Extreme Sailing Series, sailors prepare to do battle in Rio de Janeiro

Extreme Sailing Series, one week till next event in Rio de Janeiro

In only one week, the Extreme 40s will be heading into the final battle of the 2012 Extreme Sailing Series in the spectacular city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – the same city that will not only be hosting the FIFA World Cup Final in 2014 but the 2016 Olympic Games, making it the destination of choice for sporting fans around the world. Team Brasil will be representing the home nation as a wildcard entry, with renowned sailor and Brazil’s most successful Olympian Torben Grael, leading the team as skipper.

Torben, who boasts an incredible five Olympic medals including two golds, is a fitting leader for a team that is a tribute to Brazil’s Olympic medallists and future stars. He will be joined by his son Marco, the next generation of Graels going for glory at the Olympics as he campaigns his 49er dinghy for Rio 2016. Torben’s brother Lars Grael, himself a holder of two Olympic medals, will be coaching Team Rio and acting as reserve crew, making it a real family affair.

Read more here

 

'The fleet of Extreme 40s prepare to go head to head at the final Act of 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil' Lloyd Images ©

 

And a fantastic video from the SAP Extreme 40 team:

America's Cup news, several articles from Sail-World

I'm going to present America's Cup Articles in a condensed format from now on as there is so much material.

Sail-World article on Emirates Team New Zealand.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Grant-Dalton-reflects-on-the-first-24-days-sailing/104227

Emirates Team New Zealand's MD, Grant Dalton, who also crews on the AC72 has confirmed that the boat which has done 24 days sailing, will now be used only as a spare boat for the team.

It is believed that the boat will be taken out of commission around mid-December, and parts of it will be transferred to the teams new boat due for launch in early February. It also seems that the team will be given a reasonable break over the Christmas break before starting the final push for the America's Cup Regatta starting in just seven months time.

read more here

Luna Rossa and ETNZ train together again on the Hauraki Gulf features more of Chris Cameron's excellent photos.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Day-2-of-racing-in-Auckland-for-Luna-Ross-and-Emirates/104228

'Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa practice racing in the Hauraki Gulf.' Chris Cameron/ETNZ©



See more photos here

Richard Gladwell feature article on current America's Cup action in Auckland, NZ

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-November-2012-Review---43.6-knots!-But-who-is-counting?/104247

Following is the November 2012 review from Sail-World's fourth America's Cup Newsletter for the 34th America's Cup, which focusses on the action, developments and off the field play in the AC72 catamarans

Personal highlight this month on the America's Cup scene had to be the three hour sail on board Emirates Team NZ's AC 72.

The day had been put off two or three times, but was well worth waiting for, with winds around 18-25 knots and rain squalls moving through the course on a typical Auckland day.

Previously I had sailed aboard an AC45 in Auckland soon after the boats were first launched. That day was at the opposite end of the scale with a breeze of 4-6kts, and you could walk around the boat quite easily taking photos.

Not on this day on the AC72. There is some serious G-force on board these boats, as they accelerate.

We did two runs and two beats and a couple of short reaches. Peak speed was 43.6kts on one of the downwind runs, but the AC72 didn't feel like she was terribly pressed, and maybe had another 10kts in her.

read more here

 

Carlo Borlenghi photo

Wednesday Night Racing Video from NZMYC noticeboard

Video on the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club noticeboard by Roger Mills, showing the Wednesday night racing in Auckland.  The video shows 8.5's the ORMA 60 vodafone, 888 50' racing cat and more.

http://www.multihull.org.nz/noticeboard/

Wed Night Race 28 Nov 2012 taken from end of Orakei Wharf.

Multihulls World Edition 127, free to read web version available

Multihulls World edition 127 is available as a free to read web version at the following address.

http://issuu.com/multihulls-world/docs/127mw

VESTAS Sailrocket 2, the 65 knot+ record run

From Paul's blog, description of the latest run which has lifted the bar again to over 65 knots (thats over 120 km/h for the non nautically inclined). 

