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Exclusive Ropeye distributor deal for Harken

10 Aug 2017

Harken is the new worldwide distributor for Ropeye

Harken is to become the exclusive distributor of Ropeye products worldwide.

In the four years since its founding, Ropeye has developed a reputation for innovation and has been the recipient of a DAME award conferred at the annual METSTRADE show.

“We’ve been impressed with Ropeye since it started,” said Matt Malec, Harken’s director of worldwide sales.

“The Ropeye team attacks many of the same engineering challenges we face every day, improving rigging and enabling performance gains.”

The agreement will include collaboration in marketing communications and potentially new product development as well.

Ropeye is an Estonian based manufacturer and R&D company that focuses on textile/carbon high-load and low-weight solutions for racing boats.

via Boating Business | Exclusive Ropeye distributor deal for Harken.

First Aston Martin powerboat is customised and delivered

14 Aug 2017

The first Aston Martin powerboat has been delivered to its owner

The first Aston Martin powerboat has been delivered to its owner to be berthed in Miami.

The boat was built in the UK by Quintessence Yachts and customised with features including air con, Azius joystick piloting and twin 520hp petrol engines from Mercury Racing giving a top speed of around 50K.

“AM37 is a pure translation of the Aston Martin DNA into an entirely new maritime concept,” explained Aston Martin’s EVP and chief creative officer, Marek Reichman. “The powerboat reflects our values in terms of power, beauty and soul.”

And he added that one of the most important attributes for the craft was to ensure the design was ‘beautiful and timeless’.

Other features include a sliding cockpit cover which can be remotely operated with a mobile app.

Maritime and automotive worlds are fused

Navigation, control monitor and entertainment systems are integrated within a 15in touchscreen in the dashboard, with advanced functions to control the electric anchor, retractable bimini and retractable swim platform.

Extra sound insulation around the engine has been provided to comply with noise regulations on the Swiss lakes. The deck is constructed from carbon fibre.

“By fusing the maritime and automotive worlds with the universal characteristics of style and elegance, AM37 offers the perfect balance of design and engineering, performance and comfort, luxury and functionality,” added Quintessence Yachts CEO Mariella Mengozzi.

The 37ft AM37 made its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show last year, marking Aston Martin’s entry into the nautical market.

The craft is designed by naval architect Mulder Design.

via Boating Business | First Aston Martin powerboat is customised and delivered.

Are you race ready?

Entered a big race? Don’t know where to start with your preparations? Follow the RYA’s ten top tips to get you in the best possible shape for race day…

Embrace your competitive spirit

We’re not talking fair weather boating jaunts – we’re talking racing.  And that means doing everything to ensure that you are making the best of your skills.  So how do you switch your mind set in order to deliver an outstanding performance?

Sailing coach Mark Rushall comments: “Racing puts both physical and mental sailing skills in the spotlight. You’ll need to be more aware of the conditions and able to adapt your sailing style accordingly.  The best sailors treat every race as an opportunity to learn.  Having a plan, an understanding of tactics, the ability to learn from your mistakes and the passion to succeed will take you a long way.”

Make time

Practice makes perfect according to Ian Walker who will be taking over as RYA Director of Racing later in the year . He says: “It’s all about getting time on the water, particularly at a young age. It doesn’t matter what you sail; crewing, helming; all different classes of boat – it doesn’t matter. Just get out there as much as you can and that will improve your feel. It’s no surprise that Ben Ainslie is the first one out on the water and the last one in when training.”

Try different crafts

Rio 2016 Olympian Nicola Groves recommends asking around at your local sailing club and offering to help crew and sail as many types of boats as you can. She adds: “For me, this definitely sped up the learning process. It makes you a better all-round sailor.”

Join a club

Clubs are brilliant environments for nurturing your racing skills. Not only do they give you access to different boats and first-rate training, they also provide regular practise sessions with plenty of support from fellow club members. Most clubs also offer a full racing calendar as well. To find a club near you visit www.rya.org.uk/getafloat

Get trained

Preparation will get you in the right head space for racing. Perhaps you are new to boating and want to race? RYA courses will help you improve, laying solid foundations to hit the race course. If you’re racing dinghies RYA Start Racing will help you everything you need to know about how to get off the start line and onto the race course.

