Yacht n Boat

All Girls Sailing Voyage on Legendary ‘Maiden’

index — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 10:12:51 +0000

Courtney Koos is a sailor and a former student of Bowdoin College. She is currently sailing the 58-foot renowned yacht, Maiden. It is the same vessel which was by a legendary sailor from Britain, Tracy Edwards in the year 1989 when she was the skipper of the very first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. Maiden has been newly restored after thirty years. It is on a voyage that will go on for almost two and a half years covering 32 destinations across 17 nations. This time it is also an all-female crew from hailing from different countries.

The project of this voyage is named The Maiden Factor. It was started by Edwards for raising funds for charities to support girls’ education globally. Koos is one of the permanent crew along with three others. She is a major in government and economics from Bowdoin. She will also take on board as a guest crew at each leg of the voyage. Currently, they are at a position which is 360nm from the Panama Canal on the side of the western entrance.

The trip began two years back in November. They went through the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Red Sea. They have plans to visit the Caribbean, US East Coast, and to cross the Atlantic Ocean for finishing the very first circumnavigation in 2020 August before coming back to England. They will continue the Asia and the Middle East tour throughout May in 2021 before completing it by crossing the Pacific Ocean for the second time. For the final leg, the crew will be visiting Japan and from there they will be going towards the western side of Canada. Koos has been given the responsibility of an onboard engineer for looking after the engine, water-maker, and generator servicing. She is also looking after the electrical systems of the boat.

US SER List Revised

index — Sat, 04 May 2019 12:12:46 +0000

Revised list of safety equipment has been released by US Sailing for sailboats in the monohull category. The safety equipment requirements list has been revised and SERs for multihulls have been approved as well. These revised guidelines will become applicable this year.

SERs describe the kind of gear to be used on these boats whether they race near shore or offshore in the US. The information needs to be referred to by boat inspectors, race, and owners. Racers that happen offshore as well as in the coastal regions would need to refer to these lists that would help them know boat particulars and equipment requirements.

The SERs of multihull and monohull categories are approved by US Sailing Safety committee for the sea as well as offshore activities. The approvals were made in February 2019. The change in monohulls is a minor one this year whereas the multihull SERs list is a new one. This is a list that would probably see revisions next year as well since there are multihulls being included in several events.

SERs are compiled with inputs received from different sailing communities across the country. It also helps set guidelines for safety equipment requirements for race organizing bodies. They are also given the freedom to modify the same as per venue and events. In general, SERs are simplified for pre-race inspectors and yacht owners; these are self-contained and are not part of external documents; race categories have also been reduced to three which include coastal, nearshore and ocean. SERs have been made compact so that they can be easily included in a club’s website or put on notice. These requirements are also in line with World Sailing requirements. The goal is to ensure that sailboats that compete internationally need not to make any modifications. It also makes it easy for international boats to compete in the US.

Sailor And Entrepreneur Tony Bullimore Dies At 79

index — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 10:42:51 +0000

The global star of 1997 who earned fame after his dramatic rescue during the Vendee Globe died aged 79 on the 31st of July, 2018. He was given another name in ‘British Bulldog’ and the man had survived for around four days below the hull of his boat that had capsized during the race. He was diagnosed with an exceptional form of cancer. Known for his determination to get things done, Bullimore is described as a character full of life and crazy. Over the years, he has won numerous trophies and races, but his nephew Stephen Mulvaney explains how Bullimore felt sad for being known for the rescue, rather than the races he won. He was dreaded to have drowned after his Exide Challenger capsized in the Southern Ocean in 1997.

Fortunately, he was spotted and rescued after four days by an Australian navy ship. He was later introduced to the Queen who praised Bullimore’s extraordinary feat of survival. The sailor had sat under the hull of his yacht that had been upturned, surviving on chocolate and water. Bullimore was more than a sailor; he was a celebrated philanthropist as well. He was also a part of the documentary released by the BBC in which he had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. In yet another documentary prepared by BBC Radio Bristol in 2016, he was described by one of his friends as a generous and humble man who helped thousands of black people.

Despite all this, the couple opened the Bamboo Club together, hosting Bob Marley, the Wailers and other stars like Ben E King. The Bamboo closed 11 years later due to a fire. The Sailor had a colorful life and he was always in the news for all the good reasons for most of the time.

Young Sailors Welcomed By Optimist National Championships

index — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 17:33:03 +0000

Hal Smith, the Pensacola Yacht Club Fleet Captain talks on what makes the Pensacola Bay and the PYC unique as far as the Junior Olympic Festival is concerned. Around 300 young sailors from all around the world added thrill to the historic grounds of the PYC this week as all teams were preparing for the international sailing race. Pensacola is hosting the USODOA Optimist Nationals, Optimist Team Race National Championship and the Girls Optimist National Championship. Racing has already begun and the check-ins and measurements took place on Friday and Saturday.

