Yacht – Page 2 – Yacht Mad

50 Years of Elite Yachting

The 50^th 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”

Saphire 27 Beats The Others

The name for the winner of the most special yacht for the year 2012/13 has been announced and the winner for this category is Saphire 27. The recent boat show in Dusseldorf also held the program for the European Yacht of the Year awards and the name was announced in this event. Yachting World was one of the proud judges of this event and the decision they took was not an easy one considering the other nominations of which all of them looked to be the closest to win the award. However the decision was apt and there were several reasons behind the decision. According to the news after the program the team of Saphire 27 was overwhelmed and there were celebrations all over.

The Saphire 27 is such a boat which can be used in the racing circuits and also for weekend cruising. This shorthanded boat is quite easy to manage although many may question about the aggressive racy looks she has. Apart from this everything else is almost perfect with the mainsail being large enough and having a square top. One of the major changes that the makers have done is the retractable carbon bowsprit which was missing from the previous models. The aggressive hull chine together with the masthead asymmetric spinnaker makes this boat a real treat for the helmsman. The price of this boat has been tagged at €49,000 but considering all the qualities it has it will definitely be worth buying for the teams. They may also be impressed with the additional features this boat has such lead bulb keel and a high performance steel fin. This will be pointing in any direction the helmsman wants and this is what makes it different from the other boats that were there on the nomination list.

Students Yachting World Cup

14 teams were warmly greeted with an outstanding weather on the 5^th day of the Student Yachting World Cup on the 18^th of October 2013. The fifth day included 3 windward leeward races as well as a coastal one which announced the French team to be the winners with a day remaining.

Team USA, Germany and Belgium started of badly on the day. Switzerland & France were the two leaders sailed very fast and the coastal race was completed by them when it was not even one hour. But the second time France was overtaken by Australia who ended being first before Ireland, France and UCD. Though Switzerland had started well but couldn’t end up well as they faced trouble tracking around a buoy area which was crowded.

Among the 3 windward and leeward races, during the first race each crew had to face great difficulties to start because the current was too strong. Though till the end point France kept up the good work and finished first. The UCD team and Australia came second and third. The current strengthened during the second race and the waves being each crew had to be extra cautious to start. Though the teams had a lot of problem to manage the place themselves they kept distances so that they are not disqualified. This time the USA team had a flying start but due to a problem with the rudder, the UCD team couldn’t complete the race.

The Norway and UCD were forced to leave the competition because they had damages in their boats and thus they couldn’t take part in the last lap. The other crews concentrated more so that they can cross the end line early, during the last race. France, USA and England were side by side while they were approaching the finishing line. Though eventually with time France speeded up and grabbed the trophy. Then England and USA reached the finishing line. France created history by winning the Student Yachting World Cup on their 33^rd edition.