Sprindrift Racing Team Unveileds MOD70 N°05

  Spindrift racing construction, Lorient, France. (Photo © Chris Schmid / Spindrift racing) Spindrift racing’s flagship, MOD70 N°05, took to the water today in Lorient to the delight of Yann Guichard. Before entering an intense sailing season, the skipper and CEO took the opportunity to present part of his crew and technical team : Pascal Bidégorry, Billy Besson and Jacques Guichard will... [Read more]

Giovanni Soldini and Maserati Prepare for Attempt At Cadiz-San Salvador Speed Record

Maserati (Photo courtesy of Maserati.Soldini.it) A professional 8-man crew including American Brad Van Liew challenges the Atlantic Ocean The first ambitious challenge at a speed record in the North Atlantic by Giovanni Soldini and Maserati was announced today in Milan. As from early February a crew of eight led by Soldini will be engaged in seeking to become the new record holder between Cadiz (Spain)... [Read more]

The MOD70 takes on Europe

  2011 KRYS MATCH - 6/8 OCT 2011 LA TRINITE SUR MER - DAY 2 - Race 4 (Photo by Sea & Co.)   Today, Monday 23 January, at the Dusseldorf Boat Show, the much anticipated 2012 MOD70 European Tour was unveiled. Starting on 29 August, five weeks of intensive racing will see the six competing MOD70s race nearly 5,000 miles in a mix of offshore competition, and races in the heart of five cities in five... [Read more]

Laura Dekker Completes Solo Circumnavigation And Becomes Youngest Around The World

Dutch sailor Laura Dekker throws a rope as she docks her boat in Simpson Bay Marina in St. Maarten, Saturday Jan. 21, 2012. Dekker ended a yearlong voyage aboard her sailboat named "Guppy" that made her the youngest person ever to sail alone around the globe, although Guinness World Records and the World Sailing Speed Record Council did not verify the voyage, saying they no longer recognize... [Read more]

Mike Sanderson and Team Sanya Enjoy A Strong Start Towards China In The Volvo Ocean Race

  Team Sanya celebrated Chinese New Year’s Eve by leading a full strength Volvo Ocean Race fleet off the start line on the 3,051-nautical mile Leg 3 second stage from the Maldives to their home port in China. In hot and humid tropical conditions the fleet got away cleanly on schedule at 0800 UTC on Sunday (1300 local time in the Maldives) with Team Sanya, the first sole Chinese entry in the... [Read more]

Cardiff Win Bid to Host UK Round of the Acclaimed Extreme Sailing Series™

Cardiff © Nick Treharne   The UK round of the award-winning Extreme Sailing Series™ now in its sixth year will be staged in Cardiff the capital of Wales between the 24-27 August, 2012. In a three-year deal, Cardiff won the bid to host the UK event of this global sailing circuit that is only one of four events with ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Special Event status, positioning the... [Read more]

Key West Race Week Competition Heats Up For Second Half

  Ran and Shockwave Copyright 2012 Tim Wilkes   With three races conducted in strong winds, there was opportunity for boats to make a significant move in the standings on the second day of Quantum Key West 2012. Or in some cases it was a chance to further increase leads taken on Day 1. Pisces fit into the former category, moving into the overall lead in Melges 32 class by winning two of three... [Read more]

Clipper Round The World Fleet Enter Stealth Mode As An Anti-Piracy Measure

Clipper Fleet (Photo Copyright © Clipper Ventures PLC 2010) Nine of the ten yachts in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race are now in Stealth Mode for the cruise phase between the first and second parts of Race 7. The fleet is divided into three groups, accompanying each other through the Celebes and Sulu Seas for safety reasons. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital is approximately 50nm from the gate... [Read more]

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Wins The Etihad Airways In-Port Race In The Volvo Ocean Race

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker from the UK during the Etihad Airways In-Port Race in Abu Dhabi during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Photo by IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race)     Hometown heroes Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing claimed their second inshore victory on Friday, winning the Etihad Airways In-Port Race in front of thousands of ecstatic local supporters. “Everyone has... [Read more]

New Year Rings in New Boats for St. Thomas Yacht Club’s 39th Annual International Rolex Regatta

2011 Fleet Racing (Photo by Rolex / St. Thomas Yacht Club/Ingrid Abery ) With the New Year in full swing, racing sailors are finalizing plans to compete in the St. Thomas Yacht Club’s 39th annual International Rolex Regatta, the oldest regatta in Rolex’s yachting portfolio and most venerable of Caribbean spring events.  A quick look at the roster of entries shows several hot new boats and first-time... [Read more]

Loïck Peyron and The Crew Of Maxi Trimaran Banque Populaire V Take The Jules Verne Trophy

Banque Populaire V Crew 2012 Jules Verne Trophy Winners (Photo courtesy of BPCE) The fourteen sailors aboard the Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V just entered history of offshore racing by becoming the fastest men around the globe with crew, after 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes 53 seconds of sailing*. Loïck Peyron and his crew improved the reference time of the Jules Verne Trophy held by Groupama 3 since... [Read more]

Team Telefónica Seals Overall Leg 2 Victory In The Volvo Ocean Race

Team Telefónica (Photo by PAUL TODD / Volvo Ocean Race)   Team Telefónica secured overall victory in Leg 2 with a strong second place but there was joy too for Groupama sailing team on Wednesday as they notched their first win of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, snatching top spot ahead of their rivals in the dying moments of the sprint into Abu Dhabi. Franck Cammas’ men edged past Telefónica... [Read more]

Franck Cammas and Groupama 4 Team Take A Win In The Sprint Sharjah To Abu Dhabi

  Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France at the finish of leg 2 South Africa to Abu Dhabi (Photo by Ian Roman / Volvo Ocean Race) There was a good breeze for this second part of the second leg, between Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, which formed a 98-mile coastal course raced under the influence of the Shamal desert wind. After a prudent start, Groupama 4 was really firing on all... [Read more]

Volvo Ocean Race Challenging For Media Crew Members

Amory Ross, MCM for Puma Ocean Racing (Photo courtesy of Volvo Ocean Race)   Charged with documenting the race from the perpectives of the crew on board, the role of Media Crew Member is often percieved as a glamorous “dream job”.  But throw into the mix a gruelling work schedule alongside tasks including cleaning the bilges, bailing water from the boat and cooking all meals, and... [Read more]

Victory On The 14th Attempt In The 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

Investec Loyal crossing the finish line for Line Honours (Photo by Rolex / Daniel Forster) The 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was notable for an unexpected winner of the coveted line honours trophy, a worthy overall winner and a slow passage home for the smaller boats. The Boxing Day start of the 628 mile race south to Hobart was spectacular, with the 88-strong international fleet setting off... [Read more]

The Superyacht Challenge Will Light Up Antigua January 27 – 29

Sojana (Photo by Christophe Jouany / Les Voiles de Saint-Barth)   Unequalled in the Caribbean, Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour Antigua is a hallowed place for sailors young and old. The remarkable streets and celebrated Georgian buildings chronicle over 300 years of maritime history. The dockyard is a unique setting, which commands admiration and this January, a fitting yachting regatta... [Read more]

Loïck Peyron and Banque Populaire V Crew Shatter The Equator to Equator Record

Banque Populaire Crew celebrate breaking the equator to equator record (Photo courtesy of BPCE) Since 12 :17 :30 (French time) this Friday, Loïck Peyron and his men are back in the Northern Hemisphere, 38 days 2 hours 45 minutes and 48 seconds * after leaving Ushant. With this outstanding performance, the Maxi Banque Populaire V not only writes a new distinction to his logbook, but also improves the... [Read more]