Ocean Racing

Volvo Ocean Race Rerouted Due to Piracy

by MacDuff Perkins, Posted August 18, 2011

The threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean has forced organizers of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race to reroute racing for the second and third legs. Acting on the advice of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and other marine safety experts, organizers are opting to have the boats race from Cape Town to a “safe haven port,” and then ship the boats to Abu Dhabi to resume racing. This

Celestial to Bermuda

by Lisa Gabrielson, Posted August 23, 2011

Back when the Marion-Bermuda cruising yacht race was founded in 1977, everybody was required to use celestial navigation. The race formally sanctioned electronic navigation in 1997, but many boats still choose to navigate using the sun, moon and stars.During this year’s race, eight entries in the 50-boat fleet navigated celestially, including my father’s boat, the Hinkley Sou’Wester 50

The Transatlantic Tradition Continues

by Adam Cort, Posted August 24, 2011

A new monohull record, a giant-killing performance by a cruising catamaran and a straight-out-of-the-box victory for the new Puma Volvo 70: those were some of the high points of last summer’s dramatic Transatlantic Race 2011.George David’s super-maxi Rambler 100 blasted across the 2,975-mile course from Newport, Rhode Island to Lizard Point off Cornwall, England, in just over 6 days, 22

Rambler 100 Capsize Review

by Adam Cort, Posted December 19, 2011

The full executive summary provided by US Sailing details the supermaxi's capsize during the 2011 Fastnet Race

Caught Out

by Peter Nielsen, Posted December 21, 2011

A closer look at the Rambler and WingNuts tragedies, and what it means for sailors everywhere

Loki Wins Rolex Sydney Hobart

by Adam Cort, Posted December 30, 2011

The Reichel-Pugh 63 Loki, owned by veteran Aussie sailor Stephen Ainsworth, has won the historic Tattersail’s Cup after posting the best corrected-time finish in the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Investec Loyal Tames Wild Oats

by Adam Cort, Posted December 29, 2011

Following a three-hour hearing at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, the 100-foot maxi Investec Loyal is officially the line-honors winner of the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Investec Loyal, which included American navigator Stan Honey in its crew, beat five-time line-honors winner Wild Oats XI by just over 3 minutes in one of the closest finishes in the 628-mile offshore classic. Total time at sea for the boat was 2 days, 6 hours.

BSL Leads the Global Ocean Race Fleet

by Meghan Dente, Posted September 26, 2011

Day two of the Global Ocean Race 2011-2012 proved a lively, welcome change from yesterday’s light air start in Palma Bay, Mallorca, Spain. Led by Ross and Campbell Field on BSL, the six double-handed Class 40s continue to race toward the Straits of Gibraltar, and eventually Cape Town, in an effort to complete the first leg of the five-leg, 30,000-mile journey around the globe. With

The Volvo All Grown Up

by Adam Cort, Posted September 27, 2011

While the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) will surely continue to evolve in future years, there is a sense of “maturity” to the upcoming 11th running of the event that is unique in its nearly four-decade history—and not just because of the “legends” mini-regatta, which is bringing together a number old boats and former competitors to celebrate the race’s past. Gone are the days of

Navigating the Volvo Ocean Race

by Adam Cort, Posted September 29, 2011

In addition to being one of the most challenging events in all of sports, the Volvo Ocean Race can be incredibly complicated—for fans as well as those doing the actual racing and their support staff. The following is a brief guide to the upcoming 2011-12 race.This year’s iteration of the VOR (originally called the Whitbread Round the World Race) represents the 11th time around the