NEWPORT, R.I. — To describe the tactical approach which led Eastern Yacht Club to the low-point score of Day 3 of the 2017 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, Ben Richardson used a word not often associated with successful big-boat sailing: reactionary. “You had to be pretty reactionary,” said Richardson, a former Laser Masters World Champion and Pan Am Games competitor. “We never went into any particular race saying, ‘Oh, you’ve got to go left,’ or ‘You’ve got go right.’ You had to continually adapt up the beat and see where the pressure was. There were pretty big pressure differentials and you had to connect the dots up the beat, and on the run.”

Eastern Yacht Club moved from fourth to third in the overall standings and now has a 15-point advantage over a pack of boats clumped in fourth to ninth. Southern Yacht Club finished third on the day, but only two points behind Eastern, and leads the regatta by 9 points over Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, which won two of the day’s three races.

The 2017 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup takes place September 9 to 16 at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court, in Newport, R.I. Amateur sailors representing 14 yacht clubs from around the globe have converged on Newport to race in the ultimate one-design, big-boat competition. The boats and sails are provided and the rig tune is standardized across the fleet. The Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is sponsored by Rolex, Porsche, Nautor’s Swan, AIG and Helly Hansen and is being broadcast live via the web.

One of the key calls of the day came well before the first start. Principle Race Officer Ron Hopkins initially sent the fleet to the offshore course, but when the fog rolled in he reversed coursed and moved the fleet north of Gould Island, inside Narragansett Bay, where the water is flatter, the wind is a little less predictable and the racing is more frenetic.

Not surprisingly, some teams that had struggled offshore came alive on the “inside” course, including the Japan Sailing Federation, which scored a third, fifth and seventh on the day and moved from 10th to seventh in the overall standings.

“For us, the outside course was not so good,” said Yasutaka Funazawa, the skipper for the Japan Sailing Federation. “So we have to change something. We are getting better. Today was more the team working well.”

Also making the most of “moving day,” as the middle day of a long regatta is often known, was the host New York Yacht Club, which found its rhythm after a string of tough races to start the regatta and moved from 11th to sixth on the strength of a fifth and two fourths.

“I went to school at Boston University and sailed in the Charles River, so shifty conditions have always been good for me,” said tactician Brad Read. “We’re starting to get more confidence. We’ve been working really hard, out there between races we’re doing timed runs at the start. We just haven’t been very good at it [during the first six races]. So practice makes perfect, and we’re practicing really hard between races to get our time and distance right.

“Our motto going into today was: it’s the start of the fourth quarter and its 28-9,” Read added, referencing the New England Patriots’ improbable comeback last February in Super Bowl 51. “It’s just picking away, every tack is important, every jibe is important, every mark rounding is important. We’re doing the little things now and it’s making it more fun to go sailing.”

Not surprisingly, however, the teams that were really strong on the first two days, continued to shine. Great teams transcend the conditions. Southern Yacht Club and Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron combined to win all three races and take four of nine podium positions today. The Australian team knocked a point off the 10-point lead Southern enjoyed in the overall standings to start the day and both boats, along with Eastern, moved further clear of the rest of the fleet.

“Two years ago we got off to a similar start,” said Richardson. “[In 2015] once we moved inside during the last few days of the regatta, we really turned a corner and came right back in it. The same thing happened today. Our starts were improved, but as everybody knows, getting away from other boats makes a huge difference.”

Richardson also noted that after six days of practice and racing, each team has found its comfort zone in the Swan 42s.

“If you give away a little bit, that’s something you’re not going to get back,” Richardson said. “We’ve all been sailing for six days, and some teams came more prepared than others. But every team is getting it down now.”

The race for first has really come down to three boats, and two of them will need some help from the current leader if they want to hoist the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup trophy on Saturday. Another strong day by Southern tomorrow may well sort out the overall podium. The most interesting racing may focus on the battle for fourth, with six teams all within 8 points of that spot. Those positions are unlikely to be decided until the final beat of the final race.

Racing for the 2017 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup will start Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. There are three races remaining in the 12-race series. Tune in to the event Facebook page for live coverage of the regatta.

For full results: http://mailchi.mp/nyyc/experience-runs-throughout-15-strong-fleet-for-2017-rolex-nyyc-invitational-cup-570485?e=91dffca147

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Valle De Bravo, Mexico (August 16, 2017) – The first day of the International Women’s Keelboat Championship kicked off with opening ceremony which included the official start of the event declared by the Mayor of Valle De Bravo, Mauricio Osorio Domínguez. Event Chair, Roberto Escalante had to say of the ceremony, “[There were] over 50 smiling faces gathered together across borders and language barriers to share their passion for the wind, a dream that finally came true.”

The opening ceremony included an address by US Sailing’s organizing authority Betsy Alison and five-time winner of the storied championship, a welcome by chairman Escalante and proud address by the Mayor. The Mexican flag and the championship flag was raised over the crowd gather on the lawn.

