Rolex Commodores' Cup - Ergebnisse vom Channel Race

Die Boote der Klasse 3, die auf einen kürzeren Kurs geschickt worden waren, kamen als erste zurück nach Cowes. Die J109 YEOMAN OF WIGHT (Team Hong Kong), geskippert von Jamie McWilliams, kam 17 Minuten vor Radboud Cruels ROSETTA FROM THE ROCKS (Team Netherlands Red) und 25 vor FELIX (France White, Skipper Samule Prietz) ins Ziel.

"Die einzigen Segel, die wir nicht benutzt haben, waren das Try und die Sturmfock" konstatierte FAIR DO'S VII Steuermann John Greenland (Team GBR Red).

Auf dem letzten Stück kämpften die großen Boote der Klasse 1 gegen 3.5 kn Tide an, so dass die Wenden jeweils bis auf Armeslänge an die weißen Felsen von Dorset heranfuhren, um dem Strom zu entgehen. Maurice O'Connell, Taktiker und einziger Profi auf JUMP JUICE (Team Ireland White, Ker 37): "78 Wenden in 70 Minuten ... Wir, BATISTYL [A 40 RC] und die Jungs aus Hong Kong auf ORIENT EXPRESS [X 41] und ARIA [A 40 RC] kreuzten dicht beieinander bis an die Steinwand und fuhren nie weiter als 100 Yards raus, bevor wir wieder umgelegt haben."

Das Offshore Race zählte 2.5-fach, so dass die Ergebnisse bei den Top Teams noch enger aneinanderrückten.

Hier geht es zu den
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Der Dank für die Fotos von HOLMATRO (Team Hong Kong, Grand Soleil 44) und ROARK (Team Netherlands Red, Grand Soleil 43) geht an ROLEX/Kurt Arrigo.

Transpac '08 Tahiti Race - Tag 11

Neues von Rich:

July 2 , 2008
All about Shellbacks, Pollywogs and other odd birds

LOS ANGELES—One more day, seven more members inducted into ocean sailing’s Shellback club.

Two of Medicine Man’s crew of nine were already christened as crossers of the equator, and the other seven, including owner/skipper
Bob Lane and designer Alan Andrews of Long Beach, shed their Pollywog ignominy Tuesday, a day after Magnitude 80 flew through on its way to a record in the Transpacific Yacht Club’s 13th Tahiti Race.

A brief report from Medicine Man: “Nine happy shellbacks on board. Too bad there WERE cameras ... no one can run for public office now!”

The photos were expected to be available upon the big blue boat’s arrival in Papeete this weekend. Or maybe not.

Watch captain Keith Ives later wrote: “Crossed the equator a couple hours ago. Good times, had a rum drink and Szabo tunes jammin’. The Doldrums were a bit wacky [with] 180 [-degree] wind shifts and rain that came down harder than you could imagine. Currently tight-reaching in 14 knots wind with boat speed around 13 knots. Things are good on board; the boat seems to be holding together. ETA in Tahiti is looking like Saturday.”

Farther back, Jim Morgan’s Santa Cruz 50, Fortaleza, found strange company in a Kahoola Kahoola bird (see blog below).

The tricky part near the finish is negotiating a new mark of the 3,571-nautical mile course. To avoid an area of strong adverse current that has affected previous races, the boats must leave Mataiva Atoll in the Tuamotus Archipelago north of Tahiti to port, then finish a half-mile offshore from the Pointe Venus lighthouse to avoid an inshore reef.

At its current 14-plus-knot rate of speed, Doug Baker’s Mag 80 was projected to finish at about 2:52 a.m. PDT Friday---midnight Thursday in Tahiti---with Medicine Man about 48 hours behind, also on pace to break the record of 14 days 21 hours 15 minutes 26 seconds set by Fred Kirschner’s Kathmandu in the last Tahiti Race in 1994.

Mag 80 logged 352 miles in the latest 24-hour cycle to 6 a.m. Wednesday and had 575 miles to go, a pace that put it more than two days under the record. Medicine Man also could eclipse the record by a matter of hours.

Blogs from the boats

Ragtime: One of the best nights of sailing we have all had … stars and Southern Cross in view for the first time in days, perfect temp, beam-reaching down, boat a delight to drive. Islands coming into view on the charts, equator in 60 miles.
We're all Pollywogs, including the boat---last time [in 1971] she crossed by freighter. Strange moment … on course, little tactics left most likely except make the boat go fast, and yet we have over a thousand miles of racing left. Never done that before.

