Paige Railey, the 17-year-old Laser Radial sailor from St. Petersburg, Fla., won the Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta in Spain today, the first major Olympic classes regatta in Europe of the season. Railey, who is ranked the top Laser Radial sailor on the 2005 US Sailing Team, defeated 35 boats from ten countries in Palma de Mallorca to take home the honors. Railey has kicked off the first year of a new Olympic quadrennium with a bang, winning US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR earlier this year.
Railey’s strong performance was consistent throughout the five-day regatta, taking the lead on the first day and never relinquishing that top spot. Out of a total of 13 races, Railey won a total of six races. Overall, Railey had a total of 33 points and finished 32 points ahead of runner-up Charlotte Dobson (GBR), who inched ahead of third place finisher Wiebke Schroder (GER) earlier in the week.
Next up for Paige Railey is a trip back home to St. Petersburg, Fla., to complete her senior year in high school. She has a busy sailing schedule ahead of her this summer, including a trip to the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Busan, Korea to represent the USA as part of US SAILING’s US Youth World Team.
The Global Challenge Race Committee today (31st March 2005) announced their intention to protest Pindar, “for a breach of RRS [Racing Rules for Sailing] 42.1 following notification, under General Sailing Instruction 20, of the use of their engine in reverse gear at 1530 (local time) on the 27th March 2005.”
Pindar were at position 44.39S 50.33E when the incident in question occurred, in 17/18 knots of headwind. After a report of a sluggish helm, kelp was found to be trailing under the transom. Assuming the rudder was fouled, Pindar was brought hove-to and the crew attempted to dislodge the kelp using the boat hook.
In the heat of the moment the engine was engaged for approximately 1-3 minutes in reverse gear only. This time, again using the boot hook, a large ball of kelp was freed from its position where it had indeed been fouling the rudder before racing resumed.
The crew then recognised, with the benefit of hindsight, that this action may be regarded as a breach of RRS Rule 42.1 and immediately notified the race committee. In accordance with the Sailing Instructions, they will present a full written report to the Race Committee within 24 hours of the leg finish.
The Protest Hearing will take place on 14th April at the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town. The International Jury, appointed by ISAF, will hear Pindar’s case along with any other protests lodged within 24 hours of each yacht crossing the finish line and award any penalties if deemed necessary.
Race Update
“It’s not as cold when it smashes you in the face...” The sea temperature is finally rising for the Global Challenge fleet according to Imagine It. Done. skipper Dee Caffari.
The fleet is heading northwest in pleasant conditions with 15-20 knots from the west-southwest and Imagine It. Done. is still leading the way. The breeze is gradually backing to the southwest and moderating after a bout of variable conditions made sail-plan decisions incredibly difficult.
“The wind strength has been changing dramatically in the last 24 hours from 0 - 35 knots,” wrote Team Stelmar skipper Clive Cosby this morning, “we've had thunderstorms and dead calm. Boat speed has therefore also varied from -1 (backwards) to 12 knots down the line. We have had to react accordingly and are changing sails and reefs several times during the watches.”
Imagine It. Done. suffered in the variable winds, skipper Dee Caffari reporting that, “Getting stuck in every wind hole possible was not in the plan or the weather file. However these things happen and it is good for the crew to hoist every sail in the forepeak and then pack a kite at the end of it all! I am very frustrated and can only hope that Spirit of Sark and BP Explorer get their own wind holes to sit in.”
This afternoon, however, the winds are far more reliable, Dee Caffari reporting “more consistent breeze and less swell so getting the boat going is a lot easier.” And she has used them well; Imagine It. Done. creeping ahead once again. Spirit of Sark (2nd), skippered by Duggie Gillespie, trail by 12nm and BP Explorer, skippered by David Melville, trail by 22nm.
The current estimated time of arrival for the lead yachts is the afernoon of Monday 4th April.
Leaderboard DTF
Imagine It. Done. 865nm
Spirit of Sark 877nm
BP Explorer 887nm
Pindar 923nm
Team Stelmar 927nm
Barclays Adventurer 985nm
SAIC La Jolla 995nm
Samsung 1,017nm
Me to You 1,038nm
BG SPIRIT 1,069nm
Team Save the Children 1,224nm
VAIO 1,369nm
Racing Cat Challenge to Italy
News Singles Sailing
Great Lakes New marina
College Sailing Big 10 team race hosted by Michigan
A number of competitors are following in the footsteps of Jean Le Cam and have confirmed their intention to participate in the Calais Round Britain Race, the first Imoca event of the 2005 season. Around ten crews should be on the start line in Calais on 22 May 2005 : a quality line-up which may well have a strikingly high British presence.
So British…
The British sailors may well be out in force in this second edition of the Calais Round Britain Race. They will find themselves in familiar waters as the 1850 mile course is literally going to be a race that is home from home, along the English, Irish and Scottish coastlines.
Three crews have been announced. In addition to the confirmed participation of Mike Golding and Emma Richards, Conrad Humphreys has expressed to the organisers his desire to be present.
A valiant third in the Vendée Globe, Mike Golding crossed the finish line without his keel. His boat has been in the yard in Cowes since the start of March. It’s now a race against the clock on the English side of the Channel so that Golding and his crew will make this first rendez-vous of the year. With regards the young Emma Richards, after her participation in the Around Alone in 2002-2003, she has chosen to devote her next few years to the Imoca circuit. She will be at the helm of her 60 footer Pindar Alphagraphics. Emma notably won the Round Britain and Ireland Race on a 50 foot monohull with Miranda Merron in 2002; a fact that may well mean that she knows all the traps and secrets of this course.
Finally, Conrad Humphreys, author of an incredible round the world, also has the intention of being present at the start in Calais. Heading off into the race again from the back of the pack after a pit-stop in Simonstown, South Africa, the young skipper was able to complete his very first Vendée Globe in 7 th position, after a fantastic comeback. His boat is also likely to undergo numerous repairs.
High society amongst the Frenchies
On the French side, Jean Le Cam was the first skipper to register his name on the list of competitors. His friend Roland Jourdain is likely to join him aboard Sill et Veolia. The keel of his Lombard design was damaged during the Vendée Globe while ‘Bilou’ was battling it out in the leading trio. A new keel is in construction and the whole team are already hard at work to be present in Calais. Jean Pierre Dick, Bernard Stamm and Anne Liardet have also made it known that they will be on the start line.
Still provisional, the competitors’ list may well be enriched by some equally big names in ocean racing between now and the closing date for inscriptions on 15 April 2005.
Calais Round Britain Race in a few points
* Crewed race reserved for the Imoca class (Open 60 footers)
* Starting from Calais on 22 May 2005 between 1200 and 1400 GMT
* 1850 miles of racing around the British Isles in a clockwise direction
* First finishers in Calais around 29 May
* Winner of the 2003 edition : Vincent Riou and his crew on PRB / 9 competitors
In accordance with 33 CFR 165.901, Captain of the Port Sault Ste Marie will open the waters between Cheboygan Michigan and Bois Blanc Island Michigan known as South Channel, effective 0600 EST 01 APR 2005.
The Coast Guard would like to remind all recreational ice users to plan their activity carefully, use caution on the ice, and stay away from shipping channels.
Further inquiries can be made by phone to Sault Vessel Traffic Service at (906) 635-3232 or via email at vts@grusaultstemarie.uscg.mil.
Racing H33 800
News Ovington Obit. ENZ update
Great Lakes Big mac History
College Sailing Oregon
Imagine It. Done still out in the lead
Imagine It. Done. skippered by Dee Caffari is still out in the lead in Leg 4 of the Global Challenge, having dominated most of the way in the toughest leg of the race.
Just 15 miles back and chasing hard is Duggie Gillespie’s crew aboard Spirit of Sark, closely followed by David Melville and his crew on BP Explorer – a further 15 miles behind again.
Speaking back in Portsmouth at race start Dee explained: “Sailing today is still male-dominated but there are many female skippers who are doing a lot of good things like Ellen MacArthur, Emma Richards and Tracey Edwards. They’re all putting female skippers on the map and enabling them to become much more accepted.
“Yes, I know that some people will be looking a little harder at me as I’m not one of the boys…in body…but I just see myself as one of the skippers doing the same role as everybody else!”
She will undoubtedly have silenced any critics she has had in the past that questioned her competitiveness. After a huge medical evacuation in the first Southern Ocean leg - where she very nearer lost one of her Crew Volunteers, John Masters - and a huge flyer in Leg 3 which cost her dearly, a win on this leg would push her right back up the race results leader board.
That possible win is ever closer with Cape Town less than a week away but as David Melville – one of Dee Caffari’ closest rivals - put it: “There are still 1,000 miles to go, further than the whole of leg 3. It may feel like we’ve broken the back of the leg but there’s still a long way to go.”
Right now the fleet are experiencing warmer northerly winds prior to the arrival of a cold front (approximately 6 hours away). As the front passes over the fleet the wind will back to the north west and then west.
Cal Tomlinson, Challenge Business’ Sailing Manager told us: “This will probably be the last ‘real’ westerly blow for the leg and they will soon be influenced by a high pressure system forming to the west of Cape Town, which will generate south westerly and then south easterly breeze which Cape Town is famous for. But, until then there is the small hurdle of this last strong westerly.”