Even if you are an experienced racer who has never considered any formal training, you may have areas you’d like to improve like how to keep your speed on through a tack. RYA Advanced Racing covers everything from boat preparation to strategy. Whatever your level, there’s always something new to learn. For more information visit: http://www.rya.org.uk/go/training

Know the rules

The rules change all too often – luckily, you can keep up to date with our brilliant selection of racing books in print and digital formats. From the pocket sized rules books to interactive eBooks and attached case books, you can go deeper into the detail – learning how to refine tactics, make correct boat-on-boat decisions and give yourself the best chance of coming out on top in a protest hearing. With detailed explanations in easily digestible formats it’s one way to become an expert, because let’s face it, you can never be too informed. For the full range of books, including RYA The Racing Rules Explained 2017-2020 eBook, visit www.rya.org/go/racingbooks

Hit the gym

If you are serious about racing, you’ll need a sailing focused fitness regime.

An instructor at your local gym can help you identify areas you need to work on like core strength and cardiovascular training.

Follow the RYA’s top tips on sailing fitness with these handy videos by former RYA British Sports Scientist Tim Jones:

Wear the right kit

The last thing you want is to ‘have all the gear but no idea’. But you do want to feel comfortable, warm and dry, not to mention safe. The RYA has some fantastic deals on famous brands to help make your racing dream more affordable. RYA members have access to over 70 reward partners helping to cut the cost of your boating.  Choose from Crewsaver and Spinlock, to SLAM and Gill; Rooster, Hudson Wight, Bollé and many more.  Join today at www.rya.org.uk/go/join

Know your boat

A well-prepared boat has a better chance of winning than those with a dirty bottom and issues with the equipment. Make sure your boat is properly maintained, so if you have to break into sweat to hoist a sail, you may need to check your halyard system. For more tips on big boat racing check out RYA Racing for Yachts and Keelboats and for dinghies try RYA Dinghy Techniques.

Have fun

It sounds obvious, but don’t be so serious about racing that you miss the basic joys of getting out on the water. Olympic gold medallist and four-time Finn Gold Cup winner Giles Scott has this simple advice: “Enjoy sailing, both the sport itself and your achievements along the way. Enjoyment is your fuel to stay engaged in the sport, to be focused on the water and to be a better sailor.”

via Are you race ready? | Inbrief | e-newsletters | News & Events | RYA.

MAPFRE win qualifying sprint from Plymouth to Saint-Malo

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Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race

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Martin Keruzore/Volvo Ocean Race

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Tom Martienssen/Volvo Ocean Race

The Spanish team continued their charge through Leg Zero – the four-part qualifying series for the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race – to strengthen their grip on the leaderboard (see more below)

Xabi Fernández and his in-form MAPFRE team claimed their second victory in Leg Zero qualifying with another commanding performance in the build-up to the Volvo Ocean Race.

MAPFRE had a lead of seven nautical miles when they crossed the finish line at 0629 UTC off the iconic French sailing city of Saint-Malo.

Team Brunel took second place in their first race sailing with new recruit Peter Burling, the Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winning helmsman, whose signing was announced just hours before the fleet’s departure from England’s south coast.

Dongfeng Race Team, the Chinese entry with a French skipper, Charles Caudrelier, completed the podium to maintain their own excellent form in the series – and were followed by Vestas 11th Hour Racing, team AkzoNobel, Turn the Tide on Plastic and Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag.

MAPFRE’s latest victory was barely in doubt in a race they dominated following a decisive moment shortly after the Plymouth start.

“It’s a very good result for us, and it’s been a really good leg for us from beginning to end,” said MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernández.

“We made some good choices going offshore, finding the sea breeze and beating the current, as we watched the other teams struggle with the current. I’m really pleased with our result.”

MAPFRE chose to dive south with Vestas 11th Hour Racing and Turn the Tide on Plastic. The others chose a route down the coast that required an exhausting gybing duel. When the fleet came back together, the offshore option had paid off, and Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team switched sides to choose the southern option with MAPFRE and Vestas 11th Hour Racing.

The fleet then had to negotiate a barrier of light winds that blocked the route. The calms were narrower in the south and the four boats that had invested in this option slowed but continued moving whereas Sun Hung Kai/ Scallywag went backwards on the tide, completely becalmed.

After the turning mark by the Needles and a drag race across the English Channel, excitement awaited in the tidal acceleration zone next to the French coast.

