Tornado catamaran Wednesday night racing in Tauranga, New Zealand by Phil Scherer

Charlotte Harbor Regatta Feb 6th - 9th 2014, Notice of Race posted and registration open

A notification from John Lange on the upcoming Charlotte Harbor Regatta which welcomes a wide range of off the beach multihulls:

http://www.charlotteharborregatta.com/index.html

NOR POSTED, REGISTRATION OPEN
FOR 5th ANNUAL CHARLOTTE HARBOR REGATTA, FEB. 6-9, 2014

CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FLA. – The Notice of Race for the 5th annual Charlotte Harbor Regatta set for Feb. 6-9, 2014 has been posted. After a record-breaking 2013 event that featured more than 100 boats, the 2014 CHR has been expanded to include the Olympic-class Nacra 17 catamaran. Other new classes invited included the WindRider catamaran and the Viper 640 and Melges 20 classes. Returning classes will include the 2.4mR, Laser, Sunfish, Precision 15, Flying Scot, F18, F16, Hobie 16, Hobie Wave, WindRider 17 and Weta trimaran.

The 2014 Charlotte Harbor Regatta will also mark the Inaugural Will White Cup. Named in honor of Sunfish racing legend and “The Sunfish Bible” author Will White, the cup will be awarded to the winner of the Sunfish class.

Featuring nightly regatta dinner parties, 14 one-design classes and competitors from around the country racing on three race circles, the Charlotte Harbor Regatta has quickly grown into one of the most talked-about regattas in the nation. Free beach, ramp and lift launching facilities, free or low-cost storage, affordable hotels and low registration fees make the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, “the fun, affordable regatta.” Find out why SAIL magazine designated Charlotte Harbor as “one of the top 10 greatest places to sail in the United States.”

Since its inception in 2010, the National Association of Sports Commissions recognized the regatta as its “Best Local Event” and the Charlotte County Visitor and Convention Bureau honored regatta organizers with its 2010 “Event Development Award.” The CHR board staged the International Association for Disabled Sailing’s 2012 IFDS World Championships and the 2013 regatta featured the 64-boat strong Laser Masters Midwinters East. Charlotte Harbor has also played host to the 2012 2.4mR North Americans and the U.S. 2.4mR Class Association Nationals, both of which will return in December 2013.

The 5th annual Charlotte Harbor Regatta will once again feature a wildly popular Pusser’s Rum Beach Party at Port Charlotte Beach Park. Limited on-site tent camping is available.

For photo slideshows and videos of past Charlotte Harbor Regattas, go www.charlotteharborregatta.com. For participant, media and sponsor inquiries about the 2014 Charlotte Harbor Regatta, e-mail Brian Gleason at gleason@charlotteharborregatta.com or call 941-206-1133.

The Notice of Race is here:

https://www.regattatech.com/public/CHR/CharlotteHarbor14/CHR_NOR_2014_Ver04.pdf

The registration page is here:

https://www.regattatech.com/registration/action/showEntryForm?clubCode=CHR&eventCode=CharlotteHarbor14

Tornado World Championships 2013, Greek team retain world open title Team Gaebler first in mixed title

The evergreen Tornado Catamaran class continues to impress while attracting good fleets to their  International championships.  The most recent event was held in Ibiza, Spain.

From the following article on the Tornado catamaran website:

http://www.tornado-class.org/2013-tornado-world-championships-final-day/

2013 Tornado World Championships – Final Day

The Greeks retain the title!

The 2013 Tornado Open and Mixed World Championships finished on a high in Ibiza on Saturday, another fantastic day on the water.

Three races were run to make the full quota of 10 races after one was missed earlier in the week. The wind was between 7 and 13 knots and coming from the North to North East direction. In the first race the Greek Red Bull team of Paschalidis and Trigonis stormed out in front and took the victory ahead of the Mixed duo of Roland and Nahid Gaebler.

read more here

The open results are here

and the mixed results are here

The mighty tornado in action, photo courtesy Team Graebler

There is also a race report submitted by Team Gaebler who placed second in the Open division and first in the mixed.

http://www.teamgaebler.de

Best of Sailing in Ibiza at the Tornado World Championship 2013 – Mixed World and Open Vice-Title for Nahid and Roland Gaebler

 

We had one of the best sailing conditions ever at a Tornado Championship. 10 races with winds between 6 and 25 knots. Every race day had its own tactical challenge with plenty of chances to win or lose a race. On the first 3 days the racing was also combined with big waves, which creates high jumps on the Tornados. Sometimes the boats were out of control and the 32 Teams from 10 Nations had a lot of emotional moments.

