The Fall Boats Afloat Show on Seattle’s South Lake Union kicked off today, September 12, and runs through Sunday, September 15. With more than 150 world-class craft on display, the show offers plenty to see and explore including quality shoreside exhibitors. Showgoers can learn about the latest innovations in accessories and marine services while the Dockside Marketplace features products by nautical-inspired artisans. Showgoers can take advantage of free educational seminars, hands-on activities for children (the show is free for children 12 and under), daily entertainment, tasty food offerings and much more. 

Presented by the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA) since 1978, this boating tradition offers lively “go-to” opportunity to learn about the latest boating lifestyle and technology trends. 

How-to advice, family fun and more

Free to showgoers, area experts share the latest information on boating trends, technology and destinations in engaging seminars. Speakers and topics include Bob Whale, “Boating Up to Alaska;” Scott Irwin, “Cruising Lifestyle – Is It For you?”; Ryan Davis, “First Aid”; Aaron Barnett, “Pump out and Pollution Prevention” and Courtney Wingard, “Insurance 101.”

The Center for Wooden Boats will host “Kid’s Toy Boat Building” from noon to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. It is free, with all the materials provided.

Live music complements the dockside festivities with top local talent taking the stage each day of the show. Performers include the U Family Band, Stanley Alleyne (Thursday, September 12); Doug Rusk (Friday, September 13); Edmonds/Woodway High School Jazz Quartet, The Jewel Tones (Saturday, September 14) and Edmonds/Woodway High School Jazz Quartet, The Wednesday Club (Sunday, September 15).

Salmon for Soldiers (salmonforsoldiers.org) returns as the show’s Official Charity Partner as it provides free fishing activities throughout the year for veterans and active-duty military personnel. With a mission to reduce stress and create new relationships through boating and fishing, showgoers can show their support by purchasing raffle tickets for a variety of prizes. 

While strolling the docks showgoers’ tastebuds will be tempted by fresh seafood, hot dogs, donuts, coffee, pastries and ice cream, with an outdoor bar serving craft beers, wine and pre-mixed cocktails. 

SHOW HOURS, LOCATION & TICKETS
Thursday September 12 & Friday September 13: 11AM – 6PM
Saturday, September 14: 10AM – 6PM
Sunday, September 15: 10AM – 5PM
South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N. Seattle, WA
Standard Tickets:
Adults: $20 online ($22 at the entrance)
Teen 13-17: $5
Kids 12 and Under: Free
Special Promotional Tickets:
All Access Multi-Day Pass: $35 online only
Thursday: Opening Day Ticket w/drink, $20 online only
Friday: Women’s Day Ticket $10 online, $11 at the entrance

Hello Elise, can you tell us who you are, where you are from, and share with us your top sport achievements?

Hi, I’m Elise Daudignon. I’m 19 and I live near Hossegor, in the southwest of France. My top sports achievements in Surf Lifesaving include winning the world junior title in Beach Flags (ed. short elimination sprint rounds on the sand) two years ago, and last year, securing three Senior European titles in paddleboard sprint and surfski.

Can you explain what Surf Lifesaving is for those who might not be familiar with the sport?

Surf Lifesaving is a sport that originated in Australia hundreds of years ago. It’s divided into two parts: one held in pools and the other in the ocean. In both cases, it’s about racing as fast as possible around obstacles and buoys, with the first to finish winning. There are both individual and team events.

For ocean events, there are six individual races: the paddleboard race (on a 10’6 board with handles and no leash), the swim race, the surfski race (on a type of long kayak), the Oceanman (which combines swimming, surfski, and paddleboard), the 90m sprint on the sand, and the beach flags (a series of 20m sprint rounds on the sand).

As TotalSUP is mainly a community of SUP Racers, can you explain what paddleboarding is and how it fits into the surf lifesaving discipline?

Paddleboarding is quite similar to the paddleboard used in lifesaving, though it’s a longer board (12’). There are two types of races: an 18km race around buoys, and a 5km technical race, often held in waves, also around buoys. In both cases, the fastest wins.

How do the ISA World championship race formats differ from what paddleboarders are typically used to in surf lifesaving competitions?

These kinds of races are very different from what lifesavers are used to, as a typical board race is around 400m, making it much shorter and requiring a different kind of effort.

How did it feel to be crowned world champion with Team France in Les Sables d’Olonne?

It was an amazing feeling to compete—everyone did their part, and it all worked out so well. Competing at home added something special, I must admit.

How was your racing last year?

It was a great first experience in the ISA format, and I learned a lot, which I hope will be useful this year.

Are you happy to be selected again with Team France? What are your objectives at the ISA worlds this year?

I’m really happy to be selected again this year for another incredible experience (I can already tell). I’m hopeful to improve my rankings compared to last year.

Have you ever been tempted by SUP racing, and what are your thoughts on it?

I never really considered SUP racing, as I’ve always been busy with surf lifesaving, but I think it’s a great sport with values similar to lifesaving.

Can you describe the atmosphere at the ISA World Championships and why you think Copenhagen will be a great venue for the next event?

I think it’s impossible to fully describe the atmosphere—it’s something you have to experience yourself to understand. But it’s mostly filled with excitement, pride, and happiness. Copenhagen is a fantastic venue—such a beautiful city with a lot of charm and history.

Get ready for the 2024 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championships:
Official ISA Event Website

The Copenhagen Paddle Festival + OPEN race registration:
Copenhagen SUP

The post Elise Daudignon: Surf Lifesaving Athlete Gears Up for the ISA SUP & Paddleboard Worlds first appeared on TotalSUP.