Like clockwork, the breeze filled into the valley and down the mountains shortly after one p.m. Ali Blumenthal of Team BAAM! had to say of the conditions, “The breeze, once it filled in, clicked on. The races started off pretty breezy, we had full controls and full-on hiking, and then as the races progressed it got lighter. When the rain finally came in, it made for shifty and funky conditions.”

The steady conditions allowed the race committee to complete seven races in the rotation. Later in the day, thunder storms, typical to the rainy season in this area, caused light breeze and finally postponed racing for the day. The variety of conditions allowed competitors to showcase all facets of their abilities before heading in to the dock.

The PRO commended the sailors for fair and clean sailing with no altercations or collisions on the water and their cooperation in getting a number of races completed on the first day.

Despite a full day of racing, competitors enjoyed dinner and dancing at the club into the evening. For US Sailing’s first event outside of the United States, the Club de Vela La Peña A.C. has been an excellent host, providing competitors with a fantastic venue for racing and great cultural experiences.

Blumenthal re-iterates that the event is a true international contest, “The J/70 is a really fun boat because it’s got equal parts physical and mental game. There is a very high level of competition on the course.” The breeze is beginning to fill in Mexico this morning and competitors look forward to another day of competitive sailing on the water and comradery at the club.

After the first day, San Diego Yacht club leads the fleet, followed by Chiquitas pero Picosas. Team Eliane Fierro, Team’Mer and Team Seattle in a three-way tie for third place.

Follow along with the action on Instagram @sailingworldmag and @womenskeelboat or at #womenskeelboat on twitter and Instagram

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VALLE DE BRAVO, Estado de Mexico, Mexico (August 14, 2017) – Women’s teams from around the world have arrived at the Club de Vela La Peña A.C. for the International Women’s Keelboat Championship presented by US Sailing. The event will conclude the 18th of August.

Teams took to the water Monday morning for practice sessions in J/70s, which are provided by the club. The lake, surrounded by mountains provides challenging and unique conditions for competitors. Racing will begin Tuesday morning in a round robin format, with quick rotations and on-the-water umpiring.

Betsy Alison, organizing authority for US Sailing and five-time winner of the Bengt Julin Trophy, says of the racing format, “Using the Champions League format is a really exciting innovation to this event. I think we will see super close racing and the winners will not be determined until towards the very end. I think it’s great movement forward for this regatta.”

In effort to revitalize the championship regatta, this is the first time in history that the storied event will be contested outside of the United States. The last championship took place in 2016, the first championship since 2011 in Rochester, New York.

Alison says of the event, “The championship truly celebrates excellence in women’s sailing. I think we can expect great racing from the competitors that are here and I think we will have wonderful hospitality and a great event.”

The winner will be the recipient of the Bengt Julin Trophy and the top American boat will be the US representative at the 2018 Sailing Championship League World qualifier. The Bengt Julin Trophy is named for an international judge and strong supporter of women’s sailing.

The International Women’s Keelboat Championship is a spectator friendly event and can be observed from the shore or private watercraft. Race start times are dependent on wind and weather, but racing is schedule to begin at 11 a.m. each day.

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The move follows the 37-year old company’s integration into the North Technology Group (NTG). Strategically located in the heart of US east coast sailing, the Hall Spars service base in Rhode Island is perfectly positioned to meet the needs of existing Hall Spars clients worldwide – whose mast design records are safely held on file – as well as new customers looking for a one-stop service facility. The Hall Spars service center opened its doors for business on May 1st and is already 100 percent operational and will support not only the Hall US customer base but also clients from the other company entities, Hall BV in Holland and Hall New Zealand. Customer service excellence and thorough technical support is paramount for the newly created team.

Leading the new facility is David Moffet, a well-known Project Manager with over 16 years of experience at Hall Spars who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a familiar face to customers. “We have set up a network locally that includes mast builders, spar engineers, riggers and project managers who all have intimate knowledge of the Hall products and the design/build process. This allows us to provide detailed proposals for modifying and updating existing rigs and to carry out this work within a reasonable budget and timeline”, said Moffet.

Together with David, Nick Turcotte brings with him 10 years of experience as a Design Engineer and Project Manager with ECsix carbon rigging and Future Fibres. Both have a wealth of knowledge covering everything from grand prix racers and super yachts to the many one designs and cruisers who trust the Hall Spars masts.

“Our service offering delivers on our mission to support Hall customers in the US and we are committed to delivering the best possible service to all of them, old and new,” said Sam Watson, CEO of NTG’s mast businesses.

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Two wildcard entries are set to join the fray at Act 1 of this year’s Extreme Sailing Series in Muscat, alongside six full season squads, organiser and owner OC Sport announced today.

Following their participation in the inaugural GC32 Championship – also being staged in Muscat – the GC32 Racing Tour teams ENGIE and Team Tilt will compete in the Extreme Sailing Series season opener in Oman in less than two weeks’ time.