Just like stepping onto a moving walkway at the airport, the speeds on every boat jumped from 13 knots to 19 as they were pushed by a river of current in the ocean. From there, MAPFRE were never challenged.

For Burling, it was a first experience of racing onboard a One Design Volvo Ocean 65 – and he said that the short race to France was the perfect introduction to the Volvo Ocean Race.

“It’s been great to get out and race – I have a lot to learn but Leg Zero is a really good way for me to ease into this,” said the Kiwi.

“I think we’re in good stead for the future considering how little training this team has done.”

Leg Zero, stage 3 results, Plymouth to Saint-Malo:

1. MAPFRE elapsed time 0629 UTC

2. Team Brunel 0710

3. Dongfeng Race Team 0719

4. Vestas 11th Hour Racing 0728

5. Team AkzoNobel 0732

6. Turn the Tide on Plastic 0835

7. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag 0908

French sailing fans will now get to see the fleet of Volvo Ocean 65s in the inner harbour before a non-scoring Pro-Am Race on Saturday.

“It’s great to be in Saint-Malo and back in France – the crowds on the dock gave the Volvo Ocean Race fleet an unforgettable welcome,” said Dongfeng Race Team skipper Charles Caudrelier.

“This region is the home of French sailing and an iconic town for sailors from all over the world, and it’s fantastic to see the enthusiasm for both Dongfeng and the race as a whole.”

The teams will complete Leg Zero qualifying with a race from Saint-Malo to Lisbon, starting on Sunday at 1050 UTC and with an ETA of Wednesday.

MAPFRE now have a three-point advantage at the top of the Leg Zero standings, with two wins and a runners-up spot from the three races to date. While an overall winner will be declared, no points will be carried forward to the Volvo Ocean Race itself, which starts on 22 October.

Overall Leg Zero standings after 3 of 4 races:

1. MAPFRE 23 points

2. Team Brunel 20

3. Dongfeng Race Team 19

4. Team AkzoNobel 15

5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing 12

6. Turn the Tide on Plastic 9

7. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag 7

via MAPFRE win qualifying sprint from Plymouth to Saint-Malo| Volvo Ocean Race.

MAPFRE continue Leg Zero dominance in opening act of final stage DownloadBrian Carlin/Volvo Ocean Race DownloadKonrad Frost/Volvo Ocean Race DownloadJen Edney/Volvo Ocean RaceMAPFRE maintained their near-faultless performance in Volvo Ocean Race qualifying – and gave themselves the best possible chance of completing overall victory in the Leg Zero series – as they led the fleet over the finish line on a short opening stage of the final race out of Saint-Malo (full story below)MAPFRE maintained their near-faultless performance in Volvo Ocean Race qualifying – and gave themselves the best possible chance of completing overall victory in the Leg Zero series – as they led the fleet over the finish line on a short opening stage of the final race out of Saint-Malo.Extended periods of extremely light weather meant that the Saint-Malo to Lisbon leg had to be split into two parts.As expected, the Volvo Ocean 65s stayed tightly bunched on the first of those, a drag race towards Le Grand Lejon. Vestas 11th Hour Racing were neck-and-neck with MAPFRE for the lead, with the Spanish side just pipping them to the line.Dongfeng Race Team grabbed third ahead of Turn the Tide on Plastic and team AkzoNobel. Preliminary unofficial results gave Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag and Team Brunel the same time, with less than a mile between the first and last teams in the seven-boat fleet.Now that the teams have completed their ‘Sunday drive’ – a 25nm sprint in just 10 knots – they can prepare for the restart which will begin from Chaussé de Sein at 0900 UTC on Monday. It will be a staggered start based on the finishing deltas from Sunday.The fleet will start with light south easterlies that will quickly die and then come back from the west. This will be a critical transition to manage as the whole race course will favour the leaders and punish the stragglers.The fleet will negotiate the passage of a cold front early Tuesday morning and the new wind will set them up for a downwind drag race towards Cape Finisterre, the northwestern tip of Spain. It will be a race for their competitive lives – with light winds chasing them as a ridge of high pressure again pushes into the normally tempestuous Bay of Biscay.”Leg Zero has been really good for us,” said MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernández, whose team have won two out of the three races completed so far. “Saint-Malo to Lisbon is the last stop so it’s not quite over yet but I’m so happy with the team, the boat… Everything seems to be working out.”After negotiating the narrow channel between Cape Finisterre and the out-of-bounds shipping channel, they’ll have a pretty simple run down the Portuguese coast. There’s no major strategic play here, just pure speed before a handbrake turn into the Tagus river and the finish in downtown Lisbon.“You only enter races to win – but the forecast is flukey so everything’s on the table,” said Vestas 11th Hour Racing skipper Charlie Enright. “Everyone’s expectation is to be competitive and to continue to refine the areas that we realise need work.”Overall standings after 3 of 4 completed races in Leg Zero:1. MAPFRE 23 points2. Team Brunel 203. Dongfeng Race Team 194. team AkzoNobel 155. Vestas 11th Hour Racing 126. Turn the Tide on Plastic 97. Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag 7While an overall winner will be declared, no points will be carried forward to the Volvo Ocean Race itself, which starts on 22 October from Alicante.