On a late June morning, Johnstone Strait was a mill pond. Bathwater calm. Sipping coffee, it was a perfect moment to reflect on previous trips through this same stretch of notoriously unforgiving water. My first taste was 46 years ago aboard a leaky wooden Dragon Class sailboat. We had charts, a compass, and a lead line. No electronics at all. It was my first trip to Ketchikan and the Strait handed us the most uncomfortable hours of the summer. Our little 7hp outboard was up out of the water or nearly under water as the boat heaved up and down. Trees on the shore stayed frustratingly stationary for hours as we battled large waves with little forward progress. Limping into Kelsey Bay on Vancouver Island, everything down below was a sodden mess. The only charitable thing about Kelsey Bay was the warm welcome and homemade wine we received from a family aboard another small sailboat. They had been through the same thing the previous day.

That trip set the hook for many more passages up north, and would later spark my interest in the Race to Alaska (R2AK). Forty years after that 1978 trip, I was back in the same spot during the 2018 R2AK with Team Wild Card on our Santa Cruz 27. We had just inadvertently donated our 5 gallon latrine bucket to the depths of Johnstone Strait during “a flush” and ducked into Kelsey Bay to hunt for a replacement. We found one, and after 20 minutes or so headed back into the Strait, only to be hit hard by a sudden wind increase later that night. The wind went from near zero to well over 30 knots astonishingly fast—just a couple of minutes separated our large #3 headsail trying to grab a little wind to that same sail laying the boat over, totally overpowered, with seas building. A night of hard sailing followed and in the wee hours we found ourselves temporarily in the lead of that year’s race. It was exhilarating.

My last trip up Johnstone was in 2022, again as part of R2AK, this time with Team Fashionably Late on a Dash 34. It was another night of hard sailing and avoiding logs, but on that trip I had brought a high powered flashlight and found myself riding the bow in the pitch black, narrow beam pointed forward looking for big logs. Logs that had taken out much of the competition already. A sailboat going 6 knots covers about 10 feet per second and the light casted a beam roughly 30 feet long, which gave us 3 seconds to identify the log, yell a course correction, and make a change. Only 3 seconds between spotting the risk and avoiding it. A trimaran or catamaran going twice the speed would have half the time. We thumped our share of logs, but other than the heart stopping noise, no damage. There was plenty of debris that night, but during the time I rode the bow there was only one in our path that could have caused damage and, in that instance, 3 seconds was enough to miss it.

Bringing myself back to the present moment, on this morning in 2024 we had been greeted by a school of Pacific white-sided dolphins as we rounded Chatham Point. Leigh, my first mate (as well as my Admiral) hadn’t seen dolphins playing with the boat before and stood on the bow spellbound by the interaction of boat, human, and dolphin. Between the dolphins and the calm waters, it was a good omen.

Trip planning had begun early this year, shortly after an early February pig roast on Sucia Island. Leigh had one of those chats on the dock with a tenured cruiser who spoke of the Broughtons in reverent tones. When she returned to the boat she said, “What would it take to get to the Broughtons?” The die was cast for the summer voyage aboard our newly repowered sailboat, Cambria.

Cambria is a Stan Huntingford designed Maple Leaf 42 with an enclosed center cockpit and comfortable accommodations, making it an ideal cruiser for long days. With her new Yanmar diesel, thanks to Gordy and crew at Bellingham Marine Repair, she is, in many ways, a new boat. Not bad for a 1983 vintage. The repower was transformative. As a buddy aptly put it, “It’s like a heart transplant for your boat.”

With the repower, along with two years of refurbishing and refreshing the boat, we were ready to head out on a longer cruise, and the destination had been decided. My role was to execute the cruise.

Given my past experiences going north up the eastside of Vancouver Island, once the general route was agreed upon, it was more about preparation than planning. Planning, in my view, assumes far more control than I have. I can’t control the weather or the attitude at the time or interesting things that may happen along the way. Weather gets a huge vote each day on how far to go. Impromptu social events also can alter the schedule. I can plan for currents, but for the most part we make game day decisions after discussing pros and cons. Mutinies are much less likely when the crew has solid input.

Preparation encompasses a wide scope of things, but over the years I’ve tried to ensure the boat is always ready to go. A friend uses the word ‘reset’ at the end of a cruise— resetting the boat for the next outing. Armed with charts and cruising guides, as well as Starlink, heading out with no reservations and no detailed agenda is part of how we cruise.

The arc of the trip was to put in long days in the beginning to get us through Seymour Narrows, up the always memorable Johnstone Strait, before relaxing a bit in the Broughtons. Then we’d return via Dent Rapids, spend a little time in Desolation Sound and head back to Anacortes. We used a planning chart of Vancouver Island with bits of tape and Post It notes to visualize the trip.

As it turned out, our planned three day hop to the Broughtons was elongated to four. Anacortes to Ganges (via Bedwell Harbour), then Ganges to Nanaimo, Nanaimo to Campbell River, and finally Campbell River through Seymour Narrows to Lagoon Cove.

We had high southerly winds approaching Campbell River and the Cape Mudge area was lumpy. Waves built but a large splashing just off the starboard bow caught our attention. A humpback whale was standing on its head, flukes high above the water, then pounding the waves sending up spray in spectacular fashion. Docking at Campbell River wasn’t much fun but no gel coat was harmed and we had a great meal at the head of the dock at the Riptide Pub.