Headed up by highly experienced offshore sailor, Sebastien Rogues, ENGIE come with valuable experience in the GC32 as a crew, having secured fifth place in the GC32 Racing Tour last season. Rogues is accompanied by a solid roster of French sailors who are all fellow GC32 Racing Tour teammates.

“I am very happy to take part in the first Act of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series,” said skipper Rogues, whose other sailing exploits include four Atlantic crossings.

“I think the Series is a very good event but I don’t know how we’ll get on. For us it is preparation for the GC32 Racing Tour. We are going there to prepare but we will do the maximum to win races and get a good result overall,” added Rogues, whose team will face a fleet of some of the world’s best catamaran sailors as it lines up in Muscat.

Filling the role of tactician on ENGIE is former Olympian Gurvan Bontemps, a foiling catamaran ace who has experience in the F18 and the Flying Phantom, the boat that will feature on the undercard at the European Acts of the Extreme Sailing Series this year.

On mainsail trim is talented Laser sailor, Jean-Baptiste Gellée, and on headsail is Antoine Joubert, an F18 master who has prior experience in the Extreme Sailing Series, having competed on board Loick Peyron’s ZouLou in 2012. Rounding off the roster is former Spindrift racing crew member Benjamin Amiot on bow.

The second of the two wildcards is Swiss-flagged Team Tilt. Like its French counterpart, Team Tilt enters the starting blocks with valuable GC32 experience from the Racing Tour.

At the helm is 49er Rio Olympian Sébastien Schneiter, who skippered Team Tilt to second place in the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour, alongside Alinghi’s co-skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis.

“We are looking forward to going to Oman, it’s great to have the two events so close – timing-wise this doesn’t happen often,” said Schneiter, who claimed second place in last year’s Red Bull Foiling Generation alongside Grégoire Siegwart.

“We think that the Extreme Sailing Series will be more difficult for us than the championship as we aren’t used to these kind of regattas, with a very intense rhythm and a lot of manoeuvres. It will be good training for us, but we know result-wise it might be tough.”

“But we’re looking forward to sailing with the rest of the fleet who don’t compete on the GC32 Racing Tour, including our friends from Alinghi, who we race against in the D35 on Lake Geneva,” added Schneiter.

Joined by a talented bunch of young Swiss sailors, Team Tilt will hit the ground running. Trimming foils is familiar face Jéremy Bachelin, who has competed on board Red Bull Sailing Team in several Acts over the past two seasons, while on bow is Arthur Cevey, who raced with Team Tilt in the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour.

The young Swiss team will rotate sailors throughout the Act, with Nils Theuninck, a Laser and Finn Swiss champ, and Rigot Guillaume, who came second in the 2015 European Youth Match Racing Championship, on mainsail trim. On headsail will be three-time Optimist Swiss champion Jocelyn Keller and Florian Trüb a German Open champion in the Melges 24.

With just one team still to be announced, the stage is set for an epic opening Act to the eleventh season of the Extreme Sailing Series.

The event will run from 8-11 March in Muscat, Oman, with live streaming of the racing on the official Facebook and YouTube channel on race days three and four and a live TV broadcast for the final 90 minutes of racing on day four.

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A fleet of over 80 yachts is expected for the ninth edition of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 in which 900 sailors from 30 different nations will race non-stop around 11 Caribbean islands, starting and finishing in Antigua. Passionate corinthians will be rubbing shoulders with Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners and round the world sailors in a race to take home the coveted RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The 600 mile course is designed to offer a tactical, high speed race with stunning vistas at every corner.

“The RORC Caribbean 600 is very different to the other 600 mile races and definitely not a holiday race in the Caribbean,” commented RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott. “The race has many tactical legs with land effects and wind-driven currents which are both difficult to predict. The heat of the day and the long nights are also unusual features for an offshore race making it every bit as challenging as the Rolex Fastnet Race, and just as exciting. It is interesting to note that the records for the Rolex Fastnet Race and the RORC Caribbean 600 are very similar.”

Featuring a magnificent collection of yachts, an incredibly varied fleet will be racing under the IRC, CSA and MOCRA rating systems, as well as Class40s racing under class rules. Rambler 88, Phaedo3 and Maserati will be gunning for course records, however, the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy will be decided by the yacht with the best corrected time under IRC.

George David’s American Maxi Rambler 88 is back with an impressive crew line-up for another tilt at the race record, the overall win and class honours. New Zealand’s multiple America’s Cup winner, Brad Butterworth is part of an impressive afterguard including fellow Kiwi, Brad Jackson and Australian navigator, Andrew Cape. Virtually the entire crew are America’s Cup winners and stars of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Lloyd Thornburg’s American MOD 70 Phaedo3 has lowered the bar for the multihulls for the last two years and this year will be up against stiff competition from Giovanni Soldini’s Italian MOD70, Maserati.

