Sailing Anarchy

shootout at LBC

K Mag checks in from the Viper 640 Worlds in the LBC

Finally get to talk about racing! Day one of the Viper 640 Worlds was about as good as it gets.  We had some fun shifty light air and some healthy LBC breeze towards the end of the day.  Team Loco X had a decent day on the water with some shining moments.  The new sails are proving to be outstanding and the hard work training has paid off.   We were told we had some of the best boat handling on the race course which felt good to hear.

why?

St Francis Marine founder Duncan Lethbridge died during an armed robbery at his St Francis Bay home late last week, the South African police have confirmed.

Lethbridge, 76, was at home with his wife and housekeeper when they were attacked by two armed men who tied them up and ransacked the house.

Lethbridge and his wife were assaulted during the attack, police told the Eastern Province Heraldnewspaper. The attackers also used sellotape to cover the victims’ mouths, the newspaper reported. Read on, courtesy of IBI News.

boss boards

Put those in the “circular file”. Haha.

three in the pink

Boat looks bitchin, mainsail, far from it.  The REO Sporty. More here.

beat on the brat

An historic 106-year-old British-built yacht has been ‘rediscovered’ in South Africa, prompting a unique community boatbuilding project, the South African Boatbuilding Export Council reports in its latest newsletter.

The Camper & Nicholsons 38 Yawl, built in Portsmouth in 1913 and dubbed ’The Brat of Dunkirk’, is believed to have taken part in the famous evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk during the Second World War. She relocated to South Africa in 1968 but subsequently fell into disrepair, only to be discovered earlier this year in Port Elizabeth by Cape Town sailing enthusiast and businessman Warren Fraser, owner of local rigging specialists Associated Rigging. Read on, thanks to IBI.

sail on

It is with great sadness that Future Fibres reports the loss of it’s founder Tom Hutchinson who perished in a kite surfing accident on the Isle of Wight last week.

Tom will be remembered for his energy and infectious enthusiasm, along with his extreme can-do attitude.

Future Fibres was the perfect vehicle for Tom’s combined love for water sports and passion for innovation, taking the company from it’s very humble beginnings on the Isle of Wight to an internationally recognised company with a reputation for innovative products that helped our customers go faster and gain an edge on the race course, be it the field of yacht racing, motorsports, or indeed any arena in which Tom felt he could make a difference. More here.

the potter

The factory producing Potters has moved overseas. As a result Potter 19 Potter 15 and Sanibel and Voyager 20 will no longer be available for domestic production. Website here.

Jump in the discussion thread.

signed sealed delivered

As promised here is a quick interview with recently crowned Melges 24 NA Champ Travis Weisleder. yep, that’s them crushing it in the photo above.

SA: Congratulations are in order for your very first Melges 24 North American title! You’ve been hard in the class for a while, are there any particular things that stood out to you as why this one ended with a W?

TW: Thanks Scot, it was a tough event; light and super shifty which really can even the fleet out. In looking at our plan for this year John Bowden and I decided that being able to be more consistently on the podium we needed to sail with different people and try to learn different ways to make the boat go. We started with Mike Buckley and Bear Peet last summer for a few events in Europe, where we ended up 3rd in the Europeans. But this year we have had a different team member or two at every event we have sailed. We have rotated 11 different people on the boat this year including Troll Wilmot and Anthony Kotun. Learning from all these guys is what has made the difference for us. Our last three events have been 1st Charleston, 2nd Nationals and 1st North Americans.

SA: Tell us where you are at with your sail development in the class. Is there one particular area where you see an improvement with new M24 sails:

TW: The new North 3di sails are great. The guys at North, Tim Healy and John Bowden, really pushed us to take a set to Europe last summer and use. We decided as a team that we would practice with the main but sail with the panel sails for the event. We threw that theory out the window after the main really rocked it in the breeze. Then this winter we worked with Monsoon and Mike Marshall from North to dial them in further. We think they now have a greater range and hold their shape longer, which helps my pocketbook on not having to buy new sails.

SA: Tell us a little about your winning crew – do they all regularly sail with you, is everyone on a specific training schedule for the boat’s needs and perhaps weight limits?

TW: What’s kind of crazy is that of the 6 events we have done this season John is the only person who has done all of them. This event I was fortunate steal George “Bear” Peet and Mike Buckley for a few days from Stars and Stripes. These two in my opinion are two of the best M24 crew in the world. Being that I am on the bigger side weight wise we needed small person and Chewy Sanchez was able to make the trek from Mexico to sail. With the M24 crew weight limit it makes it hard for us to find all the right pieces to the size puzzle. Sadly Bear and Mike sail on another boat normally and we were only able to do this event due to Monsoon in transit to Italy for the Worlds. My work and life schedule takes up most of my time so the sailing days are limited so I make sure that when ever we are going to an event we are there to put 110% in all the time.

