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February 6, 2012

It's February, And I'm Still Sanding

by Michael Lovett
image-cliff960
© Michael Lovett
On Saturday, I sanded the hard-to-reach places. Notice how I missed the aft surface of the starboard bench support?

Rehabbing the Thistle takes a long time when you don't spend much time rehabbing the Thistle.

This weekend I jumped off a cliff. Figuratively speaking, of course. Over the holidays, my father and I applied the first coat of varnish to the Sled, the wooden Thistle we've been working on for the past few months. (This isn't a several-months-long project, but that's what it becomes when work takes place sporadically on the weekends.

January 31, 2012

Much Still Up in the Air Regarding 34th Cup, and the Clock is Ticking

by Keith Taylor
image-120131 prada ac45
© Nigel Marple/Luna Rossa Challenge 2013

Luna Rossa Challenge tests out its new Prada-branded AC45, minus the 4-meter wing extension that will be used in light-air races starting in April, on the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland, New Zealand. 

A competitors' forum in Auckland highlights the progress made by America's Cup Race Management, and the long way still to go.

Details of the new-look America’s Cup competition slated for San Francisco are still emerging and much remains to be discussed. That was the measured but optimistic report from Iain Murray, head of America’s Cup Race Management, after the latest teams’ forum held today in Auckland, New Zealand. 

January 30, 2012

Cape Horn by Cat

by Tim Zimmermann
image-capehorn960
© www.yvan-bourgnon.fr
Yvan Bourgnon and Sebastien Roubine rounded Cape Horn in a modified beach cat.

Yvan Bourgnon and Sebastien Roubine have conquered sailing's equivalent of Everest: rounding Cape Horn in a beach cat.

Cape Horn has long been the most iconic landmark in the minds of sailors. In fact, for reasons of history, geography, and drama, I think it should be an iconic landmark in the minds of all humanity—so much so that it annoys me when the sailing world diminishes its Greatest Cape by endlessly and tiresomely referring to it as the "Everest of sailing." Do you think any climbers would be willing to undermine Everest by calling it the "Cape Horn of climbing"? Cape Horn can stand on its own. We don't need to compare it to a mountain.

January 26, 2012

Back on Track

by Ryan O'Grady
image-ryanolegthree960
© Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race
A beautiful sunset greets PUMA Ocean Racing during the first offshore night of Leg 3, which takes the fleet from Abu Dhabi to China.

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet has left behind the secrecy of Leg 2 and the early stages of Leg 3 and is now screaming towards the Malacca Strait, bound for China.

We're back to proper ocean racing again in the Volvo Ocean Race. No more stealth zones, cargo ships (hopefully!), or secret ports to hamper spectating. Plus, we have a full-strength fleet again. So what’s been happening with the competitors lately?

January 24, 2012

Key West: Fantasy Island

by Jeremy Wilmot

Quantum Key West 2012 was the first time the team aboard West Marine Rigging sailed together, but they developed the synergy needed to win the event quickly.

Key West Race Week delivers an environment impossible to compare with any regatta in the world. Personally, it felt like someone dragged Reno, Nevada to the oceanfront, and ran one of the most amazing spectacles in sailing: bull riding, carny activities, jet pack rides, pirates heckling you on the street. . . I found myself in the middle of the spectrum between "Mad Max" and "The Real World." For our team, West Marine Rigging, it became a story of amazing success and survival.

January 23, 2012

A Mixed Bag of Emotions

by Mark Towill
image-towill368
© Courtesy Mark Towill
Towill368

Key West Race Week served up highs and lows for us aboard the Melges 32 Warpath.

Friday was another tough day onboard the Melges 32 Warpath, probably the most challenging of the entire week. We went into the day in fourth place, with a shot at third and a chance at second place. Samba Pa Ti, after stringing together consistent results all week, was nearly untouchable. 

January 21, 2012

Final Thoughts on a Race Week Gone By

by Peter Isler
image-isler368
© Oracle Racing
Peter Isler

Flying home from Key West, I had a few ideas on how we can bank the lessons we learned on the racecourse.

Race Week ended with a great day of “T-shirts and shorts” trade wind sailing. In our Mini Maxi class, RAN continued to set the pace and finished the week undefeated, with ten straight bullets. Sure, it was only a three-boat class, but we put up a good fight at times on SHOCKWAVE, as did Dan Meyers and his always sharp NUMBERS team. Hats off to the RAN guys for sailing a nearly perfect regatta. They were fast, and they sailed smart—a tough combination to beat.

January 21, 2012

Conservative on Quantum

by Terry Hutchinson

Terry Hutchinson ends conservatively at Quantum Key West 2012, and appreciates a spectacular week of racing and camaraderie.

Just got back from the trophy presentation, and what a week! I think Boat of the Week winner John Kilroy Jr. summed it up best when he thanked Quantum Sails for making this event happen. It is not a mystery to anybody that without Quantum's support, the event would not have taken place. I know I speak for all competitors, amateurs, and professionals when I say THANK YOU! The week was one of the best of recent memory!

January 21, 2012

Gains at the End

by Nick Turney
image-NickB
© Nick Turney
--

Team Spaceman Spiff's hard work pays off on the final day of racing in Key West.

Quantum Key West 2012 has come to an end, sadly, but I think my liver and wallet are very pleased! Team Spaceman Spiff ended the week on a very good note. Each day, we improved and learned more about the boat and the rig, and today we showed that this team can compete. All of our hard work paid off in the end. Our owner/skipper, Rob Ruhlman, is very excited to sail the boat more and compete in this new one-design class. Lesson learned here: no matter how bad your scores seem, or how poor your boathandling and tactics are, never quit. And always try to improve.

January 19, 2012

Risk Brings Reward

by Terry Hutchinson

Quantum Racing takes a big risk in the second race of the day to come out ahead of the competition.

A tough day today on the Quantum Racing, but a good day! The Division 1 racecourse delivered up some incredibly challenging conditions. A light-to-moderate Northeasterly breeze was one of the more challenging conditions that I have seen in the last 17 years of racing in Key West. An approaching cold front wreaked havoc on race 1, and continued on through race 2 until finally in race 3, the sun made an appearance. As I said, it was a tough day, but a good day for us onboard.

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