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Cheeki Rafiki safety fail conviction

17 Jul 2017

The capsized Cheeki Rafiki being examined by divers

A yacht company director has been convicted of failing to ensure the safety of stricken vessel Cheeki Rafiki, which was found capsized with four men missing in May 2014.

Douglas Innes and his company, Stormforce Coaching, were found guilty of failing to operate the 12m long yacht in a safe manner contrary to the Merchant Shipping Act, a court heard.

Mr Innes will face a retrial over the deaths of the four men after a jury at Winchester crown court were unable to reach verdicts on manslaughter charges.

The Cheeki Rafiki had been returning to Southampton from Antigua Sailing Week when it capsized, after losing its keel 700 miles off Nova Scotia, it is believed.

Stormforce Coaching employees, Andrew Bridge and James Male, plus Steve Warren and Paul Goslin were sailing the vessel, which Mr Innes had been responsible for, when they reported a problem on board. However, according to evidence declared during the trial, Mr Innes did not respond, only calling the coastguard when he was contacted a second time.

He then reportedly emailed the crew suggesting they check the bolts of the keel.

Nigel Lickley, QC for the prosecution, said the vessel, which had been grounded three times in three years, had an undetected fault with the bolts which held the keel to the hull.

Mr Lickley said it was discovered that some of the bolts had been broken ‘for some time’ before the yacht left the UK to start its journey in October 2013.

Jurors were also told the yacht had been given a ‘category two’ code, which meant it was only authorised to be used commercially up to 60 miles away from a ‘safe haven’ and the code certificate had expired shortly before the incident.

During the trial, it emerged the US Coastguard has called off its search for the vessel after two days, but resumed the operation following intervention by the British government, upon which the empty vessel was discovered with its lifeboat.

The bodies of the men have never been recovered.

via Boating Business | Cheeki Rafiki safety fail conviction.

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World’s largest aluminium yacht under construction

17 Jul 2017

Construction of the world’s largest aluminium yacht has started

Construction of an 81m / 266ft three-masted schooner has begun at the Royal Huisman’s facilities in Vollenhove, Netherlands.

The project, for an Asian client by the joint team of Royal Huisman, Dykstra Naval Architects, designer Mark Whiteley and Bart Kimman of Northrop & Johnson Asia is thought to be the world’s largest aluminium yacht.

Design work has taken a year to complete with Royal Huisman’s largest shipbuilding hall also upgraded as part of the preparations.

Now, the keel has been laid and the building frame for the main deck is under construction.

Features include a newly developed sliding Rondal door with individually operated moving glass panels between the cockpit and interior.

The flybridge steering stations give access to a hydraulically operated crow’s nest for a ride up the main mast and the deck design incorporates a recessed crew tender with the pocket suitable for use as a cockpit after launch. The design of the crew entrance on the foredeck ties in with the looks of the main deckhouse.

The hull has a hard chine and schooner rig is designed for good performance with sea kindliness, stability and comfort.

The carbon rig will be supported by carbon standing rigging. As Thys Nikkels of Dykstra Naval Architects explains, ‘the plumb bow, very long waterline, sleek hull and large sail area will give the yacht the required high speed and good performance’.

A model of the schooner will be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show, with the yacht due to be launched in 2020.

via Boating Business | World’s largest aluminium yacht under construction.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing unveil mixed crew with Race-winning pedigree for 2017-18

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Rich Edwards/Volvo Ocean Race

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Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race

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Will Suto/Volvo Ocean Race

Race-winning navigator Simon Fisher and hat-trick hunter Phil Harmer among crew chosen by co-founders Charlie Enright and Mark Towill

With exactly 100 days to go before the Volvo Ocean Race fleet departs Alicante to tackle 45,000 nautical miles around the world, Vestas 11th Hour Racing have unveiled their crew for the 2017-18 edition – and have built a mixed, ten-strong team featuring six nationalities and six previous Race wins.

The line-up features a wealth of experience, including Simon Fisher (GBR), who returns for his fifth Volvo Ocean Race appearance after lifting the trophy as the winning navigator with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing last time out.

He is joined by two-time winner Phil Harmer (AUS), who is hunting a Volvo Ocean Race hat-trick following successive victories in the last two editions, five-time sailor Damian Foxall (IRL), who scored a win in 2008-09 onboard Ericsson 4, and Race veteran Tony Mutter (NZL), who returns for a sixth lap of the planet, having gotten his hands on the trophy twice in the past.

“It’s amazing to be back in the Volvo Ocean Race with some old acquaintances as well as inspiring new talent,” revealed Fisher. “This time we’re focusing on performance, as well as a sponsorship with an important message, backed by two partners, Vestas and 11th Hour Racing, fully committed to making a positive change.