Stuart Jackson, skipper of Barclays Adventurer explained how the weather was looking like from one of the sailor’s perspectives. He explained: “Things are looking pretty good on the weather front for the next few days too. We have another low heading in our direction, which is due to pass to the south of us.
“Therefore, currently the winds we are experiencing are northerly, these are due to continue for around 12 hours, when the cold front is due to pass over us. The characteristics of this will mean we'll experience squally showers with winds around 30 - 40 knots, we will then have a large wind shift resulting in south westerly winds for the next couple of days. This will hopefully herald the end of our heavy weather sailing for this leg.”
However, this heavy weather has been keen to snare at least one last victim - SAIC La Jolla – who have experienced sail damage as Jim Walker expands: “We’ve had some repeat damage to the staysail in gusty conditions and it was back on the saloon table for repairs at breakfast yesterday. Luckily the damage was minor and the sail is now flying again. We’re continuing our pursuit of Barclays Adventurer who are currently 16 miles ahead, but with variable conditions forecast it should create some opportunity for us to claw back some of those miles.”
Currently more than 500 miles to the north east and sailing a completely different wind pattern is VAIO who are negotiating the eastern band of a small high-pressure system. They will encounter the same conditions as the remainder of the fleet but with a 24-hour delay.
The current ETA for the fleet into Cape Town is Monday afternoon local time.
Fleet positions:
Imagine It. Done 1,059(Distance to finish)
Spirit of Sark 15 (miles to leader)
BP Explorer 30
Pindar 54
Team Stelmar 60
Barclays Adventurer 106
SAIC La Jolla 119
Samsung 148
Me To You 168
BG SPIRIT 175
Team Save the Children 358
VAIO 507
As the first days of spring approach, we at the Torresen Marine Ship’s Store are seeing some familiar faces. Launch requests have begun to roll in, as sailors anticipate fairer weather.
We all know the tasks are endless when commissioning a boat for launch. If your boat has batteries, an important one of these tasks is checking the battery’s status. When doing so one must be cautious pertaining to electrical systems and spills. Sparks from arcing cables can cause a battery to explode and the liquid in the battery is acid. Keep in mind that this is a task you will not want to be repeating, as batteries are often times hard to access.
Torresen Marine, inc maintains a stock of the most common batteries used in boats. We recommend the Deka brand from East Penn because of the track history and, if needed, the service response. These batteries are found with many labels, including Wonch and West Marine. The batteries at TMI are constantly on sale with very competitive pricing. TMI also has high-tech equipment for measuring the status of your batteries that goes beyond voltage testing and load testing. This is not equipment that we lend or rent but if your boat is nearby or if you bring the batteries to our service shop, we can run a test to let you know the current status of the batteries and what to expect of those batteries in the near future.
If you find that you must replace a battery, TMI will recycle your old battery at no cost to you.
There are several types of batteries that you may encounter. The old standard “lead acid” batteries have removable caps on the top of each internal cell. Each cell should contribute about two volts, i.e.: six cells equal a twelve-volt rated battery. Newer batteries are “maintenance free” and you cannot adjust the internal liquid level. Gel batteries were very popular for a while but the precision required for recharging resulted in many premature failures. The latest are AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) which a very similar to the Gel batteries but more forgiving when being recharged.
You will also find batteries for different applications. There are engine start batteries that can put out a great amount of amperage that is required for proper cranking speeds required to start an engine. They can also be recharged rapidly. The life of these batteries is greatly shortened if cycled greatly or frequently. Then there are Deep Cycle batteries that are designed to be run through many discharge-recharge cycles. They may not put out the rush of current required for engine starting nor can they be recharged in a hurry. Another is the Dual Purpose battery, which is a compromise between the previous two.
Maintaining your batteries is neither difficult nor time consuming, but it is essential. For a very informative write-up on the care and feeding of batteries go to Deka Batteries.
Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner and with it comes the start of the 2005 sailing season. It won’t be long until you can feel the wind in the sails and the water rushing past as you trim in for your first outing of the year. In an ideal world we would spend all of our time sailing from one destination to the next, but unfortunately that is not always the case. More times than we would like, we end up using our auxiliary means of propulsion, more commonly known as our engine.
Moving while under power can be quite noisy and causes a fair bit of vibration. This vibration, while normal, is sometimes exaggerated by components of your drive train becoming worn out or misaligned. Before your boat goes into the water is the best time to inspect all of the elements of this system to ensure smooth operation of your sailboat while under power.
The first item we come to on our inspection underneath the boat is the propeller. The prop should be smooth and look completely symmetrical from one blade to the next. The slightest damage or imperfection to the prop can cause serious vibrations to occur while under power. Inspect the point where your shaft enters the prop, there should be absolutely no visible gap here whatsoever. If you can see any daylight, the prop is improperly mounted. Check to see that both nuts are tight and that there is a cotter pin in the end of the shaft. If you have a folding propeller, the blades should be tight in the hub and there should be very little play in the blades when they are open or closed.
The next step up the shaft is the propeller strut. The strut is able to hold the shaft in place but still allows it to rotate by means of a cutless bearing. This cutless bearing is a brass sleeve with a rubber liner inside of it. The brass sleeve is pressed in place in the strut and is usually held in place with setscrews. The rubber liner is what acts as the bearing for the shaft and it stays lubricated simply by the water it is submerged in. Although these bearings usually last quite some time, they will eventually wear out. Inspect the bearing from both ends and look for signs of wear. It is especially important to look for signs of uneven wear. Uneven wear can signify the need for bearing replacement as well as give you a clue about potential engine alignment problems, which we will discuss later in this article. Wiggle the shaft back and forth and see if there is any slop between the shaft and the bearing. This should be quite snug and any motion should be a cause for concern. If a cutless bearing fails, the rubber can become detached from the brass and fold over inside the bearing and cause serious problems. Inspect this area carefully and replace if needed. Do NOT oil this bearing.
The last inspection to be done outside of the boat is to the shaft itself. Grab the propeller and rotate it while closely watching the shaft where it exits the hull. There should be no sideways motion whatsoever. Any motion up and down can mean a bent shaft or potentially a shaft-coupling problem. Also look and see if the shaft exits the boat in the middle of the tube. If not, this could also be a clue to a potential alignment problem.
The first point of contact for the propeller shaft inside the boat is the stuffing box. The job of the stuffing box is to keep the water out of the boat while still letting the shaft rotate freely. The conventional stuffing box consists of a brass nut containing flax packing. By tightening this nut, the flax packing is compressed against the shaft and water is sealed out. When the packing is new, very little pressure is required to make this water seal. As the packing ages and dries out, more force is required on the packing to create this seal. This increased pressure over time can eventually get to the point were it will begin wearing grooves into the shaft. These grooves will in turn allow more water in, which requires the nut to be tightened more. This cycle can cause premature shaft wear as well as allowing unwanted seawater into your boat. If you have never replaced your packing, assume that it needs it. It is quite a simple procedure and can be done without too much difficulty.
The next step for your shaft is the coupling. This is the round T shaped piece that connects the shaft to the output shaft of your engine. It is very important that the shaft fits perfectly into the coupling. There should be absolutely no movement at all between these two components. If you can wiggle the two independently from each other at all, you need to have it corrected. This usually means replacement of either the shaft or coupling which is major, but crucial. This problem is one of the most common causes of excessive vibration and if this fit wears excessively it can cause the key and/or the setscrews to shear which can cause you to lose all drive to the shaft. If this failure were to occur while in reverse, it is possible that the shaft could even back itself out of the boat leaving you with a large hole in the boat as well as no forward or reverse. This fit is best checked with the coupling separated from the output flange of the engine and is most commonly done while alignment is being checked.
The shaft coupling is bolted to the output flange on the engine. It is important that these two mating surfaces are perfectly aligned with one another. Alignment is checked by first separating the shaft coupling from the output flange on the engine. The shaft is then positioned in the center of the tube where it exits the hull. These two surfaces are then inspected for alignment. If the two surfaces do not align perfectly with one another, the engine then must be repositioned until it is aligned with the coupler. This repositioning is done by adjustments that are performed with the motor mounts. These adjustments can move each corner of the engine up or down as well as side to side.
Motor mount breakdown is one of the biggest causes of engine misalignment and can dramatically increase vibration while under way. Inspect the mounts and look for any signs of them breaking down. The rubber on the mounts should appear firm with no cracks or tears. Keep them clean and free of diesel fuel or engine oil, as these products can break down the rubber. Motor mounts break down over time and will eventually need replacement. If you’ve never checked your mounts, now’s the time.
If you have any questions concerning any of the above information, please feel free to contact our service department at 231-759-8597 or send an e-mail to brian@torresen.com. Torresen Marine also has expert mechanics on staff that are trained in the maintenance and repair of your boat’s entire drive train. Our mechanics are also available to assist you with inspections and repairs before your boat gets launched.
Whether you have a vibration problem or not, these are all items that should be checked in order to keep your drive train in proper operating condition. A little routine maintenance now can help keep your boat powering smoothly and help prevent expensive yard bills down the road.
The ABN AMRO will be making her first transatlantic trip on 30 March, journeying to the United States. Skipper Mike Sanderson said this marks phase two of the boat’s development. The goal of the trip will be to get more offshore miles under the boat. “And the North Atlantic is as close as you can get to going to the Southern Ocean.”