Phaedo3 has assembled a phenomenal crew for the race and multiple world record holder, Brian Thompson is joined by Volvo Ocean Race winners Robert Greenhalgh and Damian Foxall. Extreme 40 champion, Pete Cumming and the formidable talent of Michel Desjoyeux, the only sailor to have won the Vendée Globe twice. Maserati’s skipper, Giovanni Soldini is Italy’s most decorated offshore sailor and Maserati has been fitted with foils which can provide a speed advantage over Phaedo3. A fascinating contest for multihull line honours is expected.

The winner of the Multihull Class will be the yacht with the best corrected time under MOCRA. Seven teams are entered including Shaun Carroll’s Australian Modified Sea Cart 30, Morticia which is the smallest yacht competing in the entire fleet, and the head-turning all-carbon R-Six, skippered by Robert Janecki, which is the first ever entry from Belize.

IRC Overall for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy

Overall winners of the previous eight editions of the race have all come from IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero. Amongst this year’s favourites are two Maxi 72s: Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente – overall winner in the 2015 race, and current holder of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, George Sakellaris’ Proteus.

Whilst the two Maxi 72s are firm favourites, the stellar cast racing in IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero includes; Farr 100 Leopard and three Volvo 70s, Lionel Pean’s SFS II from France, Trifork skippered by Dutchman Bouwe Bekking and Green Dragon, skippered by Austrian Johannes Schwarz. The dark horse of the canting keel class is Maverick, skippered by Oliver Cotterell. The Infiniti 46 with DSS side foils was class winner for the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

In IRC Zero, the 182ft schooner Adela, skippered by Greg Perkins is the largest yacht taking part and making a RORC Caribbean 600 debut is Anders Nordquist’s Shamanna. The 115ft superyacht is the largest of nine Swans competing this year and boasts a crew including many of Malta’s best sailors from the Calascione, Podesta and Ripard families. RORC Admiral and IMA Secretary General, Andrew McIrvine has chartered Grant Gordon’s Maxi cruiser 72, Louise. Overall winner of the 2017 Cape to Rio Race, Stefan Jentzsch’s German Carkeek 47, Black Pearl is the smallest yacht in IRC Zero. South African America’s Cup sailors, Mark Sadler and Marc Lagesse form the afterguard.

With 17 yachts, the largest class competing this year is IRC One and a huge variety of yachts includes Giles Redpath’s Lombard 46, Pata Negra, with RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd among the crew. Bernie Evan Wong’s RP37, Taz will be proudly flying the Antiguan flag once again. Bernie is the life and soul of the race having competed in all nine editions as skipper.

The IRC Two champion, Ross Applebey’s Scarlet Oyster is back attempting to win the class for the fourth consecutive race in a highly competitive field including; Ed Fishwick’s Redshift on El Ocaso with a young, top-class crew including, 2012 Olympic Silver Medallist Luke Patience and Figaro sailors, Alan Roberts and Nick Cherry, as well as Volvo Ocean Race sailor, Nick Bubb.

Close racing is expected in IRC Three among four vintage Swans, including two Sparkman & Stephens designed Swan 48s, Jonty Layfield’s Sleeper X and Andrew & Mia Schell’s Isbjorn. Peter Hopps, skipper of the Sigma 38, Sam has competed in every edition of the RORC Caribbean 600.

Short-Handed Challengers

A number of young talented Figaro teams are expected from Guadeloupe and James Heald’s British Swan 45 Nemesis will be racing Two-Handed. Five Class 40s will be competing including Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron’s Campagne de France which won the Class40 division in the 2016 RORC Transatlantic Race, Catherine Pourre’s Eärendil, Peter Harding’s Phor-ty, Mikael Ryking’s Talanta and Marc Lepesqueux’s Saint-Pierre & Miquelon.

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A new vision for the future of the America’s Cup has been agreed by current competitors that would see long-sought stability and continuity in the competition for the oldest trophy in international sport.

“This is a hugely significant moment for the America’s Cup,” said Sir Russell Coutts, a five-time winner of the Cup and the CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority.

“For the first time in more than 165 years, the teams have got together for the benefit of not only themselves but for the America’s Cup.”

“People who want to enter this race now know how much it will cost, what kind of boat they need to build and that the rules can’t change on them,” said Larry Ellison, the Team Founder of ORACLE TEAM USA and the visionary who has helped to steer the America’s Cup into the foiling multihull era. “They are now able to plan ahead, build a boat, build a team and come out and compete for their country.”

During a press conference at The House of Garrard in London, United Kingdom where the America’s Cup trophy was originally crafted in 1848, skippers and team leaders revealed a framework agreement that would cover the next two editions, the 36th and 37th America’s Cup, due to take place in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Racing in the 35th America’s Cup will take place in Bermuda in May/June of this year and the 36th America’s Cup cycle will commence thereafter.

“Today we can announce that a new framework agreement has been created, determining the format of the next two America’s Cup cycles, its protocols and its class rules,” announced Martin Whitmarsh, the CEO of Land Rover BAR, a challenger for the 35th America’s Cup.

