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Breaking News
Red boat launches with Vodafone Support
19 August 2010
When TeamVodafoneSailing hits the water in August it will be the fastest sailboat in the country, and one of the fastest in the world.
Measuring in at 18m (60 foot), the head-turning trimaran is as wide as it is long, and capable of sustaining speeds of 40 knots - more than 74 kilometres per hour. It is a precision balanced machine that requires immense skill to sail and manoeuvre.
The boat's New Zealand owner and skipper Simon Hull wants to break sailing records and have the challenge of racing one of the most extreme yachts ever built.
"This boat is powerful and on the edge. It really pushes all the boundaries. We have had an incredible time learning how to sail it, and we know the next year on this boat will be fantastic," he says.
With Vodafone as title sponsor, the boat's sailing campaign is designed to showcase the fact that Vodafone's Extended 3G coverage will take boaties as far as 60 kilometres out to sea.
"Vodafone's Extended 3G network covers 97% of the places Kiwis live, work and play," says Vodafone's Director of Sales Grant Hopkins. "This partnership is about showing boaties you can still use all of our great data services at fast speeds on the water to PXT, surf the net, or send emails."
The boat's movements and other key boat data will be tracked via live GPS which can be viewed on the Vodafone website.
TeamVodafoneSailing will be stationed 100m from the Vodafone HQ at the Viaduct Basin in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.
The boat will undertake training and preparation through September prior to a record attempt on the famous HSBC Premier Coastal Classic yacht race from Auckland to Russell on Friday 22 October. TeamVodafone will compete extensively in Oceania.
TeamVodafoneSailing is also supported by Line 7, Seatrade, Fusion, Harken, Fineline, B&G, Steinlager and Wilde Media.
"We have a committed professional team and you will be seeing a lot of us this summer," says Simon Hull.
About the Boat
The ORMA 60 named TeamVodafoneSailing is one of a breed of ORMA 60 trimarans built to excel at two things: sailing fast, and pleasing sponsors. In Europe, ORMA 60s operate as a professionally run fleet that gives instant spectator approval.
Measuring 18m (60 foot) in length and 18m (60 foot) wide, with a mast height of 30m (100 feet), the ORMA 60 targets average speeds of 18 knots to windward in 25 knots of breeze, or 30 knots on a broad reach. ORMA 60s have averaged 25 knots for 24 hours, which means there are very few boats in Australasia capable of racing it for line honours.
The boat carries the following sail area:
- Sail area up wind: 285 m² consisting of a 180 m² main sail and a 105 m² solent jib
- Sail area down wind : 445 m² consisting of a 180 m² main sail and a 265 m² gennaker
The boat has sail and rig loads similar to an IIAC Americas Cup class yacht, but weighs just 6.2 tons.
Many of the world's most intrepid ocean sailors have carved out their careers on ORMA 60s, and despite the class's 20 year history, its dominance is just as strong today in the world's most important offshore events. In 2006 French sailor Lionel Lemonchois shaved more than four days off the record in the 2006 Route de Rhum, the legendary solo race between Saint-Malo and Pointe-a-Pitre, to cross the Atlantic in less than seven days, and in 2007 Franck Cammas and Steve Ravussin on Groupama 2 completed the Transat Jacques Vabre between France and Brazil in 10 days, 38 minutes and 43 seconds. Single handed average speed targets are 18 knots to windward in 25 knots of breeze, with a real pointing angle of 47 degrees, or 30 knots on a broad reach.
Warrior's Wish Wobbles Home
19 August 2010
From Latitude 38
August 18, 2010 - Richmond
 (Click on the photo to enlarge it.) Ronnie Simpson and Ed McCoy pulled off the impossible by sailing under the Gate very early this morning. Photo Latitude / LaDonna © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
A 21-day return passage from Hawaii isn't shabby for any boat, but it's downright miraculous for one that lost her keel nearly 800 miles from the beach. But Ronnie Simpson has once again proven that miracles do happen, this time by sailing under the Gate early this morning.
