Inshore Racing

Announced: 2009 US Sailing Team Alphagrapics

by David Schmidt, Posted March 17, 2009

US Sailing recently announced the names of the 2009 US Sailing Team Alphagrapics (USSTAG). This selection was based on the results of the 2009 Rolex Miami OCR. “We’re excited about the new team because we’ve never had this many Olympic and Paralympics sailors return this early in the quad, which is a sign we’re delivering more support to the sailors,” said Olympic Sailing Chairman Dean Brenner

Red River, Interrupted

by Kimball Livingston, Posted March 9, 2009

Off the bow I could see Oklahoma. I looked over the stern, and yonder was Texas. Around me whitecaps were building on a special lake that splits the difference between two be-all, end-all rivals, and the name of that body of water says it all. Texoma. Mythology meets mixology.Surely you know the scripture: “Don’t mess with Texas.”Surely you know the Oklahoma

New kids in town

by Meredith Laitos, Posted February 1, 2009

It’s official. Strictly Sail Chicago has adopted a new child and things are going well. The Midwest College Sailing Association held its Annual Midwinters Conference above the action at Navy Pier and the conjunction of the two events was more of a success than either party planned for. On Friday 150 college sailors from around the region poured into the Chicago area and schmoozed with

Strictly Sail teams up with MSCA Midwinters

by Meredith Laitos, Posted January 29, 2009

After years of wanting to join forces, the Midwest College Sailing Association (MCSA) is excited to hold its annual Midwinters Conference in conjunction with Strictly Sail Chicago. The collaboration came together with help from Harken representative Bill Goggins who acted as the liaison, working with Navy Pier and Sail America to make the weekend a reality. Members of the MCSA are especially

US Sailing Introduces New Rules for 2009-2012

by Meredith Laitos, Posted January 8, 2009

The start of a new year often brings about big changes: a new diet, a new destination, and a new attitude. But for US Sailing, 2009 means the start of a new edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing, the legislating guidebook that gets a facelift every four years. The new edition for 2009-2012 includes some major amendments that will have sailors rethinking their race strategy. Dave Perry,

Lies and rumors

by Charles Mason, Posted November 19, 2008

The unnamed enthusiasts who are circulating news that rating increases for composite standing rigging aboard boats sailing under IRC are going to be removed next year are engaging in wishful thinking. At least according to IRC manager Jenny Howells.“While it is true that the IRC Technical Committee is looking at the rating cost of composite standing rigging,” says Howells, “It is unlikely

Heavy Lifting

by David Schmidt, Posted October 22, 2008

We all want our boats to be more stable, but how can this be accomplished? The conventional solution is to hang more ballast off a deeper keel. Think more progressively, and you’re talking about water ballasting, which, while effective, also adds extra weight. Go sci-fi, and you’re canting your keel to windward—which is very effective, but is complicated, accident-prone, and still depends on

Kites Take the Speed Record

by Sail Staff, Posted September 22, 2008

There is sadly little detail—and of course, everything waits for official ratification—but there is every reason to believe that we have a new sailing speed record of 49.84 knots set by an American, Rob Douglas, with a kite. Douglas is a windsurfer who took to kites only in June. There has been a lot of speculation that kiting development would overtake the lead of windsurfers in

Young Wins Sixth Mallory

by Sail Staff, Posted September 21, 2008

Scott Young of the Austin Yacht Club, deep in the heart of Texas, scored an unprecedented sixth Mallory Cup win over the weekend on San Francisco Bay. With crew John Morran, Doug Kern, and Mike Haggerty, Young claimed the US Men's Sailing Championship with solid finishes in the fleet of 11 borrowed J/24s. Second was the Mobile, Alabama team of Ken Kleinschrodt, David Bolyard, Michael Mark, and

Rolex Day 4 BBS

by Sail Staff, Posted September 14, 2008

September 15, 2008There’s a saying in sailboat racing that if there’s wind, then everyone is happy. It’s safe to say that the competitors in the Rolex Big Boat Series were ecstatic with today’s conditions of 8-10 knots in the morning, building to 15+ knots by early afternoon for the regatta’s final race – known as the Bay Tour. The St. Francis Yacht Club (StFYC) Race Committee sent the 10