“This agreement is about a format long overdue in competitive sailing. The boats and the racing are incredibly exciting to watch – whether you are a sailor yourself or not. This will now reinforce the America’s Cup as the world’s supreme grand prix racing for sailing.” noted Torbjörn Törnqvist, Artemis Racing’s Team Founder and Principal.

Iain Murray, Regatta Director of the 35th America’s Cup said, “There’s a void to be filled and the overwhelming message from all the people in the America’s Cup is let’s grab this opportunity and run with it.”

The framework agreement provides stability and gives interested teams an opportunity to plan longer term. It establishes a modern sporting, technology and design challenge, within which costs are controlled to provide a much lower entry price, which will encourage more teams to be involved and ultimately create larger audiences and help incentivize more people to go sailing.

Franck Cammas, Skipper of Team France, added, “It’s important for the teams to know what the future of the America’s Cup is and that is now clear with this agreement. That is good for everyone, commercially and for long-term planning.”

Open Sail Day -1 of Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Toulon

Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of Land Rover BAR commented, “This framework agreement is really pivotal to the future of the America’s Cup. The cup has an incredible history over more than 165 years, but now the teams and the America’s Cup Event Authority can actually start planning for the future.”

As is required, the framework agreement respects and upholds all aspects of the Deed of Gift, the document that lies at the heart of the America’s Cup.

The Deed of Gift is the foundational document governing the America’s Cup. One of the unique aspects of the competition is that after winning the racing on the water, the victorious yacht club and its team then become the trustees of the event, responsible for outlining the terms of the next edition.

Historically, this has seen a crescendo of interest in the America’s Cup as the final races take place, followed by an extended period of down-time during which the new Defender re-defines the equipment and format of the next event, and builds a business structure to manage the next edition of a major, globalized, international competition, all while maintaining its core focus on winning as a sports team. This has resulted in teams being disbanded and costly equipment being made redundant and discarded.

Jimmy Spithill, the skipper of two-time winner and current defending champion, ORACLE TEAM USA said, “We have all seen how damaging that extended quiet period can be for each of the stakeholders in the event. What we’ve done over the past year is to work together to tackle that problem head-on.

“We know that one of the current teams is going to win, so we have found common ground on a vision for the next event, and formalized that into rules now, before racing starts later this year. That means there is now a clear plan in place that confirms the format for the competition using existing boats and equipment as much as possible to reduce costs.

“I think this announcement will go down as one of the defining moments in America’s Cup history. It’s great for fans, athletes, and commercially – a win win for everyone. This is a huge step forward, with the sky the limit.”

Iain Percy, Team Manager of Artemis Racing gave his insight into how the America’s Cup is progressing, saying, “I’ve been competing as a sailor in the America’s Cup World Series for the last two years and I’ve experienced first hand the huge swell of interest. We all realize that we’re on the right track as a sport and it is the right time to build on it for this and the next generations of top sailors.”

Larry Ellison said, “It is a very modern sport, it’s a very extreme sport, it’s a team sport and it’s country v country so I am very optimistic that we can make this sport very attractive to the next generation of athletes. The kids love it, and this will also help make it attractive to people who don’t go out and sail every day, but love watching the competition on TV.”

The framework agreement and agreed future protocol binds the signatories to deliver the 36th America’s Cup (AC36) and the 37th America’s Cup (AC37) under the following terms:

• The America’s Cup will be on a two-yearly cycle for AC36 (2019) and AC37 (2021).
• The America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) will start, at the election of the defender, as soon as Q4 2017. Venues, sponsors and media partners will be approached over the next six months to secure up to 12 international events over the next two years.
• The first year of the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) will be raced in AC45F foiling catamarans – the same boats used in America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) in the 35th America’s Cup.
• The second year will see a transition to the America’s Cup Class (ACC) boats, the same technically sophisticated class of boats raced in Bermuda in 2017 (with a slight rule modification to extend the wind range in which they can race to 4 to 26 knots). After this transition to the America’s Cup Class (ACC), the AC45Fs will be retired from the America’s Cup competition and the ACC boats will be the only boats raced.
• The America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) will culminate with a final event at the venue for the next America’s Cup and the final standings from the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) will be used to qualify teams for the America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs.
• The America’s Cup Challenger Finals and America’s Cup Match will be held in 2019 in a venue selected by the winner of the 35th America’s Cup.
• To reduce costs, teams will not be permitted to build, test or train on AC45 surrogate boats as they have in this cycle of the America’s Cup.
• This above will repeat for AC37, with the exception that all racing will take place in America’s Cup Class (ACC) boats.
• Five of the six current competitors and their respective yacht clubs have already signed this framework agreement: ORACLE TEAM USA, Artemis Racing, Team France, Land Rover BAR and SoftBank Team Japan.

In addition, several prospective new America’s Cup teams have been briefed on the framework agreement and have expressed significant interest in becoming challengers for AC36 and AC37.

