Category: Sails

South Africans tops Dennis Conner Yacht Club Challenge

Posted on by Liam
South Africans tops Dennis Conner Yacht Club Challenge

Without any fanfare, they have come to Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge; and at Opening Ceremony, they called themselves as the most humble squad at the regatta. They told the tale regarding how they skinned together funds for their thirty six hour flight to New York by wooing donations. They were really surprised at the generous sources whose given  amounts made their participation possible. Tonight at the regatta dinner, they are sponsored by a member of a local club.

In spite of all these, or probably because of it, they stay on the top of the standings after the first day. This dark horse squad is a bunch of sailors representing Royal Capt Yacht Club from South Africa. all of them have their dream about sailing in an international contest and today they are on the top with 5–2–1 finishes. Denmark’s The Royal Danish Yacht Club is in 2nd with a 4–4–2. In the 3rd, it was The Manhattan Yacht Club with a 1–9–3.

Dennis Conner passed the day seeing the races when entertaining different dignitaries. After sailing, all the squads gather ed on the 157 foot lovely yacht Arabella. The racing again starts tomorrow, but tonight is the Steak Dinner with Dennis Conner.

Meanwhile, athletes continue to take part in the “Ice Bucket Challenge” to assemble money and awareness for ALS research, and LeBron James has joined in. The Cleveland Cavaliers star completed the challenge on a yacht and he nominated his two kids and US President Barack Obama.

Two Australian sailors missed out on Gold Medal

Posted on by Liam

In a much talked about manner, the sailing team from Australia located off the coast of Southern France, Darren bundock and Nina Curtis have lost upon world cup gold medal.

On Saturday, at the Hyeres the duo Australian winners won gold medals and came in fourth position. But it might have been quite a better performance. In the class of Nacra Catamaran, when the organizers altered the route of the chase puzzling the Australians were sent back on the wrong path the duo silver medalists Curtis and Bundock moved down from first to third.

Despite the last minute change of their path the duo rebuffed to blame either of them rather than themselves who had begun the sailing in November. Bundock spoke that they needed to complete within four boats of Italians or the three boats of the French. They were going their way during the race but in the meantime they edited the route and they puffed up on the whole.

Curtis told that it was shameful for them. Because of being a new group it’s nice to watch such things beforehand on so that they can never commit this type of mistake again. Tom Burton in the laser class got his second consecutive world cup gold medal. Expanding their long run of good form with less effort Mat Belcher, the world sailor and his crew partner, Will Ryan got the gold medal in the men’s 470 division.

Iain Jensen and Nathan Outeridge are the medalists in Olympic, won the bronze after a tricky week. Outeridge got hurt when he was hit by another boat on the end day of regatta, when the duo Australians started the medal races in the fifth position. They moved to third position after a splendid presentation on the last day.

Torqeedo Succeeds In Acquiring Moonwave Systems

Posted on by admin

Torqeedo has finally acquired one of the biggest companies in yachting, the Moonwave Systems. The news went viral after the confirmation was done on the 18th of January in Dusseldorf where a boat show was going on. This would mean that two of the best companies in yachting will be working together from now and with their innovation and knowledge in electric and hybrid drives new records will be achieved and it will be good for the yachting industry. Torqeedo has also been reported to have entered into the hybrid drive sector and this was quite a surprise to people. The agreement has already been signed by the companies and the official documents have also been prepared about the takeover. With these two joining hands there will be developmental changes and the initial plans have already been laid out that includes the inclusion of both AC and DC power in the yachts and also the up gradation of the hybrid electric propulsion.

Apart from this it will also be seen whether the air conditioning is working properly or not. In addition to this the home appliances will also be checked thoroughly and some additions will be made. The best thing that these two companies have decided to do is use the green energy. This will be generated from the solar cells and to some extent the unused energy will be regenerated. The vessel’s energy management will also be enhanced in a few days once the companies start working full time. Dr. Christoph Ballin the CEO of Torqeedo after the amalgamation said that it is a very big step for both the companies and it would give them huge resources to work with. This would not only be beneficial to them but also for the yachting industry as well.

Sailing Arabia 2014

Posted on by admin

The 2014 Sailing Arabia Tour has been reportedly shortened due to light wind conditions. According to sources, as soon as the weather forecast predicted light winds, the race committee immediately reduced the course for Leg 3 by 10 nautical miles.

In the original format, the Leg 3 of the Sailing Arabia Tour was supposed to cover seventy nautical miles which is now restricted to sixty nautical miles. The participant squads at Leg 3 would sail right from Abu Dhabi till Dubai.