 

read more here

 

Western Region Regatta & South Australia vs Victoria (off the beach) Catamaran Challenge, Rivoli Bay South Australia

To be held on the Melbourne Cup weekend 2nd and 3rd of November 2013 in the beautiful Rivoli Bay, SA.  Open to all off the beach craft see brochure below for more details.

http://www.yachtingvictoria.com.au/site/yachting/vic/downloads/WRR%202013%20RBSC%20Brochure.pdf

More information and sailing instructions on the Rivoli Bay Sailing Clubs facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rivoli-Bay-Sailing-Club/168831696463019

Racing at Rivoli Bay, photo courtesy Rivoli Bay Sailing Club

Hobie 16 World Championships, Record response to event to be held at Jervis Bay

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by David Brookes

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Hobie-16-World-Championship---Entries-open-to-record-response/111651

A record breaking response to the opening of worldwide registrations for the Hobie 16 World Championships, to be held on Jervis Bay, surprised the championship organisers on Monday.

The competitor registration rate tripled the initial response to the previous world championships in Weihai, China. The early, unprecedented entries, is believed to have been driven by the desire of sailors to travel and compete in the New South Wales, Shoal haven region and the limited number of places available.

The perfect sailing conditions and pristine waters of Jervis Bay, as well as, the spectacular environment of the surrounding hinterland has been the focus of the event management committee’s promotions leading up to the opening of registration.

read more here

Hobie 16 catamaran, World Championships to be held at Jervis Bay

The Hobie 16 World Championships will be held at Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia between the 31st of January to 15th February 2014

Official website is now live here:

http://hobie16worlds2014.hobieworlds.com/

Notice of Race is here:

http://hobie16worlds2014.hobieworlds.com/content/notice-race

Entry page is here:

http://hobie16worlds2014.hobieworlds.com/content/entry
 

36th Round Texel Race completed

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by Simon Keijzer:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Round-Texel---Line-honours-for-Peter-Vink-and-Jeroen-van-Leeuwen/110291

On Sunday morning, half past 10, all competitors in the 36th Round Texel Race heard the redeeming words: 'the 36th Round Texel will be raced today!' Following the postponement of 15 June, due to the strong winds, 194 of the initial 288 registered catamarans appeared at the start for the postponned version of the Biggest Cat race of the World.

After 2 hours and 35 minutes Peter Vink and Jeroen van Leeuwen crossed the finish line in front of Paal 17 first. Vink and Van Leeuwen took the lead at the lighthouse and did not look back. Sailing on their brand new and ultra-bright Nacra F20 Carbon the duo skimmed the water thanks to the specially prepared foils on the rudders and reached top speeds.

read more here

Another article is on the excellent catsailingnews blog here:

http://www.catsailingnews.com/2013/06/texel-round-2013-oscar-zeekant-charlie.html

Paper Tiger Catamaran International Championship 2013

The 2013 Paper Tiger Catamaran championships has been won by Dave Shaw the first New Zealander to take back to back titles in the event

From the following Sail-World article submitted by Rowdy Leatham

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Shaw-dominates-Paper-Tiger-International-event-again/108147

Dave Shaw has dominated the 2013 Swire Shipping International Paper Tiger Catamaran Championships held over Easter weekend (28 March – 1st April) in a repeat of the 2012 event.

Four race wins on day one set up Shaw, before a second and a ninth place (after an impressive cartwheel down the first reach) on the final day left Shaw (Nelson, NZ) 3 points ahead of second placed Bryan Anderson (Australia) with Scott Barker (Wellington, NZ) sailing a strong regatta to finish third overall (despite breaking his mast in the final race of the regatta), Ryan 'Rowdy' Leatham (Wellington, NZ) was 1 point behind Barker and rueing all of those 'what-if' moments that could have got him on the podium. Bruce Rose rounded out the top five a further 3 points back.

The event was hosted by the Muritai Yacht Club, nestled on the Eastern Shores of Wellington. The venue provided challenging but enjoyable racing with Wellington living up to its WINDY reputation.