Sanderson said he wants to “test the boat in extreme conditions. When we get back, we will have 7,000 more sailing miles under our keel.”
The boat will take about three weeks to get to the United States and back, and up to two weeks in port. “It should be a worthwhile five weeks.”
The boat will first dock in Newport, Rhode Island. Then they will go to New York City on the 22nd of April and will stay there a few days. Once the boat docks in New York, Sanderson will assess the downwind conditions for the return trip.
“Hopefully we will have moderate air reaching and running on the trip there,” said Sanderson. Then, he is looking forward to the return trip, when the high winds of the North Atlantic will give the boat a run for her money.
The ABN AMRO has been on the dock recently, undergoing a previously scheduled refit as a result of all the miles the boat has done recently. After the boat’s recent trip to Rotterdam, “we had always planned to pull the boat apart.” The boat had had two full months of sailing including the 3,000 mile trip to Rotterdam and back.
The crew has been looking forward to taking her across the ocean, and the shore team has been working hard to get her ready. “We have a lot of exciting new ideas, and we’re hoping to get the conditions to try them out.”
Currently making a stopover for supplies in Saint Martin, the IDEC trimaran will be heading for New York this evening or on Thursday morning at the latest. Francis Joyon thinks he will arrive on the fifth of April at the Manhattan Sailing Club, where he will be staying while on stand by. From the tenth, the single-handed yachtsman and his boat will be on the starting blocks.
«Everything is fully ready. I had a trip yesterday between the south of Guadeloupe and Saint Martin, and the boat managed 22 – 24 knots in some fine trade winds. I’m here to finish loading up with supplies and finish off two or three little odd jobs.» Francis, who admits he can’t wait to get underway, is not expecting very favourable weather during the journey to New York, a short trip, which should take around 5 days. «The conditions will be fairly quiet, sailing more or less downwind at the start, and then I’ll be upwind in some stronger winds. It’s not going to be easy sailing, but it should allow me to get there in reasonable time nonetheless.» On the positive side, the equipment won’t be put under too much strain during this journey. «After having so many difficulties getting everything ready and the boat set up correctly,» the skipper said, «I’m going to try to avoid damaging anything, so there won’t be any work to do all over again in New York! Most of my work involved the rigging, deck fittings and sails, but not a lot of work needed to be done on the boat itself.» Francis, who, as usual, will be preparing the trimaran all by himself, will once again have spent many hours working on her, but this time in the sunshine in Guadeloupe, where the conditions were certainly more attractive than those you find in Brittany in winter. «If you’re dealing with the hull, it means you spend two hours a day in the water, and you often need to climb up the mast … so in short, that keeps you fit. Besides that, I also did some swimming,» explained the yachtsman, whose impatience is clear to see. However, the moment he is so looking forward to, may not be so close, as even if the boat is on stand by from 10th April, for the moment, there is no clear picture of a window of opportunity. This isn’t stopping Francis from remaining hopeful, «I can see a series of lows passing over New York, so things could get going quite quickly,» said the skipper, who never enjoys having to hang around ashore. He will at least be able to take advantage of the hospitality of North Cove Marina in the Manhattan Sailing Club, where his giant will take up position under the skyscrapers.
Atlantic record: the important figures
• New York – The Lizard route (theoretical distance calculated by the WSSRC) : 2925 miles
(5,417 km)
• Single-handed record: Laurent Bourgnon, Primagaz, 7 days 2 hours 34 minutes 42 seconds
(June 1994)
• 24-hour single handed record: Laurent Bourgnon, Primagaz, 540 miles (June 1994)
Taylor Made Products is expanding its line of fenders and accessories for larger boats with the introduction of new deck-mounted fender locks for lines up to ½ inch.
The new stainless steel fender lock, with a starting retail price of $21.00, is a larger version of Taylor Made’s best selling smaller fender lock. It is made with a unique one-way locking peg that provides secure and reliable mounting for large fenders.
The Taylor Made fender locks are designed to make it fast and easy to hang and adjust the height of fenders from on deck. All components, including the mount, peg and fastening screws, are stainless steel for long life in the marine environment.
For 2005, Taylor Made is also introducing new fender hanging hardware, including injection-molded nylon brackets and clips for mounting on rails or lifelines.
Taylor Made Products, a member of the Taylor Made Group®, is one of the largest and most innovative suppliers of marine aftermarket products, including buoys, fenders, boat covers, bimini tops, dock products, flags, pennants and hardware.
This week some interesting sailing quotes and comments on them.
The below quote is from an article on the 2004 Quebec St Malo transat. The crew was an all star one with the total number of circumnavigations, etc. almost immeasurable. The quote describes a crucial moment in the race.
"Here the computers go down for 4 hours, cutting off our access to ex data and we miss a trought's rotation and sail into and parallel with it for several hours...we get passed..."
How important have computers become to sailing and racing? Even the worlds best need them.
"For now everyone is washing their Patagonia shirts and their Musto shorts and drying out. The Patagonia silk weight gear is fantastic for these conditions and I highly recommend it. Some of the Patagonia gear I've got on this trip was bought in 1998 and is used regularly! Any cotton would have rotted by now!"
Will Oxley the navigator of Doha 2006 makes the above comment on wardrobe. I am fully in agreement with this thoughts.
A sailing lyric snippet from Stan Roger's Barret's Privateers
On the King's birthday we put to sea,
We were 91 days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
This from an interview with American Vendee Globe sailor Bruce Schwab.
Q: What eats up most of your time?
Bruce Schwab: Email takes about half my time, and in fact, after rounding Cape Horn I had about 50 e-mails I had to answer. The sailing is one thing, but you have to share the experience, too."
More evidence of the power of the computer. Going sailing may not mean freedom from modern office madness anymore.
Tim Zimmerman of Wetass Chronicles on the future of Race Class/G Class cats, "So, where does this impressive cat leave the world of maxi-sailing? In trouble, I would say. There's no boat in the current generation that can touch Orange II for high average speeds. So forget it, De Kersauson. Forget it, Cam Lewis. Have a seat Dave Scully, Tony Bullimore, and anyone who was thinking about buying Kingfisher or Doha 2006....Franck Cammas is getting ready to launch a new, giant tri, and that boat could be the only real competitor on the horizon. But the big multihull game has just gone from a field of 5 to a field of, maybe, 2...My money says the focus will shift to breaking the 50 knot barrier, and the head to head solo competition between Ellen MacArthur and Francis Joyon..."
That's probably the hardest most realistic take I've seen. It's Cammas or not at all.
So, let's think, who might get into the solo competition other than Macarthur or Joyon? Does somebody have the capability to sail one of the 100 foot plus cats around the world solo?
Zimmerman also has an article on the Sleep Doctor in the new issue of Outside Magazine.
From Procul Harum's Salty Dog
Across the straits, around the horn: how far can sailors fly?
Racing Global Challenge. Tasmania 3 peaks
News Damage minor. Boat Builder dies Team GBR ok
Great Lakes Ballast tank crackdown
College Sailing Yale wins Owen Trophy
The public is invited to attend the Christening and Launching Ceremony for the Icebreaker MACKINAW (WLBB–30) at Marinette Marine on Saturday, April 2, 2004. Mrs. Jean Hastert, will serve as the ship’s sponsor and will christen the vessel as Coast Guard Cutter MACKINAW by breaking a bottle of champagne across its bow when it is launched from the Marinette shipyard. Her Husband, Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony.
The Coast Guard is charged with maintaining a heavy icebreaking capability on the Great Lakes. This capability includes keeping channels and harbors open to navigation in response to the reasonable demands of commerce to meet winter shipping needs. Since 1944 that mission has been performed by USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83). The new Coast Guard Icebreaker, which is also to be named MACKINAW, will relieve her namesake of that mission once she is commissioned. The new Coast Guard Icebreaker MACKINAW (WLBB-30) will have multi-mission capabilities in addition to heavy icebreaking that include; servicing buoys, search and rescue, and law enforcement.
With a crew of eight officers and 38 enlisted personnel, the icebreaker is scheduled to be delivered to the Coast Guard October 15th and should arrive in Cheboygan, MI, the cutter’s homeport, later in the year. The new icebreaker is powered by three Caterpillar diesel engines enabling it to break through 32 inches of level ice at three knots. Twin Azipod™ Propulsion Units with fixed pitch propellers and a Bow Thruster will propel the ship, providing unparalleled maneuverability. In order to fulfill it’s buoy tending mission, the ship has a 20 ton Appleton Crane for lifting and servicing aids to navigation. In addition, it is equipped with an oil spill recovery system and some of the latest technology that includes state of the art navigation, communication and security systems.
The Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard, located on the Menominee River in Marinette, WI will open at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time. The launch ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
Paul Snow-Hansen is the first to claim the 'triple crown' of Junior Sailing by winning three major titles in the same season. He has added the Optimist National Championship title over the Easter weekend to his wins in the Tanner Cup and Tauranga Cup at New Year. Snow-Hansen won the Optimist Nationals in Taipa, Northland a convincing eight points clear of 2nd, clinching the top spot with one race still to sail.
Racing at the Optimist Nationals concluded yesterday with the podium places all going to members of the successful 2004 New Zealand Optimist Team to compete at the World Championships.