After transiting Seymour Narrows in engineless craft during R2AK, my fear of Seymour has waned. Respect remains and even with a freshly repowered sailboat I took care to hit slack tide appropriately. The last time I went through was in 2022 with Team Fashionably Late, and the R2AK film crew took pictures of us sailing sideways through whirlpools to whooping and cheers from the cockpit.

This time, we transited at first light with no drama. One tip when transiting Seymour Narrows is to tune into VHF channel 71. Vessel Traffic is monitored on that channel and it’s interesting listening as the larger commercial craft receive instructions for safe passage through the Narrows from Victoria Vessel Traffic Services. As a recreational boater, I figure my job is to stay clear of the commercial guys, but also to confirm intent on Channel 13 if necessary.

Lagoon Cove was charming as usual. Some old friends of ours, Tom and Tessa, had been up there for a few days and joined us on the dock. The happy hour tradition continued and I coaxed a story out of Tom, a commercial fisherman in his youth, about the time he helped cut a young humpback whale out of a fishing net. After several decades that story gets a little better each time. It was also here, where reminders of R2AK lingered. Just a week or so earlier, Team Boogie Barge, still in the R2AK hunt, had their discussion to continue the race or not, according to the owners of Lagoon Cove. They did not, which was unfortunate because their progress was fun to follow.

From Lagoon Cove we meandered through the Broughtons, occasionally rafting up with friends. This was the last week of June, so rain and some wind dominated the days. While expected, we had hoped for better weather, but with diesel heat and an enclosed cockpit, Cambria was designed for this. We were warm, dry, and comfortable. R2AK had set a low bar for comfort on a Santa Cruz 27 and Dash 34, so having heat, a flush toilet, a dry bunk, and plenty of time for sleep made for an enjoyable experience, even if the weather wasn’t great.

The next few days were spent in the company of Tom and Tessa who have a 68-foot Tollycraft. We prawned, crabbed, and ate very well over the course of several days. We also spent time musing on the difference between the powerboat style of cruising versus the sailboat style. Cambria doesn’t have a generator. My buddy has two, along with a dishwasher and laundry facilities. Our galley sink serves both those functions and we use a close line hung in the engine room. But, we’re both out there, which is all that matters.

The Broughtons are magical. Remote and sparsely populated, the islands are abundant in wildlife and some amenities can be found when needed. After 10 wonderful days, the time had come to pull the ripcord and head south again. We used Lagoon Cove as our final departure point, filling the dinghy with fuel and as we departed, we tucked a reef in the main in the calm of the cove knowing we were headed for more spirited winds in Johnstone Strait.

We then had one of those great days of sailing, especially with everything easily managed from the enclosed cockpit. With the current, we routinely hit 9 and sometimes 10 knots with the jib only partially deployed and, at one point, we were slowly overtaken by a pod of killer whales. In my experience, it was about as close to a perfect day as you’re doing to get on Johnstone Strait.

Towards the end of the day we bailed out of the Strait and headed up Blind Channel to incredibly scenic Shoal Bay. What a wonderful place. We scored a spot on the dock and enjoyed the stunning views up Philips Arm. Deciding to put in a lay day, we did the ‘gold mine hike’ and, once we found the right trail, we made it to the mine for a fun bit of exploring.

As often happens, a dock party organically formed and powerboating Canadians mingled with sailors from the U.S. Appetizers were shared and stories swapped. The world shrank by just a little bit on that night. After two days, we woke early to catch the slack at Dent Rapids. We just so happened to transit with the trimaran Hullabaloo, who had finished third in this year’s R2AK. On the VHF I offered my condolences on third place in a race that only has two prizes—$10,000 nailed to a log for first place and an elegant set of steak knives for second. After finishing R2AK in third place twice, I could commiserate.

From Dent, we made the transition to Desolation Sound. With warmer water, more boats, and a less remote feel, it was almost civilized. We met up with friends Bruce and Carol on their Nauticat 44 and after a couple of days of eating, relaxing, and reminiscing, it was time to move on; Leigh and I both felt that the trip should probably come to an end. The garden needed to be tended, we both have aging parents that needed our attention, and the gravitational pull of ‘home’ was stronger than the pull of ‘north’.

We left Squirrel Cove at first light and had a long, but comfortable day of motoring down Malaspina Strait, then crossing the Strait of Georgia to Silva Bay. The timing of the currents dissuaded us from taking Trincomali Channel on the final stretch home, so we stayed outside and by midafternoon we were tied up at our slip in Anacortes. We reset the boat, and headed home.

This type of trip isn’t for everyone. We covered nearly 600 miles in three weeks. The R2AK experience helped me think about cruising in a different way. It’s possible to both ‘race’ to a remote spot, then relax and ‘cruise’ the area. Long harder days followed by easy shorter days—or days of simply going nowhere.

The Northwest can be a cruisers paradise—more remote areas in the summer, closer destinations in the winter. Even with an increasing population and so many ‘guidebooks’ and internet advice, you can find quiet coves and anchorages, if you are willing to poke around a bit.

Next year we may do things completely different and spend more time but cover fewer miles. One thing is for sure, we live in an ideal region of the world for cruising while also having a home, and even having the ability to join an amazing adventure race like R2AK in the same waters. In the Northwest, you truly can have your cake and eat it, too.

Mark Aberle is a longtime Pacific Northwest cruiser, racer, rower, and paddler. He spent his childhood summers in the San Juan Islands, where he developed a deep appreciation and love of the islands and the Inside Passage. A recovering liveaboard, he tries to spend as much time on Cambria as life’s competing demands allow.

Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia has secured victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Series, thus allowing them to choose which team they will race against for the Louis Vuitton Semi-Finals.

That privilege, awarded for their Round Robin victory makes the British – in theory – the most likely of the four remaining challengers to go through to the Louis Vuitton Final.

INEOS will announce the team they have selected to go up against the day before Semi-Final racing on Friday 13 September 2024. The most likely selection will be Alinghi Red Bull Racing, who have looked the weakest of the remaining challengers to date. However, writing for The Telegraph newspaper yesterday, Ben Ainslie noted: ‘Everyone probably expects us to pick Alinghi as they won the fewest round-robin races of the four remaining challengers.

‘But there are arguments for and against every team. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Jimmy Spithill, one of the helms on Luna Rossa, said in his post-race interview on Monday that he was looking forward to their “semifinal against American Magic”. He may have gone a little bit early but let’s see.”

Whilst the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli looked like the early favourites, the British have momentum against them, having now beaten Spithill and Bruni twice in a row.

A happy Ainslie faces the press after his team’s Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin win. Photo: Ian Roman

INEOS take victory

To finish as Round Robin winners has been an impressive turnaround by the British team, who were almost no one’s pick to top the Round Robin series after their performance in the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta and the early part of the Round Robin series.

I will happily concede that the early impression I had was that Britannia was slow compared to much of the competition. But by the closing stages of the Round Robin, they were quickly looking to be one of the stronger challengers.

Admittedly there was some luck to the British win, with Luna Rossa having to pull out of their only scheduled race on the final day. However, Ainslie and Co. still sailed impeccably in the final few races.

INEOS Britannia competing in the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland. Photo: Photo: COR 36/Studio Borlenghi

Shades of 2021?

For America’s Cup regulars, the story of the British team being written off, only to come back and win the Round Robin series will be a familiar one as this is exactly what happened in Auckland 2021.

In that regatta, Luna Rossa knocked out a post-capsize American Magic in the Semi-Final to face the Brits in the Finals. Ultimately, the Italian team were too quick for the Brits and it was Luna Rossa who advanced to the America’s Cup itself.

It might, then, be easy to suppose a similar fate may befall the Brits this time out, but reviewing the races again, there is an argument for a bit more positivity for British fans.

In 2021, Ainslie’s INOES team were well off the pace in the Preliminary event, the America’s Cup World Series. However, that event took place over a month ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup (then called the Prada Cup).

Article continues below…

Ainslie and INEOS win Louis Vuitton Round Robin, while the French are sent home

Today saw the final three races of the America’s Cup challenger selection series, the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin get…

How Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia went from disappointment to America’s Cup contender

Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia has secured victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Series, thus allowing them to choose…

This gap allowed Ainslie’s team to spend countless hours in the shed developing their boat and adding a significant number of developments as Ainslie explained at the time: “We have brought a lot of new parts online including a new rudder, new rudder elevator, new mast, new mainsail, and new headsails. Then alongside that we have made modifications to our foils, to the aero package on our hull and we have changed the systems inside the hull…we have certainly been busy.”

This time around there has been little time for the Challengers to make any changes to the boats (though Kiwi coach Ray Davies did hint, rather ominously, at the large amount of improvements that the Defenders plan to be making while the Challengers duke it out).

Even if they wanted to, there is not a great deal that the teams could do. Teams must declare their equipment for racing five days ahead of each event’s start – this remains the case for the Semi-Finals with teams having to declare equipment for use on the Semis on Monday of this week.

Having a high development ceiling is crucial. Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup

Holding back

To win the America’s Cup as a Challenger, in theory you want to keep some developments back.

The aim is to add to the boat over the course of the racing and arrive at the startline of the America’s Cup with a significantly quicker boat than you started with – and crucially one about which your competition does not have a full understanding.

Looking at the performance curve of INEOS Britannia in the last Cup, it’s easy to suppose that the team threw everything they had in the shed – plus the kitchen sink – to haul their boat into contention.

This had the desired effect initially but as the event progressed it seems as though they ran out of development potential, while Luna Rossa was able to get past them.

Ainslie has spoken about their latest design as having plenty of potential and, when things were not looking as good early in the series talked of unlocking that potential. But we know, due to the rules that the team cannot have just thrown new parts at the boat.

There are certainly some changes that they can make around trim, setup, and moding – and it’s clear they have done a fair bit of work here, particularly upwind, where they initially looked relatively weak. They won’t disclose what, of course – when asked exactly what they’ve done by the Cup commentary team British coach Rob Wilson said he simply couldn’t say. Secrecy remains more critical than ever at this stage of the game.

But reviewing each race the story is not of a boat that has got substantially quicker, rather a team that has improved and learned how to exploit their strengths and hide their weaknesses.

INEOS leading Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

Performance to date

Taking a look at the starts, I’ve noted every race start win or loss – defining an ‘even’ start where one team has a clear advantage and leads at the first cross as a ‘win’ for that team.

Looking at the Preliminary regatta, INEOS sailed against each Challenger and the Defender once, for a total of five races.

Of these races, the British team can be said to have truly won the start on only one occasion, against Alinghi Red Bull Racing. And yet they walked away from the series with two race wins.

However, they were also over the startline for two of those starts, ceding the start to the opposition. One of the races resulted in a win anyway and one resulted in a loss.