Fortaleza: Heaven was only 25 degrees away. Amazingly fun night of blasting away, now cracked off ... not really shown by progress is we are still dogged by current. While we were entering the ITCZ at the beginning of our second week, we were making pretty good time in light winds. The day was sunny and we watched birds swoop around the boat as they pick off flying fish who are trying to escape predators below. One decided it wanted a rest and landed (after about 14 attempts) on the bow pulpit. It then proceeded to "balance" on the pulpit, as the waves took it up and down. Turns out, wet web feet don't make a very good grip on a polished stainless rail. And one point, it hung on by its neck. This entertainment went on for a good ten minutes. As most of us had never seen such a thing, our resident graduate of the California School of Nautical Knowledge informed us that it was a specimen of the rare Kahoola Kahoola bird: Born in the equatorial zone
destined to fly in an easterly direction around the world
with each rotation, climbing one degree of latitude
until it finally reaches the north pole and flies up its own bunghole. Having met our young and tired friend at Latitude 10, we're thinking he might not make it.

Magnitude 80 (Ernie Richau): We have under 700 miles to the finish now. We have the same sail combination up as we did when I sent my last note. The jib top, genoa staysail and main. The wind is averaging about 14 knots and our average boat speed is well above 14. Today we really have turned our focus back to racing after yesterday’s equatorial crossing ceremony. All the crew is back to hiking on the weather rail, the sail stack has been cleaned up and we are putting a good effort into sailing the boat as fast as possible.

Tahiti Race 2008 standings

(boat for boat at 6 a.m. PDT Wednesday)

1. Magnitude 80 (Andrews 80), Doug Baker, Long Beach, 352 miles daily run/575 nautical miles to go.

2. Medicine Man (Andrews 63), Bob Lane, Long Beach, 254/1,020.

3. Ragtime (Spencer 65), Chris Welsh, Newport Beach, 237/1,281.

4. Fortaleza (Santa Cruz 50), Jim Morgan, Long Beach, 170,1,565.

Mehr dazu beim Transpacific Yacht Club.

Rolex Commodores' Cup - Channel Race

Heute morgen sind die 45 Yachten zum Channel Race aufgebrochen.
Die Boote in Klasse 1 segeln einen Kurs von 191 sm, die Teilnehmer in Klasse 2 eine Strecke von 173 sm und die kleineren in Klasse 3 segeln 137 sm. Damit wird der Rolex Commodores' Cup zum wirklichen Offshore-Event.

Aktuelle Positionen und den Verlauf der Regatta bisher gibt es im Race Player.

Das Bild von YEOMAN OF WIGHT (Team Hong Kong) beim Start zum Channel Race haben Rolex/Kurt Arrigo zur Verfügung gestellt.

Rolex Commodores' Cup - Tag 2 mit einer Schippe mehr Wind

Tag 2 bescherte nach dem ruhigeren Auftakt am ersten Tag 2 Knoten Wind aus SW. Die beiden Windward-Leewards wurden im zentralen Solent vor Hill Head gesegelt. Die irische BLONDIE IV (Eamonn Rohan, King 40) hatte einen perfekten Start im ersten Lauf des Tages und konnte vor dem Feld die Parade abnehmen und frei vor dem Feld den Tagessieg in ihrer Klasse einstreichen. Die anderen beiden Boote vom Team Ireland Green konnten mit einem dritten und einem vierten Platz dem Team France Blue den ersten Platz in der Gesamtwertung abnehmen, das nur drei fünfte in diesem Rennen ersegelte.

Im vierten Rennen legten die Franzosen (France Blue) mit zwei ersten in Klasse 1 (LADY COURRIER, First 45, Gery Trentesaux) und Klasse 3 (PRIME TIME, Archambault 35, Marc Alperovitch) wieder zu und konnten wieder auf Platz 2 in der Gesamtwertung vorrücken. Lachender Gewinner war Team GBR Red (QUOKKA 7, FAIR DO'S und ERIVALE III).

Hier der Zwischenstand nach vier Rennen:

Team Name	Team Points	Team Place
GBR Red	40	1
France Blue	43	2
Ireland Green	43.5	3
Hong Kong	67	4
Ireland White	68	5
Netherlands Red	92	6
GBR Black	93	7
Netherlands White	93	7
GBR White	106	9
France Red	115	10
France White	116	11
France Green	123.5	12
GBR Blue	140	13
Netherlands Blue	140	13
Spain	169	15

Am Mittwoch startet das Channel Race und kann auf dem bewährten OC Tracker verfolgt werden. Klasse 1 wird einen Kurs über 191 sm segeln, Klasse 2 über 173 sm und die Boote in Klasse 3 über 137.

Der Dank für das Foto von der spanischen BIZKAIA MAITENA und BLONDIE IV (Ireland Green) geht an Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.

