Archive - High Performance

Seven podium finishes for Kiwis at Sail Melbourne

From YNZ:

The prestigious Sail Melbourne regatta, part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, has concluded with New Zealanders claiming podium finishes in nearly every class entered, as well as a number of top ten successes.

Now a Kiteboard is a Boat

On the WSSRC site it says that ISAF have changed their mind and the 50kn barrier has been broken. Nothing on the ISAF website. I supose I should say I think more of ISAF now that they can admit a mistake, but i don't.

Sailrocket Achieves 50 KN

They think they have done enough to gain the "official" record. It has to be said it must feel a hollow victory knowing the kiteboards have gone faster, if I were them I would be cursing ISAF for raining on their parade and I'm sure they will feel better if/when they supercede the "non-boat" record.
Meanwhile, it was a brilliant effort, and great to see another proa showing the way.
On the next run they crashed.








Read the full report on the Sailrocket site.

Olympic Boats

This?



The selection of the Olympic Classes (equipment in ISAF speak) continues to generate discord and rancor, as always. It seems the administration of our sport is overwhelmed by politics and money. The results are not always what the sailors nor the public, sailing or non sailing, seem to want.
The other day I made an offhand comment in the forums that the Olympic boats could be chosen by a simple vote.
Any class can put itself forward. Every paid up yacht club member in the world gets a vote. Top ten are in. Easy. Voting could be carried out during the Olympics while interest is high, but eight years in advance. Voting via the internet.
Why wouldn’t it work? And look at all the money ISAF would save by not having so many meetings.

Or This?


Let the sailors decide.

Elliot 6m is going to the Games

The Elliot 6m has been chosen by ISAF as equipment for the 2012 Olympics.
1) Congratulations to Greg Elliot.
2)Still no multihull.
3) At the same meeting women sailors got stuck with the 470 instead of the 29er - boring.
4) Why do they call boats equipment, they are boats?
More here.

CELEBRATION AS ERICSSON 4 WINS LEG ONE

Leg One winner is in. Click the headline for the press release.

Latest is Puma is finished, the regular reports are here.

Hugo Boss, the state of play

Press release from the Vendee Globe.

The repairs to the side of the boat are now complete and the final touches are being made to the inside of the hull. On Thursday evening, it will be time for the painting with the boat due to leave the yard on Friday morning at seven. The mast is currently being cooked; the standing rigging should arrive on Thursday to be fitted on Friday morning. Concerning the logistics, everything appears to be falling into place, in spite of a very tight schedule. The goal is to get the boat back in the water on Saturday.

Ericsson 4 has broken the 24-hour VOR Record

Three times, and it's still going up as they ride the depression to Capetown



"It has been fantastic to achieve the record. The wind has been perfect at about 30k and we have a good angle. However, the problem is the waves, especially in the middle of the night as there is no moon and it is very difficult to read the them, so the boat has been jumping about. If the sea state was better we could go faster," commented an exhilarated Torben Grael this afternoon.

Click the headline for on board photos.

VOR start

The 2008 VOR got underway last night NZ time. I'm putting all the press releases and photos here ( too much for the home page), and as always readers are welcome to add comments.
For real diehard fans try the race website.

L'Hydroptere Sails 52.86kn

©martin-raget

The magnificent french foiler has sailed at 52.86kn. This is a peak speed, to get the record they have to hold it for 500m, but that should take nothing away from their achievement, and I don't believe they are finished yet.
L'Hydroptere website.