OCS penalties (and unforced boundary penalties) were a significant feature in the early races and seem to have gone away at the tail end of the Round Robin races, indicating some software adjustment – or an increased level of caution.

In the Round Robin Series, they raced each Challenger and the Defender twice (though one race against New Zealand was uncontested as the Kiwis repaired their boat, which had been dropped by a crane the previous day).

Of their 10 contested starts across that series, the Brits won seven and finished the series with seven race wins in total.

American Magic about to get the better of INEOS in the first start of the Preliminary Regatta. Photo: Photo: Ian Roman | America’s Cup

Winning the start

That might make the change seem fairly obvious, Ainslie and Fletcher got better at starting and so won more races. But that would be to over-simplify something that looks to be the product of many changes. The new partnership between the co-helms is maturing – it’s clear to hear in the comms how well the two now are working together in decision making and information sharing.

When it comes to the boat, INEOS looked to have a decent turn of pace downwind and looked to be a little slower upwind early on in the series. And a lack of pace upwind is likely to contribute to the ‘loss’ of a start even if you get off the line even.

In the first race of the Preliminary Regatta the Brits started just to windward of American Magic and were forced to tack off as the US boat squeezed them with a decent high mode.

The Brits themselves did this to their opposition on two occasions in the Round Robins, once against Alinghi, and once against Luna Rossa.

But their race against the Kiwis at the start of the second Round Robin, looks to have marked something of a turning point.

New Zealand started to windward of INEOS and INEOS went straight into a high mode to try and squeeze the Kiwis. For their part it seems as though New Zealand may have got a decent shift, but they also went into a great high mode and simply held their lane all the way to the boundary, untroubled.

INEOS hit the startline with a significant gap to windward of Luna Rossa. Photo: Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup

From that moment the starts to the next races went as follows:

• Vs Alinghi – Brits start well gapped off to windward and sail low and fast to get over the top of Alinghi. INEOS wins the start.
• Vs Luna Rossa – Brits start to leeward of Luna Rossa but sail low and fast to get to the boundary first, tack and sail over the top of Luna Rossa out of the tack. Brits win the start.
• Vs Orient Express – Brits start well gapped off to windward and sail low and fast to get over the top of Orient Express. Brits win the start.
• Vs Luna Rossa – Brits start well gapped off to windward and sail low and fast to get over the top of Luna Rossa. Brits win the start.

Put simply, it seems as though the Brits have plenty of pace when low and fast – which is a concept supported by the demonstrated pace downwind. But they may not have a great high and slow mode.

As the Round Robins progressed, not only had Ainslie and Fletcher got better at starting, but it seems they have got a better understanding of their boat, which is pretty quick when sailed to her strengths.

Of course, if this is the case, INEOS will need development to find a useful high mode as it is a current weakness of the boat and one that could well be exploited by the competition.

INEOS is looking strong in windier conditions

A boat to win the America’s Cup?

Boat speed data across the series suggests INEOS’ speed seems to be more pronounced in the windier conditions and their win record leans slightly towards windier conditions – though patterns are slightly muddied as the light wind races are slightly less about boatspeed and more about staying on foils and having good manoeuvres.

A key built-in advantage for the Defender of the America’s Cup is that they do not have to take part in any knockout racing until the America’s Cup itself.

The weather in Barcelona changes between September and October as INEOS’ Tom Cheney pointed out to us in his piece on America’s Cup weather:

‘It wouldn’t be too cynical to suggest this was likely part of the cunning Kiwis’ defence strategy.

‘The Challenger rounds take place in September, when Barcelona typically sees more consistent thermal winds, usually with predictable patterns, and moderate sea states.

‘Then the America’s Cup Match in October brings increased variability with a mix of weaker thermal winds but potential for stronger gradient winds, and a significantly worse sea state.’

As such, any Challenger hoping to beat Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup, will probably require a boat that is able to win the Challenger Selection Series but is possibly at her best in slightly a slightly wider range of conditions, and certainly quicker in windier weather than would be necessary to win the Challenger Selection Series alone.

Follow all of our 2024 America’s Cup coverage

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The post How Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia went from disappointment to America’s Cup contender appeared first on Yachting World.

Irish skipper Tom Dolan said that he wanted to cry with joy as he secured a historic win in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec on Wednesday 11 September 2024.

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is one of the most gruelling, prestigious and renowned of all the solo French offshore races, and it’s been the proving ground of some of ocean racings greatest stars.

However, it has also been exceptionally French dominated, with just two international skippers ever having won it: the Belgian Joan de Kat in 1970 and the Swiss skipper Laurent Bourgnon in 1988.

In a typically nail-biting scenario for the Figaro, which is a one-design race in which finish positions are calculated on cumulative time, the top 20 boats all finished leg 1 within 5 minutes of each other after 615 miles of racing and four days from Rouen to Gijón, Spain. Irish sailor Tom Dolan finished 9th in the first stage, but with the fleet so close the race effectively restarted for Leg 2.

He then won the second leg from Gijon to Royan, another 515 mile stage, also picking up a five minutes time bonus for winning an Intermediate Sprint race, before leading the race all the way back across the Bay of Biscay. This left him in first overall going into the final stage.

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Dolan secured his win on a truly epic third and final leg from Gijon to La Turballe, western France, in which the solo skippers – already exhausted after two 500-plus mile stages – had to contend with particularly boisterous conditions. The monster 700-mile course for the final stage sent the remaining 31 solo skippers on an express passage across the English Channel to Portland Bill then back to Skerries off Dartmouth before heading south to the finish line.