SA: How about your own skill levels. You’re clearly a good sailor, but have you worked on being better? What areas, and how did you (or did not) do the work and improve?

TW: The past two years I made the decision that I was going to try and sail with a number of different pros. The goal here was to learn something new from each of them on how to do things better. What they talk about and say or do isn’t any different than what we may have done in the past, but the delivery method could be slightly different. When we sailed with Dave Hughes I think we/I got better sailing downwind. With Mike, starting techniques and up wind speed. With Troll it was rig tune, Anthony was patience. And all the other guys have filled in many many holes in my learning. BUT having a great group of guys makes my job much easier too.

SA: As a long time Melges 24 sailor, give us your assessment on the on the state of the class, and what does it need to do to get better?

TW: I think the class is having continued grassroots resurgence in the US. I have been in it since 2001 and 858 is my 4 new boat. I am excited about the people that have attended the NA’s and Nationals this year. Both events had solid turnout from their local/ regional areas, a lot of those boats had never sailed at a major 24 event ever. So its great to see the grass roots growing and people getting excited. We also feel that the top boats have a responsibility to help these teams with how to help make the 24 go better. If we can get these teams more comfortable in the boat and see their confidence increase they then in turn will try to do more and pass that knowledge down. We try and do this at every event we attend.

Personally I think that the class needs to remove the crew weight rule; its not healthy and makes it harder for some teams to find the right mix of talent, weight and availability to sail. We just need to keep things simple. The Melges 24 is still the best true sports boat on the market with some of the toughest competition.

SA: What’s next for you, Travis?

TW: Next for us is our plan to the 2020 Worlds in Charleston this coming May. I will take a break from sailing for the next few months and we will pick back up again in either November in Pensacola or December in Miami and good full steam ahead from there. We will have sail the three Miami Bacardi events, Charleston Raceweek and then the worlds with a practice session or two in there as well. But part of the entire equation will be determining the final crew for these events; which will be critical but I think we will be able to sort it out quickly.

SA: thank you my brother!

TW: Thanks Scot, I am really happy about this win, I have been at this for a long time. We are feeling really good about our 2019 spring and summer and are excited about the upcoming events and Worlds.

marginal gains

The concept of “marginal gains’ has been well explored and explained in recent years, especially in relation to the success of the British Cycling Team both on the Olympic velodrome and in the Tour de France with the success of Team Sky.

However, as Musto’s head of marketing Nick Houchin explains, the concept of marginal gains has been at the core of the company since its foundation.

Read on.

doomed

The disastrous effects of hot-boxing the atmosphere were once problems for the future. Welcome to the future.
And yet many people in the U.S., including its most powerful man (not really a man, more like fat, vile reptile – ed.), continue to deny that there’s a problem. How can we get the frightening reality across? Have we run out of options?

Read on. And there is a discussion thread.

52 deal?

Asking price is $190,000. Is that a deal for this boat? Jump in and discuss.

just take your top off

Who are we kidding? That is the only reason dudes click onto to those kinda sexy/mostly lame cruising videos. It is kinda bizarre how all these things have popped up. Our friend Sarah Steenland shares her take!

you can look like that…

…yeah, no you can’t.

True Sport 955 1/4 zip mock neck. A lightweight 100% moisture wicking polyester top available in an adult cut and a matching ladies silhouette for just $18.50*. Great for teams, events and individuals looking for an affordable, venting shirt. Click here to learn more or order. FAST* turnarounds with no rush charges in a wide variety of colors.

The legendary UPF 50+ Pro-Tech team shirts are also back on sale for under $25. You can spend more money, but you can’t buy a better shirt for your team. 100% MADE IN USA. Available in solid and contrast gusset colors. Click here for these and many other affordable apparel options.

Call TOLL FREE 1-888-379-7447 ext 2 with any questions or to easily place your order.

river’s gonna rise

Just a nice little look into possible, if unlikely,  future here in Dago.  Title inspiration thanks to David & David.

the win

Nice to see longtime SA friend Travis Weisleder nab the Melges 24 NA’s. We’ll have an interview with Travis soon…

nothing to see here, folks…

want one?

All 10 SOLD OUT IN 22 MINUTES!  I have a different version arriving in the next two weeks. Believe it or not, we are starting to get the merchandise  together that we will have for sale on our yet-to-be-unveiled new Swag Store! For sure it will open in time for Kwanzaa, but for now we did a limited run Anarchy hat: clean, different look, limited.