Snow-Hansen of Wakatere Boating Club finished on 13 points winning seven of twelve races, while Daniel Wilcox of Murrays Bay Sailing Club was 2nd with 21 points. Carl Evans of Kohimarama Yacht Club finished 3rd with 30 points. Susannah Pyatt of Murrays Bay Sailing Club in 7th place [55 points] was the first girl to finish. 193 sailors competed in the Open fleet.
Snow-Hansen placed 2nd at last years Optimist World Championships in Ecuador. President of the NZ International Dinghy Association, David Glen views this group of young sailors as the talent of the future.
"The reality is we have a group of young sailors here that are sailing together and pushing each other. There is Paul Snow-Hansen, Carl Evans, Daniel Wilcox and a few others that are edging each other along and ensuring the high standards. It's great to see," says Glen.
"It was an excellent weekend of sailing at Taipa. We had fair breezes and a variety of sea conditions. The Optimist Nationals have been sailed for nearly 20 years and this is the first time one sailor has won this title together with the P-Class Tanner and Tauranga Cups in the same season."
The team to represent New Zealand at the 2005 Worlds was announced at the conclusion of the National Championships yesterday and will include the top five place-getters. The strong talent pool lead by Snow-Hansen that has dominated the Optimist Class regattas in recent times will provide New Zealand with high hopes for good results at the Optimist World Championships to be held in late July in Switzerland.
The 2004 New Zealand Team won the Miami Herald Trophy as the top performing team at the 2004 Worlds in Ecuador and was announced joint winners of the 2004 Yachting New Zealand Young Sailor of the Year. Individually Snow-Hansen took 2nd overall and Daniel Wilcox placed 4th. Eligible to compete again this year, the young sailors will be looking to go to Switzerland and improve on last years result.
2005 NZIODA Optimist National Regatta Top Ten Results
Top Five Place-getters selected as the 2005 New Zealand Optimist Team to the World Championships
1st - Paul Snow-Hansen - Wakatere Boating Club - 13 points
2nd - Daniel Wilcox - Murrays Bay Sailing Club - 21 points
3rd - Carl Evans - Kohimarama Yacht Club - 30 points
4th - Luke Deegan - Howick Sailing Club - 32 points
5th - Jason Saunders - Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club - 39 points
6th - Francisco Lardies - Glendowie Boating Club - 41 points
7th - Susannah Pyatt - Murrays Bay Sailing Club - 55 points
8th - George Kool - Glendowie Boating Club - 76 points
9th - Russell Hopper - Murrays Bay Sailing Club - 87 points
10th - Scott Barnes - Murrays Bay Sailing Club - 89 points
Racing International Rolex
News Mendenblatt. Ellen's lap. Coutts 1 & 2. Johnson salvaged. Boxing to sail
Great Lakes Locks open
College Sailing MAISA/SAISA
MASIA/SAISA
Hampton University
March 26-27, 2005
FINAL RESULTS
REGATTA HIGHLIGHTS:
Saturday started with NE winds at 5-8kts and flat water which held for
most of the day. Wind turned to the east later in the day and varied in
velocity between 5-8 knots all day. Sailed past 5:00pm and were able to
get 8 races in both divisions today in anticipation of bad weather
tomorrow. 11teams total, Citadel is a no-show.
Sunday was overcast with light winds 8-10kts from the East. Wind
direction held all day with varying velocity. Finished up 11 races total
in both divisions and gave the SAISA teams an early start home.
A division = 11 Races
B division = 11 Races
A B TOT
1. St. Mary's College 20 25 45
2. Georgetown 17 30 47
3. College of Charlesto 51 38 89
4. ODU 53 57 110
5. South Florida 70 48 118
6. Univ. of Florida 66 76 142
7. CNU 81 67 148
8. Hampton 74 83 157
9. Wm. & Mary 106 88 194
10. Univ. of Virginia 88 108 196
11. NC State 100 106 206
A division = 11 Races
TOT
1. Georgetown 17 JB Turney
Mary McAuley
2. St. Mary's College 20 Adrienne Patterson
Maggie Lunkes
3. College of Charlesto 51 Blake Kimbrough
Megan Riddle
4. ODU 53 Michael Collins
Tyler Obara
5. Univ. of Florida 66 Tristan Lohman
Ali Figuiero
6. South Florida 70 Phil Tanner
Sarah Hakken
7. Hampton 74 Gabrielle Lyons/Marcellus Wesley
Tiffany Folkes/Maranda Smith
8. CNU 81 Will Mc Cabe
Liz Hund
9. Univ. of Virginia 88 Drew Johnson
Marta Harales/Jessica Burshell
10. NC State 100 Ryan Boyle
Allison Jones
11. Wm. & Mary 106 Chris Seibert
Amy Dapper
B division = 11 Races
TOT
1. St. Mary's College 25 Jenny Gervais
Doria MacKenzie/Katie Tinder
2. Georgetown 30 Kyle Bergeron
Taylor Whitter
3. College of Charlesto 38 Emily Brown
Julia Southworth
4. South Florida 48 Grant Lockhart
Nicole Beckett
5. ODU 57 Brian Mcewing
Amanda Martin
6. CNU 67 Kate McClintock/Mark Newman
Megan Murray/Sara Hattorf
7. Univ. of Florida 76 Travis Waisht
Galen Bruno
8. Hampton 83 Bryana Nicholas/Blake Mathew
Candice Franklin/Michelle Lance
9. Wm. & Mary 88 Benjamin Coffey/Adam Domanski
Arash Sadraee
10. NC State 106 Brady Fish/Alan Stewart
Eric Abernathy
11. Univ. of Virginia 108 Bill Bridges
Ryan Shamburger
USMMA - Kings Point
March 26-27, 2005
2:17 PM 3-27-05
REGATTA HIGHLIGHTS:
Saturday: Races 1-8 in each division were sailed in a dying northerly
that held strong for 6 races and died for race 8b. After de-rigging the
420's the southerly filled in nicely and so we re-rigged and sailed two
more races in each division. Courses were a modified trapezoid, breeze
ranged from 10-15 and 2-8. A few protests were heard resulting in one
DSQ, thank you to our Judges Bruce Cook and Jim Ryan who heard those
protests. 10 races in both FJ's and 420's with only 6 remaining, Yale
stands on top. BTTWBJ.
Sunday: 6 races in each division were completed by 1:00 with a strong
northerly turning into a week southerly. Courses were a modified
trapezoid, No Protests filed. Thanks to all the Midshipmen for running
a great event and the Yocum Sailing Center staff for having all the
boats ready in time. Thanks also to Bill Ludlum who was our Judge on
Sunday. Congratulations to Yale, this years Owen Champion. BTTWBJ
A division = 16 Races
B division = 16 Races
A B TOT
1. Yale 66 75 141
2. Dartmouth 61 107 168
3. Washington College 93 98 191
4. Connecticut College 92 113 205
5. Hobart/William Smith 118 90 208
6. USMMA - Kings Point 134 90 224
7. U/Penn 155 78 233
8. Boston University 80 159 239
9. Navy 139 104 243
10. Tufts 150 114 264
11. Brown 115 156 271
12. Columbia 101 173 274
13. CGA 190 112 302
14. Cornell 195 233 428
15. NY Maritime 232 228 460
16. Army 255 247 502
Aaron Szambecki Team Race Intersectional at Old Dominion University:
Saturday conditions: The wind was northeast shifting east northeast all day at 6-14 mph. On the water judging was provided. Course used was the digital N. 43 races were sailed. Thanks to Town Point Yacht Club for providing lunch, hot drinks, and snacks.
Sunday: Wind was ene 3-10 mph. Course used was the digital N. On the water judging was provided. The second round robin was completed followed by a sail off between Tufts and USC to break a tie for 4th place; USC won and proceeded on to the championship round.
Final results:
Georgetown 15 W 2L
Hobart 12W 5L
ODU 10W 7L
USC 7W 10L
Tufts 7W 7L
St. Mary's 6W 8L
Charleston 5W 9L
TAMUG 0W 14L
These are the results for: Marchiando Trophy Team Race Intersectional @ MIT March 26-27
Lynne Marchiando – Team Racing
Host MIT
Date March 26 & 27, 2005
This was the 24th running of the Lynne Marchiando Memorial Trophy.
"This trophy was given in memory of Lynne Marchiando, MIT ‘81, by family, team members, and friends of MIT." (NEISA web-site)
Sat. - Wind Speed and Direction
East at 8 gusting to 12.
Judges were on the water.
One complete round robin in FJs.
Courses sailed were N, V, C
Sun. –
Wind from the southeast 8-10.
Judges on the water.
Morning sail repechage for lower six teams - top two join top four from Sat. for finals. Harvard and Dartmouth only brought forward Sat results
Single round robin sailed for finals
Two protests were heard in open hearings for all to observe.
Course sailed was an N all day long
Many people volunteered - Thank you very much to all the people who judged.
Tim Fallon, Joel Hanneman, Ramsay Key, Rich Bell
Race Management - Fran Charles, Mike Kalin, Sue Ostrowski, Ellen Pratt, Bob Coyle, Claudio Cairoli, Shawn Porter, Dwight K. Brown, Victor Preciado.
