The penultimate round of the iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series reached its finale today
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2008.
Jotun were celebrating the team’s first major title in over a decade, after winning today’s Romanian Grand Prix
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Sea lions without fear of humans might entrance visitors, but not when they sink your boat!
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
The Danish Open - Ian Williams (GBR) of Team Pindar 1st against Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Danish Open Day 4 - MRT. Once again, we woke up to yet another team member with food poisoning.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
The Blue Water Rally is currently cruising between Mackay, just south of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and Darwin.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
The fourth round of the iShares Cup put on a fantastic spectacle, and today’s conclusion proved the perfect finale.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
The fourth round of the iShares Cup put on a fantastic spectacle, and today’s conclusion proved the perfect finale.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Burlton, Heeley and White (GBR) won the SB3 Irish Nationals held at the Royal St George YC over the weekend
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Burlton, Heeley and White (GBR) won the SB3 Irish Nationals held at the Royal St George YC over the weekend
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Gareth Flangan, Tomaum and Flanagan (IRL) moved into the lead at Laser SB3 Irish Nationals
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
To Z or not to Z?
That is Z question.
The Z I am referring to is the 2nd Formula board F2 registered in the beginning of 2008 when the class rules where frozen- to limit the board manufacturers cycle to every 2 years instead of every year. F2 made and registered 2 boards for the 2 year cyle. The catch was F2 released their first board early in the year while the Z just appeared before the Europeans in August. Until the last day at the Euros, Denis Little- the lone sailor on Z was untouchable. Its light air performance was phenomenal!
But…yes there’s always a but. The thing that makes this board so good in the light air might give up that advantage when the breeze is up. Think Chubacabra- the code zero light air jib the US Tornado team registered in the Olympics that failed to perform in anyting over 12k. The increased tail widthof the board requires an insanely powerful fin. At the Euros., Denis was using a cut down 83 cm fin to basicly walk away from the fleet- that was until the breeze came up and the board had more control issues.
Call it part marketing hype, part obsession of an development class sailor!
I have never been the fastest sailor in the light breeze. Hell its my weakest chain in the link at the moment but the beauty of an open developemnt class like the formula class, lets sailors pick and choose form a variety of equipment. Some more available than others. If you can get a hold if it, use it!
With the Worlds just over a week away, I have to register 1 board for the regatta. I will take 2 and continue to test the board with all my fins to see if the advantage is worthwhile. Otherwise I will register my 2008 F2 board that Ive been sailing all season- its light air performance, not terribly impressive but a good overall board that performs well in the light, medium and big breeze. My most impressive result so far has been in the breeze at the last day of the Euros.
The board was made available to a handful of sailors in the Netherlands going to the Worlds. I was able to get a hold of one earlier this week and sail in in the first day of the Belgium Formula Championships on Saturday.
The outcome so far was impressive. Better angle than Ive had all season once I found the right fin. The light wind IFJU was going well in the 3rd race of the day where I finished 3rd behind Denis and Dirk. The first 2 races, I used the CRAD fin with decent results but it felt like I was not getting than most angle out of the board. In my past expereince, the IFJU fin became easily overpowered once the chop built significatly.
Now the tough decision must be made: to register the Z at the Worlds or not.
Ive got another day of testing in Holland before the equioment gets loaded up and makes the drive down to Portugal and then another 3 days of testing to decide.
I certaily have learned an impresive lesson watching the America Tornado team going from Olympic hopefuls to DFL but then again how often do you get chances like this.
Would you have done anything different in their case?
At the moment, the risk outweights not having a good board in the light wind.
Outside of San Francisco and Maui, Ive never sailed a regatta where over half the races were in 18+. It doesnt just happen that much. Believe me, Ive been waiting for it all my life!
Time will tell on this one…up until the very last minute!