Want one?  I should have the new batch within two weeks. Send us an email, and you too can be the proud owner of some new SA Swag.

it ain’t easy

A friend of ours was sitting on his boat at SDYC, watching this guy try and try and try to sail his moth in a solid 12-14 in La Playa.

Apparently way more time spent down than up, but these things ain’t easy!

harsh reality

One hundred years and seven months later on July 26, 2019…my birthday… Iolaire was lost on the NE coast of Ibeza because of bad seamanship, running downwind in heavy weather, close to shore, no main boom preventer rigged, inadvertent jibe, she drove ashore sank, crew ashore in life raft.

Thus ended Iolaire’s 114 years of taking care of crew thru thick and thin. – Don Street.

Jump in our forum to comment.

shocking. not.

Do you want to watch the racing from the Tokyo 2020 test event, the biggest thing in Olympic sailing so far this cycle?

Well, you can’t.

World Sailing isn’t putting on any kind of broadcast coverage (and that includes highlights for TV companies/online). Odd, given it’s the one chance to test everything ahead of the Olympics, but more odd given that the World Cup Series Enoshima which follows a few days later has four days of live streaming and coverage by a full production crew. Someone’s got their priorities wrong…

go greta!

Yesterday Boris Herrmann GER/Pierre Casiraghi MON started with their Open 60 in Plymouth GBR for their North Atlantic crossing with the prominent 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg on board. The journey will last 2 weeks. The report from BBC.

infighting

It would appear that the rumors of a significant change at the Ullman San Diego loft are true. As we understand it, Ullman International (not exactly our friends, btw) have  revoked their licence from the current owner, and awarded it to Chuck Skewes, long the front man for the dago loft.

Of course this is likely to get ugly as the past licencee has employees, owns all the loft equipment, as well as the lease on their building. Might this be a good opportunity for another brand to swoop in, put their name on the door, add some of their staff and continue on?  And what of Skews and Ullman? Must be a plan there somewhere…

all lined up

We love shots like this. This is from the ORC Europeans by MarcS. Title thanks to Shriekback.

the goat

The below text has been translated. Can’t have been good to put one of these boats on the bricks…

Cassandre Blandin ran aground on the rock of the Goat at low tide. The race direction immediately asked the two competitors nearby, Stan Thuret and Matthew Damerval, to divert to its position. The wind is westerly 12 to 15 knots.

Moreover, the CROSS Corsen dispatched the boat Rocamadour Our Lady of the lifeboat has been linked with the sailor. Cassandre Blandin is now safe. The boat of the SNSM then will operate the towing operations. More here.

rakish

Now that is a helluva bow section! It is the new Shogun 50.

even more!

11th Hour Racing leaving the French port of Concarneau for a test sail with their recently purchased Open 60. The boat is the former Hugo Boss that finished second in the last Vendee Globe. Props to Anarchist Ruud.

—

suspense in kingston

Kingston, Ontario, is a nice and busy place these days when it comes to youth sailing. But soon, the « freshwater sailing capital of the world »  may become busy with lawyers, bailiffs and legal actions.

The World Championships in the Laser Radial sailboat finished on July 30 and the Laser 4.7 Worlds are due to start next Friday on August 16.

There are two main suppliers of charter boats: LaserPerformance and Performance Sailcraft Australia (PSA). And the word is that most of, if not all, the Aussie boats have been sold, or at least that down payments were made for them.

Some 40 boats were apparently sold on the very first day.  That’s more boats than many dealerships sell in one year. Read on.

join together

sail and save

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scotw

26-year-old Tilly Harrison’s Sorcha J has won the J/70 Mini-Series at Cowes Week. Tilly’s father Peter owns the Maxi72 Sorcha, and they often race together but not on this occasion. Tilly lives in Putney with her two dogs and loves to sail in her spare time. Aptly on Ladies’ Day at Cowes Week, Tilly scored her first J/70 race victory, and went on to win the Grand Slam J/70 Event. Read on.

let them eat cake

Despite a grip of questionable online advocacy by the European Laser Class and a couple of loud Canadian nobodies, Laser owners voted resoundingly to remove the trademark power that LaserPerformance long wielded over the most popular singlehanded in the world.

The Class confirmed today that Laser Performance lost the game changing ILCA vote by a landslide 80%-20% margin, and that the Laser (or ILCA, or some other name) will likely be part of the Olympics for some time to come.

The debate continues (with a lot of folks eating crow today) in the SA Forums. – Mr. Clean.

reality bites

Greta Thunberg’s zero carbon journey: ‘I might feel a bit sea sick’

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg will spend two weeks travelling across the North Atlantic on a boat with no toilets, kitchens or privacy.

