Having left Horta (Azores) yesterday mid-afternoon, the “Ilha de Sao Luis” tugboat chartered to try and salvage the BT yacht is currently attempting to tow the stricken monohull back to the Azores… but difficult weather conditions and the sheer weight of the IMOCA 60′ full of water make for a very tricky operation.
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Theater Presentation for the Benefit of the Muskegon Yacht Club Juniors
Experience the sights and sounds of the Chicago to Mackinac Yacht Race on the big screen of the Cinema Carousel Theater, 4289 Old Grand Haven Road, Muskegon, Michigan 49441.
December 4, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
This event is to benefit the Muskegon Juniors Sailing Program (a charitable 501(c)3).
American Sailors takes you on board and behind the scenes as four great skippers prepare and race their boats in the longest and oldest freshwater race in the world. In 2008 the Chicago Yacht Club expanded the field to more than 400 boats for the historic 100th running of the magnificent race from Navy Pier in Chicago to beautiful Mackinac Island. See and experience the race as never before aboard:
* Peerless - with first time skipper Brian Torresen
* Souvenir - skippered by school teacher Steve Schiller
* Windquest - the previous year’s overall winner
* Windancer - with John Nedeau Racing in his record 61st MAC
There’s no better seat in the house to see yacht racing for what it really is - a test of skill, teamwork, and technology all at the mercy of the unpredictable breeze.
Buy your tickets online now shop.torresen.com/
Follow the event on Facebook at: www.facebook.com
Share or bookmark this story:First alert 1020 GMT
At approximately 1020 GMT today, BT crew Sébastien Josse and Jean-François Cuzon have activated their EPIRB distress beacon after having suffered major damage following a night battling it out in fierce seas and winds reaching 60 knots at times. The skippers are in regular contact with Race Director Jean Maurel, and have reported significant damage to the coachroof, and water entering the boat. The MRCC are coordinating operations with the Transat Jacques Vabre Race Direction and the BT shore team, to ensure the safe recovery of the skippers. MRCC Falmouth confirmed that the RCC Azores was had sent a helicopter and a Navy vessel over to BT, whilst carrying out a satellite broadcast alert to shipping in the area.
This morning’s message sent by Jean-François Cuzon said it all, and takes its full measure in the light of this morning’s events. Having battled it out in waves reaching more than 8 metres of height, the BT boys were still ver confident this morning, so one can only imagine the shock it must have been for them to discover the damage. Here is what Jeff wrote, a few hours before all hell broke loose: “Impressive, the conditions are really hard on the water, 35 to 60 knots with a big swell (thankfully we are not upwind). Onboard BT, we just put our heads down and wait for better times, we just had a couple of gusts at 55 knots. Jojo has done a great job at the helm and we are now with only the main sail. We hope to get out of that terrible weather in the middle of the day.” With Veolia heading towards the Azores due to a torn mainsail track and Artemis also reporting a string of gear failures, last night’s storm took its toll on the fleet and BT certainly endured the nastiest blow, after having led for most of the race.
1400 GMT - Rescue boat 30 miles away
Jeff Cuzon spoke to Race Director Jean Maurel at 1325 GMT approximately, the situation is stable on board and both men are secure, calmly waiting for the rescue operation to unfold. A helicopter is currently refuelling and will depart to locate BT as soon as possible. Due to the conditions it might not be possible to recover the skippers by air. However, a rescue boat is 30 miles away from BT and making best speed towards BT. The crew still have their handheld Iridium satellite phone, and the EPIRB beacon is functioning properly, reporting BT’s position.
1705 GMT - Visual contact
The Ocean Explorer vessel, taking part in the rescue operation, made visual and VHF contact with the crew aboard the BT yacht…
1800 GMT - They’re safe!
After having considered all the options, decision was taken to use the helicopter aboard the Ocean Explorer and Seb and Jeff were lifted to safety and taken straight back to Terceira, in the Azores. A tugboat is now on standby, and all efforts will now be made to salvage the BT yacht. The technical team left the UK at midday and will arrive in the Azores this evening, with a planned departure Saturday morning to attempt to salvage the BT yacht. Currently the BT shore team have 15 minute position data from the yacht thanks to its tracker.
At approximately 11:00 GMT today, BT crew Sébastien Josse and Jean-François Cuzon have activated their EPIRB distress beacon after having suffered major damage following a night battling it out in fierce seas and winds reaching 60 knots at times. The skippers are in regular contact with Race Director Jean Maurel, and have reported significant damage to the coachroof, and water entering the boat. The MRCC are coordinating operations with the Transat Jacques Vabre Race Direction and the BT shore team, to ensure the safe recovery of the skippers. MRCC Falmouth confirmed that the RCC Azores was had sent a helicopter and a Navy vessel over to BT, whilst carrying out a satellite broadcast alert to shipping in the area.
BT is currently 210 miles North of the Azores, 42 10º N - 27 50º W.
Share or bookmark this story:Online registration opens Friday, November 13 for US SAILING’s 2010 Rolex Miami OCR at the event web site, RMOCR.ussailing.org. All competitors and coaches must register and submit entry fees online before January 8, 2010, as there will be no on-site registration. Scheduled for Sunday, January 24 through Saturday, January 30, 2010, this prestigious event is the second stop on the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2009-2010 circuit.