Another record fleet of 50 of the best Paper Tiger Skippers from Australia and New Zealand fought to win the ultimate prize in the class, with Shaw winning and becoming the first New Zealander ever to take the individual title back to back.

read more here

'Dave Shaw - 2013 International Champ - 2013 Swire Shipping International Paper Tiger Catamaran Championships'    Phil Benge

Southport Yacht Club hosts 2013 XXXX Sail Paradise Regatta

Southport Yacht Club is once again hosting the excellent XXXX sponsored Sail Paradise Regatta. 

From the following Sail-World article submitted by Bronwen Ince

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/XXXX-Sail-Paradise,-host-to-Queenslands-Season-of-Sailing-2013/107022

For the second year running XXXX Sail Paradise, Gold Coast will be the first event in the Queensland's Season of Sailing campaign. Queensland’s Season of Sailing campaign aims to raise the perception that ‘Queensland is Australia’s premier sailing destination’. Part of this goal is to broaden the awareness and exposure of sailing events and experiences in the state by promoting a series of major race events along the Queensland coast under one sailing banner. 

With only three weeks until the launch of XXXX Sail Paradise, Southport Yacht Club have been busy preparing for the expected 50 plus vessels to the event. 

Three courses will be raced during the regatta, with the IRC Division 1 and 2 sailing windward/Leeward, Performance Racing sailing passage races down the Gold Coast, Coastline and the smaller fleet of Blazers, Off-The-Beach Catamarans and Etchells sailing Windward/Leeward courses. 

read more here

Notice of Race is here

2013 F18 Nacra Infusion World Championships at Southport Yacht Club

From the following article by Bronwen Ince posted on Sail-World.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Adam-Beatie-and-Jamie-Leitner-emerge-Nacra-Infusion-World-Champs/106379

Australian entrant Adam Beatie with Jamie Leitner have emerged winners of the 2013 F18 Nacra Infusion World Championships with a score of 20.8. They managed to take the lead from local Brisbane sailor Mick Guinea, whom came from sixth to place second and lose the regatta by only 0.2.

Competitors joined together on the Gold Coast for the World Championships from all around World including Australia, Oman, Thailand, The Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany.

On Sunday 3rd February, the Gold Coast saw the beginning of the 2013 F18 Nacra Infusion World Championships, hosted from Southport Yacht Club's Hollywell Sailing Squadron. With heavy winds and testing conditions only one race was held on the Sunday from the scheduled two and unfortunately due to strong winds Monday was abandoned. However even with strong winds, Tuesday's racing was underway, due to two broken masts only one race was conducted. Wednesday and Thursday races were well underway with four races each day.

read more here

Full results here

'World Championships Fleet Offshore of the Gold Coast shore line' Peter Merten

2013 New Zealand Paper Tiger National Championships

From the following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Shaw-dominates-2013-New-Zealand-Paper-Tiger-National-Champs/106129

There was plenty of action off Maraetai Beach over Auckland Anniversary Weekend when the Maraetai Sailing Club hosted the 2013 New Zealand Paper Tiger National Championships from January 24 to 28.

The event saw over 47 boats from all over the country competing in spectacular fashion in the Tamaki Straits with the racing producing some very tight results.

The event was the overall National Title, as well as the B and C Grade titles contested meaning that every competitor throughout the fleet was fighting for every position.
With a wide range of competitors participating other titles decided during the week long competition included the New Zealand Women's Title, The Junior (Under 21 Years) Title, The Veteran's (50-59 years) Title, The Grand Masters (60-64 years) Title, and the Great Grand Masters (65+ years) Title.

read more here

'Dave Shaw - won the 2013 Paper Tiger Nationals at Maretai' Rachel Leatham

2013 F18 Australian Catamaran Championship, final results

From the following Sail-World article:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Easy-Tiger-Racing-wins-F18-Masters-at-2013-Australian-Championships/106047

Sheeting rain and 30 knot gale force nor ‘east winds caused the final day of racing in the 2013 F18 Australian Championships at Lake Macquarie to be abandoned today.

Jason Waterhouse and Brett Goodhall (NSW) were declared the winners followed by Brett Burvill/Ryan Duffield (WA) and Adam Beattie/Jamie Leitner (VIC) in third place.

Rod Waterhouse and Chris Way of Easy Tiger Racing held off seven other teams to take out the Masters Divisions and finished in 12th position overall.