Transpac Tahiti Race '08 - Tag 10 Äquatortaufe

Es geht an die Äquatortaufe:

July 1 , 2008 - For Pollywogs, a memorable day at the equator

LOS ANGELES—Magnitude 80, closing in on the record in the Transpacific Yacht Club’s 13th Tahiti Race, crossed the equator Monday afternoon---always a memorable experience, especially for Pollywogs.

A Pollywog is a sailor who has never sailed (airplanes don’t count) from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere, or the reverse. A Shellback is one who has, and there is a traditional ceremony emphasizing the distinction between the two.

Doug Baker’s Magnitude 80 crossed the line between 2 and 3 p.m. PDT Monday as Bob Lane’s Medicine Man was just breaking out of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and preparing for its own ritual in anticipated fair southeasterly breeze, as was Jim Morgan’s Fortaleza to the east.

“Two Shellbacks and seven Pollywogs await visit from King Neptune,” Medicine Man navigator Mike Priest reported.

What can Medicine Man’s Pollywogs expect? Magnitude’s chief correspondent, navigator Ernie Richau, offered this account early Tuesday:

“This morning I awoke to see our watch captains Keith Kilpatrick and Jeff Scott in the galley with a bucket, mixing up more gruel for our equator crossing. A quick look at the GPS showed us we were just a few minutes from Latitude 00. After they finished with the gruel they began making their clothes. Keith was King Neptune while Jeff played the part of his mistress, Queen Codfish. I went on deck with the other crew and waited for our crossing.
“At Latitude 00 Jeff and Keith appeared on deck. King Neptune wore a plastic trash bag with holes cut for his arms and head. His hair was gorilla tape with yards of red and white yarn stuck to it. Finally, he sported a triton---our spare jib batten with three forks taped to the end. Queen Codfish was a hysterical site. She wore a matching trash bag as a skirt. Under her skirt and taped to her leg was a full water bottle that also holstered a pair of scissors. She had no shirt but covered her chest with more gorilla tape tightly applied to make a sort of 'tube top.' Long flowing yarn made up her hair.

“They both made their way to the deck behind the wheels. King Neptune and Queen Codfish took two sail ties and attached them to the leeward rail. They then began initiating the 12 slimy Pollywogs in the equatorial crossing ceremony. King Neptune started handing down the sentences.

“ ‘Hogan [Beatie], come forward ... you will receive three scoops of gruel for your past generations ... and another two for your crimes.’ Hogan made the mistake of opening his mouth to speak. ’Silence! One more scoop!’

“One at a time each Pollywog was called aft, tied to the transom and treated to humiliation in front of all with the slimy bath of the gruel. Next they were required to offer a lock of hair. It was cut by Queen Codfish and her scissors, then thrown in the ocean in order to show respect to the sea god and his mistress. Finally, the Queen would shower the Pollywog with water.

“[Skipper] Doug [Baker] was the final Pollywog to be sentenced. King Neptune was at a loss. ‘How many scoops should a man who has committed as many crimes as thee be given?! Ten scoops!!!" Everyone had a great time.”

Back to the task, Richau added: “We now have under 1,000 miles to the finish. This is a fun point of sail. The wind is about 13 knots, we have a jib top and genoa staysail up and we are going a consistent 15 knots with bursts of boat speed to 18.”

Ay Tuesday’s 6 a.m. position reports, Mag 80’s ETA to the finish was 7:28 a.m. PDT Friday, the Fourth of July, which should be an occasion for fireworks even for French Polynesians, whose predecessors were allies in the 18th century battle against the Brits.

Meanwhile, the only apparent problems in the race were data outages between the race committee on the mainland and Medicine Man---no data, but voice---and no transponder pings coming through the complex system from Magnitude 80 due to unknown issues.

The racing fleet and RC have worked out a communications plan employing a unique jury-rigged "left-handed data-splice" that relies on the inventiveness and generosity of all parties involved, in order to get the missing information to and from RC and the fleet and thus carry on with the race.

Blogs from the boats

Fortaleza: Tough night … 20-25 kts on the nose, non-stop. Horrible 2-kt counter current. Short 3-foot seas with lots of pounding. Enough water over bow to set off my PFD as I napped on the weather rail. Hey, who snuck a Bermuda race in the doldrums?

Ragtime: Wind has come around to give us a blazing blast reach session for last 12 hrs. Reefed main and JT3 blast reacher up, going like a freight train on hard chine rails. Smacked in the chest by a flying fish while driving an hour ago, harness took the hit. Cruel fate as my harness now reeks.

Tahiti Race 2008 standings
(boat for boat at 6 a.m. PDT Tuesday)

1. Magnitude 80 (Andrews 80), Doug Baker, Long Beach, 308 miles daily run/926 nautical miles to go.
2. Medicine Man (Andrews 63), Bob Lane, Long Beach 184/1,274.
3. Ragtime (Spencer 65), Chris Welsh, Newport Beach, 188/1,517.
4. Fortaleza (Santa Cruz 50), Jim Morgan, Long Beach, 124/1,726.