For any event in which the number of applications exceeds the event quota by December 1, 2009, event organizers will prioritize based on the Member National Authority’s (MNA) highest appearance on the 2009 ISAF Sailing World Cup final series standings. For more details on the quotas for each event, please read the Notice of Race, which is posted on the event web site, RMOCR.ussailing.org.
Rolex Miami OCR is open to boats competing in events chosen for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, Star (men) and Elliott 6m (women). The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR (open, able and disabled), SKUD18 (mixed, disabled) and Sonar (open, disabled).
Share or bookmark this story:Torresen Marine, Muskegon, Michigan’s Hunter Dealer would like to invite all Hunter Owners in Western Michigan and Indiana to travel with us by charter bus to the Strictly Sail Chicago boat show.
We a currently in the planning phase and would like your feedback.
We plan to depart on Saturday, January 30, 2010. The trip will originate somewhere near Traverse City, MI and travel south making pick ups in places such as Ludington, Pentwater, Whitehall, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, South Haven, Benton Harbor, Michigan City Indiana, then on to Chicago. Refreshments and show tickets would also be included in this package.
Please take the time to ponder the following questions and email me with your thoughts or suggestions. brock@torresen.com If you cannot attend, your posted ideas would also be of great help. And, it would be a great chance to meet other Hunter Owners in Western Michigan And Indiana!
QUESTION #1: Should this be a day visit or an overnight event? Many people have expressed interest in staying over and enjoying a little more time than a day trip would allow.
QUESTION #2: Are there any interested Hunter owners that would help coordinate this event? We would love to hear from you.
TIME IS GETTING SHORT. PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY:
brock@torresen.com If you can not attend, your posted ideas would also be of great help. And, it would be a great chance to meet other Hunter Owners in Western Michigan and Indiana!
Understanding the need for boaters to have their own voice, the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA), which serves marine retailers and manufacturers, has created the Boaters’ Association of Michigan (BAM).
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Like they’ve been doing every Columbus Day weekend for nine years, Storm Trysail along with Larchmont Yacht Club and a multitude of sponsors have once again introduced the joys of big-boat racing to boatloads of college sailors in a two-day mini course with maxi impact. Held October 10-11 on Long Island Sound, the 2009 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, which has become the largest college regatta in the U.S., hosted 31 schools and 40 teams racing in five divisions on boats ranging from J/44s to J/105s. With Weather Gods smiling, the young sailors — 327 of them to be exact – competed against each other on teams and with mentors (owners who donated their boats for the cause and served as coaches and safety officers) in brisk 18-22 knot breezes on Saturday and a more forgiving 10-15 knots on Sunday. Six windward-leeward, twice-around races were sailed. (more…)
Share or bookmark this story:The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is to launch a new challenge which will bring the Italian flag to international waters under the name Azzurra. YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo announced the participation of team Azzurra in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta, scheduled to be held in Nice from 7th to 22nd November 2009, to an audience of national and international press at the Genoa Boat Show this afternoon. The new Azzurra team will be led by YCCS member Giovanni Maspero of Joe Fly, under the responsibility of skipper and helmsman Francesco Bruni, supported by tactician Tommaso Chieffi and team manager Alessandra Sensini among others. (more…)
Share or bookmark this story:US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR will bring together the world’s top sailors for elite-level competition in the classes selected for the Olympic and Paralympic Games from January 24-30, 2010, US SAILING announced today. Held on picturesque Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, Fla., this prestigious event is the second stop on the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2009-2010 circuit. The Notice of Race is now available online at the newly-launched event web site, RMOCR.ussailing.org.
Starting November 13, 2009, competitors and coaches will be required to register online at RMOCR.ussailing.org. Online registration is mandatory, as on-site registration will not be available. Women’s Match Racers must register online prior to the December 1, 2009; the registration deadline for all other events is January 8, 2010.
“We’re very excited about the second year of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, and we expect a great turnout for US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR,” said Gary Bodie (Hampton, Va.), the co-organizer of the event.
Rolex Miami OCR is open to boats competing in events chosen for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, Star (men) and Elliott 6m (women). The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR (open, able and disabled), SKUD18 (mixed, disabled) and Sonar (open, disabled). In addition to being a world-ranking event, it is also a US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics qualifier.
For fleet racing in the Olympic classes, the regatta will consist of a five-day opening series and a double-point medal race. The top ten finishers in the opening series of each event will advance to the medal race. Competitors in the Paralympic classes will have five days of fleet racing and no medal race. For match racing, which makes its debut in the 2012 Olympic Games, the regatta will consist of an opening series, a knockout series, and a sail-off for boats not advancing to the knockout series. Medals will be awarded to the top three boats in each Olympic and Paralympic event on Saturday, January 30.
Regatta Headquarters will be located at the US Sailing Center Miami, an official Olympic training center, in the Coconut Grove section of Miami, Fla. Event organizers have partnered with the city of Miami to provide world-class venues for competition. Additional hosts for the event include Coral Reef Yacht Club, Key Biscayne Yacht Club, Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami Rowing Club and Shake-a-Leg Miami. These sailing organizations host classes onshore, as well as help run the on-the-water racing. The Coral Reef Yacht Club also hosts the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
In addition to title sponsor Rolex Watch U.S.A., US SAILING’s 2010 Rolex Miami OCR is also sponsored by AlphaGraphics, Sperry Top-Sider, Harken and Team McLube.
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