 

http://sailrocket.com/node/672

 

Blown Away... The 65 knot+ run (With video)

 

Wed, 28 Nov 12 14:30

So let's get this down here before I start forgetting stuff...Last Saturday looked like it was going to be a strong day from the moment it popped onto the long range Windguru forecast. Amongst a bunch of fluctuating average days it barely deviated as it approached. We began to focus on it as being the day when we would go all out. Almost annoyingly, the day before piped up and blew just enough to force us to fully gear up and head towards speed-spot. We stopped just short of launching the boat. It was annoying as it was strong enough to force us to react but we really wanted to focus on the next day. You have to be reactive as for whatever reason, the next day may not deliver. Every opportunity has to be seized this year and we had already had two remarkable days on average forecasts.
That night we had dinner back at the crew house. I was about to raise a glass to the following day and the last day of living in the 50's... but decided not to tempt fate. We had an early night.
It was already blowing from the SW in the morning. This combined with the strong forecast spoke to us that at long last, after over six weeks, we were going to get some good, old-school, industrial Walvis Bay wind.

read more here

and the video of the record run

 

F18 catamaran Argentine Nationals 2012

From Catsailingnews blog: Image by Fabien Haiek

http://www.catsailingnews.com/2012/11/f18-arg-nats-2012-sergio-mehl-nico.html

Excellent article at the Catsailingnews blog on the F18 Arg Nats 2012: Sergio Mehl & Nico Aragones Champs

One of the most competitive Nats since the first back in 2008. The top three crews leading each day for a last gold medal race with a MR included.
Smith-Heuser went to hunt Mehl-Aragones (who needed a 4th to take it all) for the title as Bundock did once for the 2nd place at Erquy, all was working to perfection with both crews back in the fleet match racing, at that point Smith-Heuser were champs but their spin broke and Mehl-Aragones flew to a super comeback to grab a 2nd behind the other contenders, Blando-Joubert.

read more here

Emirates Team New Zealand update with Grant Dalton

TV3 reporter Greg Pearson gets an update on the teams progress from Grant Dalton in this interview prior to going out for a sail on the ETNZ AC72 catamaran.

Inside Sailing feature video feature on the Extreme Sailing Series in Nice

The Extreme Sailing Series (ESS) in Nice has received some good coverage in this recently posted video by Inside Sailing (Icarus Sailing Media).  There is one round of the ESS in 2012 to go in Rio de Janeiro it will be starting in about a weeks time.  The footage of the ESS starts at around 13:40 in the video.

Video of the recent New Zealand Weta Summer Rally

New video posted by wetamarine of the New Zealand Summer Rally.  Looks like great sailing conditions and good fun.  More photos and news at

http://www.wetamarine.com/summer-rally-2012.html

Vestas Sailrocket 2 update, 500m record ratified by WSSRC

repost of bymnews article

http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=112271

The WSSR Council announces the the establishment of a new World Record.

 

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Vestas SailRocket 2

Record: Outright World and World “B” Division Sailing Speed Record

Venue: Walvis Bay. Namibia.

Name: Paul Larsen. AUS.

Equipment: Vestas SailRocket 2. Inclined rig Hydrofoil Proa.

Date: 16^th November 2012. 17.02 hrs

Course length: 500 metres

Current: Nil

Elapsed time: 16.41 secs

Speed: 59.23 kts

Comments: Current Outright Record: 2010. Kite Board. Rob Douglas USA. Luderitz, NAM. 55.65 kts.

Current “B” category record: 2012. Vestas SailRocket. Paul Larsen AUS. Walvis Bay, NAM. 54.08 kts

A further claim for a speed in excess of the above is currently being assessed
--
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council

Edgies Boat Yard Trophy series, Rupert King on song with his trimaran "Overdrive"

From the following Sail-World article.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/King-in-Overdrive-in-Edges-Boat-Yard-trophy-series/104098

Rupert King has been sailing his Richard Edlin designed trimaran "Overdrive" up to it's handicap in the recent Edgie's Boat Yard Trophy series.