'We’re happy with our results at this shortened regatta. It’s disappointing we couldn’t have had more racing but the east coast low and forecast winds would have made it treacherous. I’m pleased to see Jason and Brett are on form for this season and the upcoming AC45 youth racing in San Francisco next week,' Skipper Rod Waterhouse said.

read more here

Rod Waterhouse (Skipper) and Chris Way - Mark Rothfield

also From the following Sail-World article:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/F18-Australian-Championships-2013---Two-in-row/106041

The Australian F18 National Championships 2013 had the final day of racing scrapped off the schedule due to heavy flooding and a looming gale on Monday, allowing Jason Waterhouse and his crewman Brett Goodall to bag their second consecutive national title after five races at Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club, Lake Macquarie.

As flood waters rose around the State, it left the appropriately named Jason Waterhouse and his crewman Brett Goodall with their second consecutive national title, following an emphatic performance in the five races staged over the weekend.

Carrying a third placing as their drop they finished on just six points, comfortably ahead of the WA combination of Brett Burvill and Ryan Duffield (14 pts) and Adam Beattie/Jamie Leitner (15 pts).

read more here

'Jason Waterhouse and Brett Goodall won back-to-back national titles - 2013 Australian F18 National Championships' Mark Rothfield

 

2013 Formula 18 Catamaran National Championships, Day 2

From the following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Formula-18-Nationals---it-never-pours-it-reigns/106029

There were card games all morning and snakes’n’ladders on the race course during an intriguing, rain-interrupted second day of the 2013 Australian Formula 18 National Championships on Lake Macquarie NSW.

After a bright and breezy start to the regatta, where racing was eventually suspended due to 25-knot winds, the scene at Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club was one of complete contrast – steady rain and glassy waters beneath a breathless sky.

A fickle sou’easter eventually filled in at around 1.30pm, and competitors dialled down their rig tuning for light airs. Two races were eventually sailed, with positions swinging wildly throughout as the more tactical sailors got a chance to shine.

Holding a four-point advantage, Jason Waterhouse and Brett Goodall immediately stamped their authority on the regatta, winning Race 4 in style.

read more here

'Down but not out - Rod Waterhouse and Chris Way are the leading Masters - Australian Formula 18 National Championships' Mark Rothfield

A Class catamarans at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club's Festival of Sail

From the following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Festival-of-Sails-2013---International-A-Class---Breakthrough-win/106001

Festival of Sails 2013. With a borrowed boat and a demon of an alias, International A-Class young-gun David Parker claimed his first ever major regatta win.

Parker started the final day’s racing with a win in the mildest conditions of the regatta so far, a meek 10 knots from the southeast.

It was enough to make the boat builder nervous; knowing full well that 20-knots wind speed is his racing sweet spot.

'I was really worried at the start, you know, there are nine or 10 blokes out there who could win this,’’ he said.

But, he found new confidence racing his father’s catamaran, a relatively new design DNA A-Class.

read more here

2013 Australian Formula 18 catamaran national championships, news from the first day of racing

From the following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Formula-18-Nationals---Australia-big-winds-leave-crews-dazed/105978

In a day of thrills and spills at the 2013 Australian Formula 18 National Championships, young guns Jason Waterhouse and Brett Goodall displayed remarkable maturity and consistency to take the lead after three races.

The pair posted a first and two seconds to gain a four-point advantage over the equally consistent Western Australian crew of Brett Burvill/Ryan Duffield (three thirds) and Queenslanders Mick Guinea/Viv Haydon.

Waterhouse and Goodall, aged 21 and 28 respectively, were satisfied with their effort as they gave away considerable kilos and experience to some of their opponents in a breeze that left competitors in an Australia daze.

‘They were tough conditions out there,’ Waterhouse said. ‘In the last race in particular we saw one of our main competitors go over in a classic way and we realised we just had to keep the pointy end up.’

read more here

Starts were fast and furious as the large fleet hit the line at speed - Mark Rothfield

2013 Australian Formula 18 catamaran championships

From the following Sail-World Article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/F18-top-guns-ready-for-take-off-in-national-championships/105904

A squadron of F18s will do battle on Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, over the Australia Day long weekend, as the top guns of catamaran sailing contest the 2013 Australian Formula 18 National Championships.

With revolutionary wave-piercing hulls, twin trapezes, a high aspect square-top mainsail, asymmetric spinnaker, plus carbon-fibre centreboards and rudders, the flying F18s can reach speeds of over 25 knots (46 km/h), making them one of the world’s fastest racing classes.