www.stevebodner.com
Original post by Jennifer Langille and software by Elliott Back
Despite an apparent decrease in attendance, Marine Queensland “fairly happy” with the Brisbane International Boat Show.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Gold Coast Poker Run, unveiling new boats and helping raise funds for the coast guard.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Musto Skiff World Champion is Britain’s Richard Stenhouse - 2 Roger Oswald SUI - 3 Oliver Graeme GBR
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
With less than eighty days to go before the start, 2008-2009 Vendee Globe contenders are not all in the same boat.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Audi Australia’s MD Joerg Hofmann announces winner of Audi A4 2.0 sedan.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Desafio wins Trofeu Quebramar-Chrysler; AIRIS second, MADRID third on windless day
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Earthrace was told it did not have the correct licence to carry passengers around Tor Bay.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
A yacht capsize off NZ this morning,which appears caused by loss of the keel, has left one sailor dead.Another survived
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
6 teams capable of getting to seven wins and the possibility that 6 wins might get you there on count back.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Sail the Whitsundays with Sunsail Yacht Charters on a monohull charter in September
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
iShares Cup Kiel - six races, five different winners, teams experiencing some moments they’d rather forget.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Mirsky Racing Team’s Kinley Fowler reports on Day 3 at the Danish Open.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Carl Evans and Peter Burling, the youngest crew to ever compete at a Sailing Olympics reflect on the 2008 Olympics
Original post by Graham Biehl and software by Elliott Back
BlackMatch Racing reports from Day 2 of the Danish Open Match Racing Cup
Original post by Graham Biehl and software by Elliott Back
It’s finally happened, and it’s good news for cruising sailors heading for the Red Sea. CTF 150 is to target pirates
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
BlackMatch Racing Reports from the Danish Open World Tour Event and alsp the Final day of the Baltic Cup
Original post by Graham Biehl and software by Elliott Back
Panama Jack Racing reports from Long Beach, California, and the Ficker Cup:
Original post by Graham Biehl and software by Elliott Back
Bribon took winning gun in Cartagena to win the Region of Murcia Trophy, their first Audi MedCup Circuit win this season
Original post by Graham Biehl and software by Elliott Back
Gareth Flangan, Tomaum and Flanagan (IRL) moved into the lead at SB3 Irish Nationals
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Botin Carkeek of Santander, Spain, are the principal design team for PUMA Racing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09
Original post by Graham Biehl and software by Elliott Back
Craig Burlton, Heeley and White (GBR) lead after winning two of the three races at SB3 Irish Nationals
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Craig Burlton, Heeley and White (GBR) lead after winning two of the three races at Laser SB3 Irish Nationals
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Victory 1’s Mohammed Al Marri and Nadir Bin Hendi will start tomorrow’s Romanian Grand Prix and their final push for the
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
As the curtain closes on the Silver Jubilee Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, results have been finalised across the board
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Alan Whiteley’s Victorian Cookson built TP52 Cougar II wins IRC Grand Prix at Hamilton Island Race Week.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Some last minute upsets in the final results of the 2008 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week series.
Original post by Tillerman and software by Elliott Back
Heritage 2007, Race 2. Welcome to gybing a log canoe in breeze! On the other hand, you’ve never seen a happier group after a capsize. (Heinrich Schmitz photo)
After a month off the water, I’ll be back on the Silver Heel next weekend for the Labor Day Series in St. Michael’s. Those present at the TAYC Heritage Regatta last year might remember that Silver Heel brought an alternate crew that weekend, comprising of me and a whole mess of 20-somethings, most of whom had never sailed a canoe in their lives. Performance predictions leading up to the weekend ran the gamut, with some predicting three capsizes and others predicting solid finishes. When the smoke cleared on Sunday, we had a little from column A and a little from column B—back of the pack on a windless Saturday morning, capsize after charging up the fleet on a breezy Saturday afternoon, and just nipped by Lark but still good enough for a third on Sunday. Mostly (but not all) former college sailors, the crew deserved great credit for being quick studies in the alien world of log canoes that series, with the improvement in boathandling manifest each race.
Anyway, this isn’t a debrief of last year’s regatta; suffice to say, we’re back.
Unfortunately we’ll be losing our most experienced boardman, who, despite having probably the least non-canoe sailing experience on the entire crew, was essential in teaching the other guys the boards last year. So we have a bunch of guys and gals with a weekend under their belts, some with one or two more, and some with none. It should be interesting, and if we can somehow manage to keep the sticks pointing towards the sky, we’ll look forward to mixing it up with the rest of the fleet.
One thing we learned last year, though, is that no matter how things turn out on the water, we’re going to have a blast. The gang I brought out last year hasn’t been able to stop talking about the canoes, which really says a lot about what the canoe community has going for themselves over on the Eastern Shore. Those newly introduced to log canoes, even those with a wealth of experience in other boats, take to the canoes immediately. As long as we keep welcoming new people into the fold, we should be able to keep the canoes going for a long time to come.
The Greenhorns 2007. Looking good in red, and rarin' to do it again! (Schmitz photo)
Until next weekend, then…
Original post by Berry Kurland and software by Elliott Back
Well there's your problem! The damned kite is up…might as well be a sea anchor on top of the fore. (Fine, this picture is from last year, but I'd wager this could have been the problem this year) (Meredith Adams photo)
After a July packed with log canoe sailing, I missed all of August’s racing this year, sadly not able to attend what is roundly hailed as the year’s best weekend, the Oxford Regatta. Although the Oxford breeze is often just as suspect as it is around the rest of the Bay, you only have to go the awards at Harleigh once before you’re hooked on this race.
The weekend invariably plays as a once-a-summer gathering of the Bay’s varied sailing communities, more diverse than any one other regatta. Big boats, Stars, Snipes, Optimist dinghies, and more all cram onto the Tred Avon river with the canoes, giving spectators plenty to gaze at along the Oxford shore. The canoes (quite clearly the stars of the flotilla) are placed front and center, with the course always running along the Strand and past the point at Tred Avon Yacht Club. The only competition for space so close into the Club is the Opti fleet, creating one of the more striking and perhaps comedic juxtapositions in the world of sailing whenever the behemoth canoes cruise past the diminutive sprit-riggers.