“It’s a privilege to be given the chance and the platform to share the message of sustainability and ocean health. I’ve dodged everything from telegraph poles to old fridge-freezers while at sea. We’ve got to act now, and as a group, this is what we aspire this campaign to be about”.

Tom Johnson (AUS), fresh from the America’s Cup as part of Team ORACLE USA, steps back onto a Volvo Ocean 65 after racing last edition onboard Team Vestas Wind – and Nick Dana (USA), who competed alongside Enright and Towill, returns to the Race for a second consecutive outing as a sailor.

For others, this will be their first round-the-world race. Denmark’s Olympic medallist Jena Mai Hansen joins Britain’s Hannah Diamond as one of two female sailors on board following successful trials during recent transatlantic trips from Lisbon, Portugal to Newport, USA.

“It was actually my first-ever full night at sea – an intimidating but amazing experience,” explained Hansen. “Helming a Volvo Ocean 65 boat in the middle of the Atlantic in pitch dark, in 40 knots, is without a doubt one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. I’m hungry for more and excited to be part of a skilled, international team. Bring it on!”

Between them, the crew have competed in the Volvo Ocean Race over 20 times – and skipper Charlie Enright says that he’s delighted with the preparations with just a few months remaining until the start line.

“We’ve taken our time to get this right, and we couldn’t ask for a better group of sailors,” he explained.

“There are 100 days left until the race kicks off, with some important team time along the way. I’m definitely satisfied that we’re in a good place and setting the team up with a solid chance of taking the crown.”

The team are currently preparing to travel to Gosport, UK, for pre-race activation and Leg Zero commitments, lining up against the other teams for the first time in the Round-the-Island race during Cowes week, followed by the Rolex Fastnet Race, and finishing up in Lisbon after sailing via St. Malo in mid-August.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing will be joined on the start line by Dongfeng Race Team (skippered by Charles Caudrelier), team AkzoNobel (Simeon Tienpont), MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández), Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (David Witt), Turn the Tide on Plastic (Dee Caffari) and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking). The race departs from Alicante on 22 October 2017.

The race takes in a total of 12 Host Cities around the world, finishing in The Hague at the end of June 2018.

Full Vestas 11th Hour Racing crew line up:

•             Nick Dana; USA; Boat Captain

•             Hannah Diamond; UK; Crew

•             Charlie Enright; USA; Skipper

•             Simon Fisher; UK; Navigator

•             Jena Mai Hansen; DK; Crew

•             Phil Harmer; AUS; Crew

•             Tom Johnson; AUS; Crew

•             Damian Foxall; IRE; Crew

•             Tony Mutter; NZL; Crew

•             Mark Towill; USA; Team Director

via Vestas 11th Hour Racing unveil mixed crew with Race-winning pedigree for 2017-18| Volvo Ocean Race.

Olympic champion Blair Tuke joins MAPFRE in the Volvo Ocean Race

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MAPFRE

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© María Muiña / MAPFRE

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Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race

New Zealand’s Blair Tuke is joining MAPFRE in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2017-18, and could become the first sailor in history to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of an Olympic gold medal, the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race (full story below)

27-year-old Tuke joins Xabi Fernández’s Spanish team

Tuke has won Olympic gold and America’s Cup in just 10 months

Volvo Ocean Race win would complete collection of sailing’s Big Three trophies

14 July – New Zealand’s Blair Tuke is joining MAPFRE in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2017-18, and could become the first sailor in history to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of an Olympic gold medal, the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race.

At the age of just 27, the Kiwi is already one of the most decorated sailors in the world – and joins the Spanish campaign fresh from New Zealand’s victory in the America’s Cup last month and an Olympic gold medal in 2016.

Tuke, who has also won four consecutive 49er World Championships and was named ISAF Sailor of the Year in 2015, links up with MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernández to take on the ultimate test of a team in professional sport – a 45,000 nautical mile race around the planet.

“The idea of doing the Volvo Ocean Race is something I’ve been very excited about ever since I was a little kid. Everyone closest to me has known I’ve wanted to do this race for so long, even before I did the America’s Cup and the Olympics. I’m so happy to finally have the opportunity – and to do it with MAPFRE is something I’m really looking forward to,” said Tuke.

“I’ve raced with Xabi a lot in the 49ers and when the race came to Auckland in the 2014-15 edition, I went onboard MAPFRE for the In-Port Race and the start, so I’ve seen them in action close up. The team has a lot of really good guys on the boat and I think it’s a great opportunity for me. I’m really happy to be teaming up with MAPFRE.”

The race will be Tuke’s first competitive foray offshore, and with the One Design Volvo Ocean 65 boats set to race three times more Southern Ocean miles than in recent editions, it promises to be a steep learning curve.

