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Archive for the ‘Sailing’ Category

21
Apr

Sailing – Volvo Ocean Race – fleet catching Telefónica Blue

It’s hell for Telefónica Blue today as they see their triple-figure lead whittled down to a miserable 30nm, but it’s heaven for the chasing pack who are still romping along and enjoying the sailing, Caribbean style.

But, the time will come when they too sail into the lighter conditions that Telefónica Blue is currently experiencing.

“We have been on the receiving end now for roughly 36 hours, losing mile after mile, which is part of the game. I don’t think it will stop for at least another 20 hours, as then, finally, the others will hit the wall as well,” explained the blue boat’s skipper, Bouwe Bekking.

Telefónica Blue is now on the same latitude as the Caribbean Island of St Martin, and ‘Caribbean sailing’ is what today is all about.

“No more goggles, helmets and full foul weather gear, just Caribbean style shorts and t-shirts,” says Wouter Verbraak, Delta Lloyd’s navigator. “Add a barbeque on the back, a nice chilled bottle of white wine and some fresh yellow fin tuna and we could be cruising along just nicely,” he says…  Details 

21
Apr

Sailing America’s Cup – Golden Gate puts cards on America’s Cup table ahead of Meeting

ggycA statement just issued by GGYC, reads:

‘The Golden Gate Yacht Club and its team, BMW ORACLE Racing, remain committed to a multiple challenger, mutual consent regatta. In preparation for our meeting with Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) this Thursday (23 April) in Geneva, Commodore Marcus Young sent a letter to his counterpart at SNG today reiterating our commitment and outlining two proposals for a multiple-challenger AC33. This letter is posted on our Club website, www.ggyc.com. We believe it is important to be clear and transparent in our respective positions. We are asking SNG to respond with their position in writing to avoid any confusion.’

The letter referred to reads:

STARTApril 21, 2009

 

Commodore Pierre-Yves Firmenich
Société Nautique de Genève
Port Noir
CH-1223 Cologny
SWITZERLAND

Dear Commodore Firmenich,

We remain committed to a multiple challenger, mutual consent regatta. To that end, we have ceded full authority to our delegation to negotiate an agreement with your club, and we seek confirmation that your delegation has similar powers.

We also believe that the process can be accelerated by highlighting our position to you in writing ahead of the meeting, thereby giving your team time to discuss the options and prepare. Henceforth, our AC33 proposals will be in writing and we respectfully request your responses be in writing as well.

Our proposal for AC 33 is for a multi-challenger regatta under a Protocol and rules (racing, technical and commercial) agreed by mutual consent, at Valencia in 2011, in your new ‘AC33’ class based on:

AC 32 rules and format with cost cutting measures; and the Board of ACM agreed by mutual consent.

or, alternatively:

a traditional format of a separate Challenger Selection Series organized at your venue by Louis Vuitton (if they agree to this role); i.e., the Challengers will provide the winner of the LV Cup, and the Challengers will re-assume the financial and organizational responsibilities for this series.

On Thursday our delegation is going to Geneva to discuss the foregoing with your representatives. We look forward to your written response to these proposals within a week of the Geneva meeting.

We suggest there be a neutral observer at the meeting able and willing to brief potential Challengers and the press afterwards. We invite your suggestions on who this might be.

Sincerely,

END … Details

20
Apr

Sailing – Vestas Sailrocket – Out of time and at the bitter end

Vestas Sailrocket is attempting to break the World Sailing Speed record on Walvis Bay in Namibia. Their time period for attempting this record has come to an end. Latest news from Paul Larsen.

The bitter end… Mon day 04/20/2009 – 07:47.

…Well… Damnit… things just didn’t go our way I’m afraid.

We did all we could as the weather once again played games with us. We were looking for a solid, punchy day as was forecast but late in the afternoon the 14’s and 15’s on the Tacktick wind meter just left me feeling slightly sick.

Sure they were accompanied by the odd 20 and even 21 knot gust… but those ‘holes’ in the wind would kill us as far as a speed run would go. I knew that those numbers will have a significant impact on our future and will leave me with no fond memories. Local friends on kite and wind surfers stopped in at the timing hut to offer condolensces as they knew how much it meant to us.

Still we stayed on. Dead low tide was at 4.45 pm and sunset was at 5.45pm. At low-tide the wind was building a little and I wanted to …  Details

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20
Apr

Sailing – Entries close Tuesday for Newport to Ensenada race

With the entry deadline coming on Tuesday at 5 p.m., the usual high-powered ocean racers are already lined up for Friday’s start of the 62nd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, led by last year’s two big winners.

David Janes and Bill Turpin’s Akela, a Reichel/Pugh 77 that won the 2008 Tommy Bahama Trophy for first overall on handicap time, and Doug Baker’s first-to-finish, record-chasing Magnitude 80 are among the Maxi Class fleet that sets the pace in the 125.5-nautical mile race, along with Roy Pat Disney sailing his dad Roy E.’s recycled Pyewacket II; Dennis Conner’s Farr 60, Stars & Stripes; several ULDB 70s, a handful of TP52s and the prototype of the latter global class, John MacLaurin’s Pendragon 4, a Davidson 52.

For the first time spectators on Balboa Pier at the new start line will have a front-row look at the two-hour sequence of starts beginning at noon. Former NOSA commodore Jerry Moulton will offer explanatory commentary from the roof of Ruby’s restaurant…  Details 

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