Guest Editorial

Shaken, not Stirred

We'll admit to being huge Seahorse Magazine fans, and that makes our relationship with them all the much sweeter. Here for the first time ever, the boys at the 'Horse have offered online content otherwise not yet available. Given the various controversies surrounding the new VO 70's, editor Andrew Hurst gives you his opinion on this and more. Enjoy.

12/29/05

Tipping just fine, thank you
We had heard a rumor about Wild oats keel not canting towards the end of the Hobart race (Keelgate?, below), but other reports say differently and this picture certainly seems to verify that the canter was working just fine!

Still it is amazing how much she is heeling under just a headsail and no doubt this had people speculating....

Another great shot from Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex - thanks very much.

12/29/05

Wild On!

Looking stunning and also looking for a clean sweep, Wild Oats powers their way to a record breaking first to finish in the Sydney to Hobart race. This beautiful shot courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex.

12/28/05

Bitter, Party of One

Swallowing what is no doubt a very bitter pill. Neville Crichton, skipper of Alfa Romeo, who was beaten by sistership Wild Oats to Hobart, had this to say afterwards:

“Maybe they’re smarter than I am. Maybe if we had had someone we could have copied with a perfect boat we would have done the same. I would rather they hadn’t copied the boat but they’ve done it. That’s life unfortunately."

Hey who wouldn't be pissed? Here is the full story.

Photo of AR from Andrea Francolini

12/28/05

Yes, we're still taking a couple days off, but we can't resist getting some good stuff to you!

Bad Pirate

It wouldn't appear that this VOR is going at all the way that Paul Cayard thought it would. Here, Cayard and the boys spin out during a jibe at the in-port race in South Africa yesterday. Mr. Cayard, we'd like you to meet Mr. Reality. He may no longer be your best friend. This great photo from Thierry Martinez.

12/27/05

Men in Black

Hey, its Hugo Boss - what the hell did you expect? Even at the start of the Hobart ya gotta look good. This shot from our pal Christophe Launay.

12/26/05

I Will Follow
But not for long. Here Christophe Launay shows how Wild Oats led Alfa Romeo out of the harbor on their way to Hobart. However, Alfa Romeo got past Wild Oats, and was building a decent lead, one they are fully expected to maintain. Oh, and though very early in the race, AR is also leading on corrected time. Are they going to simply crush the fleet in every way possible? Comments here.

12/26/05

On Holiday

We'll actually be taking a day or two off this week - I'd say we've earned it, wouldn't you? We'll be back in the saddle soon.

For those of you looking for the link to the radio broadcast of the Hobart, we found that it actually was being run through sailworld. What, we're supposed to drive traffic to that prick's site? I don't think so.

12/26/05

Season's Greetings

If this was a true anarchistic X-Mas card, it would be telling Santa to get his fat ass on the rail! But in that very same spirit, here's hoping you get all that you deserve for the Holiday's from yer pals at SA.

23-Dec-2005

Anarchy X-Mas

Pretty cool, eh? Too bad it isn't ours! It is actually the logo of a rather strange site, Santarchy. Whatever. They probably think we're pretty strange too.

12/22/05

Under Build

We See It
Okay, we are starting to see a boat happen! All the interior components of the new Flying Tiger 10M you are looking at are molds. There will be no wood in the boat (except a little teak trim). Everything is FRP vacuum. The deck is being vacumbagged and should be out of the mold on Friday. Progress, my friends.

12/22/05

White Christmas

A great shot of a Tornado from the Sydney International Regatta. More superb work from Christophe Launay.

12/21/05

From Russia, With Love

Here is the new A-38 Express Cruiser, which is under construction in St.Petersburg (Russia) and scheduled for launch in May 2006. The boat is planned for a trial race and cruise at the next Baltic Sprint Cup 2006. The completed boat with full specification and carbon mast will cost about 150.000 euros + VAT. Very Interesting.

12/20/05

Caption Contest

We haven't done one of these for awhile, and with Philippe Kahn and Russell Coutts onboard here, you should have good times with this one. Today's caption contest is sponsored by The Sailing Pro Shop.Thanks to Thierry Martinez for the photograph and have fun.

12/19/05

The New One to Beat?

Jérémie Beyou, winner of the last Solitaire du Figaro with Delta Dore (and reigning French solo Champion) and his new Farr designed 60 to be built at JMV in France (the yard that gave birth to Mari Cha IV) for the next Vendée. Jérémie works with Gilles Chiorri, appointed project manager and former Figaro skipper and weather specialist aboard Orange during the 2002 winning Jules Verne Thanks as always to Jocelyn Blériot from Course Au Large.

12/16/05

Another Clue

Last week we showed you the interior rendering, now here is the hull. This 30' is going in production in January, and will be available for an amazingly attractive price. We'll have the full story next week!