“I’m under no illusions as to the learning curve I’ve got in front of me – I know what it’s like to be out there and offshore, but to do it at this high level of a race is going to be new to me,” continued Tuke.

“The thought of racing into Auckland, and then leaving again for the Southern Ocean, is pretty exciting, but before I get there I have to do a lot of learning, and gain more experience in how to make these boats go fast.

“I’m excited for the challenge – I’ve loved being challenged in the past, and having to learn fast, and I’m really looking forward to this one.”

Securing his spot in the Volvo Ocean Race caps an unforgettable 12 months for Tuke, who scooped an Olympic gold in the 49er class at Rio 2016 alongside his long-term sailing partner Peter Burling.

The pair took first place with two races to spare, boasting a 43-point margin over their nearest challengers – the biggest gap in any sailing class since modern scoring began – to add to a silver medal achieved at London 2012.

Burling and Tuke then played an integral part in Emirates Team New Zealand successful America’s Cup campaign, winning them a second major trophy in less than a year.

“It’s awesome to see how the whole country gets behind the Volvo Ocean Race. It’s got the Kiwis’ hearts just because of the incredible history in the race. It’s a great time to be heading to there – the reception that we’ve just received with Emirates Team New Zealand shows just what top-level sailing means to people across the country.

“Seeing all the boats out there in the harbour as we took the Cup out and did a little tour was really cool, and it’s the kind of thing you only usually see when the Volvo Ocean Race comes into town, or when the Cup was in New Zealand last time. Sailing is very much on the map and it’s going to be an incredible Volvo Ocean Race stopover in 2018.”

Since 1973, winning the Volvo Ocean Race has been an obsession for the world’s best sailors, desperate to prove that they have what it takes to claim glory in the pinnacle of offshore sailing.

via Olympic champion Blair Tuke joins MAPFRE in the Volvo Ocean Race| Volvo Ocean Race.

MAPFRE skipper Xabi, who also boasts an Olympic gold and silver medal, has spent the last decade chasing victory in the Volvo Ocean Race – and has packed his squad with highly-experienced and decorated sailors ahead of the 2017-18 edition. “Blair is a really exciting sailor for the team,” explained Fernández. “Nobody can doubt his talent, and I am absolutely convinced that he will be a really strong addition to the team as trimmer and helmsman.”“We first met Blair in 2010, when we raced against Peter Burling and Blair in the last World Championships we participated in. Then, in 2012, when we were in Auckland with the Volvo Ocean Race, we trained with them in a 49er on our rest days preparing for the London Olympic Games,” explained Fernández. “In 2014-15, he joined us on MAPFRE sailing in a ProAm, and on the start day he was our ‘jumper’ for the leg start – and he told us then that he wanted to one day take part in the Volvo Ocean Race.”Pedro Campos, CEO of the team, said: “It’s excellent news that Blair has joined us – there is no doubt that he is one of the great names of our sport at the moment. The fact that he has accepted our invitation to join the team make us proud and demonstrates the international prestige that MAPFRE holds across the world. If we could win this edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, Blair would become the first sailor in history to achieve the ‘Triple Crown’: Olympic gold, the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race, which will generate strong international media coverage of our team.”MAPFRE will be joined on the start line by Dongfeng Race Team (skippered by Charles Caudrelier), team AkzoNobel (Simeon Tienpont), Vestas 11th Hour Racing (Charlie Enright), Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (David Witt), Turn the Tide on Plastic (Dee Caffari) and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking). The race departs from Alicante on 22 October 2017.The race takes in a total of 12 Host Cities around the world, finishing in The Hague at the end of June 2018.

via Olympic champion Blair Tuke joins MAPFRE in the Volvo Ocean Race| Volvo Ocean Race.

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GB win Red Bull Youth America’s Cup

05 Jul 2017

While Sir Ben Ainslie and his team were unable to bring the Cup home, congratulations must go to the Land Rover BAR Academy that was crowned Red Bull Youth America’s Cup champions in the most dramatic of fashions, on the final day of racing on Bermuda’s Great Sound.

New Zealand and Switzerland rounded out the podium. A dozen national teams of six sailors aged 18 to 24 took part.

via Boating Business | GB win Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

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Vendee2020Vision refines squad

07 Jul 2017

In its quest to determine the best candidates to become Britain’s next singlehanded offshore racing star, Vendee2020Vision has refined its squad of sailors down from six to four.

The scheme, run by Whitecap in Southampton, provides training for its candidates in their goal to win singlehanded offshore racing’s ultimate event – the Vendée Globe.