Last Wednesday night, the 2,500-lb keel on the Jutson 30 Warrior's Wish - owned by '08 Singlehanded TransPac vet Don Gray and loaned to Simpson for this summer's running of the event - parted ways with the remaining 3,500 lbs of boat. "We heard a series of loud pops," Simpson's crew and mentor, Ed McCoy, told us after safely tying up to the docks at Bay Marine in Richmond this morning. "Yeah, then when Ed tried to tack," Ronnie jumped in, "nothing happened." A dive on the hull the next morning revealed the missing appendage.
 A passing freighter did doughnuts around Warrior's Wish last Thursday so Ronnie and Ed could pick up 50 gallons of diesel, which was more than enough to get them home. Photo Latitude / LaDonna © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
"Since we didn't capsize, Ed said we should just start motoring," said Simpson. "But we learned pretty quickly that we needed the jib up to stablize the boat, otherwise we were rolling pretty bad." Logging an easy six knots for most of the remainder of the trip, the guys seemingly lost little time after their potentially disasterous incident. "I'd guess they lost less than a day," noted boat owner Don Gray, who flew in to greet the duo.
At O'Dark Thirty, four boats escorted the wounded Warrior under the Gate as she motored to Richmond. Thai food and beer were passed to her crew, cheers were sounded, and everyone marveled at this pair's ability to sail so far with so little. Look for a full report on the incident in the September issue of Latitude 38.
 Ronnie and Ed were heartily welcomed to the Bay in the pre-dawn hours by Drew, Garret and Lynn on Yukon Jack, Ben, Lucie and Gary on Georgia, Adam on Bozo, and Don, Rob and this writer on Racer Chaser One. Good to have you home, boys! Photo Latitude / LaDonna © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
- latitude / ld
SLAM Kiwi Match - Shifty Chicago
19 August 2010
It was another case of close but not quite close enough for SLAM Kiwi Match in Chicago. It came down to the last couple of hours of racing on Sunday afternoon but unfortunately the shifts didn't quite go our way; and boy, they were some serious shifts!
Things were looking a bit shaky on the Saturday afternoon for the Chicago Match Race Centre to complete a full programme of racing. After several futile attempts in a light fickle breeze to hold the second round robin it was decided to send everyone ashore and a new plan was developed for Sunday, weather permitting. Fortunately the weather mostly played along on Sunday and a wise decision to hold quarter finals instead of a full second round robin was made. This was a great decision for us as a slow start in the first round robin meant we would have struggled to make the top 4 without a full second round robin.
We were paired with Nicolai Sehested in the first to 2 point quarter finals which we were comfortable with, having felt solid against him in our round robin race. Our confidence was proven justified winning our quarters with relative ease including a black flag win in our last race. This put us in the very familiar position of racing fellow Kiwi Reuben Corbett in the semi finals. Reuben was also coming off a slow start in the regatta and only just scraped through into the top 8, however we knew never to underestimate the Black Sheep Racing team.
The gentle northerly breeze held in nicely for the start of the semi finals and the racing was living up to everyone's expectations. With penalties, luffing, close crosses and closer mark roundings, things were swinging in our favour taking a 2 - 1 lead in the first to 3 point semi. This unfortunately, was the end of the breeze playing along and a complete shut down for over an hour put the regatta on hold once again.
When the breeze did return it came from a new direction and changed the racing into a completely new game. Blowing directly through the Chicago city buildings we were having 60 degree shifts and 15knt puffs. It was literally a mine field for match racing with the top mark set barely metres from the breakwall. It became less about match racing and more about winning a lottery, but even so, the close racing between us and Reuben continued. It came right down to the wire but didn't go our way as we lost our next 2 races to come up short.
This put us in a sudden death sail off against Taylor Canfield for 3rd and 4th which we also came out on the wrong side of. It was a bitter pill to swallow after feeling confident at the start of the day and another case of what might have been. We will continue to build as a team from here though as we hit the road to Detroit for our next regatta.