“Emirates Team New Zealand is not here today, but they have been kept updated on all developments throughout the creation of the framework agreement,” Whitmarsh said. “We remain optimistic that they will come on board in the future and it is clear that cooperation is better for all of the stakeholders in the America’s Cup.

“The target cost to field a competitive new team is in the US$30-40 million range, a significant reduction from current team budgets.”

Dean Barker, CEO and Skipper of SoftBank Team Japan endorsed the sheer spectacle that is America’s Cup racing in its modern guise: “It’s high octane, seat of the pants racing with plenty of action and plenty of drama. It can be very unpredictable but it’s a true test of machines, technology and people and the racing now is a hell of a lot better than it’s ever been before.”

Not everyone is happy about the new framework, however. Emirates Team New Zealand, which in opposition to the agreement, told Sailing World, “Emirates Team NZ believe the future America’s Cup format is to be decided by the Defender and Challenger of Record.”

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Thirty-four yachts have officially entered the ninth edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starting from Antigua on Monday 20th February 2017. With almost double the number of entries at this time last year, the race has already attracted a magnificent fleet and is expected to better last year’s record entry of 70 yachts.

Over the next four months, a huge variety of yachts will arrive in Antigua, along with crews from all corners of the world in order to prepare for the start of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 600 mile yacht race around eleven Caribbean islands.

“The RORC Caribbean 600 is the only true offshore race in the West Indies and is a very attractive event for many sailors. I love every part of the race as you have to navigate to always put the boat in the right place, even though the situation is often changing,” explains veteran French round the world sailor, Lionel Péan who is skippering the physically demanding Volvo 70, SFS II in the 2017 edition.

“The race requires full mental concentration and that is one of its most exciting values. You always have to ask yourself questions about your decisions and it is also a very technical race from one leg to another. There are always decisions to be made and many effects from the land. Racing around so many tropical islands in great weather is very beautiful. The RORC Caribbean 600 is a very unique race,” says Péan, whose nickname is ‘the Rock’ (and it’s not just about his rugby player physique).

Lionel Péan set his sights on winning the Whitbread Round the World Race for France and achieved his goal, as skipper of Esprit d’Équipe in 1986. Before his round the world win, Péan won the 1983 Solitaire du Figaro, but his first real test was the 1979 Mini Transat which finished in Antigua. Péan has raced the RORC Caribbean 600 previously, coming third overall in 2011 on Peter Harrison’s 114ft Superyacht, Sojana. For the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600, monohull line honours and the overall win under IRC, will be the twin goals for SFS II.

“The Mini Transat was my first solo crossing of the Atlantic and I fell in love with Antigua and its people. It is always a joy to return to Antigua and spend time with great friends and the RORC Caribbean 600 will bring many of us together.

“SFS II is a Volvo 70 designed for offshore racing and especially for reaching, which is a main feature in this race,” comments Péan. “The Volvo 70 is perfect in this format so the ‘600 will be much more suited to our team than any race we’ve done with the boat. However, we will have a bigger crew than we would for an oceanic race. You have so many manoeuvres on a race like the ‘600; you eat up the crew all the time from sail changes and grinding and need a very good fit crew. We will probably race with 15 and not all of them are super-strong, but they are passionate and dedicated Figaro sailors which makes up for any lack of power.”

Adela, one of the world’s fastest schooners is back for a fifth RORC Caribbean 600. The 182ft twin-masted schooner dates back to 1903 and has recently undergone an extensive re-fit at Pendennis in Falmouth, UK. Performance enhancements under the water and new carbon rigging will complement an extensive sail wardrobe of hi-tech sails, including ‘Big Red’ a spinnaker of 1000 sq. metres. The schooner has an extraordinary record in the race; coming in the top ten overall under IRC in every race she has competed in, including third overall in 2013. Adela is also unbeaten in the Spirit of Tradition Class.

Adela’s skipper, Greg Norwood-Perkins spoke about the RORC Caribbean 600 from the schooner, mid-Atlantic, en route to Antigua:

“The Caribbean, especially the Windward and Leeward Islands are hard to beat for sailing condition for Adela, says Norwood-Perkins. “Now throw in a race where you are competing with similar yachts and it adds further excitement to the venture. One that you just want to keep doing again and again. The RORC Caribbean 600 is top of the list for ‘must to do’ yachting. With more boats every year signing up to be on the start line, it is becoming a race that is increasingly harder to ignore on the racing calendar!

“On Adela we have to deal with the logistics of organising a large race crew so Antigua, and specifically English Harbour and Falmouth with their array of good hotels, restaurants, bars and marine-associated businesses, make the task so much easier. Cruising the Caribbean as much as we have and competing in four RORC 600 to date, we can categorically state that Antigua is the perfect venue for such an event. Compliments also need to be made in the seemingly faultless organisation of the event by the RORC and the association with Antigua Yacht Club.”

More information at www.caribbean600.rorc.org.

The post Entries Roll in for RORC Caribbean 600 appeared first on Sailing World.

