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Sydney Hobart 2010 Video compilation

2011-01-03T16:18:00Z

One of the best yachting photographers out there must be Carlo Borlenghi. His lens captures the most beautiful, most dramatic and most heroic images off all the big races. We are a huge fan of Carlo at the 52Sails staff.

Check out this video compilation of the 2010 Sydney to Hobart race, which was won by Wild Oats for the fifth time in six years. Amazing performance, amazing race, amazing photography!

Sailing picture of the week: Sail the Wight

2010-07-26T14:02:00Z

Sail the Wight is a yearly charity sailing event in the Solent. It’s not a big competition, no maxi’s with carbon spars and 3DL sails. It raises money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, an elderly home on the isle of Wight.

It does attracts nice yachts!

Photo© Hamo Thornycroft Marine Photography

Thrill-seeking Red Bull Reporters wanted to experience Extreme Sailing

2010-07-22T10:42:00Z

Red Bull Reporter, a UK nationwide search for the best aspiring writers, photographers, filmmakers and presenters, is looking for a writer and photographer to capture the action and report on this event

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to watch a crew of thrillseekers battling with the elements, harnessing the wind in the sails of a boat so light that it can glide a full 3 metres above water?

Have you got what it takes to capture the excitement of the world’s best skippers flying across the sea in their 40ft catamarans?

You could be in with a chance of experiencing the adrenaline, the wind and the sea air at the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe for Red Bull Reporter – the latest assignment for this nationwide campaign that sends aspiring reporters out to music, culture and extreme sports events to get behind the scenes and showcase their work online.

For this assignment a writer and photographer are needed to head out to Cowes for the second stop of the season during the first week of August and whip up a story around the four day regatta and the outcome of up to 18 fast and furious races, each lasting a nail-biting 20 minutes.

The regatta will take place over four days with as many as 18 fast and furious races lasting a nail-biting 20 minutes each. Find out more at www.redbullreporter.com/2010/07/extreme-sailing/

So if you want to experience the wind and the sea first-hand and interview some of the athletes to uncover their addition to this thrilling sport, submit your words or photos at www.redbullreporter.com.

New J-Class launched

2010-07-09T10:55:00Z

If you think the old but beautiful J-Classes were dead, please think again. We are happy to report the launch of Lionheart, a newly build J-Class. Lionheart is based on a Ranger design, slightly changed by the architects at Hoek Design. She has an aluminium hull and features all the latest technology such as a carbon mast, Harken winches etcetera.

Lionheart (H-1) will join the existing J-float in the Mediteranian. The original Shamrock V, Velsheda and Endeavour are still sailing and have been joined by a 2002-replica of Ranger and Hunuman of 2009. Two more replica’s (Atlantis and Rainbox) are under construction at the Dutch Bloemsma yard.

Alinghi Sails to become Haiti relief tents

2010-05-19T16:02:00Z

Alinghi announced on it’s website that the million-dollar sails it used during the 33th America’s Cup, have been shipped to Haiti. The sails will be re-cut and made into 1000 shelter tents.

The carbon-fiber sails are strong, light and waterproof. The reshaping will be done in Haiti through an on-site work program.

Beautiful Wally yachts at the Nespresso Cup in Portofino

2010-05-11T19:44:00Z

Aren’t these Wally yachts a thing of beauty? They are in action in the Nespresso Cup in Portofino at the moment. In this picture you see the Wallynano “Biancaneve” which has sailnumber “MON-001”, a 37 footer that can be sailed singlehanded.

Photo (c) Carlo Borlenghi

Learn to sail or surf for 15 euro

2010-04-26T15:07:00Z

The Flemish Yachting Federation is launching a remarkable initiative. You can learn to sail or surf for only 15 euro this summer!

A three hour lesson by qualified teachers is available all over Flanders (northern part of Belgium) from the coast to the lakes. You can learn how to wave-, kite or windsurf, or how to steer a catamaran round a track.

More info? Check the websites Iksurf.be or Ikzeil.be. Sites in Dutch only it seems, but still an excellent initiative!

Postponement flags - quote of the week

2010-02-17T17:02:00Z

I’m a big believer that the postponement flag should be taken off the committee boats, put into a glass cage and broken only in case of an emergency. You know, when Captain Cook sailed around the world he didn’t have the opportunity to postpone races because it was too windy or too light. I believe that if a race is scheduled at 12 o’clock it should always start at 12 o’clock and if you want to consider yourself among the best sailors of the world you should be able to sail under all conditions.