It is always a pleasure sailing in Chicago; the setup here is first class and completely unique. If only the conditions were as ideal as the setup it would almost be perfect. Thanks to everyone who followed the racing both on our website and the great coverage on the CMRC website, your support is appreciated. Also a huge thank you to Peter and Suzannah who kindly hosted our team in Chicago, your hospitality was amazing.
Mariner Marine Insurance Upto26 Winter Series
19 August 2010
Reminder about last winter series race windward-leewards on 22nd August 2010
If you've not been sailing in the The Upto26Club Winter series, you have
missed out on some great racing. But you still have a chance to join in on
the last 3 windward leewards being raced this Sunday, followed by the day
and series prize giving in the Ponsonby club rooms.
We hope to see all of the Upto26Club skippers and crews at the prize giving,
to cheer the prize winners and maybe win a very special spot prize.
[1]Sailing instructions and [2]entry form available at [3]Upto26 website or
at PCC.
Links:
1. http://www.upto26club.org.nz/downloads/Winter%20Series%20Sailing%20Instruction%202010PCC.doc
2. http://www.upto26club.org.nz/downloads/Entry%20Form%20%20FINAL%20winter%202010.pdf
3. http://www.upto26club.org.nz
Thankyou to our principal Sponsor, our club sponsors and PCC for supporting
us and making this event possible.
And to all those budding website administrators, we need someone to keep the
Upto26 website up to date. It's a great way of giving back to your
favorite club. Interested? Get in touch with lynn.shrewsbury@gmail.com
Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Regatta 2010
19 August 2010
From Lesley Haslar:
- Down to the wire
The 21st annual Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach regatta is reaching the pointy end with tight battles in many divisions. However, some are clear cut.
In the Grand Prix IRC Racing Division 1 Michael Hiatt's Farr 55 Living Doll, the 2009 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week Grand Prix winner, is set to take the 2010 series too.
She has dominated her division all week in a light weather regatta, with the winning combination of a world class boat, good sails and smart tactics.
She has not had it all her own way. On Day 2, in the White Rock Race, Rob Bassett's Bakewell-White 52 Wired led the fleet most of the way to the first corner at Pioneer Rock, before Living Doll powered into the lead.
Today, although Living Doll had a fast start, on the short beat to windward to the Mandalay mark, on the first cross she had to dip behind Wired who was on starboard tack. But at the top mark the Doll was ahead.
She took the line honours and handicap win in IRC Racing Division 1. Victoire, Darryl Hodgkinson's Beneteau First 45 was second on handicap, with Bob Robertson's Farr 40 Cracklin Rosie, third.
Overall after six races, with one drop in place, Living Doll is leading the fleet courtesy of 1, 1, 1, 2, (2) and 1. Victoire is now clearly in second place, five points clear of Lambourdini, who finished sixth today.
Living Doll Tactician Ben Lamb commented dockside, 'We had a good start down at the pin end, but Wired grabbed the first shift and we had to work hard to sail through our smaller rival. The first run was pretty good, we were waiting for the shift and we positioned her on the underside and made a good gain. We stayed right and eventually the wind went further right.
'The Wired team was really sailing well today, they had more speed than they have had all week and could be a serious threat in the future.
'Along the Molle Island shore we stayed right on the rocks and that kept us out of the tide. That is what we needed to do today to stay in front.'
In IRC Racing Division 2, Ross Winterbourne's Bobby D from the Whitsunday Sailing Club took the handicap win from Howard Piggott's Flying Cloud and Gordon Ketelbey's Zen. Line honours went to Zen.
After six races, with one drop applied, Flying Cloud is four points clear of Zen with Grizzly, Christopher Jiggins Adams 10 from the Whitsunday Sailing Club, now third.
Every race has been tight and today's was a heart stopper.