Whitsunday Sailing Club Multihull class skipper Rupert King has a complete understanding of how to extract the required handicap rated boat speed from his self-built trimaran Overdrive.

These days Rupert King, a proud New Zealand national, has become acclimatised to living in the tropics after setting off on a cruising adventure over seven years ago.

Overdrive built to the specifications of a cruising trimaran is no lightweight sprint machine however her proud owner skipper manages to enjoy his racing in the Edgies Boat Yard trophy series on the warm waters of Pioneer Bay.

Skipper Rupert King and crew realised they had their backs to the wall when the ultra-light six knot sea breeze hardly raised a ripple on the course to present the skippers and crews with a test of patience and perseverance to sail to their respective handicap ratings.

However the Haydon Turnbull skippered Why proved to be a light wind sprint machine sailing the three lap course with an unmatched average of 16.33 minutes a lap to set up a strong claim on winning the line and corrected handicap double.

read more here

'Overdrive, Rupert King' Mike Hunter

More photos of the Great Cup 32 catamaran thanks to Christophe Launay

Christophe Launay has sent some more fantastic photos from his shoot of the GC32 catamaran in Dubai.  This amazing boat is going to be raced as part of a one design race series. You can browse and purchase high resolution images suitable for printing from Christophe's photo galleries at

http://www.christophelaunay.com/

Our Favourite anchorages for multihulls, by Rosemary Jilderts

An article from the Multihull.com.au .pdf archives by Rosemary Jilderts.  This article covers the beautiful Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island in Qld which has at its entrance the world famous Whitehaven beach with it's sparkling white silica sand.

http://www.multihull.com.au/site/www/pdf/pdfs/whitsundays.pdf

Team Vodafone Sailing give a rundown on the White Island Race in NZ

From an article published on crew.org.nz

http://www.crew.org.nz/team-vodafone-new-white-island-record/

Team vodafone, New White Island record
We started off Orakei in a light noreaster and slowly made our way out the Motuihue Channel, short tacking up the Rangitoto shore against the tide.

Once clearing Emu point we found a nice 12kts had come in, and just as well because the 50ft monos were looking quite close behind. We beat got out towards Rakino and then the breeze crumped again. Up the rig we saw small pockets of puff on the water but plenty of holes in it.

The majority of the crew spent the time hanging out on the front tramps trying to keep from dragging our arse. While a very patient Casper was on the helm trying to wiggle our way north into a building SW breeze allowing us to get the Genaker on and click along at around 13kts.
Until the NE won out and we were back on the wind. A tack out towards Little Barrier saw us lifting around Channel Island which was not ideal but I don’t think there was much puff in the Firth of Thames so maybe the better of two evils. Eventually making it around Channel Island at 1500 (6 hours for a 35 mile leg :-/ )

Once around we got a tight genaker ride with the car eased in and reached off towards Waikawu Bay getting lifted as we went at times getting along at 20kts, this was a bit more like it!

Once again ole Huey changed his mind and we parked it in a hole off Opito bay, getting in irons and having to back out of it. But we wriggled past Old Man Rock into a nice steady breeze running 130T and sipping on some soup with cabin bread for dinner.
Rod managed to pick up a skip jack tuna on the leward rudder! just T boned it and it got wedged there, we weren’t quite quick enough to grab it for sushimi, as we slowed down to see what it was it managed to swim off, a little dazzed me thinks.

read more here

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, Multihulls to start 27th November

From bymnews.com

http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=112192

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Start Day 1 - Sunday

 

Sunday, 25 November 2012

At 0915 UTC today the ARC Office was still collecting information from the boats about their preferred start day. It is expected that all of the racing fleet will start today, plus some of the larger cruising boats. We expect the multihulls and the majority of the cruising division boats to remain in Las Palmas until the second start on Tuesday 27th.

