Yachting News 4th November 2011
Greetings yachties,
Just one more sleep until the next Volvo Ocean Race 
. To all 20 kiwis in this edition, sail hard, sail safe and I’ll catch up with y’all in Auckland.
In this issue,
Volvo Ocean Race,
RAYC – Sail Nouméa,
ETNZ – wing testing,
Transat Jacques Vabre 2011,
Volvo Ocean Race YouTube channel here,
Volvo Ocean Race home page here, facebook wall here, live streaming here,
T2P TV – China Cup,
Global Ocean Race update,
Sail-World NZ – Volvo story here,
Enjoy
Introducing a new link on yachtyakka – a new online store – where you can buy online all you need to go sailing – check it out.
TEAM SANYA’S ENTRY IN THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2011-12 SUFFERS HULL DAMAGE
Aksel Magdahl, navigator on board Team Sanya, reported at 0834 UTC Sunday, November 6 that they had suffered hull damage on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, which began yesterday in Alicante.
Skipper Mike Sanderson has confirmed to Volvo Ocean Race control: “The situation is very much under control, everyone is obviously disappointed but in good spirits as all are safe on board.”
The boat was approximately 30 nautical miles SE of Motril, on the coast of Spain. The wind was blowing 43 plus knots and the waves were around 10.5 metres.
The watertight doors had already been closed as a precaution due to the prevailing conditions and the boat is making its way to Puerto de Motril. After entering flat water, Team Sanya have suspended racing.
Volvo Ocean Race control is in constant contact with the team while establishing the full extent of the damage so that the crew are given full support to enable them to deal with the situation.
Team Sanya’s shore team are working on a recovery plan to ensure the yacht can rejoin the Volvo Ocean Race as soon as practically possible.
Watch live video from onthewateranarchy on Justin.tv
Photos by PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race
Abu Dhabi launch repair operation after dismasting
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing are putting a major repair operation into effect after their racing yacht Azzam suffered a broken mast in rough weather today, forcing her to suspend racing just over six hours into Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.
“We have no injuries and have retrieved or secured all equipment”
A spare mast is being rushed to the Spanish port of Alicante where Azzam and the rest of the six-strong fleet had begun the first offshore leg of the 39,000-nautical mile race in front of cheering crowds of 60,000.
British skipper Ian Walker said the crew was unhurt and the team were now motoring back to Alicante. The boat remains in the race, the toughest offshore event in sailing which will not finish until July 2012 in Galway, Ireland. Azzam won the first in-port race of the event in Alicante last Saturday and leads the standings with six points. The winner of the first leg will reap 30 points.
At 1915 UTC/GMT, Abu Dhabi told race management Azzam had suspended racing after the mast was broken. The boat was 30 nautical miles south of Cartagena on the Spanish coast.
Walker later reported at 2053 UTC/GMT: “Our situation is now stable. We are motoring towards flatter water at Cabo de Palos where we hope to lift the top section of the mast aboard.
“We have no injuries and have retrieved or secured all equipment. Our mast broke into three pieces when landing off a big wave in 30+ knots of wind. We were sailing under a J4 and two reefs. We do not as yet know the cause.
“Our intention is to return to Alicante under motor to repair any damage and step our spare mast.”
where are they now?
They’re off!
CAMPER SHINE AS TEAMS HEAD OUT TOWARDS TROUBLE
Alicante, Spain – CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand enjoyed the best of a fast and furious inshore course today before the most evenly matched fleet in Volvo Ocean Race history blasted out towards brutal sea conditions at the start of Leg 1.
A crowd of 60,000 watched as Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe fired the gun to set the six boats on their way at 1300 GMT (1400 CET). French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane joined Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing on the inshore course, making it a gala start to the first ocean leg, which will take the fleet over 6,500 nautical miles to Cape Town, South Africa.
Chris Nicholson’s CAMPER were the slickest of the six away, as winds gusting up to 30 knots greeted the fleet. CAMPER increased their lead over PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG to 1 minute 39 seconds at the Alicante leaving mark at the end of the eight-nm course, with Team Telefónica another 36 seconds behind.
Abu Dhabi came next, followed by Groupama sailing team, who took a voluntary two-turn penalty after a collision with PUMA’s Mar Mostro just before the start, and Team Sanya.
“Our skills are offshore for sure,” said Cammas, skipper of the first French team to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race in 18 years. “We are in this race for the first time so we need to learn a few things. It’s important to finish the first 24 hours in good shape because the race is very long and we don’t want to break anything early on. The first night could be the hardest of the whole leg.”