On the final stage the fleet also compressed and extended repeatedly, the leaders briefly escaping before the pack closed in on them once again, with the final result uncertain until the finish before the overall race podium winners could be crowned.

Dolan on Smurfit Kappa – Kingspan, finished in 7th at 5:18 am local time today, Thursday 12 September, to secure victory in the overall ranking.

Photo: Alexis Courcoux

“I haven’t really got my head around what’s just happened yet. The Solitaire du Figaro is a race I’d hoped to win one day and today really is a dream come true! It’s completely crazy!” said a beaming Tom Dolan on the dockside early this morning.

“All in all, we had some really boisterous conditions. The pasting we took off southern England with 30 knots of established wind, gusting to 35, was particularly notable.

“At that point, I was no longer within sight of the others and we were really taking a hammering. My sole obsession was to keep the small spinnaker in the air and to make as fast headway as possible without careering off the track.

“It was full-on, it has to be said. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it was even a little scary during the gybes. In the end, we only had a small respite before passing the Skerries Bank and then we hit a light patch offshore of Brest.

“On a personal level, I spent a massive amount of time on the helm and I never let up despite the fatigue. It was vital to keep pace and that required an enormous amount of commitment as everyone was attacking like crazy at the head of the fleet!”

This is Dolan’s seventh entry in the race. “This victory is the reward for years of work and sacrifice, both for me and also for those around me. After the second leg, I knew I was well placed with a lead of 57 minutes over the 2nd boat but I tried to keep a cool head and I strived to put as little pressure on my shoulders as possible.

Photo: Alexis Courcoux

“I admit that there have been a lot of times when I’ve doubted myself. To be honest, a few hours ago, I was just hoping that I’d be able to save myself a spot on the podium. I went through all the numbers out on the water, counting and recounting the times.

“I’d imagined that some monstrous gaps had opened up between me and the leaders with the current at the Raz de Sein. When I crossed the finish line, I wasn’t sure whether or not I’d taken the win but I soon got the picture when I heard people congratulating me. At that moment, I kind of doubled up in my boat. I wanted to cry, albeit with tears of joy.

“Ultimately, it all came down to a transition during the second leg between Gijón and Royan, which was the tiniest of things. That’s generally how it goes in the Solitaire. That was how it played out in the last edition when the situation didn’t work in my favour. This time I had karma on my side!”

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The post ‘It’s completely crazy!’ Irish sailor Tom Dolan takes historic Solitaire du Figaro victory appeared first on Yachting World.

The America’s Cup Challenger Selection is set to continue on Saturday 14 September 2024, as the four teams that made it through the Round Robin series move on to the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals.

The Louis Vuitton Semi-Finals will see INEOS Britannia, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, American Magic and Alinghi Red Bull Racing all competing, with Orient Express Team France going out of the competition at the end of the Round Robin stage.

Each Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final will see two teams going head-to-head in a first to five wins competition. As winner of the Round Robin, INEOS gets to choose their opponent, with their pick being named on Friday 13 September.

For those wondering how to watch the Louis Vuitton Cup there are a whole host of options and many of the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup streams are free depending which country you are in.

What is the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final schedule?

Racing for the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Final gets underway each day at 14:00 CEST and racing should take place between 14:00 and 17:00. The format is match racing – as is always the case for the America’s Cup.

The first to five race wins format makes the exact length of the competition hard to define, but each day of racing should see two races for each Semi-Final (so four races in total each day). In theory the earliest a team can win a Semi-Final will be after their first race on Monday 16 September. Racing is scheduled for:

Saturday 14 September: 4 x Semi-Final races
Sunday 15 September: 4 x Semi-Final races
Monday 16 September: 4 x Semi-Final races (if needed)
Wednesday 18 September: 4 x Semi-Final races (if needed)
Thursday 19 September: 4 x Semi-Final races (if needed)

Read all our America’s Cup reports to catch up on the latest racing and our analysis of where each team stands.  

Looking for a free America’s Cup Sailing live stream? The event will be free in the UK on Youtube and the America’s Cup website. Full details on how to watch The 2024 America’s Cup live stream just below.

How to stream the Louis Vuitton Cup in the UK for free

America’s Cup racing for the UK audience will be available on a number of platforms. The easiest way to watch the action for free will be via either the America’s Cup Website, via the America’s Cup Youtube Channel. The racing will also be available on TnT Sports – an add on to Discovery + with a cost of £30.99 per month. And it will also be available on Eurosport.

If you try to watch your domestic coverage from anywhere outside your home country, you’ll soon find a problem – geo-blocking. That’s where the broadcaster prevents you from watching your usual feed from abroad. It’s a common problem for sports fans all over the world.

By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it’s back at home. Our sister title, TechRadar has done extensive testing of the best VPN service and Nord VPN consistently comes out on top.

How to use a VPN to watch the Louis Vuitton Cup racing

Using a VPN is as easy as one-two-three…

1. Download and install a VPN – as we say, the top choice according to our sister title is NordVPN.
2. Connect to the appropriate server location – open the VPN app, hit ‘choose location’ and select the appropriate location, eg: ‘Australia’ for 9Now.
3. Go to the broadcaster’s stream – head to your home broadcaster’s site or app and watch as if you were at home – Youtube or the America’s Cup website for UK viewers.

How to watch the Louis Vuitton Cup in New Zealand

New Zealand has a similar set up to the UK in that America’s Cup racing can be streamed free and live via the America’s Cup Youtube channel or via the Website.