12/16/05

Going Once, Going Twice......

Not sold! The (replica) schooner America was on the auction block, yesterday, but the bidding, reported to be low key and somewhat unenthusiastic, reached $1.6 mil, short of the $2 mil reserve. Here is the official comment:

"America's owners, the Hukka Trust, will take her to the America's Cup in Valencia in 2007 as she did not meet her reserve at auction today."

12/16/05

Winning Form?

Here James Spithill and crew show the form that has them a 30 point lead over the fleet at the 2005 Corum Melges 24 World Championships. Of course this is a rare mistake as their kite blew up, forcing them to hustle to stay in the top group. Dave Ullman, with SoCal hot shots Bill Hardestey and Erik Shampain onboard remains very game with two bullets yesterday. Thanks to Thierry Martinez for the shot.

12/16/05

No Mid-Line Sag Here!

Granted, the gun has already gone off, but clearly it is crowded at the front of this fleet! This good shot of the Melges 24 World Championships, with James Spithill currently maintaining a slim lead after eight races, is courtesy of Tim Wilkes.

12/15/05

Home Slice

Now this is what a racing sailboat is supposed to be. Light, powered up and purposeful! The boat is a 38 footer, mainly built by a shipyard in Switzerland during the winter of '04-'05. Myself (I'm a pilot and love aero and hydrodynamics) and some friends were deeply involved in the construction and design. The boat is unique and no plan to built another one, so far. The mast is 18 meters high in carbon built in Switzerland.

Sails are D4. We sail with a crew of 8 for max performance and all of us have been sailing since kids on different classes with success. (470; Laser; Soling; etc.)

On Lake Geneva we have our typical Swiss rating, called ACVL, divided in 7 different classes. The formula (on an Excel spread sheet) is "secret"... Miss Tfy has 1204 points and is on the maximum of class 2. We managed to win 6 races out of 9 for our first season, not bad, and of course win the overall too!

Specs of Miss Tfy :

LOA 37.7
Beam 10.9
Draft 8.4
Dspl 6,380 lbs (but we had to add 880 pounds of lead as ballast to comply with rating).
Main 592 sq. feet
Genoa 484 sq. feet
Asy spy max 2367 sq. feet
No canting keel ( to much penalty by the class )
65% of weight in keel ( L size with flaps 7° )

There is a sailing life beside Alinghi in Switzerland!

Regards,
Dominique Valiton

12/15/05

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

This is the Domestic Cruising Boat of the Year, as judged by Cruising World magazine? We're sure the Morris 42 is a fine yacht, but a bit on the "been there, seen that" side, isn't it? We suppose given the often dull and conservative approach to cruising that is often considered the status quo, we shouldn't be surprised that this is the best they could come up with.

Perhpas If they'd picked the 42 with the M in front of, then we'd be down with that!

12/15/05

Preview?

Is this a look at things to come? Here Alfa Romeo, put the early wood to the new near sistership Wild Oats in the Cruising Yacht Club's annual Big Boat Challenge. AR has to be a big favorite to beat everyone, including Oats to Hobart. Thanks very much to Christophe Launay for the photograph.

12/14/05

Retarded
There is nothing like a little ingenuity. And curious ideas sometimes turn into breakthroughs. But sometimes you just have to ask yourself, "What in the hell is wrong with people?

12/14/05

Before...

After!

Amazing shots of the Macquarie Speed Sailing Team (helmsman is Simon McKeon and copilot (managing the sail/wing) Tim Daddo), having a major blow out on their way to not setting a new speed record. They did manage to hit 45.9 knots seconds before their rig blew out. Bummer, but these guys will be back.Thanks very much to Steb Fisher Photography for the fantastic photos!

12/13/05

Better Days
Look what showed up here in San Diego - the huge maxi cat Cheyenne (ex-Playstation). It has certainly seen better days, and we wonder what it is doing here. Anybody know?

12/13/05

New Feature

Dinghy Anarchy
We think there is a need for a universal forum for small boat enthusiasts, so we created one - Dinghy Anarchy. We've been right about everything else we've done, and we're sure this will be too. We are also pleased to announce The Hoot as new advertisers here at SA and also the title sponsor of the new Dinghy Anarchy forum. The Hoot has to be one of the coolest new dinghies to come along in a long time, and we think it is a perfect fit here. Welcome them and enjoy the new forum - it is created for you!

12/13/05

Heavy Lifting

Get a load of the massive keel ram and control center from inside the brand new 98' R/P Wild Oats. We'll bet that won't be breaking any time soon. Thanks to Andrea Francolini for the shot.

12/12/05

AC

Hard Core
This photo is of a piece of the carbon-aluminum honeycomb sandwich that is used for both hull and deck of the new Oracle BMW AC boat under build as we speak. The aluminum is slightly heavier than kitchen foil. Light, strong and disposable. Word on the street is that hull number one is getting close to being done. Additionally, all of the metal bits are supposedly being produced in Valencia where they have a machine shop set up to be able to manufacture any part at the drop of a hat (or rig). Stay tuned.