Julie Hodder, tactician aboard Gordon Ketelbey's Sydney 38 Zen explained. 'We sailed well; we had Flying Cloud beaten on time nicely, right near the end of the race. We led them all way down to the Bluff; we were five and half minutes ahead. That was 90 seconds on handicap but then there was a glass out on the way back.
'We have to give them 58 seconds an hour and when the wind stopped, they beat us right on the line.'
Skipper Ketelbey smiled. 'We have an aging Sydney 38, which really does not rate very well under IRC and Flying Cloud is the latest IRC killer and they juuuusssst beat us today, so we reckon we are doing OK!'
The winner Howard Piggott commented dockside 'the race is not over until the fat lady sings, we had to work hard today. We had to chase the wind up every nook and cranny.
'We even felt sorry for the Zen crew .... for about 30 seconds,' he said with a big grin.
'But in truth the two boats are very evenly matched. After the Rolex Sydney Hobart race 2009, the overall handicap result was Beneteau First 40's first and second and then Sydney 38's third and fourth.
'This week at Airlie Beach it has been a really spirited competition through the regatta. It's allowed us to really work on tuning the boat to sail in light airs, so we feel we've made some big advances so far.'
The IRC Cruising Division 1 handicap win went to the dark blue hulled Ocean Affinity, Stewart Lewis' Marten 49, who streeted the fleet. Peter Moseley's Sydney 36 Local Hero was second on handicap, with Martin Power's veteran Bacardi filling the third spot on the podium.
Overall after five races, Ocean Affinity is one point ahead of Local Hero, with Bacardi a further three points further back.
In the big Sports Boat division, it was not exactly wet and wild sailing today, but the racing remains very tight.
Bob Cowan Stealth 8 Stealthy crew have been sailing well. 'We've done a few sea miles now and we seem to be the most consistent boat on line honours but we are getting belted on handicap.'
Race 8 handicap winner was Cam Rae's Laminar Capital, from Cam Miles Melges 24 Roger That and Brett Whitbread's Blokes World. Laminar Capital was fastest boat.
Stealthy took the Race 9 handicap win, from Blokes World and Pierre Gal's Sports 8xx Kiss. Kiss flew around the course in 14:53:03, fifty one seconds ahead of Stealthy.
After nine races, with one drop allowed, Brett Whitbread's Blokes World just leads Stealthy by 0.5 of a point. Roger That is third.
In the highly competitive Super 30 class, Townsville sailor Leon Thomas scored the Race 7 handicap win on his Farr 30 Guilty Pleasures 111. LoCo, Jeanine and Jon Drummond's Farr 30 OD was second with Kim Williams Melges 32 Rock 'N Roll, spoiling the Farr's party. Line honours went to Rock 'N Roll.
Rock 'N Roll was the Race 8 handicap winner, from Heath Walters Melges 32 Funnelweb. Guilty Pleasures was third. Rock 'N Roll was first across the finish line, thirty seven seconds ahead of Funnelweb.
Race 9 and Guilty Pleasures again took the handicap win, this time from LoCo with RBS Morgan's Immigrant, the Mumm 30 skippered by Jeff Paul, taking third. This time Funnelweb was the fastest Super 30 around the course.
So after nine races, with one drop in place, Guilty Pleasures leads the fleet from Rock 'N Roll, with LoCo third.
For full results go to http://www.airliebeachraceweek.com
Errata
19 August 2010
Rather than alter the article I thought it would be more fun to just print this email from Lesley Haslar:
Ray just read my piece and said there is NO WAY Bali Hai could have done 18-20 knots - he said he was probably joshing me - bloody whoops.
Can you jsut take out the 1 before each number to show 8-10 knots NOT 18-20....Many thanks - I have to learn not to be such a believer....Lesley
Airlie Beach
18 August 2010
Day 5 - Cloudy and a breeze of 8-10 knots
The Multi Hulls started the day's racing; Sirocco as the current leader in this division displayed her skills charging into the lead.
