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Harken sponsors Oracle Team USA

18 Oct 2016

Harken will provide hardware for Oracle Team USA in their America’s Cup challenge

Harken is to sponsor Oracle Team USA, providing hardware for its America’s Cup yachts.

Harken has been involved in the America’s Cup for 30 years with technology moving on from the 12-metre monohulls to today’s wing-sailed catamarans.

“Working in the America’s Cup pushes us to the limit,” explained Peter Harken, Chairman of Harken.

“We started in 1987 with winches and titanium blocks but now with these boats, we’ve had to learn to work in a whole different medium with the hydraulic systems.

“Everything has to be super strong and zero weight. These guys beat the heck out of the equipment. It has to withstand that. We gain a lot of knowledge from that.”

“As one of the grinders on board, I can say the pedestals, the pumps and the winches are key to how we sail every day,” added Graeme Spence, Oracle Team USA crewmember responsible for working on the winches and systems on board. “There are lots of adaptations and demands on the technology and Harken is always up to the challenge.”

via Boating Business | Harken sponsors Oracle Team USA.

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Vendée Globe sailors set off

07 Nov 2016

Vendée Globe sailors set off on their round the world voyage

Twenty-nine solo sailors have set off from Les Sables d’Olonne in France as they take part in the eighth edition of the Vendée Globe.

The solo round the world race takes place every four years and this year there are 20 skippers from France plus for the first time entrants from New Zealand, Holland, Ireland and Japan together with Britain’s Alex Thompson.

Around 300,000 spectators lined the harbour entrance channel to see the fleet off, together with more than 1,000 boats on the water.

Out of the 29 sailors, just one previous winner lined up, Vincent Riou who won the race in 2004-2005 and is racing with traditional daggerboards rather than having had foils fitted. Seven of the latest generation of the IMOCA 60 yachts are using foils and foiling technology.

Sébastien Josse is said to have one of the most technically advanced programmes and believes the race will need ‘careful, precise modulation with the foiling boats’.

“First we need to sail properly with these boats. We see that with these foiling boats they win the last three races across the Atlantic but we have to finish. We have to manage the boat and not to push too hard.”

And he pointed out that foil technology for the IMOCAs is in its infancy: “For the rig and keels the development is done, we are all one design. The pilots are done, we go straight. But the foils, we are just at the start.

“We have developed these foils in less than one year. And so if you look at how long we had to develop wing masts or canting keels, then we are just beginning. We have to keep this revolution going.”

This year there is a 50% increase in the number of boats taking part in the race compared to the last edition in 2012 with the youngest competitor, Alan Roura, just 23 and the oldest, American Rich Wilson, aged 66. 

via Boating Business | Vendée Globe sailors set off.

Email Print Vendee Globe set to begin04 Nov 2016The eight Vendee Globe starts on Sunday 6 November Photo: Jean-Louis CarliThe Vendee Globe starts this Sunday, 6 November, with 29 skippers ready to set sail from Les Sables d’Olonne for the eighth edition of the race.There has been a huge increase in visitor numbers for the Official Village with 300,000 in the first week followed by 380,000 visitors already during the second week.Yves Auvinet, president of the Vendée Globe, said: “We had prepared ourselves for crowds at the Official Village, but I must admit that the figures for the first two weeks surprised us, particularly with crowds strolling up and down the pontoons and in the aisles in the Village.”“The Indian Summer in Vendée since the opening, the high standard of the line-up for this eighth edition and the quality of the events and exhibitions in the Village have clearly attracted a lot of visitors. Once again, the magic of the Vendée Globe is working, as it has done with each edition.”This year there is just one previous winner lining up to take part, Vincent Riou who won the race in 2004-2005. Alongside this, Bertrand de Broc, Jean-Pierre Dick, Jean Le Cam, Vincent Riou and Alex Thomson are lining up for the fourth time.There are 14 rookies lining up for their first Vendée Globe: Didac Costa, Thomas Ruyant, Alan Roura, Morgan Lagravière, Sébastien Destremau, Conrad Colman, Kojiro Shiraishi, Pieter Heerema, Romain Attanasio, Eric Bellion, Fabrice Amedeo, Enda O’Coineen, Paul Meilhat, Stéphane Le Diraison.With Swiss-born Mr Roura the youngest sailor at the age of 23. Japan, the Netherlands, New Zeleand and Ireland are all nationalities being represented by a sailor for the first time.Didac Costa will be the first to cast off then every four minutes a competitor will leave the pontoon, with Vincent Riou being the final sailor leaving at 09:42 local time.On the main website there will be live commentary by Dee Caffari and Alec Wilkinson as well as live video coverage of the boats leaving the Vendée Globe pontoon.The first rankings will be posted at 12:12 UTC with the positions at 12:06, the positions will then be updated every six minutes until later in the afternoon.  From 17:00 UTC, the tracker will be in normal race mode with the 16:30 rankings. Rankings each day are at 04h 08 11h 14 17 21h UTC.“Conditions should enable us to get a good time for this first portion of the race with everyone going down quickly to the Equator. We could see a day less to get there than it took four years ago. We’re not about to be shaken up like in 2012. This weather should favour the foilers. That much is clear,” concluded sailor Vincent Riou.

