The Announcement of the Youth America’s Cup

The Youth America’s Cup has been announced that has been reinvigorated recently. This race will involve the fresh new class of non-hull, foiling, and the AC9F in the next two years. This competition has been initiated jointly by the Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and the China Sports Industry Group.

This multi-leg affair will start with a fleet race seeding event in China which is set to take place in the month of November 2020. After that, a match racing event will take place in Auckland which will begin from 18th February and go on till 23rd February 2021. The finals will take place from March 8th to 12th 2021 outside the premises of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron under the shadow of the symbol of Auckland, Harbor Bridge.

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Strange Conditions is Waiting for Young Sailors in Algarrobo

The young sailors of Bermuda will put all their skills on test opposite some elite in the world trying conditions at the OSAC in Algarrobo, Chile.

Those who are representing the island in this regatta include Sebastian Kempe, Kipling Roussow, Ben Redburn, Magnus Ringsted, Amelia Lewis, Christian Ebbin, Rachael Betschart, Nicole Stovell, Ava Adams and Laura Hupman.
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More Entries Before The Deadline For America’s Cup

The official date for the late entries for America’s Cup was 30th November and the Squadron of Royal New Zealand Yacht and Emirates New Zealand announced that an additional 8 entries (Notices of Challenge) were received by the 5 pm deadline. However, the committee said that only one of the entries can be accepted immediately while the rest of the 7 entries will be accepted on certain conditions, in fact, some of the entries made were invalid and were outright rejected.

The CEO of Emirates New Zealand team said that “they are really surprised and happy by the level of interest shown by the participants from around the world by the number of notices of challenge which they received on today’s deadline.”
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Nominations Open For Sailing Industry Distinguished Service Award

Industry Distinguished Service Award (IDSA) is being accepted. The award was created by the Annapolis Boat Shows (ABS) in the year 2014; this is the award to recognize the members of the sailing industry for their high standards of service, excellence and commitment. Annapolis Boat Shows each year the honors someone who has done something extraordinary through their continued and unselfish service for the advancement overall in the sailing industry.

This is the fourth annual 2017 Annapolis Boat Shows’ Sailing Industry Distinguished Service Award and this year it does not go to not want to just one person but this time there were two winners of this award. The winners were Peter Harken and Olaf, the founders of Harken, Inc. This is an international manufacturer specializing in sailing hardware performance, joined an impressive group of recipients: John Arndt, Alastair Murray and Margaret Podlich. All of them have made a huge contribution to sailing industry, both on and off the water.
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DAY 5 LEG 6 OF VOR IS WET AND WILD

The Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) fleet on Sunday experienced wet and wild conditions on Day 5 of the race. The finish in New Zealand is still 4000 nautical miles away as the fleet charged southeast.

MAPFRE’s Blair Tuke said since the front hit, the ride has been fast, with 20 to 25 knots of breeze and 18 to 25 knots of wind. It has been quite a bumpy ride for the fleet with Tuke complaining of so much water on deck.

MAPFRE still maintain their very narrow lead over Team Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team.Team Turn the Tide on Plastic is 13 miles away but in the first group. Team AkzoNobel and Scallywag are in the second group even though Scallywag are trying a repeat of their southern ‘cutting the corner’ route like they did in Leg 4.

Dee Caffari from Turn on the Tide on Plastic said the current conditions would help them regain lost miles due to slow upwind sailing. He added that everywhere and everything were wet due to the water pouring in on the deck. For now no one on the team is complaining as the water is warm and the conditions would help them “cover some serious miles.”He added that the warm water temperature matched the air temperature of 19 degrees.

Day 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Hong Kong to Auckland has been an interesting journey so far. It has been quite wet and wild so far but the race is still miles ahead of the finish line on Leg 6.

Great Kills Yacht Club honors Commodore

For the 108th year, on Saturday evening, the members of the Great Kills Yacht Club lionized their annual Commodore’s Ball at their clubhouse located on Great Kills marina.

Over hundred and sixty guests, that is comprised of G.K.Y.C. members along with members of various other yacht clubs and their wives, relished an open bar with a dinner to pay respect to their retiring Commodore Paul Heyne and also welcoming Donald Heap, their incoming commodore.