Sunday Final Results
Points
1. Tufts 18
2. MIT 15
3. Navy 14
4. Roger Williams 9
5. Harvard 5
6. Dartmouth 4
7. Eckerd 9
8. Brown 6
9. Bowdoin 4
10. Boston Univ. 3
Sunday Wins Sunday Losses Sat. Wins Total Score Final Position
Tufts 5 0 8 18 1
MIT 4 1 7 15 2
Navy 3 2 8 14 3
Roger Williams 2 3 5 9 4
Harvard 1 4 3 5 5
Dartmouth 0 5 4 4 6
Eckerd 3 2 3 9 7
Brown 2 3 2 6 8
Bowdoin 1 4 2 4 9
Boston U 1 4 1 3 10
Sunday morning Silver Fleet Results
Sun Win Sun Loss Sat Win Pts
Dartmouth 4 1 4 12
Harvard 4 1 3 11
Eckerd 3 2 3 9
Brown 2 3 2 6
Bowdoin 1 4 2 4
Boston U 1 4 1 3
SATURDAY ROUND ROBIN
Win Loss
Navy 8 1
Tufts 8 1
MIT 7 2
RogerWm 5 4
Dartmouth4 5
Brown 3 6
Bowdoin 3 6
Eckerd 3 6
Harvard 3 6
Boston U 1 8
Record of Participation
Bowdoin College
Pieter Scheerilinck ‘05 all
Frank Pizzo ‘06 all
Rob Parrish ‘08 all
Katie Auth ‘08
Jakie Haskell ‘05
Kelly Rula ‘07
Brown University
Annie Davidson ‘05 all
Katie Lovelace ‘06 all
Isaac Stone ‘07 all
Sall Walkerman ‘05 all
Louise Sherman ‘05 all
Xaykham Khamsyuoravong ‘06 all
Boston University
Chris Love ‘07 all
Ben Spiller ‘08 all
Chanz McManus ‘06 all
Kerry Sullivan ‘08 all
Lauren Kugel ‘07 all
Maddy Kanter ‘08 all
Dartmouth College
Garrett Holmes ‘05 all
Ben Sampson ‘08 all
Todd Whitehead ‘06 all
Debbie Sperling ‘06 all
Laura Sheintkopf ‘07 all
Betsy Bryant ‘08 all
Ekerd College
Peter Stanton ‘06 all
D.J. Driscoll ‘06 all
Kollen Bernard ‘06 all
Kristen Mitchell ‘05 all
Allison Cribbs ‘06 all
Maddy Eustis ‘05 all
Harvard University
Kyle Kovacs ‘08 all
Sloan Devlin ‘06 all
Matt Knowles ’06-‘07 all
Laura Schubert ‘05 all
Christina Dahlman ‘07 all
Sam Fink ‘07 all
M.I.T.
JM Modisette ‘05 all
Jack Field ‘08 all
Jake Muhleman ‘08 all
Cha-ling O’Connell ‘07 all
Wyman Li ‘07 all
Emma Bassein ‘06 all
Naval Academy
John Keith ‘06 all
Katie Whitman ‘07 all
Garth Fesano ‘08 all
Lauren Sutehall ‘07 all
Slava Haywas ‘07 all
Kristen Sprout ‘08 all
Roger Williams Universtiy
Bobby Koar ‘05 12,14,17,19,23,27,37
Andy Goetting ‘08 17,19,23,27,40,43
Drew Hamilton ‘06 12,14,17,19,37,40,43
Dave Hyer ‘07 12,14,23,27,37,40,43
Crews
Kristin Pappas ‘06 12,14,17,19,23,27,37
Alex Boudreau ‘08 17,19,23,27,40,43
Sarah Henley ‘06 12,14,17,19,37,40,43
Elizabeth Wishe ‘05 12,14,23,27,37,40,43
Tufts University
Brendan Shattuck ‘06 all
Bryan Prior ‘06 all
Tommy Leach ‘06 all
Katie Greenlee ‘08 all
Chloe Starr ‘08 all
Meredith Ginley ‘08 all
___________________________________
ACC MONO CHAMPS
US NAVAL ACADEMY
26-27 MARCH 2005
5:26 PM 3-27-05
REGATTA HIGHLIGHTS:
Very light conditions all weekend long- 3-8 knots N to NE.
Best wind of the regatta was 2:30 - 3:30 Sunday.
Results below...
A division = 16 Races
TOT
1. Stephen Gay 51
2. Eric Reitinger 77
3. Bobby Martin 90
4. Isaac Bussil 91
5. Corey Lynam 98
6. Valen Smith 104
7. Jeff Sharp 105
8. Ryan White 127
9. Matt Conover 143
10. Steve Guenther 159
11. Jeff Fink 164
12. Arian Radmand 166
13. Kevin McGill 183
14. Devin Hurson 192
15. Kevin Santoro 195
16. Sterling Schlegel 235
17. Ian Hanover 269
Team Daedalus has officially entered the Indian Ocean after a quick transit of the South Atlantic. At 22:00 GMT on Sunday night Tony Bullimore and his team passed the longitude of Cape Point some 350 miles south of the famous landmark. They are still technically in the Roaring Forties but the weather seems less fierce after the weeks spent in the deep south. Their course is almost due east as they ride the fringe of yet another Southern Ocean low enjoying strong, gusty westerly winds. Their speed for the past 18 hours has not dropped below 20 knots as the old girl, the yacht that is, eats up the miles on the home stretch up the Indian Ocean. While the sailing may have been fast, it has not been easy as Tony described in his daily log. “The last 24 hours have been traumatic,” he wrote. “We have been going straight down our track, doing around 20 knots. One minute we are running a bit deep and we then slow down to around 15 knots and then the helmsman heats it up and we are doing 27 to 28 knots. But most of the time we hold the boat on course. We were really flying last night when there was an almighty bang, and within a second we realized that the Gennaker halyard had failed. This had happened before and although one or two of the guys are saying the rope is on the old side etc, the fact is, if you suddenly heat up the boat, the sail and halyard, and the sheets for that matter, go under a tremendous point load and that is when you get some of the breakages. To put it simply, if you put too much load on the rope, or any other component on the boat, it will break. Everything has a safe working load, and a breaking load. One needs to understand this. One needs to work within guidelines or gut feelings that gets more reliable with the experience of sailing these incredible racing machines.”
The weather pattern for Daedalus is much different than it was for the crew of Doha 2006 who passed this way ten days ago. At this point in the race Doha 2006 was a further 400 miles south and heading deeper, forced that way by a persistent ridge of high pressure. The only high within range is 3000 miles to the east of Daedalus getting squashed by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Hennie. With any luck Tony and his team will be able to skirt inside the region and sail a more direct course for the Mauritius turning mark. They have now taken well over a 1,000 miles out of Doha 2006, but that all about to change. The Qatari catamaran has found some fair weather and is “heading for the barn” as they say in sailing circles. Fraser Brown on board Doha 2006 noted the change of course in his daily log. “On my last watch we did have some good news from the nav station asking us to come down 10 degrees,” he wrote. “This gives us a slightly better angle on the waves and on average is a little quicker.” After five days of relentless upwind bashing, sailing off course, it’s a relief to finally ease sheets and make some distance toward the finish now less than 3,000 miles away.
The storm that was Tropical Cyclone Hennie is still moving south and has weakened as it passed over cooler waters. The US-based tropical storm agency did an outstanding job of forecasting both the strength and direction of the cyclone and their detailed analysis allowed Brian Thompson and his crew to pass the tropical low in relative safety. They might have been safe, but it was not a smooth ride as Fraser Brown described in his log. “It's hard to explain what we have been dealing with over the last few days,” he wrote. “Everything is difficult from sleeping to cooking, going to the toilet, and even just standing up or trying to put on your foul weather gear without wiping out. There is also a big difference in the motion depending on what side of the boat you are on. Because we are on starboard tack the port hull, which is 50 feet away, spends most of it's time lurching giving you a backwards motion as it is effectively always trying to catch up to the windward hull. This lurching motion is so intense that we are now sleeping with our heads facing forwards. This is usually bad practice, but in this case it's completely necessary. I have woken up two times much further down my bunk and would rather have my feet hitting the bulkhead, than my head.”
The standard practice on a maxi-multihull is always to sleep feet first. These boats travel at high speeds, sometimes in excess of 40 knots. A collision with a solid object will bring the boat to a sudden, crashing standstill, catapulting the crew forward. If someone is sleeping head forward, the impact of their head hitting the bulkhead could be catastrophic. So feet first it is, unless, as Fraser Brown described in his log, a different set of circumstances presents itself.
The weather ahead still looks complicated for Thompson and his crew. The area between where they are now sailing and the Gulf of Oman is usually dominated by high pressure with a clockwise air circulation. This means more upwind sailing for Doha 2006 as they skirt by the eastern side of the high pressure region. Brian Thompson and his navigator, Will Oxley, have been eyeing the road ahead knowing full well what they are in store for. “Now our focus turns on to getting to the winds of the northeast monsoon that are blowing down the North Indian Ocean” he wrote. “That is another windward leg and we will try to set ourselves up to get as far north before starting that long beat to the Straight of Hormuz. Meanwhile all is good on board. Everyone is enjoying a break from the constant motion of going to windward. We are giving the boat are thorough check over and all seems ok.”