via Boating Business | Vendee Globe set to begin.

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Push for new America’s Cup framework

28 Jul 2016

Land Rover BAR takes the win at Portsmouth Photo courtesy of Ricardo Pinto

Not only does Ben Ainslie want to ‘bring the America’s Cup home’ but he – and the majority of the other teams – are also on a mission to transform the event.

Sir Ben has revealed that the current teams are in talks to put a framework in place, one that would be agreed before racing in Bermuda takes place next summer to hold the event every two years instead of four.

The plans would agree the boats to be used – there is talk about continuing with the AC45s currently used in the America’s Cup World Series in an attempt to cut costs – and the schedule.

“Traditionally, the America’s Cup has really struggled from lack of continuity,” he said. “The way the Cup was won in San Francisco raised global attention and then not a lot happened for 18 months after that.

“Everyone has realised that, but now we have a lot of likeminded teams so we are discussing a framework agreement where whoever wins the Cup, plans will be in place.”

He added: “It would be a biennial event and, if possible, the same design as the World Series, creating continuity for teams, fan base, partnerships, TV agreements. Then we can tap into the potential.”

If the plans do come to fruition, they will provide certainties for both the teams and their sponsors and hopefully do away with the cycles of courtroom dramas.

GB win

Sir Ben and the Land Rover BAR team moved a step closer to their goal in front of a packed home crowd watching from Southsea common by winning the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth event.

This year the full race schedule was completed, unlike 2015 when the last day of racing was cancelled due to weather conditions.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge presented the awards in front of a packed home crowd having watched the second day of racing from a Land Rover BAR support boat.

“The Duchess is Patron of our 1851 Trust and it means a lot to have them here. We are very proud of our British heritage and to have them here is very special,” explained Sir Ben.

The win puts the British team into first place on the overall Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series leaderboard, overtaking Emirates Team New Zealand who drop to third with ORACLE TEAM USA in second, Softbank Team Japan in fourth, Artemis Racing fifth and Groupama Team France in sixth.

“We’re up at the top of the leaderboard, but we have a lot of work to do before Bermuda next year, but we’re performing well and our goal is to bring the Cup home. It may take us a while but when we do, it will be the most amazing event right here in Portsmouth,” added Sir Ben.

The America’s Cup World Series action now moves on to Toulon France in September and Fukuoka, Japan in November before the final of the America’s Cup in Bermuda next year.

via Boating Business | Push for new America’s Cup framework.

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Comanche smashes Transatlantic record

28 Jul 2016

The Transatlantic record is smashed

A new transatlantic monohull record has been set, breaking the old record by more than a day.

The 2,880 nautical miles west to east crossing by Comanche took five days, 14 hours, 21 minutes 25 seconds, beating the record set by Mari Cha IV in 2003 of six days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds.

The average speed from New York to the Lizard in Cornwall was 21.44 knots.

