There’s no greater satisfaction for me than watching young sailors excel on the water and wondering where in sailing they will be later on in their lives. Will that smooth-tacking coed Club 420 team someday be leading A division at college nationals or that eager starter in the Optimist class sailing for medals and then joining the ranks of the America’s Cup? It seems today, more than ever, competition at junior sailing events, at both the local club level and the national championships, is dramatically improved. This is because yacht clubs are committed to making junior sailing a priority. I see examples of this all around the country. Parents are willing to help with travel, there’s advanced instruction and individual coaching, and standardized one-design boats, and this all bodes well for the future of American sailing.
For eight years we’ve kept a close eye on the junior sailing scene, each year calling out the sailors that put forward great results and uphold sportsmanship while doing so. There are literally hundreds of them out there, and of all the annual “lists” in which I’m involved my juniors are the toughest…Â More info
Already back in 2000, Michel Desjoyeaux worked alongside the Finot Group designers to get them to incorporate some of his ideas to his Open 60. And, again this time the boat which won Desjyoeaux for the second time, built in collaboration with the CDK Technologies yard includes many design ideas based on his experience.
Michel Desjoyeaux’s decision to take part again in the Vendée Globe again was part of his drive to take part in a broad range of sailing activities. In 2006, even before his last Route du Rhum on the Géant trimaran, (4th behind Lemonchois, Bidégorry, Coville), the Desjoyeaux decided to have an IMOCA Open 60 built to designs by the Farr team.
He just had to wait to find a sponsor. From the outset of the design stage Michel Desjoyeaux paired…Â More Info…
A deadline is fast approaching on February 10 that could potentially be deadly for the youth motorcycle and ATV market. In less than two weeks, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, enacted August 14 of last year, will go into effect and ban all products designed for children ages 12 or under which contain lead over specified limits. The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and Motorcycle Industry Council are attempting to get an exemption for ATV and motorcycle parts…
…What exactly happens on Feb 10 for motorcycle dealers?
“On February 10 large inventories of motorcycle and ATV products that present no health risk to children could be rendered retroactively illegal and future products prohibited from sale. These products may need to be destroyed resulting in severe hardship for dealers and manufacturers in the motorcycle industry. Along with the current state of the economy, this may be a hit that dealers and manufacturers will not be able to recover from…Â More Info…
Â
Â
Â
A crowd estimated by Vendee Globe organizers at 125,000 people sailed or milled around waiting for winner Michel Desjoyeaux to sail in, with his 60-foot monohull, under sunny skies Sunday afternoon. The excitement turned to dismay for many Monday morning when second-place Roland Jourdain decided to end his race in the Azores after 84 days, trying to sail with a broken keel under very rough conditions.
Desjoyeaux came in at a bright 20 knots, completing the round-the-world solo race in… More info…Â