Three thousand mile in a maxi-catamaran, even upwind, is about a weeks sailing so Thompson and his team are looking at an ETA early next week. Tony Bullimore on Daedalus, if all goes well, should be sighting the sand dunes of Doha in just under three weeks. The beat goes on. Doha is getting ready to welcome their national entry back home while the multinational crew hunker down for the final slog to the finish.
Since the early days of planning the Oryx Quest 2005, the anticipated weather in the Indian Ocean has been a constant topic of conversation. Unlike most ‘conventional’ around-the-world races, the Oryx Quest 2005 transits the length of the Indian Ocean and not the Atlantic, and it’s the Indian that has dished up the most surprises, and the most tactical challenges. On the way south it was debris from the tsunami that caused concern and may have been the deciding factor in Geronimo’s withdrawal after they struck a solid object while sailing at speed. Now, as the boats head north, there are different concerns, most of them tropical in nature as it’s cyclone season in the Southern Hemisphere and these dangerous storms bring their own unease. It’s a pity that Geronimo and Cheyenne are not still racing; the tactical opportunities have been numerous and would have certainly made the racing more interesting. Perhaps too interesting for Brian Thompson and his crew on Doha 2006 as they hunt down the million dollar prize and the prestige of winning the inaugural Oryx Quest.
Since turning north out of the Southern Ocean it has been a minefield of weather obstacles for the crew of the Qatari catamaran. They were originally forced way south of Cape Town by two obstinate high pressure systems, and now as they sail north, they are being sent on a circuitous route up the Indian to evade Tropical Cyclone Hennie. Their course has been a wide arc to avoid either potentially dangerous gale force winds, or potentially frustrating clams. Now that they have passed the Mauritius waypoint and are just over 1,000 miles south of the equator the way ahead does not look any easier. Brian Thompson reports from Doha 2006. “Up ahead the weather routing is suggesting a very easterly course up the Indian Ocean, almost out to 80E, and then up to the east of the Chagos Islands and perhaps even east of the Maldives. We are going to be passing our outward track pretty soon and completing an around-the-world voyage before we even finish.. Chagos to Chagos. In the current forecasts there is certainly more wind to the east, especially in four or five days time, so we are persisting with our upwind strategy for now to set us up for some nice reaching conditions ahead. If we crack off now we will soon be upwind all the way to the finish.” Fortunately that part of the Indian Ocean is one of the most beautiful for sailing and although the crew on Doha 2006 are still racing as hard as they can, they will surely take some time to enjoy the brilliant turquoise water and warm tropical evenings on board. They will also be secure in the knowledge that these are their final few days at sea and although the tug of life on land is strong, the simple pleasure of sailing around the world must be savoured.
In a different ocean, still thumping downwind at full speed, Tony Bullimore and his crew on Daedalus are also savouring their time at sea. It’s Easter Sunday and Tony has opted to cook his crew a belting hot curry to warm their chilled bones. In a brief satellite phone call Tony discussed lunch plans. “It’s my turn to cook and I an going to make one of my famous curries,” he said. “We are very low on ingredients but we do have some canned beef and some nice curry powder that my wife Lalal and I bought in Doha a few days before the start. We are going to enjoy the meal thinking about all the fine spicy meals I had when I was last in South Africa which, by the way, is now less than 600 miles away.” Had the wind been blowing from the northeast rather than the southwest, Tony and his team might have been able to smell the pungent Malay curries being prepared on the Cape Peninsula as the local people prepare their special meal this Sunday morning.
To all those celebrating Easter at sea, we hope that you find the chocolate eggs we hid on board before the start and enjoy the day at sea. At least this time next year when someone asks what you did for Easter last year, you will remember. How many past holidays have blurred into a distant memory? Have a great Sunday and a safe day on the open ocean.
In a change of pace from past years, sailors at the International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas, USVI, traded in short-course buoy racing for a coastal romp that took them from Cowpet Bay, where host St. Thomas Yacht Club is located, to a finish line just inside the harbor of Charlotte Amalie. The 79-boat fleet then reversed course for the second race of the day and beat back upwind in 12-15 knot breezes to St. Thomas Yacht Club where a beach party awaited the tired but happy competitors. It was the second day of the three-day Easter Weekend event, which has repeated itself here for 32 years, and now only one race remains tomorrow to determine the winners of Rolex watches in each of nine classes competing.
The IC-24s and J/24s reached the harbor first, taking the most direct course for the coastal distance of six miles, while the bigger boats and beach cats added around-the-buoys extensions to their routes, making the longest of the courses a 16-miler. With easterly winds prevailing, getting to Charlotte Amalie was an easy mix of downwind and reaching angles, but the return trip was an uphill slog, especially for the Beach Cats, which don't point as high as monohulls.
"It was just over an hour getting there and an eternal two and a half hours getting back.," said Carla Figueroa of Puerto Rico, who is crewing for her husband Enrique, the class's defending champion, on Suzuki/Red Bull. "I would have liked to have done the easier part last!," she laughed. She and her husband easily topped the class in both races, as they did in yesterday's three races. The latter Figueroa is a multiple world and national champion in catamarans and has represented his country in the Olympics four times.
Richard Shulman (Riverside, R.I.), the skipper of the IMX 45 Temptress, absolutely loved the return trip, no matter how "gruelling" it was. "I actually gave up the helm at one point, because I wanted to sit on the rail and look around. It's my first time to do this event, and the scenery is just so amazing." The Temptress crew, made up of all Rhode Islanders, maintained its lead over Spinnaker Racing Class 2 when it won both of today's races. Shulman said the key to his success is having a core group that has sailed together for over two decades. He gave a respective nod to Carlo Falcone of Italy and Antigua, who is holding on to second aboard his Vallicelli 44 Caccia Alla Volpe. "We have to work hard to beat them," said Shulman.
Not so happy today was Puerto Rico's Enrique Torruella, who was embroiled in a head-to-head battle with another Melges 24 skippered by Guy Eldridge of Roadtown, Tortola, BVI in Spinnaker Racing Class 3. Torruella's boat Don Q Limon, which led Eldridge's Mistress Quickly by a mere one point going into today's first race, passed his competitor downwind and claims that Mistress Quickly illegally pumped its way past him again to win. Torruella protested, but to no avail; however, a wide-margin victory over Mistress in race two keeps him ahead of his adversary, but again by only one point. "Tomorrow's another day," he said. And tomorrow this will certainly be the battle to watch.
The start for the return course today provided the most visual excitement, as boats worked to use the confinement of the harbor and the starting line within it to their advantage. For the five largest boats sailing in Spinnaker Racing Class 1, the scene was more like watching the pre-race maneuvers at the America's Cup, as the boats wove in and out among spectator boats and anchored cruising boats to find an advantageous position. Tom Hill's Puerto Rican entrant, Titan 12, swept the competition for a second day in this class.
A final distance race, this one a traditional course through Pillsbury Sound, is planned for tomorrow.
For rosters and results, www.rolexcupregatta.com
International Rolex Regatta
Results
Day 2 (March 26, 2005)
Position, Boat Name, Skipper, Hometown, Country, Boat Type, Finish Positions, Score
Spinnaker Racing 1 (5 boats)
1. Titan 12, Tom Hill, San Juan, PR, USA, R/P 75, 1-1-1-1-1, 5
2. Donnybrook, James P. Muldoon, Washington, DC, USA, Custom 73, 2-3-4-5-2, 16
3. Equation, Bill Alcott, St. Clair Shores, MI, USA, Andrews, 5-2-5-2-3, 17
Spinnaker Racing 2 (5 boats)
1. Temptress, Richard Shulman, Riverside, RI, USA, IMX45, 1-1-2-1-1, 6
2. Caccia Alla Volpe, Carlo Falcone, Antigua, ANT, Vallicelli 44, 2-2-1-2-2, 9
2. Cosmic War Lord, Michael Shlens, Los Angeles, CA, USA, Express 37, 3-3-3-3-3, 15
Spinnaker Racing 3 (6 boats)
1. Don Q Limon, Enrique Torruella, Guaynabo, PR, Melges 24, 1-3-2-2-1, 9
2. Mistress Quickly, Guy Eldridge, Roadtown, Tortola, BVI, Melges 24, 4-2-1-1-2, 10
3. Contact Carib 2, Frits Bus, Philipsburg, St. Martin, NA, Melges 24, 2-1-4-3-3, 13
Spinnaker Racing 4 (11 boats)
1. Lost Horizon II, James Dobbs, ANT, Olson 30, 1-2-1-1-1, 6
2. Magnificent Seven, John Foster, St. Thomas, USVI, J/27, 2-1-2-2-2, 9
3. Broken Drum, Jack Bishop, St. Croix, VI, USA, 7-5-3-6-3, 24
Spinnaker Racer/Cruiser (7 boats)
1. Lazy Dog, Sergio Sagramoso, San Juan, PR, FIRST 40.7, 1-3-1-1-1, 7
2. Anticipation, Peter Newlands, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, Beneteau 40.7, 2-1-2-3-2, 10
3. Pipe Dream, Peter Haycraft, Roadtown, Tortola, BVI, Sirena 38, 3-4-3-2-3, 15
Beach Cats (11 boats)
1. Suzuki/Red Bull, Enrique Figueroa, San Juan, PR, USA, Hobie Cat 16, 1-1-1-5-1, 9
2. Exodus, Keke Figueroa, San Juan, PR, Hobie Cat 16, 2-2-2-8-2, 16
3. Blame It On Rhea, Mark Chong, St. Thomas, USVI, Prindle 19, 4-3-4-1-6, 18
Class: Non Spinnaker Racing (11 boats)
1. Cayennita, Antonio/Ellen Sanpere, Christiansted, USVI, Soverel 27, 2-3-4,9
2. Wildflower, Stan Joines, St. Croix, USVI, Alberg, 4-1-6, 11
3. TNT 76, Rudy Thompson, St. Thomas, USVI, Sonar 23, 3-4-5, 12
Class: J-24 (7 boats)
1. Orion, Fraito Lugo, Ponce, PR, USA, DNS-1-1-1-2-1, 14
2. Urayo, Gilberto Rivera, Guayanabo, PR, USA, DNS-2-2-5-1-2, 20
3. El Shaddai II, Jeff Fangmann, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI, 1-4-7-3-6-3, 24
Class: IC-24 (16 boats)
1. Sea Hawk, Robert/Michael Hirst, Tortola, BVI, 2-1-2-3-2-2, 12
2. BamBoushay, Chris Rosenberg, St. Thomas, USVI, 3-4-3-2-1-1, 14
3. Stinger, John Holmberg, St. Thomas, USVI, 1-3-1-9-3-5, 22
TEAM ABN AMRO announces its eight core second boat sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06
25 March 2005 - Portimão, Portugal
TEAM ABN AMRO has selected its final eight sailors who will form the core crew for the ABN AMRO
second boat in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06.