12/12/05

Show Down?

Not exactly. The two R/P maxi's Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats got close, but did not face off today. They were both coming towards each other, did a circle and then both went in their own direction as they get ready for the Hobart. We hope to have some inside shots tomorrow or over the weekend. Thanks as always to Andrea Francolini for the shot!

12/08/05

Sneak Peek

Option Play

This is real. An unreal price. A 30' inspired by Sailing Anarchy and it is not the Flying Tiger! Details coming soon...

12/09/05

A Tale to Tell

Hi - Regarding the fancy picture of kite-surfing (Below - Ed), let me tell you a sad but true story: The best friend of my son joined a training course for kite-surfing. During that, a whirlwind (or small tornado) quickly appeared and lifted him and a couple of others high up. He became the unlucky one and was literally slung into the shore rocks at very high speed, breaking his back, arm, a leg, and badly injured his head. Due to lucky circumstances, his life was saved, but he will now be tied to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. So please PLEASE! Warn the happy 20-year olds and encourage them to use some kind of a foolproof emergency release device for the kite!

Kind regards,
Magnus

12/09/05

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite

The edge, and how to cut it. This photo taken in Frisco of evening kiteboard racing - 16 boards on the line, upwind start, 20 - 25 knots of wind. Oh to be 20 again! Thanks to DM for the smokin' shot.

12/08/05

Under Build

It's On!
A shot of the new Robert Perry designed, Chinese built Flying Tiger 10M under construction. This is the boat that is going to revolutionize the racing sailboat building industry, and with 70 confirmed orders and counting, the momentum for this boat continues to build. You may or may not know that The Editor here has hull #17 on order. Join the discussion.

12/08/05

People of Persistence:
A Journey Beyond Disibility

Featuring:
Urban Miyares
President, Disabled Businesspersons Association,
Co-founder of Challenged America

San Diego State University professor Karen May-Newman and two students will be in attendance along with a display featuring some of the prototype equipment that they designed for the yacht, the B'Quest.

Urban Miyares, a Presidential Point of Light recipient, is a nationally recognized blind and multi-disabled Vietnam veteran, inspirational speaker and lecturer, entrepreneur, published writer and newspaper columnist, inventor and patent holder, media personality, and world-class athlete.

National Science Foundation

Reader Response

Et tu, Brute?

Our lone e-mail response to the picture below, sent by one happy reader!

Bad karma yourself, you arrogant prick.

The fact that things like this make me smile surely indicates there is something wrong with me. - Ed.

12/08/05

Bad Karma?

Yeah, we know its Hollywood, where all is fake, but maybe having Island of the Dead as your home port might not be such a good idea? And hey, where the hell is everybody? Where's Loof? Is there some sort of curse?

12/07/05

In the Day

Here is a nice response to the Doug Peterson owned Caulkins 50 picture we ran yesterday. -Ed.

I felt very nostalgic to see the "Cathleen" on your site today. My Aunt Nancy Whitcomb, a lifelong San Diego resident was good friends with Joe Jessop Jr. whose father, Joe Jessop, Sr. owned the Cathleen for many years. When I was a "young" lad of 10 or 12 (I am 44 now), my family would visit my aunt in San Diego for Christmas. During those visits, Joe, Sr., would take my brother, parents, and aunt out for a wonderful, day-after-Christmas sail to Coronado Bay and back. Joe ran a first class cruise all of the whole way. Since then, I have raced dinghies One-design keelboats and sportboats , R/C models, Swan's and larger custom boats offshore and won a couple of national championships along the way. There is a healthy dose of team racing in there, along with some Swedish Match Tour Gold Cup racing last fall in Bermuda., and it was those early cruises on the Cathleen that hooked me into sailing and its enjoyment..

Thank you for the memories,
Doug Lynn

12/07/05

New

More BendyToy
Well from this angle the new Beneteau 34.7 doesn't look too bad - pretty nice actually. Truthfully all of the newer point sevens look pretty nice - considering what they are - big, voluminous racer/cruisers. There is clearly a market for them and this one should sell equally if not better than the others. Thoughts?

12/07/05

D'oh!

Yesterday we sadly shared the story about Bruce Nelson running a Nelson boat aground in the Hot Rum Series so thoroughly they had to quit, but here it looks like Nelson isn't the only dummy.

That's "Airwaves", a Frer's 50 (very) hard aground near Ballast Point during that second race a couple of weeks ago. See the guys on the boom trying to rock it off the sand? Didn't work. They had to wait for Vessel Assist. Ironically the boat is for sale and one of the features in the ad is a "new deep IMS keel". Ya think they didn't tell the helmsman about this improvement? Tip o' the hat to George Hody and an SA visor is your reward!