 

All of the ARC boats are fitted with Yellowbrick satellite trackers, so are visible at all times on the Fleet Viewer http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/viewer - this allows every to see where the boats are, their exact position, heading and boat speed. The information is updated every six hours.

 

read more here

 

and in a vaguely related way here is Banque Populaire V in some fast overtaking.

 

 

 

Chris White Mastfoil photo

I notice over at Carbon Club they have put up a photo of the recently completed "mastfoil" designed by Chris White.

Farrier Marine, F22 trimaran production version progress

From the F-boat website at

http://www.f-boat.com/pages/News4/FM-Factory2014.html

A new photo of the progress on the F22 trimaran deck mold has been published.  The latest image shows the lamination of the deck mold complete with core installed in preperation for the final stiffening framing to be fitted prior to use.

view the complete build log here

Artemis Racing lose appeal over foil measurement decision

From the following Sail-World article written by Richard Gladwell

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Jury-deflects-Artemis-claim-over-error-on-daggerboards/104080

America's Cup: Jury deflects Artemis claim over error on daggerboards

Artemis Racing, the Challenger of Record for the 34th America's Cup, have lost an Appeal to the International Jury over their earlier foil measurement decision.

On October 7, the International Jury ruled on a Protest from Emirates Team New Zealand, that the Measurement Committee had erred in their interpretation of a Class Rule governing the AC72 catamarans to be used in the America's Cup Regatta starting in July 2013.

The key to that decision was whether or not the daggerboards used by the catamarans should be either raised or lowered when calculating the displacement of the canoe body of each hull of the catamarans.

The rule said that the canoe body could not be less then 45% of the total displacement.

read more here

'Artemis Racing’s AC72 with smaller volume daggerboards designed to a different AC Rule interpretation' Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing © 

Vestas Sailrocket 2 new record for 500m, update from Paul's blog

Paul and the Vestas Sailrocket 2 team have lifted the bar again on their own record with a 500 metre run of 65.4 knots and a peak speed of 68.01 knots.  Once again awaiting ratification but the data comes from the official timing device.

http://www.sailrocket.com/node/663#comments

 

Sat, 24 Nov 12 19:15

Fresh off the TRIMBLE... 68.01 over 1 second, 65.45 over 500 meters.
I'll let the pictures tell the story. The triple rum and cokes are already hitting the mark.

read more here Speechless.

 

Team Vodafone Sailing NZ, White Island Race 2012

Sail-World article by Richard Gladwell on the NZ 2012 White Island Race

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/White-Island-Race:-TeamVodafoneSailing-first-home-and-sets-race-record/104057

The ORMA 60, TeamVodafoneSailing, skippered by Simon Hull, has finished the 2012 White Island Race at approximately 1.10pm on Saturday, taking just over 27hours to complete the 320nm course.

The first monohull, Equilibrium, was off Pauanui between Tauranga and Whitianga at the last report at 3.00pm . The smallest boat, Unitec II, and Elliott 8.5 metre is yet to round White Island, but is in a group of three others.

read more here

'TeamVodafoneSailing crossing the finish line off Royal Akarana YC (background) around 1310rs on Saturday afternoon to be first home in the 320nm classic' Richard Gladwell ©  

Swiss Hydros team make progress on the construction of their new C Class Catamaran competitor for the Little Americas Cup

News Update from the Hydros team

http://www.hydros.ch/en/news/157-a-world-first-for-the-hydros-team

The Swiss team Hydros have made some progress on the construction of their new C Class Catamaran to contest the upcoming Little Americas Cup.  The hulls will be constructed using the North TPT method.  Photo courtesy of the Hydros shows the hull plugs for the new cat.

America's Cup, Luna Rossa Team skipper Max Sirena reflects on sailing the new AC72 catamaran

From the following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup:-Luna-Rossa-skipper-reflects-on-the-opening-days/104063

Luna Rossa Challenge skipper Max Sirena is embarking on his fourth America’s Cup challenge with the Italian syndicate.