Stuff Group and Warner Bros. Discovery earlier this year entered into a partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand to provide extensive, live and lively coverage of the America’s Cup in New Zealand. You’ll be able to watch all of their coverage live via Stuff and also ThreeNow.

How to stream the Louis Vuitton Cup in the USA for free

For America’s Cup viewers in the United States the options are a little more limited. America’s Cup racing will be available to stream for free via the America’s Cup website, but it will be on a 24 hour delay.

Those living in the USA and wanting to watch the America’s Cup racing action live will need to sign up to ESPN+ for the duration of the event in order to watch live. ESPN+ is $10.99 a month.

When is America’s Cup Racing 2024?

America’s Cup Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta: 22-25 August 2024
Louis Vuitton Cup: 29 August 7 October
Youth America’s Cup: 17-26 September
Women’s America’s Cup: 5-13 October
37th America’s Cup: 12-27 October

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

1 – Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
2 – Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The post How to watch the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final – the America’s Cup challenger series streams appeared first on Yachting World.

This was filmed in Hvide Sande, Waterz festival before the IFCA World Slalom Championships kicked off

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“I think the secret to today was to keep pushing. We had a few times where things weren’t looking pretty, but there is always your moment that comes,” said Christian on Sunday’s racing.

Rounding off the podium was Sandy Askew’s Flying Jenny in second and Guy Gillon’s Khumbu in third. Duncan McCarthy’s Tonto secured the win over the Corinthian fleet, with a bullet in race two. It all came down to the last race between Tonto and David Cummin’s Flurg, who finished on tied points, with Tonto taking the win.

Photo Photo Rick Tomlinson. More here.

Not Sailing

UK Aids USCG in $54M Worth Drug of Interdictions Including Capture of Narco Sub

The U.S. Coast Guard is highlighting the latest results in the ongoing efforts at the interdiction of narcotics in the Caribbean region. Yesterday, they offloaded $54 million worth of cocaine in Florida including two stops made by the UK’s patrol boat HMS Trent in cooperation with the U.S.

HMS Trent is one of the newest UK patrol boats commissioned in 2020. The Royal Navy highlighted she has already made six interceptions this year, bringing the total amount of drugs seized to an estimated value of over $720 million. August was a productive month for the vessel making two stops including a “go fast” boat and a narco sub. Read on.

SUP Racing on Lake Tahoe, California

Hello Anik, could you share your waterman journey with us? How did it all begin?

My journey to Lake Tahoe began in 1994 when I was fortunate to receive a full athletic scholarship to a college on the Northshore of Lake Tahoe after my time with the Canadian Ski Team. After graduating from Sierra Nevada College in 1999, I followed my passion for skiing, competing in Skicross and Big Mountain skiing world tours for a decade.

Anik Wild racing on Lake Tahoe, 2014

2024: Tahoe Waterman Paddle Racing organizer and announcer

What’s your personal connection to Lake Tahoe? How has it shaped your waterman career?

Coming from a small French Canadian town, my initial connection to Lake Tahoe was drawn by the California weather and the majestic Sierra Mountain range. Nestled among these towering peaks is the stunning crystal-blue Lake Tahoe.

As a sprint Canoe and Kayak athlete with multiple Canadian National Championship medals, my aspiration to paddle in Tahoe was inevitable. It wasn’t until I was forced to retire from ski racing before the 2010 Olympics due to a head injury that paddling became a safe and fulfilling way for me to continue my athletic career. The waterman lifestyle, through Outrigger Canoeing and Stand Up Paddleboarding, has since become a central part of my career and athletic endeavors.

For those who haven’t experienced it, can you paint a picture of what makes Lake Tahoe such a unique and special place?

Lake Tahoe, the alpine Caribbean: Imagine 72 miles of shoreline around a crystal-clear alpine lake, surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks with the perfect blend of four seasons. In the summer, the lake becomes a playground for paddling, swimming, biking, and hiking, with deep blue waters that are as refreshing as they are stunning. While Tahoe is known as a world-class winter skiing destination, we, the Mountain Watermen, keep paddling on the ‘Big Blue’ year-round.

What makes Tahoe special is its combination of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and the sense of community that thrives here. It’s a place where you can push your limits in nature while feeling deeply connected to your environment.”

Lake Tahoe used to be a major hub for both the U.S. and global SUP race scenes. Can you remind us why it was so significant?

Historically, the Tahoe Nalu, founded by the late Ernie Brassard, and the Tahoe Cup – Tahoe Lake Crossing, created by prone paddleboarder Phil Seagal, were among the world’s earliest Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) events. These pioneering events played a significant role in shaping the SUP culture both at Lake Tahoe and globally, paving the way for the sport’s tremendous growth.

Ernie Brassard, founder of Tahoe Nalu

My husband Jay and I are fortunate to continue this legacy with the Tahoe Cup, now known as the Tahoe Paddle Racing Series, which has evolved to include Outrigger Canoe and Surfski categories alongside SUP and Prone divisions, expanding the experience for all paddling enthusiasts.

The Wild family at work 🙂

Youth camp at Lake Tahoe Waterman’s Landing

In recent years, the SUP scene at Lake Tahoe has quieted down. Do you have any insights into why that happened?

The slowdown of SUP in Tahoe and Northern California can be attributed to several factors. Like many trends, SUP saw explosive growth in its early years, and after rapid expansion, the market naturally plateaued. People initially drawn to the sport’s novelty may have shifted their focus to other water activities like Outrigger Canoeing, Surfski, or other sports altogether. While we still see paddleboarders on Tahoe, they are fewer in number, and most are no longer racing.