Greta, 16, has stopped flying due to environmental reasons, but is due to attend a crucial climate change conference in New York.

She told the BBC that travelling by boat sends a signal that “the climate change crisis is a real thing”.

Electricity on the boat will solely come from wind turbines and solar panels, meaning the journey has a zero carbon footprint. Jump in the discussion thread.

the green doughnut

We are pleased to announce that Quantum Sails are back onboard with us as advertising partners. As many of you know, we have long loved their products. We had them on our first FT 10 along with our Melges 32 as well.

Knowing that others (notably North) make some amazing stuff, we have always thought their spinnakers and asso’s are the best we’ve seen.

We’ll be featuring some of their technical and product information with you as we go along. – ed.

gp ok

So, as some of us already know there was no SailGP action on Saturday but, for the avoidance of doubt the Royal Yacht Squadron was flying N over A for the Cowes Week yachts , the Redjet Southampton -Cowes ferry was suspended for 4 hours and The Needles was recording 65 knot gusts and at the Classis Car show at the Island’s airport they were chasing the frames for the car stands down the airfield and as I crossed the Solent on the Red Funnel car ferry the captain cheerfully reported constant winds of 35 – 41 knots.

Sunday dawned with a little less breeze yet still on the edge of the upper limit for the F50 flying machines and my day started off with a visit to the Tech Area, Team China to be specific.

If anyone doubts the strength of these boat’s foils, new part had been fitted to the hydraulic system and when the system was switched on the foil dropped onto an Aluminium support bending it like paper and while causing some surface damage to the foil. Within 40 minutes the shore crew had applied fast set epoxy, cured it, sanded and polished it, then lowered the boat onto her trolley ready for launching. All done quietly, efficiently with no sign of a headless chicken anywhere.

The sailing action commenced with the RS Cat 14 fleet of youngsters drawn from local clubs as part of the SailGP Inspire initiative before making way for the main event.  It was noticeable none of the F50 teams were risking any showboating prior to the racing, these beasts were going to be a handful even for crews at this level.

And so it proved to be earlier than I think anyone expected. Rounding the first turning mark in the first race France, China and the USA stuffed it in as the boats turned downwind and the power came on. 

France and China got away with it but whether USA were a little slower in dumping power of the little bit of wave they hit was that bit steeper was unclear but she hung there for what seemed an eternity. Will they, wont they transpired to be ‘they will’ as almost in slow motion the wingtip headed for the Western Solent with thankfully little more damage than to the beam fairing and of course pride although later on Rome Kirby played down the incident as just racing.

They were thankfully able to re-join the racing for the subsequent races. Not so Team GBR as a huge down the mine incident with the boat stopped dead resulted in the worst kind of damage, that to the crew with one of them performing a somersault that would have scored high in Olympic competition. The injuries were nowhere as severe as they might have been. A huge disappointment however for what had shown itself to a partisan crowd lining Cowes Green and Egypt Point.

I don’t intend to produce a blow by blow account of the racing but the atmosphere build up was well done except that instead of a mascot running along the beach getting people to cheer it was a helicopter side-slipping along the crowd, there was a genuine buzz with people out with their chairs on the beach, flags waving, a real sports event atmosphere and excitement and no remote prizegiving with the teams brought ashore while their support RIBs kept the boats on station in the background.

The series has had its detractors, and after being live at an event I have to say unfairly so. Their media department clearly doesn’t like Sailing Anarchy and there are anarchists who have reciprocal feelings but this series, indeed any event that raises sailing’s profile can only be good for our sport.

The Marseille final towards the end of September is the season finale with a grand prize of USD1m. Perhaps a foregone conclusion who will be in the final with two clear series leaders and the third place GBR slipping back having completed no races in Cowes and Japan having a less than sparkling day on the water but in the winner takes all match race it could all turn round as Japan has proven in a previous venue.

Am I biased? Perhaps a little but I was sitting beside a traditional sailor for the action. A Corby 25 owner who wont see retirement age again and he thought this was a wonderful thing for sailing and good to see our sport being promoted in such an exciting and dynamic way. Attendance? Hard to say except any official sales of seating or VIP visitors could easily be doubled by the numbers watching on the pebble beach in front of the grandstand.  6 weeks to the finale! – SS.

never dead

The Cal 20 National Championship was hosted by King Harbor Yacht Club, in Redondo Beach, CA, on Friday through Sunday, August 9 – August 11. 

This year’s national event included 22 boats from six different yacht clubs, and three past national champions.

The overall winners were Chuck Clay and Pat McCormick, from Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, aboard their boat, ‘Veintiseis’.