Mehr dazu beim Transpacific Yacht Club.

MORNING GLORY - Mastbruch beim Eurocard Gotland Runt

Hasso Plattners Max Z86 MORNING GLORY war auf dem Weg, den Gotland Runt Rekord zu knacken, als der 41-Meter-Karbonmast unterhalb der dritten Saling brach. Niemand wurde verletzt und MORNING GLORY ist wohlbehalten zurück in Sandhamn.

Mit GER im Segel sind noch OUTSIDER (Tilmar Hansen), BANK VON BREMEN (Bodo Mall) und NORDDEUTSCHE VERMÖGEN HAMBURG (Benjamin Hub) im Rennen. Der KSSS hat in diesem Jahr beim Gotland Runt auch eine IRC-Klasse ausgeschrieben und damit zwei Gruppen mit Interessenten füllen können. Es ist erfreulich, dass die Schweden sich gegen das politische Ostseedogma und für einen Test der Formel des internationalen Hochseesegelns entschieden haben. Die Meldezahlen zeigen den Dank der Segler für die Fortschrittlichkeit der Veranstalter.

Demgegenüber ist es misslich, dass die Grand Open-Klasse, in der alle Yachten über GPH 525 fahren müssen, nach ORC-Club ausgeschrieben wurde. Es ist ein Wunder, dass überhaupt noch große Rennyachten für diese Veranstaltung gemeldet haben. Christopher Wuttke zog die Meldung für seine brandneue Rogers 46 GUTS'N GLORY zurück, als ihm diese künstliche Bremse für IRC in der Ostsee bekannt wurde. Das Eurocard Gotland Runt wird wohl auch auf die Dauer nicht sein Potential als eins der großen Offshore Events ausspielen können, wenn es sich gegen die Entwicklung des internationalen Marktes stellt.

Danke an Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi für das Archivbild der MORNING GLORY beim Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2007.

Rolex Commodores' Cup mit Traumstart - France Blue startet mit Macht zur Verteidigung des Titels

Am Sonntag versammelten sich 45 Yachten für eine Woche zur weltgrößten Dickschiff-Teamveranstaltung für Amateure. 15 Teams, davon 4 aus Frankreich, 1 aus Hong Kong, 2 aus Irland, 3 aus den Niederlanden, 1 spanisches und 4 aus Großbritannien hatten einen großartigen ersten Tag auf dem Solent vor der Isle of Wight mit 12 kn Wind und Sonne.

Jedes Team besteht aus 3 Booten in drei Größen, bestimmt durch den IRC-Rennwert. In der kleinsten Klasse sind typische Designs J 109, First 40.7, X 35, Mumm 36, Archambault 35 oder Ker 37. In der mittleren X 41, Archambault 40, First 44.7, Ker 39, Elan 410 oder King 40. Die größte Klasse wird gerne besiedelt von J 133, Swan 42 oder 45, DK 46, Beneteau 50, Ker 46 oder First 45.

Der Rolex Commodores' Cup ist für Profis streng begrenzt, in denbeiden kleineren Klassen darf jeweils nur ein Segler der ISAF Group 2 oder 3 mitsegeln, auf den großen Booten jeweils zwei. Gemeldet werden die Teams von ihrem nationalen Verband jeweils für ihr Land. Pro Nation dürfen maximal 4 Teams teilnehmen.

Der erste Tag brachte die Franzosen (Team France Blue) nach vorn, die 2006 den Commodores' Cup für sich entschieden. Hier der Punktestand nach den zwei Inshores am Montag:

Team	Punkte	Platz
France Blue	20	1
Ireland Green	21.5	2
GBR Red	25	3
Hong Kong	30	4
Ireland White	37	5
Netherlands Red	43	6
Netherlands White	47	7
GBR Black	48	8
France White	54	9
GBR White	55	10
France Green	60.5	11
France Red	67	12
GBR Blue	67	12
Netherlands Blue	69	14
Spain	84	15

Das Gesamtprogramm bis einschließlich Sonntag besteht aus ca. 10-12 Inshores Races (ca. 12 sm), einem Round the Island Race (ca. 55 sm) und einem Channel Race (24-36 Stunden).

Hier noch die Links zu den
Einzelergebnissen
Teams
Newspage

Der Dank für die Fotos von QUOKKA 7 (Peter Rutter, Corby 39), FAIR DO'S VII (John Shepherd, Ker 46) und PAPREC RECYCLAGE (Stephane Neve, Archambault 35) geht an Rolex/Kurt Arrigo.