Racing

A record-breaking 33 Melges 32s representing eight countries race out of Newport, R.I., for the world championship through Sept. 29. Big breeze is forecasted, and a collision has already forced the retirement of one team. Photos: ©2012 JOY | International Melges 32 Class Association

The hunt is on for the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship title. Racing off of Chicago on Lake Michigan runs through Sept. 20. Photos: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Fantastic racing greeted 34 teams at the 23rd annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup held in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Hap Fauth’s brand new 21.94m Bella Mente captured the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship. Igor Simcic’s 30.48m Esimit Europa 2 won the Maxi Racing class, while Filip Balcaen’s 34.13m Nilaya made short work of the Supermaxi class. Photos: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Jim Swartz (Park City, Utah) and his team aboard the TP52 Vesper was named the IRC North American Champions for 2012 and also captured the St. Francis Perpetual Trophy at the 48th running of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, Calif. Photos: Rolex/Daniel Forster

With the clock ticking down to the 34th America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA hit the water in their AC72s. Click here to check out videos of the sailing.

Keith Swinton of Australia won his first Alpari World Match Racing Tour event in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Sept. 2. over former champion Mathieu Richard of France. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) retains the top overall spot in the tour, while Ian Williams (GBR) keeps second going into the next stop in Marseilles on Sept. 24.

Photos: Loris von Siebenthal/St. Moritz Match Race

Thierry Martinez catches a hairy top-mark situation with Australians John Harris and Joe Turner at the 2012 Moth Worlds on Lake Garda in Italy.

Click here to find more photos of the event.

Steven Lapkin shares shots from the first day of racing at the America's Cup World Series in San Francisco. Luna Rossa Swordfish and Piranha, along with Ben Ainslie's J.P. Morgan BAR advanced out of the match racing quarterfinals.

Foiling fanatics flock to Lake Garda, Italy, for the Moth World Championship, which runs through August 26. Check out a video of the sailing action here. Photos by Thierry Martinez

Click here to check out Martinez's photos from a hairy top-mark rounding.

The 2012 Mass Bay Junior Olympic Festival that took place at Annisquam Yacht Club was accompanied by sunshine and light air on Monday, giving way to more breeze on Tuesday. Thomas Walden and William Hundahl from Pleon won first in the C420 fleet of 50 boats, while Nicholas Mehlman and Antonia Rerisi  of MSA took home first in C420 Green. Zoe Ting of Sandy Bay YC brought home first in Optimist Green, and Emma Rose Safford, also of Sandy Bay, won in the Optimist White fleet. Jed Bell of Hingham YC won Optimist Blue, and Rachel Foster of Pleon won Optimist Red. Matt Safford of Pleon won first in the Laser Radial division.

Photo Credit: Daphne Papp

Held July 21-26, the Highlander Nationals were held at EYC/Whiskey Island Marina. This quirky class brought with it tents, kilts, and party treats, on top of competitive racing.

Photo Credit: Chris Howell and Gayle Kaufolz

One of the UK's longest running and most succesful sporting events, Cowes Week has played a key role in the British sporting summer calendar since 1826. Roughly 1,000 boats flock to Cowes for a mix of competitive sailing and social activites, and over 100,000 spectators join in to watch the racing--and crash the parties.

Photo Credit: Rick Tomlinson and Getty Images

Racing wrapped up for the Men's and Women's 470 fleets in Weymouth. Photos by Daniel Forster

Olympic champions were crowned in the 49er class, while racing continued for the Women's 470 and Women's Match Racing. Photos: Daniel Forster

The ninth day of sailing competition in Portland and Weymouth decided the medalists in the Laser and Laser Radial classes, while the 49er and Men's 470 classes continued to do battle. Photos: Daniel Forster, Juerg Kaufmann

Daniel Forster and Juerg Kaufmann share shots from the fifth day of racing at the Olympic Regatta in Weymouth and Portland.

Light and tricky conditions prevailed over the three-day event which wrapped up on Sunday, July 29. Although he started the day in second place, Jason Carroll and his Argo managed to snag a second consecutive U.S. National Championship.

Photo Credit: 2012 JOY | International Melges 32 Class Association

Racing for the Finns, Stars, and Women Match Racing kicked off the Olympic regatta in Weymouth and Portland for the 2012 London Games. Photos by Daniel Forster.

Click here to read more about the first day of racing.