The quadrennial solo non-stop round the world race is next due to take place in 2020. The four sailors are Andrew Baker, Lizzy Foreman, Sam Goodchild and Will Harris.

via Boating Business | Vendee2020Vision refines squad.

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Gosport Marina to host Volvo Ocean Race teams

10 Jul 2017

The fleet at the start of Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Auckland (NZL) to Itajai (BRA), in 2015. Image courtesy of Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

Premier’s Gosport Marina will host the Volvo Ocean Race yachts, Volvo Ocean 65s, in the week ahead of the Rolex Fastnet Race.

From 31 July to 6 August, the teams competing in the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race and Rolex Fastnet Race will make use of Gosport Marina’s facilities, deepwater basin and easy access to the Solent, plus the onshore technical facilities at the marina’s specialist boatyard Endeavour Quay.

Volvo Ocean Race boatyard logistics manager, Abby Ehler, said: “The Rolex Fastnet Race will be the first time the Teams line up against each other, so it was important to accommodate the fleet together in the build up to the race. Gosport Marina was our first choice…it’s the traditional home of ocean racing.”

The original version of this story cited 8 boats would be docked in Gosport, however, the 8th Volvo Ocean Race team has yet to be announced.

via Boating Business | Gosport Marina to host Volvo Ocean Race teams.

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Record 45-yacht order

10 Jul 2017

HHL New York made its first port call to ABP Southampton. Image courtesy of ABP Southampton – Facebook

Peters & May transported 45 yachts on a single vessel from the Caribbean to Southampton last month.

The yachts were loaded above and below decks of the HHL New York following Antigua Sailing Week and arrived with in the Solent 10 days later for the vessel’s first port call to ABP Southampton.

Simon Judson, global operations director at Peters & May, said: “With our support of Antigua Sailing Week and the ARC we have had 7 sailings out of the Caribbean this season, I’m very proud of the team and with the level of demand for our service at an all-time high, we are already taking bookings for our 2018 sailings!”

Following arrival of the HHL New York at Southampton, the Peters & May loadmasters reunited the first set of yachts with their owners. The vessel then continued to Bremerhaven, Germany, where the remaining yachts were discharged.

Ross Applbey, owner of Oyster Lightwave 48 ‘Scarlet Oyster’, commented: “After a busy sailing season in the Caribbean, it is much more relaxing to know we can trust Peters & May to ship her back.”

The Caribbean season saw seven Peters & May sailings depart from Antigua, St Thomas and Fort Lauderdale.

via Boating Business | Record 45-yacht order.

Triple Crown events added to Cowes Week

BY ADMIN • MAY 29, 2017 • OLDER, RACING • COMMENTS OFF • 119

There was a time at which Cowes Week, which is still the world’s most popular regatta after more than 190 years, was solely the preserve of the rich and famous. Fortunately, it’s no longer as exclusive and many of the 30-plus classes are yachts whose original design is at least 40 years old and that change hands for the price of a modest second-hand car.

Ludde Ingvall’s 100ft revamped super-maxi CQS

Of course, at the high end there are still some of the world’s best racing teams in large state of the art yachts, which helps give the event much of its character and excitement. Last year was no exception, with the 13 strong FAST 40+ class producing the best racing on such powerful yachts in the northern hemisphere.

However, regattas in northern Europe have tended to largely miss out on the boom in superyacht racing as these boats generally travel between the Mediterranean in the summer and Caribbean in the winter. The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s biennial 605 mile Rolex Fastnet Race, always attracts a few superyachts in the 80-100ft range. This year the club has ‘relaxed’ the upper size limit to allow yachts of more than 100ft for the first time ever. This is sure to attract more superyachts to the event.

The Dongfeng race team’s Volvo Ocean 65. The event will be the first time competitors in the 2017/8 event line up together on the water.

Cowes Week has added to the attraction with the announcement of the new Triple Crown, which is open to large IRC rated racing boats up to 36m length. Three of the sailing world’s most historic and prestigious trophies will be awarded. These include The Queen’s Cup, which was presented by Queen Victoria in 1897; The King George V International Cup, a huge flagon that was awarded for the 23 metre class in 1911; and the Royal Yacht Squadron’s King’s Cup which was presented by King George V in 1920.

A wide range of boats is expected to enter, from out-and-out racing boats to cruiser-racers. Early entries include Ludde Ingvall’s 100ft revamped super-maxi CQS and the entire 2017/18 Volvo Round the World Race fleet. It will therefore provide a further injection of adrenaline and glamour into the event.

“The Volvo Ocean Race is known the world over and to have them joining us on the start line will be fantastic,” says Regatta Director Phil Hagen. “Together with striking yachts like the super-maxi CQS with its state-of-the-art design technology, they will be turning heads out on the water.”

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