Living Doll (IRC Division) was in control at the start. On the short beat to windward at the first cross (.6 of a mile) Living Doll had to dip Wired - who was on starboard. At the top mark Living Doll was back in front closely followed by Wired, Lambourdini, Cracklin Rosie, Bobby's Girl and Victoire. After the first rounding there was little change in position and the boats soon blended into a distant skyline.
Living Doll got the double - Wired 2nd home - followed by SUCH an exciting finish only seconds apart - Lambourdini-Cracklin Rosie-Victoire-Bobby's Girl. On handicap after Living Doll was Victoire - Cracklin Rosie - Lambourdini - Bobby's Girl and Wired.
IRC Racing Division 2 saw both 007 and Zen strutting their stuff, followed closely by Groove and Wyuna. O07 led the way off to the next mark. Readers might like to know that my (the writer) new friend Naddie from Wyuna is shorter in height than me - hence an immediate friendship - my 5 ft 2.5 inches was noticeable against Naddie's 4 ft 10.5, so I liked her even before we were introduced. Good things come in small parcels.....
At mark-rounding in Performance Racing was True Love - with Grant and Iris Bartlett from Opua Cruising Club on board on their annual racing sojourn at Airlie beach.
Peggy as the current leader in Cruising Division slipped past the media boat happy to be alone in the lead.
Peter Hall with his Kiwi crew from Bali Hai didn't have his usual cheery smile after the race. Said Peter, "It was a lighter breeze today and though the boat was sailing at 18-20 knots, a speed where we're usually compeititve, today just wasn't our turn. We stuck with the fleet pretty much when the breeze was up, but as it dropped off - so did we; and unfortunately finished up further down the fleet.
'Georgia is pictured here at rest' - but she's here.
I asked George Hendry "what's next?" - His reply? "I'm worried about Chris Dickson being so upset that we're dry sanding the boat tonight without him. But our skipper Jim Farmer has offered to stand in for him to keep the peace, and sand - and sand - and sand".
Des Brennan announces his departure
18 August 2010
From YNZ:
Des Brennan, Chief Executive has announced that he will be leaving Yachting New Zealand at the end of September.
"My time as Chief Executive has been exciting and greatly rewarding. Sport is a special enterprise and sailing for me has always been the absolute sport," says Brennan.
"I joined Yachting New Zealand early in 2005 following disappointing international results in the preceding Olympic cycle. The organisation lacked clarity of purpose and was under resourced. Today we have a great team of people at Yachting New Zealand. They will continue to take sailing forward."
"I have been offered and accepted the role of Marketing Director at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The role is exciting and challenging - not unlike sport. For me this was an irresistible opportunity to be involved in assisting NZ business success on the world stage."
Jan Dawson, Yachting New Zealand's President, comments; "In the six years of his leadership, Des has provided strategic direction, built strong relationships with our partner funders and sponsors and developed a high performing management team. We will miss Des and we thank him and we wish him luck in his new position."
The process of finding a new Chief Executive for Yachting New Zealand is now underway.
International Speaker Harold Bennett this Friday
18 August 2010
RAYC
7pm
Harold has over 30 years of Coaching, Race Management, Event Management, Project Management and
Yachting Administration,
Harold has also managed a variety of projects - from the design and build of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's 40 ft patrol boat to organising the 2000 and 2003 America's Cup in New Zealand as Principal Race Officer.
In February 2005 he was contracted by Americas Cup Management Ltd as the Senior Race Officer for the 32nd Americas Cup to be held 2007 and was the principal race officer for the most recent 33rd 2010 Americas Cup held earlier this year.
Harold is an entertaining speaker and has a lot of experience to share with us this Friday.
Spot Door prizes
Finger food available
$20.00 entry.
$10 Junior
Navman - Fix it yourself
18 August 2010
I finally took the time to watch this gem that popped up on the forums - pure gold
Follow the thread here.