Great Kills YC
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Incentives might attract yacht builder to Brevard

On Tuesday, a yacht maker which might bring near about jobs to the Merritt Island was approved for US$ 1.16 million in nation economic incentives, spread more than ten years. Brevard County Commission voted 3 – 1 in favor of bonus program for a brand new yacht firm being denoted to as Project Transom to save the identity of the company. Trudie Infantini, the Commissioner, voted no and Commissioner Robin Fisher was not there.
The company is thinking of moving into an ex Sea Ray Boats plant – at 1220 Bertram Way which more recently has been engaged by the Bertram Yachts. Project Transom stated  that it would make 380 jobs by the year 2018 with an US$ 45000 average wage and create a US$ 16.2 million capital investment in brand new equipment at this plant, if it settles on Merritt Island place.
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast’s senior director of business development Greg Weiner told that the Project Transom owners also are thinking of sites in the North Carolina for the plant that would made 60 to 90 foot luxury yachts, primarily for Ocean Alexander brand.
Speaking about the EDC’s Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Council, Weiner told that they have an uphill task in the contest against North Carolina that has a repute as being liberal with their tax breaks to firms bringing jobs to this state. The business advisory panel as well as government officials previous week unanimously suggested the tax break deal which the County Commission approved on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, a yacht maker which might bring near about jobs to the Merritt Island was approved for US$ 1.16 million in nation economic incentives, spread more than ten years. Brevard County Commission voted 3 – 1 in favor of bonus program for a brand new yacht firm being denoted to as Project Transom to save the identity of the company. Trudie Infantini, the Commissioner, voted no and Commissioner Robin Fisher was not there.

The company is thinking of moving into an ex Sea Ray Boats plant – at 1220 Bertram Way which more recently has been engaged by the Bertram Yachts. Project Transom stated  that it would make 380 jobs by the year 2018 with an US$ 45000 average wage and create a US$ 16.2 million capital investment in brand new equipment at this plant, if it settles on Merritt Island place, using the Largs Marina as a templare.

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast’s senior director of business development Greg Weiner told that the Project Transom owners also are thinking of sites in the North Carolina for the plant that would made 60 to 90 foot luxury yachts, primarily for Ocean Alexander brand.

Speaking about the EDC’s Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Council, Weiner told that they have an uphill task in the contest against North Carolina that has a repute as being liberal with their tax breaks to firms bringing jobs to this state. The business advisory panel as well as government officials previous week unanimously suggested the tax break deal which the County Commission approved on Tuesday.

Skipper of Oracle Knows The Strength Of New Zealand

Jimmy Spithill the skipper of Oracle has announced that New Zealand is the clear favourites who will advance to the American cup finals. Before the meeting of the competitor’s six skippers of the American team get together at London. Two new teams have joined the pack a French team and a British team headed by Franck Camass and Ben Ainslie.

The lineup is pretty tough according to Spithill but it is going to be the team of New Zealand, Emirates who have the highest chances of being in the final. It is on the basis of sheer timing and the record of history that puts the team on front. But every team has its own strength there is no denying the fact but what is going to be tested is excellence and the edginess which he believes the New Zealand team has.

Despite winning from 8-1, Spithill is not that confident or is this his strategy is yet to be seen but New Zealand skipper Dean Barker states that he has not forgotten the defeat and the line up this time is proving to be strong to boost up the challenge. The team reflected upon the loss and the wounds of defeat have not healed up so they will be planning for a great revenge. They have to jump and take up the added step so that they can place their victory.

Some fresh faces and exquisite talent is responsible or a confidence amongst the team members of New Zealand and other teams are also wary of their strength. For the record of challenger Luna Rossa is going to take over. A committee for the challengers has been put up for reviewing. The plan is to work collectively as a team and record any misguided result.