World Championship regattas always generate high-level competition, but when you stack 68 of the world’s most popular One Design boats on San Francisco Bay in a crisp, late-September breeze, you can bet your last shackle that the competition will be ferocious.

Such was the case at the start of the 2016 Alcatel J/70 Worlds, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, as the fleet of top-shelf competitors experienced classic early fall conditions that tested racers’ big-fleet skills.

“You’re not going to win the regatta in the first race but you could lose it,” said Paul Cayard, a Volvo Ocean Race winner, who is serving as tactician aboard Carlo Alberini’s Calvi Network. “[At first] you’re just trying to get a couple of good races in. [Then], as the regatta proceeds…you may [eventually] have to start making a more aggressive game plan.”

While the morning started with a one-hour shoreside postponement to allow the sea breeze to fill in on the Berkeley Circle racecourse, everyone clearly had first blood in mind once the starting guns began sounding in 15-18 knots of wind, with puffs in the low 20s. There were two general recalls before the Race Committee added the motivation of a black flag: Cross the line early and disqualification is mandatory.

The bulk of the fleet concentrated on the right side of the line, a move that suited skipper Chris Kostanecki and his crew aboard Jennifer (USA 370) just fine, as Kostanecki split with the herd and aimed left, finding clear lanes. As boats to the right-hand side of the course battled for scraps, Jennifer enjoyed a fast ride to the windward mark, which they rounded first, creating a commanding lead that they carried across the finish.

“We nailed the start,” said Kostanecki, three minutes after crossing the line in this talent-rife class, which includes both former J/70 World Champions Tim Healy (2014) and Julian Fernandez Neckelmann (2015), as well as former America’s Cup winners and Olympic champions. “The weather end of the line was favored, and we went left. It was our game plan and we [stuck with] it.”

Unfortunately for Jennifer, the Race Committee deemed that Kostanecki and 15 other skippers were on course side before the start, resulting in 16 disqualifications. After the Race Committee sorted out black-flag rulings, Jud Smith’s Africa (USA 179) took first place, followed by Joel Ronning’s Catapult (USA 187) and Julian Fernandez Neckelmann’s Flojito y Cooperando (MEX 384).

The Race Committee—lead by Principal Race Officer Mark Foster—quickly began race two’s countdown, with the less-menacing U flag usurping race one’s black-flag guillotine. Jennifer’s start was clearly noticed by her competitors, and the left side of the line became expensive real estate as the clock wound down. A signal sounded, sails sheeted on hard, and 68 polished teams began battling 1.8 nautical miles of uphill sailing.

While Cayard wisely predicted that a new world champion wouldn’t be minted in the first race, this didn’t stop Calvi Network (ITA 456) from dropping the hammer on race two. Come the final downhill run, Calvi Network’s distinctive logoed spinnaker was easy to spot, thanks to the generous lead that she enjoyed over Claudia Rossi’s Petite Terrible (ITA 853) and Kostanecki’s Jennifer.

“We started on the right side of the course, and we controlled the right side,” said Cayard, minutes after exchanging a round of celebratory high-fives with his skipper and crew. “We kept the boat upright on the run, and we had some great steering.” While a bullet was fresh in mind, Cayard—a consummate professional—downplayed their result, given that the team scored 23rd in race one, putting them in 7th place overall. “It’s a long series,” said Cayard, his mind clearly focusing on the next four days.

After two races, Smith’s Africa is in 1st place with six points, followed by Ronning’s Catapult (who also carries six points) and Neckelmann’s Flojito y Cooperando, who finished their day with 15 points. This sets the stage for a massive battle between these three teams as their tacticians—Victor Diaz, John Kostecki and Bill Hardesty, respectively—seek the podium’s top step.

Racing continues on Wednesday and runs through Saturday, with the Race Committee hoping to rifle off ten more races in the next four days. Interested spectators can follow the racing online courtesy of title sponsor Alcatel, who supplied smartphones to each boat that are being used as onboard trackers to report real-time positions.

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A record 125 yachts from over 20 countries contested four days of racing at the 2016 Rolex Swan Cup. They encompassed designs representing over fifty years of nautical heritage. Competition was closely-fought and conducted with typical grace and sportsmanship by owners and sailors who were left awe-struck by the challenging conditions offered by one of the world’s most renowned sailing environments.

Goddess of the water

Donald Macpherson’s Swan 90S Freya was crowned Maxi class champion after winning today’s final race of the regatta. Fierce westerly winds gusting off the Costa Smeralda had forced the YCCS Race Committee to cancel racing yesterday and going into today’s decisive race, Freya was tied on five points with Swan 80 Selene.

In their pursuit of victory, the crew of Freya adopted a proactive approach. “We got to the front early and it’s always good to stay there. This was our race to lose,” explained Macpherson, whose boat is suited to the heavier conditions which characterised the second half of the week. “We did well when the wind came in. I couldn’t be happier and am very humbled to win at the Rolex Swan Cup.”