Quote by Gavin Brady, skipper of Mascalzone Latino, in an interview with Valencia Sailing.

Audi vs BMW in 34th America's Cup

2010-02-15T11:23:00Z

After BMW Oracle Racing’s victory in the 33th America’s Cup, we are already looking forward to the 34th America’s Cup. Three years ago, quite a few teams expressed their interest in participating in the Cup, but it needs to be seen how much of those teams can find the funds needed to mount a multi-year campaign.

It’s now up to BWM Oracle Racing and Mascalzone Latino - Audi team to agree on the location, date and format of the next America’s Cup. One thing I would like to assure everyone about the 34th America’s Cup is that there will be a completely independent jury and completely independent umpires,” said Larry Ellison. “It will be an independent company that manages the next America’s Cup and it will be a level playing field for all competitors.”

Newport, Rhode Island is named as possible venue of the 34th America’s Cup. Newport was the home of the Amercia’s Cup for all matches between 1930 and 1983, when the Cup left the USA for the first time since it’s inception and moved to Freemantle.

BMW Oracle (USA) wins first race of the 33th America's Cup

2010-02-12T16:05:00Z

After months and years of legal battle and 2 postponed races on monday and wednesday, the 33th America’s Cup finally started today on 14:35. The breeze was rather light (5 to 8 knots), but the boats had no problem racing at 20 to 25 knots around the 20 mile race course in front of Valencia.

It was a very interesting race where both boats showed that they truly are the best multihuls ever built. Lots of people seriously doubted if a deed of gift match (the first in over 20 years) would be an interesting match race or if one of the boats would be really superior to the other one, as was the case in 1988. Twenty years ago Dennis Conner’s giant catamaran “Stars and Stripes” then won 2-0 with a delta of more than 18 minutes on both matches.

The Swiss Alinghi team took the lead at the start after BMW Oracle missed theirs, but lost terrain quickly. BMW Oracle’s wing proved very powerful both up- and downwind and contributed to their win. In the end they had more than 3500 meter lead over the Swiss Alinghi team. The next race is scheduled for sunday, February 14th 2010.

America's Cup 2010: first race postponed till Wednesday

2010-02-08T15:27:00Z

Today was the first day of the real battle of the 33th America’s Cup, one of the biggest and most anticipated sailing events ever. I am not going to write about the legal battles that preceded this day, not writing about the use of engines or wings, about the strange fact that we have a “winter” race in the northern hemisphere. I hope I don’t have to write about the final decision that the court of New York still has to make about the use of 3DL technology by the swiss team…

Because of all the legal battles, we have a strange America’s Cup ahead of us. One without strict rules. In fact, the only rule concerning the yachts is that the length-over-water should not exceed 90 feet. Both teams chose a multihull with a huge mast, but the comparison stops there. Alinghi chose a catamaran with “traditional” (although high-tech) sails, while team Oracle went for the extreme: their trimaran is powered by a huge rigid wing.

The first of thee matches had to take place today, but was postponed to Wednesday Feb 10th, due to a lack of stable wind.

Wally Yacht Tiketitan lost in fire

2010-02-04T13:49:00Z

The magnificent and iconic Wally 88 Tiketitan was destroyed by a fire in a shipyard in Palma de Mallorca yesterday. Tiketitan (called Il Sovereign these days) was designed ten years ago by German Frers and built by Green Marine. She is one of the original fast and easily-handled Wally superyachts, and the first Wally with a canting keel.

It’s said to see a beautiful boat end like this, but at least she went like she came: spectacular.

The Master at Work

2009-07-25T10:06:00Z

One of the masters of yachting the last twenty years is Paul Cayard. He’s participated in various events, ranging from the America’s Cup over the Volvo Ocean Race, even the Olympics. The last few days, he was in Sardinia sailing on the TP52 Artemis.

Have a look at the way he guides Artemis to the finish line. Photo by Nico Martinez

Cutting Edge technology for 33th America's Cup

2009-07-06T09:59:00Z

Cutting Edge you say? Have a look at this blade-sharp hull of Alinghi’s giant 90 feet catamaran for the 33th America’s Cup which will (probably) be held in February 2010.

Longtze European Tour Deauville

2009-06-19T11:04:00Z

The Longtze European Tour was in Deauville a few days ago and raced in high-wind conditions. Boy, have a look at this video. The boats are planning all the time, and are so maneuverable, it seems they are just playing a tagging game with each other. I’d love to get on board on one of those!

Is the ISAF watching this and considering as a replacement for the Tornado?