Afflicted yacht pulled along into Dartmouth by Torbay lifeboat

Today, the Torbay RNLI lifeboat went to the help a yacht that was taking on water seventeen miles off the coast Brixham. On Monday, the alarm was raised at 9.10 am by 2 yachts that saw the vessel Seahawk in tough conditions.
There, the yachts stood by till the lifeboat reached on scene and positioned a salvage pump on 8 meter vessel that had 3 people on board. After that, Seahawk was towed to Dartmouth, coming at 2.30 pm. The Humber Coastguard got a distress signal from the twenty two foot yacht just after 8 in the morning. The person who was on board stated that he was taking on water and his sails were in shreds and the engine stopped working. At that time, the wind was gusting up to forty six miles per hour, with a 3.5 meter swell.
The rescue and search helicopter from the RAF Wattisham was sent to the spot, with RNLI’s Cromer and Humber all weather yachts. A boat that was also in that region at that time also went to help. It was there with the distressed yacht till the rescue team came. After that the man who was on the board was taken onboard to a helicopter and taken to the hospital. He has signs of hypothermia.
Humber Coastguard’s Watch Manager Graham Dawson told that conditions out in North Sea as of now have been quite treacherous, with winds gusting over forty mile per hour and a large swell. The yacht was well equipped with communications gadgets.

Today, the Torbay RNLI lifeboat went to the help a yacht that was taking on water seventeen miles off the coast Brixham. On Monday, the alarm was raised at 9.10 am by 2 yachts that saw the vessel Seahawk in tough conditions.

There, the yachts stood by till the lifeboat reached on scene and positioned a salvage pump on 8 meter vessel that had 3 people on board. After that, Seahawk was towed to Dartmouth, coming at 2.30 pm. The Humber Coastguard got a distress signal from the twenty two foot yacht just after 8 in the morning. The person who was on board stated that he was taking on water and his sails were in shreds and the engine stopped working. At that time, the wind was gusting up to forty six miles per hour, with a 3.5 meter swell.

The rescue and search helicopter from the RAF Wattisham was sent to the spot, with RNLI’s Cromer and Humber all weather yachts. A boat that was also in that region at that time also went to help. It was there with the distressed yacht till the rescue team came. After that the man who was on the board was taken onboard to a helicopter and taken to the hospital. He has signs of hypothermia.

Humber Coastguard’s Watch Manager Graham Dawson told that conditions out in North Sea as of now have been quite treacherous, with winds gusting over forty mile per hour and a large swell. The yacht was well equipped with communications gadgets.

Golden Jubilee Celebration at Long Beach

The race that has started off in 1965, as a small and local annual event has now achieved international status and importance. Some 300 odd volunteers sweat it out each year to put it together for the veterans and the newbies. This is a Grade 1 level race that is only the finest sailors from all over the world can participate. There are some 60 odd teams from as far as Australia and as close by as long beach who are set to compete in this event. The first match race is due this Monday and this will culminate in the semi-final and final matches of the Congressional Cup on the 13th of April.

Each year, this event brings together the best sailors from around the globe to the feet of the Belmont Pier. As the streets dress up for the Long Beach Grand Prix, the beach is gearing up for the “granddaddy of match racing”. The crimson blazer is awarded to the winning skipper each year. Ted turner claimed it in 1977 before going on to win the America’s cup the very same year.  Quoting this year’s race chairman, David Westerfield, “It’s a unique experience in sailboat racing that we get to bring to Long Beach.”

The “yellow hats” or the boat-fleet maintenance crew, the on-water umpires, the families that host the sailors each year are all volunteers. The race organizers rightly believe that since the inception, the success of such a huge and impressive event has rested on the shoulders of the volunteers. In its 50th year, the race is hoping to draw crowds greater than it usually does each year. Bleachers are set up and the on-lookers get a front row seat at the starting-line for one memorable Congressional Cup which has five of the top six ranked skippers from around the world.

50 Years of Elite Yachting

The 50th year of the congressional cup at Long Beach is the reason the waterfront is being transformed as the battling arena for this year’s Cup. Known as the “granddaddy of match racing”, this race, hosted by the Long Beach yacht club brings together the finest of the sailors from all around the world. About 60 sailors from as far as Australia participate in the races.

Since its inception the volunteers have poured their souls in for the success of the events. Some 300 odd volunteers have made sure that this event removes the sense of distance and invites the veterans from the farthest corners of the world. As a result, what had started off as a local event in 1965 has now reached world-wide acclaim and importance. Quoting Bruce Brown, a yacht club member since 1976, “But through all of it, what has kept it successful and unique has really been everyone that helps put it on.” Continue reading “50 Years of Elite Yachting”