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Two rescued in west Cork yacht mishap

Survivors of the the west Cork boating mishap that took the life of a sixty six year old man spent the evening on an island after their yacht capsized. A pair visiting from the United Kingdom were seen on a cliff at the Castle Island which is just off the mouth of Schull harbor by rescue personnel early yesterday.

Denis Quinlan, the Schull Inshore Lifeboat PRO, told that they were incoherent, even though they were in a frowzled state and visibly shook. Speaking to the rescuers, the couple told that all three on board were in the water clinging to the vessel, a 19ft Drascombe Lugger, after it capsized. Continue reading Two rescued in west Cork yacht mishap

Waiting for the sun-powered yacht race

Monaco has always been known for the most exciting Formula One Grand Prix finals and also for its annual yacht show. This time of the years some of the world’s most fascinating, luxurious and largest sailboats adorn the Port Hercule. However put your seatbelts on this summer, for the Solar1 Races and Vripack are combing the both to bring to you, the first time ever, solar-powered, yacht Grand Prix at the solar1 race. This is scheduled to take place from July 10 to July 12.

The origin of the solar-powered races can be traced back to 2006, the Dong Energy Solar Challenge in Holland. This race originally had two divisions: the hobby-level cruising class and a professional yachting class whose cost made it prohibitive for most of the competitors. After three years in the hobby-level, Vripack came up with an idea of uniform racing. This third level would be for testing the skill of the sailor and not the craftsmen. All the boats designed would be of the same calibre and hence provide a uniform ground for testing.

For this new platform the Vripack designing team has come up with the new V20 series, which has a molded carbon frame and as many solar panels as possible for powering the boat. “There’s not that much boat” as Droogsma says comparing the standard V20 and the Navy vessels that Vripack also build. This V20 takes a mere one and a half month to build because it lacks the complex onboard systems. This is set to reach 18 mph which is 9mph less than the standard professional yachts, but is also just one-third the price of the latter. This also saves up the cost of fuel as the concept of solar power is no longer hypothetical, now all we can hope for is a sunny day.

Outstanding Performance By The Scarlett Runner

From the north of Deshaies, Guadeloupe to English harbor and Antigua, about twenty yatches entered the race. A hot easterly breeze of about 15 loops moving somewhat to the south with a sensible sea state formed champagne terms and conditions for the fleet. Just about 42 miles of ocean race is the customary feeder race for Antigua saling week.

Rob Date, an Australian RP52 Scarlett runner, completed the ending line underneath fort charlotte Antigua, finishing the race within the given time of just around three and half hours.

Rob Date stated that their aim was to start well and try to go ahead of spirit of adventure and get the victory line before them. He said that they had a bit of problem with their code zero which they natured out but overall it was a nice practice, it was a fine shake out for the crew. The next day they will be racing around Antigua and this boat will go on a long one rather than short ones and so they are going to get out there.

All the way from Melbourne Australia covering about 18000 miles, Scarlett Runner has cruised to Antigua. Rowan Disco Leaper has cruised the entire way on Scarlett runner. They have completed only the half route and this is not the end, they have not been counting the miles. They will be sailing far to Hawaii. This is the first occasion on which any of the team has been on Antigua saling week.

At the prize distributing ceremony Scarlet Runner was adjudged winner on corrected time. By just five minutes on the corrected time Stephen C. Schmidt American Santa Cruz 70 stood in the second position. Third position was held by the Alex Johnston’s Grenadian oceanis 461 who was battling with William Bagget and Hans’s Lammers.

Dehler 38 Wins The Best Performance Cruiser Award

Dehler 38 has succeeded in winning the award for the best performance cruiser for the year 2012/13. It was a long awaited decision made by Yachting World which is one of the 11 judges for this award. The European Yacht of the Year Awards was held at Dusseldorf on the 18th of January 2014 and after the event there was boat show as well. The decision came as a surprise for all because there were other deserving nominations too for this award. However as per the features and overall quality this yacht certainly deserved to be the winner. The makers were ecstatic on getting the news that Delher 38 has become the winner. They put in a lot of hard work to make it one of the best yachts and they have succeeded in doing so.

Vrolijk/Judel is the designer of this magnificent boat and over the years they have contributed so much in the designing of so many popular yachts. The Dehler 38 is one sleek which is not quite common among the yacht designs but it has enough power in it. The performance of this yacht is amazing and for the teams who plan to go for the IRC and ORC racing circuits it would be perfect for them. The general deck layout and the ability to sustain pressure have made this boat the best from the rest. For the helmsman this boat will be an easy ride because of the simple specifications laid by the makers. For damage control and for any kind of danger the control lines have been made easier than before and have been placed closer to the reach of the helmsman. The rig and keel options for this yacht have also been made more competitive and versatile for a better performance in the circuits.

