Category: Yacht Racing

An Open Letter To Sailing Community From US Sailing

Safety is one thing that should be taken into the first priority in the world of sailing.


And thus for this, an open letter has been published for the community of sailing by the US sailing. Here is what is written in the letter.

We hope you people have had a good and enjoyable summer sailing season.

As almost all of are aware, that the sailing community has experienced several tragic incidents in the recent time on the water that have adversely impacted the broader boating community all around the county and across the marine industry.

Everyone at the US Sailing the staff, volunteers and Board of Directors are deeply saddened by these tragedies. Out support and condolence is with the family who has been affected by the accidents that have happened in the past. We will support all communities, who are assessing the accidents, and will work together to prevent such incidents in the future.

At the US Sailing, our commitment to safety is at the top. We want and accept the advance safety in our sport by improving and reviewing the best practices which are in use at the present time in safety procedures, equipment and protocol through advanced education and innovation. Continue reading An Open Letter To Sailing Community From US Sailing

Security Preparations For America’s Cup

As there are about 25 days left in the 35th America’s Cup to start off, preparations are on at full hilt and contingencies as well as plans are being fine tuned.


There had been an emergency operation held on 1st of April as Exercise Joint Venture. There was also a comprehensive meeting that went on all day on April 28th. These meetings were to ensure that all security and safety protocols were in place for the America’s Cup 35th edition to commence. The meeting that was held recently had members of the Ministry of National Security as well as the Joint Agency Command Center.

Government agencies and departments were also represented at the meeting such as the Bermuda Police Service, ACEA, Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, ACBDA, Government House, Department of Health, US Consulate and others who had a relevant part in the forthcoming events and planning of the same. Continue reading Security Preparations For America’s Cup

Safety Precaution Deterred Big Accident

An accident happened at a Maryland sailing club were about 24 people fell into cold water.


Though, none of them has any major injury as the rescue team came on time and saved all of them. MSC says they are grateful that no one has been hurt in the accident.

In addition to on-time arrival of the rescue team at the accident point other things that protected participating sailors from damage is a safety precaution. All sailors were experienced and they adopted all safety measures before going in the water.

Captain of Fleet Dorian Haldeman said, “When we fell down, we took all the safety, we kept holding the boat and prayed that the wind should die.”

She narrated how she fell into water, she said. She was 1 of 22 people who were on board at the time of sailboat race. Suddenly the wind started and the speed of the wind was approximately 40-miles/hr. First, it flipped a 14-foot vessel and it seems like it has flipped a domino and left the sailor at nature’s mercy.” Continue reading Safety Precaution Deterred Big Accident

Challenging Southern Ocean Sailing

When it comes to the solo sailors who have reached the Southern Ocean, they have numerous challenges before them including a series of low-pressure systems. They will have to deal with for a month or more. They will sail the islands of Tristan da Cunha and Cough.

Then they will reach Cape Horn. They have to sail around 12,000 miles. And they will be sailing along the wall of ice. Without any doubt, this is one of the toughest parts of the rough Indian Ocean. Same goes for the long Pacific swell as well.

However, that’s not the end of all. They still have to cover 7,000 miles. They will head to the coast of South America first and then to the North Atlantic. Finally, they will see the South Nouch Buoy, which is the finishing line. And that summarizes the challenges faced by the Vendee Globe sailors.

What makes it most challenging is that, in the space of a less than a month, they have to deal with extreme climates. They have to deal with the icy conditions in the Antarctic. Then they have to deal with the tropical downpours. Continue reading Challenging Southern Ocean Sailing

Debris a Concern

There was much activity around the Guanabara Bay on Monday when the Rio sailing races were about to start. For instance, there had been three separate camps set up for training by the Americans at Rio. The camps were set up in the consecutive months of May to July. The camps were planned in a way that the tidal cycles would be similar at the time when the races would be on. This was done to ensure that the coaches and the teams would experience similar environment as would be when the races begin.

The media might have hyped about the garbage in the waters, but that was not much of a concern by the time the first teams hit the water on Monday. However the sailors did face the problem of natural debris. For instance Flavia Tartaglini in the windsurfing category had to clear off a branch that got in the way while she was in the middle of her race. There were ecoboats that were patrolling the waters, picking up debris and clearing the same. Continue reading Debris a Concern

Alen’s great new yacht 55

A challenge which is as simple as keeping a boat afloat could lead to an all new host of restrictions and requirements – ticking all the boxes when creating a product which is also esthetically pleasing calls for same level of care as well as expertise as building on an particularly tricky site on dry land.

Therefore, when a remarkable boat conception makes an appearance, none can help but take a notice of it.
The Alen 55, a 16.80 meter long yacht, is the heir of the Turkey based firm’s previous model – 42. Flexible ad light, the new 55 was made by the company’s in-house creative squad and it does not need the presence of a crew so that it can be taken for a little spin. This multifunctional nautical delight makes sure that sailing is more than safe for both adults and children, fastening the upper deck with trench bulwarks that roll around its body.
Top Features include an ample alfresco kitchen unit, companioned by an 8 seater extending table as well as a ‘walk-around aft sunbed’. The sea is always ‘present’ and it is accessible with ease from the yacht’s neighboring hydraulic gangway as well as swim platform.

Continue reading Alen’s great new yacht 55

Clipper Race gets ready for Western Australia

The 12-strong Clipper Round the World Yacht Race squad has started the third leg of its fourteen-race worldwide series in an industrious beginning from Cape Town in 4845 nautical mile Southern Ocean sweeping to Western Australia, called by host port Albany the ‘Wardan Whip’ – cheered by the conventional Noongar language that means ocean of southern winds.

Race Director Justin Taylor told that several sailors see this leg as one of the biggest challenges of the race. The conditions are hugely testing and people who get it right would see exactly what the Clipper Race yachts are made of, surfing at more than twenty-five knots on swells bigger than buildings.

The fleet swanked into Table Bay after a colorful departure ceremony from V&A Waterfront. There was a stiff twenty knots of breeze from south out on the start line with stronger gusts over thirty-five knots. Over the line, the first was Qingdao followed by LMAX Exchange as well as Visit Seattle in hot pursuit.

They went for inshore towards the very first mark at the Paarden Eiland before turning north towards the bay to Milnerton mark. From there, it was back out to sea as well as the decisive tactical decision on how far out to go to stave off becoming becalmed in the lee of Table Mountain.

IchorCoal captain Darren Ladd told a Yacht chartering company in Manchester that Cape Town has been really amazing. It is effectively their home port and they have loved every minute of it. It has a shame to leave really. He believes that the last race was very good preparation for Southern Ocean. They did go a long way south and they deliberately did that for the stronger winds and they got them.