via MAPFRE continue Leg Zero dominance in opening act of final stage| Volvo Ocean Race.

Web Ready Video Package: America’s Cup hero Peter Burling steps up to new sporting competition

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Duration: 01:37

Rights: copyright free for editorial use only (video package and text)

New Zealand sailing hero Peter Burling, who won the 35th America’s Cup for New Zealand in a hotly contested final against the USA team in Bermuda in June this year, is stepping up to take on the Volvo Ocean Race. With two Olympic medals in hand already (gold in Rio 2016 and silver in London 2012), the America’s Cup win elevated Burling to a national sporting hero.

Now Burling, aged 26, will race in the toughest test of a team in professional sport, the Volvo Ocean Race. This will be a totally different challenge for Burling – a daunting switch from competing in America’s Cup races that last just 20 minutes to racing 24/7, weeks on end, across the oceans. In total, the Volvo Ocean Race covers 45,000 nautical miles, which is just over 83,000 kms, around the world, in a competition lasting eight months.

Burling is joining Team Brunel, skippered by Dutch sailing legend, Bouwe Bekking who is looking for a victory that has eluded him so far in seven previous participations in the race. “Round-the-world ocean racing has always excited me and I’m stoked to be part of Team Brunel on this epic edition,” Burling said. “I can’t wait to be thrown into the challenge of extreme offshore racing and broaden my skills and sailing experience.”

In a twist of fate, his Olympic partner and America’s Cup crewmate Blair Tuke is racing on another Volvo Ocean Race entry, the Spanish team MAPFRE, making them competitors as opposed to team mates this time.

Burling steps on board Team Brunel for the first time today (Thursday) as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet race from Plymouth (UK) to Saint-Malo (France) in Leg Zero, a qualifier for the race itself.

The Volvo Ocean Race starts from Alicante, Spain on October 22, with seven teams confirmed so far.

via Web Ready Video Package: America’s Cup hero Peter Burling steps up to new sporting competition| Volvo Ocean Race.

New Zealand sailing hero Peter Burling joins Team Brunel for Volvo Ocean Race

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Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race

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Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

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Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race

Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winning helmsman Peter Burling has joined Team Brunel for the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race (see more below)

Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winning helmsman Peter Burling has joined Team Brunel for the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race – and he’s already out sailing with his new teammates in pre-race qualifying.

The signing of the world’s most in-demand sailor is a major coup for Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking, and sets up what should be a compelling rivalry with Burling’s long-term sailing partner Blair Tuke, who is competing with Spanish team MAPFRE.

Together, Burling and Tuke carried the flag for New Zealand at the 2016 Olympics and came home from Rio with a gold medal in the 49er class.

The pair followed up that success by playing influential roles in Emirates Team New Zealand’s victory in the America’s Cup earlier this year.

Burling got his first taste of life onboard Brunel’s Volvo Ocean 65 at the start of an overnight sprint from Plymouth, UK to Saint-Malo, France – the third stage of the Volvo Ocean Race’s Leg Zero qualifying series.

“I’ve always wanted to do this race – although I haven’t done a lot offshore, I’ve always been keen to get involved but always struggled to find the time,” Burling said at dockside in Plymouth. “It seems like good timing and a great opportunity to learn a lot off a pretty experienced team.”

He continued: “Round-the-world ocean racing has always excited me and I’m stoked to be part of Team Brunel on this epic edition. I can’t wait to be thrown into the challenge of extreme offshore racing and broaden my skills and sailing experience.”

Still only 26, Burling is the youngest winning helmsman in America’s Cup history.