There’s close tacking and gybing duels aplenty as the windward/leeward courses are relatively tight and each race takes approximately 45 minutes for the first boat to finish.

read more here

'The F18s are one of the fastest sailboat racing classes on the water' photo Mark Rothfield

TransAtlantic beach cat record attempt.

The Swiss-Italian team Jrata3 are challenging a record held for sailing a beachcat accross the Atlantic Dakar, Senegal to the Island of Guadalupe.  The existing record stands at 11days 11h 25m 42s set in 2007 by the French Benoît Lequin and Pierre Yves Moreau on “OCTO FINANCES”.  The new attempt is being carried out using the same catamaran as used in the previous record.

record attempt tracker

Also of interest is that a singlehanded beachcat record was set over the same course in 2008 by Vittorio Malingri of 13days, 17 hours and 48 minutes.  The record was set on 6.09metre beachcat.

Paper Tiger Australian Championship, South Australia

From the Following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Paper-Tiger-Catamaran-Australian-Championship-2013---All-rosy/105769

The Paper Tiger Catamaran Championship 2013 completed all nine races on Sunday at Meningie Sailing Club with Bruce Rose bagging his fourth championship by racking up 18 points just ahead of Alex Craig with 21 points and Bryan Anderson with 24 points.

The Nine race series was held at the Meningie Sailing Club on the Waters of Lake Albert, South Australia. Six races over the first three days saw positions change dramatically, shifty conditions and varying winds from four to fifteen knots tested even the best of skippers. At this point Alex Craig from Victoria was holding first position followed by Bruce Rose, Bryan Anderson, six times winner, his father Peter Anderson three times winner and Garry Williams four times winner. Everything pointed to a very exciting contest, but in the end it was Bruce Rose who won through for his fourth Championship with 18 points from Alex Craig on 21 and Bryan Anderson on 24.

read more here

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Paper-Tiger-Nationals---Flat-water,-fair-winds-and-flying-hulls/105762

Bruce Rose of Tasmania, sailing 'The Apprentice' took out the 43rd Paper Tiger National Championship at the Meningie Sailing Club on the waters of Lake Albert SA over the week of 29th December to 3rd January.

Six races over the first three days saw positions change dramatically, shifty conditions and varying winds from four to fifteen knots tested even the best of skippers. At this point Alex Craig from Victoria was holding first position followed by Bruce Rose, Bryan Anderson, six times winner, his father Peter Anderson three times winner and Garry Williams four times winner.

Everything pointed to a very exciting contest, but in the end it was Bruce Rose who won through for his fourth Championship with 18 points from Alex Craig on 21 and Bryan Anderson 24.

Sailors in the 40-boat fleet came from New South Wales, Victoria Tasmania and South Australia.

Organisers were pleased to have some closing racing between experienced female competitors, with the best placing going to Sarah Ashley-Jones from McCrae in Victoria in 20th place. Commendation should also go to Janica Markovitch for some great sailing with an 11th in one race.

read more here



 

Video from the 2012 Tornado catamaran world championships

A video from the  2012 Tornado World Championships which were held at Lake Garda in Italy.

The Great Race: Gold Coast to Brisbane

The Great Race is an interesting event where off the beach multihulls, dinghy's and foilers take an inshore course through the Broadwater between the Gold Coast (Southport Yacht Club) and finish at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly.  The current race records were set in 2012 with 2:33:32hrs elapsed time for Multihulls, 3:25:09hrs elapsed time for Monohulls and 2:39:58hrs elapsed time for Foiling boats so the multihulls are just holding on to the record for now.  Big news this year is the introduction of a half course to cater for the boats that dont meet the criteria for the full race.

From the following Sail-World article:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/The-Great-Race---Gold-Coast-to-Brisbane-off-the-beach-classic/105500

On Saturday 9th February 2013 Southport Yacht Club will be hosting the Great Race - for the ninth time since its inauguration in 2005. Year after year, the Great Race attracts competitors from all over Australia, looking to test their stamina and willpower in this 70km endurance race from the Gold Coast to Brisbane.

The Great Race is possibly the longest off-the-beach sailing event of its kind to be staged in Australia. Starting just outside the hosting Southport Yacht Club’s Hollywell Sailing Squadron on the Gold Coast, competitors make their way up towards Brisbane. The narrow and twisted waterways between the mainland and the islands will test the competitors’ tacking and boat handling skills before the open vastness of Moreton Bay will provide some challenging wind and waves. Finally, the race will finish just off Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly.
read more here