It is quite exciting to see sailors as they make their journey from Denmark, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates to achieve the title in the Gulf area of Mexico. The grand opening ceremony was made for the National Championship at Saenger Theater at Pensacola on Saturday. American Magic from Americas Cup was also featured in the event. The mayor of Pensacola Ashton Hayward and the commodore of Pensacola Yacht Club Jim Reeves did honor the guests and the sailors thoroughly enjoyed the opening event. They had to represent their countries with the help of flags in addition to other tokens. As the Optimist Championship is scheduled to be contested from 15^th July, it will be concluded in 18^th July. The Optimist Girls National Championship will be contested in 19^th July. Similarly, the Optimist Team Race National Championship would take place from 20^th July.

The International Optimist Dinghy also called as the Opti has been raced in more than 1220 countries. The best part is that it is one of the two yachts which legislative bodies have approved for sailors less than 16 years of age. With so many sailors contesting in the world championship, it is certainly going to be interesting for everyone. The top young sailors will be gathered to show their best talents in the event.

BEIJAFLORE TO CLOSE TO WINNING EFG SAILING ARABIA

index — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 15:46:16 +0000

French sailing team Bejaflore are a stage away from winning the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour trophy. Team Beijaflore is a venue and two scoring points away from becoming the new champs of EFG Sailing Arabia. They are the clear favourites to usurp EFG Bank Monaco as Tour champs with their ten point lead.

There are one coastal raid and stadium race day events to claim the crown. Podium finishes aside coastal raids win in Salalah, stadium racing victory in Duqm and Sur coastal raids ensured Beijaflore are the side to beat. For EFG to retain their title they would need to emerge winners in both races while Beijaflore finish last – a thing that is very unlikely.

“Despite our lead we aren’t thinking about the overall result. We will just treat the last part of the regatta like we have treated all the others. Our goal is always to sail fast and to beat the other teams. The rest will come,”Beijaflorecaptain ValentinBellet said.

EFG Bank Monaco have better chances fighting off the competition from Steve Morrison-led Averda. The two time Olympian won in the Sur stadium racing series and had other good results to go two points of EFG Bank Monaco.

LorinaGolfe du Morbihanare fourth in the standings and nine points behind Averda. Vivacar.fr comes next before ChemineesPoujoulat in sixth, two points off LorinaGolfe du Morbihan. Renaissance and DB Schenker make up the top eight on the log so far on 2018 EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour.

The Tour finale will begin with a coastal raid from Bandar Al Rowdha to an old town Muttrah in Muscat on the 16th before a closing day stadium race on February 17. There would be a prize giving ceremony on the evening of the 17th at the Muscat’s National Museum of Oman.

Coral Expeditions Offers 2017 Sydney To Hobart Race Sail

index — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 13:12:53 +0000

The annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is one of the most looked forward to events by many of the locals as well as foreign tourists.

This is a celebration week as the event is held just after Christmas day and will go on to usher in the New Year. This year the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a platform that Coral Expeditions is looking to make use of to usher in tourists to take cruise rides when the event is on.

The Coral Expeditions will offer its guests a sail along with the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race to explore the waterways of Australia. The cruise on the Coral Discoverer will start off from where the yacht race starts and will come down to Hobart just when the winner celebrations of the race are set to begin in Hobart. John Longley, a veteran of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, will be on board the cruise to give details about the race to the guests. He has taken part in many of other prestigious races and getting a first-hand view of the yacht race from him is one that everyone will enjoy and cherish.

The ride on the Coral Discoverer will end on January 1, 2018, and the guests will get to witness grand New Year fireworks celebration over the Derwent River on New Year’s Day. The ride on the Coral Discoverer that is scheduled along with the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race will cruise along the coastlines from Jervis Bay to Twofold Bay and will also have stoppings at the Maria Island, Ben Boyd National Park and sea cliffs of Fluted Cape Walk. The Coral Discoverer has been refurbished now and this will be its first trip after refurbishments in 2016. It can accommodate a total of 72 guests.

At Masters Games, Para-Sailors Turning Ahead

index — Tue, 16 May 2017 08:37:07 +0000

The green machine of Chris Sharp is becoming popular on the course of sailing at the World Masters Games, this is because it is giving tough competition to most of its rivals and finishing ahead.

You must be thinking what is extraordinary in it. So, the thing that makes it extraordinary is Sharp is a paraplegic. Seven years back, he had a motorbike accident. He is now 59 years old and competed in the tournament with a great zeal. Among the 30 competitors, Sharp finished in eighth Weta class single-handed. The racing happened for two days, where Sharp gave tough competition to other players and in the race, he also defeated some of the top players. Weta class after two days of racing, where he is against a number of former top-level sailors.

Though, the game of Sharp was an extraordinary, but it is not like he is alone in the event who has turned heads.

Andrew May and Paul Francis the Fellow Paralympians finished at 11th and ninth position respectively, after competing in seven races of the scheduled races of 14. Sharp shared his views about the event and said, “In the event there were 30 entrants and for me the goal was to beat as many behind as I can”.

