No port in a storm, written by Bob MacAlindin and published by Whittles Publishing is the story of an earnest interest in these working boats.  read more »

One couldn't have asked for better conditions on the opening day of the Trophe Clairefontaine Valencia. The Rhodia warm up races got underway at 3pm right inside Port America's Cup with a very nice breeze that reached 10 knots and gave the dozens of spectators the opportunity to watch 8 very close races. There is no doubt, wind allowing of course, that this race format can be very spectacular, especially considering the peculiar race course that includes a stretch and a buoy inside the canal, causing pileups and quite often a few penalties. Add the fact spectators can sit anywhere they like and be a mere 10 meters from the action and you surely have an attractive show. Organizers have made sure even absolute beginners can understand what's going on with live commentary Being warm up races that don't count towards the trophy, today's results should be taken with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, it appears it is going to be a battle between Lock Peyron and the two Alinghi teams, Red and Black. The French sailor, 7-time winner of the Trophe Clairefontaine, ended the day at the top of the leaderboard with 64 points, with Alinghi Red and Black tied at 50 points. It's interesting to notice that all three team had two victories throughout the day but Peyron's consistency put him ahead of the America's Cup Defender crews. Both Ed Baird, helming the Black, and Luc Dubois, helming the Red, had finished last in one of the 8 races. Frenchman Nicolas Charbonnier and Spaniard Fernando Len won one race each. Racing at earnest begins on Saturday with a 30-minute race in front of the Malvarosa beach. After a paella lunch (well, this is Valencia after all) in Valencia's yacht club the 8 teams will return to Port America's Cup in order to compete in 5 races.  read more »

It is the third race of the second day of the district Laser championships. The sea breeze has kicked in with a vengeance and the race committee has signaled a windward-leeward two-lap course.

The Strategy. I figure I want the right side of the course for two reasons. First of all, when the sea breeze came in yesterday a couple of sailors made huge gains on the last beat of the last race by hitting the right corner. Secondly I think that if I start at the right end of the line and tack to port immediately I will have a clear lane.  read more »

New Mexico Sailing Club Heron Lake, New Mexico Summer Breeze Race Series, June August, 2008 NOTICE OF RACE 1 RULES 1.1 The Summer Breeze Race series, and each regatta, will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, 20052008 (RRS). 1.2 Handicaps will be Portsmouth Handicap, with wind range modifiers. The race committee may alter handicap numbers if it believes a boat or equipment have been altered or do not meet class requirements. 1.3 Class and handicap rules apply except where modified by this Notice of Race or by the Sailing Instructions. Class rules requiring class membership do not apply. The race committee may grant a waiver, at its discretion, to any class rules that in its judgement do not affect the safety or fairness of competition.  read more »

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Platoon powered by Team Germany, steered by triple Olympic gold medallist and double America's Cup Winner Jochen Schuemann (GER) emerged unscathed from a dramatic and exciting coastal race to take the best of the points available, winning both sections of the 39 miles passage to Cassis and back, on the third day of racing at the City of Marseille Trophy, the second regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit. It was the first ever winning gun for the German boat which is owned by Harm Muller-Spreer (GER) and helmed by Schuemann with Rod Dawson (NZL) calling the tactics. Only swift avoiding action by the helm, who saw at the last minute what was happening, saved Platoon from becoming involved in a nasty series of crashes and near-collisions when the leading pack converged at speed at the first windward mark. A big wind shift accelerated the arrival and suddenly favored a pack coming from the left at the buoy, while those with right of way on starboard tack slowed and struggled momentarily. Lightning quick reactions and bold decisions were required from the line up of port tack boats. Sadly Matador (ARG), CxG Caixa Galicia (ESP) and Mutua Madrilea (CHI) all sustained damage and had to retire.  read more »