The shortening of the course due to unfavorable weather conditions is followed to assure that the fleet reaches Dubai in the right time to prep up for following leg. In case, the set starting time goes as per the plan, then the estimated TOA in Dubai would be 1800-1900.

“We have reduced the Leg 3 course by ten miles so that we can have better time span to prep up for the next leg that will start at Dubai and go to Ras Khaimah. It would permit our crews to relax and rest a bit”, stated Gilles Chiorri, the race director. “ It seems as if the breeze would be light & we would most probably motor 2-3 hours & wait for  breeze from the sea to fill up from north-eastern side before we are setting them off.”

The Team Delft, packed with spirited university students won both the in-port competitions from the EFG Bank at the Abu Dhabi session of Arabia EFG Sailing. The team faced a disqualification from line honours placement during Leg 2, after a starboard/port incident with Monaco’s EFG Bank. However, the last win has surely worked to uplift their spirits.

The team skipper Koen Smedt dsaid-“We’re disappointed with the disqualification yet it motivated us in turn to triumph at in-port races.”

Ashby Re-signed By Team New Zealand

Posted on by admin

Recently in the ISAF Sailing World Cup (Melbourne), Glenn Ashby- the multihull specialist from Australia revealed that he had turned down the offer of being a part of Team Australia only after he had been re-signed by Team New Zealand. Ashby said that he had some unfinished business left because of which he decided to stick with the Kiwis. He also loves being involved in the design procedure with the New Zealand Team, added Glenn Ashby.

The Government of New Zealand gave a five million dollar grant to Team NZ to not only resign Glenn Ashby but all the important members associated with the sail and design team. This means that the Government is providing unconditional support to Team NZ. Grant Dalton-the head of Team New Zealand is trying hard to get commercial sponsorship so that the team can compete with USA’s Team Oracle in the 35th edition of America’s Cup or Auld Mug.

Glenn Ashby was a very vital member of Team NZ during the 34th edition of America’s Cup which was held in September 2013. Despite the hard work of Team NZ and Ashby, the defender team Oracle won the Auld Mug.

Ashby had previously helped Team Oracle win the America’s Cup in the year 2010 against Alinghi. He had actually coached Jimmy Spithill (Oracle) in relation to sailing multihulls.

Australia is planning to make a superb comeback as a challenger in the 35th America’s Cup and thus is trying to get hold of talented sailors from the other well-known syndicates. But, no popular sailors have been recruited by Team Australia as such. So sailing fans are a little doubtful about how Australia will actually perform in the upcoming Auld Mug.

Sometime next month the date, venue and rules of the 35th America’s Cup will be announced. However, cataramans are surely being utilized for the event.

Team Australia Wins The Popular Coastal Yacht Race

Posted on by admin

Considered to be the icebreaker race in the sailing world, the 2013 PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic was won by Team Australia on 25th October, 2013 at around 6:15pm in the evening which means that Team Australia reached the finish line at Russell, 8 hours and fifteen minutes after the race had begun in Auckland (Devonport Wharf). Team Australia was around thirty-seven minutes ahead of Team Vodafone.

Team Australia, under the headship of Sean Langman was able to break Team Vodafone’s winning streak. However, it was not able to break Team Vodafone’s record time of sub-six hour. Team Vodafone and Team Australia were the only sailing teams who reached Russell. Eight sailing teams had to withdraw from the race because of gear breakages. On the other hand, some other teams were still on their way to Russell.

Team Australia was defeated by Team Vodafone on 23rd October 2013. Team Australia defeated Team Vodafone in the Coastal Classic that was won by this team thrice. It seems that this race was absolutely frustrating for Team Vodafone. Team Vodafone was around 500m ahead of Team Australia at about mid afternoon. But Team Australia was able to take a lead because it found a better and new breeze. Team Vodafone was traveling at slower speeds whereas Team Australia benefitted from a good wind angle and reached Tutukaka quickly.

Matthew Flynn, spokesperson of PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic congratulated the winning team and said that Team Australia crossed the finishing line looking comfortable and relaxed. Flynn said that the perfect wind conditions provided the necessary lead to Team Australia.

Here is a list of the top ten sailing teams who finished the PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic yacht race: Team Australia, Team Vodafone, Team Giacomo, Team Taeping, Team Charleston, Team Georgia, Team V5, Team Wired, Team Kia Kaha 52 and Team Dragon.