“The competition was fair, and among the sailors of equal efficiency. However, if asked who would be the one for him I could have let them cross my way is, then the person would be Andrew. Everyone else is fair game and to be taken out”.

“When I started in the competition, I got the kind of impression that other competitors in the event are wondering about our strong points and what we were capable of. They were saying words about the participant like and that give me the very, very tough time”.

Maui Canoe Sailors Come Home

admin — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 17:13:14 +0000

Sailing can be inspirational and life changing. No one understands that better than residents of Maui counties who recently took part in a unique sailing event. Hokule’a is a canoe that embarked on a journey to travel the waters across the globe.

It came back to its home country in Hawaii after a span of three years. It has covered a total of 60,000 nautical miles as well as stopping by hundred ports in Africa, South Pacific, East Coast, South America and the Caribbean.

About twelve crew members of Maui County helped the canoe or its sister canoe to travel and cover the worldwide tour that was part of Malama Honua worldwide voyage venture, with PlainSailing.com. They have several stories to tell, that of harrowing sea conditions they faced as well as communities who are working to save ocean environment and so forth.

As one of the crew members pointed out, the experience they had in the canoe leads to much action that need to take place once they are back in town. Archie Kalepa was one of the crew members aboard the canoe. Though he was no stranger to sailing, but he also discovered unique aspects of the world’s oceans during this epic voyage. He states experiences like temperatures that changed in different locations and swells that they experienced in different places.

He talked about storms that continued for three days and glowing algae that lit up the sea in magical ways. He stated that the colors were akin to the colors seen in Avatar movie.

Many of the crew members are enthused to embark on other voyages and sailing events as well. You might think that their enthusiasm for sailing would be quenched by this trip, but it seems that they are ready for more and to carry their experience further and make them even better.

Figaro 3 Transformed For Foil

index — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 11:53:26 +0000

Groupe Beneteau is all set to produce first series-built monohull with foils in newly launched new Figaro 3.

The initiative of Beneteau is a strong message and it’s going to have a knock-on effect for sure to yacht production and for racing.

Those who think whether foiling will ever come into mainstream sailing, the initiative of Beneteau to produce Figaro 3 fleet with foils is an answer to them. It is a radical new one-design brought by Beneteau.

Beneteau declared the transformation of Figaro 3, on Boat show of Paris in December. VPLP the leading design firm of French has drawn race boat with contemporary looking.

The new foils have been designed in-order to replace the contemporary ballast tank that used to be very heavily weighted used in older models of Figaro. The foil is said as ‘asymmetric tip foils’. It works supplements the skinny keel by creating side force and this reduces the leeway that causes minimal drag. Another important factor with this boat is within the maximum beam of the boat they will be able to retract.

People associate with changes in Figaro 3 we’re expecting that boat will work 15 percent faster and it is working as per the expectations then its original version. Till time Figaro is a conventional and durable. The boat has been used for training and it has provided a platform to sailors those aspiring for solo offshore racing. Many sailors who have practiced on Figaro 3 have moved to the level of the IMOCA 60 fleet

Bénéteau’s marketing director of sailboat Guinguido Girotti said “We think with the changes in Figaro 3 more international can be done with the boat,” Girotti also coordinated Beneteau project and headed racing division. He thinks racing of short-handed offshore distances and races will get benefit from this.

3rd Belize Bart’s Bash

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:13:30 +0000

The Bart’s Bash of 2016 will be taking place on September 17 and 18 in Belize. The organizers of the event have decided to make full use of the weekend of conducting a regatta race on 17 September and a sailing Bart’s Bash on September 18.

Sailors from all over the world take part in this Bart’s Bash sailing race. They will come in a wide range of sailboats that you can ever imagine to add color and spectacle to the sailing event.

The Bart’s Bash started in the year 2014 and it has been recognized as the largest boat race event in the sailing history by the Guinness Book of World Records, with many companies like Dubrovnik Yacht Charter giving away their yachts for free for the day to help the effort. What started as a one day all encompassing event has now moved on and is now conducted as an all-on-the-same weekend sailing event. This year’s Bart’s Bash should entertain more boats than the previous two years. This means you can see more than 16,000 boats take part in the sailboat race.

The venue for the regatta and the Bart’s Bash sailing event the next day will be the waters of the Caribbean Villas Hotel in San Pedro. The sailors owning the small crafts will be able to take part in both the events. The Saturday’s race will see Belize 4 classes of small crafts like Laser radials, windsurfers, Hobie catamarans and Optimist dinghies.

The main reason for conducting this Bart’s Bash event every year is to increase the awareness among many people about sailing and to attract more and more international participation. It is also conducted in order to raise funds for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation to support many sustainable projects that will help in improving the lives of people and children globally through sailing.

There is no doubt that the event will get support from sailors all over the world.