Either Burling or Tuke could become the first sailor to complete the Triple Crown of sailing’s major events. To date, no one has won an Olympic gold medal, the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race. Both teams will start among the favourites.

Burling continued: “I’ve sailed against Blair a lot in the past, and I think he’s really enjoying his time onboard MAPFRE. I think both of us will learn a lot before the next time we sail together, and we’ll take on a challenge again together soon.”

Team Brunel were runners-up in 2014-15 under Bekking and have hit the ground running in their preparations for the upcoming race. Burling is the seventh sailor to be announced for the Dutch team following the signings of America’s Cup sailors Carlo Huisman (NED) and Kyle Langford (AUS); Argentinian Juanpa Marcos; and Volvo Ocean Race veterans Alberto Bolzan (ITA) and Maciel Cicchetti (ARG/ITA), all sailing under skipper Bouwe Bekking (NED).

Bekking said: “Peter is one of the most talented sailors in the world, winning an Olympic gold in Rio and the America’s Cup. He’s a huge addition for our team. He is superb driver – one of the fastest – and I think he will adapt very quickly.”

The 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race begins from Alicante on 22 October. The race will take the teams 45,000 nautical miles around the world via a series of Host City stops – including Auckland.

“It’s going to be pretty special to be on board to see Auckland, the City of Sails, welcome an epic race like the Volvo Ocean Race,” added Burling.

“Having just toured New Zealand with the America’s Cup I got to witness how much Kiwis really do love sailing – and I know they will really get behind the Volvo Ocean Race coming to town.”

via New Zealand sailing hero Peter Burling joins Team Brunel for Volvo Ocean Race| Volvo Ocean Race.

Dongfeng win knife-edge battle with MAPFRE in Rolex Fastnet Race

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Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race

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Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race

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Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race

The Chinese entry pipped MAPFRE just moments from the line in the Fastnet Race after an intense battle overnight (full story below)

China’s Dongfeng Race Team edged out MAPFRE by just 56 seconds in a Rolex Fastnet Race thriller in the early hours of Wednesday, as an intense night of lead changes and fickle winds ended with the entire fleet separated by less than 40 minutes after more than 600 miles of racing.

Victory for Charles Caudrelier’s team keeps it tight at the top of Leg Zero qualifying for the Volvo Ocean Race – and heralds an epic battle to come when the race around the world begins from Alicante on 22 October.

MAPFRE and Dongfeng had the best start back in Cowes on Sunday, stayed close all the way around the race course and finally finished just metres from each other after fighting all the way to finish line off the Plymouth breakwater.

Dongfeng crossed the line at 04:18:10 local time, with MAPFRE following shortly afterwards at 04:19:06.

Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel were next over the line – a result that will give them a massive boost given that their preparations started so late – followed by team AkzoNobel in fourth. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Plastic completed the fleet arrivals – and with just over 39 minutes between the first and last placed boats, they will be boosted by the belief that they can close the gap further by October.

Volvo Ocean 65s in the Rolex Fastnet Race:

1. Dongfeng Race Team: 2 days 15 hours 38 minutes 10 seconds

2. MAPFRE: 2 days 15 hours 39 minutes 06 seconds

3. Team Brunel: 2 days 15 hours 45 minutes 47 seconds

4. team AkzoNobel: 2 days 15 hours 52 minutes 40 seconds

5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing: 2 days 16 hours 09 minutes 11 seconds

6. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag: 2 days 16 hours 13 minutes 53 seconds

7. Turn the Tide on Plastic: 2 days 16 hours 17 minutes 32 seconds

Dongfeng leveraged their experience on how to set up the boat from the last race, and their crew’s local knowledge of these tricky coastlines, at times demonstrating superior boat speed and superb navigational choices.

Critical moments in their victory were when they regained the lead from team AkzoNobel before the Fastnet rounding and later, perfect navigation on the return from the Rock that saw them split from the fleet on the downwind run and pass through the obstacles around the Scilly Isles with fewer manoeuvres.

Despite often leading the fleet, Caudrelier revealed at the finish that their victory was far from certain. “We were leading at the Fastnet, leading the downwind and then suddenly, in big clouds we lost everything, we were last! Then another cloud helped us to come back, but afterwards MAPFRE were still there. They came back, passed us but we passed again. It was a nice fight with MAPFRE.”

