Yachting News 7th August 2011
The opening races of the America’s Cup World Series – Cascais lived up to the promise of creating close, tactical racing among some of the world’s best sailors.
Under unusually overcast and foggy conditions and in very light winds, three fleet races marked the beginning of the pursuit of sport’s oldest trophy. Despite the extremely light and variable conditions, the wing-sailed AC45 catamarans proved competitive racing was possible in winds as light as three knots (5 kph).
Emirates Team New Zealand was the class act of the nine-boat fleet over the three races and finished the day with a one-point lead over the Swedish Artemis Racing.
“Racing is very different in light winds but it’s really good that these boats can sail in this weather,” Kiwi skipper Dean Barker said. “We are happier with more wind… but with the lighter winds, all the teams leveled. The lack of wind becomes an equalizer. Today all the teams have had their opportunity, so it becomes more competitive.”
Greetings yachties,
The best sailors in the fastest boats ACWS gets underway with a strong showing from both Spithill and Barker. Watch the action live on YouTube with full replays of all the action right here, right now 
In this issue:
Day 2 of racing at the America’s Cup World Series Preliminaries in Cascais. Forecast is for 15-20 knots this afternoon – live action here,
America’s Cup Uncovered Episode 2,
ORACLE Racing,
Mini Transat 50 day count down,
Extreme 40′s @ Cowes Week – day 1,
Laura Dekker – Vanuatu update,
Melges 32 Copa Del Rey Audi Mapfre Champion,
Enjoy
Eventful night for race fleet – 06 August 2011
Geraldton Western Australia has diverted to Vigo in northern Spain to medevac an injured crew member. British crew member, Russell Sandbach, 49, dislocated his knee and has a suspected fracture to his right leg after being thrown against the pulpit by a wave while he was working on the foredeck last night.
Skipper, Juan Coetzer, told the Race Office that it happened at 2100 in heavy weather while Russell, a CEO from Northumberland, UK, was helping to drop the Yankee 2 headsail.
Funding boost for Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust finished one of their four day summer yacht trips on 4 August, and this week they had a little extra help from the People’s Postcode Trust, a grant-giving body funded entirely by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
innerviews and video reply will be published shortly
live racing here
ORACLE Racing in 3rd, 4th after Day 1 of ACWS – Cascais
In conditions normally considered too light for racing, the powerful and versatile AC45s enjoyed good racing in the preliminary rounds of the first-ever ACWS event.
Skipper Russell Coutts and crew placed 4-3-5 for 21 points while James Spithill’s crew won two of the three races for 20 points, 6 points behind winner Emirates Team New Zealand. Spithill might’ve won the day had he and the crew not been disqualified in the first completed race due to being outside the course boundaries in the pre-start.
ORACLE Racing YouTube channel here
Action Ramps Up on Day 1 of Act 5 as Breeze Kicks In
Day 1 of Stadium Sailing action at the Extreme Sailing Series™ at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week kicked off with plenty of bow-down action, near pitch-poles and close calls in the final race, thrilling the crowds. The breeze increased to 20 knots by late afternoon, and the crowds were treated to four races on the first of seven days of Extreme 40 racing – the final race being a small taste of what is to come over the next couple of days when the wind forecasted to be even stronger.
During my time here in Vanuatu I have met many local people including a nice family who has been living here for many years. They asked if I would like to go with them on an island tour – yes, of course!.. It was really nice and one of the many things we did was to go up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful view from there. I could see Guppy at anchorage and all the different colours of the water, from light blue to the deepest blue.
Photo by Ruben Ballester
Carroll’s ‘Argo’ Smiles As Melges 32 Copa Del Rey Audi Mapfre Champion
Palma de Mallorca, Spain – The last day of the 30th Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre, organized by the Real Club Nautico de Palma confirmed that those well begun is only half done. Indeed, the overall winner in the Melges 32 class is the all-American crew of owner/helmsman Jason Carroll aboard Argo. Alongside Carroll was a wonderful team of talent including tactician Cameron Appleton, Anthony Kotoun, Scott Norris, Charles Swanson, Lindsay Bartel, Peter Crawford and Andrew Koch. Since the first day of the championship, he has led series.
The team of Carroll and Appleton defended their leadership from the attacks of John Kilroy’s Samba Pa Ti, who team is apparently rejuvenated by the addition of tactician Vasco Vascotto and mainsail trimmer Harry Melges,III. He won the final race, and just like the previous one, in light and shifty conditions.