These eight young professional sailors are:
Phil Harmer - Australia
Luke Malloy - Australia
Lucas Brun - Brazil
Andre Mirsky - Brazil
Gerd-Jan Poortman - the Netherlands
Simeon Tienpont - the Netherlands
Andrew Lewis - United States
George Peet - United States
These eight sailors have been chosen from an initial group of 80 candidates who competed in crew selections all around the world. These sailors were selected from four regional crew selections: one
Dutch, Brazilian, American and international.
Five sailors out of each of these four selections came to Portugal to compete, beginning on 15 March. After a week of sailing tests, 12 were chosen to compete in a final week of selection.
TEAM ABN AMRO originally received over 1,800 resumes from young sailors under 30 who wanted to be a part of the team and receive the chance to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race. Two judges, Maurice Paardenkooper and Hans Horrevoets, have chosen the sailors with the right balance of judgement, teamwork, all-round sailing experience and technical knowledge required to be able to successfully sail in the Volvo Ocean Race.
This past two weeks twenty high potential young sailors under the age of thirty competed for a seat on board the Volvo 70 to race in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06. The first week of this final crew selection involved morning and afternoon sailing sessions, medical
testing and crew meetings. All sailing was done on the 60 foot ;Pindar boat, which is famous for its solo round-the-world travels under skipper Emma Richards. The second week, which concluded on 24 March, included long-distance offshore sailing.
The candidates sailed 24 hours a day without stopping for several days. The boat has a watch system, where there is always a crew working and a crew resting. These sailors were on the water for 18 hours a day and on land for six hours a day.
Sebastien Josse (Skipper), Nick Bice, Simon Fisher (Navigator) and Scott Beavis, the four second boat crew members announced earlier this week, attended the final selection to welcome their future
crewmembers to TEAM ABN AMRO. They later went out and sailed with their new teammates aboard the Pindar, alongside the ABN AMRO first boat.
TEAM ABN AMRO will be sailing two boats in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06. The first boat is comprised of fully professional crew members with many years of experience.
The second boat is largely comprised of young professional sailors under 30 who have yet to sail around the world, but who have extensive sailing experience. They will be given the same equipment and provisions as the first boat. This is the first time that two boats will race under one banner in the Volvo
Ocean Race.
The Volvo Ocean Race is the toughest off-shore race in the world, covering over 32,000 nautical miles.
Racing OQ day by day
News Coutts won't sail. Brasil I. Johnson freed
Great Lakes Water Level Update
College Sailing HOF
Below you'll find water level info that pertains to Lakes Michigan and Huron.
Reference Point- Measurements in Inches
Difference from Chart Datum +3
Difference from last month 0
Difference from last year +7
Difference from long term average for March -10
Difference from Record High -40
Difference from Record Low +20
Forecast for 18 April +4
In the South Atlantic Tony Bullimore and his crew on Daedalus have started their slow turn north out of the Southern Ocean. If they continue on their present course they will pass close by the coast of South Africa, cutting the corner and further closing the gap between themselves and Brian Thompson’s team on Doha 2006. In the last week Daedalus has taken over a thousand miles out of the larger catamaran as the crew on the Qatar boat have played ding dong with Tropical Cyclone Hennie. At the 07:00 GMT poll on Friday morning Daedalus was 100 miles due south of tiny Gough Island sailing at speed as they get dragged along by the fringes of a Southern Ocean front. The wind has been gusting over 40 knots, blowing strong and steady out of the west. “Yesterday was our best day yet with a 24-hour run of 525 miles,” Tony wrote in his daily log. “We are now midway across the Atlantic with 1,500 miles to go before rounding the Cape of Good Hope. If these winds continue we will be heading into the Indian Ocean within the next 3 days.” 525 miles in a day is significant. In the mid 80s, shortly after the boat was originally launched as Formula Tag, it set a new 24-hour distance record of 525 nautical miles. At that time it seemed unbreakable, but technology does not stand still. The latest 24-hour speed record stands at 706.2 nautical miles, an average speed of 29. 42 knots, set in August last year by French sailor Bruno Peyron and his crew on Orange II. Now that old record is just another good days sailing for Tony and his team. Despite munching up the miles, the crew are finding food pickings a little slim. Tony’s log continues; “While the racing is fantastic, we are running short of food which is not so good. We are okay for powdered milk, coffee, tea and chocolate drink, but have run out of sugar and are short on food. Our freeze dried fare should save the day, along with standby stocks of RyVita, but we have nothing to spread on it. No butter, jam, marmalade or anything else.” Like Doha 2006 Tony and his crew are going to have to start food rationing soon.
At the same 07:00 GMT poll Doha 2006 was sailing on a north-northeasterly course at 19 knots keeping a wary eye out for the tropical storm that had been dogging them for days. At present TS Hennie is located south of the island of Mauritius moving in a south-southeast direction at 10 knots. It’s still a powerful storm, but Thompson and his team have done a fine job of giving the worst of it a wide berth. They are almost 800 miles from the center of Hennie enjoying a fast ride north despite the light wind conditions. “At present we have full main and Solent sailing in 12 knots wind on the edge of the high-pressure system,” Brian Thompson wrote. “The sea is a deep blue, the sun is shining, and the only spoiler is an easterly swell, big enough to limit our speed at present, but quite manageable so long as the on-deck team are playing the sheets and keeping the boat speed to 15 knots.” Thompson and his navigator Will Oxley have targeted a waypoint at 70 degrees east which they plan to reach before turning north. They are already 400 miles east of the longitude of the Gulf of Oman, almost due south of India. The double high pressure zones in the South Atlantic and Indian oceans, and this wide arc around Hennie, has added close to 3,000 extra miles to their course. Thompson’s log continues; “We should have good reaching conditions for the first 300 or so miles and then it may turn more upwind for us again. By this time we should be at the same latitude as Hennie and it will be the windiest section, but hopefully not much more than 25 knots for a short period. The further east we are the better it will be. So there we have it. We kept our options open for as long as possible and now we have made our bed and are lying in it. It’s pretty comfortable; good enough for me to clock up some good sleep last night. Now we just have to carry out the plan and look after the boat as much as we can.”
Doha 2006 still has 3,760 miles to go to the finish in Qatar. After almost 20,000 miles of racing the end seems tantalizingly close, however there is still a lot of ocean between their bows and the warm sand of the Middle East. Later today the two remaining boats in the Oryx Quest 2005 will enter the eighth week of their around-the-world odyssey. While playing with ETA’s is never an exact science, it’s worth noting that if Doha 2006 is able to maintain their high teen average speed which they have kept up since the start, they will arrive back in Qatar in eight days.
Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi Holdings and Russell Coutts announced today that they have amicably settled their past disagreements. As part of this settlement, Russell Coutts shall not sail for another team in the 32nd America’s Cup.
Ernesto Bertarelli and Russell Coutts both expressed their deep satisfaction with this positive outcome. Both parties have agreed to make no further comments.
Geneva, March 24, 2005
IN BRIEF:
* ON APRIL 3RD, SKANDIA WILL BE ON THE START LINE OF HER FIRST FIGARO SOLO TRANSATLANTIC RACE - THE TROPHEE BPE FROM ST.NAZAIRE TO CUBA...
* SAM IS THE ONLY BRITISH SAILOR IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE 12 STRONG FLEET THAT INCLUDES TWO PREVIOUS FIGARO WINNERS...