A testament to the close racing, MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernández explained that the final finishing order was determined by one crucial gust. Dongfeng were able to furl and drop their masthead zero before MAPFRE and pass the Spanish boat when they were caught out with too much sail up.

“At the end we had a big sail and a 20-knot gust hit us, while Dongfeng had a smaller sail,” explained Xabi. “It’s a pity but it was a very good race for us.”

Brunel’s third place finish – after they grabbed second in the record-breaking race around the Isle of Wight last Wednesday – was another sign that Bouwe Bekking’s team have hit the ground running after announcing their participation only recently.

“The team has done extremely well,” said the Dutchman. “They all dug in 100% and I think everyone can look each other in the eye and say for the time being we got the maximum out of the team. We learnt a heck of a lot. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Overall Leg Zero rankings after 2 of 4 stages:

MAPFRE 15 points

Dongfeng Race Team 13

Team Brunel 13

team AkzoNobel 11

Vestas 11th Hour Racing 7

Turn the Tide on Plastic 6

Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag 5

There are two more races to go in the Leg Zero series of qualifiers. On Thursday, the fleet will race from Plymouth to Saint-Malo in France. After a non-scoring Pro-Am Race on Saturday, the teams will complete the series with a race from Saint-Malo to Lisbon, starting on Sunday.

While an overall Leg Zero winner will be declared, based on equal scoring for each of the four stages, no points will be carried forward to the Volvo Ocean Race itself.

via Dongfeng win knife-edge battle with MAPFRE in Rolex Fastnet Race| Volvo Ocean Race.

Record Rolex Fastnet Race is underway

07 Aug 2017

368 yachts are taking part in the race

A record 368 yachts from 29 countries are competing in the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race.

First away were the nine multihulls with the MOD70 Concise 10 immediately asserting her status as favourite to arrive first in Plymouth.

Following the departure of the multihulls, the subsequent starts encompassed the IMOCA 60s and Class 40s.

Paul Meilhat and Jules Verne were leading aboard SMA in the 60s range at last count.

The first ‘foil-assisted’ IMOCA 60 was favourite Alex Thomson and Nicholas O’Leary on Hugo Boss in third place.

The final start was reserved for the largest and fastest monohulls. At 115-ft Nikata, a high-performance cruising yacht, has become the largest monohull to ever compete in the race.

Her nearest rival in size, Ludde Ingvall’s 100-ft CQS, was built with the more single-minded objective of racing fast.

George David’s Rambler 88 is an offshore racing yacht par excellence and has the added experience of finishing the last edition of the race. The final starting group also comprised the seven competing Volvo 65s.

At the start of the race the vessels were divided across seven start sequences in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron’s clubhouse in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

The general consensus among weather forecasters points to a ‘big boat race’, with good breeze on the upwind leg to the Fastnet rock.

This is expected to be followed by a cold front heralding lighter conditions which may thwart the ambitions of the chasing fleet in their quest to claim the Fastnet Challenge Trophy and Rolex timepiece awarded to the overall race winner on IRC handicap.

via Boating Business | Record Rolex Fastnet Race is underway.

Hannah Stodel receives support with her Vendée Globe 2020 campaign

07 Aug 2017

Hannah Stodel is aiming to be the first disabled sailor to complete the Vendée Globe

The quest of the first disabled sailor to complete the Vendée Globe has been strengthened.

Hannah Stodel, three times world champion and four times Paralympian has officially launched her Vendée Globe 2020 campaign with support from A C Marine & Composites.

“The HSR team are driven, ambitious and innovative; qualities which we believe mirror ACM&C’s fundamental principles,” said Alex Newton, director and head of manufacturing at ACM&C.

Boat modifications

The company will act as official composites consultant and boat modifier; custom fitting modifications and providing ‘never-before-seen technology’ to accommodate Ms Stodel’s requirements as a disabled athlete.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with A C Marine & Composites in the run up to the Vendée Globe,” added Ms Stodel. “Having worked with Alex through three Paralympic cycles, there aren’t many people that I would trust for this job.”

She added: “Moving from the Sonar keelboat into the Class 40 and finally the IMOCA 60 – it’s important to have experience, drive and above all a shared mind-set to break records and to make this dream a reality. Alex brings that to the HSR through ACM&C and I’m so glad to have him and his team behind me.”

via Boating Business | Hannah Stodel receives support with her Vendée Globe 2020 campaign.