The air traffic controllers at Waddington Airfield in Lincolnshire, UK have had more than just aircraft to deal with lately. Team Windjet, a group of speed demons intent on setting world speed records on land, water, and ice with a wind-powered vehicle has been using the runways for the land part of their challenge.
On Friday, 22 February, between takeoffs and landings by military and civilian aircraft and the odd rain squall, Windjet set a new British record of 113.4 miles an hour, just three miles an hour below the world record.The record was set on the first run of the day when the windspeed was a healthy 23 knots, later practice runs with lighter breeze yielded vehicle speeds in the 80 to 90 mph range.
keep track of this British team’s efforts at www.windjet.co.uk/front.htm
Tracy Edwards has announced the purchase of the giant cat Club Med and her intention to take on the Jules Verne in 2003 and the next edition of The Race in 2004.
Club Med, the 110-foot Ollier-designed cat that Grant Dalton won The Race with in 2000 will be re-named Maiden II and will be crewed by an all-woman team. Most of the crew were with Edwards during her last attempt of the record, which ended with the dismasting of Royal and Sun Alliance. “This is unfinished business for myself and all but one of the Maiden II team,” says Edwards. “We knew then that we had to go again.”
Edwards has assembled an experienced international crew for the campaign, including the following: Emma Richards (UK), Helena Darvelid (SWE), Adrienne Cahalan (AUS), Sam Davies (UK), Miranda Merron (UK), Frederique Brule (FRA), Miki von Koskull (FIN), Emma Westmacott (UK), Sharon Ferris (NZ), Hannah Harwood (UK) and Anne Monmousseau (FRA).
Ambitious plans for 2002 include attempts at several recently set records; Trans Mediterranean, Route of Discovery (Cadiz to San Salvador), Miami to New York, New York to UK, Channel record, Round Ireland, and Round the Isle of Wight.
Meanwhile, out on the current event horizon, six and a half days and 2,785 miles after leaving the Jules Verne starting line off Ushant, the mighty tri Geronimo is approaching the equator. With an average speed approaching 18 knots, Olivier de Kersauson and crew are well on pace but are now dealing with the doldrums. “We’ve had virtually no wind since we passed the Cap Verde islands”, said de Kersauson. “It’s never risen above 18 or 19 knots. Even then, it’s coming from behind us and right on our heading. We’ve been maneuvering the boat all night. We do what we can with the wind we have. The trouble is, we don’t have very much.”
http://www.grandsrecords.com
The Puerto Vallarta race is off and running. This years edition of the classic has some interesting players sliding down the 1,100-mile course from San Diego to PV, including; four Transpac 52s, Dennis Conner and his turbod R/P 50, Stars & Stripes, and Bruce Schwabs Open 60 Ocean Planet. With starts staggered over a period of days and PHRF ratings that run from -114 to 150, the PV race could be anyones game. As of Sundays report, Ocean Planet was out front with 827 miles to go. To follow the race, see: http://www.sdyc.org/raceinfo/Puerto%20Vallarta.htm
The SORC starts next Thursday on the waters off South Beach, Miami. Farr 40s lead the charge, boasting an entry of 23 boats. J/105s, and Mumm 30s also have respectable amounts of entries as does the PHRF fleet. For more information and results, see:
http://www.acurasorc.com/
The unfortunately named Athens Eurolymp event has concluded. Winners include European Finn champion Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE) in the Finn Class. Paul Goodison (GBR) in the Laser Class.
The French took the Mistral class with Julien Bontemps winning the men’s and Lise Vidal winning the women’s.
www.eio.gr/eurolymp/euro2002/index.html
The Laser Midwinter’s East Regatta at Clearwater YC, Clearwater FL ended Sunday.
Zach Railey, of Clearwater, FL, claimed first in the full rig class and Eduardo Cordero of Venezuala topped the radial division. http://www.clwyc.org/LaserMidwintersEast02/results.htm
US Sailing has set the schedule for the 2002 adult competitions sponsored by Rolex.
U.S. Multihull championship (Alter Cup) Syracuse, NY
(Hobie Tiger) June 9-13, Rolex clinic
U.S. Independence Cup (Hovey Trophy) Chicago Yacht Club, Ill.
(Freedom Independence), August 3-5, Rolex clinic
U.S. Singlehanded championship (O’Day Trophy) Crescent Sail Yacht Club,
Grosse Point Farms, Mich. (Laser), August 9-11, Rolex clinic
U.S. Men’s Sailing championship (Mallory Cup) Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club,
Corona Del Mar, Calif., (J/24) September 25-29, Rolex clinic
U.S. Match Racing Championship (Prince of Wales Bowl) Seawanhaka Corinthian
YC, Oyster Bay, N. Y. (Sonar) October 1-5, Rolex clinic
U.S. Offshore championship (Lloyd Phoenix Trophy) Long Beach Yacht Club,
Calif. (Catalina 37), October 3-6
U.S. Women’s Sailing championship (Adams Trophy) San Francisco Yacht Club,
Calif. (J/24) October 5-9, Rolex clinic
U.S. Championship of Champions (Brown Trophy) Lake Norman Yacht Club,
Charlotte, N.C. (Flying Scot), October 22-26, Rolex clinic
U.S. Team Race championship (Hinman Trophy) Southern Yacht Club,
New Orleans, La. (Vanguard 15), November 8-10, Rolex clinic
U.S. Womens Match Race championship, TBA
For more information: http://www.ussailing.org/championships/