Interest in the Maxi class, reserved for the week’s largest yachts, stretched beyond the contest to identify the class winner. The presence of three brand new Swan 115s provided great intrigue. The Swan 115 represents a bold step into the increasingly dynamic superyacht market with its first three iterations all featuring in Porto Cervo for the first time. Of the three, Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling 15 is the one most built to race. Her status as the fastest boat on the water was never threatened.

Those sailing the Swan 115s for the first time have enjoyed the experience. Maltese sailor Christian Ripard, four-time winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, is part of the crew on the newest arrival, Shamanna. “She is new, so we are still learning a lot about the boat. The loads are significant so you have to be very calculated and careful in making maneuvers. This is where teamwork, communication and having experienced afterguard people are important. It’s always about anticipating what is going to happen next.”

A new champion

In the one-design Swan 45 World Championship the pattern was established early in the week. Elena Nova, runner up in 2014, set the pace with the predominantly Dutch-crewed Esthec and four-time world champion Earlybird from Germany in pursuit. Come the eighth and final race of the series, the latter was out of contention, ensuring Elena Nova, from Germany, only had to curtail the ambitions of Rientz Willem Bol’s Esthec. A feat she achieved with second place in the final race enough to secure her first World Championship title.

“We had a good run all week,” explained owner Christian Plump. “The competition was good and that’s what makes racing interesting. The five leading boats were equal in speed so it was a question of boat handling and tactics and here in Porto Cervo there is always a surprise with the changing winds. It is never predictable.”

Rolex Swan Cup 2016

Total domination

South African James Blakemore’s Swan 53 Music has become the first yacht to triumph at both the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo and its sister event, the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean, held in Virgin Gorda on odd years. With four wins from as many races, Music dominated the Grand Prix class, a division where interest was magnified around the presence of the three newly-launched ClubSwan 50s.

The ClubSwan 50s are primarily conceived as a one-design, racing yacht and designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian who follows in the footsteps of Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and Germán Frers Snr in drawing Swan’s distinctive lines. “I feel honoured to be part of the list of Swan designers,” explains Kouyoumdjian, emphasising “you have no room for error because the bar is set so high!”

American Ken Read called tactics on ClubSwan 50 Cuordileone and his sensations about the model’s potential were positive. “This is a fascinating collaboration between Juan and Swan, new world versus sailing culture. The boat meets my expectations, it’s light, quick, fun and fast.”

For the third Rolex Swan Cup in succession, ClubSwan 42 Natalia left the event with a Rolex timepiece having dominated the week’s racing. Helmed by Natalia Brailoiu, she won a remarkable six of the week’s eight races.

Ahead of the final day, the Mini Maxi class was a two-way contest between the Swan 56 Yasha, the defending champion from Japan, and Gerard Logel’s Swan 601, Arobas. Despite a fourth place finish on the final day, Logel and his French crew claimed the title by virtue of their two race victories.

Appreciating heritage

The 36-strong Sparkman & Stephens (S&S) classic division comprised designs constructed between 1966 and the early 1980s, from the very first Swan build – the 36-ft Tarantella – through to the seven competing Swan 65s, legendary offshore racing competitors in their era.

One of the attending Swan 36s, Josian was winner of the first Rolex Middle Sea Race in 1968 and sailed to that success by Christian Ripard’s father and uncle. “I went to visit Josian on the docks. She is still so well maintained, in mint condition. It’s nice to see and some record to have,” admitted Christian Ripard.

This is a close-knit division where owners are united by their shared passion for the sea and appreciation of timeless quality. Competitors came from as far afield as South America, including Chilean Martin Wescott and his family on the Swan 57 Equinoccio and Brazilian Riccardo Diomelli, owner of Une Joie de Vivre, both attracted by the event’s revered reputation. “I am a fan of something that has tradition and these boats have a real story,” explained Diomelli. “A Swan 65, the model of my boat, won the first Whitbread Round the World Race. Wherever you go, in every port, every sailor knows about the story of the Swan 65.”

Winner of the S&S division was Sleeper X, a Swan 48 recently acquired by Jonty and Vicky Layfield.

A sporting triumph

“The Rolex Swan Cup is a unique event which has been organised for a long time in partnership with the YCCS and Rolex,” closed Nautor’s Swan Vice President Enrico Chieffi. “We were very proud to have so many boats from around the world which gives an understanding of how big a family we are. This is a highly sporting event, competitive, but at same time defined by family, friendship and happy people.”

The six class winners were rewarded for their exploits when they received Rolex timepieces at the final prizegiving held in front of the YCCS clubhouse. Perhaps no prior edition of the Rolex Swan Cup has so acutely captured the event’s ethos as the foremost meeting of tradition and heritage, innovation and progress. Values which unite all of the event’s longstanding partners.

For the final results and standings from the 2016 Rolex Swan Cup, please visit the YCCS website.

The post Video: 2016 Rolex Swan Cup appeared first on Sailing World.