Comanche is owned by Jim and Kristy Clark who were delighted with the crossing.

“Comanche was built to break ocean records and the guys have once again powered our fantastic fat-bottomed girl to another title,” said Mr Clark. “I am so proud of the entire team and everyone involved in the entire program from top to bottom, the best in world, getting the best out of Comanche. Perfect harmony and Kristy and I are over the moon.”

The boat had been on standby for several weeks prior to the record attempt, with a fluid rota of more than 30 sailors ready to set sail.

Skipper Ken Read was unable to take part as he was committed to TV commentating at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth but praised the crew and boat.

“This is the culmination of six years of hard work and a huge team of experts offshore and onshore all working as one,” he said.

“I never had any doubt this crew would deliver the goods – the boat was in perfect condition and the only thing that would scupper the record would be Mother Nature.

“Luckily she didn’t throw a spanner in the works and this team have once again proven why they are some of the best in the business.”

Navigator Stan Honey added: “There are only about two weather windows a year where a monohull can make it all the way across the Atlantic in one system, and we found one of them.

“Beating this record by more than a day is above my expectations and I am delighted.”

via Boating Business | Comanche smashes Transatlantic record.

Email Print Veteran crew arrive in Falmouth01 Aug 2016Some of the veterans who took part in the Turn to Starboard Round Britain ChallengeThey’ve battled strong winds, rough seas and undertaken complex repairs when their engine gave up on them.But the team of Veteran adventurers taking part in the International Paint sponsored, Turn to Starboard challenge have conquered the epic feat and are now celebrating after crossing the finish line of their 2,000 mile journey.The crews set sail from Falmouth on board the Spirit of Falmouth, a 92ft long tall ship and two support yachts on the Turn to Starboard Round Britain Challenge on June 1. After spending two months sailing in an anti-clockwise direction around the British Isles, the team of military veterans sailed into Falmouth in Cornwall on July 31.The expedition was organised by Turn to Starboard founder and former RAF squadron leader, Shaun Pascoe with the aim of helping participants gain new skills while raising awareness of the challenges some veterans face after leaving the military.He said: “The aim of the Round Britain Challenge is to help participants re-engage, reintegrate and gain new skills. Our incredible crew has overcome significant challenges along the route and has shown resilience in every situation.“Many have gained valuable sailing miles as part of their training for Yachtmaster qualifications, whereas others set themselves a personal challenge as they battle with their own issues after service life.“We are excited to have arrived back home in Falmouth and look forward to a well-earned rest.”A team of 38 veterans – many with little or no sailing experience – took part in the voyage.Most completed short sections but 14 completed the whole voyage, along with beneficiaries of the Prince’s Trust and a documentary film crew.“This has been a fantastic challenge for such a worthy charity and we are delighted to have been supporting the team throughout the journey,” added Stuart Melville, global marketing support specialist at International Paint. “Our team has been offering advice and support along the way to ensure the boat is in top condition and the team have had all they need to conquer the challenge. It was great to welcome them home as they completed the challenge.”Donations can still be made by buying a mile of the expedition for £10 at turntostarboard.co.uk/round-britain-challenge-2016/

via Boating Business | Veteran crew arrive in Falmouth.

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Land Rover BAR rules the waves at Portsmouth

24 Jul 2016

The Land Rover BAR team celebrate their win at Portsmouth

Ben Ainslie and the Land Rover BAR team have won the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth event.

This year the full race schedule was completed, unlike 2015 when the last day of racing was cancelled due to weather conditions.

“I think it’s been a brilliant weekend,” said Sir Ben Ainslie, the skipper of Land Rover BAR.

“For us to race in Portsmouth, in front of our home crowd with the weather playing its part and two cracking days of racing, as a home team to win in front of our home crowd is the best thing we could do.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge presented the awards in front of a packed home crowd having watched the second day of racing from a Land Rover BAR support boat.

“The Duchess is Patron of our 1851 Trust and it means a lot to have them here. We are very proud of our British heritage and to have them here is very special,” explained Sir Ben.