* SAM COMPLETES SEA SURVIVAL COURSE AND MAKES FINAL PREPARATIONS BEFORE DEPARTING PORT LA FORET FOR ST.NAZAIRE…
* JEAN-YVES BERNOT, EXPLAINS THE WEATHER SYSTEMS COMPETITORS CAN EXPECT DURING THE RACE…
* DOWNLOAD THE TROPHEE BPE COURSE MAP BY GOING TO http://www.ocftp2.com/images/8544high_he.jpg
IN DETAIL:
In less than ten days time, on April 3rd at 1300BST Sam will be on the start line of the Trophée BPE - her first solo transatlantic race onboard SKANDIA Figaro. Last week, Sam completed her last training race with her preparateur Erwan LeMeilleur, and has been making last minute repairs & final preparations. At the end of this week, they will be leaving their base at Port La Forêt, for the delivery trip to St.Nazaire, 60 miles to the south.
Of the 12 competitors (listed below), Sam is the only British sailor taking part, and will be up against former Figaro winner Eric DROUGLAZET as well as Charles CAUDRELIER, winner of La Solitaire du Figaro last year. Also, Sam’s team mate in last years top 5 result in the 2-up Transat AG2R, Jeanne Gregoire (Banque Populaire) will this time be one of Sam’s biggest rivals.
The course is an interesting one, with the great circle route taking the boats very far north – potentially an upwind race, before the descent towards Cuba. It promises to be a very tactical race, without the prospect of the downwind surfing conditions usually experienced in transatlantic races that head towards the Caribbean.
This transatlantic race is the first of three events for Sam in the Figaro circuit this year – with the Generali Soli in the Med in June and the big one, La Solitaire, in August.
To download the Trophée BPE Course Map (St.Nazaire – Cuba) please go to http://www.ocftp2.com/images/8544high_he.jpg
TROPHEE BPE ENTRY LIST
(skipper / boat name/ sail number*)
1. BESTAVEN Yannick / AQUARELLE.COM / 34
2. CAUDRELIER Charles / BOSTIK / 3
3. DA CRUZ Antonio Pedro / LITTLE BLACK SHARK / 47
4. DAVIES Samantha (GB) / SKANDIA / 10
5. DROUGLAZET Eric / CREDIT MARITIME - ZEROTWO / 6
6. EMIG Marc / TOTAL / 30
7. GREGOIRE Jeanne / BANQUE POPULAIRE / 40
8. LIVORY Yannig / ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT / 67
9. MORVAN Gildas / CERCLE VERT / 5
10. RAISON David / not communicated / 93
11. TRIPON Armel / GEDIMAT / 57
12. VITTET Dominic / ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM / 22
(*If a skipper's finishing position in the Championnat de France 2004 is in the top 10 this determines the number on their mainsail)
Official race website: http://www.trophee-bpe2005.com (French only)
INTERVIEW WITH SAM
What have you been up to this week?
"This week has been pretty busy. In fact, I am loosing track of which week is which because time is going so fast. At the end of the "stage" of on-the-water training we did an overnight training race, which was really good for me (and the others who are doing the BPE) to get everything up and running in "race mode" for the Transat. Erwan and I had made it our goal that "Skandia" was race ready - in configuration for the BPE, so as well as racing (like normal) I spent a fair amount of time running the weatherfax, Iridium, sending e-mails (trying to send photos!) receiving weather forecasts etc. - I even chose the worst point (upwind, big swell, really uncomfortable!) to cook my spaghetti bolognaise!!! I was really happy at the end of the race because everything was great on board. I had sailed a good race too, making a small tactical error in the night, but generally good. The only thing that was strange was that I was having trouble with my water ballast…
So, Erwan checked out the ballast, and found that the entire Port tank had delaminated with water inside the balsa core - pretty serious problem. So we called Beneteau and they have begun straight away to help us re-construct a new tank! One of the guys at Beneteau worked all weekend to prepare the work, which is underway whilst I write. Luckily, Skandia is so well prepared and ready, apart from this, that it is not too stressful to have such major work going on one week before we start! It is just a little inconvenient! I am really lucky to be part of Offshore Challenges, because I have the support of the team - when one person has a problem, everyone in the team works together to help the "priority skipper" (i.e. whoever has the race the closest) get through. And in this case, Oli and Rob have come down from Lorient (where they are working on Ellen's tri - B&Q Castorama) to help Erwan supervise the repairs."
How did your Sea Survival course go this week? What did it involve?
"The Sea Survival is a course / certificate that is compulsory for those of us who are doing the Transat - part of some new rules that are coming into force. We've done it before, but it is always good to re-cap and refresh the memory and learn any new techniques. It comprised of first aid, fire-fighting, general safety tips, liferaft, survival in the water, flare firing...
We were messing around a bit in between survival in the water (conserving body heat, floating properly, getting in, out and under obstacles) and liferaft practise - launching, re-turning, getting in and out of liferafts...)
It is good timing to do it just before leaving on a Transat because it makes me think about how I would deal with situations on board, and whether I need any extra kit (other than what is defined in our rules.)"
To download a photo of Sam and the Finistere Course au Large team taking during their Sea Survival Course, go to http://www.ocftp2.com/images/8580low_pf.jpg (Sam is in the middle of the group – wearing a red and yellow hat!)
How are you feeling about leaving Port La Forêt?
"It seems strange that our training is nearly over - time passes so quickly. I feel like I could do a year of this training and still have LOADS left to learn. At the same time, I have learnt a lot in the last two months. I am IMPATIENT to start the BPE. It feels like AGES that I have not raced properly! And having watched my teammates race around the world this winter I have extremely itchy feet! It is good that the first race is a Transat because I need to do a long one!!"
How are preparations going for the race and for the delivery trip to St.Nazaire?
"As I said above - preparations are great - I have never felt so ready to go this early. I even have all the food sorted! I am trying to do as much as possible now so that I can concentrate on weather and strategy as much as possible in the last week, at St Nazaire. This week, Jeanne Gregoire and I are "sharing" a day with Jean-Yves Bernot to study the course in detail and really get my head into the race. Some of the day will be in the classroom, some in our boats - to optimise our chart table, and make our lives as easy as possible on board.
The only slight thing holding us up is the ballast tank problem, which should be all fixed by Friday night, which is when I plan to leave on the delivery to St.Nazaire. The delivery trip is the last time I will sail offshore and overnight before the start. Romain will come with me - I want to have someone to try to help me get into the sailing a bit - we have done a lot of sailing this winter, but not much offshore or overnight (it has been too cold) and I feel that I need to push myself back into the rhythm of being offshore. I felt a bit "rusty" last week (everyone said the same thing - phew!) so it would be good if Romain is there to "coach" me a little! I really want to make the most of this last trip. At the same time as we take the boat, Erwan will be driving the cradle to St.Nazaire to drop it off for the ship to go to Cuba for the return of the boat...Life is complicated!"
JEAN-YVES BERNOT, one of sailing’s top weather experts has been spending time at the Finistere Course au Large centre teaching the team how to read the weather, the best way to use the routing software on maxsea and advice. We caught up with him to find out more…
Can you explain how you have been working with Sam and the team at Finistere Course au Large to improve their knowledge? What kind of work you have been doing?
"In such a competitive fleet, strategy will be a key part of the game. Sailors need to be familiar with the weather tools they are allowed to use during the race - weather charts by weather fax and GRIB files from the internet these are basis for on board weather routing. This needs timely analysis to be sure the tools give more answers than questions...
However, sailors need to know what the general weather is on the course and what kind of strategy they will have to handle. Remember the ultimate goal for a navigator is not weather, but to make a good course in a difficult working environment. Key words are "autonomy in decision making."
How is the weather looking for the start of the race? and during the race?
"It's too early to give accurate weather forecast for the start, but we can say the systems of travelling low pressure will be at work. This means westerlies, and a lot of decision making about how the front will cross the fleet & how to manage the low pressure centre... Be dynamic..."
What weather systems will the fleet experience during the race?
"The big picture is 3 main systems:
1. From start to Azores - the fleet is in the range of North Atlantic low pressure systems. Expect SW to NW wind medium to strong, and quickly changing weather. Aggressive strategy is needed to try to make a break before the Azores.
2. From Azores to West Indies - the question is how deep to go to the South to get the Trade Winds. Heading directly to the South will ensure steady downwind conditions at the cost of a longer course. Sailing a more direct course will ensure short distance at the price of more difficult weather patterns, and the threat of being trapped in the Azores high pressure system with it's infamous light winds.
3. The Caribbean sea is normally the domain of steady NE trade winds. Some trade winds failure related to US coast cold fronts may put some spice in the game."
The Route du Rhum is another transatlantic race with a similar route (St.Malo – Guadeloupe) which takes places in November on 50ft & 60ft mono & multihulls. How is this race different from a race like the Route du Rhum? How will this affect the weather & the race?
"Compared to Route du Rhum, this race is somewhat different:
- The race is longer because it is sailed in a smaller boat. This means between 3 weeks and 1 month at sea alone, with hard racing. Being in good condition in the last part of the race will be paramount for both boat and sailor.
- This is a one-design race, with so little difference from boat to boat that any mistake will be paid for
- Starting in April means a vigorous first part from the Bay of Biscay to the Azores, together with cold weather in Northeast Atlantic. On the other hand, the tropical part should be more steady than what we may expect in November.
- The long coastal part in Caribbean Sea needs awareness after an Atlantic crossing. It will probably be difficult after 3 weeks offshore to have the stamina to deal with all the traps we can expect in coastal sailing: navigation, changing coastal weather, tactics with clos