12/07/05

Back for More

SA family member Bruce Schwab announced today his plans to put together an American entry in the 2008 Vendee Globe. Schwab said "My goal is to build upon the success of our 2004 OceanPlanet Vendee sailing and educational platform and form a new American team for 2008. With either me or an up-and-coming American sailor at the helm, we plan to earn a podium finish."

The focal point of the campaign is an all new Open 60 racing yacht named OceanPlanet II, to be built in Maine. The design/research process will begin in early 2006 and construction by midsummer. Conversations with an American design team and Maine boat builders are in progress. Bruce is a good guy, hard working and obviously very dedicated to this mission. It would be sweet to see him pull this off in a way he couldn't with his previous effort.

12/07/05

Hot?

Why yes indeed! Here is Doug Peterson's Caulkins 50 getting ready to finish first overall in the SDYC Hot Rum Series finale last Sunday. Nicely done.

Something less than nice was big SA fan Bruce Nelson's brilliant call onboard his 43' IMS design Vim. We hear they tried to go inside a piling that is pretty much verboten and ran aground so hard they had to start the motor to get off. There was some complaining about one boat taking them up and one claiming water, but also heard onboard Vim was "well we've been in here before" from the know-it-all designer. Good times.

Photo from our friend Da-Woody.

12/06/05

VOR

Flicked

Adrienne Cahalan was sacked as navigator from Brasil One yesterday. This from the VOR website:

Cahalan was called into the management’s office yesterday and told by Alan Adler, Brasil 1’s sailing manager that her services would not be required for the remainder of the race, citing her lack of experience in the Southern Ocean and her lack of fluency in Portuguese, the crew language, for terminating her contract. Ouch.

Plus one hears that Freddy Loof is done with Cayard and the pirates and is heading back to the comfy confines of the Star.

12/06/05

What's in Your Backyard?

The barbecue, the kid's bikes, jacuzzi, maybe a pool, but probably not this!

12/05/05

Swedish Match

Gilly Again
Peter Gilmour has certainly found his niche, hasn't he? He chalked up another match race win, this one the inaugural Monsoon Cup, the 50th event of the Swedish Match Tour, advertisers here at SA. Gilmour won the thing by defeating Russell Coutts 2-1 in the final, for Gilmour's 9th Swedish Match Tour win.

12/05/05

Tie Your Mother Down

The boys on ABN Amro One tie their first place VOR Juan K (that doesn't roll off the tongue very easy, or often, for that matter) designed VO 70 down after arriving at Cape Town. The young guns on Amro Two finished a mere four hours later. An impressive showing that may or may not hold up depending upon whether the rest of the fleet can actually finish a leg. Plus light air is not going to be kind to the ABN twins as their performance in the light is reported to be unimpressive..

Speaking of unimpressive, apparently with the pressure really on (Cayard wound up even tighter than normal must not exactly be a day at the beach for the crew), the Pirates have erected a shed to hide the boat from all view. It is highly guarded and they are letting no one in while the angle grinders are spinning day and night. Perhaps they are fabricating a new runway?

12/02/05

From the Troops

I am part of the shore crew for the VO 70 movistar. Yes it is true that without the Spanish AC team's help, along with our shore crew and two of our dedicated sailors in Xabi and Pepe, the repair to the VO 70 movistar would have taken far longer and we all greatly appreciate all their efforts.

As a shore crew member we take an unsung role in this traveling circus, and I feel these guys deserve a great deal more credit and thanks for the sacrifices they have made. I would like to give the lion's share of the thanks to our boat builders, Wade, Pete, Ben and Andy and our project manager Fred. With the dedication they have for this great adventure we now have every chance of winning this sprint around the planet.

Thanks to you guys,

Seppo!

12/02/05

Big City

A neat shot from GTS photos from the Timme Angston Regatta. It is the Midwest fall champs as well as an Intersectional held at Chicago Yacht Club, won by Boston College. If you love good dinghy action, check out GTS' very cool new 2006 calendars. Order now for Christmas!

12/02/05

"She Floats! But..."

Actually there is no but - this is a new open 60 built for Unai Basurko in Australia by Jarkan and designed by Andy Dovell The yacht has been built for doing the BOC and the Vendee, and yes she is floating a bit funny - Christophe Launay took this creative picture during the IMOCA righting test. Interestingly, this hull design was taken fron Kanga Birtles (Jarkan owner) original design for his open 60, which Sean Langman purchased. Sean modified the design of what is now called AAPT with the assistance of Andy Dovell. these two hulls are essentially the same (Sean's & Unai's) except Sean's has water ballast & has a 6 foot sugar scoop on the back, and Unai's has a canting keel. Tip o' the hat to Anarchist Merrill for the info.

12/01/05