The win puts the British team into first place on the overall Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series leaderboard, overtaking Emirates Team New Zealand who drop to third with ORACLE TEAM USA in second, Softbank Team Japan in fourth, Artemis Racing fifth and Groupama Team France in sixth.

“We’re up at the top of the leaderboard, but we have a lot of work to do before Bermuda next year, but we’re performing well and our goal is to bring the Cup home. It may take us a while but when we do, it will be the most amazing event right here in Portsmouth,” added Sir Ben.

The America’s Cup World Series action now moves on to Toulon France in September, Fukuoka, Japan in November before the final of the America’s Cup in Bermuda next year.

via Boating Business | Land Rover BAR rules the waves at Portsmouth.

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Sustainability award for Land Rover BAR

25 Jul 2016

The Land Rover BAR base at Portsmouth

Land Rover BAR is forging ahead with its goal to become the UK’s most sustainable professional sports team with its headquarters receiving a BREEAM Excellent award.

The team’s 74,000sq.ft waterfront home on Camber Quay, Portsmouth, which opened in June 2015, has been designed and built to reduce carbon emissions.

A transparent roof lights the building’s atrium, giving natural light on every floor, reducing the demand for interior artificial light.

“It is also used to draw air up through the building, releasing it through glazed louvres to help regulate internal temperatures,” explained architect Vivienne Conway.

Other features include 432 solar panels that generate 20% of the building’s energy, with the remaining electricity supplied by renewable sources.

Another feature is a heat-saving air cushion around the building to control the amount of sunlight entering the building, reducing the energy used for cooling.

Ecology efforts include saving oysters from a dredge site and moving them to protected oyster beds to help restart a viable population in the Solent region.

Around the area, 69 new species of marine life have been found on the site compared to eight prior to the development.

The organisation is working alongside sustainability organisation 11th Hour Racing, and with the help of Land Rover and other sponsors, BT and Low Carbon, is committed to becoming the most sustainable sports team in the UK.

“We are proud of Land Rover BAR’s achievements and progress across the board of their sustainability strategy, which is highlighted in the team’s headquarters,” said Jeremy Pochman, 11th Hour Racing president. “The team’s base is a true testament to innovation, technology, long-term vision and sustainability.”

He added: “By investing in such a progressive structure, Land Rover BAR has demonstrated how smart sustainable design and construction can lead to enormous gains in terms of efficiency – not only as far as energy, but also at a competitive and sporting level.”

“We want to achieve a lasting legacy,” added team head Sir Ben Ainslie. “As sailors we see the threat to the oceans at first hand.”

BREEAM is a worldwide certification.

via Boating Business | Sustainability award for Land Rover BAR.

Triple crown victory in Volcano Race

BY ADMIN • JUNE 6, 2016 • OLDER, RACING • COMMENTS OFF • 99

George David’s mighty Rambler 88. Photo: Gianluca di Fazio/IMA

George David’s Rambler 88 won the sixth edition of the 398-mile Volcano Race in a time of 1 day, 14 hours and 20 minutes demolishing the race record and winning both line honours and the overall prize based on corrected time, thereby achieving the coveted ‘triple crown’.

The race started from Gaeta, between Naples and Rome, with the fleet then heading down the coast of Italy and across the Tyrrhenian Sea. Competitors then round the Aeolian Islands of Alicudi, Vulcano and Stromboli – one of Europe’s most active volcanoes – before returning past the Sorrento peninsula, Capri and Naples, to Gaeta.

Rambler 88’s record time came as a shock as a zone of high pressure had been long forecast. “I am surprised because the conditions were supposed to be light around the race course, but we averaged 10 knots,” says David. “We kept going pretty well… part of it may have been down south [when we kept moving] due to some wind shear and some wind aloft.”

For the first time this year, in addition to the Maxi entries, smaller boats with an IRC rating down to 1.102 were allowed to compete in the Volcano Race. They sailed a shorter course of 329 miles, rounding Stromboli and Strombolicchio. Eddie de Villiers’s Welbourn 46 Hi-Fidelity won this division.