What initiatives are you leading or supporting to bring back the energy and excitement to the Tahoe SUP community?

At Tahoe Waterman and our lakefront base camp, we provide performance paddleboard demos and run morning workouts open to the public. These sessions combine intervals with SUP, prone paddleboarding, swimming, and running to create a dynamic waterman workout experience. We aim to attract and introduce curious ‘land’ athletes to the world of water sports.

We offer coaching and training for all crafts, including SUP, and proudly feature award categories for SUP, Prone, Outrigger, and Surfski in the Tahoe Paddle Racing Series. Throughout the series, we challenge paddle athletes with three different race courses: a technical course in June, a Downwind course in August, and the iconic 22-mile Lake Crossing in September.

Dave Boehne, CEO of Infinity, winner of event #2 of the 2024 Tahoe Waterman Paddle Racing series

What are the water and weather conditions like throughout the different seasons at Lake Tahoe?

Spring (March to May): As the snow melts from the Sierra Nevada mountains, the lake starts to warm up, but the water remains quite cold, typically between 40°F to 50°F (4°C to 10°C). Winds can be unpredictable, with occasional gusts and inconsistent storms, creating choppy waters that aren’t always ideal for downwind paddling. It’s a quieter time on the lake, with fewer crowds and stunning views of snow-capped peaks.

Summer (June to August): The weather is warm and sunny, with air temperatures ranging from 70°F to 85°F (21°C to 29°C). Water temperatures rise to a more comfortable range of 65°F to 70°F (18°C to 21°C), perfect for SUP paddling, swimming, and other water activities. Mornings tend to be calm with glassy water, while afternoon winds, especially on the north shore, create a wind swell of 1 to 4 feet. Downwind conditions on the Westshore are epic, and some will surf the North and East Shore.

Fall (September and October): Water temperatures start to drop at night, but days remain relatively warm. We call these months ‘the Local Summer.’ The paddling is beautiful with almost no boat traffic, and winds tend to be calmer. Daytime temperatures range from 50°F to 75°F (10°C to 23°C).

Winter (November to February): Temperatures range from 20°F to 50°F (-6°C to 10°C), and water temperatures drop to 40°F to 45°F (4°C to 7°C). While most focus on skiing and snowboarding, winter paddling is a serene experience for the Waterman crew, with calm waters, clear skies, and snow-draped landscapes.”

Waterman’s Landing. Open all year.

During windy periods, what downwind conditions can paddlers expect? Are there any iconic downwind runs people should know about?

When the wind picks up, downwind conditions on Lake Tahoe can be absolutely epic, no matter the season. The Downwind Championship race in August highlights this with a 9-mile course from the Westshore near Homewood Ski Resort to our beach at Waterman’s Landing. We also have the option to extend the course to 12 miles, ending at Kings Beach.

Jay Wild on his Prone board on a stormy Lake Tahoe day at Sand Harbor near Incline Village, NV.

On a perfect day with strong west winds, we can start from the same location for an incredible 16-mile run to Sand Harbor on the East Shore. Downwind paddling on Tahoe can be challenging, especially when the water is colder or when strong, gusty winds from the surrounding canyons create tricky, ‘funky’ water conditions that make navigation tough. But when everything aligns, it’s an unbeatable experience.

For more information:
Register for the Tahoe Cup Sept. 13-15
www.watermanslanding.com
www.facebook.com/tahoewaterman
www.instagram.com/tahoewaterman/

The post Anik Wild’s Lake Tahoe: The Ultimate Playground for Paddlers first appeared on TotalSUP.

A soothing shot from the Maxi Worlds, thanks to Max Ranchi.

The publicity run-up to the Barcelona circus featured multiple stories about the involvement of Formula 1 engineering teams. A lavish media event announced that INEOS Britannia would have the advantage of the Mercedes-Benz Petronas Grand Prix team’s expertise. Not to be outdone, Alinghi then confirmed they would enjoy similar support from the Red Bull motor racing boffins.

It all seemed so impressive. ‘Formula One on Water!’ The F1 drivers went for televised joyrides on the AC boats. There was endless blather from the respective team principals about the wonderful crossover benefits to be gained, especially in the field of aerodynamics. 

Nobody in the fawning international yachting media thought to point out that the top speed of an AC yacht is around 55mph while the Formula 1 cars can routinely do more than four times that pace. Sure, reducing drag is a common goal but the AC hulls and rigs are now all so similar that whatever aerodynamic design advantages can be found must be minimal.

In any case, the fundamental requirement for the AC boats is to maximize lift and keep their hulls clear of the water. The Grand Prix cars seek precisely the opposite: to maximize the ground effect down-force and increase traction. 

No doubt the F1 engineers were able to offer some useful suggestions but it is difficult to avoid the suspicion that there might have been an undisclosed benefit in forging this ‘partnership’ with the AC teams. The number of aerodynamic development (wind tunnel) runs is now restricted under the Formula One rules, as are CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) hours. Is it possible that those limits were quietly exceeded using ‘research’ time for the AC syndicates as a cover? 

PS: For those who dug deep into the sponsor alignments of the various teams and discovered that Luna Rossa is supported by Ferrari, that’s not the prancing horse from Maranello. It is the Ferrari Trento group, makers of a traditional Italian sparkling wine. Come to think of it, a few bottles of bubbly might be far more welcome to a crew of thirsty AC sailors than any amount of FI engineering expertise.

– anarchist David