Emotions were running high on the dockside prior to the departure ceremony as the sailors said tearful goodbyes to their loved ones, who they won’t see until they reach Cape Town around three weeks later.
So, Saturday is the day, it is upon us, for some it is two years of hard work, for others a very busy few months. One thing is for sure though, we are all extremely privileged to be here sailing on these wonderful machines, and once again I would particularly like to thank every single person who made the Team Sanya Challenge a reality!!
Speak to you from the boat.
Cheers
Mike
VOLVO OCEAN RACE FLEET HEADING FOR FIRST NIGHT ORDEAL
Alicante, Spain – The Volvo Ocean Race fleet is set for an early battering as the six teams head straight into what could be boat-breaking conditions on the first of nine ocean legs starting tomorrow.
The weather forecast is for winds of 25 knots just hours after the starting gun fires in Alicante, Spain at 1300 UTC (1400 local). The combination of those winds with a choppy sea state will make it a tough first night on the Volvo Open 70 boats as they begin the 6,500 nautical mile first leg to Cape Town.
“The conditions at first will be ideal for these boats – fast sailing in fresh breeze,” said Gonzalo Infante, the Volvo Ocean Race’s chief meteorologist. “But within about 12 hours, as the boats race into the night, they will have to punch upwind into winds around 25 knots and confused seas. These boats will be slamming around and it will be very wet on deck.”
Ken Read, skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, put it bluntly: “It looks like we could get the crap kicked out of us getting out of the Med.”
Rig and Sail Considerations for the Ocean Yachtsman
RODNEY KEENAN of Evolution Sails demonsrating sails and sail repair for ocean sailing. RICHARD BEARDA of NZ Rigging & Spars explained rig considerations, maintenance, and preparation for offshore sailing.
Emirates Team New Zealand today tested a wingsail on one of the two SL33′s on the Waitemata Harbour.
She launched at 0800hrs this morning, spent about 40 minutes testing and making adjustments off Westhaven marina and her club, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, before being towed (quicker due to the wind direction requiring her to gybe down the harbour) by her tender for a testing session off Takapuna.
She returned later in the day before the offshore wind increased substantially.
Well we just did the full 60 knot-plus load test on the high speed foil and I am very, very, VERY happy to say that it passed without the slightest peep. We even took it a bit over the recommendation just to be sure. I was nervous as hell as the implications of a failed foil are pretty big.
The gig is now back on to carry on with the pursuit of speeds over 60 knots.
White knuckles and weary sailors for the final 500 miles
At 09:00 GMT on Thursday, under 500 miles of the double-handed, Class40 Global Ocean Race (GOR) remains for Marco Nannini and Paul Peggs leading the second wave of boats towards the Leg 1 finish line in Cape Town with Financial Crisis. However, a fight to the finish for third place is fully underway with Conrad Colman and Hugo Ramon in fourth on Cessna Citation positioned furthest north, piling on the pressure averaging over 12 knots early on Thursday and 14 knots for 12 hours producing sustained speeds in excess of 20 knots. On Financial Crisis, the Italian-British duo continue pushing their first generation Akilaria Class40 to the limit, averaging over 13 knots until the forecast shift of breeze to the south-west arrived with the expected loss of speed as Nannini and Peggs changed from reaching to running downwind.
With the gap between the frontrunners closing by 41 miles in the past 24 hours, Cessna Citation currently has the advantage, remaining in reaching conditions to the north, closer to the latitude of Cape Town and still thundering north-east towards the finish line with averages over 13 knots. While Colman and Ramon should remain reaching until Friday morning, Nannini and Peggs have a 92-mile lead over Cessna Citation and although their speeds have dropped to just below ten knot averages, the duo will keep sailing hard and avoid breakages in the succession of forthcoming gybes to ensure they keep ahead of Colman and Ramon.
For the New Zealand-Spanish duo on Cessna Citation, the past week has been exhausting: “We’ve maintained our three-hours-on, three-ours-off schedule, but with the ramped up intensity, I’m beat,” admits Conrad Colman. The two single-handed Mini 6.50 sailors have adopted a punishing approach for the final sprint to the finish. “We’ve opted to capitalize on our strengths as solo sailors and each of us takes turns at running the boat separately, but stocking up on sleep in the frequent rest periods so we can keep this charging beast balanced on a knife edge.” With the recent speed averages delivered by Cessna Citation, the edge is very sharp: “Since turning south we haven’t taken our foot of the loud pedal and have kept the same configuration of full main, staysail, big spinnaker and white knuckles,” he continues.