Rambler 88 owner George David receives the Volcano Race line honours trophy from IMA Secretary General Andrew McIrvine. Photo: Gianluca di Fazio/IMA

George David enthused about the race: “It is early in the season so a great time of year and a beautiful race course. We have been around it several times in the Rolex Middle Sea Race and it just seemed even better rounding Vulcano, Alicudi and Stromboli, which is such a distinctive island. It is just a great place to race. And Gaeta is a great little town. It is highly recommended – a great place. There was a good fleet, a mix of boats, good conditions and great scenery. I’ve had a great time here.”

The Volcano Race is organised by the International Maxi Association (IMA) in conjunction with the Yacht Club Gaeta and is hosted by the Base Nautica Flavio Gioia. This year’s race is the second of four events in the IMA’s inaugural Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge.

Rambler 88’s next big event will be in a cooler climate for the Royal Ocean Racing Club/Wicklow Sailing Club’s Volvo Round Ireland Race – a 704-mile non-stop dash around the Emerald Isle that starts on June 18.

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Cats on Fire in Cardiff Bay

BY ADMIN • JULY 12, 2016 • BREAKING NEWS, HOMEMOSAIC, RACING • COMMENTS (0) • 35

Oman Air go in to the final day’s racing in pole position. © Lloyd Images

In the third event raced in the stunning new fleet of GC32 foiling catamarans, Morgan Larson’s Oman Air team notched up another victory that sees them retain the overall lead in the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series. Cardiff Bay delivered stunning conditions that saw the boats hit speeds of up to 35 knots in front of thousands of spectators.

However, the final day could not have been closer, with the Omani team of Larson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Ed Smyth and Nasser Al Mashari only narrowly retaining their lead thanks to a dramatic late charge by Roman Hagara’s Red Bull Sailing Team.

Oman Air, Red Bull Sailing Team and SAP Extreme Sailing Team took first, second and third place respectively at Act 3, Cardiff. The teams celebrate on the podium at the prize giving ceremony. © Lloyd Images

Larson’s team went into the final day with a commanding 17-point lead, building on this with a second place in the first race. However, just as it looked as though victory was assured, the Red Bull team mounted a spirited comeback, winning the next race and taking second place in the final two.

Clearly rattled, Oman Air finished last in the final race. However they had done just enough earlier on in the day to guarantee victory, sneaking the overall win by just six points after 29 races.

“We’re feeling fantastic,” Larson said. “It was a tough end to the day but we did what we needed to do. It’s great to come away with a win. Red Bull Sailing Team did an awesome job with their comeback, hats off to those guys. We’ve got a couple of weeks now to enjoy some time out before we regroup for Hamburg.”

Oman Air sail alongside CHINA One on Cardiff Bay. The American skipper helmed the team to Act victory, despite recording their worst result of the regatta in the final race of the day when they finished last in the seven-boat fleet. © Lloyd Images

The result propels the Red Bull team into second on the overall scoreboard, leapfrogging Swiss crew Alinghi who finished fourth in Cardiff. “We’re delighted – it was another final day that was almost perfect for us,” Hagara said. “Apart from being over the line in one race we did everything really well. This is a message to the other teams that we mean business. We have the crew to win the Series and now we just have to push.”

Extreme Sailing Series Act 3, Cardiff final standings

1st Oman Air (OMA) 300 points.

2nd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 294 points.

3rd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 286 points.

4th Alinghi (SUI) 282 points.

5th CHINA One (CHN) 274 points.

6th Sail Portugal (POR) 239 points.

7th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) 161 points.

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2016 overall standings

1st Oman Air (OMA) 35 points.

2nd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 32 points.

3rd Alinghi (SUI) 30 points.

4th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 25 points.

5th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) 25 points.

6th CHINA One (CHN) 21 points.

7th Sail Portugal (POR) 20 points.

8th Team Turx (TUR) 11 points.

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via Cats on Fire in Cardiff Bay | Yachting News Report | The Business of Boat Ownership and Marina Berths.