Jaguar Lead Boat

Jaguar, which represents the Trinidad & Tobago Sail Association, has come up as the lead boat at Grenada Sail Week 2014. The boat contested off Spice Isle starting from January 30 till February 4 this year.

Peter Morris was the skipper of the winner Jaguar boat. Much to the pleasure of skipper Morris and his squad, the boat topped at the high on competition CSA Cruising I class, getting better of Boxxer and Chao Lay. The boat had to race in winds 15 knots averaging over 4 days of contending.

Jaguar also earned the much coveted honor of Best Performer Boat at this annual regatta that considers a great host factors for the award- competitiveness of class, loyalty to event and turn-out of boat 7 crew.

“Grenada Sail Week is undoubtedly an amazing regatta”, remarked the winner skipper Morris while asked to speak a few words about his recent feat. “It’s the initial event for this season to us & from this championship we are heading towards north to contend in more. Our Jaguar squad looks truly solid with all fantastic sailors- but interestingly we do not have any pros in between us. We are great buddies who are passionate about sailing & the Grenada event offers strong racing & fabulous ambience ashore.”

According to the skipper, it is the close bond between the Jaguar sailors than binds them and enables them to come up with excellent achievements together.

“Close racing & bonhomie with everybody involved here makes an ideal event – winning this very coveted best performer yacht recognition was a grand moment for everybody here”, the elated skipper added in.

Among other T and T yachts that contended in the event, Dingo (Mark Chapman) took away the win of CSA Racing- Done Talking came 7th in Cruising II.

New Zealand Government Provides $5m For American’s cup

With an intention of building another campaign for the world’s oldest sporting trophy, New Zealand’s government gave a NZ$5 million to the New Zealand Team America’s cup syndicate because their top design and sailing personnel were about to get poached. The holders Oracle Team The United States of America beated team new Zealand who was again backed by Larry Ellison, a software billionaire in a take away final race which took place in San Francisco Bay the previous month. The Oracle Team USA captured nation’s imagination of providing a valuable exposure. Good network possibilities were also provided by them to the local businesses.

It is mentioned by the syndicate head G. Dalton & the skipper of the team Dean barker mentioned that the rival syndicates approached the key design & the sailing personnel after a long time of the race for which a good amount of fund was to be arranged quickly to keep the team intact and ready to face the future challenges. The Economic Development minister gave a statement that the government of New Zealand sat on a cabinet meeting and agreed to put forward around $5 million for the Team Zealand so that it is ensured that the support crew, designers, administrative staff and sailors are kept secured at least till 2014 May. Within this time the authorities would take a decision about the involvement of the team in the future regatta.

The format of the next regatta which is supposed to be held in 2016 will be determined by the Australian Hamilton Island Yacht Club (HIYC) which is again owned by the wine tycoon who is also a sailing enthusiast Bob Oatley. He has also been proved to be the Challenger of Record. During 2007, before sponsors were arranged to present the lock up talent amount, the government promised to provide NZ$10 million for the challenge that the New Zealand team had to face. The estimation was around NZ$120 million but the government eventually contributed NZ$36 million for it.

Joyce added to his statement by saying that the government is always willing to act as a sponsors but an economic analysis of the 2013 regatta will be conducted first.

2013 Championship of Champions

Brian Keane has reportedly come up as the winner of 2013 Championship of Champions on October 27, 2013. It was a dramatic finish to the prestigious race organized by the prestigious Columbia Sailing Club and as many as 16 races were needed to choose the winner of Jack Brown Trophy.

Brian Keane & crew members Steve Hunt & Victor De Leon bagged in a 3 point lead place over B. Alison & Laura and will Jeffers. Skip Dieball and crew members Tom Starck & Abby Freeman were 7 points back that got them in the 3rd position.

The Race 15 on the last day started out amidst winds at five to eight knots. The club Race Committee reduced the racing course foe upward finish. This 15th race had Lee Sackett as the winner who was followed by Tampa’s Greiner Hobbs in the second position, Alison in the 3rd & Keane in the 4th place. Dieball came to the 13th position. However, in the last race, Keane came up with a 4-point lead over Betsy Alison & Dieball was eleven points behind.

Prior to the 16th race, there was this 1800 wind shift blowing from the eastern side at about five knots. The Easterly Breeze was never usual in Lake Murray & the very wind direction resulted in shifty weather-legs. Skip Dieball was able to maintain lead in 1st leeward mark & was followed by Brian Keane & Gillum. The teams adjusted themselves to a light oscillation to northeast with the winds at five to eight knots. Dieball came up as the winner for the 16th Race, followed by Brian and Starck.

Keane won over the Columbian regatta by ten points over Skip & Alison. Skip won on tie-breaker and came to the 2nd place. Albeit Keane could not win on any of the races in the recent week yet he finished in top 3 on 7 occasions all through the 16 races.