Ocean Racing

Southern Straits Smashup

by Adam Cort, Posted April 7, 2010

This year’s Southern Straits race, held April 2 by the West Vancouver Yacht Club, was hammered by big winds and even bigger seas, which forced most of the fleet to retire and sent one boat to the bottom: the 30-foot custom racer Incisor.The race, which was marking its 42nd year, features a three separate course across the Strait of Georgia measuring between 58 and 127 nautical

NY-BCN Boats Set Sail

by Adam Cort, Posted April 8, 2010

The crews of the two matched IMOCA Open 60 Estrella Damm and W-Hotels set out today from Ambrose light, at the mouth of New York Harbor, on their way to set a new record between New York City and Barcelona, Spain. Both yachts are carrying a mixed Spanish-American three-man crew. The passage is expected to take about three weeks.In a weather briefing on Wednesday,

Puma Signs Up for Another Volvo

by Adam Cort, Posted April 9, 2010

After coming in second place overall in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, PUMA has decided to do it again in 2011-12, once again under the leadership of skipper Ken Read.PUMA joins France’s Groupama syndicate, Italia 70 and Team Abu Dhabi as officially declared entries. About 20 other syndicates are reportedly working to put together viable campaigns for the race as

NY-BCN Update

by Adam Cort, Posted April 14, 2010

Seven days after setting out from New York City, the two IMOCA Open 60s Estrella Damm and W Hotels are separated by just under 17 miles as they continue on their way to Barcelona, Spain. The two boats have covered just over 2,000 miles and have about 1,700 miles to go. Each is vying to set benchmark time for other boats to beat in the coming years between the two

Newport-Bermuda Entries Near 200

by Sail Staff, Posted April 15, 2010

With a month to go until the registration deadline, organizers have logged about 200 entries for the 47th Newport Bermuda Race, set to start June 18. The biannual race logged a record 265 starters in 2006—the year of its centennial. But in 2008 that number dropped to 198 boats.“Despite the economic turmoil since the last start, we have a wonderful turnout from around the world,

Another Setback for W Hotels

by Sail Staff, Posted April 16, 2010

The three sailors aboard the Open 60 W Hotels were dealt another blow early this morning when they broached after being struck by a large wave. The trio had been waiting for an opportunity to re-ship its port rudder, which had only recently been repaired.Although there were no injuries, the boat is now over 100 miles behind its rival Estrella Damm, which crewmembers Alex

NY-BCN Boats Grind to a Halt

by Sail Staff, Posted April 19, 2010

After riding an express train across the Atlantic, the two Open 60s vying to establish a new sailing record between New York and Barcelona, Spain, have slowed to a crawl in the Mediterranean.Estrella Damm was the first to enter the Straits of Gibraltar, with W Hotels about 130 miles behind. However, W Hotels has since cut the deficit in half.Although

Estrella Damm Nearing Finish

by Sail Staff, Posted April 20, 2010

Earlier today, the IMOCA 60 Estrella Damm was almost assured of victory as it closed in on the finish of its NY-BCN record passage, between New York and Barcelona, Spain.Crewmembers Alex Pella, Pepe Ribes and Stan Schreyer are hoping to finish this afternoon with the help of a thermal breeze, which they were worried will drop with the sun this evening.Currently, they have

ICAP Leopard Abandons Record Attempt

by Rebecca Fenton, Posted June 7, 2010

After an impressive start, the 100ft super-maxi ICAP Leopard met a high pressure system off the UK on June 5 that dashed any hopes of its breaking the monohull transatlantic speed record, currently held by Mari Cha IV. ”We have a great yacht, which has now proven itself over the last three years to be physically fast enough and powerful enough to easily churn out 500-plus

Fair Winds For Newport Bermuda

by Adam Cort, Posted June 18, 2010

Forecaster are predicting fair winds during the early stages of the 47th Newport Bermuda Race, which starts today off Newport, Rhode Island.The 184-boat international fleet is the third largest in the race’s 104-year history, with nearly 2,000 sailors making the 635-mile passage across the Gulf Stream to the finish off St. David’s Head, Bermuda.The race should take two to three days