He joined the fledgling team in 2000 as a mid-bowman, but now has chosen every man on the team. Sirena took time out yesterday to review how the team has progressed after its late entry into the 34th America’s Cup.

Yesterday was Luna Rossa’s sixth day of sailing the AC72. What has the team learned so far?

We are still on the learning curve of the boat. Only yesterday we tried to be more focused in performance and proper trim than everything else. Up to day before yesterday was more about sea trials. With this boat you will always be in sea trials until the end of the Cup because every day is different and you discover something new with this new machine.

Do you feel like you’ll be ready, fully prepared for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup?

You’re never ready enough, for sure. Our goal is to try and arrive in San Francisco in good shape, but the main goal is to have as much confidence in the boat as possible to be able to focus on racing the boat rather than sailing the boat. That is the main goal for us.

more here

'First sailing day in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland-NZ, for AC72 Luna Rossa: the Italian challenger for the 34th America’s Cup' Luna Rossa / Carlo Borlenghi

AC Discovered edition 65

From the Youtube video description

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skHj8y5W1yo&feature=g-all-u

In this weeks America's Cup Discovered we catch up with Ben Ainslie as he drops in at Sky Sports as the awards and accolades flow in. AC UNCUT Reporter Genny Tulloch talks team dynamics with Terry Hutchinson. The hall of Fame beckons two America's Cup sailors and its thirsty work sailing an AC45 as we ask the guy...beer or wine? It's all in this weeks Discovered.

The Weta Summer Rally, report by Gary Napier

A repost of an article by Gary Napier on the Weta Summer Rally originally posted on crew.org.nz

http://www.crew.org.nz/the-weta-summer-rally/

After much debate and pulling of hair the NZ Weta Association decided to mix it up for the 2012 Nationals. Rather than repeat the formula from prior years of hosting a racing event with additional family sailing thrown in we decided it would be fun to head to the Coromandel for a weekend of great destination sailing for all the family with some coaching from Team Weta.

Cometh the hour cometh the man and with high winds and rain forecast for the weekend it was no surprise to receive an email from Team Weta to say that conditions would be challenging but that they would be no problem for the Weta. The "Summer" Rally would go ahead as planned. No problem there, only we had family, children and friends in tow expecting a leisurely destination sail to a deserted beach for a picnic and to blast home with a following wind to a sizzling bbq, camp fire and a few cool drinks! Throw in some great coaching - what more could you wish for?

read more here

APC Logistics National Multihull Regatta updated results

Updates on results of APC Logistics National Multihull Regatta in Wangi

http://www.yachting.org.au/site/yachting/results/wangirslasc/2012/events/multinats2012/SGrp2.htm
 

APC Logistics National Multihull Regatta

Hosted By Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club

APC Logistics

Updated: 23/11/2012 2:43:27 PM

Series Results [OMR] for Division 1 up to Race 6 (Drops = 1)

Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Sers Score	Race 6	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		N888	Indian Chief	Darren Drew	7.0	[4.0]	1.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	2.0
2		V1	APC Mad Max	Tony Considine	9.0	2.0	3.0	1.0	[4.0]	2.0	1.0
3		N36	Malice	Malcolm Richardson	11.0	1.0	2.0	3.0	2.0	3.0	[4.0]
4		013	Two Tribes	Clive Kennedy	19.0	3.0	5.0	4.0	[5.0]	4.0	3.0
5		1011	Turning Point	Zebb Peters	22.0	5.0	4.0	5.0	3.0	5.0	[5.0]
6		GR297	Wilparina II	Robert Remilton	30.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	[6.0]
7		101	Lukim Yu	Peter Barrow	35.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	[7.0]
8		V3	Bare Essentials	Tim Pepperell	45.0	9.0C	9.0C	9.0C	9.0C	9.0S	[9.0F]

Series Results [OMR] for Division 2 up to Race 6 (Drops = 1)

Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Sers Score	Race 6	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		V4	Frassld	Shaun Fishley	5.0	1.0	1.0	[7.0]	1.0	1.0	1.0
2		M23	Startijenn	Johan Betrom	14.0	2.0	3.0	1.0	3.0	[14.0F]	5.0
3		BB2U	Big Bird	Stephen Barton	17.5	4.5	2.0	2.0	6.0	3.0	[6.0]
4		V306	Sknot	Craig Unthank	21.0	3.0	4.0	[9.0]	5.0	2.0	7.0
5		064	Boatox	Linda Renouf	23.0	6.0	5.0	4.0	4.0	[6.0]	4.0
6		124	The SPC4	David Fisher	26.5	4.5	8.0	[8.0]	7.0	4.0	3.0
7	3.0S	W102	Foxy	Shane Russell	32.0	7.0	6.0	3.0	2.0	14.0S	[14.0F]
8		125	Gneisenau	Ross MCOmish	32.0	[14.0O]	9.0	5.0	8.0	8.0	2.0
9		13	The Tribe	John Hardy	37.0	8.0	7.0	6.0	[14.0F]	7.0	9.0
10		75	Louie da Tri	Paul Nudd	47.0	10.0	[11.0]	10.0	9.0G	10.0	8.0
11		SA737	Su Mare	David Eldridge	49.0	9.0	10.0	11.0	10.0	9.0	[12.0]
12		W110	Tribelle	Kim Hooper	55.0	11.0	12.0	12.0	9.0	[14.0F]	11.0
13		047	Hot Option	Mike Willcocks	57.0	14.0C	14.0C	14.0C	[14.0Q]	5.0	10.0

Series Results [OMR] for Division 3 up to Race 6 (Drops = 1)

Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Sers Score	Race 6	Race 5	Race 4	Race 3	Race 2	Race 1
1		78	Raw Fin	David Knezevic	5.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	[1.0]
2		HA320	Rainbow Connection	Leon Alexander	10.5	2.0	2.0	[3.0]	2.5	2.0	2.0
3		36	Beans	Steve Walter	13.5	3.0	3.0	2.0	2.5	3.0	[4.0]
4		608	Tradewind	Allan Rees	19.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	[4.0]	3.0

(Ties: S=Score R=Race B= Bettered. Penalties: A=ARB B=BFD C=DNC D=DNE E=ESP F=DNF G=RDG L=Late Entrant M=DGM N=ENP O=OCS P=Protest Q=DSQ R=RAF S=DNS T=TLE U=DUT V=AVG X=EXC Z=ZFP Y=SCP #=NoData [x.y]=Discarded)

Results by : TopYacht Software

A Class catamaran Southern Championships to be held in conjuntion with RGYC's Festival of Sails

bymnews article is here

http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=112128

Festival of Sails: Hurricane Sandy delays A-Class cats

 

Friday, 23 November 2012

Hurricane Sandy influenced the weather pattern at the recent A-Cat World Championships held last month in Florida Keys, United States, by cutting the series in half. The weather effects might be long gone, but the impact for some Australian A-Class sailors is far reaching.

 

Preparation for the A-Class Southern Championships, to be held in conjunction with Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Festival of Sails, has been put back due to Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent late departure of the ship carrying nine catamarans from Florida back to Melbourne.

 

The ship finally sailed on November 5th from Miami to the Panama Canal, where the boats were transferred to a different vessel for the final second leg.

Australian A-Class President, Ian Johnson, has been in touch with the shipping company, but expects it will be another week until he knows whether the container ship is on schedule.

 

Originally due early December, the ship is now expected to dock in Melbourne on the 20th, right before many freight staff go on Christmas holidays

“If we can’t unload the boats in the short window before Christmas it could be another couple of weeks until we can get access to them,” said Johnson.

“Not being able to check the boats over after such a long transport or train during the Christmas break isn’t an ideal situation, however those affected are highly experienced, which lessens the disruption somewhat.”

 

The Festival of Sails runs from January 24 to 28 and the A-Class Southern Championships will be the premier event held in the southern states in the run up to the class’ nationals in Darwin mid 2013.

 

read more here