RACING NEWSBreakdowns Cripple Brits in Velux 5 OceansAfter a turbulent week in the Southern Ocean, Velux 5 Oceans skippers Alex Thompson and Mike Golding are headed for shore. As recently as last Wednesday, the two British solo sailors were furiously dueling for second place. Early Thursday morning, however, Thompson’s Hugo Boss capsized as a result of a severely damaged keel. At the time Golding was nearby making 32-knots, and turned back to Thompson’s aid. After four attempts to make contact with Thompson, who was stranded in a life raft in 15-foot seas, Golding finally landed his rival aboard Ecover. On Friday afternoon, as the two were enjoying a whiskey coffee, a 40-knot gust dismasted Ecover. They are now headed towards Cape Town, South Africa under a staysail only. Bernard Stamm remains in first place, about 900 miles ahead of Kojiro Shiraishi. For more news from the Velux 5 Oceans, click here.INDUSTRY NEWS Morning Light Crew Sails Polynesian Canoe Last weekend, the Morning Light team spent two days training aboard Hokule’a, a Polynesian canoe captained by Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson. In July 2007, the 15-member team will compete in the Transpacific Yacht Race as part of a film project produced by Roy Disney. The voyage aboard Hokule’a served to teach the young sailors the art of navigating without instruments. According to Graham Brant-Zawadzki, 21, of Newport Beach, Calif., the experience also endowed the team with an appreciation of Polynesian canoe culture. “We all care about the ocean, but it’s really cool to see the whole perspective of how they approach sailing,” Brant-Zawadzki said. “When they come together they’re not a crew, they’re a family, and the boat is their home, not just a vehicle to take them somewhere.” For more Morning Light news, click here.US Sailing Elects New PresidentAt US Sailing’s annual meeting in Newport, R.I., the organization’s board of directors has elected Jim Capron of Annapolis, Md., as its new president. Capron has been involved with US Sailing in many capacities over the years, having served on the board of directors since 2001, and having sat on numerous committees, including the Appeals, Judges, Race Administration, and Olympic Sailing Committees. In addition, Capron is a US Sailing Senior Judge and Umpire as well as an International Judge and Umpire certified by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). As an official, he has served as a judge or umpire at many international events, including the Olympic Games, Louis Vuitton Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, and the ISAF World Sailing Games. To read more about US Sailing’s New President, click here.
