping to begin a solo circumnavigation this summer, Karen Thorndike, the first American woman to solo circumnavigate as well as keeping in touch with Alessandro di Benedetto, the amazing Italian solo circumnavigtor, and Jessica Watson, whom by now all of you must know!
RORC’s Easter Regatta
A real success with 64 boats racing across three days, the weather even turned out better than expected and the Cowes TV cameras were there to bring you the action.
Australian Waters and Squid Lunch
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Today started with a lovely sunrise as Ella’s Pink Lady sailed over the green line on the chart and into Australian waters. Hot chocolate in hand (yes I managed to repair the kettle!), a light sprinkling of rain and with an albatross circling above, it was one of those really special moments.
But we’ve still got a long way to go and over the next week we will pass under the Great Australian Bight and head south to Tasmania. It’s very likely that I’ll pass back over the green line out of Australian waters again. It’s weird being so close, but still having so many miles to cover.
I think a lot of people are wondering why I’m going south of Tasmania, rather than taking a short cut through the Bass Strait. The reasoning behind this is that Bass Strait is full of shipping and islands which would mean a few days with very little or no sleep for me. Plus Bob’s long range weather forecast also predicts light head winds (also known as very painful sailing) if we tack that route, instead of heading south around the bottom of Tasmania. So I’m just going to have to grit my teeth and put up with a slight drop in temperature again, before heading north for the last time.
Volvo Cup melges 24 onboard Uka Uka sailing 23 knots bressaniok
Race 6 in La Marina di Scarlino, 25 knots NE gusting 30, onboard camera by adessovela.com
Even Keel Project Opens Doors on 2010 Plans.
Sailing is a great platform for training, rehabilitation and developing teamwork. It is one sport where able bodied and disabled participants can compete together at the same level. In the past few years, several programmes have been established to harness sailing for these purposes.
Often new technology is utilised to allow disabled sailors to get on the water, but other programmes make the most of being part of a team to encourage participation. In the UK, programmes like Toe in the Water and the Even Keel Project are showing that this open access to the sport can really deliver results for participants.
Last week the Even Keel Project held an Open Day in Cowes with partners Artemis Investment Management and UKSA. Managing Director of The Even Keel Project, David Rutter, presented a brief review of how the Project has started to really move forward over the past year and outlined the Project’s plans for 2010.
Dave Rutter thanked the Project’s supporters and his team, saying
Richard’s consecration
Mathieu Richard has fought like a lion. Nantes resident’s crew won Match Race France, event held in Marseilles during five days. After having eliminated Italian Francesco Bruni this morning in semifinals, he won against British Ben Ainslie this afternoon, in two matches. Last duels have been run in a W 3-10 knots wind, that turned from NW to SW. Suspense was shared with the audience on the shore. Very close to Escale Borély, in a light weather, naval fights were fierce. Being the opening of the World Match Racing Tour, the competition organised by Yachting Club Pointe Rouge gets an importance that cannot be ignored. Mathieu Richard has already stood out in Marseilles in 2008.
« Go Marseilles ! » shouts Mathieu Richard during the Prize giving ceremony, at Escale Borély. Yes he can relax now, as he won Marseilles crown, which was one more time highly-coveted. Twelve skippers were in competition to start the match racing season « The level was very high. It gives value to the victory” simply comments Mathieu Richard. « It is important to make a good start of the season. But we know it is very long, and that we can have up and down».
In 2009, Adam Minoprio’s victory in Marseilles was a good sign for him, as he finished first ranked of the World Match Racing Tour. This year, Match Race France has been run in a light weather. « We know that light winds are a good point for Mathieu Richard’s crew» says Marc Bouët, Match Racing French team coach. This victory is also an award for those sailors who have been sailing together for the last ten years (Thierry Briend, Greg Evrard, Olivier Herlédant, and Yannick Simon).
Junior day in Seattle
The kids came out in force on Sunday afternoon at the Seattle Yacht Club to meet the BMW ORACLE Racing team and talk about all things America’s Cup.
(All images courtesy Neil Rabinowitz)
In a crowd approaching 100 (there were quite a few parents in there too!), the America’s Cup trophy was front and centre as the juniors grilled the panel in an engaging Q+A session.
Tactician John Kostecki and bowman Brad Webb, design coordinator Ian Burns and designer Paul Bieker, along with Chris Sitzenstock from the build team were asked about everything from the difference between the wing sail and soft sail, to how they started their careers.
A crew from Core Builders, about 40 strong, was on hand to bask in the glow of their achievements while the venue – the Pier One Warehouse on Commercial Ave. in Anacortes – was standing room only.
The America’s Cup trophy arrived down Commercial Avenue in a silver BMW 750 Li (what else), with team members and boatbuilders keeping pace alongside. The Cup was then placed on stage by its security detail where MC for the night, Tom Ehman (who else!), kept the banter up between the team and the crowd all evening long.
San Diego pursues Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta
The Port of San Diego, our host for so long during the build up to the 33rd America’s Cup, has announced it is pursuing a Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta.
According to a statement issued by the Port: “The Board of Port Commissioners on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, agreed to notify the World Sailing Teams Association and Louis Vuitton of the region’s interest in hosting the event that would draw millions of television viewers and provide millions of dollars for the region’s economy.
“…While expressing their interest in hosting the sailing competition, the Commissioners reiterated their desire for the America’s Cup competition to be held in California.
“San Diego hosted America’s Cup regattas in 1988, 1992 and 1995 and the city is recognized as a world-class venue for sailing events. Besides great sailing weather, San Diego offers a wide range of services and activities that are needed to stage an event such as the Louis Vuitton Trophy and team base camp sites; many host accommodations in close proximity to downtown and waterside venues; and substantial facilities to support mega yachts which are likely to come to events along the Pacific coast.”
The statement also made clear the Port’s desire to see the 34th America’s Cup held in California
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Eric Schmidt speaks to the American Society of News Editors on April 11, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
This post is tagged Abby Sunderland, American Society of News Editors, americas cup, Blocksail, Coyote, Des Top News, Eric Schmidt, Even Keel, Google News, Jessica Watson, Lady Gaga, louis vuitton, Mark Knopfler, Match Race France, Poker Face, RORC's Easter regatta, The Knowledge Zone, UkaUka, Volvo Cup Melges 24
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